Life

September, visits and Anthony Bourdain

Posted on September 16, 2018 by emjayandthem

September brings many changes, not the least of which is the arrival of Fall colors. But even more exciting, here in my neck of the woods, is the arrival of two important happenings: crystal clear blue skies and low(er) humidity. Ahh ~ bring on happy smiling skies, outside walks, Breck-girl hair and comfortable sleeps.

Every year I declare Fall as my favorite season: The colors, the smells, the tastes – yep – it’s my favorite. It’s the one season I missed more than any other when we lived down south. In Texas, the seasons were: hot, hotter, surface-of-the sun hot, and slightly less hot. I loved many things about living in Texas but always, always I longed for Fall.

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” [Indian Summer]” ― John Howard Bryant

Sometimes I sleep in on the weekends ~ I still wake early and usually I get up. But sometimes, like today, I do “tuck and roll” if only for a little while. I did so today, and with great delight, dreamed of Mom. I was back in her farm kitchen and she was teaching me how to make bread. I was an impatient teen, not paying as close of attention as I should have. She had something to teach me and I listened. But not well. When I awoke, the dream felt like a visit. And even though I don’t bake or eat bread now, perhaps the lesson was in the listening.

“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” ― Laurie Colwin

I’ve been catching up on past episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown.” ~Sigh. I’m late to his party. He was such a scamp, so much fun, with that wicked smile and sense of humour/adventure. If only he’d known it.

“I think preparing food and feeding people brings nourishment not only to our bodies but to our spirits. Feeding people is a way of loving them, in the same way that feeding ourselves is a way of honoring our own createdness and fragility.” ― Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way

What season do you look forward to most?
Have you had any vivid ~~dreams~~ visits lately?
And are you on the Anthony Bourdain train?

Pearls, pigs and passages

Posted on September 9, 2018 by emjayandthem

From my earliest memories, our Grandmother Pearl wore pearls -pearl necklaces, drop and button earrings, bracelets and brooches. Some were real and others were fake, bought from the Avon Lady or the Sears catalogue. Mom and Aunt Irene also had a “set” that they each broke out for fancy occasions, like weddings, showers or baptisms. I’m sure they were influenced by First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s famous pearl style and later when First Lady Barbara Bush brought them back again.

Pic taken in 1923 ~ ❤️ Grandmother Pearl was 19. An Emjayandthem (C) Photo

I’ve had these pearls since the 90s ~ classic, they never go out of favor. an Emjayandthem(c) photo

I have always loved pearls. I love their softness, strength and imperfections; I love their luster, warmth, and radiance, too.

A few days ago I read this passage and was reminded how important it is to “learn to discern” – to learn we don’t have to intervene in other’s life lessons, even when you can see the train coming from afar. As hard as it is, it’s true that stepping in can only delay the learning for another. And doing so may make future lessons more difficult.

Some lessons are meant to be learned the hard way.

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Do you relate to this passage?
- What lessons have you learned the hard way?
- And how hard is it for you to “learn to discern?”

Categories: Animals, Beauty, Faith, Family, Fashion, Forgiveness, Growth, Joy, Life, Life Lessons, Mom, Personal, Relationships, Thoughts | Tags: Avon, Barbara Bush, classics, do not give dogs what is sacred, do not throw your pearls to pigs, Jackie Kennedy, learn to discern, lessons learned the hard way, letting others learn their own lesson, life lessons, Matthew 7:6, Mom, pearls, pigs, Sears catalogue, what I know now, wisdom, women | 2 Comments

Random 5 for Labor Day ~Dishes, Empaths & Amazon

Posted on September 3, 2018 by emjayandthem

How is today is September 3rd and Labor Day already?

It seems like 5 minutes ago we turned the calendar from April to May ~ and while we didn’t have a typical summer, we still enjoyed many high points — beach days, good books and BBQs. To that end here are my 5 Random 5s for Labor Day:

1 ) Good friends enjoyed shared birthdays this weekend so a celebration was organized, pot luck style. I don’t know about you but, around here, “bring a dish to pass” gatherings offer the b.e.s.t. food. Why’s that? Because everyone makes (or buys) their one “best” thing and, when you put everything together, it’s amazing. Examples of what was offered include the following:

Deviled eggs, home-made pickles, olives and various cheeses & crackers
7 Layer Salad (mine), Oriental Coleslaw, Pasta & Potato salads – all home-made – yummo!
Pastry-wrapped sausages, Sloppy Joe’s & baked beans (with bacon and enough brown sugar to carmelize an apple, yum!)
Veggies & Dip, chips & dip and Fruit salad
And birthday cake — not just any cake – but a local bakery’s marble cake with a creamy custardy middle and fluffy whipped icing — OMG.
- There was more, but the above is some of what I sampled and YES I enjoyed a small piece of cake — it was sweet and creamy and a little bit went a long ways 🙂

2 ) I’ve been reading a book that I can’t stop thinking about. Normally when I land upon a good book I’ll tear through it like a starving wolf. Not this one. I’m savoring my way through. See, I’ve always known stuff I shouldn’t know, and I’ve had a feeling (good or bad) about a person, more than once. I trust it. I just didn’t know how to use it or how to protect myself from absorbing other’s “stuff.”

A sample includes:

Being an empath is different from being empathetic.
Being empathetic is when your heart goes out to someone else. Most of us do this – especially after a tragedy.
Being an empath means you can actually feel another person’s happiness or sadness in your own body. You can feel it so deeply that it can make you physically sick, sad or drained.
- You may have been told to “not be so sensitive,” maybe you are, like me, sensitive to caffeine, startle easily, get overwhelmed in crowds, have a strong sense of smell and touch (sour odors and prickly clothes, no way).
- These can all be indicators — so tell me — Are you an Empath?

3 ) I just realized that my Amazon cart always has something in it. I love the “save for later” feature. Because my internet wanderings can take me into some deep valleys, it’s nice to know I can save an item for a more rational purchase point later. Between books, vitamins, and skincare/beauty products, I enjoy new-to-me finds and repeat favorites. For someone who doesn’t enjoy shopping, I sure enjoy Amazon 🙂

4 ) Speaking of books — I did a lot of not laboring this weekend ~ I putzed, cleaned, cooked a little, read a lot, fiddled with the hot tub & read some more. Yep, definitely did. Not. Labor.

5 ) And with that, here’s September! Bring on bright sunshiney days, College Football, autumn leaves, cooler nights and less humidity. Because even though it’s Labor Day, the reality is it’s still warm, humid and summery … and that’s OK. Put down the pumpkin spice and turn on the fan!

Autumn colors are arriving (scenes from the old house)

What signs of Autumn are near you?
Could you be an Empath, too?
Are you laboring to NOT Labor this Holiday weekend?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Family, Food, Fun, Growth, Holidays, Home, Life, Life Lessons, News, Opinion, Personal, Products I love, Seasons, Share, Thoughts | Tags: amazon, autumn leaves, beauty products, birthday celebrations, Books, college football, dish to pass, Empath, empath vs. empathetic, Fall, gift of insight, Holidays, inner wisdom, intuitive, Judith Orloff, Labor Day, potluck, pumpkin spice, seasons, Second Sight, sensitive people, shopping, the gift of fear, traditions, trust your instincts | 7 Comments

Exercise, Having fun and the “To Be” List

Posted on August 20, 2018 by emjayandthem

They say everything adds up and indeed it does.

In late June I started tracking my steps/normal activity + bouncing regularly on my Rebounder (indoor trampoline). And no, it was nothing more than a realization that I was sitting too much and moving too little.

You won’t get the butt you want sitting on the one you’ve got! 😉

As background, I’ve been bouncing on and off since last Fall, but I finally committed to a regular schedule after joining a “Bounce Daily for 30 Days” challenge in a Rebounding Facebook Group {{ see, there can be good things in FB-land, not just political rants, recipes involving cheese or personality quizzes!}}

My beautiful bouncy Bellicon rebounder!

Since June 21 I’ve amassed 452K steps= 186 miles, and 18 hours of it is just from bouncing!

I like keeping track because keeping track keeps me accountable. I also like visuals, stats and bright colors.

But – as has been the norm for most of my adult career life, I get sucked into conference calls, long drives, last minute projects and fire drills … so when I finally arrive at home I’d come in all sloth-like. I’d give hubby a passing “hi,” stumble my way through supper, slink into a book and head off soon for bed.

Kind of like our friend the Sloth below, moving at the speed of mud:

Not anymore.

With few exceptions, now, after work, I change into “home” workout gear (the not cute kind but no one sees so who cares kind!) – old jersey shorts, a soft tank top, sports bra and light runners (You can bounce barefoot but I have one wayward foot that pronates when I do. I call her Nancy. ). I put my hair up, set a timer, crank up the tunes …. and work my way backwards – Example:

A Kitchen timer is typically set for 45 minutes
- (When I started I could barely do 7 minutes. 45 mins is 6x that – SHAZAM!)
Before I know it the 35 minute mark comes around.
- While I’m bouncing to Barry White, Al Green or Elvis Presley, in a blink there’s just 20 minutes to go.
20 Minutes! Meh – here comes Tom Petty, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, Mandisa or The Beatles
- Soon only 7 minutes remain. …. what’s that you say?
7 minutes? Heck that’s 2 songs . .. Rock N Roll!
- Beep beep, timer chirps and I’m bouncing, sweaty, smiling and happy;
  - You’re welcome for the tour of the Olympic Stadium housing my mind games!

But, here’s the thing – those little mind games work.

Every. Single. Time.

Because rather than announcing that I’ll “get 20 minutes in” … like it’s a hill to climb on the boring old dreadmill (that I’d likely skip) instead I imagine myself at the top of the curving hill … bouncing my way on down. Yay!

Rebounding is THIS MUCH fun!

While bouncing I experience the following:

Thinking, remembering and plotting
Losing myself in a song,
Laughing to a memory,
Gnashing through a mistake
Marveling at my endurance, coordination and strength
Smiling loudly, sorting stuff out, thinking ahead
Daydreams
Epiphanies ping-ponging past me

See, it was while bouncing that I glanced at my 2018 Vision Board — the same one my Inner Lizard had harped at me to take down. I heard her biting remarks – it’s soooo stupid, nothing’s gonna change, take it down, it looks like a grade-school girl made it … etc etc etc.

Then I read it again.

And with my hair flying, my face sweaty and everything I had in full bounce, I might have cried just a little when I recognized six key words I’d cut out of a magazine last December:

FIND A WORKOUT YOU DON’T HATE

2018 Vision Board coming to life

So I ask you: is the exercise you’re doing fun? Because if you’re not having fun I’m guessing you’re not doing it. Or you won’t be doing it (whatever “it” is) much longer.

It’s time to mix it up, I double-dog dare ya! And write a “To Be” list while you’re at it 🙂

*** What's on your "to be" list?***

Categories: Attitude, Confidence at any age, Determination, Fun, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Life Lessons, Opinion, Personal, Products I love, Sports, Thoughts, Wisdom, Women | Tags: "to be" list, a workout that's fun, Al Green, awesome, Barry White, Bellicon, bouncing, build bone strength, calm, Calvin & Hobbes, Classic Rock, Elvis Presley, endorphins, epiphanies, exercise, exercise that is good for the lympathic system, find a workout you don't hate, fitness, fun, funk music, gain muscle, growth, happy, having fun, health, healthy, honoring yourself, improve balance, improve digestion, indoor trampoline, Inner Lizard, joy, joyful exercise, JumpSport, lose weight, loving, Mandisa, Olympic Coliseum, positive mind games, rebounder, self-love, Soul Train, strength, sweatpants and coffee, The Beatles, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, time for yourself, Tom Petty, well-being, whole body exercise, You won't get the butt you want sitting on the one you've got! | 2 Comments

Random 5 Friday ~ Coffee, Peace, Votes and Rats

Posted on August 10, 2018 by emjayandthem

Random 5 Friday. Ready? Set — Go!

1 ) This picture, taken at night in my home province of Saskatchewan, Canada, brings me peace. I cannot look at those stars and not believe.

Photo Credit to Gerry Pocha

2 ) There was risk of a rat sighting today. While I am thankful for the heads-up, my skin prickled at the mention and, thankfully, I dodged the interaction. 🙂 See once you’ve lived/worked/endured rat behavior – years can pass and your tail will still twitch at the memories a bad experience left on your soul.

3 ) Yesterday was National Book Day (should be a holiday, I’m just saying…. ). Saw this and just had to share:

The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” — Elizabeth Hardwick

4 ) Autumn is sneaking in. Know how I know? Mornings are just slightly darker. On weekdays I am always up by 6:00 or sooner — now, it’s like August arrived and the sun decided to sleep in. Seriously, there’s been a turn and I feel it most in the mornings. Coffee up!

5 ) The August Primary took place earlier this week. Whenever I get to vote, I think of Mom & Dad … they were both so passionate about voting and never missed an opportunity to take part. One time, because of bad weather & greasy roads, their only way out was to drive the tractor a mile & a half to the highway where they were met by Dad’s brother & sister-in-law – all four rode together into town to vote. Open-air tractor or not, Mom grabbed her red patent leather purse and hopped on. I can just see it, the two of them heading off up the hill. Man, I miss them. ❤

Mom and Dad with one of their winning horses – and a date night. An Emjayandthem(C) photo

Did you celebrate National Book Day, too?

Ran into any rats lately?

Seeing signs of Autumn where you are?

Categories: Attitude, Confidence at any age, Determination, Elections, Faith, Family, Friendship, Growth, Home, Life, Life Lessons, Men, News, Personal, Politics, Thoughts, Women | Tags: August primary, Autumn, belief, Books, caffeine, coffee, Elizabeth Hardwick, how to get your child to read books, mom & dad, nasty people, national book day, Our Lady Queen of Peace, quotes, rat behavior, rats, rural churches, Saskatchewan skies, seasons, spirituality, starry night, stars, the greatest gift is a passion for reading, voting | 7 Comments

Adulting in Summer

Posted on August 5, 2018 by emjayandthem

I don’t know about you but being an adult in summer still requires some adjustment.

Dressing up when the weather says “dress down.” Shoes on when my heart screams “barefoot.”

Going inside to bed … when I want to stay up and watch fireflies dance.

In summer, I’ll start a new book and if an author bores me, feel no shame in reaching for another.

In summer I’m restless.

But not for a desire to do rather for the desire not to do.

In summer the job I enjoy feels laborious: phone calls, project calls, calls, calls and reminder calls.

Summer vacation affords an opportunity to shut that out and instead pad quietly through the house, sipping coffee, feeling the fan on my skin and the heat at the nape of my neck.

Summer days find me up early, drinking coffee and tea for hours, making bacon & eggs for lunch, and leftovers and fruit for dinner. Even better if eaten outside.

Summer brings a longing for the summers of my childhood.

Of screen doors and homemade pie, beach hair and strappy sandals; wienie roasts and kick-the-can, late night swims, ice-cream or watermelon eaten on Grandma’s steps.

Summer is the season when adulting has a very good chance of going sideways.

I’ve not tried this but it’s tempting … Happy Summer!

Categories: Attitude, Confidence at any age, Food, Holidays, Home, Life, Personal, Seasons, Thoughts | Tags: adulting, bacon & eggs, Ella Fitzgerald, folding a fitted sheet, fresh vegetables, fruit, grill out, lemonade, schedule, summer, Summertime, sunshine, vacation | 6 Comments

Summer just opens the door and lets you out

Posted on July 21, 2018 by emjayandthem

It’s summer ~ we’re in the throes of the season now, temps hovering in the 90s with the % of humidity matching.

In no particular order are just some of the summer delights we’ve been savoring:

Morning coffees on the patio
Fireflies fluttering at dusk
Strawberries, corn-on-the-cob and 7-Layer Salad
Anything grilled ~ steak, chicken, shrimp and more
Hubbs golfing later and me reading later, all to summer’s golden light
A soft serve ice-cream, half chocolate & half vanilla, with half of it running down your arm
Stray cat visits
Kids playing in the sprinkler and Yellow finches mining my flowers
Couples walking together and dogs walking owners
The joy of a new book and the laziness of summer magazines
The smell of fresh limes on my fingers after squeezing into a margarita, the kiss of summer on my shoulders and the tangle of beach waves in my hair

+ + + + + + +

“Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. For those few months, you’re not required to be who everyone thinks you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you don’t have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. Summer just opens the door and lets you out.” -Deb Caletti, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart

Sunset on Lake Michigan

What have you indulged in this summer?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Faith, Family, Food, Fun, Gratitude, Growth, Holidays, Humor, Joy, Life, Opinion, Personal, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing | Tags: Deb Caletti, home, Honey Baby Sweetheart, life, living, no past, quotes, relaxation, seasons, summer, Summer just opens the door and lets you out, you can be grateful and easy | 10 Comments

Sunshine, questions and a big juicy life

Posted on July 15, 2018 by emjayandthem

A while back, a blogging friend Dor, awarded me the “Sunshine Blogger Award” – this award is as special as sunshine on my shoulders, sunshine on my toes… Or saying my future’s so bright I just gotta wear shades!

taken yesterday

Thank you Dor for your kindness & for including me. The rules are to do the following –

Give a Big Hearty Thanks to the blogger who nominated you & link back to them (Check!)
Answer the questions the other blogger asked you (See below)
Nominate a host of others (rules suggest 8-11) but I’m just gonna leave this open whomever wants to play along and 😀
List the rules/display the Sunshine Blogger Award on your site. (done)

Here are the questions Dor posed for me:

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you wish you were the other and why?
- Gemini ~ both, depends on the day and situation. I can work the room at a conference or cocoon myself away with my books ~ it all depends.
Are you an animal lover? What pets do you have and love?
- Yes, no pets right now but our Grand-Dogs and a Stray Cat warm my ❤ regularly
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
- Mr. Corbett; he was smart, strict and fun
Have you ever had a bad habit you broke? What was it and how did you change it?
- I’ve stopped asking for permission to enjoy myself!
What is your favorite place to relax? Explain where it is and why it helps.
- Home or outside / outside at home / the beach! I’m cozy at home and comfy outside, provided it’s not 95F+
What is your favorite movie of all time?
- One I watch every time it’s on is “Something’s Gotta Give.” ~sigh
Do you love to travel or do you hate it? Why?
- Love to travel for vacation and I tolerate business travel.
- I love the coming & going, but I don’t love impatient flyers trying to fit a couch into the overhead compartment. Remember when flying used to be fun?
Are you an organized or a disorganized person?
- Organized. My grocery list is typed in the order of the store. I admit it 😉
Are you always late, early, or right on time? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to your timing?
- Always early. A disadvantage is that not everyone riding with me is ready on time!
Do you create lots of blog posts in advance of publishing or do you do one at a time?
- As they come to me
What inspires you to create a blog post?
- see answer to #1 😉

And here are your questions, friends:

What’s a scent or fragrance that takes you back to summers as a child?
What dessert item do you remember savoring at family reunions, parties or weddings?
Name a song that makes you want to get up & dance.
What ability do you wish you had and why?
Who do you wish you could have a conversation with?
And lastly, what are you looking forward to?

Categories: Animals, Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Confidence at any age, Determination, Family, Food, Friendship, Fun, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, music, News, Opinion, Personal, Relationships, Seasons, Thoughts, Travel, Wisdom, Women | Tags: abilities, animals, Annie Lamott, bad habits, blogging, desserts, Diane Keaton, don't wait, early or on time, extrovert, family reunions, fragrances, fruits, home, imagination and radical silliness, introvert, Jack Nicholson, looking forward to, missing someone, movies, music, organized or not, pets, questions, relax, scents, Something's Gotta Give, songs, summer, sunshine blogger, teachers, travel | 4 Comments

Random 5 Monday ~ Bourdain, Beaches and Ducks

Posted on June 25, 2018 by emjayandthem

It’s Monday and it’s time for some random thoughts from the ever-swirling mind of yours truly. Ready? No. Well get set, let’s go!

1 ) Still reeling over the loss of Anthony Bourdain. I’m not even a foodie. And I wanted to be one … watching him. I wanted to walk into his kitchen, sit at his table, have him flirt outrageously with me, tell a clever joke and have him lean in for the punch line. Young, middle-aged, older – there was something about him that drew us in. And kept us there. This blogger sums up our loss beautifully – https://atypical60.com/2018/06/09/the-anthony-bourdain-i-knew/ #LOSS.

Help is available by calling 1-800-273-8255 or at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

I hope he has peace now. 😦

2 ) Last week I took a couple of days off ~ I was, once again, up against the deadline. Time to use vacation days. Darn. Thursday I packed tea, sunblock, my books and a beach chair and drove myself to Lake Michigan. A place where stress does not thrive. I read for hours, enjoyed other people’s children, watched a wedding, dug my toes in the sand and came home with beach hair & freckles. And yes, I aim to repeat this many times over the summer. #SUMMERGOALS.

~~~ ahhh ~~~
An Emjayandthem(C) Photo

3 ) The days are longer now that summer is officially here. Celebrating my birthday I reflected on changes. Much much stays the same ~ the work load, schedule, and expectations. But I’ve changed – I’m a bit easier on myself than I used to be. I’ve said “no” to others so I can say “yes” to me. I’ve slowed down. I’ve leaned in. I’ve savored. There’s a shift and I like it. #SELF-CARE

4 ) Something I’ve realized – getting older – is that I’m a lot like Mom: I don’t mind time alone, I crave it. I get a little bit cranky with too many people and too much noise. Yes I enjoy good conversation, music and such but I can – and will – easily spend days by myself. A few nights back I imagined taking a week off and never leaving the house. I found myself day-dreaming of how that would go:

Sleep
Read
Putter outside
Read
Write
Chat on the phone / visit with Hubbs
Sing/dance to music
Read
Putter outside
Read
Exercise/stretch
Sleep

I even had a fantasy food list ready. It came to me immediately and goes something like this:

Strong coffee with cream
Grilled anything & Fresh veggies
Strawberries and watermelon
Iced Tea
Bacon & eggs
Fajitas
Avocados
Chinese Coleslaw
Margaritas and Fresh Limes

I realized that this exercise was really me manifesting my summer “wish list.” Yep, time to book more days off. #SUMMERGOALS

5 ) Saw two ducks on my walk earlier tonight … made me think of this:

#CORNYJOKESMAKEMELAUGH

~~~~~~~

Your turn:

Did a celebrity death ever leave you reeling? (recent or not)
Are you making a summer wish list, too?
Got any bread?

Categories: Animals, Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Confidence at any age, Food, Grief, Growth, Home, Humor, Joy, Life, Life Lessons, Men, News, Opinion, Personal, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Women, Writing | Tags: Anthony Bourdain, beach hair, beaches, being alone, Books, bread, duck walks into a bar, fantasy food list, foodie, goals, Lake Michigan, loss, Mom, nail your beak to the bar, personal growth, self-care, stress-free, suicide, summer goals, summer vacation, summer wish list, toes in the sand, water | 12 Comments

Libraries in Summer

Posted on June 17, 2018 by emjayandthem

The air is thick and hazy, humidity hanging like a curtain.

I reach into my bag of treasures, make a selection and smile sinking into the coolness of my leather chair.

Air-conditioning blowing, too hot and muggy to be outside.

Darn.

So much to do, no desire to do it.

Darn.

Summertime books are calling.

I’m diving right in … you?

“The library in summer is the most wonderful thing because there you get books on any subject and read them each for only as long as they hold your interest, abandoning any that don’t, halfway or a quarter of the way through if you like, and store up all that knowledge in the happy corners of your mind for your own self and not to show off how much you know or spit it back at your teacher on a test paper.”
― Polly Horvath, My One Hundred Adventures

Categories: Attitude, Confidence at any age, Family, Fun, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Mom, Personal, Products I love, Thoughts, Wisdom, Women, Writing | Tags: abandon all responsibilities, air-conditioning, Books, heat, humidity, Library, read what you like, relax, summer heat, summer reading, summer reads, time well spent | 6 Comments

Random 5 Friday ~ Summer, Strawberries and Silliness

Posted on June 1, 2018 by emjayandthem

It’s Friday & it’s time for 5 Random thoughts ~ here we go:

1 ) June 1st and our grand-kids last day of school ~ Summer break begins. I don’t know about you but we had to go through most of June to make it to Summer Break. Usually the end of school year involved a class trip and, on the way home, a stop at McDonalds: Two-all-beef-patties-special-sauce-lettuce-cheese-pickles-sauce-on-a-sesame-seed-bun – Imagine a bus full of kids singing that at full volume! So good – and back when a fast food burger actually tasted like the commercial made it look.

google.images.com

2 ) Earlier this week, at a county meeting, I chatted with a Community official who has been a bit of a “Grumpy Grumperson” at prior meetings. Not that day. Seems she’s retiring in August, selling her house, bought an R.V. at a “old folks park” in New Mexico – she’s packing her books, Daisy, her 3 yr old German Shepherd, and heading out. Said she’s raised 4 boys as a single mother and its now her time — when someone asked what her kids thought her response was “the Best Western near me charges $49 a night … they can come see me and stay there.” And, she confided, on the way to the parking lot, that she’s not taking social security ’till she turns 66, in the meantime “I’ll live on coffee, books, my house proceeds and walks with my dog.” 🙂 The experience reminded me how freeing and necessary it is to take leaps of faith and to remember that ~ people – and their moods – are often just a reflection of current circumstances.

3 ) A couple of months ago I decided to invest in a personal cell phone ~ I was tired of being “on call” for my job, often muttering “I’m not a Fireman,” under my breath. (Some of that was my own doing, I’ll admit). So I enacted my own secret brand of mutiny and subscribed to cell service, transferred personal numbers over and asked my (short) list of contacts (family, friends, Dr., Dentist, etc) to please contact me at that number instead. Yesterday, while at work, I set my personal phone to airplane mode to save the battery and missed calls from Hubbs. He called my work cell to ask – why do you have a personal cell? Moments like this remind me how absurd I can be and how much like her I am.

4) When I think of June I think of my 2 favorite fruits: Strawberries and Watermelon. Any “diet” will tell state that both are high in carbs. Don’t care. I’m not a big sweets eater but my favorite dessert always has been the one Mom made for my June birthday: Strawberry Shortcake – garden fresh strawberries, in their juice, with home-made whipped cream dolloped over Angel Food cake. (Remember cake soaking up some of that “juice?” oh man!) And while Watermelon wasn’t ready till mid summer – the start of June meant it was coming soon. Family cookouts, birthdays, and barbecues were not complete without several slices of watermelon (don’t eat the green you’ll get a stomach-ache!!) and the juice running down our arms … we’d sit outside to slurp it down, wipe our hands on our shorts and run off into the summer night to play Hide N Seek or Kick-the-Can. Pretty sure the carbs in both fueled us for hours ~ So many good summer memories, ahh!

5 ) Saw this on Facebook and it made me smile ~ are there 2 happier words than “Blanket Fort?” Maybe “Summer Vacation!” 🙂

What’s new in your world? When was the last time you laughed at yourself?

Happy Friday, peeps!

Categories: Faith, Family, Food, Fun, Holidays, Home, Humor, Joy, Life, News, Personal, Relationships, Seasons, Thoughts | Tags: airplane mode, blanket fort, circumstances, dumb things I do, German Shepherd, Grumpy, I am becoming my Mom, laughing at myself, Leaps of faith, personal cell phone, see who sticks around, speak your truth, Strawberry Shortcake, summer, summer memories, your tribe | 6 Comments

Random 5 Sunday ~ Spring, Weddings and Anniversaries

Posted on May 20, 2018 by emjayandthem

Good morning and Happy Sunday to you! Time for 5 Randoms from my world. Ready? Let’s go.

1 ) Spring. I’d been away from the office for several weeks, returning last week to a stacks of mail and Spring outside my window. After (what felt like) a 10 month winter, Spring seems even brighter this year. And overdue. Yes, it rained all weekend, but the rain washed away the pollen and, for the first time in a week, my eyes no longer feel gummy. Farmer’s daughters have a hard time wishing away rain anyways.

Hello Spring!

2 ) Travel ~ as fun and adventurous as it was to be away ~ including staying an extra night because of flight delays (in a hotel, not the airport, yay), it’s wonderful to come home again. With 3 days in the office last week and 1 more tomorrow, I’m nearly caught up. On Tuesday I’m off again for a couple of nights and back home in time to slide into the long weekend. This is the kind of travel I love~ by car, with stops along the way, the schedule is (mostly) all mine, structured enough to accomplish my objectives but with enough free time to take in the sights. I’ll be winding my way north along the shores of Lake Michigan and back again. And I won’t miss my desk one bit.

**Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.**

3 ) Companions– While visiting city officials and town halls I’ll have Dad with me. See Dad, in addition to being a full-time farmer, served his local Rural Municipality (R.M.) as a Councilor for 30+ years and this girl went with him much of the time. I’d straighten the paperwork and make sure the coffee pot was full, watch how he listened, interacted, and worked the issues. I learned from him how to relax and stand confident in what I know. Although my present day role is much different from his, there’s much of what he did that comes with me. And I still experience a child-like wonder as I walk into a century-old City Hall, seeing the grooves in the floor from so many before me, smelling furniture polish and the must that exists in those cavernous old rooms. I can easily spot the radiators still hugging the walls and, before long, enjoy a relaxed camaraderie with present day staff.

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

4 ) Anniversary – This week marks 10 years as a U.S. Citizen. 10 years! Yes, 10 years ago I raised my right hand and, with 78 others (from 34 countries) took the oath of allegiance to the United States of America and stepped forward as a new American. It signified the end of one journey and the beginning of another. It was one of the proudest and most emotional moments of my life. (more about my journey here.)

You see, someday I will be a citizen for 15 or 20 or 35 years and I’ll still choose to tell folks that I’m a “new” citizen. Why? Because I don’t know how else to communicate the significance of it. The choice of it.

We’re not perfect, this country, we’ve got our flaws. Like most families, there’s bickering and divisions and always someone willing to point out what’s wrong with us … but still … there’s a heart and soul about America that continues to inspire people to imagine a life here.

That’s me, holding the flag, during my swearing in ceremony; An Emjayandthem (C) photo

“The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight.”

3) The Royal Wedding – Unlike past events, I didn’t set my alarm, instead I set the DVR. Snoozing till 8:00 I hopped up out of bed, poured a large cup of coffee, and turned on the TV. For whatever reason, I just didn’t have the same interest in this wedding as I did for Diana and Charles in 1981 or William and Kate in 2011. Maybe I was still trying to learn about the gal who’d bedazzled a Prince and, let’s be honest, some of the attraction was the hot mess certain members of her family had been, too. The day was dazzling, the sky glorious, the hats large and the dress fancy. Having the DVR recording allowed me to fast-forward through the speculative coverage by “new” Royal experts and get to the good stuff. Yes, I cried when I saw the two brothers walking so confidently together. I giggled at the cuteness of the little page boys and flower girls. I teared up watching Prince Charles join her on her lone walk in, when the two of them said their vows, shared a kiss, and hopped into the Carriage to be swept off to their future. I’ve cried at this and every wedding I’ve ever witnessed. This was no different: in the end, it’s all about love. I wish them well.

image from Delish.com

All you need is love … -Paul McCartney

So, how was your week?

Categories: Attitude, Blogging, Confidence at any age, Faith, Family, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Love, News, Opinion, Personal, Politics, Relationships, Thoughts, Traditions, Travel, Women, Work, Writing | Tags: All you need is love, anniversaries, citizenship, H.R.H. Prince Harry, Lake Michigan, love, Meghan Markle, milestones, Paul McCartney, Royal Wedding, rural municipality, Spring, travel, U.S. Citizen | 6 Comments

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A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

“The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight.”

All you need is love … -Paul McCartney

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**Hello Spring! **

**A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.**

**All you need is love … ** -Paul McCartney

Peeps Poppin' in

Follow Blog via Email

* Most Popular *

Meta

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Hello Spring!

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

All you need is love … -Paul McCartney