Some people see a glass as half full; others see it as half empty. Not me! "My cup runneth over!" Basically, there is no more room for anything more. I do not have an empty closet, shelf, cabinet, bookcase, pantry, or storage space anywhere! My house is full.
In truth, its more than full. I still have things in boxes that are unpacked because there is no place to put the things that are inside! And we've lived in this house for nine years! Does that mean it was full the day we moved in??? How depressing!
This has happened before in our house. After all, we've been together for almost 44 years. You accumulate a LOT of stuff in 44 years! LOTS of stuff. We have owned four different houses in that time; each one bigger (or at least equal in size) than the one before. Usually when we first moved in and got settled, we had space left over! It was a great feeling to look around and have a lovely, spacious, uncluttered home, with room for expansion.
I seem to remember (vaguely) that there is some law of Physics that is something about gas expanding to fill the available space. I never knew that law extended to belongings too! That open spacious feeling quickly disappears as more and more things become part of our "must haves."
Yes, I admit it. We are "Accumulators"! Both of us! The Big Guy keeps everything he ever owned. Clothes, gadgets, pens, watches, electronics, notebooks, exercise equipment, former hobby things, and papers....lots and lots of papers....all related to the different jobs he's had for the last 40 years. I'm not kidding. There is one whole room in my house; 99.9% of its contents are his things. And 99.8% of that, is stuff he hasn't used or ever will use ever again. Now I don't mean a few things discreetly hidden in a cabinet or closet. Nope, I mean wall-to-wall, practically floor to ceiling! No joke. This is his "office". (In our house "office" really means junk room!) If he should have the poor taste to die before me and leave me with this mess, I shall hang his body in effigy in front of my house with a big sign that says, "He never threw anything away!!"
It really pains me to say this, but I am very nearly as bad as he. The difference being that I keep things that I love, or I use, or has an important memory attached to it AND I put it all away! Ergo, my full house! I am a sentimental fool and so is the Big Guy. This only makes things worse. He is a charter member of the "But I might need it someday" club. I am a charter member of the "Awwww, I remember this" club. How do you throw away a memory?
Nevertheless, there comes a time when reality comes a-knockin' and you are simply forced to accept as fact that there is no room for even one more thing! When you attempt to put things away and discover all of the "away" space is gone, there's no avoiding the truth any longer. You either must purge and discard (gasp....hyperventilating), or move! We can't afford to move, besides who wants to pack up all that stuff anyway!
Maybe I should look into one of those storage places. Nope, same problem. Another expenditure on our already tight budget and that dreaded packing thing.
So there is no choice but to face up to it and make some room...somehow....somewhere....get rid of something. Oh help!
Now all I have to do is convince the Big Guy that his cup runneth over too! Wish me luck with that!
I must go lie down, maybe the feeling will go away.....
"500 miles" is a long way to go. $500 is a lot of money. 500 words is a lot of writing. 500 photos is a lot of pictures. Are you beginning to get my drift??500 of anything is a lot of anything! You can have 500 good things to celebrate or 500 not so good things to regret. Just the number by itself is neither good not bad. It all depends on what you're counting.
So today I have 500 somethings I didn't have yesterday. 500 good things! It's not money or photos or distance. But I'm thrilled to have them just the same!Considering all of you are very clever folks, you've probably figured it out. Anyone??
Okay, here it is (drum roll, please)....today my blog received its 500th visit!! 500! That's huge!! And amazing!! Whoo Hoo!!!
When I started writing this back in July, I had no idea of whether or not I would be successful as a blogger. It seemed like it might be the kind of thing I might start and then get bored with in short order. I couldn't imagine what I would write about. I couldn't imagine that anyone would want to read it!! And yet here we are 7 months later and not only am I still writing, but enough readers stopped by to rack up 500 visits! You may also have noticed that there are 9 official "followers". That is so cool.
The really nifty thing is that I can tell from the stats that it has been more than just one or two folks coming back again and again to bump up the number. Nope, a lot of folks come back for more visits and they leave comments and sign up to be followers! (That's like receiving a tip!) I am so grateful for each and every visit!
It feels like I have a duty to try to be funny, interesting, and consistent for all the followers and visitors. It makes me feel like I'm a writer!!
My thanks to each and every one of you! I promise, if you keep reading, I'll keep writing. Maybe someday I'll have 500 posts for you to read!
I stole this from another blog. Its consists of 99 things a person might do. You're supposed to bold the things you've done. Not surprisingly, none of them has anything to do with beer!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (well, I sang with a band, that's kinda the same)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (It was DisneyWorld, but what's the diff??)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (No, but I've seen the Leaning Tower of Niles!!)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (Saw one too!)
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (ewwwwww)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Hmmm, I've done 37 out of 99. I guess I need to get out more! How many have you done??
I was walking past the windows looking out on our deck this afternoon when I saw the cutest little bird. It made me smile! Now I am not by any means a "bird" person, not interested in bird watching, can't tell you which bird is which or any of that stuff. I did get my "Birds" badge in Girl Scouts but that was 50 years ago! (You have no idea how much it pains me to write that!)
Also about 50 years ago (crap, I'm older than dirt!), my mother had a parakeet or two for a few years, Pete is the one I remember. After we had him for awhile, "Pete" started laying eggs (unfertilized, of course). That was the only interesting thing about him. His cage needed constant cleaning, he never did tricks, or talked or anything, he I guess I mean, she..., ultimately died....of a broken heart, I think! All those eggs, no babies! Anyway, that is my sum total experience with the winged creatures. But I digress....
, the bird I saw today wasn't colorful, or unusual, or especially clever as far as I could tell. Don't know what kind he was. He was just cute. Well, actually that's not quite it. What he was, was fat! Most regular birds don't seem to get fat, but this little did. His body alone was about the size of a fist, but he had a tiny little head, and little short legs, and straight tail feathers that bobbed up and down when he walking. He just looked too round for his overall size. Maybe I don't mean he, maybe she was "enciente" just like Pete! Do birds get fat when they are "expecting"? Beats me. Anyway, he/she hopped around for a few minutes and then took off for parts unknown. So, "bye-bye, birdie!" Thanks for stopping by.
Just the random sighting of a cute little bird, didn't exactly inspire me to write this posting. What it did tho, is put me onto a language track.
Have you ever thought about how many phrases, expressions, or song titles there are about birds? I have been having them running though my head all afternoon. Maybe if I share them, they'll go away and leave me alone! Anyway, here we go....
*Birds of a feather stick together.
*A little bird told me.
*A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
*Bird's eye view
*Bird brain
*Eat like a bird
*The early bird gets the worm
*Flip him the bird
*To bird-dog
*Make a birdie (golf)
*The birds and the bees
*Free as a bird
*Kill two birds with one stone
*Strictly for the birds
*Swan song
*Happy as a lark
*Sing like a canary
*Eagle-eyed
*Night owl
*Soar like an eagle
*Naked as a jaybird
*Feather your nest
*Nest Egg
Song Titles:
*"Listen to the Mockingbird"
"On the Wings of a Nightingale"
*"Bye Bye Birdie
*Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage"
"Yellow Bird"
*"Red Red Robin"
*"Bye Bye Blackbird"
*”Little Bird”
*”Lullaby of Birdland”
*"Bird Dog”
*”Rockin’ Robin”
*”This Bird Has Flown” [Beatles - Norwegian Wood]
*”A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”
*"Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover”
Just so you know, the song titles are from the 40s, 50s, and 60s ('cuz" they're the ones I know!) but I'll bet there are more.
Okay, so now have I "bird" you to death?? Now maybe the little birdies will fly off somewhere else. :)
I haven't done one for awhile, so I feel the need to make a list! So here (in no particular order) are more things I just don't get:
10. Parents who allow their little girls to dress (and look) like tiny little hookers! Do they like having people stare at their kids in disbelief??
9. Why, no matter what I am shopping for, it is always in the farthest away corner of the store. And the second thing I need is in the opposite farthest away corner!
8. Drivers who do not put on their headlights in the rain, fog, snow, twilight. Did no one ever tell them it isn't to help them see, it's to help US see THEM??!!
7. Why kids look so adorable when they're sleeping, but adults just look their worst. Open drooling mouths, spiky hair, morning breath, and ratty nightwear just doesn't make a pretty picture!
6. Why, on the day that you absolutely look your worst, that's the day you run into your old boyfriend! Is that what happens when God needs a good laugh?
5. People who ignore signs....like "10 items or less", or "No Parking", or "Limit: 2", or "Form a line here". Why do they think the rules don't apply to them??
4. People who do not flush after using a public restroom. Were they raised by wolves??
3. Why is it that when it has been grey and rainy all day long, the skies start to clear and sun comes out 15 minutes before it gets dark?
2. Why is it that people who are boring and long-winded NEVER know it?? Can't they hear themselves talk??
1. Why my daughter ALWAYS finds an available legal parking space right in front of wherever she's going?? And why can't I??
Okay, deep breath! I guess I've ranted enough for today! No answers, but I feel a lot better anyway!
