I have an Ouchie

So I have tennis elbow.  It hurts.  I use to make fun of people who complained about having it because it sounded so lame.  Though when you think about it, it is lame since it makes you lame. You really can't  use your arm without writhing in pain.

Yesterday, I tried to open my jar of peanut butter.  I thought I was going to pass out. Then  I tried to open it with my left hand but the pain was still creeping around in my right arm.  So then I sat on the floor, put the jar between my feet and used my left hand.  YAY!  Peanut butter for me!

It was peanut butter so I needed to go above and beyond the normal to achieve my goal.  Now if only I could just apply that same philosophy to other areas of my life.

Heart health

According to research by eatting a piece of dark or milk chocolate EVERYDAY you can lower your risk of heart disease by 37%!.  Though you should eat no more than 200 hersey kisses

or one small square from a chocolate bar.

Well if its going to help my heart I will do what I gotta do. 

Here's to heart health!

Life without TV part whatever......

Once upon a time (a few years back) I was in for my annual Doctor's visit and he told me I was fat.  He's German and does not mince words.  Just straight and to the point that man.

After I stopped crying, he told me that I should eat only those things I DON'T see on TV. 

So you know where I am going with this don't you? 

Since I haven't been watching TV.....

today I had a McGriddle for breakfast

and Chicken Fingers from Whataburger! 

Yum

Life without TV

Sunday:

Lived life fine without the tube.  In the evening, around 7ish, I turned on the radio, laid on the couch and read one of my books from a stock pile.  Around 11ish that evening I woke up after having fallen asleep some time after the first few pages.  Was wide awake for several hours, so I cleaned out the closet.

Monday:

Read the same book as Sunday, fell asleep after a couple more pages.  Cleaned out the pantry.

Tuesday:

Surfed the Internet until bed time.


Am I cheating if I surf the net instead of watching TV?

I Pledge Not to Watch TV....

Day One:

Waking on Saturday, I grabbed my diet Dr. Pepper and headed to the living room where I plopped on the couch and turned on the TV.  After about ten minutes a commentator came on to speak about the election.  Then it dawns on me....I haven't anything good for breakfast.  As I sit there wondering what to eat, the commentator drones on and on and on.  Then I remembered my pledge.  I turned off the tube and didn't know what to do.  Perhaps I can only think of what to have for breakfast while the TV is blaring.  I go back to bed. 

Unable to fall back to sleep I get dressed and go to the grocery store.  After buying out the store (never go grocery shopping when you are hungry) I head out to the car only to see the rain. A monsoon....more like a torrential downpour.  I have no umbrella because I didn't know it was going to rain.  I wait.  10 minutes later its still raining and I am digging through the bags to see what else I can eat. 

I make a run for it.  My groceries and I are soaked.  Seems it was a bad time to be environmentally conscious and request paper bags. Turns out there was a big storm forecast for the day which I might have known if only I watched the news.

What did the pioneer folks do before TV?  How did they figure out if it was a good day to ride into town for supplies?  Never the less, I will continue on with my pledge.  No TV. 

CRAP! Today is the Super Bowl!  How am I to watch the funny commericals?!

I Pledge....

It's political season again.  YAY!    I haven't gotten over the last one and that was pretty brutal.  It felt like it lasted two years.

Now, every time I watch TV all I see is an update about who is running; what who said about whom; who paid the most taxes and who slept with whom.  I really don't care.  I know I should and I should be involved in the election process but it all seems so juvenile.  The name calling, the insulting, the posturing, and that's just from me. 

Every candidate talks about what's wrong and who is doing wrong but they just don't seem to say "how" they will fix it, or "how" they would do better. They speak that politico speak that says everything yet nothing all at the same time, cloaking their ambiguousness about any given topic so they never really make a commitment to one thing or another.  Just thinking on all this is raising my blood pressure!

Well, I have decided to make a stand.  I pledge to stop watching the boob tube for at least a month ( I should really stop until the election is over but I'm thinking about all my season finales I might miss.  I'll just play it by ear.  Hummm...I kinda sound non-committal, like some of those politicians I am trying to hide from.)

Instead of watching TV, I will read a book, garden, vaccuum, do laundry...wait...I might need to re-think this. 

NO...I will do it!      NO TV for a MONTH.

Exercise dilemma

Trying to catch up on my reading, I came across an article that talked about what you can do to burn off 1,000 calories worth of chocolate (put me within a 10 miles radius of plain M&M's and it can happen). 

You can:

Go bowling for 5 hours - That's fine but what about all the cheese nachos and beer I consume?

Walk for 3 hours - Send me to a shopping mall. I wonder what they have in the food court?

Wash dishes for 7 hours - Not a problem as long as my dishwasher holds out.  7 hours straight might wear it out.

Climb stairs for 2 - Nope.  Heard a nasty story once about walking up stairs so I couldn't do it.  It had to do with boogers on the hand rail. 

Do aerobics for 2 -  I get winded just reaching for the remote. I wonder if I can watch a video for two hours?  

I will be glad when January is over and they stop talking about all the New Year's delusions resolutions tips and start telling us which chocolate is best for Valentine's Day! 

Desire #2

Learn to appreciate possibilities. 

I may not always get what I thought I desired, but instead of seeing that as a negative I will start to look at the situation for the possibilities it may bring. 

Perhaps there is something wonderful, good and just what my heart always desired buried in there somewhere if only I'd give it a chance.

Desire #1

To be kinder to myself.  Honestly, if I had a friend that spoke to me the way I speak to myself , I know I wouldn't be friends with them for long.  If I won't tolerate that behavior from others why do I tolerate it from myself?  If I can't be kind, compassionate and respectful of my Self then why should anyone else?

Wish upon a star

Finally! The holidays are over and now we have moved on to the New Year and all the resolutions people are making. Yippee!

I don't make resolutions.  I think they're stupid and a waste of time.  But I am an underachiever so what do you expect from me? 

Well this year I have decided to try to put some order into my life and I will be making a list of "desires". Not "goals".  Not "wants".  "Desires".

Interesting note.  Do you know the origin of the words "goal" and "want"?

Goal - 1275–1325; Middle English gol boundary, limit; compare Old English gǣlan to hinder, impede

Want - 1150–1200; Middle English wante < Old Norse vanta to lack

No wonder people have a hard time achieving what they are looking for.  The words are all wrong. 

Example:

"A goal for 2012 is that I want to make more money."

Translation:

"I want to be impeded as I lack more money."


Interesting what words really mean isn't it.  You know what "desire" originally meant?

Desire - early 13c., from O.Fr. desirer, from L. desiderare "long for, wish for," original sense perhaps "await what the stars will bring," from the phrase de sidere "from the stars," from sidus (gen. sideris) "heavenly body, star, constellation" (but see consider). Noun sense of

Here's wishing that you receive all your hearts desires for the coming years.

Eye see you now!

Maddie the foster dog and I made it through the holiday!  Yesterday she went back to the shelter to be spayed and get the rest of her hair cut. 


This was Maddie before:

And this is after:

Holy Cow, she has eyes!


In a couple of days Maddie will return to the shelter so she can take part in the big Christmas adoption campaign at Neiman Marcus.  I know someone will snatch her up in all her cuteness.  I sure am gonna miss her though. But I must say, I learned a lot from her. 


As  I mentioned before, Maddie was a cruelty case.  She was rescued from a bad situation and in spite of all she has gone through she still loves people, she still loves life.  She doesn't lay down and wallow in self pity and cry over where she came from or what she went through. 

Each morning she gets up and has this big grin on her face and a wag in her tail.  The day is met with enthusiasm.  She does the dance of joy when she is fed dry, crunchy kibbles.  She is over the moon with squish hugs. 

Why is it the human race is considered the smartest of all the species yet most of us can't manage to look at life the way Maddie the foster dog does?

Funny, I got another foster pet because I was feeling down about my situation; wallowing around in the self pity and self loathing.  And here comes this dog to teach me a lesson about living life now.

Hello, my name is.....???

Madame X

This is my new foster baby. She doesn't have a name yet.   I think for now I will call her Madame X.   She was rescued from a cruelty situation and placed in my care until she gets healthier.  Aside from some physical illness that will be taken care of with meds and a low weight that can be cured with food and treats,  Ms. X's fur was matted from head to toe. 


We cut what we could but at some point she will need to be put under the "milk" in order to clean up her head, neck and ears.  She is a mess.  One big mat ball.  I am toying with naming her Madeline; Maddy for short.  Get it? Maddy?  Matted fur?  HA,  I kill me.

But in all seriousness, no matter what I am going through in my life that sucks, when i give my time to helping another being (human or animal) it takes my mind from that dark place to reach out to another who is in their own.  Maybe together we can end up on the brighter side of life.


I feel like i should say namasta now...so namasta.

Morning Pages

Some time ago I read a book by Julia Cameron called The Artist Way.  Its a guide to help people become more creative; in life, in their work, what ever.  As you go through this program to make your self a creative genius, Julia recommends every morning you write, long hand, three pages of stuff.  First thing in the morning, well after you grab that coffee or tea, you empty your mind of what ever is floating around in there, any thought you have no matter how odd. The idea is that once you clear your mind of crap you are freeing your self to be creative; artistic.  


Example of my morning pages:  "I'm too sleepy to write this early in the morning.  Why is it so cold in here? Why is my pajama top turned around backwards?  Should  I wash my curtains?  Is the lady across the street up yet? Why doesn't she chop down those vines growing on her house? Why did Kim K get married? Was it for real or a scam?  Why do so many people care? Why don't i get married and make a lot of money like she did? Is it too early to go to Shipley's and get a donut?  How far do I have to walk to walk off that donut?

See, you don't have to write a novel or even be a creative writer.  You just need to empty your mind. But I have this slight problem doing it.  I don't want to do it long hand.  You see when I write something out I have to write it in a certain kind of notebook.  They can't be spiral bound.  If I skip doing the morning pages for a while, i have to have a whole new notebook to write in.  Its too depressing to write in an old, used notebook.  I need a fresh start to be motivated. So i have about 8,573,468 notebooks lying around the house as a reminder of my lack of accomplishment.

I also have to have a certain kind of pen to write with.  It has to be a colorful gel pen.  Anything else and it just isn't worth writing. So I have more pens then Office Depot scattered around my house.  Though I never seem to be able to find one when needed.  I think it's easier to go buy new pens then to look for the old ones.

So what's the point of this long drawn out story of my lack of commitment to being creative? I found this web site called 750words.com.  This site has taken Julia's concept of three pages a day and converted it into a web site.  750 words is how many words it takes to fill up three pages by the way.
Don't worry, it's private.  No one can read what you wrote so you can have all your deviate sexual fantasies written about your boss and no one will know.  You can even misspell words and you won't be judged.

Every day that you do your Morning Pages you get a little cyber cheer from the site! That's a big deal for me because I'm kinda competitive and I like to see how I have done.  I need to know how many check marks i got in a month and how many months i went over 750 words. It also can tell me how fast I wrote my Morning Pages that day.

If you are looking to make a creative change in your life then I recommend reading The Artist Way.  No matter what your talent is; a writer, a painter, a mime, this program can help get you back on track.  If you are a crappy long hand writer like myself, then check out 750words.com. 

Joy to the World

I witnessed an odd exchange the other day as I was driving around town.  One driver got very angry at another for cutting in front of him. This man rolled down his window, leaned half way out  and let out a slew of curse words directed at the car in front of him.  It was a bit unsettling but oddly funny.  It reminded me of...well of me once upon a time.


There was a day when I would get so angry anytime someone got too close to the rear of my car; what I thought was too close i should say.  Stomping on the brakes real fast, I put the fear of God in that reckless driver!  How dare they infringe on my space!  If some one whipped in front of me and made me step on the brakes,  I would give them the biggest one finger salute in the state of Texas.  I would cuss out a nun if I thought she wasn't driving the way I thought she should. If I had a ruler I would have probably tossed it at her as I said every cuss word known to man.


But one December day it all change for me.  It was several years back, I was on my way to work and I had a Christmas cd on playing "Joy to the World".  There I was driving down the road singing so loud and so proud you would have thought I was Whitney Houston (OK, maybe not), just feeling the love and Christmas spirit all around me when outta nowhere some woman cuts right in front of me.  With out skipping a beat, or lyric, I flipped that lady off. 


It was at that very moment I knew how ridiculous I looked and how hypocritical I was.  Since that day I have never gotten to the point where I needed to cuss someone out or wave the finger in their face for their reckless, crazy driving.   Don't get me wrong, I still get frustrated at times while driving.  Let's face it, no one drives as well as I do. But now I just don't let the anger drive me to react that way anymore.

Flops away

These are my favorite shoes

So are these

but since i am trying change my style i need to look beyond the flops.  Also fall/winter has arrived 

(its 80 degrees...burrrrr)

and my feeties are getting cold.  I needed a change, something stylin',  so i found these...

I got them at a clearance sale for just $15! 

How cool is that?! 

Of course they were probably made in a sweatshop by 3 year old babies

out of material that is caustic to the human body but what the heck!

Can you hear me pee now?

I like cell phones.  I own one.  I actually have owned many over the years because I wanted the latest and prettiest, or I needed a new one because I broke one dropping it or worse…I lost one (OK really its been two and its too painful to talk about).  Cell phones have their uses.  Talking to people is the main reason that comes to mind but honestly, do we have to talk to folks while we are on the can?

I was in this office building the other day and needed to stop by the loo.  Walking in I heard a voice coming from one of the stalls.  A woman was having a conversation with a friend (I at least hope it was her BFF) while she was making a poop and pee.  I could hear a stream of water hitting the toilet and loud explosions of gases escaping from her body while she shared the latest gossip. I find that to be totally disgusting.  I don’t want to talk to someone while I'm doing my business and I certainly don’t want to talk to someone while they are doing theirs.  Who wants to hear that?  Just because we can take cell phones anywhere does that mean we really have to? 

Color Me Pretty Part Three- Take a clothes capsule and look marvelous in the morning

A quick recap:  We found our color group, know our body shape and organized our closet.  We are ready for our capsule now.
 
What's a clothes capsule you ask?  By definition it’s a group of 5-12 pieces consisting of a jacket, skirt, slacks, shirts, etc. that work in combination with each other in style and color. 
   

Here is a sample of one to give you an idea:

From this basic group of one jacket, one shirt and two skirts, I created at the least four different ways to wear them.  I can dress them up for work (if I had a job) or just go casual. A clothes capsule can make it look like you have more clothes than Macy’s warehouse before Christmas.   Keep in mind this is only a sample.  You can and should have more in your basic group like two jackets and two shirts.  Then you can really increase your wardrobe options.

Hopefully it’s clearer now why we grouped our clothes by item and then color.  This allows you to better see what you have and helps to provide a blank canvas for you to create a new outfit.  After I did this step, I spent hours putting together different outfits.  Considering I hate shopping and anything "dress up," I have to say it was fun.  It was like I had an entirely new wardrobe and it didn’t cost me a dime!

I created a couple clothes capsules for my work clothes and casual.  I am even able to pull some things from my work capsules into my casual ones.  Instead of wearing the exact same thing every day, I try to mix it up. I actually shock my friends now when we meet up because I’m not wearing my daily uniform of cropped khaki's, a white tee and flops. (don’t get me wrong, I still put those on when I’m not going to see people. I do loves my comfy clothes most definitely.)

To give you a better idea of the clothes capsule concept here's a video i found on youtube.com.



After you have played with your clothes then you may see some holes in your capsule. Maybe you need a new jacket or skirt to round it out. My suggestion is to check out a Goodwill Store (a resale shop), a consignment shop or even Marshall's or TJ Max,

I bought a brand new (tags still on it) suede camel colored jacket at my local Goodwill store for $10. You never know what you will find. One good tip, go to a resale shop in the rich area of town. Good pickings there!

Just because I am unemployed doesn’t mean I need to look homeless. Now more than ever I should care about how I look, dress and present myself to the world whether I'm interviewing or shopping at Wal-Mart.  I always reached for the easiest thing to put on without any effort.  If I don't care why should anyone else. 

OK boys and girls that concludes my topic on how to dress and not look a mess.  I know I didn't give a blow by blow detail on how to do it but what i discovered while researching is that you need to create your own style.  Don't go by what I wear, but by your own color type and body shape. Get creative.  Look at what you have in your closet and see how you can make it work for you. 

Coming into the closet - Step Two from slob to styling

Last week we looked at finding out what colors looked good on us and incorporating those colors into our wardrobe.  By now we should have gone through our closets and become a radical clothes racist, kicking out all the colors that don’t belong. 

Now for Step Two – If it Doesn’t Fit You Must Omit

Take everything you have in your wardrobe that’s left after your colorectomy and try them on.  EVERYTHING.  If it’s in your closet try it on. If it doesn’t fit properly get rid of it.  I know what your thinking cuz I had the exact same thoughts; “but I’m gonna lose 10 pounds and I will be able to wear it again.”. Then I realized I have been saying that for YEARS.  So let it go.  It’s OK.  If we really do lose 10 pounds we should go out and celebrate by buying something new (as long as its in our color plan).  Let me share a secret.  We can still lose weight if that thing isn’t in the closet.  Trust me, it’s for the greater good.  Don't let this be you:

OK, We have thrown out the tight stuff (don’t make me come over there and do it for you!)  Now we need to become aware of our body type.

Banana Shapes:  The Bust and Hips are basically the same size with no noticeable waist

Apple Shapes:  The Bust is larger than the hips

Pear Shapes:  The hips are larger than the bust

Hourglass shapes:  The bust and hips are basically the same but the waist is more defined

Knowing this helps with the rest of our elimination process.

Keep only what looks good on your body shape. You will need to do research on dressing for your shape.  There is a lot of information out there to help you out.  Pick what is flattering.  If you aren’t sure ask.  Be sure to ask someone who is honest (and don’t get mad if they tell you your butt looks big).  If it looks bad, chunk it. Be done with the uglies!

Whew!  That’s a lot of work but just one last thing to do and we are ready for margaritas.  Take all the clothes you are keeping and put back in the closet.  But group  items together.  In other words, all jackets together, all shirts together , all pants together.  Once you have your clothes segregated by item, group by color.  Example:  All your jackets are in a section together with all the black jackets together, all the brown jackets together.  See?  All jackets together separated by color.  Easy.

If you have a suit (jacket and skirt) then you must separate them.  Put the jacket in its section and the skirt in its.  You will see next week when we continue with....

From slob to styling – Take a clothes capsule and look marvelous in the morning.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. The power of words

The title is a children's rhyme.  Kids would call each other names, usually bad, and the recipient of the words would chant that back to show it didn't bother them.  Well it bothered me.  I hated being called fat, stupid, ugly and four eyes.  It hurt deep inside even though I yelled that chant back at the top of my lungs. 

A few years ago I read The Hidden Messages in Water by Dr. Masrau Emoto.  This book was based on his research of how words can affect water and since humans are made up of about 70% water, how it can also affect us.

Basically, Dr. Emoto subjected water to words and sounds then caught the reaction of the water molecules through his microscope (I am sure it is a lot more complicated than what I am saying).

The results were eye opening:

I have always been sensitive to words, how they are said; in tone as well as content.  As I read this book it reaffirmed to me that words do have an impact on others and this world.  So we have a choice of what imprint we want to leave behind; words of love and encouragement or words of anger and criticism.

 

I came across this book today as I was cleaning out my bookshelf and thought it was something good to remind myself of; to be mindful of what words I choose to say not only to myself but to others.  I want to leave behind the most beautiful snowflake on someones soul that they have ever felt.

My Fair Lady

OMG!   I am soooo disgusted with myself.  I know I am trying to be more accepting of my self and not be critical but honestly, today I was shopping at Wal-Mart and everyone there was dressed better than me.  E V E R Y O N E !  That's just wrong.

I need to pull myself together.  I can’t be a slob.  I need to start updating my wardrobe.  Actually, I need a wardrobe to update is more accurate, but the point is I need to figure out what to get, where to go. I just don’t have a clue as to what to get; what looks good for my build, etc. I’m not a fashionista.

I think what I really need is a personal stylist.  I want someone to transform me from this bulging, faded, wrinkled wardrobe Wal-Mart wanna-be to someone put together, someone who looks like she has order in her life.

But, being that I am unemployed at the moment getting a personal stylist is not a possibility. I gotta figure this crap out on my own.  God help me.