I can say a lot of things here and pick some influential people who changed life for the better but I’m going to go with someone who makes my life a joy and one who is there from the moment I wake up to the time I turn off the lights and go to sleep.
If I could, I would like to be Chachi, the cat, or rather Little Einstein as he likes to be called. Some might say pick a person but this little furball is a person to me. I would like to see life through his eyes for a change. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks as he looks at me with those big green eyes, I see love but it might be something else altogether! I want to see what is missing in his life and what could be made better.
The little bundle of joy has me wrapped around his paws in more ways than one. I think a cat’s life can’t be beat, well, I am speaking about HIS! There is nothing to worry about, life is a breeze and now that I’ve removed the big Japanese cherry tree from blocking his view in front of the kitchen window, Chachi has a wide-screen TV! He spends his days following me around like a second shadow and his needs are taken care of. When he is bored, he sleeps the day away and when he feels like company, it’s Mommy time! Cuddles, hugs, and kisses are all part of his daily existence and he gets plenty of those. So I say, I would like to be Chachi for a day. The laid-back existence is appealing and “no thinking” and “no worries” makes it a life I would like to experience for a day.
Daily writing prompt
If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?
The man of the hour showed up looking feeble as if he needed to be shored up. He got plenty of support from fellow Republicans. They acted like the Messiah had showed up or was it Hitler? Anyway, the accolade was loud and boisterous as they welcomed one of their own.
The address took almost two hours to get the message across. The “babbling” took off the minute he opened his mouth and it just kept on going. It didn’t matter if it was fact-based, that was never his strong suit. Myth, untruths, and factless assumptions were all there. Nothing new here, he has always adhered to “tactics” to push his agenda and has done so with little knowledge of any one subject. This is his expertise. Take something that is not true and push it as the absolute TRUTH!
He droned on keeping the Republicans captivated. What were the Democrats doing? They were silent for the most part except for Rep. Al Green, the lone crusader, holding a sign that read, “Black People Aren’t Apes.” He showed bravado and courage as he stood alone in a sea of Republicans willing to do battle and to stand up for what’s right. We need more people like him.
However, Trump was in his element. His fantasies and distortions were on full display and so were his lies and racist assumptions. The rambling two-hour address encompassed all of the above and more. One source called the address, “heavy on falsehoods, ad libs, and digressions that sometimes seemed like bids to kill time – and remarkably light on policy substance.”
That has always been the case, light on substance, I mean. He went on to denigrate immigrants, tarring and feathering them all with the same brush. According to him, they are criminals, inferior, and they bring crime into the country. He had or has believers swallowing that line, hook, line, and sinker! He also blamed the Somali-American population for importing corruption to the United States. “There are large parts of the world where bribery, fraud, and corruption are the norm, not the exception.”
The pot calling the kettle black?
The State of the Union address lacked truths, had very little substance, furthered divisive racist talk and didn’t do much to bring “the people” together. That’s just my opinion.
New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and creator, Mandy Hale inspires women with her writing and I find her quotes to be exceptionally uplifting. If you’re feeling down, turn to them and they are bound to give you a boost in the right direction.
“You’re beautiful, just the way you are. Shine on, and dare anyone to turn off your lights.”
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
“If they want to be in your life, they’ll find a way to be in your life. Otherwise, they’ll find excuses.”
That’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”
A smile, a kind word, or a soothing touch is all it takes to do just that.
“The most beautiful day is the day you decide you’re good enough for you. It’s the day you set yourself free.”
A good one but putting it into practice is the hard part.
“A busy, vibrant, goal-oriented woman is so much more attractive than a woman who waits around for a man to validate her existence.”
Women tend to do that but I think we are learning that our existence or rather our validation does not depend on a man. I hope so!
“To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.”
Perfectly said!
“No matter how much you stress or obsess about the past or future, you can’t change either one. In the present is where your power lies.”
This one knocked some sense into me. I love stressing and obsessing so a definite reminder to pay attention and to do different.
Too easy to get = just as easy to forget.
Absolutely and one to pay attention to.
Finally, I LOVE THIS ONE!
“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity and leap before you look. Dance as though everybody is watching. March to the beat of your own drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.”
I think it was to renovate one of the rooms upstairs. The door needed some painting and the walls as well. I wanted to turn it into a nice guest room and instead of getting a professional to do it which would have cost a lot of money, I decided to give it a try. A “TRY” is the main word here since I had no experience doing what I was about to undertake.
I Googled and than YOUTUBED to get some knowledge on how and where to start with this project. It seemed like a monster undertaking but I had time on my hands and ambition on my side or so I thought! The beginning went as planned. I got the “stuff” I needed and was pleased as punch with my progress. Then it went downhill from there! Nothing seemed to be going right and I was covered with paint from head to toe in no time at all! I had forgotten to put a plastic cover on the floor to protect the carpet so I had another mess going. Halfway through the day, I gave up! It was time to call in the people who knew what they were doing. An amateur was no match for this huge DIY project.
Long story short, the guys came in, took one look, laughed and got the job done in record time. I spent the next week trying to get the paint out of my hair, fingers, arms and everywhere else! Lesson learned and I kowtow to the people in the know. DIY is not for me, I am a klutz in more ways than one!
Daily writing prompt
Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.
Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for a week now. I thought it would take its time getting here but we’ve got a day to go before you take off to start your new life.
I’ve been walking around like a zombie doing things I need to get done to prepare for tomorrow. Your cats will be here and there is much to prepare to make sure that their needs will be met. I think I’ve got it down pat now, the “needs” bit but not how it will be with three cats running around. I am a little nervous.
Then your dad called earlier today and that brought it all home. You are leaving and there is no turning back. It is onwards and forwards. I’ve been brave or rather trying to be brave and I succeeded until dad said, “I’m at his place. We are loading the stuff into the car.” It hit home and the move is taking place.
What can I say that I haven’t said already? Sometimes, I wish I can turn back time. I want to go back to when you were a five-year-old and you needed me. I was there to take care of all your needs and to keep you safe. I want to go back to when we played that game, the one where you asked, “How much do you love me?” My answer, “To the moon and back and again to the moon and back!” That always brought a giggle and a chuckle from you. Those days are gone but they live on in memories.
The reality is that a lot of things have changed and they are changing. Tomorrow, I will hug you tight, kiss you on the cheek, make sure you have everything you need, knowing full well that I’ve forgotten something in my rush to make sure you have everything you need. I will try not to break into tears as I stand there and watch you walk out the door. All of that will come later as I retreat indoors and try to deal with this situation as well.
I think mothers and fathers are different. Your dad seems to be fine but I’m sure he heard the “break” in my voice as I asked, “Is he alright?” Let me tell you something so you know without a shadow of a doubt where you stand with me. I want you to know that I love you. You are very important to me and no matter what, I will always try to be there for you. Life is taking you away and I hope to a better future. I also hope that it will be kind to you and the new people you meet will care about you as you form your new circle of friends. Most of all, I hope you stay safe.
I want to tell you not to do these things. Don’t do your long walks with your headphones on so that you are not aware of your surroundings. Be careful because you will be in a big city and there is much you have to learn and look out for. I KNOW that you think you know everything and I should let you live your life BUT I still see you as that little boy who I nurtured and walked with holding that tiny hand in mine. I guess I will always have that picture in my mind.
I know that you are a young adult now and I should treat you as such. It is hard but I will try. You, my son, are fully capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. You are strong, you are intelligent, you are goal-oriented and like your mother, a very strong person.
This will be another challenge for me. Another one that will require my strength and my belief that all will be well. It’s not to say that I won’t freak out from time to time wondering if you are fine. I’m going to say this and leave it at that. I trust and believe you will be fine and you will make your way as I did a long time ago.
Got your attention? I think those of you who read my articles regularly know that I’ve been looking for the needle in the haystack and it hasn’t been easy being out there. Where? Out in the dating world.
I’ve come across many who claim to be Prince Charming but in actuality are frogs in disguise. I know, I know, you just have to kiss them and they might turn into the man of your dreams. So far, no luck. They’ve remained frogs! Around the middle of last year, I came to a screeching halt and decided to pull the plug on dating. However, at the beginning of this year, I decided to give it another try.
Out of the eight who showed up wearing hopeful smiles, I narrowed it down to two. One was a Biochemical Engineer, nice enough guy in the beginning but a total full of himself j**k. Maybe, it was me but never mind. After two dates, I decided to call it off. I tried to be nice, which is my problem, but he hung up on me showing his true self. The last man standing was just a simple guy who grew up in these parts, the farmers are his best friends, doesn’t speak any English but has decided that he has only eyes for me. Nice guy? Hold on.
On our first date, he was very attentive and as he walked me to the door, he stole the kiss. It was totally unexpected. I pushed him away before he took it further and later when he called he asked, “Did I shock you?” My answer, “Yes, you did.”
Anyway, I decided to pull the stick out of my you know what and to give him another chance. Nice guys don’t come around too often, that was my reasoning. Second date went just fine. We had lunch and went for a walk. It was nice and it was my kind of date. Third date was supposed to be a breakfast date and he decided to take another huge leap.
HIM: “My sister wants to join us.”
ME: “Why?!!”
HIM: “She wants to meet you.”
ME: “Why?!!”
HIM: “Because she asked.”
Oh God. Things were moving like a train on a collision course! Then he began using the “we” word whenever he talked about us. If that wasn’t enough to give you chills running down your spine, he started sending early morning messages, like at 5 in the mornings! Then he started hammering the nail in the coffin as quickly as he could by calling me, “Mein Schatz.” In German, my darling or my treasure, whatever the case may be, you get the picture. My signals were all going off and you know I have plenty of them where men are concerned. Anyway, still I persevered. I met the sister and we hit it off. He told me that she thought I was five or ten times better than his other girlfriends. So, he went, “Welcome to the family.” Lord, have mercy!
I also found out that he smokes which is an absolute no-go for an hypocondraic and a health nut like me. I did tell him that but he promised that he wouldn’t do it in front of me. However, I Googled, my steady companion who never fails to come up with answers said this,
“It doesn’t matter. Third-hand smoke is a killer too. Smokers have toxins coming out of every pore and some of it will wear off on you causing heart problems and a stroke at times.
Lord, help me! I like the guy. He is caring albeit a little touchy feely. He thinks he has found the right person for him after three dates and I think he has “forever” showing in his eyes. Me? Not so much. He stole a kiss and he has hugged me and held my hands. That is about it although he keeps talking about spending the weekend together. Knowing me, that would be a big, big, hurdle to cross. Plus those “toxins” are not helping matters much.
Another one bites the dust? Maybe, I don’t know yet. Still thinking on that one. Thinking is my problem too, I overthink things. I told a friend yesterday that at this rate, I will go to my grave as a single woman. He was nice and said, “I think you are very nice and there is nothing wrong with you.” So, why do I wind up in these situations? A more pertinent question is, “Where is my Prince Charming? The one who will be an almost perfect fit. Where is he?!!”
The universe in its wisdom is saying, “All in good time, my child. He’ll show up when you least expect it and I’m working on it but you are not making it easy!”
Sometimes we need that duct tape over our mouths! There is not just one word but several that I would like to see permanently eradicated from usage simply because they do not add but detract from the English language as a whole.
Their use is easy to those who have a limited vocabulary and to those who think some of those words are “power words.” I detest the “F” word. Listening to someone using this word like confetti strewn throughout a sentence makes my skin crawl. I grew up in a household where cuss words, swear words and racial slurs were not allowed and if caught using them, there was hell to pay. A younger brother rebelled against such restrictions and the “F” word became his favorite word to get his disgust, anger or whatever else he was trying to get across. I heard him using it one day and told on him! Yes I was a tattle-tale but it was for his own good. Dad read him the riot act after hearing about it and we didn’t talk for a long time after. He did forgive me at a later point in time and I never heard him use it again or maybe not just around me!
If I have to cuss or use a swear word, I SPELL it out. It seems to take the sting out of it or so I think! A former boyfriend asked me, “Why can’t you just say the “F” word and be done with it?” My answer, “I can’t!” Fortunately, there are not many occasions where I’ve had to resort to such words and I can count them on one hand! Coming back to cuss words, George Washington once said:
“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.”
However, Mel Brooks had this to say: “I’ve been accused of vulgarity. I say that’s bulls**t.”
Two sides of the coin right there. I think eradicating such words especially of the hurtful nature such as racial slurs is a must but I can wish and hope and stand on my head and turn blue in the face but change will be a long time coming if ever!
Daily writing prompt
If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?
I did the test drive and came off looking like a winner. It was nerve-racking when I got there and the guy at the dealership asked, “Ready to do the test drive?” with a big smile on his face. I stuttered, “I think so.” He laughed and said, “I’ll be right next to you so nothing will go wrong.”
The car wasn’t exactly like the one I’m looking at. The guy reassured me that it will be ok. I CAN drive this one too. It had a few new-fangled things but I decided to ignore them and hoped they would ignore me too! I took my seat, adjusted the mirrors like a pro, fastened the seatbelt and started the engine! So far, so good. I had to make the car move which meant taking my foot off the brake pedal and that took some time coming. Finally, we moved out of the parking area, into the short street leading to the main road and I told myself, “Calm down!” I waited till I could merge and took off.
Surprisingly the car was very quiet. He said it was on the electric mode and that little symbol on the dash shows you that. Where?!! He went on to explain that it does it automatically so nothing to worry about. It had some nice features, it showed the temperature outside, it showed the speed limit I should be doing and did a tiny beep or two when I exceeded what I was supposed to be doing. It was compact, it handled well, and I liked how it felt! I was so comfortable that we talked the whole way during the drive. He also mentioned that I was driving the car like I had been driving it for a long time and not just today. Wow! Sales pitch? I don’t know but I liked driving the car. Doing the reverse was a breeze and this thing had cameras everywhere!
We pulled back into the park place at the dealership and I was almost ready to say, “I’ll take it!” Knowing me, I took the cautious route. We went back into his office and he offered me more than I expected for my current car. Hmm….I couldn’t believe it but still I couldn’t make the “horse drink from the water.” So, I asked a few more questions. He told me the guarantee was for 5 years and I could pay to have it for 10 years. Then he went on to say, “What could go wrong? You have a new car.”
ME: “A lot could go wrong according to what Google told me and the well-meaning friends who have been helping me.”
However, I kept my mouth shut. Am I taking it? I asked for a day or two to make up my mind. He agreed and said, “I will hear from you on Wednesday?”
ME: “Yes, I think you will.”
As I left his office, I was glad to be out of there. It felt like I had accomplished something. Basically, the test-drive that had been taunting me all weekend, I achieved it without batting an eye and I gave myself a pat on the back for that. Have I made up my mind? What do you think?!!
I’ve roped someone else to go look at some other cars tomorrow. Why? Just because it is a lot of money and I want to be absolutely sure I’m making the right decision. Just like the guys I date you say?
Whether it is a six month challenge or something longer, I’ve accepted the challenge and there is no going back now. It is not about bringing a new book out, it is not about finding a new guy, and it is not about changing my life for the better. This time around it is not about any of those things.
Many of you know about my son leaving to start a new job and it will be happening sooner than later. Thursday of this week, he will show up here with his dad and it will be a long time before I see him again. His life will be changing and the new job will demand his focus and presence there. Along with it comes a six-month trial period which is normal for jobs here. It will also include going to Berlin for two weeks and then back to where he needs to be to jump in head first into the unfamiliar.
My challenge or rather my mission if I choose to accept it is to look after his two cats while he explores the unfamiliar. I’ve agreed to look after them, to make sure that they are well-taken care of and to keep them safe for him. The good thing is Chachi will finally have friends to play with while I pull my hair out! Knowing Chachi, I know that he will be over the moon for a few days but I think he will want his peace because we both lead boring lives and being on his “paws” the whole day will wear him out.
The two cousins as I call them are Shiro, a white Persian with startling blue eyes and Galahad, a grey British short-haired cat with orange eyes. Shiro is daddy’s little princess and Galli, as I call him, is much bigger than Chachi and a no-nonsense sort of guy. Chachi seems to think that he can take them both at one go. Poor thing, he has something else coming!
Here is the thing, I’ve been spending time thinking about this big responsibility. I have Chachi and we love our time together. Adding two more to the equation seems like a huge thing and perhaps it is. On one hand, I am a little nervous and on the other hand, I think I am fully capable of handling the challenge and helping my son along the way. I know that he is sad about leaving them behind, I can’t see myself without Chachi around. So I know what he must be going through. Plus, his babies will be sad too and they will miss him horribly. The first couple of days is going to take some getting used to for all of us. Afterwards, I hope we can get back to normal. Still, it is a little scary this huge responsibility but with all things, it is going to take some shifting of my priorities, Chachi getting used to them and reeling his macho personality in and I hope the house survives the turmoil and chaos!
We shall see.
Daily writing prompt
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
The word “chase” encapsules the thrill of the pursuit and it evokes feelings of urgency because chasing either your dreams, a special person, or your success story requires this single-minded focus and sometimes everything else goes out of focus and the chase is what you’re about. You feel the adrenaline rush and it takes you to new highs, not always a good thing but who cares because in that moment, you are alive and that is all that matters.
We know this well, don’t we? We’ve done it all the way through childhood to where we’re at now. In the earlier years, the chase was about doing better in school, exceling at sports, or being the popular person at school. In your teens, the social world opened up and the chase was about accomplishments, attracting a boy or girl, and fitting in. Adulthood brought about new things to chase. Love, success, wanting to make it so that you can climb the rungs of success. It was expected and you conformed and sometimes you enjoyed the chase and sometimes you didn’t but it was part of your life.
Along the way we learned that chasing was necessary if we wanted something bad enough. We also learned that sometimes the chasing wasn’t just about the good things. There were moments when we chased situations that were not good for us. It didn’t matter because we wanted what we wanted and even if the outcome was going to be bad, we put on blinders and did the dance of chasing. Along the way, we became experts at all kinds of chasing and sometimes to our own detriment. The truth of the matter is that we have been in various forms of chase throughout our lives.
Life becomes more exciting when you are in the chase mode or rather you have something to live for. Sometimes it keeps us on the edge and at other times we can do without the blood-pumping adrenaline rush but giving it up is a hard thing to do. Have you ever chased the wrong person in a relationship knowing full well that you should let it die a slow death or even a fast one? How many times did you chase just because you didn’t want to give up what was bad for you? Your heart wanted what it wanted and you went along for the ride. We are pros when it comes to seeking out what we desire passionately.
This unassuming word was referred to as “chacier” in Old French and in Latin “captare” meaning to seize. According to one source, “when we chase something — be it success, happiness, or even closure — we’re not merely pursuing; we’re reaching out for possession over our own narratives.”
Those stories that we tell ourselves can sometimes be our worst enemies. So, the next time you decide to “chase” or to do the chasing, think carefully. Do you really want it? Is it good for you? Or is it better off left alone?
Life Got Quieter in a Good Way
When I switched from expect to accept, my life got quieter — in the best way. Fewer arguments, fewer overreactions, fewer battles at 2 a.m. I don’t chase responses, don’t pressure outcomes, don’t demand constant reassurance. I accept what is real, release what is draining, and let peace take up the space where chaos used to live.” MORNING SMILE
If that isn’t enough to let go and release the chase, here is something that might help you do just that if you believe in the universe that is.
“Be so deep in alignment with your intention that your dream starts to chase you.” The Universe
Have an amazing day and instead of chasing, sit back and let it come and get you!
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