Hitchhikers Around the Galaxy Unite

How could I have missed this day?!? This is what I get for not having a computer to surf for these important events.

Check out DodKat's faithfulness to this holiday.

Man, next year I plan to talk like a pirate, pop some bubble wrap, and carry me a towel!

Joie de Vivre ~ A Hearty Joy of Living!

Remembering

To me fall is the time for remembering. The winding down of the year, winter right around the corner, long dark nights indoors give time for contemplation. Spring and summer are times for living life, having adventures, fresh beginnings. However, I think that the powers that be were wise in giving us reasons to remember in the rush of everything. We need to take time out of our living life full tilt to remember so many wonderful things.

Regardless of your politics, we need to remember the people who stepped up and gave their all to protect us from living in fear. I spent several years in counties that, not too long ago, had their people living in fear. And I am thankful that I have days, weeks and months where I do not have to be fearful.

Pentecost is this weekend. Now is a time to remember that life is not just the physical. There is a spiritual side to us that God has given so that we may seek something more than what we can see, touch, taste and feel.

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduation happen in the late spring and early summer. Parents, however much they may bug us, have spent days, weeks and months worrying about us – our safety, futures, love lives, and worrying if they are doing anything to totally screw us up. Graduation is usually a day for looking back on youth and looking forward to the next stage. Yet this is also a time for parents to celebrate a chapter of their stresses closing. Granted, there are plenty of things parents will need to be involved in (just ask my Dear Sweet Mother), but in a job where there are few end dates and finished accomplishments this is a time for parents to say, “I helped my child grow and fulfill this stage.” And we children, even if we graduated several decades ago, can look back and be thankful for the people who helped us navigate our childhood.

So what do you memoralize?


Joie de Vivre ~ A Hearty Joy of Living!

Technical Dificulies

Sorry I am not posting much this week. Because of a little incident involving a cup of coffee and the motherboard, my laptop is in the shop getting overhauled.

Insurance always puzzles me. If my computer had worn out, the warranty would have covered it. So why doesn't insurance cover stupidity and acts of God? Isn't that why we get insurance, to cover accidents?
#$%^@$^%#$T$#^# That is what I think about insurance right now!

Joie de Vivre ~ A Hearty Joy of Living!

Mom's Lessons

Five things that my dear sweet mother taught me

1.Never put housework before family, friends or a good book. Keeping up appearances is for lonely people who do not know how to keep up with friends. Plus, I remember my mom quoting some of her philosophy:

I am hoping that the kids will get fed up with living in a dirty house and vow to never let their own house get this way. I am hanging with my friends for you.

Well, the dust bunnies I am raising for pets attests to the success of this.

2.You can stretch a bottle of shampoo by adding a bit of water to it. This is particularly useful when the kids use like a quarter cup of shampoo with each lather, rinse, repeat.

3.Elementary school plays and high school concerts are worthwhile events.

4.You can do things without asking Dad, as long as you can convince him that he gave his permission before hand. Just be careful about getting caught, especially bringing home the puppy your middle child whined for, or he will remind you about who is responsible for years to come.

5.One of the best ways to serve God is to serve people. Sending a bit of gas and 20 minutes giving someone a lift, listening while they need to vent, and sticking in an extra casserole in the oven for someone in need is a part of being the person God created you to be.

What have you learned from you mom?



Joie de Vivre ~ A Hearty Joy of Living!

The Manilow

When I was a child I developed two characteristics. One is that once I find something I like, I will stick with it. The other is that I have always been a step behind in just about everything. Hence my glee at the return of peasant blouses and the reason I scan store catalogue hoping beyond hope that bellbottoms or acid wash will come back. It also explains why all during the 80’s and even now I am a Barry Manilow fan. When I was 12 I discovered that sappy ballads and powerful key changes hit my heart. So the whole Las Vegas trip was a birthday present to take me to see the man who knew exactly what I was feeling when those dumbass boys were stupid enough to let me go!

Now I know that Barry appeals to a different part of people than say BB King or Mozart, but I love the fact that he does not take himself too seriously and has fun with the cheese factor in his performance. Besides, his songs actually have melody and lyrics that do touch something very human inside of us all.

But the best part of the show happened after the encore. I met Tony. He didn’t tend bar, he was an 82 year old usher who was simply charming.

"Do you know that that blond boy is Barry Manilow? Yes, it is true. The people last night, they didn’t know."

When Fellow Fanilow asked him to give me his Barry Manilow button as a birthday present, he responded…

"My button? You want my button? You’re half my age. Elton John, now he as two buttons – here and here."(Putting his hands on his backside.)

Well, thanks to Fellow Fanilow, I now have a very nice button. I also have an understanding of the multi tiered slot machine. If you get two cherries, an orange, three pineapples and one Carmen Miranda – that is good. But if it is two Carmens, one cherry, one orange and a fruit basket is not good. Or wait, maybe it is if Carmen is staring at you cross-eyed that you win, or lose. Maybe I have a lot more to learn before I getting into the super secret high stakes games.


Joie de Vivre ~ A Hearty Joy of Living!