Today's Fairy Reading

When Albert Schweitzer said, "The only ones of you who will be truly happy are those who have found and learned how to serve," he was stating an ancient truth - that the meaning of life lies in giving.

The quality of your life is in direct proportion to your willingness to give.

Today's list.....

So--whilest he was out winning three golds and three silvers at the competition, I was working on the list.
Actually.....it helped to make the list.
Well.....it helped with somethings....

*laughing*



Top Things To Do/NOT Do

Hug the bug multiple times and remind her NANA is her favorite. (k...I don't get to do that til Sunday, dangitall....)

Put the stupid data into the stupid system and quit putting off putting the stupid data into the stupid system. (k.....obviously still putting this one off if I'm adding to the list instead of DOING THIS!!)

xCall the sister!!

xVacuum the livingroom--omg....please don't forget to vacuum....

xDrag the summer clothes DOWN to the storage room. (and don't just toss 'em inside the storage room door, either!...sheesh...)

xCharge the camera battery.

xMake chili for tomorrow's crockpot 'catch it on the run' deal.

xDownload the camera photos!

xGroceries--con himself into going (again). STRIKE that one--he's NOT HERE TO DO IT.

xMake and deliver toffee apples.

xDO NOT EAT ALL THE TOFFEE APPLES

xUgh....laundry. Laundry is evil...



Yup.....I'll have to work on those top two tomorrow.
ONE of 'em for sure....

UH huh....I AM procrastinating the stupid data into the stupid system deal.....STILL! LOL

WELL then!

*waving to himself as he hits the road*

What better way to medicate away your sadness/bug withdrawls than to get in the Jeep and go....
So--he's going. And he's going without ME.

Yeah, well.....sometimes solo isn't a bad thing.
He's got a model show in Chicago.
I've got a speaking engagement -- to about 100 people.

No biggie.

(Liar liar pants on fire!!!)
(I do not LIKE speaking engagements....*sigh*)
(Better I shoulda went to Chicago and said 'Ooops....sorry....forgot that one!')
(yes.....I know that woulda been a lie......)

So.
I have tasks to do this weekend.

Well, I have tasks to do....if that's this weekend, great--if not...oh well!

FOCUS Mel......

You have tasks to do!!

(yeah yeah yeah...........LOL)

TFTD

We are guaranteed experiences that are absolutely right for us today.

We are progressing on schedule.

Even when our personal hopes are unmet, we are given the necessary opportunities for achieving those goals that complement our unique destinies.

Today is full of special surprises, and we will be the recipient of the ones which are sent to help us grow - in all the ways necessary for our continued growth.

We might not consider every experience a gift at this time.

But hindsight will offer the clarity lacking at the moment, just as it has done in many instances that have gone before.

Granddad's moment

I miss my little alarm clock.

It was very quiet yesterday....and it will be very quiet again today.

When will she be coming back?
Can she come back today?


Yup. Smittened.......

Today's Fairy Thought

Self-centeredness aggravates the natural flow of circumstances surrounding us; too much attention on ourselves distorts whatever might be troubling us.

However, focusing on others' needs diminishes what we'd perceived as our own pressing need.

This is a simple principle we might all consider adopting.

*sad sigh*

I set a goal today.

And I intend to keep it.

Sometimes my intentions are good and my follow through sucks.

I need to make the intentions and the actions good.

This is my 'rawr' moment, my 'rawr' place....my sanctuary where I can simply put my fingers to the keyboard and move stuff out of my head, into black and white and HOPEFULLY gain perspective.

I won't whine out there.
I may whine in here--but I won't whine OUT THERE.

I sat through an Administrative Leadership meeting today--for 5 hours.
I'm clear on the state of the State and the state of the Federal Agencies.
I'm clear that none of the providers for children and families are exempt from being effected by cut backs and 'budget saving strategies'.

And I'm clear that whining about it won't solve the problems that are headed our way.
Taking actions and working together to keep the ship sailing--might.

I won't whine OUT THERE about counting beans and having to do what I saw as 'silliness'.
I'm clear it's about people's jobs--their lives, their families lives......and OUR abilities to continue to help children and families who are now going to receive less help during a really crappy time in the world.......

It was a hard day.......and I left knowing what little piece I needed to start with today.


And when I drug myself home, weary from the difficultness of how things really are--I opened my work email.....
It all came together in one sentence from the social worker I've had the pleasure to work with for 9 years.

"I've been laid off effective today and I'm cleaning out my desk as I type this to you."


I will not whine OUT THERE.
I may whine here.
But I will NOT forget it's about someone's job, someone's family, someone's life......

Today's Fairy Reminder

Today I will work to bring out the best in those around me, even if that means saying the hard things.

If I must confront someone, I will only do it if I can do it with love and compassion.

Oy brother.....

No. You don't get to go pick her up just cuz she's making noises. Those are 'I'm playing and I'm happy' noises.....not 'I WANT UP AND I WANT UP NOW' noises.

Goodness....it's her last morning with Nana......

YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ME...it ain't about Nana.

Worn out--I was in bed at half past ten....

It's all that floor time.....and me having to hoist you up. Next time she visits I'm renting a derrick...

There....did you hear that?

Yup. That was a happy noise.

No, listen. She wants up.

NO.....granddad wants her up....

Welllllll....poor thing....

Oh no. NO NO NO--you leave her be!



(I was on the couch, dangit!!!!!! He had the advantage of being closer to the door AND he went to bed at half past ten.....)

OH LOOK.
The bug is up....

*rolling eyes*

Awwwwwwww.....

.....EVEN if I do toss the Reading Fairy Books.

Ain't that sweet?

:-)

Poor ol' granddad.....

This is the face of the bug as she and granddad are laying head to head on the floor.

<-- has to help granddad get up from the floor following 30 minutes of playtime on the floor with the bug. LOL

It could be the 'bulldozer' game. Ya know, the one where ya get on all fours and try to roll the baby over with your head while making rooooooaaaammmmnnnnn noises?
Maybe it's the tug of war over the John Deere keyring with all the tractor noises and lights? He really likes that one......yeah yeah--and so does she.

Could be it's the 'lay on the back and lift her over your head and hope she doesn't drool on ya' deal?

Or maybe it's the 'I have your wubby and you can't see me' thing.

She can entertain herself with that wubby blanket, on off on off on off--giggle scream giggle scream.... Somehow it's more fun when granddad does it too?

Dang.
It'll be quiet with her gone.
I'll miss the little thing.......


The girl gets in at 5:40--we're doing the meet and greet.
She'll be hungry for the cuddles.

And granddad'll be doing bug withdrawls.....

He is NOT laying on his back and lifting me over his head......for sure I'll drool!
But in the spirit of helping him re-adjust to 'life without the bug in the house' I WILL engage in a friendly game of 'I have your wubby and you can't see me!'

It's a dirty job but someone has to help the poor fella......



:-D

QOTW 11/11/09

How many meetings do you attend a week?


*shudder*

TOO many!!!!!

Monday there are none! I've decided Monday is my favorite day of the week. :-/

Tuesday there's Clinical Supervision with the therapy team......and then I have the Manager's Meeting. *sigh* That sucker takes three hours. THREE HOURS.

Oy brother.

Wednesday is one meeting after another meeting after another meeting. I have all the staff present and it's hitting one team meeting after another....and the Leadership Supervision and the Educational Meeting and the Dietary Meeting AND a Staff Development Training which I generally facilitate......AND I meet up with one of the pigeons and hit my own meeting. (small wonder I'm meeting-ed out by the end of the day and need my OWN meeting, huh?)

Thurday I have the Admistrative Meeting and then I turn around and meet with the Finance people....ughh...

Friday--Well, it USED to be freed up....but now I'm meeting with my 'stand-in' boss and going over financials and my beans that I've counted for the week.
Don't get me started--and no.....this is not a 'Wednesday Whine'......yet!

Friday night, I try to hit another meeting just for me. Sometimes I'm just too tired or I'm just too much wanting to be AWAY from people!
You can get peopled out from all this 'meeting after meeting' jazz......

BUT I'm happy to report that I have NOTHING on Saturday in the way of meetings........woooooohoooo! YEAH me!!

Sunday--I meet with multiple pigeons before and after the breakfast meeting and then I go meet up with the girl and the bug.

Which takes me back to 'do no meetings Monday'.
Gosh, I love Mondays! :-)

LOL.....yes I know how 'sicko' that makes me sound.

TFTD

When you respond the same way often enough it becomes a habit that you follow without even thinking.

In this way your feelings come to seem automatic, even though they never have to be.

The way you feel was at some point a conscious choice.

And you can choose to change, or let go of, or expand what you feel, or to create an entirely new feeling.

Things that make me happy

....wee things that crawl up you and try to eat your necklace.

....meteor showers.

....the CD that plays ocean sounds.

....a November 'fire pit' moment.

....fuzzy catepillars.

....baby toys that flash and whirrr and sing and spin.

....laptops that don't overheat.

....the singing turkey pin! :-)

Today's Fairy Reminder

When we accept life on life's terms, we are acknowledging reality.

We have all, on occasion, run from the truth.

When we were in a situation that frightened us, we would turn tail and run.

We would do our imitation of an ostrich and stick our heads in the sand, pretending the situation didn't exist and was not happening.

When we accept something, we are not passively taking it in.

We are ready to work through and toward our new awareness.

But we can't do anything at all unless we accept it as a reality.

Sleeping with Bread

The examen, based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, helps a person hold onto what spiritually nourishes him by looking at what is giving him consolation in his life or causing him desolation. It allows someone to express his gratitude to God for the good stuff and turn to him for solace for the bad stuff. It is quite simple. You simply ask yourself, in the last day/week/month what gave me consolation and what caused me desolation.

There's been a shift in the seasons--daylight saving time has come and gone and I'm still adjusting.

Adjusting....seems there's been a lot of adjusting that's been required in this past week.
I can't call it desolation...maybe that's a good thing.
Getting back to basics and the principles which dwell deep in me seems to have given me a bit of perspective.....a bit of 'right sized-ness' to the dealings of life as it unfolds around me.
I'm not 'desolated' by the course of events--it's just the 'stuff' that life doles out.
Ya deal....ya keep moving...... And you remember where you get your strength from, what nourishes you. You remember that all things happen with purpose, even if it's not seen by you today.

The boss is gone--and I have a 'stand-in' boss. As much as I kvetch and moan about this, truly--she's doing a stand-up job. I know she cares about what my boss walks back into. She wants to minimize any messes that might be lurking. Bean counting is her way of hopefully 'side-stepping' any stressors which my boss doesn't particularly need. And I told him so when he called to check in with me. He and this new heart valve are bonding. He's sounding better...and he's allowing for visitors--which means I'll get to go there and do that.
They replaced his heart valve and he's healing...how awesome is that?

The pigeon who had a triple by-pass is home, taking walks, doing his healing time.
It scares me how they can crack a chest open on Monday and send a person home three days later--but it seems to be working out.
Oh me of little faith......I did send my best angel.....

The sister is past the H1N1 flu.
The girl is out of town
......and I'm stuck with some drooling schmooze who can smile and get what she wants in a heartbeat...

Life is good.

Face it--G-d's taken very good care of the people around me....and He's been very patient with me.
I haven't been the most 'open-hand, ready to receive' kiddo of His as of late.

Just as well--there were plenty of folks around me that needed the receiving.
(that's my story and I'm sticking to it...)

I know that He isn't the one who 'moved' in this relationship.
I was.
I also know how to move ME.

Kinda cool that I do know that much, today......

((((((((((((((((((( G-d ))))))))))))))))))))))))

Staying with Nana

MINE!

*chuckling*

I dare say she won.
He gave it up when she smiled at him.
Ohhhh.....she's gooooooood......

Didn't someone suggest maybe the Brit oughta be renamed "Pushover #2"?

Fairy Thought for the Day

When we show love or understanding, when we are gentle or express genuine concern, usually the same will come right back to us.
Perhaps not in kind, maybe not in ways we expected, nevertheless our gifts bear fruit.

Many of us have longed for love and security to come from others with a promise of forever; inevitably, we became anxious that, in time, that love or security would disappear.
When we view life from such a narrow perspective, no amount of love can bolster our sense of worth.

How different the world looks when we unselfishly give out love rather than longingly await the love, attention, or understanding of others.

A conversation with The Smittened Brit

Well, she has to have her own toys at Nana's house. She can't have her every day toys. How boring would that be!

Yes dear.

And we'll just grab a couple fruits that she likes....

Yes dear.

And some apple juice--apple juice is good for you.

Yes dear.

And I'll wash up the quilt she likes.

Yes dear.

And smelly lotions. She'll need to have lotion after her bath.

Yes dear.

Oh, and bath toys--....nevermind...she can play with your duckies.

Yes dea....




He almost looked smug when he patted me on the back.....