Real Me

"Nobody grows older merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul."

-Samuel Ullman

I had a good birthday. The ride down to Santa Barbara was a lot of fun, and along the way my camera and I saw some wonderful sights, not the least of which was my beloved Pacific ocean. The water off the central coast is the color of a fine sapphire, with sparkles of light, provided my the sun, dancing off it. Yesterday, you could see all the way to the Channel Islands. It was amazing to eat lunch at my favorite park, Shorline Park, while enjoying the view of the islands, wind surfers, and small crafts enjoying a day in the perfect California sun. The wind provided a coolness to the hot June day. It all came together well.

In my adventures yesterday, I found a nifty new lighthouse to share with you, bought some OMG delicious chocolate at my favorite Danish chocolate shop in Solvang, enjoyed an awesome sunrise and sunset, witnessed a roadside fire! YIKES! We had some adventure when the plastic fender, that sits underneath the actual fender, fell off the car and made a horrible noise. LOL. Scared the Whoopity-doo out of me! LOL. It was a thankfully easy fix. :) We had a fabulous breakfast, bought some apple juice at the Apple Farm, grabbed some popcorn and headed on down the road. :)

When I came home, I was met with a wonderful surprise! Well done Robins! Wednesday's Round Robin was a fabulous success, and we also gained some new members! A big WELCOME goes out to John, Julia, Janet and Pamela! It's so nice to meet all of you and to have you join our photography challenge group! I think that is the most new members we have had join us for a single challenge since Karen and I began the Round Robins. :) Cool! Kudos large, goes out to my co-founder Karen, for the awesome job she did yesterday all on her own. That was a hectic day for her, and she really did an awesome job of covering everything alone. Karen, if I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times...YOU ROCK!

Turning 44 is wonderful! I love being my age. I have earned respect, and I am treated so much better now then when I was in my 20's. I appreciate things more now, then earlier in my life. I find my passions are much deeper now then ever. All my passions. ;) I feel more sexy now then ever before, because I think I am more comfortable now then ever before. Self-confidence is a good thing, and while I will always try to improve myself, I know I can trust myself more now...at this time in life. No more second guessing everything. There is a big difference between being thoughtful about decisions, and ruminating over the "what-ifs and the coulda, shoulda, wouldas."

Fibromyalgia kicked me in the patooty, I have a few more aches and pains then I used to, I have to really plan when it comes to big outings like the drive to Santa Barbara, my brown hair is now dotted with gray, I have some laugh lines caused by my weird sense of humor, but the mermaid who lives inside me is content, and happy with who she is. I am in the autumn of life, and y'all know how much I enjoy a colorful, brisk autumn day. I shot the above self-portrait while I was in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday.Yep, that's me. The only thing you can't really see is my long hair. It is over 5 feet now. :) Someday, I should really get it cut. LOL.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and cards you sent me. Life is good!

Age is opportunity no less, than youth itself
though in another dress, and as the evening
twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars
invisible by day.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

-OndineMonet
"Real Me"
San Luis Obispo, California
June 28, 2006
Late Afternoon