Weekends

"Light be the Earth upon you, lightly rest." Euripides  

Weekend,  the end of the week, time to rest.  I truly enjoy my weekends, especially when I live them spontaneously.  It if fun to have set plans sometimes, but oh, for those days that I may just decide on a whim what the day will hold in store.

This last weekend I did exactly that.  It was my birthday on Sunday.  I did a few dishes, but not much else in the form of  house keeping.  I just played.  My fun actually began on Friday at lunch.  My friends took me to lunch and we had a marvelous time. They are also very generous with their gift giving.  It always warms my heart.  Then another friend took me to supper on Friday.  What a wonderful way to start the weekend sharing time with friends.

On Saturday I  went to the movies with some friends, then shared the evening with my daughters eating pizza and watching movies. Then on Sunday, after church, we ate cake for breakfast!  There were presents galore! I don't usually like to be the center of attention, but what fun I had! We played some games, then my girls took me out to lunch at one of the newest attractions in town, Carmon's Creperie.  I enjoyed a very delicious Bloody Mary ( recommend them at this restaurant) and very good crepes.   Then back home to watch a movie that made us all sob unceasingly. Then it was time for the girls to go back to the dorm and to work. 

I took R to work and went into the bookstore to spend a gift certificate that I was given by a dear friend.  I found Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation on dvd and was thoroughly excited. I had her fix me a cherry-almond French soda and I just relaxed.

Another friend came over and brought me a present and watched a movie, between the time I dropped R off at work and had to go and pick her up.  Then R came home with me to munch on some veggies steamed dumplings and watch--wait for it--   another movie!

Yes indeed you can see movies make me happy( well and sad too when they are really good).

So I recommend a weekend of spontaneity, when ever possible. 

New and Exciting

"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here." J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Right now I am listening to a compilation of music from Bollywood films.  My beautiful daughter made a cd for me.  I have been contemplating how much fun I have had watching these “new” films with her and enjoying the music.

 

For me, getting really excited about something new; music or movies, makes life fun. I still love all the “old” music and movies, but the thought of something totally new to me keeps me totally bursting with anticipation of the next movie or music to immerse myself in.

 

I have something to look forward to again.  It also works like this, for me, with books. If I find an author I truly enjoy, I wait in joyful anticipation for the next book and the next.  It can be any sort of book, if I enjoy the author.  I don’t always like the most critically acclaimed books and I often enjoy just plain fluff.

 

Television shows that I really love are like this too. I can’t wait for the next show. Although, there are fewer television shows that I love as opposed to movies, music and books.

 

Thinking about something new, awaiting somewhere in time, keeps me excited.

Love and Marriage

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Mignon McLaughlin

Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage...

I came across this quotation this morning, and for me it provoked much thought.  The entertainment world quick news this morning reported the after 19 years of marriage Robin Williams and his wife are divorcing.

What is the recipe for a successful, long lasting marriage?  Is it even possible in this day and age?

17 or 19 years is a long time to be with someone else. Do men and women forget what brought them together in the first place?  Are the events of daily life too much for a couple to sustain "until death do them part"?

I am saddened by the divorce rate in this country. I am saddened by the selfishness. I am saddened by the fact that couples just don't stay together. I realize it is often difficult to put up with someone after you know all their flaws, but what then is the answer?  Okay, I will concede that sometimes people marry for the wrong reason and the love just isn't strong enough. Well the horse and carriage are the thing of the past.  Are successful marriages heading in that direction?

So I think this quotation must hold some truth.  You have to keep falling in love with that same person to achieve success.

Happiness is Perfection part 2

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." Antoine de Saint- Exupery

Happiness is being present to witness perfection. The University of Illinois Ice Arena hosted a celebration for the Fighting Illini Hockey Team last night.  The boys were all introduced and then  the ice was opened for free skate for all in attendance.  There were lots of future hockey players who were more than ready to get out there on the ice. Championship T-shirts where donned and the fun began.

My girls put on skates and joined the masses. There were people of all ages on the ice. The hockey players, sharpie in hand, were ready to sign autographs.  Now I don't skate.  Tried it once a long time ago, and I am just to clumsy.  I do enjoy watching it however.  I threw my T-shirt over the railing from my seat in the stands.  My girl, R, graciously skated around and procured autographs on my shirt!  Her delightful personality is just perfect for approaching celebrities and asking for autographs.  Now, this group of hockey players are very nice young men.  They appreciate the fans that came out to cheer them on the road to perfection. 

As she approached one group of guys asking for autographs for her mom, she pointed up in my direction, and the guys all looked up and waved with smiles on their faces.  The smile on her face is what warmed my heart.

So a truly wonderful evening and a perfect way to honor these guys who worked hard for what they earned and to say goodbye to the seniors.  This team played Lindenwood University 5 times this season, 3 in regular season and they had to play them for the CSCHL championship and the ACHA championship.  That to me is truly amazing.  How many U of I teams do you know that can beat the second best team 5 times in a row, and they were hard fought games?  So Congrats Illini Hockey Club!

Happiness is...

"Man is the artificer of his own happiness." Henry David Thoreau

Yesterday I was uninspired.  I was looking for inspiration.  Well, it appears that 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym is inspiring.  Today, I may not have anything interesting to say, but at least I feel like writing.  What else is there to do when jogging in place for 45 minutes, but think and feel!

My thoughts turned to why I was feeling so down.  I had a wonderful time with my girls over Spring break and Easter was lovely. We watched Godspell and I had never seen it before. We always watch Jesus Christ Superstar, but I had never seen Godspell. It was really good and I was taken back to the 1970's when I was a teenager.  I started to think about happiness because I was always happy in my teenage years.  I began to think about those drinking glasses that made an appearance some time in the late 70's or maybe early 80's.  You know, the ones you got at fast food restaurants, the ones that had "Happiness is ..." and some cutesy drawing of a boy and girl on them.  So I decided to start listing some of the things for me that mean happiness.  Here are a few of them, as the list could go on and on and on and on!

Happiness is-

1. The smiling faces of your children

2. The smell of bread baking in the oven

3. Lillies of the Valley in bloom

4. A large and loving family to grow up with

5. Being with my dad

6. Music, lots and lots of music of all kinds

7. Friends

8. smelling a new born babies head

9. a full moon on a clear evening

10. the view from atop a mountain

11. traveling in Scotland

12. visiting new places

13. the sight of a breaching whale

14. a Barbra Streisand movie

15. a Barbra Streisand song

16. going to the movie theater with someone special and sharing popcorn

17. watching the sunrise

18. the smell in the air after a spring rain

19. the changing colors in the fall

20. picking up a ringing phone and hearing the voice you have been longing to hear

Well there are tons more happy thoughts for me.  Maybe in a future post! 

Oh and this morning when I left for work, the waning gibbous moon was surrounded by clouds and appeared to be painted on the sky. The hint of rain is in the air and the wind was blowing so briskly that the flags were fully extended on the building near where I work.  It was an awesome sight.

Celebrate Perfection

For all the ice hockey fans, the celebration of the Perfect season will be March 24 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Ice Arena.  There will be a presentation and the team will be there to sign autographs and to skate with the public.  Championship T-Shirts will be on sale.  What a wonderful way to celebrate these amazing athletes.

I won't be skating, but I will be around for the festivities!

Uninspired

I am feeling totally uninspired to write. Maybe it is because Spring break is over and J moved back to the dorm or the fact that I wasn't able to go to the gym last week, as I broke a blood vessel in my right hand and really couldn't use it.  The good news is that after a week I have use of my right hand again and plan to head to the gym today!

Or perhaps it is the paucity of men in my life right now that has left me uninspired. Who knows, i just don't have anything to say right now. 

 Well I will be looking for some inspiration and something interesting to write about.