Ten Rules......

en Rules

I found this on the blog "Kind Over Matter" and said "Amen!"
I especially agree with # 7.  When I react strongly to someone I always try to pay attention to me.

Ten Rules for Being Human  by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. This is my version of her #9.  The answers to your questions lie in your relationship with God.  Look all around at the beauty of this world -- He is for you -- He is reaching out to you -- He does not play hide and seek -- He left a paper trail it is called the Bible.
10. You will forget all this.

Seriously -- Are you kidding me -- No-no-no-no -- Yeah - yeah - yeah -- Really?....

Since I'm an audio learner I am uber-sensitive to trends in words.
I'm hearing these phrases everywhere I go and it's like I'm stuck in a sound bite nightmare.
Truthfully - no kidding - Yes it's true - Naah - For real.

A Great Idea!

My very creative girlfriend Muffet is sewing these table cloths out of bandanas for her 4th of July extravaganza. How fun is that?

Parting Shots

Just a few last snaps of NYC memories.  The most creative floral arrangements.

 

 

And delights around every corner.  Counting the days until I can return......................

 

Two Posts Today. See Second Post First

New York City -- How Do You Get to Times Square From Here?

Well, you could "practice, practice, practice" or walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge.
We chose the later:

 

Oh, the sights!

New York City Day 4 "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

One of the goals for this trip was to do some of the things that we never have time to do and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is one of them.
We were lucky to have arrived on "Bee Day" which was a celebration of the garden's 100th birthday.  Entrace fees were waived for the day -- gotta love that!
What an oasis.  All I can do to describe it is show you some of the windows into this treasure:

And then there was the people watching:

There were "oldies" concerts all day long and of course there had to be:

Bees!

I guess we were part of the people parade

And I hope we adhere to this good advice upon re-entry into the world

New York City Day 3 -- Something Out of Pretty Woman

My travel friend Leslie's son is getting married in August so while we were there she wanted to work with the Macy's Personal Shopper for THE dress. Saturday was our appointment and Marcy was our helper.

So, this is how the other half lives?
Marcy had pulled suggested dresses in Leslie's size and colors and we were seated in a private reception area while Leslie striped, slipped, zipped in and out of one adorable dress after another.
Marcy was invaluable and such a kind, encouraging woman.
There was another young woman there and we found out that she was being fitted for an outfit to walk the red carpet at The Tony's on Sunday night. Her name is Jeanette Illidge and she is from Savannah. Jeanette auditioned for the Macy's talent contest and a chance to attend the Tony's and perform. Just that morning she had auditioned before the American Idol judges and was selected as one of two candidates. The winner was voted on by viewers during the awards show and Jeanette won!
Well, you know how it is when you meet people in your underwear -- you get real close real fast. So before long I was giving her advice (Go to church on Sunday at Times Square Church to get your head on straight before a crazy night and see an awesome choir of 300 people mostly Broadway singers) and we were like one big happy half dressed family.

Jeanette

 After a dress was selected Marcy finished the look with shoes and jewelry. What a joy to have the whole look completed.

The displays of jewelry were breathtaking!

Everything was shipped home. Did you know that you don't pay NYC taxes (9%) if you ship your purchases out of state?

"Ship don't schlep" I always say.

We walked back to our hotel through the Garment District.

Homage to Singer.

And stepped over the Fashion Walk of Fame plates.

If fashion is religion -- this is the temple

We took our own good advice and joined the throngs’ at Times Square Church Sunday morning. It was packed and overflow rooms with large screens were full too. What an uplifting experience! Every race, socio-economic level, and age was represented. All with one heart and mind. Something wonderful is going on in NYC spiritualy and I wonder if the uncertainty in the world is helping turn us back to our faith?

Most of our meals were simple street food eaten outside in the beautiful weather.  We had too many fun things to do to waste  hours on a meal.

Our lunch time guest.

Off to Lincoln Center..............................

New york city -- High Time

Did you know there is a new park in NYC that is built on an abandoned Railway Bridge in Chelsea?   It's called the Highline.  Acres and acres of fill dirt were brought in and a park was created.  Only in New York!

The view from the street.

They placed the gadens between the tracks.

These cool solar lights are placed all through the plantings.

What a place to wile away the hours.

They have concerts and performances all summer.

Next we headed to Chinatown for lunch and shhhhhhhhhhhh purses.

We knew we were in the right place when we smelled these from the markets as we came up the stairs from the subway.

I remember years ago seeing a fish so fresh his heart was still beating.

Can't say we weren't warned.  This is the tile on the subway walls  at the Chinatown station.

That night we went to meet John Thomas and watch the play Mama Mia. 

We met these folks from Malaga Spain.  They were pleased  to hear I was just there in November.  I told them I was disappointed that I didn't see Antonio Banderas (it's his home town).  Do you think good looks are in the drinking water?

Everyone left the theater singing those contagious songs:

"Mama Mia here I go again...."

Then it was off to bed with this view, sore feet and happy memories.

New York city -- Come Fly With Me

to NYC!

I'm going to take you along on Suzanne and Leslie's BIG adventure.
New York is my "Happy Place". I have been there twice this year and it never fails to inspire me.
My alarm went off at 4:00 am on Thursday morning and by 11:30 we were at the Port Authority in Midtown. The Westin Hotel was right across the street and it is beautiful.
I'm a Priceline fan and we were able to stay at this four star palace for $185.00 per night. Unbelievable when you consider that the going rate starts at $325.00.

The views from our bedroom

This roof top says "Summer Party" to me.

We launched out to Times Square for food and the lay of the land. Pizza Rolls (This guy has the best!), Theater tickets (Momma Mia for Friday night), and the general excitement of the city.

Look who we ran into................

She is from Wisconsin and a waitress at the Starlight Lounge.

This daring couple had just been married.

And this was their limo.

Dessert was a piece of cheesecake and we knew we had arrived.

Next morning found us at

the Chelsea Food Market

Home of

We loved the tastes

                                                                               

(These are cup cakes!)

and fun atmosphere

All of the food network stars shop here and it is evident that only the best will do.

A must for anyone passing through the city.

Being the Queen of Fun I guess it makes sense that I love this waky, happy, random city!