“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”— Vince Lombardi
Gray foxes are North America’s only canine species that regularly climb trees.
What is your favorite occupation?
My favorite occupation is creating — writing, reflecting, and shaping my inner world into something clear, honest, and expressive. I also love working with children, and the two go hand in hand for me. Being around kids keeps me curious, imaginative, and open, and my creativity helps me connect with them in meaningful, authentic ways. Together, they make me feel most like myself.
“Let us make our future now and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai
Because the pressure buildup can be so intense, holding in a sneeze can damage blood vessels, rupture an eardrum, or even cause a person to have an aneurysm.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The lowest depth of misery is feeling invisible while still being expected to show up — when you’re giving everything you have, but your needs, your voice, and your humanity go unnoticed. It’s the quiet kind of suffering where you disappear in plain sight.
“The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” ― Walt Disney
Laurence Oliver, the star of the 1948 film adaptation of Hamlet, was almost forty-one when the film premiered. Actress Eileen Hurley, who played his mother Gertrude, was 30.
What is your most treasured possession?
My most treasured possession is my inner clarity — the part of me that can tell the truth about what I feel, what I need, and what matters. It’s the compass I’ve built slowly, through reflection, honesty, and unlearning old patterns. Everything else in my life shifts, but that inner knowing is the one thing I carry that can’t be taken from me.
Note: (Trying something new with the size of the images. Let me know which looks better. The ones here are the bigger images.)
“Leaders set high standards. Refuse to tolerate mediocrity or poor performance.” – Brian Tracy
When it comes to saying British surnames, just sounding it out doesn’t always work. Cholondeley, for example, is pronounced “ CHUM-lee.” Wriothesley is sometimes “RIZZ-lee” and Marjoribanks is simply “MARCH-banks.” Certain Featherstonhaughs say their names “FAN-shaw.”
Where would you most like to live?
I’d most like to live somewhere that feels calm, warm, and creatively inspiring—close enough to nature to breathe, but close enough to community to feel connected. A place with sunlight, trees, and quiet mornings, where I can write, think, and build a life that feels intentional.
“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” Zig Ziglar
Staples’ iconic red easy button was conceived in a fitting way: During a brainstorming session in 2004, advertiser Leslie Sims said she wished she could simply push a button to create the perfect ad so the team could break for lunch.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“My greatest love is my own becoming — the slow, steady work of healing, unlearning, and choosing myself without apology.”
A shopping spree would take me straight to an art supply store — the kind with aisles of sketchbooks, inks, paints, and tools I don’t even know how to use yet but desperately want to try. I’d fill a cart with colors, textures, and possibilities. After that, I’d wander into a cozy bookstore and lose myself in journals, poetry collections, and anything that sparks ideas. My spree would be less about buying things and more about stocking up on inspiration
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” –Vince Lombardi
The Library of Congress houses more than 164 million items across more than 800 miles of shelf space. Its treasures include the world’s largest flute collection, one of only three perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible, and a 1507 map with the first known written mention of the name America.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I’d come back as a wiser version of myself—still me, but with softer edges and a clearer sense of what truly matters.
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” —E.E. Cummings
Free condoms were originally given to Olympic athletes at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to prevent the spread of HIV. It’s now part of the Olympic tradition, with the condom count sometimes reaching upwards of 300,000.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d change the instinct to shrink or adjust myself to make others comfortable. It’s an old habit, and I’m slowly unlearning it, but it still shows up more than I’d like.
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”― Marilyn Monroe
The residents of Oymyakon in Russia have the distinction of living in the coldest permanently inhabited place on earth, where the average winter temperature plummets to negative fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. That’s shy of its official winter temperature record of negative ninety degrees, observed on February 6, 1933, at the towns weather station.
On what occasion do you lie
If I lie, it’s usually a soft lie — the kind meant to shield someone from discomfort. I’m learning to trust that honesty, spoken with care, is kinder in the long run.
Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”- Brian Tracy
The phrase shrimp on the barbie comes from an Australian tourism ad starring Paul Hogan, the future Crocodile Dundee- and what he actually said was “I’ll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for ya,” not “I’ll throw another shrimp on the barbie.”
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The trait I most deplore in myself is the quiet belief that I must bend to be accepted. It’s the old echo that whispers I’m only worthy if I perform. I’m learning to silence it, to stand in who I am without apology.
Last week we had Pondering Existential Thoughts where the theme was to find a song that makes you think about life. This week the theme is to find a song that that gets stuck in your head.
I have many songs that get stuck in my head and this is the one song that no matter if I hear the whole song or just a piece of it I have it in my head for days.
Uptown girl She’s been living in her uptown world I bet she never had a backstreet guy I bet her momma never told her why
I’m gonna try for an uptown girl (uptown girl) She’s been living in her white-bread world (white-bread world) As long as anyone with hot blood can (hot blood can) And now, she’s looking for a downtown man (downtown man) That’s what I am
And when she knows What she wants from her time (from her time) And when she wakes up (she wakes up) And makes up her mind
She’ll see I’m not so tough Just because I’m in love with an uptown girl (uptown girl) You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world (uptown world) She’s getting tired of her high-class toys (high-class toys) And all her presents from her uptown boys (uptown boys) She’s got a choice
Oh, oh-oh-oh Oh, oh-oh-oh
Uptown girl You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls But maybe someday when my ship comes in She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been (I’ve been) And then, I’ll win
And when she’s walking She’s looking so fine And when she’s talking She’ll say that she’s mine
She’ll say I’m not so tough (she’s wrong) Just because I’m in love with an uptown girl She’s been living in her white-bread world As long as anyone with hot blood can And now, she’s looking for a downtown man That’s what I am
Oh, oh-oh-oh Oh, oh-oh-oh
Uptown girl (going uptown) She’s my uptown girl (going uptown) Don’t you know I’m in love with an uptown girl? (Going uptown) My uptown girl (she’s my uptown girl, going uptown)
Don’t you know I’m in love with an uptown girl? (Going uptown) My uptown girl (she’s my uptown girl, going uptown) Don’t you know I’m in love with an uptown girl? (Going uptown) My uptown girl (she’s my uptown girl, going uptown) (Don’t you know I’m in love) with an uptown girl? (Going uptown) My uptown girl (she’s my uptown girl, going uptown)
She’s a very kinky girl The kind you don’t take home to mother She will never let your spirits down Once you get her off the street, ow, girl
She likes the boys in the band She says that I’m her all-time favorite When I make my move to her room, it’s the right time She’s never hard to please, oh, no
That girl is pretty wild now (the girl’s a super freak) The kind of girl you read about (in new-wave magazines) That girl is pretty kinky (the girl’s a super freak) I really love to taste her (every time we meet) She’s alright, she’s alright That girl’s alright with me Yeah, hey, hey, hey, hey!
She’s a super freak, super freak She’s super-freaky, yow Everybody sing Super freak, super freak
She’s a very special girl (the kind of girl you want to know) From her head down to her toenails (down to her feet) Yeah, she’ll wait for me at backstage with her girlfriends In a limousine (long and black and shining bright)
Three’s not a crowd to her, she says (ménage à trois, ooh, la, la) “Room 714, I’ll be waiting” When I get there, she’s got incense, wine, and candles It’s such a freaky scene
That girl is pretty kinky (the girl’s a super freak) The kind of girl you read about (in new-wave magazines) That girl is pretty wild now (the girl’s a super freak) I really like to taste her (every time we meet) She’s alright, she’s alright That girl’s alright with me Yeah, hey, hey, hey, hey!
She’s a super freak, super freak She’s super-freaky, yow
Temptations sing Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Super freak, super freak That girl’s a super freak Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
She’s a very kinky girl The kind you won’t take home to mother And she will never let your spirits down Once you get her off the street Blow Danny Oh, girl
I absolutely love this song and can not get enough of its vocals by Amy Lee but the instrumentals are amazing as well.
“Hi-Lo”
I don’t know your heart I don’t know where to begin But I could feel you erasing the rivers I’d drawn in The more I stood still The faster you were running You don’t know how it feels crawling under your skin So far, so far away Don’t you know we could be
High or low You never fell beneath me And I gave up on you, but I never forgot you
I can’t be your friend Hold your hand while you bleed
There’s nothing left to give you Nothing more I need Time to let it sleep Oh, the damage was real But nothing cut me so deep I could not heal
Don’t you know we could be High or low You never fell beneath me And I gave up on you, but I never forgot you
High or low You never fell beneath me And I gave up on you But I never forgot
A very good friend of mine introduced me to Black Sabbath, and I’m super grateful that he did. I’ve become completely hooked, especially on the song “Iron Man.” Just hearing the beginning of that track sticks in my head for the rest of the day, without fail. Black Sabbath is one of the pioneers of heavy metal music, and “Iron Man” is a standout track that truly showcases their unique sound and lyrical storytelling. Released in 1970 as part of their groundbreaking album “Paranoid,” “Iron Man” showcases the band’s heavy riffs, powerful vocals, and haunting themes, which really resonate with me.
“Iron Man” tells the tale of a man who travels into the future only to find a world he cannot relate to. However, upon returning to his own time, he discovers that he has become a mental figure misunderstood and alienated. The song’s narrative explores the themes of isolation, transformation, and the consequences of humanity’s inability to accept those who are different. The message of Iron Man reflects the human condition and how society often ostracizes those who do not fit in, symbolizing the burdens that come with power and the loneliness that can accompany it.
The guitar riff in Iron Man is the one thing that pulled me into the song, and the drums are stupendous. Oh, and let’s not forget the vocals of Ozzy Osbourne that deliver the lyrics. All three together make the song amazing.
Boyz II Men is undoubtedly my all-time favorite R&B group. While I appreciate all of their songs, a few truly stand out, and I’d like to share one of them today with the possibility of diving into more in the future.
One song that resonates deeply with me is “Color of Love.” Although it may not have reached the commercial heights of classics like “I’ll Make Love to You,” “End of the Road,” and “One Sweet Day,” it captivated me from the very first listen, not just with its beautiful melody but also with its profound message. Here’s why this song holds a special place in my heart.
One of the most striking aspects of “Color of Love” is the group’s signature harmonies, which showcase their incredible vocal abilities. The way they blend their voices creates an emotional depth that draws you in. For example, the line “I can see the color of your love” is delivered with such heartfelt intensity that it resonates deeply. Their harmonies establish an atmosphere that allows me to fully feel the emotions behind the lyrics.
The song conveys a powerful message about love transcending boundaries. It embodies the essence of embracing individuality and the myriad shades that love can take. The phrase “It’s more than a feeling; it’s a state of mind” emphasizes how love can transform our perception of the world around us. This message encourages us to look beyond superficial differences and appreciate the deeper connections that unite us.
What truly sets “Color of Love” apart is its ability to evoke profound emotions. The chorus serves as a poignant reminder that love exists on a spectrum, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has ever loved or lost. The lyrics “You are my everything, all that I need” encapsulate devotion and the yearning for connection. I believe this song prompts listeners to reflect on their own relationships and the vibrant colors they bring into their lives.
In conclusion, “Color of Love” by Boyz II Men is not just another hit; it’s a heartfelt expression of love’s complexities and beauty. The mesmerizing harmonies, powerful message, and nostalgic feelings it stirs make it a cherished piece of music in my life. I invite you to give it a listen and share your thoughts!
A song that I fell in love with the moment I heard it back in the ’90s was TLC’s “Waterfalls.” The song came out in 1994 and has been one of my favorites ever since. The beautiful melody and meaningful lyrics that tell stories about life and choice are what made me fall in love with the song. The song encourages the listeners to think carefully and stay true to themselves.
The song’s central message is to warn people about the dangers of chasing after things that seem promising but can lead to trouble. The “waterfall” in the song symbolizes these risky choices. The lyrics tell stories about characters facing challenges because they go after what they want without considering the consequences.
In one part of the song, there’s a story about a young man who gets involved with drugs. He believes it gives him a better life but leads him down a path of sadness and loss. In another story, a woman seeks love but is in a dangerous situation. These stories remind us that not everything that looks safe is good.
“Waterfalls” encourage us to be careful and think about our decisions. It asks us to step back and look at the bigger picture before making choices. Instead of chasing after quick thrills, we should stay grounded and focus on what is truly important in life, like family, friends, and well-being.
Please take a listen and let me know what you think.
M.A.D. Works 