Recently I started writing about words that begin with a specific letter and I started with the end of the alphabet because when I start with "A"  I don't seem to get very far with it.  Well, starting with "Z" was easy.  Zee is the name of my cat who passed away after living with me for 19 years.  "Z" is also for zero, a work that usually has negative connotations but a word that is merely a number, but not a bad number because if I am at zero, I can concentrate on working my way up. 

My second writing was about "Yes" and my writing came easily and I found some awesome pictures to go with it. 

Today I am writing about "X."  I can't readily think of a word that begins with "x."  It seems like "x" usually needs a helper letter to make a word.  Funny I should come to this on Valentine's Day and maybe this is what Valentines are really about - acknowledging our helpers.  Helpers who can get us through the rough spots or at least commiserate with us as we go through difficult times.

So, today, Valentine's Day, thank you to all who have helped me along the way.  You have given me exactly what I have needed.  And, just for you:

Some flowers to bring a smile to your face.

And. a few eXtra photos that I took while walking around Anchorage.

Moose searching for a tasty snack.

Benches along the Tony Knowles Trail.

Polar Bear Ice Carving

Happy Trails and may you discover the eXtras along the way.

The Word Is "Yes"

Yes!
Such a short and simple word, but a word that when uttered can bring emotions ranging from joy to chaos.  I think that I have experienced both chaos and joy from saying "Yes."  Even though that little positive word has not always brought about positive experiences, it has always brought about growth, and that is why I still tend to say "Yes" rather than saying "No."

Yes, to candlelight, which may mean experiencing romance, warmth, friendship, or survival of a power outage.

Yes, to party lights, that may mean a big party, a small gathering with friends, or just a little bit of added glow to enhance an every day experience.

Yes, to the light of Nature that makes a cold day just a little bit warmer and makes it a little bit easier to go out for a walk where who knows what will be discovered.

But, what about "maybe" or "let me think about it?" 

It's A New Year

It is a new year and I feel that I am still living my old ways.  I started writing last year and I used a book titled Words of Wisdom for Women, Rachel Snyder as my motivator.  I started with the letter "A" and unfortunately, I did not get far into the alphabet before I abandoned it.  Well, this year I am going to try again but this time I am going to start with the letter "Z" and see if I can get back to "A."  So, I already have a little bit of a problem because the book has no words for "Z" but I already have an idea of how to start.  I am going to start with Zanobia aka Zee, my beautiful Himalayan cat.

Zee had already been diagnosed with gastro-intestinal cancer and for two or three weeks she had received intensive care.  She was out walking around and enjoying the sunshine.  She even climbed 25 steps when she went exploring.

Tribute to Zee

My friend
We have traveled long and far
You gave me love, unconditionally
I hope I had given you the same
I know that I tried

                             Cee

4 Non Blondes - What's Up

What's Up - 4 Non Blondes

While listening to the radio this morning, I heard this song and it brought some powerful memories for a woman who as an almost middle-age student took a theatre and had to do a lip-sync.  Most of the class was made of traditional age students and this made her more  anxious.  She just new they were all wondering and not in a positive way what she would do.  They didn't know much about her and the lip-sync was at the end of the semester so she was really surprised that they were surprised at her song choice.

Before the actual lip-sync day she wore headphones and listened to the song over and over.  She lip-synced the song over and over.  

On the day of the performance she was confident.  She knew that she was ready.  She tried to be the first performer because she wanted to get it done and over with but she ended up being second.  She knew she would get a good grade in the class so she wasn't concerned about that but she was curious about what the young students would say.  

After her performance, a young male student who she partnered with for several assignments said with a smile to her as she walked past him, "Where did that come from?" She smiled and said, "I told you that I was with-it."  He told her that she must have watched the video a million times because she nailed it.  She told him that she only watched it twice and then she sweetly added, "I'm from that generation so it's all natural."

And, here she is today feeling that the song lyrics still fit her and she is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope.  She is a bit wiser now and she knows that life will always trying to get up that great big hill of hope and that is okay with her.

Lyrics to Whats UP? by 4 Non Blondes

25 years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out, what's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's goin' on?

And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?
And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?

And I try, oh my God do I try
I try all the time
In this institution

And I pray, oh my God do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution

And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in my bed
Just to get it all out, what's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's goin' on?

And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?
And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?

And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?
And I say hey, hey
I said hey, what's goin' on?

25 years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

Songwriters
Linda Perry

Published by
SONY/ATV HARMONY;STUCK IN THE THROAT

Then and Now

Today, I was searching my computer and I came across a list titled 25 Things About Me that I wrote in 2009.  I didn't read all of it because I decided to write another list. This is a good reality check for me since I can see the differences and similarities between the two.  I might even find something on the list that I wonder about.

25 Things About Me (December 22, 2009)

1.  I love all forms of communication.

2. I have 2 sons.  

3. I have been married to the same man for almost 35 years.

4. Creativity and the fact that I am creative is important to me.

5.  I have a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of things.

6.  I like poetry.

7.  I love to write.

8.  Boredom is really bad.

9.  I have almost learned to control my temper.

10. I like others around when I cook but I don't necessarily like to cook with others.

11. When I create something, I usually pick it apart.

12. I am trying to give myself license to fail and not dwell on it afterwards.

13. Sometimes my three cats make me laugh.

14. I wish that Delaware was closer to Washington State.

15. I am job hunting.

16. Helping others is very important to me.

17. I think that I do not allow myself to be truly happy.

18. I smile a lot and sometimes I do not know why I smile. 

19. I wish I knew why I smile when the reason is not obvious.  If I could tap into that I 
     would probably have a lot more happiness.

20.  Cooking without a recipe is exciting.

21. I like adventure.

22. I am still afraid of heights even though I keep working to get over my fear.

23. I think many thoughts that begin with IF ONLY

24. I fear my destiny.

25. I am not going to go back and tweak this list even though I want to.

25 Things About Me (January 30, 2014)

1.  I do not like to eat alone.

2.  I think meals should be social gatherings with everyone communicating.

3.  I eat more when I am alone than I do when someone is with me.

4.  Dark chocolate is one of my favorite things.

5.  Sometimes I act on impulse and I continue doing it because sometimes it works out ok.

6.  I have known my two best friends for close to 40 years.

7.  I wanted to be treated like I am 20 years younger than I am.

8.  I love to cook but I only want to do it in my own kitchen.

9.  Most men get on my nerves but I would still rather be with one of them than I would
     want to be  with most women.

10. Many times I feel invisible, especially, in meetings.

11. I believe in a Supreme Being.

12. I believe that I am a spiritual being in a human body.

13. I love to help others, but yet, my favorite phrase is No good deed goes unpunished.

14.I am over 50 and I still cannot define the words love and home, but I can honestly say
     that I love my husband and my children.

15. I know I would function way better if I had a secretary.

16. My cat, Zanobia, is my third child.

17. A good frozen pizza can be doctored up to make it a great frozen pizza.

18. I consider Raven to be my guide.

19. I strongly dislike living in the suburbs.

20. I love to walk on paths, trails, sidewalks.

21. If I had it to do over again, I would do it all over again.

22. I get bored easily.

23. If I take my camera for a walk it takes me three times as long to cover the same
     distance as when I am without my camera.
24. Reading and writing is great fun.

25. I have been recognized as being a cynic.