Xavierism

The Little Things in Life

Our Baby Ella...She's a True Joy!

***Listening to SomaFM's Beat Blender station.

I have so enjoyed the change of seasons. It seems like it took forever for Fall to officially arrive here in Phoenix. It felt great to finally use the duvet cover as a blanket. Woke up this morning with a chilly feeling and was happy to dig out the sweats from the storage containers in the closet. Ahhh...gotta love the surround wrap of warmth.

This week has been special to my spirit. I have lathered myself a calmness that was missing from my Life last week. Frustration set in last week when a client's database agent spilled water on my cell phone. I was listening in to calls and while I stepped away from this agent's desk, she spilled water on Blackberry. I can deal with small accidents but I can't deal with how things are handled to correct matters. The General Manager of the department basically insisted that I deal with db agent directly. First of all, this db agent was new and feared that she may lose her job. Second, things happen so I didn't think this was going to be a such a big deal. Long story short, this matter was resolved and company has now paid for a new cell phone.

So while I allowed frustration to slowly become a cloud around me much like the cartoon character, Pig-Pen, from Peanuts, I shared an evening with the Mother of a Hospice patient. This beautiful woman is about to lose her only son and child. She recently lost her husband and now she will have to prepare herself for another loss in her life. I could feel the pain of her tears as they poured down from her face. Suddenly the cell phone drama wasn't a big deal. As I listened to her, I felt a calm and loving feeling take over. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Empathy took over my spirit. We spent a few hours chatting in the living room while her son slept in his room. She shared stories about his childhood and accomplishments. She turned to me for support but realized that I needed her just as much.

We get so lost in this jungle of Life. The Little Things in Life seem to be misplaced or tucked away until we're ready to open that box or when we need to escape from our hectic lives. I used to enjoy so many hobbies that I allowed Life to take me away from certain joys. I miss those little things in my life.

For two weeks, I have now worked my hardest during the days. Soon as I head home, I do all I can to complete my work and gather what I need for the following day's To Do List. As much as I love sharing things on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites, I felt that I needed to enjoy my private time just as much. During the evenings, I have caught up on emails, reading my favourite blogs, and writing letters. I've also let go of so many things that I will never use again. It felt great to donate all these items to Goodwill. I want to remain real to myself. I've been reading more, listening to my fave music, and working on a business plan for various projects that have been dancing in my head for quite some time. I am getting a big kick out of sorting through all my pictures. I almost burned my pics from the 80's. Those will be forever locked in the Vault of Xavierism!

I'm thankful for the wonderful friends and family members that are part of my Life. I'm thankful to have a partner that puts up with me. Bless his heart. Thank you for The Little Things in Life. They give me more reason to embrace the Big Things in my Life.

Current Music: Lamb's Softly
    Current Mood: Blessed & Happy!

Phoenix October

A blossom from our Stepelia Gigantea succulent.

***Random Play
*Aly Tadros: Things Were Keeping
*Rosie Thomas: These Friends of Mine
*Marie Digby: Unfold
*Patsy Moore: The Most Private Confessions of Saint Clair
*Jason Mraz: We Sing We Dance We Steal Things
*Diana Winter: Escapizm

There's a hurricane taking place within my mind. A huge whirlwind of thoughts and ideas bouncing around the walls of this hard head. I'm actually excited about the possibilities of certain projects. It's all so kewly cool!

I decided it was time to mix up this blog a bit and change things. I believe I will stick with this design for a while. I am working on various projects and doing a great deal of promo and booking for a few up and coming Singer/songwriters. I look forward to sharing soon.

I can't believe I've been blogging on Typepad for over 3 years. Prior to this site, I enjoyed blogging on LiveJournal.com. After five years on that site, I felt it was time to move my writings and thoughts to independent site. I felt more of an obligation to interact with a huge friends list rather than invest time within myself. I quickly learned that I had to find a place where I could be happy with my thoughts. I continue to believe that Typepad is the perfect home for me.

Our various Succulent plants continue to surprise us with beautiful blossoms. I'll have to take pics of our other plants. Spend time taking care of Mother Nature and her children and she'll bless you with precious gems.

Time to get back to work. Thank you for allowing me to share with each of you.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Diana Winter's September Song

Current Mood: Happy Go Hungry

Last Night...

Last night during the rain storm, I hurried home so I could enjoy the thunder & rain. Once home, I found myself in the mood for Carole King's Tapestry CD. After the storm, I cleaned the pool and enjoyed a quiet evening in the pool. So Far Away is still stuck in my head.

Thanks for following along and sharing with me. I'm blessed to have such fabulous friends & readers in my corner. Enjoy the weekend!

*****CHEERS!*****

Fab Friday Night

I enjoyed another fabulous Friday evening with real friends. Fabulous food, great conversation, and awesome music at a friend's gig. Overall, it's been a great Friday.

All day, I've had Diana Winter's September Song playing in my head. I love this Italian Musical Diva. Give her a listen & enjoy. Cheers!

Current Music: Diana Winter's September Song
Current Mood: Happy & Content

All The Way

***Random Play
*A Fine Frenzy: One Cell In The Sea
*Sheila Kirsten Hughes: Perspectives
*Diana Winter: Escapizm
*Aly Tadros: Things Worth Keeping
*Salvador: Aware
*Celia Chavez: Sailor's Daughter

Time is cruel. Rather that's why I say every time I look into the mirror. Gray hairs are popping up like weeds in one's garden. A new wrinkle on face is given it's own name. Cruel. I remember things from grade school. I can remember how I felt at certain moments in time. Close my eyes and I'm back to the moment when my heart was broken for the first time. The 2nd time. The last time I spoke to my Buelita. The moment that I realized Mother and I have similar looking hands. Grand moments in my book.

The Little things. Like the title of my last blog post, I have really thought about the small blessings that I have taken for granted. It's no secret that I have always wanted to be a Father. I've always pictured that I would have a beautiful little girl. It never happened but am blessed to have three beautiful nieces. It's not the same but it's a grand blessing.

Other people actually have kids. I have three cockatoos. Three little feathered angels. I recently had another dream about St. Scholastica. Like the other dreams, she and I are sitting on the same bench surrounded by a beautiful garden. So many little pigeons, doves and smaller birds are in plain view. She gave me a few words of wisdom and inspiration. Just like the other dreams, I turn away to look at the garden and when I look back at St. Scholastica, she's gone. Every time I have these dreams, I truly feel her Love.

Working with Hospice groups, I also do my share as a volunteer. I have spent time with a few Hospice patients this week. On Tuesday, I had lunch with the Mother of a Hospice patient. She didn't ask for anything...she simply wanted to be heard. She had so much anger at God and this world. She simply wanted someone to listen. I sat. We cried. I gave her a grand hug. Every time I meet with family members or friends of Hospice patients, I always feel as though I should gain something from each experience. 

Busy lives. Busy people. Interaction between neighbours and is a thing of the past. It's great to see that Social Media is bringing people together. I believe that I am pretty good at keeping in touch with good friends. The Little Things seem to be grand things in my life right now. It's the little things that give me Faith & Hope. I am thankful that I can get lost in the sea of my blessings.

Take what you gather from this post. Remember that we each have so much to be thankful for...we really do. I woke up and immediately gave thanks to God, my Angels and Saints for allowing me to be part of this day. I look forward to today's challenges. Life is beautiful. Sometimes we must reflect to see & feel the beauty of it all.

Current Music: Salvador's Here I am
Current Mood: Thankful

The Little Things

 

***Random Play
*Celia Chavez: Sailor's Daughter
*Dave Yaden: Bear Me Up
*A Fine Frenzy: One Cell In The Sea
*Salvador: Aware
*Nichole Nordeman: Woven & Spun
*Diana Winter: Escapizm

I received word yesterday that a good friend's sister died. She battled an aggressive Cancer. She was diagnosed 6 months ago and gave her last breath this past Wednesday. She was not a Hospice patient. She was fighting this demon within her body. When I saw her a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but notice her beautiful smile. She was weak from chemotherapy and radiation but her Grace & Love for Life was evident. I called her last week and shared a 5 minute conversation. I mentioned that I would be there to see her soon. I never had the chance to see her again. Her beautiful smile and spirit now lives within me.

I understand and know that every family is different. My friend is a a down to earth man. His Sister was a beautiful person inside and out. Yet their family is not able to share the Love amongst themselves. This family was not close. When I went over yesterday to offer my condolences, the family members kept to themselves. No emotions. No hugging. Nothing. I found it odd. Conversation was about everything else other than the reason we were brought together. As much as I work with Hospice, I understand that such families exist. I never expected to feel or see experience such actions from this particular family.

We always believe that Time is on our side until something happens. I'm thankful that I was brought up to show and share my emotions. My family is far from perfect but our lines of communication are always open. The older I get, the more vulnerable my heart is. Empathy grows.

Each day I learn. I suppose it's the way it's supposed to go. I am grateful for the Love of God, Angels, Patron Saints, family & great friends. Real friends.

I'm blessed.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Sheila Kirsten Hughes' Let It Rain Down
Current Mood: Blessed

Thoughts on My Birthday/Repost from 07/02/2008

Baby Xavier on his 1st Birthday

***I felt this post from last year describes very much how I feel today. I thought a repost of this entry would be appropriate.

***Random Play
*Maureen Murphy: Won't Wait Around EP
*Laura Marie: Drawn
*Guyton Maurice: 20 Questions
*Mozella: I Will
*Sia: Some People Have Real Problems
*Melissa Polinar: Sound Vault Sessions EP

Last night I caught myself asking God for a Bubble Gum wish. With every thing happening in the world, I couldn't believe I was asking him for such a self pity wish. I was reminded immediately of an episode of Touch By An Angel when Tess says, "God is not a vending machine where you stick in your prayer and pull out your prize." That's so true. I remember as a kid and didn't want to go to school the following morning, I'd make silly deals with God. My favourite one that I can remember was "God, If you make it so that I wake up and it's Sunday again, I promise to be good when it's Monday, okay?"

One of my favourite chores to do around the house is to hang the clothes to dry on the breeze catcher. Doing so reminds me of childhood memories when Buelita would wash clothes out on her back yard. She would hand wash the clothes on an old time washing machine. Then she would hang the clothes on the clothes lines. I remember walking up and down the rows as the clothes would dry. On windy days, the coolness of the damps clothes would feel good against my arms and face. On those same windy days, the wind chimes would be ringing and ringing. It's as though they were singing and sharing their own story. To this day, I hear wind chimes and I think of my Buelita.

Today is another Birthday. I'm a year old yet I'm better looking than ever (<--pure sarcasm). How ever God manages that, I'll never know...but I'm thankful! I'm in my 40's yet my spirit is like that of a teenager's. I remember the growing years where we'd play with the neighbourhood children until it was time to come in to eat dinner with the family. Board games were part of our culture. Riding bicycles up and down the street was actually fun and worthwhile. During summers, Mother would make popsicles from the Tupperware molds.

I'm another year older...but so much younger inside. I'm a responsible adult but deep down the child in me lives on through my wonderful memories. I'm blessed to state that I could never blame a thing on my childhood. Love was abundance. The only thing that is different this birthday that all the others is that I won't get to hear my Father say, "Happy Birthday, Son!". It's been seven months since he's passed on and my life feels somewhat incomplete. Although I've felt that emptiness since Buelita's death. It's a comfort that she comes to me in dreams. I've sensed her from time to time...so I know her love is always with me.

All in all, I'm blessed to be where I'm at in this world. I wouldn't want to be in my 20's. I wouldn't want to be someone else. I may envy someone else's waist size but I wouldn't want to be that person. I'm happy being me. At the end of the day, I thank God for blessing me with two wonderful parents. Like all my other Birthdays, I do not celebrate another year of my life, I celebrate that life that was given to me by my parents & God.

Thank you for the phone calls, emails, text messages, ecards, comments, and the love today. You've made me feel special. I'm honoured to have the people I call friends and family in my life. Thank you!

To all the Americans, embrace and Have a wonderful 4th of July! May Americans and this government wake up and realize that so much of this world could care less about democracy. It's time that the US stood firm and proud again. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else other than The United States of America!

*****BLESSINGS!*****

Current Music: Laura Marie's In Code
Current Mood: Blessed, Thirsty, & Hot!

Back it up, Back it up!

A Moment with Vanessa at Side Bar.

It's been a good day. I gotta admit that Twitter.com has saved my sanity. Things may not go my way or as planned yet I always have distractions of the best kind. Thanks to all those that I follow and follow me on the site.

I should have learned a lesson from others that recommended backing up one's computer system. Usually people warn and instruct others to do so after they lost valuable information because they didn't do that themselves Well folks, I'm telling you from personal experience, back up your systems! I was trying to import info from laptop to netbook and CRASH! Laptop crashed and I couldn't save a darn file. Long story short, I had to do a recovery on my laptop. I lost everything. So if you're a reader of my blog, please feel free to send me an email (xavier@xavierism.com) with your contact info or comment with your email address. I'd so appreciate it.

Thankful to a great weekend. I spent most of my time with Rodan's family and close friends. Our pool was the setting for the best of conversations & good times. I look forward to Summer!

*Menu Plan Monday thanks to Orgjunkie.com. So many bloggers participate in this affair. Plan your menu for the week and browse Laura's site. Check out all those that participate and get wonderful ideas for all upcoming meals of the week. I look forward to trying out so many. Below is my Dinner Menu for the week:

*Monday: Pot Roast

*Tuesday: Mandarin Chicken Salads

*Wednesday: Ground Turkey/ Taco seasoned & Pasta

*Thursday: Mushroom Cigars & Chicken Strips with Mango Curry

*Friday: Homemade Supreme Pizza

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Carole King's So Far Away playing in my head
Current Mood: Happy, Happy!

Menu Plan Monday for June 8th Week

Recently Planted Bangkok Red Bougainvilleas in Our Yard.

Thanks to Laura at www.Orgjunkie.com, I have a reason to blog on Mondays. She has a huge following of people that share their week's menu planning. Thanks to over 280 bloggers that participate, I now have a variety of personal and new recipes to incorporate this week. I am doing my best to cook more at home rather than eat out. Yes, I love eating out but I want my times out at great restaurants to be special rather than taken for granted. So this idea would be ideal for Rodan and myself.

For now, I would like to post a simple weekly dinner menu so I have something in place to share. Here goes:

*Monday: Chicken wings & Salad

*Tuesday: Zucchini Tart & Veggies

*Wednesday: 13 Bean Chili made in Crock Pot. This is a favourite. It's not a recipe just something that I make often. I will keep log while I add so that I can share recipe.

*Thursday: Leftovers & Salad

*Friday: I plan to make a recipe from a follower on Menu Plan Monday. I'll keep you posted.

Okay, time to get back to work. Hope each of you has a great week!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Missy Higgins' Sugarcane
Current Mood: Hungry

It's Been A Good Day

Sitting in the Back Yard Enjoying A Quiet Moment... on 12seconds.tv

***Random Play
*Dave Yaden: Bear Me Up
*A Fine Frenzy: One Cell In The Sea
*Missy Higgins: On A Clear Night
*Tony Lucca: Come Around Again
*Celia Chavez: Sailor's Daughter
*Carrie Catherine: Green Eyed Soul

It's been a good day. I accomplished every thing that I set out to do today. On top of that, I worked in our yard and planted Bangkok Red Bougainvilleas. These shrubs can be seeing everywhere in Phoenix.  It's good to know we finally added more colour to our yard. I ran with 3 miles with a group of friends this evening. I actually passed on dinner with friends to run. Somethin' must be changing within me...and I like it. My Baby, a Netbook, returned from the repair shop. It's running better than ever. I really missed my little toy.

Here I am sitting in our backyard by the pool. Birds are out on the porch sitting on top of their cages. Wind feels nice. Wind chimes are playing their own tune. I can hear the music playing from inside the house. Ordinary wine tastes special tonight. Too bad Rodan is working. Overall, it's been a another good day.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: A Fine Frenzy's Ashes and Wine
Current Mood: Peaceful & Content