"I played my best for him...."

At my last update I talked about a friend who became very ill. I'm sadly reporting that she is no longer with us, but in a much better place, so there's comfort in that. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

I realized recently that sometimes my want to post in here is few and far between, and other times I have something to say every day. Inspiration can come from the smallest source, or on a larger scale. Then, at times, not at all.

In listening to the Pentatonix version of the Little Drummer Boy, I was reminded of how I feel sometimes.
"I have no gifts to bring" (pa rum pum pum pum)
I want to at least bring a gift if I'm going to share with you, it's the neighborly thing to do. I'm sure we all have days where we feel like we have no gifts to bring.

I've always said that some of my most favorite gifts I've received are not the kind that I can hold in my hand, but more of a gift of talent or sharing of ones life stories. A song, a guitar playing melody, a poem or haiku that someone wrote, someones fingers dancing over piano keys as if they were born to play. Or....a drummer maybe?

"Shall I play for you? pa rum pum pum pum....."

Most of the time we have to pay to hear someone play, you know, a concert or a symphony, or even a small gathering at the beach (which is way cool I might add). Or,  you can walk the streets of New Orleans and hear jazz like none other, and it's up to you if you would like to contribute to the hat or box they've placed in front of them. New Orleans is on the rise, but these people are poor for the most part. Yet every day, they get out there and play their best. There's no guarantee they will get any money at all, it's completely up to the generosity of strangers.

"I played my best for him...pa rum pum pum"

The Little Drummer Boy felt that he should say, that he was a poor boy too. The best connections I've found with people are the ones where we find common ground.

"Then, he smiled at me pa rum pum pum.....me and my drum"

If we can make anyone smile, with our talents, or sharing of stories, if only for a moment, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Aren't those the important and most cherished gifts?

I was worried that the Christmas Spirit would find me later than usual this year, but it didn't. I decorated the tree and scattered twinkling lights throughout the house, and listened to some of my favorite Christmas music. These small details bring a lot of happy for me, so am now enjoying this 2013 holiday season so far, and it's only December 2nd!
I am wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season, and best wishes for the New Year.
See you soon friend,
Tiffany
PS I'm learning how to make Challah Bread, so Breakfast at Tiffany's has smelled heavenly of late. Try it!

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!