I’ve a SMILE on my Face

Bonjour!

It was another full weekend in Los Angeles. Friday night found me crashing out about 9:30pm with Betty for a much needed night of sleep. I know, the glamourous life of a Single Minded Woman in Los Angeles. Really tripping the life fantastic there!  I thought it would be hilarious right before bed to YouTube wolf howls for Betty to see if she reacted. Guess what? She did. Guess that else? Karma is a bitch and gave me a dose of my own medicine when Labrador and I were so terrifyingly awoken at 2am by the hoops and hollars of a pack of coyotes just outside the fence having taken down a kill. Not so funny. I guess I learned my lesson to not mess around with the noises of the things that go bump in the night.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning so I could take Betty our in the manner to which she’s accustomed, then get ready and get on the road for an 8am Social Media & Marketing Tech conference all day. Good times. Does this Duchess know how to party or what?! But it was fun and I ran across several great friends and colleagues there, not to mention learned a thing or two, so the sixth day of an early wake-up call was well worth it. Can I let you in on a little secret? One of my favorite things in the world is when people recognize me or just stop referring to me as Jill all around and yell, “Duchess.” The best part about this is that I’m getting used to and am starting to respond! What an awesome thing to have happening.

Marketing event complete, Betty and I took our usual weekend walk up to the Hollywood sign. Yes, I live within a stone’s throw of Lake Hollywood, the Hollywood sign and Lake Hollywood Estates. It’s one of the things I love most about my neighborhood and I plan on taking the Flip Cam out there soon to get some pictures for you all of how beautiful that walk/urban hike really is!

Then, and this is the part that gets really, really good – Saturday night the Aussie and I went to the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival. What for, I hear you wondering? Oh, nothing less than the all time greatest movie that I am madly in love with – Singin in the Rain!!

Isn't this great? A shower curtain inspired by my favorite Musical Movie - www.rolostore.com

Yes, the original Singin’ in the Rain on the big screen at the Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. Highlight of the weekend without a doubt!

A photo from inside the historic Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. That's about my point-of-view too from Saturday night's screening of 'Singin in the Rain.'

I will admit there was a bit of mad panic and a very upset Duchess leading up to the film, but luckily my Aussie and I made it in (in fact we were literally the last two tickets TO make it in!) and it was such a great time. He hadn’t seen it before so it was fun to see it with someone new and shockingly he really liked it. I thought it may border on the nonsensical for him; he’s very intelligent and all the films he talks about seem to be quite gritty, serious and intellectual. Singin in the Rain is kind of the happy, go-lucky, dumb blonde of the film world *hmmm, like watcher – like movie?

In fact when we left he said, ‘I feel like I understand you in a whole new way after watching that.’

“Oh dear,” I thought to myself.

‘It was perfect. Very sweet, very fun, dancing, singing, laughter – it was everything a movie should be about.’

I’ll take it.

It was a good weekend.

Gene Kelly is just plain handsome in this film.

Gene Kelly is just plain handsome in this film!

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It’s called Abundance

Bonjour!

 

There is something about this cold, snowy weather, the changing of the seasons and being surrounded by family that is making me feel reflective lately. I’m a fairly introverted, “thinking” person anyway, so it’s kind of my nature, but more so with the chilly short days and the time indoors. I’m enjoying a lot of Gaelic music and my new Gabaldon book, “An Echo in the Bone,” because things are so quiet right now. In fact, as I write this my niece has been dropped at third grade, my sister and her boyfriend have left for work, and things are really still in the house. It’s just me, the kitties and a pair of Labradors, alone for the day to do as we please. Time to get some work done I think.

 

I was thinking last night, being in this reflective mood, about life and where it takes us. I have always wanted to be really honest with this blog, but also hopeful and inspirational. Like I’ve said before, we teach what we need most to learn, so my hope has always been that by spreading faith along with honesty, maybe I could actually learn something in my own life. And one thing I realized last night is that sometimes it’s damn hard to be happy for others when it seems like their dreams are coming true and their lives are charmed while our own lives feel stalled out or falling short of our hopes. I was feeling a little bad last night, wondering when some of the things I’ve most dreamed of were going to happen in my own life after seeing so many wonderful things happening in the lives of others, and realized I was doing what I most want to avoid; the poor me routine.

 

Luckily I have an enlightened eight year old niece who called me into her room for help with her homework; twenty minutes of reading. So I sat next to her as she read stories to me of a pig named Olivia and a bulldog named Chowder and finally a book which snapped me out of my attitude. She cracked open the small book called, “It’s not what you’ve got,” and began to read Wayne Dyer’s message for little kids. In the countdown of important truths, I perked up as number eight rang truest for me in that moment of doubting whether my own hopes would ever come to be . . . .

“There is plenty for everyone, including you!

When others you know have more than you do,

you may start to wonder if there’s enough for you.

There’s a word called abundance – have you hear it before?

It means when it comes to life’s gifts, there are always more.

So remember this big word if you’re ever in doubt –

and know the great things in life will never run out.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What a perfect message for kids and older kids of my age alike. There is no shortage of the things I truly dream of in my life; love, family, career, and making a difference. Just because these things haven’t manifested yet in my life, or perhaps in your own, doesn’t mean they won’t. So keep the faith, me especially, even if it’s just believing for one more day that abundance exists for you too. Believe just today. And then tomorrow wake up and see if you can’t believe again that life is working perfectly, that abundance is everywhere and exists right now, that life’s greatest gifts and pleasures are lining up just outside your day. Believe that you will open the door and let all the great things in to your own life. As Michael Beckwith says, “You don’t make things happen. You make things welcome.” Welcome in the abundance. Believe. Just believe and hope and have faith and know, really know, your dreams want you as much as you want them. Have faith – they will find you and you look for and appreciate them.

 

Faith. Hope. Belief.

 

Abundance.

 

Fall colors in the Rocky Mountains; some of life's greatest abundance comes through the beauty of nature and our earth. September 2009.

Fall colors in the Rocky Mountains; some of life's greatest abundance comes through the beauty of nature and our earth. September 2009.

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