I have been known to take shortcuts. I love it when I find a quicker way through town. One that skips a few lights. One that takes me on roads less traveled. And the end result is that I usually get to my destination sooner.
I have not always been very patient. With others, I generally am very patient. Not so much with myself. Yes. I'm the one that likes the shampoo and conditioner combination. It's quicker that way. I like the clothes that don't need to be ironed. I use the laundry soap with softener in it. I am constantly looking for ways to be quicker in things and more efficient.
I have had some success and some failures in cooking. There are times when the recipe should be followed to a "t". And if the recipe says you should sift your dry ingredients, you should follow this direction. I have also had some success in using substitutes. But it hasn't worked out well every time.
So this weekend, I did all sorts of rushing around. I finished cleaning my upstairs in record time. I was celebrating this accomplishment by whistling as I walked, ok bounced, down the steps. Almost to the end I missed the second to last step and fell.
After a couple of hours the pain had not subsided. In fact it was getting worse. Even after icing it. And elevating it. I needed to go to urgent care. Luckily my sore foot is my left one. I'm still able to drive. An x-ray was ordered. My doctor said it looked like a sprain. The x-ray said it wasn't. In fact three toes are broken. Pretty badly, too. Home I went with a fancy new boot and a pair of crutches. And now I get to have a follow up appointment with a podiatrist.
All this for skipping one step. Just one...
Monday, September 2, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
47 Things I know...
Ok. I'm not actually going to type 47 things that I know. The reason that I used the number 47 is because that's my new age. I like the sound of that...my new age. It's mine and I'm going to own it and tell you a few things that I do know.
I like to spend time, not money. Any day of the week. I have money. I need money. But the things that mean the most to me don't cost a thing and are yet priceless. Spending time with a friend over a two hour cup of coffee. Visiting family and laughing at the jokes that only your family understands. This is the stuff that life's made of.
A good meal made by someone you love, or for someone you love, nourishes the stomach and soul. On my birthday Scott made steaks. With sautéed mushrooms and onions. It was a meal that pleased my palette. More than that the company, my man and daughter, made me feel full and loved.
Surround yourself with young ones. It makes you remember that you're not always right. It keeps you fresh. In ideas, humor and language. It will challenge your brain. And they will drain your energy and help you sleep well.
If your clothes don't fit, quit wearing them. I did another major purge this summer of drawers and closets. Seriously. It's amazing what I really don't wear. In my world a good fitting pair of jeans is worth a million bucks. Ok, not a million, but they are worth a lot.
Moisturize. On the inside and on the outside. I recently read a statistic about how Americans are often not hydrated well. This makes a difference in organs functioning properly and how your skin appears. Of course there is the need for topical moisture, too. Especially as one ages. Find one that works. Your outer shell depends on it.
I don't feel 47. And I don't feel 21 either. I feel content. I feel loved. I love and laugh. Like all of the time. Perhaps this is what keeps me feeling younger than my actual new age. Or maybe it's all of the lotion and the young people I surround myself with. Whatever it is, I'm going to keep doing it.
I like to spend time, not money. Any day of the week. I have money. I need money. But the things that mean the most to me don't cost a thing and are yet priceless. Spending time with a friend over a two hour cup of coffee. Visiting family and laughing at the jokes that only your family understands. This is the stuff that life's made of.
A good meal made by someone you love, or for someone you love, nourishes the stomach and soul. On my birthday Scott made steaks. With sautéed mushrooms and onions. It was a meal that pleased my palette. More than that the company, my man and daughter, made me feel full and loved.
Surround yourself with young ones. It makes you remember that you're not always right. It keeps you fresh. In ideas, humor and language. It will challenge your brain. And they will drain your energy and help you sleep well.
If your clothes don't fit, quit wearing them. I did another major purge this summer of drawers and closets. Seriously. It's amazing what I really don't wear. In my world a good fitting pair of jeans is worth a million bucks. Ok, not a million, but they are worth a lot.
Moisturize. On the inside and on the outside. I recently read a statistic about how Americans are often not hydrated well. This makes a difference in organs functioning properly and how your skin appears. Of course there is the need for topical moisture, too. Especially as one ages. Find one that works. Your outer shell depends on it.
I don't feel 47. And I don't feel 21 either. I feel content. I feel loved. I love and laugh. Like all of the time. Perhaps this is what keeps me feeling younger than my actual new age. Or maybe it's all of the lotion and the young people I surround myself with. Whatever it is, I'm going to keep doing it.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
For Benny And Schoep
It's no secret that I am in love with dogs. I didn't grow up with them, but I adopted one the minute I married. This is where my love began. Belvedere was an English Bulldog. Not the lovey on your lap kind of dog. He was the kind that pulled me around the block and ate furniture when brought into the house. But I loved him. He opened the door for me to love other dogs.
Soon after came Chester and Winston. Both of them changed me forever. They made me a better person. I will always have them in my heart. And that brings me to Benny and Schoep. These dogs were not mine. But their humans shared them with many. I did have the opportunity to meet Benny. He was the fun loving fella that lived next door to my parents. Benny and my dad had a connection. They visited often. Dad said he genuinely felt an affectionate bond between them. A little over a week ago, dad and Benny shared their last visit. Benny saw something interesting and died shortly after darting out into the street.
And a few weeks ago Schoep died. I never met him. Or his human, John. Schoep was this wonderful boy who had the love of a man that helped him reach the age of 20. He was hard of hearing and had poor eyesight. His hips were bad and he had arthritis. But somehow John found a way to comfort him and restore some pep to this beautiful boy. John would carry Schoep into the lake and let the water work its healing wonders on him. Schoep touched thousands of lives because of a picture that was in a newspaper of John and Schoep on one of their trips to the lake. The world was honored to be with John and Schoep in their journey together.
I am writing about these two boys because they are universal ambassadors of love. We as humans provide them with love, food, water and a home. We make sure that they have proper medical care and licenses. But what they give back to us is priceless. They teach us to love at a level deeper than we ever knew we could. They teach us to be thoughtful. To be happy to see each other. Every time we come home. They teach us to be patient and kind. To exercise. They teach us to play and be silly. They show us that even though they don't speak to us, they understand. They are incredibly forgiving. They never see us humans as flawed.
I know these families are grieving the loss of Benny and Schoep. Many others are mourning with them. And this is where we can take a lesson from our furry loved ones. Be gentle in this time. With yourself. Allow yourself the time to feel. Remember some of the valuable lessons these wonderful creatures have taught us. Be thoughtful and happy to see each other. Every time we come home. Be patient and kind. Be silly and play. Exercise. Understand and forgive. And keep your heart open to love again. This is the best way I know of to honor our four-legged family members.
Soon after came Chester and Winston. Both of them changed me forever. They made me a better person. I will always have them in my heart. And that brings me to Benny and Schoep. These dogs were not mine. But their humans shared them with many. I did have the opportunity to meet Benny. He was the fun loving fella that lived next door to my parents. Benny and my dad had a connection. They visited often. Dad said he genuinely felt an affectionate bond between them. A little over a week ago, dad and Benny shared their last visit. Benny saw something interesting and died shortly after darting out into the street.
And a few weeks ago Schoep died. I never met him. Or his human, John. Schoep was this wonderful boy who had the love of a man that helped him reach the age of 20. He was hard of hearing and had poor eyesight. His hips were bad and he had arthritis. But somehow John found a way to comfort him and restore some pep to this beautiful boy. John would carry Schoep into the lake and let the water work its healing wonders on him. Schoep touched thousands of lives because of a picture that was in a newspaper of John and Schoep on one of their trips to the lake. The world was honored to be with John and Schoep in their journey together.
I am writing about these two boys because they are universal ambassadors of love. We as humans provide them with love, food, water and a home. We make sure that they have proper medical care and licenses. But what they give back to us is priceless. They teach us to love at a level deeper than we ever knew we could. They teach us to be thoughtful. To be happy to see each other. Every time we come home. They teach us to be patient and kind. To exercise. They teach us to play and be silly. They show us that even though they don't speak to us, they understand. They are incredibly forgiving. They never see us humans as flawed.
I know these families are grieving the loss of Benny and Schoep. Many others are mourning with them. And this is where we can take a lesson from our furry loved ones. Be gentle in this time. With yourself. Allow yourself the time to feel. Remember some of the valuable lessons these wonderful creatures have taught us. Be thoughtful and happy to see each other. Every time we come home. Be patient and kind. Be silly and play. Exercise. Understand and forgive. And keep your heart open to love again. This is the best way I know of to honor our four-legged family members.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
The Traveling Bassinet
We had been looking forward to this day for a long time. The day that we would walk through our back door with our new baby. I had a difficult pregnancy, so it was a relief to be at this point. Mom and baby healthy and home. As a result of my time on bed rest there wasn't a lot of time to plan and decorate.
Oh, don't worry. I made my maiden voyage to the children's furniture store. And within fifteen minutes I had dropped a thousand dollars. Scott didn't say a word. He didn't blink an eye. He just wrote the check. For this grand amount we received a crib, a dresser and bedding for our new baby. Blame it on the hormones, or perhaps my limited time to shop, but it was an insane amount to spend. Fourteen years ago.
Back to the much awaited moment of walking through the door with our priceless addition. She was tiny. I know, I know. All babies are small. But Gracie was four pounds, fourteen ounces. A little itty bitty thing. She was early, but healthy as a horse. We introduced her to our dogs. They checked her out. Sniffed her. Licked her little head. And they gave us their approval. It was as if they said, "it's all good. You can keep her."
After a little while we decided to put her in her crib. I laid her down gently. Scott and I looked at her sleeping peacefully and smiled. And then I freaked. She's too small to sleep in such a big space! This isn't going to work for me. And then the tears. And there were many.
Scott was off like a superhero. With the help of my mom he left for the children's furniture store. To buy a bassinet. Because the thousand dollar furniture was too big for his baby. Not really. But he understood that it was too big for his wife to bear at this very moment.
Back they came with a lovely little bassinet covered in white eyelet. It was perfect. Small, like she was. It was on a stand that had wheels. And wheel it I did. From the living room, to the kitchen and back to my bedside.
It wasn't long before she grew too big to be in this bassinet. By this time I was much more comfortable with her sleeping in her gigantic crib. Not really. I mean her crib wasn't gigantic. I meant that I was at peace with her being in there. Gracie was at peace, too. She slept beautifully.
Such a pretty bassinet it was. And so when we heard that friends were having a baby we loaned it to them. They kept it through two babies. No sooner was it returned to us and another couple we knew needed it. They kept it through four babies. Right now it is being used by a baby boy born a month ago.
This pretty little impulse buy is getting a lot of use. This traveling bassinet has held a lot of babies. It is the gift that keeps giving.
Oh, don't worry. I made my maiden voyage to the children's furniture store. And within fifteen minutes I had dropped a thousand dollars. Scott didn't say a word. He didn't blink an eye. He just wrote the check. For this grand amount we received a crib, a dresser and bedding for our new baby. Blame it on the hormones, or perhaps my limited time to shop, but it was an insane amount to spend. Fourteen years ago.
Back to the much awaited moment of walking through the door with our priceless addition. She was tiny. I know, I know. All babies are small. But Gracie was four pounds, fourteen ounces. A little itty bitty thing. She was early, but healthy as a horse. We introduced her to our dogs. They checked her out. Sniffed her. Licked her little head. And they gave us their approval. It was as if they said, "it's all good. You can keep her."
After a little while we decided to put her in her crib. I laid her down gently. Scott and I looked at her sleeping peacefully and smiled. And then I freaked. She's too small to sleep in such a big space! This isn't going to work for me. And then the tears. And there were many.
Scott was off like a superhero. With the help of my mom he left for the children's furniture store. To buy a bassinet. Because the thousand dollar furniture was too big for his baby. Not really. But he understood that it was too big for his wife to bear at this very moment.
Back they came with a lovely little bassinet covered in white eyelet. It was perfect. Small, like she was. It was on a stand that had wheels. And wheel it I did. From the living room, to the kitchen and back to my bedside.
It wasn't long before she grew too big to be in this bassinet. By this time I was much more comfortable with her sleeping in her gigantic crib. Not really. I mean her crib wasn't gigantic. I meant that I was at peace with her being in there. Gracie was at peace, too. She slept beautifully.
Such a pretty bassinet it was. And so when we heard that friends were having a baby we loaned it to them. They kept it through two babies. No sooner was it returned to us and another couple we knew needed it. They kept it through four babies. Right now it is being used by a baby boy born a month ago.
This pretty little impulse buy is getting a lot of use. This traveling bassinet has held a lot of babies. It is the gift that keeps giving.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Bigger The Better
It's me again. So soon, you say? Yep. When the writing juices are flowing you've just got to do it. You may have noticed that I changed my template. It was time. I like to change things up a bit. I'm just having a little trouble with the predominance of pink. Otherwise I like it. Free form watercolor. Good for now.
It's summer and I have changed a few things up. I bought a new couch. It's a sectional. Brown leather. It feels like butter. So comfortable. And we all fit on it. Scott, Gracie, Sweet Pea, Bailey and me. With room to spare. I loved the look of this couch in the store and I love it even more in my living room. But I need to be honest. The furniture is bigger than I thought it would be. I am usually so good at visualizing. Really. It's like a gift. Or should I say it was a gift. I sort of made this piece of furniture smaller in my mind. To fit in my small living room, of course.
Anyway, we're loving every minute of it. And then we saw Nate Berkus on t.v. the other day. I love his design tips. I had even caught a few of his shows before his daytime spot was cancelled. Well, Nate suggested to viewers that they decompress first thing when they get home. He said to sit down and put your feet up, even for ten minutes, it is the best gift you can give yourself. Scott and I looked at each other. Telepathically we communicated. Yep, hardly a word was spoken and we were off. To the furniture store.
Our lives will not be complete until we do this, is what we said. We marched into the store and we were on a mission. To find the ottoman that matches our mammoth couch. So we can put our feet up and decompress. Every day.
So, Scott picked up the ottoman today. It's big. It matches the couch. Scott says that our couch reaches into next week. And now we have a matching ottoman that has its own zip code!
It's summer and I have changed a few things up. I bought a new couch. It's a sectional. Brown leather. It feels like butter. So comfortable. And we all fit on it. Scott, Gracie, Sweet Pea, Bailey and me. With room to spare. I loved the look of this couch in the store and I love it even more in my living room. But I need to be honest. The furniture is bigger than I thought it would be. I am usually so good at visualizing. Really. It's like a gift. Or should I say it was a gift. I sort of made this piece of furniture smaller in my mind. To fit in my small living room, of course.
Anyway, we're loving every minute of it. And then we saw Nate Berkus on t.v. the other day. I love his design tips. I had even caught a few of his shows before his daytime spot was cancelled. Well, Nate suggested to viewers that they decompress first thing when they get home. He said to sit down and put your feet up, even for ten minutes, it is the best gift you can give yourself. Scott and I looked at each other. Telepathically we communicated. Yep, hardly a word was spoken and we were off. To the furniture store.
Our lives will not be complete until we do this, is what we said. We marched into the store and we were on a mission. To find the ottoman that matches our mammoth couch. So we can put our feet up and decompress. Every day.
So, Scott picked up the ottoman today. It's big. It matches the couch. Scott says that our couch reaches into next week. And now we have a matching ottoman that has its own zip code!
Be Sweet
Yesterday in church we had a visiting pastor. He said he feels that anger has consumed much of our time. Anger has become more and more prevalent. We read about it in the papers. We watch news stories about people focusing on the negative and getting angry about it. I get it.
I have wasted time in my life. I have been angry for sure. It's a normal human response. It shouldn't be taken away. It has a purpose. I think it goes back to the survival instincts we have. If something isn't right, or fair, we will occasionally respond with anger. This lights a fire within us to make a change.
The unhealthy type of anger is the kind that consumes our every waking moment. The kind that causes road rage. The kind that causes people to say mean and rude things to others. The not cool kind. This is the kind that makes you see red and act in ways that are inappropriate. It's the kind of anger that gets feelings hurt and people killed.
I have had times of frustration. My plan to clean the house, my plan to meet up with friends and it doesn't go the way I want it to. This is a set up for disappointment. But there are some key factors in what I just said. Here they are..."my plan" and "the way I want it to." I do have control over how I plan things and how I want things to go. It's like working a math equation. If I add the same two numbers over and over the outcome will always be the same. The problem with the I and my statements that I just made is that I didn't factor in any outside influence. Or any other people. So really why would I expect the result to change?
Top this with the fact that behavioral scientists have shown that it takes more effort to be angry than it does to be happy, kind and accepting. I have chosen in life to be the former. I save my energy for being pleasant. For being kind. For helping others.
I hold doors, smiling, I'll let someone with only three items to buy go ahead of me in the grocery store line. These are small things. They are practice. For me. I will still be strong and have my own opinions, but I will see others' perspectives, too. I aspire to be more laid back and calm. So I can carry on. And save my times of frustration and anger when they can be thought out and used to make a positive change.
So along with simplifying my life, I have made a conscious decision to try to always be calm and well intentioned. It's something I can control. It is good for my health. And for those around me. It's just easier to be sweet.
I have wasted time in my life. I have been angry for sure. It's a normal human response. It shouldn't be taken away. It has a purpose. I think it goes back to the survival instincts we have. If something isn't right, or fair, we will occasionally respond with anger. This lights a fire within us to make a change.
The unhealthy type of anger is the kind that consumes our every waking moment. The kind that causes road rage. The kind that causes people to say mean and rude things to others. The not cool kind. This is the kind that makes you see red and act in ways that are inappropriate. It's the kind of anger that gets feelings hurt and people killed.
I have had times of frustration. My plan to clean the house, my plan to meet up with friends and it doesn't go the way I want it to. This is a set up for disappointment. But there are some key factors in what I just said. Here they are..."my plan" and "the way I want it to." I do have control over how I plan things and how I want things to go. It's like working a math equation. If I add the same two numbers over and over the outcome will always be the same. The problem with the I and my statements that I just made is that I didn't factor in any outside influence. Or any other people. So really why would I expect the result to change?
Top this with the fact that behavioral scientists have shown that it takes more effort to be angry than it does to be happy, kind and accepting. I have chosen in life to be the former. I save my energy for being pleasant. For being kind. For helping others.
I hold doors, smiling, I'll let someone with only three items to buy go ahead of me in the grocery store line. These are small things. They are practice. For me. I will still be strong and have my own opinions, but I will see others' perspectives, too. I aspire to be more laid back and calm. So I can carry on. And save my times of frustration and anger when they can be thought out and used to make a positive change.
So along with simplifying my life, I have made a conscious decision to try to always be calm and well intentioned. It's something I can control. It is good for my health. And for those around me. It's just easier to be sweet.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
She Dreamed It
Scott and I decided before Gracie was born that we would try to never tell her she couldn't do things. Don't worry. We would never let her touch something hot or let her play in traffic. We wanted her to feel like she could be and do anything her heart desired. We wanted to be encouraging parents.
It started when she was small. Newly verbal, she began by saying, "I do it." Like when she was just over a year old. She said this over and over. And she did do it. She walked. She ran. She jumped. And she flipped. And then, at seven, she broke her arm. And even that didn't stop her. She got her black belt in karate. She became a strong swimmer. She jumped off the high dive.
She has gone to camps and on trips all over the country (courtesy of Grandma and Papa). She has met new people. She has volunteered. She tries new crafts. This she gets from her artistic Grandma. She googled a recipe on the night of our anniversary and prepared a four star restaurant-worthy meal for us. She snaps photos. Like her dad. And she has a great eye. It's genetic.
She loves people. And she loves to talk and laugh. And make other people laugh. Like her mom. And her aunt. She is supportive and takes risks. She has a can do attitude that I wish I could bottle. She has been supportive beyond her thirteen years. She has helped me in difficult times. She was sunshine to her dad through his battle with cancer. She is her Papa's favorite nurse.
She is athletic. She plays hard. She runs. She lifts weights. She takes good care of her body. Especially her back. She has scoliosis and has been paying special attention to strengthening muscles around her spine.
Last year she made me a bookmark. I think that it sums up how simple her motto in life is. It says, "she dreamed she could, so she did." Definitely words to live and dream by.
It started when she was small. Newly verbal, she began by saying, "I do it." Like when she was just over a year old. She said this over and over. And she did do it. She walked. She ran. She jumped. And she flipped. And then, at seven, she broke her arm. And even that didn't stop her. She got her black belt in karate. She became a strong swimmer. She jumped off the high dive.
She has gone to camps and on trips all over the country (courtesy of Grandma and Papa). She has met new people. She has volunteered. She tries new crafts. This she gets from her artistic Grandma. She googled a recipe on the night of our anniversary and prepared a four star restaurant-worthy meal for us. She snaps photos. Like her dad. And she has a great eye. It's genetic.
She loves people. And she loves to talk and laugh. And make other people laugh. Like her mom. And her aunt. She is supportive and takes risks. She has a can do attitude that I wish I could bottle. She has been supportive beyond her thirteen years. She has helped me in difficult times. She was sunshine to her dad through his battle with cancer. She is her Papa's favorite nurse.
She is athletic. She plays hard. She runs. She lifts weights. She takes good care of her body. Especially her back. She has scoliosis and has been paying special attention to strengthening muscles around her spine.
Last year she made me a bookmark. I think that it sums up how simple her motto in life is. It says, "she dreamed she could, so she did." Definitely words to live and dream by.
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