Household Irony

I don’t know why, but whenever the leaf vacuum truck comes, I have a yard full of debris that never made it to the curb in time.

My cat completely ignores her scratching post in favor of furniture.

I swore that our exercise equipment would not become a laundry holding station.

Hmmm…irony wins again. But it will never trump the feeling of home.

Gratitude - Keeping things in perspective

How can I complain that the cat knocked over my tea onto the rug when nature laid out this carpet for me?

Why mourn the demise of the Twinkie when the earth gives us far better choices?

We may fall off the fiscal cliff, but we still have many mountains to climb.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Newton's Law of Buying Stuff

Now that I’ve attempted to de-clutter my house, I struggle to balance my new zen surroundings with my love to shop. How do you square your impulse for a bargain with the peace and calm of living simply?  Leave it to Sir Isaac Newton.  I’m borrowing his third law (sort of): For every item I bring into the house, there will be an equal and opposite item removed from the house.

For example, I couldn’t resist these beautiful Czechoslovakian canisters.  A yard sale bargain at $20.  I put them on the shelf in place of a set of margarita glasses.  They’re up for grabs to the first parrot head who wants them.

I found these JFK and Jackie S&P shakers at a local thrift shop. It makes me feel nostalgic just thinking about the excitement our nation had over our dashing president and his stylish first lady.  They transport us back to a time in history where we were blissfully unaware of what was to come.

In keeping with the equal and opposite law, it’s time to clear out another item. Sorry faux Blue Willow, but you just can’t compete with 1960’s Camelot.

Don’t get me wrong. I still love the thrill of the hunt at a great flea market. But I’m discovering the equal and opposite thrill of setting something free and putting it back into the world.

Common Recurrence

I always seem to glance at the clock at 11:11.

For some reason this number follows me.  I began to notice this when my parents rented Apt. 1111 over 20 years ago.

I’m not particularly superstitious, but thought I’d do a little research. Turns out there are a lot of websites that talk about 1111 and its connotation of oneness and alignment and the vibrations of the universe.  I’m not totally sold on all the new age philosophy associated with recurring numbers, but I like the thought that some bigger force is telling me to pause and regain momentum to move into a more positive direction. Truth be told, every time I see it, I do feel a subtle shift and smile to myself.

Maybe this time stamp on my life is just coincidence, but I do feel that the universe is tugging at me and reminding me to be grateful for everything that is. And I am.

Summer Breakup

Dear Summer –

Last Friday you said goodbye.  How could you end things so abruptly?  Before I was ready?

But, you did leave me with some great memories.

Remember all those lazy days in the Poconos that stretched on forever but ended too soon?

And the walks at sunset?

And the sweet sights…

and funny sights…

I can’t be bitter, though. I know you’ll be back next June.

Cardinal Feather

The cardinal feather caught my eye immediately. The bright red against the black of the road.  The soft against the hard asphalt. The natural against the manmade.

I never saw one on the ground before.  I was relieved to find out that it’s normal for cardinals to molt their feathers in late summer. Beautiful, almost sacred.

Summer giving way to fall.  A little sad, but a reassuring that everything has its season.

Please Get Your Butts Off the Street (and the Beach

I don’t want to infringe on anyone’s rights. Please smoke away if you enjoy it and know the risks.  I wholeheartedly support your choice. My issue is littering. I flinch when I see someone carelessly throw a lit cigarette out a car window. Or empty an entire ashtray onto the curb. Or extinguish a cigar on the sand and leave it there. To magically disappear. Not.

It’s a myth the butts are biodegradable. In reality, it takes years for filters to decompose; yet it seems to be the last vestige of acceptable littering.  According to Keep America Beautiful, tobacco products constitute up to 38% of all litter. That’s pretty staggering. But, I know it’s fixable if people know the truth.

Here’s a quick glance of what I saw on a local road. Look at all those filters.

I remember the anti-littering ad campaigns of the 70’s that made everyone recoil at the thought of littering. It’s about time we collectively cringe again.

Knock, Knock

Who doesn’t love a beautiful doorknocker?

In ancient times, doorknockers were often hideous gargoyles or ferocious lions to ward off evil spirits and prevent them from entering. As superstition gave way to the age of reason, doorknockers evolved into decorative objects of art.

I picked up this doorknocker about 15 years ago in a small antique shop. I was intrigued by this couple’s eternal kiss.

While in a small fishing village in Connecticut, this doorknocker seemed very appropriate.

I spied this little fox through a screen door.

When you think about it, doorknockers are probably one of the first things you see when you arrive at someone’s threshold.  Not only a visual statement, a doorknocker is tactile and taps into your sense of touch.

I’m really into the simplicity and beauty of doorknockers.  Maybe it’s because my doorbell has never, ever worked. 

Gotta Love Snarcasm

Who doesn’t appreciate a little sarcasm? Or maybe a little tongue-in-cheek irony? How about a poke at common sense? A mocking of conventional wisdom?

This sign is snarky just by stating the obvious.   

Humor is a great way to get people to remember something.  After all, who doesn’t like to laugh?

Would this friar cookie jar dissuade you from grabbing for that extra treat? His sly look and the admonishment may be enough to discourage another reach into the cookie jar. Or not.

Not everybody has a jeep, ok? But, I get your point that everyone should.

Trespass away, little birds.  You may as well defile that sign while you’re at it.

Everyday, curious little things creep into your field of vision that may be the opposite of what you expect.  Take the time to appreciate the atypical, point out the poignant, and embrace the odd.

Summer Smiles

Maybe someday I’ll write an Ode to the Outside Shower. Oh, how refreshing you are. So exhilarating, so liberating, so close to nature.  Our friends, Lisa and Mike in Cape Cod, insist that everyone use the OS and I’m now a devout follower of that philosophy. Think of the wear and tear you save on your indoor bathrooms. Not to mention that invigorating dash back to the house.

If nothing else, I had to give these ice cream scoopers points for creativity.  That’s a sure way to get my approval – have a conch shell as a tip jar.

I fell in love with these two gentlemen on their electronic scooters making their way down the boardwalk. I wondered if they were lifelong friends or new buddies. Either way, I warm at the thought of how they are not letting their circumstances stop them from enjoying the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk, with its crazy mix of humanity. Long may you run, guys.

Happy summer.

There's the Rub

Maybe it’s not enough for people to behold the magnificence of a bronze statue.  They seem to want to touch it, too. 

We came upon this beauty on the campus of Johns Hopkins University and obviously she’s been groped over the years, presumably in the name of good luck.

I wondered where the tradition of rubbing statues began.  All over the world big toes, boots, noses, rear ends, bellies, and various other body parts have all been rubbed since ancient times.  All in the name of faith, luck, getting an A, warding off parking tickets, and the promise of wealth and prosperity.

This 5 star bronze cross on the Charles Bridge in Prague is rubbed to honor a loyal priest who put God over the king by refusing to divulge the confessions of Queen Sophia.  Legend has it that five stars appeared when he was thrown off the bridge and hit the water.  When you put your hand on the stars, you send someone a wish. 

It’s almost a magnetic pull to rub a statue.  I never did find a solid reason why the tradition started. Maybe we just want to put our own “touch” on a brilliant work of art or we’re hoping that something good will rub off on us.

Pocono Dogs

Whenever we drove the back ways to get to Lake Wallenpaupak, we’d pass by a farm with three dog statues out front. For years we looked forward to seeing the dogs, as they were always dressed for some occasion. We imaged a sweet old lady inside who fussed to find just the right 4^th of July hats for her precious pups. Year after year, we’d guess at what color scarves or sunglasses the dogs would be sporting just before we reached the turn in the road. It became a part of our three-hour drive and the kids loved the mystique of the dogs.

Then, the unthinkable happened.  The dogs were unadorned one day as we turned the corner of the country road.  For the next several years, we conjectured that the old woman passed away and, with her, the custom of dressing the dogs.  We mourned a little every time we saw the plain pooches out front.

Then a few weeks back - low and behold - they’re back.  Hmmm…maybe the sweet old lady recovered from a long illness, or someone new is carrying on the tradition. Whatever the case, thanks for making us smile.  In one little corner of the world, sanity is restored.

Don't Ignore the Signs

When I saw these faceless signs (all within the past week), I thought, “Wow, I better use sunscreen this summer.”  Never underestimate the havoc nature can wreak.

 A stop sign should command authority and deliver a definitive directive to drivers.  This looks like it lost its vigor and is mildly suggesting that you stop…if you don’t mind. Come on highway department, your sign is spineless, a milquetoast - literally.

If a yield sign is supposed to assign right of way, this one is pretty ineffective.  How many people have ignored this vague order and who would blame them? As this sign grows fainter and fainter, so does the urgency of its message.

Although these signs are faded and have lost their voice, they actually speak volumes. Wear your sunscreen.

Wait, what (part 3)

I realize there are a lot of wait, what moments in the world.  Please send me yours if you come across one!

Some wait, whats are fabulous. Like opening the dryer door and … MOM BONUS. It’s an unwritten law that all monies collected in the dryer immediately become the property of the laundress.

Yesterday, I was driving home from the gym when I saw this dune buggy on top of a house. I’d love to know the back story. Was it a present? A prank? Suffice to say, I pulled a u-turn and snapped a picture.

This wait, what was a bit startling when I glanced in my rearview mirror.  Maybe this should be a wait, why…

Fleur-de-lis Frenzy

Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that the fleur-de-lis is making a thundering comeback? It seems to be everywhere. I first observed it last month in New Orleans, which is natural because of the city’s connection to French royalty.  Now, I can’t seem to avoid seeing this stylized lily (or lotus) everywhere I go.

I started thinking about the ancient artesian who developed this iconic image and how he (or she) will never know that this symbol has stood the test of time.  According to one legend, Clovis, the King of the Franks, succeeded in battle after water lilies showed him how to safely cross a river and thus succeed in battle.  Another story has an angel presenting Clovis with a golden lily as a symbol of purification upon his conversion to Christianity.  In the 12^th century, King Louis VI or King Louis VII became the first monarch to use the fleur-de-lis on his shield.

Whatever the origin, the fleur-de-lis has been associated with everything from Joan of Arc to the holy trinity to the Da Vinci Code to the New Orleans saints.

Kudos to that unknown genius who, for centuries, has left his mark on the world.

 

Wait, what? (part 2)

We’ve all experienced them. Those moments where you look at something, take it in, and then back up and say, “wait, what?”

It’s a delayed reaction. Your mind catches up to your instinct that tells you something isn’t quite right.

This sign in China was a head scratcher.

Did they want me to have fun or to stay away? Was this sign put there by a commitment phobe?

Walking by a new jewelry store in town, I was surprised to see Mona Lisa.  Ah, she looks really good with a pierced nose and a necklace. Brilliant marketing to bejewel a famous woman and give patrons a chuckle at the same time.

I know it was early in the morning, but Action News, you made me do a double take with this one. The investigation wasn’t the only thing botched…

I love those surprising little moments in life that make you say, “wait, what?”