Updating my life

I feel the urge or need to write about my thoughts today.  Everything needs to be put in perspective on this 10th day of July 2016.  Maybe part of my life review today is because my birthday is on the 12th, not a big deal - my 60th was a year ago and I had a great time last year.  Everyone remembered and I was treated like a queen all of July 2015.  My life at the lake condo was new, my first summer here, and I was still healthy before the muscle issue.  Now I'm 90% healed.

Honestly, I'm missing people.  Sundays are always the remembrance days for me out of the whole week.  I miss my husband, more than 2 years gone.  I miss my sister, more than 4 years gone.  It's like my sis and I were together yesterday getting ready to go to the theater for a movie on cheap Tuesday, which we did quite often...not because we were stingy and picked Tuesdays but because we had priorities and we were saving money:)  I don't want to think about the way she died, suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and then leaving this Earth 6 months later in 2012  Every day I sat by her side, changing the tv channels because she couldn't think, couldn't speak with clear words, just her own made up words mainly, but...

I have to forget about that time.  Memories are not good and hopefully in years memories will change.  My last uncle died in March this year and my last aunt went to the great beyond a few weeks ago, end of May.  Too much death last few years.  I'm near tears today off and on ...but it's a good life, and I'm fortunate.

I love living here at the resort, so peaceful. " Live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two.  Love lost, such a cost, give me things that don't get lost, like a coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you."  Neil Young's song "Old Man".  I remember singing that song back in the 1970's when I was a teen, now I'm almost a senior citizen.  Just like I often sang Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey" or the Elton John/Bernie Taupin lyrics from the album "Tumbleweed Connection" song "Country" Comfort".  The words go something like this "I saw Grandma yesterday down at the store, You know she's really doing fine for 84.  She asked me if sometime I'd fix her barn.  She needs a helping hand to run the farm.".  Check them if you read this okay?

I have a good week planned, with celebration, relatives and friends.  Weather has improved after a week of rain off and on.  I'd like to say more about me because it's unfair to people who lay it all on the table and here's the mystery woman without a real name on Facebook or a blog.  I just can't reveal all.  My alias at Facebook is for my book series and even for that special interest I've not updated it recently.

I help my 87 year old mother a lot although she still lives in her own home in a gated community.  We travel together.  My education is English major at university level, but I abandoned it and married early. My past work history was culinary school in San Francisco, California back in the 1980's.  Reason for going was I liked cooking and wanted a good school on my resume.  My idea came to fruition and I spent many years as chef in world class hotels in Canada.  My husband and I were apart off and on.  I realized chef work was going to be too physically demanding as I reached my mid 40's so I went back to college and obtained an honors diploma in Tourism and was a travel agent for awhile, then back to being a chef and travel agent, two jobs for many years.  Here's some pics, Oahu 2015 when I went with Mom.

Me at the Duke statue, Honolulu

Me at Waikiki, surfing - always swim with a buddy - first rule of water safety!

Me at the Byodo-In Temple, Oahu

As far as my identity, just go with it, please.  I want this separate identity as my refuge because otherwise, Facebook or whatever I'd have former schoolmates, workmates etc asking to be my friend and no way would I refuse them online - I just can't.  I'd also have men I knew casually from my past try to romance me. They say I'm sexy.  Many have tried to bed me and all have failed...but I'm willing to get into a new relationship.  I'd have no problem finding a lover ...but I'm super selective and others say I'm intelligent. I'd rather be known for being kind though.  I believe intelligence and kindness go hand in hand.

I need a man with an interest in English Literature, a kind man, a man who knows a lot about music and loves nature and animal rights, environmental causes.  Not a lot to ask imo.  Oh yes, and a sense of humor like me and he would like to travel to warm climates:)  And maybe have the money to do that because most men don't!  I have my own funds and a house paid for, no mortgage, and I have a Jeep for those off road nature adventures.

 My fantasy book series is my escape and my name MsMerlina is my safety net.  A few people know who I am and that's good for now.  If you want to know more about me - you know who you are!! - just direct message me at Twitter and we'll go from there, thanks!  Now that I've spilled my feelings, I don't have to worry because my followers are few on Twitter, intentionally, to help me remain MsMerlina and not Lou N of Lake Country!

Thanks for reading and please feel free to message me at Twitter...yes, I want to meet & you know who I'm talking to!

Love,
Lou

The "Stairway" debate

I can't be quiet about this Stairway to Heaven trial...although I'm quite aware opinions are everywhere...everyone is unique and each person has a different perspective based on many things - life experiences, values, emotions, ability to reason etc etc.  Everyone wants to think of the best outcome in any situation, right?

If you love people and see them as beautiful, they can do no wrong, usually.  You always find reasons for what they do.  But then there's that nagging feeling that just won't go away - like I have right now during this trial about the song copyright.

I'm a lifer superfan of Led Zeppelin.  I was 13 in 1968 when LZ was first talked about in our little BC community.  This was a dark, dangerous, heavy band for the new teens - they were our band.  My older sister had Rolling Stones and Beatles, James Taylor and Cream.  Led Zep was my band.  I was hooked.

As a lifer fan, I heard about the song Taurus by Spirit a long time ago online, maybe I heard about it around the year 2000 at a Led Zep online forum. When I heard the song Taurus I felt instantly it was the beginning few bars of Stairway to Heaven - a very strong feeling of recognition and marvel...and many feelings all at once.

When I was burning cds courtesy of the free now defunct Napster I burned a copy of Taurus around 2001.  I still have the cd.

I have followed Led Zep off and on for almost 50 years.  I've seen most of the online interviews, have all the music, have read interviews, have witnessed conversations at various Led Zep forums on the internet, and have LZ bootlegs from around the world.  We are scholars of LZ - we could have university degrees in the history of LZ, some of us.

Now, Randy California.  He was born on Feb 20, 1951.  Same day as Kurt Cobain, same year and a few days after my older sister mentioned above.  She's gone, too.  So is Kurt.  Randy drowned in Hawaii.  He died same day as my father, but 4 years later.  Randy was a Pisces Chinese sign of the Rabbit.  That's like a double Pisces.  He died without contesting the song...because he knew the truth would come to light.  The truth would come from way below the surface and shine for all to see.

I'm glad this trial is happening in the lifetimes of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.  It would be worse if it happened in 20, 30 years when no one could speak for themselves.  I feel sorry Randy California is not here at the trial to speak.  I feel sorry he drowned saving his son...

And I feel sorry Jimmy feels he has to defend LZ and say he doesn't remember ever hearing the song Taurus.  Jimmy is a stickler for detail.  You mean to tell me he heard of the song and never listened? You mean to say he didn't remember touring and opening for Spirit, or speaking with Randy?

What Jimmy may mean is that music is a free domain of discovery and all the chords already exist. When you love a band you always find reasons for what the guys say. Yes, I believe great chords of music are part of nature.  A few examples come to mind...like the inspired 4 notes of  Pink Floyd's David Gilmour's Shine On You Crazy Diamond (another Pisces btw)

My belief is great harmonious music exists in nature...in the natural sounds of birds, in every sound and sounds have meanings we understand on a deep unknown level.  The sound resonates with us. Chords in music are discovered, not invented.  Randy California, a perceptive discoverer musician in tune with an elemental universe at that moment, discovered the opening bars of music to Taurus, the same musical notes in the opening of Stairway to Heaven.  Randy discovered the sound, wrote it down, and then Jimmy Page & Led Zep explored the sound from there.  The beginning of a song is what draws a person in usually, or a chorus imo.

Of course I love Led Zep.  Randy had a door open at the beginning of a Stairway...and Led Zep made it a great song.  The underdog here is of course Randy.  When you struggle to make a living doing what you love, you sacrifice, and you don't have money you're in survival mode.  I've been there.  Maybe the guys of Led Zep struggled with money until 1968...so they are removed from what it's like to think of survival day to day.  They are wealthy and they've brought joy of music to millions.

My verdict - they are all beautiful, including the lawyer for the plaintiff.  But seek the truth and stay beautiful.

Love, me.

My year in review

Another year has gone by since I last blogged here.  Same as before, I just don't feel the need.  I love my home at the resort and it's a beautiful life, peaceful and calm.  I can do "calm".  I traveled a bit with Mom & little sis, Mexico was a highlight end of last October. I couldn't even swim 2 strokes in the pool there without much arm pain however, reasons described below.

I'm still recovering from a mystery illness.  Last summer I overstrained somehow.  My muscles and tendons were badly strained all over my body, mainly arms and legs.  I refused to take medication because the doctor & specialist didn't know what the prob was.  My doctor of several years retired in July so I'm with a new doctor after that time.  He's thorough and good but the diagnosis is undetermined.  It could be fibramialgia (sp) or even Lyme disease they thought, but I refused to believe it was anything more than muscle and tendon strain. 

September was the worst when I couldn't sit down on a chair without bracing myself with my arms for leverage.  After Mexico, at home in November, my Mom fell at her place and broke her femur.  A neighbor saw & helped her.

Mom took awhile to recover and was at a care home til the new year.  She's doing great for 87 years old - at her home now & mainly independent, driving again!  I put on many miles during the winter, back and forth to help her - now we're back to a more normal routine of weekly visits and daily phone calls:)  She's a great Mom!

I could finally sit on the livingroom floor and do my yoga from a sitting position in late February. Before that time I continued with a daily physiotherapy regime of my own, standing, twisting, bending.  I stretched my muscles at least a half hour each day to lengthen them, make my body stronger and to avoid muscle atrophy.  I feel about 85% recovered now.

My Spring planting is done in my flowerbeds and the garden out back:)  I'm working on my book series and a publisher is reviewing the first installment - let's see if it leads to a contract.

I have new friends here and old friends visit, too!  Everything is good.  I'm thankful and grateful for all I have and I'm glad I can still do things physically.  I'll never take those abilities for granted again.  In winter I had a drastic fear of falling on the ice because a fall would have been brutal on my muscles, unable to take the impact.  I now understand the fear people have when they have mobility problems and the lesson learned, bright side of this experience is to have more empathy and to continue to take good care of my health.  My physical body and mental wellness go hand in hand.  Thank you, God and angels.

May musings

Hello.  I forgot about this blog mainly.  Years ago I posted so many entries and now I see nothing since November.  I guess I've moved on, not just physically.  I don't know...this blog reminds me of other times, not really nostalgia, just different times. Loved ones have passed away in the years after I began "The Path of Lu".  I've grown.  My enthusiastic approach has totally changed to one of mellowed retrospect in many instances.  I can't be who I was before...and I don't really miss that person - too strenuous, too much striving, not going with the flow.

I read something interesting yesterday at the massage therapist's place, while I was waiting for my Mom to have her neck and back massage completed.  I read about 'positivity'.  It went something like this

Positive thinking is good if a person takes realistic steps to accomplish goals.  A person must believe she can reach these goals.  Belief is important.  Positive thinking is not at all like wishful thinking.  Many people have wishful thinking and it doesn't lead to their goals.

To me, this is a very good description of the difference between two types of thinking...and sometimes people engage in wishful thinking when they believe they are thinking positively, hence nothing materializes.

I've been a positive thinker for a long time and I'm reaching my goals.  I'm in a good place now and life is happy.  I don't have to reach out all the time with blogs.  It's not where I'm at.  It doesn't matter who sees what I write.  It really doesn't matter...as long as I have peace within and I'm happy.

Long time away, what happened? Lots

Hey all, it's ridiculous how long I've ignored this blogger when I used to visit here almost daily for a couple of years...but times change I guess.  Interests change, everything changes...everything is in motion, nothing stays the same...these are the truths in my life anyway.

Here's a link to my relative's second edit of her book, the beginning of the "Star Water" series.  She's called it Silver Rain and you really should check it ...it is a very authentic, reaching for the stars truthful book about things we should really think about in life - the concepts of time, space, love, creation, continuity...huge topics beautifully presented...
this book is like a flower blooming, opening - complex yet so easy to look at and purity shines through.

So what happened since February?  Lots - I moved very recently...love my new environment - so serene and healthy.  I lost a cousin... and my husband in the Springtime...we were apart but I still consider myself a widow - I married for life.  I have our memories, a turntable and LPs, our music reminds me so much of him, the way we were.

Anyway, I appreciate my God, my health and I'm ever thankful to the great spirits helping me along the way...love you all.

Check this book!

Hey all, I read a wonderful romantic, suspenseful book and I want to pass the link on to you. I've promised to help with promotion and here's why I think you'd like Star Water - Book One - Sweet Sorcerer  Luvelle is a promising new author - I know her personally.

Sweet Sorcerer is almost Alfred Hitchcock style in the suspense - so much tension you'll be nervous as you turn the pages, yet so understated everything looks calm on the surface.  Motivations, plot turns are hard to predict.  You really are not certain what's going to happen, or who is good & who is bad.  You'll never guess what direction this story will take.  It's a hot romantic read with a supernatural story.  The main characters, Merleena & Owen, their friends & family are so realistic they jump off the pages.

Do yourselves a favor, even if you are not a young adult reader, & pass it on!  The book is currently free at Swoonreads, a new online imprint of the well established Macmillan Publishers, one of the "Big 5" publishing houses.  As well, the author, like me, is involved in animal rights & environmental causes so you know you'll be giving back to nature if you read and rate Sweet Sorcerer online!!  If this book is chosen for publication in print, more awareness will be spread regarding our Newest New Age!

Ides of January

Here we are halfway through January, which are the ides no matter what month they are in, not only the Ides of March - bit of trivia.

Just dropping by to say all is well.  The full moon is almost here and I don't want to get carried away and say too much tonight.  I'm packed full of emotion and peace is what seems blissful right now.

Maybe I'll include a video instead.  This is Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"  When I was young my fiance and I listened (yes to that question too - I know what you're thinking) to it a lot...besides the album being great we didn't have a big collection of music back then.  Watch the storm happen and the heavens break loose near the finale.

                                  Good night.  LOVE IS ALL.