Life Outside the Box

Slow Down!

2011-05-20T14:01:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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Life can often feel like its zipping by in fast forward. We feel obliged to accelerate our own speed along with it, until our productivity turns into frenzied accomplishment. We find ourselves cramming as much activity as possible into the shortest periods of time. We disregard our natural rhythms because it seems we have to just to keep up. In truth, rushing never gets you anywhere but on to the next activity or goal.

Slowing down allows you to not only savor your experiences, but also it allows you to fully focus your attention and energy on the task at hand. Moving at a slower place lets you get things done more efficiently, while rushing diminishes the quality of your work and your relationships. Slowing down also lets you be more mindful, deliberate, and fully present. When we slow down, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves to our natural rhythms. We let go of the fast forward stress, and allow our bodies to remain centered and grounded. Slowing down is inherent to fully savoring anything in life. Rushing to take a bath can feel like an uncomfortable dunk in hot water, while taking a slow hot bath can be luxuriant and relaxing. A student cramming for a test will often feel tired and unsure, whereas someone who really absorbs the information will be more confident and relaxed. Cooking, eating, reading, and writing can become pleasurable when done slowly. ! Slowing down lets you become more absorbed in whatever it is you are doing. The food you eat tastes better, and the stories you read become more alive.

Slowing down allows you to disconnect from the frenzied pace buzzing around you so you can begin moving at your own pace. The moments we choose to live in fast forward motion then become a conscious choice rather than an involuntary action. Learning to slow down in our fast-moving world can take practice, but if you slow down long enough to try it, you may surprise yourself with how natural and organic living at this pace can be.

Irritation as a Teacher

2011-05-02T07:17:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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There are many stories of spiritual masters embracing the presence of an annoying student in their community. There is even one story that documents a teacher paying an irritating person to live among his students. From an everyday perspective, this is difficult to comprehend. We generally work hard to avoid people and things that we find annoying so they dont bother us.

From a deeper spiritual perspective, however, irritation can be an important teacher and indicator that we are making progress on our path. Being able to remain centered and awake even when we feel uncomfortable is much more impressive than doing so in an environment where everything is to our liking. No matter how good we are at controlling our circumstances, there will always be factors and people that we cannot control. How we respond to these experiences to a great degree determines the quality of our lives. The goal of spiritual development is not to learn to control our environmentwhich is more of an ego-driven desire. And while having some measure of control over our external reality is important, it is when we are confronted with a person or situation that irritates us and we can choose not to react that we know have made progress spiritually. It is when we have mastered our internal reality that we will have become the masters of our lives.

The more we try to eliminate annoyances, instead of learning to handle them gracefully, the further we get from developing the qualities that come with spiritual growth, such as patience, tolerance, and acceptance. It is often in the presence of people and experiences we find annoying that we have an opportunity to develop these qualities. Fortunately for most of us, our lives offer an abundance of opportunities to practice and cultivate these traits.

Finding Your Tribe

2011-04-13T13:35:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM!

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Part of being human is the search for an individual identity. Bound to this strong need to establish a unique persona, however, is an equally intense desire for acceptance. It is when we find our individual tribes that both are satisfied. Our tribe members are those people who accept us as we are without reservation and gladly accompany us on our journeys of evolution. Among them, we feel free to be our imperfect selves, to engage unabashedly in the activities we enjoy, and to express our vulnerabilities by relying on our tribe for support. We feel comfortable investing our time and energy in the members of our tribe, and are equally comfortable allowing them to invest their resources in our development.

The individuals who eventually become members of your unique tribe are out there in the wide world waiting for you. You are destined to find them, one by one, as you move through life. Sometimes your own efforts will put you in contact with your future tribe members. At other times, circumstances beyond your control will play a role in helping you connect with your tribe. If you look about you and discover that you are already allied with a wonderful and supportive tribe, remember that there are likely many members of your tribe you have not yet met. On the other hand, if you feel you are still living outside of your tribe, broadening your horizons can help you find your tribe members.

However your life develops after you come together with your tribe, you can be assured that its members will stand at your side. On the surface, your tribe may seem to be nothing more than a loose-knit group of friends and acquaintances to whom you ally yourself. Yet when you look deeper, you will discover that your tribe grounds you and provides you with a sense of community that ultimately fulfills many of your most basic human needs.

It's Finally Here!

2011-04-08T17:37:00.002-06:00

Thank God I...Volume 3 is now available for purchase at http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?af=1333140. My story is on pages 208-212.

Stepping Stones

2011-04-06T08:12:00.003-06:00

Here's another DailyOM for your reading pleasure:

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The years of our life do not arrive all at once; they greet us day by day. With the descent of each setting sun, we are able to rest our heads and let the world take care of itself for a while. We may rest assured throughout the night, knowing that the dawn will bring with it a chance to meet our lives anew, donning fresh perspectives and dream-inspired hopes. The hours that follow, before we return to sleep once more, are for us to decide how we want to live and learn, laugh and grow. Our lives are sweeter and more manageable because we must experience them this way: one day at a time.

Imagine the future stretching out before you and try to notice if you feel any tension or overwhelm at the prospect of the journey still to come. Perhaps you have recently made a lifestyle change, like beginning a new diet or quitting smoking, and the idea of continuing this healthy new behavior for years seems daunting. Maybe you have started a new job or are newly married and can feel an undercurrent of anxiety about your ability to succeed. If you can shift your focus from what may happen years down the line and return it to the day that is before you right now, you may find a measure of calm and renewed confidence in your capabilities. You may also discover an inner faith that the future will take care of itself.

The way we show up for our lives today and tomorrow has an enormous affect on who we will be and what we will be experiencing years from now. If we can remain fully engaged in the day at hand, enjoying all it has to offer and putting our energy into making the most of it, we will find that we are perfectly ready and capable to handle any future when it arrives.

Illusions of Insignificance

2011-04-05T11:20:00.002-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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It can be easy sometimes to buy into the illusion of our own insignificance. We may see large corporations or institutions, celebrities or successful people in our community, and compare ourselves to them, thinking that their fame or material power affirm how little our own lives amount to. But nothing could be further from the truth. Every single one of us matterstremendously. Our very existence affects countless people in countless ways. And because we are each essentially a microcosm of the larger universe, our internal experiences affect the whole of life more than we could ever imagine. The world simply could not exist as it does now if you, or any one of us, were not in it.

Perhaps you are aware that on some level you believe your life does not matter. If this thought resonates within you, maybe it is time to explore why you feel this way. You may have formed self-rejecting or belittling beliefs as a child to keep yourself safe or to help you make sense of confusing situations. You may have felt unseen or unheard and decided that there was something wrong with you, rather than with the attention span of the people around you. Spend some time looking into where these feelings of insignificance first took root, and see what changes you might be able to make in your life and in your heart.

This one belief in your own unimportance could be limiting you and impacting your life in enormous ways. When you shift your perceptions around your own ability to affect your life and impact the world, you may discover wonderful parts of yourself that you had long ago forgotten. There may even be exciting new parts that you never even knew existed. When you gain awareness of how much your life really does matter, new sources of energy can emerge and your sense of connection with the world is renewed.

Poems

2011-03-31T18:39:00.002-06:00

Who knew my kiddo was such a poet? Here are two of her most recent works:

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little bird

does a little bird sing?
does a little bird cry?

does a little bird flap its wings?
does a liitle bird fly?

if a little bird can do those things,
can't you? try.

- Alexa G.

Favorite Thing

A little girl once asked "What's your favorite thing to smell?”
I replied, “Well, that’s a tie, you see…
Between spearmint and fresh laundry.”

A little boy once asked, “What’s your favorite thing to see?”
I replied, “A balloon in the sky, sunset, or sunrise.”

A teacher once asked, “What’s your favorite thing to do?”
I replied, “To cook, read and write…
To holler, scream, start a fight…
To dazzle people with beauty and brains…
To take a walk in the rain…
All the things no one cares about…
Everything that’s been forgotten…
All the things that have been left behind,
But stand still in my mind.”

- Alexa G.

Disapproving Faces

2011-03-25T06:50:00.000-06:00

I just love the DailyOM!

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It is not necessarily a pleasant experience, but there will be times in our lives when we come across people who do not like us. As we know, like attracts like, so usually when they don't like us it is because they are not like us. Rather than taking it personally, we can let them be who they are, accepting that each of us is allowed to have different perspectives and opinions. When we give others that freedom, we claim it for ourselves as well, releasing ourselves from the need for their approval so we can devote our energy toward more rewarding pursuits.

While approval from others is a nice feeling, when we come to depend on it we may lose our way on our own path. There are those who will not like us no matter what we do, but that doesnt mean that there is anything wrong with us. Each of us has our own filters built from our experiences over time. They may see in us something that is merely a projection of their understanding, but we have no control over the interpretations of others. The best we can do is to hope that the role we play in the script of their lives is helpful to them, and follow our own inner guidance with integrity.

As we reap the benefits of walking our perfect paths, we grow to appreciate the feeling of fully being ourselves. The need to have everyone like us will be replaced by the exhilaration of discovering that we are attracting like-minded individuals into our livespeople who like us because they understand and appreciate the truth of who we are. We free ourselves from trying to twist into shapes that will fit the spaces provided by others limited understanding and gain a new sense of freedom, allowing us to expand into becoming exactly who were meant to be. And in doing what we know to be right for us, we show others that they can do it too. Cocreating our lives with the universe and its energy of pure potential, we transcend limitations and empower ourselves to shine our unique light, fully and freely.

Why Are We so Mean to Ourselves?

2011-03-10T07:49:00.001-06:00

Here's another goodie from the DailyOM:

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One of the key components of human consciousness that most of us need to address and change is our tendency to be hard on ourselves. We do this in ways that are both overt and subtle, and half the work sometimes is recognizing that we are doing it at all. For example, if we find it difficult to graciously accept compliments, this is probably a sign that we tend to be hard on ourselves. Other ways in which we express this tendency include never feeling satisfied with a job well done, always wanting to be and do better, and getting mad at ourselves for getting sick. Getting mad at ourselves at all indicates that we need to rescue ourselves from our learned ability to be unkind to ourselves.

In essence, when we are hard on ourselves, we send our bodies the message that we are not good enough. Whenever we do this, we do damage that will need to be addressed later, and we sap our systems of much-needed energy. Being hard on ourselves is a waste of precious time and energy that we could use in positive ways. To begin to understand how this works, we can think about times when someone made us feel that we weren't good enough. Even just thinking about it will create an effect in our bodies that doesnt feel good. We may be used to the feeling, but when we really tune into it, we instinctively know that it is not good for us on any level.

Like any bad habit, being hard on ourselves can be a challenging one to release, but the more we feel the burden it places on us, the more motivated we will be to change. At first, just noticing when we are doing it and how it makes us feel is enough. As our awareness increases, our innate impulse toward health and well-being will be activated, moving us out of danger and into a more positive and more natural relationship with ourselves.

Ugly Duckling Syndrome

2011-03-09T08:48:00.003-06:00

My daughter just turned 12. Anyone who has seen her pictures knows that she is a very pretty girl. I know I am biased but I have heard that from so many people. Lately, she has been in tears almost every morning before school because she thinks she is ugly...too fat, bad hair, ugly face, braces, glasses, mean personality (these are her words).

I just had a session yesterday with a client who is having trouble communicating with her teenager and I think I will take my own advice: let her vent and make sure that she knows that I am here for her, then step back until she asks me for advice or an opinion. I used to force my point of view on her - that she is beautiful - but of course that didn't make her feel any better because, "You have to say that! You're my mom!"

She's comparing herself to her friends constantly. One of them is Chinese and very slender with that gorgeous Asian hair; one is Indian and a vegetarian, so she is very slender as well; her BFF is an early bloomer and has many of the attributes that my kiddo is longing for. She told me this morning that she wanted me to keep her home from school until she has her growth spurt, etc. - then she will go back. Yeah, right.

So I called my mom and asked her to drop some pictures of me as an awkward pre-teen in the mail. I was definitely fat by every definition of the word. I had braces and a bad perm that looked like an afro. I distinctly remember the popular girls telling me, "You have such a pretty face." UGH!!

I'm not sure if seeing those pics will have the desired effect, but I am really hoping so. The kiddo has always told me how pretty I am. I want to show her that I wasn't always so confident in my looks (and for good reason), but as time went by, I changed and grew into my own...and she will too.

Family Fears

2011-03-03T14:12:00.001-06:00

The OM is just cranking out some great articles lately!

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When we really examine our fears about something, we sometimes notice that the fear we have is not based on our own experience. Often, if we trace our fear back to its source, we find that one of our parents may have handed it down to us. For example, your mother or father may have had an intense fear of lack of money, stemming from their own life experiences. If that fear was not resolved by the time you came into the picture, chances are you inherited it. Meanwhile, you may have no actual experience of lacking money, so being fearful doesnt make sense, and it may even block you from doing certain things you want to do.

Keeping in mind that your parents were only trying to protect you, and that most of the errors in judgment they made were made with the best intentions, it might be time to release this fear symbolically. You cannot resolve someone elses fear for them, but you can decide to let go of it on your own behalf. Whether your parents are still alive or not, it is best to do this in a symbolic way, using visualization and, if you like, ritual. One simple visualization involves inviting your parent to sit across from you in your heart space and sharing your desire to move on from this fear, letting them know that you will not carry it anymore. You may be surprised at the response you get, because its possible they will be proud of you, grateful, and proud of your courage.

The more we do this deep inner work with our fears, the better we will be able to parent our own children without burdening them with fears that dont belong to them. Some of us will do as much of this work as we can before we become parents, while others will be working on this even as our children become adults. Either way, the effects will be felt, because once we break our ties to the fears of the past, our childrens ties to those fears are greatly weakened, so its important to remember that its never too late.

Compulsive Apologies

2011-03-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM!

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Many people suffer with the tendency to apologize all the time, chronically, for everything. On the one hand, apologizing is a social convention that keeps interactions between people polite, and in that way it can be very helpful. On the other hand, if we find ourselves apologizing for everything, it might be time to look at why we feel compelled to say Im sorry so often. Ultimately, saying youre sorry is saying that you are responsible for something that has gone wrong in the situation. Whether its negotiating a parking spot, moving through the aisles of the supermarket, or reaching for what you want, there are times when sorry is the right thing to say. But there are other times when excuse me is more accurate.

Sometimes saying youre sorry is like saying that the other person in the equation has more of a right to be here than you do. Of course, its true that using the word sorry can simply be an innocuous way of defusing tension. However, if you find that you say sorry all the time, you might want to look a little deeper and see where in your psyche that might be coming from. If its a pattern, breaking it may simply take some awareness and practice.

The first step is observing yourself each time you say it, without being hard on yourself about it. Throughout your day simply notice when you apologize. At first, you might be surprised to see that you do it even more than you first realized. After a day or two of simply observing, try to tune in to what it is you are feeling right before you say it. You might be feeling threatened, embarrassed, intensely anxious, or a variety of other feelings. Over time, try to stop yourself before the words come out and just be with the feeling thats there. You may recognize it as one from your childhood, one thats been with you for a long time. The more you are able to see it, the freer you will be not to be sorry all the time.

Stuck!

2011-02-05T07:48:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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One of the hardest things in life is feeling stuck in a situation that we dont like and want to change. We may have exhausted ourselves trying to figure out how to make change, and we may even have given up. However, each day offers us an opportunity to renew our resolve and to declare to the universe that we are ready for change. We may even say out loud that we have tried and struggled and have not found a way, but that we are open to help, and that we intend to keep working to create change for ourselves. Making this declaration to the universe, and to ourselves, may be just the remedy for the stagnation we are experiencing. And, it can be done today, right now.

It is difficult to understand, even with hindsight, how the choices we have made have added up to our current situation, but it is a good idea to examine the story we tell ourselves. If we tend to regard ourselves as having failed, this will block our ability to allow ourselves to succeed. We have the power to change the story we tell ourselves by acknowledging that in the past, we did our best, and we exhibited many positive qualities, and had many fine moments on our path to the present moment. We can also recognize that we have learned from our experiences, and that this will help us with our current choices.

When we do this kind of work on how we view our past self, we make it possible for the future to be based on a positive self-assessment. This inner shift may allow us to get out of the cycle weve been in thats been keeping us stuck. Now we can declare our intentions to the universe, knowing that we have done the inner work necessary to allow our lives to change. Allow today to be the day to end cycles and enter into a new way of being.

The Great Muffin Debate

2011-01-14T06:04:00.005-06:00

Hello? Anybody here besides the crickets? I think maybe even the insects of the night have given up on my blog! But it's still here...barely breathing. I actually do get ideas and urges to write all the time. Of course when I do, I'm in a public restroom, in the car or elsewhere with no access to pen and paper, computer or handheld device. (Actually I have been known to hog toilet stalls to type out texts and notes to myself, but I'm trying to show you how pathetic I am, not how I tend to be a space ranger). I don't know if it's all the pot I'm smoking, but for the last few years my memory has just sucked.

ANYWAY...I woke up early (again) this morning [what is it with insomnia??] and decided to read something deep and serious to get my mind going. As I flipped through the pages of ~~The Fountainhead~~ a fashion magazine, I started to giggle hysterically at how advertisers are spinning some of their products to appeal to ~~5 year-old pageant contestants and their parents~~ the general public.

I'll give you an example. I think most Americans are familiar with "English Muffins." I'm not sure how they got their name, as they don't speak English and are definitely not muffins. I don't see no banana nut or blueberry in them. Maybe bran, but - ugh! Anyway, I digress. I turned my stimulating magazine page to find an ad for POPULAR BRAND "Deli Flats."

If I hadn't cleverly foreshadowed with the English muffin hint, all of you would be like, "WTF is that? Lunch meat? Shoes? Shoes made of lunch meat?" No, dear crickets - "Deli Flats" are basically skinny English muffins (like they need to take away more of the bread), pre-cut for your sandwiching needs. I am going to go the extra mile for you here Jiminy, since I write here so sparsely, and educate you about the price difference for less bread in larger packaging (aforementioned "Deli Flats") vs. NAME BRAND English muffins.

On the same website, POPULAR brand English muffins (6 ct. 12 oz pkg) cost $2.39 while an 8 ct. 12oz. package of "Deli Flats" sell for $6.50. However, I completely understand the cost difference when I look at the "user reviews." The "Deli Flats" received 4.5/5 stars while the English muffins only got 4/5. My own point has turned against me in this unexpected research finding! Not only do the "Deli Flats" rate 1/2 star more than the English muffins, but the packaging is so pretty!

I'm so sorry to mislead you, my little friends. Go forth and indulge in some "Deli Flats." Maybe put some shit on them and make them into sandwiches (I don't mean shit as in feces, of course, unless that's your thing). I hang my head in shame. Maybe I can finish my Ayn Rand magazine before I have to get up and shamefully face my day.

Dammit...now I'm getting the urge to make shoes out of ham...

Growing Pains

2010-10-28T09:43:00.000-06:00

Another great OM!

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It can be very challenging to maintain a positive attitude and a measure of faith when you are in the midst of difficult times. This is partly because we tend to think that if the universe loves us we will experience that love in the form of positive circumstances. However, we are like children, and the universe is our wise mother who knows what our souls need to thrive better than we do. Just as a young child does not benefit from getting everything she wants, we also benefit from times of constriction and difficulty to help us grow and learn. If we keep this in mind, and continue to trust that we are loved even when things are hard, it helps us bear the difficult time with grace.

This period of time in history is full of difficulty for a lot of human beings, and you may feel less alone knowing you are not being singled out. There are extreme energy changes pulsing through the universe at every level and, of course, we are all part of the growing process and the growing pains. It helps if we remember that life is one phase after another and that this difficult time will inevitably give way to something new and different. When we feel overwhelmed we can comfort ourselves with the wise saying: This too shall pass.

At the same time, if you truly feel that nothing is going right for you, its never a bad idea to examine your life and see if there are some changes you can make to alleviate some of the difficulty. Gently and compassionately exploring the areas giving you the most trouble may reveal things you are holding onto and need to release: unprocessed emotions, unresolved transitions, or negative ways of looking at yourself or reality. As you take responsibility for the things you can change, you can more easily surrender to the things you cant, remembering all the while that this phase will, without doubt, give way to another.

Self-Compassion

2010-10-25T14:01:00.001-06:00

Yet another fabulous DailyOM:

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During those times when our lives are filled with what seems to be constant change and growth, it is important to remember that we need to be gentle with ourselves. Since it can be easy to use our energy to keep up with the momentum of our lives, we may not be aware of the fact that we are much more likely to run ourselves down. When things seem to be moving quickly, it is especially essential that we make a point to slow down and be gentle with ourselves.

It might be difficult to notice what is happening to us for we may be so caught up in the whirlwind of our lives that we lose sight of the direction in which things are heading. Being gentle with ourselves doesnt mean that we dont accomplish things. Instead it means that we honor ourselves on an ongoing basis and take care of the needs of our bodies.

This means different things to different people. For instance, it could mean having a session with a healer; taking a remedy, herbs, or vitamins; or getting extra sleep. Putting our energy into ourselves in this way helps create space for a more positive, loving, and accepting view of our lives. By setting the intention to do so, we will be more cognizant of our energy levels on a daily basis and more able to replenish them as needed.

The more we are able to treat our bodies with gentleness, the more tenderness and compassion we will call forth into our lives. Learning to understand and pay attention to what our self needs will in turn allow us to fill our lives with unlimited loving and healing energy and to truly take care of the things that mean the most to us.

Labels

2010-10-19T12:57:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM!

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We live in a culture that uses labels as a means of understanding the world and the people living in it. As a result, many of us find ourselves laboring under a label that has a negative connotation. Unless we can find a way to see the good in such a label, we may feel burdened by an idea of ourselves that is not accurate. It is important to remember that almost nothing in this world is all good or all bad, and most everything is a complex mixture of gifts and challenges. In addition, different cultures revere certain qualities over others, but this does not mean that these qualities are inherently good or bad. For example, a culture that elevates outgoing behavior will label an introvert in a negative way, calling them antisocial. In truth, the ability to spend time alone is one that most great artists, mystics, and visionaries share. Owning the positive side of this label can lead us deeper into our gifted visions and fertile imaginations.

When we look into the lives of any of the great people in history, we always find that they had quirks and eccentricities that earned them less than ideal labels from the societies in which they lived. Many famous artists and musicians were considered to be isolated loners or disruptive troublemakers, or sometimes both, yet these people altered history and contributed to the world an original vision or advances in our understanding of the universe. If we can remember this as we examine our own selves and the labels people use to describe us, we find that there is a bright side to any characterization.

If you have been labeled, remember that all you have to do to see the positive side is to turn the label around. For example, you may be considered to be overly emotional, and the fact that you are perceived this way may make you feel out of control. But notice, too, the gifts of being able to feel and express your emotions, even in a world that doesnt always encourage that. You might begin to see yourself as brave and open-hearted enough to stay alive to your feelings. You may also see that there are certain paths and professions in which this is a necessary ability. As you turn your label around, the light of your true nature shines to guide you on your way.

Peak Experiences

2010-09-26T16:08:00.000-06:00

So I sat front row at the Rush concert last night. No, not front row as in "Row A" but front row as in Pit Row 1, Seat 1. This was a huge checkmark off my Bucket List. Been a big fan since I was 15...I'll be 40 next year - you do the math. Yes, it was amazing, life-altering, indescribable, new happy place making. But as usual, I have to analyze it to death.

As anyone who has been a fan of a TV show or movie, we get to feel like friends to these folks. We get to know their eccentricities, senses of humor and a bit of their personal lives. I'm sure they don't really dig that kind of stuff, but hey - we're human. So I wore my "All Hail King Lerxst" shirt (guitarist's nickname as we were sitting near him) and got my 2 or 3 smiles and a thumbs up. I was disappointed not to get a shirt that was being tossed or a drum stick that was being handed out, but I have absolutely no reason to complain. It's the anti-climax that is really bumming me out.

I guess that's the thing about events. They pass so quickly. And with the "holy trinity" in their 50's, who knows if I'll get another chance to see them again? I'm sitting here trying to come up with my point, but nothing cogent is coming to me. So I'll say this: last night was the second best night of my life after the birth of my baby. My wedding was great and all but I don't like the spotlight all that much. So yes - I am happy. I hope it lasts. And I hope all of you reading have either had or will have such a moment in your lives. I really do.

Obligations and Boundaries

2010-09-20T08:06:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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We all encounter obligations in life, from spending time with family and friends to being present at important functions in the lives of the people who form our community. Many times, the obligations are actually fun and fulfilling, and we want to be there. At the same time, we all sometimes experience resistance to meeting these obligations, especially when they pile up all at once and we begin to feel exhausted, longing for nothing so much as a quiet evening at home. At times like these, we may want to say no but feel too guilty at the idea of not being there. Still, our primary obligation is to take care of ourselves, and if saying no to someone else is what we have to do, then we do not need to feel bad about it.

There is a skill to balancing our obligations, and it starts with simply becoming aware of our schedule. We may notice that three invitations have arisen in one weekend, and we know that we will pay energetically if we attempt to fulfill all three. At this point, we can take the time to weigh the repercussions of not going to each event, considering how we will feel if we miss it and how our absence might affect other people. Most of the time, it will be clear which obligation we can most easily let go and which one we simply cant miss. Sometimes we have to miss something really important to us, and that can be painful for everyone concerned. At times like this, reaching out with a phone call, a thoughtful card, or a gift lets people know that you are there in spirit and that your absence is by no means a result of you not caring.

Meeting our obligations to others is an important part of being human and not one to take lightly. At the same time, we cannot meet every obligation without neglecting our primary duty to take care of ourselves. We can navigate this quandary by being conscious of what we choose to do and not do and by finding concrete ways to extend our caring when we are not able to be there in person.

Lookin' to Score?

2010-08-08T20:40:00.002-06:00

Being in chronic pain is more than the obvious curse of hurting all the time. It's being embarrassed by it. It's falling asleep when trying new med that makes you look like you're nodding out like some dope fiend. But I don't want to talk about it, either. Yeah you have some great new treatment that will change my life! I've done it and my bank account will show you. I've done PT, chiro, acupuncture, steroid shots, oral pain killers and anything else just short of surgery. I suppose if I could get over myself for being a 38 year old arthritic, it wouldn't be so bad. It's just not what I expected. I want to drive four-wheelers on vacation. I want to walk around the mall for a couple of hours without feeling like I'm about to break in half. Most of all, I'd like my family to trust and support me instead of me feeling like junkie down the street, waiting for my next fix. Especially when they aren't sin-free in this area either.

Days like this, I want to just say screw it. Plenty of people have it worse than I do, so if I'm gone they can have my shit. Happy freaking birthday.

Self-Healing Day

2010-07-12T07:46:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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Human beings carry within themselves the seed of healing. Our choices affect us more than we realize, and it is because of this that we tend to place responsibility for our wellness in the hands of others. As beneficial as regular visits to a healer can be, we have the power to heal ourselves at will. When we dedicate a day to the pursuit of wellness, we can relax and renew ourselves in a nourishing and comfortable environment. A sincere desire to open ourselves to the highest realities of our physical and spiritual selves is the key to self-healing so that healing energy can flow into us unimpeded.

A self-healing day should address the vital needs of the self as a whole while directing healing energy where it is needed most. Solitude is an important part of the process as is the ability to take refuge in a space that is both beautiful and peaceful. Start your healing day by setting the intention that you are dedicating this time to healing yourself. Flowers, candlelight, incense, and music can guide our focus toward a more tranquil state. For a more intense session, try listening to music through headphones since tuning out can help you tune in. It is up to us to decide what we need to do to cultivate wellness in our lives. For some, it may be time spent in reflection. Others will turn to calming activities that help them remember their purpose, such as journal writing, being in nature, or studying. Our healing may even take a more direct form as we use color, sound, or crystals to balance and ground ourselves.

Ultimately, your wholesome intentions transform what might otherwise be a simple day of rest into a day of healing. Grant yourself permission to relax and savor the stillness. If you attune yourself to the calm around you, worldly distractions will be minimized and the unadulterated flow of your consciousness will reestablish itself in the forefront of your mind. The needs of the body, the heart, and the soul will then be revealed to you, empowering you to tap into the essential healing energy of the universe. The mechanism you use to channel this energy will be dependent on your shifting requirements, so each day of healing you enjoy will be unique. All will replenish you, however, allowing you to recreate yourself in a perfect image of health.

True Freedom

2010-07-04T15:34:00.003-06:00

Happy 4th of July, America! With all the BBQs and fireworks, we celebrate the freedom of our country. But that doesn't mean that we all, as individuals, enjoy total freedom as well. We are all bogged down with one thing or another - guilt, loss, depression, anxiety...it happens to all of us. The best that we can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other in spite of these things and see what good things life brings us. Put the guilt in your back pocket and go to that party anyway. Shelve you crazy thoughts and light that sparkler. The thoughts and the guilt will be there in the morning, should you remember to retrieve them. Immerse yourself in the moment, because you never know how many more of them you'll have in this life. Be here, now. Be alive!

Happy Independence Day!

BP Spills Coffee...

2010-06-13T16:00:00.001-06:00

Which Pole Are We Going to Today?

2010-06-02T11:57:00.002-06:00

I talk to my mom every week. She lives about 90 miles away from me, which is a good distance. It's not right next door, but it's not out of the question to visit her. Mainly we talk about finances, as I take care of her bills and Social Security for her since she is not able to due to her B ipolar Disorder.

Most of the time, our phone conversations are pretty productive. Over the years, we have established a deeper respect for one another than we ever had when I was a kid. Her disorder has been well managed, and though her health isn't that great, she's able to still live independently.

Every once in a while, though - probably just once or twice per year - her disorder rears its ugly head and throws me for a loop. One thing that most folks don't realize is that bipolar disorder can have a psychotic component to it. The person may hallucinate or experience delusions. Mom used to see "little men" out of the corner of her eye, but that has fallen to the wayside. She has always experienced delusions of one kind or another - usually involving someone who has been mean to her or has persecuted her in some way.

She once accused my cousin of chasing her around with a knife. One of her favorite stories was the one where my dad would beat her all the time. If you've ever met my dad, you know how ridiculous that one is. All of her neighbors would soon be "evil" and trying to make trouble with her. Lately, though, I get to be the bad guy.

When I called her this week, I could tell by her frosty voice that something was wrong. When I inquired, she proceeded to tell me how mad she was about last time we talked. Apparently, I had yelled and screamed at her, accusing her of belittling my father and just generally being a bitch to her. If you've ever met me, then you know how ridiculous that is, too.

So, what do I do? I've tried to explain to her that none of that really happened - that it was a delusion. As you can imagine, that did not go over well. I have also tried defending myself, which seems pretty futile. I've figured out that the best way to handle these situations is to just swallow my pride and apologize. Thank her for pointing these things out to me and for being able to forgive me. Yes, it tastes pretty bitter going down, but it resolves things instead of escalating them.

Anyone out there deal with a friend or relative with BPD? Or maybe you have it yourself? I'm just curious as to how others handle situations like these. I am always looking for new and more effective ideas.

Until then, you can find me in my room with egg on my face.

Are You My Mommy?

2010-05-17T12:02:00.011-06:00

You've probably read, at some point in your life, the popular children's book, Are You My Mother? Well, here's a twist on it, from our new kitten, Dory's, perspective:

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Dory was playing in the field with her mommy one day when it started to rain. Mommy grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and ran across the road to higher ground. The car noises were very scary, so Mommy ran off under a fence.

Dory was very scared, too. But she wanted to find her mommy! She tiptoed up the road, where she found Izzy Boo. "Are you my mommy?" Dory asked Izzy Boo. The dog looked at her and said, "No. I am not your mommy. I am a goat-dog! But if you want to climb all over me, that's cool." Dory climbed Izzy Boo, but she still wanted to find her mommy, so she walked on.

She soon came across Nemo, the cat-dog. "Are you my mommy?' Dory asked Nemo. Nemo ran away screaming, totally freaked out. Dory chased him until he got too tired to run anymore. Then he let her play with his tail. "OK, go away," said Nemo. "I am not your mom!"

Dory had spent a lot of time climbing Izzy Boo the goat-dog and chasing Nemo the cat-dog. She decided to lie down for a while before looking for her mommy again.

After her nap, Dory decided to keep searching. She came upon Squeakers and Sassy, the big, fat, old, lazy cats. "Are either of you my mommy?" Dory asked them.

Dory took that as a "no." and ran on. She was getting very tired and started thinking that she would never find her mommy. Just when she was about to give up and go cry in a corner, she came upon Punkin the girl. "Are you my mommy?" Dory asked Punkin. "Yes! Yes I am your mommy!" she said. Dory was so happy she did a somersault right where she was! Punkin picked Dory up and cuddled her. Dory purred. She would never be alone again.

THE END

Information Overload

2010-05-12T08:36:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:
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Living in an information age, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the constant influx of scientific studies, breaking news, and even spiritual revelations that fill our bookshelves, radio waves, and in-boxes. No sooner have we decided what to eat or how to think about the universe than a new study or book comes out confounding our well-researched opinion. After a while, we may be tempted to dismiss or ignore new information in the interest of stabilizing our point of view, and this is understandable. Rather than closing down, we might try instead to remain open by allowing our intuition to guide us.

For example, contradictory studies concerning foods that are good for you and foods that are bad for you are plentiful. At a certain point, though, we can feel for ourselves whether coffee or tomatoes are good for us or not. The answer is different for each individual, and this is something that a scientific study cant quite account for. All we can do is take in the information and process it through our own systems of understanding. In the end, only we can decide what information, ideas, and concepts we will integrate. Remaining open allows us to continually change and shift by checking in with ourselves as we learn new information. It keeps us flexible and alert, and while it can feel a bit like being thrown off balance all the time, this openness is essential to the process of growth and expansion.

Perhaps the key is realizing that we are not going to finally get to some stable place of having it all figured out. Throughout our lives we will go through the processes of opening to new information, integrating it, and stabilizing our worldview. No sooner will we have reached some kind of stability than it will be time to open again to new information, which is inherently destabilizing. If we see ourselves as surfers riding the incoming waves of information and inspiration, always open and willing to attune ourselves to the next shift, we will see how blessed we are to have this opportunity to play on the waves and, most of all, to enjoy the ride.

Early Mothers Day Gift

2010-05-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

This Mother’s Day, An Extra Gift For New Mothers
New Federal Law to Combat Postpartum Depression

To interview experts on mental health policy and practice, contact Meena Dayak at 202.684.7457 or MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org

(Washington, DC, May 7, 2010)—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare commends U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) for championing the fight against postpartum depression by authoring the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, signed into law as part of health insurance reform. After a five year fight to educate lawmakers and get it passed, this new law will begin in earnest the federal effort to combat postpartum depression.

The MOTHERS Act will establish a comprehensive federal commitment to combating postpartum depression through new research, education initiatives and support programs.

Under the new law, local community organizations, hospitals or even state or local governments can apply for grants to provide education and services for the diagnosis and management of postpartum depression. The grants could also be used to provide education about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. For instance, if the recipient is a medical facility, the grants could be used to educate new mothers and family members about postpartum depression before new mothers leave the health facility.

Health insurance reform law also requires that all new insurance plans cover comprehensive women’s preventive care and screenings.

A primer on the MOTHERS Act and answers to frequently asked questions about postpartum depression are available on Sen. Menendez’s website.

To locate a community mental health service provider in your area, visit www.TheNationalCouncil.org and use the “Find a Provider” feature on the right sidebar.

Happy Mother’s Day!
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, association of 1,700 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country. The National Council and its members bear testimony to the fact that medical, social, psychological, and rehabilitation services offered in community settings help

A Birthday Tale Revisited

2010-05-04T20:51:00.000-06:00

to my mother-in-law...an ode on your birthday: on this day, 39 years ago (i couldn't say 29 because that would make her younger than me, and that's just not right since i'm married to her son, you know?) a lovely young lady was born. oddly enough, her parents named her mil. since her father was in the beer business, she quickly became an alcoholic. however, since anheuser busch promoted responsible drinking, she quickly joined a 12-step program and dried out. (now she only gets hammered on every third tuesday and bank holidays) since she couldn't drink anymore, she and her girlfriends would often go out to the lake to hang out, skinny dip and smoke weed. one day, after finishing a couple of double cheeseburgers and having a nap, she met a young man who was wade fishing near their swimming spot. oddly enough, his name was fil and he was also stoned! the two hit it off and got married, though neither one of them can remember the wedding. unfortunately fil didn't have much of a career besides selling weed to the neighborhood kids. when mil became pregnant with their first child, fil swore off weed forever, switched to beer, and started working for mil's dad.

9 months later, mil and fil had their first bouncing baby boy. they were going to name him wil, but decided instead to call him captain. they took the baby everywhere they went because they figured that a baby can't really take care of itself. once, they ran out of formula, so fil put some beer in the baby's bottle. captain would never drink formula ever again! even his first words were "bud light." mil and fil considered sending captain to rehab, but found out that they didn't work with 2 year olds.

mil and fil had their second boy another year later and were going to name him bil, but decided instead to call him lucifer. the boys grew into tall, good-looking young lushes, just like their father. one day, captain was sitting on the front porch, drinking beer, when a young lady from out of town walked up to him and asked him if he wanted to buy some weed. Even though captain was strictly a beer man, he ended up buying a dime bag from the girl, whose name was tigger. tigger thought captain was cheap, only buying a dime bag, but since captain was cute, she sat on the porch and drank beer with him. soon, the two feel in love and were married.

tigger soon discovered that she not only had bagged the kindest, most loving guy in the universe, but had also inherited another mother - a real, kind, honest, caring, worry-about-you, really-love-you mother. and for that, on this day and every day, she feels blessed.

i love you, mil! happy birthday!

God's Cake

2010-04-22T20:09:00.000-06:00

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong. She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.
'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'
To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Comfort Zone

2010-03-29T07:39:00.000-06:00

Another great DailyOM:
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None of us are born with a guidebook that provides explicit rules for thought and behavior that will enable us to navigate life successfully. To cope with the myriad of complexities to which all of humanity is subject, we each develop a set of habits and routines that ground us, their continuity assuring us that life is progressing normally. Most of us know, whether instinctively or by experience, that transformations can be uncomfortable, but we always learn and gain so much. Any initial discomfort we experience when expanding our comfort zones diminishes gradually as we both become accustomed to change and begin to understand that temporary discomfort is a small price to pay for the evolution of our soul.

Your current comfort zone did, at one time, serve a purpose in your life. But it is representative of behaviors and patterns of thought that empowered you to cope with challenges of days past. Now, this comfort zone does little to facilitate the growth you wish to achieve in the present. Leaving your comfort zone behind through personal expansion of any kind can prepare you to take the larger leaps of faith that will, in time, help you refine your purpose. Work your way outward at your own pace, and try not to let your discomfort interfere with your resolve. With the passage of each well-earned triumph, you will have grown and your comfort zone will have expanded to accommodate this evolution.

Whether your comfort zone is living with your parents, or perhaps being too shy to socialize, or maybe its not realizing your spirit selfwhatever it is, start small, and you will discover that venturing beyond the limited comfort zone you now cling to is not as stressful an experience as you imagined it might be. And the joy you feel upon challenging yourself in this way will nearly always outweigh your discomfort. As you continue to expand your comfort zone to include new ideas, activities, goals, and experiences, you will see that you are capable of stimulating change and coping with the fresh challenges that accompany it.

Commentary on Our "Busy-ness"

2010-03-28T15:01:00.002-06:00

I'm reading the book, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm at the beginning, when she is experiencing Italy. This paragraph struck me so hard that I have to share it here:

Generally speaking, though, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today. But...we seem to like it. Alarming statistics back this observation up, showing that many Americans feel more happy and fulfilled in their offices than they do in their own homes. Of course, we inevitably work too hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pajamas, eating cereal straight out of the box and staring at the TV in a mild coma (which is the opposite of working, yes, but not exactly the same thing as pleasure). Americans really don't know how to do nothing. This is the cause of the great sad American stereotype - the overstressed executive who goes on vacation, but who cannot relax.

Anyone relate to this? Comments? Observations?

Twilight Zone

2010-03-26T13:14:00.002-06:00

No, not the movie! Sheesh! I'm talking about my private practice this week. It was a vortex of odd crises galore. I can't go into much detail but here goes:

#1. Female client split with fiance. Suicidal.

#2. Female client had first auto accident. Oh, and she has multiple personalities.

#3. Male client disappears for 2 days. Turns up in a casino lying pathologically.

#4. Female client's son has freak accident at work, gets electrocuted and dies. He is 19 years old.

This is all within 7 days.

Yes, I am drinking tonight.

Getting Old is Hell

2010-02-09T16:44:00.002-06:00

After waiting 4 weeks, I finally got the results from my lower back MRI - osteoarthritis! Most likely started 5 years ago when I got into a really bad car wreck at age 16. And then, with "wear and tear," it just got worse. So now instead of "I don't want to go to the gym," it's come down to "I must go to the gym." I am hoping that being a gym rat will become enjoyable. I've had a couple of friends and my husband volunteer to get memberships so they can help me stay motivated. I have the best peeps in my life!!

My mom's reaction had me Googling places to buy burial plots. She is the most pessimistic person I have ever known. It's a wonder I am not a total downer all the time with the way I was brought up to expect the worst. I guess that's why complainers bother me so much. It can always be worse!

OK - time to go fire up the ol' heating pad. And me only being 21 and all...

Self Reflection-less

2010-01-24T17:16:00.003-06:00

Stare at the screen long enough...and it dims. Have you ever had so much to say that you just say nothing? Then I think about my silly little problems and think of what's going on in the rest of the world...Haiti...Afghanistan...Iraq. I bet most of those folks would be very happy to just have my worries.

But does that make my issues less significant? I think a lot of times I push my own feelings and worries to the side because I feel like they are not important enough to be in the forefront of my mind. Lord knows it's easier to think about someone else's problems than to think about my own. I couldn't tell you the last time I just sat with myself to think. I always have a TV on...reading...texting. I haven't had a good cry in a long time.

I'm not taking care of myself, am I? Me - who spent 6 months creating a "guide" to Self-care. Do what I say, not what I do, dammit! I don't believe in "resolutions" but I sure can seize the moment. I'm making an appointment with myself right now for Self-reflection. It's long overdue!

MOTHERS Act Passed the Senate

2010-01-05T14:08:00.001-06:00

Taken from: Perinatal Pro

The MOTHERS Act now passed in Senate version of Healthcare Reform thanks to the efforts of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez!
Hallelujah!!! Here is some great news to truly validate our combined efforts and the hopes of THOUSANDS who have never waivered in their support!!!

We are THAT MUCH CLOSER to our goal of better understanding and protecting America’s mothers from postpartum related mood disorders thanks to the incredible focus of U.S Senator Robert Menendez. That much closer to ensuring that the tragedies of untreated maternal mood disorders will cease to devastate American mothers, infants and families.

The MOTHERS Act has been successfully included and passed in the Senate version of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act !

The Senator’s office will now continue to work closely with House advocates to ensure it remains in the reconciled version of the bill which will then be presented to Congress for final passage.

If you are interested in reading the bill’s specific language, you can go to this link and click on “Full Text of Bill as Passed”. The language referencing The MOTHERS Act initiatives can be found on pages 595-604, section 2952 “Support Education and Research for Postpartum Depression”.

As The MOTHERS Act has always enjoyed great and nearly unanimous support in the U.S. House of Representatives, there is every reason to assume a successful outcome as the bills merge for final consideration and passage. Now is a great time to add your name to the petition to amplify the deafening drumbeat of support as our position strengthens!

Individual listings of constituents from every state who support this bill offer additional personal testimony to the science that substantiates the devastation of untreated maternal depression. Show your state representatives that you are among those who understand the bill’s critical importance to American families!

The days of decreasing the stigma of maternal mental illness long borne by silent suffering mothers and increasing the life saving awareness and services so desperately needed seem imminent.

Happy New Year!!!!

Holiday Time Again

2009-12-10T15:41:00.002-06:00

Don't pass out...I am blogging. It's been a while, I know. Twitter and FaceBook make transmitting updates so darn fast and easy.

Another holiday season is upon us. I know this because I just dropped $300 at T@rget on a new tree, decorations for said tree, holiday cards, and the new Harry Potter movie. Right after I left, I got a call from my BFF with an update on her 85 year-old mom, who fell recently. She's not doing so well. What a polarity! Just goes to show you how dichotomous the Universe really is. The good with the bad...the happy with the sad.

I find myself facing this holiday season with ambiguity. I don't know why this year it's so difficult for me to get "in the spirit." Maybe it's because Punkin doesn't believe in Santa anymore. Or because so much of the activity feels obligatory. I feel pressured to put up a freaking plastic tree! I was hoping I'd be doing it with joy. Perhaps I just need an attitude adjustment.

Just don't play Christmas carols around me, OK?

Go For It

2009-11-05T08:52:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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There are times in our lives when all the signs seem to be pointing us in a particular direction. Our thoughts and dreams are echoed in the songs and stories we hear and the media we see. Maybe the message we are getting from the universe doesnt even make sense in the real world, but somewhere inside, these urges feel right. Maybe you feel you are being told to move to a new city although your life where you are is just fine. Or maybe you feel the desire to pursue a new direction in your career when it never really interested you before. When we spend time getting in touch with our higher selves, our intuition sends us directives to lead us to become our best and most fulfilled selves. And when we are open and listening, the next step is to take action and go for it.

Once we make the decision to pursue our inner urgings, the universe sets into motion the means for all sorts of details to fall into place. A sense of peace will come over us, because we know that any questions will no longer make us wonder if our dreams are possible, but how to make them happen. Instead of deterring us from our goal, these questions only serve to clarify our focus to move us forward. We need not throw caution to the wind to follow our dream. The positive shift in our energy affects everything around us. Like a rush of water, it goes ahead to clear debris from our path so that we can go forward. Our new attitude also attracts likeminded people. Sometimes even the most unlikely angels arrive to help us along our way with the information and support we need.

Wherever your dreams are pointing you today, take a step. Take action and manifest your inner urges and soul whisperings.

Simplifying Life

2009-11-02T08:26:00.000-06:00

Here's an awesome DailyOM:

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For many, life is a hodgepodge of never-ending commitments. Yet few of us can be truly healthy or happy without regular periods of downtime. While there is nothing inherently wrong with busyness, those of us who over-commit or over-extend ourselves potentially face exhaustion and burnout. When you feel overwhelmed by your commitments, examining your motivation for taking on so many obligations can help you understand why you feel compelled to do so much. You may discover that you are being driven by fear that no one else will do the job or guilt that you arent doing enough. To regain your equilibrium and clear the clutter from your calendar, simplify your life by establishing limits regarding what you will and will not do based on your personal priorities.

Determining where your priorities lie can be as easy as making two lists: one that outlines all those obligations that are vital to your wellbeing, such as work, meditation, and exercise, and another that describes everything you do that is not directly related to your wellbeing. Although there will likely be items in the latter list that excite your passion or bring you joy, you may discover that you devote a large portion of your time to unnecessary activities. To simplify your schedule, consider which of these unnecessary activities add little value to your life and edit them from your agenda. Remember that you may need to ask for help, say no firmly, or delegate responsibility in order to distance yourself from such encumbrances. However, as you divest yourself of non-vital obligations that cause you stress, serve no purpose, or rob you of opportunities to refresh yourself, you will feel more energetic and enthusiastic about life in general.

If simplifying your schedule seems prohibitively difficult and you still feel pressed to take on more, try imagining how each new commitment will impact your life before saying yes. When you consider the hassle associated with superfluous obligations, you may be surprised to see that your schedule is impeding your attempts to grow as an individual. Your willingness to pare down your agenda, no matter how gradual your progress, will empower you to retake active control of the life that defines you.

Windows Should Die a Slow, Painful Death

2009-10-26T12:57:00.002-06:00

Many of you know that I am a Mac user. I heart Macs! Unfortunately, there are still a few essential programs that only work with windows (shall we call it Big Irritating Turd Computer Hog or BITCH for short). I needed to download one of these necessary non-Mac programs this morning to take care of a client's request. Poo! Hmmm...I know! I can run a BITCH environment on my Mac!

Downloading BITCH (after paying $80) was not difficult. Activating it was a bit complicated...I had to go onto the third-party website and search my account. Then, BITCH needed a program activation key. That's OK! My husband uses BITCH on his PCs (he has 2). After interrupting his porn viewing to write down the 3,452 character key code, I typed it into the form...IT'S INVALID! OK, not a problem. I'll write down the other key code. INVALID! After banging my head against the wall a few times, I remembered my old PC that's sitting in my office, waiting for me to take a hammer to it (I am totally not kidding about this). WOW! This product key worked!

Miraculously, the program installed successfully and I was able to download the program I needed fairly easily. I did my thang and then went to print it. BITCH can't find the printer, even though I see the damn cord plugged into the computer and into the printer. Oh, right! BITCH needs a printer driver! (I'm so accustomed to the ease of the Mac, I rant and rave to no one in particular about how high maintenance BITCH is)

On the printer's website, I find the driver pretty quickly. I download it, unzip it and run it. I go back to the control panel hopefully. BITCH still can't find my printer! Arrrrrgh!!! Fine! I'll do it all manually! Of course, the model of my printer is not in the list BITCH provides, so I select a random model...and it works. Holy Mary Mother of God!! I look up at the clock. 2 hours have passed and all I have done is print one document. That's why BITCH must die a slow, painful death - much like the slow, painful hoop-jumping I have just spent my entire afternoon doing.

I'm calling the massage place.

Appreciating Suggestions

2009-10-19T07:32:00.000-06:00

Another great DailyOM:

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As children, our parents had dreams for us. They wanted us to do well in school, and to do whatever was necessary to reach our highest potential. Later in life, friends may try to set us up with their idea of the perfect partner or the perfect job. Spouses may have agendas for us, too. People close to us may have ideas about how we should live our lives, ideas that usually come from love and the desire for us to be happy. Other times, they come from a place of need within themwhether it is the parent who wants us to live out his or her dreams or the friend or spouse who wants us to play an already-defined role. Whatever the case, we can appreciate and consider those peoples input, but ultimately we must follow our own inner guidance.

There may come a time when all the suggestions can become overbearing. We may feel that the people we love dont approve of our judgment, which can hurt our feelings. It can interfere with the choices we make for our lives by making us doubt ourselves, or filling a void with their wishes before weve had a chance to decide what we want. It can affect us energetically as well. We may have to deal with feelings of resistance or the need to shut ourselves off from them. But we can take some time to rid ourselves of any unnecessary doubts and go within to become clear on what we desire for ourselves.

We can tell our loved ones how much we appreciate their thoughts and ideas, but that we need to live our own lives and make our own decisions. We can explain that they need to let us learn from our own experiences rather than rob us of wonderful life lessons and the opportunity to fine-tune our own judgment. When they see that we are happy with our lives and the path we are taking to reach our goals, they can rest assured that all we need them to do is to share in our joy.

People Pleasers

2009-10-13T07:16:00.001-06:00

Another great DailyOM:

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Many of us, from childhood on, are taught that saying yes is right and saying no is wrong. We learn that acceding to demands allows us to avoid conflict and criticism, please people, earn praise, and prove that we care for the important people in our lives. Yet the right to say no is indelibly intertwined with the ability to make choices. When we sense we are limited in our options, compelled to say yes even when doing so is not in our interests, we are effectively robbed of our ability to choose. Growing out of this tendency to say yes even when we desperately want to say no can be challenging because we suspect that others will reject us for our assertiveness. But the reward we receive upon facing this challenge is true freedom of choice.

When others ask you to take on work or do favors, consider their requests carefully. If you feel pressed to say yes, consider whether you are acquiescing out of a desire for approval or to stave off disapproval. Remind yourself often that the ability to say no is an important aspect of well-being, as it is an indication that you understand the true value of your energy, talents, and time. As you learn to articulate your personal power by saying no, you may feel compelled to explore the myriad consequences of the word by responding negatively to many or most of the requests put to you. The word no may even become your default response for some time. When you see that life moves forward without interruption, however, you will grow more comfortable saying no and will resume making decisions from a point of balance.

There is nothing inherently wrong with acceding to the requests others make of you, provided these requests do not infringe upon your health or your happiness. Keep in mind that it is only when you feel you have the legitimate right to say no that you can say yes with utmost certainty, sincerity, and enthusiasm. While saying yes almost always has a cost, you can feel good about offering your agreement when your reasons for doing so are rooted in your individual values and your appreciation for the appeal before you.

Blog Murdered by FaceBook

2009-09-28T07:24:00.002-06:00

If you want to see what I'm up to, check out my FaceBook profile or follow me on Twitter.

Great Words

2009-09-02T07:23:00.000-06:00

Tracey shared this with me and I think it's very cool:

Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - 8/19/09 - "Talking to Yourself"

Do you ever talk to yourself out loud? Quite a few of people do. However, most of your self-talk is silent, and it's very powerful. You see, we talk to ourselves all the time. In fact, most of it happens in the form of thoughts, and it usually happens so fast, we don't even know it.

While you are reading this right now, you are talking to yourself three times as fast. When you stop reading, you speed up to about six times faster. These running thoughts, or "self-talk" as it is called, are very powerful. It is important that you become aware of what your self-talk contains.

Your self-talk builds up or tears down your self-image, determines what kind of relationships you have with other people, influences what kind of income you have and what kind of work you do. It affects virtually everything in your life.

If you tell yourself good things don't happen to you, believe me, they won't, because your subconscious will make sure that you find a way to prove yourself right. And if you have a positive expectation of success, chances are excellent that you will succeed. You will persist in your efforts and you will persuade others to help you until you achieve your goal.

So, pay close attention to the kinds of things you say to yourself. And, if you hear putdowns, derogatory labels or harsh criticisms, deliberately stop them and answer back in a positive way. When you take charge of your self-talk, you go a long way toward taking charge of your life.

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

www.thepacificinstitute.com

AMA's View on Universal Healthcare

2009-08-31T14:46:00.000-06:00

The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Universal Health Plan.

Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no. In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

Self-Care

2009-08-26T15:30:00.002-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM!

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We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important. It seems to say, ironically, that if you can’t take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency, so it’s easy to keep putting self-care off—easy, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhausted, and suddenly don’t have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That’s when we realize we haven’t been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it’s just plain practical.

Putting yourself first means that it may be necessary to say no to someone else in order to say yes to yourself. For many of us, there is always something we feel we could be doing for someone else, and it helps to remember the oxygen metaphor. You can even encourage yourself by saying "I am caring for myself so that I am better able to care for others" or some other mantra that will encourage you. It also helps to remember that self-care doesn’t have to be composed of massively time-consuming acts. In fact, the best prescription for taking care of yourself is probably small, daily rituals; for example, taking one half-hour for yourself at the beginning and end of the day to meditate, journal, or just be. You might also transform the occasional daily shower or bath into a half-hour self-pampering session.

Whatever you decide, making some small gesture where you put yourself first every day will pay off in spades for you and the ones you love. The oxygen you need is all around you; sometimes you just need to be reminded to breathe.

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P.S. It's my birthday. Buy me something!

2009-08-20T14:41:00.000-06:00

Ding, dong, the blog is dead??

Going With the Flow

2009-07-23T06:55:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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The expression going with the flow is a metaphor that applies to navigating a river. When we go with the flow, we follow the current of the river rather than push against it. People who go with the flow may be interpreted as lazy or passive, but to truly go with the flow requires awareness, presence, and the ability to blend ones own energy with the prevailing energy. Going with the flow doesnt mean we toss our oars into the water and kick back in the boat, hoping for the best. Going with the flow means we let go of our individual agenda and notice the play of energy all around us. We tap into that energy and flow with it, which gets us going where we need to go a whole lot faster than resistance will.

Going with the flow doesnt mean that we dont know where were going; it means that we are open to multiple ways of getting there. We are also open to changing our destination, clinging more to the essence of our goal than to the particulars. We acknowledge that letting go and modifying our plans is part of the process. Going with the flow means that we are aware of an energy that is larger than our small selves and we are open to working with it, not against it.

Many of us are afraid of going with the flow because we dont trust that we will get where we want to go if we do. This causes us to cling to plans that arent working, stick to routes that are obstructed, and obsess over relationships that arent fulfilling. When you find yourself stuck in these kinds of patterns, do yourself a favor and open to the flow of what is rather than resisting it. Trust that the big river of your life has a plan for you and let it carry you onward. Throw overboard those things that are weighing you down. Be open to revising your maps. Take a deep breath and move into the current.

PTSDuh

2009-07-20T15:54:00.004-06:00

My poor little blog is hanging in there. I haven't abandoned all hope just yet for it.

Saturday, we had an alarmingly strong storm pass through. It blew down tree limbs and street signs and even a couple of fences. That's all well and good - I mean, we really need the rain here. But I. freaked. out.

The power went out around 8pm, right in the middle of my viewing of Meet the Fockers. Inconvenient, yes - but not as annoying as having the electricity blow in the middle of a theater movie, which is what happened to my friends! They got real rain checks! Anyway, we were a bit put out and all, but it was nice and cool in the house and we figured the lights would be back on momentarily.

9:00...no power. 10:00, nothing. At 11:00 we decided to just go to sleep, but something weird started happening to me. Waves of panic and nausea pounded and crested over my mind and body. I started having flashbacks of the hurricane. I started hyperventilating and then finally determined that I should probably go sleep over at my "sister's" house since she still had power.

Yes, I have post-traumatic stress from Hurricane Ike. It is the weirdest and most awful thing I have ever experienced. If you have anything like this from any trauma in your life, you have my greatest sympathies.

Walking Through the Door

2009-07-09T14:22:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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When a door opens, walk through it. Trust that the door has opened for a reason and you have been guided to it. Sometimes we have a tendency to overanalyze or agonize over the decision, but it is quicker to simply go through the door and discover what’s there as that’s the only way to know. Even if it doesn’t seem right at first, opening this door may lead to another door that will take us where we need to go.

Doors open when the time is right for us to enter a new space, metaphorically speaking, and we can have faith that walking through is the right thing to do. Sometimes we linger in the threshold because we are afraid of leaving our old life for a life we know nothing about. We may have voices inside of our heads that try to hold us back or people in our lives saying discouraging things. These voices, internal and external, are known as threshold spirits, and they express all the fears and doubts that arise at the beginning of a new life. Nevertheless, none of these voices can hold us back, and they will fall silent as soon as we cross the threshold.

There are many doors that open in the course of our lives, leading us into new relationships, jobs, friendships, and creative inspirations. Our lives up to this point are the result of all the doors we have walked through, and our continued growth depends on our willingness to keep moving into new spaces. Every time we walk through an open door, we create a sense memory that encourages us to move into the new fearlessly. When we enter the new space, we almost always feel a thrill and a new feeling of confidence, in ourselves and in the universe. We have stepped across the threshold into a new life.

P.S. This is my 1,000th post!

Stigma

2009-07-07T07:19:00.003-06:00

Stealthily stolen from Postpartum Progress, this article fabulously explains the whole stigma of anti-depressants and mental illness. If I were to have Diabetes, I'd get sympathy most places I went, but because I have depression, I am controversial! Check it out and tell me what you think.

Hawaii Pics

2009-06-26T13:40:00.001-06:00

Take a peek at our Maui pictures!

What Day is It?

2009-06-22T17:16:00.002-06:00

I am back from Maui! Did you miss me? What do you mean you didn't know I was gone?? Sucker.

The trip was woooonnndddeeerrrffuuulll. I highly recommend a jaunt to Hawaii (any island, but Maui was fabulous) to add to your "things to do before I die" list. So, here is the quick and dirty travel journal. Pics to follow when I can find that @#$% cable!

Day One: Arrived at hotel at about 5pm Maui time (10pm TX time). Had trouble staying awake. Fell asleep at 8pm directly after dinner.

Day Two: Woke up at 5am! Shopping, beach lazing, followed by a sunset air tour of the active volcano sites on the Big Island. Ahhhh, creation in the flesh!!! Tres cool. Noting the plethora of wild chickens, feral cats, and mongooses.

Day Three: A nice drive to Lahaina, followed by a indescribable submarine ride! Saw 2 reefs and their marine life and a sunken ship (on purpose - to be an artificial reef). Thought their catch phrase ("We've got the urge to submerge") was cheesy. "Celebrity" spotting: Kristi Yamaguchi.

Day Four: 12-hour day trip to Heavenly Hana with a cozy group of about 10 others peeps from all over the world. The road has 617 curves and 50-something one lane bridges, often on the precipice of something reallllly scary. Glad I wasn't driving. Tour guide very knowledgeable, but gave me the creeps with his enthusiasm for saying, "Ohhhhh I love my pipi [pronounced "pee pee"] every time we passed a cow. "Pipi" is Hawaiian for "cow." "Beastiality" is Hawaiian for "Beastiality."

Day Five: Vegging on the beach, snorkeling at Makena (touched a sea turtle!), body boarding (my poor knees!) followed by a traditional luau. "Celebrity" spotting: Tori Spelling...but somehow I kept my food down. Looks like she could benefit from doing the same occasionally.

Day Six: More major vegging by the pool and at the beach. Dinner out at Fred's Mexican Cafe. Very ono (yummy, excellent, cool, etc...)!!

Today (and yesterday??): were spent on planes and in airports. I will attempt to stay up until at least 9pm tonight to re acclimate to the local time. My favorite food discoveries were Maui Gold Pineapple and Maui Splash pineapple wine (thanks for the tip, Linda!). Now I shall go feed my face, which hasn't been properly fed since breakfast yesterday. Bad me. Great trip!

Pictures to come soon, I promise!

A Loss

2009-06-14T13:42:00.002-06:00

One of my dear friends just lost one of her pets to heat stroke. I was looking on the 'net, trying to find some inspirational something-or-other when I came across petloss.com. What a great website!! So if you need any cyberhelp for yourself or someone you know, check it out. It's a very sensitive and inspirational site that will definitely be of help.

Rest in peace, Spaz the Ferret.

Very Cool!

2009-06-13T10:46:00.001-06:00

Turn up your speakers!

Catching Up

2009-06-12T14:08:00.003-06:00

Wow...do I ever post here anymore? Trying to get enough material for a post when you give the play-by-play on FaceBook is tough! Does anyone even read this blog anymore?

For anyone who still does, here's what's going on. We are leaving soon for our vacation in MAUI! My hubby has been working his tail off this past year and thanks to him, we can finally afford to go! He may go into shock over relaxing since he has been in uber-work mode for so long. We all need some relaxation and some family bonding time. We're always so busy, we forget how important family is.

I am trying to scale back on my practice lately. I am not accepting any new clients until August or September. I'm trying to spend as much time with my Punkin as I can. Though, she's at the age where she'd rather be with a friend than be with me anymore. I'll take what I can get.

I've just come off of some weird pseudo-flu. I am hoping and praying that I'm done with it because nausea + plane = hell.

What's going on with you?

10 Rules for Being Human by Cherie Carter-Scott

2009-06-07T14:13:00.001-06:00

You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
"There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, isten, and trust.
You will forget all this.

Fear

2009-06-03T15:00:00.001-06:00

Oh my goodness, the DailyOMs have been great lately!
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Everyone has fearsit is a natural part of being human. Fear can protect us from harm by sending a rush of adrenaline to help us physically deal with potential danger. But there are times when fear may keep us from participating fully in life. Once we realize that fear is a state of mind, we can choose to face our fears, change our minds, and create the life we want to live.

Our minds are powerful tools to be used by our higher selves; like computers, storing and using data to make certain connections between thought and response. We have the ability to observe these and choose differently. No matter where the fear came from, we can create new connections by choosing new thoughts. When our souls and minds are in alignment, we create a new experience of reality. This journey requires many small steps, as well as patience and courage through the process. Heres an example: You decide to overcome your fear of driving on the freeway. Your plan of action starts with examining your thoughts and finding a new way of seeing the situation. When youre ready, you enlist a calm companion to support you as you take the first step of merging into the slow lane and using the first exit. Your heart may be racing, but your confidence will be boosted by the accomplishment. Repeat this until you are comfortable, with or without help, and then drive one exit furth! er. When you are ready, you can try driving in the middle lane, for longer periods each time, until you find yourself going where you want to go. This gradual process is similar for conquering any fear, but if you find it overwhelming, you can always seek the help of a professional.

You may think that you are the only one with a particular fear, that nobody else could possibly be scared of ordinary things such as water, heights, public speaking, or flying. These types of fears are very common, and you can have great success overcoming them. Remember, it is not the absence of the fear but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. When we learn to face our fears, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings but not be ruled by them. Instead we choose how to shape the lives we want.

Taking a Time Out

2009-06-01T14:05:00.001-06:00

Here's a great DailyOM:
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Most of us feel a little crazy from time to time. Periods of high stress can make us feel like were losing it, as can being surrounded by people whose values are very different from our own. Losing a significant relationship and moving into a new life situation are other events that can cause us to feel off kilter. Circumstances like these recur in our lives, and they naturally affect our mental stability. The symptoms of our state of mind can range from having no recollection of putting our car keys where we eventually find them, to wondering if were seeing things clearly when everyone around us seems to be in denial of whats going on right in front of their eyes. For most of us, the key to survival at times like these is to step back, take a deep breath, and regain our composure. Then we can decide what course of action to take.

Sometimes a time-out does the trick. We take a day off from whatever is making us feel crazy and, like magic, we feel in our right mind again. Talking to an objective friend can also help. We begin to see what it is about the situation that destabilizes us, and we can make changes from there. At other times, if the situation is particularly sticky, we may need to seek professional help. Meeting with someone who understands the way the human mind reacts to stress, loss, and difficulty can make us feel less alone and more supported. A therapist or a spiritual counselor can give us techniques that help bring us back to a sane state of mind so that we can affect useful changes. They can also mirror our basic goodness, helping us to see that we are actually okay.

The main purpose of the wake-up call that feeling crazy provides is to let us know that something in our lives is out of balance. Confirm for yourself that you are capable of creating a sane and peaceful reality for yourself. Try to remember that most people have felt, at one time or another, that they are losing it. You deserve a life that helps you thrive. Try and take some steps today to help you achieve more balance and a little less crazy.

Love Yo-Self

2009-05-29T07:25:00.002-06:00

Appreciation and self-love are the most important tools that you could ever nurture. Appreciation of others, and the appreciation of yourself is the closest vibrational match to your Source Energy of anything that we've ever witnessed anywhere in the Universe.

--- Abraham

Replace "source energy" with God if you wish.

Good Day

2009-05-26T13:49:00.002-06:00

Today reminded me why I went into psychology. I had a new client who has postpartum depression. As she told me her story, I felt like it was a replay of my own bout - no appetite, no sleep, can't do day-to-day-things, and the worst: feeling nothing for the baby. I'm sure she thought I could read her mind as I was going down the list of things she was feeling or not feeling without her telling me. So classically sad...

I'm proud to say she left my office with a plan and a smile on her face. Now that's why I do what I do.

Gallery Furniture Burns

2009-05-22T06:17:00.002-06:00

Wow - Gallery Furniture was on fire. For those of you who live in my area, you'll no doubt be familiar with Mattress Mack and how he'll "save you money!" Love him or hate him, this is quite a blow to a Houston cultural icon.

Yay!

2009-05-18T15:14:00.001-06:00

Good news! Dollhouse is renewed!

Controlling Behavior

2009-05-13T07:57:00.000-06:00

From DailyOM:
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We all know what its like to want to be in control. In some ways, exerting control is an important survival skill. For example, we have every right to be in control of our own bodies and our own lives. Taking control in these cases is empowering and necessary. Controlling behavior in the negative sense comes from a tendency to reach beyond our own boundaries and into the lives of others. Many people do this with the rationalization that they are helping. This can happen with parents who are still trying to force their grown children into behaving in ways that they find acceptable. It can also happen when people try to control their partners behavior. If you have control issues, you will see that in one or more areas of your life, you feel the need to interfere with what is happening rather than just allowing events to unfold.

Almost everyone has at least one situation or relationship in which they try to exert control. This often happens because someones behavior makes us uncomfortable. We may feel it makes us look bad, or it embarrasses us. For example, if your best friend tends to drink too much, you might spend an entire party just trying to prevent her from doing so. This is different from directly confronting her about the problem and allowing her to decide what she should do. Controlling behavior generally goes hand in hand with an unwillingness to be direct about what you want, as well as an inability to let go and let people live their own lives. If you are the one that is controlling, its probably because you literally feel as if you are out of control and it scares you. Try to pick one thing you could just let unfold without any control on your part. Examine how it made you feel both before and after, and examine why you wanted to control the situation.

It is hard sometimes to allow others to be who they are, especially if we feel we know whats best for them and we see them making choices we wouldnt make. However, if we are to be respectful and truly loving, we have to let people go, trusting that they will find their own way in their own time and understanding that it is their life to live. Just reminding yourself that the only life you have to live is your own is the first step to letting go.

Swine Flu Fatality

2009-05-11T16:22:00.002-06:00

It's the first celebrity fatality from the Swine Flu. It goes without saying who the carrier is...

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2009-05-08T21:20:00.001-06:00

Shane and I took Punkin and her BFF Muffin to the Astros game tonight. We had a great time and we won against San Diego!! Go 'Stros!!

Neglecting the Blog

2009-05-08T15:09:00.002-06:00

Dear Blog,

I wanted to write and apologize for my lack of attention these last few weeks. As you know, Mommy has a new baby, FaceBook Profile (aka FBP), and it just needs some extra care right now while it grows. It does take up most of my on-line time, I know, but I ask you to be patient. You know you are my first baby, and you will always have a special place in my heart.

FBP is starting to be so interactive! It throws sheep at me at a regular basis and buys me Buttery Nipples at happy hour. It has shown me what my name would look like in Japanese and that my old lady name is "Ethel." It is just full of mediocrity and useless quizzes! So - you understand why it has to be my priority for now.

The best part of FBP is that it has put me back in contact with some OLD friends - and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. So now I get to reminisce about the "good old days" and constantly be horrified that 20 years have passed in the interim.

So, dear blog, I promise to devote more attention to you soon. You could help me out by learning how to throw barrels of monkeys or something.

Love,

Mommy

Happy Birthday!

2009-05-04T14:04:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday to my terrific Mother-In-Law!! 29 and holding!

Also, Happy Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You!

Play Dead!

2009-04-29T14:48:00.001-06:00

Give and Take

2009-04-28T15:16:00.000-06:00

Here's a super fabulous DailyOM!

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One of the most beautiful qualities of an intimate relationship is the give and take of energy that occurs between two people. In the best-case scenario, both people share the talking and listening, and the giving and receiving of support, equally. Occasionally, within any relationship, the balance shifts and one person needs to listen more, or give more. Generally, over a long period of time, even this exception will take on a balanced rhythm; we all go through times when we take more and times when we give more.

However, there are also relationships in which the balance has always felt one-sided. You may have a friend whom you like, but you have begun to notice that the conversation is always about their life and their problems and never about yours. You may also have a friend who seems to require an inordinate amount of support from you but who is unable or unwilling to give much in return. Over time, these relationships can be draining and unsatisfying. One option is simply to end the relationship, or let it fade out naturally. Another option is to communicate to your friend that you would like to create a more equal balance in which your concerns also get some airtime. They may be taken aback at first, but if they are able to hear you, your friendship will become that much more sincere. They may even thank you for revealing a pattern that is probably sabotaging more than one relationship in their life.

A third option is to simply accept the relationship as it is. There are many one-sided relationships that actually work. One example of this is a mentor relationship in which you are learning from someone. Another example is a relationship in which you are helping someone who is sick, disabled, or otherwise needy. In these instances, you can simply be grateful that you are able to help and be helped, trusting that the balance of give and take will even out in the big picture of your life.

Lazy Bones

2009-04-24T13:45:00.002-06:00

I don't know what's happening to me. Am I getting lazy? Old? Old and lazy? I'm getting emails from a colleague at school and she's working her ass off getting a new class off the ground. My thought is that I wouldn't want to bother with a new class to begin with. Let me stick to the stuff I already have prepared. I feel like I don't have, nor want, the energy for such a project.

I started thinking about it and realized that it's been a while since I've really been enthusiastic about any project. And it's not because I don't have a cause or direction or goals. My thoughts are, "Let someone else work their ass off. I've done my time." Is that a sign of getting old?

Maybe it doesn't matter. I am sure that when something comes along that I can get excited about, I'll rebound. I think I should just enjoy the lull.

Happy Birthday!

2009-04-24T07:24:00.002-06:00

Have a great day, Hon!

Withholding

2009-04-22T07:56:00.000-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:
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The most common form of withholding is what we commonly call "the silent treatment," but withholding encompasses any unwillingness to express your true feelings. It also includes an unwillingness to give support, praise, or positive attention to the people you love. We have all known someone who is impossible to please, and many of us have suddenly found ourselves at the other end of a chilly silence with no explanation. At the same time, many of us will recognize our own tendency to withhold our emotions rather than express them. Most of us have seen both sides of the withholding dilemma. Emotional pain is at the root of our tendency to withhold, and withholding causes pain to the people subjected to it. It is a dysfunctional pattern that creates a breakdown in communication and understanding.

No one deserves to be subjected to withholding. Feeling ignored, disrespected, or shut out, and to not know why, is a terrible feeling. The first thing to remember if this is happening to you is that you are not to blame. You are caught in someone elses pain pattern. This person does not know how to express feelings in a healthy way probably because this is what they learned when she or he was a child. The second helpful thing to remember is that the withholder is acting out of pain. They are stuck in a habitual mode of response that is self-defeating and alienating to the people they love. Remembering this will help you feel compassion for the person hurting you. However, if you have suffered too long with this pattern, you may need to get some space. Take some time to look at your own patterns and understand why you have taken part in this drama. If you are dealing with people in a family situation, you can step up to the plate to help break the chain of this behavior pat! tern.

If, on the other hand, it is you that tends to withhold, understand that this is a learned response and it can be unlearned. Find safe places to begin to express all that youve been holding back. Begin to make an effort to say what youre feeling and thinking. Give praise to someone you love. The more you do this, the healthier you and your relationships will become. What was learned over a course of a life cannot be changed overnightremember, one day at a time.

Press Release

2009-04-21T15:41:00.001-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2009

CONTACTS:
Menendez Press Office 202-224-4744
MENENDEZ, AUTHOR OF LEGISLATION TO COMBAT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, APPLAUDS GRASSROOTS SHOW OF FORCE ON BLOG DAY

Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act has broad support in Congress, needs public pressure to overcome procedural obstacles
WASHINGTON – As bloggers around the country today advocate for passage of federal legislation to combat postpartum depression, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Senate sponsor of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, applauded the effort as necessary to enact the bill into law. The legislation has broad support in Congress and was able to pass the House of Representatives earlier this year, but has been stalled in the Senate because of objections by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). Senator Coburn commonly uses senatorial “holds” to stall disease-specific legislation, and indications are that he would do so with the MOTHERS Act.

“Postpartum depression is a condition that is not only more widespread than most realize but also more debilitating than most realize,” said Menendez. “We need to make sure these mothers are fully supported and informed, rather than scared and alone. Working together with a nationwide community of mothers, we are so close to enacting this important legislation into law. What we need is an intense dose of public pressure. This Blog Day helps reinforce the type of grassroots movement that will create the pressure that is needed, and I commend the participants. I invite mothers, fathers and anyone else who believes we need to better support those with postpartum depression to contact their Senators and urge them to vocally support S.324”

The legislation would increase federal efforts to combat postpartum depression by:

Encouraging Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions.
Encouraging a National Public Awareness Campaign, to be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.
Requiring the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
Creating a grant program to public or nonprofit private entities to deliver or enhance outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions. Activities may also include providing education about postpartum conditions to new mothers and their families, including symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources, in order to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment.

It is estimated that postpartum depression (PPD) affects from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers. In the United States, there may be as many as 800,000 new cases of postpartum conditions each year. The cause of PPD isn’t known but changes in hormone levels, a difficult pregnancy or birth, and a family history of depression are considered possible factors.

Blogging for the MOTHERS Act!

2009-04-20T13:46:00.002-06:00

On Monday, April 20th, bloggers and websites across the country will be advocating for the passage of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act by writing, blogging and sending alerts asking their visitors to:

Call your Senator to express your support for S324

Add your Name to the state by state constituent petition, a list that will be presented to U.S. Senators the week of Mothers Day!

The list of national endorsers - which has grown to become one of the most extensive American bipartisan endorsements ever assembled – also includes major family foundations formed by those who have lost loved ones to the ravages of untreated or improperly treated birth or postpartum mood disorders. Devastated families who turned their agony into advocacy… by raising awareness and helping to prevent these tragedies from happening to others. They know that passage of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act is the next step needed to meet this goal!

Here are just a few:

The Melanie Blocker Stokes Foundation – was established by Chicago resident Carol Blocker, mother of Melanie Blocker Stokes. As she raises her deceased daughter’s precious child, Sommer Skye, Carol has been among the most ardent supporters of the legislation named for the beautiful, talented Melanie. Carol has campaigned tirelessly for over a decade to pass the bill she knows may spare other families the experience of a similar tragedy. She is greatly distressed by the opposition’s outrageous, insensitive misuse of Melanie’s name to discourage support for the bill she has fought for since her daughter’s tragic death. Visit the foundation’s website to learn about Melanie’s life and her continuing advocacy efforts in support of this bill.

The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Foundation – Based in Chicago and created by Jennifer’s mother, Joan Mudd says “In 2001 my dear daughter, Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling lost her battle with postpartum depression. My husband and I knew that we had to do something to make it less likely that others would suffer Jennifer’s fate. Working with Evanston Northwestern Hospital, we established the Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Program at the hospital, offering prenatal and postnatal screenings, education programs for health care professionals and a 24-hour crisis line for new mothers” Joan’s foundation also sponsors an annual conference each year in Chicago, bringing our nation’s top researchers, advocates and survivors together to discuss latest advances and collaborative advocacy. Joan and her family are ardent supporters of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.

Jenny’s Light - On December 19, 2007, Jennifer and Graham Gibbs Bankston tragically passed away. Jenny suffered silently with postpartum depression but her symptoms could have been detected and treated. This Minnesotta based foundation was created by her family to be a source of information, hope and inspiration. “We strive to stop this type of tragedy from happening to others. The mission of Jenny’s Light is to improve and save lives by increasing awareness of all perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression."

The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation, a California based foundation, was founded by Maddy Oden after the preventable loss of her daughter and grandchild’s life. The Foundation is devoted to empowering women, specifically in the area of childbirth and pregnancy. “We are dedicated to saving the lives of those giving life to others” says Maddy. The foundation has added its name to the list of those supporting The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.

Please join us on Monday, April 20th, by calling your U.S. Senator and requesting his support of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. And add your name to the constituent petition which will be presented to every U.S. Senator the week of Mother's Day.

The Ides of April

2009-04-15T07:15:00.003-06:00

Happy Tax Day! For the first time since we've been filing, we had to get an extension this year. It makes me feel like we have officially grown up - I have vivid memories of my dad talking about filing extensions. In reality, we have just become slothlike and have procrastinated.

Since plenty of folks are stressed today, here's a great DailyOM:

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If prayer is an intention that we announce to the universe in order to create a desired outcome, then our every thought is a prayer. This includes thoughts of worry as well as of hope. All thoughts are subtle creative energy. Some thoughts are more focused or repeated more often, gathering strength. Some are written down or spoken, giving them even greater power. Every thought we have is part of a process whereby we cocreate our experience and our reality with the universe. When we use our creative energy unconsciously, we create what is commonly known as self-fulfilling prophecy. In essence, when we worry, we are repeatedly praying and lending our energy to the creation of something we dont want.

The good news is that we can retrain our minds and thoughts to focus our energy on what we do desire to bring into our lives. Since most worry is repetitive, it will take more than one positive thought to counteract the energy weve created. The simplest antidote to worry is affirmations. When we hold these positive thoughts, repeat them often, speak them and write them and refer to them throughout our day, we are using focused energy to create positive results.

We can start right away, together: I am a creative being, using my energy to cocreate a wonderful world. I know that I create my experience of life from within, and as I do so, I also create ripples of energy around me that echo into the world. My positive thoughts gather together with the thoughts and prayers of others, and together we create enough positive energy to heal not only our own lives but the world we share. I am grateful for the ability to cocreate good in my life and in the world.

A lot of times we have concerned loved ones that worry about us. When this happens they are also sending out a worry prayer to the world. A loving conversation letting them know what is happening is the easiest solution. Also, ask them to send you positive affirmations rather than worry about you. After all, worry doesnt do them any good either. Explain to them that worry can actually be energetically harmful to you and that wishing good things for you is much more beneficial and much more fun too.

2009-04-12T13:33:00.000-06:00

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T08:50:00.001-06:00

Happy Easter! The belief in the Easter Bunny is hanging on by a thread...so goes childhood.

Go Buy This DVD - It Will Change Your Life

2009-04-09T07:51:00.000-06:00

Us and Them

2009-04-08T07:12:00.002-06:00

Yeah, it's a great Pink Floyd song, but that's not what I'm talking about. There's this 4-way stop by my house at which people instantly forget how to drive. The powers that be assure us that a traffic light is forthcoming, but until that happens, it's us against them. "Us" being me and whomever is in the lanes next to me going the same direction. "Them" being the idiots who are perpendicular to us.

Most of the time, I am proud of "us." We wait our turn and if some assclown on "their" team tries to cut us in line, we play a good game of chicken. But yesterday, someone on "our" team just shamed me.

It wasn't "our" turn and the person in the middle lane pulled a California stop and then kept going. Oh, the sense of shame I felt for the rest of us going north. The eastern travelers were so pissed off! I found myself doing the "sorry" wave as representative for "us."

Sometimes, you just can't control your team.

I Love You, You Dickhead

2009-04-08T07:07:00.003-06:00

I have noticed a trend in mainstream music lately: really mean songs. Between this one from All American Rejects and the lovely "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood, I think we have the next generation of "our songs." As in, "Hey, motherf*cker, this is our song." Are people really this angry? Do folks get screwed over that often? I am very glad that I am not single. I would be scared to date these days.

Hey baby, listen to this!

Right now he's probably slow dancing
With a bleached-blond tramp
And she's probably getting frisky
Right now, he's probably buying
Her some fruity little drink
'Cause she can't shoot whiskey

Right now, he's probably up behind her
With a pool stick
Showing her how to shoot a combo
And he don't know

I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4 wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires
And maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

Right now, she's probably up singing some
White-trash version of Shania karaoke
Right now, she's probably saying, "I'm drunk"
And he's a thinking that he's gonna get lucky

Right now, he's probably dabbing on 3 dollars
Worth of that bathroom Polo
Oh and he don't know

That I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4 wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires
And maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

I might've saved a little trouble for the next girl
'Cause the next time that he cheats
Oh, you know it won't be on me!
No, not on me

'Cause I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4 wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats
Oh, maybe next time he'll think before he cheats
Oh, before he cheats

© THAT LITTLE HOUSE MUSIC; SONY/ATV TUNES D/B/A CROSS KEYS PUB; MIGHTY UNDERDOG MUSIC;

I Find This Incredibly Humorous

2009-04-05T09:38:00.001-06:00

Stealthily stolen from Lattegirl:

Picture This

2009-04-05T09:18:00.003-06:00

Friday, I spent the afternoon with a friend trying to get a decent picture of myself for my professional web site. I didn't like any of the headshots and the others didn't really float my boat either. But it's hard to tell if the picture really sucks or if it's just that I don't like any pictures of myself. I also felt like a fool posing for portraits...thus lots of laughing and ruining the shots. I guess it's like anything else - you just have to get used to it. Thankfully my friend is eager to practice his photography skills so we should be able to have another session soon.

Finally!

2009-04-02T11:08:00.002-06:00

Happy Day, Fool!

2009-04-01T14:25:00.004-06:00

From Wikipedia - the most reliable on-line source, hands down:

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The origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar, which it replaced.[2] In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors.[citation needed] In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April.[3] A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.

Well-Known Pranks:

Alabama Changes the Value of Pi: The April 1998 newsletter of New Mexicans for Science and Reason contained an article written by physicist Mark Boslough claiming that the Alabama Legislature had voted to change the value of the mathematical constant pi to the "Biblical value" of 3.0. This claim originally appeared as a news story in the 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein.
Spaghetti trees: The BBC television programme Panorama ran a famous hoax in 1957, showing the Swiss harvesting spaghetti from trees. They had claimed that the despised pest, the spaghetti weevil, had been eradicated. A large number of people contacted the BBC wanting to know how to cultivate their own spaghetti trees. It was, in fact, filmed in St Albans.
Left Handed Whoppers: In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in USA Today, saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side. Not only did customers order the new burgers, but some specifically requested the "old", right-handed burger.
Taco Liberty Bell: In 1996, Taco Bell took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times announcing that they had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell." When asked about the sale, White House press secretary Mike McCurry replied tongue-in-cheek that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold and would henceforth be known as the Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
San Serriffe: The Guardian printed a supplement in 1977 praising this fictional resort, its two main islands (Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse), its capital (Bodoni), and its leader (General Pica). Intrigued readers were later disappointed to learn that San Serriffe (sans serif) did not exist except as references to typeface terminology. (This comes from a Jorge Luis Borges story.)
Metric time: Repeated several times in various countries, this hoax involves claiming that the time system will be changed to one in which units of time are based on powers of 10.
Smell-o-vision: In 1965, the BBC purported to conduct a trial of a new technology allowing the transmission of odor over the airwaves to all viewers. Many viewers reportedly contacted the BBC to report the trial's success. In 2007, the BBC website repeated an online version of the hoax.
Tower of Pisa: The Dutch television news reported once in the 1950s that the Tower of Pisa had fallen over. Many shocked people contacted the station.
Write Only Memory: Signetics advertised Write Only Memory IC databooks in 1972 through the late 1970s.
The Canadian news site bourque.org announced in 2002 that Finance Minister Paul Martin had resigned "in order to breed prize Charolais cattle and handsome Fawn Runner ducks."

Tweet Tweet

2009-03-29T13:26:00.003-06:00

I participate on Twitter. I think it's pretty fun to see what my friends are up to. Of course I could get the same info on FaceBook. But then I have some friends who are on one or the other, but not both.

I looked into adding a Twitter application on my FaceBook page so that I would only have to update once and it would go to both places. But I'd have to unlock my Twitter profile so that anyone could follow me.

I really don't want a bunch of strangers reading my updates. Apparently the cool thing to do is to have thousands of followers. I just don't see the attraction unless you are a celebrity or trying to build some kind of following.

What am I missing here?

Catching Up

2009-03-28T16:05:00.002-06:00

Just saw an ad for some tax service with a picture of a sad-looking dude on it. Apparently, the source of his sadness is that he's getting $0 back at tax time. Ummm...isn't that kinda the goal? Are people so uninformed that they actually think they are making money on their refunds? That getting nothing back also means that the government hasn't been making interest on your money? Arrrrgh. Whatever. Move on.

I can't believe that Punkin's spring break is almost over. Of course, it wasn't really a break for me. My down time was Las Vegas...if you want to call that down time. Anyway, I have gotten a lot done. I finally finished gathering documents to send to the CPA who will be purchasing a vacation home in Hawaii using the funds we're going to pay him since we're so unorganized this year. I got another test written and am about halfway through grading term papers. I organized all of my client files and caught up on notes. I finally broke down and purchased an iPhone since my cool new slider phone fell apart. Oh, and I seemed to have caught a bug that had me dreaming that I was suffocating this morning. That is not a cool feeling.

What's been going on in your world? I am hoping to catch up on my blog reading today at some point, too.

More Dollhouse Reviews

2009-03-24T14:35:00.003-06:00

If you're a fan (or thinking about being a fan) of Dollhouse, check this out. (Stealthily stolen from Reggie)

The tides have turned and I'm lovin' it!

Pictures

2009-03-20T17:29:00.003-06:00

Check out my Las Vegas pictures here.

P.S.

2009-03-17T15:29:00.001-06:00

Punkin lost a tooth and learned how to ride a bike while I was gone. Oh, and she asked Shane if he was the Tooth Fairy. He didn't lie to her. I guess it's time anyway. She's 10. So sad though, isn't it?

Permission to Feel

2009-03-17T12:45:00.000-06:00

Another great DailyOM:

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Throughout our lives, we may experience emotions that disturb or distress us. Often, our first reaction is to push our feelings away. We may say, I dont want to think about that right now, Ill think about it later and we bury our emotions, deny the validity of our feelings, or distract ourselves with other concerns. But the diverse emotions you experience are neither good nor badthey are simply a part being human. Choosing not to experience pain, anger, or other intense feelings could cause those feelings to become buried deep into your physical body. There, they may linger unresolved and unable to emerge, even as they affect the way you experience the world. Allowing yourself to experience all of your emotions rather than push the more painful ones away can help you come to terms with your feelings so you can experience them and then move on.

It is possible to bring forth the old feelings you have pushed aside and experience them in a safe and enriching way. It may sound silly to set aside time to feel your old wounds that you havent dealt with, but this can be a very beneficial healing experience. Find a safel place and pick a time when you can be alone. Make sure that you feel secure and comfortable in your surroundings. Bring to mind the circumstances that originally triggered the emotions youve been pushing away. You may need to revisit these circumstances by reading relevant entries in your journal or using visualization to relive your past. Once you have triggered your long-denied emotions, let yourself feel your feelings, and try not to judge your reactions. Cry or sound your emotions if you need to, and dont block the flow of your feelings. Allow any thoughts that are connected to your emotions to surface. As you release the feelings you have pushed inside of you, you will find yourself healing from ! the experience associated with these emotions.

When you deal with your feelings directly, they can move through you rather than staying stopped up in your body as emotional blocks that can sometimes turn into disease. Acknowledging your emotions, instead of pushing them away, allows you to stay emotionally healthy and in touch with your feelings.

Vegas - The Rest of the Story

2009-03-17T07:52:00.005-06:00

The Criss Angel - Believe show was really amazing! He didn't do much of his "Mindfreak" stuff but he and the Cirque people did a really sensual show. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance to go. And yes, Terry, I was close enough to smell him....mmmm....musky!

The last day was a chill day. We visited Madame Tussaud's wax museum and took pictures with our favorite "celebrities." We had another foot/back rub and then sat in the hot tub. That night we went to the Bellagio to eat at the buffet, but the line was way too long. So we went to a little restaurant inside the hotel and had some amazing food! Everything we ate there was so terrific!

After dinner we went to The Bank, the Bellagio's nightclub. It was fun for a little while - I found some random guy to dance with. Then we went to sit down for a minute and basically got told that we were too trashy to sit there. The tables were all reserved for celebrities. That pissed me off and we left.

Janie sat down at the bar and accidentally hit the "cash out" button on the video poker machine...and got $100. Someone forgot to cash out. Sweet! As for gambling, I stayed away from the tables and stuck to the slots. I basically broke even. They did have craps lessons, but we never got around to it.

All in all, it was a great trip! I am glad to be home, though. I missed my family!

P.S. Pictures coming soon, I promise!

Las Vegas Day 2

2009-03-14T18:18:00.002-06:00

After enjoying The Blue Man Group last night, we ventured out to Lavo night club. I was reminded of why I quit going to those places. My idea of a good time doesn't consist of hundreds of people jammed together listening to repetitive house music. Ah, youth.

We got up this morning and decided to walk the Strip. We did some souvenir shopping along the way and then stopped at New York, New York to ride the Manhattan Express. It was awesome! I could ride things like that all day. My companion, however, decided that once was enough. On the walk back we stopped for a foot and shoulder massage that was about $150 cheaper than the ones offered here at the hotel. Sweet!

Janie has gone to the pool while I sit and update my tens of readers. Next up, getting dressed up to go gorge at The Buffet at the Bellagio and then see Criss Angel! Viva Las Vegas!

Vegas Day 1

2009-03-13T17:57:00.003-06:00

Hello from Vegas! We're in our cushy suite at The Venetian starting to get ready to see The Blue Man Group here in a few minutes. I can't get over this "room." It has a sunken living and dining area with a sectional sofa and 2 flat screen TVs. The bathroom is HUGE with a ginormous tub and a shower that could fit 5 people in it! (maybe later) There's even a small flat screen TV in there. The drapes are remote controlled!

I got $50 worth of slot credits for booking through Travelocity. That took me like 15 minutes to blow through on the quarter slots. Of course, when you play 5 quarters at a time, it doesn't take long. My friend actually won $100 on a machine and then proceeded to blow it again. We'll hit the tables later, I imagine. She plays blackjack and I like roulette. Neither one of us know how to play craps, but I bet we can learn just by watching.

Besides gambling, we have explored the hotel which is beyond huge. It's like 3 hotels in one. Just walking around taking it all in took over 2 hours.

I'll keep you posted as I can. Hopefully that won't be too much, as I plan on not being here in the suite a lot.

Ready to Go

2009-03-12T07:22:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow, I am heading out to Las Vegas with a girlfriend! It's been forever since I have had a girls' weekend, so I am looking forward to it so much!! I just can't believe how complicated I am making the packing process. I used to be such a light traveler - now it seems like I need an outfit for any possible mood I may be in! Need to reign that in for sure.

And, as Murphy would have it, yesterday I cut my shin pretty badly on my car door. So I get to sport a nifty giant band-aid for the next few days.

I shall not let that get me down. I am bringing my laptop so hopefully I will make time to post while I am gone.

Castle

2009-03-10T08:16:00.003-06:00

The new Nathan Fillion show, Castle, premiered last night. Here's the premise: Rick Castle is a best-selling murder mystery author who has just killed off his main character. He is getting pressure from his editor (who just happens to be his ex-wife as well) to write something new, but he is suffering from writer's block. Enter cute detective Kate Beckett, who begrudgingly asks Castle to help her solve a series of murders based on the crimes in his books. Castle not only helps her catch the bad guy, but also finds a muse in her that breaks his writer's block. Now he gets to follow her around and write about it.

I really liked the humor in the show. Nathan Fillion can really pull off comedy, as he's previously demonstrated in Firefly and Dr. Horrible. What I wasn't thrilled with was the cliche nature of Castle's character. He's basically a good-looking, successful womanizing asshole. And surprise! Kate Beckett can't stand him! So we have a layer of sexual tension always charging the situation. It would have been nice to see the Castle character be a little deeper and less predictable. Perhaps that will come as he's developed over the season.

Any thoughts from other fans out there?

Nothing Compares 2 U

2009-03-06T14:49:00.000-06:00

From the DailyOM:

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You are unique. There is no one else like you in the entire universe. In honor of your unique self, it is good to acknowledge and embrace the special qualities that make you the person that you are. One way to do this is to not compare yourself with other people.

It is human nature to want to see how we measure up in comparison to others especially if we think that they are better than us or have more of something that we want. Yet the truth is that it is not a good use of time to compare ourselves with others because there is no one like us and this makes us incomparable. It is sometimes almost easier to look outside of ourselves and feel like we are deficient in comparison to other people rather than taking responsibility for our own progress in relation to the fulfillment of our life purpose. It actually takes more courage to be self-referential and look at ourselves to see whether we are measuring up to our standards or meeting our full potential. Each of us has very special gifts, and we are here for very specific reasons. We each have a life purpose to fulfill and with this come the lessons that we must learn and the circumstances that we must go through in order to evolve as spiritual beings. To compare our lives to other pe! oples lives when we have no idea of what they are here to learn or fulfill doesnt benefit anyone especially you.

Instead, if we can accept ourselves, appreciate the special talents and qualities that we alone possess, and realize that each of us is going through certain kinds of experiences for a reason, we are less likely focus so much on what other people have or are doing. Realizing and valuing our uniqueness enables us to bring out the best in ourselves so we can get on with living rather than preoccupying ourselves with meaningless comparisons. Try to not compare yourself to others, and you will see how much you have and how special you are.

Happy Birthday!

2009-03-01T11:21:00.003-06:00

My "little girl" is 10 years old today! No more single digits. I feel old.

The party went swimmingly...or it was groovy I guess I should say since it was a 70's theme. We had 7 girls sleep over. It wasn't that bad for me - I got my required 7 hours of sleep. My house, though, is another matter. I am going to kiss my housekeeper's hand tomorrow and buy her something special for cleaning up this disaster!

Pics to come of the silly string war, Punkin getting "caked" and the groovy cool costumes.

Argh!

2009-02-28T11:21:00.001-06:00

Getting ready for Punkin's 10th birthday party today. I need comedy relief (stealthily stolen from Lattegirl):

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-27T07:18:00.000-06:00

Have a great day Reggie!

An Exercise in Self-Esteem

2009-02-26T08:53:00.002-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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Our primary relationship in life is with our selves. No one else goes through every experience in life with us. We are our one permanent companion, yet we are often our worst critic. To remind ourselves of our magnificence, we can do this exercise: Five Things I Like About Myself.

Begin by writing down at least five things that you like about yourself. This is not the time to be modest. If you are having trouble coming up with a total of five items, you know that this exercise can really benefit you. Be sure to include more than your physical attributes on your list, since our bodies are only part of who we are. If you are still struggling with what to include on your list, think of what you like about your favorite people, because these traits are probably qualities that you possess too. Another way to complete your list is to think of five things you dont like about yourself and find something about these traits that you can like.

Continue this process for a week, thinking of five new things you like about yourself everyday. At the end of the week, read the list aloud to yourself while standing in front of a mirror. Instead of looking for flaws to fix, allow the mirror to reflect your magnificence. You may feel silly about standing in front of a mirror and reading aloud a list of your admirable attributes, but it might just bring a smile to your face and change the way you see yourself. Remember, it is when you feel the most resistant that this exercise can benefit you the most. Because we are constantly looking at the world, instead of looking at ourselves, we dont often see whats magnificent about ourselves that others do. When we take the time to experience ourselves the way we would experience someone we love and admire, we become our best companion and supporter on life's journey.

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My 5:

1. I am a loyal friend

2. I am compassionate and kind

3. I am pretty

4. I am open-minded

5. I love my family dearly