X John Lennon

Apparently Apple Corps can't tell the difference between a music producer and a music retailer. I am boycotting John Lennon until further notice. Hey, Apple Corps! There's an Apple Door and an Apple Real Estate Investments in my town. Would you like to sue them, too?

am in receipt of ...

    a package containing Lindt chocolates (which have been submitted to multiple independent taste tests to determine definitively that, yes, indeed, Lindt direct from Switzerland is much, much better than Lindt exported to America and stored on shelves and then purchased), a First Edition gorgeously covered, printed in England Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (although not technically mine I will be reading it before selling it on EBay !!!Just kidding!!! but I will read it) and some refrigerator quality mixed media art. There's also an impossible puzzle and a friendly note.

Life is good.

cool yule!

Really pretty with interactivity for a reason. Love it!
Coming Soon: my wish list.
... soon as in before the flood. :-)

::::rain::::

There are some songs that are as magical as in that Volkswagen commercial where everything moves in time to the music. That has happened to me before but never with quite this impact.

It was a lovely Saturday morning. I was, an usual, totting up the negatives in my life as I drove along the sun while listening to Paul McCartney. As I dwelled on my shortcomings and personal disasters, my attention shifted to the song "Too Much Rain." At that moment I passed an old man bent over a cane, moments later I noticed the handicapped icon on the license plate in front of my car. After a brief stop at a traffic signal I passed three men in conversation outside a motorcycle shop where bright yellow motorcycles gleamed on the sidewalk. One of the men engaged the shopkeeper while the other cast a calculated glance at the two motorcycles nearest him. Moving on I saw a man barely moving as he sat in his outdoor home near the drug store. Paul sang "... it's not right, in one life, too much rain."

Of course it applied to me. My life is full of rain – although I have to admit no more than the average. Really. Then there are those who have had the misfortune of almost nothing but misfortune. Those who know no other way than the way of thievery, those who know nothing but illness, those whose best choice seems to be to live on the street.

Tears streamed down my face as I thought of how fortunate I am to have lots of good choices in my life and lots of freedom. I have a god/goddess/process that cares for me and guides me. There are those who don't. There I was gliding along in my shiny, clean, whole car with a job and place to live, a good family and good health. Yet I could think only of what I lacked.

I heard the refrain "who wants a happy and peaceful life?" and thought, not I. I would be bored for sure. What I have is definitely right for me. Today.

Since I can't link to the tune in iTunes (or anywhere else) I've posted the lyrics here.

laugh when your eyes are burning
smile when your heart is filled with pain
sigh as you brush away your sorrow
make a vow that it's not gonna happen again

it's not right
in one life
... too much rain

you know the wheels keep turning
why do the tears run down your face?
we used to hide away our feelings
but for now
tell yourself it's not gonna happen again

it's not right
in one life
... too much rain

it's too much for anyone
too hard for anyone
who wants a happy and peaceful life?
you've gotta learn to laugh

smile when you're spinning round and round
sigh as you think about tomorrow
make a vow
that you're gonna be happy again

it's alright
in your life
... no more rain

it's too much for anyone
too hard for anyone
who wants a happy and peaceful life?
you've got to learn to laugh
(Too Much Rain, Paul McCartney)

Sure, Sir Paul has been more fortunate than many of us. His hard work has gotten him farther than some. Yet he also has had rain. I think of the story I read of a man who gained great fortune just as his son died of Leukemia. There are some things money can't buy. For everything else there's sun.

[You can listen to the entire album online by going to Paul's site and clicking on the "Chaos and Creation" album cover and then choosing "listen to the new album?" It's all flash so no way to publish a link here. You can also watch videos.]

Horsey Clunk

Camilla is setting her own style. She has to, doesn't she? The big hats help but when is she going to get her teeth fixed? I'm all for casual day and that but does she have to look like she just came in out of the rain and threw something together? She can't be a Diana but there is absolutely nothing wrong with looking her best. There must be someone in the UK qualified to give her a good do and a decent smile. She's like Phyllis Diller with a hat on (no offense, Phyllis). And she's always got this look like she's been deep in a cave for three weeks and was just allowed out into the light. Buck up, Camilla! You're happily famous! Enjoy it! It's the least you can do for those of us consigned to quiet lives of unhorsey desperation.

I am really very happy that Charles, at last, has been allowed to marry the love of his life. It's just that everytime I look at a photo of the two of them I'm so struck by how She looks more like Him than He does.