Rolling Out The Red Carpet

Absolute Vanilla has definitely started the awards season off with a bang! She very generously gifted me with an armload of awards which I am very glad to pass along!

And so without further ado... (I didn't tuck my dress into the back of my pantyhose, did I?)

For my kitchen shenanigans and mishaps:

To:

Jon at Writing in a Vacuum

Irrelephant

Diana at Piffle

The Laughorist

Hearts at Guilty with an explanation

Christina at Single City Chick

Because I am a Blogger of the World in 2007 and 2008:

This is gifted to each and every one of you, if you're bloggin', you get it. Keep on blogging!!

Because Vanilla loves us!

This one is also for every single one of you... missed you lots, so glad to be back!

Kisses for everyone!

The purpose of this award is motivated by:
the desire to hand some of that love and kindness back around to those who have been so very, very, very good to me in this bloggy world. My hope is that those who receive this award will pass it on to those who have been very, very, very good to them as well. It's a big kiss, of the chaste platonic kind, from me to you with the underlying 'thanks' message implied. I really do appreciate your support and your friendship and yes, your comments. ... Mwah!

And from Viaggiatore and I, for the Shameless Lions Writing Circle (please choose whichever color you like):

My incredible friend Shannstress at Shannon

My very funny and dear friend Robin at The Road Less Traveled

Rel, whose words I devour like a fine buffet at Under the Microscope

Sognatrice whose words always find a mirror in my soul at Bleeding Espresso

Some Pink Flowers, who takes me on many wonderful journeys of the mind and heart

Taking Care

There are no New Years' resolutions.

But there has been a promise that is late in being fulfilled, one which is being brought to fruition every day now, by me ~ bit by bit.

You know how people who care about you a little, or love you a lot, will smile when you say good-bye and they'll tell you:

"Take care..."

We say it to others, too. What we mean is, take good care of yourself. Because we care. They care. We all want the best for each other. But when others say it to us, do we do it? When we say it to others, are we practicing what we preach?

How many times have I answered, "I will..."

But I do not. I work a lot. I study a lot. I don't quite eat what I should, but I do eat what I shouldn't, sometimes. I could exercise more. I could rest and relax more. I could pray more. I could be kinder to myself, as kind as my friends and family who love me... who have requested of me to take good care of myself, as they would care for me, were we not parted.

I could learn more. Share more. Laugh and love and risk more. Go beyond the fuzzy boundaries that are my comfort zone... if I was outside of myself, if I was someone else watching over me, would I take better care of myself then? Of course. I take good care of other people.

I think of those people who have requested of me that I take good care of myself. They've asked that because they care about me and want me around as long as possible, as healthy and happy as possible. There are people who depend on me. I depend on myself a great deal, totally... in fact.

But I do not afford myself the care and consideration that I so wholeheartedly give to those whom I love.

And why not?

I don't know, but that makes little sense.
How can I give my best, if I am not functioning at my best? Where is the balance in that?

And so that promise that I have made... to take care of myself, is being fulfilled - not as a resolution, but as a lifestyle. And not for a year... or a few months.... a handful of weeks. No.

For all of my days.

Time flies, and those 'some days' and 'one of these days' and 'tomorrows' never ever get here.
It's important to start now. Right now.

Take good care of yourself.

Retrospect and Introspect

Happy New Year!!!

Sognatrice inspired me with a 'look at last year' meme... it is important to look back in order to gain a good perspective of the untraveled road ahead. We must remember the ground we've covered, and learn from our experiences.


1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Many things, some of which are: Started this blog, did ALL homemade Christmas presents (will not do that again any year soon), started a second novel, been the photographer in a photo shoot, bought furniture from out of state and then left it in the state I bought it in, got up VERY early to drive to the mountains to take photos of the sunrise on the Rockies (cold... so cold...), marched in the Martin Luther King Marade in Denver (YAY!!!!!), gone to a movie at the Mayan... and much, much more.


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions at the new year - but I do look forward to accomplishing goals that have already been set.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! My brother and his wife welcomed their third son. Yay!


4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, Colton Brice. Rest in peace, sweet boy.


5. What countries did you visit? None outside of the US in 2007.


6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Time... balance... more focus, more determination.


7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? As many as possible, I hope, to remember the wonderful times with fondness and the hard ones with solemnity and wisdom.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? There was no single biggest achievement; I think so many little things that we accomplish build us up, improve us individually and improve our lives and the world around us, that singling one thing out would diminish the positiveness of the little things.


9. What was your biggest failure? I fell below my own standards and failed myself when I allowed my temper to get the better of me with someone who is an unpleasant constant in my life, instead of taking the high road and being patient, tolerant and peaceful. The extremely negative ensuing results lasted three months before they were resolved.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, internally and externally, some of the worst I've known, but I recovered and am much stronger for it.


11. What was the best thing you bought? Time


12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Every one of my good friends


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My... how apropos. Those few who I believed I knew well, and who proved to me that I did not.


14. Where did most of your money go? As soon as I figure that out, I'm plugging that leak.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I get excited about many things, I don't know that there was one thing that rose above the rest. Family, friends, holidays, trips, events, there are so many things to enjoy!


16. What song will always remind you of 2007? One song? One?!? Right.


17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Happier with myself, sadder from the loss of friends, thinner in trouble, fatter/broader in mind, richer for the love of family and friends, poorer in short sightedness.


18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I'd been kinder, wiser, more patient, more balanced and more productive. I also wish I'd read, painted, written, traveled and danced more.


19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Leaving things unfinished.


20. How did you spend Christmas? With family and friends; enjoying all of it. This was one of my best holidays ever.


21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Of course! Every time I see the beautiful state I live in, every time a child gives me a hug or a kiss, every time I read a great book or watch a wonderful movie - in particular, Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird... and Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind.


22. What was your favorite TV program? I don't watch TV. Only movies, and yes... they are different.


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? It is a cardinal rule of mine not to hate. No good comes of it, which consequently makes it a monumental waste.


24. What was the best book you read? Too many good ones to choose just one. Although, I love 1000 Days in Tuscany, enough that I carry it with me often, and I also love "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci".


25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Again... there were several worthwhile discoveries, but I very much like Mozella.


26. What did you want and get? I wanted to spend wonderfully memorable holidays with my family and friends ~ And I did! I wanted good grades, and got them as well. I wanted Katy's cheesecake on my birthday and got it. Actually, this could wind up being a long list, I usually get what I want, if it's not outrageous or unrealistic.


27. What did you want and not get? World Peace, healing in Darfur, Benazir Bhutto to be Prime Minister of Pakistan again, ....a vacation...


28. What was your favorite film of this year? Once, which I enjoyed watching at an obscure little theatre with a very dear friend who treated me to it for my birthday.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was at work all day and school all night, but I did get to have a pre-birthday party with dear friends - it's impolite to ask a lady her age. Hush.


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Traveling to places I actually want to go to.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? an improved work in progress.


32. What kept you sane? Who said I was sane?


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? The same one I always admire the most: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., time does not diminish it.


34. What political issue stirred you the most? Darfur, and Benazir Bhutto.


35. Who did you miss? Everyone I love who isn't near me.


36. Who was the best new person you met? Storm


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. There are SO many to chose from, several lessons were refreshed, but I think it would be something in between "That which does not kill you makes you stronger" and "I am stronger than I ever knew".


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. The Beatles... "Here Comes the Sun"