Sacred Life Sunday: Kikipotamus the Hobo's Visit Winds Up...And She Leaves the happyluau

Finally, just over a week since Kelly left, and I'm finally putting up the few photos I took. I also made a rather silly movie for OTV, but it was representative of the entire visit in that we were having fun doing ordinary things.

The pictures below are of the day Kelly made a special meal for me and LoveHubbie. There are many special memories of that day, including the love and concentration with which Kelly did all of the time-intensive preparations, the lessons I learned about keeping the energy good in my home, and the memories of a lovely meal and great conversation. LoveHubbie used his extensive barbecuing skills to grill our grass-fed steaks and added a special layer of happiness to the evening.

Here is the movie, which is 4:18 long:



This winds up my blogging about Kelly's visit. However, I want to blog a series next about lessons I learned while Kelly was here. Many of them are things we both learned about mindful eating and I'm excited to share them with you. I'm hoping that we can even practice some of them together--those of you who are interested--more about that soon.

Sacred Life Sunday: Kikipotamus the Hobo Comes to the happyluau

So it's true! Today Kikipotamus the Hobo (Kelly) is coming to visit me, all the way from Windsor, Ontario. I cannot wait. I have known Kelly since at least 2007 but just online, so it is the first time we'll meet. Fun will result!

It is not just fun, though; it means so much that Kelly would travel to spend time here in the woods with me. I treasure our friendship! It will make this Sunday sacred indeed. More to follow...

Just Needed a Laugh Today

After having gastroenteritis for a week, I now have that virus-thing that's going around with the dry cough, sore throat, moving to painful lungs and hacking, then continuing on to basic flu-like symptoms. I needed a laugh. Here is something from Ellen DeGeneres that is short but hopefully will make you smile too:

Yes

Special thank you to Bobbi Illing who found this at Quan Yin's Facebook Site with the caption: 

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."

~Buddha ~♥~

Sacred Life Sunday: Dreaming Big

kate had a provocative post on her blog, and it got me thinking. Her dream was my dream as well, but it was bigger than I'd ever thought or dreamed. For example, I might imagine a house in Hawaii (believe me, I have) but not a house in Hawaii AND France! I couldn't even imagine that! But why not? It's a dream, after all. I realized that my dreams are way, way too small.

So after reading her post and thinking about it, I decided to adopt her dream and then add some things in. Yes, make it even bigger! I did it in my journal for privacy, but I wanted to share a few things here with you.

So, first go and read about kate's dream--it's really cool. Then come back here :) Think about what you'd dream as you do this.

So, I'd take everything in kate's dream and then I'd add:

1) I'd also have a house right here in Olympia. I love it here. I would custom-build it to have a large living area and studio and a large kitchen area (all combined in one room with a very high ceiling--two stories), a very small bedroom, and a huge bath. So three rooms. Unconventional.

2) I'd have a full-time personal assistant to handle all the mundane tasks of my life. Actually, it would probably take two full-time personal assistants to do this.

3) I would work as a motivational speaker and travel all over the world. I'd use various healing modalities like fasterEFT and life coaching skills to help people in pain. 

Years ago I worked as a life coach; my blog then was called "Tapping Luau", because the main technique I used at the time was a form of energy work called EFT, also known as "tapping". It involves tapping on the body's energy meridians while affirming various things out loud.  I have been learning fasterEFT for about a year...it's a modified, shortened form of EFT, combined with NLP and hypnosis. But I've been doing this just for me and to use myself, not for others.

It surprised me that I'd actually WANT to WORK in my dream. And that I'd want to do something so visible and public. But it's a dream, right? It still was surprising. I am going to ponder the implications of this.

So how about you? What is your dream? If there is anything you'd like to share, do it here, on your blog, or in your journal. It is so fun and freeing...and you may surprise yourself!

~Photo by LoveHubbie Mark of our garden yesterday

Update: I also want to link to Kelly's Dream, for a beautiful perspective! 

Wellness Wednesday: Fun

I have been going through a bit of a tough time lately, which I will write about...just not today. Today is Wellness Wednesday, and so in honor of that, I want to write about something FUN! 

1. No matter what we are going through, we can always have a Grateful ♥ Heart.
Kelly has been writing about this topic, and about how when we are grateful, it can actually be creative and generative. So I have been experimenting with this idea. (I'll write more on this later.)

2. This is a fun picture (my new purple glasses--progressive bifocals--which I am not wearing them yet as I have to find a good time to break them in...yes, I am uber-procrastinating), and I'm sharing it to honor a promise I made to my friend EB (Angie). It is also to complement and honor the Queen of Arts (Kim Mailhot):

3. This is a list from a post by my friend Kate Robertson, who is teaching a class called Mixed Media 101. (I'll write more on this later, too...stay tuned!)

Check out this fun Life List found on Dawn DeVries Sokol's blog, D'Blogala... You bold the ones you've done:

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band 

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland 

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo 

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris 

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch Knitting, painting, drawing...

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables 

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 

20. Slept on an overnight train 

21. Had a pillow fight 

22. Hitch hiked (in 1976 with LoveHubbie)

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (not physically)

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping (too numerous to count)

27. Run a Marathon 

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (gorgeous!)

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community 

36. Taught yourself a new language 

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke  

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted 

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater 

55. Been in a movie 

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check 

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 

71. Eaten Caviar 

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job (too numerous to count)

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car 

83. Walked in Jerusalem  

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life 

90. Sat on a jury 

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one 

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake  

97. Been involved in a lawsuit 

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

When You're Down, Spend Three Minutes Watching This Video

It may seem silly, but oh my, this video cheers me up every time I watch it. It helps me to feel joy...so please enjoy and watch it as many times as you need to. It's hard to come away feeling down after viewing it, I promise!

I couldn't figure out how to embed it, so you'll have to click here. Peace, O

P.S. I am feeling a bit better, and continuing to let go!

Do It!

I saw this on my friend Patti's blog:

So now...Do It!

Monday, Monday: LoveHubbie at Play

For some reasons, I always feel wiped out on Mondays, and today is no exception. In case you feel the same way, here are two funny videos of LoveHubbie, taken and snipped from hours of videotapes of his visit with our son D last month. They're short; this first one is only 43 seconds, and the second just over a minute. I hope you enjoy them!

The audio in this first video is especially interesting as you can hear LoveHubbie desperately trying to hold on:




The audio in this second video should be turned down as it gets pretty loud towards the end.

A Cartoon

I found this cartoon languishing in my list of unpublished posts from several years ago. It's still good!




~From my friend Valerie Burke of Shelton, WA

Six Things That Make Me Happy Today

I was delighted to receive the One Lovely Blog Award from Lori-Lyn this morning! So six things that are making me happy right now are:

1. Having a really long Quiet Time today, reading, thinking, contemplating, all in my pj's well into the afternoon. This is real luxury.

2. The sun shining and no responsibilities today.

3. A spontaneous invitation from our neighbors to have dinner with them around their firepit. This will involve barbecuing and wild salmon and great conversation. We will bring fresh greens harvested from our garden on the way over.

4. Good rest and long sleep last night.

5. Anticipating another quiet day tomorrow.

6. Kelly Kikipotamus the Hobo's Grace in Small Things lists that help me to observe and see the impact of the smallest things, which somehow are the most important.

And to pay it forward, 6 blogs that I'm finding especially lovely right now are:

Kikipotomus the Hobo

Hamquin's Hide-Not

Fumbling for Words

The Painted House and rocks, paper, scissors

Welcome to My Universe

Queen of Arts

And a special category for my friend Chani's lovely blog: Finding My Way Home

I am bestowing the One Lovely Blog Award upon each of you! And thank you so much, Lori-Lyn!

Extreme Journaling

I recently discovered extreme journaling---which is a form of art, journaling, and extremely deep introspection---from Heather at A Creative Journal.

What is Extreme Journaling? Juliana Coles describes it here and lists supplies here.

Note that the supplies list, or the "destiny voyages packing" could be used for any type of artwork or journaling while traveling.

I am inspired by this form of art journaling, especially since I'm ready to begin Jamie Ridler's "Wreck this Journal" group on Friday. Any of you who'd want to join me would be most welcome.

Come, explore with me!

Mother Feeding Her Young

This is a picture from Ron Jenkins, an English high school teacher in Galena, Illinois via his Facebook page. He's a friend of mine from high school. Anyway, it was the view from his office window a few days ago. See what you think:




Isn't it amazing?

End of the Week Fun

Celebrating the end of the week with this upbeat performance from the PS22 Chorus of 2009 singing Coldplay's Grammy nominated song Viva La Vida:




I found this on the lovely Carmen's blog!

To Brighten Up Your Friday

Enjoy this video via Beverly Keaton Smith, guaranteed to spiff up your end of the week fatigue! It is of a "flashmob" in a train station in Antwerp.

"Flashmobs are used by forward thinking marketers to demonstrate a concept or launch a new brand. They have a guerilla / underground type of feel and if organised well and targeted properly they can really add power to an advertising strategy.

Flemish commercial television station VTM used a creative Flashmob approach to launch their newest reality television program “Op zoek naar Maria” which has been launched to find an actress to play the leading role of Maria in the musical version of The Sound of Music.

At the Central Station in Antwerp. A modern version of The Sound of Music hit “Do Re Mi” came through the speakers and a few started to dance to the music. Gradually, more and more dancers, disguised as commuters, joined them until the entire hall was packed with a dancing crowd."---from the blog Samro

Now, have a Fantastic Friday!

Happy Pi Day!

Did you know it is Pi Day? I found out on Facebook from family members but missed the official celebration time of 1:59 p.m. I hope you have a wonderful day :)

~Photo of Jacaranda tree by LoveHubbie Mark

Those Silly Little Hamsters

What's that on LoveHubbie's nightstand? Just for fun, watch this little video, less than a minute long :)

Sacred Life Sunday: Grateful for Tea

If you haven't yet entered the happyluau's Big Giveaway, do so here! Don't miss out...speaking of missing out, if you haven't had the time to read and listen to my post on Three Great Things, please do so asap. You won't regret it!



How grateful I am for my coffee mug, which I use daily for tea and is my constant companion. I love teas and review them prolifically on Amazon. The image on my cup is that of a taro plant, which is sacred to Hawaiians, and used to be a key staple of their diet.

Patti saw this idea and picked it up, and I am continuing it here. It's fascinating to me how people's coffee cups just go with their personalities. Care to post yours?

Happyluau's Big Giveaway: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Welcome to the happyluau's first giveaway ever! And I wanted to JUMP! in to the new year and make it big! The theme of this giveaway is "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much". I hope it will inspire you to read, create, and to live a fantastic 2009.

To win, all you have to do is comment on this post sometime during the next week. Then, next Saturday, the 18th of January, I will use a random number generator to pick the winner. I will post the winner on my blog, and when you read it and find out that you're the lucky winner, all you need to do is to send me your address and I will mail the whole package to you! I will also mail internationally, so no matter where you are, you can enter and win.

Here are the items in the package:

1. The first item is a lovely book of short stories about winter by excellent writers such as Annie Dillard and Kathleen Norris. These stories helped me to develop a better attitude towards winter. I enjoyed it so much I bought another copy---for you! Read more about it here.




2. The second item is a PageSage craft DVD from MaryJo McGraw called "Stamp Art Inspirations". It is filled with ideas for mixed media card-making and is almost two hours long. Read more about this DVD here.




3. The third item is a distresser that you can use on the edges of paper to give a an altered/aged look to paper. It's a handy little device from the Tim Holtz line and Ranger.




4. Next is a fun jelly bracelet with "Live Laugh Love" on it.




5. Last, but not least, is a beautiful sterling silver bracelet that says, "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much" on it.







So, leave a comment, anything you'd like and you'll be entered into the contest! Good luck! And remember: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!

PS. If you still haven't taken the time to read and listen to my post on Three Great Things, please do so asap. You won't regret it!

~Photos by LoveHubbie Mark

Christmas Cartoon

I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas have a wonderful day. And I wish the same for those of you who don't celebrate Christmas...love and peace and joy to each one of you.

I really love this Christmas Cartoon from my friend nakedpastor (David Hayward) from New Brunswick, Canada: