April 23, 2011

one week in a day

there is a young girl in my neighborhood.  most days you can find her in her front yard with her ipod and headphones, singing her heart out.  people drive by and laugh....even my brother laughs.  but still she sings.  she sings like she is jennifer lopez or some other superstar diva.  yesterday, i sat outside listening to her.  and no, she can't carry a tune in a bucket.  but as i sat and listened, i smiled because you know what....she believes.  she believes she is a superstar and i wish we could all be that way.  i wish that we all believed in our superstar powers.

i could take singing lessons from her.

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this shot is from last sunday's full moon...the cherry on top of the very best of evenings.  i loved the way the moon was a beacon through the heavy spanish moss.  it rose fast, almost faster than i could set up my tripod.  and as i got ready, my brother and sister-in-law stood watching its beauty with me.  life is good like that, you know?  or mine is....i have way more blessings to count than negatives. 

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i started another art journal.  this one is much more personal.  in some small ways i like that it's private and mostly very raw.  i've also been on a major reading kick - i went to the book store today and restocked on some new authors that i either researched or are on the book club list at the store.  i've been keeping track of what i've read on a blog page.  i've also given them stars (the more stars the better) but i'm not sure how long the stars will stay.  it seems my opinion of the book changes sometimes.  i bought a fake diana lens from photojojo but so far i'm not happy with any of the shots.  there is no way to focus and it feels mostly weird.
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i did a swap of spring photographs - i'll have to show you the one i got in the mail.  it's bokeh-licious.  speaking of spring, i have to confess i'm addicted to peeps.  i should be very glad that easter is tomorrow before my bum begins to resemble a peep chick.  i'm also rather fond of the cadbury caramel eggs.  *sigh*  speaking of cooking - i tried the pioneer woman's recipe for sour cream noodle bake and it was yummy.
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today on my ipod -   feels like home to me** (chantal kreviazuk), must have been love (pat mcgee band), you can't always get what you want (the rolling stones), wonderland (angie aparo), all for you (sister hazel), breakin' me (jonny lang), daniel (elton john), gravity (sarah bareilles), at the stars (better than ezra), wasting time (jack johnson), where you lead (carole king)

quote of the day - how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.  (anne frank)


*totally my wedding song if i ever get married again.

31 comments:

  1. First, I love her spirit! Sometimes the criteria is not about whether you're good at what you do, but how much you love it. {Special Olympics children, for example. Who would say they're not good?!!}...Secondly, I LOVE that moon through the trees shot! Very nice!

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  2. When do we lose our confidence and stop believing that we're completely amazing?...I'm so glad that this young girl still believes in herself (and that someone sees and appreciates the magnificence of her!).

    The moon with the moss hanging from the branches seems to me, the epitome of "the south". Beautiful.

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  3. Hey...that girl sounds like my husband...he has a gig tonight...and really...he plays the drums...so he doesn't have to sing, but recently he's been practicing ALL the songs VOCALLY...and I can hear him even when he's in the basement...lets just say,it's funny, and makes me smile!

    Great photo of the moon...sorry about the lense you bought...

    I have just finished hiding eggs...and now to bed.
    HAPPY E again...HUGS
    Char.x

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  4. yes, we could all learn lessons from your singing neighbor! love this post!

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  5. Lovely shot, Char.

    Oh my, I hope that girl continues to sing her heart out 'cuz it's not likely that she's singing for the neighborhood - she's likely serenading the universe! Our ability to experience and express joy is a wonderful aspect of our elegant design.

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  6. i've been listening to sara, jack and chantal, too and like the soul sisters i sometimes feel that we are, i've started another journal, too.
    not as artsy probably as yours, but filled with words and pictures that mean something to me that nobody else would understand. i can only hope this one lasts more than 2 weeks :(

    and that "can't carry a tune in a bucket" thing......oh my lord, that is so me and around here, only to my family, i sing like i'm the queen of pop !!

    xoxox beth

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  7. *I hope that girl can continue to sing her heart out. It's amazing, and sad, how self-conscious girls become as they get older.
    *Awesome full moon! Wish I could have been there to see it rise through the spanish moss, too.
    *You did the spring photo swap! Good for you! Can't wait to see what photo you received. We bought peeps for the girls but I haven't had one in years.

    Hope you're having a great day, Char!

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  8. to your singing neighbor- go girlfriend!!!

    i love following your book list. love it.
    xo

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  9. i LOVE the singing neighbor ..its all about believing!! your week sounds yummy..peeps and all!!

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  10. This is such a beautiful night photo--to think you were only recently posting that you weren't a good night photographer. Hoping you had a great weekend Char!
    xo Mary Jo

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  11. I admire the 'superstar'. Sometimes believing is the hardest part. Your moon photograph is beautiful! Your new journal seems like a great one--personal, private, raw. Good stuff. Enjoy your reading!

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  12. I love to read your words. Always so full of your personality, which I so love!
    Brenda

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  13. Glad we were looking at the moon at pretty much the same time.sounds like you are doing stuff for you. that makes me happy. be well my friend. hugs.

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  14. Oooh, the shot is eerily awesome! Love it!

    Have you tried the chocolate covered Peeps? Or are you a purist? :)

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  15. not a purist by any means! i love the chocolate dipped ones

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  16. i loved this post. funny and real.
    i'm addicted to peeps too. i bought some for Taylor's Easter basket and I think I ate most of them. haha

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  17. It's so wonderful that she can keep singing even if others are laughing. Wish we all that kind of confidence!

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  18. *swoon* that moon shot! I too love peeps...ugh...my dentist should love me. :) I hope you had a wonderful easter. Yes, let's all believe more... xo

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  19. I love love love what you had to say about the girl singing! Warmed my heart in so many ways! Yep!
    Beautiful positive thoughts here!!

    xoxo :)

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  20. Such a beautiful, moody moon photo Char!

    I found myself hoping that no one tells that girl that she isn't a good singer...and that if someone does I hope she doesn't listen... Too many times young people's dreams are crushed like that....

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  21. Oh I forgot to mention that it is too bad we don't live near each other...I buy my Peeps for photo ops only...I would give them all to you:)

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  22. that shot is just gorgeous!

    and i have never in my life known anyone that liked peeps...until today! lol

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  23. I love your book list, and just finished putting a few on my library hold list! (love love love the Internet for things like that!). Ive been on a reading kick, too, and just recently have gotten hooked on Carl Hiaasen (whose characters are extreme and absurd and a bit perverted and, I think, ultimately hilarious).

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  24. I love catching up like this -- where you have done a random sampling of the joy in your week. I love that that girl sings her heart out because it brings her joy -- the lessons we learn from others!! I love your photograph of the full moon and that you are happy to be so blessed in life. I love that you have started a more personal, raw art journal...and I love that you share what you love with us! xo

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  25. So sweet! We should all be so uninhibited!

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  26. my three year old LOVES to walk around the house in circles singing her heart out. last night, she was in the middle of quite the incoherent ballad when her dad said 'you sing just like mommy.' and i laughed so hard. poor girl. of all things to inherent from me...
    but she still believes. you gotta love that.
    xoxo

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  27. I'm going to start singing my heart out right now... :)

    How beautiful that your young neighbor still believes. There is so much pressure on girls these days -- so much harder than when we were young, and it was pretty bad then.

    What a gorgeous moon, Char. Yes, life is good. :)

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  28. I am not aware of any way to send you a message, so I write it here...
    I just want you to read the book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. It will be one of your favourites, I can assure you.I hope you will read it.

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  29. What a beautiful photo! I have never been able to capture the moon the way I would like to...somewhere along the way, I gave up.
    Wouldn't it be great if we were all so uninhibited like that girl? Singing loudly and proudly without a care in the world who might be listening? I admire her confidence.

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i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.