We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.
Jean Houston
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Hello friends –
I hope your morning is as sunshiney and lovely as mine. Portland is experiencing the most stellar fall weather, I must say! Though, even if it weren’t gorgeous out, I think the warmth I’m feeling from your friendship and support could light the world. You are awesome and make me smile! Thank you!
But, I must lament here, too, for our sad little Subaru. As I mentioned in Monday’s post, it was stolen last week, and though it has been returned, it caused some pretty awful stirrings in me. People are thoughtless and cruel sometimes, seriously.
Also, a shout out to anyone driving an older Subaru, get a club and actually use it. Had we used ours, our car would still be intact (they took the stereo), for the thieves used a key from another Subaru to enter ours, soundlessly, in the still of the night. They then broke the key off in the ignition, so we don’t have the luxury of actually driving it without some serious repairs. Again, thoughtless and cruel. Sigh.
There is a silver lining, however, and this being me, you knew it was coming, right? The hubster had been wanting to ride his bike more often, but it seemed there was never enough time with everything else that keeps him busy. Well, having one remaining car and a wife with appointments to keep, he decided that he would join the legions of Portlanders who bike to work. We made a trip to REI this past weekend and got him everything we could think of to make this happen – a pannier, warm and wicking base layers, waterproof pants, safety glasses, and enough lights to make him look like Christmas on a bicycle. Yesterday was his first time out. He came home sweaty and enthusiastic last night and plans to keep it up, rain or shine, three days a week, until the cows come home, so to speak.
So, life is grand. We have one car that works, another car we probably no longer need, and a handsome hubster getting a healthy dose of fresh air, flashing lights, and exercise! I love my life. I really and truly do.
Thanks for reading!
Good Morning Gentle Readers! Good Morning Jimmy Fallon (I hope)!
This post started out as something completely different. A dear friend of mine lost her father recently (big hug to you, sweetheart) and wrote how she would love to hear about more normal activities, as she is knee deep in all of the tasks inherent with the loss of a loved one: cleaning house, dealing with banks, bills, a will, etc. When I first read the message, I could comply. I was up to my usual.
Then, yadda, yadda, yadda, I quit my job and our car got stolen (though, thankfully, not on the same day). Not fun or normal. Yet, in the midst of it all, I found myself smiling and laughing, in part because of Jimmy Fallon. In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, I mentioned his awesome work hosting the Emmy Awards a while back. Then I saw him, along with Justin Timberlake and the best house band in late night television, The Roots, do an equally awesome history of rap on his show. I watched it on a loop for about half an hour, and then dashed off to the computer whenever I needed a pick-me-up. It made my heart fill with glee, people! I was dazzled and singing at the top of my voice (that is, where I could keep up).
Then I got to thinking about how that seems to happen every time I watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It’s just a terrific show. I love his style (check out the suit and shoes in the video with Justin – tip top!), his sense of humor and easy laughter, the way his smile lights up his face, his sincere interest in his guests, and most of all, I think, the sheer fun factor of the show. He’s fearless and up for anything. Let’s rap! Let’s play football poker! Let’s get bothered in a tree! LATE!
It made me want to be there, as a guest, sharing a laugh and a smile. But I’m not famous. I’ve written a novel that has yet to have representation and write a little blog all the way across the country. What to do? It being election season and all, I decided to launch my own campaign to be a guest on the show. This week begins with my credentials in the everyday, and the two following Mondays will be, let’s say, more nuanced.
I guess I’ve really taken the Mark Twain quotation from my last post to heart. I may succeed, or I may crash and burn, but hot damn, I’m out of the harbor! As well, I know the video isn’t the best quality (sorry Brian Williams), and our cat Milo speaks before I do, but I had a grand time making it – a blast of silliness and sheer Colleen style goofiness. It took the sting out of a craptastic week and put a smile on my face (and that of my hubster/camera man). Jimmy, I hope you like it, too!
Happy Birthday to my brother Aaron!
Tags: Jimmy Fallon
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain
Tags: Quoting
What a great way to begin. Do-si-do.
We actually completed this walk weeks ago, but this is the first I’ve gotten around to bringing the photos to you. We were rather excited about this one, as it is pretty much our stomping grounds, Mt. Tabor and the surrounding neighborhoods. What’s more, and I suppose, usual, is that we learned much that we didn’t know and walked streets we hadn’t seen. Sure, we knew they were there, houses sprinkled in the distance of more familiar routes, sometimes daily ones, but it was such a treat to actually walk among them and marvel that there could be so many gems so close yet so hidden to us for the past twelve years.
I think that’s what the hubster and I like most about these books. They give us the opportunity to take our blinders off. So much of our lives are lived up close and with great convenience, speed, and efficiency in mind. We don’t often give ourselves the time to take the long way home, make a “wrong” turn, or just plain wander. Yet the rewards of doing so are plentiful and fine – gorgeous flowers, great views, and new four legged friends among the few.
