Doing Stuff.....and loving it!

Now that the holidays are half-finished, I'm feeling better. I'm not waiting til the New Year to make a few resolutions.

Thanksgiving Day was spent at home, just me and the furries. It was nice. I had been invited to share Thanksgiving with a couple of lovely women who tend to take care of us "foundlings," but decided since a former friend that I really didn't want to see would be there -- I just decided to stay home. That way everyone would have a good time.

There was a time when I stayed home a lot. I had forgotten how nice it was. House was clean, pets were petted, shopping got done and there wasn't much "people stress." Not a bad way to live, actually.

My current friends are a good bunch. BUT, no one ever "does" anything. There are so many great places within a 4 hour drive of Atlanta that are worth visiting. The waterfall above is about an hour south of Atlanta. The picture is from their website. I'd been there before, but decided to visit again on Tuesday past. It was great. We had severe flooding in Middle and South Georgia back in '92, bad enough to have coffins coming up out of the ground and that kind of horror. During that storm, the river changed course and it's like a totally different park. The falls aren't quite the same either - not as high. But still beautiful. I had a wonderful time walking around in the fresh air, seeing the dancing waters of the Towaliga River and having a nice picnic. I did rush back to East Point for "Tuesday Night Out." Stayed for Trivia, didn't win and actually felt like I didn't belong there. It's OK, we all go through changes and I think I'm going through one!

I'm hoping my pre-New Year resolutions will give my life a little more perspective.

1. I'm going to let my hair grow. It's going to be awful for a while, but what the heck - I'll just wear a hat!

2. I'm renewing my resolve not to shop anywhere that sells "farmed fur," or other animal products that have only one use.

3. No more purchase of known "child sweatshop" products. This will cut down on my longings for oriental rugs, cheap clothing, etc. etc. etc.

4. Returning some already-purchased Christmas gifts (no more happy holidays crap for me!!!) formerly destined for "no longer friends" type persons and giving the money to charity. They can buy their own Tiffany stuff.

5. I'm not begging anyone for anything - unless I completely run out of resources and need food for my animals. No more begging for forgiveness...I can forgive without being forgiven.

6. I live alone and I will do what I want to do. If I want to paint my dining room pumpkin orange - that's what I'll do. One woman's pumpkin is another person's horror!!!

7. I will no longer complain about other people. When I do that, I'm just giving them power. I'm going to keep that power for myself.

8. I will give more than ever to charity. I have no need to "keep up with the Jones'." I'll make it my business to share with those who need a little more.

9. I'm going to keep my opinions to myself - unless I'm asked for it and, even in those instances, I will measure my responses. There's nothing so boorish as someone who constantly has to be giving their opinion. It is a substitute for conversation.

I reserve the right to change or expand on the above, at any time, to any degree.

I can't wait to get back to High Falls.