Updates and a rant

Tonight, we took K~ to L'Albatros Brasserie for a week early birthday dinner.  She was treated like a princess and it was really lovely.  I truly enjoy spending these moments with my step-children and my husband.  I fee lucky and connected.  Reflecting back on when I first met K~ and seeing her now being almost grown up brings tears to my eyes.  I hope as she evolves into a young woman that we are able to stay friends with each other.

And for feck's sake - if I hear one more English person lament on how 'American's' don't know how to make a proper cuppa I am going to lose my mind.  THIS American KNOWS how to make a decent cup of tea thank you very much.  Now run along and eat some boiled meat.

Rant over.

Tomorrow I shall be going to a picnic memorial for Mr. C~ with his family and my family.  I still miss him so very much.  It will be good to think about him in the presence of friends and share memories.  Hopefully we will be blessed with good weather.

Bon soir mes amis

Abiding in myself

I find myself more content....odd (sadly) for me. 

I guess I am trying to learn (after 1/2 century on this planet), not to let things get to me so much. Of course I STILL fail at this miserably.  Injustice still chaps my arse.  But, lately, I have felt calmer, more at peace. 

My husband has been wonderful  We had a private concert with friends to celebrate our anniversary and it was simply simple and loving.  I LIKE my new job.  Truly. 

I want to cultivate more peace, calm, focus, and joy in my life. Peace seems fleeting, especially today, especially with all the news I am reading - all the unrest, the violence, the anger, and fear we are engaged in, day in, day out. I know achieving the state of peacful being it is not about having a certain 'spiritual/religous' bent...it is about abiding in one's self/in the oneness of the universe.


 Last night, after meeting with friends, we stopped at Mac's Backs in Coventry (Cleveland Hts.).  I picked up a copy of Shambala Sun.  I started reading an article about meditation.  Sit down, shut up, pay attention.  That's it. As I meditated on the simplicity of just 'sitting, shutting up, and opening up', I looked out the bus window and saw a huge patch of blue sky surrounded by grey clouds.  I realized that I wanted to be that patch of blue sky...and so...I think I will sit down, shut up and pay attention more.

Peace to you all today.

"Beautiful Possibilities..."

This weekend was filled with them....

From going to the wonderful art gallery of Loren Naji - off ofWest 25th Street...

....to having the distinct pleasure of meeting another great artist, Ms. Alison Pebworth, and getting to see, feel and contemplate her "Beautiful Possibilites" tour - and I am telling you if you did not get to see this exhibit, you really missed out on some thought-provoking, soul-searching Art....find it if you can...and please help her by taking the survey.  At the very least, check out the link above....

...to going to a community cookout with dear friends and through them, connecting with a fellow Yoga teacher who then turned me onto a school of Yoga around the corner from my house, where I may be studying, Vishnu/Goddess willing shortly....

...to seeing my son for hours at a time (after him being 'away' for over 50 days)....

All of this happened with my beloved by my side.  We are coming up on our 6th anniversary of meeting and falling in love, and, more importantly, our 4th anniversary of being married...

Yes....life is good.

The Bus Diaries

(This may or may not become a recurring post on the blog here....)

May 30th

Thin clouds spread out over the lake, reflecting onto the water's surface, turning it the same grey color - so that the waves look like a decaying, moving meringue.

So very different from yesterday's atmosphere - the bright and endless blue expanse of a perfect day.  Yet, despite the roiling darkness, there is calm as I sit captive on the bus.

************

June 1st

Wet, soggy, dreary morning - but I am glad for the rainfall.

I climb onto the bus and make the driver happy by turning in a survey he handed me the day before.

As I take my seat, I can hear tow of the other passengers discussing a third that has yet to board the bus.  That passenger IS a bit eccentric and vampirish - old though - ancient looking.  The other two are noting with much sarcasm and glee her every move.  Apparently she is a bit compulsive and has a 'ritual' before she can take leave of her vehicle. 

The one leading the charge of this barrage is obese, dumpy, and NEVER SHUTS UP!  She so far has almost always had a demeaning tone in her dealings with others. 

After a bit more of this cruel banter, I ask: "Does she know you all speak about her like this?"  I am assured eagerly by Ms. Fat & Dumpy that yes the woman is aware that they tear her apart verbally.  After a particularly biting remark I say "Wow" and then go on to suggest they all need lives.

One of the other passengers joins in about how proud "Vampira" is about having a Victoria's Secret Bag.  The female Stay Puffed Marshmallow retorts: "I didn't know they carried an Adam's Family Version of that bag"  While the remark is indeed funny on some level, I am seething - wanting an opportunity to jump in and remind this woman that they don't have any XXXL Lane Bryant-esqueVictoria's Secret lingerie either...I vow to do this first opportunity....which I am sure makes me no better than them...but for some weird reason I feel the need to defend this poor woman.

After a while (and the lady finally boarding the bus) the banter stops and there is relative quiet - I go about reading quietly, but my serene attitude has diminished.