Noury's Creative World…

Without friends what kind of world would we live in?  No birthday parties, no shoulder to cry on, not having a good laugh just from looking at each other and understanding the joke without saying one word…and so on.

When God decided on the hierarchy of the human chain, friends was #1, numero uno, the top banana.  I cannot imagine my world without my friends.  Of course, there are degrees of friendship.  That’s why they invented the totem pole.  Closest friend, close friends, friends, acquaintances, then your family.  But on the family heritage thing, we didn’t have a say on who we were going to inherit as a brother, sister, mama and papa.  The dice were rolled somewhere and somehow, and then puff!  here I am and there they are.  But friends, you get to choose.

Some of my “amigas” on this high school photo were questionable friends.  We were civil to each other so we knew what was going on with former boyfriends.  You know how it is sometimes.  Kisses kisses, hugging hugging and then, give me the scoop.  What’s up with my former imbecile boyfriend?  You both are doing just marvelous?  How nice! (the idiot).  Those kind of friendships are necessary and Machiavellian.  End justifies the means.  The need to know.

Then…you have the sort of friends by default.  You live together with 50+ women because that’s the only way your parents are going to allow you to continue your education, living with the nuns and all these women.  Lots of fun, like the night a thief was trying to make the rounds and we saw the nuns without their head coverage, and we didn’t know who was the scariest, the thief or the nuns.  Have mercy on my soul.

And then of course, you have the silent and always there friends…my books.  I don’t know what I would have done without them when going through the many changes I have been facing for the past three years.  Well, to be factual, since early 1970’s.  My self-improvement books are my wisdom provider when my human friends are not available or I just do not want to bother them with my sorrows.  My books are it.

I thought this was a pretty, innocent picture to end my homage to friends, friendship and what they all mean in our lives.

I feel tremendously blessed to have the friends I have, all and each one of them and because of them, I am a much better and special person.

Thank you for being my friend!

So it was today…See you next Monday.  Go Duke!

Your Happy Contessa

“The comfort of having a friend may be taken away, but not that of having had one.” Seneca, Roman philosopher

Dear Muses, I hope this finds you well and very happy wherever you are…because “YOU’RE FIRED!!

Now that that’s off my chest, I need to go and get my big old woman’s panties and deal with it.  The inspiration well is totally dried.  I had to resort to my pretend-to-be pears, shown on the picture above, to get something to write about.  Some are real, can you tell which ones?

According to my best buddy, Webster, real means not artificial, fraudulent, illusory or apparent.  Ummmm….if I look around long enough in this house, there is a lot of fraudulent business.  Pears, apples, flowers, wrinkles, hair color, need not to continue, otherwise I will be totally describing myself.

I remember one day, a very chummy girlfriend of mine, Lucy, was visiting me and while I was getting ready to go out, she said to me when I returned to the living room,  ” you really fooled me, I thought these flowers were real,” there is that word again, real.  The reason she thought they were real is because they were in a beautiful glass vase with water.  Yes, water.  I always try to camouflage unreal things to make them look real.  One of my decorating secrets.  She said “I went to smell them, and then I realized they were silk flowers.  Is there anything real in this house.”  Excuse me!  I am real!  I laughed my heart out, and told her that the flowers in her room were real.  By the way, Lucy, come back again for another real visit.  I had a great time.  Remember the country-french restaurant.  Can’t wait to go back there.

Then I proceeded to tell her that the apples, oranges and those flowers were making an attempt to eventually become real in their next life.

We had a good laugh at my “pretend to be” stuff.  No rotting involved.  All they need is a bit of dusting once in a while.  Here’s some more “unreal” things…

Can you tell which one is real?  Another painting by that very temperamental artist.

 There is a limit to unreal things.  Cannot eat them.  At least it is not good for me.  So you will find some real things in my house.  Remember, an apple a day, keeps……away.

I will depart today with some sights on today’s walk with Miss Raylene…

The one on the left we think is related to the magnolia tree family, and the one on the right is that pretty dandelion in its different stages.

Reality of life tells me my doses of inspiration for today is maxed out.

So it was today…

Your Happy Contessa

“You don’t have to look far to see a miracle”

P.S.  In spite of the absence of the muses, today I celebrate my 101st posting.  A toast to that milestone.  Thanks to all of you for continuing to read on!

Written Wednesday, March 16th…  But published on March 17th…Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!  The green background is to get green happy.

Last Saturday we had our local public library’s book sale.  I was the coordinator of the special books section, because that’s my specialty. 

Now that you have an idea of my section, the first photograph is the books I purchased because they, oh, look so appealing.  One thing must be made clear.  I do not like to cook!  Why…because my mother never allowed any one of us to come into “her” kitchen.  Someone had to be blamed, and why not my matronly figure.  She does like to cook…oh my…and she cooks sooo good!  But every action has a reaction.  The cleaning is a disaster area for the ones that had to do it.  Us, the five daughters.  Maybe that’s why I don’t like to cook.  It is too much drama, that if the food takes so long, that if it is going to taste good, that if “they” are going to like it, etc., etc.

Ron used to love my cooking.  Honestly, he used to rave about my cooking.  Probably he has a very special spot in the angels’ kingdom.  Hi Ron.

I purchased those books because the illustrations take me on a journey that I know is never going to materialize for me.  The actual happening of cooking those dishes in my kitchen.  Besides, the books look great as decorative pieces.

See what I mean?  Anything to have a good-looking kitchen.  The painting on the right was done by a very temperamental artist.  His paintings are available only once a year, and then you have to make a very difficult journey through the mountains to his shack to get these primitive paintings.  But I really like them, so I don’t mind making this exhausting trip.  His name is “Richard.”  He doesn’t like to talk too much, so you really have to be fast when dealing with him and be forever grateful that he does you the favor to sell you his paintings.  OMG!

I am really bad.  My first fiction short story doesn’t sound that bad.  I mean the artist’s story.  He is really my brother-in-law.  Very nice person.  I just got carried away.

I will close today with a sight from this morning’s shopping trip around my neighborhood.

Cherry trees were a gift of friendship of the Japanese people to the people of the United States of America in 1912.  It is a long story, but this will suffice for now.

So it was today…

Your Happy Contessa

Tuesday, March 15th…

I was watching the news about the disaster in Japan just like everybody else in the world.  One thing that stroke me was the calm attitude of the Japanese people even though they are facing at this time something of apocalyptic proportions.

No screaming, no looting, no trying to get the journalist attention, just keeping in line or continuing to search probably someone very dear to them.

In a shelter, they were even recycling the empty bottles of water, papers, and I was more taken by the calm, peace and serenity that emanated from this segment of the news.

These images are teaching me the incredible ways of being graceful and resilient even when facing adversity.  I don’t think in my lifetime I will face the kind of adversity they are facing right now. 

What I have learned from them is to keep calm and focused at the task at hand, and that there are more important things than the material belongings that we surround ourselves with.  Intangible qualities are the ones that will carry us on when adversity strikes us, being it minuscule or of majestic proportions as the one the people of Japan are facing today.

May their spirit of resilience and grace continue to help them to carry on.

Your Happy Contessa

“Arrange whatever pieces come your way.”  Virginia Woolf

Monday, March 14th…

I was reading the newspaper this morning with much interest, this was after the delivery person got a call from Main Office, as my newspaper was existing in a black hole, so they called and told this person that the little old lady wanted her paper. 

Interrupting my morning routine is not, I repeat, it is not a good thing.  It gets me out of whack and confused and I don’t know what to do with that stretch of time.  No tv that early in the morning.  The depression mode is not allowed in this house until after 2 pm.  Then anything goes.

Going back to the newspaper, there was an article about the mysteries of black holes.  I am always referring to black holes when something disappears and I don’t have the foggiest idea of where it is.  Definition of black holes is somewhat as follows; they are the most powerful force in the universe.  Not my ignorant universe, but yours and mine.  Nothing can escape it because I guess any attempt to do so will result in the pulverization of whatever it is that tries to leave such a place.

The picture above is my personal black hole.  Even when I go there, I find myself wanting to do two things, either I do not want to go in there in the first place, so I just open the door, throw whatever I have in my hand and shut that door as soon as I can.  Now, on the other hand, if I decide to brave myself and visit that luring place, I can stay there for a long time just looking around and deciding what I should do with all that “stuff,” and then I leave empty-handed deciding that whenever it gets warmer, I should come back and start getting rid of stuff.  If it is summer time, then the opposite rules.

How do we know we don’t live in a black hole?  No one has really been close to one, or inside one, or even seen one, according to this article.  It is so powerful that it bends time and space.  Now we are talking!  Time and space.  May I have a little black hole to apply it to my wrinkles, neck and laughter lines.  I might get sucked into it as a whole, and then, puff!  no me anymore.  Cannot have it all.

I have a fascination about anything that we have not seen or don’t understand.  I try to figure out things sometimes, but most of the time I keep all conclusions to self, because “they” may decide to commit me to the loony house, or decide to start giving me little happy pills.

What do you think about black holes?  In the Hispanic culture that I was raised, there is a lot of pondering and questioning everything, because we like to talk a lot.  We also like to know what’s going on with other cultures, and love to give opinions.  That’s why I love to know what’s going on and if I don’t know, I like to figure things out.  That’s the reason why I am writing today about those mysterious spaces called black holes.  This is an incredible universe,  the one we live in.  We waste so much time with pettiness and trivialities.  If we knew the magnitude of our universe, I am sure we somehow would become a happier individual.

I am glad for my good life, and glad I live in this moment surrounded by all of you, my friends and acquaintances.

Two of the sights of this morning’s walk in Miss Raylene’s neighborhood.  Enjoy them! 

So it was today…

Your Happy Contessa

“When a man’s willing and eager, God joins in.”  Aeschylus – One of the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians.  Considered the father of tragedy.

Sunday, March 13th…

Not having changed my clocks last night, this morning around 6:55 am I looked at my electric red burning lighted clock (which by the way, why the color red, to horrify us more yet) and thought, according to the gadget maniac society I live in, right now it’s not 6:55 am, it’s 7:55 am.  Wow, I have overslept.  Yeah, right.   Went about my routine, you know, when you have had too many happy birthdays, routines in the morning are very important.

I pondered more deeply on the manipulation of time.  Just like that!  Clocks are even changing themselves, without our assistance.  Cel phones, dvrs, etc.  So do you think that all that power given to ourselves by ourselves, could be beneficial for our human system that does not know what the heck is going on.  At what time did I have breakfast?  Was it 8 or 9 am?  At what time am I going to have my middle morning snack, so I don’t feel like a shark desperate for food at what time again?

This business of fooling ourselves with everything, ie., pills to tell our brain that we are full, pills to tell our brain that we are not depressed, (remember, I am not against taking these if you really need them), creams to pretend we don’t have lines on our faces (hello!), and so many other things.  Sometimes some of these manipulations can be justified (creams 🙂 ) but this thing about the time, I don’t know.  Where am I going with this, I don’t know.  I guess this is one of my rebellious-kind-of day.

Thanks God the sun doesn’t really care what time we think it should be, there will be a sunrise when it feels like it, and there will be a sunset when it feels like it also.  At least someone is not in the business of denial.  A lot of denial for this, a lot of denial for that.    There is some kind of control under the heavens!

I wonder what’s the next big thing we are going to try to manipulate to try to fool ourselves in a big way.

Muses, where are thou?

Your Happy Contessa

 P.S.  I just looked at the clock.  12:25 pm, but foolish of me to think it is time to have lunch.  Hold your horses, dear stomach.  No food for a while yet.

P.S. #2 – Duke just won the ACC Championship.  If you don’t care, it’s ok, but I am elated.  Go Duke!!!!

Every action has a reaction.  Sometimes I think we are abusing the privilege of being inhabitants of this beautiful place, our home, Planet Earth.  But sometimes I think nature ages just like all of us and during the process it makes some adjustments that have nothing to do with our abuse.

I am not going to say much, because there is not much to be said if you have been watching the news.  Not even fiction can come close to what has happened to our brothers and sisters of New Zealand and Japan.  Still is happening.

I hope they can find the strength, physically and emotionally to go through what they are going through, because nothing makes any sense.

Until next Monday…

Your Happy Contessa

This morning I had to get up at 6:00 am because I had an appointment with my eye doctor at 8:00 am.  By now, you must have an idea of how I did look like, but I did my best to look presentable.  Washed and set my hair, jean jacket, etc., everything men and women do to look good (should read:  hanging on to everything in good condition, and being able to hide your liabilities and make the best with the few assets you got).

I must admit, I liked the way I looked.  My ego doesn’t need any assistance ever.  Thank you.  So there I go, it was raining, so it was not a good hair day.  Tornado possibilities around, but I needed to make sure I kept this appointment for the sake of my beautiful eyes.  Without them the lights go out.

After the usual ceremony of going to the doctor takes place (waiting for the almighty doctor to show up)  a nice young man gives me the usual peek-a-boo testings;  reading tiny little letters and me doing all in my power to try to fool him, guessing which letters are what, or if it is a number or a letter.  Much denial.  But in a few seconds, I realized that the only one I was trying to fool was myself.  So I found out that my right eye is the one I have been using the most to see my face when I am putting on makeup, because that was the one with a slight variation of good sight.  The left one is the merciless one.  Don’t use that one when I want to feel good.

Then he put some drops to dilate my pupils, I waited for a few minutes, and then Mr. Doctor decided it was time to show up at the office.

He checked my right eye, and said that everything looked good so he’ll see me in a year.  I said “Aren’t you going to check my left eye, I mean,  drops are in there already.”  He said “sure, we’ll do two for the price of one.”  I burst into laughter that lasted for a few good seconds.  Then I said “you’re funny, I like your sense of humor.”  He didn’t know what to make of my comment.  Probably he thought, this is not a dumb one.

The left eye is fine, thank you.  Somewhere in the conversation between his checking the left eye, I said that I need to make sure both eyes are doing fine, because after all I am 62+ and so are my eyes.  Then he said:

“You look like you are 32…”   Now, there’s a big difference between a compliment and a big ugly lie.  Thirty two?  Please, I have a lot of mirrors in my house and the one in the bathroom has so many lights above it, it feels like at any moment there is a plane that is going to land on my sink.

Thirty two… my aching feet!  Look at the picture above.  That girl doesn’t have any laughter lines, anything hanging down, as gravity is doing its best efforts at 62+.  Please Mr. Doctor, I don’t need compliments of any category, especially when I know a lie from far away.  I know you had your best intention, but I know also that I do have a lot of many happy birthdays, and still I can see even in the dark that 32 is a stage I will not visit again, and in a way, why should I?  What do you think I will return as when I make my next visit to planet whatever it will be.  Will I be a bird, a flower or a teacher.  Always wanted to be a teacher.

Now, that’s more like…52…getting wiser is a lot of fun.  You can say whatever you want  and whenever and you want to.  I think I already posted to that.  Since I left the good intentioned doctor, I am seeing double everything, well kind of, and my vision is perfect (perfectly fuzzy) to see myself in the mirror, even with all those lights.  I look….like 32.  No lines anywhere.  But tomorrow back to reality with the merciless left eye.

So it was March 10, 2100.

Your Happy Contessa

Did you notice something?  Ha ha!

 I have been trying now for over an hour to “share” the video of the shuttle Discovery’s  last touch down, a historical one may I say, because this was its final voyage.  Let me be more specific, I was trying to “share” from NASA’s website the landing of Discovery, with my friends on Facebook.  No luck.

The longer I tried,  the more obstinate my computer grew in a conspiracy plot with Facebook.  No cooperation whatsoever.  Maybe too many people were trying to do the same thing too.  Information overload.

I am going to continue trying again and again to share this video mainly because the landing as well as it was the takeoff are sights that leave anyone in awe.  You should check them out at NASA’s website.

I think the space frontier (is there a frontier?) will provide us with many questions and as well as many answers that we living mechanisms here on planet Earth may have or may entertain.  I feel very proud of our accomplishments as a country in the space program.  It is a shame we are considering ending it. 

Just out of curiosity, are you one of those that think that we are alone in the whole universe.  I love the audacity of our engineers and astronauts to go out there and try to communicate with ET.   Remember him?   How lovely he was and with those incredible super powers.  The Lord have mercy on us if them out there are just looking for food and we may look like some kind of eatable species to them.  Enough.  Hopefully they are just like ET.

I must confess, I was not a big fan of the space program at the beginning, but as I get “wiser” and “riper” as I can get, I find merit in things that before I didn’t consider that important.  The space program was one of those creatures.  But now I am one more fan.  “To infinity and beyond,” as Buzz Lightyear would say.  Ask any ten-year old who’s Buzz.

With this breath-taking moment…I can only, no, I cannot imagine what it must have been for this privileged group of people to have had this incredible experience.

So it was on March 9, 2011…

Your Happy Contessa

“God wasn’t throwing dice when He created the Universe”  Albert Einstein

 Frankly, today I had my doubts about coming up with anything at all to talk to you about.  That thought has crossed my mind many times.  It is an ugly and scary thought.  But here we go.

Yesterday, when I was getting ready to cut what is my daily intake of an apple or a pear to put in my salad, I noticed with curiosity and apprehension that maybe a visitor being was residing inside my apple.  Humm…so I washed and dried it and then proceeded to do surgery.  Come to find out, after several incisions were made, the part of where the foreign being must have resided was empty.  I would say 99.50% of the apple was approved by my eyes to put into the salad.  It was a crunchy and sweet apple.  My daily intake to insure my happy everyday moment of what you must imagine if you have a good imagination.  If you cannot figure it out, well, you need to eat an apple a day.

These are some of the sights I find on my daily walk with Miss Raylene, that are uncovered right now, because the trees are still bare.  The one on the left is a tiny little creek and one on the right are some death trunks just laying there, making a nice collage.  There’s a reason for everything under the sun.  We need the not so glamorous views now, so we can discover the hidden treasures of nature, and then we can appreciate each one on its own merit.  Such is life, but it is not that easy to digest when you are going through the  mud to get to the other side.  Patience, perseverance and faith in myself and our Creator is usually what I need to help me through.

I will leave you today with a picture of the dreaded dandelion.  No one wants them in their yard, but I think it is another beauty of nature.  In its right place, I guess.  If we continue getting rid of pretty things like this one with pesticide, one day all of us are going to go “puff” and disappear.  All because we have classified this pretty flower as a weed.  Leave it to us to come up with incomprehensible stuff.  I wonder how is the dandelion treated as in our parallel universe.

And so it is today…

Your Happy Contessa

“To be or not to be.  That is the question.”   Shakespeare.  I looked up the meaning of this phrase and it left me kind of conflicted, but I decided I was going to make of it a happy interpretation.  You make your own.  Make it a happy one.