Christmas in July

Here it is the last day of the month and I've been hearing alot about Christmas in July. I came across this web page--scroll down half way and YIKES!

Hits & Misses

Music: La Luna Live 2004
Mood: Melancholy

As the end of July nears so does the end of my two week vacation and it's back to work on Monday, August 1st. :-( In some aspects the days & nights flew by and I lost track of time & dates. As usual, I stayed up late...like now! I've always been a later nighter but it makes for a difficult time rising early. In retrospect I thought I would review some of the hits and misses of the past two weeks...

Hit: catching up with friends for lunch and/or dinner. Kudos to my dear friend Michelle for providing the best laughter and making my life seem absolutely normal.
Hit: catching the movies/IMAX--"March of the Penguins" and "Forces of Nature" @ IMAX. If you haven't seen March of the Penguins--go and treat yourself to a true gem of a movie as you will laugh and cry and be amazed about life in Antartica.
Hit: Escaping to the new L'Auberge hotel/casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana AND getting to enjoy my first bubble bath in years! Also, sleeping in that amazing bed! OMG, that bed was heavenly.
Hit: Spending time with my niece who keeps me young.
Hit: Lunch @ LemonGrass Fusion Cafe & Ruggles Cafe & Bakery. YUM! Thanks to you know who for the pleasant company.
Hit: my Reikei Massage
Hit: Cruising in my friends new PT Cruiser--that's a fun car to drive.
Hit: Coffee w/Kahlua in the morning


Miss: My dentist appointment this past Thursday and having to go back for unwanted dental work. YUCK & OUCH!!! :-(
Miss: this aweful summer heat
Miss: leaving my $$ @ the casino
Miss: gaining 10 pounds from all the food I ate or what feels like 1o pounds

While there was no great escape to some distant lands I've never seen, it was a much needed two weeks of good old fashioned R & R. Already looking forward to the 3 day Labor Day Weekend Holiday & Thanksgiving Holiday & Christmas Holiday.

Walk on Water

Sunset glow on Lake
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

It looks as if you could almost walk on water! I treated myself to another Reikei Massage yesterday and during this session I was walking on water or rather floating on water.

Side note: Happy Birthday to my dear friend from college-Rudy. His mom passed away in April and I know this first birthday with out her will be difficult. This picture is for you too Rudy. May the glow of the sunset on water embrace you with her love.

Viva Las....

Things start to blur
Originally uploaded by kodama.

...Lake Charles, Louisiana for some gambling. I couldn't get to Vegas but the next state will do. Still, looking forward to no clocks, no windows, piped oxygen, and free drinks to while away the hours while in the casino. If you don't hear back from me soon, I won the big one and taking an extended vacation...to Santa Fe or Canada or Portland or Amsterdam or Bavaria or wherever the winds take me. :-)

thanks to Kodama for his wonderful photo.

Soul Consciousness

Clouds
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Accidents and inspiration lead you to your destination.

I'm borrowing today's title from fellow blogger/Wendy. Each day I go in search of that one moment that makes me aware...touches my soul. Tonight, while heading home from a workout, I looked up in the clouds and they just beckoned me. In that one moment (after taking this picture), I could feel my ears ringing and as I sat in my car aware of this beautiful sunset a sudden silence came upon me. I knew then I had encountered a moment of soul consciousness.

additional inspiration provided by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Illuminations

Illuminations-1
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

I took this last Friday and I'm loving the contrast in colors...both founatains actually are white in color but the larger one illuminated a blue color when I took the photo.

20050719

Evil Yummi
Originally uploaded by mRio.

I'm borrowing Ottmar's method of blogging for this post.

Spent yesterday/Monday & today getting my round of annual checkups out of the way and thus far, I've gotten a clean bill of health. So, I went out and celebrated and had a wonderful lunch & dessert @ Ruggles Cafe & Bakery. Evil Yummi was definitely an appropriate title. Thanks to Mario for the excellent choice of food and company.

Ahhh...

VACATION!!!! YES, it's that time of the year. This afternoon, I'm officially on vacation for two weeks! YIPPEEEEEE! Plans to travel outside of Texas didn't fall into place. Unfortunately, winning the lottery hasn't happened but it would help if I went out and bought a ticket!! :-) If Ottmar were still touring, I would definitely have flown out to see the show but I missed him by two weeks. I thought about flying to Santa Fe for the weekend but decided to save my $$ for now and went out and bought a new digital camera instead. Besides, waiting for the official word of a fanmenco gathering! :-)

My March of the Penguins

Galapagos-Ecuador

My roomate just got back from the Galapagos and hand delivered this postcard. Reminds me of the upcoming movie March of the Penguins ...of which I can't wait to see.

Baby Macaque

Baby Macaque
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

I saw this on Yahoo Pictures the other day and fell in love with it. Talk about a bad hair day! Makes you realize how fragile life is. I want one!

Rat Race

rat race
Originally uploaded by Jim Davies.

The Rat Race is over!
The Rats won!

thanks to Jim Davies

http://www-us.flickr.com/blog.gne

for picture.

Men in My Life

Men in My Life
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

The men in my life were captured in this photo last month. My father and brother...who both have never met a stranger and my brother's two sons.

Last night we spent a few good hours at my mom's around the kitchen table and it's always so much fun when you get these guys together. At my father's age, I treasure these moments dearly.

Sea of Red

Sea of Red
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Red is the color of the day. A prelude to the red, white & blue colors for the 4th of July. Happy 4th and Happy Independence Day.