One of my favorite blogs is "The Improvised Life"- inspiring, funny, clever, and thought-provoking.

It's "Manifesto" is currently on my desktop, in the hopes that small glances at it throughout the day might remind me to live more creatively....

You can find the actual text HERE

Today, this group of very creative people posted "A New Year's Benediction" by Neil Gaiman.

It is so terrific, I thought I'd share it.......

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously. I hope you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to be, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself."

Go improvise!

2011 A Year of Possibilities

Hooray! A New Year!

I guess the kindest way to phrase it is that 2010 did not live up to expectations. (And, heck, my expectations weren't all that high....) However, the annus horribilis is OVER--yes, O-V-E-R !!!! And for every annus horribilis, there is an annus mirabilis--a "Year of Wonders". And, hoo-boy, am I due one of THOSE!!!!

I am dubbing 2011 "A Year of Possibilities".

Having spent a WONDERFUL New Year's Eve with three exceptionally beautiful, intelligent and fun women--my daughter Alix, and her friends Caroline and Suzanna- we toasted the New Year with a Gruet Blanc de Noirs (yummy stuff...who'da thunk it--from New Mexico?...and yes, parents, I let them have the real stuff. You should know me by now.....), and I retreated to my bedroom to continue watching the Twilight Zone marathon. HEAVEN!

This morning--the sky is crystal blue, it's WARM (64/18) and I don't have a hangover!

Life is good!

I have never been one to proclaim all sorts of resolutions for the new year, but I have a few lurking around in my mind.....

1. Use the good crystal and china.
2. Treat my body with respect.
3. Meditate more.
4. Turn off the news when people start yelling at each other.
5. No White Zinfandel (a tough one in these parts....)
6. Gather my friends close to me more frequently.
7. More "chardonnay giggles".
8. Stop and look people in the eye.
9. Finish the damn cookbook!!!!!!!

This year, let's all try to be KIND to one another, shall we? Think of how we could change the world, if we all stopped for a split-second and asked "is this KIND"?

My love and peace to everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A Year of Status

Facebook has a fun new widget- compiling a selection of one's of status notices into a composite......says a lot!

New Month, New You

I know that it's a month BEFORE the New Year...where the traditional "New Year, New You" begins....but I started early. Sue me.

So many changes around Maison Cou Rouge since the finishing of my EP365.

Let's get the biggie out of the way. In the marital status column, I will soon be switching my check mark from "M" to "D". If you want more details, send me an email. I'm not shy about sharing gory details, just don't see the need to do it publicly.

I contributed to the economy on Black Friday (for the first and last time!) and so Maison Cou Rouge has a new TV.



AJ and Alix are happy as hogs-in-slop.



When last we visited my bathroom, it looked like this....



Now it looks like THIS.....







Almost finished. Just waiting on the shower door to be delivered and installed.

I am thrilled. SO thrilled, in fact, that I am getting out my sewing machine and my circular saw, charging up my cordless drill, opening my decorating and scenic construction books, and preparing for a Maison Cou Rouge mini-facelift. Alix and I are giving the house a sophisticated-girly-sorority house vibe for her senior year. Testosterone only allowed on invitation. Cabana boy applications currently being accepted.

I got a FANTASTIC new coffee maker... (last month, BEFORE Keurig started advertising EVERYWHERE!)





THANKS for showing me the ropes, darling friend Nancy!

I have a new "old" bed....



(it was my great-great-great Aunt Nene's bed. My grandmother used it...and I remember sharing it with her many nights when I was little. Alix had it, but has decided to go for the "oriental-college" look. the STBX* took the king-sized Tempurpedic.)

However, it is not ALL change here at Maison Cou Rouge. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Mt. Washmore remains.



Chip is still all chocolate lab-ness.



My neat and tidy desk disappears whenever Alix uses it.



Piles and piles of accumulated man-debris remain.

But I have a solution for that.



I've rented a dumpster.


Yes, gang....she's BAAAAAACCCKKKKKKKK.





*STBX - "soon-to-be-ex"

Day 365 EP 365

Starting this project out one year ago, I never imagined the twists and turns my fiftieth year on Earth would take. I have neglected keeping you, my dear reader, up to date on the goings on of Maison Cou Rouge, so focused was I on getting the daily photograph.

But I am glad I did.

My friend, the Captain, was right. It is amazing to look back at my photos and see each day....to remember each photograph, to capture a whole year.

It is a lot of work- much more so than it appeared at the outset. But I am so very VERY glad that I completed Project 365.

I encourage anyone and everyone who reads this and is thinking about documenting a year in of his or her life to DO IT!!! Even if it's not every day--document your life each week, or start out once a month. Just do it!

I promise you will not regret it for a moment.

Jan-Olav, thank you for encouraging me....for mentoring me...for being my safe harbor.

EP365 was...and is always.....for you.

Day 365 October 2, 2010
CHEERS!!!