waking up at 7:15...

slowly opening my eyes and seeing the most lovely morning light shining on the tree outside my window....

getting a lot to-dos to-done

the love I am given every day...

Spending a little time with my parents and the Christmas elf

Football

Naps

Sleeping in this morning

Having more energy.
Less fluid is coming out of the drains.
I took three walks today, and that really helped with the cabin fever.
How quickly I am healing.
:)

Being able to spend quality time with my girl. It is important to make the moments/days count.

A quote and picture on my FB ...the pic is too large to post ...it has 2 kids carrying mason jars filled with fireflies...and the quote says "Fill your life with those that light your path."...

This brings me joy for many reasons...including my mom's story of leaving a jar of fireflies for her dad at the top of their stairs to "light his way". Sadly he died when she was 7 years old but it's her fond memory.

My hummingbirds that bring me joy every day to watch their feisty selves.

Certain accomplishments I've made in the last several months that have opened doors to a better quality of life.

Teamwork

My son returning to the east coast...

An awesome dinner with important, appreciated, trusted friends.

My life and the many positive changes and healthy choices I've made.

The best, most productive and positive doctor appointment I've ever had!! It's very rare for me to "just click" with a doctor but I believe she must be the best on this side of the Mississippi!!! I'm so thankful we are starting to get stuff taken care of and that she pays such attention to detail....she's awesome!! And I know she will help me work on improving my quality of life.

An amazing day filled with the beauty of nature, mountain streams, waterfalls, laughter, meeting new, fun friends, finding tiny critter prints in the sandy mica mud that made me smile at the tiny wonders of mother nature, private and secluded apple and asian pear orchard, a gorgeous trout pond load full of fat trout who keep "Howard the Duck" company, campfire and sunshine breaking thru the rain, ....and that "awe struck", FUN, exciting feeling at experiencing something I've never done and "feeling like a kid again" finding beautiful treasures at a Gem Mine...I have a WHOLE bag filled with REAL Emeralds (my favorite), Garnets, Moon Stones, Purple Amethest (sp?), and several other stunning stones that the lady said were large enough to cut several large gems from. I have ALWAYS wanted to own a real emerald!! I was so excited I was giddy!! ...the Garnets are the size of golf balls!!

And the whole day spent with two of my best friends.

Seeing my buddy today after finding out earlier this week he has cancer. He is doing well and up to the same old jokester he is.

He and his wife are hanging in there-together. They have been together for what seems like forever and she is not giving him permission to let the cancer beat him.

yesterday.....

sitting and watching the fluffy clouds roll by and not giving a thought to the time or anything else....right at that moment, that's exactly where I was supposed to be....

later the same day.....

an incredibly massive rainbow made a showy appearance over the mountain. It was so broad that all the colors could be clearly seen. Ive never seen yellow in a rainbow show so vibrantly....

Waking up to Fall kissing my soul spot...

Watching see Walter run brought me joy. Cracked me up big time!

Here are 2 video links on youtube about a dog named Walter who absolutely loves the sea.

Enjoy! :)


http://youtu.be/UowkIRSDHfs


http://youtu.be/ZEFP3J_lIa8

venting some ... you are forewarned
 

It brought me joy to hear the elderly drug addict lady next door is moving away OCT 1st. Her brother took her car from her after an incident at the bank. She was strung out at the bank. The manager came out in the parking lot, talked to her long enough for the police to arrive. I am certain he knew how dangerous it would be for her and everyone else on the road if he allowed her to drive away. She was sent to an out of town treatment center without her relatives knowing what was happening. If she had not been an elderly person, the police would have arrested her. She only stayed 3 days. Her brother is having her put into an assisted living place. No more car for her. She is happy about it. I am too! It got way too scary a few times ... and annoying as hell other times. The week before the incident at the bank, she had me over there checking her front doorknob and lock 3 times. There was not a thing wrong with it except she forgot how to lock and unlock her front door in her stupor. I would have to repeat over and over again like I was instructing a 3-year old ... and she could never understand me. I think she always perceived me as her own personal handyman. I really did not mind going over and putting her bookcase together and other little things. But as her mind became more pickled, I did not want to be around her - much too frustrating. And I got tired of pulling up in the driveway, seeing her sprawled out on the ground... and having to go over there, pick her up and take her inside. If she was not moving away, I would still help her when she was on the ground. But YAY! Don't have to do it any more. I talked to her a bit after she was off the dope a few days. Told her she was a drug addict and that it would kill her. She does not think she is. She said those people in the treatment center were yelling and crazy. Also, hugged her and said she had nothing to be ashamed about because it was an illness like any other illness. Hugged her again and walked away.

Being around her, I was able to see my disease up close.
Will be forever thankful I chose sobriety around age 30.
That chit gets really messy - looking in a hurry!

*doing the happy wiggle butt stone butch dance now* LOL!

I spent a few blissfull hours holding, kissing and breathing in my baby nephew. Pure joy.

Enjoyed supper with great friends that I haven't seen in months

I sent my best friend a care package filled with her favorite treats and things to make her smile...love sending fun care packages.

Then I had a fantastic visit with a retired couple that are dear friends....had so much fun listening to their funny stories and sharing a lot of laughter...I had taken them a huge batch of homemade chicken n dumplins...in return they gave me homemade blueberry wine made from their organically grown LOCAL berries (OMG!! YUMMM!!) and some fresh from oven, skillet fried corn bread. The best part was seeing them heathly and happy.

found out today I am being assigned a brand new project all my own ... my baby from the ground up ... I make the calls, I make the decisions ... the agents in the field I will be gathering info from wear badges ... I will insist, after they get to know me better, on having an honorary badge myself ... (butch giggles) ... I am serious!

how fun!! :)

it really made my day to give great news to a dear friend and know it made her day and made her smile. It's really awesome when plans come through and good neighbors help each other out.

Today is my baby Smudge's 2nd birthday. I am going to buy him a doggie cupcake and take him on a long walk. He brings me joy, everyday. <3

Waking up with five cats nesting on and in my feather comforter and 85 pound Sophie next to me.

Pure heaven.

...
 

After mowing the lawn...drinking a grape soda out of a glass bottle!

Even despite spending $1100 on my car, getting it fixed so that I don't have to worry about my steering going :)

Joy #1 Having a lunch date with my boy Fruitcake. He loves to play fetch.

Joy #2 Fresh sushi and a chilled Orangina for dinner

It feels really good to make someone's day, and make them " so happy they could cry", just by a simple act of kindness, friendship, compassion, and a dash of "Paying it forward".

My own plate of chocolate chip cookies

My life taking a complete turn around for the better...

Coming home soon...a real home...

Friends and the great love they show me...
:praying:

Taking a shower brought me joy and not because I am now clean as a whistle but because when I'm in the shower, I like to do the norm, wash the flowing locks, my body, shave the face... and then... I like to turn the water up so it's nice and hot and just sit there with the water running over my body. I get lost in it at times and forget where I am. It just feels so damn good. Today, that brought me joy.

...
 

Simple communication.....texting.... Good people....good texts!

My new place...what a huge difference it makes to have your own space! I love it!

Got to have that housewarming part-ay! Just a small intimate affair...

Getting closer and closer to my goals.

New opportunities.

My chiwinnie all clean and pretty and enjoying the calm...

I woke up early without ANY pain...got an early start to my day...enjoyed the company of a good friend and yummy coffee while we drove to Charlotte and found some great, inexpensive materials at Habitat for Humanity Restore to complete several of my projects...was so excited to find beautiful mosaic tiles for a table top and a nice chandelier for my mason jar light idea....had fun at lunch...made a special trip to my favorite hardware store where the staff are always so helpful and love to hear about my current projects...came home and am having a bunch of fun and creative excitement working to "transform" an old sewing machine wrought iron base (that I got for very cheap) into a gorgeous tile topped table to resell at my new shop...the hardware guy said I should ask $200 for it when done because it's so unique...that's a huge profit and makes me very happy to feel my creativity come back!!

Having my new shop and getting special projects done that I can make good money from makes me feel really awesome to be self sufficient again, without going back to work for the "corporate world". I love being self employed in a job where I can be so creative and the sky's the limit!!!
So happy I feel like dancing!!

Chocolate. Pizza. Singing...in that order.

Getting ready...

Great friend...

An understanding beautiful heart...

Tomorrow's game and all the good natured (and some not so good natured) ribbing between Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans for the Governor's Cup game! GO COWBOYS!!!

A season of new blessings...