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 This life of mine is filled with blessings and I'm gonna focus on that and move forward. |
 And here's my Simpsonized picture...  and my daughter, Baba. Isn't she cute?  Actually, I need to upload the whole family, just for the heck of it sometime. Then, I'll always have them right here with me.  A BIG edit on this journey. I'm forced to agree with the fact, yes, it's a fact that though I attempt to blog, I do so not well and in bits, so, it's MORE about how I am a bad blogger than about documenting this life's journey. Thanks for stopping though. :/  |
| I think I can beat this feeling. It's still very hard to do this. I'm at day 2 and I'm hoping this becomes day 3 tomorrow. I remember my diary. It scared me as a child. I found it later in my life, after I met my first and only boyfriend, who asked to go "steady" three months into our friendship. Reflecting on this makes me feel so special...and emotional. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm not promising anything though. |
For some reason, I can't pinpoint why it's so hard for me to write things down. My husband will stop and quickly create in his document library a few items and add them to a logbook. Or he'll jot down funny thoughts or something interesting he'd encountered. He does these things with such ease. It's really hard for me. This is hard for me right now. I feel like I'm lifting heavyweights or something. It's so mental. Thank you but I'm sorry for anyone who stops by gets to see me in this state but I need to be honest. Maybe I'll tackle this with honesty...or get put in the cellar. Who knows? |
| Summer rolled in the way it always does—slow at first, like it’s stretching awake, then suddenly wide‑eyed and ready to run. By the first warm Saturday, the whole town felt different. Windows were open. Music drifted from porches. Even the air seemed to hum with possibility, like it had its own beat. I stepped outside and felt that familiar shift—the one DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince captured so perfectly. That “school’s out, the sun's up, let’s live a little” kind of energy. The kind that makes you walk lighter, smile easier, and forget for a moment that life ever had deadlines. I could smell the barbecue roasting on the grill...the scent of cherry wood and hickory mingled together that nearly threw your hunger for grilled meat into a frenzy. Down the street, kids were already chalking the sidewalks, turning the concrete into neon masterpieces. A group of teens rolled past on bikes, laughing loud enough to echo off the houses. Someone had a speaker balanced in their basket, blasting that unmistakable groove. It wasn’t subtle. It didn’t need to be. Summer isn’t shy. I wandered toward the park, where the smell of charcoal and sunscreen blended into a scent that could only exist in July. Families claimed picnic tables like territories. Someone tossed a football. Someone else yelled “heads up!” as a frisbee sailed wildly off course. The whole scene felt like a living postcard—sun‑washed, easygoing, and just a little chaotic. Near the basketball court, a pickup game was already underway. Shirts versus skins, the eternal tradition. Every shot was met with either triumphant shouting or dramatic groans. I watched for a minute, letting the rhythm of bouncing balls and friendly trash talk settle into the soundtrack of the day. It reminded me of the song’s vibe—community, connection, and that effortless cool that only summer seems to grant. Eventually, I found myself at the lake. The water shimmered like it had been polished. People lounged on towels, toes buried in warm sand, while others splashed around with the kind of joy adults forget they’re allowed to have. A couple floated lazily on inner tubes, drifting wherever the breeze nudged them. No rush. No plan. Just sun and time. I kicked off my shoes and waded in. The water was perfect—cool enough to refresh, warm enough to welcome. A little girl nearby was determined to catch minnows with her bare hands. Her dad cheered her on like she was competing in the Olympics. She didn’t catch any, but she didn’t care. Summer isn’t about winning. It’s about trying things just because they feel fun. As the afternoon stretched toward evening, the sky softened into gold. People packed up slowly, reluctant to let the day end. I lingered, listening as someone played the song again. The chorus drifted across the lake, familiar and comforting. It felt like a reminder: summer isn’t a season, it’s a feeling. A reset. A breath. A chance to remember that life can be simple and sweet. Walking home barefoot, sand still clinging to my ankles, I realized the day had been exactly what it needed to be—light, warm, and full of small joys. The kind of day that makes you think, yeah… this is how it’s supposed to feel. And this feeling made me feel complete. |
| I haven't written anything in my blog for a few days but I'm adding this poem I wrote inspired by the Taylor Swift song, "Fate of Ophelia" for the 48 hour community challenge. The poem is titled, "I Speak from the Water" and I hope you like my entry. "I Speak From the Water" I was never meant to be a warning, yet everyone reads me like one. They trace my story only in the moments I broke, never in the moments I tried to stay whole. I loved with a heart too open, a door the world kept walking through without ever wiping its feet. Still, I kept offering kindness as if it could save me. They called me fragile, but they never saw the weight I carried— the secrets, the silences, the way I stitched myself together after every quiet unraveling. When the tide pulled at my ankles, I didn’t fall willingly. I reached for the shore, for a voice that might call me back, for a reason to keep breathing air instead of water. But the world was loud with other stories, and mine slipped beneath the noise. So I let the river hold me— not as surrender, but as the first place that didn’t ask me to smile while I drowned on land. If you hear my name now, don’t think of tragedy. Think of a girl who deserved to be more than a metaphor, who deserved a future not written in past tense. I rise in every woman who refuses to be quieted, in every heart that chooses itself before the world can choose for it. My fate was water, but my voice is what remains— and I am finally the one who gets to tell my story. |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE&list=RDvx2u5uUu3DE&start_radio=1 There’s a particular kind of honesty in Bon Jovi’s “One Life to Live.” It’s the kind that doesn’t shout or demand attention, but instead settles into you quietly, like a truth you’ve known all along but haven’t dared to say out loud. The song is a reminder that life isn’t a rehearsal, and we don’t get a second draft. We get this one chance — this one breath, this one heart, this one story — and what we choose to do with it is entirely up to us. Listening to the song feels like standing at a crossroads where the past and future meet. On one side is everything you’ve already lived: the regrets you carry, the dreams you postponed, the moments you let slip because you thought there would always be more time. On the other side is the unknown — the wide‑open possibility of what could still be. The song doesn’t judge either side. Instead, it invites you to look at both with clear eyes and decide what kind of life you want to claim from this moment forward. Living like you only get one life isn’t about recklessness or grand gestures. It’s about presence. It’s about choosing to show up fully in the moments that matter — and even in the ones that seem small. It’s about calling the person you’ve been meaning to call, saying the words you’ve been holding back, forgiving yourself for the mistakes you made when you didn’t know better. It’s about recognizing that joy isn’t something you stumble into; it’s something you choose, again and again, even when life feels heavy. The song also carries a quiet challenge: stop waiting. Stop waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect version of yourself, the perfect alignment of circumstances. Perfection is a myth that steals time. What you have is now — imperfect, unpredictable, but real. And real is enough to build a life on. There’s a tenderness in the way Bon Jovi frames this message. It’s not a lecture; it’s a companion walking beside you, nudging you gently toward courage. It reminds you that fear is natural, but letting fear make your choices is optional. It reminds you that dreams don’t expire just because you’ve taken a few detours. It reminds you that the heart is resilient, and hope is renewable. To live like you only get one life is to live awake. It’s to notice the way your child laughs, the way the sky shifts colors at dusk, the way your own breath steadies when you choose peace over worry. It’s to honor the people you love by being present with them, not just near them. It’s to honor yourself by refusing to shrink, settle, or sleepwalk through your days. In the end, the song is both a mirror and a map. It shows you where you’ve been, and it points you toward where you could go. And in that space between reflection and possibility, it whispers the truth we all need to hear: you get one life — make it yours. |
This tea party is one of my favorite cartoons of ALL time, and it also is my husband's favorite too. What can I say? We had good taste in cartoons and good characters Yesterday, was our 35th wedding anniversary and we decided to renew our vows, with newly written vows and make a video recording of this for our kids and grandkids to see online. My husband bought me a new wedding dress, complete with veil and we wrote our own new vows drawn from a fresh understanding of the words, "for better or worse, in sicknes nd death" not just being words but living it out in footsteps we'd taken. I was so glad that we did this in spite of not having much money or anywhere to travel but just enveloping ourselves in our love, and in our marriage. My husband still looked amazing in his freshly starched suit and shined brown shoes and he was so pleased with the figure I cut in the wedding gown we'd bought 10 years ago, only to renew our vows in our 35th year, and I could not only wear the gown but I cut a wonderful pose. Our son and grandkids live out east and we now moved to South Dakota, so this made this even more real. Our grandkids and son were so moved by seeing us still being enthralled with one another, and genuinely blushing and well, feeling nervous saying our heartfelt vows to the love of our life. I heard our granddaughter, Ariel, who is 7 shed a tear when she heard us speaking to each other. Our hearts are so full right now.♥ |
So, I'm not a fan of the singer, Kelly Clarkson, but I am a fan of good music - and this is a REALLY good Christmas song. There’s something irresistibly smooth and joy‑filled about Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree.” From the very first bright burst of instrumentation, the song wraps you in a feeling that’s equal parts cozy and sparkling—like stepping into a room where the lights are twinkling, the cocoa is warm, and the whole world seems to hum with cheer. It’s a holiday song that doesn’t just play in the background; it lifts you, nudges you, and invites you to sway along with its upbeat rhythm. What makes the song feel so smooth is the way every element glides together. The percussion has a gentle bounce, the horns slide in with effortless charm, and the melody flows like a ribbon curling through the air. Clarkson’s vocals—rich, warm, and full of personality—ride the groove with a confidence that feels both polished and playful. She doesn’t belt for the sake of belting; she lets the song breathe, letting her voice dance lightly across the arrangement. The result is a sound that feels like a smile you can hear. But beyond its musical smoothness, “Underneath the Tree” radiates happiness in a way that feels refreshingly genuine. It’s not the kind of holiday cheer that tries too hard or leans on nostalgia alone. Instead, it celebrates the simple, glowing joy of being with someone who makes the season feel complete. The song’s message is uncomplicated and heartfelt: the real magic of the holidays isn’t in the gifts or the glitter—it’s in the presence of someone who makes you feel seen, loved, and grounded. There’s a buoyant energy running through the track that makes it almost impossible to sit still. It’s the kind of song that makes you tap your foot without realizing it, or hum along even if you don’t know all the words. It has that rare quality of sounding both modern and timeless, like it could have been recorded yesterday or decades ago. The production nods to classic holiday pop, but the delivery is unmistakably fresh. It’s a song that feels like it belongs in a holiday movie montage, a festive party playlist, or a quiet moment when you’re decorating the tree by yourself and want a little musical sunshine. What’s especially delightful is how the song manages to feel big and bright without ever overwhelming you. Even at its most energetic moments, it maintains a smoothness that keeps everything balanced. The rhythm is upbeat but not frantic. The vocals are powerful but not heavy. The arrangement sparkles but never blinds. It’s a masterclass in joyful restraint—letting the happiness shine through naturally, without forcing it. Listening to “Underneath the Tree” feels like being wrapped in a warm, melodic hug. It’s cheerful without being cheesy, festive without being frantic, and heartfelt without being heavy. It’s the kind of song that can lift your mood on a gray winter morning or amplify your excitement on a bright December afternoon. It’s smooth, it’s happy, and it’s full of that unmistakable holiday glow that makes everything feel a little lighter. And perhaps that’s why the song resonates so deeply: it captures the feeling of holiday happiness in motion. Not the quiet, reflective kind—though that has its place—but the bright, bubbly, can’t‑help‑but‑smile kind. The kind that makes you want to dance around the living room, sing along in the car, or simply close your eyes and let the music wash over you. “Underneath the Tree” isn’t just a holiday song—it’s a mood, a moment, and a musical burst of joy that smooths out the edges of the season and fills it with warmth. I hope this Christmas was as special for you, as it was for our family. ♥     |
| (Another Blogged Badly production lol) So, the message of Cameo's, "Word UP", was a message of fun and freedom, speaking to me To have the most fun, and feel free, To dance, sing and enjoy your life. Don't overthink  . Don't get caught up.In what you see; Just relax. Enjoy your life cause it passes very fast. A decade will fly by like a month and you'll wonder how you lost it in the zillionth levels of your scared thoughts. When I was young, I didn't enjoy my youth as much as I could've. Caught up in the excess of what will others think. It's a folly just stay jolly Enjoy, enjoy your life. You'll waste more than you enjoy and will live in awful turmoil. Just dance and sing badly, God gave you speech, not gift of singing  .So be grateful for your lot And just be thankful  .That's the Word Up I heard in the song... peace out! {Kip, Napoleon Dynamite voice} |
| Inspired by Royals song from Lourdes I always knew I wasn't Royal but for some reason, I kept a silly dream. It's obvious from my surroundings that no one is coming brew my afternoon tea. I knew I wasn't Royal but I still wanted the silly pomp and circumstance Of the beautiful gowns and dresses Of the nights of the ballroom dance. No prince to come and court me and ask me for my hand No endless gifts from courtship to set on my gilded nightstand. How could I be a Royal? I had no gold or diamond crown No jewels upon my fingers To look at or twist around. No, it's just plain ole' me and I'm average A happily married gal With so much love in my life it's my beverage I'm blessed in my normal life. Adore lol♥ (Just participating in the 48 Hour Community challenge. I think I did it! :D |
Good to see you guys again...sorry it was so long. I really thought I"d get it together better but ah well. I'm attempting to blog again, so hi!!!  I'll be brief since I need to leave. We moved to a new home that we're proud of and really really like. And I'm greateful and happy about all of it. Grateful and happy! God is so good to me to us...I don't deserve all of this goodness. Oooh, oooh, ooooh!!! I hear one of my fave sounds :D The sound of a train horn in the distance I can't see the trains roll past our home any longer but some days, when the window is open, I still hear them in the distance. Ah! Yes, I recorded train sounds to keep the sound with me no that we live miles from the nearest train. Anyhooo, I now know what I enjoy speaking on. Parenting. I loved raising our children. I miss this part of my life very much. So, I think I have two topics which might keep me writing. Well, that's all for now...thanks for stopping through now.  The Tale of Coco Adore: ** Image ID #1641538 Unavailable ** |
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