Compliant Complaint of Acceptance

If you don't like a thing, and you say you don't like it, but you accept it because you have too, does that make you a complainer? There was a discussion tonight about this topic, and I have to say, I'm not sure.

Complaining, according to most dictionaries, is explained as " To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment." One site even gave the example as "a complaining wife" ...really! that was so bold!

So, the definition implies that to even say you are not happy about something is complaining. What about the situation in which you have come to an acceptance about a thing? Does that still mean you have complained or are a complainer because you are in fact, accepting, and not liking? I see nothing wrong with acknowledging accepting something you don't like and going on with your life. If indeed, you have done the deed of the actual accepting and it's not a ruse of attract attention, in my opinion, you have done well.

Acceptance in itself does not require the act of approval. Nor does acceptance imply that something need to change, or can change, because perhaps it is so that it cannot change. So in the act of acceptance, does that not negate the complaint? Acceptance cannot be confused with resistance.

There are people, for example, that I do not like the boldness of their manner, or the rudeness in which they speak, but I've come to accept them for what they are, and truly find an understanding of their way, but if I should mention to someone, that I don't agree with this person's 'way of being' does that make me a complainer?

Scripture says we shouldn't complain. And I'm not saying I go around complaining, but I do have a few things in my life that I have accepted and just go on conducting myself in a manner that works to bring peace in our circle.

But I suppose the whole accusation of being called a complainer comes into play because if one actually express a thought that runs in a negative vane, than I guess, perhaps, that one has complained.

Oh, well, that's enough perplexing thought for me this early in the morning.

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is incomprehensible."
~~Albert Einstein

Thinking Blogger Award

Some days you are in for a shock. I read Leslie's blog on a regular basis, as she and I are, well, simpatico.Does it make sense to say that sometimes you can meet people who are so different from you, yet so very much the same as you? Those people can become your very best friends. Don't ever overlook them. I found a gem in my life by finding Leslie.

I've been out of the blogging sphere for awhile now. Life, however, continues to be winding around me like a plant that needs a trellis with all it's tendils falling loosely out of place, and I have hardly been able to catch my breath for over two weeks, and then I come to find that I've been nominated, by Leslie, for a Thinking Blogger Award. I am nonplused even more than my natural state of constant bewilderment! Thank you, Leslie!!

One thing Leslie and I have in the common zone is that we like to think. And think again, and then think some more.

So here's the link to the post that gave me the nomination ....

And here is the information for the Thinking Bloggers Award...

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog).

Now here's the rest of the story ...
I don't really understand all the things of the blogger sphere. I usually don't understand all the thing connected to all the things that lead to the rabbit hole that Alice fell in ...and I truly have no idea if anyone reads my blog. But I can share with anyone some blogs that I do enjoy -- they may have been mentioned, they may have been nominated -- you see, I really don't know these things!

1. Circle of Quiet. I love the name of this blog, and I love the cup of coffee pictured.

2. Consent of the Governed. Very interesting and way over my head.

3. Athena in a Minivan. I love her. I love reading about her little tykes. Such memories she always stirs in me.

4. Principled Discovery. Okay, yeah, I wish I was this smart. The woman is always asking the questions I am thinking about.

5. Created For His Glory. This is one of the first blogs I ever read, when I entered the blogging world.

There you have it. I'm back into blogging now. You have a very nice day!!

Keep your seat; it's the best one

1. Why are there words like chance and accident if there are no such things?

2. Be the traffic you wish to see in the world.

3. Wanting more stuff than you have makes you poor. Not wanting stuff at all makes you rich. You will always have enough if you think so.

4. Can you carry the burden of freedom?

5. Sometimes things can look different when absolutely nothing has changed.

6. You are the world. If there is no you, there is no world.

7. There are many errors to be made in child rearing. Too many perhaps to mention or list end to end across the world. If one must choose to error in child rearing, I choose to error with kindness.

8. Don't look to follow others. Look closer at why they were going there. And make sure to always take the highroad.

9. Is your task to seek or to find? Can you be one without the other and be happy?

10. Love is not a final state of being. Love is a constant state of vulnerability. Love is the reason we are all here. Love is the last thing to go.

Counting the Steps is fun

I love this pedometer. Yesterday I registered in at 1798 steps -- and today --at 10:24 PM --

Four Thousand, Four hundred and Thirty Six!!

The average person, depending on where you get your information, walks between 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day. So I went from lazy sluggish lady to average in one day! That is radical!

I'm keeping this thing!

I will probably have 5,000 before I go to bed tonight.

I did find that I had to do one minute sets of marching in place to get my numbers up. Even though I watch a three year old for 5 hours, I don't walk enough.

I wish I could find other little gadgets to wear to encourage me to do other things right in my life. Wonder if I could invent something?

And I have walked 10,000 miles

(not)

I got another Pedometer. I keep losing the ones I have -- before I can figure out really just how lazy I am. This one I have now, actually came with my husband's newest shoe inserts, so I don't know if it's a good one, but that already sounds like an excuse. Which, I guess, I'm probably trying to give myself because I didn't get very many steps measured on it today.

1798.

That's not a year. That's how many (almost) steps I took today.

That's not so great. That means, I am a sedentary person. The goal is 10,000 steps, which is about equivalent to 5 miles, if you can believe this site.

I don't know who decides these things, but I don't think 10,000 steps could hurt anyone, and of course, within reason, one must have a goal to gauge by to accomplish anything.

The Challenge is On! I'm going to try to increase my steps. Of course, it would probably help if I did wear it all the time. The pedometer, that is. I forgot in the morning that I had intended to wear it today, and took it off before the evening was done, but I doubt seriously if I've done anything record breaking in the amount of time that is unaccounted for.

Anyway, I'm going to challenge myself. Do the marching in place, or who knows, maybe join a marching band because I really don't want to be known as Sedentary.

You know, it's not like I never walked as an exercise before, but it seems that once something throws me off, I have a tough time getting back on track. So I kind of like this plan -- the first suggestion is just to ~walk out the door~. How clever.

So the challenge is on. I'm upping my steps.

I'm also trying to do the Bar Method DVD every other day. That is hard for me. I've not gotten through the whole thing yet!! And I've already misplaced Tape No One. Hope that wasn't a mental ploy on my part.

Anyway, I'm trying. My back injury seems okay. The other side hurts now, so that's a good sign.


Pedometer challenge, anyone?

Things in a week

1. Is an empty refrigerator better than a refrigerator that's full of stuff you need to throw away? Yes. If that wasn't too obvious...
This new assignment I've given myself of using everything in my refrigerator just isn't working. So I started a compost pile.

2. This week seemed super long. It's very hot and humid here, maybe that's why, I don't know. Also, I'm experiencing not feeling so great. I'm suspecting my air conditioning filters needed to be changed more often. I live on a dirt road...so maybe that? I don't know, but I'm going to be more attentive to that.

3. Some things I've noticed --

a. No one has ever asked me what my work out routine is or what beauty products I use. Should I feel offended?

b. Of all the Gallup Polls mentioned? No one has ever polled me. They keep talking about polls on the news, and nope, no calls or sign up sheets have I experienced. How do they poll you? On the street? Only in big cities? I live in a very small town. Maybe they don't know we are here.

4. If I make a new recipe, everyone loves it and eats it all gone. If I double it the next time, no one eats it. They say, 'it tastes different.' So I don't double anything any more. Something about doubles does not work in my cooking.

5. I've added plants in my garden that I have found on the side of the road. They seem happy here, and I like having them. (Actually, I'm broke right now, and plants for free seemed a 'yippy-yay!' kind of a thing.)

6. Thought on food/mind/body connection. There are those who believe that even if you put the most healthy foods into a body with a crummy mind, your result will be a crummy body; but if you put crummy foods into a body with a good mind of expanded awareness, you get a fine body.

I just don't know about that. That would have to be one very, healthy mind expanded in the most holy of awareness.

7. I'm beginning to think that searching for happiness is not a useful journey. To search for something implies you can't see it, or don't have it. If happiness is not within, then it's without, how would you be able to keep it when you finally find it if it's not in you in the first place?

So then, it makes sense that happiness is within and you don't have to search for it, because you walk around with it everyday, you only need to let it out.
Smiles let it out. Laughter lets it out. Kindness lets it out.
Just BEING you, this moment, right now - smile and that is happiness.

8. I like to walk in the rain. It's just so refreshing. I like all kinds of rains. I bought my daughter some really, really cute rain boots and she put flowers in them! Silly girl.

9. Isn't it funny? We go forward in our lives as that is the proper way to live it. But it is the going backwards in our lives that helps us in the learning of how we are actually living it.

10. What will you focus on today. What kindness will you pass along? Will you smile today? Will you hug someone today? I'll try it today. I'll start out good, I always start out good. The morning holds the invitation delivered in warm and wonderful light. The afternoon carries the things unknown into the cavaran that takes you to the evening time. The choices are made in there. On the ride. Choose wisely.

One Life to Live

Regarding our weather conditions here in Sunny Florida, Lake Okeechobee still 4 ft below what she needs to be at this time of year. We have been getting rain in our area, so our plants and our grass look great, even though we are still having a water shortage. And people continue to waste water.

It's amazing about the human species to me. They do not seem to participate to the greatest good of mankind unless the threat is standing at the door with a loaded weapon. What is up with that?

It seems to be a running theme. Does no one realize the train is going to come?

I guess it's their right – our right - to play the game of chance. You only have one life. No matter what you believe, whether it's what the Bible says, "it is appointed unto man once to die" - one life -

and if you believe in reincarnation (and in that, are their ways to come back as a bug? yuk), unless you are a high, high incarnate, you won't have an awareness of the passing - so one life,

and if you believe in 'once you're dead, you're dead' - still, one life.

So good luck with that. We have One Life to Live. How are you going to live it? To the fullest? I don't think I've lived life to the fullest yet!! Maybe today that will be what I will try to do.

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage - Seneca

It's raining thanks to TS Barry

It's raining, it's pouring....on the first day of Hurricane Season, too. What timing, huh?

This is wonderful (in a way). There is a tropical storm (Barry) about 320 miles from Tampa - which probably isn't true about the distance now because it's moving.

They say this rainfall will only help a little bit. We need about 35 inches of rain/or more. I believe that is a lot of rain.

I really hope people can be sensible about going out in bad weather.

It's really weird how good things and bad things collide.

Unexpected Day Off

Jacob was not feeling well today so his mommy (my sister in law) decided to stay home with him. I'll bet anything that he recovers quickly as there is nothing as great as mommy deciding to stay home!

I thought I'd get a million extra things done! (no)
I'd do extra loads of laundry! (one)
I'd put away allll the clothes in the bedroom! (no. they are strewn all over the bed. I couldn't even find room to take a nap so I snoozed in a chair)
I'd show love and affection to all my plants! (I ran by quickly and said hello while I brought up the trash cans!)
I'd make cookies! (no, I ate banana bread that my mother in law made and drank extra coffee)
I'd mop! (no. I spilled)
I'd dust! (no. I forgot about it while I watched Oprah)
I'd pay bills! (I called my mother)
I would not get on the computer! (I checked my email three times and am posting on my blog nothing worth while)

Anyway,
I did make a list of things I need at the grocery store.

Whatever.

Some days you just need some down time.

Memorial Day Weekend 2007

Time's a flyin ' ....better go catch some ideas and fresh thinking if you need to before this year is done because it'll be 2008 before we know it.

My sister came to visit this weekend. Saturday, 5 of us went to the prison to visit my niece. She expected to just find my mom and found 4 extra people there, so she was just so thrilled - tears in her eyes and all. We had a great visit.

We played this game - I'm sure it's not a new game - but it was fun, here's how it goes: The first person says, "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing an Apple (or any word that starts with "A"), the next person says, I'm going to a picnic and I'm bringing an Apple and a Banana (or any word that starts with "B"). The next person repeats the entire sentence each time and adds a word beginning with the next letter of the alphabet.

Would you believe we can all still - not only remember what the things were that were brought to the picnic - but who said them!

Ours was,

"I'm going to a picnic and I'm bringing
An Apple
A Banana
A Carrot
A Donut
An Egg
A Frog
A Giraffe
A Hankie
An Indian
A Juice Box
A Keg
A Lion
Some Money
Some Nails
Oprah
A Pacifier
A Quale
Ryan Schekler
Skittles
Toothpicks
Uncle Don
Vino
A Wild Thing
An X-box 360
and
A Zipper

There has got to be a learning tool in there somewhere! Anyway, it was a fun game and can be played with a combination of people of all ages. And if someone needs a little nudge, give it to them (LOL). But what can really, really jog your memory is to look at the alphabet. You'll remember every thing at record speed. It's amazing.

Sunday was our big family get together for a band rehearsal. And it didn't go, like, really great. My brother has a ruptured disk, so he could only play after his pain meds kicked in. (Then he felt so good he rocked the house down and we're lucky no police came.)

My sister has a serious knee problem that needs surgery, so she was on pain meds as well. But the girls in the bands didn't have their words, so we couldn't make it through any song, well, we did get through Amazing Grace forgetting only one verse.

But Sean did amazingly well. Being about the only one (aside from my brother) who was prepared, he entertained us with a couple of fun selections. I love the little Starfish* song by Sister Hazel. It's just a little ditty, but it's cute and fun to sing because it has the Na-Na-Na-Nananana in it.

The food for the weekend was perfect. I made my special chicken drumettes; they have to be marinated for a day, and cooked in a high oven for about 30 minutes, then a low oven for about 2 hours. I don't know why, but everyone loves them. For some reason the outside browns nicely and the inside is very moist.

I did turn my house to smoke though because I had something in the oven earlier that didn't belong in the oven and Des didn't know and he turned the oven on and then we smelled something odd - and ummm, one thing leads to another and soon the house is filled with smoke. That's always fun. But what are you gonna do, you open all the doors and window and continue on from there. There's always a story to tell.

All is all it was a nice weekend, everyone played nicely, no one ran with scissors and all books were returned to the proper places.

Here is the little Starfish song that I like - it's by Sister Hazel, maybe sometime you'll run across some way to hear it and you can think of Sean.

Starfish
- Sister Hazel

I saw a starfish on the ground
He was half buried in the sand
Just so out of place and ahh
He was a long, long way from home

I was a long, long way from home
And so we talked a little while
Then I shook his hands....and i
I was a long, long way from home

And everything is wonderful
When every things alright, so alright
There we were
One less star tonight

Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na
(repeat)

We thought a better place to go
Might be the top of purple mountains
So close to outer space....and ahh
We were a long, long way from home

Wed bring some records and a game
Might take a walk or read a book
But its not the same....no ahh
Were still a long long way from home
(chorus)

I saw a starfish on the ground
Oh, he was still buried in the sand
Now he's not so all alone
And he's finally going home
So I smiled and I shook his hands....and we were singin'

Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na
(repeat)

There we were one less star tonight
There we were one more star tonight

Don't keep this secret

Don’t keep this secret

~~Miss Roxie

Walk undaunted
Walk through with no distraction
Of those things that
Would rob you of your joy
Keep focused
On love
On kindness
On your children
Your family
Your friends
Keep focused
On the simple things
The simple gestures
The smiles
The hugs
The pats on the back
People cry out for human touch
without speaking
Hear yourself say
“I love you”
Give away your happiness
If you have too much it might choke you
And you will die a lonely death
Give it away
And it roots strongly
And then returns
A never-ending vine
That produces the fruit of survival

Transendental Medication

Ommmm. Ommmm.
I am sitting in the stillness. Enjoying the calm of my being. Being one with the -
(Get off my lap you ridiculous cat!)
Ommmm. Ommmm.
I am expanding my spine and allowing the universe to flow through my being - I'm one with the
(rinnnnng. rinnnng. Hi Mom. No. I didn't forget my phone. I have it. No. That must be someone else's phone. That's okay, Mom. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.)
Ommmm. Ommmm.
I am breathing deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Ex - sput
(Psst 'chew. Sputter. Eh'eh' cough, cough..gosh I really need to vacuum up this cat hair. Let me just do that now....
MMMMMMMMMMM. sound of vacuum. Resume to stillness)
Ommmmm. Ommmm.
I am challenging my being to call it's calmness from within. My head expands in lightness and touches the ceiling lifting itself to...
(Wow. Is that a cob web? That ceiling fan is sure dusty. I didn't realize that one light bulb was out. Where is my duster? I think I put it in the pantry. That reminds me...I need to buy some more cereal and I should go ahead and put the enchiladas in the oven. I wonder what time Ugly Betty reruns are on? No, that was last night. Is this garbage night? No, Saturday is garbage night. Is this Saturday? Oh, it's Friday! I should have rented a movie yesterday. I needed to go to the bank! drat, I forgot. It's raining! Yay! I need to treat myself to a pedicure. Where did I leave my keys? I really need to transplant those impatients. Wasn't that nice of Cindy to give me that Aloe plant? And in a pot already)
Ommmmmm. Ommmmmm. O forget this. My neck is cramped already.

Have a nice day.

~~Miss Roxie

What if these were 'really' hard times?

The drought remains constant. We pray for rain everyday. We think, 'no really, it can't go on...and on.' And then more fires, more smoke, and no constant rain. There are places that have rain, that is bursts of rain that are loud and thunderous and then...gone. The grass is parched looking, the flowers are drooping and each of us finds a unique way to catch free water. From the overflow of the air conditioner, even though we've set the temperature up to save money, we placed a bucket under the overflow pipe to catch the water for the flowers. It's amazing how much water you can get for 'free.'

I think, does this unusual dry spell mean that the hurricanes will bare down hard on us this year? Does one nature catastrophe follow another? I know one thing for sure, and that is, I will be buying my hurricane supplies early. I will not be caught up in the midst of the chaos _that will_ happen when we are told the hurricane is making landfall by midnight. People here just floor me about that issue of not preparing. I know there are some things you might not be able to do until the last minute, but heavens, know where you live and take the time to prepare. (I'm not sure why I live in a hurricane zone, anyway. It just worked out that way. I was born here.)

Our gas prices are over $3.00 a gallon.

Bread is so expensive you feel guilty renting a movie.

Milk (which I don't drink) is $3.39 in my area.

Lettuce is $1.49 for a head of Green Lettuce. Spinach is $2.00 a bag for the store brand. Organic spinach is $2.00 a bag for half the amount (5 ounces).

I am enjoying my homegrown tomatoes, though! And I will have to pick them tonight as there is big wind coming right now.

I think I'll go outside and walk in the grass. I've read it's good for your health. I've been having this real problem with fatigue and nothing seems to be wrong medically so I'm changing my schedule all around to see if I can jump start my inner child.

Here comes the train. Think I'll run out and watch it go by.

I saw this over at Bona Vita Rusticanda and it looked like fun.

The task plays out like this:

1. Grab the book closest to you
2. Open it to page 161
3. Find the fifth full sentence
4. Post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. Don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.

The book on the computer desk is The Poems of Tennyson.

Page 161 just happens to have a book mark in it. The sentence reads,

"What hope is there for modern rhyme..."

Okay. Well. There it is ...

My blog print

My blog print test.

Okay. I don't know....

I read this, below, this morning about insects. I mean, I had just recently told someone that even though hurricanes are bad - we can't hate them exactly because they belong to the earth and it's way of doing things, and we just happen to live on the earth and so we are in the way of the earth cleansing itself. (well, it made sense to me at the time),
anyway,
so this morning in my mailbox, I received this about insects:

Insects "bug" us for shelter, water, or food, but they can also come into our lives to bring us a message. Though many cultures have decided what insects represent to them, you may be able to decipher their message just by thinking about their attributes.

For example, bees may be telling you to communicate psychically with your family or to spread your talents like pollen. Their buzzing could be warning you about someone who could sting you or reminding you to stop and smell the flowers. Once you get their message, they may leave on their own. But if they don't, you may want to spend a few days patiently inviting them to leave. In meditation or aloud, explain that this is your home and that the insect world is outdoors.

While you understand their hunger and thirst, you will provide them with a designated place outside. Be sure to offer them appropriate food and make a commitment to replenish the supply regularly. You can even make a ceremony of it: Choose a time such as suns! et every Sunday, or every full moon, then create a line of demarcation around your home with sage or by sprinkling some herbs before giving your offering. This serves the dual purpose of keeping your bargain with your insect neighbors and keeping you in sync with nature's cycles.

I mean ...well, yes, they do live on the earth. And I do believe that all things are connected - but when I thought all things, I wasn't thinking I could tell the ants to leave and I would feed them on the border of my property ...

I did have an intervention with a spider once. He was huge! He was in my tub and I didn't want to kill him; I wanted to put him in a glass jar and take him outside and let him go. It was a chasing game. Then I said - to the spider - "Look. I just want to take you outside. If you get in this jar, I'll take you outside and let you go."

Now, I'm not kidding on this part -- the spider got in the jar. Just walked right in. I took him outside and let him go.

I might try talking to the ants.

That Smile of Yours goes deep

Today I had a procedure done that I didn't think one had unless one has sorely neglected their teeth. Which I had not.

I visited a dentist here, because we have moved here, and he informed me I needed a deep cleaning done on my bottom row of teeth. Call me an idiot, but I really thought the guy was just trying to make money!

I had, after all, been having my teeth cleaned twice a year for 30 years, okay, missed one last year because of the move, but still! I brush regularly, floss many times, use mouthwash now and then and am very concerned about not having bad breath! And now I find out that I need a deeper cleaning than the normal cleaning?

And, or course, the deeper cleaning is more expensive than the normal cleaning.

so, I asked a few questions and he told me an earful that all sounded like they answered themselves with 'you better do this' ....it's the whole prevention philosophy. And I am down with that. I don't want to deal with my teeth falling out and smelling badly.

So - the cost to me was $150.00 with my insurance. And should you need some antibiotic placed in any of the pockets that's a smooth $60.00 each pocket. I passed on the antibiotics but I'll be having a crown put in soon, so if I need it, they will catch it then.

The crown with my insurance will be $600 and something. I think $40.00, but can't remember right off. All paid up front.

They have a new medical credit card that they offer you now -- 11% interest. But when you think about it, it might be better to pay on time than to set yourself up for future health problems with your teeth if you don't have the bucks of dollars up front.

By 4:30 , I had it done. I had to have one more shot than the normal 2 on each side that they give you because, they said, apparently, the nerve on my left side is off somewhere it shouldn't be. But whether that statement makes sense to anyone, it does make sense to me.

So 5 shots - and a lot of sound being made - rinsing and you are done. You can't spit for 24 hours (so how do I brush my teeth? I don't know?)

Hopefully, I am on my way to better health. Because the gig is that if your body has to constantly deal with all that bacteria under your gums, I guess your lymph system could get taxed and tired and not fight other illness as well?

Funny thing is, a lot of people I have spoken to have not heard of this cleaning unless it's done to someone who has peridontal disease. That's why I think this is a preventive step and I like that.

The Artic Seal comes to Florida

An Artic Seal got off the beaten path and was finally captured in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was first discovered just a mile from my house. This link shows him in the person's yard. He didn't survive his capture. He died May 9th after being taken to SeaWorld. They did everything they could.

It was reported that he appeared sickly when he was first spotted. One paper reported that after an autopsy is done, they may find some clues about how he got here, but most papers are reporting that's is doubtful anyone will know for sure.

He probably got lost or disoriented or ate some bad food, didn't feel good and just got lost. Bless his little heart. He was a long, long way from home.

“This is the first time we have had a bearded seal show up in Florida,” said Kim Amendola, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman. She said their typical habitat is north of Newfoundland." ....

Trotting fast

Ben Franklin said something about a person not getting up early causes them to trot fast - I guess I'm trotting fast. At least when I'm not tripping over myself.

What's new?

1. We have a water shortage in our area of South Florida. There are fires in the area. Our skies are filled with smoke today. We all have watering schedules .

"Even if Florida receives average rainfall this summer, that won’t be enough to break the drought if the wet months are followed by unseasonably dry weather. In the last 18 months, South Florida has received just 49.31 inches of rain, almost 17 inches less than the 30-year average of expected rainfall."

We need rain. Hopefully, we won't get it in the form of a hurricane. But, this is South Florida, so you never know.

My brother in law works for the company that acquired the contract to fix Lake Okeechobee, the "liquid heart" of South Florida.

All I know is, the weather seems to be crazy everywhere.

2. Jacob ( three year old nephew) is officially PT. (Potty Trained.) He was 3 last October. And for three straight weeks, he's shown us he has it under control.

It took a unified effort on all fronts. A command decision came from the top that there were no more Pull-Ups. He was told this - and oh my, it seemed to be the thing that worked. He is the one who delivered this information to me, regarding the pull ups being 'no more', and his face was just very concerned about the situation.

In the meantime, I had been not making a big deal out of anything. Kind of a don't ask, don't tell, kind of a situation. I'd put him in a pull up at the beginning of the day, and then just turn him back in, at the end of day -- with the same pull up. Sometimes it was wet, but a lot of the times it was dry. And he was with me for 5 hours.

But here's the thing that gave him away. Gave him away that he was, indeed very much in control all on his own. Last March 30th I went to a concert with my brother and sister in law. As we were sharing a bite to eat before the concert, I told them a story of what their son had done earlier that day.

I'll make it short here, but he had been scolded by me for his actions regarding wasting some food in a careless way. I told him I was not happy with what he had done. He immediately said, "I have to go pee pee." H ran to the potty, sat and pee-peed, (I was right behind him by now), threw out his arms opened wide and declared with a very big smile -- "Are you happy now???"

His mother and I were convinced at that point that, yes, this child had it very much under (his own) control.

And it looks like at this point he has made the decision. It's all old hat to him now. Like he discovered the concept, like it was his own idea. Quite funny, the human being.

3. More later. I'm late, as always. Oh - I am going to try something as an effort to get things done and work on the positive side of being positive. I'm making a list of thirty things I want to do - and doing one each day. (It'll probably take me 30 days to make the list). The challenge of this list is - that if you put something on the list like - oh say, 'don't lie' - that you will find yourself faced with many opportunities to lie. And if you say, 'don't yell', or anything like that - there will come before you, these situations to challenge your conquest!

Kind of like my theory about buying a Honda. Once you buy a Honda, you notice all the Hondas on the road.

So then peace to you all today ---if you wish to experience peace, you must extend peace to others. Make your surroundings peaceful.

A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience.
~ William Shakespeare

Be yourself

...there is not another person more qualified for the job.

Wisdom of the Elders

Some parts of my family are in a real turmoil right now. I can't do anything about it except listen. It's not a problem that money could solve.

Today my mom, who is 78 told me she has learned that even the very worst things work themselves out. Someone was upset with her because she wasn't acting more upset about the situation. They were getting weary of her saying, "Things will work out. It all will be fine." But she says she has learned that it will.

She has spent many years upsetting herself over the problems of others. And she just doesn't do that anymore. To some, it appears that she doesn't care. I have felt that way myself. But what she is doing is not getting herself 'all worked up' like she used to.

She says she has looked back and seen many, many times that she has had to increase her blood pressure medication, or not slept, or lost weight, or some other dreadful thing over things going on around her, and then they have worked themselves out. Maybe not like she wanted them to, but they worked out.

So, 'no more' she says. No more getting all worked up over things. She just encourages people to look on the bright side, be thankful for what you have, and stop complaining.

She has made much progress.

The Dinner Bell did not ring

Well, 6 PM came and went and no dinner! Yikes. I have been working all day. It's been very interesting, I still have much to do, but I got a lot done. The house smells clean!

I told my darling husband, "nope - just can't think tonight. It's tuna fish sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly" -- and he doesn't want that. (I don't think I have enough bread, anyway.)

So I told him, well, pretend you're on a date - what would you do? So, he's taking a shower and thinking about it. I think he's deciding to pick up Chinese, but he's already asked 'his date' to order it!

I love my husband. He is so funny! (And I love when he thinks about picking up Chinese!)

One of those Days

I'm in the middle of one of those days that I kinda like -- I'm doing several things at once. I don't know why that pleases me so ...

I have the laundry going,
I'm cleaning my bedroom,
Cleaning my bathroom,
Reading the email, posting on my blog,
Dancing to old music,
Folding and putting away clothes (oh, you thought that was under 'laundry going' -- haha...no.)
Straightening closets as I look for hangers to keep the laundry going neatly ....
Not cooking - making salad for lunch - the lettuce is drying.
Madam Blueberry has company and is doing a list of small tasks in between visiting...

so far, it's all working out well.

What happens on these days is that when it gets to be about 6 o'clock, I regret not having made any dinner plans!

Look Ahead

Look Ahead

Do not look back with shame, nor look up with arrogance, nor look around for blame. Just look ahead with dignity.

It's great outside -- Go see!

I'm up early today.
My house is a mess.
I had company last week, and you would think it was a whole army instead of three people. I cleaned my house and secured it to an orderly fashion for their visit and ~whoosh~it's gone! But I think that's what happens in a tiny house. And my house is very tiny.

I finally found a primary care doctor that I think I might like. A woman named Dr. Leslie. (haha, that's my best friend in Tennessee's name). She asked me what I wanted this Mother's Day and I said, "plants. I love plants. I just want to garden now. If I was rich I would buy more plants." She laughed and said, "me, too!" She's just discovered the outdoors as well! Must be a midlife thing!

Since I don't have money to buy plants, I am into cuttings. So, we will see what happens with my yard. What can happen with cuttings, I will find out.

Taking my nephew out everyday to the park has become a most welcomed time for me. It's great outside everyday. It's always breezy here. Sometimes I wear a hat, sometimes I don't. I am deciding to wear sunscreen everyday now, I wasn't before. And there are other people at the park everyday since we have been going there.

Apparently, this story started circulating about this little boy and his Aunt who are at the park everyday, and that meant that when you went there, you would have a little company. And soon, other people began to come. And then the story circulated that there were lots of people at this park everyday and that made it a fun and a safe place to go, and then more people began to come. It's great.

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver


God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars. ~Martin Luther


I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau

Two days off

I really enjoyed my two days off. I can't tell you how good it felt to spend the whole two days with my daughter. Gosh, I just love my family.

Sean is heading up to Tallahassee this week to visit old friends up there. He lived there all his life - wow, see I've never had that experience - as in 'born somewhere and then lived there until I went away to college.'

I'm an 'army brat' with the Air Force thrown in, too. My dad served in both branches. And we moved from the time I was in first grade, every other year until I was 17. I changed schools 13 times. Talking about always being the new kid on the block! It was a way of life for me. Sometimes I wonder why I always feel like an outsider, why I never want to bother to reveal all the things about myself to anyone, and that is probably at the root of it. Because I feel like I will be leaving and never see my newly made friends again.

Some people do make an effort to keep in touch. But on a whole, it's rare when it does work. Even good friends have a difficult time keeping in touch.

I miss my friends. I love my friends. I find myself thinking about them more than I actually try to contact them. Once you love someone, they really are a part of your life. They are tangled in your heart like vines. The root goes deeply and disappears into a place that no MRI could pick up because it becomes a part of you. Love is like that. Grasping, keeping, growing ...if you never see your old friends again, that love, I believe does indeed grow and your next friendship is better because you have experienced the first one.

Life is just an amazing thing when you think about it. And Love, who can explain love? Just live it ~ make your life about living love.

To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.
~~Emily Dickinson

Come out of the circle of time
And into the circle of love.
~~Rumi

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.~~Corinthians 13, V 7,8,

Don't keep this secret

Don’t keep this secret

~~Miss Roxie

Walk undaunted
Walk through with no distraction
Of those things that
Would rob you of your joy
Keep focused
On love
On kindness
On your children
Your family
Your friends
Keep focused
On the simple things
The simple gestures
The smiles
The hugs
The pats on the back
People cry out for human touch
without speaking
Hear yourself say
“I love you”
Give away your happiness
If you have too much it might choke you
And you will die a lonely death
Give it away
And it roots strongly
And then returns
A never-ending vine
That produces the fruit of survival

Easy Peasy Mac and Cheesy

My daughter loves Mac and Cheese. It's so easy, I thought I would share ~

Easy Peasy Mac and Cheese

1 Cup of Pasta
1 Cup of Broth
1 Cup of Cheese
1 TBS of Butter
1 TBS of Flour

In the time it takes to boil your pasta -- melt one TBS of butter in a pan with the 1 TBS of flour till you have a paste.

Add the Broth (I use Vegetable Broth, you can use Chicken Broth, and if you want milk, you can use milk)

Bring to a low boil
Take it off the burner
and add the cheese

Stir until it's blended really, really nicely.

While it sits there, drain the pasta (make sure it's really, really drained) and add the pasta and stir.

You can cook your pasta in advance. Just know that you will have to make sure you heat it through once you add it to the cheese.

This serves 2, but this is an easy recipe to double. A side of green beans, some crusty homemade bread, and you have a lovely Vegetarian Meal.

Some people like to bake macaroni and cheese. I've baked this one before. Just put some cheese on the top and bake for about 35-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. This makes it less cheesy in my opinion, but I have two nieces who love it baked.

The pasta - I like the diatali pasta, but elbow is fine, of course.

”A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”

Bernard Meltzer

“A true friend never gets in your way unless you are going down.”

Arnold H. Glasgow

When things go wrong

....I guess we should be happy they at least went somewhere.

1. In my committment to exercise, I put the DVD in the player and began to click. Could get only nothing. I asked my daughter for help. She's braver than I and will press more buttons without a thought of exploding Kansas.

So got that music at the beginning of the DVD - the song that plays over and over again like you could go crazy until you press play? -- and gray screen. Not much good so, I called my husband at work, no answer. I called again at lunch time. No answer. And usually he calls me back. Take it as a sign, you were not met to exercise today. ~~Drats!

2. Had a dentist appointment today. Thought, okay, I'll give my husband one more try on the DVD connection thing as I got in the car. I heard his phone ringing. It was under the driver's seat.

3. My dentist appointment today was disatrous!! Shocking! I have been taking good care of my teeth for at least the last 30 years anyway. Cleanings and check ups every 6 months.

The past year because of the moving, I didn't get to the dentist - and wow - I have to have a special cleaning involving putting my gums to sleep because the hygenist could not clean below the gums on my bottom row of teeth! Wow ~ all that from a year of neglect!! I wonder. I don't know. (I can add that to list of mysterious things I do not know.)

4. I have a great recipe for Pasta Fagioli to share. I'll try to do that this week.

5. I don't have a will. I should write one. I guess my kids could just fight over everything?

6. I have discovered a cleaning product I love. It's called Bartenders Friend. But you shouldn't use it on granite, I don't think. I used it on a tile floor that had a lot of the grout left on it and it worked great! On my stove - which is one of those flat stoves - works great! No real scrubbing just apply and rub. I like it.

7. I have the hiccups for no reason. I guess that's it for me.

8. By the way, don't ever forgot to recharge and reconnect with your spiritual self. You can do it any time. Just stand still. Right where you are and think your Creator. Speak of the things that very minute. You'll connect. You will.

Be thankful, right where you are.
Praise God right were you are.
You'll connect.

Psalm 100:4 ~~
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Okay ...so what now?

1. I have the day off tomorrow. Hahahaha. What mom has a day off? I do have a dentist appointment.

2. I need to make a list of things I have to do for the next 100 years.

3. My father/in/law is 90. That is a tough job. He just went through 2 1/2 weeks of chaos in his life. Three times to the emergency, twice in the hospital, two emergency doctor appointments, two regular doctor appointments, one trip to a place that is in between the hospital and going home -- oh and people I need to give you details on this place, it is like a holding area and if you don't have your family, you are in big trouble, there are no showers in this place! - then a procedure for the prostrate (men: take your saw palmetto), and home with a nurse to visit every day, and ton of drugs in his system. Drugs, drugs, drugs. It's hard out there for a 90 year old. I mean, people, you gotta prepare ...

4. I have got to start a serious excercise plan. My leg is still numb, but I don't think it's going to go away.

5. The beach. Go to the beach. I love the beach. Very healing. Day, night, afternoon - anytime. It's a great place to calm your mind and get refreshed. I love to go there and just be there.

6. Do you think you can learn something from every situation? I do. Everything that happens in your life, happens as an opportunity for your spiritual growth. You can believe that or not believe that. But lessons about ourselves and life to come are there for us everyday in what we see around us.

7. How are your surroundings? Calm? Chaotic? Spring cleaning going on? I am such a supporter of Spring Cleaning ~ it's taken me a long time to realize the truth of less is more -- but, really, the purging is good. I always feel better when I can give something to someone instead of just throw it in the garbage. And what happens, as our society is so fickle, is that things go out of style, out of fashion -- and if we are regular in our cleaning and purging of items, they are put to better use than just going to the garbage.

8. Of course, better than purging your house, is not buying more stuff than you need in the first place!!

9. You will get old. Will you be happy with what you have accomplished?

10. Make a list of what you want to accomplish before you are old.

Around the house remedies

I read this column in the newspaper now and then, Dr. Gott is his name and in his column, over and over, comes up the dicussion of Vicks Vapor Rub for dried cracked heels. Well. I'm here to testify, it works!

I even bought the store brand - called Medicated Chest Rub - and it worked fine. It's been two days, and my heels are remarkably better!!

Just want to point out, be sure that you don't need to take your contact lenses out after you have applied the Rub.

Another good product from around the house is Olive Oil - it's a great makeup remover, a hair conditioner, or can be used for frizz control, any dry skin can benefit from Olive Oil.

Then there's Witch Hazel. Makes a good and inexpensive toner. Toner is very important in skin care, and witch hazel has never let me down.

The Electric Bill Challenge

I challenged my family to bring down the electric bill. We brought it down $2.00. Somehow. I'm not sure what that means. We did try the usual stuff, turning off lights in rooms, and this month we turned the computers off when we weren't using them (2 computers).

We did turn more things off when not in use, yes, and now this month, I am going to uplug the lamps and even the coffee machine...... I am seriously thinking of unplugging my dryer and washer when not in use but I can't get anyone to support me on this.

Actually, I would like to close all the circuit breakers in the house, with the exception of maybe the refrigerator, when we are out or not using an item, but I can't get anyone to agree with me on this issue.

The general consensus is that the people I know think that just because something is plugged in and not in use, that it is not causing the meter to turn. I strongly disagree.

I remember when Sean was about 11 we were doing some science involving electricity, and he would check the meter as I closed off different circuit breakers. Any 220V breaker that was closed off, slowed the meter down.

But since no one believes me, I'll have to check again. If indeed, it works, I may just try to see if doing that will lower my bill.

I realize that this will be an inconvenience, but if the price turns out to be right, I might be able to put up with it.

I realize to make a difference in the world, a bit of inconvenience, and maybe a lot, might be involved. I am ready to make that choice.

Save as draft 2

Common Errors of English.

(from above)

ATM” means “Automated Teller Machine,” so if you say “ATM machine” you are really saying, “Automated Teller Machine machine.”

~~~~~~~~~

I ran across that site while I was looking up the correct spelling of a word that I can't remember right now. I thought it was funny and quite useful. Not the word, the site.

My mind is like a carbonated drink right now. It's fizzing. But nothing else is happening. I have reached an over load section and must pause to try to think my way past the situation I am in. I've never been here before. I don't recognize this junction.

I have 7 "Save As Draft" entries. I can't seem to close a thought. You might say, my life is being interupted by life. It's one of those days when I can't remember how to spell.

So I'm just going to go to bed. I'll begin again in the morning.

Still sorting through the old stuff

I found this poem I wrote about 28 years ago ....

The sun rises
A rose is in bloom
In a few hours
It has reached its peak of beauty

Night falls
The rose has withered
Only to die
It’s beauty now a memory
Going on

But the thorn on the rose bush
Does not die
It grows stronger
To intensify the beauty
Of the next rose

How fortunate, then,
We must be
For the thorns
In our lives
For they can make us
More beautiful

And

How fortunate we are
Not like the rose
But, instead, like the memory,
Going on Forever

~~Miss Roxie

Potty Training affects us ALL

My sorts are still out, my intentions are on vacation, and my motivation is misplaced or is living in parallel universe under the name of Mis Givings.

I was thinking about child rearing. I was thinking how it much it has changed generationally. That is, if my oldest child is 30 years old, and your oldest child is 3 years old, than surely, the 3 year old of today would be raised differently than the 30 year old of yester-year. Correct? I don't know.

I do know that there are families that span more than one generation. And I wonder, do they apply the same rules of child rearing to the oldest as they do the youngest? Not in teaching their moral beliefs, but in things like, say Potty Training?

It seems to me, that the majority of most children I meet today that are 3 or about 42 months are not Potty Trained - at least not fully. But back in the day, when my 30 year old was 3, the majority of children, if not all his little friends, were Potty Trained. But then again, these little kids I'm meeting are not in Preschool or Daycare. I wonder, are the kids at home not pressured as much as the kids that go to Daycare? Because at Daycare, you pay extra for the untrained child, or you must come from work (or home) to change your child should they have an accident and miss the potty.

I'm beginning to wonder, does it amount to a hill of beans should one wait a longer time to get to the Potty Training?

The articles I'm reading on Potty Training today, (and I don't know why I'm reading them, I have no 3 year olds), advise to wait until the child is ready and the child will let you know. Okay then -- why didn't we then? Wait, I mean. And why do we now? And without worrying about it? Sounds to me like many parents have this little ‘thing’ in their voice that makes them sound not sure if all is well because Little Jeffy won’t go Potty without being told and even then, he’s reluctant, so

Is it all about what the "experts" say?

I am really curious about this.

Is it the diapers? Kids are more comfortable now?
Is it that public restrooms are so horrible that parents would rather not deal with such a thing?
Parents are busy? Parents are realizing there is enough pressure in the world?
Parents don't care about this any more and their parents live far away and aren't pressuring them about it?

If Sigmund Freud is to be believed, problems in Potty Training could really mess up one's life if it's too strict. My father and mother said they never heard this theory. They didn't even know that Freud had an opinion on this subject. They just did what everyone did - Potty Train the children as soon as possible because diapers cost money and washing them was an aggravation – (I mean, I'm just saying that as my opinion on the topic)

Anyway, I just wonder about this critical part of growing up and how much is it worth it to just be annoyed about the child that is stubborn about it. How can parents be cool about it? Really learn to relax about it?

Here is a quote about Freud's thoughts on the matter:

If parents take an approach that is too lenient, an anal-expulsive personality can develop in which the individual has a messy, wasteful, or destructive personality. If parents are too strict or begin toilet training too early, an anal-retentive personality develops in which the individual is stringent, orderly, rigid, and obsessive.

That sounds like a total lose-lose scenario. That sounds like no matter which way your training goes, one will be something ‘anal’. I mean, what's in the middle there? What's between Expulsive and Retentive? Is there no normal Potty Training like Anal-Okay-With-Everything-About- My-Life?

Probably not.

I think the last there was of normal Potty Training was when there were no toilets from Home Depot to install in your house.

I think everyone has a chance to mess up Potty Training. We are, after all, only human.

I think no one really knows, yet everyone is willing to talk about the potty habits of their children, right in front of them, with perfect strangers! and that's because it's one of those subjects that people either think they know it all - because their child cooperated - or people think they are a failure because their child can read Freud but won't go Potty without some little bit of prodding or a handful of M & M's.

It's ludicrous to think we can go into the mind of a 3 year old! You just can't do it! Even another 3 year old can't do it!! The 3 year old is locked up in the last stages of innocence. He is a guard at the last gate of true freedom!

They are being asked to become what you are. They are looking closely. Ummm, they are saying, "Do I really want that?"

Here is a list of Developmental Milestones that I cut and Pasted from the net:

During the third year of life a child typically:

• May sleep 10 to 12 hours at night
• Hops on one foot
• Walks a line
• Walks on tiptoes for a few steps
• Brushes teeth, washes hands, retrieves own drink
• Puts on shoes (no laces)
• Completes a six-piece puzzle
• Draws simple shapes
• Enjoys helping with household tasks
• Follows simple directions
• Plays spontaneously with two or three children
• Identifies some common colors
• Counts to three
• Enjoys "pretend" games such as playing house
• Wets the bed at night occasionally
• Uses the toilet often and may need help (boys may not be toilet trained until later this year)
• Feeds self completely using a fork and spoon and can butter bread with a knife.
• Speaks in three- to five-word sentences
• Uses plurals (cats, dogs, etc.)
• May have difficulty getting some words out (not a sign of stuttering)
• Sings a simple tune
• Asks a lot of the "Five W" questions
• Demonstrates a three-minute attention span
• Remembers yesterday's happenings
• Understands some dangers, such as moving cars
• Feels shame when caught doing something wrong
• Is interested in similarities and differences
• Understands difference between self and younger children
• Doesn't understand difference between self and older children
• May show preference for opposite sex parent
• Develops sense of humor and enjoys making people laugh

Goodness, isn’t that enough? Sounds like a lot of responsibility! Add in dancing and running and killing bugs and spitting out gross food in it’s recognizable form, pulling chairs from across the room at a moment’s thought with no warning, putting their hands in your food, insisting always they want your drink, and countless other things – it’s a tough day this three year olding!

Now that list does mention, 'uses toilet often, may need help’, however, it also says, 'demonstrates a three minute attention span' - come on, sometimes it takes more than three minutes to go Potty!

Also it says, 'doesn't understand the difference between self and older children' - so maybe he thinks you are not talking to him about Potty Training!! You are not talking to older children about Potty Training - so why should he have to listen to it?

"Develops sense of humor and enjoys making people laugh" - key word "enjoys". Are you finding the Potty Training experience humorous? He might think it's really funny!

Oh well, hey, I'm just razzin' on the subject. I am not an expert. Never was. It was by shear luck my kids were trained. Shoot, I forgot all about training my second child until we were going to fly 1500 miles away from home and thought, 'wow, shouldn't he be trained by now? Didn’t he just have a birthday recently? Was he three? I think he was three! Holy Cats! If I see these people and he's not trained, they may think I'm a bad mother!" He was just three. So I got a little chair, and in 3 days he was trained. I guess he was ready.

The only thing I know I did was this - when we were going through the Potty Training - that's all we did was the Potty Training. I totally concentrated on that. But that's how I roll. It’s take all my focus to do the big jobs.

Whatever you do moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and whatever other assorted relatives are involved near any child that is being Potty Trained - be positive, be cool, and it will all sort itself out in the wash (ha, no pun intended). The days to come will one day reveal a child who goes all by himself forever. And will also reveal a time it’s never
Mentioned.

Maybe now and then – Let’s take a survey –

Since my three-year-old nephew is being potty trained, my mother has mentioned the training of all her children. Several times. Seems we were all little genius who gave no trouble. (sure, keep that memory, ma, I’m sure you probably deserve it – I, however, am addressing my anal demons day and night!! Somehow, I got caught in-between, one day I want to clean everything nice and neat, and the next day I want to go to the airport and fly to California for a Jackson Browne concert in a excessively wasteful manner!)

Whatever stage you are into, it is big business now the POTTY TRAINING. They have chairs and books and dolls and lots of things for prompts – all kinds of things. Choose wisely, because doubtful that you need them.

Just make sure your kids get the words they need and understand them. And that they are at least willing.

Let me know. What you think of the whole new way? Or are you using the Old Way? Or do you have an original way of your own? I would love to track your kids for about twenty years, and see what's up! We could maybe change the world. Get them to lighten up on a very important issue. What do you think?

The Dragon is still sleeping

I have lost my motivation. If someone sees it, please return it to me as soon as possible.

Imbroglio

I followed no intentions today. I was out of sorts. It was a lovely day out. I enjoyed some of it. Did chores through some of it, but I let this huge pile of a mess that I created in my green home sit here unattended until Madam B was caught by an interest in something she saw that I had saved -- Pez despensers. So she looked through the papers for a little while.

What happened was, the thought of having all my little keepsakes up in the attic, took away my ability to look through them when I wish, so, I have to figure something out.

Actually, some kind of boredom or melancholy came over me today. I just had no motivation to do anything but read. But, of course, I always do laundry because then there's that sense of 'getting something done' - but no goals were accomplished. I feel wickedly weird in my head, my mood is really strange. No motivation. It's probably on the return after a good night's sleep and a day out at the park tomorrow.

Best guess is that my motivation and the idea network part of my brain will probably return around Wednesday. Just a hunch.

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

Saturday ~and it's going to rain today

It's Saturday
The day of doing many things,
Having coffee with your sons and daughter,
Nursing your Hubby through his cold,
Washing, cleaning, taking out trash, filling the recycle bins,
Hosting guests who drop by,
Throwing things away,
Sweeping, playing with the cat as it's only Harley now,
Feeding flowers, planting a bush that's been waiting since October,
Ordering Pizza because your daughter is to shy to call,
Taking in the mail, laughing with your neighbor who pretends to almost run you over,
Making phone calls,
Watching the train with Jacob,
Sweeping the porch, reading poetry,
Saying you don't believe something you just heard,
Rejoicing in someone's good news,
Feeling sad for another's distress,
Marking your calendar for future events,
Wishing there was something in your email inbox,
Baking banana bread,
Smelling the rain coming,
And breathing deeply ....
Waiting for a new discovery.

The Green Party

Not to be confused with a group of Irish men on St. Patrick's Day, the Green Party keeps saying they are 'green'. But they used plastic cups at their gathering. Somehow - I could be wrong - but isn't plastic ungreen? Honestly, don't go by me, I don't really know. Maybe the best green way is to write 'bring your own glass' on the invitation? - And then you take it home and wash it?

I watched a showing of An Inconvenient Truth - the film by Al Gore. It was interesting to watch it edited of any political commentary. The group edited out all the political statements or references, or references to anything personal about Al Gore's life. It was interesting. My mom has this saying she's always used to demonstrate 'to each his own', she says, 'whatever floats your boat' --if Al Gore is right, you might be living in a boat if you are anywhere near any water on the earth.

The information in the movie made a lot of sense. The suggestions that were made by Al Gore made a lot of sense. I hope people in the world decide to think about the options they have for the future. What I see is that 'one-world government' coming. If the film is in anyway a truth about what's to come, one-world ideas will be about the only way to survive.

But, honestly, I'm just a poet with bad iambic pentameter, who doesn't rhyme her poems properly, and plants things where the directions say they shouldn't go, writes backwards haiku, puts coffee grinds on her roses, banana peels on her gardenias, drinks green smoothies and thinks chocolate should be in the food pyramid. Who should listen to me?

"My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred,
And I myself see not the bottom of it."
~~William Shakespeare

Jacob is Three

It was windy today

And so was Jacob

As the earth offered up her energy

In mighty gusts, Jacob grabbed hold for the ride,

And with both hands he held tight and flew

He flew higher than any of us remember how.

He rode the wind and

When his feet touched the ground

With the swiftness of the birds in flight

They would glide with freedom through his sky.

Jacob loves the energy of the earth.

He drinks it in.

As it refills the center of his being

With strength

and with happiness,

With the child's play that is his work.

There in Zeus park,

He crossed the moot with his band of merry men,

he slain the dragon,

He rescued the princess,

He captured the flag,

He rode the magic carpet

And the wings of his bike

Carried him to places

We can only try to remember from our childhood.

If you want to go there,

To that special place of Innocence,

Then, Follow Jacob,

He knows the path.

There is no windy day wasted on Jacob.

There is nothing the earth has to offer that is wasted on Jacob.

It was windy today, and so was Jacob.

~~Miss Roxie

(Jacob's Aunt Sasha)

My Coffee Haiku

Jamaican Blue Mountain Haiku

Whirring of the bean grinder
only minutes now
before java stains my veins

~~Miss Roxie

Wearin' o' the green and Coffee

Today several cities hosted an Irish gathering of some kind. They all featured walking in the streets wearing green, carrying a beer, weird hats, and live bands. One band was singing, "I see a red door and I want it painted black" when I got there. Very Stoney Irish, I suppose.

Anyway, we ate at a pub called Rooney's, watched many people go by dressed in much green, and drinking freakin' dark beer. I ordered a fried cod fish sandwich, which was the least awful thing on the menu I thought, the bread for the sandwhich was wonderful!

That was that...

Watched people who wore green somewhere on their body. Watched people watch me and my sister in law.

Came home - watched Addicition on HBO. Boy, lot to learn if someone in your family is suffering from Addiction. Sometimes, I think we are all addicted to something.

Oh well, I don't have a PHD and don't even do things PDQ, so I shouldn't be telling everyone that they are addicts of some kind as we are all fallen creatures. You normal people know who you are.

I am not normal
I need coffee every morning
I need to move into the day slowly
and quietly
I need to read some inspirising things
I need to open the window and look outside
stand in the fresh air and breathe it in
and hope that no one talks to me for
awhile.
I need my coffee hot. Sometimes I heat my cup.
I love that.
But I need to drink that first cup,
undistrubed by anything
if possible
and then let the thoughts flow
and connect while
they are fresh and kind and willing
at that morning coffee time
and I know for sure God Loves ME
then, later I will probably forget
The morning is clarity
The day is clutter
The evening tries hard to shine a light on it all
so I can see it again
But oftimes the pieces have been moved
too, too much,
and I can't recognize my morning plan
I gather my notes in a pile
find clothes for tomorrow
and wait for the sun to rise again
so I can enjoy that next cup of morning coffee...
~~Miss Roxie

I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee. ~Carly Simon


In Seattle you haven't had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it's running. ~Jeff Bezos

is there a Global Warming crisis....

or not?

I live in Florida. A hot spot for Global Warming fanatics who believe in Global Warming. I can't figure it out.

I tried reading somethings about it. And mostly, what I can gather is there is Global Warming. But what I can't get a clear focus on is ....the threat to my homestead.

ReasononLine Blog and This blog provided a piece that I think provides some kind of hope in that we are not in terrific danger. Quoting from a quote in the blog piece --

"If temperatures continue to increase by 0.08 degrees Celsius per decade, the planet will warm by 0.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. That compares to an increase of 0.6 degrees Celsius during the 20th century. Not much of a crisis. Richard Lindzen says he's willing to take bets that global average temperatures in 20 years will in fact be lower than they are now."

These blogs I'll probably check out, too. See, I am keying in on that phrase up there "Not much of a crisis". What it is, is, I don't feel a crisis in my gut. I've never had a wrong experience with my gut. Of course, I don't have an 800 # or anything, I kind of keep my gut feeling details to those around my inner circle.

When we went to war with Iraq, I felt a crisis in my gut. My whole being said, "oh expletives of different kinds we are in trouble now why is he doing this he should not do this this will not be good" ...and with Global Warming, I haven't gotten that tug of fear. (Maybe I've lost my abilities to get the gut going?).

I mean, not to think that the state of my insides are the closing statement on important issues ...oh haha, never met to infer that, but it's always worked for me as a leveler in the past.

anyway, my sister in law is a Global Warming fanatic chripping in my ear like a minor bird on a sugar high, and I listen patiently, and suppose I must find some facts of my own. So I'll be researching and if anyone wants to add some thought, that will be great.

I'm thinking an odd thing like - why are people, who are believing Global Warming is going to be the reason Florida will be washed away in less than 10 years, bother to buy plants for their front yard? Why would they spend water watering their yards? Just little things like this pop in my head.

But, that's enough for this evening. I'll look at some more stuff and report back what I (think) I see something that makes a little bit of sense to me. If I am supposed to be worrying. I truly want to know and understand the reason as a truth.

A Sunny Day

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
- Sir John Lubbock 

What a lovely long day.

I still haven't recovered from the time change and probably won't until June. I'm dragging every morning to get out of bed at 8:30, which is really my normal time of 7:30 ~ (grrrr) ~

My computer is still on the blitz. Right now, I am on Madam B's computer and she is poking me in the back of the head with her parasol or some kind of long strange umbrella thing she bought. It's really cute actually, and she is bouncing her slinky off my back. She is being totally silly.

Sean is frustrated with the computer situation because it worked when he hooked it up at his house, so - what could it beeeeee!! (grrrr)

Jake and I went to the park, as per usual, and no one was there, and I thought, 'oh, pooh, we're going to have a lonely long day.' But then in a little while, after we walked the whole park area, we saw Sage, who is the dog of one of the artists we met who paint together in a garage across the street.

Sage had his lease dragging on the ground, so Jacob and I (oh and haha on this scene) managed to corral Sage and get the leash. If someone had a video, they could have made some money because an old lady, a dog, and a three year old running around in circles is kind of funny.

Anyway, we took Sage back over to the house and the artists - 6 of them who paint together - were working away and Sage's owner didn't know he was gone. Sage is like a big lab who is still a puppy dog and will probably be gigantic when he is finally grown.

We visited for awhile and watched them paint. (Well, I tried, too. Jacob walked around and around and I had to keep track of him. And there is a lovely nature conservatory in the front of the garage with a butterfly garden and stepping stones to follow and you know three year olds, they have to know where stepping stones go)
Anyway,
They all have different styles. It's amazing to watch them just put their brushes to the canvas and make things like flowers and people and oceans and trees and sunsets -- and even gnomes. Which is what Jacob went home with.

Suzanne, the artist who owns the garage studio, said to Sage's owner (who's name I cannot remember, and shame on me), she said that he should paint Jacob a picture because he takes such good care of Sage and brought him back. And he did. He painted a gnome and signed it, and matted it and gave it to us before we left. I'll probably make them some cookies or something next Wednesday. They paint together every Wednesday.

Then we went back over to the park and a friend of mine, that I met at the park, came with her 4 year old son, Daniel. And we had just a great visit, and walked around and enjoyed the most beautiful day. We didn't leave until almost three o'clock!!

I didn't cook dinner today. We had left overs and I made a big salad. Then I decided I needed to go to the beach. So I called my sister in law and we did that. It was just so good to breathe all that air and I felt the need to be overwhelmed by something bigger than myself. And the ocean does that for me.

It was windy tonight. The waves were rough. But I love the colors of the ocean this time of year.

Madam B has stopped poking me and is now trying to put together a new digital camera I have. And she keeps asking me to turn around and she is taking photos to test the flash. I am blind now.

I'm going to bed early tonight in hopes of combating this time change thing. Maybe that's the way to do it. I really don't know.

I just got flashed again.

If you're going through hell, keep going.
~~Winston Churchill

Computer problems

Yep. What a bummer. Don't know what is going on, 'cause I just don't have that computer gene. My son Sean has taken my hard drive and is trying to save me and my stuff. Tell you what, it's a nightmare not being able to take care of your own stuff.

It's actually been a rough two weeks, not feeling well. Not getting much done, and now that I'm finally feeling better -- Mr. B is not better and Madam Blueberry is sick!

And this month is presenting a list of things to do - My sister is having surgery on her knee and is coming here to recover. Then there is Easter and my husband's relatives are coming to town (they bought a huge house here, have furniture but haven't totally moved in), and I guess they are being talked to about hosting the whole Easter dinner there. They wouldn't provide the food (we would). Just the place. Ummm, I don't know how I would feel about having 20 people in for dinner when I didn't quite live in my house. Oh well. They are certainly better folks than I.

I think I'm going to go ahead and get a laptop. That will free up some space in one of the rooms. And we need space.

I have fallen behind on my organizing my tiny house. That's bugging me. But how can I let it bug me when it's something I just can't get to? So therefore, I have to just accept. And just carry on.

Some people swallow the universe like a pill; they travel on through the world, like smiling images pushed from behind.
~~Robert Louis Stevenson

Splog ahead for the sake of time

The hour - messing with my mind and body. I will be jet lagged. I should be sleeping now! Right now! Now! And I'm not.

I set my clock back last night. That didn't help. That only meant that I got up 'late' as 9:45 IS late to me even when it was really 8:45.

So, I ended up giving my car a cat's lick of a washing, as Mr. B was going to do it, but he is still sick, and which I didn't want to do because I have scheduled a mobile cleaning place to do it Tuesday, but I had to do it today because there were 6 of us going to a concert tonight,

but it wasn't until the last minute that two cancelled and Mr. B had already cancelled (real bummer because he is the one I got the tickets for!!) - so my niece Shannon got one ticket and she was beyond the zone of thrilled - that was fun to witness- but we didn't take my car.

Therefore, if you've followed any of this trip down whinery lane, I didn't have to wash after all and vacuum my car. Today. But I did anyway. It gave me a headache and my chest hurts. I'll take two ibruprofen and probably survive. However, now the debate. Do I cancel the guys for Tuesday? Mr. B says no.

The concert was great - Lindsey Buckingham. I'll write about that later.

yesterday, I spent the entire day - and I worked all day - doing laundry. Washing, folding and putting away. I was exhuasted by days end. I did take a nap and that was wonderful. But clothes can get boring. I did go to the store for food for dinner. Oh. how so exciting.

We watched Man of the Year last night. Did I mention that? No? Well, it's nothing to run out to the video store for, but it certainly won't harm anyone to watch it.

Why Me Lord?
~~Kris Kristofferson

why me lord?
what have i ever done,
to deserve even one,
of the pleasure i've known,
tell me Lord,
what did i ever do,
that was worth lovin' you,
for the kindness you've shown,

Lord help me Jesus,
i've wasted it so help me Jesus,
i know what i am,
but now that i know,
that i needed you so help me Jesus,
my soul's in your hand,


try me Lord,
if you think there's a way,
i can try to repay,
all i've takin' from you,
maybe Lord,
i can show someone else,
what i've been through myself,
on my way back to you,


Jesus, my soul's in your hands

Getting Over it

The 'bug' I mean, the one that is going around, or the allergy,or the 'whatever it is' that has everyone sick one way or another - hacking, coughing, under the weather - I am ready to abandon ship! I think I have coughed unattractively for long enough.

I have done everything right except get enough rest. There is no rest for the cougher/hacker/choker woman who also has to keep up the rest of her deal in the bargain of life. If you get that, you are a mom, wife, friend, neighbor, sister, aunt, and might have a job.

Life will not stop for me, probably even when I'm dead.

It is all including of a wave of dirty laundry and unpaid, unopened bills, and an empty refrigerator that people stare into. They, most probably, are looking for the wisdom to impart into their brain that there must be some way in which they too, can participate in filling it -- only without going out of the house and to an actual grocery store. (Unlike MY car, which goes there automatically if I change the radio station or happen to be distracted for just a second while driving.)

The others in the home are not interested in the envelopes that lay in a pile freshly gathered from the daily trips to the mail box, or the mounds of laundry that refuses to color code itself with an honor guard salute --

No. They are interested in The Food.

But. No matter how hard I try to avoid it, things will shuffle around to a version of normal again, and again, the laundry will dance into it's proper places, and the bills will circulate around the world to it's proper topographic point, and food will once again fill the 'fridge.

Meantime, I think I'll take a short nap.

“When a thing is new, people say: ‘It is not true.’ Later, when its truth
becomes obvious, they say: ‘It is not important.’ Finally, when its
importance cannot be denied, they say: ‘Anyway, it is not new.’”
—William James

Kris Kristofferson - After all these years!

Last month I saw Kris Kristofferson in concert. I cannot believe the man is 70 years old!! He was great! And he sang for an hour and 50 minutes.

I attended the concert with my brother, who is nine years younger than I, and I'm not as old as Kris, and my dad, who is almost a generation older than Kris - and we all thought this concert was great!

The audience was loaded though with every fan in the city that could get a ticket, as Kris' concert sold out in one hour. It was the only Sold Out concert at the Lyric Theater in the 8 months I've lived in this town.

Kris came out with just a guitar. Just walked out on stage and said hello and started playing. His set list was great. He sang all the best ones that you could remember, and all the new ones, I totally enjoyed.

If one is to believe he is a songwriter who tells about himself than you know these things:

He realizes he is a lucky man.
He believes in God.
He loves his family and friends.
He appreciates everyone who ever gave him a break or covered one of his songs.
He owns up to his past mistakes.
He is saddened when he looks around and sees the state of the world.
He is not happy with this administration.
He is grateful for his fans.
He is still not sure why women might find him attractive. (And he still is!)

Although, he didn't talk a lot, you could feel his conversation with you in the songs he sang. His voice is raggedy, but it fits him so well. That's part of the draw. Probably a love him/or leave him kind of fella!

Kris got a standing ovation and was giving a signal to the audience that he would sing one more song by holding up one finger and smiling. He sang that song. Then the applause and he signaled, okay two more. He sang those songs. Then more applause, with people standing, and he signaled again, one more.

The hairs on my head were standing on end for a lot of the songs – but especially In The News. If you click on the song title, you can hear the song. There is a video to watch, and honestly, I think, regardless of your voter’s registration card, you will feel something deep in your soul when you listen and watch it.

To me, that song is saying, we are throwing away innocence in the name of God, and how sad that is. I’m not asking anyone to agree with me or disagree with me, or change your mind about things that you think – I just feel that the world is in a very sad state of affairs. It makes my heart heavy.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to attend the concert. My brother had bought tickets for my mom and dad and himself, but when I moved here and found out about the concert, it was too late to get tickets, so my mom gave me hers. It's funny to see Kris up there after all these years of being a fan. I'd never seen him before.

At this point, Kris may not be someone's cup of tea because he's never been a singer, nor I think did he claim to be. So listening to him sing might not bring one solace or pleasure, for that you might have to be a fan. And for the life of me, I just can't figure out why I am!! But I am. And have been since I bought his first album Me and Bobby McGee back in the early seventies, and the song Why Me Lord? has always been one of my favorites. Matter of fact, that song kind of sums up some of what, I think, he was trying to say.

Maybe his age has caused him to touch more openly on his spiritual side? Maybe he's always been that way and that was the attraction for me.

In the end, to each his own. But I am glad that I attended the concert!

The New Blogger sent me here

For weeks I have been ignoring the New Blogger notice. I've not the time as of late to participate in one more thing -- but yikes and bewilderment, Old Blogger was saying good-by and New Blogger was saying, no more warnings, this is it - figure it out you ole duckie. So I did (I think - haha)

Anyway, much has been happening - I'm tired right now. I've had that hacking, very unattractive cough from unknown sources called allergies. I don't know. Just been coughing and loosing my voice and making all kinds of weird noises.

I need to catch up with myself - so I'll best make a quick list and then expand later ...

My sister came to visit.
Saw my niece in prison.
I got laryngitis.
I developed a bad, annoying, hacking cough.
Rented the movies Wah-Wah and Sherrybaby (Don't recommend them to children).
Jacob went through some discomfort going to library classes this and last week - I figured out he uses his 'park behavior' during library story time and it's not a hit with some of the moms.
Went to the park almost every day - I enjoy it actually.

Sean was in a car accident, and I was so proud of him for how he handled the whole situation. He wasn't hurt and it wasn't his fault. I went down to the scene anyway, just to make sure his car would start, and it did and he went on to work, after being in the road (one of the main ones) for 2 1/2 hours! Three cars were involved and the real culprit got away!

Here's what happened:
This is an intersection at which the left turn lane has it's own light and it is delayed as the southbound traffic has a green light first. So Sean is proceeding with the green light --
suddenly, someone in his lane realizes they can't turn left -- SO
they hit their brakes because (like an idiot) they don't want to keep going south and miss their left turn!
(When all they need to do is go up a short distance and make a U-turn) -- SO
the cars following this (idiot) car begin to brake, and the car behind Sean, a young girl, doesn't get what's going on because she's all focused on the fact that the traffic next to her is moving, and the light is green, so therefore, she doesn't think about STOPPING,
and she doesn't.
She plowed right into Sean, who barely bumped the guy in front of him, but Sean's car has about $4,000 worth of damage.
(Of course, these days, even a bumper costs $500.00) -- SO
she tries to blame the whole accident on Sean saying he had just STOPPED because he had hit the car in front of him (which when you look at the damage, you can see that's not so) --
Sean wasn't ticketed. She was. The other guy had just a scratch, but he had to stay there for the 2 1/2 hours anyway...I felt sorry for her at first, but I didn't after I realized she wasn't going to own up when she saw the evidence of what happened, and almost lost my cool when she started screaming about Sean not getting a ticket.

But the officer on duty explained to her that Sean getting a ticket or not, had nothing to do with her situation. She was getting a ticket regardless.

Anyway, Sean handled all the rest of the stuff, insurance calls, rent a car, getting his car dropped off -- and I very proud of my son. He didn't lose his cool for not even one minute.

The rest of the days ~ just a blurr.