Warm blessings to you.

I hadn't planned on blogging this holiday weekend, as it's full of family time and the like, but I was overwhelmed today by the generosity of friends and coworkers and I'm not talking about gifts. I am talking about generosity in their actions, words, spirits, kindness. I wish we could all be like that EVERYDAY. I am striving to continue in that vein throughout the next year. Had my review today. went well. I had no doubts about my cs skills, my rapport with people, and my manner. The product knowledge was what I was worried with an even that got good reviews, so I have a few things to work on but all around a good performance appraisal.

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We have no fireplace at my familial home nor at my own home and it is missed. Many a Christmas the homefires were burning, but there's really no call for it down here in Florida. I hope my loved ones in Maryland, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Kentucky, Utah and Pucciville are utilizing theirs. The snow looked horrendous when I was watching it on tele this afternoon. Stay safe I pray.

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We've opened up stockings and a present, which is our tradition on Christmas eve. It's 1:22 a.m. now Christmas day, not a creature is stirring not even a mouse (I can assure you if a mouse was stirring, so would be everyone else in this house, because I would be on a chair screaming till someone came out and got it out of the house). Mine was my new planner for the New Year. I love walking into Boxing day with the new year and some of it's possibilities and special dates and appointments and concerts already filled in.

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This is the time of full hearts, tummies and heads. So blessed am I. I know this. I hope you recognize your blessings when you have them and do what you need to to be a blessing in other people's lives. Merry Christmas y'all.

Don't wait, do you hear the call?

One of the most beautiful things in the world to me is these old time microphones. One of the best things in the world to me is people whose music I enjoy or whose opinions I respect perform behind them.

This year holds so many shows, exhibits, performances, opportunities to hear spoken word, the experiences are overflowing the calender and it's not even January yet. I hope you take the opportunities and enjoy them as they come. Don't waste another minute not positively affecting your soul in one way or another. For some people its art, some people it's cinema. Me, it's music and photography and theatre. I guess I am just trying to make sure that 2010 is the best year ever, and one of the ways to make that happen is to do things you enjoyed doing and stopped for whatever reason. Henry Rollins, Craig Ferguson, Carbon Leaf, Howie Day, Clayton Senne, Matt MacKelcan, Christian Wilson, A Chorus Line, there's more, I just don't have my planner in front of me, various and sundry local productions are all a bang up start to the New Year, I look forward to spontaneous outbursts of friends playing out, and me taking a few days to see them perform in Dallas FT Worth (uhm hum- Daniel), Kentucky (Noelie Noel) and NY (Dan The Man) and I cannot wait! I figure the flights are worth it, because my soul aches for great music. I hope your soul hears the call as well.

The other shoe hasn't dropped.

Ever had one of those moments where you think to yourself 'Ok, this is just too too good, when's it all going to go to hell in a handbasket'? I've been having those moments (and I can hardly call them moments because it's been going on for about a month now) and NOTHING bad has happened. I've probably jinxed myself by saying so, but I don't think I've been this happy in a while. It's not just job related, it's everything. In every aspect of life, it seems, things are going along not just swimmingly, but actually moving forward to the places I want them to be. Coincidence that I let A LOT of things/people/mindsets go at the same time? I think not. Toxicity in whatever form it takes is still toxicity. So waiting for the other shoe to drop, I am no longer. Although if these Carlos Santana pumps were the ones that were dropping, I wouldn't mind as much maybe ;)

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FYI- Caramel Corn is the Devil, I'm just sayin...

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It's 12:07 on Thursday morning. My daughter comes home for the holidays this afternoon until the 3rd or so of January. I can't wait. We have holiday shopping to finish, movies we wanted to catch together, just girl time in general. This is not something that we only wait for the holidays to share. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful relationship with her. How many 18 year old girls do you know want to spend time with their mothers? So many mothers and daughters don't spend the time with each other, not quality time at least, I pray it doesn't change, ever. I'll take hours listening to her tell me about people I'll never meet and an ice cream sundae that feeds 20 people over never having the opportunity to hear about it any day. With that, I say good night and pleasant dreams to you all.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE, oh and Congress gets a slice of it's own fat...

Can't begin to tell you how busy this past week has been. The holidays fast approaching, a party I planned, photos edited and sent out to subjects, holiday cards sent out, shopping, cooking, running on little sleep, but all well worth it. It's been a great week. Next few weeks will be even better as baby girl comes home from uni on Wednesday and my father gets into town next Sunday and then of course, it will be Christmas :) !

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THIS JUST IN: A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE (Well, of their own food really, but who's arguing?) Congress will get a school lunch next week when the USDA will serve them chicken fajita strips, sliced ham and canned green beans, the same products the agency gives schools across the country. This makes me happy. School lunches lack in taste, and nutrition and always have. I packed Chel's lunch more than 3/4 of her school years (including high school)

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Many plans afoot for the New Year, especially now that more options are open to me than before, line items on the life list are getting crossed off faster than ever, the weekend in Miami is a no go what with scheduling conflicts, but Sari, Carl and the rest of us will get it together soon enough. April 2010 is the reunion, and that's fun. All I can say is that some little cafes in Miraflores are going to be packed to the gills come April :)

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Today is Sunday, waking up when I want to, breakky with the fam, leisurely reading the paper, I have friends who can literally on a moment's notice make up a meal plan for their family that includes breakfast lunches and dinners for a week. I STILL haven't had dinner yet from last night. I am a great grocery shopper, but couldn't tell you what I am having for lunch today, much less dinner on Friday. I am in awe of these planning goddesses and aspire to be more like them in the new year. ORGANIZATION is the key people, the key! Off to be Brilliant Brilliant :)

Creativity, Inspiration, Art in the Everyday

Creative outlets, Inspiration, Art in the everyday - these things I desire.

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How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? 32

What can you not go a day without? Right now? Diet Coke, my lists, my notebooks, talking to my sister.

What do you want that you think you can't have? There's nothing I can think of off the top of my head that I can't have if I put my mind to it. Oh, ok, maybe a royal pedigree, but in the real life, I think it's on me to get/do/be all I want.

Guiltiest Pleasure? Christian Bale and Brendan Fraser movies, movies in general, magazines, and Stouffers Mac and Cheese.

More than a Gift? My daughter, Chelsea; the traveling my family did as a child and still do now.

Fave Place in the world? Behind the camera or Glasgow, Scotland or wherever I can create.

Inspires you to create? Music, movies, other photographers I respect, colors, events

Endless hours spent creating are made better only by... music playing while I create, breaking bread with the people I photograph, their faces when they see final product.

Art in your everyday? The purple flowers on the side of the road on my way home, the hubcap shop, the crane family that visits the front yard, the sun setting, people's faces, mannerisms etc.

It all started when.. I took a photo of Lou Lasprugato at a Juliet's Wishing Well show at Kelly Logan House - Delaware.

What color is imagination? Purple!

What do you pack to pursue your dreams? Cameras, batteries, memory cards, notebooks, pens, photos of loved ones if they weren't coming with me, cell phone and my car.

Attempt to do if you knew you couldn't fail? Aiming small? Be the house photographer for both House of Blues, Orlando and Hard Rock Cafe, Universal, Orlando. Aiming big? Be in the big leagues with Sam Jones and Norman Jean Roy and Ben Watts, and Regan Cameron, photographers I admire and respect. // Y'all have a brilliant rest of the weekend.

Link Love, Stolen 26

I just read a really interesting post at http://www.bripblap.com/ .. Wealth Work and Life Success The Brip Blap blog -- about quitting soda. I am a Diet Coke fiend and am having the absolute worst time at trying to even cut down much less quit it all together, so this was a good read and inspiration for my resolutions. I am trying to break up with all soda (and as I don't care for lemony-lime drinks like Sprite or Sierra Mist, Diet Coke is my one arch enemy) in the New Year, so I will refer back to this post again I am sure. I love the blog anyway, but this hit home for me.
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Things have been so very busy, I feel bad that I haven't been blogging as much as I would like. I promise that I will do better. Come the New Year, the house wifi and computers etc. will be all sorted out and I will be able to do posts at 2 a.m. if the mood comes over me, alas, right now, that option isn't available to me unless I move in here, my parents house, and that, my friends isn't going to happen. Bear with me.
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http://myparentswereawesome.tumblr.com/ While giving link love, I thought I'd bring this one up. Photos of your parents are priceless and fun when you look at them, now think if we all were able to look at them as well. "Dude! Your parents WERE indeed awesome!"
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Today-more holiday shopping, cards finished up so I can mail them on Monday, bank deposits, bookstore, laundry and trying to keep dry. We got hit with some serious rain and lightning the last few days. Chel is in the lightning capital of Florida (I think it might be the Lightning capital of the USA- Lakeland, FL) AND she has been sick and achy the last week and a half so the storm didn't help her out at all either. I know we need the rain, but come on, I think we've cleared the deficit now. I suppose I shouldn't complain as there are friends up north, who are shivering the night away as it's already snowing.
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http://www.myspace.com/anthonyraneri -- "Ballad of Bill The Saint" on Ant's player. Quite possibly the best I have ever heard him. yes, it's Ant from Bayside. I know, you were surprised weren't you?
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Stole this from Frugal Dreamer http://www.frugaldreamer.com/
Last Movie I Saw In A Movie Theater? I'm seeing Boondock Saints on Sunday, so I'll go with that one, but I know it was "Fantastic Fox" or something like that with George Clooney in it.
What Book Are You Reading? Been WAY to busy to read books, but was able to get through The Goddess Guide - Gisele Scanlon http://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Guide-Gisele-Scanlon/dp/0061434957 I can flip through a magazine quickly and read blogs like there's no tomorrow but haven't read a book in a while.
Favorite Board Game? Monopoly
Favorite Magazine? I read WAY to many, but I do love Lucky, Vanity Fair, Allure and First the best.
Favorite Smells? French Vanilla Candles from White Barn Candle Company - alas they are no more, so now just french vanilla candles.
Favorite Sounds? Good live music, Soundtracks to films I love, my daughter's laugh
Worst Feeling In The World? When I have to say no to my daughter
First Thing You Think of When You Wake? I hope it’s not raining! ( Stole that one from Frugal dreamer as well ;))
Favorite Fast Food Place? McDonald's
Future Child’s Name? Boy: Liam Girl: Evelyn (Evie)
Finish This Statement—“If I Had a Lot of Money,” I'd buy you a green dress... (Barenaked Ladies... - "If I had a million dollars") - No really, I would give 2/5 to my parents, 1/5 to my sister,1/5 to Chelsea and put the rest in a savings account so I will have something to live on when I am old and grey :)
Do You Drive Fast? For the sake of honesty in this blog, I'll go with yes.
Do You Sleep With a Stuffed Animal? No
Storms—cool or scary? It depends, am I outside in them, either in the car or physically outside, the WAY NO!. If I am inside (and hopefully all my loved ones are as well..) and preferably in bed, then MOST Definitely.
What Was Your First Car? Chevy Malibu my father handed down to me.
Favorite Drink? Diet Coke. preferably from a fountain soda machine
Finish This Statement—“If I Had the Time, I Would…” Take more photos
Do You Eat the Stems on Broccoli? That's pretty much the only reason why I eat broccoli.
If You could Dye your Hair Any Other Color, What Would It Be? This makes me laugh as I have been dying my hair since I was 13, so I'll go with the light brown with blond highlights that I usually dye my hair now with.
Favorite Sport to Watch? I don't usually watch sports anymore, but if I was back into it, Baseball, Tennis, College Basketball (GO DUKE, GONZAGA and FLORIDA SOUTHERN!)
What’s Under Your Bed? NO IDEA, I'm not going under there to look either... no, really, dust bunnies I think.
Would You Like to Be Born As Yourself Again? Only if was allowed to know what I know now and be able to make some changes in decisions.
Morning Person or Night Owl? HOOT HOOT - Night Owl ALL THE WAY.
Over Easy or Sunny Side Up? I can only eat eggs scrambled well.
Favorite Place to Relax? In bed, with piles of notebooks and magazines and books, and catalogs surrounding me.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? I quite like Mint Choc chip, but I do love Haagen Daas Strawberry
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My mothers house is all decorated. My sister deserves all the credit. Not only are all my mother's Santas up, the tree is done, some of the presents are wrapped and on the living room coffee table anxiously waiting their turn to be put under the tree, (we don't put them under the tree till much later as they have to be arranged as we all take turns opening one by one, youngest to oldest and we don't want all the presents for one person all in one corner of the tree skirt-- it's all very complicated, but it's tradition and it works for us, so...) I'm so excited, Christmas, for me by far, is the best holiday ever! I hope everyone is having fun with their holiday traditions and celebrations. Have a brilliant brilliant tomorrow!
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