This One's For The Girls

(Past few days have been a bit on the difficult side and am anticipating the next few days will be the same.  Hoping that this song "This One's For The Girls" by Martina McBride, which is a bit more upbeat and sends a positive message for women of all ages, will help a bit. Reminds me to jump in heart and soul, to try again -- and that life goes on "From 1 to 99" years of age... Although I had two great-grandmothers who lived to be 100 and 107! Was debating several other songs, particularly something from either Andrea Bocelli or Frank Sinatra... But my mind cannot settle at the moment so I will stick with this one. I also enjoy her version of "Independence Day"...)

Lyrics:
This is for all you girls about 13
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold on to, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everybody's givin' in
This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about 25
In little apartments, just tryin' to get by
Livin' on, on dreams and spaghettios
Wonderin' where your life is gonna go

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, this one's for the girls
(This one's for all the girls)

This is for all you girls about 42
Tossin' pennies into the fountain of youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, this one's for the girls

Yeah, we're all the same inside
(Same inside)
From 1 to 99

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, yeah, this one's for the girls

(This one's for all the girls)
Yeah, this one's for the girls
(This one's for all the girls)

It's Ok Thursdays (September 6th)

Since there were no "negative" comments my first time trying to use this image (Thursday August 30th) I think I am going to try and post an "It's Ok" note on here every Thursday.  So here is my week two -- also going to try to keep the list a bit on the shorter side -- did not realize until after I hit "publish" last week that it was such a long post!

*It's ok... to be a night owl even though I am surrounded by early birds. I should not feel guilty for my sleeping habits -- I am able to sleep which I decide to see as a gift.
*It's ok... to read half (or all!) of a book in any given day.
*It's ok... to feel like I have accomplished something with my day -- even if all I did was read, eat, and pack a lunch for the next day.
*It's ok... to look for emails, FB posts, and/or blog entries from people whose lives I find interesting, inspiring... or just because I am tired/bored.
*It's ok... to have the fan on to cool down AND still drink a couple of mugs of tea to stay warm.  Contradictions are sometimes necessary to relax.
*It's ok... to want to spoil my godchildren as often as possible (although this one comes with a grain of salt because I only tend to see them up to seven weeks out of any given year plus I have rules -- ie no hitting -- that stay in place no matter who is in any given situation).
*It's ok... to not know what tomorrow will hold.  I continuously need to remind myself to take life one day at a time and just enjoy the little things/be thankful for what I already have!
*It's ok... to be mad/grumpy at the dog when he starts barking/howling when he thinks he has been left alone.  (I tend to give in pretty quickly, either going to sit where he can see me or bring him into my room where he lays near the foot of the bed on one of his blankets).
*It's ok... actually more than okay, to fall asleep to/listen to songs and/or artists (even if the "artist" is just me, singing songs that I enjoy!)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

"...Goodnight Moon!"

(This nursery rhyme reminds me of my "France Family" ..feeling content..)

Family

I absolutely love when song lyrics that are meaningful are combined with a good artist -- and better yet, this particular artist has added home videos from her childhood to make the above music video -- "The Best Day" by Taylor Swift is all about family.  Reminds me of a quote: "Family isn't always blood.  It's the people in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are.  The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what." I love my family and that quote (along with this song) help remind me how lucky and blessed I am!  Thank you, to everyone who is in my family -- and to my friends as well...  I hope everyone has at the very least a handful of great memories -- and at the very best, too many great memories to recall even if you had decades with nothing to do but to try and recall all of them!

"The Best Day" Song Lyrics (Taylor Swift)

I'm five years old
It's getting cold
I've got my big coat on

I hear your laugh
And look up smiling at you
I run and run

Past the pumpkin patch
And the tractor rides
Look now -- the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep
On the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I'm thirteen now
And don't know how my friends
Could be so mean

I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys

And we drive and drive
Until we've found a town
Far enough away

And we talk and window-shop
Until I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to
Now at school
I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out
He's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house
And I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video
I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen
And you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships
And the seven dwarfs
Daddy's smart
And you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side
Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today.

White Christmas

Irving Berlin's movie "White Christmas" is my favorite holiday (well, favorite Christmas!) movie of all time. I really do love A Charlie Brown Christmas -- but does that count as a full movie?  If so I might have to call it a tie... I recall when I was somewhere in early elementary school, I actually wore out my grandparents copy of the film "White Christmas!"  (I of course ended up buying them another copy out of my babysitting money, then a while later I purchased them a nice DVD edition to enjoy).  There is only one other movie I have ever done this to (also a tape belonging to my grandparents, also replaced later -- "The Music Man").

Today I was not going to post about this movie (I was going to write a "It's Monday, what are you reading?" post) however it is a holiday and so I am taking a break -- although I have not technically started my Monday reading updates, they have been planned.... "White Christmas" came out in 1954 and I love it for various reasons, primarily made possible by the director (Michael Curtiz -- also directed "Casablanca"), of course Berlins music (shall list some of my favorite songs) and the four main characters played by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen Rohe.

Part of the allure of this film is that it was made during the golden age of film... I have never actually experienced a "white" Christmas (hard to do living near Los Angeles for most of my life!)... During the holiday season I get to/try to see people I care about... I also often am able to give out gifts/help out.  Having my godson and his family visiting helps make me feel a bit like Christmas is in the air and I am reminded that in addition to the wonderful family/family friends I have around more often -- summer visits remind me how lucky I am to be a godmother! :)

Instead of trying to type out most of my favorite songs from this film, I am going to try using a bullet-point system... Also if possible I am going to end this post with what I believe is the original White Christmas Theatrical Trailer that I found on You.Tube!  This past week has been, overall, heavily sprinkled with happy moments and thoughts (even if my posts have not necessarily reflected that).  I hope this week is filled with the same for all of you!

• "White Christmas"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Bing Crosby
  Reprised during the finale by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
  
  
• "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
  
  
• "Sisters"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
  Also lip-synched by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
  
  
• "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Danny Kaye, danced by Danny and Vera-Ellen
  Also played for dancing at the party
  
  
• "Geee! I Wish I Was Back in the Army"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
  
  
• "Snow"
  Words and Music by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
  
  
• "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me"
  Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Rosemary Clooney
  
  
• "The Old Man"
  Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
  Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and chorus at the front
  Reprised by them all at the celebration in the inn
  
  
• "Blue Skies"
  Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
  Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
  
  
• "Heat Wave"
  Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
  Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
  
  (Details for songs taken from the following web page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047673/soundtrack)
  
  

Prayers and Candles

I love candles.  Mainly I love the warmth that I feel inside of myself when I look at the glowing, flickering, constant flames.  I want to thank whomever took this photo because it is one of my favorites... There are many people who are in need/want of prayer (or as some prefer to ask "good thoughts" or "pixie dust") -- my personal range of prayers tend to vary from a request made just this week, to ones made years ago by people who have chosen to no longer remain in contact with me, to those I pray for "just because." I think that it can never hurt to have positive prayers heading your way/sent out into the universe.

This is a bit early, but part of why I love Christmas/the entire holiday season/end of the year through New Years -- I love how people, families and individuals, are brought together.  Many celebrate with candles, fires, "twinkle lights" -- there is always a bit of reminiscing about the year that is ending and often hopes for the year ahead.  Most importantly it is a time of year when many people feel drawn closer together, whether just in spirit or actual physical presence.  Although there are many times that I am nowhere near my best, I am always thankful and grateful for everything I have been blessed with.  Each day holds the possibility for something positive, whether already known or something new. I hope all of you find at least one moment of peace/happiness/joy in your life today!

Blue Moon

Ever since I was a little girl I remember loving how nature showed me the huge night sky, taking up so much space and filled with tons of stars and the moon... These memories, the "how nature showed me" come from times when we visited a family friends house (their backyard overlooks a canyon so there are still "human-made" lights and distractions, but not as many as when you are in the middle of a city)... times when we would be camping as a family or with extended family/friends/girl scouts/etc -- from Yosemite National Park to a camp up near Mammoth Lakes to -- I think we went as far as Four Corners (Utah/Colorado/Arizona/New Mexico) but I have no idea where we stopped/slept.  (Again, in case it has not been noted enough in this blog, I really love and appreciate my parents, family, extended family, family friends, friends... So many people with their hearts in the right place who have helped me grow and maintain my roots while encouraging me to continue to spread my wings.  I would be nothing without all of the love and support I have received my entire life.  Thank you again).

My point is that being exposed to nature at night, whether at home, in a particular backyard, camping in a meadow, up in the mountains, being near the ocean... At night all of these areas had/continue to have a special place in my heart because of the night sky.  I know now what I might not have fully grasped when I was young -- the sky, especially with the stars and the moon at whatever point in its journey -- it connects everyone no matter where we are in the world.  We all have day and night; we all have memories and hopefully futures with bright spots; we all are on the same planet.

There are a few however, who do get to journey past this planet.  Tonight (technically it is still tonight because I am up late) -- tonight was special for various reasons.  The two that connect to the title of this post, "Blue Moon" are that Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was laid to rest today.  The second is that tonights moon was a blue moon.  I am reminded of memories, of stories, of the past, present, and future... 

There are several images scattered in this post of the moon that I have chosen to share. Obviously the moon did not really look blue ("blue moon" is simply descriptive, do a quick online search if you do not already know what it means), so that one image was taken by someone with a blue filter (I think that is all it takes but as previously mentioned on this blog I am NOT a photographer!)... The two large clear images of the moon were also found online... And the very small (but bright!) moon came from me.

I can only guess at the number of people around the world who have memories/thoughts that are connected with the night sky and how everyone on earth looks at the very same moon every night