Those friends, are the one's we treasure for a lifetime...

When I come home after spending time in my hometown with family and friends, I'm always in a reflective mood for a few days. Usually asking myself the big questions, like, should I move back? It's hard being away from those I love.

I was reminded this trip that I am so lucky to have such phenomenal life-long friends. No matter how much time has passed, one hug or hello becomes the exact thing my soul needed, that comfortable feeling when you know you're with people that genuinely care about you and your well being.

Heading to Arrowhead Stadium for a Kansas City Chiefs game in October? There isn't much that can top that for me. But the most important thing I brought home with me from this trip, is, that the best part of anything we do and experience, are the people that are with us. My sister and brother in law make everything fun so we managed to do just that despite the loss that day. We aren't fair-weather fans in my family, we're ride-or-die fans, so onward we roll with the Chiefs, always.

I was so excited to arrive at a favorite friend(s) house in KC, when I saw the Halloween decorations I knew I was at the correct address, because she loves Halloween just like I do. And those girls! Six little loves to see and visit with for a night, my adoration continues for them.

Teena, you don't know how inspiring you are, even your little reminders throughout the house made me smile, I loved them, and you. Thank you for letting me stay, it was so fun being with all of you.

I honestly don't know why certain memories never leave and yet I often can't remember what I did yesterday, that's the way it goes isn't it?
I can remember sitting in my 6th grade class and trying to stifle a belly laugh because my friends would always make me laugh at the most inopportune moments, i.e. when the teacher was talking. That's one memory of hundreds that have a best life-friend in them, and as I drove towards CoMo (Columbia, MO) those memories were on my mind. I thought, "we go so far back, the amount of time is so vast that it almost can't be measured".
Those friends, are the one's we treasure for a lifetime.

Tatha (and John) thank you for letting me stay with you and catch up like we haven't ever been able to do in years. It felt like home, being there with you and I so loved meeting Tat and seeing Tanya! (and Tasia!) I love you all and can't wait to spend time again.

I'm convinced that the passing of time matters not, when it comes to a face to face conversation with old friends.

More than likely, the same type of 6th grade shenanigans often occur when you work with a group of people who share your sense of humor. You may notice a theme forming here, this is yet another best life-friend that continues to make me laugh every time I am lucky enough to be able to spend time with her and her family. Chandra, (and Todd) thank you for letting me stay during this trip, I was so happy to catch up and see Breanna (and family) too! I love you all.

I thought about friendships a lot on the drive home, and how they should be nurtured and cherished. I was grateful to be able to see a few favorite friends and will make a point to see more on the next trip if possible. Verl, always the place of comfort for me, you are such a treasure. All of the listening that you do, that patient, loving demeanor you have, are the things that you're loved for, and I do. Ed- visiting with you was greatness, I was reminded that your keen sense of what's important in life is still there, thank you for the great conversation. Mary A-you're such a JOY to be around, I am so glad I got a chance to say hello and talk for a while, your energy radiates in a way that makes you glow!

With social media in our faces now, it seems that the picture we often paint is usually the best side of ourselves, which makes sense as why would we want to show the worst side, right? I understand, and agree with the idea. Social media isn't the place to air the difficult stuff or the private things in life (in my opinion and it's okay to disagree). I have friends that struggle with the beasts, as I label them, but I've learned a few things along the way just by listening.

I think that anyone that has to fight anxiety or depression is often the most compassionate person we might meet. They know to ask, "are you okay?" and mean it, they genuinely want to know if we're okay. I don't suffer with either beast, but I know those that do and I am sorry they have to fight battles that not everyone knows about. I am grateful for anyone that asks me every single day, if I'm okay. So thank you friend.

So, the biggest thank you I can muster, the friends old and new, the too-short visits with family, the Fall and Halloween decorations, the sea of Red at Arrowhead, and the air turning cooler is all around me right now as I started the week back at work. I'm glad for the memories, I cherish them.

The one thing that I saved for this rambling thank-you note, is this: I think laughter is the best medicine. I was born with a sense of humor and most of the time, I find humor in everything. The morning of the Chiefs game, we went to Arrowhead early so we could drink it all in, (yes even the beer) but stay with me, haha. While standing in front of the stadium, we could hear the band coming our way. If you know me, you know I can't stand still for this, I have to at least groove a little bit to the music. What I didn't realize, and my sister who was taking a few pictures, did, was, the band saw me dancing and turned toward my direction. It took me a minute to realize it, but by then I was practically surrounded, I will never forget this one Chiefs Kingdom. Thank you for those big smiles, so infectious!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Breakfast at Tiffany's has been fruit and eggs all kinds of ways lately. What's your favorite breakfast? oh and MIZZOU, see you in October 2020!

That's what I would call a beignet....

Today I'm thinking of some favorite things, in a very random fashion.

One thing that comes to mind is a book titled "If You Give a Pig a Pancake".

I can only describe this book as just delightful. It begins with "If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it.....", then the syrup leads to something else, and then something else again, and before you know it , you've forgotten about the pancake all together. The illustrations by Felicia Bond are brilliant, and yes, I know. I'm an adult and this appears to be a childrens book. Silly rules, I pay no attention to them. This is on my book shelf at home!

Something else I like: undefeated MO football teams. MIZZOU! CHIEFS! I love Fridays, that lead to Saturdays with Mizzou ball on ESPN, which lead to Sundays with Chiefs playing at home. (against the Raiders. sshhh. No jinxing. Let's just enjoy the 5-0 record, okay?) and let's not forget baseball, Go Cards!

I seem to have missed the boat on a few t.v. shows (what's new) that I hear I need to check out. I don't have enough hours in the day, and what little I do have I refuse to give to watching t.v. 100%. With that said, I've seen the first episode of the first season of Breaking Bad, see how behind I am?, I have not seen Scandal or The Walking Dead, or Downton Abbey. I'm sure there's more. I usually give it 3 episodes before I decide if it's for me or not. So maybe by next year I'll be caught up to the point where everyone is right now, and of course they will then be watching the latest and greatest and I'll be behind again. Ah well, such is life. My point is, I like knowing that there are lots of things out there for me to watch when the mood hits. Just like books waiting on my shelf at home, for me to read, that I haven't started yet.

October. Just the entire word. I love this month. Fall leaves. Pumpkins. Halloween. Decorations, orange and purple lights, crisp air if you're lucky. I'm getting a few pumpkins so I can roast seeds tonight, this is my favorite item on the "things I like" list today. I love the smell of roasting pumpkin seeds. AND watching scary movies!

I love this word: Serendipity
'the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way'
"In general, serendipity is the act of finding something valuable or delightful when you are not looking for it". I can't think of anyone that doesn't enjoy a a fabulous something that they were not expecting. Of course, it must also be mentioned that I love the movie too.

Speaking of movies, I like movie quotes. I've mentioned before that I can have entire conversations with my sisters (and cousins and friends) using movie quotes. Does this make us weird? I think not. I think we're cool people quite frankly.

Sara: "Um, favorite New York moment?"
Jonathan: "This one's climbing the charts"

I like New York. I specifically like Manhattan.What needs to be done about this, though, is that I actually experience it. I mean, BE THERE. I've never been to Manhattan. Until I am able to be there, I can still say, I like NY. I want one of those "I heart NY" t-shirts. I'm the best tourist you'll ever meet, I don't care if it's touristy, if I want it, I'm buying it.

It's that whole "when in Rome" idea. For example, I just got back from a four-day vacation in New Orleans. I'm not a sweet eater, I just don't crave sweets. But, I've never had a beignet at Cafe Du Monde. So of course I had to do this at least once. I think they taste like a funnel cake, but in the shape of a pillow. A powdery white, funnel-cake pillow treat. That's what I would call a beignet.

 

Cafe Du Monde is a cute little cafe that serves wonderful coffee and beignets, and that's it. You won't have to spend a lot of time perusing a menu here. Just as I like it, when on the move during a vacation when trying to see an entire city in four days (can't be done, by the way).

So I'll add NOLA to my list. I like NOLA. I don't really like humidity, but Tropical Storm Karen has to be blamed for most of that, this trip anyway. Walking the streets of the French Quarter in the early morning hours was quite good for the soul.

 

And the JAZZ! Oh man, it was everywhere and I loved it. These people have nothing but time, and musical talent, and a great big smile to give you. I really enjoyed moving along to the jazzy beats, and turning each corner and hearing even more Jazz playing. So fun.

Does this conclude my entire list of likes in my whole life? No way. But Friday afternoon is about to become evening and it's time to wrap things up and be on my way.

I hope you have a weekend filled with many of your "likes".

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Coffee and Jazz make a perfect breakfast combo. No, really!

Refresh

I just commented on a favorite blog of mine, http://www.serenitybohon.com/ (please visit, she's a breath of fresh air), discussing the "refresh" button at the top right of my browser window.
I clicked the button, and there was a new post for me to read on Serenitys blog. YAY doesn't encompass how I feel about that. Or her for that matter. My family received a real gem when she married into it, let me just tell you.

I like the word refresh.

It's been a long week as far as work goes. Add some new rather excruciating workouts in the mix, and me breaking a rule and going to a movie on a "school" night, and.....well, I'm rather tired. I couldn't say no to the invitation, we saw Case 39. But I'll review that in a future post.

I've often thought of Fridays five o'clock hour as, exhale. Hello weekend. As I drove home today in the bright, fall sunshine, I left my windows all the way down and drove like I was in a convertible. It felt like it to me anyway. My hair was all over the place, but I didn't care. Flipped the radio on, of course nothing good was playing. Switched to the CD in the player and sang along with John Lennon. "you may say, I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one......" (may you R.I.P. John, you would have been 70 yrs old today)

As I got closer to home, I felt the need for total down time. Yes I have laundry going, and "smells good" things cooking, and probably a movie in the near future. But for me, this is down time. It's been a while since I've stayed home on a Friday night. Quite frankly, I think I should continue this trend. Saturday has all kinds of possibilities if one wakes up,

"Refreshed"

I'm looking forward to sunrise, I hope I don't sleep through it.

I hope you're having an awesome Friday. And the weekend brings a wish or three.

See you friend,
Tiffany

PS #Mizzou you can stay undefeated, let me see it. KC Chiefs, so can you. LET ME SEE IT. I'll make you breakfast, I swear!

When is your time for renewal?

I think I hear a collective sigh. The extreme heat of a Dallas summer seems to be behind us, (and I hate to jinx it by saying that out loud), and August said goodbye a few days ago. A lot of people see Spring as the time of renewal but it's always been Fall for me. My favorite season, my favorite four months of the year, with October being number one, have begun. Actually to get technical Fall hasn't arrived yet. But the feeling of it, is here. College football (MIZZOU-RAH!), NFL season next week, lower temps, letters received from favorite nieces that have a red leaf in them....Missouri Fall is the reason I want to see the tapestry of color in September, it starts now. Dallas doesn't show me that palette until November. It's okay, I'm patient.

I woke up early enough to see the sun come up, splashing slivers of yellow rays over the pool water, making it shimmer. I was chuckling to myself about the fact that this morning is the first time I've used the pool in a month because it's been too hot to swim. Now that September is here it seems like swimming should be put to rest if you live somewhere that allows you the privilege of feeling a chilly morning already. But thats one good thing about living in North Texas, you can use the pool until Halloween (sometimes). I've been able to swim in February before as well. Ah well.....trade offs.
I still think I want to live where the summer heat isn't so extreme. Antarctica?

I'm going to use these last four months of the year to the best of my ability. Embrace them. Hold them tightly and squeeze.

When is your time for renewal? Is it now? Or ongoing throughout the year maybe?

Since I don't have an ocean to walk along, I'm going for a walk down my pretty street and into the park where there are a few nature trails. May have a friend join me. You can too, and we'll have breakfast after okay?

See you soon,
Tiffany