Looking Back

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Dr. Seuss

Standing at the stern watching Catalina sail away.

The boat ride from Catalina to the mainland was quick. Getting back into the swing of things, well that didn’t take long either.

But, driving around today taking care of all my errands, I’m reminded how courteous and friendly everyone on Catalina is: It’s such a contrast to the Angeleno lifestyle.

So, I’m already planning my next return trip to captivating Catalina. Hopefully, my husband will be able to join me, and am looking forward instead of looking back.

Shine On

Hooting in the House

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“When cats run home and light is come,
And dew is cold upon the ground,
And the far-off stream is dumb,
And the whirring sail goes round,
And the whirring sail goes round;
Alone and warming his five wits,
The white owl in the belfry sits.”
Alfred Tennyson

The California Great Horned Owl

Late every evening, for the past two months I hear the sound of an owl hooting. To hear the owl clearly, you must be outside the front door. The calls from the owl are coming from the roof and echo and bounce off the outside walls of our nine story building.

Like a well tuned clock, the owls hooting begins at ten o’clock each night. Unfortunately, because I have night blindness and have no access to the roof, I have not actually seen this owl.

Being the owl fan I am, everyone I know has heard about this owl. They all look at me like I’m nuts and tell me “that’s nice.” My husband just thinks I have bats in my belfry. (That’s another post at another time.)

Last night when my owl buddy began to hoot, I turned to my husband and asked.

“Can you hear it? Can you hear it?”

“I don’t hear anything.” Said my husband.

I grabbed my husband by the hand, led him off the sofa, away from his car show to the front door and opened the door. We stood at the door for a few seconds, and then the owl gave his distinguished hoot. We both listened as the owl hooted several times.

I was excited as a school girl that my husband had finally witnessed the hoots from my visiting friend. Excited that we had shared the sounds from one of natures most majestic creatures. On the other hand, my husband didn’t share my excitement and just replied “that’s nice”, and returned to the sofa and his car show.

To me its the little things in life that make me happy and give me hope. I love nature and all its wonder. Why has this owl chose our building? Is it because it is the tallest spot facing the ocean? Is it because his hooting echo’s and carries farther for other owls to hear and find him?

I’d like to believe the arrival of this owl and his hooting every night is a sign. A sign of hope. A sign of all the good to come. A sign of wisdom and what knowledge can bring.

But, that is the never-ending romantic in me. For whatever the reason this owl arrived at our building, I’m enjoying all the hooting in the house.

Shine On

Our Lives

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth,
so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind.
To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again.
To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over
the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
Henry David Thoreau

On my afternoon walk, I noticed that the city of Redondo Beach added more mosaics to the pillars along the Esplanade. I took some photos and just had to share these beautiful works of art. Click on the pictures to see a more detailed photo of the mosaic.

Shine On

The Nitty-Gritty

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Successful organizing is based on the recognition
that people get organized because
they too have a vision.”
Paul Wellstone

My First PDA, the Palm Pilot circa 1997.

I like to think of myself as a very detail oriented person. Making “TO DO” lists daily helps me to keep on top of everything. I’m proud to say, rarely does anything fall through the cracks. Also, crossing off each accomplishment throughout my day, gives me great satisfaction when I complete a task.

In the past I used a “Day Runner”. Some of you might remember this company from the 1970s. I actually carried around two of these notebooks, one for work and one for personal appointments.

Then in 1997 my thoughtful husband noticed how much these notebooks weighted me down, so he bought me my first PDA, a “Palm Pilot”. This device was basically the forerunner of the Apple iPhone. This little device held all my work and personal information in one hand with a touch of a stylus-pen (the little pointy-thing).

Enter the new millennium where I began using applications on my laptop, my iPhone, and then my iPad to keep me organized. I very rarely use a pen and paper any more as a “TO DO” list. I’ve probably saved a hundred trees by not writing things down.

This brings me to my husband. He seems to have an aversion to writing down his “TO DOs”. He barks his list at me and wants me to “write it down” for him. Sometimes, when we are in the car and he gives me some tasks to take care of, and it doesn’t get added to my digital “TO DOs”, his request goes in one ear and out the other.

I kinda resolved this problem. I handed him a spiral notepad and a pen. He has been starting to write some things down to remind me, but I still have to tell him, “if it ain’t written down, it ain’t gonna get done”. My mind can’t seem to remember all the details of everyday life, unless he writes it down or I input it into one of my digital devices.

Got to run. My husband just phoned and gave me a task to take care of for him, and he asked me to “write it down” for him.

Excuse me while I get down to the nitty-gritty.

Shine On

Chasing My Tail

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“The ‘self-image’ is the key to human personality and human behavior.
Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior.”
Maxwell Maltz

Two Thousand pound baby elephant enjoying his bath.

Does My Butt Look Big in This Picture?

You have to admit, most questions you ask someone, you already know the answer. When it comes to a women’s body image, she should never ask her significant other if her butt looks big.

Why?

Because nine times out of ten he will lie and the other one time he’s truthful, it’s because he likes big butts on women.

After reading a recent fitness magazine article on women’s self-image, it stated that 64% of women do not like how their body looks. Another 59% would like to lose at least 10 pounds. A whopping 43% of women say their husband or boyfriend is the person most likely to make them feel good about their weight.

Most of women’s insecurity about their bodies is due to the fact for decades the fashion and movie industry showed us thin, skinny women as role models of beauty. Just in the past few years, with the popularity of stars such as, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Coco, some “junk in your trunk” has become fashionable. But, most insecurities begin long before you look at a fashion magazine.

I believe our insecurities about our physical and intellectual capabilities begin at an early age. Some people I have known, carry these insecurities with them to their grave. For me, it wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I really didn’t give a dam what other’s thought and began to believe in myself. It took a while for me to not let the negativity of others influence my self worth.

We just don’t realize how lucky we are with what we have, until we lose it. Whether it be our flaws that only we can see, or people in our life that we take for granted. We must be happy and grateful for each day. If we lived our lives with more gratitude and less envy, I believe we would enjoy more each and every day.

I’m learning to look forward instead of looking back and constantly chasing my tail.

Shine On