Check out the woman's boots... oh and the painting, too. YOU CAN CLICK ON ALL PICTUES TO ENLARGE THEM AND THEN CLICK AGAIN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER.

I’ve been intrigued by the ads a credit card company has recently been running in magazines about “THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU’RE STILL ALIVE”……maybe depressed would be a better word….. because these are things I will never do…..i know that- which is probably the “hook” of the ad. Nobody can do all or most or even one of these without some extra money which the company will gladly supply at an interesting interest rate.

But it’s not just money that prevents us from realizing our dreams, is it? It’s lots of reasons --- fear, family responsibilities, time, priorities, age, health…just the pressures of living prevent a lot of people from realizing most of their dreams….even achievable ones. (hmmmmm…..i wonder if it’s a dream if it IS achievable ---- maybe then it’s just a matter of hard work and persistence)

Well, anyway, here’s some of the items on these lists of “THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU’RE STILL ALIVE” with pertinent comments on their applicability…..in case you want to apply for the credit card and live a little…..

THINGS I WOULDN’T DO ANYWAY:

----MASTER JAPANESE COOKING - now why would I want to do that? I haven’t quite mastered microwave cooking yet.

----GO CAMPING AND LIVE OFF THE LAND - they must be kidding

----SHAVE YOUR HEAD - (I’m not making these up, btw) not sure why a woman would want to do this? it did get Brittany a lot of extra publicity…as if she needed that. But now that I think of it, here’s a story: One of my best friends’ daughters had breast cancer and naturally lost her hair after chemo. She went around bald. Refused to buy a wig or wear a hat. Said she wanted people to realize what cancer looked like and that so many more resources could be devoted to cancer research. Did I say how much I admired that young woman.

----VISIT AN UNINHABITED ISLAND – if they let people visit it, it wouldn’t be uninhabited for very long, now would it? Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Captain D’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King, and undoubtedly Larry King wouldn’t be far behind me.

----DRINK A MARGARIETA ON ISLE MARGARITA – Let me qualify this. I don’t like tequila, but would gladly drink some other tasty libation on this isle….wherever the hell it is, it must have a beach. Sounds like my kinda place.

----TEST DRIVE A SUPERCAR – suffice it to say, I never have to drive anywhere. My friends always offer to do the driving (right Barb?). and I value what living I have left.

----SPEND CHRISTMAS ON A TROPICAL ISLAND – let me qualify this. it just doesn’t seem like a place for Christmas Celebration…but I would be glad to go there anytime if I had luxury hotel accommodations.

----EAT AN INSECT - now i know they're kidding

THINGS I WOULD LOVE TO DO:

---RUN WITH THE BULLS IN PAMPLOMA – Hemingway and I would have had a mah ve lous time in Italy, I think.

----WALK THE RED CARPET AT A MOVIE PREMIER - and win the academy award for starring in it. why not dream big?

----SEE THE TONY AWARDS LIVE – hell, I can’t even keep healthy enough to attend a Clay Aiken concert to which I already have tickets. oh, wait, does that sound like whining? sorry

----GO TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES – but I want VIP seating and Jerome to keep the crowds away from me.

----SEE THE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS - do photos or tv count?

----GO ON A SAFARI – does watching my favorite movie “Out of Africa” count?

----SEE THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA – my daughter has done this. Why is she living my life???

----LOOK DOWN FROM THE CLIFFS OF MOHER

----FLY AROUND THE WORLD – I assume this doesn’t mean non-stop, but with daily stops at exotic locations. yeah, I definitely could do this.

----VISIT AN ACTIVE VOLCANO – I assume this means to fly very high over it in an air conditioned plane.

----SEE A PENQUIN IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT –see above, substitute heated for air conditioned.

----DISCOVER A PLANET – Here’s a tidbit of info about me. When I was a girl and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said an archeologist or an astronomer. Obviously, i always wanted to know everything in both directions. I still regret my inability to achieve either of those goals. Unfortunately, a working-class family, mid-twentieth century society, and Missouri State College did not afford me those opportunities (not to mention my own lack of insight and gumption). oh well

THINGS I COULD DO:

----WATCH A SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH – does tv count here? but I think I could drive there from here. but, that’s chancy for me since those are scheduled and I’m usually in the hospital for these "schedules only infrequently events" not whining, just stating the facts.

----TRAVEL WITH HANDMADE FITTED LUGGAGE – i don't even know what "fitted" luggage is but i do know if i bought it, then I couldn’t afford the trip.

----WIN A KAROKE CONTEST – I certainly sing as well as William Hung.

----GET A DEGREE IN ENOLOGY – I looked this up – it's wine making. sounds like fun classes to me.

---STOMP GRAPES - why not? might be part of that enology degree.

THINGS I HAVE DONE:


----OWN A ROOM WITH A VIEW – I had the most beautiful view from every window in my house at the Lake. oh, wait, does this mean some view of some European scenery or architecture??? oh well, nevermind.







----WRITE A SCREEN PLAY – doesn’t say it has to be produced, does it?


----EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF BROADWAY UP CLOSE – bless my beloved daughter’s generous heart for these wonderful experiences.






----DRIVE ACROSS THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE – ok, this is a lie. but I have driven the bridge across Lake Pontchartrain which is the longest bridge in the world and should be on their silly lists anyway.

----HAVE A MUSEUM ALL TO YOURSELF – ok, I’m hedging on this one. but the pic from the magazine (yes, in case you were wondering, that’s the pic at the head of this blog. takes me a while to get anywhere, y’know) shows a couple (doncha love her boots) viewing Monet’s Waterlillies, which I have seen up close and personal. the enormous canvases were magnificent and the Art Institute of Chicago’s special exhibit wasn’t crowded so I took my sweet time on each painting. it’s almost the same thing, I think.

That credit card company seemed to have forgotten to include these impossible dreams that are at the top of my own personal list:

THINGS I DREAM ABOUT DOING:

---TO GO ON AN ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG

---FLY IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE (Did I tell you I applied for the Teacher in Space Program a few years ago? Well, I should have, anyway. but of course, if I had won I wouldn’t be here writing today, would i? and let’s never forget the name, Christa McAuliffe.)


----HAVE OPRAH CHOOSE ONE OF MY BOOKS FOR HER BOOK CLUB

--- WIN A MEET AND GREET - hahahahahahahah, oh sure, and my name’s Lucky Geni

----DO THE CLAY AIKEN TOTAL CONCERT TOUR – of course, you do realize you are listening to “The Impossible Dream”…….it’s one of my favorite songs. May have something to do with “to reach the unreachable star” line….



--(however, Clay may be trying to remember my name in this blend by Gerwhisp.)

it’s just me, geni

While I am not normally a country music fan, I really like this song….it’s the Feminist in me, i guess. ,,,,, . I’d much rather listen to “My Way” than “Stand by Your Man".

So while country music, imho, has not been notably pro-feminist that I know of, Martina McBride has something to say to all of us. This song does relate to all ages and stages of life and this is such a diversified group, I’m quite sure there’s a woman reading this who recognizes herself in one of these lines:

---wonderin where your life is goin to
---livin on dreams
---ever had a broken heart
---love without holding back
---lines on your face made you who you are
---wished upon a shooting star
---deam with everything they have


It was probably the lines about stars and dreams that caught my ear. Anyway, thinking about all the stages of life got me in a philosophical mood. So I thought I would offer my own take on how to get through the different stages that all of us face with as few scars on the psyche as possible:

GENI’S ESSENTIALS FOR GETTING ON WITH YOUR LIFE:

1. ACCEPTANCE – I know this is just about the hardest thing to learn in the world, but you might as well get started on it. There are some things in this life you just can’t stop, or solve or change….death….disability…..disease…..divorce. First of all, don’t blame yourself….some or all of these happen to everyone. It’s no one’s fault and certainly not God’s…so don’t try to give Her the guilt trip. I tried it….She ain’t having any….

2. FORGIVE YOURSELF – Yep, another difficult lesson but essential for getting on with your life. Sure we’ve all done things we regret. We can ask God for forgiveness and be sure it will be given. We can ask others for forgiveness and maybe get it. . But convincing ourselves to forgive ourselves is just the hardest….for me anyway. (I never said I had accomplished these …..just that they were essential…..)

3. HAVE FUN AND PAMPER YOURSELF – No matter how few or many family responsibilities you have (and naturally, women put their families first) you have gotta take care of yourself, too. If you burn out….who’s gonna do the laundry??? So here’s my list of fun things (and yes, I have accomplished these….) go shopping, spend some money on yourself for a change. Get a new hair style/color, have lunch with friends, go to a play or movie or sports event. Or just sit by yourself and read a book, listen to music, pet the dog, watch the stars come out…..if you try hard to find the time and refuse to share YOUR time, you will be a better person for it…take my word for it.

That's all i got, folks. What? You expected a pompous, extensive, exhaustive, enumeration? from me?

Well, here is something else i reommend. Another fun thing to do: WARNING---CLAY CONTENT HERE: download some clack, sing along with Clay, dance by yourself, email a clayfriend, go to a concert if at all possible.





So in case i haven't mentioned it a few hundred times, my friend and i are going on the southern leg of our Summer Clay Concert Tour starting this Thursday. We are flying to Raleigh, NC renting a car and attending three concerts in three days before flying back from Knoxville, TN, on Monday. Yes, this is what Clay groupies do. We go to as many concerts (yes the same concert) as we can afford. Nan and i only regret that we are not rich....Here's where i'll be this week-end. Don't try to call me, i'll be busy.




KOKA Booth Ampitheater in Releigh, NC(click on all pix to enlarge}





Biltmore Center, Ashville, NC


Biltmore Estates is also on our tour list.





Theater in Nashville, TN

it’s just me, geni