Another relaxing night at home. My niece convinced my boys to stay the night over her house. Usually I let her stay here on most weekends, but this weekend I told her no, so she decided to have the boys go to her house instead. My daughter decided to come home and crash out on her bed. I tried to wake her up, I told her that it was a girls night alone. She made an attempt to wake up, but hasn't budged yet. So I guess that leaves me all alone, with Law & Order and the computer.
I had plans to have dinner with a friend of mine, but he ended up having to work later than expected so we changed our plans for tomorrow. Instead, after a dose of Law & Order, I'll think I'll crawl into bed a little early and start reading my book "Under The Banner of Heaven." It is this month's choice for my book club that I just joined. Not that it is my usual type of reading, but sometimes there is nothing wrong with straying from the usual.
Did I mention that I just started my new term of school. Which is good, because with working, and no school to keep me busy, I've been feeling like I had too much time on my hands. This term I am taking Physical Anthropology, Geography & Biology. I think the Physical Anthropology will be interesting to me, but the professor talks soooooo slow that I am somewhat annoyed. I want to say "spit it out" but of course I wouldn't be that rude. Hopefully she gets a bit more exciting as the class goes on.
Well time for me to get back to my Law & Order.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Shall We Dance?
Today was a good, productive day.
Right now I am sitting here watching Shall We Dance? Starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon. They just played the scene where John's (Richard Gere) wife (Susan Sarandon) asked the private investigator why people get married. She said, maybe not in these exact words, that people marry because they want a witness to their life. They want someone to tell them that they will be remembered. That rings so true with me. Why I want someone to share my life with. Let me remind you that I am very single at the moment, but that doesn't mean that I don't fantasize about finding that special someone. When I think about my own death, the first thing I think about is that I'll grow old without sharing my life with anyone. To me this is so sad.
Okay enough about that. I'm feeling good right now, no sense it bringing myself down.
Right now I am sitting here watching Shall We Dance? Starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon. They just played the scene where John's (Richard Gere) wife (Susan Sarandon) asked the private investigator why people get married. She said, maybe not in these exact words, that people marry because they want a witness to their life. They want someone to tell them that they will be remembered. That rings so true with me. Why I want someone to share my life with. Let me remind you that I am very single at the moment, but that doesn't mean that I don't fantasize about finding that special someone. When I think about my own death, the first thing I think about is that I'll grow old without sharing my life with anyone. To me this is so sad.
Okay enough about that. I'm feeling good right now, no sense it bringing myself down.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Simply Happy
I think I may have said this before, but I absolutely love crawling into bed with fresh linen. I also love turning off the overhead light and reading with just the bedside lamp on. These simple things can really make me happy.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Joining in
I joined two new groups. The first was a book club. I've never joined a book club, but I thought that this would be interesting for me since I enjoy reading so much. Sometimes when I read a book I want to have someone to share it with. Most of my friends are not nearly as interested as I am. The second club was a weight loss group. Since I have been gaining weight lately I need a way to motivate me to do something about it.
I guess I'll see how things go.
I guess I'll see how things go.
A New You
One of my flaws is my inability to throw things away. A perfect example of this is my growing collection of magazines that I have collected over the years. My logic is that there are things in each one that appeals to me that I might look over again some time in the future. Of course what would make more sense would be to clip the article and organize it in some way and toss the actual magazine. Of course that makes way too much sense for me to actually do it. I have to do some things the hard way. Well today I actually took one of these magazines and browsed through it. It was a February 2005 issue of Fit Body. In it they had a list of 25 "New You" Resolutions. Some of these I follow, others I should probably pick up as new habits.
1. Eat breakfast: I can't say I follow this one very well. I have never really been one to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, but I know that it is a habit that I need to learn.
2. Take a multi-vitamin: Huh, do I get credit for having multi-vitamins, but just not actually taking them? I didn't think so.
3. Stop waiting until the last minute: I am guilty of procrastination.
4. Indulge yourself: Diets should never deny. WELL I am guilty of overindulging.
5. Take a real vacation: This is a funny thing, while I was in Florida my nephew asked me if I had ever been on a "real vacation." I thought about it and realized that I never have. Visiting family isn't really taking a vacation. I've thought about doing this in my past but I have never actually done it. Part of me is hoping that one day I'll find someone to actually travel with.
6. Count those sheep: On average I get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night.
7. Make some time for you alone every day: I usually head to my bedroom to read a bit before actually hitting the sack. This is a nice relaxing time for me.
8. Become an early bird: I have trouble with this one. I am the type to get up thirty minutes before I leave for work and jump in the shower and pretty much head out the door. That doesn't leave much time for one to actually relax before starting out the day. I often wish that this was a habit I would pick up.
9. Do a crossword puzzle, play Trivial Pursuit, or get an evening dose of TV's Jeopardy: Preventing Dementia....this isn't too much of a problem for me.
10. Leave work at work: For this one they say to get out of work clothes and get into something comfortable and leave work at home. I'm pretty good with this one. I can't wait to take my jeans off and get comfortable when I get home.
11. Take some time to really breathe: I think I do this one sometimes without even really realizing it. Sometimes I'll give out a deep sigh, and when I do this I can just feel a heaviness being lifted off of me.
12. Do something you use to do: As Maria asked me in my last post, maybe I should get back to doing some scrapbooking.
13. Start a journal: Does keeping this blog count?
14. Pamper yourself: Something else I need to work on.
15. Volunteer: I have a strong desire to volunteer, but it seems at times impossible for me to commit to something when my life can get so overwhelming at times.
16. Dance to the music: It says to do this at least 5 minutes a day.
17. Make your annual check ups: Ahhh finally one that I have already accomplished.
18. Find your mantra: I'll have to search for something special for me.
19. Feed on fat: Well I have no problem feeding on fat, but unfortunately it is the wrong type. I don't get enough mono or poly-unsaturated fat in my diet. Although I do love me some black olives.
20. Make your own food pyramid: This is what is said to do-using the U.S. food pyramid, fill in the blocks iwth a list of the foods you love and like. Post this on your refrigerator and pantry doors. Next time you go for a snack or a meal, choose from the foods at the base of your pyramid and you'll be on your way to a healthier, slimmer you.
21. Try something new: I like this idea. It doesn't have to be anything complex, it can be as simple as a new recipe.
22. Have more sex: Well I'll leave this one alone.
23. Laugh yourself silly: One thing I can say for sure about me, I never have to remind myself to laugh, this is something that I do often.
24. Love yourself: Sometimes I beat myself up, but on most days I appreciate who I am.
25. Exercise: Whoa, this one is a major problem for me. Especially since I haven't been working so much lately, and since I have a job that keeps me moving constantly I have felt the damage being done with so much time off of work. Also I have never really had good knees and lately my right knee has been giving me some trouble, so I have been putting off doing anything that might make it worse.
This year I didn't really make a resolution. Okay I made one to loss weight, but that is a given. Who doesn't say that every year? My year started out kind of bad, but I feel that this year is actually going to turn out to be pretty darn good. At least I hope that it will.
1. Eat breakfast: I can't say I follow this one very well. I have never really been one to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, but I know that it is a habit that I need to learn.
2. Take a multi-vitamin: Huh, do I get credit for having multi-vitamins, but just not actually taking them? I didn't think so.
3. Stop waiting until the last minute: I am guilty of procrastination.
4. Indulge yourself: Diets should never deny. WELL I am guilty of overindulging.
5. Take a real vacation: This is a funny thing, while I was in Florida my nephew asked me if I had ever been on a "real vacation." I thought about it and realized that I never have. Visiting family isn't really taking a vacation. I've thought about doing this in my past but I have never actually done it. Part of me is hoping that one day I'll find someone to actually travel with.
6. Count those sheep: On average I get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night.
7. Make some time for you alone every day: I usually head to my bedroom to read a bit before actually hitting the sack. This is a nice relaxing time for me.
8. Become an early bird: I have trouble with this one. I am the type to get up thirty minutes before I leave for work and jump in the shower and pretty much head out the door. That doesn't leave much time for one to actually relax before starting out the day. I often wish that this was a habit I would pick up.
9. Do a crossword puzzle, play Trivial Pursuit, or get an evening dose of TV's Jeopardy: Preventing Dementia....this isn't too much of a problem for me.
10. Leave work at work: For this one they say to get out of work clothes and get into something comfortable and leave work at home. I'm pretty good with this one. I can't wait to take my jeans off and get comfortable when I get home.
11. Take some time to really breathe: I think I do this one sometimes without even really realizing it. Sometimes I'll give out a deep sigh, and when I do this I can just feel a heaviness being lifted off of me.
12. Do something you use to do: As Maria asked me in my last post, maybe I should get back to doing some scrapbooking.
13. Start a journal: Does keeping this blog count?
14. Pamper yourself: Something else I need to work on.
15. Volunteer: I have a strong desire to volunteer, but it seems at times impossible for me to commit to something when my life can get so overwhelming at times.
16. Dance to the music: It says to do this at least 5 minutes a day.
17. Make your annual check ups: Ahhh finally one that I have already accomplished.
18. Find your mantra: I'll have to search for something special for me.
19. Feed on fat: Well I have no problem feeding on fat, but unfortunately it is the wrong type. I don't get enough mono or poly-unsaturated fat in my diet. Although I do love me some black olives.
20. Make your own food pyramid: This is what is said to do-using the U.S. food pyramid, fill in the blocks iwth a list of the foods you love and like. Post this on your refrigerator and pantry doors. Next time you go for a snack or a meal, choose from the foods at the base of your pyramid and you'll be on your way to a healthier, slimmer you.
21. Try something new: I like this idea. It doesn't have to be anything complex, it can be as simple as a new recipe.
22. Have more sex: Well I'll leave this one alone.
23. Laugh yourself silly: One thing I can say for sure about me, I never have to remind myself to laugh, this is something that I do often.
24. Love yourself: Sometimes I beat myself up, but on most days I appreciate who I am.
25. Exercise: Whoa, this one is a major problem for me. Especially since I haven't been working so much lately, and since I have a job that keeps me moving constantly I have felt the damage being done with so much time off of work. Also I have never really had good knees and lately my right knee has been giving me some trouble, so I have been putting off doing anything that might make it worse.
This year I didn't really make a resolution. Okay I made one to loss weight, but that is a given. Who doesn't say that every year? My year started out kind of bad, but I feel that this year is actually going to turn out to be pretty darn good. At least I hope that it will.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Just another day in Rhonda's world
It seems that things are back to normal for me. The kids are back from their holiday with their father. I am back from my trip to Florida and everything seems to be falling right into place. The only thing is that I can't seem to get rid of the hives that I managed to get while I was in Florida. I called my doctor and if it doesn't go away I will give him a visit sometime this week.
Right now I am sitting here watching Boy Meets Grill with Bobby Flay. Not that I have an interest in Bobby Flay, but I'm sitting here thinking to myself how cool it would be to find a guy that enjoys cooking. I don't try new recipes nearly as much as I would like to. It would be nice to have someone to share some new experiences with. Although I bet I could get my boys to cook with me. The boys probably enjoy cooking more than my daughter does. I guess teaching them how to cook would help some lucky girl in their future.
Lets see...today I am suppose to meet my girlfriends for dinner. We decided to celebrate my birthday today even though it is still several days away.
Since I am back on layoff again from work for three more weeks I am going to try to improve my organizational skills, and to get rid of some of my excess that I have hanging around the house.
Speaking of improving organizational skills, I better get moving and start getting some stuff done around here. I actually have tons to do around here.
Happy Weekend!
Right now I am sitting here watching Boy Meets Grill with Bobby Flay. Not that I have an interest in Bobby Flay, but I'm sitting here thinking to myself how cool it would be to find a guy that enjoys cooking. I don't try new recipes nearly as much as I would like to. It would be nice to have someone to share some new experiences with. Although I bet I could get my boys to cook with me. The boys probably enjoy cooking more than my daughter does. I guess teaching them how to cook would help some lucky girl in their future.
Lets see...today I am suppose to meet my girlfriends for dinner. We decided to celebrate my birthday today even though it is still several days away.
Since I am back on layoff again from work for three more weeks I am going to try to improve my organizational skills, and to get rid of some of my excess that I have hanging around the house.
Speaking of improving organizational skills, I better get moving and start getting some stuff done around here. I actually have tons to do around here.
Happy Weekend!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Back to work for me...at least for four days
Today was my first day back to work after my three weeks off. I guess I'm a weird one because I actually enjoy going to work. Sitting around the house starts to get old. It was great to see my friends again. I have some awesome buddies at work, but they live so far away from me that I don't get to see them much when we are off. Lucky for me, one of my girlfriends just moved fairly close to me, so we'll be able to hang out with each other more often during our down time.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Resolutions
As I am sitting here eating a Snickers I am thinking about this year's resolution; to lose weight. I'm off to a pretty good start huh?
What a wonderful New Year's Day!
Well there is a lot to say, but I'm not sure that I am in the mood for anything too detailed at the moment. First off I am still adjusting to being back here in Michigan after my trip to Florida. My hands are cold, and they don't seem to be moving at their usual speed. Everything feels like it is in S-L-O-W M-O-T-I-O-N right now. Of course the only thing that is probably slow motion right now is just me.
Let me first start off to say that this weekend didn't go so well. I spent the weekend red, itchy and covered in welts. I somehow managed to get a travelling rash from so sort of reaction to something. What I have no idea. Anyway, I wasn't sure what this was from since neither myself nor my children have ever experienced anything like this (thank goodness my children a pretty healthy). Since I had this mysterious rash travelling all over my body I didn't want to go visit my grandmother at the rehab center until I was sure that it was something that I wouldn't pass on to her or any of the other patients. To make sure six hours of my New Year's Eve were spent at the hospital. Nothing major, I got a steriod shot in the bootie, a prescription for something to help with the itching and picked up some Benadryl. Let me tell you I am soooo happy that I went because I couldn't imagine taking that plane ride this morning and itching all over.
Well enough of that, as you can see I was miserable so I didn't get much sleep last night, but I did wake up this morning and I was good as new. I had to wake up at 4 am to make the trip home. So you can imagine how upset I was when I got to the luggage area to find out that my sister didn't come and get me and noone can seem to get ahold of her. GRRRR! So as I am sitting in the airport wondering who the hell is going to pick me up (I couldn't get ahold of anyone) I considered taking a cab ride home; luckily I don't live too far away.
The next thing I know my cell phone is ringing, so I answer it. I is a friend of our family (actually one of my sister's ex-boyfriends) and he said, "hey were are you at?"
I responded, "I'm at the airport where are you?"
"I'm at the airport too."
"Wow, what are you doing at the airport?" As the words came out of my mouth I was thinking to myself what a coincidence, what are the chances that he would be at the airport and call me at the exact time that I am sitting here trying to find a ride.
"I got a text message that said you needed a ride home from the airport." Ahhh, the moment of clarity, and I thought it was an amazing coincidence.
Either way I was happy to get a ride home, and glad that it he was less than ten minutes away from me when he got the text, a text that my nephew sent him. So I managed to get a ride home, but then I had another challenge. My other nephew was house sitting for me but when I called home nobody answered the phone. So I'm thinking to myself, great I finally get a ride home and now I probably won't even be able to get in because I left the housekeys with him. GEEZ! Lucky for me though he was home, the phone was just dead from being off the charger.
Shortly after this I got into my car and it wouldn't start. The battery was dead. Luckily my sister had her car at my house and my nephew had the keys so I used her car to charge my battery.
Okay, right now I am just waiting for something good to happen. I mean with everything going wrong today, my luck has to turn around some time. I'm hoping it is soon.
I am hoping that this isn't a taste of what the New Year has in store for me. If so I'll think I'll rewind back to 2006 and try it again.
Let me first start off to say that this weekend didn't go so well. I spent the weekend red, itchy and covered in welts. I somehow managed to get a travelling rash from so sort of reaction to something. What I have no idea. Anyway, I wasn't sure what this was from since neither myself nor my children have ever experienced anything like this (thank goodness my children a pretty healthy). Since I had this mysterious rash travelling all over my body I didn't want to go visit my grandmother at the rehab center until I was sure that it was something that I wouldn't pass on to her or any of the other patients. To make sure six hours of my New Year's Eve were spent at the hospital. Nothing major, I got a steriod shot in the bootie, a prescription for something to help with the itching and picked up some Benadryl. Let me tell you I am soooo happy that I went because I couldn't imagine taking that plane ride this morning and itching all over.
Well enough of that, as you can see I was miserable so I didn't get much sleep last night, but I did wake up this morning and I was good as new. I had to wake up at 4 am to make the trip home. So you can imagine how upset I was when I got to the luggage area to find out that my sister didn't come and get me and noone can seem to get ahold of her. GRRRR! So as I am sitting in the airport wondering who the hell is going to pick me up (I couldn't get ahold of anyone) I considered taking a cab ride home; luckily I don't live too far away.
The next thing I know my cell phone is ringing, so I answer it. I is a friend of our family (actually one of my sister's ex-boyfriends) and he said, "hey were are you at?"
I responded, "I'm at the airport where are you?"
"I'm at the airport too."
"Wow, what are you doing at the airport?" As the words came out of my mouth I was thinking to myself what a coincidence, what are the chances that he would be at the airport and call me at the exact time that I am sitting here trying to find a ride.
"I got a text message that said you needed a ride home from the airport." Ahhh, the moment of clarity, and I thought it was an amazing coincidence.
Either way I was happy to get a ride home, and glad that it he was less than ten minutes away from me when he got the text, a text that my nephew sent him. So I managed to get a ride home, but then I had another challenge. My other nephew was house sitting for me but when I called home nobody answered the phone. So I'm thinking to myself, great I finally get a ride home and now I probably won't even be able to get in because I left the housekeys with him. GEEZ! Lucky for me though he was home, the phone was just dead from being off the charger.
Shortly after this I got into my car and it wouldn't start. The battery was dead. Luckily my sister had her car at my house and my nephew had the keys so I used her car to charge my battery.
Okay, right now I am just waiting for something good to happen. I mean with everything going wrong today, my luck has to turn around some time. I'm hoping it is soon.
I am hoping that this isn't a taste of what the New Year has in store for me. If so I'll think I'll rewind back to 2006 and try it again.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Florida Bound
I'll be leaving shortly for my trip. Unfortunately I have to return to work on the 2nd so I'll be back on the 1st. I'm not sure how much of an opportunity I'll have to blog, but if I get the chance I'll do what I can.
As usual on my way home from dropping of the kids to see their father I felt a heaviness on my heart. They go to visit often, but I never seem to stop feeling this way. I am sure that they will have a nice time sharing the holidays with his family. They have a big family and everyone pretty much lives in the area, so family get-togethers are common for them. All I have here is my sis and two of her children. I wonder if when my kids get older if they will visit mom for a holiday dinner or will they have other plans. I'm hoping that we can at least work something out to celebrate together for at least one of the days, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Of course that is years down the road, no need to really think about it now.
Did I mention who I am visiting while I am in Florida? My parents live down there along with my nephew (my sister's oldest son). My parents raised her two oldest boys. She got pregnant pretty young, way before she was ready to be a mother. I'll also be visiting my grandmother, my only living grandparent. My favorite presents that I will be giving this year are for my grandmother. Besides buying her a couple of boxes of chocolates (she loves her sweets), I am returning a sweater to her that belonged to my grandfather. He use to wear cardigans all the time, and when my grandmother decided to get rid of her place here in Michigan and live in Florida all year around, my father tried to throw them out. A while back I mentioned to her that I saved several of them to remind me of him, and she said that she would like to have one. Isn't that sweet? So this Christmas that will be one of her presents. To remind her a bit of my grandfather. Now HE was a sweetheart. I miss him a lot. I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with him before he died. Anyway, along with that I also bought her a book, a collection of works by Edgar Allen Poe (one of her favorites). There isn't much you can get for a woman that will probably never return home. She will probably go straight from the rehabilition center to a nursing home. These are my favorites because it is everything she loves.
Well time for me to stop rambling. I think I'm going to run and have me a bit of lunch/dinner before my flight. As much as I enjoy not listening to my children fighting, I am not use to all of this silence. I guess the alone time is good, but WOW it seems so weird everytime I go through it.
Happy Holidays if I don't return before then.
As usual on my way home from dropping of the kids to see their father I felt a heaviness on my heart. They go to visit often, but I never seem to stop feeling this way. I am sure that they will have a nice time sharing the holidays with his family. They have a big family and everyone pretty much lives in the area, so family get-togethers are common for them. All I have here is my sis and two of her children. I wonder if when my kids get older if they will visit mom for a holiday dinner or will they have other plans. I'm hoping that we can at least work something out to celebrate together for at least one of the days, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Of course that is years down the road, no need to really think about it now.
Did I mention who I am visiting while I am in Florida? My parents live down there along with my nephew (my sister's oldest son). My parents raised her two oldest boys. She got pregnant pretty young, way before she was ready to be a mother. I'll also be visiting my grandmother, my only living grandparent. My favorite presents that I will be giving this year are for my grandmother. Besides buying her a couple of boxes of chocolates (she loves her sweets), I am returning a sweater to her that belonged to my grandfather. He use to wear cardigans all the time, and when my grandmother decided to get rid of her place here in Michigan and live in Florida all year around, my father tried to throw them out. A while back I mentioned to her that I saved several of them to remind me of him, and she said that she would like to have one. Isn't that sweet? So this Christmas that will be one of her presents. To remind her a bit of my grandfather. Now HE was a sweetheart. I miss him a lot. I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with him before he died. Anyway, along with that I also bought her a book, a collection of works by Edgar Allen Poe (one of her favorites). There isn't much you can get for a woman that will probably never return home. She will probably go straight from the rehabilition center to a nursing home. These are my favorites because it is everything she loves.
Well time for me to stop rambling. I think I'm going to run and have me a bit of lunch/dinner before my flight. As much as I enjoy not listening to my children fighting, I am not use to all of this silence. I guess the alone time is good, but WOW it seems so weird everytime I go through it.
Happy Holidays if I don't return before then.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Dose of Drama
You know what stinks about sitting home so much lately? The fact that I sit here and watch all the reruns for ER, and become annoyed when last weeks episodes are from a completely different season from the one I am watching today. This weeks episodes involve Dr. Green, Doug and an inexperienced Dr. Carter. Next week I'll probably be back to watching a very experienced Dr. Carter in Africa, and a nearly all new cast of characters to replace favorites like Doug (sexy George Clooney) and Dr. Green.
What can I say, with so little drama in my life these days, I have to get my daily dose of drama from somewhere.
What can I say, with so little drama in my life these days, I have to get my daily dose of drama from somewhere.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
I'm outta here!
Did I mention that in less than 48 hours I will be saying "Goodbye Michigan, HELLO Florida."
The Female Brain
I am enjoying the book "The Female Brain," however I wish that I had someone that was reading it along with me. There are many parts of it where I wish that I could engage in a conversation about it after reading it. Right now I am only as far as the "mommy brain," although I suspect that I am heading into the menopausal brain, but I haven't read that far yet. I find it interesting how our brains react to these hormones and neurochemicals. Just like how everytime I come into contact with a newborn I feel that "mommy brain" kicking in. I get the urge to have another one of my own, even though I know that this is not something that could happen, or that I would even want to happen at this point of my life, but that brief sensation is there. That longing for another child still warms me up inside. Of course I can be a very patient woman, and I have no problem waiting for grandchildren. Hopefully that won't be anytime soon though.
Oh, and I love the book cover. The perfect way to depict the female brain, a jumbled up telephone cord. What I also love about this book is that she explains the process in what could be a complicated way, in a way that is very easy to understand and with a sense of humor. My kind of reading.
What's up with UPS?
What is it with UPS? Why don't they bother to knock at the door when they drop of packages? I saw them pull up and I waited for the knock at the door before answering it, but there was never a knock. Then I heard the truck pull off. I then opened the door to find my package sitting there on my porch. Why don't they knock anymore? Have they just gotten lazy, or is this normal procedure?
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
La Befana
Not everyone recognizes Santa as "Jolly Old Saint Nick" in the red suit, with flying reindeer. Supposedly Italian folklore claims that "La Befana" delivers presents to the children, not Santa Claus. She somewhat resembles a witch, wearing a black shawl and riding a broom (no rudolph leading her way). Although is nice and not at all an evil witch. She delivers the presents on the evening of January 5 & 6th, and instead of children leaving milk & cookies, they leave a glass of wine and a few morsels of food.
Just an interesting twist on our usual Christmas traditions here in the states.
We become so accustomed to how we celebrate things here that we never really sit back and think about how others might be celebrating these same holidays in very different ways.
Just an interesting twist on our usual Christmas traditions here in the states.
We become so accustomed to how we celebrate things here that we never really sit back and think about how others might be celebrating these same holidays in very different ways.
Girl Stuff
Guys, you might not want to read this. You know....girl stuff.
I'm currently reading the book "The Female Brain." As I was reading it I came across a section that made complete sense to me. The female hormones, estrogen and progesterone and a woman's menstrual cycle; specifically mine.
About two years ago I was bleeding like a water faucet. So bad that I thought there was no way that any person could bleed that much and survive. As you can see I survived. Although it did take some time for me to get into the doctor. You know how they say that women are better about going to the doctor then men are, well sometimes this woman is not so good at it. It seems that when something isn't right with my body my first thought is usually cancer (my family has a history of it). I am sure that I am not alone here, and all my fears usually do is cause me undue stress.
Along with my excessive bleeding I also began to have excessive mood swings. Of course I didn't turn into the Wicked Witch of the West, but instead I became extremely sensitive. This usually happened just before menstruation. I would become very depressed, and just down right miserable. I seemed to think that it was the end of the world; my world that is.
Eventually I decided that enough was enough and I went to visit my doctors, both of them (GYN and family practice). The GYN put me on birth control for the very first time in my life. I thought this was funny, since I had already delivered all the children that I will ever give birth to. I had a tubal ligation after the twins (what did you think I was crazy). It was a simple fix, my hormones were out of whack. Well after the GYN I went to see my other doctor for my "depression." I explained to him about my visit to the GYN, and told him my symptoms. He ended up giving me a prescription for Prozac along with the birthcontrol. He also explained to me that what I was dealing with was Premenstrual Dysphoric Syndrome (a bad case of PMS). You see I only became sad and depressed like that just before my period.
So here I sit, thinking about this book and my experience, and really thinking about how these hormones can really mess up a woman's brain. Thinking about how quickly her world can be turned upside down, as if life is so miserable that it isn't worth living, but yet a week before she was so optimistic about life. I do see things differently now. Sure I do tend to get a bit down when "aunt Flow" comes to visit, but not nearly as sad as I was when my hormones were so jacked up.
BTW...I stopped taking the Prozac after about a month. I wanted to be my normal happy self, not completely numb, which is exactly how it made me feel. Nothing made me happy or sad, I was just left dangling there somewhere in the middle. The birthcontrol made it for about two months before I screwed that up. I've never been very good at taking medications, I'm always forgetting them. It seems though that it was long enough to straighten out my system. So if you're like me and seem to keep putting off a much needed visit to the doctor, get off your butt and do it....NOW.
....and here I am (smile).....happy.
I'm currently reading the book "The Female Brain." As I was reading it I came across a section that made complete sense to me. The female hormones, estrogen and progesterone and a woman's menstrual cycle; specifically mine.
About two years ago I was bleeding like a water faucet. So bad that I thought there was no way that any person could bleed that much and survive. As you can see I survived. Although it did take some time for me to get into the doctor. You know how they say that women are better about going to the doctor then men are, well sometimes this woman is not so good at it. It seems that when something isn't right with my body my first thought is usually cancer (my family has a history of it). I am sure that I am not alone here, and all my fears usually do is cause me undue stress.
Along with my excessive bleeding I also began to have excessive mood swings. Of course I didn't turn into the Wicked Witch of the West, but instead I became extremely sensitive. This usually happened just before menstruation. I would become very depressed, and just down right miserable. I seemed to think that it was the end of the world; my world that is.
Eventually I decided that enough was enough and I went to visit my doctors, both of them (GYN and family practice). The GYN put me on birth control for the very first time in my life. I thought this was funny, since I had already delivered all the children that I will ever give birth to. I had a tubal ligation after the twins (what did you think I was crazy). It was a simple fix, my hormones were out of whack. Well after the GYN I went to see my other doctor for my "depression." I explained to him about my visit to the GYN, and told him my symptoms. He ended up giving me a prescription for Prozac along with the birthcontrol. He also explained to me that what I was dealing with was Premenstrual Dysphoric Syndrome (a bad case of PMS). You see I only became sad and depressed like that just before my period.
So here I sit, thinking about this book and my experience, and really thinking about how these hormones can really mess up a woman's brain. Thinking about how quickly her world can be turned upside down, as if life is so miserable that it isn't worth living, but yet a week before she was so optimistic about life. I do see things differently now. Sure I do tend to get a bit down when "aunt Flow" comes to visit, but not nearly as sad as I was when my hormones were so jacked up.
BTW...I stopped taking the Prozac after about a month. I wanted to be my normal happy self, not completely numb, which is exactly how it made me feel. Nothing made me happy or sad, I was just left dangling there somewhere in the middle. The birthcontrol made it for about two months before I screwed that up. I've never been very good at taking medications, I'm always forgetting them. It seems though that it was long enough to straighten out my system. So if you're like me and seem to keep putting off a much needed visit to the doctor, get off your butt and do it....NOW.
....and here I am (smile).....happy.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Band Geeks
Don't you just love it when you children inform you the night before a school event that I need to make cookies. It always seems to work this way with me and my children. You would think by now I would expect this.
My daughter has a band concert tonight. Yes, all three of my children are band geeks, but they love it. Here is a little something about one of my sons. Everytime he gets in trouble and I send him to his room, he goes in there and plays his instrument. I wonder if he thinks this annoys me, or is it just his way of passing time (btw, he plays the trumpet). Either way it's a good thing, I've been wondering if I should send him there more often. Just a little something I thought was cute.
Countdown to Florida: 5 days
My daughter has a band concert tonight. Yes, all three of my children are band geeks, but they love it. Here is a little something about one of my sons. Everytime he gets in trouble and I send him to his room, he goes in there and plays his instrument. I wonder if he thinks this annoys me, or is it just his way of passing time (btw, he plays the trumpet). Either way it's a good thing, I've been wondering if I should send him there more often. Just a little something I thought was cute.
Countdown to Florida: 5 days
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Cookies & such
Today has been a pretty good day. I made some cookies with my neighbor and my daughter. We had made some Russian Tea Cakes which were cooling. After they were cool, my daughter asked if she could have one. I told her that she could, but that she needed to roll them in powdered sugar first. I was just getting ready to sit down at the computer when I just happened to look over at her as she was gently rolling the cookies in the white powder. That is when I realized that she was rolling them in the flour and not the powdered sugar at all. Ha, ha, you should have seen the look on her face when I told her. What a silly girl! Luckily she only did a couple before I caught her.
Other than that I did find a new recipe for a slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup. I put it on this afternoon in the slow-cooker and let it cook away. I thought it was delicious, and so easy to make. Although I did skip the bay leaf and frozen corn because I didn't have any, but it was still yummy. A little something good to keep you warm this winter.
Other than that I did find a new recipe for a slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup. I put it on this afternoon in the slow-cooker and let it cook away. I thought it was delicious, and so easy to make. Although I did skip the bay leaf and frozen corn because I didn't have any, but it was still yummy. A little something good to keep you warm this winter.
Dreaming is my enemy
I know what the problem is. I'm dreaming....well I'm waking up in the middle of my dreams. My dreams are all related to my everyday life. Simple things that happen, that roll over into my dreams and are somehow molded into its own variation of my life. Not necessarily making much sense, but the underlying theme of the dream is simply my life, just with a twist.
This morning I dreamed about car doors being wide open, cakes being made for a competition, and a mix between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I can't remember the entire dream, only pockets of it. My car was broken into a while back, and now I double, no triple check to make sure that my doors are always locked. This is why I saw the car doors opened. The cake decorating competition had involved my ex-in-laws (that I still get along with), but I wasn't competing against them. Somehow there were also some old friends from the military (not sure how they came into the picture). Now lately I have been baking for the holidays, and the kids are helping so they are sending some goodies to their father. Although I'm not making cakes, I'm making cookies. The mix between Thanksgiving and Christmas I just can't seem to understand, except maybe that it is simply because they are both so close together, and tend to blend into each other anyway. Like I said, the dreams are just a variation of my everyday life.
The bad part is that once I am awaken I start to think about whatever it was I dreamed about. What to make next for the goodies. Then I am left to think about something else. Why did my daughter's friend's mother call me and ask if I was going to the band concert? Well I know that we get along very well, and she does know that I always show up. Is she planning to give me a small present for the holidays? Don't you feel awkward when you get presents and don't have one to return. Although we did get something for the daughter and we were sending cookies for the family, but should I bring them then or let my daughter wait until the last day of school like she had planned? She is such a sweet lady, we get along so well. Whenever we get together for school events we end up standing around forever catching up on things.
Well that is how I spent my morning so far. I was awaken by a dream, that led me to think about other things, that eventually caused me to do what I have been doing every morning. WAKE UP way too early in the morning. Burying my head under the blanket and pillow do me absolutely no good.
Actually there is probably more to it than that. My internal clock is probably still use to waking up at 5 am, so getting up at 6 am IS sleeping in for me. Although 9 am sounds soooooo sweet.
This morning I dreamed about car doors being wide open, cakes being made for a competition, and a mix between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I can't remember the entire dream, only pockets of it. My car was broken into a while back, and now I double, no triple check to make sure that my doors are always locked. This is why I saw the car doors opened. The cake decorating competition had involved my ex-in-laws (that I still get along with), but I wasn't competing against them. Somehow there were also some old friends from the military (not sure how they came into the picture). Now lately I have been baking for the holidays, and the kids are helping so they are sending some goodies to their father. Although I'm not making cakes, I'm making cookies. The mix between Thanksgiving and Christmas I just can't seem to understand, except maybe that it is simply because they are both so close together, and tend to blend into each other anyway. Like I said, the dreams are just a variation of my everyday life.
The bad part is that once I am awaken I start to think about whatever it was I dreamed about. What to make next for the goodies. Then I am left to think about something else. Why did my daughter's friend's mother call me and ask if I was going to the band concert? Well I know that we get along very well, and she does know that I always show up. Is she planning to give me a small present for the holidays? Don't you feel awkward when you get presents and don't have one to return. Although we did get something for the daughter and we were sending cookies for the family, but should I bring them then or let my daughter wait until the last day of school like she had planned? She is such a sweet lady, we get along so well. Whenever we get together for school events we end up standing around forever catching up on things.
Well that is how I spent my morning so far. I was awaken by a dream, that led me to think about other things, that eventually caused me to do what I have been doing every morning. WAKE UP way too early in the morning. Burying my head under the blanket and pillow do me absolutely no good.
Actually there is probably more to it than that. My internal clock is probably still use to waking up at 5 am, so getting up at 6 am IS sleeping in for me. Although 9 am sounds soooooo sweet.
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