A wee pause for something Completely Different..............

Thinking rather a lot lately of future Road Trips and TRULY remarkable people.......one in particular, whom I wish ALL the very BEST in her Break OUT, Break THROUGH Performance.....bound to be a TOTALLY enthralling and inspiring experience in just a few days (would do nearly ANYTHING to Be THERE Pekes..........hope you understand that :) 

That said, I came across this little bit whilst catching up on today's 'news'..........THIS is an amazing, REAL woman............who "has been known to skip a few pages "  ....LOL......God Bless You Betty, you ROCK......what an absolutely astounding legacy your son left behind for all of us.  

Thank You, ever so much :)

What IF indeed............

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/01/18/bc-terry-fox-memorial.html

Personally, I can't believe it's been over 30 years......time's fun when you're having  flies and all that.... let us never forget, however,  the shiny bright bits and people, whom often fade far too quickly  :) 

Just a little food for thought in between Road Trips..............

Namaste

Texas View of the World.......

I really, REALLY needed this Laugh..........after being both  over and underwhelmed  lately ...depending on the layer of the onion *LOL* 

THANK YOU Pekes !

Love Ya HEAPS........THIS is just quite Brilliant actually :)

Succeed.

Time for another Road Trip soon I hope............

and  I shall remain, EVER so pleased to be an Honourary ('scuse the spellin'..Y'alllll.....I'm still a Canuck remember ;) ........ TEXAN !

Live, Love, LAUGH ......

Namaste,  

"Tex Max" ;)

2011 Buddha Bless

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. 

Your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown. 

None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will overtake you and you will be denied the joy that ...comes from labour´s end.

Speak quietly and kindly and be nor forward with either opinions or advice.  If you talk much this will make you deaf to what others say and you should know that there are few so wise that they can not learn from others.  Be near when help is needed but far when praise and thanks are being offered. 

Take small account of might , wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. 

Instead nurture love within you and strive to be a friend to all. Truly compassion is a balm for many wounds.

Treasure silence when you find it and while being mindful of your duties set time aside to be alone with yourself. Cast off pretence and self-deception and see yourself as you really are. Despite all appearance no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light rather than blame and condemnation. You, no less than all beings, have Buddha Nature within. your essential mind is pure. Therefore when defilement causes you to stumble and fall, let not remorse nor dark fore-Bonding cast you down.

Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on. 

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom it is that makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in light.

- Dhammawadaka

 

~ BLISSINGS ~   

 

Oddly Enough......

Despite this being a , very, "Private" Blog (Oxymoron entirely, I know this BUT there were, very few of you, that knew anything at all about it really :) ...........
and,  despite my having entirely run out of time for Tall Texas Tales (still can't say that without a Head To Toe *GRIN*...Lordy but I DO Love you all..... :)  

.....it is, apparently, still  being READ (???)

I admit to this being more than a little Intimidating really........Lord knows there's no future Road Trips anytime soon (!!!)........SooOOooOoooOo...........it's somewhat like running down the Main Drag in your knickers.....which I would NEVER do (really ;)  most of you that know anything at all about my Closet Blog tendencies usually just RING me if you really want to know anything.......much like Today......LOL. 

Wild. 

Thank YOU ;)

That said, having spent much of this day on the telephone to Toronto, Los Angeles , Great Britian and Edmonton......

THE most memorable convo being the discovery that my very own Kinder Child hath apparently already seen "The Fighter" , in which, a Very Dear Chum (Hello LA :) appears repeatedly.........

I had NO idea he had seen it ( we were supposed to go together.....one of those Suck It Up MUMSY moments ...... )   SO,  imagine my surprise to have him snatch the phone from me , to talk , at length, to said Dear Chum about said movie............BREATHE......lol......

Apparently Autographs from the next Marky Mark film hath already been procured AND said Dear Chum hath also already posted appropriately Ego Boosting notes on Kinder Child's FB Wall...........technology. 

Very Strange.  Who knew really ?

Life's like that........mine anyhow.  All of a sudden a lake front powerless cabin for New Year's sounds kind of charming actually........Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

That said, I'm lifting up mein oars LOL and saying..........WHATEVER (!!).........heading into the coming year.......I'm quite certain I now have absolutely NO clue..........(stuff a sock in it Colorado.........I can HEAR you laughing.....pick on the Little Guy......Ya Ya...... :P   )

Anyhoo....I digress, as usual .

The purpose of this random speed wobble through here is that this much Beloved Hollywood Chum sent me THIS , abolutely BRILLIANT little clip shortly after our conversation and, for some odd (not that I am ever *ahem*  :P ) reason I felt compelled to post it here in this teeny corner of my world ;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84fPPd_CEPU&feature=player_embedded

This is SO worth watching (more than once) ......THANK YOU BONNIE.......well, WOW :~)

Entirely not Road Trippy , sorry, but..........it totally appeals to both the Shutter Bug.....and well, just the Bug ;) ...............that IS Me.  Do BE DO........it FITS , very much so in this moment :)

"Me who Loves" and  THAT, is, really......WHO I am..........God Bless TEXAS for proving that one, without a doubt.........

I DO..........simply just Love Loving YOU !!  and a bunch of other Random Folks too :P

THIS says it ALL.............. for this particular little Froo Froo Libran Alien anyhow LOL

Off to deal with, what sounds like......eek........a Living Room full of wrestling teenage boys.......they grow OUT of this...........when ? ........and then, hopefully, watch "The Holiday".....again.....just because, despite loathing both Jack Black AND Jude Law it just , really, makes me SMILE..............LOL 

I'm sticking just with that Froo Froo , New Aged , LOVE  YOU LOTS !!   ......."Thang"..........failing that, Bless Their Wee Hearts !!  (Texas Style ;)

WooOOot WooOOOt ;)

(Sounds of Things Actually Breaking (!!!) in my wee abode translate to G'Night and Please pass the Swiffer .......thanks !!!  Rrrrrrrr

ENJOY the remains of this year.  



:~D

As another year starts coming to a close.....

Well, it would appear as though I'll not be getting around to those Texas updates this year....ever so sorry, my Intentions were honourable  :( 

This was a bit of a wee experiment in the first place and Life has a way of interrupting....more so in the rush of the holiday season.......never mind that "What are YOU doing New Years ?" Thang.....eek........(so much for THAT is all I can say.....is there a Texas equivalent of 'oi' by any chance ?  :) 

That said, all is well in Texas.....which is what matters most ;)
Vic  got her 'gitchy' new trach and made it Home safely for the holidays.  She can, for the first time in years, SING again.........OH how my wee heart can't wait to hear that ....what I wouldn't give to be DOING so by your hearth over the holidays, Sisters.....I swear I'd give absolutely everything to sing Auld Lang Syne with you......MAGIC...<insert Tears For Texas here > perhaps next year?  Wait for me , Please......

I'm finding myself in entirely the wrong place for the holidays.......my heart being held fast by both San Antonio and Toronto.....wish I was there, I really DO.  I am , oddly, adrift....dunno where I will eventually land but I will be with each and every one of you in Spirit anyhoo  :~D 

As usual, I'm already hoping, with appropriate fervor,  on getting 'up'  to a few things in the New Year ;) .....new places and faces and, hopefully, a return to Texas (anyone interested in joining me?  LOL ) 

I promised, I never break my word and I honestly don't think  I'll ever be able to go too terribly long without Y'all .....  I'll save the 'updates' here for then.....my memory needs refreshing anyhow and a Gal can never get enough of those Texas Sized hugs either ;) 

For now I'll just be wishing you all the VERY best throughout  these holidays and into the coming year.

Please keep yourselves warm and safe, you're all carrying a bit o' my Heart with you, always,   and you know just how much I hate the cold  !
(unless appropriately dressed, libated and in Yummy company of course...then it's  just lovely really ;)

May much Love, Light, Laughter and Magic bless your Hearts and your Homes and send you grinning in anticipation into the New Year. 

This past one was difficult for ever so many of us.....2011 is going to simply ROCK......that's a Promise :)

Pinky Swear (and you know how well I swear :P )

Remember :

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in Life. Comes in to us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." ~ John Wayne

I have, and it IS......WAY ;) 

Thus far I have been tremendously blessed by your presence in MY   Life (Thank You) this passed one (Thank Gawd AND his Dawgs it's over ) and I look forward, ever so much really,  to sharing my 'tomorrows' and future Adventures with all of YOU.

Love you LOTS, you are AMAZING .  

Cheers,

K :~D 

Sunset on 2010.........

no Whims......just a few Prayers please.........

for my Sister Sprite and Texas Rose, Miss Vicki.

Keep her in your healing thoughts and prayers as she faces one of her biggest challenges ever.......

Love you LOTS and I WILL, hopefully sometime in the very near future , see you again !!!

We'll re-name the Vader Van together okay?

Sleep Sweet Texas.....................

(you can and WILL do this.......*woof*  ;)  

Still pressing "Pause"......

My apologies really.........there are still ever so many Tall Tales Of Texas I hath not yet told.....

Trouble is, Life just HAPPENS really.

Footloose and Fancy Free in Texas has turned into , well.......Dealing with 'stuff '.

So, as I apparently have ever so MUCH 'stuff' to deal with....LOL........it's taking me just a bit to get back Here ;)

My heart IS, still, very much so,  in Texas. 

I'm rather certain a goodly portion of it shall remain there and I will enjoy visiting it every now and again (much like Ontario :) 

Meanwhile, back at this Rancho.....I am dealing, with, IT (!)

Life is nothing if not interesting......mine certainly no less so....anyone know a Decent lawyer (oxymoron, yes...LOL ) please send him HERE...........jeez...........

So, please bear with me......whilst I take the proverbial  bull(s)  by the horns and work it all OUT......

When I find some solid footing again...........SOON I hope.............I'll fill in all the Texas Gaps :)

Meanwhile I'll get out of the rain and the cold, sit back with a cup of Mexican Spiced Cocoa (courtesy of Texas of course....LOVE you :) and pick a bull to stare down....

LOL

Keep well, back at you soon I hope....

Light, Love , Laughter  :~D

(and not necessarily in that order but it all works out in the end ;)

Small but Mighty Determined :P

Touch Down.....

My return 'Home' started at 2am Pacific time, involved two planes (one of which came with a FEMA Search and Rescue Dog under my seat for the duration :) a train, a bus (which managed to find a 6 car accident and get trapped on a bridge for nearly an hour) and yet another ferry.......these feet hit my rock at 7 pm that day.  Yikes.  I am, entirely too old for that level of 'adventure' I think .....

So, I must admit to being  Home again......have been so for several days but I'm still oddly not really HERE just yet, I'm not really sure if I ever will be either.

Every now and again your heart finds another Home.   Mine just did.

As if being torn between my physical love of All Things Island and my emotional attachments to all those that came before in Ontario wasn't good enough........I've now left a big chunk behind in Texas.  Of all places...Texas??.... who knew really?  I can't honestly say I've ever done so much, BEen so much and met such truly amazing people........all in the briefest of time and, on a whim and a prayer ;)

WOW. 

There are still many stories to tell and images to share, from The Hill Country, Luckenbach (which really IS a step back in time) to the winding San Antonio River and The Alamo.....homemade root beer and REAL Dr. Pepper too (!)......there remain a few more wee conversations for sure.  

For now however, that little thing called Reality must take precedence.......I've got to get caught up and have 'things' to deal with....Big Things that, with a fresh Texas perspective, don't seem nearly as scary anymore but require my urgent attentions for the next wee while in any case.

I'm leaving some images behind to hold this space.........I'll also leave my boots checked by the door, to be put back on again just as soon as I am able.

Cheers

(and, of course, MUCH Love to Texas :)  

Cody , Under Seat Security ;)

Enchanted Rock

Cactii, Papaya and Palms at The Alamo

Lunch Along The River

Sweet Honeysuckle

My Door Stop for now......

Going Postal

A slightly better place holder....until I'm trapped in an airport somewhere again anyhow :)

This afternoon I gained a whole new appreciation for the term "going postal"...having experienced up close and personal what the US Postal Service actually LOOKS like to your everyday average Joe.

I am, like ever so many other people (who rarely admit it, just to make ME look bad, I'm sure ;) Packing Challenged.  I just can't DO it.  Really.  Ever. I seriously need some strapping young thing to just say "here, let me do that for you "  :) I can however, almost certainly be relied upon to over pack in a Texas style way .

Whoops she did it again. At least I didn't disappoint myself !

When one has to sit and/or wrestle a suitcase into submission originally, adding MORE items doesn't work very well.  The math's off entirely.....

So. 

SHIP it BACK I think ?

.......adding another bit of luggage is NOT an option, considering the altogether total impossibility of wrangling TWO cases plus 'puter plus Me all the way back to BC via the previously mentioned  plane/train/bus/ferry scenario.

I felt quite ill just thinking about it.

Postal Service outlet here we come............what we walked IN to however was nothing any  more cheerful than a funeral parlor. Less so, if that's actually possible. I can't honestly recall ever experiencing any energy quite like THAT before.  ABJECT MISERY.  Complete and total.  Huge line up of entirely morose people with a mere two equally morose clerks moving the masses along at a snails pace.  It was like some B Grade Horror film.....

Not ONE single smile, sniffle or word from any single anything.  No muzak, no rustling of feet, NO sound whatsoever .  Creepy, morose, SILENCE. 

Had you heard a pin drop it would have been  groaning. 

Apparently this is the way it just IS and , for many Americans, going to the Post Office is akin to a root canal and/or putting a much beloved pet down.  They clearly do NOT want to BE there and the atmosphere resonates with their unhappiness, which they are forced to linger in longer due to staffing cutbacks.  Being the clerks at the receiving end of THAT all day ??  I cannot even begin to imagine it but they too are the pictures of abject misery and "going postal" would be entirely reasonable and probably quite appealing under such appalling working conditions.   

I have, never, seen so many actual frowns in one place before. 

Seeing as it physically pains both myself and my current Hostess With The Mostest to actually physically frown (frankly I don't think either of us possesses the required muscles) we just can't DO this particular zone but we are certainly forced to do something as the parcel MUST be posted or all will be entirely lost and children in Canada will be forced to go shoeless LOL

So......we just BE...... ourselves :~D

Initially we got treated much like Aliens from another planet (perhaps we are) .  Eyes were averted, down usually and several frowns actually deepened with the sound of our usual banter, accompanied with the usual  fits of laughter. Customs forms ARE funny really...what IS the ACTUAL dollar value of my favourite tatty t-shirt? my well hiked sneakers?  flip flops??......

What's THIS they think ??? 

Two loud and clearly happy middle aged women, a strange sounding one wearing a t-shirt with a Ginourmous, Rainbowed Paw/Peace Sign and  a local with a melodic giggle and presence to match... oh MY...whatever are they DOing??

.....Fifteen minutes and much laughter (yes I made a lot of Canuck jokes...it works, as does a room full of people listening to me try to explain WHY I'm shipping used clothing etc back to Canada  :) later......Parcel successfully posted (Space In Case only to be replaced by several pairs of soccer cleats and exercise trainers LOL).....we left an entirely different space.  Clerks not only smiling again , but LAUGHING......people talking, most of them also smiling................WOW.

These little cupcakes turned THOSE frowns entirely upside down :~D

We didn't do or be anything other than what and whom we ARE. 
We walked into a very oppressive and unpleasant situation and stayed OUR course.... turned it all around, for the better, for a number of people, the least of which being those poor postal clerks , whom we left laughing and most likely telling stories that may well make us Urban Legends :)  Again.  Ha !

It cost us nothing, we laughed, we played........we resisted the common element of misery and PREVAILED.

My package got posted and my kids will get their shoes too!! *LOL*

Win Win.

Live, Love, Laugh.......................

:)

Random Act of Silly....Just Because ;)

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Just a quick note to say I am very much still alive and well in Texas......heading home soon and will try to fill in the myriad of gaps ..................busy busy.....I LOVE Texas and it appears to love me too.....it's going to be very hard to head back really.........