Atlanta rhythm, eclectic irreverent and waving

- Mr C's sign fit right in with the rhythm of the day on this section of Howell Mill Road in Atlanta. Blue skies, a nice strong cafe latte, and the weekend looming.

- Friends told me about an "eclectic irreverent" radio station that they know I will love, AM 1690 WMLB in Avondale Estates, Georgia, "The Voice of the Arts." They play really retro music, just now "It's Only a Paper Moon" and just before that a song called "Lucky Lips." My favorite thing: they announce a "cubicle dance" song sometime in the 9am hour. I keep missing it, but you know I'll totally dance when I hear it. :)

- It is the final weekend for the 2010 Olympics and I have so enjoyed the small viewings that I have managed to get in. But no matter what country the medalists come from, I love watching them remember they are there to represent their countries as they wave their flags.

It's the weekend, friends! I hope your weekend is jammed with good things!

The mountain, enthusiasm and black gloves

- This is nearby Stone Mountain, that has its own park around it. I seriously need to exercise again and a nice fit friend has offered to meet me there in the afternoons to climb it. That gasping for breath heard all around the world might just be me!

- Driving behind a car with a large dog hanging out of the window enthusiastically barking at everyone and everything in sight. And wondering what goes through their heads while riding in a motorized vehicle and if it makes them feel as if they're flying.

- Thinking of my mother every time I pull on my long black gloves. Ever practical, but loving stylish things, she chose these for me a couple of years ago because I am fond of black and enjoy gloves that disappear up into my coat sleeves.

Hiding, permanent residents and feast

Hiding out 'till Spring...

- A couple of geraniums (or possibly pelargoniums) hiding between the bookcase and a trunk, just waiting for outside activity and Spring. They were leggy, so I cut them back and suddenly realized last week they are growing again. It is wonderful when things work the way they are supposed to.

September 2009 in Milledgeville, Georgia

- One came from a plant nursery in North Carolina and the other from my mom's house. I am looking forward to the day when these permanent residents are bushy again and sporting their red blooms.

North Carolina geranium in background next to the infamous pot of weeds :)

- Inspired to photograph my humble plants by Meredith and her lovely blog The Enchanted Earth. If you have not visited, it is a feast for the eyes. Gardeners and non-gardeners (like me) are all welcome.

Special greeter, happy accident and joyous

- Visiting my friend Jake at the antiques business for special delivery of some sale materials. I call out to the human owner, but she doesn't answer (she was in the warehouse.) Feeling a little nudge, I look down and Jake is looking up. What a special greeter and he can usually be found camping out on this heirloom sofa.

- Too quickly scanning the programmed numbers on my cellphone to call friend Cathy M to tell her I am not going to make a meeting, and having to leave a message (to one of those messages that just speaks the number.) And I called the wrong Cathy. Cathy H calls to say I had better call the correct Cathy to tell her I'm not coming. We have a lovely catch-up - it has been a least two years since we spoke.

- A shout-out to my friends from the True North. The joyous singing of "O Canada" at the gold medal ceremony for the Canadian ice dancing team.

The Wall, Generation Z and curling

- A meeting in this room at church reveals astonishing purple walls in varying shades being applied to them. It is a work in progress and one of the volunteer painters clearly has a sense of humor.

- Stopping by fast food Wendy's for a quick lunch with my mother and the puzzled look from the young order taker when mom asks for margarine for her baked potato. "Margarine," she repeated. A shake of the head. "Do you know what margarine is?" I ask. No, he doesn't. Wow - now I really feel old. And Wendy's calls it "buttery spread."

- My mom, perusing the TV schedule for Olympic coverage, and calling out with excitement, "Curling! I LOVE curling!"

Cracks & Crossings, fun mail and surprise

- The last of the seminary artwork from two weekends ago. This one by an American artist, Barry Krammes, Of Cracks and Crossings, was thought provoking, to say the least.

- Happy mail in the form of a subscription to Food & Wine magazine that I did not ask for. A phone call reveals nothing except it was given to me by an organization I have no involvement with. Fortunately they know what I like!

- Extra fun mail. A postcard inviting me to save the date for a fund-raiser for The Center for the Visually Impaired they are calling "True Blue Do." The featured musical act that evening will be a band called "The Macular Dengenerates." I am astounded to learn just now from a Google search, that Dr. Hamilton, who performed my eye surgery two weeks ago, is the drummer. They are the "house band" of Eye Consultants of Atlanta.

I hope your weekend is full of fun and thought provoking things!

Journey, grace and walking music

Dreaming of spring. My "weedy pot" during the recent snow.

- Realizing only yesterday that there is a message stitched into the edge of the inner pocket of my jacket, "Life is a journey. Stay warm. Keep dry."

- Blinking back tears while watching the Olympics medal ceremony in which skier Lindsey Vonn receives her gold medal. There are a number of athletes who have handled themselves with grace and dignity during the games and she is one of them. Another is Canadian first at-home gold medalist, Alexandre Bilodeau, who spoke so proudly of his uncomplaining handicapped brother and all he must endure that he inspired a bystander at The Today Show interview to say Bilodeau makes him proud to be Canadian.

- Following a singing man down the hall after my volunteer stint at Georgia Public Broadcasting. As he holds the elevator door for me, I tell him how much I enjoyed his hallway singing. (It was “O mio babbino caro” (O My Beloved Daddy) from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi.”) He says a little sadly that he is not as good as he used to be. I say that we could all say that about something and thank him for the few moments of walking music.

Award, seven things and thank you

I have been tagged by Riot Kitty for this award. Thanks RK! Here are the rules:

1. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
2. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
3. Name seven things about you that people think are interesting.
4. Nominate seven other Kreativ Bloggers.

I've had this one before, so I put seven more things below. No - not tagging anyone else - I think I tagged most of my readers the last time. :)

- I am a homebody. As much as I love people and interesting places, I do love being at home. A favorite quote from William Faulkner (another homebody), who was invited by President Kennedy to dine at the White House, "Why...that's a long way to go just to eat."

- I have attended exactly one Olympic event in my life - when the summer Olympics were held in Atlanta in 1996. Mens' Springboard Diving. I was sitting so far away that I watched it on the big screen. Might as well have been at home and saved the big $$$. :)

- My most favorite local event ever was the Democratic National Convention held in Atlanta in 1988. I was chosen to work the convention; mostly standing at the portals into the hall and playing traffic cop. Favorite moment - another volunteer asked Al Franken to sign her autograph book. He was at the convention at that time to make spots for Saturday Night Live and he grinned as he signed her book. She gasped when she saw what he wrote: "Sylvia - let's have sex again real soon!"

- As a wee girl, I learned to read without even realizing it. My parents and older sister read to me so much that when I started 1st grade, I could read the first few reading books they had. So they put me in a group by myself. Reading is still my favorite thing.

- I didn't get the math gene. Not at all.

- My first job was after school at the public library in Milledgeville, Georgia. I loved it there so much that I decided at one point that I would like to be a librarian. Somehow that dream went by the wayside (money called) and out of the nine different jobs I have had over the years, the job at the library remains my favorite.

- I really love blogging - it gives me something creative to do before I start my day outside the house. It means a lot to me that you come by. So thank you and I hope you are having a great week.

Rhapsody, substitute and warm wake-up

- Leaving work early on Friday with the unaccustomed snow falling and when I get in my car, the classical music station is playing "Rhapsody in Blue" - a perfect musical accompaniment.

- Three daughters send flowers to their mother for Valentines Day. She wants to give the young delivery person a tip, who says, "We don't accept tips, but I'll take a hug."

- Consistently oversleeping three mornings in a row, due to a power outage making the clock malfunction. But waking up anyway because of the loyalty of the programmed thermostat making the heat come on. The warmth wakes me.

Face impression, Georgia Day and some snow

Wisau Sasongko, Indonesia, Java, Face Impression No. 19, 2009, Acrylic on canvas.

- More seminary artwork. This one makes me think of the shroud of Turin. I like it for its mysteriousness.

- Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday, but it is also Georgia Day, the holiday which the state of Georgia recognizes in honor of its colonial founding as the Province of Georgia. On February 12, 1733, James Oglethorpe landed the first settlers in what was to become Georgia's first city, Savannah.

- It is also a day in 2010 that Georgia is expecting 1 to 3 inches of snow. There is much excitement and laying in of supplies. :) Bring it on, Mother Nature!

Have a great weekend, my friends, full of warmth, love and laughter!

Last supper, no nickels and laughing

- There was much art displayed around the seminary that spoke to me last weekend and this painting by an artist named Watanabe is called "Unity and Diversity." "Though his faceless figures, (he) chooses to eliminate or minimize the particulars that so often define and separate us from others - age, race, even sex to show that we are all one people regardless of where we come from."

- Loving my mother's funny expressions. She leaves a phone message for me saying she just wanted to chat and sorry she missed me and "don't take any wooden nickels!" Wikipedia says the saying "is considered a lighthearted reminder to be cautious in one's dealings." :) Whatever the case - it's something she has said lightheartedly for as long as I can remember.

- My cousin recorded my grandmother playing the piano and telling family stories more than 20 years ago, a couple of years before she passed away. His sister sends me a CD of it this week that I am delighted with. As my grandmother recounts one story, she laughs heartily while telling it and the story does not matter to me so much as hearing her wonderful laugh again.

Slicing with a vengeance, part two and giddy

- How fun that must have been! Sorry I missed it. :)

- A favorite client, Tori, is pregnant - she shared this news with me early on and before it was generally publicized. The second part of the news came yesterday - it is a boy! They want one of each so this is a good start.

- My snowed-in sister in the Shenandoah Valley, sounding positively giddy with the fun part of cabin fever as she makes soup and potato pancakes with two neighbors. The men were playing Wii. Am I the only one who doesn't have a Wii? :)

Dressed to fit, nothing but a hug and big hair

- Hairdresser and friend Tim's tribute to the New Orleans Saints win in the Super Bowl AND Mardi Gras - which we both love. His traffic-stopping lawn jockey is dressed to fit holidays or fun events.

- Due to recovery instructions for my eye surgery, I am not allowed to shower my head just yet, so Tim offers to salon-wash and dry my hair for me. He doesn't charge anything but a hug. How nice.

- Tim once dated one of my friends, but fortunately our relationship has lasted. We reminisce about the big hair he used to give me in the '80s and he sends me off this day with a slightly scaled-down replica. Committee members at a meeting later do a double-take, but like it.

Retreat, happy and fortunate

- Attending a retreat at Columbia Theological Seminary over the weekend, ending in a simple communion service held in this chapel, in which women sat in a circle and served each other.

- Having a pesky non-age related cataract removed on my birthday last Thursday (of all things! - surgery on your birthday! - what was I thinking? everyone said that :)). The highlight - the surgeon leaning over me and singing Happy Birthday before he got started.

- Feeling so fortunate to have friends like Barbara G and Leisa to drive me to surgery and post-op appointments respectively and in the rain. And the good thing - lunch after both. Highlights - apple cobbler with ice cream on one day and triple cheese macaroni the next. Yum.

Companion, sharing and unexpected

- I love this photo of Sophie wrapped up in a throw that had fallen on the floor. It reminds me somehow of when Bugs Bunny used to wrap a scarf around his head to disguise himself as a woman. Sophie is a good and faithful companion and her only fault is making me get up early to get her food as usual on my day off.

- A sweet friend calls to say she wants to share some soup with me that she has just made. It is carrot soup - something that Bugs and Blue Bunny might like. :)

- An unexpected package comes in the mail - my sister has my favorite little shop in Milledgeville, The Red Door, send me two bottles of the wonderful local lotion they sell made of Goat's milk. Owner Susan says she can hardly keep the lotion, made by Milledgeville Soap Works, in - it is so popular. I love supporting hometown businesses. I buy a bottle of it every time I go in and end up giving it to someone as a little present every time. Jo got my last bottle in her stocking at Christmas - so this was a thoughtful replacement and certainly made for Happy Mail.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of unexpected surprises. See you Monday!

Mei Lan, waiting and splash

- Atlanta's 3-year-old giant panda, Mei Lan, who was born at Zoo Atlanta, is moving to China this morning as part of an agreement for the long-term loan of her parents to the zoo. We will miss this little girl. She is being flown on a special FedEx plane called "The Panda Express."

- An enforced 1.5 hours to sit still while waiting for an appointment. I was not expecting to wait and did not take a book. But reflecting at some point what wonderful meditation time can be had while being forced to wait.

- Finding my Red Dress Pin after seeing a TV spot about informing women of the risks of heart disease. They encourage a display of red clothing or the wearing of your pin this month to draw attention to the disease. I have been told that I wear black much too often, so my pin goes on my black jacket this morning and Voilà! a splash of red.

Reflection, 20 years and 201st birthday

- A most excellent dinner at the tapas restaurant The Iberian Pig, with the highlight for me being a dish of crispy eggplant fries with a spicy red pepper aioli. Yum. We were seated by the window overlooking Decatur square and my attempt at photographing the square through the window ended up capturing friend Steven's reflection.

- We have been friends for 20 years - a long time in the scheme of things. We taught each other to appreciate the others taste in music. But I still don't love The Smiths. :)

- Today is Felix Mendelssohn's 201st birthday. I am taking along his "Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5 'Reformation'" with me for the drive to work this morning in his honor.

Groundhog Day, happy coincidence & another

Rising by Bob Trammell

- Waking up to the sound of rain on Groundhog Day. A quick Google search of the question, "What happens when it rains on Groundhog Day?" turns up a similar custom reported on Wikipedia, "In Germany, June 27 is "Siebenschläfertag" (Seven Sleepers Day). If it rains that day, the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy."

- A happy coincidence. Having dinner with a friend when I see two pairs of smiling eyes peeking over the booth from the other side. It is Barbara and Norman who I posted about yesterday. Before they leave, Barbara slides into the booth next to me and I tell my friend an interesting thing Barbara did: she bungee jumped off the Great Wall of China when she was 70. How about that?

- Telling friend Michelle in an email yesterday, "I hope you are well and happy today. (That's the answer my dad used to give when I asked him how he was today - well and happy.)" This morning an email from her, "I was exchanging e-mails with my dad today, and he signed one of them, "I hope you are well and happy!" Weird because he has never used that expression before, to my knowledge." Another happy coincidence, at least.

Mirepoix, inclusion and beam

- Making a Lentil Stew recipe recommended by Elise on Simply Recipes and finding that I have made a Mirepoix after sauteing diced carrots, celery and onions together. Such a beautiful word and they look so pretty together.

- Having been unofficially adopted by friends Barbara and Norman long ago, smiling at an email yesterday in which I am included with their actual kids and she signs off, "Love, Mom."

- During the church service, a ray of sunlight beams across the golden communion cup and the reflection of the "Ordinary Time" green parament onto it gives it a green and gold glow. Just for a moment and then it is gone.