Well I have to say the vagaries of online dating can really wear a woman out! It seems almost impossible to make sense of much without the benefit of vocal intonation or facial expression. Maybe there was something to be said years ago (before I ever tried it!) for video dating. A sense of humor can be badly mangled online and what might be intended funny completely misconstrued. Some services, I think, have voicemail boxes that you can leave messages and they for you, think that might not be a half bad idea. Of course those that want to be penpals will be at a loss, but then that isn’t what I’m looking for anyway. Life is so short and to be caught in the virtual web rather than enjoy the chances of reality seems unfulfilling and empty somehow.

No, I’m not lonely, don’t go there. I love my life, my friends, my career, my connections, my cats, my adventures and more. I enjoy time to myself. I know too many that are unhappily hitched and to scared to get unhitched. Misery does love company I suppose. I just want more laughter, more entertaining, and more passion all the way around. MG

I went to see “The Devil Wears Prada” last night and loved it! The clothes were divine with plenty of chic Audrey Hepburn moments. I am absolutely inspired! Of course, it helps if you are a size 2-4 and have an incredible closet such as a fashion magazine to dress from daily, but I suppose I could actually branch out from my dress in the dark and still look great Talbot’s black slacks and Chicos cropped blouses to incorporate some new and more glam statements. It’s true, I have gotten a bit lazy lately and think it is time to shake it all up. With a birthday coming up in October I am going to head for a makeover at eeeeeeeeeek 45! Some days I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far, now I think I’ll make it to 90! But it will be with more style that I currently indulge in. Good thing I have an adventure to the West Coast planned so a friend who is a makeup artist in TV and film can give me a headstart on the transformation. He did it once, some folks don’t know its me! And no, I’m not singing! MG

Perhaps my greatest daily pleasure is spending even 30 minutes watering bits and pieces of my garden. In the back, I literally eradicated grass and opted instead for a joyous profusion of all sorts of plants from bee balm with its pink flirty blooms, to the elegant hydrangeas in misty shades of fuschian, amethyst, and sapphire, to my riot of multihued roses, nearly wilds, climbing and knockout, and my host of hostas with their stalks of lavender and white buds. I can’t seem to get out of Lowes or Pikes these days without two cardloads full. I wander the aisles reading the small print and asking the experts for advice. There isn’t a plan except to avoid anything high maintenance and mix up the color, proportion, and textures. It is a wonderful fusion of new and old, tall and short, stalky and bushy, and keeps me green all year round! Take a look at some shots here. MG

This year has been an interesting one, a hectic first quarter, a very quiet second quarter, and a developing third quarter . . . what I have found is that the quiet time while slightly troubling was a wonderful and much needed chance to find my lost peace of mind. It was an opportunity to decide the types of business, relationships, friendships, adventure and more I really want in this journey and how to go about finding those. It was an invaluable time to realize what was robbing of my peace of mind and that I no longer allow anyone that privilege.

I don’t know about you, but my peace of mine is priceless and no one can buy it, steal it, or otherwise take it from me without my permission. And, I’m not giving permission anymore! Any person or event that starts imposing in that way, I just let them out of my life, if in business, I terminate the relationship. For every old relationship I let go a new one shows up shortly thereafter with the new postive traits I am seeking to surround myself with.

Who’s stealing your peace of mind?? MG

I was talking my usual morning 2 mile walk yesterday when I got a chance to finally meet the builder behind my favorite house nearby. We started talking and I was explaining where I live, and how I had transformed my home, when he asked if I was the Christmas House. That is, was mine the one with incredibly blow up Santas, Snowmen and more and lights for miles around. YES! I was so tickled with that reference. I knew my neighbors, particularly those with small kids, had loved it but here I was some 6 months later and several blocks away and he said that his twin daughters had play dates at the holidays and they had come by to view my lights! I love that!

MG

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.

(Hardly seems worth it.)

Life is in how you process it . . . anger is an enormous waste of time and energy. Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone . . . Jump and the world might follow!