Saturday, September 20, 2014

Know Thyself

Saturday, September 20, 2014

This is my first post away from my computer.  I have developed this rather intense love affair/morning ritual with my computer and work space.  I am feeling a bit of animosity from my ipad.  We will see how this goes.
Yesterday, I attended a workshop called "Being Open To Receive"....or something about "receiving".  (Can you tell I was paying very close attention?). Actually, I was.  I just have no idea what it was called.  The presenter was an author and former social worker from Arizona, who has done years of study and practice in goal setting.  So, we figured out the one goal we intend to achieve in 5 weeks time, wrote it down, and then did a bunch of exercises, in an effort to get our goal to "speak to us."
I breathed in.  I breathed out.  I wrote adjectives about what I like and don't like about myself in the "big circle."  I walked around the room in silence, fully using my senses.  I wrote down 5 things I was grateful for since I had woken up that morning.  I did everything asked of me....but apparently, my poor goal was defective.  It was mute.  I plugged my nose and popped my ears....I cranked up my magic hearing box.  Nothing.  It just sat there on the paper, silently.  (I may have heard a little snicker....but I will give it the benefit of the doubt.). 
Quite frankly, goal setting has never been a problem for me.  I have notebooks filled with goals.  In fact, I am looking at a legal pad where I have written a 3 page "Action Plan."  And damn, it's a good one.  I obviously had used some resources when writing it, as I listed 
"Download help: iprocrastinate mobile".
Know Thyself.
Obviously....follow-through is where my difficulties lie.
If only you knew the number of businesses I have created in my mind, and on paper.  For instance, "Lamb's End" (get it? Like Lands End....but the logo would have a fluffy lamb butt on it?!). Anyway.  It would be this fabulous rustic shop (that would of COURSE have a barn behind it with sheep, and
an apple orchard and tree farm, because I would be Martha Stewart (who effortlessly cooks, bakes,
decorates, farms, cleans, travels, gardens, exercises, and has a TV show....all at the same time,) and would deck the place out like crazy in the fall and during the holidays. We would sell hand dyed wool from our sheep (obviously) and would hold workshops on the weekends for 
weavers/knitters/etc.  There  would also be fabulous home decor, locally made goods...you get the picture.  
I dream it.  I just don't do it.  It's a lot like me and dieting.  Every. Single. Week. Of. My. Life....I say: "Ok.  This is the last time we (see how the voice in my head is back to using we?  It is how that little $#%£ works....this is the "we are friends....we get along....I am using my soothing therapist voice...")
This is the last time we are going to:eat a pint of ice cream, scarf down a bag of Doritos, order dessert after finishing the "hungry man platter"....etc).  "Monday, we are getting back on track, and will start eating healthy again."  And I nod in agreement, as my subconscious chuckles (this is a different voice altogether.  Not even a voice so much.  More like a whisper that comes from the depths of my being, where the voice in my head supposedly can't hear it..). Well, I can hear it just fine, because I am pretty sure that quiet voice is actually ME.  Yes, that would be me THINKING "sure, I will go along with this....until Monday actually gets here.  Then I will override your "let's get healthy" plan, and do whatever I want anyway.
Oh, how I know myself.  
It is time to figure out how to banish the power to override.  A plan is in progress....

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Risky Business

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Do you remember when you were invincible?  I think we all start out that way.  That is why we play so hard as kids.  We have no idea that we can get hurt...until we actually do.  We are completely open to trying new and ridiculous things.  Sometimes we learn from our mistakes, and become more cautious.  Sometimes we think we can just tweak things a little, and have a better outcome.  Like jumping off a swing.  I recall jumping off and landing face first several times....but I kept doing it, thinking "one of these times I will SURELY land on my feet!"  (I am pretty sure I had to use a different swing all together to accomplish that.)
We see something that looks like fun, and seems like a great idea at the time...like when I decided that the picnic table in the back of my dad's truck would make an excellent stage for a tap dance number.  I didn't have tap shoes, so my clogs with the wooden soles would work nicely.  And since it was summer, and evening, I was wearing my cute little pj's that looked a lot like something Shirley Temple would wear.  You know, ruffled top and short little pantaloons.  This would be GREAT!  And it was, until I got up to the top level of the table, and shuffled off to Buffalo with a little too much enthusiasm, and my clog fell off, causing me to do a face dive in the gravel driveway.  I swear, I can still feel the impact of my nose meeting the ground.  
I never tap danced on a picnic table in a truck again.
These experiences make us wary.  Once we start to realize that bad things that can happen, we stop taking risks.  For the most part.  Unfortunately, the brain doesn't full develop until after college (or at least I would assume) and this is the female brain.  The male brain takes much longer.  My husband is 43.  I will let you know when full development hits.  The 14-23 year old (approximate ages here) still does take risks, but usually they are really stupid ones.  Like "let's have _______(fill in the blank) lay on the hood of the car, and see how fast we can go before he falls off!"  Because that is an excellent idea.
Obviously, the clever ladies and gents who participate in these types of activities did NOT learn anything from falling off the picnic table in their clogs.
When I look at my life, I see a woman who has typically played it pretty safe.  When I graduated from college, I went straight into teaching (I had considered getting a masters in opera) and then got married, bought a house, had two kids, got a dog.  It all played out like "Leave It To Beaver."
Obviously, those were my choices, and I am happy with them....but where was the risk?  Why didn't I pursue that masters?  Why was I so hasty in starting a family?  Why didn't I let myself get a little wild and dream?  At that time, I suppose those were my dreams. :)
My husband and I have talked about this a lot....how hard it is to go back to school once you have a family and a house and all the responsibility that goes with it.  It's easier to just keep the status quo.
To not take a risk.
Now we are almost to the other side of things.  In two years our oldest goes to college, and two years after that, we will be empty nesters.  
This has the potential to be a very exciting time for us.  We will be broke and living on the street, but it will still be exciting.  I have been in a rut for a looooong time.  I think this happens to all of us.  We either have been in the same job for years and years, and know that we need to stay for the stability of it, but it is sucking the life out of us.  Or we have or are giving everything we have to our families.  Every ounce of energy, time, money, all of it...and there is nothing left for ourselves.  In fact, we don't even know who we are anymore, because our identity is "mom" or "wife" or "short person taxi driver."  Or maybe you have been home with the kids for years, but are ready to get back into the work force, and are scared to death.  
Three years ago, I resigned from teaching, after 15 long years of doing it.  15 years of getting up way before my body was capable of functioning. 15 years of running myself ragged (because teaching was never my ONLY job) 15 years of trying to juggle my kids and husband's schedules with mine, because we were always in three different school districts.  I finally had enough.  I didn't enjoy it anymore.  I hated going to work each day.  It really was just killing my spirit.
My first year of "freedom" was still relatively busy with other part time jobs, but they were all jobs I enjoyed.  My second year, my schedule freed up even more...and I fell into a pretty deep depression.  I felt guilty for not having to get up and go work when my husband did...and then I felt guilty because I was in such bad shape, there were many days that I didn't even get out of bed, so he would come home and have to deal with making dinner, etc too.  It was awful.
I eventually pulled out of it, and things slowly improved.  My third year was going to be THE year.  The year I was going to focus on ME.  I was going to set goals and work toward them...and then my mother came to live with us.  This actually kicked my butt into gear.  
I am just starting year 4, and I am more refreshed and excited than ever.  I finally started addressing the clutter in the house, which frees me.  I am cooking interesting new things...and am finding I am not such a bad cook after all.  But the very best thing?  I am writing.  This ridiculous blog has forced me to do something that has been lurking in the back of my mind for a LONG, LONG time....and it is feeding my SOUL!  Who knew something this simple could throw me into a positive spiral.  And it really is...because since I began a week or so ago....interesting things and people have entered my life.  And I am going to continue to feed my soul....and the only way to do that is to take a risk!
I should also add that I had been worrying a lot about being "too old" to start something new.  I felt as if I had passed up the opportunity to do all of the things I had always dreamed about, but never got around to.....until I saw the Joan Rivers article that stated "She was 81 years old, and at the height of her career."  Well, heck!  I have another 40 years at least! And that woman TOOK RISKS!!

I challenge each of you to do the same.  Is there something that has been marinating in the depths of your spirit for awhile, but you just haven't take the time, or the risk to put it out there?  
Is there one little change you can make or something you can add to your life that will not only bring you joy, but may spin into something bigger?  
The universe is a funny place.  I will tell you from experience....and it is sooooo true:
If you take the risk and let go of one thing that is holding you back in some area of your life....and really think about this, because I truly believe there is something all of us hold onto that we know we should release but are either too afraid to, or unsure about what might happen if you do.
If you take that risk, your burden will lighten, and positive things will begin to fall into your lap. And once that burden has lifted, and the positive starts to embrace you....jump in head first.  It is time to chase some dreams. You will only regret it if you don't try.

What have you got to lose?  :)

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

I had a subject all planned when I woke up today...one with a great topic, lots of meaning...the whole bit.  But then, as always, I got in the tub, and my mind started to churn.  I find it SO interesting that EVERYDAY, thus far, an idea hits me while in the tub, and I find I can't get ready fast enough, because I need to get to the computer and start writing before it all goes away!
I was pondering a message from my dear friend, in which I told her that "one day, I would share one of my middle school photos with her".  Last night, I started perusing my old photo albums (and there are some GEMS in there.)  While shampooing this morning, it hit me.  Of course!  Today, I shall write about "How to catch a man."
I am hesitant to admit that this is a subject I am somewhat well versed in.  I don't doubt that many of you probably have the same experience.  I think this is actually one of more exciting hunting expeditions in life.  Today, I will include a bit of a tutorial, if I may be so bold.  As they say, practice makes perfect, and since I have had a lot of practice in this area, I would like to think I have perfected it, because, damn...look at the fish I caught!! (I better make sure he reads this post!!)

^^^MY FISH..(both of them!)^^^

Since I am using a fish analogy, let's just stick with that.  We all know that you need to catch a lot of perch before you land that big bass.  There will be a lot of "catch and release" in  your life, and if everyone is lucky, they won't swallow the hook, and there will be no need for you to stick a plier thingy down their throat and pull out their innards. (I always have to look away during that part...and say a little "I'm so sorry I just killed you for no reason at all" apology.  I say that to the fish too.)
Let's get to the tutorial.
First, we start with ourselves.
I will use myself as an example.  
We are not all natural beauties....but we do all start pretty darn cute....
and for the most part, while our personalities are developing, we haven't begun to be odd or quirky yet.  So, most of us fit in nicely with the rest of society.
However, time passes quickly, and (especially if you were a child of the 70's or 80's) people with brains that were able to comprehend what fashion/accessories should look like weren't invented yet.
Sadly, everyone alive was not aware of this fact, so we continued to dress the way they told us to.  And worse, we took pictures of ourselves that way.  Today, it would seem that very few middle and high school girls go through what the rest of us knew all to well as the "ugly stage."  My daughter is a great example of that.  We were both plagued with the same underbite.  We both went to the SAME orthodontist.  Apparently he decided to learn some new techniques in the 20 years between our treatments, considering she had braces for 1.5 years.  I had them for SEVEN.  Yes.  Seven long years of ugly....because I had glasses too.  Shall we compare?
Beth as a junior in high school:
and now Lexie as a junior in high school:
And this is fair how???
Anyway,  thank God every other girl in the world also had hair that didn't fit into the parameters of the camera lens, glasses that rested nicely on their upper lip, and braces until they were 20.
And thank God boys didn't know any better.
Luckily, fashion improved..sloooowly.  Unfortunately, it took at least another 10-12 years for glasses to shrink down to normal size, but that is another issue all together. 
At any rate...this tutorial is not for natural beauties...because you are fish magnets, and don't need it. This is for the rest of us who have to put some effort into it.  And we would appreciate it if you just kept your perfectly-gorgeous-all-the-damn-time selfs scarce once in awhile.  (I do have to say that most of the super gorgeous women I know are also SUPER nice....so I can't hate them. Dammit.)
Onto the tutorial.
Here are my tips for catching that fish:
First of all, you must realize that is going to take A LOT of effort on your part.  Men are very challenged when it comes to understanding the fairer sex, so quite frankly ladies, we have to do all the work here, when it comes to starting a relationship.  
1.  Find common interests.
If you can find something you both enjoy, he will both interested in spending time with you, and interested in learning more about you, because obviously, you must be cool, considering you like the same thing!! I can guarantee, you will see the excitement on his face!!

2.  Show him your strengths.  He, of course, will want to be the alpha in the relationship, but it never hurts to show him that you can hold your own weight.  It's always important to be demure, and feminine, but every once in a while, show him what you've got!  You may find he actually likes it!

3. Flirt a little.
Men love to be flirted with.  Maybe it's just a look from across the room. Maybe you rub your shoulder against his back as you walk by.  Whatever it is, it's best to be subtle.  A wink,  a little smile, something to grab his attention.  Once you have been together for a little while, you can be a little less subtle....as long as it is super sexy....

4. Impress him with your skills.  You, of course, are skilled at something.  It never hurts to show off a little bit.  I have found that once we start talking about pipes and organs.....he is allll mine.

5.  Make some sacrifices.  
This is a challenging one, but if you want a relationship to work, you really do have to put in some effort.  Sometimes, you will fall for a guy who perhaps leads a slightly different lifestyle than yours.  Maybe you are a city girl, and he is a country guy.  Whatever it is, why not give it a shot?  Maybe you will like it more than you think? Maybe????

6. Be submissive to your husband.
 Once you finally catch that big one...you know...the one you had to use a net to reel in, it's time to really commit to making him happy.  There are several ways we woman can do that.  I think that we all know a way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  I have surely found this to be true!!  I have also found that if I prepare my man's meals with a joyful heart and loving attitude, and serve him with pride, he enjoys his meals even more!

7. Accept his flaws.
As we all know, men do not come to us perfect.  They are a work in progress, and it takes MANY years to train them.  While in training, they will have several issues to work through.  Some will be psychological, and fortunately, will not be visible to those on the outside, and  you can work on them in the privacy of your home.  However, some may be a bit more blatant.  We need to do the best we can to remain calm during these trials, and hope for the best.  Eventually, (with a lot of hard work, of course) you will be able to wash away those troubles. (I recommend Pond's cold cream)

8.  Stay strong.
As your relationship progresses, you may notice your husband's eye begins to wander.  There are several things in his life that you may feel begin to take precedence over you, and this will be a challenging time.  Just stay strong.  It is all worth it in the end.

I hope this tutorial proves helpful, and wish you success in all of your fishing expeditions!  Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to catch the "big one".....but I promise, it IS worth the wait.  :)


Happy Wednesday! xo















Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Make the Connection

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Have you ever thought about how your life would be different if you hadn't made a connection?  I have been thinking about it a lot over the past few days.  It seems like we are thrown together with a lot of people in our lives.  Our family....well, we don't really get a choice there, do we?  I have been pretty fortunate in that area.  (Let's just ignore all that stuff I wrote in my teenage journals, shall we?)
We have a "pool" of people to choose from in our classes while growing up.  I was lucky (at least I consider it lucky) to grow up in a small town, and graduate in a class of only 90 kids, so I knew everyone.  I was closer to some than others, but I still considered all of them my friends.  I think the real fun starts when you start connecting with people you may have never met...unless something led you to make that connection.  Many times, that involves saying "yes" to something.  Like when I said yes to playing for my first show.  
Little did I know I would be working with my future voice teacher, mentor, and wonderful friend.
(or that in a couple of years, in that same theater...I would meet the man I would almost marry...and then the one I would actually marry.) Oh yes, there is A LOT of drama in the theater!! 
Then there are the connections you make unexpectedly.  Like, after you break up with the man that you were almost going to marry, and with that broken engagement, you also have to give up the cute little yellow convertible you had been driving.  So, you and your dad head off to the local used car lot, and pick out a lovely blue four door sedan...which is almost as cute as the previous car.  (Who are we kidding here.  It sucked) And to make this whole scenario even more depressing, as you are driving your pathetic new "hello, I am now 65 and might as well buy a polyester pantsuit" car, when you put in your band's new freshly released cassette tape (yeah...I'm old.  Deal with it) the tape player eats it, and now the radio doesn't even work in the damn car.  
Once I finally arrived home (in silence) I asked my neighbor (a man) what the heck I should do.  His response: "Put on a tight shirt and go to Sound World."  So I did.
It worked.  I got a new stereo. And a date.
Rebound relationships are not advisable, but I DID get a great friend for life. :)
Another unexpected connection happened 11 years ago, on my computer.  I was about to have a relatively invasive surgery.  (Let's just say those exercises all of us 12 year old girls used to do "We must, we must, we must increase our bust!" worked WAY too well on me.) Yes, they were beneficial when it came to car stereos at a reduced price, but my back was screaming "REDUCE! REDUCE!"
So, I found an online support (lol!) group that dealt with this subject, and connected with a woman who had recently gone through this ordeal.  Ironically, we talked little about the surgery, and quickly found we had tons in common.  Right down to the fact that we were born two days apart.  We have e-mailed/texted everyday for the past 11 years, as well as visited each other when possible. (She lives in New Jersey)  Who knew I would find my BFF online?  I cringe to think of my life without her...and pat myself on the back for reaching out and making that connection everyday!
Just this morning, I got a phone call from a woman I have never met.  It began as a simple inquiry about needing an accompanist....and turned into an hour long conversation filled with laughter and commonalities. Sometimes, you just connect.  
My husband (the introvert in the relationship...shocking, I know) doesn't understand my need to talk to people.  For instance, whenever I sell (or buy) something on Craigslist, I typically end up forging a friendship with the buyer/seller.  If I send him to pick up whatever ridiculously large piece of furniture I have purchased, I will always ask "so, what did you guys talk about?"  (Because, I have, at that point, had a long, ongoing text dialogue occurring between myself and the seller, and naturally, I would expect my husband to pick that up and carry it on once he meets them.) He always looks at me with that "what the hell are you talking about" look he gets, and says "why would we talk about anything?  I gave them the money and left."  Ah yes, that is right.  WHY on earth would you want to TALK to someone you didn't know?  Men. 
Well, even if he doesn't see the point in it, I will continue to do it.  I will continue to say yes to anything that sounds either fun, interesting or gives me an opportunity to put myself "out there" and forces me to make new connections.  Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable, but so is a straight jacket, once they come to get you because you have closed yourself off from society and have only spoken to yourself for the past 10 years.  I am not suggesting you turn into one of those annoying people who just walks up to anyone and everyone, and talks non-stop at them.  Subtlety is a fine art.  So is reading body language.  These are good things to master prior to your "go out and connect!" outing.  Especially if you haven't left your house in the past decade. 
If you happen to be one of those people, I challenge you to step out of your box, and make a connection.  You just never know what might happen.  :)



Monday, September 15, 2014

Beauty...what a beast.

Monday, September 15, 2014

I was sitting in the tub this morning, texting with my BFF and shaving my legs.  (Not at the same time.  At least not until they invent an iPhone razor...and you know one day it WILL happen.)
I was paying a lot more attention to my texts than I was to my legs, when I quite aggressively de-haired the section of leg covered in what is probably my most painful and colorful bruise to date.
For your viewing pleasure:
This is a bit of a travesty, since I had big plans to become a leg model this week. Dammit.
I could, at this point, make up a really great story about how I was attacked in the alley by a 250lb linebacker, who did manage to get in one good kick to the back of my leg....but you should see the damage I did to him!! 
However, the truth of the matter is, I slipped getting out of the bathtub, and this leg had the pleasure of stopping my fall.
My BFF then sent a text: "So, how many times a week DO you take a bath?"  You could take this one of two ways.  For those who don't know me well, you might assume she meant "You smell bad.  Is this bruise from the one bath per week you take?  And if so, could you step it up a notch, and maybe add a couple more?  Because if you do that, you might be able to get out of the tub without hurting yourself, AND you would smell A LOT better!"  However, my BFF lives in New Jersey, so she really has no idea if I smell bad or not (considering I am in Wisconsin, and there are A LOT of farms here, which would mask my stinkiness even if I DID smell bad.)  What she really wanted to know was "Do you ever actually just take a shower?"  Truth be told....rarely.  There are several reasons for this.  It all began with a very legitimate reason.  My husband told me I had to stop using my shower, because something was leaking through the basement ceiling, and he was pretty sure it was my shower.  Thus began the daily bubble bath.  Reason #2:
Wouldn't you want to hang out in this tub everyday?  (I typically take the dog out.)
Reason #3.
I am turning into my mother.  I have never witnessed her take a shower.  In my entire life.  I vowed at a very young age to Never. Become. My. Mother.
It didn't work.
Now, let's get to the point of this post.  The quest for beauty.  As I was bubble bath-ing today, I starting thinking about all of the injuries I have sustained while in a bathroom.  It really is a very dangerous place to be.  There are the typical shaving catastrophes, of which there are too many to list for me. (My husband doesn't let me use sharp things in the kitchen either.  I tend to act...then think.)
There have been injuries on the way to the bathroom...like the time I was headed there in the middle of the night, and had forgotten that I shut the door.  Rather than using the universal technique for the sight impaired (aka: put your hands in front of you so you can feel for any obstacles) I chose to just walk full speed ahead...into the door.  I have a rather prominent nose.  Actually, I'm surprised I STILL have a rather prominent nose.
I quite vividly remember one afternoon during my college days when I was running a little late for class.  I was at my apartment, and thought I should use the facilities quickly before leaving.  For some reason, I was having a difficult time deciding if I really had to "go" or not.  I recall the little voice in my head saying "just go...wait, you don't really need to go...wait, you should go....wait, you don't really need to go...wait..." (you get the picture)  While my little voice was saying this, my body was acting it out.  Almost sit...no...stand back up...no almost sit....no...stand back up....  At one point, in my "stand back up" I got a little over ambitious in my movement and lost my balance, and since my pants where half way down, my ability to move my legs was completely impaired.  The back of my legs hit the tub, and as if in slow motion, I fell back, pulling the shower curtain down with me, into the bathtub.  After a few moments of shock, slight pain in my back and head (this was a cast iron tub...not a plastic jobbie) and a quick check to make sure no one was home to witness this ridiculousness, I laid there and laughed...until I almost peed my pants. (Because I DID have to go!)
It's not just the shower/tubs that are dangerous.  Oh no.  It is also all of products we use to get beautiful as well.  Like the facial cleanser (you know, the special kinds with all of the different acidic whatnots in them to rid your skin of all the gunk it collects during the day.  Why they put this stuff in pump bottles,  I will never understand, because they inevitably clog.  And when they clog, they create a perfect little opening just at the top, so when you press the pump, the acid filled cleanser will shoot straight into your eye.  Of course, it happens so fast (and there is such a big glob) that your eye has no defense against it.  And I am here to tell you that it does, indeed, take a good 3 hours to recover from the pain and misery of that.  I wouldn't recommend mouthwash in the eye either.  No eyeball needs to be minty fresh.  This is a fact.
And then there is the eyelash curler.  Once you have mastered the art, it is okay.  Until then..torture device.  Maybe it is just my eyelashes, but they do NOT curl unless I warm the curler up.  So, I have to use my blowdryer to give it a little heat.  This is an art form in itself.  How do I know this?  Well, try heating it up, and not testing the temp on your hand first.  Have you ever subjected your eyelids to hot metal?  Not something I would recommend. 
While we are on the subject of hot things....let's discuss the curling iron.  First of all, why do I even own one?  My hair is naturally curly!  Of course, I would prefer my curls to look like this:
I would like you to also take note of the length of this hair...we will be getting to that in a minute.
To achieve this "I just have these loose, messy curls...aren't they great?" hair, takes FOREVER.  It is also a grueling process, since you have to wrap your hair around the OUTSIDE of the curling iron, which leads to lots of burned fingers, and in my case, boobs.
Yes, it's really easy to lose your grip on the curling iron while doing this, and drop it.  For some reason, my morning routine involves doing my hair before I get dressed. (At least it used to) One fine day, I had my curling iron turned up extra hot, and dropped it.  Of course, there are only a couple of options, as far as things to land on as it makes it's descent to the ground.  And land it did....long enough to leave one heck of a burn behind.  I now get dressed prior to using hot things.
Then there is the flat iron.  When you have curly hair...you want straight hair.  So for about six months, almost everyday, I did this to my hair:
Cute, right?  A different look for me, and I liked it.  Until I noticed that my hair was getting shorter and shorter.  Yes, that damn flat iron was burning my hair off, little by little.  Gradually that long, pretty hair, was no longer.  So, my only option was to chop it off, and go cold turkey with the hot things.  That evolved into me pretty much going cold turkey with anything that might make ME look like a hot thing.  I have become so low maintenance that I think my husband's beauty routine is more involved than my own.  I will say, however, that I did wear my pink and gray tennis shoes today, because they match my $.50 garage sale sweat pants and pink tank top that I am looking smokin' in right now.  And I did put some product in my hair....so if I don't move around too much, it actually might dry in a somewhat desirable fashion, and not look exactly like it did when I rolled out of bed this morning.  (Isn't that frustrating when you take the time to bath AND wash your hair, and it ends up looking the same or WORSE than it did when you woke up?)
Luckily, it is Monday. (My FAVORITE day of the week!!) I know that is strange in itself.  For many years, I dreaded Monday.  Now that I no longer teach, I LOVE Monday.  And typically, it is the only day of the week that I have no obligations.  Today is dreary and rainy.  Even better!  I am going to light candles, get out the coloring books for my mom (I think Barbie will be today's choice) and make chicken soup.  But first, I get to clean up the disaster of a kitchen my darling family left for me.  I love how they are always thinking of me...making sure I am never bored.  Aren't they THE BEST? 
They are just lucky I am so beautiful, and that my shoes match my sassy outfit.  ;)







Sunday, September 14, 2014

Good Things

Sunday, September 14, 2014

We just returned from the Farmer's Market, completely stocked with vegetables for all of the fall "comfort" food I plan to make in the next week.  Mark has cranked up the record player (yes....RECORD player), and we are currently listening to Enoch Light and the Light Brigade.
This album would contain the cheesiest lounge music a human could endure. (It does, however, coordinate nicely with my dining table and chairs.)  Several times a week, my house turns into a 70's jazz lounge.  It never actually looks like a lounge, but OMG, it FEELS like a lounge.  The records come out, the stereo goes on, Mark pours some cocktails, and my mother starts to dance...or hum, or a combination of the two.  (She is currently enthralled in her new Barbie coloring book, so she is coloring to the beat, and humming along to every tune.  Whether she knows the song or not.)  Hernando's Hideaway is a personal favorite. 
By the way, don't my dishes look smashing with this album?!
And yes, Mark made lunch today. (I made the soup...he heated it up)
I have never confirmed it, but I am pretty sure that "cocktail hour" takes place, not only for entertainment purposes, but also because my husband seems to feel guilty if he is having a cocktail alone.  Why, I have no idea.  I typically skip cocktail hour, because if I were to join in, I would need to quickly jump to "bedtime hour".
Speaking of bedtime, this is another interesting phenomenon that occurs on Sunday.  I do have to get up earlier on Sundays than on any other day of the week, which, I am sure plays into this whole scenario.  In an effort to arrive on time (7:30), I  set my alarm for 6am. ( I NEVER get there on time.  I typically leave the house at 7:28, and it's a ten minute drive.)  Obviously, the snooze button is involved.  I must throw out tons of energy playing piano, or maybe just in my interactions with people during my 4.5 hour Sunday morning stint, because by Sunday afternoon, I am ready to keel over and die.  I always have grand ideas of projects to get started on...but by 2pm (agh! I just looked at the clock...I have four minutes before I croak!) I am overcome by exhaustion, and have no choice but to sleep.  Since my mom has moved in, the Sunday morning adventure has become even more exciting. Not only do I have to get myself ready, but I have to get her bathed and dressed before I leave as well.  (For some reason, my husband has no desire to take over this job on Sunday mornings to help me out. Strange. ;) To add to the fun, she likes to do a little late night wandering. Last night, she was hauling clothes up the stairs at 4am.  I got her back down to bed, and she actually slept for two more hours. (This is a record!)  The dogs like to take it up one more notch as well.  Nature calls at least once in the middle of the night, and it NEVER coincides with grandma's wandering, because that would be far too convenient for everyone.  I am starting to understand my exhaustion as I write this. 
Anyway, next Sunday (and the Sundays after) I plan to dedicate the day to "good things".  Quite frankly, there is so much in the world that has made me start to question whether or not good still exists.  Some days, it feels like it is a thing of the past.  This, of course, is not true.  You just have to turn off the news (it seems to just report the bad) and start looking around you.  Each week, I am going to be looking for the good things that are happening around me, or things that I want to tell you about.  I hope you will share your stories as well.  Maybe this will remind us to keep our eyes open to seeing the good around us, and our hearts open to being a part of making good things happen....because, really, does anything feel better than that?  We can be a big bunch of do-good-ers! Happy Sunday!
(Thanks for the pic, Corinne!  I'm IN LOVE!!)