Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms...

Top Ten Qualities I am looking for in a man

Note: I came across this post last night while looking for old photos. The original posting date was June 16, 2008. I must say, it's still pretty much right on.

1. Happy-loves life, finds the bright side, optimistic
2. Affectionate-wants to TOUCH me, hug me and kiss me (a lot.)
   
3. Friendly-loves people, has long-time friends, likes to socialize
   
4. Funny-good sense of humor, 'gets' jokes, thinks I am funny (because I am), LOVES to LAUGH-A good 'out loud' laughter is SO attractive!
   
5. LOVES music-wants to dance with me. LOVES baseball-can discuss the game intelligently. LOVES to travel-would like to experience the south of Italy with me.
   
6. Good communicator-likes to TALK, asks questions, is a good listener. Thoughtful. Remembers the answers. Openly and willingly shares his thoughts and hopes and desires with me.
   
7. Energetic and Adventurous-wants to see the world, go to concerts, go for a walk, go to a game, dance with me, sing with me, try new things with me...wants to LIVE life! And then come home and rest and relax with me...and kiss me a lot.
   
8. Enjoys EATING! Likes to DRINK! Likes to cook and loves MY cooking!
   
9. Says "You're beautiful", "You're smart" and "I love you" a lot. And means it! He KNOWS me, GETS me, KNOWS what I like and wants me to know HIM.
   
10. Desires passion, romance, true intimacy and deep, genuine friendship with me. He will let me love him the way I have wanted to love a man all my life...with every single bit of my heart, mind and soul. And, he'll let me kiss him a lot.
    

Yeah, that's what I'm looking for...and he's certainly worth the wait.
I know he's out there. And oh what a lucky man he'll be.

Frampton Comes Alive

Having experienced Peter Frampton at the Forum in Los Angeles in 1976 (my first concert!), and then again at Anaheim Stadium in 1977 and then, once again about 10 years ago at the OC Fair, I knew I would be GREATLY entertained and would fully enjoy every minute of Peter Frampton's 35th anniversary concert. Still absolutely FULL of life at 61, with what I feel is an even BETTER sounding voice (is that possible?), Peter entertained every single one of the almost as full of life fans! I danced and sang and cried and laughed (and, yes, did air guitar) from start to finish! He sang and played each song as if we were hearing it right off the 1976 album. Brilliant!
Frampton literally came alive last night during the greatest rendition of "Do You Feel" that I have ever experienced. I have always thought that "Do You Feel" has the best ending of any song ever recorded, and last night, Peter did not disappoint in recreating the excitement of its fabulous, long drawn out close.
Along with me, he also NEVER stopped smiling! How fun is HIS life? Peter Frampton is doing exactly what he is meant to be doing in life...and loving every second of it.
I was wondering what it takes to sing the same songs over and over and over, night after night after night--for 35 plus years.
I suppose it really just takes an amazing tolerance for repetitiveness...
And, now that I think about it, I guess it's not much different that any one else's job...
Gotta say though, Peter seems to be having a lot more fun.

Mea Culpa

At breakfast this morning, my friend and I began to talk about our faults. Though both of us are tremendously wonderful people (as well as quite modest and oh so humble) we sat for a few minutes trying to figure out what the (somewhat) negative aspects of our personalities might be.
We couldn't come up with much...especially for each other.
But, of course, on the way home, notebook and pen in hand, I quickly came up with a list of things that I believe just might be a few of my faults. OK, the list was long...but, honestly, they are all things I have worked on--and continue to work on. Admitting it is the first step, right?
Here goes:

1. I cuss WAY too much. It's really not funny and FAR beyond excusable. The 'F' word is nothing but an adjective to me and is used to describe everything from the weather to the stock market to the f*cking Dodgers! I need a damn thesaurus. (oops)
   
2. I can be extremely defensive. If you tell me that I am doing something wrong or that I made a bad decision or even that the American League is better than the National--I can become defensive. I am constantly working on this one because I truly value your input in my life.
   
3. I interrupt people. In my defense (joke), let me tell you, my brain never stops. I have so much to say and I want to be sure you don't miss it! I am REALLY aware of this and PROMISE to get better at keeping my mouth shut while you're talking.
   
4. I am quite often too nice. I tend to try to avoid confrontation. I don't say what I really want to say sometimes because I don't want to hurt anyone or make anyone sad...and, admittedly, so they will like me. Believe me, being too nice can come back and bite you in the ass--hard! I will say that over the last few years I have improved in this area drastically--I now know that there is a big difference between being nice and being totally manipulated.
   
5. On the flip side of that, I'll admit that I can be impatient, intolerant and totally lack compassion when it comes to people who are lazy, passive, apathetic, tardy, negligent, lethargic, unemotional or unmotivated--especially when they then complain about not having money or being unhappy or being disorganized. I just don't have any understanding of this kind of thinking. I tend to GREATLY admire people who are disciplined, hard workers, those who have a passion for being productive and, generally, people who have their shit together. (There's that damn cussing again!)
   
6. I have been known to trust too quickly, fall too hard, and love WAY too much. I know, too, though, that when balanced with a little less defensiveness, a bit more honesty and a tad more patience, these things are actually very admirable attributes.

Other than that...well, like I said, admitting it is the first step.
I feel better already.

Peace of my heart

The other day I had a friend over for a visit. As we sat and talked and drank wine on my tiny little patio, my friend continuously remarked on how quiet and peaceful it was out there. I pointed out how the tall, beautiful trees give a sense of being out in the woods and admitted that--be it ever so humble--I have been so happy with every aspect of living here. The whole time we were out there, we never saw--or even heard--one other person.

We came inside to have a little lunch, sitting and talking at my table...and once again my friend marveled at the silent, still, calmness of my tiny little apartment. I told her that it's honestly always that way here. It is always so peaceful and so quiet and so calm and SO very comfortable in this simple little place.

As she stood at my front door getting ready to leave, she stopped, took one more long look around at my apartment and said,
"If I ever run away from home...I'm coming here."

With a happy heart, I smiled and thought,
"Lucky me. I'm already here."

Celebrate good times...

Choose wisely

There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy.
And its only reward is that it's easy.