SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

LOVE & SUFFERING ARE OUR INSTRUCTIONS -believes (me!) sandra, tvgp

i'm repeating my belief here,  -after watching joyce Meyers teaching today on suffering.

I believe

we come to earth with instructions.

what we LOVE TO DO, instructs us on what we are HERE TO DO.

what SUFFERING WE ENDURE instructs us on WHO WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

***

as ive already written in great length and detail on these subjects:  love & suffering.  I will stop there.


In Jesus Holy and Trustworthy name,    ~amen.

posted by SHE @ 8:18 AM 0 comments

Speaking of Jon Stewart and the Daily Show.. (me!) sandra, tvgp

the inspiration for this encore post, originally posted in 5/4/2011, is his recent interview with my Charlie rose..    

but the timing!   I literally just sent an email to Fran Reisner, of Pleasanton's Housing Department regarding affordable living spaces.

i'm not saying this is a sign..       

"that's TWO signs!"

anyway, I do love re-living/remembering....
***

posted by SHE @ 9:58 PM 0 comments

did he just say... nomenclature?! asks (me!) sandra, tvgp

so, I was watchin' the Warriors claim victory in another very exciting game last night, and..

"did he just say..     nomenclature?"    -like; who uses this word on the streets...   no one.  so it stood out.   and I wondered..     he must have invested in those increase your vocabulary tape cassetts like I did a hundred years ago..    

constant quest for personal growth.  and, so, during my life threatening commutes to and from college, I would pop one in

"accouterment."     oh, I loved that one.    still use it to this very day.   like, just yesterday I said to my mom,

"thank you for the use of your kitchen, and all your baking accouterments."

I didn't say I use it correctly; but I do use it.   and I prefer my own pronunciation to the one on the tape.   they say,  accou -ter-  ments.    I prefer,  accou -tre-   ments.   

-tomato; to~motto.     anyway..   I did just spend 5 plus hours in my mom's kitchen.  yes, (me!).  

prelude to her  32nd (?) annual cookie exchange party.    and "thank you!" here to anne, I got myself some two-handed, five shapes at a time, lean n' roll, cookie cutters

and, I cant say anymore than that.   recipes; packaging; details;

everything is top secret until the day of the cookie exchange party.   only my mom knows the secrets, because you have to call in your recipe to her, and this way she avoids any duplicates

I guess technically, if you call in a recipe, and she says, no..  you have to pick something else;

technically, you then know someone's recipe..  cookie type.   but..

anyway, i'm very excited.   proud of my cookies..  in the freezer write now, waiting for final creative touches the night before

and, more details later, but there will be drinking, games & prizes! ..    this is no ordinary cookie exchange party I promise you.      -pictures from 2014:








***

look how far off track I got.   -back to the warrior game

lots of the time, I'm so involved in watching the actual players and plays, I don't really consciously hear the sportscasters commentary

but, exactly because he used the word,  nomenclature

it jumped up and out at me

so,   hey keeshie..

here's another fun fact about   TRIPLE DOUBLES

apparently the phrase "entered the  nomenclature   during Magic Johnson's legendary career"


/but if we didn't at first even understand what a triple double was..

how?!  would we understand nomenclature


which I believe, should be pronounced,

I mean, if you are going to use it all, it should be pronounced, nomen~culture.     that makes more since don't you agree?

why doesn't anyone ask (me!) first...

***

In,  Jesus...  vocabulary ..     I sure love words like, hallelujah!   name.  amen!   

posted by SHE @ 6:54 AM 2 comments

All i want for Christmas... (Me!) sandra, tvgp

Yes. So I went to the north pole located at the museum on main street in downtown pleasanton.  And was invited in to sit on Santa's lap and "tell me what you want for Christmas"

so, I said with a smile,

I said.. "Santa I've been asking for the same thing for YEARS now!
All I want for Christmas /again;   -is

One handsome, single, literary agent with chocolate and flowers in one hand and a lucrative contract for me to sign in the other."

and Santa and Mrs Claus both laughed.  

Then Santa said,

"Well, sandra...    Have you been good this year?"

and I said with a smile, I said

"Oh.  I keep forgetting about that prerequisite."

***

posted by SHE @ 7:11 PM 0 comments

Analogy to neuroscience and memory. to (me!) sandra, tvgp

Ive written this in parts before.. The entire earth as a mind..  Write now I'm just hunting for analogies to memory...

To see boxes of memories in now outdated video forms.   All those memories..  -there

but without any ability to access them, unless they are

Converted.

how from one generation to the next, there seems to be this...

perpetual ...    chase?   hide and seek...?   cat/mouse situation with peoples memories.

"Here!  We've made it easier, faster, better than ever for you to capture your memories."

and then just about the time you've accumulated a library of memories in one Format

"Switch!".    and now you have them...  But can't get to them...

industries and businesses are born from it..   

and I'm just curious..   How many memories get trapped in the ongoing format shuffle.   Lost.   Thrown away.  

How many converted?    What memory..

What memory was captured at what time, in what format, which has been through the most conversions and is preserved even today..

and can be further converted, so that my great grandchildren can view it?    I'm just wanting/needing to convert handheld video recorder tapes to DVD's...   But my understanding is DVD format and is already on its way out...

but all of this...   Is there analogy to human memory storage?   I still enjoy thinking about all my memories..  And marvel at what it takes to Access them..     A picture/direct route..

first letter of a persons name..

revisiting a geographic location...

random mention in a conversation...

still marvel at how..

Just recently  -clear as I can see my own face in the mirror,

I saw, in the movie screen in my mind,   the face, of the district attorney in San Francisco, who helped me put a rapist behind bars for 20 years.   I remember his face so well.

-not his name.   But his kindness.  His support.  His follow through.  
His face.

I can pull up a picture of his face, at will.  I challenge myself for curiosities sake alone..

Stamina?   -when I pull up a face..  How long can I hold it there before it subsides/fades..

Of course.. I need to save these exercises for when I retire..   

I have to get ready for more work.. And I cannot simultaneously pull up faces/memories while I get ready and work..

it is a dedicated and focused-oriented exercise..

In Jesus remembers and   -does not forget/but. -erases- 
Name.    Amen!

posted by SHE @ 12:20 PM 0 comments

NAME THAT STAR for (me!) sandra, tvgp

posted by SHE @ 10:45 AM 0 comments

chain breaker song on (klove!) radio

"i can testify!"

he's a pain-taker
way maker
chain breaker

"thank you Jesus!"  amen

posted by SHE @ 8:50 AM 1 comments

The Heart Seen... by (carla graci!)

posted by SHE @ 12:56 PM 0 comments

master merchandiser by day.. rock star by night (john dell!)

posted by SHE @ 9:19 AM 0 comments

WHAT A FIRST KISS! learns (me!) sandra, tvgp

there have been a number of times ive heard my Charlie rose speak of his regret.   And that regret, is that..   here he has interviewed and filmed how many people over the years?   thousands!  he is a master level interviewer/conversationalist, and yet




"i never interviewed my own parents."   and he wishes he would have recorded their stories; and if he had to do it over again...   he would.

***

in this same way.  I didn't write thousands of How They Met stories, but I did write dozens.  And yet..  when it comes to my mom and her husband now of 30 years.

well, I never really asked how they met.    And of the long list of things I'm grateful for, and treasured about this recent Thanksgiving

(save room for pictures here)


I'm super grateful they shared their How They Met Story.   /and without asking permission first..
I'm going to share it with you:

Go back 30+ years of course, and my mom is 43/44 years old, and has been divorced for some healthy amount of time, and is dating someone new

Rick is, 35/36 years old, he's divorced, and is also dating someone new..

but on the dance floor of the Peppertree in Hayward, even though they were dancing with different people; they would occasionally lock eyes with each other.    that's the prelude.

Rick knew he would not marry the person he was dating.  And ditto for my mom; she knew it wouldn't last with person she was dating.   

Fast forward a little here, and    -and!

my mom and her sister are at the Peppertree, sitting next to each other at the bar, and apparently my mom was wearing a scarf that had kiss marks all over the design.   

Rick:   "I went up behind her and gave her a kiss on the back of the neck.   not a little peck either..   a slow kiss, and I told her I wished I could give her a kiss everywhere the kiss marks were on her scarf."

(me!):  "You did not.  Are you making this up?"

but, they each re-told the story, and convinced me it was true.  My mom said, she was especially happy because it was one of the first times a man paid attention to her first when she was with her sister.   She was used to men being attracted immediately to her sister.

We have this very much in common.  My sister is the beautiful blond blue-eyed...    but you know what else we have in common:   My mom and her sister are best friends; through thick and thin, through good times and bad; through sickness and health..  til death do them part

and my sister is my best friend for life too.  

anyway..    I understood.

and, then ive never heard of such a precious lie in all my how they met interviews.   my mom, it turns out, was self-conscious and concerned about their age difference.   And Rick was concerned that her concern might terminate a romance that had true potential

so..   well, they were both divorced with children.  My mom, with three young adult children at the time, and Rick with two younger...

so what he did, was..

he kind of made up a story about having a third child, an oldest sibling, a few years older than his younger two.  

his intention was to close the age-gap between them in my mom's mind and eyes.

and I cant remember write here.. how long until the truth was revealed.  but..

apparently his strategy worked and she forgave the untruth he told

and,

this past October they celebrated their 30 year anniversary.

***

and you know who else is celebrating 30 years very soon

My dad and his wife, Chris.      It fascinates me how their lives paralleled 30 years ago; my parents.

Both my mom and my dad, re-married 30 years ago.  They both married spouses younger than they are.  (is it by 9 years for both of them?)   They both married spouses that had two young children; a boy and a girl.

but, I'm quite interested in learning my dad and Chris' How They Met story also..


its just fun.


the part I do know, is that my dad,   -he told me one hundred times he would never re-marry anyone who had children

then he married a woman with a 3 and 6 year old.

-because that's what love does, doesn't it.   it overrides your every personal vow, your pros/cons lists,
your i'll nevers, and I wonts

and turns them into I will and I do's.


***

In Jesus' love conquers all name.     Hallelujah and amen!


***

there you have it; bloggers blessing.  -just had breakfast with my dad, son and daughter at jim's in the raleys shopping center.   turns out, my dad and chris met on a blind date!   -I believe ive been told, but did not retain..

chris had a co-worker friend, that was a friend of my dads friend.. something like that.  and they had been sending chris on a date here and there with no real luck

the way my dad tells it, she went on the blind date with a high level of reluctance.

my dad was in a relationship that was nearing an inevitable end, and with his temporary girlfriend out of town at the time, he agreed to the blind date

and it was Chris's birthday, and they met at a restaurant in san Francisco, near pier 39.   My dad said there was no immediate chemistry kind of thing, he thought she was nice

but she had two young children, and he had personally vowed not to date someone with young children.   his youngest was a senior in high school at the time, so he had already raised his family

but several months, and a trip to Tahoe later, over the 4th of july

/which, my dad winks here to mention.. was their 3rd date


and they started to bond.   by may of the following year, they were married, and now are celebrating their 30th anniversary in a matter of months.

chris is 13 years my dad's junior, and he says, its like two generations apart the way their birthdays fall.  so, the music, movies, culture from my dad's youth..     hold no sentimental value for Chris   -and Chris's no special value to my dad.  "We are opposites in every way!"  he says..   and I know that's true politically to be sure

and sport~ically.   and musically.    and with movies..     and books...    and tv shows...

they really are opposites.     but you know the one thing they do have in common:

Jesus.   -both Christian.

and I'm just gonna go ahead and Thank You God for that write here.

amen.

posted by SHE @ 8:27 AM 0 comments

The Heart Seen.. by (me!) sandra, tvgp

... unpacking/pricing live plants at Alden lane in Ruthie's room...  

posted by SHE @ 8:45 AM 1 comments

i've got an inkling... (me!) sandra, tvgp

I had a dream.   "i had a dream!"    -for the roundtable pizza parlor on main street in downtown Pleasanton, when the pizza parlor closed.

but, as with almost all of my dreams, it was minus the capital.

still, I am thrilled with what is there now.  THRILLED!    -and, very grateful.   I did find it upsetting that we were telling our tweens, our teens, our young adults, to get off the video games, and out of the house

and then when they came downtown, they were sometimes shewed away..

here at inklings..   you are very welcome to come in and hang out.   as a matter of fact, I was just there recently for a BSF fellowship

and as we sat getting to know each other better..     /fun stories here I must save to write later..

but just across from us, was a whole big table full of young people, playing cards, or something.. hanging out, laughin', talkin'   -having a wonderful time.

"Thank You!"   Inklings owner/staff.. etc.    Love what you've done with the place!  the books! the collages!  the literary stimulation!   the coffee.. tea...    divine desserts!

and I already went back, and found the best seat in the house    -write next to the window, of course!  and I found your almond croissant pairs quite well with the view, and the book i'm very slowly reading






In Jesus is the reason for the seasons' name.     amen!

posted by SHE @ 8:22 AM 0 comments

The Valley Gardener ( jacquie williams courtright!)

very fun to observe the owner of alden lane nursery, and the valley gardener herself, being filmed for her program on our local tv 30

and she did graciously allow me to snap a picture before filming began.   I let her know, that only moments before that,

I had asked one of our younger customers,  after taking a picture of her with her mom, in front of the bear, I asked,  "can you please give this bear a name.  I think it needs a name, and whatever you say it is..   write now...   that's what it will be."

and, catlyn is her name, and she said, "Ralph."

so, there you have it.   "Introducing Ralph!  The Christmas Bear of Alden Lane"   -seen here with Jacquie Williams Courtright

"Merry Christmas!"

 

posted by SHE @ 8:03 AM 0 comments

i am grateful for everyone with the Christmas Spirit! (me!) sandra, tvgp

I love Christmas.   it always goes by too fast..   and so, I think..  well, I love when it starts early, and stays late and lingers..

and when it comes to Christ~mas Spirit   -of course!  Nothing says it better than Nativity Scenes, but.. 

for sharing your Christmas Spirit, and providing an instant sign of a warm welcome to friends and family, nothing does that quite as quickly and beautifully as a wreath on your door

just look at these!   -hand~designed by Shirley at Alden Lane:

posted by SHE @ 7:51 AM 0 comments

repeat like a commercial! wishes (me!) sandra, tvgp

so, this advertisement interrupted an article I was reading online.   and on my radio, commercials between almost every song.    -even the songs themselves...  

I was like,   -I wonder how many times ive seen that advertisement?    I wonder how many times ive heard that commercial?    I wonder how many times ive heard that song?

***

and then I considered, one of what I think is the most important messages ive heard in the past decade during an interview with my Charlie rose,

I thought about johanna ray vollhardt

and her explanations of inclusive victim consciousness.   -and how I know its true.    and


...   and how, if we could just somehow invest and turn this message into an advertisement; give it the repeated exposure of a fast food commercial..    put it in a song  (of every genre) that repeats on the radio..


-because as it stands

the message itself, with the potential positive impact on our entire society it holds

well, ive never heard it spoken of by any other interview-ee; by any other person..

ive never read more about it, heard more about it..

but I'm certainly going to make it available again write here.

and here


"Thank You!"  Johanna       Keep up the great research!    People will be very grateful one day

when the lesson learned gets APPLIED!


/what will it take to APPLY this knowledge...?


In Jesus is no stranger to aggression/violence or segregation or racisms name..    amen!  


      

posted by SHE @ 7:08 AM 0 comments

clearing a path for gratitude (me!), sandra, tvgp

actually, I have a phd in gratitude.  I no longer have to work at it; I don't have to sit and force myself to make any list.  there is no struggle for me.   it has become literally effortless, and a very natural part of my every waking moment to live in gratitude.  "thank you"  is the first thing I think when I am consciously awake in the morning..  then longer prayers..  but

in order to write about my gratitude on Thanksgiving morning; I have to clear a path.  its a little traffic~y in my mind write now.   and what ive learned about

oh, what is the new term I just read/learned yesterday?  the newest euphemism/fresh vocabulary to hit the headlines..

traffic calming.    /yes...  featured in pleasantonweekly.com

[resist here a long tirade about..  things like, "starving" being now called, "food insecure"    -and skipping the time it would take to link George carlins skit on euphemisms in general..]

but I do think this:  I think humor is so vital and important a life skill, and comedians are so vital to our overall quality of life, and so crucial for exposing/explaining/revealing the truth about any variety of cultural issues

humor should be a mandatory part of all school curriculums.    see it. study it. learn it. practice it.

...  watch it, now...

and I know we like to regard our journalists, and promote our journalists as the people who investigate and reveal truths,

but boy do they ever have their hands tied with invisible cords which prevent them from telling us
the whole truth; and nothing but the truth..

I could go on.. but there is a cornucopia

/whoops..   I think I was supposed to remain consistent with my analogies, and

let me continue traffic calming..  clearing the path

TO the A.I. Team at MIT:    -have you created the calculator that provides the wrong answer  -only sometimes?  the calculator that makes mistakes.     -your next project is to create a computer which thinks one thing, but reports another.  after that..  two computers side by side; one with old worn out parts, the other shiny new.  then program the old worn out one to be self-conscious about not being shiny new; and program the shiny new one to feel superior to the old worn out one.  after that; program a computer that starts out selfish/self-centered and evolves into an altruistic humanitarian.

TO the brain initiative sub (conscious) committee:   -have you identified the caring neuron?  I'm not talking about the parent/child love..   I'm talking about social issues:

poverty.     -do you care?
human trafficking      -do you care?
elderly abuse    -do you care?
incarceration rates     -do you care?
drugs/addictions/      -do you care?
bullying on school campuses     -do you care?
mental illness     -do you care?
orphans            -do you care?
corporate greed    -do you care?

nuclear, bio, cyber, spiritual warfare     -do you care?
welfare of veterans           -do you care?


I can tell you people sure do care about what they look like!

but the social issues list is so long..       where is the care neuron?   and the care-to-taking-action toggle switch?

***

and i'm just sayin'  that's all..   i'm just sayin'...   just pointing out:  we receive messages via media, culture, movies, stories, grapevine..

the whole snowden narrative, the 1984 big brother stuff..  everything in that/related to

and the message we all receive is:   YOU ARE BEING WATCHED AT ALL TIMES.   everything you do!   every message you send!   thing you say!   etc, etc,

and..  they like to play up/hype how   -especially if/when anyone is taking off their clothes

   -write.    -your private moments are being watched...  by someone(s)/somewhere(s)....

but,

all i'm saying..   what I want to point out is:

the last two times, over the past 5 years that I HAVE NEEDED VIDEO/SURVELLIANCE of some sort or another to HELP CATCH/REVEAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

   -it didn't exist..        ...we don't have that......

sorry.   didn't get it.

***

and speaking of criminals..    can you even calculate how many people?   I mean, just think with me for a moment

what is the ratio of crime to employment?   in my imagination it must be like:

for every one crime, 10,000 new jobs are created.     !!

I think in fact, we can thank criminals for employing more people than any other industry out there!

the eco-system when you take it all in:   every police officer, jail, alarm company, security guard, counterfeit machines, airport security, keys/locks, surveillance equipment, our entire military..

and for each... you have the buildings that need to be built, the tools which need to be thought/prototyped/created/stored/distributed/maintained...

anyway..   I am very impressed with how many jobs criminals help create.  ive only scratched the very surface here!   and it reminds me of the Bible passage..

no weapon formed against us, will prevail..   any weapon will be used to promote...

/not verbatim, but

when the weapon is crime...      there is quite a bright side for helping families make a living, put food on the table, educate their children...

***

so, I thank you both.  I thank you all!   if you are a criminal who helped create lots of jobs

"thank you!"

and if you are employed in any way, with a job/position that helps fight crime


"thank you!"

   -same with sick people.

but speaking of employment:

 I have to get to work..   so,


In Jesus Fascinating name,   ~amen.

posted by SHE @ 9:00 AM 0 comments

The Heart Seen.. ! At historic Pleasanton gas station..by (me!) sandra, tvgp

just now! and what a perfect darling little heart..  what a blessing! so sweet...  

posted by SHE @ 12:07 PM 0 comments

"..and what did you get when you opened your laptop?". /she says with a smile.

posted by SHE @ 9:23 AM 0 comments

Runna Jumpa Sauras Rex! by (ken farkash!)

I think, when I was telling my son, Jack, about the giant bear at alden lane.. that trigged him to remember Runna Jumpa Sauras Rex..   and then, because he can

he searched ken farkash from the palm of his hand held cell phone..  and we watched some of this together:

kenfarkash

posted by SHE @ 7:01 AM 0 comments

Quality Assurance Coordinator at Alden Lane! (me!) sandra, tvgp

"Thank You! Jesus.."    -it flashed in my mind..  when I was a Quality Assurance Coordinator for San Leandro Hospital..   and what a huge, life-long blessing to meet Kathy Biondi..  among others who are/remain life-long friends..

but the job itself...   the very small indoor office, tucked just behind the pbx operator,  with one window, which allowed us to view a hallway; not the outdoors.   and there were 3 of us in there...   Kathy, mark & I...

and we had many good times..   but, I only wish to compare/contrast the quality assurance responsibility and environments; then and now:

   -silently/internally I said to Jesus..   they want (me?!) to quality assurance check..   the solar butterflies and hummingbirds

   -outside!  on a beautiful day!  at...  Alden Lane!!!   well,   okay....





 

it is literally the first thing to see when you walk up to the nursery.  like, BOOM! there it is..  to greet you.  and it is beautiful, isn't it..

the funny thing is, about 1 minute after it was finally all put up..   a customer walking up, standing write in front of it, goes,

" is the Christmas store open?"

the question landed to Alex..     who had just helped secure the sign in position.   and, I have a heightened sensitivity for hearing not just words, but tone; not just words and tone, but underlying feelings/thoughts..  subtext..   and micro-expressions/micro-tones..

and, I don't think ive ever heard so many shifts in so few words   -

my interpretation is that he was battling what he really wanted to say; with what he knew he should say..  and he won

but, it was a battle between:    do you not see the sign I JUST PUT UP WRITE IN FRONT OF YOU




/the impulsive reaction, but which did surrender to, what he should and did say, which was..

with a smile, and gracious soft laugh:    "yes...  as a matter of fact, we just put up that sign... "



***

gave me the silent giggles for several hours afterward..   and it is the way of humans everywhere..   self very much included..   but at ricks picks too..  everyone who works there can tell you..   we put up multiple signs all the time...    50% off... or some kind of sale sign..  or a 2 for 1 deal..   long list..

but no one EVER... reads them.   or the ratio of people who read them, to those who don't is like,

19 to 1.

and I can no longer count how many times ive had to say, verbally, the words on a sign, directly in front of a customer.  very common.   and, I am guilty of the same..   I also cant count how many times ive stood write in front of a sign, with the hours of operation, or directions to the bathroom..

its write there..  but I ask the nearest person.

I know a trick though!    if you intentionally spell something wrong on the sign... or do some kind of gross injustice to grammar rules

... suddenly everyone notices.   ;true story.   try it.

***

anyway..   I started at Alden Lane in June, and have already been privileged to experience Art Under The Oaks, The Quilt Show, The School Tours, The Fall Festival/Scarecrow Contests..   and now, I'm here for Christmas Season..

and this includes...    picture-taking opportunities with a giant 8' bear wearing a Santa Hat, and winter scarf

and to add on to the HOW CAN ANYONE MISS THAT SIGN stories..   I asked the customers you see in the picture above.. the ones with the cutest/sweetest dog ever in the customized back-pack  -a 14 year poodle named lilly..

I asked them, from inside Ruthie's Christmas Shoppe,

".. Would you like me to take your picture with the big bear?"

and they both said, "What Big Bear?"

     -and when I showed them the giant bear they just passed on their way inside the shoppe, they just cracked up

how did we ever miss this?

and I took their picture with their camera phone...      and offer to do that for anyone who will let me.

I love taking people's pictures..   especially at Alden Lane.

and look who stopped by yesterday:    "Motown!"







always a pleasure.   and he says "hi!"  Keeshie..   and we talked again about face-timing you into the dance floor some time in the very near future..




In Happy Birthday Jesus is the ultimate gift giver's Name...   amen

posted by SHE @ 11:09 AM 1 comments

Famous Quote by (rita harrison!)

on my last phone visit with my sister..    /good morning! I love you!

I had the opportunity to share this treasure from my operation radical declutter phase IV:    I am so grateful to you Isabel..   "Thank You!"

and my sister and I both smiled, laughed and agreed at what was the most famous quote from our grandma Harrison

"i love   ~love."     -and what is locked in the permanent memory/cerebral hyperlink files for us, is that any and every time we see a good love story on tv, or at the movies,  "grandma Harrison would have loved this!"    -and she lived her own real life love story with our grandpa

"and ive got the love letters and poetry to prove it!"      /she says with a smile.

***

heaven hosts eternal love... 

posted by SHE @ 7:35 AM 2 comments

Weather or Not.. Here She Comes.. poem in progress by (me!) sandra, tvgp

the clouds

they are in such a hurry today.   impatiently they wait.
traffic jam on skyway ten;  -guess they'll all be late.

i wonder where they're headin' to
  

                or no, no..

the clouds

they're in such a hurry today.  impatiently; they're stuck
traffic jam on skyway one     -ain't it just their luck

                     /pause to consider here, when you are the dark cloud; it is not over you.
                      when you, yourself, are the dark cloud   -you are over who?

i digress

i wonder where they're headin' to
i wonder where they've been
i wonder who their lovers are; and which ones next of kin

i wonder when they travel fast   -if they treat it like a game
i wonder that ones place of birth    -i wonder that ones name

i wonder which ones never made it to the top, and shined by making rain

oh the  you  artists of the sky,  -some relaxed,     -oh me, oh my...

i need something here to rhyme with sky...        and you know why...

sometimes i just to have to skip and later try

anyway...    where was "I!"       /hey, that rhymes with sky!   maybe ill go back and give that a try!


with brushless strokes you paint green the earth

                                          /and now i have to spell check  -mearth

with brushless strokes you paint the earth
your water breaks, and color births

i cannot contain my mirth...       -the power of your collective nature


                  /pause to consider here, when you are the shower, and you don't take one..
                        when you yourself are the shower..  you own all the cleaning power!
                                     plus you grow the seed to flower..

something about that smells very good.     -and don't you think we all should

that everyone should smell very good...

you quench my appetite for color

this color thirst,  -you exist to quench
the seeds you exist to grow

this life you hold,  we measure by the inch
because an inch is all we know

       -and when our sky is vibrant blue; out of sight is out of mind

unless of course there is a drought.  "rainmaker, rainmaker, send us a sign!"


then the slightest white puff makes all us dance

please! weatherman..     woman;  say there's a chance

                             "a chance

and we don't want you just passing through
not just dropping by
we want you to do what you were born to do!

without you we all die

and isn't that ironic that tears drop from our eyes.

oh, the sun shines in my heart, when any dark cloud covers
and isn't it romantic, how the sky and clouds are lovers

and how the sun and moon conspire
to bring us night and day

and how the earth...  and the solar system...  and the universe...   and life itself....
     -i write this in his name

hallelujah! amen, amen
looks like it will rain again!

see those clouds that just bumped heads..

see the traffic in the sky

the fender-bender, bottlenecks

the ones that cant get squeeze by..

look up!   -when dark clouds form above

it manna~fests!

/and rhymes with love.



***

I never met Ogden Nash..  but I did meet Billy Collins..     and, if I had his address, I would mail him a copy of this poem; as is

posted by SHE @ 8:43 AM 0 comments

Public "Thank You!" to Joyce Meyer & USA Veterans.. from (me!) sandra, tvgp

posted by SHE @ 7:34 AM 0 comments

Public "Thank You!" to (dana gioia!) from (me!) sandra, tvgp

-honestly..    I returned to pleasanton to find two envelopes on my cabinet.   one from the IRS..  and..

how many times have I jokingly said..     "are there any love letters or poetry for me?".   -to the family, and friends I live with... To the post delivery person..

'Not today.'

***

so I kind of want to dance around a little and make sure everyone within eye and earshot knows

I've been lightheartedly referring to the monthly IRS bills as love letters..   But they only love me for my money.

... but look write here please:

"poetry!".       -and the newest addition to my growing collection of personally inscribed books..        -very grateful!!

I've already read it cover to cover.  a magnificent collection!  

and the forward by you, Dana, in God's Grandeur; -exquisite.

" Thank You!" also for introducing me to Gerard Manley Hopkins!

***

once I have completed my current operation radical declutter phase IV

I will have my library weeded to only personally inscribed books by authors I admire/respect...    and books I just love

-your art of the short story is already in my permanent collection and I am delighted to add pity the beautiful.

"Congratulations!" on this accomplishment.   And! On earning the position of California's Poet Laureate!

The inspired, ~inspiring.    Way to go!    

gratitude & blessings for continued success,     -sandra

posted by SHE @ 7:20 AM 1 comments

God Rewards those who... like (me!) sandra, tvgp

God rewards those who, like (me!)..

no. But fun to the think.. "God will reward those people who like (me!)".   

but what I mean to say is.. Who, like me,  -rise, however slowly, toward the responsibility of decluttering.

Each time I avoid procrastination and dig in

"Thank you! Jesus!".     How joyfully I throw away junk.. And

Keep the true treasures like these...

in much love and happiness.   Xoxo

posted by SHE @ 8:20 AM 0 comments

marinating in memories awesome (me!) and (my mom!)

coming soon       eventually:   slide~show with cool music in the background. poem/story filled with more gratitude than words.    love you! thank you! love you! thank you!    xoxox

posted by SHE @ 7:47 AM 0 comments

"Congratulations!" to... (my dad!) and the republican party

I would have lost all my money     /if I had any,     -on this bet.

   -the only silver lining is..    now, the door is still open for my daughter to be the first woman president of the united states..

but I still marvel anyone wants this job...

God is on the throne.  All is well with my soul.

                         God is on the throne.  All is well with my soul.

                                                               who won?!?  I cant look..     I cant look..
                                                            
                                                                                        God is on the throne.  All is well with my soul.

posted by SHE @ 7:04 AM 0 comments

...i voted... (Me!) sandra, tvgp

and it was not for trump.   

posted by SHE @ 9:28 AM 0 comments

a fully converted; -non~converter (me!) sandra, tvgp

just notes:   gary a winter turned me on to -Gregg branden, heart intelligence seeker/teacher, and I'm fresh off one of his videos..

and, -yes! he points out that when a human is forming in the womb..  the evolution is from heart, and FIRST heart beat to brain..  not the other way around..    and the best science today cannot explain how that first heart beat..  -beats.     Cerebral Hyperlink

and I agree we give   -the lions share of credit/study to the human brain as the main/primary/chief communication system,   it telling everything else what to do..   while.. from the get go, it is the other way around,  heart to brain..

now..   I am a fully converted Christian.. and by that, I mean,   -there is no turning back for (me!), all my personal experiences & prayer leads to Jesus, and God, and the Bible, and I will gladly spend the balance of my life growing this relationship.   and you can see,   -there is evidence here on my blog, of how I graduated from   -praying for life or death related manners only..    to, Jesus as my invisible BFF..

but, to this very day..    I STILL, despite many sermons encouraging me to do so..

I still do not feel in any way compelled to convert others.   and I think two things

1:  I'm glad.  I'm glad because there are so many low key hostile relationships between families and friends, where the hostility exists exactly because person A feels very compelled to convert person B, and person B, wants nothing of it..

and resentment grows on the part of person B,  oh no, so n' so is coming over.. here we go again...   while life or death concern is growing on the part of person A..  accept Jesus or be doomed to hell! I'm trying to save your eternal life, don't you understand?!   and,    -there is no good genuine visit to be experienced in this scenario because person A arrives with an agenda, and person B strengthens their defense walls in anticipation of...

it ends up separating people; families and friends, which is the exact opposite of Jesus' goals, as I personally understand them.     -now, has the non-stop conversion pressure succeeded in some instances,   -of course..  but, i'm making a larger  -personal-    /not across all people and all of time; point.

2.   -one of the things I have really come to  -personally-   appreciate, understand, experience and value about my relationship with Jesus is this:

FREE WILL.    -not by force; by invitation..   NEVER by force..  NEVER by over-riding someone's own will, NEVER by manipulating/exploiting/tricking/PRESSURING...  will Jesus enter a human heart.  -period.   he will politely knock, and see if you answer; and he will return at different intervals..   and certainly if you initiate a knock..   he will answer

and I'm tempted here to say, he will answer immediately..   but I sometimes have come to appreciate/experience Jesus as.. 


God knows, if you genuinely want to connect vs. just alleviate your own pain in the moment..

anyway,

do you know what you end up with... if you have/serve a God, who over-rides your personal free will to enter your heart,   -whether you want him there or not; whether you invite him or not...

       spiritual rape.

and, you really don't even have free will, if the choices are eternal life or hell.

here is the scenario in my imagination: 

a beautiful, perfect temperature lake for swimming in...   on one side.
a huge fire on the other, that if you are thrown in,  will scorch and suffocate you to a painful physical
death.   on which side would you like to spend the day?    -that is not a choice.  come on..

but my actual life experience, speaks very clearly to spiritual warfare here on earth.  

strongholds..   like, addictions, mental/emotional pre-occupations, neuroses,   -being a human slave to any number of chemical or mental/emotional things:  ego, flesh..    -the presence of evil, violence, hate, belittling of others..   harming others..   superiority/usurping the will of others..

and the deliverance from strongholds toward freedom, mental/emotional peace, love..  valuing all life; respecting the will of others..

and one of things I have enormous love and respect for is:

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

and I repeat here, the way I have  -personally-  reconciled the vast number of different Christian denominations is via the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, as my NARROW PATH

manifesting the fruits of the spirit in my own life,   and,

observing them as SPIRITUAL LAWS, applicable to ALL OF HUMANITY, despite faith/religious beliefs

they UNITE US ALL:  love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.

and, I do believe we are supposed to EVOLVE..   and I personally consider the human beings who manifest these fruits of the spirit in their lives,

as more evolved than those who do not.     -and I pray, and wish, and hope that we can help more people EVOLVE

from ego/flesh/   -mastered by,  - a slave to strongholds

to:  spiritually enlightened, caring, loving, patient, kind, selfless, respecting of others, joyful, grateful, creative and productive human beings.

Jesus,  -prayer   -people who teach about Christianity have helped me EVOLVE   -that's my path.  if you are inspired to learn more

Hallelujah! and Amen..      but if you EVOLVE, and manifest the fruits of the spirit by some other means/path..

Hallelujah and Amen!

lastly..    God provided me a beautiful vision in my imagination not too long ago

it had to do with,

life line vs. tug-of-war rope..

and, what I saw, is that..

  -a person asking for... reaching out, for a life line, from a position of drowning in an ocean..   and a life-line was thrown out, and caught...  and the person was pulled, safely to shore.

vs.

- two people in a tug of war, with a big rope.   each pulling with all their might, trying to get the other person on their side

and Jesus said to me; communicated to me, in this vision..

when it is a life-line..   throw the rope to the person and pull them safely to shore.

when you are in a tug of war.   just set down the rope.   let them go their way; and you go yours..


In Jesus makes the very best,   best-friend, name..    amen!

***

Cerebral Hyperlink

posted by SHE @ 8:41 AM 0 comments

Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Pleasanton (today!)

-you are all heroes to (me!)

posted by SHE @ 10:26 AM 0 comments

for the love of live music & main street brewery from (me!).. and (my sister!) & (dancin' friends!)

now, there is an important prelude to appreciating this conversation I had with the owner of main street brewery last night

and that prelude is THIS STORY

***

our dialogue actually began here last night:

(me!):  "i have a dilemma."

matt:  "you have a dilemma?"

(me!):  "yes.  -because I really want a beer, but I don't want to lose my leaning against the wall space ive got here."

matt:  "you do have a good spot. what beer do you want?"

(me!):  "train wreck ipa"

and, then he was kind enough to be my bar tender, and next thing you know, ive got a delicious train wreck in my hand, without losing my very sacred wall leaning space..

because, had I arrived as early as I did the night before for Playthings,  I would have been able to reserve a table for my awesome non-stop dancin' friends    -Sheila, steve, Shirley, the other steve.. and a circle which just keeps growing actually, but  -by face, not by name..

but I did not get there early enough, and the Houserockers were performing, so.. took me several minutes..  checking/scanning, realizing every seat was already taken.. and I'm not one for just standing there

so, was very happy to spot and land the one and only open wall space perfect for leaning, add on, it is near the backdoor, so...     fresh air

it is the main thing that separates the experience: because barones is live music under the stars; outdoors, and at main street it is under a ceiling..   but it is the go-to while we wait for barones 2017 season..

anyway,

Motown arrived write about the same time my fresh beer did..  and there is really very little leaning against a wall after he shows up; its all dancing   -and, turns out Sheila & friends did have a table after all, I just hadnt spotted them, but like the night before, we didn't do much sitting.

Houserockers are a magnificent band..  very large! lots of brass.. and the musicians not only fill the stage, but line down the wall, with trumpets, sax, trombone,   -horns.. write on the dance floor,  and as a result, its a very full sound..

and here's the whole point of my post today actually:

when they perform there is a $5 cover.

now, let me tell you..   after I wrote the story which serves as prelude to this post..  and came across the owner matt..  he was not as entertained as I intended.   he was more like..   a little agitated with the beat-the-clock patrons, because, as he explained to me

"the cover charge is how the band gets paid."

have you ever tasted a pure dose of immediate guilt?   well, I can tell you..   it has no salt, only a pokey texture that makes it hard to swallow, and it always leaves you a tad bit nauseous


and, so..  while the intent of my creative non-fiction short story was to be entertaining, and simultaneously capture special memories, and simultaneously share the financial dilemmas of,  and ways two divorced, single mom/sister/best friends prioritize their lives    /miss you so much, Keeshie.. xoxo

well,

when I did leave the dance floor to go outside for some fresh air last night, and was in proximity of matt, the owner, again..    I was sure to share with him..

".. you know, ever since you explained that to me..    well, I always pay the cover charge now..

I budget for it!  I mean,   honey..   they can turn off my electricity.. but, I will be paying for live music!"

and, he told me..  "next year   -Houserockers are upping their cover charge to $10"

so,

let there be no question what I want for Christmas...  some Alexander  Hamil~tens.

"Happy Birthday in Jesus' better to give to the bands you can name, name!"     amen!

posted by SHE @ 8:14 AM 3 comments