Noury's Creative World…

What does independence means to you?  I think it means a lot of different things to different people.

Independence to say, do, love, be openly for or against something, and so many other things.

For me being able to say, think and do whatever it is I want to, is very meaningful.  I was born and raised for most of my early years under a dictatorship.  We were scared to even talk about worldwide events in fear of being taken away and disappearing in the middle of the night.  Being a female also was a stroke against you.  That makes me very appreciative of living as a citizen of a country that promotes and embraces freedoms.  I also know that with such freedoms, come much responsibilities.  It is all part of a beautiful equation.

Our forefathers were the bravest of the brave when they exposed themselves, their  families and friends to being persecuted and put to death for wanting to be independent from a system they felt was oppressive.  Too much taxation.  That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for them.  And I am so ever thankful to them and their struggles, so today we, Americans, can enjoy our freedoms.

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident:  That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

I salute all and each American citizen on this our Independence Day.  God bless the United States of America.

Your Happy Contessa

The paragraphs in quotation marks are from a Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress Assembled, July 4, 1776.

Have you ever had one of those days when everything falls in the right place, people say the right things, and you find the perfect bargains.  Like buy one shirt and get two free.  Price was so dramatically lowered that I had to buy them because if I didn’t it would have been on my conscience until…I checked the balance in my credit card.  Just kidding.

The air is thinner, my hair is looking fabulous, after buying that kind of expensive shampoo my lovely daughter uses.  It is worth it.  Thanks Milagros!

Wrinkles look smoother, skin seems to be, what’s the word I am trying to come up with…radiant!  That’s it, radiant!!!!!!!!!!!  Lancome, baby…expensive but at 63 what gives.

What’s going on?  Nada, I may say.  Just feeling with it.  In total universal sync.

Full of gratitude for a wonderful and beautiful life.

Now…this is better than looking at that snake, isn’t it?

Ta ta

Your Happy Contessa

“Considering life’s brevity, we should travel abundantly, with great enthusiasm.”  Peter Megargee Brown, American author.  15 March, 1922 -.

Before even I begin…yes I just noticed I have to be a better housekeeper…noticed the stuff that needs to be wiped?  Probably by Christmas it will be done.    I am glad that’s out-of-the-way.

Indeed, it is a jungle down here…you can be reading the newspaper and all of a sudden, there they are, a baby snake grooming herself to become a menace during my walks…and one tiny froggie saved by the flash of my ccc…chic cheap camera.  Just a refresher.  Then just a few minutes ago, a longer, black snake…the friendly one running at around four feet, and she was really fast, couldn’t get  my ccc in time to capture her visit.

Yes, it has become part of my scenery during my morning walks.  Have to be extra noisy to chase away any intruder, other than Tarzan, for whom I am still waiting.  Probably Jane feeds him very early in the morning to get him fit for the day, so at the same time, she keeps him all for herself.  Tarzan…there are other Janes out there, you know.  I’ll keep on dreaming…

This is the tiny creature I saved from being Miss colorful snake’s breakfast.

Yes, I have had to battle ugly creatures to keep them away from my food, other creatures from leaving their marks on my legs and arms…and now I totally feel the way those inhabitants of the Amazon feel in their beautiful surroundings.

It is kind of interesting that now when I see these creatures, I don’t feel panicked or nervous, I just watch them and run for my camera.  Couldn’t get it in time for the much larger and fatter one by my door the other day.  Gone!

Oh well…another day in Paradise…as Ron used to say.

Your Happy Contessa

“Me Jane…them…just them…and still waiting for Tarzan.”

What there’s not to like about life…sometimes everything is okey dokey…and sometimes it is just at the bottom of the barrel.  But most of the time, it deserves the “Like” button.

Great day today…sunny, already around 80 degrees…had a healthy breakfast and I am mentally getting ready to go and enjoy my day.  Whatever the day brings, it will be an experience that probably I need to learn from or share with others.

I am reading “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.  The agreements are with myself, to make my word impeccable, not to take anything personal, not to make assumptions and always do my best.  Good beginning to become a new and improved person.  Anything to be a better, kinder and wiser woman.

I… like.  Thank you Miss Lucy for starting the conversation… 🙂

So…it was today…a day to remember as the beginning of my better life.

Your Happy Contessa

“I feel good…ta ra ra ra…so good…so good…”  Life is a wonderful thing…

Today, Monday, I decided to run some errands.   I returned a few items and then scored a touchdown at the big W when I bought a pair of jeggings and a fabulous top for $5 a piece.  I had lady luck with me today…that is until…

I went into my favorite supermarket and after getting the smallest piece of chicken the lady behind the counter could find, I felt somewhat ok, but with a bit of annoyance on the horizon.  Generosity is not her forte.  Then I got my “Breakfast Bread.”  That is the sinful bread I always have with my salad for lunch, loaded with apricots, walnuts, raisins and cranberries.  I toast it and heavily drizzle the toasts with my favorite, extra virgin olive oil and a bit of salt.  That’s my version of the hallway into heaven.  The weight scale has been telling me every morning that it is time to let go of that bread.  But I love it so.  Eventually it will have to go.  But not right now.

And I keep on strolling…got my six organic eggs and then…then…drumrolls, please…I see this hunk, and I mean, hunk…all the bells and whistles… a big bit young for me…but what the heck…the view was all worth it.  I checked my hair, posture, clothes, and everything else we women check at the sight of a very desirable specimen.   So I slowly go towards the frozen section that he was looking at…and then…this is a BIG then…I noticed that he was fascinated with the derriere of another specimen that I would qualify as another hunk.  I am describing the situation as it happened, I am not being politically correct here or elsewhere.  Immediately all my antennas went down faster than a lightning rod.  I was laughing so hard to myself that tears were flowing down my cheeks.  HE JOINED THE OTHER TEAM…not that it matters, but from the female point of view…what a big disillusion.

So…it was today…another day to realize that the competition is very ferocious…we never know when and where it will be coming from.

Your Happy Contessa

“Competition is a good thing or not.”  Happy Contessa

I am sitting just staring at the computer screen and thinking that I need to change the posting, because Memorial Day is over.

Just had dinner…Sautee sweet potatoes, grilled zucchini, and scrambled eggs.  Two organic eggs.  There are no words to describe how I feel right now after inhaling all that pottage.  I feel like I have a full stomach, but there was no feeling of having had a good meal whatsoever.

I could have eaten a whole bunch of the grass growing outside and the effect would be the same…just thinking…what the heck did I just eat?

Trust me, no memories ingrained in my brain of one nice bite.  My protuberance in what is the part that corresponds to the stomach is growing by the second.  Just feel like I am pregnant, but no sex involved.  Man, this is really bad.

Talking about sex…we better leave it for another day or maybe for another century.  My department cannot even go there.  All I see are little old men looking to grab something that feels like flesh.  That makes them happy.  They can die holding a blob of meat, and that will make them feeling that it was all worth it.

Now…we women, well, me in particular, I care about having cultured companion, slim body, nice haircut, no belly protruding whatsoever, a good dancer, and a world traveller.  Very little to ask…oh, yes, almost forgot, a black credit card.  No limits when we go shopping in Paris.  As you can tell, those kind of male specimens are a rarity at this stage in my life, because the males with all those qualities are looking for someone in their 20’s or 30’s and I am not a spring chicken.  I have been stewed, barbecued and my feathers are totally gray.  But my good sense of humor can compensate for all the lacking.  All the sisters out there that feel like I do, just say “Amen.”

So…if any one of you know someone with the right pedigree, as described above, I have a direct line just in case.  Just got it for that purpose.

If you believed all of the above about me looking for trouble, I really got you good.  Now, on the other hand, I am open for suggestions.

Just having a good time, 363 words and counting…not that bad when you think you have  nothing to write about.

So…it was today…a day of just kicking the keys on the board and having fun.

Your Happy Contessa

“It may smell and look good, but it can taste awful.”  Happy Contessa

Memorial Day is a very meaningful holiday.  We get the opportunity to think about the ultimate sacrifice a human being can do, for his or her country and fellowmen.

It takes special persons to sacrifice their lives for the sake of all of us, so we can have “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  Our unalienable rights.

Let’s be grateful that we have the opportunity to enjoy our freedoms, the joy of being able to partake with our families and friends in celebrating our lives.  And all because of these unselfish human beings that, as I said before, made the ultimate sacrifice.

We salute all of them, and are forever grateful for their sacrifices.

So…it was today…a special day to say “Thank You.”

Your Happy Contessa

“For love of country they accepted death.”  James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States.  19 November, 1831 – 19 September, 1881.

Sometimes people, animals and things come into our lives for a second, a moment, a season or for a lifetime.

We need to make sure we stay where we are.  That is, in the moment, because those moments, people, animals and things will go away, because it was their time to go away, and life without regrets is a peaceful life.

Be where you are.  That sounds like what does that mean?  If you are having a conversation, listen and look into the other person’s eyes, because they may be telling you something or giving you an answer to something you have been asking yourself what should you do.

Angels and messages sometimes are disguised as an incident or something that happens in the moment, and if we are not present…there goes something important that you needed to comprehend or to see.

Be in your walk, be in your doing the dishes, be in the conversation you are having, be there for you and for others.

Gratitude for being able to be present is the best feeling I always have.

So…it was today…a day to be present for myself and for those around me.

Your Happy Contessa

“Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.”  Tennessee Williams, American writer.  26 March 1911 – 25 February, 1983.

Need to write something to let people know that I am still breathing after the Mothers’ Day posting.

Well…these happy, content, could-care-less-about-anything-cows gave me the perfect idea.

These happy inhabitants of that green pasture were grazing happily ever after about 5 miles off the outskirts of Miami.  Yes, Miami.  Via the Turnpike.  Couldn’t ignore them and this is the poor result of being in a vehicle moving more than 70 miles an hour.  This was the best outcome of those placidly looking cows having their breakfast.  They were better off than me, without coffee in my stomach, due to the fact that after you get past certain age in life, you try not to eat or drink anything until you get to your destination.  Less embarrassment for everybody.  Ahhhh, the fringe benefits of aging.  But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well…there you have it.  A posting to substitute the last one, thinking I had nothing to write about.  Do you think those were my ever absent muses disguised as happy cows waving and showing their fingers at me?

Life is so simple.  You just type and the sound of the keyboard have such an enticing sound, that I just feel like clicking away those keys.

Enough!

So…it was today…17 May, 2012…a day to write about cows and nothing much.

Your Happy Contessa

“I don’t want any vegetables, thank you.  I paid for the cow to eat them for me.”  Doug Coupland, Canadian novelist.  30 December, 1961 -.

We humanoids have rituals, traditions and customs.  This coming Sunday, May 13th we celebrate a very important holiday.  Mothers’ Day.

What does it mean…Motherhood.  I believe you have to be one…either biologically or by any other method,  to know the pain, the agony, the glory, the ecstasy that you go through when you are a…Mother.

To those of you that are a mother, my best wishes for a peaceful, and joyful day, even if you are by yourself or surrounded with loved ones.

To those of you that are missing your mother, because she is in Heaven, I only can suggest that you go back and think of the happy and beautiful memories that may bring a smile to your face.  I am positive that she is always around surrounding you with her protection and perfect love.

A mother has given us the opportunity  to go through this passage of having a human experience.

Mama, thank you for being my mother.  Even with all the challenges we have had in our relationship, I am very grateful that I chose you to be my mother.  I have learned through our many years together to be more compassionate, understanding of others and very giving.  Even if you realize it or not, I have become a better human being, just because of you.

My love to all of you blessed mothers.

So…it was today…a day to recognize the unconditional love mothers have for their children.

Your Happy Contessa

“Motherhood is near to divinity.  It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.”  Howard W. Hunter, 14th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  14 November, 1907 – 3 March, 1995.