I'm Fifty.

I am not here to impress you. I don't drive a car to impress you either.  I don't wear name brands very often.  I do love JCrew though.  Anyway.  Simple things to do to impress other people.  Yep.  Here it is.

1.  Be yourself.  Judy Garland said, "Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else".  How true it that?  I am moody and unstable sometimes.  There.  It's who I am.  The only shoes I occupy are mine.

2.  Care about people.  The more you care.  The more they care.

3.  Make other people feel good.  You love a compliment?  Me too.

4.  Be honest and take ownership of your actions.  No one likes a liar.  The truth will reveal itself anyway so whatever.

5. Smile.  Suddenly you are not a stranger anymore.

6.  Say please and thank you.  Rude or grateful?

7.  Help others if you are able.  Lots of ways to do that.

8.  Over-deliver on your promises.  If you know me, you know if I say I will be there or I will do something you can count on it.  It's true.

9. Listen to what other people say.  Sometimes it's the best way to learn.

10.  Compliment people who deserve it.  Eyes focused, ears tuned, mobile phone off. In a world that can’t move fast enough, someone who can find time to listen to others is always appreciated.

11.  Stand up for what you believe in.  But don't flaunt it and push it on others.

 So stop trying to impress people with the possessions you own and start inspiring them with who you are and how you live your life. 

(Christmas in July.  Yes.  It's true.  My Christmas trees are so cute. I will share a picture.)

Zac Brown.  I Ain't in No Hurry Today.

I'd be a fool now to worry
About all those things I can't change
And the time that I borrow
Can wait till tomorrow
'Cause I ain't in no hurry today .

I forgot to take a picture of my one thing I did that last time I blogged.  But I did do something.  Planted some flowers in my yard.  I love yard work.

Anyway.  If is getting closer to graduation time.  So I am gonna list some things that you should know by the time you are 18.  I was thinking there would be 18, but I just don't think it's gonna be the case.

1. You are going to make mistakes.  If you never act, you will never know for sure, and you will be left standing in the same spot forever.

 2.  Find something you really love doing.  If you love it.  It's not work.  If you are loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.

3.  You have to invest some in you.  Yourself and you.  With me it's lipstick.  Placemats.  Just little things that make me smile.

4.  People are not mind readers.  Tell them what you’re thinking.  I do this all the time.  Hate me for it?  You have to tell people what you’re thinking.  It’s as simple as that.

5.  Accept and embrace change.  Change happens for a reason.  Just like the seasons.

6.  Be respectful of others and make them feel good.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. 

 7.  Be who you were born to be.  Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.

But above all, laugh when you can and let go of what you can’t change.  Life is short, yet amazing.  Enjoy the ride.

Billy Joel, Vienna Waits for You. (I saw him in concert in Clemson.  It's also from 13 Going on 30.  One of my favorites.  We all need one do over).

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through
When will you realize...Vienna waits for you
Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight (tonight)
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong
You know you can't always see when you're right(you're right)

Shiny Lazy People

What one thing will you do today? I love good paper and pens. Oh yes. I am a paper snob. Get out some paper and cute pen. Write "I will do one thing today!" Then list it when it's done. I will do the same.

I know you got this song in your mind. Shiny Happy People Having Fun. REM.

Put it in your heart

where tomorrow shines.

Gold and silver shine.

Things I Secretly Celebrate

So. Today, being the 22nd of March, I know because my twins were born this day, received a letter dated March 7th inviting me to enter a craft show...tomorrow. Haha. Someone was so busy they didn't have time to mail mine. I am guessing it was just mine. Whatever. I was contemplating what to use as a little sub-title for my booth. I was thinking like .....Pat Bryant Celebrating Quirky Everyday. Pat Bryant A Celebration of Things You Don't Need.

Got me thinking. I celebrate tiny baby things everyday.

1. Riding through town. Oh the light is turning yellow! Made it.

2. Lunch time. 12:00 p.m. Time to do an hour of nothing.

3. Friday afternoon. It sorta starts right after aforementioned lunch hour. Then 3:00 p.m. What it's only3?

4. The first sip. You know you do it. Coffee. Absolute and grapefruit. Beer. I was about to say diet coke and I thought I was going to cry.

5. Music. Nothing better than...oh my favorite song. I know most of the words. In the car or running. Yes.

6. Post-Work out. I love being on the front door side of that.

7. Getting stuff done. Nothing more to say.

8. Sleeping late and no where to go. Hello pajamas.

9. Telling a story. A new experience. I love a storyteller. What good are those good times, bad times or sad times if we can't share them? Phillip's family is the best at it and I never tire of their stories.

10. Favorite episodes. Like Friends. Or Seinfeld. You know. Brady Bunch. I know them all.

Life Is A Celebration. Rick Springfield.

And you showed me life is a celebration, and lord I'm going to celebrate
Don't you know that life is a celebration
So come on now and celebrate, celebrate
Life is a celebration, look it's a revelation.

Decided to do an arts and crafts show out of town on April 21st.  :) or :(.  Hehe.

Now to get busy. 


Sometimes that little voice creeps in... that says...you don't belong here.  I don't belong here. You know? I feel like gosh I am almost fifty. It seems somedays no matter how hard I work, how nice I am- it's not enough or it's not right. I wish I knew more, but at the end of the day. I just don't.



Van Morrison said it best in Astral Weeks, 1968.

Ain't nothing but a stranger in this world
I'm nothing but a stranger in this world
I got a home on high in another land
So far away, so far away.

Weekend/Aspertame?/Family Love/Application to Craft Sale

Aspertame. So. My husband Phillip had a sagging face a few months ago. Not sure what triggered it. It ended up being RRMS and he is taking shots everyday for the rest of his life to combat it. 

So I did some reading. Apertame is bad! It causes MS like symtoms. I am on my second day without it. Bye bye diet coke. The thing is it's name can be disquised as something else. (Oh and I may have to have A coke once in a while).

Family love. My mother- in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew came this past weekend from South Carolina. We had fun. Of course we remember our fun by what we ate. Friday night we had kabobs and beer. Saturday night Frogmore stew and yellow hammers. Then we went to a cupcake/coke drink. Yummy. I am so glad they came. Looking forward to our yearly vacation in Edisto.


Bob Dylan. Before his time.

"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall".

Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin' / Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin.

What Your Mode of Transportation Says About You

So. I did up my mileage last week. 4 miles Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 2 on Friday. I got 3 in yesterday and 3 today. Okay. That is about all I have to say about that.

Just putting that out there.

Okay on to transportation.

#1 Walking?

First of all, there are the "no shoe" walkers. I would think they could be homeless. Or doing their part for .....the sidewalk?

Second. You have your "no-eye contact-headphone" walkers. They avoid eye contact at all costs.

#2 Biking.

For people who like to live "on the edge".

#3 Scooters.

Oh. Yeah. I had one and used to ride it to the 7-11 for a slurpee. Good times.

#4 Skateboards.

No. I never did. Nor will I ever. Today. There is the "longboard".

#5 Cars.

Yes. My car is junky. It is paid for. It has never left me stranded. I hit a deer in it last year and she broke off my driver's side review mirror. I have yet to get her repaired. But I will. It used to be so important to keep up and have the best car of the week. Not anymore. I will probably never buy another new car. Only new to me.

I am content being almost 50 and driving junk.

Watch what message you send.


Get Out of My Dreams.  Billy Ocean 1988.  I also love it from "License to Drive".


Get outta my dreams
Get in to my car
Get outta my dreams
Get in the back seat baby
Get in to my car
Beep beep, yeah
Get outta my mind
Get into my life
Ooh
Oh I said hey (hey) you (you)
Get in to my car