EDWARD SCISSORHANDS~BOXERS OR BRIEFS?

I've been having a lot of fun getting ready for Halloween this year! It's been a while since I've been invited to a Halloween party and I am going to one on October 31st with my friends Pattie and Gus. The great thing about it is, they have friends who know some of my old friends whom, I haven't seen in years, which will be at this party. It's going to be great fun to see if my old friends will be able to recognize me! After all these years, all the added pounds of weight I've added to my old "thin self" and all the make-up, it will be a miracle if they do! lol

I bought second hand clothes at the thrift shop and then I ordered a wig and a few other props online. The online purchases arrived in the post yesterday. I immediately opened them up, like a little kid on Christmas, and donned my costume. I've learned from Halloweens past, that one must do at least one trial run before the actual date one is to wear the costume. More than likely there will be a few things that need tweaking and as we all know, tweaking may take sometime. Hehehe. I decided to video the make-up process and then had a little fun sporting my new look.

My poor little fur baby, Miss Mollie, is forever putting up with my antics, but she was having none of this Edward Scissorhands dude! She jumped off the bed which she never does because it is so high from the floor. I felt bad for her, she's been such a good sport through all my craziness. Miss Mollie simply does not enjoy Halloween! Last year, she bit me on the nose when I got down in her face to scare her with my make-up. I should have learned then, not to aggravate her with all this goblins and ghosts bull. She fails to see the humor in any of it.

So, then the question arose, "Does Edward Scissorhands wear boxers or briefs?" You'll find out at the end of the video. Thanks for watching!

Darkness is coming! Be afraid, be very afraid! BOO! lol

"THE GOD WARRIOR" ~ ON TRADING SPOUSES

Trading Spouses is a television series in which two spouses/parents from different backgrounds trade families for one week and the viewer watches the experiment in progress. The producers of the show say it's an experiment to find out if, "the grass is truly greener on the other side." I believe it is an experiment in tolerance, acceptance and education about how other people view the world in which they live. There are many different cultures within cultures and many different ways in which to live life.

This particular episode reveals all the things that have totally turned me away from the Christian religion. The blonde in Part 4, Kathryn, is the epitome of the many Christians I have met during my lifetime. Judgmental, close minded and intolerant of how others choose to live their lives. I think people such as this, lose out on what could be wonderful relationships with others. They completely miss the opportunity at at hand to connect with other human beings and learn from them. Had the Christian woman from Louisiana, Margaret Perrin, opened her mind and given the other family a chance and not run from something she considered to be, "not of God" or "of Satan", she might have learned that her views of the Perrin's were not "Devilish" what so ever. At the solstice gathering, Chris Flisher tries to calm Margaret and says, "Just think of something nice like peace on earth", and she has a meltdown and runs away from the experience. She shouts her strange ideas about devil worshipping and she says she won't be a part of it. Mind you, not once was satan or devil worshipping mentioned by anyone at the gathering--except by Margaret! I thought it was a nice, relaxing way to commune with nature, the heavens, the earth and all the souls gathered together. It was their type of church. Margaret simply missed an opportunity to get to know and love some wonderful people on this earth.

I think we are supposed to love everybody, no matter what religion/or not, they follow. Of course, I am not saying we should surround ourselves with rapists or murderers as Margaret's friend, Kathryn, tries to suggest that is what Jeanne does (in Part 4). That's just pure ignorance at it's finest! And very rude, if you ask me! Kathryn bombard's Jeanne Flisher with questions about her religious beliefs. This is something that many Christians dislike having done to themselves, so I don't understand why do they do it to others. By the way, I think rapists and murderers are mentally ill and need medical attention that we as a society do not yet understand how to treat. I also noticed how Margaret's friends intentionally made Jeannne feel uncomfortable while at the same time, Chris Flisher, Jeanne's husband, tried to make Margaret feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible. In Part 4 he says, "There is nothing wrong with prayer, if that is what satisfies her." He even says a prayer at the dinner table, a ritual which I don't think the Flisher family normally practices. He does it for her though, and I think that is what the real, "love thy neighbor" stuff is all about.

In Part 5, Margaret gets up and leaves the radio station studio in a huff, screaming that "Psychic people" are "from the devil". I am psychic and I do not consider myself, "of or from the devil" in any way, shape or form. Had she stayed in the studio and had a discussion with the psychic guest, she may have found out differently. However, she is so closed minded, she will never truly know what kind of person the guy really is. She may have even liked him and maybe could have had a long standing relationship/friendship but she she will never know because she closed herself off. She lost the opportunity to get to know another living soul. She says, "I don't want anything dark-sided. This is a test. This is a God test." It seems to me that she is the, "dark-sided" one here. However, I do believe it was a God test, and one that she failed miserably at.

In Part 7, Margaret talks to Chris and Jeanne's children about "her God". She tries to persuade them into going to her church. None of the children want any part of it so she goes to their father Chris and tells him she wants to go to church and she wants him and his family to go as well. Chris, being the gracious host he is, (throughout the program) agrees and takes Margaret and his family to church. If you ask me, his actions speak far louder than her rants and tirades. She would never listen to Chris or participate or even try to learn anything about the way the Flisher family lived.

Part 8 tells it all! The reactions of the children, when each mom was saying good bye and heading home, speaks volumes! Margaret has to beg the Flisher children for a goodbye hug whereas the Perrin children gladly and graciously hug Jeanne goodbye, no problem.

As I watched this episode, especially Parts 9 - 10 I couldn't help but think that Margaret Perrin, might quite possibly be mentally ill in a religious sort of way. I felt so sorry for her entire family. She throws the guilt trip out, onto her family here. The looks on their faces as she was ranting and raving were heart wrenching. I think the way she presented herself and represented her religion was, "Not of God" and I would never want to become a part of any religious group that taught such a hate-filled and dogmatic doctrine. In her tirade with her family, she tells them she has learned so much and was tested the entire time she was there. She screams about the dark-sided things that she had to, "put up with" the entire time she was there. When in fact, she didn't do one single thing except go to the solstice party and that was only for a very short time and then she left, rudely. She didn't learn a single thing. She only blew out of proportion, all her silly notions about anything, "new aged" or "different" from what she thinks she knows about God and the world.

Margaret Perrin and her friends are the ones that need to be prayed for. I am sending positive thoughts out into the universe in hopes that she and her friends will eventually see the light and change their ways.

There is enough hatred, war and evil things in the world, that there is just no need for those things to be incorporated into any religion. I've always thought and will always think, that religion should be just the opposite of hatred and intolerance. It's just too sad that many religions are intolerant of others. Because how in the world are we ever to become a loving world if we don't love everyone and we close our minds to friendships with others merely because they think differently than we do?

World Peace, Celebrate Diversity and EVOLVE people~
Dali G.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJfYTHba4w0 ~ Pt 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czmit2yPVKA ~ Pt 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVoR3OOMcQM ~ Pt 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PI4hXzUKek ~ Pt 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOT07kC9kqE ~ Pt 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJW1BHPlu4Y ~ Pt 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDHVRZ-5j_U ~ Pt 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzGaAEW7X4E ~ Pt 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBymvOvO28 ~ Pt 10

LOSING MISS MOLLIE

Enjoying The Summer Breeze

I had a terrible dream last night about losing my precious dog, Miss Mollie. We were in the woods and I looked and looked for her but couldn't find her. I was crying my eyes out. The dream woke me suddenly, only to find Miss Mollie fast asleep right next to me in bed. I kissed her little face all over and hugged and stroked her. She gave me a couple of, "Leave me alone, I'm sleeping!" growls HA! So I finally stopped aggravating her and we both fell back to sleep.

I began dreaming the same dream again, only like the next chapter. This time I had returned to the same place in the woods looking for her again. Crying and calling her name into the quiet, softly lit woods, still I could not find her. Miserable again, I woke up, got myself a drink of water and tried to shake off the dream. I sat quietly watching, listening to my little fur person snoring peacefully as she slept soundly and completely unaware of my terror.

Isn't it strange how attached we become of these lovely creatures? I mean, Miss Mollie really is, my best friend in the whole world. She misses me to pieces even if I leave the house for just a few minutes, always there to eagerly greet me as if she hasn't seen me in ages! She loves me unconditionally, no matter what. She thinks I am the most wonderful person in the entire world. She feels pain when I feel pain. She always knows when to comfort me in my times of sorrow. She knows exactly how to make me laugh and does so at the appropriate times too. She always knows when to initiate play, usually when I've been sitting at my desk too long. She is such an intuitive little being! Ahhh, I love her so much!

Miss Mollie is 13 years old now and her age is beginning to show on her little face which is now going gray. The dark black mascara which gave her "Egyptian Eyes" in younger years has faded to white whispers of lashes. Like me, she's put on a few pounds in her old age, but we don't care. We eat our ice cream and Frosty Paws any old way! I know she cannot stay with me forever and if there was anyway I could clone her, I would. I don't want to ever lose her and the nightmare I had last night affirmed just how much I love this tiny creature. I think they may have to put me in the looney bin when Miss Mollie is no longer with me. OMG, I can't begin to tell you just how much I care for this dog. She helps me make my videos for YouTube, occasionally starring in them. She's absolutely the best little actress, never missing her cue. She is quite patient with me as her "director" and tolerates all the costume and set changes, even when she would rather be chewing on a big fat bone. She's bilingual, she speaks and understands both English and French. Some people may smirk at this, but I tell you, she's learned French a lot faster than I have!

She's glaring at me now, giving me the "eye". I know what that means. "Come on, let's go outside!" So, I'll write more later and live in this moment. I'm going to go share this glorious day with my, "bestest friend" in the whole wide world, my beautiful, playful, intelligent, intuitive, mind reading fur person, Miss Mollie. I just hope at some point in my life, I can become the person she thinks I am!

Miss Mollie "telling me" that she loves me

Sitting Pretty

Guarding The House

URBAN LIVING

Fourth of July came in with a really BIG BANG this year. I moved into my new apartment on the 27th of June and I invited many of the friends who helped, over for some Kim-Wow-Chicken and Shrimp. Chinese food for the house warming/4th of July celebration party? I thought it seemed fitting since China basically owns our American asses right now. Most of us ate with chop sticks but there were a few forkers in the crowd. I had everybody choose a set of chop sticks that they loved because they would be taking them home with them as a party favor.

The party was fantastic and everyone had a wonderful time, except for maybe a few young teens who hung out in my art room most of the night on the computer. I thought they were bored, but they said they were having fun. I haven't entertained teens for a while now, so I hope they enjoyed themselves.

The adults stayed on the main floor of the apartment and after dinner played a game called, "Apples to Apples". This game is a riot and can cause one too. I hope the neighbors didn't get the wrong impression of me my first week in the place. The game can cause a lot of yelling and excitement, when each player "pleads their case." Sometimes all players are pleading their case at once and this can get quite loud!

When darkness fell over the city, the spectacular fireworks show began. Now this wasn't a show set up by just any one person or group, this was a show by all the ordinary residents living in and around the city. The skyline was lit with beautiful fireworks in 360 degrees. Every window one looked out, there was a light show of some sort. It was amazing. We could see fireworks all the way to the Kentucky skyline and the full circumference of the city of Cincinnati. The large window in my living room has the best view of the city and was a really big hit.

My dog, Miss Mollie, was not as impressed with the fireworks as were we. In fact, she hated them. She has always hated fireworks and thunder. She ran from window to window barking at the booming sounds and only calmed down a bit when one of my guests picked her up and let her see the light show end of the deal. As soon as she was put down again, the barking commenced. I finally had to give her a long talk and explain to her that her barking was seriously getting on our nerves. She gave it up and then just fell asleep on the sofa while we continued our game. I tell you that dog is a human, wrapped in fur.

My friend Patti won the game and we decided to call it a night. Some of the golfing guys had to get up for an early tee time. I have wonderful, wonderful friends without whom this move would have never been possible. Life is amazing and the people we share it with make it that much more special. Thank you people, for your help, your love, and your constant support. You mean the world to me. Muah! XXXOOO I love you all Bigger Than The Sky!



ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TOP OF THE STAIRS



SO MUCH LIGHT AND ROOM TO PAINT



A ROOM WITH A VIEW



THE DINING AREA AND KITCHEN ARE VERY COZY TOO





So far, I really love my new place. It's roomy and airy and so full of light. The perfect space for an artist to create. The bills are going to run more here though and I don't worry because I said my prayers to the universe before moving. I may need a little part time job to supplement my income and I'm certain that will come when I need it. I am a firm believer in positive thought manifestation! After all, it was positive thought manifestation that got me this apartment in the first place!

SOME WEIRD COOLSOMENESS



"FOURTEEN MORE STEPS TO THE FOOD!"

THE TRAVELING PAINTING PROJECT

Above: Work by the artist Kim Poole in Cincinnati, Ohio USA http://www.youtube.com/daligoddess2006


On October 27th 2007, I started The Traveling Painting Project. The mission for the project is to connect artists all over the world in a unique manner. I paint a little and then send it on to another artist who paints a little, then sends it on to another artist who paints a little and so on and so forth. My dream is for the painting to visit every country in the world and every state in the United States of America. I came up with the idea after many years of dreaming of traveling the world myself. Since I am not independently wealthy and cannot afford to travel the world, this project became a way for me to live vicariously through the paintings travels. People always ask, "What will you do with the painting at the end?" My answer is this. "It's not about the painting, it's about the journey of the painting. I never want the painting's journey to end, but if it must, then a worldwide raffle would be the answer. The proceeds should go to feed the hungry. Then the painting shall have served a great purpose at the end of it's journey. I can think of no better purpose than to feed the starving, as food should be a basic human right.


Above: Work by artist Lisa in Michigan, USA
http://www.youtube.com/Paint2BSane

Above: Work by artist Jared Knight in Miami Beach, Florida USA
http://www.youtube.com/jaredknightcom

Above: Work by Rob Lee in The United Kingdom http://www.youtube.com/RobLeepopart

Above: Work by the artist Tam in The United Kingdom

http://www.youtube.com/willowing

Above: Work by the artist Mary Helena in The United Kingdom http://www.youtube.com/pyramiaou

Above: Work by the artist Gary Reef in Norway
http://www.youtube.com/CapricornArtist73

Above: Work by the artist David in Australia
http://www.youtube.com/extraordinarytourist

Above: Work by the artist Melissa in New Zealand
http://www.youtube.com/melanianspots

Above: Work by the artist Marieke in the Netherlands
http://www.youtube.com/bloknotedotnl

If you'd like to continue to follow this project please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/user/THETRAVELINGPAINTING

DOWN AT THE CEMENT CREEK

This is the latest and sixth painting in the "Wonderland Series".
Started the series a few months ago and I am completely obsessed with the giraffe character in these paintings. It seems I will take this subject matter to the limit and see what surprises may arise from the series as I am not able to let go of the creature yet.

I named the painting "Down at the Cement Creek" after a place from my childhood where we hung out and did things we didn't want adults to know about. Ha! Recently, I re-visited the cement creek and found all sorts of delicious urban art there. Apparently, the place still attracts the neighborhood kids and instead of simply writing things like, "Kim Loves Mike"or "F#*k You!", the kids now create beautiful works of art with their spray paint these days. Inspired by what I saw and being in awe of the beautiful works of art there, I decided to use the walls of the cement creek as a background for this piece.

Not yet completed, "Down at the Cement Creek" is a fairly large piece at 24" x 36" and is patiently waiting for my return. I had to let it sit for a few days to decide which direction I need to take next. Still undecided, I will let the painting resonate within my mind until the answers come. Sometimes waiting for my muse to arrive can be time consuming in itself. Nothing is worse for an artist than having the white canvas disease. Well, at least this is only the partial case here as I have managed to push some paint around on the canvas.

Speaking of unfinished art works, I have been asked the question, "When do you know that a piece of art is finished?" My reply to that is simple, "When it sells!" I don't think a piece of art is ever really finished and if it sits around in my studio, I am forever looking at it thinking, "What does it need now?"


"Riding Through Wonderland", the fifth painting in this series is on display and for sale at the Redtree Gallery. The show will run through the 29th of May 2009. http://www.redtreegallery.net/

FORGET THE FLOWERS! WHERE HAVE ALL MY OLD 3D FRIENDS GONE?

Last night while going through, "stuff" for my spring cleaning, I came across two personal phone books from the 1980's and early 1990's.


"Wow!" I said to myself, (because I talk to myself all the time now in my old age) "You sure had lots of friends in those days. You really were a social butterfly." Then I came up with the idea of searching for these old friends online. I wanted to find them on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, or YouTube! Surely my long lost friends would be as excited about the Internet as I am. Starting with the A's, I methodically went through each and every name written in my books. With hope, I typed each name into the search bar on Facebook. Little by little my hope was beginning to vanish, then, all of a sudden, voila! I found a friend! Jim. He was there, right there for all the world to see. I was so excited. I quickly sent him a message. "Are you who I think you are?" What a dumb message, but I didn't want to be presumptuous. There was always the chance he wasn't who I thought he was. I mean, how many Jim B_____'s are there in the world, and this is the WORLD WIDE WEB of course. So, I quickly moved on to the C's and D's and E's and finally got to the Z's in the second phone book. Now let me tell you, each phone book was filled to the brim. I mean there wasn't one empty line in either book!


Well, I was somewhat disappointed because out of two entire phone books, I found just this one person. Not to diminish the fact that I found Jim, because that is a very big deal for me. To see him now, in his future and see how well he's doing in the world. To see how he looks as a mature man and learn what he's been doing with his life. All these things are important to me and I am very grateful to have found him. The thing is, what the hell has happened to the other 999 people in those books? Where have they all gone? What are they doing with their lives? What do they look like now? Are they dead? Or just dead to the Internet?


Pondering those questions all night long, I came to the conclusion that most people my age do not use the Internet. Perhaps they don't know how, don't have a computer, choose to remain anonymous, fear it or just don't want to get involved in this extremely wonderful technology. Myself, I could not live without it. My computer is my best friend because it keeps me linked to the world, the information highway and all my new friends I have met here in cyber space. My conclusion saddens me deeply as I'd really love to keep in touch with many of the souls I've connected with in my past. Many of you know my affinity for nostalgia. I had planned to throw out the phone books, along with all the other little tidbits of paraphernalia I've collected over the years. However, I think I'll hang onto the books and do another search in a few years. Maybe some of those people will come out of their shells and poke their little heads into cyberspace at some point in their lives.


Some of the 3D friends with whom I still have connections, do not use the Internet, don't even know how to email someone, don't know a download from an upload, and could care less how many GB's or MB's are on their computers. The only reason they have a computer is because their children or their children's children need one for school. My 3D friends think I am amazing because I know so much about the computer and the Internet. (and secretly, I enjoy this attention) I blog, I vlog, I twitter and tweet. I'm on MySpace and Ning and I'm a Deviant Artist to beat. I've been on YouTube since before it became famous. I even have an online store at etsy where I sell my works. http://www.dalidepot.etsy.com/ . (shameless plug) I've offered to help my 3D's learn some basic computer skills, but most show no interest whatsoever. They just don't quite understand my obsession.


I don't know everything about computers or the Internet nor many of the new sites that continue to arise. However, the difference is that I am willing to learn, in fact, yearning to learn. I want to know everything. I wanna be a geek. It is a challenge to learn how to navigate each new web site I join and equally challenging is remembering all my different passwords. I do have most of them written down of course , but I try to log on to all the sites without that crutch. I think it helps my to exercise my brain daily.


Surfing the net helps me connect to the world. There is so much to learn every single day. When I hear a news snippet on t.v., I find the newscaster never gives quite enough information, so I run straight away to the computer to Google a search. I have a thirst for knowledge that cannot be quenched by a 30 second spot on the nightly news. Thank God for Bill Gates and his buddies!


Oh yeah, and this blog wouldn't be complete if I didn't confess my Internet paranoia. Sometimes I think I am the skitziest person online. Yes, I worry about computer viruses and Big Brother watching, probably more than most. I am not so much afraid of Big Brother because I don't think I do anything wrong or anything that "they" would care about. But who knows? More and more of our freedoms in America are being taken away every day. Freedom of speech may soon become obsolete, so I'm getting mine in while I still can. Those nasty viruses scare me the most. Because who on earth would I be without my computer? Just an old woman stuck in 3D land. Now that would certainly be an atrocity!

FOR KEEPS

His cold Timex

watch

She keeps in

the

small cedar box

with

long ago

love

letters

is

all she

knows

tangible of the

very

short time

they were

allotted with one

another

and the

watch

however cold

still

ticks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nFGhvT5c9c

LISTEN HONEY

For nearly nine years I had severe hot flashes, pretty much every 15 minutes that lasted for 20! It was like someone poured lighter fluid on my head and lit it with a match. Menopause was the catalyst of my, "hermit years". Just the mere thought of sweating profusely at the most inappropriate times murdered the social butterfly in me. At first, I didn't know what was wrong with me, since it began early at the age of 40, menopause never entered my mind. I thought that was for "old broads"! Even though it officially began at age 40, the severe hot flashes didn't begin until four years later. Every time I got ready to go out, sweat would begin dripping down my face as if I was taking a shower, washing away and leaving white streaks on my newly applied makeup face. My newly styled hair would be soaked as if I just came out of the pool, making the curling iron job and the hair spray a futile effort. My face and chest would be flushed deep red as if I'd just finished running a 20 mile marathon. I literally felt I was melting away. I was a human candle!

When I finally realized what was happening to me, I went straight to the health food store and looked for something "natural" to ease the hot flashes. I tried Black Cohosh, milk thistle and even switched to soy milk. None of these remedies worked so I finally went to my doctor searching for relief. Well, first thing they give me is a mammogram which showed breast calcifications and my doctor would not prescribe hormones for me saying, "findings show hormones cause cancer." She said I would just have to get through it on my own and would not even allow me to use anything herbal. Even herbal medications still contained minute amounts of the cancer causing agents. My fear of breast cancer kept me off any medications, herbal or synthetic. I just had to tough it out. My doctor said that every woman's menopause is different in severity, symptoms and length. All I could do was cross my fingers and hope for a short-lived change of life.

The hot flashes were just one terrible aspect of this self-disintegrating phenomenon. I began to forget things, a lot of things. My brain actually felt as if it were slushy, like mud. After a while, I actually referred to my brain as slush, giving it the nick-name, MUD. I just couldn't think straight. There was no concentration available to me at that time. I couldn't sleep at night. The night sweats would be so bad, they would awaken me at least once an hour, sometimes more often than that. I was tired all the time. I began to have terrible headaches and finally understood and sympathized with people who suffered from migraines. Little jolts of electric shock would affect my hands, knees, back. My joints ached profusely at times and I did take Ibuprofen for that and I am still taking it today.

One of the worst parts about menopause was that I became a bitch. I was cranky all the time and irritable to no end. It seemed I was turning into one of those mean old nasty, hateful women that I never understood in my youth. I used to think maybe they just needed to get laid! Ha! That statement couldn't be farther from the truth! When you're in menopause, sex is the last thing on your mind! That's why they call it "menopause", because you pause on the men. Quite honestly, any sexual advances made me even crankier! I just didn't want to be touched, by anybody. Many times because I was dripping with sweat and didn't want to get it all over anyone else, but mostly just because I was cranky and tired and depressed and fat! Yes. Skinny Kim finally got fat! The weight gain was tremendous. Even with exercise and a good diet, the pounds kept piling on. I was in hell.
However, it was good to be in hell at times. The best part about menopause was the irregular periods. Outside of never knowing when it was going to happen, just a slight bit of inconvenience to me, I thoroughly enjoyed the cessation of all that mess and the pain that accompanied it!

Little by little the symptoms began to subside and here I am now, nine years later, thinking I am just about at the end of this journey to the depths of hell. I am beginning to see the light and I am very thankful for that. I remember asking this 80-year old woman once how long hers lasted. She replied, "Listen honey, I still get hot flashes." "Shoot me now!" I exclaimed. It's not completely over for me yet. Just when I vocalize that I haven't had a hot flash in quite some time, I'll get a few in a row. So, I've learned to keep my mouth shut about that. There are some things you just don't want to tempt the universe about and menopause is one of them.

I don't wear red and purple yet but I have learned to eat my dessert first. I have grown from a superficial young woman into a mature woman who cares more about the world now instead of where she is going to buy her next pair of new shoes. I am working on getting rid of the weight gain. I am sleeping a bit better and I don't feel tired all the time. My slushy mud brain only has temporary lapses now and they are not as often. These days, I feel joyful again when I wake up in the mornings and I am not wearing my cranky pants nearly as often as I was. Slowly, I am beginning to go back out into the world but I really need to brush up on my social skills. I was single when I started into menopause and I'm not looking for love, but if it finds me, I am at least receptive to the idea these days.

The only solace I can give you newcomers to menopause is, there is light at the end of this ugly, dark, time tunnel, you just have to hang in there to see it, with or without medication. At times you think you'll never make it through. When that happens, eat your dessert first, it'll make you feel like you are at least, in charge of something! Black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream or the Tiramisu? You decide.

SPRING CLEANING

I woke up yesterday full of energy and decided I would finally get around to my spring cleaning. Had a cuppa and then dove right in to all the boxes of old pictures I have had packed away and stored since I moved back from Florida to Cincinnati in 2006. These boxes were such an eyesore in my bedroom. How does a "pack rat" downsize? That is the question. Not really wanting to part with the photos, but having no room for storage in this tiny apartment, I decided to scan and post many of the old school pictures online and then give my daughter the, "Keeper of the Family photos" position from here on out. Yes, I know, a little sinister on my part, but then again, she is a bigger pack rat than I, and she actually has the room to store them in her great big huge house. I told her kept here, they are clutter, but kept at her place, they are memorabilia. She readily agreed and was at my house within the hour to receive what she perceived as a glorious gift! Yay! So it worked out well for both of us.

I diligently worked for nearly eight or nine hours, carefully scanning and posting many of the memories to my MySpace account while my daughter patiently waited for me to finish. It was a lot of fun going through the time space continuum and when you're my age, there is a lot of time and space to cover, especially when you are a picture fanatic! I've seemed to have lost my organization skills over the years, (menopause) so I gladly handed over the difficult job of organizing the photos to her and I know she will do a fantastic job at it. Many of the photos were already in albums but still many more were in envelopes and shoe boxes, all mixed up, not in any relative order what-so-ever. I am looking forward to seeing how she organizes the timeline.

The photo above is my beautiful mother, modeling (on what I believe to be Vine Street)in Cincinnati, Ohio in the early 1950's. I love her dress, the automobiles, the street lamps. How can one part with photos as beautiful and telling as this? My mother died on May 18th 1985 from liver failure and complications of diabetes. Just two days short of the 24th anniversary of her death I am posting this blog, seems fitting, don't you think? A small tribute to the woman who I loved and who loved me, "Bigger Than The Sky". She still visits me in my dreams and usually we talk, have lunch and go shopping together. The most recent "visit" was on Mother's Day this year. The next morning I awoke with a lovely feeling and a smile on my face.

Although I made huge progress yesterday, I am still left with little bits of memorabilia such as, clippings of newspaper articles, (the first moon landing) death notices of beloved ones, letters and birthday cards from family members from years gone by and little tidbits of other things that I can't seem to discard as refuse. What does a pack rat do with such things? Any ideas?

As for the spring cleaning? Well, maybe I'll possibly get to it today. *laughs*