Toni’s Extrovert Diaries T.E.D. Talk and Sing Day 10:) “It’s Too Late”

“If you can’t go out and sing karaoke with your friends, there’s always shelter in place karaoke.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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This is only my Day 10 of “Sheltering in Place,” but it seems like ten thousand days. Every morning, I wake up with this tune in my head… “Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time…” I knew that would have to be my karaoke song for today. I miss my friends and singing and dancing at Delaney’s every Thursday night.

On average, I don’t roll out of bed till at least noon. I’m not sleeping, I just have nothing exciting to do. So, this morning, I dusted myself off, and tried to drag a brush through the tangled web of curly chaos on the top of my head. I think there may have been a family of robins nesting in there because it was a tangled web.

I decided to take a long hot shower, trim my own long unruly hair, blow dry and style it, then get dressed up with nowhere to go. Why not?

Do not try this at home! Well, go ahead. No one is going to see you anyway.

The day trudged by, so I decided to make my now clean and adorable self a nice dinner. It seems that I hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours and I was actually a little hungry. Ah, chicken enchiladas. I made some for Mr. Mike yesterday, but I wasn’t hungry until today.

After a nice candlelight dinner, (no candles, but does the glow from my iPad count?) and a few phone calls to friends and family, it was time for karaoke Thursday night. “Sheltering in place.”

I changed the words around a little to reflect the mood of the day…

IT’S TOO LATE

Stayed in bed all mornin’ just to pass the time

There’s somethin’ wrong here, there can be no denyin’

Some of us are changin’, but others are not complyin ‘

And it’s too late, people now, it’s too late

Unless everyone tries to change it

So many have died, beside, and we can’t hide

And we just can’t fake it, oh, no, no

It used to be so easy, livin’ here on earth

We took it all for granted, never valued its worth

Now we’re all unhappy, with no one else to blame

And it’s too late, people now, it’s too late

Unless everyone tries to change it

So many have died, beside, and we can’t hide

And we just can’t fake it, oh, no, no

There’ll be good times again for me and you

But we just need to stick together, don’t you feel it, too?

Still I’m sad for what we had and for what we’ve come to

But it’s NOT too late, people, No, it’s not too late

Now, we really can try and change things

No more need die, if we all try

And we all comply, and we don’t just fake it, oh, no, no, no, no, no

It’s Not too late, people, it’s Not too late now, my friends

It’s NOT too late

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Carole King / Toni Stern

It’s Too Late lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries Day 9:) My Book Will Be Published! YAY!!!!

“Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.”

― Douglas Pagels

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It’s been a long time in the making. I’ve kept a daily journal for almost forty years now, and I’ve always dreamed that someday I’d be a famous author. It wasn’t until I became good friends with my neighbor Alicia last year, that I realized that I had an important story to share with the world.

Alicia has written over thirty best-selling novels, has been on countless talk shows and interviews, and has lectured to and hosted many writing workshops. When she heard my story, she said, “Girl, you need to share this with the world. I’ll get you in touch with my publisher when it’s ready. It’s really good!”

Well, it’s ready and the publisher loved it. I received my contract in the mail today! The printed books and e-version will be available in May. Yay!

This all seems like a waking dream. I knew my story was good when I shared it with my retreat sisters at St. Gabriel two years ago. Everyone cried and laughed and gathered round to hug me when I finished reading the final excerpt. Because, through all the heartbreak, pain, lies, and betrayal, God turned my darkest days into beautiful blessings. “Only God could do that!”

This is a “tell-all” account and journal of what really goes on behind the scenes at an exclusive Texas country club. I like to call it “The good ol’ boy network.” Anything goes, and it’s always going on. I’ll walk you through all the lies, e-mails, texts, cover-ups, call girls, sex, and slutty waitresses waiting to pounce on wealthy men. It was all a big game to them, and they tried to get all their buddies to join in on the action.

Because this is a true story, I changed the names and places “to protect the guilty.” You noticed, I said the “guilty,” not to protect the innocent. There was nothing innocent going on there.

CHAPTER ONE

I know I’m not the first woman in the world who was lied to, cheated on, and thrown away like a piece of trash. But, I thought he was the last person on earth capable of such atrocities.

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This all seems like a waking dream because it is. And, because it’s APRIL FOOL’S DAY, I thought I’d try to fool you with yet another story that really never happened. Well, all the details are true except for the fact that I don’t have a publisher or a book deal. YET…. But, who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll have that book published after all.

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries~Day #7 T.E.D. Talks and Painting Bluebonnets Video

“I’d rather teach you to fish than just give you a fish. Who am I kidding? I detest fish, but I love to paint, so I’ll teach you how to paint.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Today, I was inspired by my many artist friends who have been posting their beautiful artwork or sewing projects during these quarantined days. Personally, I’ve been a lazy slug for the past few weeks. This morning, I said it out loud, “I will paint today!”

This video was also inspired by my friend Sherri Murphy. She set up an art studio at her house and is teaching herself paint. If we weren’t sheltering, I’d be over there showing her a few of my tips and tricks. So, here is my how-to paint bluebonnets just for you, Sherri Murphy.

Okay! Now I’m feeling productive and not like such a slug. Not bad for a days work.

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries ~T.E.D. Talks and Walks and Sunday Sermon

“The difference between an extrovert’s and an introvert’s story is about five hundred words per minute. Ask me how I know?”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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An early morning walk around the neighborhood this morning was a perfect start to my day. I always start my by counting my blessings and not my troubles. A beautiful sky, singing birds, and the lush green growth of Spring add to the count.

My traditional Sunday begins with greeting before 9 o’clock Mass, but today greeting Mother Nature preceded my live streaming view of Mass at St. Gabriel with Father Robert and Father Don. I enjoy following along, reciting the prayers and singing along with the hymns. Plus, I was sitting on the couch with my feet up, no kneeling. (Bad knees.)

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Martha and Mary were sad that Jesus did not come when their brother was ill, but believed that he would rise on the resurrection of the last day. But, Jesus proved with His Father’s power, that Lazarus could rise even after four days in the tomb.

My take on it…. anything is possible with faith.

“Did I not tell you that if you believe

you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone.

And Jesus raised his eyes and said,

“Father, I thank you for hearing me.

I know that you always hear me;

but because of the crowd here I have said this,

that they may believe that you sent me.”

And when he had said this,

He cried out in a loud voice,

“Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out,

tied hand and foot with burial bands,

and his face was wrapped in a cloth.

So Jesus said to them,

“Untie him and let him go.”

But, this Extrovert missed the stopping at McDonald’s with friends after church, then picking up a few groceries at the store, and maybe a stop to visit a friend or two.

I’ve been trying to make some calls to old friends and family that I haven’t talked to in a while. Here’s a good tip. Make a list of people you miss, but always forget to call. Then, call one or two every day. That’s a VERY long list for extroverts who have a lot of friends. Life is short, my friends. Tell people you love them.

I’m still watching a lot of Hallmark, BUT I’ve been recording some movies to watch when I overdose on schmaltzy Hallmark movies. Today, I’m binge watching STAR WARS movies. It’s like Hallmark but with light sabers.

A few more afternoon and evening walks, a few more chirping birds, and another slow “sheltering in place” Sunday.

Happy Sunday, my friends.

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries~ T.E.D. Talk Day 5

“Sheltering in place isn’t all that bad if you have a nice safe place to shelter in.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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When I mention a nice safe place to shelter in, I’m not talking about a house or apartment or luxury resort. The best place to shelter in is in your head. Too many people are watching the news 24/7, and quoting death statistics, and basically have turned their heads into a non-stop Armageddon Doomsday Dramedy. That’s no way to live. The stress alone will kill you quicker than any virus. Stay home! Stay safe! Turn of the damn news! Watch Hallmark movies!

This weekend, this introvert had trouble sitting still. I went for a lot of walks. Yesterday, I watched a live streaming of Pope Francis delivering a special Urbi et Orbi Blessing and plenary indulgence for the world. The normally teeming Plaza was totally empty, which made the solemnity even more moving. (We need all the help we can get.)

While I’m out walking, I see quite a few people outside with their kids and pets. I stay a safe distance on my walks, but I noticed that some folks will cross the street if someone is on the same sidewalk. That’s tough. I usually like to stop and talk to people on my journeys.

I did have a nice conversation with Miss Kathy’s cats. They were happy to see me and purred and chatted and let me pet them through the fence.

The YMCA is closed, but Maria does some live streaming videos on Zoom in her backyard. I logged into the Zumba class, and it wasn’t even the easy Zumba Gold class. It was the advanced version. Pretty strenuous. Yikes! It’s been a while, and I was pretty worn out after watching for 55 minutes. It probably would have been even harder if I got off the couch and followed along. Just kidding. I followed along and was pretty sweaty by the time I was done. Gracias Maria.

I like to follow my own advice, so I watched a lot of Hallmark movies today. For some reason most of them were Christmas movies, but that’s ok. Each one is such a surprise thriller. Boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after. Talk about escaping reality. Ain’t nothing real about those movies. But, it beats the news.

After a long hard day of Hallmark movies, talking to cute cats, checking emails and Facebook a hundred times, it was nice to take a late evening walk. The crescent moon sparkled with the planet Venus twinkling just beneath the glow. It was calm and peaceful. Now, for a glass of wine and more mindless TV. (No news is good news.)

Happy Saturday, my friends.

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries Day 4~ My Private Quarantined Cocktail Hour and Art Gallery Tour

“Art is the only serious thing in the world. And the artist is the only person who is never serious.”

~Oscar Wilde

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Day 4 of Toni’s Extrovert Diaries. I only left the house about ten times today, and that was to walk the dog. Poor thing is exhausted. I’m going crazy and we’ve only just begun.

On the bright side, it is Black Russian Friday, so one of my famous cocktails will be on hand as I give you a brief guided tour of just a few of my original paintings that I have scattered about the house. (It only took me five years to hang them up.) There are many, many more paintings, unframed and squirreled away somewhere in the recesses of my “crap room” upstairs.

Cheers-here’s the tour… hope you watch it and say…”Miss Toni is …… AMAZING!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGzAYsLK30

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries~T.E.D. Talks/Sings Day#3

“When you walk through the storm, hold your head high And don’t be afraid of the dark! At the end of the storm is a golden sky And the sweet song of the lark. Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Though your dreams be tossed & blown Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart And you‘ll never walk alone!”

~Rogers and Hammerstein

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Today is Thursday. It’s after 7:30, and I should be at Delaney’s Irish Pub with my friends, laughing, eating, drinking, and singing karaoke. But, NOOOOO… I’m on Day #3 of “Sheltering in place.” No karaoke for me… or maybe not?

These are tough times, and it feels like we are walking through a storm, but we have to keep our heads held high. Therefore, nothing is going to stop me from laughing and singing, and maybe a little drinkin’, even if I’m by myself.

This afternoon, the TOTS (Table Of Talent Sisters) had a FaceTime group chat. Four of us girlfriends were laughing and chatting and being silly for almost 3 hours. At one point, I had to go plug into my charger-low battery. Yikes!

So tonight, I decided to have my own karaoke night. It’s funny, I noticed the other day when I was cleaning bathrooms while singing a few show tunes, (I do that) that the acoustics in the bathroom are really pretty good. What a great idea.

Toni’s Toilet Karaoke~ Day #3 Never stop singing, my friends…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED5-aaLR0F4