Friday, February 29, 2008

This I Believe

I believe in the simple things. I believe that each day holds beauty, joy, and wonder if you look for it. I believe in spreading that beauty, joy and wonder in simple ways. A smile, a touch, a phone call, a note, praise, and service. I believe in laughter. Laughter heals the heart and soothes the soul and is so much fun. I believe in the mind, body, spirit connection. That together they hold the key to healing. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and the love of my husband. I believe in family. I believe in God, and his unconditional love and grace. And sometimes, when I think of Jesus Christ and his love, I cry.

I'm on staff again for the youth camp this summer. Tomorrow is our first staff meeting. We were asked to bring a "This I Believe" type thing. I don't know if I have it or not, but these are a few of my bare, naked truths.
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I Don't Want to Hurt Your Feelings but...

Always watch out when a statement starts like that. It means the brutal truth. Audrey said to me the other night "I don't want to hurt your feelings but you have got to do something about those eyebrows!" I was ahead of the game and already had an appointment to get them waxed. Luckily she did not comment on the growing mustache, it must not have been that bad, but it got some attention too.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Humpday

Wednesday, also known as humpday, middle of the week. I like Wednesdays. It's the first day of the week when I am home in the evening. I can fix dinner, I can eat with my family, I can enjoy a glass of wine. I can watch CSI reruns (only if My Handsome Prince isn't in movie mode). I have time to do homework.

This morning, I am finishing up my Behavior Change paper, I want it out of my hands so I can focus on Research. I have two papers due Monday, one exam to take by Sunday night, one exam on Monday, a Spanish test today, final draft of my Spanish essay is due Monday, and two research papers due a week from Monday. I'm starting to sweat.

So while my my hands are not manipulating fibers, my fingers and mind manipulate words. And that is my creative effort. Although, there is a baby shower soon, I believe it is a boy. What to make, what to make?

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Kaleidoscope for Big Girls





Once again, I was asked to teach/present for this event. My biggest thrills for the day was one woman, an artist by trade, asked if I was an artist by trade, by the conversation we were having. OMG! To be in that league! The other thrill was that one woman who took my rug hooking class last year has hooked several pieces since. Literally she is hooked. How cool is that?





Now, they were not my only thrills. I had fantastic classes. The women were so creative, so prolific. The conversation was easy, music playing, food excellent.






Again, an all day event. This years classes were needle felting with wool (me), offered both morning and afternoon, painted floor cloths, afternoon only, yo yos, morning only, and mosaics, all day. It's amazing what happens when a day is set aside for having fun, and being creative. Minds are opened to new things. I'm dying to do all the things that were done in the other workshops.
















Here are some of the finished masterpieces.

Don't you want to come too? I can not wait until next time. It's also made me want to plan my Creative Women's Retreat. So many options.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Spastic Colon Sunday

Michelle from Calico Daisy, a blogging friend, sent this to me in response to my last post. I laughed so hard and felt I wanted to share it with others.
Click here

Monday, February 18, 2008

Don't Fight Mondays

Have you seen the commercial? The one where there appears a sliver of light, and immediately people start jumping out of their beds, old and young alike, grabbing the nearest weapon, and start running up the street. Running as if their life depended on it. They come to an edge and the sun starts rising and they are defeated. They could not stop the sun from rising. The motto/line is "Don't fight Mondays". I have no idea what it is advertising.

My panic begins on Sunday afternoon or evening. If we are out somewhere, I need to leave early to ensure I am ready for Monday. Did I complete my homework? Do I have all the changes of clothes necessary, clean? Do I have "things" ready for my classes at work? Is there food in the house? And it goes on. By the evening, I'm not in the best mood, a little on edge, a little cranky.

Like those in the commercial, Monday morning I wake before my alarm, keeping my eyes closed until it goes off, willing myself to sleep just a bit more. Don't fight Mondays! I'm going to try to get up when I wake and learn some meditation or just go sit in the hot tub. But unlike those in the commercial, once up I'm excited, willing to embrace the day, long though it is. It's going to come no matter what and I'm going to make the best of it.

Here is my schedule for Mondays:
6am alarm
8:20 leave house
9-12 work
eat lunch in car
12:30-3:30 Health and Spanish
3:30-6:30 - eat dinner somewhere where there is wireless so I can do homework
6:30-9:20 Physical Fitness class

Today, Mary opened our class with some guided meditation type stuff, sitting in a chair, upright, eyes closed, focus on breathing, relaxing, releasing. It was awesome! I really love this class.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Show the Love

Between work, school, and barfing up my socks, the only way I could show my love today was by making the beds in the sleeping room, disinfecting the bathroom, and looking for a tile which I can't seem to find (I'm sorry My Handsome Prince - I was hoping to present you with one perfect, square, lost but found tile for Valentine's Day).

I certainly hope you showed the love in better form.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Affirmations

I'm doing my homework while My Handsome Prince is out for a bit. Here are two affirmations that appear on my Chapter note handouts.

"I am willing to grow and change into the person I long to be."

"I carry within me my own inner peace and confidence."

Appropriate, I thought.

SPC - Waiting Room Blues


Johns Hopkins Hospital coffee shop has a great almond danish when you can find it. A dozen or so trips over the past year has yielded one, until today. Good karma. We stopped at the coffee shop immediately after My Handsome Prince's scan to inject some caffeine into him via large cappucino. Lo and behold, a danish, when I wasn't even looking. Mmm, sweet almond filling. Up to Dr. Y for results. He didn't see anything so we have another 3 months. See? Good karma. Immediately our hearts were lighter, giggling, doing our Elvis impersonation at the garage exit (an automated voice says thank you very much and we've always thought it should be Elvis), grooving to a little G Love, a quick visitation to a friend's Mother's funeral, and home. My Handsome one remarked that maybe his blood pressure should be checked now because he is feeling fine.

Oh, and Dr. Y thought I was styling in my blue boots. Blue is awesome.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Quiet Thursday Morning

Our morning started nice and slow. It was just what was needed around here. My Handsome Prince slept in, Audrey and I up at our usual hour of 6am. I had time to brouse a few blogs, have a couple phone conversations, and connect with MHP. We sat across from each other, each on our laptops, talking in between our various doings on the internet. I was relaxed and ready for Pilates, able to make that mind/body connection a little more efficient than tuesday, and came out feeling like a dishrag, squeezed and rung out till almost dry. What a great feeling to work that core like that! The day from then on went from one thing to another, working with my Seniors, attending a funding meeting for the Y, home for a quick shower and change, then back to work again. Met a couple girlfriends at the bar for a beer, then home to bed.



I was asked to help do some fundraising for the YMCA's annual campaign which funds sholarships for children and families, I think, who are not able to afford to join the Y or various things the Y offers. At first I thought, shit, I've been snookered into crap work. Then I thought about what the YMCA has done for me. I love my job. People want to be there. The Y has done nothing but enhance my life, from keeping me in shape, to meeting new, and very good friends, to inspiring me to pursue different things. These are just a few things. If the Y can impact my life in this manner, what can it do for a child? I have a different perspective. I will make a pledge. I will willingly make these calls. I will tell my story and ask for money. I will ask my classes and I will do my job. I guess they asked me for a reason.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Que Bueno!

My first day of school and I didn't even get a picture of me standing on the stoop. Dios mio! I'm in up to my neck, with 9 credits, 3 classes. And how I love it already! It is not going to be easy and my classes are much more than I anticipated but, oh, how much I will learn.

My day started at work, teaching a cycle class, was scheduled to lift, but caught my boss and relayed the drama from last week (when I was HMFIC - ha!), then taught my ladies in the women's health center. By this time, I had little butterflies in my stomach. My ladies told me to get out of there and get to school early, they did not need me. They did not have to tell me twice. The parking lot at school was packed! I had to park in an overflow, gravel lot at the edge of the property. I swear there were thousands coming and going. As I was walking in, a friend of Emma's was walking out, gave me a big hug, and we promised to take our remedial math together next semester.

Health 101 - The Science and Theory of Health and Wellness
Unfortunately my Professor for this class was not there due to a family issue. We went over the syllabus and were given a list of projects from which we must choose 4. Right up my alley. Mandatory are the Behavior change project and attend a Campus Wellness Event. Then I get to choose two more from bringing a Healthy snack to class for all to share, or keeping a blog - health related, of course, to volunteering, or just random acts of kindness to make the world a better place. I think a little Guerilla art is in order.

A little time in between, a young girl drawing, a wave from me, and she comes over. Another friend of Emma's from high school and we chat for about a half hour.

Spanish 101 with Profe Schell
Holy crap, I have to write essays in spanish and also a speech.

Walk to this class with a boy from Em's high school.
PHED 101 - Lifetime Fitness
This class was almost 3 hours long, had the most paper handouts, and already have a research project. Body fat testing last night and future fitness tests, a paper on our progress...Way more than I anticipated, yet, again right up my alley. The professor here might even ask me to teach a kickbox class. Yeah! My research project is on The Society Impact of Obesity, due to my recent reading of "The Portion Teller" by Lisa R. Young and finding out queen size beds have gotten 6 inches wider since the 70's due to the widening of the american people. Hmmm, something to think about. What else will I find?

I woke up purely exhausted this morning. I'm taking a book to the bathtub to start my homework, then of course Pilates, teaching my seniors class, walking the streeets of Manchester delivering papers, a nap is a definite, then work from 4-9 tonight with a strength class and a cycle class. I will probably take some homework with me to work since it is fitness related.

My family was wonderful, with well wishes in the morning from My Handsome Prince and Audrey and a text from Emma. Later a talk with Emma, telling her all the friends I saw, and a talk with Audrey about one of her classes in high school, a yummy dinner, a clean kitchen when I got home. A good day.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready to Go


to school, that is. I've packed my books, some toiletries as I will be coming straight from work, no time for a shower, lunch will be packed in the morning, along with a snack. Can't forget the ipod or cell phone. I'll be gone all day, home for bit of sup, then back to class in the evening. Can you say terrified?

Today was Youth Sunday, in addition to being Super Bowl Sunday. My daughter's youth group led the service with the theme of Crossroads. Two weeks previous, they had gone on a retreat and spent the weekend talking about crossroads, how to deal, what kinds they face, along with a letter from a parent about facing crossroads. I did not speak of my crossroads, maybe I should have.

I have found myself on the verge of tears and in tears at every conflict, pressure, or failing today. My mind has not been on the day itself, but not on tomorrow, either. I have felt that I am a fool. Where did I get such false confidence, such cockiness, to think that I could swing this? I can't even go to the grocery store with a list or turn in a receipt for expenses. I don't have time to help my Mother, where am I going to find time to study?
I faced the crossroads of the decision to go to school and now I face other crossroads with my attendance in school. I am not a failure. I am a success. I will take the advice I gave to my daughter on her retreat. Pray. Open my heart, open my mind. Answers come in the strangest ways and places. Embrace this crossroads, it is mine to do with what I wish. Regardless of the result, the decision, my family is with me, God is with me, I am not alone. Yes, I am still terrified, thrilled, still on the verge of tears, but in the morning, I know I will be at peace. I will find my way. I will be okay.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Saturday Morning Musings

I missed Bonerama at the 8x10 club last night and I'm going to miss Grace Potter and the Nocturnals too. Dang! I'm a bit disappointed but all I need to do is look at this and know that I will get my fill. Oh, and Friday night at the Rock 'n Bowl is Kermit Ruffins and Bonerama, double whammy! My plans for the festival include Betty LaVette, Deacon John, John Prine, maybe John Butler Trio, and of course the Gospel Tent. I wonder who will be at the Maple Leaf Thursday night? Or maybe Tiptinas? Dinner at Jacque Imos then walk to the Maple Leaf, it doesn't really matter who is there. Maybe walk the French Quarter and see if Big Al Carson is still singing. Annettes for omelets. My heart is racing with the possibilities.

Yesterday was a gloomy, rainy, day that Audrey and I both had off from responsibilities. I got dressed around 4 just to go to the store. We watched movies and 3 hours of CSI reruns and totally vegged out. I continued my knitting. On my run to the store I saw some people enjoying the day in a completely different manner. It made me smile and wish, once again, I had my camera. Two trucks, a field of mud, rain pouring, these vehicles going in circles, splashing mud till not one speck of paint was visible. They were having a grand time and yet so did I, in my jammies, making tortillas, watching movies, talking with Audrey, playing with puppies.