"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. "
~John Lennon


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Rest Now, Mom

Yesterday morning my mother passed away peacefully in a hospital in Las Vegas. She was taken to the hospital from the assisted living facility when mom had trouble getting her breath. She had pneumonia. I spoke with her the day before she passed and she sounded strong and clear minded. The last thing she said to me was "I love you and God loves you".  She said her goodbyes that way the last year.

I have written about my mom in my blog(s) a few times.  Our relationship was not calm but we did learn much from each other.  It is just dawning on me that from now on I will be writing about her in the past tense.

My visit with her in September is even more important to me now. I am so glad I made the effort to spend a couple weeks with her and to be on the phone with her almost every day. We spoke for at least one hour every day. Mom kept telling me she was happy that I am living in this town and have such wonderful friends here.

Now this last picture of me and mom together in September will have a special place on my wall and in my heart.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Blessed Peace

No expectations. Easier said than done? Maybe. Goals are good; however, expectations are unhealthy.

The mind is a powerful tool. Use it to be healthy. Embrace the peace you achieve.

The Hairs On My Chinny Chin Chin

Photo found on Google.

You know what I'm talking about. The annoying hair on the right side of the chin, pluck, it is gone, and then Poof! In a couple days you rub your chin and what the heck, that hair is already a half inch long.

Someone told me long ago that our hair stops growing as we get older. What planet did that person come from. My hair grows, my nails grow.

If I don't shave under my arms I could braid the hairs in two weeks time.

Same with the hair on my legs.

Just sharing some personal information. Aren't you glad you read this post?

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Riding In The Wind

Gads! I didn't have a bicycle for three months. Where did the time go?

I was riding a bike every day when I was living at the little hippie house.

Then when I moved to this apartment I didn't ride as often.

Then the bike was stolen.

I bought a used bike from a woman in town.

The tires wouldn't hold air.

The nice man in town who works on bicycles worked on my bike.

He changed the tires, changed the seat to a comfy one, and repaired the gears.

Wowzer! I went riding today.

Liking Me Some Bike Riding.

After I took this picture I saw the cords to lamps I added for more light when my friends come to play dominoes and cards on the round table. Oh well, at least the cords aren't hanging around on the floor to trip someone.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Here, Turkey, Turkey

In my case, I should be calling Here, Chickie, Chickie. I am going to have the cousin to the turkey again this year. Roasting a turkey for one is silly. But a roasted chicken can be many meals for me.

I found some sage dressing that is gluten free.  Fresh green beans cooked with bacon and onions.  A baked sweet potato. Lots of leftovers, and then finally the bones will be in the slow cooker for a couple days to make soup stock.

C'mon, Cuz.

Huge blogland hugs to my dear blogging friends for which I am truly grateful.


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Patron Saint Of Music

Ode For Saint Cecilia's Day is a contata composed by George Frideric Handel in 1739 based on the poem by English poet, John Dryden. The main theme is that music was a central force in the earth's creation. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians.  Cecilia is my name.  CiCi is my nickname. Music has always been my rock. This is one of my favorites, read it and hear the celestial sounds.

From harmony, from heavenly harmony
This universal frame began.
When nature, underneath a heap
Of jarring atoms lay,
And could not heave her head.
The tuneful Voice, was heard from high,
Arise! Arise!
Arise ye more than dead!
Then cold, and hot, and moist, and dry,
In order to their stations leap!
And music's power obey!
And music's power obey!

From harmony, from heavenly harmony,
This universal frame began.
Through all the compass of the notes it ran,
The diapason closing full in man.

What passion cannot music raise, and quell?
When Jubal struck the chorded shell,
His listening brethren stood 'round.
And wondering on their faces fell,
To worship that celestial sound!
Less than a god they thought there could not dwell
Within the hollow of that shell
That spoke so sweetly and so well.
What passion cannot Music raise and quell?

The trumpet's loud clangour excites us to arms,
With shrill notes of anger and mortal alarms,
The double-double-double beat,
Of the thund'ring drum,
Cries hark! Hark! Cries hark the foes come!
Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge!
'Tis too late, 'tis too late to retreat!
Charge 'tis too late, too late to retreat!

The soft complaining flute
In dying notes discovers
The woes of hopeless lovers,
Whose dirge is whispered by the warbling lute.


Sharp violins proclaim,
Their jealous pangs,
And desperation!
Fury, frantic indignation!
Depth of pains, and height of passion,
For the fair disdainful dame!


But oh! what art can teach,
What human voice can reach
The sacred organ's praise?
Notes inspiring holy love,
Notes that wing their heavenly ways
To join the choirs above.


Orpheus could lead the savage race,
And trees uprooted left their place
Sequacious of the lyre:
But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher:
When to her Organ vocal breath was given
An Angel heard, and straight appeared –
Mistaking Earth for Heaven.


As from the power of sacred lays
The spheres began to move,
And sung the great Creator's praise
To all the blest above;
So when the last and dreadful hour
This crumbling pageant shall devour,
The trumpet shall be heard on high,

The dead shall live, the living die,
And music shall untune the sky.






















Carlo Saraceni
Saint Cecilia and the Angel
c. 1610 - Oil on canvas
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome


Friday, November 16, 2012

Deal With It

The apartments I live in are HUD subsidized senior apartments. I live in an end unit. There are 16 units, small complex, and I am in #15. Been here six months now. The best thing about these places is the low rent. When I say LOW RENT, I mean really low. Because I don't have to pay gas, water, trash, it is like having twice as much money each month. 

A few weeks ago a woman moved into #16. It has been empty since I moved in. This woman keeps her door open as do three other people in this building. There are 8 units in each building and now 4 of them keep their doors open in my building and their radios and TVs on high volume.  

When I walk out my door, the woman across from me rushes to her door to talk to me. When I take out the trash, there she is. If I go out and stop to lock my place because I am going out for awhile, there she is. All the while her TV is blaring. Why can't she close her friggin' door? Maybe it annoying to me particularly because I don't have a TV, am not exposed to all the noise and confusion and when it is forced on me, it is irritating. 

Her son-in-law is our Saturday mailperson, and he was helping at bingo one night a month ago, and told us she was moving in here, and told us not to tell her when he comes to deliver mail or she will find something for him to do. I didn't appreciate how true that was until she moved in here. This woman is needy. She knocks on peoples doors to ask for help all the time. Like, her refrigerator was too cold, would they adjust it for her. She wanted a flashlight. Couldn't find hers. Do I sound cranky? I guess I am. I miss the quiet on this end of the building. If I hooked up my huge speakers and listened to hard rock, the folks here would have a cow. So I just wear my headphones to watch Netflix or listen to music. I can't walk all over the place though. Maybe I need wireless headphones. Ha.

Writing this post is not meant to be a complaint, it is written to remind me that there are things in life I have to either change or adjust to, and how I go about doing that shows me what kind of person I am. I never did well in an environment where I had to listen to others on the phone or in group situations with several people talking at once. It was a struggle when I worked in office situations with cubicles for work spaces. Loud voices in other "cubies" would drown out the phone voices in my cubicle and give me a headache. I didn't last long in those jobs. I would quit, find something better, move on. 

So this morning, as it is every morning, when I wake up and start making my coffee, I hear the newest neighbor on the phone, her door wide open, and remember that she is lonely. She wants attention. Each person who walks past her door is accosted. She may settle down some day after she has been here long enough. I want to remind myself what it is like to be new in town, new in an apartment building with all new residents. I am sorry to say that I cannot bring myself to befriend this woman, she is annoying to me, needy, demanding, and manipulating. I have already seen enough to have several red flags raised, which for me means I stay away from that kind of personality for my own good health.  Whew, there, got that off my chest.  I am in acceptance of the new situation and am able to retain my sanity and keep my life busy and happy. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

One Puzzle After Another

As busy as I am each day, I manage to work on the jigsaw puzzles. I have completed three recently and finished another one last night.

Most of the puzzles are hand-me-downs from friends; some are found at garage sales; some I buy on an online garage sale site in this area. So some of the puzzles are missing a piece. Or two. Never more than two.

But I find I enjoy the challenge of working something to a conclusion, to find there was a missing piece.

Another challenge in life. Working things through, completing a task, or a trial, to have it revealed that something was not there, not done as expected, testing my abilities a smidgeon more.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Write A Caption

Write a caption for this photo. I put this photo on the bulletin board at the senior center asking the seniors to write a caption. It will be interesting to see how similar the blogging community sees the photo and what type of captions are composed by the seniors and bloggers.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette



Yes, I used to smoke. Never got to the three pack a day habit, not even two packs. And I did not want a cigarette as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning. I have to say, I liked the really small cigars, sweet tasting. At one time I even had a small gold glittery pipe and I liked cherry blend tobacco.

June 1981 I said goodbye to smoking. My kids were relieved. Probably not as much as my lungs were though. I was still playing tennis often and it didn't take me long to notice how much better I played after I stopped smoking.

Now I am one the people who do not like the smell of cigarette smoke, don't want to stand near someone who is smoking, and can detect the smell of cigarette smoke on people's clothes and hair. I try not to be a nuisance as I do believe we each have a right to make our own decisions.

When I moved into my apartment six months ago, I would catch a whiff of old cigarette smell when I opened the apartment door. Then I learned that the senior woman who occupied this apartment was a chain smoker. She had ash trays in every room. She smoked in bed. Yikes. Apparently, the apartment manager and the maintenance man spent many hours trying to "de-louse" (what is the word for getting rid of cigarette odors) and then the place was painted and new carpet and kitchen and bathroom flooring installed. It takes time to replace old scents with new ones. Finally, this place smells like home. I must say, I like my smells better!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Yes, I Used To Be TechnoBabe

Long ago in the land of newbie bloggers, I was TechnoBabe. I was married and working and busy and added blogging to my busy life, starting TechnoBabe's Adventures to test the blogging waters.

Then the home life began the downward spiral. I thought my heart would break. I thought I would be crushed from the weight of the pain and the stress.

Contrary to what I thought would happen, I survived and am doing well. Every once in awhile someone finds this blog and asks me if I was TechnoBabe. During the five plus years I blogged as TechnoBabe, I met hundreds of fine folks in blogland. These days I am blogging less, commenting less, and keeping a lower profile. But I made it through some difficult times.

Deciding to leave the TechnoBabe persona behind, I began this blog about a year ago. And what this blog does for me is give me the strength to blog as myself. Something I thought I would never do. I ventured to the old blog today and read some of the posts. I liked the look of that blog that I spent so much time perfecting and pouring love into as well as receiving so much love from readers. It was a great trip down memory lane.

I am no longer married. I no longer work. I live far from my children and grandchildren. I live alone in an apartment. Well, not quite alone because Lola, my cat, is a great companion. However, as bleak as that sounds, I am happy, healthy, living a full life. I have cultivated some amazing friends in real life and have some friends from my youth who I love immensely. I am fortunate to have dear people who love me as I am and encourage me in my endeavors.

So yes, I was TechnoBabe, and now I am just me. CiCi. And happy to be me.

Thank you to the sweet bloggers who read and comment on this blog, thank you for sharing this past year with me. Your blogging friendship is appreciated and cherished.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Spooktacular

Halloween Day was packed full.

It is the birthday of the manager of the senior center. Happy Birthday, Heather!

Two cars of seniors left the senior center in our town and traveled to the senior center in a town about a half hour away. We brought wrapped white elephant gifts. We played bingo and had mighty fine desserts and snacks and had lots of fun. 

Then we all went home to rest awhile and then meet up again for bingo in the town we usually play bingo on Wednesdays. 

So it was a double bingo whammy. Not just Halloween.

Hope you had a bewitching Halloween, my pretties.