This past week I had a wonderful opportunity to do some volunteer work. Since my children are getting older I now have the opportunity to get more involved in doing volunteer work. I am becoming involved with the veteran's committee with my union.
My local worked with SE Michigan Veterans Stand Down. Their efforts helped to feed, provide clothing and support to more than 400 homeless or needy veterans in the Detroit area. It was a two day event, and a wonderful experience for myself and I am quite sure many others. I plan to volunteer for next year's events and the years to come.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Things we take for granted
As I said previously I am reading a book titled "The Curse of the Singles Table: A true story of 1001 nights without sex." I am still reading it, and enjoying it, but since I had to attend a band concert at my children's school I decided that it wasn't an appropriate title to be caught reading in the bleachers while I waited for the performance to begin.
So, to be safe, I brought along another book titled "An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales" by Oliver Sacks. I've only read a majority of the first chapter which details a painter that was involved in an automobile accident and several days later began to realize that he had become totally colorblind. You may or may not be aware, but when a person is considered colorblind they have different colors that they may not be able to see, it is rare for someone to actually be TOTALLY colorblind. What makes this story so much more interesting is the fact that the man is a painter, so his life has revolved around a world of color. Eventually this caused the man to have difficulty with being social and even sexual with his wife. Could you imagine being intimate with a person that has no flesh color at all? It would be like being with a corpse, talk about ruining the mood. To this man life was almost not worth living. Kind of like Socrates that took death over a life without philosophy, this painter would prefer death over a life with no color. Luckily, he found a way to work around his disability, or so I think he did, I haven't quite finished the chapter yet.
I love a book that makes me think. This story made me realize how much we take for granted the things in our life that seem so small but are really huge. They go unnoticed because we always have them. Color is part of our visual world, and we never stop to realize what life would be like without it. Imagine eating an apple that was not red, but instead black. Wouldn't it make you lose your appetite? It would probably do wonders for my diet, but I wouldn't want it to be permanent, only when I felt the desire to pig out. Well, this is how life was for the painter. Look around...take in all the color that you never really notice in your world. Imagine looking into someone's eyes and never really seeing its real beauty. Just imagine for a moment a colorless world. Weird, huh?
Another thing, those that are colorblind tend to be born with it. It isn't so difficult to imagine a world without color when you never had it. Although I guess it could be worse. One could be totally blind. Imagine having been born blind and never knowing what you actually look like. Could you have a mental image of what you look like when you have never seen any face, let alone your own face. I guess in this case you would use your other senses, such as feel, to discover what you look like.
Right now I'm feeling pretty grateful.
So, to be safe, I brought along another book titled "An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales" by Oliver Sacks. I've only read a majority of the first chapter which details a painter that was involved in an automobile accident and several days later began to realize that he had become totally colorblind. You may or may not be aware, but when a person is considered colorblind they have different colors that they may not be able to see, it is rare for someone to actually be TOTALLY colorblind. What makes this story so much more interesting is the fact that the man is a painter, so his life has revolved around a world of color. Eventually this caused the man to have difficulty with being social and even sexual with his wife. Could you imagine being intimate with a person that has no flesh color at all? It would be like being with a corpse, talk about ruining the mood. To this man life was almost not worth living. Kind of like Socrates that took death over a life without philosophy, this painter would prefer death over a life with no color. Luckily, he found a way to work around his disability, or so I think he did, I haven't quite finished the chapter yet.
I love a book that makes me think. This story made me realize how much we take for granted the things in our life that seem so small but are really huge. They go unnoticed because we always have them. Color is part of our visual world, and we never stop to realize what life would be like without it. Imagine eating an apple that was not red, but instead black. Wouldn't it make you lose your appetite? It would probably do wonders for my diet, but I wouldn't want it to be permanent, only when I felt the desire to pig out. Well, this is how life was for the painter. Look around...take in all the color that you never really notice in your world. Imagine looking into someone's eyes and never really seeing its real beauty. Just imagine for a moment a colorless world. Weird, huh?
Another thing, those that are colorblind tend to be born with it. It isn't so difficult to imagine a world without color when you never had it. Although I guess it could be worse. One could be totally blind. Imagine having been born blind and never knowing what you actually look like. Could you have a mental image of what you look like when you have never seen any face, let alone your own face. I guess in this case you would use your other senses, such as feel, to discover what you look like.
Right now I'm feeling pretty grateful.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Strange sleeping habits
An update from one of the items listed on my Life List.
I had listed that I wanted to move my cat (who sleeps on one of the pedals of my elliptical machine) so that I would use my machine regularly. Well guess what? Today I did use my machine, I know it's a miracle. AND, I didn't have to move Chilli from the machine, BUT while riding I did have a perfect view of another one of her favorite sleeping spots which she was occupying at the time. Within the past few months she has claimed the top of my china cabinet as hers. The funny thing is that another one of her quirks is that she regularly sleeps while on her back with belly exposed and legs spread wide (sometimes tail tucked between the legs). This is exactly the position that I found her in this evening as I was gliding not so gracefully on my machine. She amazes me everyday with her silly ways.
She picked up this little sleeping habit after I had her fixed a few months ago. Is this unusual or something that many cats do after their surgery? She seems fine otherwise. When I say she does this regularly, I mean she probably spends at least 50% of her sleep time on her back, and for a cat you know that is a lot of time. Strange huh?
I had listed that I wanted to move my cat (who sleeps on one of the pedals of my elliptical machine) so that I would use my machine regularly. Well guess what? Today I did use my machine, I know it's a miracle. AND, I didn't have to move Chilli from the machine, BUT while riding I did have a perfect view of another one of her favorite sleeping spots which she was occupying at the time. Within the past few months she has claimed the top of my china cabinet as hers. The funny thing is that another one of her quirks is that she regularly sleeps while on her back with belly exposed and legs spread wide (sometimes tail tucked between the legs). This is exactly the position that I found her in this evening as I was gliding not so gracefully on my machine. She amazes me everyday with her silly ways.
She picked up this little sleeping habit after I had her fixed a few months ago. Is this unusual or something that many cats do after their surgery? She seems fine otherwise. When I say she does this regularly, I mean she probably spends at least 50% of her sleep time on her back, and for a cat you know that is a lot of time. Strange huh?
A you had to be there moment
I often have to laugh at my children and their sense of humor. I guess they have one sort of like mine. Possibly why I find them so funny.
This evening I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. We had roast over noodles, green beans and a salad. I decided to open up a can of crescent rolls that I had in the fridge and toss them into the oven. As I was rolling up the little triangular pieces of dough I felt something in a few of them that concerned me. Upon further inspection I found something that resembled small beads of glass. Not sure exactly what it was, but I decided it was best to just toss them into the trash. We could live without the bread. I broke the news to the kids, and of course they had to come over and inspect the dough for themselves. Afterwards my son, Joey, decided to read the label for the rolls. He read off a few of the ingredients, which were not the problem. Then with a totally serious tone to his voice he said, "Oh it says it right on here, may contain small pieces of glass." I think my daughter almost fell for it for a moment. He sounded so serious that you could almost believe him. It's probably one of those you had to be there moments, but it made me laugh.
This evening I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. We had roast over noodles, green beans and a salad. I decided to open up a can of crescent rolls that I had in the fridge and toss them into the oven. As I was rolling up the little triangular pieces of dough I felt something in a few of them that concerned me. Upon further inspection I found something that resembled small beads of glass. Not sure exactly what it was, but I decided it was best to just toss them into the trash. We could live without the bread. I broke the news to the kids, and of course they had to come over and inspect the dough for themselves. Afterwards my son, Joey, decided to read the label for the rolls. He read off a few of the ingredients, which were not the problem. Then with a totally serious tone to his voice he said, "Oh it says it right on here, may contain small pieces of glass." I think my daughter almost fell for it for a moment. He sounded so serious that you could almost believe him. It's probably one of those you had to be there moments, but it made me laugh.
Wouldn't It Be Awesome If...
Talk about lists! What a wonderful post by Jen Lemen and her "Wouldn't It Be Awesome If..." list. I can't help but be inspired. Check it out!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Life List
Thanks to Ali Edwards, I have found an interesting new blog. The owner of this blog has created a site with a collection of Life Lists on it. I have added to it my own personal Life List, feel free to read mine or to add your own. Nothing makes reaching your goals more attainable than actually creating a list that you can read often to help keep you focused.
My son, Joey, just reviewed my Life List with me.
My son, Joey, just reviewed my Life List with me.
"NO FAMILY"
Two days ago I walked up to the woman behind the desk at the hospital. I needed to sign in for the surgery that I was having that morning. Don't worry, nothing too major, just getting girly parts in working order. I told her my name, and she looked around for anyone that appeared to be with me. When she realized that I was alone, she opened her mouth and those dreaded words spilled out, "NO FAMILY?" As I looked down at the sheet of paper, I noticed that she was writing down those exact word in large letters "NO FAMILY" after my name. I also noticed that I was the only person with such a label next to their name.
I then proceeded into a surgical waiting room, where I was the only person not with a friend or family member. Instead I sat there and pretended to watch the television while I waited for my name to be called. I felt a wave of relief pass through me as I heard my name being called.
Of course this relief was short lived when I was taken back to a prep room where it was noted again that I had "NO FAMILY." To add to it, when the nurse left my little cubical she kept the curtain open, which of course made it all too easy for me to notice all the other patients with their relatives by their side offering their comforting words.
I won't lie, I started to cry. Not a heavy cry, with tears pouring down my face, but instead a gentle pool of tears in the corner of my eyes. Enough to make me uncomfortable, but not enough to make it obvious to those that walked by. Although I just knew that my secret would be exposed the moment someone walked up to me and forced me to open my eyes, which I am sure were red and tear filled. I remember lying there on the litter thinking to myself how much I wished my kids were old enough to have come with me, of course they are not, but I would have liked it. This is my third surgery, but the only one that I have been alone for. I am surprised at how much being alone bothered me. I do so many things alone. I am sure that someone would have stayed with me, but I hate to ask anyone for anything, so I didn't. Part of my personality flaw I guess, the inability to ask anyone for help when I need them.
I've only shared this with one person so far. Those that know me don't read this blog, with the exception of my daughter, but she hasn't read this in a long time. I am sharing this because I want it known that no matter how much someone claims that they are fine and don't need anyone, never, never, never let anyone have surgery alone. They are lying, they do need someone to comfort them also, just like I needed someone to comfort me. Don't let anyone read the words "NO FAMILY" next to their name on a sign in sheet.
BTW, my surgery went fine. Hopefully my girly parts are in their proper working order.
I then proceeded into a surgical waiting room, where I was the only person not with a friend or family member. Instead I sat there and pretended to watch the television while I waited for my name to be called. I felt a wave of relief pass through me as I heard my name being called.
Of course this relief was short lived when I was taken back to a prep room where it was noted again that I had "NO FAMILY." To add to it, when the nurse left my little cubical she kept the curtain open, which of course made it all too easy for me to notice all the other patients with their relatives by their side offering their comforting words.
I won't lie, I started to cry. Not a heavy cry, with tears pouring down my face, but instead a gentle pool of tears in the corner of my eyes. Enough to make me uncomfortable, but not enough to make it obvious to those that walked by. Although I just knew that my secret would be exposed the moment someone walked up to me and forced me to open my eyes, which I am sure were red and tear filled. I remember lying there on the litter thinking to myself how much I wished my kids were old enough to have come with me, of course they are not, but I would have liked it. This is my third surgery, but the only one that I have been alone for. I am surprised at how much being alone bothered me. I do so many things alone. I am sure that someone would have stayed with me, but I hate to ask anyone for anything, so I didn't. Part of my personality flaw I guess, the inability to ask anyone for help when I need them.
I've only shared this with one person so far. Those that know me don't read this blog, with the exception of my daughter, but she hasn't read this in a long time. I am sharing this because I want it known that no matter how much someone claims that they are fine and don't need anyone, never, never, never let anyone have surgery alone. They are lying, they do need someone to comfort them also, just like I needed someone to comfort me. Don't let anyone read the words "NO FAMILY" next to their name on a sign in sheet.
BTW, my surgery went fine. Hopefully my girly parts are in their proper working order.
Mother & Daughter
This was taken on my daughter's 15th birthday, which also happened to be her very first homecoming dance, and my 20 year class reunion. I can't believe how much she is growing up on me. Isn't she beautiful? Her escort for the evening was her boyfriend, Andrew. They looked so cute, both dressed in black and white. He also gave her a necklace for her birthday, which was sweet. Not the one in this pic, this was taken before he gave her the gift.
Before the dance my daughter, her boyfriend, her two girlfriends and all the parents had dinner together at the Olive Garden. My ex-husband and his wife came from Ohio to spend the weekend with my daughter for her birthday and all the events that took place. I thought this was really nice of them to be there for her. Come to think of it, I was the only single adult there. Wow, like that never happens.
As I said it was the same night as my 20 year class reunion. Since I decided to spend time with my daughter before the dance I was three hours late to my reunion. Of course this wasn't a big deal since I barely knew anyone there anyway. Most of my friends were older when I was in high school. Those that I did know didn't come for one reason or another. There were about 4 people there that I actually knew. I can't say that high school was the most memorable time in my life. Obvious huh?
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