HURRICANE PREPARATION IN NORTH LA

For all my friends and readers in the FAR North-----Ruston is in North Louisiana---300 miles from the Gulf Coast.  How does Isaac impact us you might wonder---

The greatest threat---  Tornadoes--

Reality---Power Outages----That might not sound like much BUT it's 90 + degrees and the humidity is 100%---and NO POWER means   NO Air Conditioner and MISERY!

Most of us will be fortunate and not sustain damage from tornadoes or falling trees on our houses---BUT if we loose power---WE ALL will be in misery until they get us up and going again.  The WORSE news than that BAD news---most of the repair resources have headed South----that leaves limited crews to work on getting us going again.  I break out in a sweat thinking about it!

"THE ODD LIFE"

I went to the movie yesterday and saw "The Odd Life of Timothy Green".  WONDERFUL movie!  If you are a realist--do NOT go---if you can take some fantasy and listen to the message behind it----it's a winner.

It's what life is all about---"Giving of ourselves".  Putting behind us the expectations of others---and relishing in the pure joy of serving those around us---even when we might look like the butt of the joke to others.  Don't take yourself too seriously---LISTEN when you are talked to and hear what is being said.  Do NOT get caught in the trap of setting unrealistic goals---and living for the edification of others--be who you are.

I am learning these lessons--even now----trying to figure out just who I AM and not be the person others might want me to be.  Happiness---well happiness is short-sighted-----JOY now joy which comes from serving others---It is the REAL DEAL!  It may not be glamorous---it may not be filled with worldly success--but it is  heart filling and soul sustaining.

GREAT FLICK---listen and think about the lesson that is being taught.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE IT ALL---YOU CAN ALWAYS--

We are fortunate to have a site on Facebook called Ruston Merchant---you can sell or buy a WIDE variety of things on this site.  I have even found a couple of treasures---kids toys for a GREAT deal & just yesterday a trifle bowl that I had JUST decided I REALLY needed!  

Today---they have a SPECIAL DEAL for all of you out there that might THINK you already have everything you could possibly ever need---BET YOU DON'T HAVE THESE (well most of you anyway!)

Belly rings!! $10 in Ruston

All I have to say is OBVIOUSLY your belly is MUCH more attractive than mine, after 3 children, if you buy AND wear these------by the way WHERE do you buy these new anyway?

MY LAUGH FOR THE DAY

It has been a LONG day since 5 AM this morning---working, visiting shut in, banking, post office---just an ordinary day

AND THEN-

I had a conversation that kept me laughing---I mean mouth thrown open---belly laughing
Here is one excerpt to let you know how funny some people in my life can be:

Me-"Bless their heart-It sounds like they (no gender revealed) need to make friends---get out establish relationships"

Them--"Have you EVER talked to them?"

IN SEARCH OF GUINEA PIGS-----

While on a long weekend beach trip recently, sweet friend, Margarita and I cooked for "The Girls".  We had so much fun cooking together, that we decided we would start our own little Reality bit and cook together every 3-4 weeks.  Last night was our first jump into the "Saute Pan".  When it's your turn to host--you pick the menu---SO I picked Italian.  Here are the results of our labors:

Appetizer: Asaigo Puffs

 Main Course: Manicotti Stuffed with Italian Sausage, cheese & fresh sauteed spinach

covered with layers of white sauce & fresh spaghetti sauce

Anti-pasta Salad

Garlic Bread 

 Italian Pinot Grigio

Tiramisu with Homemade Lady Fingers

LOADS of fun cooking together--and then--

                                                           Good Food & Good Company

Interested in being a "Guinea Pig"----all is required is that you LOVE good food and pat
the cooks on the back at the end of the evening!

Photos by G-Clix

NOT FUNNY---GOD!

I have a confession to make----it does my heart good to turn over and look at that alarm clock at 4:45---and realize---IT'S RAINING!!!  OH--the shear thrill---the elation---to know   I can TURN OVER AND GO BACK TO SLEEP----no guilt trip---no tossing and turning covered in the heavy weight of shame.  Just

blissful--heavenly sleep--during those hours that we ALL know we sleep the best!  There was a time in my

life that I felt the need to rise and run---no matter WHAT the weather---rain/shine/swelter/or snow----I was up and at it.  THANKFULLY---I GOT OVER THAT!!!  

How many times have I run when it was so cold that the sweat froze on the back of my shirt---THAT IS COLD!  How many times has it been so cold that my hands were numb until I got home in the hot shower to thaw out.  BUT---I will say I am not complaining---I will take the cold over the heat ANY DAY!

In case you are NOT an early morning exerciser---let me explain the conditions to you---for some reason--while it is still dark---the humidity is often held down CLOSE to the ground by the cloud cover---OR WHATEVER .  It is TRULY like running in a sauna.  In case you have never run in a sauna---the air is so heavy with moisture--that you have a difficult time pulling in enough to keep going---GASPING would be a lack luster way to describe the gut wrenching-toenail pulling-hyper-ventilating struggle to get enough of that wet air into your lungs so it can go to your heart---.  It is just NO FUN!

WHY WHY WHY am I driven to keep running---so I won't jump off the cliff--or go over the edge---to keep those happy endorphins flowing----in short---it keeps me sane!  Coming from a LONG LINE of depressed people---I discovered a LONG time ago---running would lift the cloud---make it all OKAY...SO FOREST----I RUN!

After ALL these years of pounding the pavement---I do more walking now---only running 3 days a week and walking in between---NOW still putting in 5 miles + each time we go out--and longer on the weekend-just trying to keep at it till I finally keel over hopefully in a full run someday.  BUT on those days that I roll over and hear that rain---it's like VACATION---SNOW DAY---HOLIDAY---all wrapped into one.  I LOVE IT!

Where am I headed with this----this AM I get a text from "The Flash"--rain is coming this way are you going--I text "Short BUT Strong" and she says--I'm up---I watch the weather---SO SO FUNNY GOD---the rain is all over Shreveport an hour west---but the closer it gets to us---it just disappears.  SO we get up--we run--we walk---we make about 7 miles.   NOW IT'S NOT JUST RAINING BUT POURING-

ARE YOU UP THERE SNICKERING GOD????---Something tells me You are!

THE MAGICAL POWER IN MY LIFE

I don't really believe in "Magic"---I am a skeptic at heart-of anything that appears it is magical----WITH THE EXCEPTION---OF MUSIC...

what else has the power to transport you through time and space---beam
you into the presence of another---create a free fall of emotion---bring a tear, raise a hand, move your feet, bow your head

All kinds---all genres---all beats---all sounds----There is indeed POWER---MAGICAL POWER in music--

A Life Long---Magical Hold On My Soul----Has the Magical Power of Music...
A song in my head---a beat in my feet---a tune in my heart---My Forever Love-

Music