Corinne Bailey Rae- Like A Star

Sit back.....relax and enjoy this. Consider it a Windfall Moment. From me to you.....

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day. Will YOU be mine?

Top 25 Memories of my Big Mama

My "Big Mama" was my maternal grandmother. I am named after her and my mama. The third. That's me. Again, here are my top memories in random order.

1. Her voice's natural vibrato (and her needlepoint!)

2. When she played the piano and organ and I sang with her

3. Her last Christmas spent at my house and the way she enjoyed my cooking

4. Holding her hand as she was dying

5. Shopping for "pocketbooks"

6. Our last Christmas shopping trip when she sent me to buy a tablecloth for my mama

7. The way she clapped her hands together just before she said something spectacular

8. Her laugh

9. The time she covered herself in a white sheet and sat on the porch at Halloween

10. The way she bought me things and said, "don't tell anyone"

11. The time she loaned me $250 when I couldn't pay my bills and wouldn't let me pay her back

12. The way she ate slowly -- just like I used to

13. The way she kept a tissue neatly folded under her watchband on her wrist

14. The time my college friends and I dropped in on her unexpectedly and she was watching the World Series and all my "guy friends" thought she was the coolest grandmother ever

15. All the times I said, I love you Big Mama and she said, " I love you too WFW"

16. Seeing her go to bed in her hairnet

17. Her gorgeous always polished and perfectly manicured nails

18. All the times she accurately guessed her presents before opening them

19. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled and laughed

20. Her one grey eye and her one hazelish/green eye

21. All the times she wore orchid corsages

22. She had this cute little habit of saying "meow" to me. I've inherited this.

23. The way she drove her big car with a pistol in a cigar box underneath the seat

24. The way she read the entire Bible every single year

25. Knowing she really loved me the best. Everyone needs to feel that kind of love.

This list made me cry (in a nice way) to compile it. I loved my Big Mama. I miss her every day of my life. I challenge you to think of someone living or gone and make your own list. Who would you choose? How many memories would you have?

Top 25 Things I Do Well

1. Laugh

2. Design Christmas/Holiday cards

3. Cook

4. Feel Your Pain

5. Read

6. Lounge

7. Cry

8. Meet new people

9. Talk

10. Network

11. Shop

12. Plan and throw parties

13. Think

14. Drive

15. Sing

16. Remember

17. Lead people

18. Sell

19. Watch TV

20. Enjoy people

21. Give gifts

22. Write

23. Hug

24. Kiss

25. Love

**Please note that these are not in any particular order. By the way, what do YOU do well?

Top 25 Favorite Songs

1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
2. Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy
3. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynrd
4. All I Ask of You - Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman
5. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
6. Not Fade Away - The Stones
7. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Whitney Houston
8. The Sound of Music - Julie Andrews
9. Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer
10. One Fine Day (Un Bel Di From Madame Butterfly) - Opera Babes
11. Seasons of Love - Theme from Rent
12. Lullaby - The Dixie Chicks
13. You're Still You - Josh Groban
14. I'll Still Love You More - Trisha Yearwood
15. Let Me Let Go - Faith Hill
16. 100 Years - Five for Fighting
17. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
18. I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
19. Crazy Love - Van Morrison
20. Suspicious Minds - Elvis
21. Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
22. He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
23. Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
24. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
25. Whipping Post - The Allman Brothers

This Top 25 was ROUGH! I went with songs that no matter how many times I hear them......I still LOVE them. I know, I know. I'm sure I've missed one (or more). Tell me who you like and who I'm missing.........I'm curious.

Top 25 Favorite Things To Do

1. Read a good book
2. Watch a good movie
3. Have lunch with my girls' club
4. Have a massage at The Ritz
5. Watch people open my Christmas presents
6. Cook Christmas dinner
7. Eat Christmas dinner
8. Nap by a fire
9. Nap when it's raining
10. Go on a fun date
11. Attend a concert by an artist I love
12. Soak in a jacuzzi
13. Drink champagne with a special guy
14. Go to a Broadway show
15. Have someone else wash my hair and dry it
16. Kiss
17. Go shoe shopping
18. Be snowed inside, unable to drive anywhere, but have power and plenty of food
19. Laugh
20. Watch trash TV (to include certain reality shows, Lifetime movies, etc.)
21. Take a nap with my kitty on my chest
22. Sleep in fresh, clean sheets after a shower
23. Sit in Barnes and Noble with a stack of books, reading one and sipping Chai Tea
24. Holding hands with someone I love
25. Going to my old church and passing the "peace"

What are your favorite things to do? Are you taking time to do them? I'm not. But I'm going to!

Love and Time

A girlfriend and I watched "The Lake House" yesterday (one of the benefits of my new Blockbuster membership). It began a bit slowly, but the overall feeling I was left with was rather bittersweet. Even despite the ending which I won't spoil if you haven't seen it. By the way, it was definitely worth watching.

It has caused me to ponder. Is love really like the movies? Do people flirt any more? Does romance exist still?

The First of my Top 25

Snake left a comment that has inspired (thank heavens) me to begin a series of Top 25s. (Referring of course to being on 25peeps (yes, I'm still on it) .......which has been referred to as "25creeps"........LOL. Anyhow, since he asked what movies I rented last night, and I DO have this incredible FREE trial (yes, we rich people love pinching pennies).....I thought I would start with my favorite 25 movies (in no particular order). I'm going to make lists of 25 for all sorts of things. So stay tuned.

First, I saw "My Super Ex Girlfriend" last night. It had all the makings of being a "Blockbuster" hit; but it just ran.... Luke (Wilson)warm. Uma Thurman (I like her in movies) was the "Superhero," but it was just too nuts. Also, don't let your kids see it. There are alot of ....sexual references in it. (My Girl Scout troop wanted to see it.) By the way, if you need a Super Hero fix, go read Henry the Adequate - a new friend who dubbed 25peeps 25creeps.

Here they are in random order, WFW's top 25 movies:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird (Gregory Peck good)
2. Duel in the Sun (Gregory Peck bad)
3. The Sound of Music (has it all…great music, great love story, great family)
4. Where the Heart Is (watch it when you’re depressed or need to get “up”)
5. The Birds
6. Home Alone (modern favorite Christmas movie)
7. It’s a Wonderful Life (favorite classic Christmas movie)
8. The English Patient (possibly the most romantic, sexy movie ever made)
9. Elizabeth (favorite historical movie)
10. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Colin Firth is dreamy)
11. Air Force One (Harrison Ford when he was sexy and a REAL kickass President)
12. The Notebook (true love transcends boundaries and the leads fell in love with each other)
13. Lean on Me (Morgan Freeman inspiring)
14. Driving Miss Daisy (Morgan Freeman heartwarming)
15. Legally Blonde (Reese Witherspoon triumphs over the smug ex)
16. Gone With The Wind (Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable are riveting)
17. Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford – fantastic!)
18. Castaway and Big (Tom Hanks is just great)
19. Any movie with Sir Laurence Olivier - Wuthering Heights is my favorite though
20. The Count of Monte Cristo ( with Jim Cavaziel)
21. The Pursuit of Happyness
22. Any Jack Nicholson movie – A Few Good Men (“You can’t handle the truth); Terms of Endearment; As Good as it Gets
23. Sliding Doors (Gwyneth Paltrow is marvelous in this one!)
24. An Affair to Remember – but ANYTHING with Cary Grant
25. Love With the Proper Stranger (Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen – a twofer)

Any comments? Your favorites?

Here's the song........what do you think?

STICKWITU (Pussycat Dolls)

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Happy Valentine's Day

I'LL STILL LOVE YOU MORE (Trisha Yearwood)

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To all those I've loved in the past and in the present. Happy Valentine's Day! .....WFW

Pondering Valentine's Day.........

I am lucky to have a good many friends in my life. (And I count my blogosphere ones as well!) As we approach Valentine's Day, so many are frought with anxiety. It's amazing how many people "settle" in their relationships. This video is, of course, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Not only are they both physically "beautiful" people, but they are such an extraordinary couple. Did you know that she was engaged to someone else when they went on tour? She was his opening act. During the course of the tour, they fell in love. She broke her engagement. You know the rest. This is their latest video. Even though the song is said, you can see the love in their eyes. True love is an incredible windfall.......

Seasons of Love.....525,600 minutes

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SEASONS OF LOVE (Rent Soundtrack)

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Think of a year of your life. Remember about love. Share love. Give it. Measure your life in love. All 525,600 minutes of it.

Drama, Love, Wives and Husbands...and Luckey Couple

You guys know I don't write about politics. Except, of course, when Harriet Miers stole my word - Windfall. I even majored in Political Science and English at college. I worked on campaigns, etc. I frankly hate politics and politicians. I'm convinced it's all corrupt. So, you can imagine that the Supreme Court judge selection process that I can not impact IS of NO INTEREST to me. Especially since THIS President is nominating him -- which has to be a train wreck in the making.

THEN....it happened. Something happened to INTEREST me. (No, I wasn't watching Jerry Springer) They made Judge Alito's wife CRY. And suddenly, he seemed like a real person and so did she. She had finally had enough. She left crying, and then during the break, I saw him on television comforting her. He was the picture of solicitude. It was nice. It was sweet. I think he'll get confirmed based on it.

Speaking of loving wives and husbands. I hope a certain friend of mine doesn't mind me mentioning her. It's Luckey Girl.........she wrote the most beautiful post the other day about "little things" with a picture of the "Luckey Guy" (her husband). The picture says it all. She's a Luckey Girl, but he's a Luckey Guy. They seem to have a "Luckey Marriage." It was great this week to see TWO great married couples. Gives us all hope, doesn't it?

The Nutcracker, Friends, Roses and a Boyfriend

I think I mentioned that my Girl Scout co-leader and I were going to take our troop to see Belle in the ballet. I may not have mentioned that it was The Nutcracker. I just love the Nutcracker. Puts me even more in the seasonal mood every year. Anyhow, Belle was pretty excited as six of her closest friends were coming to see her as was her boyfriend. Yes, Miss Belle has her first REAL boyfriend at 12 years old. He's already scored some major points in that he actually TALKS to her at school, brought her a Christmas present (silver earrings and a Lynyrd Skynryd CD). Yes, the guy has taste! He invited her to his basketball games, and she went to every home one that wasn't on a "ballet" day. So, he gets her performing schedule for The Nutcracker. Gets his mom to bring him to last night's performance. Asks Miss Belle where the stage door is (before the performance). My co-leader and I were waiting with the girls at the stage door to pick her up (we were having a party afterwards) and A and his mom come down the sidewalk. He's carrying a bouquet of a dozen pink roses and a stuffed mouse! Belle springs down the stairs to cries from the Girl Scouts of "Oh Belle!!!!" She sees A at the foot of the steps and is glowing. She gives him a sideways hug and thanks him whereupon she is surrounded in a huge group hug by her fellow scouts. She returns to A again, thanks him for coming and gives him another hug. We all take off and Belle is on Cloud 9!

All of this led me to think about the choices I've made in my own life. Obviously, Belle has found a "keeper" boyfriend as well as "keeper" friends. Could I say the same thing about my own choices? Do I have friends who would stand with me no matter what? I can say with great conviction that I do have such friends. I also spend time and energy on people who wouldn't.

There is something so important to me that is even more important than my "windfall" if you can believe it. It's a little thing called "unconditional love." My definition of unconditional love is that love and acceptance that you receive regardless of how much money you have, what you do, who you are. A person or an animal that loves you no matter what. You look behind you, and there they are. They celebrate your successes and console you when you're down and out. The older I get, the more unconditional love becomes one of the most important values in my relationships. It's really a necessity with me, and if you can't give it to me and receive it from me, then you're best to move on down the line. Don't give me any fence straddlers......no devil's advocates......just give me your love and I'll give you mine. It's simple. And it's beautiful.......like The Nutcracker during this season, and friends that stand in the cold waiting for you after a triumphant ballet performance, and a boyfriend brave enough to stand in front of grownups and a bevy of friends, giving you roses and stuffed mouse and TWO hugs.

I Want It That Way

Okay, fasten your seatbelts for a BIG smile. I was over visiting What Would Jesus Blog? and saw this precious link. By the way, this post is NOT about any religion except that of SMILING -- LAUGHING -- ALOT. I swear -- you will NOT regret seeing this.