Reading for the Day

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression. --Dodie Smith

When we change our lives, we give up old patterns. Some of these old patterns, as harmful as they may have been, were like our best friends. We could turn to them for comfort and escape. After giving them up, and after the first elated feelings of liberation, we may also have to deal with depression and grief of loss.

What should we remember at these times? First of all, depression has a beginning, and it has an end. In the midst of it, we may feel that nothing will ever look good again. That is not so. The loss of energy, the dark mood, the hopelessness all will pass and we will regain our vitality and joy of life.

Second, it helps to stay active. Physical activity is one of the best medicines for a depressed mood: vigorous walks, physical labor, or a good workout at the gym. Another kind of activity is helping others, reaching out to those in need of companionship and a helping hand. It is surprising how good it feels to make a difference in another persons life.

The third thing we can do is stop our negative thoughts. We can simply interrupt a train of thought in the same way we might interrupt a conversation and change the subject. Finally, we can take comfort in the faith that all things work out for the good, even when we cannot see.

'Oh just ONE....' he whined.

And the best time to do this is an hour before bed IN Thomas Jammies?!

This results in a dead, sobbing heap on the floor when Nana says "Okay bug.....nite nite time!"

She doesn't WANNA go to bed.
She doesn't WANNA park Emily and James and Thomas by the Weebles.

She doesn't WANNA brush teeth.
Yes thank you....juice.

She doesn't WANNA have juice in that cup.
She doesn't WANNA sleep in the big bed.

She doesn't WANNA have that blanket.

Yes thank you....the penguin blankie.

She doesn't WANNA sleep with the monkey.

She doesn't WANNA have ocean music.

She doesn't WANNA.....yes thank you, grandad's grumpy monkey.....

And at 11pm when she should have been fast asleep.

"Three little monkeys jumping on the bed......one fell off and bumped his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said--NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!!!"

LOL

I sang along.

NAUGHTY Nana.........

Fairy Reminder

God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. --Reinhold Niebuhr

Some things I cannot change: my age, who my relatives are, my eye color, my height, my childhood experiences, my inborn talents, my nature, someone else's abuse of alcohol or other drugs, whether the sun will shine, my job history, what I will inherit, how my parents feel, yesterday's lost opportunities, how long I will live, who forgives me, how my parents treated me, how much I am loved, the past.

Some things I can change: the youthfulness of my spirit, who my friends are, my hair color, my weight, my adult experiences, my achievements, my character, my reaction to someone else's use of alcohol or other drugs, whether my eyes will shine, my job possibilities, what I will bequeath, how I feel, my ability to act on today's opportunities, how well I will live, whom I forgive, how I treat my own children, how much I love, the future.
I thank God for my growing ability to choose.

Prayerful People

When a cocky, mouthy, belligerent 16 year old lets herself openly spill tears you ask.

You listen.

You validate her feelings.

You try to offer some perspective and some hope.

I offered prayers. And I suggested she ask a few other prayerful people to pray for her grandfather who's having surgery for cancer this morning.

She didn't want to ask other people to pray--what if they weren't the praying kind.......and how was she suppose to just...ask.

There went that pride and ego again--what's the worst thing that's going to happen if she just asked "Do you believe in the power of prayer? Could I ask if you would pray for my grandfather?"

She'd look like she's scared.

She'd look like she needed something from someone.

And she doesn't.

She'd be fine.

16 years old--she looked vaguely familiar in her practices and beliefs.

That she'd even SAY that out loud was almost as huge as letting those tears be visible to another human being.

If you don't ask, you cheat you.

You cheat other people.

You cheat granddad.

You live with knowing that..... for a very long time.

That's how much I believe in the power of prayer.

And that's how much I believe in the lessons gifted her yesterday.

Not warm fuzzy lessons, but a good lessons.


*sending more prayers and warmth*

Mr. Spadoman has two procedures to do today from that hospital he's back in.

I'm hopeful all will go well.

Prayer is always welcomed. And I humbly ask for prayers.

For Mr. Spadoman.

For a grandfather who has surgery for stomach cancer this morning.

*ahem*

I have advanced in age, but I've also advanced in wisdom and maturity.

??!!?!

I'm not obsessing.

I'm workin' on forgiving the reading fairy for that first part.....

Reading for Today

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. -- Soren Kierkegaard

One of Mark Twain's most interesting writings states we should live life backwards from the age of eighty to the time we were just a gleam in someone's eye. How much more we'd learn, he felt, if we already knew how to live before we had to. We may fantasize sometimes about going back with the tools of the program we're using today to our families, our high schools, or our dating years. It may please us to think of how "together" we would be with such tools, knowing what we know now. But we can't live backwards.

Every year we move along in age, experience, maturity, and wisdom. Sometimes we only see such growth on birthdays, when we look back to a year ago at who we were then and who we are now. As our years advance, so do we. Sometimes we need to take a brief look backward in order to see this.
Today I'll remember that to see my growth all I have to do is look at where I was a year ago. I have advanced in age, but I've also advanced in wisdom and maturity.

Penguin go nite-nite

Have I ever mentioned my dislike for meetings.....

I told the Administrator that I wasn't feeling 'ready' for the presentation today--I wasn't quite feeling like I knew which direction I wanted to go--which direction I needed to go.

I'm smart enough to know that as I go, so go my staff. It's always been like that for me in regards to the people I work with. I'm told that's a gift--I'm also aware of the 'power' it can hold for being a curse as well.

I just wasn't ready--felt it, knew it....said it to the fella presenting with me.

I also told him that I've always been aware of how graced I am to have the staff we have. They're talented. They're hard working--they believe in the greatness of the kiddos and families they serve. And they believe in each other.....and the value of 'team'.

Going over the employee satisfaction survey made me proud for them. It spoke well to what they believe in and work so hard to achieve.

It always surprises me to see what I 'believe to be true' show up in black and white AS true. Go figure that.

And go figure my folks scored above the 'norm for the agency' on each question.

They feel heard.

They feel valued.

They feel supported.

They feel like their opinions matter.
They feel appreciated and cared about.

The results of the survey were all favorable and spoke well of the work they do to make the work environment what it is.

I bluffed my way through the presentation.
Mostly I let the other fella do his thing until it was clearly my 'part' cuz he designated it as my part.

One question they answered below the mark.

Out of the thirty some asked--one...and the one question puzzled me. I started to go through the points and I got stuck on that one question.

So I went back to it and let 'em know that cuz I'm the honest sorta folk. And when I don't 'get it', I ask questions until I DO get it.

"In the past seven days I was recognized for something I did well."

........below the 'norm'......

How did I fail to let them know at least ONCE a week that they ROCK?

How is it they could answer so clearly and confidently about being heard and appreciated and cared about and valued...and yet 'score' so low on that question?

What's true then?

Definitely not prepared for the meeting..... *sigh* I mighta been hypercritical of me--I can be that on occasion......

I just wanted an answer so I knew what was true.

What did I need to do differently here........

That 'prepared with the powerpoint' Administrator told me as we cleared up from the meeting that this meeting had been the most honest and candid he'd had to date. (I bet he says that to all the girls. LOL)

But.... GO figure that one......as I go, so go those around me.

And I got that answer to the question I had.......

Apparently when the folks you work with feel cared about, when they feel listened to and valued and heard and supported--when they feel like their opinions matter..they don't NEED to be told 'once a week' that they ROCK.

They believe they rock.

They really DO rock.

Fairy Reading for Today

Sometimes two minuses make a plus. --Edith Shannon

What appears to be a problem sometimes turns out to be a most beneficial circumstance. We live only in the present, and it generally takes the perspective of hindsight to get the full meaning of an event. Over the years, we have learned that some of our best lessons actually caused us pain while we were in their clutches. What a relief to be able to see, now, that they had their silver lining. This principle still holds true. We have had a lot of years to learn to take our experiences in stride, giving them no more weight than they deserve. But it's easy to forget that it's the accumulation of them all that defines who we are. The lost jobs, the friends who left, the hurdles in a marriage all played their part in the people we've become today.

We are who we need to be right now. I can't let a setback set me back today. I am evolving right on schedule.

3208--the lone black fella

Today's Reminder

Relax enough to face reality when life twists and turns.
Sometimes in life, no matter how deeply we intend to make the best decisions possible for ourselves, things happen.
Marriages end, jobs turn sour, friends wane.
For reasons outside our control or understanding, the situation twists and turns into something other than what we bargained for.
Have you been waiting for a situation to revert to what it originally was - or what you hoped it would be when you got in?
Are you telling yourself that there's something wrong with you, when the reality is, the situation has changed into something other than what you thought it was?
Things often don't go as smoothly as we planned.
Sometimes, we need to endure and get through the rough spots.
But I'm talking about those grindingly difficult moments when life suddenly twists on us.
These are the times we need to quit torturing ourselves.
Let go of what you thought would happen.
If life has twisted on you, don't turn on yourself.
Don't try to make things be the way they were.
Come up to speed.
Return to now.
Let yourself accept the new situation at hand.
The road isn't always a straight course. Sometimes, even a path with heart unexpectedly twists and turns.

Trees on Fire

Okay then.......

We had ourselves a Merry little Christmas.

Actually, it was a bizarre one. But we had a LOT of food for the bizarre one. That'll happen when there's a 20 pound turkey for two people. LOL

Think 'leftovers'!!

Sick child meant no visit for the holiday.

It's great fun being immune deficient.
Actually, it's great to be that loved and cared about.

It was the right choice. My head screamed GETCHER ARSE OVER HERE and my mouth was able to say "I know you love us dearly--stay right where you are with the kiddo and let her play and nap as she needs to."

*laughing*

Once in a while I actually pull off sounding gracious?

It's all good......and there's leftovers!!

I'm thinkin' they should be dubbed 'take overs'.

Ain't no room in the fridge with all of 'em in there...LOL

TFTD

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
--Edward Everett Hale

Happy Christmas to You and Yours

Let there be Peace

Fairy Reading for Today

The greatest service I can offer is . . .being gentle with myself as I change.

Changing your life does not always mean that you stop doing certain things. It may mean that you start doing certain other things. It may mean moving your time, energy and focus away from all the things you should not be doing and placing them on the things you should be doing. Rather than beating yourself up for what you are not doing, appreciate and celebrate the things that you are doing. When you shift your focus away from what you do not want, you can create a vision for what you do.

Changing your life means learning a new way to be. Learning occurs in a loving and supportive environment. When you are hostile toward yourself, frustrated or angry with yourself, it will be difficult for you to learn. You will set expectations for yourself that you cannot live up to. How can you be for yourself if you are against yourself? Learning occurs best when there is an attitude and an environment of acceptance. When you judge the mistakes you make as "bad," you will be resistant to learning the lesson. If you were to be completely honest, you would admit that you don't want to be wrong! Being wrong makes you feel ashamed of yourself.

What you really want to do is nurture the attitude that you are open to learning more about yourself. Accepting more about yourself. This is the information that will inspire you to do something new. Rather than creating an internally hostile environment by focusing on what you must stop doing, focus on what you want to do. Choose a new course of action that will change the way you experience yourself.

Until today, you may not have recognized the things you do to yourself that make it hard for you to do anything different. Just for today, lighten up! Don't fight with yourself! Focus on what you do, can do, choose to do, are ready to do.

Dot and Dash

Fairy Reading

The greatest service I can offer is . . .

resisting the tendency to be resistant.

There is a process of living that few of us know much about but many of us practice. It is a way of living and being that creates hostility and bad feelings. This process has even led to war! It is a process that pits your good against the good of someone else. In order to engage in the process, one must believe in right vs. wrong. Good vs. bad. My way vs. your way. In the midst of the process, people are hurt. Sometimes lives are lost, and for all the arguing or fighting that goes on, nothing is ever proven conclusively. The process is against-ness.

To be against something is to deem it unworthy of consideration or bad at the very least. At worst, against-ness poses a threat to who you are, what you believe in and what you want in life. Against-ness is the belief that if someone gets what they are after, you will not get what you are after. If you believe that you have the right way to the good thing, it stands to reason that everyone else is wrong. You are constantly on the lookout to ensure that the thing you are against is not coming near. Unfortunately, the harder you look for it, the more of it you will see.

The way to live without against-ness is to live from a place of for-ness. Rather than working against something, simply be for something else. Invest your time, energy and attention in working to bring about the things that you desire to experience. When you are confronted by something that challenges what you are working toward, do not be against it! Allow other things to exist. Simply choose to put your attention elsewhere.

Until today, you may have been expending so much energy working against certain things that you have not been working for anything else. Just for today, drop all against-ness. Focus your attention elsewhere. Just for today, drop all against-ness. Focus your attention and energy on the things that you can stand up for.

Today I am devoted to allowing everything the right to exist and choosing what I am for!

Prayers and Hugs

<-- never left the pocket

Funny how folks might conclude they've left my 'prayer' radar.

That just hasn't happened.

But I'd ask, in case that's happened in other places, for prayers and healing thoughts go to Spadoman who's struggling through some health moments at the hospital.

I know G-d takes very good care of His kiddos--but a bit of celebration of that and gratitude for how well He's loved Spadoman......is a very good thing.

(((((((((((((((( Spadoman )))))))))))))))))))

My better angel hasn't left your side.

And there's still that Angel in my pocket.

Peace.

Faith.

Love.

TFTD

Your attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that makes

a very big difference.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Can you see, hear and speak?

Can you walk, move around and do things for yourself?

Did you eat today?

Yesterday?

Someday last week?

Can you pick up a telephone?

Turn on a light?

Stick a key in a door and have a place to sleep?

Are your feet adequately covered?

Do you have something to wear?

Are your lungs and kidneys functioning?

Can you breathe without assistance?

Can you move your hands, arms, legs and do the things you want to do?

Is there someone who will help you if you need help?

Is there someone from whom you receive love?

Is there someone you know who will be there no matter what you've done?

Can you laugh when you want to?

Cry if you need to?

Does your mind let you know the difference between the two?

Is there a tree you can touch?

A flower you can smell?

Can you stand in the rays of the sun?

Give thanks for every "yes" you can give and remind yourself that you are truly blessed.

Goin' with the flow

Fa la la la la

.....la la la la......

Okay, Mel. Seriously.
HOW many boxes of chocolate are you going to buy?

YOU DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE.

Okay....I DO, but it's a very limited amount. It's generally 'not allowed' with all the 'stuff' they add to it this time of year.

Five boxes.
FIVE.

Seriously?!

WHAT are you doing with five boxes of chocolate?
That's a good question....

Dunno....



Get a box of toothpicks and build a tower.
Like Tinker Toys.
Whoa.....there's an idea!

OMG
I need more coffee.

AND-
I need to STOP buying chocolate.

Today's Thought

Have you ever watched small children playing alone in a room? They will talk to themselves, and they will answer. They will dress themselves up. They sing and dance. A small child in a room all alone can have a marvelous time entertaining himself. Children can do this not only because they have an innocence that helps them to rise above the cares of the world; they don't mind being alone with their thoughts and their dreams. They don't mind acting out their fantasies. They can live their lives beyond the expectations of others. In a room all alone, children have no inhibitions. They have nothing to prove and no one to satisfy but themselves. They feel free! They are unencumbered by opinions and directives. It happens because nobody is watching them.

Live your life like nobody is watching you. Live beyond expectations. Live beyond what you have been told is right, wrong, good or bad. Just for one day, live like you are totally free to be anything and do anything you choose for yourself. Live from your innocence. Live from a sense of total satisfaction with who you are and what you have available to you. Let yourself dream like nobody can stop you. Let yourself sing like nobody is listening. Let yourself dance like nobody is watching. Play dress up! Talk to yourself! Tell yourself something that you would never repeat aloud. Let yourself be exactly who you are and live like it is okay -- because it really is.

Just for today, allow yourself the childlike freedom of talking to yourself, dreaming for yourself, dancing with yourself and living your life like nobody else in the world cares or is watching what you are doing.

One of the Red Ones

I saw snow!! I saw snow!!

Okay.....it was only for an hour or so--but it made the world outside my window look like a snowglobe.

Gorgeous......absolutely gorgeous.

It didn't last. And no snowmans happened.
But wow......that was way cool. And way needed.

And today--call the physician to see if they can make whatever's ailing me go away.
It's hung on too long for my liking.
And I'm starting to get witchier than I like. *laughing*

In the meantime, I'm better today than yesterday and WAY better than the day before.
Almost convinces me that I oughta skip the physician....

Oh. And who says your IT folks know everything?
<-- never says that
I do get asked if I want to join IT on a regular basis.
And they love that they rarely have to make the trip to the worksite cuz either I can make it work, or they can walk me through it so it does works.
(*laughing* This from a woman who can't figure out how to turn her cellphone on/off silent mode.)
"Science has proven that your theory is wrong--you should stay home and rest."
Then I guess you need to get in the car, travel your 80 minutes and come fix the issue.
"Science says you should do that AFTER you fix the watchguard issue"

Fairy Reminder

If you are waiting for something to happen before you begin what you want to do, it will never happen.

If you are waiting to get something before you do what you say you want to do, you will never get started.

If you are waiting for the right time, the right person, the right circumstances, you could be waiting forever.

How about this, what can you do right now?

Can you write a letter?

Make a call?

Finish a plan?

Structure a goal?

Can you pick a name?

Paint a wall?

Ask a question?

Sweep a floor?

Can you structure a schedule?

Can you project a date?

Can you fulfill a promise?

Can you read a book?

Can you stop doing all the things you do that keep you from doing the one thing you want to do?

Can you pray?

Can you sing?

Can you dance right where you are?

Whatever you can do, you better do it now.

Now is all you have to work with.

I am going to live in the moment.

Halloween Potential

*shaking head*

Okay......make this make sense, Mel.

You've maxed out on paid leave--you donate it to needy individuals multiple times a year and go right back into losing it cuz you don't spend it and take time off.
Do I remember my last vacation? Ummmmm......

I took last Monday off when I had the Bug and the water heater arrived!
Yeah.....not 'zackly a vacation.

So make it make sense.
You don't feel 100% and whaddaya do?

"If you just get up and MOVE, you'll feel better."

I wonder whose voice that is in my head telling me that.
My dad, maybe?

There's truth in that. And I've lived by that line of thinking forever. More times than not, it's turned out to be true. If I sit around focused on how 'uck' I feel, I feel uckier. LOL

On the other hand--sometimes that line of thinking just doesn't work. Not to mention the people around you wanna choke the life out of ya for going anywhere near them.
Oh--and how many times in the past 20 years have you heard "*I* can't afford to be sick--" and out comes the Lysol can.......

Am I up?
Indeed I am.
Will I feel better if I just MOVE?
Could be.

Am I losing paid leave because I've maxed out?
Yup.

Ummmm.......hello?!

Yeah, well......I'll feel better if I just MOVE.
And I have a truckload of things to get accomplished.
Here.... There.....

*laughing*
I'm a dweeb and I love what I do.

And--
If I JUST move--I'll feel better.

Today's Thought

I will know peace when . . .

I learn to forgive myself.

It can be challenging to forgive someone.

The hardest person to forgive may be you.

Considering what you know about yourself and what you are capable of, there are times when you cannot forgive things you have done.

At times, it is hard to believe that you can forgive yourself; that you deserve to be forgiven or, that you are worthy of forgiveness.

For some reason, you mistakenly believe that to forgive means to allow or to say it is okay.

Most of us will never allow ourselves to get away with anything without being punished.

It is cruel and unnecessary to punish yourself for being human.

As human beings, our growth, learning and healing are always at stake.

Forgiveness fosters all three.

Each of your actions is motivated either by something you are ready to receive or something you are ready to release.

Detrimental or dishonorable actions usually mean that you are ready to release something.

Some false, limiting or unloving belief.

Some unreasonable fear.

Your actions will demonstrate how and why the belief no longer serves you.

Your actions will demonstrate where you need to grow; what you are ready to learn or; what you are ready to heal.

When you forgive yourself for believing you deserve to be punished, growth occurs, learning takes place and healing is the result.

Punishment rarely fosters learning.

In fact, it is the precursor to control.

When you forgive yourself you release fear, eliminating the possibility that fear will continue to control your behavior.

Just for today, be willing to grow, learn and heal yourself. Prepare yourself to release the fear that controls your mind. Forgive yourself.

Ice Spread

Bring it on!!

I'll know peace...

.....when stuff that's suppose to happen in 'threes', actually STOPS at three.

Ah well--it's all good. At least things will be up to snuff for the rest of the winter, right? Right!

And today I worked from home. Two reasons, really. One--the main office folks decided NOW what a good time to run wiring and move things around. There's probably some truth to that--I mean it's not exactly the time to tie electricians up with new housing projects. And it's already insane with holiday stuff--what's a bit more insanity, right? And two--I think I have some sorta 'bug' happening. Not feeling so spry. Probably a touch of what everyone else is indulging in right now. Best to get it done before the holiday rather than ON the holiday!

I will admit, I got a whole lot accomplished from the house. And this evening I've been bonding with the blankie--so there's hope that tomorrow will look/feel better.
Nevermind that he-who-likes-to-share is complaining of not feeling well either. LOL He wouldn't wanna miss out by not being a part of this, I'm sure.

New day tomorrow, thank goodness.
I'll go in to discover all things messed up by moving the wiring for the system! That'll be great fun!

Ho Ho Ho!!

NO--I don't have holiday shopping completed.
Lemme say that differently......I could have holiday shopping completed by default!
NOT that I'd complain...
I could send he-who-likes-to-share. But I suspect he'll be 'deathly ill' by the morning. *laughing*
He's so silly........

TFTD

I will know peace when . . .

I stop finding excuses for

what I am not doing.

You can fool some people some time but, you can never fool yourself. You can tell yourself almost anything to excuse away your fear. The bad news is, you will actually believe it for awhile. The good news is, there will come a time when the excuse will not be strong enough or, big enough to camouflage your fear. Eventually what you tell yourself will begin to sound so weak, so lame, so utterly ridiculous that you will have a hard time convincing yourself or anyone else that it is real. When that time comes don't be defensive. At times, we can be down right indignant when people refuse to accept the things we know are no longer acceptable, plausible or feasible. In other words, there will come a time when even the best of us must face the thing we fear.

As long as there is something you fear lurking in the back of your mind, you cannot, will not, have peace of mind. As long as you have an excuse for limiting, restrictive behaviors in which you engage, peace will elude you. When you find yourself defending yourself for taking or not taking a particular action, you are defying the foundation upon which peace is built. Truth! There is nothing wrong with waiting until you feel ready. There is nothing wrong with doing what you can to prepare yourself to take a leap into the unknown. When however, you do either of these to the point of avoiding what you say you really want to do; when you know you are afraid but refuse to admit it, accept it or confront it, there is no way you can have peace of mind.

Just for today, lay down all of your excuses. Ask yourself, "What am I afraid of that makes me stay here?"

Brown Eyes

Fairy Thought

I choose to be at peace, no matter what is going on.


PLEASE

EXCUSE

ALL

CRAZY

EXPERIENCES!


It is just life's way of letting you know that things can, will and do get better.

Until today, you may have thought it was necessary to eliminate all craziness from your life. You may have believed that the craziness in the world is a bad thing. Just for today, see beyond the craziness. Use your mind to find the presence of peace and to shift the energy that surrounds you.

Today, I am devoted to bringing peace into all situations and experiences!

A touch of things to come

Mr. Poopin' Penguin

Yup--poopin' penguin.
Gross in some people's world, I'm sure.

However--

The Bug loved him!
So much she ensured he wouldn't ever be constipated. *laughing*

And then grandad hid him.
So well that Nana can't find him.....still.

Grandad can't find him either.
*laughing*

I'm gonna laugh my arse off if I get a text that says he took a ride to Bug's house.

Fairy Thought

Whatever our situation today, it's something we must live through and deal with effectively. We may be overlooking many wonderful things in our present life simply because we believe we need some exciting experience that can only come later on.

We also might be overlooking present opportunities because we're spending too much time in the past. The past, whether it was good or bad, is beyond our control.

Our mission is to live effectively and happily today. We can do this best when we realize that yesterday and tomorrow don't really exist - today is all we can be sure of.

I'll live today in the present, handling every problem as well as I can and enjoying every experience that comes to me.

Buds

Fairy Reminder

We can see the potential for growth in friends we love, a reality that often lies hidden to them. Through our encouragement and our commitment to them, we can help them tackle the barriers to success. Likewise, we'll be helped. It's within the plan, ours and theirs, that we're traveling this road together.

For moments in time, we're matched pairs, drawing from each other the talents the world awaits, while alone we sometimes withdraw, thus depriving the world of what we have to offer. The expression of love will push forward the development of the whole human race.

No one of us is without someone to love if we'd but choose to offer ourselves to another.

Just chillin'....

Chaos 101 and 102

It always gets crazy about this time of year.

Why I thought it would be different this year--heck, I think it'll be different every year. *laughing* At least I'm consistent in my delusions.

It's nutz at work--parents, workers, grandparents...holiday this, holiday that. Add the staff 'stuff' to it AND the new and ever changing expectations in the workplace to the equation? O M G

Absolutely insane.

Yes thank you, I think I'd like to do that.

Yes thank you, I think I'd like to do that, too.

Lemme get that for ya--in the next 30 minutes? Yep--I can do that!

AUGH!

It's okay though.

It's the holiday season and 'stuff' is going to happen crazy, willy-nilly.......that's just how it is.

Oh, and that 'normally required stuff'?

That's still required too, dontchaknow.

OH! And of course--it's a GREAT time to run new wiring for the new work stations AND move two offices!!

k......not really, but this is the time that was chosen so......ready, set GO!

O

M
G

Yes.

Thank you.

I think I'd LOVE to do that too.

It wouldn't be the holiday without a bit of chaotic upside-downness tossed in, right?

*laughing*

I thought I'd done that by adding the flooded basement and the broken waterheater AND the waterpump on the Jeep. Apparently that wasn't enough! ;-)

Daily Thought

Everyone has good days and bad days, and the good ones are certainly easier to handle. But do we allow the bad ones to throw us off our course? Are we so shaken by our mistakes or troubles that we lose our focus on our goals?

Adult development is a process; it's never an end goal that we reach and hold. Our healing and recovery includes preparing ourselves to respond well to the bad days. We can do that by keeping our eye on the big picture, knowing that however bad things may seem at the moment, they will change. We learn to reach deep into our spiritual center for the courage to stay focused in the midst of our hardest days. We don't have to do it alone. We have the spiritual support of our Higher Power and the companionship of our friends to keep us on the path.

Today I will stay in touch with my spiritual center to find the courage for another day.

Icings

Ta Da!

There's heat!

And there's electricity--that's a good thing.

AND there's hot water.

And there's something to be said about fittings to a hot water heater that look like they're solidly connected....and aren't.

When they blow off the top of the water heater with the volcanic eruption of water they make a popping, whooshy noise!

And he-who-fitted-it is quite entertaining as he shoves a thumb over the eruption AND tries to figure out how to stop the water that's draining out of the pipe above....while using very colourful language AS the water cascades to the floor and drips from his face.

*snickering*

Yeah, well--that's what shop vacs are for.
And really--he probably shoulda been more concerned about electrocution.

.....Or death (by she-who-must-have-morning-coffee-waiting-at-wake-up) if order wasn't restored to the household routine.

TFTD

Anger helps straighten out a problem like a fan helps straighten out a pile of papers.
--Susan Marcotte

Some of us have temper tantrums. Like black clouds, we threaten an outburst at any moment. Other people learn to check us out for storm warnings. They want time to clear out or at least to put on a protective covering. We've caught them by surprise before, and they didn't like it. Now they've learned to watch out - to stay on their toes when we're around. Intimidating people, making them glad when we're not around so they can relax, is a poor way to relate to others.

And what do the outbursts do for us? Is there a cheap sense of power or control for a few minutes? Are we advertising to the world that we're short on coping skills? Or do we tell ourselves that letting off steam is necessary once in a while, conveniently forgetting the steam blasting in other people's faces?

No tirade ever solved a problem. Anger is not a strategy. We don't have the right to rain on other people's parades. Our program can teach us better ways to deal with our anger - with honesty and fairness to ourselves and others.

Today, I ask my Higher Power for a peaceful and honest heart.

k.....this is fun......

Two year olds are definitely entertaining.

We had one overnight--and through the evening yesterday.

If grandad tells her no, the waterworks start.

If Nana tells her no the odds are she'll do it anyway. Unless it's a 'curt' no......and then it's the 'stop, stare and pop the lip out' routine.

And she wants to sleep 'in the baby bed'. Uh huh......until push comes to shove and she flings every stuffed animal she's crammed in there on to Nana's bed, crawls up to my ear and whispers that she wants to sleep with Nana.....and so does Mr. Monkey and the whale and the penguin and the Snoppy puppy and baby blue eyes (don't ask...LOL) AND the giraffe AND the chicken AND.... *snickering* There was room for Nana--barely......

So.....

It's a quiet house this morning.
It's a quiet house with no running water this morning.

It's a quiet house with no running water and no coffee in the coffee pot.

It's a quiet house with no running water, no coffee in the coffee pot and a new yet to operate water heater.

O
M
G

<-- dressed and going to find a cuppa java at the convenience store

Why did the turkey cross the road....

Today's Thought

We learn from making mistakes and repairing them.

We do not believe in perfection, we believe in mending.

We make progress toward a goal, but we seldom move in a straight line toward it without missteps.

Life is like a zigzag chain of events that first brings everything together just as we want and then spills it all over again.

We try to do our best, but inevitably we make mistakes.

So a large part of normal daily life is spent mending.

When we accept imperfection as a fact of life, we make peace with the constant need for repairs.

Saying I made a mistake and I owe you an apology is never fun, but when we do it we grow stronger.

Every disappointment, every complaint, points to an underlying hope or wish.

We can use them to point us to repairs we would like to make.

We do not learn anything new from correctly repeating what we already know.

We learn from making mistakes and repairing them.

Select one complaint or one mistake that you want to mend and turn it into a learning experience.

Fairy Reading

You really need to take care of yourself because you won't be good for anyone else unless you take care of yourself.
-- Harry Bartholomew

Do we merely assume we are taking good care of ourselves? It's perhaps a good idea to list all the ways we think this is true. Do we get enough exercise? What is enough, anyway? Are we eating the right foods and enough of them? How about rest? Do we take naps when needed, as well as get a good night's sleep? What about laughter? Some would say there's no better elixir than a good laugh. Of course, we have to be willing to laugh at ourselves, on occasion, to make the most of it.

Taking good care of ourselves is much more in our control than we might have imagined. We are able to laugh at will and to eat what's good for us. We are also very much in control of how we feel about the circumstances of our lives. Whether we think we have it good or bad has a great deal to do with the details of each day.

We're not much fun to be around if all we do is moan and whine. Neither response ever takes good care of us. And both of them hinder the day's experiences for our companions, too.

The best thing I can do for me today is smile at my life, my friends, my remaining dreams. I can show I care.

Cuddle up a little closer.....lalalala

Thought for the Day

Today I will do something that makes me laugh.

Whether it's watching a funny movie, playing a game with my children or friends, reading a humorous book, going to an amusement park, or finding a way to just be silly, I will get in touch with my playful side and have fun. A balanced life means experiencing laughter along with being serious. Not only am I willing to be a responsible adult, but I'm also willing to laugh, have fun, be playful, be childlike, and enjoy the simplest of pleasures.

Today I will create or participate in one activity that makes me laugh out loud.

Busybusybusy...

<-- 6 gallons of chex mix

<-- going to other houses (eventually--that's IF he-who-loves-chex-mix doesn't devour 'em first)

<-- disallowed chex mix**

** Made some JUST for me that's allowed! Wooohooooo!!! :-)

NOT six gallons worth. But enough for me to get a taste--sorta kinda......

*sigh*

I miss pretzels of the REAL kind.

Leastwise I think I do.....I can't remember what they tasted like.

Okay.......that's sad.....

Right then. Chex mix done.

Onward to candy making!!!

k.....

Tomorrow. LOL

Brrrrrrrr

It's not official, but I do believe winter has found us. It's a whooping -2 with the slight breeze this morning. Last night--dunno. I managed to rise at 4am and was sorta kinda hopin' to catch some of that eclipse they said would be viewable west of the Mississippi. Yeah, yeah....45 miles west of the Mississippi is probably pushin' it--and being coherent at 4am TO know where to look, where to go, how to operate a motor vehicle...LOL

I managed to wander outside in my slippers and---nahhhhh...not happenin'.

This morning the birdies are fighting at the feeder.

I'm thinkin' pancakes of the xanthum gum type are in order.

Maybe I can recreate the eclipse with pancakes! :-)

Today's Reading

Stop building cases

You don't have to build a big drama around your life. We may need to end a relationship or explore a new career. Instead of simply saying, This is what I'm going to do, we build a case.

Like a lawyer getting ready to go to court, we prepare our arguments. We take one feeling and build a hundred page document around it, prepared to battle our case.

You can build cases if you want to. But usually, there's a hidden feeling underneath all that case building that's asking to be cleared. It could be a tinge of guilt or fear. Or it could just be the belief that it's not okay to clearly express ourselves, say how it feels to us, and do what we need to do to take care of ourselves.

Let go of the drama. Just say what you need and how it feels to you.

Be as simple and clear as you can in expressing yourself. If you find yourself building a case or creating a big dramatic scene, take a moment. Why are you making such a fuss?

God, help me keep it simple, especially when it comes to expressing myself.

Lifting

Santa Peoples...

Santa delivers, dontchaknow......

Uh huh.

Santa gets the prezzie from the Elf at the North Pole, flies to the barn house, lands on the roof and puts the prezzie under the tree. THEN grandma wakes up, thanks Santa--and Santa flies off with a 'HO HO HO Merry Christmas'...........

And goes BACK to the North Pole where the elf (that'd be ME!) puts the prezzie IN the sleigh so Santa can say 'Thank you--Merry Christmas' before flying off to the barn house where he lands on the roof, puts the prezzie under the tree, waits for grandma to wake up who'll thank Santa--who then FLIES off with a 'HO HO HO Merry Christmas'....

And then Santa goes BACK to the North Pole where the elf gets to put the prezzie IN the sleigh so Santa can say 'Thank you--Merry Christmas' BEFORE flying off to the barn house where he lands on the roof, puts the prezzie under the tree, waits for grandma to wake up who'll thank Santa--who then FLIES off with a 'HO HO HO Merry Christmas'....**

**Repeat over and over and over and over and OVER again.

Do NOT try to incorporate the train WITH the elf to deliver the prezzie to Santa.
Do NOT try to make more prezzies to be delivered.

And do NOT confuse 'grandma' with 'Nana'.

That's gramma....YOU'RE Nana. You're not sleeping for Santa.

I offered to!!
Uh huh.....She wasn't havin' any part of that.

I did invite her over WITH the Santa peoples so she could play with grandad.

She accepted.

*snickering*
Any bets how long he'll be on the floor saying "here's the present, Santa! Merry Christmas!"?

Daily Reminder

Snapping at a friend often results in being snapped at in return. That doesn't surprise us. Accusations generally elicit an angry defense from others and an argument. That comes as no surprise either. By contrast, being loving and compassionate toward the people in our lives generally results in others returning love and compassion to us. Why, then, is it harder to express love?

The fear of rejection is strong for many of us. Offering love while fearing it won't be returned makes us feel too vulnerable. However, the principles we are being exposed to through this program will help us understand that we do receive from others what we give. The scales are balanced. Remembering that before responding to anyone around us will make our lives far more peaceful.

Typically Home

Yup, I'll try that, ty.

....anticipate the wondrous surprise to come.

Forest through the trees kinda moment.

I definitely need to adjust my attitude before I head out the door this morning.
HUGELY.

Penguiny cup swapped out for the Jack-o-lantern might do the trick.

A toy or two for the office.

I know there's surprises to be had in the day awaiting me--it's the 'wondrous' bit that I'm a wafflin' on. LOL Yep--that's all about me and my attitude. Which I WILL adjust before I head out.
I'm thinkin' the swap in coffee mugs will be a good start.
Holing up in the office to get the work done that needs done--another good plan.
AND making the stupid phone calls I've been avoiding...get those out of the way and the day will probably be looking a whole lot different.

Amazing what I do to myself through the simple act of putting off.
*rolling eyes*

First on the list.

NO exception.

Okay........third on the list.
Swap out the mug.
Grab some toys.

HA. Priorities, dontchaknow.

Reading for the Day

Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet. --Roger Miller

Gifts are usually surprises. We don't generally know what the ribbons, bows, and wrapping conceal. Life's greatest misfortunes are, in retrospect, often referred to as gifts. While some circumstances can feel like a curse, when we finally get to the bottom of what's happened to us, we're surprised to find something good - a gift or blessing of sorts. Through our misfortune, we may have developed some true and lasting relationships, learned we had some admirable qualities we didn't know we had, or discovered the meaning of courage. Today, if I am struggling. I will anticipate the wondrous surprise to come.

QOTW

Undoubtedly there are pictures on the walls in your home.
What's your favorite one? Why?

I keep changing my mind! LOL

Lemme just try this.

THIS WEEK my favorite one is the poster of Grand Central Station from the 1940's with ghost like people mixed in with the normies. LOL

I think it's the lighting and the exposure of the actual photo that gives it that effect--but it's just wonderful to stare at with all the bits and pieces to discover over and over again.

And this week, getting lost in a eye adventure and disconnecting from the brain is a wonderful thing! ;-)