"We become what we think about." ~ Earl Nightingale

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Giraffe Journal

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rather than under a
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I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,


Sunday, August 10, 2008

BYBS#13 and Sacred Life Sunday


Really Good Things

1. We've been blessed with lovely weather all week at the beach in Southern California ... clear blue sunny skies and gentle on-shore breezes most afternoons kept temperatures in the mid-80s.

2. Watching Michael Phelps break his previous World Record (by 1.41 seconds) and win his first gold medal in the 400m Individual Medley last night was exciting ... and seeing 41 year old Dara Torres, swim the final leg of the 4 by 100m freestyle relay for the US warmed my heart as well. With 10 career Olympic medals to her credit before the start of the Beijing Olympics (won from the age of 17 through 37 between 1984-2004), this mom (with a toddler) is the first swimmer to compete in five consecutive summer Olympics. What an inspiration!

3. Here in Los Angeles, Andy Roddick won his 'semi-final match' at the Countrywide Classic Olympus tennis tournament yesterday and will play the 'final' against Juan Del Potro of Argentina this afternoon. After an excellent start to the 2008 season, Andy's experienced a series of physical issues that caused him to withdraw from several scheduled tournaments. He opted to skip the Olympics this year to concentrate on being healthy for the US Open Series because he believes the fast surface in New York is is best chance to win another 'major' ...

Photo source: Yahoo Sports

and after defeating Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic earlier this year ... he just might succeed with this goal. Late afternoon addendum: Unfortunately, Andy got off to a very slow start and dropped the first set 1-6. He picked up his game in the 2nd set and got it to a tie-breaker, but Juan Martin Del Potro won that ... defeating Roddick in straight sets. Thus, the 19 year old from Argentina now has his first win on American soil (his 3rd tournament win in a row this season) and is the first teenager to win this event since Pete Sampras won it at 19 ... the same year he won the US Open for the 1st time.

3. I've enjoyed using my newly acquired Photoshop skills to create collages like the one above, one I made and shared this morning with photos of Michael Phelps, and another shared yesterday (with photos of Roddick's quarter-final match against Marc Gicquel) in my Smiley Saturday post ... both at Small Reflections.

4. My sister and her husband have returned to the USA after spending the last couple of months traveling in eastern Canada, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. They're in Maine currently ... enjoying the sights along the East coast ... savoring delicious Maine lobster, visiting the place where Ben & Jerry's ice cream is made, and this morning they called to let me know they've purchased a new HP Laptop with camera ... so once we both figure out how to use this feature and Skype, we should be able to communicate via our computers in addition to using our cellphones.

5. In case you haven't seen this 'doggie lullaby' yet ... check it out to be delighted. Click Bedtime for a guarateed smile ;--)

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'
go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the logo
at the top of this post.
For those who participate in Sacred Life Sunday
click the logo below:

Thought for Today
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Harold Whitman

9 comments:

Whatever said...

Someone can seriously compete at the Olympics...at age 40+?!! Wow. Now that is inspiring!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Puppy Lullaby. I have a voice that puts my son's pit bull to sleep.

Sounds like your life is good and I am glad.

Have a great week.

Karen said...

What a great quote--I'm still struggling with this--doing what needs to be done (or what I think needs to be done), rather than what I want to do. There has to be some of that, of course, but it can't be ALL of life!

Nice list!

Anonymous said...

I'm envious of your photoshop skills.

Being almost 40 I can't imagine competing in the Olympics and to be a mother of a toddler too!

Many blessings to you Storyteller.

Joyce said...

The "doggie lullaby" was amazing. I wonder how he did that? :)

Have a wonderful week!

Kayce aka lucy said...

happy monday to you! the doggie lullaby was wonderful & i notice that your "thought for the day" is one of my absolute favorite quotes!

SandyCarlson said...

Michael Phelps blows my mind. Amazing.

Thanks for this lovely post and a reminder that life is beautiful in abundance.

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

Whatever said it -- how inspiring!

Lovely list there...I'm going to Sacred Sunday link and read about it...I think I love to do this one!

And I'm also bugging IT Guy to give me lessons in Photoshop...maybe you can also blog one technique a week? Just a thought!

storyteller said...

To all – I sincerely apologize for being so S L O W to respond to your comments here. I’m admittedly caught up in the Beijing ‘games’ … staying up way too late … exhausted most days … and just not able to keep up with everything currently. I do, however, appreciate your visit and comments. If I’ve not been to your blog recently I’ll get there as soon as I’m able … though I’m not sure just when that might be at this point.

Whatever – Yup … Dara Torres IS inspiring … and although she missed the ‘Gold’ in the 50m ‘splash and dash’ by 1/100th of a second, she did take the Silver in that event and helped her USA teammates take Silver in the 4 x 100m relay less than 30 minutes afterwards … with no ‘swim down’ or ‘massage’ and just 4 minutes to prepare after the medal ceremony.

CyberCelt – You’re welcome. I’m delighted you enjoyed the ‘puppy lullaby’ … Yez, life IS good albeit just a little busier than I like at the moment ;--)

Karen – You and me both! It’s often a challenge to remember that it’s our uniqueness and joy that the world needs more than anything else.

Kara – Thank you for the blessings and your appreciation of my Photoshop skills. I’ll be starting the ‘advanced’ PSE6 class next week and hope to learn even more.

Joyce – I have no idea … but the ‘doggie lullaby’ makes me laugh every time I watch it. Thanks … my week was wonderful if exhausting.

Lucy – I’m glad the quote resonates with you as well. Your visit reminds me I’ve been wanting to catch up with you … and I’ll do my best to visit soon. Hope all’s well with you and yours.

Sandy Carlson – Michael Phelps is a marvelous reminder of the power of dreaming combined with hard work and determination. What an achievement to complete 17 swims in 9 days and come away with 8 Gold Medals in the 8 events in which he competed at these games!

Mariposa – I’m delighted you’re thinking of participating in Sacred Life Sunday. I met Carla (who got things going with My Sacred Life) last summer in Taos … and think she’s one of the bravest and most inspiring women I’ve ever met. She's the reason I have this second blog.

To everyone – Thanks again for your visit and comments. I hope all is well with you and yours and that you’re having a delightful day!
Hugs and blessings,