Tea Time

My BFF just left my house. It had been so long since she had come to visit. It was great sharing some conversation and a cup of tea with her. Too bad the discussion was littered with our work woes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s good that women have “girlfriends” to lean on when things go a little awry in our lives, without that heartfelt companionship, where would we be? Anyway…after she left, I went back to my desk and sat down to write for a bit. Suddenly, I got up, went to the pantry, looked around and - Yeah, you got it...I forgot what I was going to do! Forgetting what I got up expressly to do—that's something my mother used to do, and then I’ld roll my eyes and think, "Dang, what's wrong with her?" Except now it's me, and I don't know when that happened and I swear I just need a vacation. . . I know I shouldn’t stress, this is part of a natural evolution. The good news—I’m not losing my mind, I know I’m not (that does sound convincing, right). I’m afraid that forgetfulness, along with the sudden appearance of wrinkles and the disappearance of my waistline, indicates that I am in the process of morphing into my mother. I never thought this would happen to me! When I was thirty my mother told to me to be patient “your day is coming” is what I remember her saying. When I was not quite forty, I remember saying defiantly "that will never happen to me!" Now, barely past forty (well, that’s what my birth certificate states), I am finding myself saying, “well it happens occasionally, but that doesn’t mean anything”. I’m dreading the hour when I will wake up in the middle of the night, gasping for breath because I’ve suddenly realized.... Aaaargh! I've Become My Mother!!! I will try to stay calm and not tear my hair out---it's thinning anyway (of course, now there's Rogaine). I’m sure it won’t be the end of the world (it happened to my own mother and her mother and her mother and...), just the beginning of a new era! Oh dear, maybe I should have another cup of tea and call my mother...Hey!!! That’s what I got up for in the first place! I LOVE YOU MOM!

St. Patrick's Day

GREEN.....everyone seems to celebrate the color green on March 17th, you will find green food, green drinks, green shamrocks, green leprechauns, green clothing, green jewelry, and even green hair...and of course the obligatory pinch that goes along with the holiday for those who aren't wearing even a smidgen of green! Now all this is fun, but many people don't realize that the holiday is really in honor of St. Patrick, a Christian missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland's pagan inhabitants. As a Santera of sorts, I can't help but try to explain to those I meet, the patron saints and the roles they have played as intercessors between God and mankind. Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, or causes. A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God. Back to St. Patrick...he lived an exemplary life as a missionary, spreading the gospel throughout Ireland, converting pagans to Christianity. After his death, legend has it that St. Patrick was known for his explanation of the Holy Trinity by reference to the Shamrock (the Father, Son and Holy Ghost being One), and another legend has it that he expelled all the snakes from Ireland. As a result of these legends, St. Patrick's emblems are the shamrock and snakes and his Feast Day is officially March 17th, the day St. Patrick died. St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and is invoked for those who are frightened by snakes. With all this said, I would just like to say, "Happy St. Patrick's Day"...now let's go eat some GREEN jello!

The Ides of March

March 15th.....the day marked as the Ides of March. It is supposed to be a day of foreboding....however, all I really felt "forewarned" about today was the laundry! I was reminded that if it didn't get done, there wouldn't be any clean clothes to wear to work tomorrow. So another fun day of laundry and getting ready for another week of work. Normally, laundry gets done during the week and on Saturdays, but this week was different....there was more construction going on in our house, so I wasn't able to get to the laundry this week at all. But the mess was worth the wait, because now we have a new bathroom floor to wake up to each morning. Little by little, the whole house has been renovated, added on to, and redecorated in more ways than one. Owning a home is a constant labor of love, and there are many unexpected surprises that we have encountered along the way. I'm just glad the suprises were nothing compared to the surprise Julius Caesar encountered on that fateful Ides of March 2,050 years ago!

Sparks of Inspiration.....

My "Spark" Book. Yup, that's what the cover reads...plain and simple. Several years ago, being the scrapbooker that I am, I decided I would make a "Spark" book for myself and another for my daughter. Let me explain, a "Spark" book is a little dream notebook of sorts that is all decorated with scrapbooking items. It's really a planning tool so I will have a designated place to write down and organize all those "sparks" of inspiration that come my way every now and then. Hopefully this will help me keep track and visualize all my dreams. You see, I'm a very visual person, so if I can look at my "Spark" book periodically and remind myself of my goals, then it serves as a visual reminder for me to get to work on my goals. I collect magazine cutouts, photos, or just write down key words to help me remember what it is I want to achieve in my life. Since starting my "Spark" book, I am happy to say that some of my goals and dreams have come true! So what's inside this little gem of a book, you ask. Well the chapters I have made include: Spiritual Aspirations, Personal and Wellness Goals, Financial Goals, Love, Family and Friends, Home Goals, Career and last, but not least, an R & R section. I think everyone should have a "Spark" book...because dreams are what life is made of. Dreams stimulate our hearts and minds and make us stretch both mentally and physically. So let's get out there and stretch!

The Great Debate....

Red or Green? That's the official New Mexico "question". And that question is referring to chile, not "chili" like the Texans have, but good old fashioned, red or green hot chile that New Mexicans just can't seem to live without. Yup, here in New Mexico it's chile with an "e"... which probably stands for Extra hot! You can't go anywhere in New Mexico and order an entrè without the waitress asking, "red or green". Simple as that. The part that's not so simple is deciding whether to select red or green when ordering the savory dish. Actually, did you know there is no real difference in a red chile and a green one? The only difference is whether it's picked when it's ripe or not. Of course, it makes a big difference when prepared. Some folks are true believers in the "green" version and others are nothing but "red" followers. Then there are the indecisive bunch; the ones that can't seem to decide, so they order their food "Christmas Style" (I'll have...a little of both please). What else can you expect when you live in Jalapeño Heaven!