Paula Poundstone Empty Plastic Pepsi Bottle, Say that Fast 10 Times

Sweetheart and  I went to see my favorite comedian last night, Paula Poundstone. Sweetheart likes Jerry Seinfeld and what we notice about both  of these is they are CLEAN comics.  I think you can tell a lot about someone's favorite comedian by who they choose.  I like many, many, comedians but the ones I believe are the most talented are the ones who speak about their own lives from their funny perspective and not joke, put down, or gossip about others AND do NOT make graphic descriptions about any bodily function. 

Poundstone has from the  beginning of her career made me laugh out loud about life and the funny things we all do living it best we can.  Her heart for kindness, loving all people, and really caring has shown through in her act always.  I do believe I have seen more of her live shows than any other comedian.  Rachel Feinstein and Ryan Hamilton are two upcoming new comedians that are clean and extremely funny as well. Check these out on YouTube and yes these two come to the capital district from time to time and yes we have seen them live.

It's so easy to come in the front door of a theater, find your seat, laugh at the show and leave, content. But last night I felt, we are all getting older, even Paula, and we have followed her career and life for 38 years, I wanted to wait around to get her autograph and speak with her again.  I did not hurry, I did not care to be first in line so we hung near the wall across from her table set up to sign her new book and cds for her fans.  I knew she would entertain as she talked to each person and share a laugh and she did.  As I stood there I silently sent loving thoughts and good white light to her.  I have often thought, "When I meet a celebrity, I have nothing to talk to them about.  We live different lives and although we are ONE, we travel different paths. Outside of the theater, we have nothing in common, no reason to hang out together. And although she professes she has no social life, I know she has a much more active social life than us.  We are real loners by choice."

She revealed from stage her discovery of the damage social media, smooth computers, have done to her son and suggested everyone read the book,  Glow Kids by Nicholas Kardaras.  She is a mother first, she loves her three children mightily.  She is committed to helping all her children like all good mothers and in this we had a connection outside the stage.

When we were the last to step up to her table we talked about her great talent and how we have enjoyed it for 38 years and will always go see her, and we talked about our children and the concern we have for their well being.  I knew I liked this woman.  Now I know why I like her even more, she is a single working mother by choice.  She adopted those children because she wanted to love them and give them a home, she did not adopt them for PR reasons, she really wanted to make a difference in their lives and now facing problems  like all of us she has a mission to help them.  She is visiting authors, researchers, doctors, gathering information and sharing it from her platform to warn other parents to be careful with your children, these social medias are set up to brainwash our children and control their thoughts.

As parents we need to teach children our points of human decency and respect for each other and the world to have peace.  If we don't limit time on the electronic devices and take the time to spend time outdoors doing activities that teach them to explore the world on their own and find peace in being in nature we are doing the next generation a disservice.

Thinking for yourself, being strong about being positive about life and other people even though we have differing views is the way to unite us all, put down gossip, weapons of destruction, words that hurt innocence. We don't need to agree about everything but we need to agree to listen and then disagree without threats and violence.

Oh yeah, Paula had a Pepsi bottle she sipped on throughout the performance on stage and she had it at the signing desk.  She finished the last sip just before we stepped up to speak with her, after, I asked her if i could have her empty plastic pepsi bottle for my shadow box she laughed and said, "Yes."

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.

And Paula, Love the Loonie Tunes Zoot suits and shoes! But most of all I love you. Namaste.

Everything Comfortable You Gave Me

This morning I was making up my side of the bed and at the end of the bed felt a warm heater. I bought this for my Sweetheart years ago because he cannot get warm easily. I said, "you cold last night? Glad I could not feel the heat, it would have kept me awake."

He replied, "Everything that has ever brought me comfort, you gave me."

(I am glad I bought heating pads and heating blankets with dual controls as I slept with the fan blowing on me all night again.  I rarely if ever use a heating pad.)

Me: "Comforts? Does this include, conversations, comfy blankets, trying new foods, buying clothes that make him look sharp and actually fits his slim physique, going to new places, and the many other great ideas I have?" (Yes I'm a female and I am always pushing for those extra compliments from my man)

He: "Yes, you are the best thing I ever did. You opened a world to me I would never have known on my own."

Me: "You did the same for me. You have made my life better too."

I.E. He has built things for the house, like the specific molding I wanted but could not find for the ceiling in two rooms, help me with creative ideas to accomplish an art piece or build a stand to display it, gives me great ideas to write about , works to pay the bills, buy necessities for living. (Lights, groceries, oil, cars, etc. not to mention always help any of family members stranded on the road or in need of transportation, gives money freely to family as needed, or will find a way to work more to get money for his family, I will too, sits by my bed to nurse me when I am sick, etc.)

We are a good pair, we are both opinionated, strong willed, stubborn, loud at times and lock horns, kindhearted caring individuals, we are equal in this union.  An angry noodle back man or an angry noodle back woman would not be as happy in this relationship with either of us...

We learned to live in peace, we worked at it, and we find our happiness with one another.  It was a hard road traveled at times but we made it. 

Everything comfortable we gave to each other. Namaste. 

We All Have a Creative Mind, We Like to Use Ours"

My husband, like me never lets lack of money stop us from having things we need and for me some things I want.  Ever since I was out on my own if I saw something I wanted, I would make it, or build it or find it at a flea market and refinish it. I married a man just like me. If he needs a tool, he will make it out of something he has in his shop.  If he's working on a project for his computer business he will create whatever he needs. Yes, we are amazing.

He wanted a wrap for his car. He got a quote and it was high so he designed the complete decal,with finishing touches, colors, and asked for my opinion... ordered the decals online. With exact calculations and his engineering mind the decal arrived and he patiently with precision smoothed it onto his car.  It looks professional.  He is amazing.

I love being married to a man, who like me, finds a way to get things done... the creative mind always finds a way if you just think...

Honesty is the Best Policy or is it?

How often do we say, "Well to be perfectly honest with you..."

What are we doing the rest of the time? Lying?

How about we are honest all the time with a positive outlook?

Quite frankly, and to be perfectly honest with you, if you are a negative ninny, I don't care to listen to your ongoing negative outlook on life.  I do not need anyone else to help me get negative, I can do that all by myself.

We turned off cablevision, turned off the news, and stay off social media the majority of the day. A huge improvement in our attitudes. I will choose to be joyful, I'm sliding down the other side of 50, not much time left to be happy. (And I will be happy, I choose it)

I practice meditation and do www.thework.com with Byron Katie, it is so healing to me. Honesty with a positive spin is so refreshing, don't you agree? What do you do every day to stay positive in this crazy world?

Have I said too much?

The Virtue of Patience Pays

Standing patiently in line today at the DMV I met another person standing patiently in line. I took notice of her patience and told her I use to bring a book when visiting the DMV but now I have my phone.  She told me of how she has much patience because she has 4 children under the age of eight, I think. Anyway I know she is a busy young mother. A patient mother is a real gift to children

She related a story of how she needed a new screen for her phone and showed up at Verizon with $200 in her hand (The costs this repair would normally be) and had to wait a very long time. She was the last customer for the day, the employees thanked her for her patience and she replied, "It's ok you are busy and it's not your fault." They, because of her kind answer, patient virtue, appreciated it so much that they gave her a new phone for free. Something a mother of 4 really appreciated!

I also have experienced this many times.  Being understanding and patiently pleasant to service men working on my car, this has gotten me discounts and even some free work.  Kindness does pay but you never know when it will pay, so I practice this always never expecting anything in return.  As a result, I have gotten many things for free.  People like to give to those that are patient and kind to them.

Life is easier when you chillax and other people will appreciate it. Do you have an incidence when you got something for free when you were patiently kind? Share your story, I love these happy stories.  If you don't have a story, try it, patient virtue every day for a month, I know in one month's time, you will get something for free. The universe is full of friendly giving people.

Living the High Life with Butternut Squash and My Sweetheart

Homemade butternut squash soup did not come out as tasty as before. It is the first of the season for me. I usually use butternut squash and bake and scoop from scratch but this time I used butternut cubes sold in the produce section to hurry up the process. The cubes did not taste like my butternut. 

So I made the base and asked Sweetheart to help me season it.  It would take his sensitive nose to season it to edible.  He has much more experience with spices as his mother used many of them.  Must be a Northern thing.  3 hours later, a little thyme, a little sage, a little sauteed onion, a little Adobe, a dab more of maple syrup and Voila! We sat down on the deck with the crisp October air and a wine goblet of cold apple cider with my best friend. 

We have a lot more time to remedy a butternut soup now that the chicks have flown the nest.  A relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon in between my writing and his computer business. Life is grand on the River.

Cheers to my Sweetheart!

My Eyes and the Ability to READ Autobiographies & Biographies

I was teaching an art class to children 5-10 years old and one of the 8 year old children asked me, "What do like best to do? Art?"  I told the children I like best to READ.  I am so thankful I was taught to read for to read opens the wonders of the entire world to anyone that reads.

My confusion about the angry people in my family, the greedy acts of relatives, politicians, the bullying at school to other students that I would not abide was  major source of confusion and anger to me.  But I read the Bible, learned to research the KJV Bible in depth with Greek and Hebrew Lexicons, (I did not get all the answers I sought there) I read self-help books by many, many, authors, (too numerous to mention) and I began to read biographies and autobiographies of women and men in history I admired. 

What I learned was that these accomplished men and women of worthy note to me, mostly leaders and the founders in politics of this country, had serious addictions, family problems, bullies in politics, cheating, lying, friends and relatives, that they too had to navigate around, the difference?  They knew they could.  Someone in their education or personal life taught them to believe in themselves and move on.

This kind of strength can come from a belief in your religion, or a loving person that helps you, or it can come from within you if you are strong enough to keep going and keep reading to re-enforce the mindset that "You can make it on your own,"  that you will meet people who will help you if you ask. You can have peace of mind inside.  To have this help, you have to let go of that big EGO that tells you, "I don't need anybody." Yes you do, we all do.

I am so thankful for all the strangers I met along my way that helped me when my family was not able.  This world is mostly a place where many people will help you and want you to succeed even if they do not know you. My husband, me, our children, are among the good samaritans that will help others in need and learned the hard way where to set boundaries.  When you want to help others you will get taken advantage of until you learn to read people and set boundaries.

I have always said, "It is better I am taken advantage of by another, rather than me be the one to take advantage of someone weaker than me."  Namaste.