Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. William Arthur Ward

So what did the Diva who pushes adventures do this weekend:

DSC_0907 Of course there was the train trip a weekend ago—fun to and back on Amtrack  www.amtrak.com….I am pushing the service, it’s cheap and the kids love being on a train, and you can get Wifi to entertain….lots of seat room and…well you get the idea.

 

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When I featured my friend’s Toast of Tampa http://toastoftampa.org/support.html  Adventure I forgot to mention that they Recently returned from Las Vegas (now that’s an adventure and some) wearing bronze (3rd place) metals from Sweet Adeline’s International http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/index.cfm?id=12 .  They won a worldwide (35 regions and 12 countries) 3rd place….now that my dears is an adventure with  Bennies….CONGRATULATION.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

ROCK BROTHERS BREWERY TASTING ROOM AND COCKTAIL 15th St.      Ybor City                                                                         Coming soon The Attic Concert Venue     www.rockbrothersbrewing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this site for a silly little recap of episode one of OUTLANDER—taking Doughtlander a few minutes at a time:
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First picture and main are from my Train Adventure last weekend—this weekend pictures from now on are from my day out for Art Festival in Deland http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34178-Activities-DeLand_Florida.html on Sat.  Meet up Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many times, especially this time of year do you hear that you should say thanks for your blessings, for the things you have, for on and on and on until you grow weary and ignore it all…..I know you don’t need me reminding you….it’s almost that day when you can say your yearly prayer over that oversized bird with all you appreciating  families and then settle down in front of your huge screen to watch over-paid football players work on disabling each other for life….kind of reminds me of ….yeah that’s it—ROMAN ARISTROCRATS dinning and watching in the decadence of the pagan…..we’re Americans we deserve it right!!!!!!
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Ah there’s the rub….you need to have respect too!  Can’t I just say the words and let it go at that?   It’s not just saying Thank you–it’s knowing why you’re saying it and meaning it.  It’s practicing THANKFULNESS.  Ok now you’re saying “she’s completely lost it”…but no I see it all the time.  You mutter thank you without seeing the person–the waiter that waits on you so well—they are just part of the service that being you entitles you to—they and all others that offer you services are just there and you thank the shape and form—unless heaven forbid they spill something or bring something wrong—then they become the center of your displeasure and you actually notice them and so does the manager, trip advisor and all your friends.  Your wrath is there—if only your thanks was as heartfelt.
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I live my life a bit odd—unless someone or something goes out of the way to be obnoxious, cruel or destructive—I try to find something worth thanking people for….and least you think I’m one of those milk sop types trust me I am not wishy washy or weak.  I just find that when I thank people for the good things they do rather than  bitching at them for the bad,  they tend to be encouraged and try a little harder and if more people did that I think the world could be improved by at least a noticeable fraction—and any improvement in the muddle of this existence could actually be a great thing.
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Not convinced….think about your own job, activities, whatever.   How do your feel when you work and do your best but it just doesn’t seem to be enough…or even that you’re doing enough or in your opinion more than and nobody seems to notice.  You’re just there and who cares.  Then think of that time when out of the clear blue someone said thank you for some little thing—someone who didn’t have to say it….or someone complimented you for some large or even small thing—maybe it was just part of the routine that everyone expected from you—that warm feeling deep down inside you feel (don’t shake your head and deny it—it’s there and I won’t take a no for an answer).
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I always say thank you and try to compliment good service, and interesting ways of providing service.  In other words I recognize the individual—I like people, I collect them in my brain and some even make it to my heart.   I don’t do it for any return favors—though I am often the recipient of recognition and fond service next time I return.      One time in London we ate at an Italian restaurant across from Victoria Station.  Our waiter (a darling young man who was from Italy) and I got to talking and he took it upon himself to try to teach me some Italian and how to pronounce it properly (a hopeless task as I have problems pronouncing English).  After that visit my friends and I went exploring about England and Ireland–returning to London near a month later. It was pouring and we decided to return to the same restaurant which was close our hotel.  My friends, all taller, trouped in first and they were getting ready to  seat them when my waiter saw me and insisted that we be seated at one of his tables…I was totally amazed that in the middle of a busy London bistro in the middle of an area that sees loads of tourists, not to mention theatre crowds, he would remember me.
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So what I’m saying is by showing your gratitude to others and treating those about you with kindness—by recognizing them not as subservient but as individuals that have contributed to  your life (no matter how small or large that contribution) you will not only make their life a tiny bit better, but yours and the world in general as well.    Small things can change your life– try it you might like it.
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