Life's a Beach

I was going through my archives and came upon this blog post from July 23, 2008. You know what? Time can really seem to get away with you if you let it. It doesn’t seem like it was 2008 when I had sinusitis. It really does feel like it was last year. And more like three months rather than six months since February.

My daughter is always saying how she doesn’t remember a few days ago or even just the day before. She says it’s because she doesn’t do anything. That may be true. I don’t know. I’d think that a person would remember what happened the day before when it’s pretty much the same thing every day. I guess she doesn’t have any recent memories that are memorable to her. And most the ones she has makes her sad.

I don’t know what to do for her right now. I’m here, too. Not making memories that are memorble for myself. But I’m OK with it because I know it’s not always going to be like this. If I knew of a way, we would be on our way to California right now. Even with the weather the way it is. I would make sure to go somewhere that is void of mudslides, though. What a mess, huh?

I’ve asked her about Orlando vacations, but she has never been interested in going. So, if I ever decide to go, I don’t think we will be making that trip together. She could change her mind, of course. And I hope she would.

I used to see this really gross flash game on different web sites. You know the one. Where you help this guy with extremely bad acne pop his zits? I’ll admit I’ve played it. But only to get a laugh out of myself and then my daughter. I didn’t do it for long, though because it was so disgusting. Funny though.

I only knew of one game but I just googled “zit game” and there’s over 4,400,000 results. I wonder if the people who creating them were cracking up as they did.

For many it’s no laughing matter. They need severe acne treatment, although…

I’ve read vegetarian and vegan blogs that talk about how the people have seen a difference in their skin since they stopped eating certain foods like sugar, meat, and dairy products. Specifically it’s clearer and it glows. So now I wonder. Here’s someone else’s take on it.

I don’t know. I also heard that stress can be another cause of acne. Maybe if people would, along with eating healthfully, exercise, which reduces stress and laugh at themselves more and not get stressed out, it would help their complexion. After all, laughter is the best medicine. It’s also another stress reducer.

If you don’t want puffy eyes, make sure to get enough sleep. I won’t say don’t cry too much because I think crying is very cleansing to the soul. And holding back tears can cause stress which can also cause puffy eyes. At least that has happened to me those few times when I was told not to get too emotional and so I didn’t cry until me and that person weren’t together.

I’ve heard from as long as I can remember that one remedy for getting rid of puffy eyes is using hemorrhoid cream. When I haven’t gotten enough sleep and when I have cried so much that the puffiness shows up, I’ve thought about trying that method, but what stopped me was I didn’t have any and I wasn’t going to buy some just for that reason.

I won’t say there has never been a time when I didn’t need hemorrhoid relief, but it hasn’t been bad enough for me to go out and spend the money on something that would sit in the linen closet where I also keep some of my medicine.

Hoping to find a photo with the appropriate expression on someone’s face, I googled “hemorrhoid face”. Oh well, I didn’t find one, but I just read an answer to a question about this subject on The Straight Dope that gives a good enough reason for me to not want to put hemorrhoid cream anywhee near my face.

The first time I saw STOMP perform on television, I first thought that it was weird for people to be banging on garbage cans and using the lids as symbols and I think they had a stainless steel drum or, two, didn’t they? Well, whatever they use, it’s working because after all these years, they are still performing.

You know how little kids like to bang on pots and pans. Maybe that’s where they got some of their inspiration. I think rather than just guessing, I’m going to read up on these creative beings who are also helping to stomp out litter in New York City.

This just reminded me of a couple stories about the walks me and my daughter took this past spring and summer that I’m going to share.

I would like to believe that I will be able to live in this house for at least five more years so that I can save more money. But, my daughter is going to be 18 this October, which she seems to have mixed feelings about. On one hand she doesn’t want to grow up because it means more responsibility which, like many of us, weren’t ready. Some of us still aren’t.

Knowing from the beginning that I wouldn’t be living here for a long time and since I never had much money, I decided not to buy anything that I knew I could do without. There were already shades on the windows, for instance. I liked the window blinds that were in one of the foster homes that I lived in. And at one time I thought about getting some. But I never did. I don’t have any regrets about it, though. I’ve been happy with the shades. I have never put much emphasis on decorating.

That reminds me. I haven’t yet visualized what I want my new home in California to look like. Right now I’ve got myself sitting on the sand listening to the ocean and writing about it on my laptop. Heh. I certainly can’t live out there all the time, now, can I? That’s my outside sanctuary. I want one for inside, too, So I can slip under the covers in my cozy bed.

I did a lot of web surfing today, looking for inspiration for blog posts and just some play ‘ol inspiration to try to wake up my sleeping muse. Not this muse. My inner muse. The one who is supposed to be with me all the time.

What I wasn’t looking for was anything that had to do with guerilla art. And yet there it was. Nor was I looking for anything about guerilla marketing. And yet, I did anyway. Synchronistically, of course. I went from reading about creativity and inspiration to guerilla marketing which is often crazy and extreme advertising. And very creative. It makes life at work more fun, doesn’ it?

But I don’t think I’d feel very comfortable going through a tunnel like this.

Although I know it’s only a picture and it’s for advertsing purposes, still…I’d get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Now, if it were a picture of a guy, on the other hand…maybe…just maybe I’d get a different feeling…

It’s fun to be on a road trip and to see funny signs along the way. I don’t remember the last time I did this, but I remember laughing at the few that I did see. I know I would have cracked up if I would have seen any exit signs like this one.

Photo by comedy_nose

I’ve never been much into fashion. Never one to feel the need to buy what’s “in style”. Fads don’t phase me. Until Christmas this past year, had one pair of pants for about three or four years. Before that I had two pairs of black jeans that got ripped because of my big thighs.

My daughter bought me two pairs of pants for Christmas. She didn’t have to buy me anything, but it felt good for her to do it. We went to the store together because she wanted me to pick out what I wanted. I made sure that they didn”t cost much. $5-6 dollars. A pair of sweats and the pair are like seats only thinner. Sometimes they’re pajama bottoms. Both are nice and comfy.

When I see models on the runway on television, most of the time I don’t see anything that I’d care to wear. Just not my style.  I’d love a pair of blue jeans. It’s been over five years since I’ve worn a pair. But I’m happy with what I have right now. That’ll change when it’s hot outside, I’m sure.

This is not an endorsement, it’s just an observation and my honest opinion that when I see clothing from designers like Free People, I think of the beach, summer nights, soft, light fabrics, colors, patterns, femininity, sassiness, sexiness, and cozy nights by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa. The sleeves and the bottoms of many of the tops remind me of butterfly wings. This all brings to mind butterflies. Even the hot cocoa because when I think of chocolate I think of inspiration. When I think of inspiration, I think of butterflies. Or visa versa.

It’s been a long time since I was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A year after I graduated from high school is when I joined the Army. That day our platoon was told we would be going to the beach was the best time I had in Boot Camp. And that’s saying a lot because I loved all the running we did.

This is what I’m visualing these days.

Photo by LollyKnit

I wonder how close the Outer Banks vacation rentals are from here. One of these days maybe I’ll be at this beach with my laptop and a cool beverage writing about how the ocean sounds and what it smells like. And I’ll walk barefoot along the shore feeling the coolness of the water enveloping my legs and the sand beneath my feet and between my toes.

I’d enjoy just lying there watching the surfers until I got the urge to once again feel the water caressing my skin.

Now I’ve got that song stuck in my head. Well, it’s a good thing  I like it then. Perfect timing, too since we just got another big snow dump. The snow melts and evaporates going up into the clouds only to fall back down on us again.

While going through my archives again here on this blog I found a blog post that I wrote on November 13, 2008. I vaguely remember writing it, but that’s about all I do remember from that time. Well that, and, it being too cold to go walking too far. I wrote about being Restless and Hopeful and of wanting to go somewhere. Oklahoma to see my son and daughter-in-law, for instance (and now my beautiful and adorable granddaughter).

I’m still restless. And hopeful. Even more so than I was back on that cold November day. So, that’s why I’m planning on going to California. Amongst other reasons. I’m still considering going to Oklahoma. If my son is still there when it’s time.

I’m still thinking about ways that I can go on this trip without having a vehicle and wondering how much of a risk it will be if I go this alone. Not so much that it’ll scare me enough to stop me, but hmm, maybe this is a time I should compare life insurance policies. Who knows what lurks out there on the highways and byways. Maybe I’ll meet some of you along the way.

I’m not going to worry about the money for the trip. I believe that I’ll have the money from the work I do and from stuff I’ll sell before the move. If you want something bad enough you’ll find a way to get it and the Universe (God, Spirit) will conspire to help you.

I don’t want to say too much yet. I like to share bits and pieces of me rather than dump everything all at once. Like the snow we just got. Sometimes I do and then sometimes I wish I wouldn’t have. So this way there won’t be any regrets.

One of my daughter’s favorite movies is Titanic. Since the beginning it was because of the history. Now it could be partially because of the romance. ~sigh~ She’s definitely growing up. When I watch it I always pay attention to the little girl in the dining room with the napkin in her lap and her hand gently smoothing it out. And rose watching her and probably realizing how much she hated that part of her life. Having to be so prim and so proper. I wouldn’t want that kind of life for me or my daughter.

I also watch the men as they go into the smoking room to smoke their smelly cigarettes. Or maybe they were smoking Black and Mild cigars while playing cards, chess or backgammon. I’m glad I wasn’t born in that era. I wouldn’t have fit in there. Heh. I’m not sure if I fit in today’s society, either, but more so than then.

The high society life. No. It looks too uncomfortable. It doesn’t look like a nice place to relax and truly enjoy oneself. But I believe that a person can be wealthy and not worry about trying to be perfectly proper at all times to fit in. I also believe there are people who are like that now. If there weren’t, and if I were to ever reach that status, well, dang it, I’d just have to change the status quo.