No longer a spring chicken

Well, Eastern Ontario was pelted with snow and ice pellets once again.

Half-way through April and Old Man Winter is still sticking around. I had to pull out my little boots and holey gloves.  

Many of us are ready for refreshing greens, spring flowers and a gentle breeze.  Give me colour, sunshine and hope. Of all seasons, I would like spring to linger - and not be rushed out by stifling summer heat and humidity.  I generate enough heat on my own, thank you very much!

I am no longer a spring chicken but I find it one of my favourite seasons.  It is a time to celebrate renewal and rebirth.  

As a former Catholic, I occasionally will read the bible, follow the Pope on Twitter and enjoy learning mythology from different cultures.  In particular, I really appreciate the one about Eostre, the Goddess of Spring. 

My drab workstation is already decorated with an Easter Egg Tree and eggs painted by a creative, former co-worker. 

These eggs were decorated almost 20 years ago and are still in good condition.  The act of putting those eggs on display has rekindled a spark, a desire for creativity.

Recently, I had one of the young folk dig a box out of the storage area because I knew that within that box was a protective case containing concept art I had done many years ago.

I created that Yin Yegg during a feverish winter cold in 1999.  It was during a time that I was learning about the art of Feng Shui, looking for ways to harmonize our then unhappy and cluttered home.  

It has been a while since I have painted or drawn.  Over the past few years, I have mainly illustrated with words in various blog posts, opinion articles and my bittersweet novel.  At least the latter is going through changes in preparation for the next print edition, with the help of a resident artiste. 

As we approach the Easter weekend, I will encourage my family to pause for reflection.  My offspring are too old for childlike craft activities so I doubt we will decorate any eggs.  I still like to look at ideas that others have come up with - especially those that use non-toxic materials and don't create waste. 

Pinterest is a great place for exploring decorating ideas, wardrobe collections and options for self adornment.  Being a low-maintenance gal, I think I'll create a board for cool summer blouses and comfortable shoes. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy Easter!

T

On birthdays, aging and that "joie de vivre"

My birthday is coming up.   I hesitate to announce it since I don't like too much attention.

Considering my chronological age, I can confidently state that I still possess my original teeth, joints, fingernails, breasts and hair.  

I am though having difficulty discerning the difference between what is a hot flash and what is a reaction to recent weeks trapped in an unbearably sticky summer.


On the one hand, my front teeth seem too big, and my breasts seem too small. Heard this since adolescence...

On the other hand, the joints are relatively flexible and the hair is still a healthy, natural blonde mane sans des produits cosmétiques. 

On neither hand are bangles, rings, fake nails or polish.    

I wonder how women can function with fingernails longer than an eighth of an inch?  Is that hygienic or safe?  Is it even functional?  I'd be afraid of hurting myself or scratching a male companion.  Oh, right.  It's coming back to me...

And the colour - how the heck do you ensure the nail colour doesn't clash with your outfit choice each day?  I suppose one could make exceptions as an Olympic athlete - as long as it goes with the bronze, silver or gold! 

Who has the time or expendable income to frequently apply toxic substances and artificial colours.  Then there's the stuff you need to remove the polish a few weeks later. It is a rare occasion that I will apply a thin, clear layer after a quick trim and filing.  At least once it starts chipping, it's not as noticeable as with "cherry red" or "goth black".  The whole thing seems like a waste of resources and time - time I could spend reading or napping!

Speaking of artificial colour jobs: In the past two weeks five people have complimented or challenged the legitimacy of my natural blondness.  Why should it be so surprising that I don't colour or bleach my hair?  The only reality-altering liquid that comes out of a bottle in my petit apartment is wine and sometimes that just makes me giddy, sentimental or more apt to converse en Français.

Yep. Being a natural blonde has been a blessing and a curse for many years.  Poor me.  It has also been an assumed invitation for family and friends to send me copious emails containing dumb blonde jokes. Sigh.

Without seeming too vain, I hope that similar to my dear old Dad's, my hair will gradually change to platinum then morph into a mature silver-gray by the time I reach retirement age.  I also hope to inherit his folksy disposition, keep my mind and hands skillfully busy and continue to maintain a sense of awe.  

According to Psychology Today, if you want to know your true age, don't look at the calendar.  Don't do it!  Put it away.  (I have the same advice for bathroom scales.)   The article states there's a difference between your biological and psychological age.  I don't mind growing old, as long as happens gracefully.  Sometimes I just don't want to grow up. 

Again, I hesitate to announce MY UP-COMING BIRTHDAY  since family and friends may feel compelled to cover the cake with forty-some candles.  Considering that could be a fire hazard during our drought-like conditions, I advise them to use only one candle.  Tell them to make sure the CAKE contains CHOCOLATE.  A bottle of wine is optional.

- - - 

Goodness!  How I have rambled on.  Is that a sign of aging or an inane urge to share my deep blonde thoughts?  

Thanks for dropping by.  If you liked this blog entry, you can sample wine excerpts from my novel, The Year of the Rabbit.  

(Au sujet du Français, j'ai besoin de quelque gens qui peuvent m'aider traduire le roman en Français (gratuit) durant 2013 et peut être 2014.  C'est fou - ou un bon idée?)


T

Transitions and wardrobe malfunctions

This deep blonde entry is for those who are also going through transitions, either personally or professionally. 

In addition to Middle Age, the following are a few more books I have been reading lately, addressing personal, artistic and professional transitions. 

While out and about town a few weeks ago, I visited a branch of the Ottawa Public Library I hadn't been to before.  Although they didn't have the exact books I was looking for, I picked up a few that were related. 

Transitions - Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life by Julia Cameron

http://www.amazon.ca/Transitions-Julia-Cameron/dp/0874779952

"Julia Cameron shares beautiful prayers of empowerment followed by potent declarations and reflections on the nature of change and coping."

This book is the perfect size for reading while riding or waiting for a city bus.  In previous years, I have also read and attempted the 12 week program from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.  I really got a lot of benefit from the morning pages exercise. 

"The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist’s life."

Selected quotes from Transitions:

• It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.  - Ursula K. Le Guin

• To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it. - Mother Teresa

• People need joy, quite as much as clothing.  Some of them need it far more. - Margaret Collier Graham

That last quote goes out to the other middle aged lady I encountered, running errands today in the 30 C plus heat.   Sweetheart, the next time you head out on a breezy, hot day in a light sun dress, please remember to wear panties.  Parking lot up-drafts can be embarrassing - for everyone!  I don't feel so silly now for wearing my big, floppy sun hat.

The next book is one that was interesting yet a little to tiring to read all the way through.  Yes, I skipped a few pages, looking for gems and interesting bits.

Light in the Dark Ages: The Friendship of Francis and Clare of Assisi by Jon M. Sweeney

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Dark-Ages-Friendship-Francis/dp/B002UXS33G

 
"The Middle Ages were not so very dark, as the old textbooks say. As you will discover in this intriguing portrait of the first Franciscans, we live in dark ages whenever we become preoccupied with power. In this popular history, Jon Sweeney reveals the timeless temptations that come with being human---greed, competition, ego, and selfishness---as well as the many ways that Francis and Clare of Assisi inspired change and brought light into darkness."
 

This book is also the perfect size for reading while riding or waiting for a bus. I wonder if Francis was a disenchanted youth and had daddy issues.  Perhaps his spiritual life in nature could be compared to the 1960's hippie commune movement.   Kudos to him for helping the lepers when not many others would.  I cannot understand his marriage to lady poverty and dislike for owning books - even religious ones.  He did not like to own things. 

I'm sure some of my family and friends thought my downsizing efforts a few years ago were a little extreme with my new-found minimalist desires.  I consider Francis' rule for not owning more than one garment a little severe and ... would be unhygienic by today's standards.  Maybe that lady in the parking lot had her other set of underwear in the laundry?  

Francis believed in only cooking enough food for the current day and saving none for the next.  He lived in the moment.  He obviously didn't have a family to cook for, to pack and freeze casseroles and containers for meals throughout the week.

Seriously, people need to work to survive and support their families using as many economical tactics and time management techniques as possible.  You have to be efficient and penny-wise to make it in this modern world.  In addition to volunteering, I see gainful employment as an important part of contributing to society.

My heart goes out to folks at RIM and the federal government who have recently learned that their jobs may be cut.  On that related note, the last book I will mention is called Promote Yourself, book focused on self marketing by Anita Caputo of the Big Picture Institute.  

Anita is also a public speaker and co-author of Learn to Bounce, a book that came out shortly after she and hundreds of others were laid off from Nortel.  I saw her speak at a professional development seminar a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed and inspired that I purchased a copy of Promote Yourself.  It's "a practical guide to marketing yourself without being too pushy or too shy!".  Being content and sufficiently challenged in my present employment, I mainly wanted to garner tips for promoting my nom de plume, Florence T Lyon. 

Thanks for reading this far.  I hope I spaced out my thoughts and paragraphs enough for a pleasant experience.  

I like reading.  I like reading paper books.  I'm sure you do too.  Do you also like to read books on your Sony, Kindle, iPad, Kobo or other electronic devices?  As a reward for your patience, permit me to offer you a discounted eBook copy of my novel, The Year of the Rabbit.  Drop by before July 31st though.

Thanks for visiting.  Relevant comments are welcome.  Please +1, like and share and remember:  Semper ubi sub ubi. 

T

What's your sign?

I hear that was a pickup line in the 1970s, "What's your sign?".  I suppose it was a good ice breaker that would hopefully lead into a more meaningful conversation or a night of hedonism  with a complete stranger. 

Well, since you were going to ask ;o^  I am a Leo.

I am a Leo according to one Zodiac sign and a Rabbit according to another.  We don't have time to delve into the complexities of my personality type but some may assume that due to the Rabbit and Lion combination, I may be a bit of a passive-aggressive. 

According to one astrological source, the characteristics for Leo include:

• Personal magnetism (Really?)
• Ambitious (Meh...)
• Strength of purpose
• Creative (Yes!)
• Never shy away from the limelight (Really?)
• Warmth and enthusiasm
• Eager to see their projects through to completion  (Check!)
• Generosity of spirit
• etc.

Leo's element:  Fire

According to an Epoch Times article, Rabbits are:

• Creative, Compassionate, and Sensitive
• Sophisticated 
• Courteous
• Stylish (Pfft!)
• Good Communicators
• Generous
• On the Timid Side
• etc.

The 1963 Rabbit's element:  Water  (Ummm, see the Fire reference in Leo above...)

In my novel The Year of the Rabbit, Sera Fletcher is also coincidentally a Leo and a Rabbit. You could venture to say that she is a derivative of her creator. 

You can follow a private discussion between Sera and Father Gio when he manages to invite himself to sit at her personal booth.  First, read this earlier excerpt about the Red Hare Restaurant. 

August 8th is Sera's birthday.  Mine is a few days later.  Kindly read my ramblings in another blog for a gift suggestion.  

I am delighted that you read this far.   So... do you come here often? ;o)  

T

I don't own a cell phone

There was a time when I had to carry around a cell phone at the insistence of my then spouse.  He bought it for me shortly after 9/11.  We were touched by stories of people contacting their loved ones via cell phone shortly before their demise.  My reserved opinion during our own troubled times was that if I was in a life-threatening situation, he would not be the first person I would want to call.  I would not want him to call me.  I would find a call like that disturbing and trauma-inducing due to the feeling of helplessness for the person on the receiving end.  Why put that stress on someone if only to tell them how much you loved them?  Can you not show that in your daily actions and resist to let parting words be angry ones?

I use a cell phone for work purposes but still cannot see the benefit of having one in my personal life.  I am either puttering happily around home, on my way to work, volunteering, running errands or on my way back home.  I will leave a note listing my whereabouts and any number where my loved ones can contact me.  I make sure I have access to a phone, either a friend's or one of those endangered pay phone breeds. 

Cell phone technology has evolved over the past 25 years - so much that now your smart phone can track you.  That has caused concern for the paranoid types.  It is disappointing that there are people who rudely insist on checking their phone in-between real-space conversations and thumb-typing onto the little keypad. Good gawd! We even have to create laws to stop people from using them while driving vehicles! 

What have we become? 

It is comforting in a way to hear that some youth are not fond of a heavy reliance on technology.  They are beginning to question the widespread proliferation of technology and the role it can play in their lives. A group of performing artists came together in Vancouver to address the decline in face-to-face communication.  They admit they already have to update the content of the performance so that it reflects current technology.

When you read the novel The Year of the Rabbit, you will be brought back to a simpler era (the early 1970's) when there were no smart phones,  cell phones - not even computers.  You can purchase the book through a Print on Demand service.  Since one of the themes is the respect for trees and our natural world, I didn't think it right to print hundreds of copies.  I am hoping that the word will spread about this bittersweet story and enough people will be interested in reading it. You can start by reading the PDF version of Chapter 1. 

Ironically, I am fiddling with tools to publish the novel to a digital format, to have available on the Kindle, other eReaders and yes... even mobile devices.  And yes, I will need to test it out at some time ;-)

Thanks for reading this far.  Have a nice, distraction-less day :o)

T

Forever fashion is just so relevant now

Here's a good little article I tripped upon at Yahoo Lifestyles.

Fashion goes back to the future
By Tracy Nesdoly

http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/fashion-beauty/articles/archive/yahoolifestyle/yahoolifestyle-fashion_goes_back_to_the_future

I like to think I'm half-way ahead of the game with the list of suggested items :-)  although I wouldn't spend $1,500 for a trench coat. 

As for care and durability, show me something I can wash at least on the gentle cycle, tumble dry lightly then hang to dry.  Ironing?  Are you kidding?  Only on very rare, special occasions!

I agree with comments about the fashion industry, like, it's in "their best interest to change styles or even details in order to get people to buy them".  See my recent rant about python prints. 

What's with these python prints?

While passing by store windows recently, I noticed these weird, creepy designs on clothing.  It seems the newest fad for Fall fashion is python print on ladies shirts and jackets.  Euwww! 

Okay... it's one kinky thing to have reptilian prints on purses, shoes and belts but on your torso, your main body area?  Should I be content that it's only a print and not the real thing?  Should I be relieved now that the leopard skin fad is over?  

If I manage to afford a few new fall and winter outfits this year, I know what will NOT be on my list.  I would prefer to own something that will last at least three years and not be "out of fashion" the next time I sort out my closet. 

My Closet, My Self

Deep Blonde Thoughts on the Fashion Industry

I will admit that I cannot provide an authoritative opinion on the fashion industry since I am likely not one of its frequent investors. People may know me for my practical fashion sense. I dress for comfort. I shop for ease-of-care. I will visit thrift shops yet I will spend extra for new, petite sized pants if I don't have to hem them!

Anyone who has seen or read "The Devil Wears Prada" can agree on the apparent absurdity, flightiness and wastefulness of the fashion industry. Any middle-aged mother who shares my "physique" will agree on the unlikeliness that one of us would consider wearing any of the ridiculous outfits being strutted on the catwalk by hungry human clothes hangers.

To begin my de-cluttering project, I must start with my closet and my own bedroom. You can't change or improve the world without first taking a look inside yourself, your habits and tastes.

Without pulling readers too deeply into my OCD tendencies for organizing my closet, I will make brief posts over the next few weeks about progress with spring wardrobe preparations and down-sizing my entire closet, dresser drawers and my room.

Come back often :-) I welcome helpful comments and tips. Below are some links I gathered during a brief search on the topic of Fashion.

• Fashion Industry Pressures Teen Girls to Be Skinny: Survey
  http://www.empowher.com/news/2010/02/02/fashion-industry-pressures-teen-girls-be-skinny-survey
• Fashion Criticism
  http://topics.cnn.com/topics/fashion_criticism
• Selling Beauty and Fame
  http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/fashion/Supermodels.html
• Self-Regulation in the Fashion Industry: Too-Skinny Models
  http://www.businessethics.ca/blog/2006/12/self-regulation-in-fashion-industry.html
• Frugal Fashionistas
  http://www.frugal-fashionistas.com/