jardinero

Yes, Glad, heard that news earlier today.

I met the Governor and his wife earlier this year and I must say that both of them were absolutely delightful people to be around. Very sad news.

Jardinero

Yeah, I read it on the Internet news (forget which one) in the afternoon, too.

Anyway, loved the two choices of songs also. Could have listened to Paul play the guitar all night though; something very soothing about acoustic guitar played so beautifully.

Jardinero

Dear sweet MJ,

Will be praying for your son's healing and for love and healing for your relationship with him.

Please don't be afraid. Allow God to comfort you through all this.

With love,

Jardinero

Oh, that's great news, Joyful! Thanks for letting us know.

I'm sure just not feeling nauseaous will make you a lot more cheery for sure!

Enjoy your day!

Jardinero

Dottie,

We'll be praying for you. Don't be afraid to see another doctor if you need to. I'm glad you went in and got it checked.

When do you get the results back from the MRI?

J.

Shell:

They will be beautiful with the same kind, generous, loving, caring, fun souls as their mom (no matter HOW weird she is! ;)-->)

J.

...yeah, and skipping music mecca Indianapolis altogether!

Slow down, you move too fast.

You got to make the morning last.

Just kicking down the cobble stones.

Looking for fun and feelin' groovy. :P-->

Just heard that on the news. Very cool!

They showed a little medly of songs on the news and I still remembered all the words. I had forgotten what a force those 2 were in music. Beautiful harmony!

J.

...actually, Mark, not "volunteers", just a sacraficial offering :D-->

....don't worry, not a human one, LittleHawk's bringin the varmints to roast!

mmmmmmmm...can I have a lime with mine, see-nor?

J.

Yeah, that too ;)-->

J.

...or getting senile! :D-->

J.

P.S. Just kidding Alfie! tee hee

Yahooooooooo, Tessa! That's great news! Ain't our God good! So glad Xena can join us for sure now!

J.

Regarding the "feminine" thing - - it took me a little while to learn and appreciate in myself, but now I really believe it's how God "wired" females physiologically - - and the varied expressions of it in different women is a beautiful thing.

Thanks, Qami. You're very sweet.

Jardinero

O.K. Oak. Bring the mug and meet Hawk and me by the good coffee over the fire!

J. ;)-->

QQ:

I've been thinking about this a lot today and have a couple of thoughts (I'm female):

- I think a girl's ideas of beauty are influenced over a lifetime like so many other things and may grow, change and evolve over her lifetime.

- A lot of my own ideas of beauty were influenced growing up in a bi-cultural family. My grandparents were from Mexico and very much held onto their culture; my parents were "tweeners" who had a foot in both cultures; and we kids were encouraged by parents to assimilate into the Anglo culture by my parents and exposed to our Mexican culture by my grandparents. My grandmother and aunts were not 5'11' model types; but were under 5' tall; they had deep brown skin, some were heavy, some just "curvy" (busty and big hips).

- That experience made me view beauty very differently than my Anglo friends; I spent my formative years in my family settings with women with dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin; some were immigrants who courageously came here with little education and very little knowledge of the language; some were ranchers and farmers who had sun worn faces and calouses on their hands. They were strong and independent women. Some were painters, some musicians, some businesswomen. They were the dominant female influence in my life; not fashion magazines or T.V. So my idea of women and beauty was not a "Christie Brinkley" type model, but rather real women in my life who had beautiful souls and were confident in who they were and passed that spirit on to the younger women in the family.

- My mother's style of beauty and appearance was largely influenced in the 40s - 60s living in large cities where fashion was fun, exciting and always new as women gained their independence. Jackie Kennedy's look was how the mom's wanted to dress as it was perceived as fashion forward and proper. Hair in place, make up beautifully done, white gloves, hats, high heels.

- Growing up in the Oakland, Calif. area, I was used to seeing larger numbers of African American women with Afros, braids, perms, etc.; Asian American women in traditional clothing in Chinatown; Philappino women, Portugese and large numbers of latino women. These women had much different physical features than the tall, lanky, skinny, bust-enhanced women in the fashion magazines and were my pictures of women and beauty in my mind's eye.

- Then growing up in the 60s in my teens we became a culture influenced by hippy life-styles, and in California, by a fitness revolution : bellbottom jeans; halter "no bra" tops; wild colors, tie die, etc. Sports were now offered to girls in schools beginning in elementary school and our entire lifestyle changed from prim and proper to wild to gender neutral. All this influenced our impressionable young minds.

- My later years I had to conform some of my beauty habits to the corporate world in which I worked. Suits, pumps, sleek hair, nice but not overdone makeup.

- My being a Christian (even in TWI) influenced me to love what was inside of me more than my flesh only.

All of this I share because to answer your question, I think there are just so many factors to external beauty. Not everyone is a slave to the commercial makeup and beauty magazine world. And some of our concepts of beauty have been formulate and influenced by diverse cultures, the people who helped us grow, etc.

In business, I can dress appropriately for the setting, do the hair and make up routine and feel businesslike and also feminine without trying to entice anyone. In my casual time, I'm quite comfortable in jeans, a sweater and minimal makeup. When I was married, there were many times when I wanted to look feminine, soft, or even sexy around my husband and othertimes we could be just as intimate if I was in sweats with no makeup. I've dated occasionally since I've been single again, and I gotta admit, it feels nice to take a little extra time on myself and have someone notice.

But really, just speaking for me now - - I do try to take good care of myself in all ways to the best of my ability - - spiritually, emotionally, physically - - I excercise and take care of my health and body including some make up, a nice hair cut, my nails,perfume, etc. I do like to wear more or less makeup depending on the occasion. I enjoy dressing up on occasion; I like to feel feminine; I'm also athletic and like to shoot hoops or play softball, volleyball or hike. I also enjoy an occasional bubblebath with nice smelling stuff in it; I also like to work hard and get my hands dirty in my garden. I have a nice smile; a happy disposition on life; I'm loving and secure.

I have a good sense of myself and don't feel the need to physically alter any part of my body to "feel good" about myself. There's times when I'm more faithful than others in excercising, and when I'm not, I don't sink into a crisis cuz I've just put on 10 pounds. I enjoy primping at times and it makes me feel good to look good. I like feminine things at times and I like a 40 lb. backpack on my back, jeans and hiking boots while hiking in the mountains. I'm comfortable dressing up for lunch in uptown Manhattan; love to buy things on occasion from Victoria Secrets "just because", and love jeans and a t-shirt - - and can still be "just me". I don't feel a need to conform myself to a body type I'll never have (nor would want) or obsess because my face or breasts don't look like they've had plastic surgery.

So all of this has made me a bit of who I am in my 40s and how I view beauty for myself and others. I admire both women and men who have a good sense of themselves, whether they are fashion trendy, nerdy or just down home casual. I don't think that when a person takes the time to care for themselves, their grooming or even like to follow fashion trends, that it is necessarily "vanity". Beauty is more about WHO we are than what we wear or do to ourselves on the outside. And sometimes our outward beauty is just a small reflection of a very beautiful self inside.

Like Johniam said, the beauty is in the eyes - - they really are the window to the soul.

[This message was edited by jardinero on September 09, 2003 at 0:54.]

Will do. Thanks for the update. Prayin' you'll be pain free soon!

God bless!

Jardinero

:D-->11 days and counting....

:)--> :)--> :D--> :D--> :)--> :)-->

Hi Joyful;

Hope you are doing better and that your system is returning to normal.

Thinking about you!

Jardinero

Shell:

Please check your private topics.

J.

Yes, Shell, bringing the big CD player and music (no Garth, though) (mostly jazz), but I guess the likes of Garth will still play on it! ;)-->

J.

13 days and counting :D-->

:)--> :D--> :)--> :)--> :D--> :P-->

Oenophile is going too, I believe.

J.

Hawk:

When I said I'd follow you driving, I was thinking Tennessee - - NOT Maine!

I have to be back by school on Monday!

Jardinero