Simple Gifts

Many of the best gifts I've been given have been simple, inexpensive and often intangible things. I don't think that's any sort of a coincidence. Why else would "It's the thought that counts" be so prevalent a saying in our culture?

Last year, a few days before Christmas my friend, The Emperor, posted this on the internet.

        What negative item would you like to purge for the New Year?
      Post it below and I'll burn the list on the beach on New Year's Eve.


I gave him a short, simple but very sincere request. Something I had been trying to purge from my life for years. Some posted funny and glib requests but many posted requests to be released from the pain of emotions, hurt feelings, broken hearts and lives.

On New Year's Eve, as the new year approached, The Emperor posted this:

                              Preparing to burn the past.

Seeing the printed list of the requests made me happy because it would have been so easy to post for requests but not actually burn them. I sat 1700 miles away in anticipation- even I was surprised at how hopeful I felt knowing that someone cared enough for his friends (real and virtual, old and new) to make this symbolic gesture on our behalf.

As the sun set on 2011, The Emperor posted this:

I burned all we needed to leave behind at the edge of the world. Happy New Year, my friends.

I'm pleased to say that the thing I requested to be burned, thus purging it from my life, was a resounding success! Not only that, but it was replaced by something 1,000 times better.  I realize this seems like a post about the New Year but, to me, it's about a gift given unselfishly by a thoughtful, new friend. It's one of the best gifts I've ever been given and I thank The Emperor for his loving kindness to his friends. 

I hope this Christmas brings you blessings of love, peace and friendship which carry you into next year and throughout the entire year. Merry Christmas!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

It's odd how, on the surface, my current circumstances resemble last year. I'm currently unemployed......with no great prospects on the horizon. I have a lot fewer resources than last year (even with a roommate......who has turned out to be more expensive than helpful). However, despite the seeming gloominess of the situation, I'm happy. Happier than I've been in a long time. A few months ago I mentioned in a blog how I wished I could just sell everything I owned and travel........but my virgo sensibilities kept me from being able to do that. Where would I get money? How could I make it? Today, it seems so much more feasible. I think I got too wrapped up in the tangible things and thought those things were what created my "life", but that's so far from the truth. It's the little things like watching my nieces and nephews laugh and play together, getting a text from my 5 year old goddaughter sent via her mother. Knowing I have family and friends who love and understand me. And knowing things can always be worse, and for many others, things are worse.

It would probably horrify most of my friends if they knew how close to being homeless I am. But, something in the universe keeps bringing me back to this place and I can't ignore there must be a reason why......something I didn't learn the first time I was here. So, I'm trying to be still and listen for the lessons I'm meant to gain from this time in my life.

On a more bloggy note, I noticed yesterday I averaged a blog a week for 2008.......I'm well behind that pace for 2009. I'm contemplating trying to blog just a little a day to make up for it, but I probably won't unless I feel I have something I want to write.

I hope this post doesn't come across as a downer. For how I'm feeling is so far from it. I have so many blessings in my life for which to be thankful. My life is full of family and friends.........and I'm not chained to a job I hate!

It's That Time of Year Again!

Birthday frivolity will ensue!

Given my current lack of cash flow I wasn't sure I would actually go ahead with the traditional "schedule of events" but it seems to have become a tradition. I normally send out my invitations a couple of weeks in advance and really didn't think anyone would notice I hadn't sent anything out.

I was wrong.

Over the past few days I have received so many e-mails and messages from friends asking about the schedule of events for the weekend. What started as a joke 9 years ago in an attempt to deal with so many different friend's schedules has become something I really look forward to every year.

There's nothing better than good times with great friends, no matter what the reason for coming together. I'm so blessed to have so many wonderful friends to whom I can turn to in times of stress or on whom I can depend. I feel every one's birthday is a special event.....it's the celebration of the reason you're on the planet and I feel it's meant to be shared, no matter what the circumstance in life.

So.......thank you my friends! You make me so happy to be ALIVE! Come celebrate with me if you can!

Alone Time

"I want to know
if you can be alone with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments."

From The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Do you like yourself? Are you able to be alone and still be happy?

I've been thinking a lot lately about this particular topic and have discussed it with several of my friends. In fact, it's something I've felt a deep connection with for many years. I firmly believe one can't expect to find happiness in someone else. I think liking oneself is a necessity and far too many people I know have never even stopped to consider "do I like myself?".

I know I've learned more about myself and my personal relationships in the times I'm alone- still and surrounded by silence. Maybe it's because I'm an analytical virgo, but I cannot imagine not having the quiet moments to look at and understand what's going on with my life. I don't have all the answers and I can't control what happens, but I know I'm far more likely to come to a better conclusion in the quiet, alone times than I am if I'm constantly on the go.

I don't mean to always sound like the eternal optimist, but a tiger can't change it's stripes and I'm so very happy these days.

So.....do you like yourself? Are you able to be alone and still be happy?

If you want to read The Invitation in it's entirety, go here.

I've Got a Secret.....

Well, I've got a secret crush.

It doesn't matter how old I get, I absolutely love the feeling I get when I first start to like someone and they show an interest as well.

Why so secretive? Because who knows if it'll pan out or turn into anything substantial....I'm just drafting off the excitement for the moment.

And goodness knows I need something good like this after the experience of the last 8 years.

And.....I promise to let you all in on more details if anything more develops!

[Imagine me singing, "I've Got a Crush on You"]

Songs that Make Me Smile

I love finding new places to eat, good books to read and great music it listen to. Sometimes I find these things on my own, but more often than not, my groovy and ecclectic friends are my source for finding cool, new stuff. And when I find some new gem, I easily become obsessed.

For the most part, I gave up watching television two years ago but in the spirit of full disclosure, I should let it be known that I go to a friend's house every Tuesday to watch Flipping Out and I also watch full seasons on TV shows on DVD....and then there's YouTube.


In the past I've blogged (over on myspace) about my obsession with What the Buck?!? and Sam Harris' "Hello Vlog People!" postings on youTube. But......I have a new obsession (and special thanks to my friend Kelly for finding it first)!

Julia Nunes is an innovative and talented musician who has been posting her music on YouTube for a couple of years. She plays several instruments, but mainly the ukelele and the guitar. She does some interesting covers and many originals.

I love folksy-type music, so her originals really speak to me but other than that, her music just makes me smile. That's why I want to share it with as many people as possible!

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

This is the first video I saw from Julia Nunes. The first thing I thought when I saw this was, "Why didn't I think of this?"


I won't take up space by posting all the videos of Julia's that I think you should see, so instead I will point you to her YouTube page to peruse at your leisure!

Check it out!http://www.youtube.com/jaaaaaaa