December is such a frenetic time of year. My way of not getting caught up in the craziness may be a little unconventional...or maybe not. All the commercialism is offensive. None of us needs more stuff, but I do love to give gifts. My compromise is simple. Since my kids are all adults and I loathe giving gifts they don't like, I give my sons cash and they can buy what they want. The girls are fun to buy for, sometimes we go shopping together for their gifts. Of course my grand daughter, Rosalie, is fun to buy for.
Christmas is still my favorite holiday. The lights, ornaments, all the different types of trees, little surprises, sentimental cards and ecards, baking, and meals with family and friends, it's all lovely. This year I have been baking a lot, and giving it away as a 'thank you', or a Christmas gift. There is one last piece of pie, banana cream pie, in my refrigerator. It is left over from Monday, when I brought dinner to friends who had a health scare. Since I still had all the ingredients for a pie, I also brought dessert. I almost wish I hadn't.
It started with a thank you to my friend Keith who loaned me his car for a day. His favorite pie is banana cream pie. My first reaction was...but I have never made banana cream pie. Always willing to take a risk, I researched the web for the best scratch recipe. Never wanting to make a homemade pie with box pudding, or anything store bought, I read through about 20 recipes until I found the perfect one. This recipe calls for custard, milk, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. This is a very dangerous recipe. The homemade custard is divine, and I knew I was in trouble with the first bite. Hot, creamy, sweet and oh so smooth and delicate. The most delicious thing I have ever tasted. (I will try to find the recipe so I can pass on the link.)
My dilemma? This last piece of pie is calling to me, even as I write. Custard, bananas, firm yet freckled-sweet, fresh whipping cream, and homemade crust. Being good during the day is easy, it's late at night when I feel the weakest. My options are: throw it away (I have thrown away desserts many times), give it away, or tomorrow is Christmas Eve and someone will be very excited about finding it. Throwing it away is not an option, it's too yummy. Giving it away is tough when it's one single piece of pie. Leaving it in the frig is very dangerous. My brain will figure out what to do...I will let you know. (I called my neighbor friend over and we visited while she ate my pie.)
Today is busy with a few last minute things to do. Grocery shop, put clean sheets on the beds, finish cards to my kids, (I only send cards to my family) and make sure my house is ready for Christmas....and here I am sitting in my bathrobe and writing at 11 am. Well, that's me, when I feel the writer in me coming out, it's best to stop what I am doing and write. It feels superb! By the way, sending cards out after Christmas is a life-long habit, and that's alright. It's the sentiment for a wonderful Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year that are important. Christmas Eve morning I am making delicious butter cookies for Christmas Eve service at my church.
My wish is that all of you have a wonderful December year end, with family and friends. Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or no religious beliefs, I wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2016! Be kind, be loving, and we can all give the gift of a smile every day. That one simple gift may save someone's life.
God bless us everyone! With love, Aleta
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." Marcus Aurelius - Roman Emperor 100 AD
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
MY ADVENTURE TODAY!!
Today has been the craziest day! Phone lines on and off for hours, both mobile and landline. Wifi sketchy as well. On top of that, I am without my car and wondering how am I going to hear from the mechanic. Also the bill could total hundreds of dollars, and I am wondering what the news will be, $500 or $600 or? An engine light kept coming on, and periodically my Mini sounded terrible, like it was missing. Confession....I was a dingbat too, putting in coolant when I was supposed to use window washer fluid, ugh! The good news is it was only about 1/2 a cup. The bad news is my service provider at the Mini dealership said "Ohhh, that's not good...I will have to let you know what the charge will be." We never want to hear our mechanic say "Ohhh, that's not good". Looking on the bright side, it's better than hearing our doctor say "Oops, that's not good"!
No, the crazy day isn't over quite yet, but it does get better. My landline began to show signs of improving and I received a call from Mini. (I can't make outside calls, but the mechanic was able to call me, weird.) He has good news for me, the check engine light was verified to be the high pressure fuel pump, and it came under some federal law and is covered under...blah blah blah. Listening to the voice mail 3 times didn't really help me understand why the light came on. But it doesn't matter, because my charge was $00, and I was happy. They changed the oil and checked all the fluids, as they do on a regular service appointment. You want to know about the coolant in the window washer thing-a-ma-bob? The mechanic said it wasn't enough to cause problems and I could simply fill it up with washer fluid. I hope he is right. Just because the lettering is blue like the washer fluid, doesn't mean I don't have to R.E.A.D.
There is more...and it gets even better, though I still wasn't thinking clearly. It was about 2:30 and they close at 6. Being independent and not wanting to bother a friend for a ride (45 minute drive minimum without traffic, and there is never no traffic in Silicon Valley), I get on the web to see the bus schedule (a 10 minute walk). Mind you, I am not sure what the next step will be once I get over the hill. Having gathered my coat, cell phone (No Service), and purse, I step outside and have to ask my 13 year old neighbor boy for change for the bus, having only large bills. Walking, half running I start praying "Please God let me see someone I know for a ride". Right then I see my neighbor, John, (lucky he remembers me from walking my dog, Tashi), being in the next block we weren't exactly running into each other very often. I walk up to his car and say hello, is he headed down the hill. Yes, he can take me to my bus stop, but he isn't going south but going north. That was okay because at least I will make the bus.
Each car that approached the corner, I wondered if I knew them. In about 5 minutes my bus will come and I will be on my way, on my poorly thought out plan. (You know what I am saying to myself, right?) All of a sudden I see my neighbor, George, in his Corvette, and not being quiet or shy, I walk toward him and start waving my arm trying to catch his attention. He almost got away, and then he caught sight of me. And yes, he was going south, not over the hill, but this next leg of my trip would be with George. George is a techy personality, just the friend I need sometimes to help me think things through. He listened to my dilemma, and he was not sure I would make it to Mini with rush hour traffic, using public transportation. The more he asked questions, the more I realized tomorrow was a better day to pick up my car. Starting first thing in the morning would ensure getting there, and I would miss that awful afternoon traffic. Besides that, he used to work in Silicon Valley, and told me what public transits to use. He also mentioned how expensive a cab would be also.
Apparently his cell service was fine, and he answered a call...bad boy. A good call for me though, because now he has to return home. In his distraction...me...he forgot to stop by someones house. Now I not only get personalized counseling on how to pick up my car in the comfort of a sleek Corvette, I also get a ride all the way back to my house, and I thanked him profusely.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, do you now see why I always say 'I am so blessed'? George was my angel today, in more ways than one. When I told him so, he just smiled in a gentlemanly way, with his soft spoken manner. And no, he is not single, I know some of you are wondering that, so I will just put it out there.
Tomorrow morning at 10:45 I have an appointment at my house, and afterwards he will be heading over the hill, and guess who will be his guest? Won't it be interesting to see if he needs to go down to Silicon Valley, his other office location. Either way my adventure will be more thought out and less stressful tomorrow. I am so blessed!!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed." Psalm 20:4
"Let me encourage you to get up every day and focus on what you do have in life. Be thankful for the blessings of the little things, even when you don't get what you expect." Victoria Osteen - pastor and author
No, the crazy day isn't over quite yet, but it does get better. My landline began to show signs of improving and I received a call from Mini. (I can't make outside calls, but the mechanic was able to call me, weird.) He has good news for me, the check engine light was verified to be the high pressure fuel pump, and it came under some federal law and is covered under...blah blah blah. Listening to the voice mail 3 times didn't really help me understand why the light came on. But it doesn't matter, because my charge was $00, and I was happy. They changed the oil and checked all the fluids, as they do on a regular service appointment. You want to know about the coolant in the window washer thing-a-ma-bob? The mechanic said it wasn't enough to cause problems and I could simply fill it up with washer fluid. I hope he is right. Just because the lettering is blue like the washer fluid, doesn't mean I don't have to R.E.A.D.
There is more...and it gets even better, though I still wasn't thinking clearly. It was about 2:30 and they close at 6. Being independent and not wanting to bother a friend for a ride (45 minute drive minimum without traffic, and there is never no traffic in Silicon Valley), I get on the web to see the bus schedule (a 10 minute walk). Mind you, I am not sure what the next step will be once I get over the hill. Having gathered my coat, cell phone (No Service), and purse, I step outside and have to ask my 13 year old neighbor boy for change for the bus, having only large bills. Walking, half running I start praying "Please God let me see someone I know for a ride". Right then I see my neighbor, John, (lucky he remembers me from walking my dog, Tashi), being in the next block we weren't exactly running into each other very often. I walk up to his car and say hello, is he headed down the hill. Yes, he can take me to my bus stop, but he isn't going south but going north. That was okay because at least I will make the bus.
Each car that approached the corner, I wondered if I knew them. In about 5 minutes my bus will come and I will be on my way, on my poorly thought out plan. (You know what I am saying to myself, right?) All of a sudden I see my neighbor, George, in his Corvette, and not being quiet or shy, I walk toward him and start waving my arm trying to catch his attention. He almost got away, and then he caught sight of me. And yes, he was going south, not over the hill, but this next leg of my trip would be with George. George is a techy personality, just the friend I need sometimes to help me think things through. He listened to my dilemma, and he was not sure I would make it to Mini with rush hour traffic, using public transportation. The more he asked questions, the more I realized tomorrow was a better day to pick up my car. Starting first thing in the morning would ensure getting there, and I would miss that awful afternoon traffic. Besides that, he used to work in Silicon Valley, and told me what public transits to use. He also mentioned how expensive a cab would be also.
Apparently his cell service was fine, and he answered a call...bad boy. A good call for me though, because now he has to return home. In his distraction...me...he forgot to stop by someones house. Now I not only get personalized counseling on how to pick up my car in the comfort of a sleek Corvette, I also get a ride all the way back to my house, and I thanked him profusely.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, do you now see why I always say 'I am so blessed'? George was my angel today, in more ways than one. When I told him so, he just smiled in a gentlemanly way, with his soft spoken manner. And no, he is not single, I know some of you are wondering that, so I will just put it out there.
Tomorrow morning at 10:45 I have an appointment at my house, and afterwards he will be heading over the hill, and guess who will be his guest? Won't it be interesting to see if he needs to go down to Silicon Valley, his other office location. Either way my adventure will be more thought out and less stressful tomorrow. I am so blessed!!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed." Psalm 20:4
"Let me encourage you to get up every day and focus on what you do have in life. Be thankful for the blessings of the little things, even when you don't get what you expect." Victoria Osteen - pastor and author
Monday, December 7, 2015
DO YOU LET MUSIC INTO YOUR SOUL?
Music moves my soul. It brings me to tears and reaches my deepest inner being. Some music brings out the dancer in me where I can't hold still, whether it's my feet tapping or my hips moving. Then there is another type of music that gets my full attention, my ears hear it, my eyes see it, but my heart feels it. My body doesn't move, but I sit transfixed, listening to every beat, feeling every spoken word.
Tonight I am watching the recorded special Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday- Grammy Concert. Frank Sinatra not only had a beautiful voice, "he sang a song he loved like he meant it, like every word was part of his story". This is the best music show I have ever seen and it's only half over. Harry Connick Jr., Seth MacFarlane, Tony Bennet, Garth Brooks, John Legend, so many I can't even begin to mention all of them. Seth MacFarlane was amazing, smooth as silk voice. Did I mention Alicia Keys? Never having seen her before, she blew me away. Heartfelt, sexy, and she meant every word she sang. One of the most soulful female singers I have ever heard. She sang I've Got A Crush On You, a Sinatra favorite. It took my breath away. Usher sang That's Life, and it was fabulous. The last time Sinatra performed in public he sang The Best Is Yet To Come, and Adam Levine sang it beautifully.
However, they saved the best for last.... Lady Gaga sang New York New York. She came out in a tuxedo, with hair pulled up under a vintage hat, like Sinatra wore. She sang beautifully, moved gracefully, and she drew you in magnificently. The show was filled with all the songs Frank Sinatra made famous. There were photos from over 75 years ago, short video clips of him performing, and many, many great singers today paid him tribute. An excellent music concert I hope you got to see, or will get to see in the future. I have it on my DVR and if you are in the neighborhood, we can watch it together.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Singers like Frank Sinatra and myself, we interpret the songs we like. Not unlike a Shakespearean actor that goes back to the greatest words ever written, we go back to the greatest songs and bring about our own interpretation of them." Harry Connick Jr. - actor and singer
Tonight I am watching the recorded special Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday- Grammy Concert. Frank Sinatra not only had a beautiful voice, "he sang a song he loved like he meant it, like every word was part of his story". This is the best music show I have ever seen and it's only half over. Harry Connick Jr., Seth MacFarlane, Tony Bennet, Garth Brooks, John Legend, so many I can't even begin to mention all of them. Seth MacFarlane was amazing, smooth as silk voice. Did I mention Alicia Keys? Never having seen her before, she blew me away. Heartfelt, sexy, and she meant every word she sang. One of the most soulful female singers I have ever heard. She sang I've Got A Crush On You, a Sinatra favorite. It took my breath away. Usher sang That's Life, and it was fabulous. The last time Sinatra performed in public he sang The Best Is Yet To Come, and Adam Levine sang it beautifully.
However, they saved the best for last.... Lady Gaga sang New York New York. She came out in a tuxedo, with hair pulled up under a vintage hat, like Sinatra wore. She sang beautifully, moved gracefully, and she drew you in magnificently. The show was filled with all the songs Frank Sinatra made famous. There were photos from over 75 years ago, short video clips of him performing, and many, many great singers today paid him tribute. An excellent music concert I hope you got to see, or will get to see in the future. I have it on my DVR and if you are in the neighborhood, we can watch it together.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Singers like Frank Sinatra and myself, we interpret the songs we like. Not unlike a Shakespearean actor that goes back to the greatest words ever written, we go back to the greatest songs and bring about our own interpretation of them." Harry Connick Jr. - actor and singer
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
I WILL ALWAYS BE MYSELF!
Am I the only one that still uses an iPod? Most people use their phone for music. But I like the easy transportability of my iPod, especially since it's so light. My case has protected it all these years so it looks brand new. But I don't use it very often and every time I download new songs, it's a new learning experience. Yuck!! Actually that's true for any technology I use infrequently. (As I write, the true essence of my thoughts come out, please stay with me for a minute.)
This morning I downloaded several Stevie Wonder songs, including Superstition and I Just Called To Say I love You, plus Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up. I love R&B and I think...it's the music that moves my soul the most...and my feet! Yesterday I went to physical therapy and they always play the best Oldies But Goodies.
The physical therapist went over my exercises with me, asked me to lie down for icing my shoulder, and then gave me infrared. She also does some massage and always seems to find just the right spots that need help. It's usually relaxing, until a wonderful dancing song comes on. Here I am lying down, all ergonomically correct with a small roll up under my neck and something under my knees to take the weight off my back.
Then after a 2 minute silence several songs come on that make me want to dance. My upper body is very still, and my hands start tapping and my feet dance. As I leave, Marvin Gaye came on and I could not help myself, and neither could Dottie. We danced to our hearts content for about a minute and loved every second!
That little act of spontaneity filled my body with endorphins and gave everyone around us a great big smile. Life is too short to be worried about what others think.
I will always be myself and along with that I suppose I need to warn the world, and my children....I am only going to get more outgoing and less inhibited. Haha! I am going to have more fun, never at another persons expense, but always remembering to remain true to myself. I love to laugh, and as I always say I am my own home entertainment system! Each of us needs to remember there will always be people that will be different than us and will not understand us. At the same time there will always be people that like us and love us, and completely get who we are. Surround yourself with those people. If getting along with your immediate family takes extra work, that's life. Work extra hard to make those relationships work, to the best of your ability. But choose friends that know you and love you. Always remain true to yourself.
Life is give and take. And trust me, with grown children and now a grand daughter, a simple kind word goes a long way, or an apology that you feel is not up to you. No matter how someone treats you at any given moment, we must remember they may be going through something unbearable. It always feels better to walk away having done or said the right thing. I have many regrets. And I have learned that taking the high road, in the end, is always right.
Thank you, good night and God Bless!! Aleta
"I would always rather be happy than dignified." Charlotte Bronte - English Novelist and Poet
This morning I downloaded several Stevie Wonder songs, including Superstition and I Just Called To Say I love You, plus Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up. I love R&B and I think...it's the music that moves my soul the most...and my feet! Yesterday I went to physical therapy and they always play the best Oldies But Goodies.
The physical therapist went over my exercises with me, asked me to lie down for icing my shoulder, and then gave me infrared. She also does some massage and always seems to find just the right spots that need help. It's usually relaxing, until a wonderful dancing song comes on. Here I am lying down, all ergonomically correct with a small roll up under my neck and something under my knees to take the weight off my back.
Then after a 2 minute silence several songs come on that make me want to dance. My upper body is very still, and my hands start tapping and my feet dance. As I leave, Marvin Gaye came on and I could not help myself, and neither could Dottie. We danced to our hearts content for about a minute and loved every second!
That little act of spontaneity filled my body with endorphins and gave everyone around us a great big smile. Life is too short to be worried about what others think.
I will always be myself and along with that I suppose I need to warn the world, and my children....I am only going to get more outgoing and less inhibited. Haha! I am going to have more fun, never at another persons expense, but always remembering to remain true to myself. I love to laugh, and as I always say I am my own home entertainment system! Each of us needs to remember there will always be people that will be different than us and will not understand us. At the same time there will always be people that like us and love us, and completely get who we are. Surround yourself with those people. If getting along with your immediate family takes extra work, that's life. Work extra hard to make those relationships work, to the best of your ability. But choose friends that know you and love you. Always remain true to yourself.
Life is give and take. And trust me, with grown children and now a grand daughter, a simple kind word goes a long way, or an apology that you feel is not up to you. No matter how someone treats you at any given moment, we must remember they may be going through something unbearable. It always feels better to walk away having done or said the right thing. I have many regrets. And I have learned that taking the high road, in the end, is always right.
Thank you, good night and God Bless!! Aleta
"I would always rather be happy than dignified." Charlotte Bronte - English Novelist and Poet
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