My day

 This time next week, I will be in Paris with Pal Vickie.

As I mentioned, husbands and dogs will be staying home holding down our respective forts.

It's not that they don't enjoy traveling - they do.  

But right now, a girl's trip to Paris just feels right.

And there are some big, husbands included, trips booked already for the upcoming months.  

Honestly, having a trip planned, doing the planning, etc., is what I kinda live for these days.

And.  Well.  I love Paris.

Raoul Dufy

As you can imagine, Vickie and I have been in daily communication about "all the things."

One of the most often talked about "things" is what we're packing.  We both love clothes.  Buying them, wearing them, sharing pictures of them.

Packing them can be a challenge.

But we have it handled.

My very favorite suitcase is my Away Bigger Carry-On.  I have never had any trouble carrying it on with Delta even though it is a little larger than their carry-on policy states.

I'm just not feeling warm and fuzzy about that size thing this trip.  

So.

I'm going to be taking my ugly Amazon Basic suitcase which fits the carry-on criteria.  It's actually the perfect suitcase in every aspect except that color.  Ugh.  Purple?  Mauve?  Whatever.  Ugh.  (and the picture actually flatters it!). When I ordered it from Amazon several years back they called it red.  HA!  No Way is that a red suitcase!  

And I'm using a little wheeled suitcase as my personal item which will fit under the seat.

You would not even believe all the thought and discussion that has led me to this FINAL luggage decision.  Final.  Yes.  They're both packed, so there's no going back.  My last minute items will get squeezed in right before leaving for the airport.

I'm excited.

Ready to go.

I get homesick for Paris.

And it's past time.

This morning, one of the first things I read as I was having my coffee, was Heather Cox Richardson's daily letter.     If you haven't read this, please do.  And send it to anyone you know who might still be a trump supporter.  Usually, I can count on the fact that Heather's insights are going to make me angry.  Angry enough to make calls and write letters and that's a good thing.  This latest, however, has just made me sick.  Physically sick and somewhat defeated.  I'm left with sadness and emptiness concerning our country.

THIS - all of THIS - is why I need trips lined up.  To keep me sane.  To have good things to look forward to.  The need to feel that the future is not completely bleak.

And, as you know, I am addicted to making bracelets.  Boy, today I was a bracelet making fool.

When not making bracelets, or planning our next trip, or calling/writing our representatives, I daydream. 

I spend a lot of time daydreaming here at Vacation Perfect.  <sigh>

A Paris Penthouse to Call Your Own

1 bedroom | 1.5 bathrooms | 7th arrondissement | €1,775,000

“Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.”—Tupac Shakur.

Raoul Dufy

Hold onto those dreams, y'all!

They're important.

❤ ❤ ❤ 

A plan . . .

Donald asked me what it is that I intend to do with this growing pile of word bracelets.

Give them away, I guess.

Right now it's just fun to sit down and make them.

Think of a word, or a phrase, choose some fun colors and . . . make a bracelet.  

That is as far as the planning went.

And he came up with a very fun idea.

Since Vickie and I will be in Paris on NO KINGS DAY and because Parisians will, of course, be having their own protest, Don suggested I take my bracelets and toss them out to people during the protest.  Sort of a Mardi Gras kinda thing.  I love it!  

There may be some puzzled faces for those who end up with bracelets saying things like "Make More Biscuits," "Hug More Necks," and that sort of thing.

Cultural exchanges are good, don't you think?  😊

Today - thoughts and things to do

Sometimes I come here to muse and meander.  Otherwise known as "just rambling on."

Today is a day of "just rambling on."

For example -

No. 1.  "Man, i really really need a hair cut."

No. 2.  "Climate Change is a Hoax"  -  (What Idiots Believe)

Not that Science gives a shit what anyone thinks.  Science is gonna just go on being Science, while idiots go on being idiots.

So.

Those were just things I was thinking about this morning.

Because, like many of you, I think (and fret!) about things a lot.  

We, the thinkers, are also the worriers.  

That means we worry that so many still honestly believe that climate change is a hoax.  Including the ignorant clowns in our present administration.  

I wish I could share this really simple guide to climate change with the nonbelievers, BUT, they are stuck in a belief SO deeply that they are just not interested in learning what Science has to teach.  

Anyhooooooo - 

Yesterday we had a 73 degree day.

Today we're having snow, sleet, and white out conditions.

I am not complaining.  I am much more a winter girl than a summer girl. 

I always count on a picture of one of the prettiest corners of our neighborhood from our friends at Plan B

We love our little Plan B Corner Store

Earlier this morning, before the weather (and the roads!) got bad, Don Barley took off and drove to town while I started thinking about packing for my upcoming trip with gal pal Vickie.

He picked up some Euros I had ordered through our credit union.   The young woman, Grace, who placed my order called and this was our conversation.

Ring, Ring.

Me:  "Hello."

Grace:  "Mrs. Barley, hi!  It's Grace from the credit union.  Mr. Barley is here to pick up your euros and I just need to make sure, since you were the person who ordered them, that it's okay."

Me:  "ha.  Oh, yes.  I know he appears to be an unreliable sort, but he's truly trustworthy.  It's fine, but I appreciate you checking."

Grace:  "<giggling>  Okay.  Thank you so much.  Have a good day."

And the ever-so trustworthy Mr. Barley brought home my euros and breakfast from Bojangles. 

 God love him.

Annabelle and I were happy he got back home safely because the roads got bad quickly, with accidents being widely reported.

Now that we're all where we should be, safe and snug, and after we shared a chuckle about my conversation with Grace,  I can concentrate on gathering a few things to pack.

I am concentrating on minimalism.

A few basic little black dresses, changing the looks with scarves and a kimono or two so as not to look like i only own two or three little black dresses, when in reality I own more little black dresses than should be legal.

Hmmmm . . . and maybe a little red dress or two . . .

Anyhooo -

While I'm doing all this thinking about all the things (climate change, evil people in D.C., packing suitcases, getting a hair cut (leave it long, or go shorter, or go real short .  .  .) I think I'll pour a fresh cup of coffee and go make a few bracelets.  

Have a good day!

😘

Saved By A Bead

 There's just no way for me to write a rant that would adequately express the disgust and anger and hurt and humiliation I, along with most of the world it seems, feel towards this current administration.  

So I make bracelets.

Read or hear a new lie?

Make a bracelet.

Read or hear the latest disgrace?

Make a bracelet.

Beads, in all honesty, may be saving my sanity.

Peaceful Beading to Resistance Beading

 And, in the blink of an eye, my bracelets went from sweet to salty.

Welcome to my studio aka our sunroom

I think I now have a new hobby.  

This may be what I'll be doing during those 3 a.m. wake-ups when I can't get back to sleep.

Making pretty little Fuck Trump bracelets.

tee hee

Whatever works - Right?!

Today.

 Today I will have a peaceful day.

Choosing creativity over reading, watching, listening to the news.

We are, absolutely, allowed to experience joy while the world around us spins out of control.

Feeding our souls and replenishing our spirits are gentle, positive acts of resistance.  

Necessary.

Today I choose to create.

I love trying my hand at something new.  

The newest is finally getting around to making beaded bracelets.  Late to the game, but better late than never.  And - It's fun!

(Please my excuse my raggy hair.  Yes, it is in need of a good cut.  Yes, it could use a brushing.  We're pretty laid back here, so if my hair doesn't get brushed we pretend not to notice . . .   Besides.  I've got important stuff to do!  Bracelets to bead!  and, you know, stuff . . . )

The world is on fire and has gone crazy.

But, home is a place of calm.

And the place where I remember to breathe

❤ ❤ ❤ 

Orange Energy

       by Stephanie

All I want to do is delight—

Throw the mask off,

Not care and not worry,

Not explain what I mean nor

Define what I do.

Just be whatever I feel like being.

Just relish in the energy of this moment.

I want to be so alive that

I feel like the moon,

Throwing tides just for fun,

Creating because it’s what I’m

Here to do.

I want to love the color orange,

Just because it craves delight too.

I want to cry because

I’m so in love with the miracle of

Being alive.

I don’t want to feel like I’m

Striving.

I want to try and feel like I’m

Flying.

I want to write the poetry,

Read the poetry, and

Breathe the poetry.

I want my life to be a

Beautiful,

Messy mosaic that even I

Can’t help but fall in love with.

Create! Create!

I feel the winds of fury

Blowing through me.

Even my bones are smiling.

I hear my veins pulsing with

Desire, like branches

Dancing in the breezes.

Wildflowers are waving and

The ocean blossoms with a new idea.

Crazy and beautiful is

How I want my life to feel.

Let it be. Let it be.

I write to be free.

I read to tap in.

I absorb the poetry.

And so it shall be.

And now I am this energy.

💝  💝  💝