“The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours” 
Alan Bennett - The History Boys: The Film

Young Girl Reading, or The Reader (French: La Liseuse), is an 18th-century oil painting by Jean-Honore' Fragonard

Reading women, circa 1900 ,Oil painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir

Jacquelyn Bischak, Reading Women

Balancing Act

In anticipation of the unforeseen, turbulent and over whelming moments I'm expecting to feel this week and in the upcoming weeks as well, my Monday motivation expectation for myself will be just to keep hold of my footing, keeping my balance and showing and accepting (the accepting part is hard for me) support. I suspect this week will feel a lot like walking along the back of a rhinoceros. I will remind myself I am a huge fan of the Rino.

Louis Armstrong - When You're Smiling

To lighten things up :)))

Back On Track

Since the only thing running these days is my mascara, time for a change of pace. I was going to hit the beach but no time like the present and right in front. Happy Sunday. #lifeisin #themoments

Keeping Your Holiday Shopping Local and Meaningful

• "Live life like your time is limited. Make the best of the good and bad with no intention of anything else happening after death, make sure your life was lived up to your highest expectations because wether there's a heaven and hell or nothing at all, its nice to know you did your very best with the life you where given."-APK
  
  AddictiveLifestyle was this hypothetical concept created by Andrew Kunz; a company he obsessed over and dreamed of. Andrew was the kind of guy that would get so damn passionate over things you would have to calm his roll. He never limited the possibilities and believed in living life to the fullest. He inspired so many people in his life that was ended too soon. Andrew suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) on February 23, 2014 as the result of a car accident. This tragedy landed him in the hospital, and despite the constant efforts of some of the best doctors, extensive rehabilitation, and love, he passed away on December 6, 2014 at 19 years old. In an effort to create his dream of AddictiveLifestyle Clothing Co., sister, Juliana Kunz, and best friend, Shelby Allen, have given it life. We are a small company trying to honor a son, a brother, a best friend, and an incredible person by making his dream a reality. His meaning behind AddictiveLifestyle was, "You should give whatever you love in life 110%, live a life you can't help but love, always be humble, always be on your grind, and don't stop till you achieve... Stay Gold."
• Email

  addictivelifestyleclothing@gmail.com
• Website                               https://addictivelifestyle.squarespace.com/

The Thing Is-Grief Speaks

Sometimes there are words that do help get us through the hard moments. These words from Ellen Bass are mine. My hope is if your reading this and struggling, they help you too, or someone you may know. I'm struggling today much more then yesterday, and I know tomorrow may be a better day. Or, maybe not, That's the unsure thing about loss, you never know what the day, or moment will bring so you take each day has they come and do your best to roll with the punches. These words soften the blows for me. May they soften your blows as well. 

The Thing Is

by Ellen Bass

to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you've held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.

"The Thing Is" by Ellen Bass, from Mules of Love. 

 

Image Unknown

Peas And Carrots

"You and me, we are like pea's and carrots'. It wasn't easy today Noodle, but mama did good. We all did. There were so many "should of's " but I made them into "would have's"  I love you Andrew Philip Kunz with my whole being. One sweet day my Son. Until then, Don't ever wonder if the stars come out for you because they do and the birds still sing for you too. Always loved. Always near. Always with us. Always mine.

Powerful (feat. Jussie Smollett and Alicia Keys)

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Well, maybe I'm not Hunter S. Thompson and I have no fear or loathing to be done in Las Vegas, however, tomorrow Jim and I are headed that way.  Call us crazy, and this is completely out of character for us to take a trip right before Thanksgiving but we were wanting to jump in "The Stang" and go for a long drive. Most folks would have likely chosen the coast as their route of desirable driving splendor, and it is glorious for sure, but since we live on the Central Coast and can head out often, it just didn't make the list this time. Jim's up north weekly so that didn't appeal to him (it always appeals to me) and I LOVE going south to LA but what can I say..."LA, to much for the man"...besides this drive is more about getting the car out on the open road with a roar, and spending time together, then it is about the scenery. So where's a nearby trip that checks the boxes...VEGAS BABY!    We're headed off in the morning for a couple of days.   And since there wasn't enough time to drive to New York,  I'll have to be happy with New York, New York on the strip. Hey, I hear they have a Shake Shack there! Oh, and I can't forget, Serendipity is there too. Banana splits! Here's to a good drive, great food, dressing up and stepping out, a wonderful show and fun company. And people watching. Fast and Feastie, here we come! Oh, I just thought of something, MAYBE I'll get Jim to dance with me. So I don't have to dance with complete strangers. (thank goodness my days of "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas are long behind me;D) VROOM! VROOM!

Sunday Sermon

I'm a lover of poetry. I'm not much of a writer of it but and I can sit and read poetry books for hours. I have many favorite writers and e e cummings is a standout in a line up of greats. This is a poem of his that speaks to my heart. I hope it touches yours. Happy Sunday.

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

                                  i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Image by Prechu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummingshttp
I really like this site:  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/

Bluehue

Often our days get started with a slam but for the days that start with a simmer this short film is intensely magnificent and intensely meditative.
Ps-If you've never believed in mermaids before, you will now. #waterdance #dancefriyay

Bluehue from natasha brooks on Vimeo.
A short film about the joys of year round naked swimming in the mountain lakes of Snowdonia, N.Wales. Filmed, produced and swam by Natasha Brooks. www.tashbrooks.com

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me- Tonight's Lullaby For Noodle and Juliana

Norah Jones - Sunrise

We made it through another day. Until the Sonrise my beautiful Sonset. This makes me smile.

Dove of Peace 1949 by Pablo Picasso

Dove (1949)

With Guernica hailed as one of the world's most moving anti-war paintings, Picasso was invited to design an image to represent peace.

Picasso's first Dove of Peace, chosen as the emblem for the First International Peace Conference in Paris in 1949, was a traditional, realistic picture of a pigeon which had been given to him by his great friend and rival, the French artist Henri Matisse.

Picasso later developed this image into a simple, graphic line drawing that is one of the world's most recognizable symbols of peace. He also named his fourth child 'Paloma', the Spanish word for 'dove'.

Images and description taken from WWW.pablopicasso.org and BBC news

-We, the world,  need the reminder-

Tender Tuesday

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky"- Rumi
Out and about and taken in the open sky
#tendertuesdays

Motivation Monday

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”
Margaret Atwood - The Penelopiad

Image/photo-unknown-Himalayan Water On Rocks

Let's Get It On

I've been trying to make this my ring tone Nood and mama can't figure it out. Normally, you'd do for me. I remember when this was your ring tone and you had just started dating Maddee and I was concerned whether that was appropriate knowing Jill and Robert also called your phone. You would just laugh and tease me. They all love you Nood, so much and regard you as one of the most respectful young men they have the honor to love. Where there's a will there's a way and I'll get this to be my ringtone if it's the last thing I do.  But until I do, I'm posting it here so I can listen to it as much as I want. Thank goodness for Spotify too. I love you so much Andrew. And I love that our love of music was passed on to you. That you could have Drake and Marvin on the same playlist. And your humor. Your warm humor that made everyone laugh and feel special.  I miss all the wondrous things about you that made you YOU. One of a kind. Which is why you are missed beyond belief sweet boy but felt in our hearts and soul every minute of the day. #stayingapkgold

Yesterday was national Kindness Day. Then Paris happened. Paris, as well of many other cities are in need of  thoughts and hearts today and everyday until we make the change to make love not war.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. -Jimi Hendrex

World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day. Although I believe each day should be full of random acts of kindness, for today, maybe we just try to throw a little extra around. Lend a helping hand. Make somebody laugh. Tell people how much you love and appreciate them. Give a compliment. Hold the door open. Offer gratitude. Encourage and Embrace somebody. Feed somebody. Treat somebody. Share with somebody. Donate your time and or money to help people in need. Spread your joy. Kindness is catchy and the more people affected with it, the more kindness grows and spreads in the world.

Jamie Cullum - Pure Imagination

Jamie Cullum - Don't Stop the Music

Michael Franti / "Once a Day" / Live @ Wanderlust

I love this message so hard! It is a pure and simple truth. Kiss, hug and love on all your people and then some! We do not know what tomorrow will bring! My last words to my Noodle were "I love you, be safe" His last words to me were "I love you too Mama" I'm eternally grateful for this. Here's to rising up! #apkgold #love

A Garden of Devotion

                          Don't not try to appease me, please me or pity me. Just Peonies me.

                                One day I'll have a garden of Peonies in array of calming colors

                                  And all the rooms in our home will be in constant bloom

        Surrounded your self with Peonies of all kinds and colors for they are the flower of devotion.

https://addictivelifestyle.squarespace.com/

November's Lullaby

As much as this beautiful collaboration brings unstoppable tears, it also serves to remind me that there are those with greater needs then myself. Those with greater hurts and pain. And through caring about and for others, we heal ourselves. Isn't that truly the meaning of Thanks Giving. #apkgold

Timing Is Everything-New Moon Movements

L.

• 
  

• Every word resonated with me this morning when I read this on Mandy's Instagram post today. I hope it's okay to share and I take no credit for writing it. It is all Mandy and Yogalosophy: 

• "mandyingber🌒This week's New Moon in Scorpio occurs on 11-11. 11-11 is a portal that we may step through and make a quantum leap into a new reality. When one door closes and another opens and there is not a better sign than Scorpio for transcending one reality and letting go completely in a new one. Scorpio is symbolized by the Phoenix that rises from the ashes. All else may die, but Scorpio somehow regenerates itself and gets reborn. Another image is a snake shedding it's skin. The art of letting go is the mark of an evolved Scorpio. Scorpio energy has the power to transform the most base to the most enlightened. From the serpent to the eagle, Scorpio is the alchemist. 🐍Kundalini energy is Scorpio energy. Death and rebirth is the Scorpio path. Control and Release are its themes. Ultimately, it is the ability to control our own response by choosing the highest path rather than the lowest that brings us to enlightenment. We have a choice. Choose wisely this full moon and watch your world transform. Our thoughts, words and the way we communicate is key, since Mercury is conjunct this Scorpio New Moon. Make a conscious effort to notice these moments of choice in your daily life. Part of the strength we develop in this lifetime comes from the power to observe our thoughts and to select our words and actions consciously. Plant the seeds for cultivating power on this new moon. Seek to bring your shadow to light. Attune your nature to it’s highest good. The highest evolution of the Scorpio energy is the dove. Having been transformed and enlightened the dove represents pure peace.
  🌱When planting seeds for the month, creating a ritual can be potent. Try Kundalini yoga or join a fire ceremony. Find places to express pent up desire and safely honor your shadow side. Dress up as your dark side. Explore breath work. Holotropic Breathing (formerly called re-birthing) is a type of breath work that could be transformative. Get your chart done. Try Pole Dancing. Be sexy. Be fierce. Be in control of ur actions. Perfect challenging yoga poses: Scorpion, Eagle and Corpse Pose. Most importantly, let go. The feeling of release is actually pleasurable. All creation is born out emptiness."

   

  

  
  

  

• "Seek to bring your shadow to light. Attune your nature to it’s highest good. The highest evolution of the Scorpio energy is the dove. Having been transformed and enlightened the dove represents pure peace." I have been seeing doves around our home. There have been other signs and I will share them soon. But the doves have showed up over the weekend. 

• #peace #transformation #love #light #lettinggo #healing

Keeping Promises When There's Too Many Nevers.

As the storms are starting to build and bellow, I promise to allow HOPE to be my compass.