Paul's Corner

you are so right about that Paul. I've been contemplating that of late as well, but the tough on for me is the how to let go part. But in all fairness to myself, I must give myself credit, I'm doing much better in that area than I even did a couple of months ago! On to happiness and contentment and productive control and connecting with our true self!

thinking about what was said above; have been trying to work at it awhile

true all forms are fleeting, even mind forms (Tolle) and that letting things be and not becoming attached is the key. letting all be without trying to control and it works out of its own accord

chaos in my life and controlling it becomes futile bu see your point if let things be and it reorders itself. thanks for the control poem.

I could not agree more Paul. I have been coming to terms with these truths for a few years now. It's not easy, especially when you are so affected by what is either happening to others around you and in the world, or what others are doing that affect you directly or indirectly. I realize it's all about how we react. Everything is a reaction.. It's normal to react, but sometimes it's a knee jerk reaction and before you can decide how you want to control your reaction, it's too late and you've already reacted. You've possibly reacted in a way that you cannot alter. It's a trap. Bleaaah, why is it such a vicious circle?? As you can see, I'm still struggling with this concept. The struggle is just another form of control that I guess I need to let go of. Thank you for reminding me Paul!!

So good to hear from you again. I haven't been visiting as much because you are not here too much, but something called me back to the Corner and there you were! :)

Hoping everyone is well. My sister's cancer has now spread to her liver and she will begin an at home oral chemo therapy on Monday. 5 days a month she will be taking the meds and the other 3 weeks re-cooping. This will go on for about 2 months and then they'll check the liver. This is a normal expected course for this cancer. We may still fight it, but it's going to take a miracle. She is still strong, positive, active, proactive, no-nonsense, home goddess, wife and mother. She is a powerful being who is not ready to be giving up on her life. Please pray for her. Send positive energy and live happy and productive lives!

Love and peace to you all

Mary I am glad you dropped by and I am glad the thoughts above resonated in some way.

There are times where I am completely at peace with those ideas and I have let go, surrendered to the the forces of life and allowed myself to be found where ever I have ended up. Other times I fight and scream all the way - and most likely am found in the same place just the journey was more unpleasant. Stange thing life isnt it?

I am sorry to hear your sisters cancer is now in the liver. I will send all good thoughts her way. It must be very hard for you and I am thinking the challenge will be to let go of the notion of your sisters cancer and embrace the notion of your sisters good health - I dont know if I could do it. I will be sending good thoughts your way too.

Evelyn full marks to you now keep working on it:)

Mary, I am sorry to hear about your sister. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

I'm doing well, just busy. My best friend is coming to visit next weekend so I'm working on cleaning the house a bit. :)

Enjoy your weekend, all! :D

Oh Paul,

Thank you so much for your heart felt words. Sarah too. I fight it. That's for sure. I know there is a place in my soul where the peace is available and is there waiting for me. I don't know why I fight it. It's just so damn heart breaking to let go and face the fact that we really don't have any control when it comes to some things. We can guide them and accept them and that's about it. I watched Farah's Story last night on TV. It was beautiful and also so gut wrenching. Life and death just don't go together and the contrast is so unnatural. It's no wonder we struggle with it.

Thank God if we are fortunate enough to find a soft place to fall. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. At this moment, she is strong, and happy. She's a fighter and a tough girl. I think it's unfair for illness to eventually rob a person of there true self.

there=their

I need a grammar AND a spellcheck.

Mary, my best friend is an aspiring writer (ok, technically she is a writer - just aspiring to be published) and she has some of the worst grammar I've ever seen. The there/their/they're is one of her biggest problems. She calls me her editor because I'm always correcting her. :)

Letting go is incredibly difficult. I think in part it's due to our inability to leave our comfort zones. Yes, those zones may not be the happiest places but they are where we have found ourselves to be the most at ease... mainly because we haven't allowed ourselves to fully let go and be happy and find the "right" comfort zone. Does that make sense to anyone but me? I'm trying to let go and move forward, but in some respects I've yet to do so. But I am much further than I was a year ago at this time. Baby steps...

Sarah, thank you so much and yes what you said does make sense. Only one thing that I can't claim is that I feel any sense of ease or comfort in that zone which I am most "settled" in. I think at some point in our lives when we first experience defeat, we get stuck there. It's not comfortable. It's quite the opposite. It's a place of fear, sadness and discouragement, or more literally, a lack of courage. I do feel there must be a sense of purpose in learning these lessons, even though I'm like a drunk in a maze with it still and it's so damn painful sometimes. I think people like me need every year of their existence here to try to get it right and others do not require as much time and even though the random things that take us out from this life can sometimes seem so senseless and unfair, it's their time to move on. That almost makes me feel purposeless, since I'm not the one dying...yet. Ok, that's a look at my dark side. I'll put this in to a better perspective soon, I'm sure. I just get so pissed off sometimes. I'm really not a negative person, but I do get caught up in the doom and gloom syndrome for a moment or two from time to time. ;)

Sarah, I love following you on facebook, but I do see that we both see the glass half full sometimes.

I challenge you to mention something positive each day on facebook for this week and I will do the same. We can pay if forward to each other and keep each other positive. Not that I think you are negative at all. I think we are both sensitive. There's a difference. I love getting to know you via Paul's corner and FB! :)

Thank you for taking the time to connect to me. I feel so very blessed. It really is all about baby steps. You are so right. I hope in a year I can share with you some progress and thank you again for encouraging me, or more literally, helping me to find courage.

I keep thinking this very thing myself, I find it easier to do but i fing it difficult that my husband is very negative and bitter. I try to look at the good side of things while he focuses on the negative.

Paige and I got rear ended yesterday. I can barely move. Paige is so sore. We were at a red light waiting for it to change green and got hit from behind full speed. I have been rear ended before but it was nothing like this. I didn't feel the soreness right away like we did yesterday. The girl that hit us totaled her car. It was bad. She was fine but the front of her car is smooshed up into her winsheild, I couldnt believe she was fine. Thank God Paige is fine, Thank God we all are. Funy thing is Tom was supposed to take the truck yesterday and not the convertable. He took the convertable for some reason, had we been in the convertable, we would not be here, I fear. My trucks bumper was pushed down and in so no big deal. Tom thinks the frame is bent. My insurance agent says she can get us $500.00 for sure for the truck but it sucks I just dropped the truck from full coverage to plpd. That sucks but as long as we are all ok then its fine.

Liz, the links are awesome, thank you so very much. I don't feel like I am missing out on a good thing.

Paul, tell Erin,my pugs say hello. I will try to post some photos of them on my Facebook for her.

MARY, I SEND YOU PURE LIGHT OF HEALING AND LOVE SO YOU CAN GIVE IT TO YOUR SISTER. I PRAY FOR HER HEALING AND YOURS AS WELL. I remember when I was caring for my mother last year after she moved in when she was dealing with cancer, and it was hard. I wish you the very best.

Love to all,
Kelly

Kelly, I am so glad you and Paige are ok! That very same type of accident happened to me years ago. I was the second car stopped at the red light and a young guy in a huge truck hit the car behind me at about 40-45 mph. I was in a Subaru Impreza Sport, which is a very small car. It was 3 months old. The back of my car was totaled and the entire car just missed being totaled. I hit the back of my head on the head rest so hard that I had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I ended up ok, of course, but it was such a shock. A nice Sunday afternoon, with not a care in the world and then suddenly it was like being hit by a bomb! It left me traumatized and depressed for a while and I later found out that some fears and trauma that I had not finished dealing with had surfaced due to the shock of the accident and I had to get my self straightened out after that. I found this unbelievable and didn't accept it, but in the end I had to deal. So we humans get to struggle with learning in one way or another. Someone has a plan here! To teach us. :) Thank you for such kind words being sent my way. I do appreciate it so much. I hope you and Paige feel better very soon. Those aches usually don't show up until the next day and the days following. Warm showers and lots of rest! I hope there is no residual affects. Feel better!

It's my first day off for this week. I'm so content with the coffee brewing, a load of laundry in and my two old cats wondering around. Life IS good.

Everyone have a blessed day!

Mary, youi are right life is good. Even if it will take my entire savings to fix the truck as we just dropped it to plpd 2 months ago, itsnt that just how it goes.

Liz
Hilarious Ice Cream and Frau Heidi WAS HISTERICAL. Who knew Paul was such a comedian. I am so glad I got to see th ose clips. I wish I could get Aussie tv in the states. No cable or satelite provider carries Aussie tv. When we were switching from cable to dish I checked them all and no luck. What a bummer.

I have slept all day long. Who knew flexeril was so strong and made you so drugged up? GOOD STUFF

Well, gotta go the hubby is yelling for me to get back in bed. whatever.

Paige is doing great she is only a little sore. Thank God

Love to all,

Kelly

LOL Kelly. Get your rest. Don't eat or drive in your sleep..oh wait..I think that's Ambien...horrible drug in my opinion. I'm glad Paige is feeling ok.

I got some happy news today. My brother is coming here for a visit from California! He's never been here for a visit and I moved here in 1993! He's never even been to Colorado. He's coming in about 2 weeks. I'm so happy! I could use a boost. :)

Mary,

That's great your brother is coming! Take some time and remember all the little things that embarressed him growing up and then do them all at once at the airport when you pick him up! GOOD TIMES.

Love to all,

Kelly

Hi Paul! Very interesting the subject of poetry. Does reflect life in our actions and attitudes. Have a very blessed day.

LOL Kelly. That sounds like something he would do to me!!

Thanks Paul! you too! :)

I need to switch into "what do I need to take to Germany with me?" mode. Leaving Wednesday. I hope it will be a good time, but there are a few of the aspects where letting go of control and taking control for and of myself will come into being and I'm somewhat edgy about it, the not knowing what awaits me part. But that too I think I need to let go and just be in the now, trust myself to know what I need and want to do when the time is right. And I will!
Now tackling the ironing mound :)

Kelly glad to hear you and Paige are okay - with the good comes the bad hey? - no insurance on the truck but if you were not in it the outcome would have been disastrous! I hope evrything is sorted out in a good and postive way for you.

MaryS I know what you mean regarding feeling purposeless. There are times where life does seem to not have a purpose, when nothing makes sense and nothing is easy or fair. I guess that is when you need to let go the most, relinquish control.

My thought above is wrong in the part where I say letting go is the key to happiness, control and contentment. Letting go is not the key to control the key to happiness and contentment is understanding that fact. If you can arrive at that place then it doesnt so much matter wether life has a purpose or not or if you understand or agree with it because you will be in a place of happiness and contentment.

A place I am not at right now but most definately working towards.

Kelly I am glad you and Paige are ok. As one who worked in the insurance business for 8 years (and having suffered a rather traumatic car accident myself 2 years back) I can tell you that the other driver's insurance should be picking up the payout for the damages to your vehicle. In 99.9% of rear-end collisions the driver of the car causing the collision (in this situation the other driver) is at fault. Sadly it can be a very long process for her insurance company to admit her fault - regardless of whether or not she admits it. (Again, I know from experience.) If you need any advice please don't hesitate to send me a message on Facebook.

Mary, I'm glad your brother is coming for a visit. I will do my best to post something positive each day in my Facebook status, but I will not promise it because I hate breaking a promise. LOL

I felt compelled to come here tonight. I've been battling a bit of a "demon" lately, and it's regarding someone I've called a friend. I feel that at some point (and I'm fairly sure I can pinpoint it) we moved from being friends to acquaintances. Despite her protestations I know we have moved apart in many ways, and over the past month or so I've gotten to the point where I don't even want to be associated with her. I know deep down that I need to tell her how I feel and just put an end to the charade of friendship, but I'm having difficulty letting go. Why is it when we know what we must do it's 100 times more difficult?

Sarah, sometimes and for some people the charade is the easiest, most convenient and seemingly least painful option.

Truth and honesty are the falls guys in this and the victims - some would say, although I would say the victims are the people who are lying to themselves and others. Honesty is a wonderful loving freeing quality - but it is also painful to confront. If we didnt get ourselves all mixed up in believing the charade then truth wouldnt hurt. It hurts because we have to confront the fact that we have been lying to ourself all along and that can be very disappointing and deflating. It also says that we dont like ourselves that much if we do that so willingly and easily to ourself.

I know that if you act honestly and with integrity it will not lessen the difficulty or the pain (sorry about that announcment) but you know that what you did you did with love and care for yourself and importantly for the other party.

You must remember that it is their choice how they wish to take your honesty and you cannot be responsible for how they react, that is their choice and their journey. Walking away is a hard moment but walking into the lightness of release from the charade - if it is what you choose, is a wonderful moment also.

Paul, you are right, if we had been in the car, well, my son might be on her telling you all about our funerals, SO I AM BLESSED. The insurance company is getting us $500.00 from the other girls policy and that will cover the repairs. Barley but it will cover them. SO YEAHHHH.

Sarah, I too, ended a long friendship this week after years of me always having his back and he never having my back, the final straw came when he did not give a completely truthful emplyment reference for me, He was not rude about me but he admitted he did not tell what he should of out of jealousy. That was the last straw. He makes more than I do at BOTH his jobs so I don't know why he is jealous. I dont care. I told him I had had enough. He had enough chances and that was it. A true friendship is give and take, not give and give and give on one side. I know he is insecure and feels for the first time in his life since I lost my job he feels more important than me and that is fine. I dont have a problem with that. Maybe he does. I hurt for the last time and I will still care for him as an aquantance but nothing more. You have a more positive future ahaed without the negativity and you deserve a better freindship.

Evelyn, have a safe trip!

Love to all,

Kelly

Thanks Paul for what you said to Sarah about honesty and integrity and care of self and not being responsible for the other's response and dealing with the charade. It helped me a lot this morning and gave me a framework from which to understand and act. I could be upset, but I'm not as I am true to myself. I wish he hadn't thrown an amazing opportunity away, and in an odd way he didn't though verbally he did, it is his choice. I am going to claim this amazing opportunity for myself and become a healthier and more whole person in the process.

And Sarah, I hope you find your way through your relationship as well. Be true to yourself that's the only thing that matters in the end. If reconciliation can be part of that, pursue it.

Thanks Kelli! hope you and Paige are doing well post accident.

Paul, thank you for those words. I don't expect this to be easy for me, and I've been in "pain" over this for some time. But I believe in complete honesty even if the person hearing it feels it is harsh or mean. (As you said, how they perceive it is all on them.)

Kelly, I'm glad your repairs will be covered. But seriously if you have any insurance questions feel free to ask. :) (My expertise is actually property insurance, but I have sold/serviced auto as well.)

Evelyn, have you finished packing yet? LOL

Part of the reason I mentioned my situation here is that I knew my friends at PC have excellent insight. Also, the person in question is on Facebook and she might actually read what I wrote for a change. (Yeah, that is part of the issue... complete self-centeredness on her part.) I've been busy for the early part of today and now I'm getting ready to run some errands before my Weight Watcher's meeting tonight. I know what I must do, now I just need to do it. :)

I've started putting a few things on the bed and looked at my list of clothes that I left at home last year, but packed, no way. Had a lot of bill paying and sorting and other pre-trip organizing to do, still need to buy cat litter. I wish I could take my cat with me though. I'm sooooo going to miss her.

Sarah, if you know what you must do, do it, It is freeing, not without pain, but freeing. and you do have people here and elsewhere to support you through this.

The deed is done, so to speak. I don't feel like a horrible person for doing it, although I doubt she will see it that way. I actually feel a bit of relief.

Good for you, Sarah!

Sarah, I'm glad you followed your heart. It was speaking to you and believe me, we need to listen to our hearts, our gut, the universe, anything but our dense heads!! One of these days, I must practice meditation, so I can quiet my brain. I have a cd that is really quite good. I'm just so freaking stubborn and stuck in that cowardly place that I've been frozen in for most of my life. It's a place of fear. Fear of loss. I know what it is, I'm just too scared to fix it. I just want to scream!!

OK,,,,,,,,

I can not believe Kris won over ADAM on American Idol...... what a crock. I seriously think it was fixed.... uuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhh
Adam was a great loser and Kris seriously looked like he did not feel he deserved to win. That tells you something right there. Also I think they only gave a trophy this year because they thought Adam would win and he has been the best contestant to date, ever on the show. Simon looked stunned.

OMG
Love to all Adam fans..... ok Kriss too.

Kelly

Kelly find comfort in the fact that most "losers" on AI end up with better careers than the winners. :)

Mary, fear is dangerous. It is definitely counter-productive. Find a way to overcome your fear and start meditating! :)

Yes, Sarah, you are very very true and that may have been part of the "fixing"..... hummmmmmm....

However there is something to be said for being rewarded for what you have earned...... and although Kriss is talented ,,,,, ADAM ROCKS.

OHHHH, Sarah you speak wisdom but I speak bitterness ... ok,,, I am over it... maybe.. : )

Kelly

It's been a crazy week, and Paul and all PCs are really humming here! I'll have to read all the responses later today and know for sure what I'm commenting on. :)

Just quickly, Paul, your poems touch the deeper truth within us. I always look forward to them along with your regular posts. Good soul, good heart!

Kelly, our pilot announced the AI results to us mid transatlantic flight ... not that I watched it, I kind of thought that announcement was funny, much better then when they asked about if there was a doctor on board and a little later if there was a nurse. Not sure what happened, but still weird to know you are up there in the middle of 'nowhere' over water and someone needs medical help.

It's good to be home and seeing that first glance of home while approaching Frankfurt airport earlier today always makes me excited! :)

Evelyn,

Thats really weird... AAAAnd Kriss Allen wins American Idol... and by the way is there a doctor or nurse on board? Doesn't quite fit.
Glad you made it to your homeland safely.

Love to all, (especially Adam fans)

Kelly

The doctor was required for the person who had a heart attack upon learning Kris won. ;)

Evelyn, I am guessing you arrived safely. :)

I'm safe in Brooklyn for the night. Tomorrow Gloria and I will head down to Virginia for the holiday weekend.

Yeah, I did arrive safely and crashed for 11 hours last night, since I skipped over 1 nights' sleep, OK, I dozed on the plane for 3 hours, but never really slept.

And the two announcements weren't given at the same time ...

I never thought I'd see the day when my "corner" friends and I would meet the place where we would end up on two sides of the AI decision!!! LOL. Kidding. I was for Kris from day one. I even voted at least a dozen times to try to do anything I could to keep Adam from winning, even though I thought he would because he actually may be more of a performer than Kris. But I literally had to watch his rinestoned, bedazzled, black fingernailed, stage persona through split fingers as I had my eyes covered. I couldn't bare to watch his stage drama. He just grossed me out. And it had absolutely NOTHING to do with his sexuality..it was his style that I hated. It was too much for me. That was one part of it. The other was, "ring, ring, the 80's called and they want you to go to Broadway to perform in a revival of old crappy rock music". ...oh, and by the way...the 90's too. GAH!!! I would buy something Kris did, although I'm sure I won't. But he was just way more current and easier on the eye and ear. Yeah, a bit boring but there was no decision for me..it was set in stone for me from day one. Adam broke my hearing aid. KIDDING. It's seriously not a generation gap. He just screamed too much and when he did, out came that lizard tongue. I just couldn't watch him. I was at my prime age during the 80's/90's and I was never a fan of KISS, or Foreigner, or any of that stuff. I was the one listening to Jackson Browne, Bluegrass stuff and folk rock. Kings of Leon is literally about the only current rock that I like and own music of. I've seen them once and am going to see them again this summer, and most Americans don't even "get" them. They're more popular in the UK. In the old days I listened to Jethro Tull. OK, I just aged myself. I just absolutely hated the rock during the 80's and 90's and don't think we need to revive it. Let it lay....

Sorry my dear friends!!! Don't hate me. Adam will do fine, although he's not going to have a real music career, imo. I think he'll end up in theater, unless he is re-invented by a good agent and made more current.

From the L.A. Times today:
Throughout the eighth season of "American Idol," Adam Lambert has seemed to be auditioning for two roles. One, a Broadway star. The other? Fronting Queen.

It appears he may be getting his wish. According to Rolling Stone, Queen's guitarist Brian May says the surviving members of the group were thoroughly impressed with Lambert on this week's "American Idol" finale and are interested in working together in the future.

Queen reunited earlier this decade with Bad Company's Paul Rodgers at the helm, but Lambert has been channeling original Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury all season. The surviving members have noticed.

That's all I'm sayin'. That puts it in a nutshell. Let's help the old guys try to revive their career. Don't do it Adam!!! That'll be the death of his career if he can't invent a new fresh version of himself.

o.k. There are other rock band I like. I love Green Day!!

I can't really comment on AI--I haven't watched any of it. Also haven't watched much of DWTS (USA), but I'm happy with who won.

We had a brief rehearsal today--some of the students were out due to Memorial Day weekend, but for those who came, we cleared some transitions and technique.

I then went to the show and saw Star Trek. Not that I'm all that much of a "Trekkie", but I did enjoy the original series, and this was a bit fun to see how they all came together on that bridge. Something tells me more Trek movies are coming . . .

Lastly, I like what Paul said earlier about truth and charade--point well said and taken!

Mary,'
I love Jackson Brown and Jethro Tull! I also loved Motley Crue and Poison, sow them several times in concert as well as KISS several times. GOOD TIMES GOOD TIMES. Heavy metal was the thing and I loved it!!! Probobly why I love Adam. I love the dramatics, but I come from theater... Also, I do not like his high pitch squeel every song.. It has its time and place and it is not in every song. I agree there, but I love everything else abut him and cant wait to buy his cd. Kriss is very talented and I have given him credit throughout the season but Adam rules for me.

How funny your post was... I totally related, but on the other end. I just love you death!!!

I am officially working 2 full time jobs. ahhhhhh. Hopefully I will go part time at the store in the next month and wont have to work all night then go to the office and work all day.

Love to all,

Kelly, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh]
that was my Adam scream!!

Funny Kelly! Coincidental that I mentioned Green Day and they were featured on Sunday Morning today. They are just awesome. And guess what? Crazy theatrics, black fingernails, crazy hair....you name it. It's just that they invented a sound that is exclusive to Green Day in my opinion. Adam is trying to re-invent something...he's not too original. He's talented..just old hat.

Love being able to speak my ever lovin mind here on the corner!!

Breaking a bit from the topics here--I was going through some old tapes from flamenco workshops and I came across one that wasn't labeled--

It took me a bit by surprised because most of our instructors either teach with Spanish accents or in Spanish. I'm listening to the voice and I hear this very British sounding masculine voice . . . I thought, OMG, it's Antonio Vargas! He was here in 2002 and 2003.

Back to other posts, I enjoy Jackson Brown and Jethro Tull as well. I'm also very fond of the Stones and Led Zepplin, Uriah Heep, early Jefferson Airplane--yes, showing my real age here! lol

Happy Sunday, all!

I'm still alive. Crazy weekend... which will officially end tomorrow.

For AI, I don't watch it but I have friends that do. I actually don't watch TV at all when at home. Personally I couldn't care less who won. ;)

Sarah good that you survived the holiday wkend. Read about your post on ending the charade. That was timely advice as I stopped trying to be nice and pleasing and my world has spun out of control--different and truer but not easier.

Paul gathers honey firsthand! and makes baklava:

bees and honey

Very sad news to share today. My Aspen kitty has been failing for about 2 weeks and I finally brought him in today, thinking the worst. Well, when the Dr. checked him over she was very hopeful, but we ran the blood tests and hydrated him a little, and after about 30 minutes she came back in to the room I was sitting with him in and she just sat down and cried. She said his liver was damaged beyond repair and that his body was "broken" and that today would be a good day for him to go. When is it ever a good day? This will forever be known as one my worst, for sure. I know what she meant though. My little friend of 14 happy years is now gone. Just like that. I am heart broken, exhausted and feeling ill. I need to rest and focus on myself and my Aspen's brother who also has thyroid illness. What a hard experience. I don't think I've ever felt such pain or cried so hard and I know it's just the beginning of missing my sweet boy.

Sorry about losing Aspen, MaryS. You have been caring for your cats I remember as you said it was hard to travel with them needing their meds. I am very sorry.

Big Hug to you Mary S! I know what you are going through, was there a little over a year ago. Let me go look if I can find a poem that a friend send me then for the occasion. If I do, I'll post it here for you! Thinking of you!

Mary S, I found it:

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF A CAT
by Margaret Trowton

When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have to those
They love I, too, would make a will, if I could write.
To some poor, wistful, lonely stray I leave my happy home,
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy,
The well-loved lap,
The gently stroking hand,
The loving voice,
The place I made in someone's heart
The love, that at the last
Could help me to a peaceful, painless end
Held in loving arms.
If I should die
Oh! Do not say: "No more a pet I'll have
To grieve me by its' loss". S
eek out some lonely, unloved cat
And give my place to him.
This is my legacy.
The love I leave behind.
'Tis all I have to give.

It may take you a bit of time to give Aspen's place to another cat, but it does help. I'm so glad that I welcomed Chloé into my life a few months after Freyja's passing last year. I still miss Freyja (and right now also Chloé since we are on 2 different continents right now!), but Chloé has healed my soul too in so many ways!

Thank you Evelyn. I can't seem to be consoled at this time. I know it will eventually get better, but I can't help but look at Boogie and see the same thing coming, since they are brothers and both have the same disease. Boogie is about a year behind Aspen in the disease but is showing signs of decline also. I will bring him in to have his blood checked soon, so we can make adjustments to help things out, but it's coming. I am a glass half empty person. I don't like it and don't accept it. I fight it, but it's sort of how I am wired. I am not helpful to myself at all. I'm aware of it, so I am trying to have faith in myself and God to make changes in how I perceive the events in our lives that shape us. At my age it would be like breaking down a marble statue and changing it, but it's never too late. It's been a pretty bad morning and my face and eyes look like a truck ran over it. Boogie is not himself. I went into the backyard and did a little rain storm cleanup and got some air but I'm just going through the motions. I've had family phone calls and I'm going to work at 3:30 pm today instead of my normal start time of noon. I don't really want to break down at work so the less people I see, the better, I guess.

Thank you so much for being here, as always. I appreciate the kind thoughts from all.

Mary I am so sorry to learn of Aspen's passing. I've just gone through this (nearly same) situation with Gloria. It's been 2 weeks today that she had to put her beloved Jake down. He had been a part of her life for 17 years. When I was in her apartment the end of last week I swore I saw him curled up in his favorite spot on the bed. I know the coming days, weeks, etc... will be difficult but know that I am here if you need an ear/shoulder.

Liz, I am actually at complete peace with my decision. I have found out through Gloria (who ended up being a mutual "friend" with this person) that said person believes I just need some time to think things through. It's sad that she knows me so little to think that is the truth. I can only hope that in time she realizes that she is most likely the reason she can't keep friends.

I am back home from my crazy weekend since last night. I still feel a bit run down, but I'm sure in another day or two I'll be my old self. :) The important thing is we had fun. :D

Sarah, I actually just saw your post on fb and I'm fighting back the tears. I am so sorry for Gloria's loss as I KNOW what pain and loneliness I am feeling. I keep thinking I see Aspen walking into the room and it absolutely kills me. I feel like a knife is going through my heart and don't know why I keep suddenly picturing his death. I'm beginning to accept his passing but I will never forget him or stop loving him with all my heart. Every now and then I can feel his little face next to mine. I know he is holding on to me...I hope he is at peace.

MaryS--I'm very sorry to hear about your cat--to take him in and find this out and barely ready to let go.

I was recalling my cat Samantha yesterday and how hard it was to come to the conclusion it was time--my heart goes out to you. :)

MaryS; how are you doing? Evelyn's Legacy poem was so great--makes me want to check the no-kill shelter to pick up a cat. Here's Dr. TinyCat from Paul's Facebook Page--Dr TinyCat to the Rescue: I know you miss Aspen.

MaryS and Dr. Tiny Cat

AAAAAAhhhhhhh. I actually have the rest of the night off and don't have to be to my first job till 10PM tommorrow.... AAAAAhhhhh. 28 hours turned into a weekend for me..... GOOD TIMES when the paycheck comes.

Mary S, so sorry about your loss. That is such a bad time in anyones life. I wish love and healing.

Love to all,

Kelly

Thanks so much. Liz, Kelly and Melody. Dr. Tiny Cat. How cute! I'll have to check the site out in more detail.

This week has been weird. I cried, no sobbed, no wailed, like someone chopped a piece of my body off, and then I sort of became numb. I'm not sure where I'm at now in the healing process. I am mostly concerned about Boogie now. Aspen was his brother and companion for 14 years. I'm pouring all my love into him and he's glued to me when he's not looking lost or confused, but he's alone most of the time while I'm at my damn job. But I have 3 days a week off to make it up to him. One more day and it's our weekend. Then my brother will be here for 5 days and Boogie is not used to house guests. So much confusion going on. He seems to be doing ok though. I'm trying to set his mood.

An ironic expression I use quite often comes to mind and seems like an oxymoron now: "good grief". I know there is goodness that comes out of grief. I'm waiting to see what happens.

One more day MaryS then you have a 3 day wkend!!!To spend with Boogie. Aspen leaves a huge emptiness. Good grief as you said. MaryS don't forget to enjoy your garden--was Aspen an outdoors cat? do you have a picture we can post? and Boogie is he a look alike?

MaryS Dr. Tinycat is a PC cat--I found him on Paul's Facebook page.

For the PCs--the PCs of Spain are lucky as it MM is showing in Madrid!!!

"> Mercurio's Menu in Madrid!

Mercurio's Menu showing in Madrid

Thanks Liz. I do have pictures. I'll see if I can give a link here. The first two are Aspen. The other is my Boogie.

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/aspen17.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/aspen13.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/boogie12.jpg

Let me know if you were able to view these.

Thanks for sharing with me in the love I have for these two boys. They joined me when they were 7 weeks old.

Thanks Liz. I do have pictures. I'll see if I can give a link here. The first two are Aspen. The other is my Boogie.

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/aspen17.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/aspen13.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/mypics1020/boogie12.jpg

Let me know if you were able to view these.

Thanks for sharing with me in the love I have for these two boys. They joined me when they were 7 weeks old.

I just posted a few links but got a strange page that stated my post went through but was waiting for approval. I posted it again and got the same message. We'll see if Cat gets them and posts it...just once.

MaryS; if you split the links so there are not too many, it sometimes goes through or email cat at the address below.

They are both beautiful kitties, MaryS!!! Ugghh, now I miss my Chloé even more, kind of at the half way point of our time apart!

Paul that is so awesome your book will be out by Christmas! I cant wait to order it.

Paul that is so awesome your book will be out by Christmas! I cant wait to order it.

MaryS Thanks for the cat photos; they are so beautiful both of them. Will buy the book once it is out, or the dvd of the show--it is being shown in Europe--see Spanish Channel--will it be syndicated in the US?

Thank you for the compliments on my kitties. Yes, in their youth, I had never seen prettier kitties, nor have I ever known any so sweet. Those pictures were taken probably like 6 or more years ago. Aspen had once been a little fatty of about 18 pounds. Boogie has never been fat. Aspen was skin and bones at the end, and Boogie is getting thin now too. I'll be bringing him in since I've since learned that when the thyroid illness progresses, it affects so many organs. One thing that makes a cat lose his appetite with this illness is low potassium which is pretty easy to fix. So I am hoping we can improve that portion, but I'm not sure how many cat lives he has ahead of him. He's doing more sleeping and less eating. I've been trying to keep him active.
My brother comes tomorrow!

Have a great week everyone.

MaryS--my cat, Samantha, was 17 when she was diagnosed with thyroid and then she took medication for the remaining 5 years (tapizol).

I had a scare the year before putting her to sleep and she had become dehydrated. Her kidneys became weak. The vet was able to help her turn around and she was with me for about another year. He gave me a recipe for cat food and she ate that and in the beginning she regained strength, but then she was becoming arthritic. She also became deaf, which the vet said was due to the thyroid.

Anyway, I certainly feel for you. Our pets become family and losing them is very hard.

Liz, thank for the link. If Paul's MM is being shown in Madrid, there's hope for the States!

Take care all!

Melody, you are right, the chances are greater if Europe is watching MM, so can we. Evelyn, if I get this right you are in Europe right now and must have better TV, so can you watch Mercurio's Menu over there (in the EU from Spain?) Let us know and give us a review. Ole, Melody and Evelyn!!!

I know Evelyn is in Germany - can they get Spanish networks there?

I have some good news. I *finally* convinced myself to get off my bum and start moving. I have walked 0.69 miles each of the past two days. I've used my pedometer to verify the distance, and there are times I'm thankful I live on a quiet rural road. ;) Right now I'm walking from my house up the road to our main cross-street and back. Once I'm comfortable with that I want to add the other half of the road that goes down to the dead end. The road I live on is just over 1 mile in length (I believe 1.03), so to walk the entire think will be a nice little bit of exercise for me.

I'm also considering getting a bike so that I can switch between that and walking. I just have to decide if I really want to get one. ;) Oh, and of all the weight I re-gained, I managed to get rid of 4.2 lbs this last week. So now I feel I'm back on track, and I'm feeling much better about myself. :D

Congrats on the changes you're making--it is much different if you have a country road all to yourself; where I am at I need to be careful when walking as there are cars that may not see me esp in the early am, so I bring a flashlight or use a flashing headlamp. I also am paying more attention to the food I am eating as I have been trained to eat really fast (in my job I hardly have a break) so I gobble up my food and tend to overeat or work while I am eating bec the satiety center in the brain does not kick in until 15 to 30 min later and I already finished a whole plate; so mindful eating and eating in the presence of friends/family or eating without the TV on or without multitasking helps for me. Also I quit that toxic job so I can eat as a human being should.

Liz, the foods we eat are truly important. I actually just read something that when our vitamin levels are low (I can't remember now if it was A or C, but I'm leaning more towards C) that the part of our brain that clicks to tell us we're full doesn't work as well. I'll have to go find it again and update this if I'm wrong. LOL

Due to miserable storms I didn't get a walk today, but I managed to do some upper body/arm work with weights. So at least I don't feel as if I slacked off, and I may need to do the same tomorrow as our forecast isn't so great. *sigh* At least I have alternatives!

Hey guys, yes, I'm still in Germany, but no TV. I know this is an odd concept to fathom for most, but my parents decided when we grew up (mostly b/c of the Church they attend) no TV, so we still don't have one at home these days either, but in general with cable you can get a lot of European TV programs, but not all, so I don't know if MM from the Spanish broadcast could be picked up in Germany. Sorry!

Yeah, Sarah on walking. It will get easier and in time your distances will get longer. Since being home, I started 'proper' running again post plantar fasciitis injury, the first two weeks I did a 5.8 KM loop 3 or 4 times a week, yesterday I decided to try a longer one, just to see if I could do it, did a 9.8 KM run in 63 minutes and it felt great!!! The forest is soooo lovely and the surface of forest trails is fabulous to run on and the fresh air ... Today, I'm allowing my body to rest from running, but have a lot of yard work to do. We seriously cut back trees and bushes and hedges this past weekend, today we need to haul all the 'trimmings' to the front of the property. Our neighbour has a car trailer and will move the stuff to a recycling place for yard 'waste' They will chop it up and turn it into mulch. That will be my physical exercise for the day!

Liz, you are right about taking time out to eat. I do at least one meal a day slowly, preferably two. Right now at home, all of them are slow, but too many of them. I'm proud to say, I have lost a little weight here, which usually doesn't happen, the opposite actually, Mum 'force feeds' me with portions that are too big for me and the cake and cookies with cups of tea ... I just want the tea Mum, thank you! But I know she means well...

Evelyn, you seem to be having fun with slow tea and cookies and jogging on soft forest trails in Germany. No TV--although I did do that where I did not watch TV for years and really did not miss it, except I did not have the same references as other people--like so and so on TV and I will not have a clue what they are talking about. I checked the TV in Spain and it will show MM today: (Paul can we buy your TV show not for broadcasting just to watch, or can you show MM on your website for a limited time (1 day) to protect copyright etc?
Cocinando de Australiano
Now Evelyn, you have inspired me to go hiking; Sarah do not walk in the thunderstorm as I do not want to read about a woman struck by lightning while she was exercising on a country road. Glad that you are doing the indoor version while the waiting for the storm to clear.

Evelyn, no TV isn't an odd concept to me. Yes, I own a TV but it generally only shows DVDs through the player hooked up to it. I haven't had TV reception since I moved to my second apartment in NY, and that was back in May 1999. I honestly don't miss it. When I visit my mom we usually either watch Food Network or Planet Green - if the TV is even on. When I visit friends in NY when the TV is on it's whatever they watch. I can honestly say I don't miss watching TV.

My walks have been squished (almost literally) until this weekend. It's rained virtually all day today, and the forecast is calling for more of the same tomorrow. I actually didn't exercise at all today, mainly because my right arm is acting up again. I do plan to work the arms and upper body tomorrow though - even if I have to wrap my arm.

Now I'm headed off to bed. Somehow the time slipped away from me and it's 1:40a.

Sarah, you stay up so late, or so early--you may be a nocturnal person and not one who functions in the daytime; some people are just like that who do their most productive work in the night. Or were you doing shift work for a while so you got used to this way? Mammals in general are better at night and sleep during the day like lions and tigers and bears oh my!.

I have always been more nocturnal. Even during my school years when I went to bed by 11:00p, it was insanely difficult for me to get up and function the next morning. When I moved on the university and had 8:00a classes, it was nearly unbearable. Being to work in the morning has always been a chore as well. The last job I worked I had my hours change 3 times, oddly enough each time to an earlier start time. LOL When I started it was 11:00-7:30, then 10:30 to 7:00 and finally at the end I was on 10:00 to 6:30. Now that I'm playing "homemaker" my hours are whatever I like. LOL

I'm considering adopting a kitten. I've been toying with the idea of a second cat for some time, especially one that might actually know it's supposed to chase/catch the mice. ;) My friend rents a house on a working horse farm, and one of the barn cats had a litter a number of weeks back. Now there is only one left and they are desperately trying to find her a home. So I'll check with my vet Monday as to the costs of immunizations and such. Then down the line I'll have to get her fixed. *sigh* We won't discuss the way Fluffy is going to react...

Sarah, adopting a kitten seems a good idea; I checked the cat shelter and saw a few--the checklist to have a cat is long and I always leave my house so worry about the cat being alone and shredding everything. How do cats do alone for 12 to 14 hours?

Hope you got some sleep (daytime) and will be up tonight as you are nocturnal--up and on the prowl at night...

Liz cats are very independent creatures and do fine on their own. The only time I would advise against leaving them alone for more than an "average" work day is during their first year. That is when a kitten bonds most with its human family.

I am lucky in the respect that even when I travel I have friend who come and care for Fluffy and would do so with the kitten. I found out that during my last multi-day trip they even had Fluffy out on the deck! What a spoiled kitty!

My grandma and uncle arrived from Florida today. Grandma stays the summer (usually June - October) in her house just up the road. This is the first year she won't have my dad staying with her, and my uncle will only be here for 10 days, and then for another week or so when he comes back to get her. I'm hoping she can handle being there alone. The sad thing is I am already irked with them both. They had been at the house 4 hours and never called to let me know they arrived. I only found out because I was heading out to run an errand and saw the car in front of the house. Then they tell me there is a cook out tomorrow! Well I already have plans so they won't be seeing much of me. There are times my family just makes me want to scream!

Hi Sarah, I checked out the cats at the shelter and took pictures; Will prepare for getting one; Family can be that way. Did you realize we have this blog to ourselves? It has become our own personal blog as everyone is gone. Summer is a busy time and I am starting a project/business and learning a lot of things and talking to people. It is always good to see the PCs but I think everyone is gone.

Is it a blog if no one else is reading?

See this NYT article on abandoned blogs, and I think PC is becoming one:

The Sound of One Blogger Blogging

I am starting a requiem for this blog
have mined the web for info on Paul but no news or info that we can access from the US.

So sorry--the blog I think is being abandoned for good reasons--the PCs and Paul just too busy with real projects to blog--so this is very good!!!

Liz, this blog is far from abandond, Paul gets b usy and it can be weeks between blogs, but rest assured he reads our posts all the time. He stays up on everything posted and when he has downtime he is on here all the time. He is like an old friend you don't hear from for a while then all of a sudden you get a call everyday. Thats better than some and actually, I think Paul is very personable and is intimate with us in ways most others stars are not. I don't follow any other star and don't care to, so I dont know how other blogs are but the first time I posted here I felt home. I went away for a couple years, came back and everyone here didn't miss a beat. It's because we are FAMILY. Some just busier than others. BUT FAMILY. We pull each other through whatever is pulling us down.

Pauls Corner is more than a blog, its a community and a family. You wont get that anywere else. I promise you that. And Paul is the Daddy that is sometimes not able to be there for us every day but he is always there. But serriously, most of us are here for many other reasons... EACH OTHER.

I have worked 2 full time jobs for over a month now and I feel like I am going to break in two. Walmart refuses to make me part time and I dont think I can do this much longer, My body hurts beyond belief and my hubby stopped helping me cause he wants me to quit Walmart and if he doesnt help then it is harder and I will give in. He forgets and takes care of me then remembers and gets tough again. I know he feels guilty but I am trying to do something good for my family and build a better future. He just can't stand to watch it. My daughter is begging me to quit she says I look like the walking dead. I just cant in this acconomy, give up a full itme job for a temp job. What do I do when the temp job is over? I will lose the house. I dont think so. I can do it. I know I can. 19 hours days dont seem like 19 hour days. On the weekends when I only work 3rd shift, the afternoons after I get up feel like a weekend. If I do go back to 1 full itme job it will feel like a vacation! I know I can do it. I know I can. I'm doing it for a better future and hopefully a better job if they pick me up permanant. God willing.

Love to all,

Kelly Liz, dont worry. Paul is there for you.

Kelly, I am just saying that the blog has slowed down and this is not unusual for many blogs and am not making a statement that somehow I was abandoned etc. It is just the natural history of most blogs as the New York Times article stated. Most of the time it is bec the bloggers get busy with real not virtual work; I am not blaming or mad just stating what is and do not want anyone to feel bad or feel responsible. It just is.

I didnt think you were blaming or mad, sorry if I seemed that way. I am starved fro sleep so maybe I misinterpreted your post. I was just giving a shout out to the blog and site and saying that we are all here for each other. Thats all. We love each other!

Love to all, off to bed as I called in sick, I am hurting to bad and too tired.

Love to all
Kelly

If the problem is the blog has slowed down, that is not a problem at all--the ice caps are melting and people are losing their jobs and homes and do not have access to healthcare. This is not a problem at all--sorry for me being too dramatic about the slowdown. I do that sometimes. Hope you have a good night's rest, Kelly!

I am just saying words--these are not even real world problems. LOL!!!

Liz, even though I don't comment daily I read the posts virtually every day. I might miss a few days here and there, but generally I'm reading. I don't see a point in my posting just for there to be a post.

I've been a "regular" here for several years now (I'm guessing... I know it's been at least 2 but I'm thinking closer to 3-4.) and there are times when it gets real quiet here, and then it picks up again.

I'm grateful for the family I've found here, and I thank both Kat and Paul for making it possible. :)

AMEN, Sarah, and Liz, I will sleep like a baby for sure.... If only I can get to the bed.... It does feel nice to be home.

Love to all,

Kelly

Hi Paul and PCs--getting over a dreadful sinus infection--back to bed as I really need to get back to work (and setting a section of rumba chor) this week! LOL

At least I can finally breathe again!

Kelly, I hope you managed some sleep.

Melody, I'm happy you're feeling better. As a chronic sinus sufferer, I know how debilitating a sinus infection can be!

(BTW, if this goes through twice it's because I got a glitch when trying the first time.)

Melody, I hope you are better as I can imagine it would be hard to dance if you are blowing your nose--we had a newscaster once who lost her voice and she can't work--I guess you can still dance the rumba, the dance of love, and still win in the Pan Pacifics. Vivir con miedo es la vivir con la media...

Kelly I hope you have some free time and good sleep.

Sarah, I realize a lot of bloggers just read but do not post which I do too. I was not able to walk either as we had a bad thunderstorm and the tree limbs are still falling.

Liz, today's exercise was putting together furniture for the deck. LOL

Hey all,

Just decided tonight that I will quit Wal*mart. It is clear they are not going to make me part time so I am going to quit and I will trust that when my summer job ends that I will find another job soon or that my summer job picks me up soon thereafter. I just cant work 19 hour days anymore. I called in sick to Wal*mart the last 2 nights and it has felt like a vacation which tells me I cant go back to the way it has been. I feel good but scared at the same time.

Paul, thanks for your encouragement, it helps,
Evelyn, thanks for the kind words.

I think I will try to get a couple hours sleep before going into the office. Maybe now I can train my body to sleep more. It has been over a year since I could allow myself to sleep more than 4 hours at a time on a regular basis. sounds good.

Love to all,

Kelly

Kelly, I"m proud of you for taking care of you and I am hoping and praying that you get a well-paying full time position ASAP!!! What's wrong with Walmart? It's not as if there is a labor shortage at the moment if you want to go half time, but one good job is better, that's what I'm hoping for for you!!!!

Sarah, did you get the kitten? I can't wait to see my cat in ca. 2 days time, but then I will miss my family :(

I've been scanning like a mad person (actually am right now) for the last nearly 2 weeks. I lost count of how many letters I've scanned but it's over 1000 image files and close to 5 GB worth of materials, but the letters that my grandparents wrote to each other during WWII are definitely worth the time and effort I had to put into preserving them. I haven't read them, as I don't have the time, but I hope to find some when I'm back in the US, although I'll be busy then too.

I am copying this off my facebook, ok I am cheating. I admit it.

You know what? People tell me, especially my family, I need to take care of myself, and you know, they are right. I need to lose weight. DUHHHHHH, I need to sleep more, DUHHHHHH. I need to focus on getting an education....DUHHHHHH. I have decided not to go for an Associates degree but take indiviual courses. That way I am not commited to spreading myself thin like I have been the last 6 weeks, (or year since I have been on 3rds).

I guess I will start there, only 1 job. Wow.... I like the sound of that. Individual classes, I like the sound of that.... Sleep, hummmm,sounds good. Ive got a hot husband in my bed and I am on the damn computer, What the heck am I thinking. Off to snuggle with the one I love which once I am no longer on 3rds, hummmm this week, I can snuggle every night... hehe : ) good times.

Ok, maybe I will do a little more than snuggle..... even better times! :0

Love to Kelly

OMG I actually typed that. Love to Kelly and not Love to all. Maybe I'm starting to take care of myself already!

Love to all, even myself.

Kelly I really love all you guys.

Hello Kelly, glad you are doing well!

Mercurio's Menu--Watch The Show

Hear Hear Kelly,

I've actually never considered PC a blog, but I think it is so many things to so many people. To me it is a very magical and special spot where kindred souls have found each other because of Paul. Yes, we are here to connect and keep up with what Paul is doing, but it's so much more valuable that that alone. I have poured my soul out on this corner, because of the connection I have with the wonderful people here. Paul set the tone there and that is exactly what attracted me. I have to say that when I saw Paul in SB, I had never heard of him before and immediately felt such a bond with him after seeing him in that movie, that I search him out to see what else he had done and that is how I feel upon this site. I've been hanging around on this corner for about 4 years and I would be extremely sad to lose touch with anyone here.

Where's Grandma Millie!!

Life does get so busy and although I read the posts almost every day, sometimes I just don't have much to say. I hope I'm not being selfish, but sometimes, I don't have much to share.

I'm not hoping to define this site by any means. It's different to each of us, I'm sure. I just feel that over the time I've been here, I've grown from sharing intimate conversations with people around the world that I don't even know! It's so awesome.

Liz, you may just have a bunch more energy than some of us do. lol. (speaking for myself) ;)

Liz, you've shared allot of great information about Paul and it's plain to see that you love being on the internet finding the great tidbits.

I always love it when Paul visits and has time to tell us what he's been up to and what life lessons he is experiencing and have appreciated his insight so many times. I just love hearing from him. Hopefully he'll visit soon. :)

Kelly, I am so glad that you are following your heart, or better yet, your body and making decisions that you feel are best for you. I know it's so hard to do sometimes. Especially where money and your home are concerned! But like they say, you may save the house, the car, the whatever, but will you be there to see it happen? We have to consider the bigger picture sometimes and I know that's tough.

I just found out last week that my boss is quiting his job for another job outside the company. That can't be a good sign for me team and our jobs. Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, so now I guess anything can happen. It's so ominous I can barely stand it!

Have a great week everyone!

Sarah, you are also following your instincts, even if you are sleep or exercise deprived. You'll figure it out when whatever isn't working for you begins to bug you enough. I'm very stubborn, so I can say this. I am the pot calling the kettle black. I don't get enough sleep either. I don't eat as good as I should. I don't exercise, and I have way too much worrying going on. I'm bad. lol

Take care everyone!

gah! it's late. sorry for all the typo's. LOL

Hello Marys :), No I am not hanging around on the internet picking up tidbits on Paul. Yes I am hanging around the internet picking up tidbits on Paul.
We do most things on the web--work at times from home, check out jobs, get the news (Oracle bought SunSystems--that's news, see your doctor with a virtual visit, talk to friends, get professional advice, bank, learn, so to follow your favorite talented actor on the internet is not unusual. The tidbits are indeed tiny (see youtube video of 2.5 min) as we can't see the shows in the US, but just wonder what other ways to follow his work other than the internet.

And for certain PCs it is more than a blog--for Sarah, Kelly and MaryS--you have used words family, community--and this is far more than what a blog aspires to become. You have known each other for years and have truly connected with Paul and the PCs--so it is not merely a blog, it has become a group of friends who know each other over the years and have listened to each other over the years. More power to Paul and the PCs!!!

Reposting the Mercurio's Menu video (this is a recap of many shows)--watch this video: I like the shot with the goat the best, which one do you like and why?

Watch this video of Paul by clicking on it

For the Aussies who see this on a regular basis, do share some clips here or on YouTube.

Loved the video--thanks, Liz and Cat for posting that! And a definite round of applause for Paul and MM--this has to make the States!! It's such a fun program!

Just commenting on blog and community. Paul (and Cat) have made a great community available to us and just think, all we need to do is reach out and share. What can be more cool??

I especially enjoy that Paul shares as he does and also as deeply as he does. And he certainly gets us thinking. Have to admit from the dancing side, I would love to be in a workshop to just have him come in and see how he gets everyone moving. I'm sure he'd challenge movement as he challenges the mind here. ;)

Kelly, I am proud of you for quitting Walmart. I know that working just the one job and taking some individual classes will not only help you stay more focused, but also find a way to enjoy life a bit more. (It's hard to enjoy life when you're either at work or sleeping.)

You may have been in your hiatus from PC when I was having all my health issues (migraines). I found out when I quit that job last year that the migraines were mainly stress related, and since being away from there I've hardly had any. I might get one once every couple months whereas previously I would get one that would last a week *each* month. Very bad health situation. I also am off high blood pressure meds since that stress is gone.

Evelyn, I am getting the kitten. I discussed it with my friend on Monday. However, she hasn't come to reside with us just yet. ;) My friend will probably bring her down to me, and seeing how I'll be gone briefly at the end of this month (driving up to NY to bring my friend down for the summer) I'd rather wait until after that. I've already asked my friend to start calling her by her new name: Mina. (I'm a big Dracula/vampire geek.) As for Fluffy, he gets his "lion cut" tomorrow and will most likely be very upset with me.

We've had some really horrific storms here, which has my anxiety level a bit high. I know I should just find a way to enjoy the power of Mother Nature, but that little switch in the back of my brain won't click off. (I keep thinking another tree is going to crash through my house.) Otherwise it's hot and miserable here. LOL

Thanks Cat for placing the MM link on the front page of Paul Mercurio Online!

Thanks Cat for placing the MM link on the front page of Paul Mercurio Online!

Yeah Sarah for getting the kitten! For whatever weird reason, I love storms, OK not when there are tornados in them, but hoping not to encounter any storms during my flighst back to the US tomorrow. The AF crash really got to me and I'm trying not to think about it which of course means that I'm thinking about it more. Dang it! Hot and humid, yeah, that will await me in STL as well, not looking forward to that.

Liz thanks for the video link, quite nice!!!

Mary, I did the same thing, too. I loved SB, felt a connection and looked Paul up to see what else he had done and found Paul's Corner and the rest is history. I felt like I found a part of myself and when I went away for awhile I felt lost and then came back and felt better.

Sarah, I wasn't around when you were having migranes, I am so glad they are better and almost gone. I felt so much better 2 years ago when I lost my bank job, all stress related as well.

CONGRATS ON THE KITTY!

Off to bed I have to work tonight, Tom is weedwacking and mowing the lawn but I will try to sleep anyway. It is going to rain tonight and he is trying to get it done.

Love to all

Kelly

LIZ, AWESOME LINK, THANX

LIZ, AWESOME LINK, THANX

Liz, thanks for the youtube link. I loved it. It sure looks like Paul really enjoys this niche he is in.

Kelly, see what I mean about how we all ended up here? It's so cool that we found this site in the same way. I too am very proud of you finding the courage to quit your job. Many people I work with are looking for ways to re-invent themselves in the fear and feeling that our jobs may end. One is going to get her bartenders certification and start a private party bar tending business with her husband! Heck in these times, people are drinking more! KIDDING. ;)

Sarah, I can't wait to hear how the new kitty works out. My Boogie is a bit lonely and so happy when I come home after being gone for 11 hours at work. It's actually closer to 12 hours a day that I am gone. Not fair. He's old and getting thinner. Aspen and Boogie just fell into old age so suddenly, so fast! Now Aspen is gone. Just like that. I sure dread letting go of Boogie one day also. It's so very painful. I think I will need to re-define myself also. It may be time and someone up there may be telling me that this is so.

ok, this day came and went and it's time to turn in.

Night night everyone.

Even though she hasn't posted here yet, for those not on Evelyn's Facebook page, she arrived home safely (albeit 1 hour late due to a storm).

Kelly, I swore for ages that my migraines were not stress related but as we had more and more difficulty trying to find relief for me, the more I realized the stress was playing a big part. Take care of yourself and try not to stress over things. You never know, the temp job may become permanent (I had that happen years ago and ended up with the company for 3 years).

I haven't officially "received" the kitten yet. I still need to work out the details of how she is getting here. I did buy her bunches of stuff today, so it's definite she's coming to live here. As for Fluffy, he isn't so fluffy anymore. Click on my name to see. ;)

Oh my gosh Sarah! Fluffy looks gorgeous with the lion cut!! I'm serious. :)

Fluffy is a lion!

Evelyn, glad that you are safe back in Missouri; it is hot and muggy? If you have a conference in the NW let me know.

Kelly, take care and visit PC often: Here is another video for you to watch when you get home.

That's what I was thinking too. Poor Fluffy!!! he looks so gorgeous with all his fur!!!
Yeah, made it back to the US and am very happy to be back and with my kitty (who is watching my every move ... :) and soaking up all the cuddles and hugs and kisses), but now I really do have to go to the store to get some food.

Paul traveled to the Blue Mountains and talks about slow food...

Slow Food CittaSlow Watch Here

Aww, Sarah, Fluffy looks so cute! :)

Hope everyone is okay.

Liz--thanks for posting that link. I really enjoyed it! (Great job, Paul!)

Sarah, did your new kitten make it? Glad those migraines are long gone! And hoping no more trees hit that roof!

We finally have some sun in Chicago--this has been the wettest spring in quite some time. I'm more of a cool weather person, but must admit it will be nice to have sun and better June-like temps!

Happy weekend all!

OK, guys, how many check their posts after they mount on the screen????????????

Um, Melody I'm not sure what you mean by checking our posts... do you mean to make sure they went through? If so, I always do. As for the kitten (Mina) she probably won't be arriving until the very end of June or beginning of July. I don't want to get her here for a week and then go up to NY to pick up Gloria for the summer. I'd rather wait until we are back.

Fluffy is coping with his lion cut. It was a necessary evil because his fur was terribly matted. He's much more comfy now, and it will all grow back by the time Winter arrives.

I uploaded some photos from today to my Flickr account. They are my recent encounters with the squirrels and hummingbirds visiting my yard. You can view them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/saravara/sets/72157619580353167/

Hey Sarah. I've been loving looking at your pictures. Your place looks so nice. I would love to hang out there! And I must say, I have a cat crush on Fluffy. ;)

We really are cat people here! Boogie is hanging in there with the long days alone in the house while I'm at work, now that his brother is gone. I can see a definite change, but don't think it's due to grieving. I think it's just his age and condition. I'm fighting it with more little treats to encourage his appetite. Also giving him water "treats", which is just me giving him water with the syringe dropper. He thinks that's a treat and I'm keeping him hydrated. My cats have always been excellent water drinkers but in the old age it seems to slow down a bit. He's going to be introduced to fresh parsley this week to help his potassium levels. The potassium just goes down with age and with the thyroid condition and I hear that parsley is a great source of potassium. So I'm being very attentive to him. He's a good boy. We've had some recent visitors in the back yard, and I've been opening the sliding door and letting him sit on one side of the screen while his visitor sits on the other side. One is a little black kitty with a bell on it's collar. Boogie is really curious about this one. The other is my next door neighbor's girl, Frieda, who loves to lay on my patio. Boogie loves her. She a gorgeous gray long hair kitty and she's very friendly.

ok. I'm officially on my weekend everyone! Enjoy the rest of yours!

Melody, not sure what the reference was too, unless it was my late night typos, but I checked this post! LOL

OH MY GOSH...I almost made it without a mistake. LOL

Cats are a favorite of the PCs!!!Cat is our Webmaster!!!

In the MM travels Paul comes across women who do really creative things like the woman in the slowfood movement and the woman who tends to her own bees: I like this about the MM show in that it looks at what people are doing independently and locally:

honey from bees

sustainable gardening and you can eat weeds

It is more that just a travel/cooking show in that it looks at people with ties to the land and how they sustain themselves by living within the limits of their environment. Still Paul's presence is what makes the show; I am saying that it is far more than just an entertaining show in that it makes you think about your relationship with food.

Cats are a favorite of the PCs!!!Cat is our Webmaster!!!

In the MM travels Paul comes across women who do really creative things like the woman in the slowfood movement and the woman who tends to her own bees: I like this about the MM show in that it looks at what people are doing independently and locally:

honey from bees

sustainable gardening and you can eat weeds

It is more that just a travel/cooking show in that it looks at people with ties to the land and how they sustain themselves by living within the limits of their environment. Still Paul's presence is what makes the show; I am saying that it is far more than just an entertaining show in that it makes you think about your relationship with food.

Cats are a favorite of the PCs!!!Cat is our Webmaster!!!

In the MM travels Paul comes across women who do really creative things like the woman in the slowfood movement and the woman who tends to her own bees: I like this about the MM show in that it looks at what people are doing independently and locally:

honey from bees

sustainable gardening and you can eat weeds

It is more that just a travel/cooking show in that it looks at people with ties to the land and how they sustain themselves by living within the limits of their environment. Still Paul's presence is what makes the show; I am saying that it is far more than just an entertaining show in that it makes you think about your relationship with food.

Sorry for the triple post and a 4th to tell you of the many posts!

Report to the PCs: Our globetrotter hero Paul is or was judging a beer festival...Paul it is hard to keep track of you bec you travel the whole continent, still the web makes it easy

So here's the latest for the PCs:

Cheers

Mary, typos are a part of life. I think the only way to avoid them is not to type. ;) I'm glad Boogie is hanging in there. Fluffy's current treat is cat grass. I think he'd mow down the entire container in one sitting if I'd let him. BTW, if you're ever headed to this part of the country you are always welcome. :)

Thanks Sarah! How much does Fluffy weigh? He looks like a pretty sturdy boy. Aspen weighed 18 pounds at one point. It was so terribly sad to see him so skinny at the end. He was still just a sweet little guy to the end. I'm still so sad about him being gone and can't quite believe it.

Don't know if anyone has seen our Denver weather reports lately. We had tornado warnings 9 days in a row. Normally these are way out in the plains towards Kansas, but we've had a few scares right in my area. I actually heard the warning sirens in my neighborhood on Sunday and the storm passed through my neighborhood! After the storm it was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon. So weird!

Anyway, off to start my workweek and today is pretty much my boss's last day with our team. He'll be in meetings in MA for the rest of the month and then back to CO to say goodbye. We don't have a manager as of tomorrow until they figure out if and how to replace him. That sounds mighty strange to me. We shall see what happens.

Fluffy is quite sturdy, weighing in at 21 lbs.

Today was noticeably cooler here, but that was due to the sun being obscured by clouds all day and the rain that fell most of it. Tomorrow we're back to sun and heat. I guess I should be thankful we aren't getting the horrific storms that so much of the country is experiencing. Mary I am glad that you are ok after the tornadoes going through.

Thankful MaryS that you are ok after the tornado passed through and also Sarah that you and Fluffy the Lion are cool; remember the tree limb in your house, was that last year or 2 years ago?

This wkend is Father's day; so Happy Father's Day to Paul and the PCs!!!

Thankful MaryS that you are ok after the tornado passed through and also Sarah that you and Fluffy the Lion are cool; remember the tree limb in your house, was that last year or 2 years ago?

This wkend is Father's day; so Happy Father's Day to Paul and the PCs!!!

MaryS, hope that nothing more happens--this has been the craziest weather this spring. In Chicago, we've had so much rain, the leaves on the trees are starting to turn yellowish (like when you over-water a plant . . . )

We'll be more toward 80s, but still rain here and there.

I join Liz with Happy Father's Day to Paul and PC dads!

Thanks Melody for joining in. We are all looking forward to summer officially June 21 but in Australia I would imagine they are not looking forward to the cold of winter; Pls southern hemisphere folks keep warm and healthy for the winter.

I think Father's Day in Australia is a different date than the US. (I just checked and Father's Day in Australia is celebrated the 1st Sunday in September.) But I will wish a Happy Father's Day to all the PC dads.

I am definitely getting the kitten I mentioned previously. Little Mina will be coming to live with us the end of next week. :) You can see a recent picture of her at: http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6249/mina1.jpg

Weather is still hot and humid here. For me it just makes me feel miserable. Heat, especially combined with humidity and I don't mix. Is it Autumn yet? ;)

Hi Sarah; cute kitten; I hate to point this out but your kitten has 4 ears :)

I take back the Father's day wishes if it is not Father's Day in Aus. :)

Sarah, the link is gone to the cat Mina--it was an optical illusion or there was a cat behind her or a reflection so she looked like she had 2 pairs of ears but the link is gone--pls post again as she is really cute. :)

Hey all,

HAPPY FATHERS DAY PAUL.

I have slept all weekend, and I feel very rested. I had a fybro flare up yesterday but I feel much better today. It feels good to only have one job. I did go on one interview last week for pat time 5pm to 9 pm but that wont be so bad. It is two building down from were I work right now. They got my resume from a friend and called me. I didnt even have to apply. GO FIGURE.

Sarah, congrats on the new kitty. All this kitty talk makes me want another one. ummmm 1 cat and 4 dogs is enough. I changed my mind.

Well off to more house cleaning.

Love to all
Kelly

Haha, Sarah, that is funny Mina is very cute though. Best wishes to all.

21 pounds...oh Fluffy, you're a big boy!! Mina is precious!!!

Aspen was heading to that weight at one time, but I don't think he was ever meant to be that big...his head was too small for his body at that point. lol. He was around 19-20 pounds right before he got sick about 3 years ago. Boogie is so skinny now. He's lucky if he weighs about 11 pounds. :(

It's HOT here. We'll be in the 90's all week! Yay! Summer bliss for me!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.