Lazy Sunday

Today was absolutely, wonderfully lazy! I did two loads of laundry, vacuumed the floors, put frozen snack food in the oven for lunch, watched a little football, and took a nap. Just finished cooking dinner and now I am sitting here reflecting and being thankful for having a life that allows me to have a perfectly nothing day.

Should I have done more...lots more. I should have cleaned the bathroom, several more load of laundry and dusted, but I didn't. I did exactly whatever I wanted...and it was great!!! Selfish? Probably. But, I do not regret it.

Next week will be very busy. And you know the week of Thanksgiving will be constant motion. So, I convinced myself that I deserved this lazy day. My wish for each of you is that you do the same for yourself. Take time to just be...be...nothing. No expectations, no plans, just be.

Hope your weekend was great!!! I loved mine!

Saturday afternoon

OK. So, this was not a typical Saturday afternoon. Juan and I went to Elm Street and got work done on his tattoo. We spent our Saturday afternoon at Elm Street Tattoo.

I am thankful for being old enough to make the choice to spend my time in a tattoo shop and enjoying the day. It was fun watching the guy draw the design and then create it on Juan's arm. I am thankful that it was his pain today and not mine. But, I have to admit...the itch is back for more ink!!

I am thankful for walking next door to the funky little bar and sitting there watching all the eclectic people and dogs come and go. And, thankful that they had Guinness!

I am thankful to be home, watching TV and relaxing after a great day in Dallas! I would love to live in a loft downtown!!!

TGIF!

Obviously I am thankful for Fridays!

Not because I had a bad week--my life is great!--not because I have anything exciting planned this weekend. No, I am thankful for Fridays because that means I have two days to sleep late and rejuvenate for Monday.

Weekends are my time to spend with my husband, to clean the house (cough, cough), read my trash magazines, shop and go out to eat. I like to get together with my good friends and socialize in a world outside of education. This time in the 'real world' reminds me why I love education and school houses!

Yes, Fridays are great because they signal a time to begin again. Always a renewal process--just like the seasons!

TGIF!!!

Uptown Theater

Tonight I have to talk about the Uptown Theater. If you grew up in GP in the 60's and 70's like I did then you know about the Uptown. This was our downtown movie house where we hung out every Saturday and created great memories. It has gone through many changes over the years and sat empty for the last several years.

This week is the Grand Opening of the newly refurbished Uptown Theater and it is so cool! I went tonight with Colleen and Thom to see the Double Ace band. This is a local, native GP band who often plays at the Oasis. They are great and I always enjoy hearing them.

All this week and next there are special events planned at the theater. This weekend is a Block Party complete with 50's attire and next week there are old movies every night--Casablanca, Gone With the Wind,Grease...how great is that?? I am excited that GP is trying to bring life back to downtown.

Oh, and the random act of kindness I planned to do each day...didn't happen today...I'll try harder tomorrow!

Random Acts of Kindness

Several years ago there was a movement that challenged us to perform random acts of kindness and pay it forward. It was a novel thought back in the day. Today, as I sit to think about what to blog about today, my mind turns to all the wonderful people I know that do both of these novel things.

Thank you Jody and Fabienne for taking care of the birds today.
Thank you Anna for being so thoughtful and finding ways to celebrate.
Thank you Angie for being there to talk to me when I just need a kind ear.
Thank you LeighAnn for sharing your knowledge and friendship.
Thank you Vanessa for thinking one step ahead of me.
Thank you Mike for always going above and beyond to help.

The list goes on and on...

I am so lucky to be surrounded each day by friends and colleagues who just "take care of business" and do what needs to be done for the good of all.

So, in addition to a daily thankful blog, I am going to make sure that I do a random act of kindness each day. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Cooler Weather!

I love fall weather! I like wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets and flannel. I like bundling up when the sun goes down and cuddling on the sofa in a blanket. The crisp, autumn air gently blows the changing leaves (that we have to rake!) and I know that all good things are coming...like high school and college play offs, Thanksgiving, with Christmas around the corner.

This is my reasoning for preferring fall weather to any other:
1) Spring is too wet and rainy. You never know what to wear or what shoes to put on!
2) Summer in Texas to too hot. You cannot take off enough clothing to stay cool and still be decent!
3) Winter is yucky and cold...icy and slushy. I do not need the extra baggage of really heavy, warm clothes!
40 Fall is perfect...cool, breezy and just right for a light sweater (to hide the extra pounds I always seem to have!).

So, this post is in honor of our wonderful season--Autumn!!! Want to join me in a caramel apple cider from Starbuck's?

Today

Today we celebrated Veterans Day at school. I always look forward to this special day because we take the time to think about our freedom and how we are able to keep it--the men and women who put their lives on the line for us!

I am blessed to have 4 military men in my family. My uncle Dub, uncle Bond, my nephew Brandon and my husband Juan. These men all gave time to the US armed forces so that we could keep our freedom, independence and voice. I am thankful for what they gave up for all of us.

We need to take time to celebrate this special day. We must teach the youth how special it is to serve our country. We have to present history to them so they have a connection to their past. They are our future, and we need to make sure they understand the past.

War is not pretty. I can barely remember a time in my life that was not surrounded by war. I grew up knowing my uncle was in Korea. Then came the Vietnam war, Cambodia, the ongoing war in the Middle East, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan...the list is long. I remember watching the death and destruction of the Vietnam war on TV. I remember proudly wearing my POW bracelet in high school. I remember setting the dinner table and watching George Bush, Sr. make his announcement on TV about Desert Storm. It almost seems that we have become so used to war that it is a fact of life.

Take time to thank a veteran. They deserve our love and gratitude.