I had a bad day

Yep, I had a pretty bad day.  It started out with me having to do, pretty much, the thing I hate about my job the most.  I had to stop at a shop and pick up food because my boss scheduled a meeting inside the two week window that on-site catering is available.  I know this doesn't sound like a very difficult thing to do, so I'll tell you the rub.  No matter where I go to pick up food for a meeting, whether it be for breakfast or lunch or a snack, it never turns out well.  So, what happened on this day, you may ask.  I ordered catering from Panera Bread.  I know, you're all saying yummy, yummy.  Yeah, I know, Panera is yummy.  Here's the thing, when you order food for take-out, you never know what you're going to get.  I ordered something they call a 13 pack and two jugs of coffee.  The coffee was supposed to serve 8 cups per each jug.  This would equal about 16 cups, right?  This is what I thought.  So, I have coffee for 16 cups and 13 bagels with two small tubs of cream cheese.  Easy peasy.

Not so fast.

The first thing I discover when picking up the food is that they give me the bagels in a bag and not on a tray.  Evidently, you have to order your bagels on a tray if you want them on a tray.  And, they add $2.50 + tax for the tray.  Thank you.  I need a tray.  Secondly, they don't give you plates with your catering.  You have to specifically ask for plates.  Thankfully, I asked for plates when I ordered the food, so I didn't have to pay extra for the plates when I pointed out that I needed them and they weren't in the bag.  Also, remember the bagels.  Well, you must have to ask to have the bagels sliced in advance, because the bagels I got where not sliced.  And finally, even though you've ordered bagels and cream cheese for 13 people, they must think all 13 people are GREAT friends.  They gave me four plastic knives.  Four.  Four plastic knives for service for 13 people.  This is not good.  I scrambled around the building and found three more plastic knives.  Evidently, plastic knives are the holy grail of plastic cutlery.  By the way, Panera gave me enough sugar to give the biggest sugar addict enough sugar for an entire year.  TONS of sugar, four plastic knives.  AND, they didn't slice the bagels.  I guess I kind of get this, no slicing of the bagels thing.  Maybe they thought I wasn't going to eat them right away.  However, I did say I wanted these for a catered breakfast meeting.  I guess I didn't put the dots close enough together.  Oh well.

But this wasn't the worst thing about my day.  By a long shot.

As I drove down to the college for the breakfast meeting, I had an uneasy feeling.  Scheduling this meeting was challenging.  For some reason, every time I sent an email with the meeting information, the recipients would ask me questions like, "what time is this meeting?"  Even though it was on the email.  Or they would ask, "what sub-group meeting is this?"  Even though it was on the subject line.  They even asked, "what day is this meeting?"  Even though I said, in the email, it was tomorrow.  Odd.  Weird.  But, wait for it...........  wait for it..........
I invited the wrong people to the meeting.  None of the people I invited were in the sub-group the meeting was supposed to be about.  None.  I invited the wrong sub-group to the wrong sub-group meeting.  When my boss returned from the meeting he says to me, "something went wrong.  didn't it?"  I said, "yeah."  Sure, as soon as he said something was wrong, everything made sense.  These people didn't know what meeting I was inviting them to attend, but nobody said anything to me.  My boss never made the sub-group list.  (no wait, he did, but he made it at 7:45 a.m. on the morning of the meeting.  too late to help me.)  Then he says to me, "I'm not mad."  Seriously?!?  You're not mad?  This meeting was a total waste of some very important people's time.  I made admirals come down to the college from their posts.  I made presidents of companies come to a NON-meeting.  I screwed up.  BUT, yeah, I had a lot of help.  From my boss.  I had never even seen the list of people to invite to this meeting.  He forwarded his request for this meeting from the wrong email thread.  The list of CORRECT attendees for this meeting didn't even exist until 45 minutes before the meeting was to start.  So, I guess he's not mad.  He has someone to blame.  me.  It sucks, but at least there were bagels.

But this wasn't even the worst thing about my day.  Oh no.  There was more.

There is a HUGE hubbub down here at the college.  Two long-time and well loved employees were fired.  One had 25 years of service and was an administrator, albeit, not at executive level and the other had 37 years of service and was support staff.  Fired.  (seriously, support staff don't get fired because of a change in administration.  support staff only get fired when they do stuff wrong.  like invite the wrong people to the wrong meeting.)  And then the all-staff email that broke the news essentially said, this is what we did and don't you dare ask us anything about it.  (also known as, F.U.)  For a college with staff that hasn't had raises in 5 and a half years, this was morale breaking.  A student blog has taken this issue on, as well as the local newspapers.  The college is stonewalling.  Silence.  When there is silence, everyone thinks the worst.  Everyone here is afraid for their jobs.  It's awful.  But what did I do to make my day even worse?  I did a stupid thing.  I opened the student blog and planned to post the link to one of the stories from the local paper.  I wasn't going to say anything or add to the fury with an actual comment.  I was just going to post the link.  And, I was going to post it anonymously, or so I thought.  But no.  No.  no.  no.  It must have been my trembling hand readying to click the mouse.  I didn't just click.  I DOUBLE clicked.  And when I double clicked not only did I post anonymously, but I posted with my Being Happy profile.  With my lovely avatar and link to my blog.  Disaster.  How UN-anonymous can you be.  My smiling face and my blog.  You know what they say about the internet, "once something is on the internet it is there forever."  (maybe they don't say it, but I certainly do.)  I had been joking about doing something similar to this earlier this very day.  Not as myself, of course, but with an actual person's name as my log-in.  (this would have been the name of a co-worker I don't like very much.  I know, it's hard to believe I don't like EVERYONE, but I don't.  can you believe that karma, or whatever you want to call it, came around and bit me in the butt so fast.  no, me either.)

It was a bad day.

I did email the owner of the blog and ask him to remove my avatar and blog info.  He was kind enough to do this.  I do feel a bit of relief.  I hate screwing up.  I REALLY hate screwing up on the internet.

417.  A husband that listens to my fears
418.  Learning a tough lesson, but surviving it
419.  A boss that gives the leftover bagels to another office to spare me the calories
420.  Friday, even if it is the 13th

A glimpse into retirement

Today I got a peek into my future.  I took the day off of work.  I call this a mental health day.  If I hadn't taken today off, I may, very well, have quit today.  Between the anticipation of a trip to visit my parents that has turned into a full-fledged family reunion and the extra work passed to me because of the retirement of a coworker, I started to feel a lot of stress.  If it was just the work or just the anticipation of the trip, I would be ok, but the combination of the two was giving me chest pains.  This makes me feel weak.  I'm not going to get into the details of either of the issues, but the trip isn't just a trip (I like to call a trip to visit family a "working" vacation) and the extra work isn't just more work (can you say more responsibility with no authority?).  I'm home from work and I'm not physically ill or going to a doctor appointment.  What I am doing is getting an opportunity to see what my newly retired husband does as a retired guy.

It looks awesome.  If today is an example of what retirement is like, SIGN ME UP!

Today I watched my husband sleep until 9 a.m.  Then he got up and shaved and brushed his teeth and made an espresso and turned on CNBC.  Good morning.  Today was considered a working day for him.  He's watching Apple and looking for a $3 pop today to sell a call and make some money.  So far Apple is is up $0.08, so no trade yet.  Fingers crossed.

Then lunch.  He had leftovers.  I think he ate the leftovers because he knows it makes me very very happy for my men to eat the leftovers from dinners I make for them after working all day long.  I makes me kind of mad to toss out the leftovers from dinners made by my exhausted hands.  Anyway, it made me happy to see him eat the leftovers.

Then, he told me I needed to do something with the lamb I have thawing in the refrigerator.  I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be tasked to cook at 12:15 p.m.  Yeah, it was awesome.  I hope he wasn't hoping he could have dinner by 5 p.m.  I mean, I know he's retired, but we're not doing that early-bird dining thing just yet.

Next, I went up to the bedroom to turn the tv on to something other than CNBC and possibly take a nap (no dice on the nap).  A few minutes later, he came up to his office to work on his dissertation paper.  (the never ending dissertation...)  He popped his head in the door to ask me to turn the tv down (I think it was tuned to RHOOC, so I totally get the distraction.  those women bitch and whine like nobody's business).  I tuned the tv back to CNBC.  I guess I like watching (read listening) to this more than I thought I would.  Still watching to see what Apple is up to (down $1.57 bummer).

The plan, for me, is to make dinner and that is all.  My husband has a meeting to attend tonight, so I'll try to have dinner ready by 6 p.m. to allow him to leave on time.  This is going to be the extent of my activities for the day.  I completely get how lazy I am.  I'm surprising myself by writing a blog post.  I was thinking this may even be too much effort for me to expend today.  I'm still having waves of panic run through my body, but they aren't as severe as they were this weekend.  I hate the sick feeling I get in my stomach when I'm under stress.  That small knot of fear balled up in my stomach causing stomach acid to pour in to try to dissolve it.  Since there is nothing actually in my tummy, the acid just burns, burns, burns.  Ah, stress...

Husband just informed me he is going downstairs to run on the treadmill for an hour.  He is awesome.  He has such discipline.  He loves to run on the treadmill and watch CNBC.  I, on the other hand, am happy to sit in bed and type my blog.  I'm considering taking a few minutes to read more of my book.  I'm currently reading compendium one of The Walking Dead graphic novels.  LOVE IT.  I'm halfway through.  I know, I know I said I would exercise, but... I'm sick today.  (cough, cough)  Let's see how Apple is doing... (up $0.22, c'mon AAPL)

I had the opportunity to check my email and found a gem.  The International Space Station will be in the view of many US states.  The ISS is incredible to watch as it goes across the night sky. It is brighter than anything else, save the Moon, and really moves quickly.  This website gives you the times and coordinates for whatever location you want.  I found the viewing time and duration for my area.  It's tonight at 8:57 p.m. and be available for viewing for 2 minutes.  It will approach the viewing sky at 43 degrees above ESE and depart the viewing sky at 12 degrees above SE.  I don't know exactly what that means, but I'm going to the sighting help information on the website.

I was happy to have my glimpse into retirement today.  I learned a few things.  One thing I learned is that there is nothing on tv worth watching during the day.  Another is that reading tweets is considered news.  Seriously?  Reading tweets is news?  What is the world coming to?  On the positive side I learned that I'm going to LOVE retirement.  I cannot wait.  (just in case my boss ever reads my blog, I CANNOT wait, just sayin') 

396.  Paid sick days
397.  Prayer
398.  Tums
399.  More prayer
400.  A pretty day in June and time to enjoy it

FYI, APPL is up $0.23.  It doesn't look like we're going to get the $3 pop.  (not every day is a winning day)

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose

"Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, ..."  Sing it, Janis!  I hope I've got this song stuck in your head.

Lately I've had this song stuck in my head.  I've been feeling very anxious about clearing the clutter and, just plain STUFF I have in my house.  I'm falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning with this one thought on my mind.  "I've got to get rid of all this stuff."  It's starting to choke me.  I'm feeling weighed down by my stuff.

Yesterday I went to the store because I needed new pants and shirts for work.  Can you believe I couldn't find any black pants?  Well, I couldn't.  So, I'm wearing my old black pants.  I could, however, find a brown pair of pants, so I bought them.  I also bought three new shirts.  Yay.  When I go home I threw away three old shirts and an old pair of brown pants.  Gone.  I don't need extra stuff.  The reason I went to the store was to get new clothes because the old pants and shirts were looking shabby.  I am not saving shabby clothes.  I don't need "clean the house" clothes or anything of this sort.  And, no one wants my worn out shabby clothes.

I need to start emptying drawers and cupboards.  I need to have less stuff.  I've always felt I needed to sell my old stuff.  Now I'm beginning to think I need to get rid of the stuff.  I tried to toss some things away last week.  I was thwarted in my efforts by both my husband and my son.  They saw the stuff in the garbage and they said, "hey, who's throwing my stuff away?"  Mind you, the stuff I tossed had been sitting on a table in the spare room for no less than three years.  Seriously!  Three years!  But it was precious to them.  My new way of getting rid of stuff will be to double bag it and THEN toss it in the trash.  No way will I allow them to garbage pick it back out.  Stuff HAS to go.

The next things going out of the house on eBay will be collectibles that no longer have any value whatsoever, to me.  Btw, they have no collectible value, either.  Gone will be Lladros, Nao by lladro, Longaberger baskets, etc.  If you like any of this kind of thing and you don't follow me on Twitter or my Facebook page, you'd better start now.  The stuff has to go and it has to go soon.

I want to be free.  I want to be free of my stuff.  'Cause freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.  I've been watching my co-worker freeing herself of all her belongings and I've never seen her look happier.  I want to feel the feeling of only possessing things I use all the time or things I love.  I want to focus my time and energy on the people in my life, not the things.  I'm ready to let it go.

I've discovered a lot of bloggers in the "less is more" genre.  Leo Babauta and Matt Baker and Beth Dargis are a few of my favorites.  These blogs encourage me to live more with less.  Leo and Matt may be a bit hard core in the minimalism.  Matt has taken photographs of all his stuff.  He doesn't have much.  Leo, from what he says, has very few possessions.  I don't think it's necessary to go quite this far,  but you can learn a lot from them.  I am encouraged by Mariza.  She went from a huge single family home to living in an RV.  She does it with such style.  I'm not sure I could make it to this level, but the desire is burning in my soul.  Who knows, maybe I can do this, too.

168.  Encouragers in the quest to live with less
169.  Bloggers showing me how to live with so much less
170.  Bloggers living with less, yet living with style
171.  For having more than I need and yet wanting to live with less

There is no reality

Only perception.

This is truth.  Right now I find myself struggling in the quicksand of perception.  I've written here of my son.  My problem, I believe, is my perception of my son's capabilities.  The last diagnosis he received, before he became an adult, was executive function disorder.  As far as I can understand, this is a severe type of ADD.  When he became an adult, he decided to quit taking any medication.  I'm not sure he was ever on a med that truly helped him, but nonetheless, he quit taking all meds.  Currently, I'm struggling with a couple issues. 

First, will my son ever be able to live independently?  I struggle with whether or not this is a problem.  If my son had been born with down's syndrome or any other debilitating condition, my husband and I would have prepared to have our son with us until we died.  If this were the case, my husband and I would be THRILLED with the level he currently functions at.  But, because my son has the capacity to drive, to work, to learn, has a high school diploma, but has no initiative or follow-through, does this mean we should require less of him.  It's such a struggle for me.  There are times when I think, "just kick him out and let the chips fall where they may."  And there are times when I think, "I can't do that to him.  I have to help him."  I don't know the right thing to do.  I've been trying to teach him to save money, to budget, to plan ahead.  It seems these concepts are out of his reach. 

Secondly, my son is an adult.  He needs to make his own medical decisions.  I'm trying to encourage him to see a psychiatrist and re-evaluate his condition.  Maybe there are meds that would help him.  Currently he is covered under my health insurance, but this will only last for six more months.  I don't know what to do.  I'm struggling.  I'd love to be able to take it under my control and "fix" him, but I can't.
 
It's all perception.  What is the reality of my son's situation?  How hard should I push?  How much should I let go?  How much should I help?  These are the questions robbing me of sleep at night.  This is my unanswered prayer to God.

 Help me Dr. Phil

New ceilings and other updates

This afternoon I want to share an update on the reparations to our home from the damage inflicted by hurricane Irene on August 27, 2011 .  A date burned into my memory.  Good news everyone, the projects are moving along.  If you remember the last house update post I wrote after getting my roof replaced, I have a new roof!, on October 21, 2011, let you know of all the happiness I was feeling at that time.  And, as an aside, I got two or three comments on that post from roofing contractors.  They weren't the roofers I used, but roofers will take advertising any way they can get it and my roof was the prettiest roof I'd ever seen.  :)

Today I will share the news that the ceilings of my son's room, my room and the dining room have all been replaced and painted.  Also, my attic is now fully insulated with new, fresh insulation.  We are warm and dry.  I came home from work yesterday to the smell of paint.  It was a wonderful smell.  It made me feel so good I almost forgot about the three days of living in a total mess caused by having drywall replaced and having a ceiling spray-textured and having all your furniture moved into hallways and entryways and stubbing your toe a hundred times.  It's All Good.  I also want you to know the guy installing the drywall in my house was a total professional.  He did a perfect job.  It is such a joy to have honest, professional craftsmen doing work in your home.  I thanked him and I thanked God for him.  I'd show you pictures, but you would just see pictures of ceilings and they don't make fascinating subjects.  But, I gotta tell ya, they are GORGEOUS.

I fully expect to have many comments from all the drywall guys out there in the internets.  Feel free to comment away.  Right now, I LOVE you guys.

We are currently in the midst of having our deck replaced.  The actual decking material is back-ordered, so we will have to wait a little longer before it is finished.  Right now it is framed and the footings have been poured.  It looks like it's going to be a deck.  It looks like it's going to be a beautiful deck.

I am so positive about all the things getting accomplished at my house.  It's a good feeling, to me, to have things getting checked off my list.  I see the light at the end of this tunnel and it's getting brighter and brighter.

I copied my list from the "new roof" post and crossed a few things off.  <3 this.  :)

• Drywall - the drywall guy came today and gave me an estimate.  It was higher than the insurance adjuster figured, but we will see if we can get her to change her mind.  :)   (btw, the insurance adjuster did change her mind on the dining room ceiling and included it in the repairs.  :))
• Paint 
• Clean carpet - when we have the carpeting cleaned, we will know immediately if we need to replace it.  If there is a strong smell of mold, the carpeting goes.  *between you and me, I think there is going to be mold.  I've seen the evidence, but I'll play by the insurance rules.*  (the carpet cleaners are coming on Tuesday)
• Deck replacement - fingers crossed, this will start next week. (halfway done)
• Window replacement - just ordered the window yesterday.  It will take six weeks to come in.
• Remove all trees leaning AWAY from the house - I have no idea when we will start on this.
• Remove trees in back yard - these trees fell into our back yard, but these were trees growing on common (*read, community center property)  We will have to deal with the HOA on this.  (Oh, I'm on the board of the HOA.  It will be interesting to see how this goes.)  (it went very well.  The HOA is going to remove four of the trees)
• Have a Merry Christmas?  I hope so.  :)  (I think Christmas is going to be the BEST EVER)

Thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes in our recovery.  It's been a great feeling to have the support of my blogging friends.  You guys ROCK. (no pun intended.  get it?  sheet-rock)

I have a new roof!

I am so happy.  You just cannot imagine the happiness I feel.  A roof.  A roof over my head.  A secure roof with no broken trusses or holes.  I am smiling from ear to ear.  I know this sounds silly to say one can get so excited over a roof, but it's true.  I am thrilled.  This is the first step in the restoration of my home.  My sanctuary.  My nest.  The roof is so pretty.  It sounds funny to say it is pretty, but it is a pretty roof.

A short list of chores still to come:

• Drywall - the drywall guy came today and gave me an estimate.  It was higher than the insurance adjuster figured, but we will see if we can get her to change her mind.  :)
• Paint 
• Clean carpet - when we have the carpeting cleaned, we will know immediately if we need to replace it.  If there is a strong smell of mold, the carpeting goes.  *between you and me, I think there is going to be mold.  I've seen the evidence, but I'll play by the insurance rules.*
• Deck replacement - fingers crossed, this will start next week.
• Window replacement - just ordered the window yesterday.  It will take six weeks to come in.
• Remove all trees leaning AWAY from the house - I have no idea when we will start on this.
• Remove trees in back yard - these trees fell into our back yard, but these were trees growing on common (*read, community center property)  We will have to deal with the HOA on this.  (Oh, I'm on the board of the HOA.  It will be interesting to see how this goes.)
• Have a Merry Christmas?  I hope so.  :)

My pretty new roof

Earthquakes and hurricanes and Steve Jobs quits. Oh my!

I know you heard we had an earthquake here in the mid-Atlantic.  I know you heard about it, because the bureaucrats in Washington, DC felt it.  Yep, the president of the United States felt it.  He was in Martha's Vineyard, golfing, but he felt it.  The Washington Monument is broken.  The National Cathedral is broken.  Our government got half a day off on Tuesday.  And, the news outlets got something to talk about.  Yep, Tuesday, August 23 at 1:51 p.m. the EASTERN seacoast had an earthquake.  (take that California)  Personally, I was at my desk, working, when the quake hit.  I am an experienced earthquake survivor.  I recognized the shaking for exactly what it was, said "earthquake" (loud) and ran from the building.  I was the first one out.  Evidently my character has been revealed.  When in a disaster situation, I will get myself out of harm's way and leave my co-workers to fend for themselves.  Now we know.  In case there was any curiosity as to whether I would hold the door open and usher folks to safety, the answer is "no, I won't be doing that."  I was living in Monterey, CA during the October 1989 quake.  I was nearly scared to death.  That was the biggest shaker I've ever felt.  The Bay Bridge collapsed.  The Cypress Freeway in Oakland collapsed.  I didn't have power for a week.  My neighbor's houses were broken.  It was a disaster.  I lived in Naples, Italy from 1984-1987.  We had tremors regularly.  The city of Pozzuoli was, effectively, closed after an earthquake in 1983.  The tremors lasted all of '84 and '85.  These were my first earthquakes.  I remember the first night I was to sleep in the hotel after moving to Italy, there were 30 tremors.  Needless to say, I didn't sleep.  I have survived another earthquake.

Also, we have a hurricane on the way.  Irene.  I really don't like hurricanes.  They are messy.  You know they are coming.  You try to prepare.  You hope you have enough clean water.  You know you won't be having a hot shower.  Then you clean up the mess.  I keep hoping, hoping, and then hoping a bit more for Irene to travel east.  Please Irene, travel out into the Atlantic.  We don't want you here.  I am much luckier in the hurricane disaster area.  I've only experienced hurricane Isabelle.  It was a mess.  I was scared.  We didn't have power for 5 days.  We were ok.  Our house was ok.  We lost about 30 trees on our property, but not one of them hit the house.  I hope I haven't used up all my hurricane luck.  I'm not looking forward to Irene.  But, I know she's coming.

Lastly, Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple.  I'm hoping this is not the disaster so many think it will be.  I don't think it will be.  We've known Steve has had failing health for quite a while.  We've seen this coming, too.  Like Steve, I believe Apple's finest and most innovative days are ahead of them.  I have confidence in Tim Cook.  I'm a Mac.  I know I told you this in my 100 things post.  I'll bet most of you have Apple stock in your mutual funds.  Just sayin'.  I hope Steve Jobs can get better.  He's so young.  It's very sad.  However, I don't think it's the end of Apple.

Ok, there you have it.  Three disaster situations.  You decide.  Is it the end of the world? 

OK, I'm totally blowing it today

Some days I just wake up on the wrong side of the bed.  Some days I just feel like everyone in my path is bothering me.  Some days I just want to crawl back under the covers and start over.  Today is one of those days.  I need a do-over.  I think this very bad horrible day may have started yesterday afternoon.  I think it may have started when I began a project for my husband.  I project I conceived in love, but soon took a dark turn.  I know he wasn't angry or frustrated with me.  But there was some frustration being vented and I was the only one in the room.  :(

Anyway, this isn't the only factor contributing to my "bad day."  My house is a mess.  I still haven't sorted everything out from my vacation.  I still have a few things strewn about my bedroom floor.  I haven't finished all the laundry.  I have a messy kitchen.  I wanted to make pickles this weekend and I didn't get it done.  I wanted to make charred tomato sauce, but I didn't get THAT done either.  I did get a bushel of peaches in the freezer and I did make the memory book for my mil.  (this was the cause for some of the frustration, but we will just leave this alone for now)  For some reason clutter and mess in my house has a tendency to make me NUTS.  For some reason I think I need to accomplish EVERY task I assign myself or else I'm a complete failure.  I am very hard on myself and it effects how I feel in my body.  I actually feel unsettled.  I'm not doing my best at work, because I'm thinking about my messy house.  I know, this does not sound normal.  I'm a freak.

I don't enjoy feeling this way and I'm absolutely sure my co-workers and others I've made contact with today don't enjoy it.  I wonder if any of these unsettled feelings have anything to do with Tamoxifen?  You know, I'll bet they do.  I'll bet a lot of this "uncomfortableness" I'm feeling has to do with side effects of Tamoxifen.  I wish there was some sort of signal or pattern to the days when my lack of estrogen will make me act MEAN to anyone crossing me.

So, to any fb friends, bloggers or customer service personnel I may have been short or snarky to.  I'm sorry.  Just remember, God gives moms lots of estrogen so they can love those screaming, demanding, dirty little babies and think of them as cherubic darlings.  I don't have any estrogen.  I have to use my *sparkling* personality.  (which today, was sorely lacking)

This has been a stream of consciousness emergency, if it had been an actual emergency you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for news and official information.

Google guitar

Did everyone have fun with the Google Guitar today?  I know I did.  It was in loving memory of Les Paul.  I worked most of the day to learn how to play Here Comes the Sun.  Needless to say, this was not one of my most productive days.

It was HOT today.  HOT with a capital H O T.  Anyway, one of the VPs in the building bought everyone in the building ice cream.  It was a treat.  Thanks boss.  I know I had a smile on my face.  :)

If you didn't play with this today, take five minutes.  It's FUN.

photo credit

Number 9 - De-stress

9. De-stress. You're more likely to be cranky if you're perpetually stressed out. So get away from it all and recharge.

At the beginning of the year I posted some Tips for a Happier and Healthier Frame of Mind.  Number 9 said to de-stress.  I have just returned from four days at a health spa doing just that.  It was WONDERFUL.

I began a tradition of visiting the Heartland Spa with my mother in the early part of the year about five years ago.  I'll begin by telling you this is a very nice spa.  It is a "destination spa" which is much different than a day-spa.  While you visit the Heartland you are focusing on health, restoration and de-stressing.  I don't want to be an advertisement for this spa, but rather, focus on de-stressing and focusing on health.  While I was there I exercised by doing cardio, strength training and yoga.  I've got to tell you, I am woefully out of shape.  I have got to keep a regular exercise program going and get some stamina, strength and flexibility back.  This was not my favorite part of the visit, but it was certainly the backbone of the visit.  This portion gave me the determination to keep my exercise program going now that I have returned home.

I also spent a good deal of my time being pampered while I was at the spa.  I treated myself to a scrub and warm oil aromatherapy wrap, evening massages, a facial and mani/pedi.  I booked my mom a service every time I booked myself a service.  She said to me, "you know, I don't really need all these things."  Ah, there it is.  This is the credo I have lived by most of my life.  I don't really need to treat myself in a pampered way.  While I was having a massage the first night I arrived I thought this exact thought, "I don't really need a massage.  This is me throwing money away."  I had to force myself to remember that this massage was GOOD for me.  I was having muscles worked and warmed and prepared for more exercise than I usually do each day.  I also realized I keep emotion and tension in my muscles.  I was allowing the masseuse to work this tension and release those emotions from my body.

I thought the same thing during my facial and body treatment.  "I don't NEED this."  Then I reminded myself that I never put lotion on my back, so once a year it may not be the most decadent thing to have my skin scrubbed and moisturized ALL OVER.  

I am so glad I did these things.  I'm so glad my mom let me give these things to her.  It was a blessing to be able to do this.  It was a blessing to be able to receive this.

I think there are other ways to get away from everyday life and stresses.  I think one can go on retreats or vacations.  I'm glad I can get away with my mom and go to a peaceful and pretty place and focus on health and peace.  I encourage you to find it within yourself to believe that caring for your body will help you de-stress.

Parents Haiku

Mom and Dad aging

Loving, fighting - who are they?

Lord, give me thy Grace


I'm visiting my parents in IL for the long weekend.  I'll write more about this later, but I wanted to share.

Tips for a Happier and Healthier Frame of Mind

My goal for 2011 is to be happier.  *yeah, still working on that same old thing* I thought these tips would help me, so I shared them on my fb page and I thought I'd share them here. I copied these tips from here, but I added the Bible verses myself.

1. Recognize negative thoughts as they take shape and bury them before they take root. If you feel your mood darkening again, put a stop to these dangerous musings before you succumb to them. Rule your emotions, don't let your emotions rule you.

Proverbs 4:23,  Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life.

2. Hang out with people who think positive as well. This condition can be quite infectious.

1 Thessalonians 5:11,  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3. Just as contagious is a negative mindset. So avoid people who tend to think negatively on a constant basis. After all, who wants to hang around naysayers all the time? 

Ephesians 4:29,  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

4. Work out and eat right. If you look good on the outside, it'll be easier to feel good on the inside, too.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20,  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

5. De-clutter. Surround yourself only with the things you love and that make you feel good--framed family photos, favorite books, potted plants, works of art, or whatever else that's meaningful to you.

Luke 12:15,  And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

6. If people tell you you can't do something, take that as a challenge and prove them wrong. Chances are, they themselves can't do it or are too afraid to try and are simply bitter about it. If you show them it can be done after all, maybe they'll even be inspired by your success. You can be a living tip for positive thinking to them.

Philippians 4:13,  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

7. Just when you're about to blow your top for all the seeming misfortunes that befall you, remind yourself of all your blessings instead. This practice can be very sobering, indeed.

Psalm 136:1,  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

8. Be a volunteer or get involved in charity work. Not only will you realize the sheer number of people who have bigger problems than you do, but there is also such an emotional and even spiritual high to be experienced in helping others.

Acts 20:35,  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

9. De-stress. You're more likely to be cranky if you're perpetually stressed out. So get away from it all and recharge.

James 4:8,  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

10. Keep it up. Getting started is easy. It's the maintenance that's tricky. Make a habit out of thinking positively till it becomes an indelible part of who you are.

Hebrews 12:1-2,  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.