time

So like another year has come and gone. And in many ways this was a really good year for me. It started out with the cleaning out of Barb's hoarder cat lady house. Truly one of the worst places I've ever been in. Then I went to life coaching which turned out to be really worth the money. Then I got this Mac computer which has changed my life. It is so easy to use.

Then I went to see Paul Rodgers which was a life time dream. We went with Steven and Ash so it was really special and fun and memorable. Then I went to Seattle to visit Elyce. That was a wonderful trip. Then I applied for law school.

Finally I attended the Micro Play workshop in SF. That was really great and inspirational. Christmas has been lovely and tomorrow Steven and Ash come up for a visit to start the New Year on a high note. The only down side has been spending 1000 dollars on my dog and still not knowing what's wrong with  her!

My goals for next year are to complete a year of law school and to only buy four rings, one for Valentine's, one for my anniversary, one for my birthday, and the last for Christmas. This will prove to be a huge restraint over my usual 30+ rings per year! Yes it's true; I have a huge collection of rings! 

white Christmas

After several years of virtually no snow at all, we in the Sierra are overjoyed to have a white Christmas this year. Yet what is it about a white Christmas that makes it so desirable? Well I think because it is pretty and cozy.

And the snow has a way of covering up everything and silencing the world. And just one day a year it seems right that the world should be shut out and silenced. And we as Americans should concentrate on peace on earth, good will to men.

I really hope to have a holy day. I want to stay at home and appreciate my husband and my many blessings.

As for presents, I got a beautiful pink night gown from my friend Vicky. It's covered with flowers and is a little long. Richard told me I look like a Gustav Klimt painting so that was twice a gift. Richard already gave me the best present of going to the play writing seminar which was super fun.

Another great gift will be a visit from Ashley and Steven. They will come up after Christmas for New Years. I hope by then it will stop snowing so that they can make a safe drive. Amazing how demanding we creatures are of our universe!

internet

I had a frustrating day with my internet service provider down for hours. I ended up calling for technical help three separate times. Finally I just went into their system and put myself on a new channel which is working really well now.

I'm not a computer wiz by a long shot but if you walk me through something I'm pretty good at remembering passwords and sequences of steps. So I just helped myself so to speak.

The question is is this ethical? I'm not sure I'm supposed to be on this channel. I mean maybe it's fine or maybe it's for people paying a higher fee each month. Who could say? It's just that I'm so fed up with the bad service that I'm willing to take things into my own hands.

At this point I think I'll just enjoy the service for a while. Maybe later I'll call tech support and confess my crime. Surely I can't be the only one who's thought of this? Not that that makes it any less criminal. But not having the internet drives you to take desperate measures. We are all hooked.

pageant

So I attended my mom's  Christmas pageant this morning. I go every year. It's the only time I spend in church anymore. There is something compelling about watching the little children dress up like shepherds and little kings. I myself remember playing Mary in several pageants many years ago,

I like singing the old Christmas songs too. My nephew was the narrator in today's pageant. He was quite a pro. He's been doing this for many years. My sister Marty played the violin. She was a pro as well. She's been doing this for many years as well.

Usually we have a couple of angels and a wise man or two as well, but this year none of the far away kids could make it. My mom had the Children's Choir singing really well this year. It was great to hear that. We all made attendance a sign of support for Grandma meaning that Kai, Ceci and Caroline were there as well.

So anyway this is a pretty cool event. People spend lots of time and energy on it. It's a greaat experience for the kids. There's something special about being an angel or Mary at Christmas time that makes Christmas feel even more Christmassy. Sort of magic really. When you're young. And attending a pageant brings that all back in a small way.

simplify

So it's Christmas. And I'm trying to deal with it on practically no budget. I've figured out what to give the extended family but that still leaves my closest nearest and dearest. Some thoughts on this have come my way lately. The new Pope says to make the "more humble purchase" and recently I read a daily devotional that spoke of freeing ourselves from "artificial needs" in order to live more simply.

In another article I read a statement that "buying begets buying." Which seems to me to be true. One thing calls for another. But I can't use my need to simplify as a reason not to give gifts to my family. And the joy of Christmas comes from the giving.

What I usually do is find something beautiful or unique for Steven and Ashley and Richard and then let them order something they want online. I'm anxious because I haven't found anything for them yet. I know they look forward to that hand chosen gift under the tree each year.

But I do have one last chance to find what I need. I go to the doctor in Reno on Dec 23. While I'm there I will go to the antique store and try to find three perfect things. A tie tack, some cuff links, a box, a ring, something small and special. I will meditate that these objects will be seen clearly by me so I don't spend all day looking for them. After all I have to go to Costco for Christmas food!

Back to school

So my son, Steven, is going to need some of these candy pencils since he's going back to school this spring. This was a tough decision for him to make since he'd been working for the last year and had just been offered a big promotion. But for whatever reason sanity prevailed and he realized that he really needed to get that degree in International Finance with minors in Asian Studies and Law.

One thing I learned from life coaching is that you can change your mind. Yes you'll disappoint a few people for a little while but they'll get over it and it is after all your life.

I was afraid that Steven's whole career would end up in San Fransisco politics if he had accepted the new job. And I know his true love is International Studies. And the college he's going to has a top notch program in that area. Ergo he needs to finish the degree.

I have always taken whatever job I've been offered. I always think that if I'm offered a job the Universe must want me to take it. Then I end up quitting a lot of jobs because they weren't right for me. So with the My Magnificent Life program, I allowed myself to change my mind. To quit a job and to wait and see what it was that I was supposed to do. Waiting for direction, even from my inner self is very nerve wracking.

I, like Steven, have decided to go back to school. Can this possibly be the right answer? Going to school means a commitment of years. Can I justify that at  my age? Well I'm going to try and then see if I can do it. It's OK to change your mind.

Christmas

I've always loved Christmas but this year I just don't feel that into it. So I told my husband we have to do something fun everyday until New Years just to celebrate the season. We started today by having large chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Carey's creations for breakfast.

I had wanted a pastry but she was all sold out by the time we got there so cookies it was. I've been kind of on the broker side so that hasn't helped my gift giving any. I'm thinking of going through all my treasures and shopping from them this year.

But to tell the truth I hate giving away my things. I almost always regret it. Which is a sad commentary about myself. Really I should be able to do this. I have way too much stuff. But who will love my old junk the way I do?

I think I'll go to the drug store and by cosmetics for all the girls. Everyone likes a new lipstick around the holidays right? And I'll buy Mrs. Carey's candy for the boys.

doors

There are always doors. Sometimes they all seem to close. I had a fantasy that I would go to the play writing workshop and find that I could become a  playwright. Maybe go get an MFA in Theater somewhere...but what I realized was that I don't know enough and that, like ever other sort of writing career, you have to be very competitive to succeed. Becoming a playwright is my middle aged version of becoming a ballerina in my teens.

So this experience clarified the fact that law school is a real viable track for me. It presents a challenge. It starts in the spring when I am feeling good. It will give me lots of structure. It will give me the credentials to work in a non-profit job that will foster my desire to cooperate not compete.

And it's the only door that's open at the minute. My son wants to go to law school too, and I have a fantasy that we can take the bar exam together. He could help me pass! so somehow I just have to get through this holiday season and Richard has to get through this job he's on and then we can start working on getting my office space together. Like doors, there are always hurdles.

drama workshop

So I'm just back from San Fransisco where I attended a playwriting seminar. What happened was that ten playwrights got together with the playwright in residence and wrote ten micro dramas. Then while we were eating lunch the actors of the sponsoring theater learned their roles and gave readings of the ten plays to a full audience of theater members.

It was really great to see my play come to life. I have to say that my play got the most laughs. It was about a narcissistic mother and a spoilt child. We really didn't have much time to write these plays because the seminar leader had us doing a lot of writing warm ups before hand. I was glad I got something down at all.

I have to admit that seeing your work come to life really gives you the bug for play writing. I wish I had started this when I was young. Now I'm not really in the position to become a playwright. There is too much I don't know.

I thought about giving up law school for an MFA in play writing. But I don't see that as a wise investment at this stage (Pun) of my life. It's strange how quickly you go from having all sorts of doors open to you to having such limitations in life. It seemed like just a little while ago I could have done anything. But now my options are quite hemmed in. But this isn't the theme of the "My magnificent life blog" now is it?