Thursday, June 30, 2016

"It must be working!" for (me!) sandra, tvgp

friend: "have you been bleaching your teeth?"

(me!):  "no.  -but I do put a splash of Listerine in my coffee every morning..  and its a mouthwash,  -so i cuss less too."

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

ALDEN LANE june 2016. by (me!) sandra, tvgp

 left: alden lane owner, Jacquie Williams-Courtright
write: Shirley..   /training & mentoring me in...

and front & center:  this gorgeous masterpiece in progress, which you can see for yourself at art under the oaks...


***
Shirley:  "Sandra,  -with all that you can do, why are you here really?"    /like Alex, who interviewed me, she was suggesting i was over-qualified for the position I'm in

(me!): "i really am just waiting for my literary agent and my lucrative contract.."  i said with a smile.

Shirley:  "So, you're going to be leaving us, huh.."

(me!):  "i hope so.. but i promise to give 2 weeks notice!  .. you know, when my single, and handsome literary agent shows up..  "

Shirley:  "oh.. so he's going to be single and handsome too..  you're cute."

and Shirley doesn't know me well enough yet to know that i absolutely do not know how to dream small; only big

so..  not only is my literary agent going to be handsome and single, with a lucrative contract in his hand..

but he's going to be kind, funny, loyal and a Christian too!

ALDEN LANE introductions in waiting.. from (me!) sandra, tvgp

















as time and co-workers allow..  i snap a quick picture..   and have way more people to introduce than time to properly introduce them.. and many more co-workers to take pictures of;





 but let me just get these picture up, and intro later..

ART UNDER THE OAKS "Happy 30 Year Anniversary!" from (me!) sandra, tvgp


 i cannot remember what year, with who..   when was my very first visit to alden lane? i only know that it felt very magical; was highly beautiful..     and although it was not a place i visited or shopped at with any regularity, it certainly did lodge itself in the beautiful files within my consciousness.

and i know i have attended art under the oaks in the past..   year(s)? with who?  and feel super blessed to be working at alden lane for the 30 year anniversary thereof!  

i mean, when you take a place already so breathtaking, and then add to that...   live music, local artists, food, wine, raffles, creative contests..

there is no other place you should be on july 16th & 17th.   


 /i have a friend who will be snorkeling at molokini that weekend though..  i said, "ok, you're legitimately excused.."   -but write here in the tri-valley we have an island paradise..    surrounded by residential neighborhoods vs. water; but a beautiful exotic island of its own kind it is... 

and check out this live music line up: 

Saturday: FOUR GUYS 11-12:30, THE GOOD TIMES BAND from 1-2  /and i think this might be the same band..  Bernie berke's band; my former flute teacher.. that i performed with at pier 49 in san Francisco..

GEORGIE and the ROUGH WEEK from 2:30-4pm.   and Sunday: The Pleasanton Community Concert Band from 11-12:30, followed by The Cool Tones 12:30-1:30 and the Sycamore Strings Academy from 2-3 and..

extra drum roll here please... for the grand finale on Sunday from 3-4pm:  DO NOT MISS:

PLEASANTON UKULELE BAND!     -i had a chance to see them at the Pleasanton Library not too long ago..  they packed the house! and yielded 1 hour plus of non-stop smiles..    and i am very proud to share that one of my Good Neighbors Holiday Boutique co-founders..  the very talented water-color artist, dear friend, and super cool neighbor Nancy Eddinger is in this band!   she even sings and dances..    no end to the talent tucked inside her..

so all that, PLUS! over 35 local artists..  art projects for kids..  a pallet painting contest..   sales and raffles..  and WINE!

www.aldenlane.com


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Monday, June 27, 2016

Motown The Musical "Phenomenal!" says (keeshie & jeff!)

what a testimony! my sister said it topped her prior favorite, grease.. and Jeff said it was the best show he had ever seen too.. better than his prior favorite.. Rent.  They both were so blown away..!  Amazed!  and both put it at the tip top of their "FAVORITE EVER!" performance..

***

Happy Birthday! Keeshie..   "To Motown!"   our favorite dance music forever!...  and to Berry Gordy and every awesome musician~artist...    xoxo

Saturday, June 25, 2016

2 of 10000000 upcoming photographs of alden lane, by (me!) sandra, tvgp

 "yes..  step inside my new office" I say with a big smile

 -can you stand it?!

I am overwhelmed by the remarkable people and plants, flowers and trees I'm inspired to introduce to you..

personal introductions will come later, but for now, on the whole I must say
that

if you watch too much of the news you would falsely arrive at the conclusion that our world is doomed

but if you spend even just one day at alden lane, and work side-by-side with the high-school, college age, young adults I have encountered

you would correctly know, that our world is in great hands

hearts and minds.

I'm more optimistic and confident than ever.  and now, the flowers/plants/trees, etc.  

ive started I don't know how many ice-breaker one-way conversations with them..  I cup a flower in my hand, "i know you by face, but not by name...   what is your name?"

and to the succulents.. "oh my! you are darling! and.. so photogenic!  may I take your picture?  I need to show you off.."

.. so, true, the work is..  the training..   well, the first two weeks I came home and fell flat on my bed and went to sleep, but I'm catching on..

 hallelujah!  xoxo

The Heart Seen and seen and seen! by (carla!) and (me!) sandra, tvgp



 highly cherished, my in~person coffee/conversation visits with friends..  and just yesterday when I sat with Carla outside, in front of juice & java in downtown..  she spotted a heart shape on her paper napkin..  cutest shape! and then when I went to get my phone to take a picture of it..  I happened across one myself. 

and I never tire of these! and each time I find myself thinking.. oh this is my favorite..  no, this is my favorite..  

but I do have a new favorite..  because my favorite gum is 5, and usually I rip the sticks in half and chew only one half at a time, and I just shove the waiting half in my back pocket until I spit out the first half..  /usually to eat..  

and yesterday when I emptied out my back pocket..   look what I saw!  and now, at first I thought maybe it was a tiny white heart made with intention..  confetti from a craft project I did, because I do in fact have a heart shape craft punch..  and it would not surprise me to find a tiny white paper heart punch shape in any of my pockets..  so I actually went to peel it off..    and that's when I realized it was not a paper punch..  it is exactly how the foil wrapper folded somehow as I shoved it in, and pulled it out of my back pocket..   I just look up to heaven and smile..
that is super cute! "thank you!"

and earlier in the week.. squirting mustard and ketchup for a hot-dog..  that's exactly how it squirted out..

when people send me their heart seens..  often they will preface with something like,  "i know it looks like I did this on purpose.. but I didn't!"    and I just say,  "i know!"    "i get it!"    

it really happens just like this..   I see it all the time..   and its just plain fun.

***

"thank you!" Carla for the great visit.. and the books!! for my sister & I..
I'm always elevated by these beautiful casual conversations,  -catching up on life, kids, challenges/rewards of daily life..   memoires/milestones; hopes and dreams.. 

***

and I realized,  that when I made the wine bottle with where the wild things are pages, -and I spent that quiet time creating and remembering my aunt tina..     it was different, of very course, because she has already left this earth..  but it was the same in that..   I felt elevated afterward, having spent time with her; memory

so elevated in fact, that Ive decided to do the same, as time/energy allows with my other loved ones who have already departed..

so, i'll be doing a wine bottle with sunflowers next to spend some time with my aunt Susie..   my aunt tina's sister...    both my dad's sisters.   -and there is a list of deceased loved ones on each side of my family tree..  so ..   lots of art and visits ahead..

In Jesus elevating spiritual name,   ~amen!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Had our visit been longer.. by (me!) sandra, tvgp

Kate Barton. My Cofounder/cocreator/coteacher of Movers & Shakers -a creative storytelling dance class for children, we designed and taught out of Pam's dance studio in Pleasanton...

How long ago?  15 years or so..    Great memories!  and my daughter was a mover & shaker..  and both of Kate's daughters: movers & shakers.   But the Barton family would end up moving out of state, and our direct communication would subside over the years with only occasional calls, Christmas cards,  -that sort of thing; but the bond is beautiful and life-long..

easily we can pick write back up from wherever we last left off, with no regard for how much time has passed,  with just a simple "hello!"

***

I laugh now to look back at her initial text..  Not Kate, but her daughter Hannah:   I found myself alone in San Francisco

And then she was coming to pleasanton -was I available to get together and catch up.

Alone in San Francisco.

Based on my own life as a young adult.. My teen to .... /won't admit.
I projected a variety of scenarios onto that text.. Alone?!?  Did she run away? Does her mother know she's here? Did some punk break her heart? Has she lost her way in the world?   

None of it even remotely close.  In fact very Far removed from the truth:  this beautiful, confident, intelligent,valedictorian, world-traveling, young college woman was simply on a business trip with her dad, and her dad had to leave early..

She is the daughter my parents deserved but didn't get, -I say with a smile.

Anyway..  What a blessing! of the best kind.. Her spontaneous visit here..  and we got together with my daughter..  the two not seeing each other since they were 4 or 5 years old.. and had a wonderful visit.

and over the course of just a one night stay.. she informed and introduced me to illumina.com.. and landmarkworldwide.com

and this is all of great layperson-level interest to me.. DNA, gene sequencing..   the progress; the possibilities..

and I told Hannah, I don't think they can do it yet.. But I am certain, for example, that I was  -literally-  /smile.  -born a writer.   And even more certain that I was born, quite specifically a non-fiction writer

-not a novelist.  

And she just laughed in a kindhearted way..  like, medical/physical/biological,  -yes..   But..  Too many environmental factors for something like... Being a writer..

But I know I'm write.   I just don't know what/how ...what test would reveal this truth..  the way you can use blood or urine or spit to determine other factors..

and I enjoyed learning about landmarkworldwide.com

She mentioned it is said, -common knowledge, that tony Robbins was once involved with landmark and may have borrowed what he learned when launching his own career..

Dear Hannah.. Type tony Robbins in the search bar of this blog.

Anyway.. 

I'm so proud of you honey! So grateful for your visit.. To see you in person.. To know about your travels to other parts of the world.. The teaching, coaching, inspiring and contributions you are making..

AWESOME!

and, I just feel compelled, based on our conversation, to summarize here on a topic I have already written about in great length

I just want to point out again some things about love and about God for you:   explain in more detail what that means exactly, when I say God is Love.  They are one in the same..

- point to love on a map. where is it?

it was here before you were born. it will remain long after your physical death.

it cannot be purchased.   if you love your family very much, every day, all the time..

this does not mean that another family, somewhere else, cannot love as much..    It is not a limited resource or commodity.  It is infinite.

it does mature and grow and deepen; it can spread...

it travels at its own speed.. In any and every direction; but It is also everywhere at once and answers only to its own laws, not physical laws

it is spiritual.

it is not outside of you.. Not something you visit, pick up, leave behind, divide in half..

the experience of loving and being loved takes place inside you; you recognize and interpret it..   You cannot pull it out and hand it over to another

But you can share it..   And watch it multiply.. And give others the opportunity to experience it inside themselves too..

Love is a knowing.  Love is a truth.  Love is limitless. Love is eternal. Love heals. Love Conquers.  And this applies to all of humanity for all of time..

Love is omnipresent..

Love is God. God is Love.

..and God so loved this world...

***

but I fell asleep before I got a chance to explain...

**

look forward to crossing paths with you again at some unknown time..   I love you sweetie!   Carry on with your great work and contributions! Xoxo the world needs you!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION for people nearing RETIREMENT, from (me!) sandra, tvgp

What will you do once you retire?  I don't know..  but DO SOMETHING!

And this book, The Social Cause Diet, by Gail Perry Johnston, is a great place to start..

Write where i belong. (Me!) sandra, tvgp

I am at all times; write where I belong.

***

write where I belong:

in a two-story.  telling two stories.  from first the secular and then the spiritual perspective.

with a view unlike anyone has seen

before; and into the ever~after.

ABOVE:  open windows and walls of wonderful memories.
BELOW: arts and crafts and classes galore

UPSTAIRS: i live.
DOWNSTAIRS: i work.

SURROUNDED by the LANDSCAPES
ENGAGED with PEOPLE
CO~CREATING with THE CREATOR

NOTHING.

but.

LOVE.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Abundant Blessings, experienced by (me!)

  what person/parent does not appreciate that was then/this is now pictures..    this just melts me.  and "congratulations!" to sean.    my re-visit to Hayward/weeks park/neighborhoods where I grew up..    I have way more thoughts to share, than the time/energy required to share them.   i'll summarize the back to back blessings from the past week/weekend with a Bible passage:












   He who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise me up also with Jesus and bring me along into his presence.  For ALL these things are taking place for my sake, so that the more GRACE (divine FAVOR and spiritual BLESSING) EXTENDS TO
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
and
MULTIPLIES through the many,
the more THANKSGIVING MAY INCREASE
and REBOUND to
THE GLORY of GOD.

--2 Corinthians 4:14-15