That Song By Rogers & Hammerstein, Or, The List

When you're unconventionally employed and struggling, a surprising number of people will offer advice.  But then, I've encountered many more opinionated people the older I get, and like my mother I don't know what to do with them.  So I accept them reverently--surely all of these people so sure of themselves have to be right just by sheer will, yes?

I guess I've been seeing this more and more lately, and I find myself at a crossroads.  Continue to worship them and gain their endorsement?  Or be myself, and ultimately end up alone despite trusting myself?

Amidst all of this, I considered simplifying the task.  Don't raze the field, Jo.  Don't burn bridges.  And don't not burn the bridges because you'll be afraid you may need that person later, but because it just ain't nice.  Why make the lives of others miserable?

The task--simplified--was inspired by my brother's Bob the Cat.  He knows what he likes, whether you like it or not.  So, for you now, whether or not it's politically correct, whether it offends or not, whether it makes me boring, pathetic, or naive...

These are a few of my favorite things:

• Declawed large and loving cats
• Stews made with so many ingredients you think you'd died and gone to heaven
• Language, foreign or domestic
• Cottage cheese
• Seasides
• Literature with a love of language and twists of plot
• The music of Bruce Springsteen
• Baseball
• Basil
• Horse stables
• The roar of a crowd, winning
• Bright, copper kettles
• Warm, woolen mittens
• Lists
• Love
• Sex, well played
• Don Julio Anejo, neat, accompanied by a lime, a cutting board, and a knife
• Dahlias 
• Tres Leches cake
• Making my brother laugh
• Making EVERYONE laugh
• Teaching
• Writing
• Libraries
• Movies
• God.  And God all to myself (I prefer to not be an evangelist)
• Cattle ranches
• Flying in Cessnas and Piper Cubs
• Riding in Amtrak trains
• Dark chocolate with chilis
• Warm rolls
• Acceptance

P.S. - This song is the inspiration of today's installment of Life For Rent.  What's on your list?

That Song by Alison Krauss, or, Sweetheart

I am conducting a little experiment in my Meetups this week, so I am visiting all of them, just to see what they are like. The one I visited last night was in the East Bay, at 7:30 at night at quite a distance walking from mass transit, so I rented the car for the evening and played in Berkeley for a few hours.

Walking back from the car to the apartment I had a sudden, unbelievable longing crossing the intersection of 8th and Kirkham--I wished I had a man to admire me. Then, in the same sentence, I realized that he wouldn't be admiring me--he'd be admiring my biology.

That self-catch from wanting "love" would make me smug, except I gotta wonder--is there any man out there who would want me in friendship that could move to partnership?

I have to believe no, for now. Otherwise, I'll make myself crazy longing for the next guy who's going to behave like an animal. And I must qualify this by saying that I don't believe that all men are animals; I have some phenomenal male friends that help me understand how to be a better woman. But I'm not romantic with any of them.

Onward, dear reader.

P.S. - This is where this post's title of Life For Rent comes from. I first heard this song when I was in love with a man I couldn't have in Missouri. Now it just helps to wonder about possibilities.