Noury's Creative World…

While one of my dear friends was visiting with me this past week, I decided to go out and eat a French dejeuner, lunch, as we say here in America.

Garzon did not speak le Francais, so I had to teach him a few words.  When in the world am I going to practice my French?  Cannot go to Paris right now, or anywhere in France at the moment.  French class is too intense, and sometimes my senior neurons go flying with the absent muses.  All in combination to make me feel like I am in limbo.

Well…had grilled fish…you could taste the butter, the lemon and, surprise…the fish.  In some restaurants I have been to, not necessarily inexpensive, all you can taste is the freezer burn.  I have become a very picky eater.  The rice was crusty at the bottom, from the butter and oh, so flavorful.  The snow peas tasted like snow peas, very fresh along with the carrots.

One thing I must warn you, this is not for the “buffet crowd.”  Petit portions, very flavorful, but petit.  So for my already americanized senior stomach, there was space for le dessert.

Le tarte de pomme vert was delicieux!!!  Did not even want to share any of it, but after not seeing my good friend for over 25 years, I felt a bit generous.  One very small piece, though.

I highly recommend trying a good French restaurant, but remember, get some protein before you go, because portions are just right.  We are not used to that.  We like to eat with our hands, our eyes and with our mouths.  Not so with French cuisine.  You have been warned.

So…it was today…26 February…a day to reminisce about eating and speaking French.

Your Happy Contessa

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”  Julia Childs, an American chef, author and tv personality.  15 August, 1912 – 13 August, 2004.

Ronald Franklin Buttry

March 5, 1938 – February 25, 2009

“Ship off the coast,

of a faraway land,

holds thousands of turtles,

and a pirate who is grand.

He loves all his people,

and he brings them good cheer,

with a parrot on his back, a tune in his ear.

Ron Buttry is his name,

and a dream is what he’s got,

and he will keep on dreaming,

Never to stop.”

This was written by Milagros when she was in middle school for Ron on a Father’s Day, to honor his belief that in a previous life he was a pirate.

Ron, I am sure you are having a grand time in this stage of your journey, and at the same time taking care of your grand-daughter, Alice Riley, the littlest angel in heaven.

May this finds you all well and happy, as Ron used to say.

Your Happy Contessa

Needed to change the posting, because it will date the blog more obviously if I leave it with the St. Valentine’s Day message.  Hope you had a happy one.  I surely did.

The weather here is just beautiful…even though was in the high 20’s just the other night.  Yep, it gets chilly here sometimes.  We had a share of an Arctic blast.  Most of the time around this time of the year it is pretty perfect.   For my hair I may say.  By the way, thinking about changing the color of my hair.  Someone told me that maybe my face will look somewhat softer.  Boy, do I need to see what’s going on with my face.  I thought it was pretty good, but it seems I could use some softener.  Do you think dryer softener may help?  Now I have something new to worry about, but knowing the way I am, the features of my face (a/k/a wrinkles) will just go on as they are.  Have bigger and better priorities in my life right now.

Thinking about the precious gift of life.  We sometimes don’t realize how precious it is until there is some kind of a threat to our well being.  Have to take everything as it comes, because the cup of crapola for tomorrow is already being brewed somewhere in space.  Ready or not, here it will come.

Don’t sound too chipper you probably are thinking…the reality of the matter is that I am very tired right now and I am making things as I go…344 words…not that bad.  Been looking for my muses.  They were supposed to be somewhere here in Florida, but they must be further south…the Keys.  Have to do it on my own.

I will be keeping you updated with the saga of the new color of my hair.  Maybe a new do too.

So…it was today…14 February evening, 2012…a day to remember…it was a very good day.

Your Happy Contessa

“There is an essence of the divine in all living things, and each person is literally a microcosm of the universe.”  Gloria Steinem, American feminist, journalist and political activist.  25 March, 1934 -.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud,  it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Loves does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

We should always have faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is LOVE.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

Your Happy Contessa

The above is from 1 Corinthians 13.4-8

I am trying to get distracted between now and the time that I have set to myself to have my salad, etc., for lunch.  Having a glass of water as a self-prescribed luxury before I send stuff to my aging stomach.

Did my walk, took some pictures, encountered some squirrels, Pepe and Pepita.  They send their greetings to their counterparts in North Carolina.

It is not the same here.  Of course things are never the same anywhere.  Thanks God for that, but sometimes we wish things would be the same in some instances.

Hair is having a bit of a fit.  Slight humidity in the air.  High yesterday was around 83 degrees.  Is someone or something trying to tell me something?  I am getting it!!!!

French classes are going tres bien, merci beaucoup!  It is getting very intense.  Guess the word for bacon…le lard.  How fitting!  Because that’s what we eat when we bacon for breakfast.  Yes, bacon is being used as a verb in this instance.  Studying passe compose.  That’s when my neurons take a leave of absence and I am left with only the gray matter, without the trimmings.

I will make it, ça va bien.

Just staying in touch for a short moment.  Hope all of you are doing well and are happy.

So…it was today…5 February, 2012.

Your Happy Contessa

“We have what we seek.  It is there all the time, and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us.”  Thomas Merton, 20th Century American writer and mystic.  31 January, 1915 – 10 December, 1968.

Got tired of looking at that sad-looking orange tree from my previous posting.  I guess Father Winter was not too kind and it is showing its effect.

Let me update you on my do-abouts.  I have gone back to walking.  Check the temperature before I leave the apartment so I know to bundle up or not.  In the past few days it has been a tad too warm even for myself.  Do not want heat too early in the season.  You know what I mean.  Too much of anything is just plain not good.

Nothing has change, except that I told myself last night that enough is enough.  I am not putting up with my kind of too laxed attitude towards everything.  Need to take my life and the road less travelled more seriously.  So this morning I have been a lean, moving machine.

I am reading a book that says that energy follows thought.  Wow and wow again!  Have to be selective and careful with my thoughts because that’s where my energy is going.  Am I in trouble.  But that is being corrected as I type.  Have practiced my French, and checking items off the “Do List.”  Yes, even I have a few of those.

I am doing my best to be effective and productive with my time, at least for the past eight hours.  I intend to keep on keeping on.

So…it was today…25 January, 2012…a day to become a better leaner me.

Your Happy Contessa

“You may delay, but time will not.”  Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.  6 January, 1705 – 17 April, 1790.

Oops, I almost forgot my username and password with WordPress.  Use or lose it…that’s what they say.

Lots of intentions, plans and ambitious goals.  I am all excited!!  So many things to do and a whole year to do it.  Well…not so whole already.

I need to get my neurons back on the gravy train again.  What does that mean?  It sounds good, so let’s leave it at that.  Do not want to get too critical this early, considering my good intention to come back to blogging.  I am kind of somewhat a perfectionist, so I will become less critical and more relaxed with myself.  It is either that, or lots of stress.

Oh, yes…less stress and absolutely no drama.

Let me make something clear from the beginning, postings will not be as often as before, I told you, I am a new and improved being, so I am really chillin with my life.  I almost forgot on New Year’s Eve that it was New Year’s Eve.  I am really cool with whatever happens and when it happens.  Doesn’t sound like I am having a good attitude.  Yes, it is true, I have changed from good to better.  Go with the flow…when it happens, it happens.

Thank you my buddies for putting up with me and my brand new style.  I will keep you informed how this thing works in real life.  Knowing myself…I am somewhat already feeling a teeny-bitsy stress?

Not really…

So…it was today…19 January, 2012…a perfect day to post a draft made January 2nd, 2012.

Your Happy Contessa

“The most important thing about getting somewhere is starting right where we are.”  Bruce Barton, American author, politician.  5 August, 1886 – 5 July, 1967.

Alba Maria…the one on the left.  It has been three years since you went to Heaven.  After going through the sadness of missing talking, laughing and crying with you sometimes, I am now at the stage of celebrating the blessing you were and still are somehow in my life.

Thank you for having been a great sister, for listening to all my drama…and thank you for doing all the algebra, trigonometry and physics homework and tests for me.  Probably I would be today without a high school diploma, because in the department of the sciences and math, my neuron population was non-existent at that time.  Now, I kind of enjoy doing my taxes and a lot more stuff dealing with mathematics.

I toast to you today and always.  I feel so happily blessed for having had you as my hermanita (little sister).

I love you today and always will…

Your big sister.

“You can never step in the same river twice.”  Heraclitus, Greek philosopher.  535 – 475 BC.

Couldn’t wait till the official tea time in London…I know, the Queen is going to be somewhat upset that I could not wait for her.  Well…here in America, we do things whenever we feel like it…or when the weather is driving you so nuts, that you break protocol.

I had my best intentions since around 12:30 pm today.  I talked myself into waiting until 4 pm to have my piece of sweet for the day and a cup of lemon tea.  Love that tea!

First, increased the temperature on the thermostat, and then decided that the tea police was not around, so started to boil my water.  Cannot boil it too much.  Oxygen escapes, and tea does not taste as good.  According to the instructions.  Then, after two minutes, sat down and enjoyed my very hot cup of tea.

The moment of anticipation went by too fast.  Could I have a second cup of tea and another piece of good-for-you piece of cardboard tasting cereal bar?  Tried to walk around the apartment to make the decision and then, voila, decided to do a posting about the whole thing.  That will take care of my brain telling my stomach that there is room at the sac for more.  I imagine I am not alone in this constant battle.

The typing won…for the immediate moment.  I will let you know in a future episode how the battle ended.

So…it was today…14 January, 2012…the perfect day for a cup of tea.  High…48 degrees…in Florida.

Your Happy Contessa

“The older you get, the more important it is not to act your age.”  Ashleigh Brilliant, English-born author and cartoonist.  9 December, 1933.

The past few days have been a real test to my endurance to the cold weather.

Robes, two to three pair of socks at once, sweat shirt and pants, scarf, and hardly moving at all.  The lowest temperature I resisted was 64 degrees.  At which time I said to myself,  this is getting real bad, my fingers are turning purple and I feel like a lion in a cage.  So I cranked up the heater to a compromising 70 degrees.  I was not being cheap…well…to a certain degree I thought I could handle it and save some money too.

I had to wait until the morning, because I was afraid the heating unit will react violently to me ignoring it and smoke and explosions may be a reaction.  Nothing really happened, but after a minute or so of releasing some heat, it turned itself off.  So I thought, here we go, I knew it!

After a few seconds, it came back up and showed me it was alive and kicking heat as fast as it could.  Of course, static is a by-product of heat, so sparkles sometimes fly, but it is either being purple or facing a few electric shocks.  Cannot have it all, I have learned.

Then, today, 6 January, it was up to 70 degrees.  Had to totally change my outfit or I was going to burn up with so much protection and look ridiculous to the pretty people of my village.

Another day in paradise…or warming up Florida.

So…it was today…6 January, 2012…a day to enjoy the fabulous weather I moved here for.

Your Happy Contessa

“To know what has to be done, then do it, comprises the whole philosophy of practical life.”  Sir William Osler, was a physician and one of the founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  12 July, 1849 – 29 December, 1919.