Day 335: Too early...

So here I find myself, another one of those mornings where I woke up at some ungodly hour, unable to fall back to sleep.  What to do?  I know some folks will just lie there, holding their pillow in some kind of death grip trying to will themselves back to sleep.  Others might turn on the TV and catch up on all their infomercials and possibly convince themselves to buy that combo vacuum/nose hair remover/juicer.  Still others will pick up a book and read.  When I belonged to 24 Hour Fitness there were several occasions where I would just head to the gym.  Nothing like having the place all to yourself at 2:00AM.  But my gym now doesn't open for a couple more hours.  So what does a photographer do?  Well this particular creature of the night grabbed his camera, tripod and hoodie and decided to capture a few pictures of the moon that was beaming into his bedroom window.  It was mostly a clear night but I could tell very thin clouds were making their way across the sky as a rather large, hazy halo was starting to form around this gray ball.  Oh well, at least I managed to get a couple shots. 

Hey, it's Friday and this exceptionally long week is nearly done.  Just a few meetings this morning and then I can move on to my real life.  Hard to believe this is it for November.  Seems like I was just complaining about the summer heat in August.  Now if we could only get some snow.  Come on, Mama Nature, do me a solid. 

Day 334: My favorite things...

Every so often we all get a song stuck in our heads. Unfortunately the types of songs that become ingrained in our minds tend to be those cheesy bubble gum jingles that serve as a type of self induced torture that linger for several hours. It’s only by the shear grace of God that the song finally fades away and those tormenting voices return. Oh, wait, that’s just me.

The last couple of days I’ve been attending a business conference across town and in order to deal with the madness of the commute I’ve been listening to that soft rock radio station that is now playing nothing but Christmas music. I’ve noticed that this year they’ve been playing songs from “The Sound of Music”. Seems odd to me because I’ve never considered “The Sound of Music” as a holiday movie/musical but I’m not about to complain here. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a closet fan of the musical. On the contrary I’ve come out in a BIG way. Whenever I go to the Bavarian Grill in Plano, Texas, I’m the one that requests “Edelweiss” and “The Lonely Goatherd”. Unfortunately for my dinner companions they have to listen to my rendition of those Rogers and Hammerstein classics. Personally I think I sound great but that could just be the bier talking.

So this morning I was driving into work and “My Favorite Things” came on the radio. Of course that led to an impromptu duet between Julie Andrews and me and I must say I rocked that song. Suffice it to say that song is now embedded in my psyche. Hey, it could be worse. It could be “867-5309” or “Oh Mickey”. But “My Favorite Things” is a great song. Besides being a beautiful melody it also helps to remind me of all the wonderful things I have in my life. I’m not really a fan of cream colored ponies and warm woolen mittens really don’t keep my hands warm but I do have a list of my favorite things and it’s always nice to remind myself of those things, especially when I’ve got a case of the “funk”. So when times are stressful or you feel there’s a cloud over your life, take a few minutes to remind yourself of the things that matter most to you.

Day 333: From the mind of a Chihuahua

It never ceases to amaze me how unappreciated I am around here.  I’m an integral part of this family but you guys treat me like I’m a dog.  Hey, in the middle of the night when I have to “go”, do I wake you up?  No!  Because I don’t want to disturb you and I’m just trying to be considerate which is more than I can say for you.  When you guys get out of bed you flip me off my pillow and rearrange the sheets.  How would you like it if someone came in and yank you out of bed and made you go to the bathroom?  And what’s the big deal about pooping in the house?  You guys do it!  I don’t hide in some little room like you.  I’ll take care of business in the middle of the room so you know what you need to clean up.  Hey I could’ve pooped behind the recliner or the large planter.  I would think you’d be a bit more appreciative.  Instead dad starts screaming at me, “BELLE!  Blah blah blaaaah blah blah blah blaaaah Belle blah blah blah blah!”  Honestly, I have no clue what you’re saying but based on that large vain protruding from your forehead I would guess you’re pretty upset about something.  The poop is right there right in the middle of the room so you can find it and take care of it.  Am I supposed to do everything around here?  Look the doggie door is for the dogs.  I don’t see either of you using it so why the hell should I?  It wasn’t me that put the door knob so high up the door so the least you could do is open the door for me.  And if I have to take care of business outside in the snow and cold, the least you could do is clear a path through the snow to a spot under the tree so I can go to bathroom without sticking my butt in the freezing snow.  I’d like to see you guys do that.  And really, after all these years, you’d think that you guys would put my food bowl in the middle of the family room where it belongs.  Why do you think I carry my food from the kitchen to the family room?  You guys do it.  Hey, if it’s good enough for you to eat in the family room, why not me?  And let’s remember, I looked the other way when you brought home those dogs.  Come on, a poodle and a golden lab?  Who does that?  Hey, we were happy once when it was just the three of us and those two moody girls.  That neurotic poodle of yours and that dim-witted golden lab make so much noise over the littlest things.  Honestly how am I supposed to sleep?  They start barking and as a favor to you I let you know that they’re barking and that you need to do something about it.  They’re not my dogs so why should I have to deal with them?  And when someone comes to the door, who lets you know there’s a visitor?  Me!  Again, what thanks do I get?  The two of you yelling at me in some crazy language.  Just speak to me like an adult.  Say “thank you” now and then.  I really wonder about your upbringing.  Sometimes you guys can be so rude.  And Dad, I only sleep on your pillow because I want to keep it warm for you.  All this yelling is so hurtful.  You guys walk around so moody sometimes and all I try to do is show you that you’re loved but you keeping pushing me aside.  I’ve seen you two kiss.  I’m just doing what you guys do.  Hey, if we’re going to make things work around here there needs to be some mutual respect and appreciation.  You guys are lucky to have me because I could easily find another family that would like a loving and helpful member of the family.  Just get rid of those dogs and I think it’ll make us much happier family. 

Day 332: Hunker down...

I can tell the pressures of the holiday season are starting to bear down on many of us.  Aggravation, despair, anxiety, all part of the joys of the season, or so it seems.  "Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning."  Red sky or blue, it really makes no difference.  Life is what lies ahead for each of us.  What makes it good or bad is our personal judgement and perception.  Every day brings new beginnings.  We hold onto worry, resentment, fear, uncertainty and anger far more than we do love, compassion, forgiveness and hope.  If nothing else, cling to hope and let love remain in your heart, even when you feel there is no earthly reason to do so.  Trust that even as chaos reigns around us that life will come together peacefully and true happiness will be yours.  It's there.  You just need to accept it and let it be so.

Day 331: 'O Holy Night...

For as long as I can remember one of my favorite hymns during Christmas time has been "O Holy Night".  I've always loved the melody but it wasn't until a Pastor at Mariner's Church did a sermon on that hymn that I really came to appreciate and understand the lyrics.  It truly is powerful and inspiring, well beyond my ability to describe it.  I'm hearing it a lot these days on the radio as we inch closer to Christmas.  For me it really captures the spirit of Christmas, far beyond the super sales, food feasts and general holiday mayhem.

I'm providing the first verse of the lyrics here.  Hopefully without the music you'll be able to read these words and perhaps it might have some meaning for you.  Don't worry if it doesn't.  This isn't a test of faith or an indictment to those who have none.  Just wanted to share a little Christmas spirit. 

'O Holy Night

Adolphe Adam

"O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine."

Day 330: A promise for tomorrow...

We all struggle at times with letting go.  The loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, a missed opportunity.  Even just seeing the end of a beautiful day will bring a little bit of melancholy to our spirits. But an ending only means there's a new beginning on the horizon.  What seems like dark times now is only a prelude to the brilliance and warmth of tomorrow.  Don't despair but rather look upon with great fondness and gratitude the wonderful experiences you had and always know in your mind and in your heart that joy is waiting for you at the next sunrise.

Day 329: Quiet times...

I've always enjoyed beach, really early in the morning right around sunrise.  Just you, all alone and only the sound of the rhythmic crashing of the waves on the shore and every once in a while the barking of sea lions or the screeching of seagulls over head.  Death Valley is another one of my favorite places for quiet time.  Out there the only sound you hear is the wind blowing through the sage brush and an occasional howl from a coyote.  Our friends have this amazing rustic cabin up in Sugarloaf above Boulder.  It's nestle along a gentle flowing creek and the only sounds you hear are the water cascading over the rocks and the wind blowing through the evergreens.  It's so peaceful and serene. 

For most of us it's hard to find those quiet times and with the holidays fast approaching you're more likely to find Jimmy Hoffa and Big Foot sharing a pizza with Elvis than having 10 minutes all to yourself.  Most of us live in suburbia and don't have the advantages of the wilderness right outside our back doors to look for solitude.  I know you moms out there with your darling little rug rats find it very difficult to have quiet times except when everyone has gone down for a nap.  But if we do try to find that elusive quiet time we typically escape to our basements or bedrooms because life requires us to be close at hand.  We might turn on one of those radios with the nature sounds, perhaps light a candle or burn some incense and hopefully for the next 30 minutes to an hour we can be alone in our thoughts and dreams.  For just a brief moment the outside world will be put on hold and all the drama that consumes our lives will fade away. 

So with everyone running around frantically trying to find that perfect Christmas gift for someone, I hope one of your gifts will be to take some time for you.  It's not a selfish thing but any stretch of the imagination and don't be guilted into thinking you don't deserve it because you do.  Take some time just for you.  Trust me life will go on.  Your spouse and kids WILL survive on their own for an hour.  The sun will rise and set.  You'll feel better, more grounded and in control of a life you sometimes feel is not yours to command.  As you take care of life and your loved ones, remember to take care of you.