Ding Dong Merrily On High

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things...not the greatest occasions... 

give off the greatest glow of happiness."

~Bob Hope

I haven't done any shopping for the holidays. Not for Christmas eve, not for Christmas Day. Not for New Year's Eve. Nothing. But later today, as I force myself out of the house, I will be doing just that! Shopping, with a few minutes, here and there, to catch my breath, and pray Trump doesn't declare war, or fire Mueller, or embarrass the United States, with some weird speech. All of which are pretty likely to happen! That's what's on my mind right now, and frankly, I am exhausted. Absolutely exhausted. Depression, fear and the holiday spirit, do not do well together. 

They are like water and oil, but I am pushing through it, and like one of the best therapists I ever had once said, "Doing normal things, makes you feel normal" and right now, that's all I really want, to feel normal again, by having a nice boring day, although I'd prefer to find a little something about the holidays, that makes me smile and feel happy inside, but boring works too. It's sounds easy enough, but at the moment, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack! I guess I am feeling sorry for myself, because I want to enjoy the spirit of the holiday, but finding it is proving difficult.

But I'm trying to. I really am.  

I guess I will just see how the rest of the day goes, before I make up my mind that I won't feel any holiday spirit at all. You never know, perhaps hope is just waiting for me to recognize it. One never really knows about these things! Here is what I have planned for the day... I am getting my hair styled, then hit Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, for some organic roses and a couple pieces of fruit. Then it's off to the mall to do a small amount of gift shopping, and hopefully Alan and I will end the day in Berkeley at some of our favorite food haunts. 

Berkeley always lifts my spirits! So, at least I'm putting some hope on the "To Do" list! Now, I have learned that it's always a good idea to have a Plan B, and when it becomes obvious that Plan A isn't going to work, one should just go with the flow and not fight it. Some of my favorite memories worked around, Plan B, so, wish me luck as I venture out of the house, in search of Plan A... finding the spirit of Christmas!Either way the day goes, I will probably come home and watch Bridget Jones' Diary. It has become one of my favorite holiday movies, because what woman doesn't identify with Bridget, at least part of the time, and let's face it, the holidays are the most difficult time of the year to deal with!

But whether it be the holidays or some other difficult awful time

 Bridget always finds her way!

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

Starfish In The Sky

"I know that your soul is on life support and that you feel lost and like you're completely spinning out of control, but you're finding yourself here, tonight... even in this darkness."

~Jennifer Elisabeth

I had a particularly nasty encounter with a misogynistic, rabid Donald Trump supporter yesterday. He decided to take a shot at my self-confidence by saying my profile picture was ugly. A dis I haven't had since 3rd grade, when a boy who had a crush on me couldn't handle the conflict within his id for one more moment, and unleashed a tantrum complete with crying and drooling! LOL. Yesterday's troll, while probably not physically a child, (he was so good looking apparently that he chose not to put his photo on the Internet) was feeling slighted because I had pointed out that Trump was a complete liar, who just might kill the whole world one day, should a random world leader stand up to him. 

Ouch.

 I can only imagine the troll was cut to the core at the thought, but he must also believe me right on some level. It's all quite irrelevant now, as 12 hours ago in Internet time is forever ago, but as we move along in this particular national election year we are seeing a greater risk, not just to the country we love, but a risk to our individuality. And as we move further along I get the overwhelming feeling that we (America) won't see next New Years Eve without something even more devastating than what just occurred in Orlando taking place. God... I hope I am wrong! And if we get to 12:00 midnight on New Year's Eve without an assassination please feel free to comeback and laugh at me. 

I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT!

I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT.

But should Hillary Clinton win, 

where will the Trump supporters scary anger go?

I don't know, do you?

Mood: Quiet/Reflective

~Me

 

Goodbye 2014... And Don't Let The Confetti Hit You In The Ass

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come

Whispering... 'it will be happier... "

~Alfred Tennyson

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to say goodbye to 2014!

Oh well, I am not going to rehash why I hated this year, you may share most of them with me!

Let's not give it anymore attention!

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW!

2014 In Pictures On Ellipsis

January

 February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

"We'll Miss You Robin"

The Punch Line Comedy Club
San Francisco, California
November 2nd, 2014

Mood: Quiet

~Me

It's New Years Eve, So...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne
And there's a hand my trusty friend
And gies a hand to thine
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

~Auld Lang Syne

I know, I know. I don't usually post a video as the head of my posts, I usually post a new photo, or an archived photo which just happens to fit my rant, rave or observation, but this being not just the end of December, but also the end of 2013, I wanted to take a slightly different look at things. Yes, I still have a retrospective of December, but I have included one page look back at each of the last 12 months. If you want to see the original retrospectives for each month, simply click on the date at the top of each page to be redirected to the original post containing all the round-up photos for that month. Please, as always, I welcome your input on my photography! Please feel free to share your impressions of my photography! Oh, and I hope you enjoyed the video clip, it's one of my favorite clips from one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally, and it just happens to fit New Year's Eve nicely. I never miss it!~

Enjoy!

Looking Back At 2013

A Look Back At January 2013...



A Look Back At February 2013...



A Look Back At March 2013...

 

A Look Back At April 2013...

 

A Look Back At May 2013...

 

A Look Back At June 2013...

 

A Look Back At July 2013...

 

A Look Back At August 2013...

 

A Look Back At September 2013...

 

A Look Back At October 2013...

 

A Look Back At November 2013...



A Look Back At December 2013...



Well, that was 2013 as seen through the lens of my camera, and what a year it was! It was filled with public art, and beauty. Tragedy, and relief. Love and new found friends. Sadness, and then incredible joy! In other words, it was a year! It was life! I can't wait to see what 2014 has waiting for me to discover! On to the adventure waiting to happen!

:)

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Mood: Inspired, Happy, Encouraged, Challenged, 

~Me :)