Out of Town

I haven't posted in quite a while.

I was called out of town

because my father passed away

after a courageous battle with

cancer.

I will be here another week

or so helping my Mom cope.


Thank you for

stopping by my page.

Holidays

i took leave of my senses.....
at least that's what i told
myself after i broke down
and bought another tree!!

i didn't have it in me to put
up my usual tree, but there
was a sale so i nabbed this
little tree for the window.

the holidays aren't the same
any longer once you work
behind the scenes, dealing
with all aspects of holiday
trappings, and of course,
the customers who can be
downright rude this time
of year.

But I try to make
the best of things!



On the plus side, i am learning how to
use a Nikon D3000, and while selfies aren't
as easy as with my Canon ....  I can DO this!
hehehehe

Happy Thanksgiving

For those of you who celebrate,
I hope your Thanksgiving Day
was terrific!

I worked, of course, because
that's how retail is.
I'm tired, but this too shall pass!
*grins*

Battle Wounds

Post surgery,
and now that the scar
is healed, my nightly
routine includes
Vitamin E oil
to reduce the scar.






"

I think scars are like battle wounds - beautiful, in a way. 

They show what you've been through 

and how strong you are for coming out of it."

-Demi Lovato

Beauty

“Beauty" and sexuality are both

commonly misunderstood as some

transcendent inevitable fact; falsely

interlocking the two makes it seem

doubly true that a woman must be

"beautiful" to be sexual.

That of course is not true at all.

The definitions of both "beautiful"

and "sexual" constantly change

to serve the social order,

and the connection between the two

is a recent invention.”

― Naomi Wolf

Shadow Play

Days are shorter

and the evening light

streaking in my window

comes earlier each day.

Of all the seasons, 

autumn offers 

the most to man 

and requires 

the least of him. 

~Hal Borland

Of all the seasons, fall has been a favorite

of mine.  There's nothing like a warm day

with a crisp cool night to top it off. 

Most of the US gets that in late Sept or

October, but here in the Valley of the Sun,

fall is a very short season, usually approaching

in mid-November.  The sun sets early here,

as we don't adjust our clocks in spring and fall.

The almost setting sun was a mere 5:15pm

but the light is so beautiful! 

Enjoy :) 

Autumn

Hello, again!

New computer, up and running.
Check.

Finding out things I had set up
need to be set up all over again!
Ugh.

(isn't it surprising how much
we take for granted?)

More programs with better
features definitely needed!
Anyone have a fav they
don't mind sharing? hehehe

Photo editor is the first thing....
Windows gallery does NOT cut it for me.

Fall has arrived. 

Behold the changing leaves, 

and enjoy the crisp breeze. 

Let your eyes take in the bursts of color. 

Transformation is afoot and hope is in the air.

For most of you,

fall has flown past,

but we are just coming

into that wonderful time

of year here in the 

Valley of the Sun!

An Inside Peek

Well, the new computer has
arrived, and in the process of
getting things reloaded so it
feels "familiar" again.

In the meantime, here's
a breast image you don't
see very often.

Today i had my annual
mammogram and this is
my image!   Fascinating
how technology can
do this - and couldn't just
a few short years ago!!

Geeky Girl!

Yes i am!
i am a football fan
nothing better on a Sunday
afternoon than a good game!

I am watching the 49ers vs Saints
as i putter about doing
the mundane chores
that accumulate during
the week.



After my first week back to work, I found I was tired quickly, but remedied that by an early supper
and early to bed.

Now that three weeks have passed since surgery, I can resume all my
normal activities this week, and it feels odd to say that I'm anxious
and ready to get back to the gym.  but first..... my new computer
should arrive on Weds.

If any of you have experience with Win7 and partitioning a 1T hard drive
I'd like your input.  My last computer was partitioned 3 ways:
C: for OS programs  D:  for loaded programs and E: for data/photos
and it worked very well for me.   That's the plan but I'm unsure of
how much space to allocate for each drive.

ahh the joys of having enough knowledge to get me into trouble,

and not enough to get me back out again  *laughs*

Window

Looking out the window,

I see you looking in.

You are the sunshine,

That fills my soul.”

― Giorge Leedy


ok, so its only
Sadie looking in.
*laughs*



It's #TBT throw back thursday
and since I can't process pix
I can at least do a few posts

Happy Thursday :)

Roses

such frustration
because I'm off work
and wanting to do
some major computer
work .... and no computer!

Yes, i'm grateful to have
this little netbook to do
little posts .... i can't do
photo edits as the screen
is too small.  And I
wouldn't do any
processing of photos
for this blog.....
just a little quirk of mine.

Happy Weekend!

Goodbye, Desktop!

After a long and productive
eight years, my trusty
desktop has finally
given up the ghost.

Until i have a replacement
i won't be posting

i am so very sad
over losing WinXP
and will need to relearn
and repurchase programs
to do ... all the things i do.

this was sunny Central Park
in California on my
extended vacation.


and if anyone is computer geek-y
when i power up i get nothing,
no identifying screen comes up
neither does BIOS.
i am extremely hopeful that i can
somehow retrieve my files from
the hard drive ......
not something i am willing to take
to a local shop. *giggles*

Hey Y'all !

here i am
12 days post op
i was finally released
to fly home monday
and it felt SO good
to sleep in my own
bed again!

Not complaining,
because staying at
"Hotel Mom" has
its perks!  :)

Am building my strength
and endurance a little
every day, and hope to
be back at work
on Monday.

Just wanted to say
"hey y'all"    :)

Roxy

My sister's pup, Roxy!

Here it is, Sunday eve
it's been an unexpected
helluva week for me.

9 days post-op and i
am back to morning walks.
If i split it up, i can easily
make my goal of 2 miles a day.
but i am the type who
pushes the edges,
reaches for more.
today, i even jogged for
a portion of my walk
and survived :)




the hardest part
is knowing what i can
and can't
tolerate for foods.
so i take in more fluids
than anything else.

the good news is that
my follow up with the doc
cleared me for flying
and i return home on Monday!
oh to sleep in my own bed again.....
with my pillows and blanket.
and to shower in my own bathroom.

its funny the things you take for
granted. i only came for a 4-day
trip.  and i'm a very conservative
packer on trips.  so i don't have
all the things i might need on a
10 day excursion!!!

Have an awesome week,
i should be back to posting
again... soon!

Clouds (humor)

On my last visit to my folks,

I drove out to pick up my
brother, and on the way back
I was impressed by the clouds
and how blue the sky was,
with the white puffy clouds
hanging in the sky.  I shoved
my phone at him and asked him
to snap me a few pictures.
"Of WHAT???" he asked.
The clouds, of course!!  I told him.
He looked at me like I was nuts
(ya'll know I am!)
but he did it anyways, snapping
away.  I posted a few, and my
sister in law asked what was the
deal with me and clouds??
*shrug* I dunno, I just like them!!

They vacationed last week in
Hawaii and my brother sent me
text pix -- all of them clouds!!
And the postcard he sent???
Yep, clouds in that too.  lol
He got a real kick out of me
and my #cloudporn

*grin*

Skies

My early morning walk
(the day I got sick)
found me under the
train over-crossing,
and looking up,
the sky was gorgeous.

Being me, I have to snap
pix, no matter what.
And from my lil phone....
it turned out pretty good :)

Turns out,
there's a bit of humor
to share about clouds....
in my next post. :)



I am doing much better post-op today.
Getting around and moving is important
and I'm doing plenty of it.
In fact, my Dad was walking past me
in the late afternoon and said,
"Isn't it time for your afternoon rest?"

awwww... bless him for being so concerned.

and thank you to those of you sending good wishes...
much appreciated!

Name that Scar

I will probably
bore you to pieces
this next week
with none Gal pix.

I traveled to Cali
to see my parents
and had a gall bladder
attack and emergency
surgery on Friday.

Came home Saturday,
and now its Sunday
and I am bored.

I am stuck in Cali
until at least Friday
Ok maybe stuck isn't
a good word -- because
if you have to be sick
and stuck somewhere
home with parents is
a good place to be!

so I'm really not complaining.
But at 55, I am used to being on my own, doing my own thing,
whenever the mood strikes.  Otherwise, I am healing well
and hope to be back to normal in less that 2 weeks.
*crosses her fingers*

With so many abdominal surgeries now... a friend suggested
that my scars need to have their own names!  *lol*
Disney themed, perhaps?
Literary Characters?
TV show themes?
I'm bored enough to entertain all kinds of ideas!   :)

Chillin' It

sunset
i bet
there's a chance
we can get
sho'nuff tangled up
and laid back 'n lazy

long as i'm rockin' with you
you know i'm cool with
just chillin' it !

Busy Weekends

sunday night after a busy weekend
and i'm ready to crawl into bed.....
have a few new country tunes
playing on my computer:
Burnin' it Down
Dirt
Sunshine and Whiskey

nothing like some smooth
mellow country males
to send a gal off to dreamland!

Lovin' Fall

Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance

’Neath the cover of October skies

And all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow

And I’m trying to please to the calling

Of your heartstrings that play soft and low...

~Van Morrison




Maybe you caught
this month's full harvest moon?
We had rain and clouds
so no pictures for me.

but in spite of that
small obstacle,
don't you just love fall???

THE best time of the year :)

Fall

Late afternoon sun in the fall
makes me want to compose
odes to the beauty of the
weather this time of year.

If only we hadn't gotten so
much rain this year .....
the 'skeeters are so bad
its nearly impossible to be
out and enjoy the evening!

“Don't you love 

New York in the fall? 

It makes me want to 

buy school supplies. 

I would send you 

a bouquet 

of newly 

sharpened pencils 

if I knew your 

name and address.” 

― Nora Ephron

( If you don't recognize

the author, perhaps you 

recognize the lines 

from the movie 

"You've Got Mail" )

Soup's On!

Hello!
It has been a very busy week
for me ....
a funeral for a friend's husband,
lots of work,
some time at the gym,
doctor visits,
and here i am sporting
new purple sparkly glasses!!!

Two pair, actually ....
one for reading,
the other for driving.
I can't get used to the driving
glasses... I keep wanting to look
over the top (because I can't drive
with my readers on!!! lol )

With all that going on,
I felt in need of some
comfort food and found
this recipe for
"Tortellini Soup"
Simple,
warming,
and
delicious too!
(especially with some
buttered french bread!)

Pinhole, Again

“No one

saves us

but ourselves.

No one can

and no one may.

We ourselves

must walk the path.”

― Gautama Buddha,
           Sayings Of Buddha

Pinhole Photo

“I learned that in

each of us

there burns a

flame of independence

that must never be

allowed to go out.

That as long as it

exists within us

we cannot be destroyed.”

― Bryce Courtenay

Silhouette

“The greatest thing 

in the world 

is to know 

how to belong 

to oneself.” 

― Michel de Montaigne

Just some experimental shots
using pinhole photography
and my silhouette

Lovin' Outdoors

“Your naked body

should only belong

to those who fall in love

with your naked soul.”

― Charles Chaplin

Naked Time

“Oh no, is it naked time?”

― Ilona Andrews

Outdoors

there's something
so deliciously naughty
about being
naked
outdoors
in public places

New Angle

Sometimes, when you change the angle of the camera,

you get a different look altogether. 

i rather liked this one a lot! 

Good Vistas

because i worked 

Sunday - Thursday

today was my day off.... 

and as usual

i was off running some errands.

when they were done, 

on the spur of the moment

i decided i needed a day out

i love a good road trip!

and stopped along

the side of the road

to capture this vista

 “You can go 

as far as you think, 

imagine and dream. 

Anything is possible.” 

― Lailah Gifty Akita

Feelin' Groovy

“Everybody has something,

that one thing they must do to feel happy.

I think this is yours,

and I want you to be happy.

You don’t have to do it,

but it’s here if you choose to come back to it.”

― Ilona Andrews, Magic Bleeds





have you ever thought about

what makes you truly happy?

for me, its being creative

and when i've been away from it

for a while, it's like having a cold --

you just don't feel right inside!

Be Happy

Life is too short

to be anything

but happy.

― José N. Harris

Mudflap Girl

The mudflap girl is an iconic silhouette of a woman with an hourglass body shape, 

sitting, leaning back on her hands, with her hair being blown in the wind. 

The icon is typically found on mudflaps, clothing, and other items associated 

with trucking in the United States.  This famous design was created in the 1970s 

by Bill Zinda of Wiz Enterprises in Long Beach, California, to promote his line 

of truck and auto accessories. 

Who knew you'd learn something

from a chubby gal's artsy nude blog??

Just Bein' Me

"You are a beautiful creation

perfectly imperfect...

a work in progress...

you have everything you need

to fulfill your purpose...

don't dilute yourself for

any person or any reason...

you are enough... 

be unapologetically you."

~Steve Maraboli

just a lazy Friday for me

so i "un-assed" the couch

took Sadie for a walk in

the park first, and later

took myself off to the pool

for some time to relax. 

New Hat!

Ahh the joys

of a new hat!

Can't beat a

clearance sale....

$3.00  :)

Of course, i had to

show it off.....

and i'm chuckling

at myself,

in such a hurry to

snap a pic,

i forgot to remove

the store's hang tab!!

True beauty

"Imagine if a rose bud
looked down at its thorns
and was so ashamed
that it refused to bloom?

Your flaws are real,
and they won't disappear
but that's no reason
to deprive the world of you."

(Seen on Steve Maraboli's FB page)


Such a true quote!

Black and White

Flipped this one into black and white

it just felt like it should be this way.

Stronger

“My past has not 

defined me, 

destroyed me, 

deterred me, or 

defeated me; 

it has only strengthened me.” 

― Steve Maraboli

Strong words, full of conviction

and most days i believe them.

i have such a checkered past

Nothing like breaking laws

or doing illegals things! 

and while i'm being honest

i should probably say that for

a while, my past DID define me.

being raised by religious parents

and midwest old fashioned values

one expectation was to marry well,

marry once and have it last forever.

But when it didn't last forever, 

it also didn't destroy me, 

and in spite of the mistakes i may

have made in my life,

i regret none of them.

For they brought me to the place

i am at right now.  Stronger.

We are all who we are because

of where we've been, and the 

people who have crossed our paths.

Arizona Flooding

Those of you who follow along know that
i reside in the Valley of the Sun.
this is a shot stolen from the 'net
on the other side of the valley from
where i am.  My neighborhood
didn't have any flooding such as this
but several of the freeways like this one
used for the morning commute were
shut down.  By afternoon, most of
these floods had dissipated.
Hard to believe with all that rain
the temps were still over 80 degrees. lol

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming ......

Be Yourself

“HOW   

do you define a word 

without concrete meaning? 

To each his own, the saying goes, so

WHY

push to attain an ideal state of being 

that no two random people will agree is

WHERE

you want to be? 

Faultless. Finished. Incomparable. 

People can never be these, and anyway,

WHEN

did creating a flawless facade 

become a more vital goal 

than learning to love the person

WHO

lives inside your skin? 

The outside belongs to others. 

Only you should decide for you -

WHAT

is perfect.”

― Ellen Hopkins, Perfect

long quote that i stumbled across

today as i was doing some reading.

In fact, i read through it twice

before i added it to the "save"

pile -- which of course grows

on a daily basis.

None of us are perfect

and who wants to be?

Be happy with who you are

and life will be that much easier.

Un-ASS the Couch

Reading Steve Maraboli on Saturday,

i came across one of his sayings.....

"un-ass the couch..."

so i did

headed for the pool,

a little reading

a little sun

a little swim

lots of relax

much better than ass-couching!

Today's Journey

“The beautiful journey of today 

can only begin

when we learn to let go

of yesterday.”

― Steve Maraboli

i was consumed by reading some quotes
this morning by Maraboli
his insights are sometimes marvelous
and sort of down to earth
and resonate within me.
i'm a no nonsense kind of do-er
if it needs to be done.
which is good.
and bad.
because what i am able to accomplish
in deeds
i lack in social aspects beyond
casual conversations.
But that's just who i am,
always have been.
and i am OK with it!

Find something New!

“Mirrors have three purposes. 

To show you who you are. 

To show you who you were. 

And to show you who you want to be.” 

― Dan Pearce

When you reach the point in life

where i have, a solid 55,

should you already know 

who you want to be?

Or are we a continuous

piece of work?

a life unfolding, ever changing,

bringing new things with each new day?

I like to believe that's true,

that each of us continues to strive

for something else, something new,

something that brings us peace, 

or joy, or happiness. 

Get out there, and find something new today! :) 

Mirrors

“Silence. How long it lasted, I couldn't tell. 

It might have been five seconds, it might have been a minute. 

Time wasn't fixed. It wavered, stretched, shrank. 

Or was it me that wavered, stretched, and shrank in the silence? 

I was warped in the folds of time, like a reflection in a fun house mirror.” 

― Haruki Murakami, Dance Dance Dance

i bought this mirror for myself

for my birthday.

i hung it on the wall

and had forgotten to use it as a prop!

As for the quote, if you've never read

any Murakami, you should! 

My favorite is Kafka on the Shore;

he also has a book of short stories

called "After the Quake", along with 

several other titles.