Strength

Fear

Changes An Attitude In An Instant

I Made This Icon To Express My True Thoughts

Fear

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

-Frank Herbert

Lessons On Love

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.” 
― Bob Marley

Promises

STEVE JOBS / PIXAR

RIP

ANYWAY

Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

What The World Needs Now

What the world needs is more people who think with the creative mind of a child....

R.I.P Michael Jackson

The King of Pop

August 29, 1959 - June 25, 2009

   

"...If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make a change...." (Man in the Mirror)

Angry Food

Apparently I'm not the only one whose food comes alive and doesn't want to be eaten. Surfing the 'net looking for something NOT food related, this surfaced:

"Eat me and you will die!!!"

YIKES!!! 

My food was a little more friendly in its request:

"Hi. Please don't eat me."

If any religious icons show up, I'm screwed....

We Can't Go Back

"Forgiveness comes the day you give up the hope that you can change the past." -Oprah Winfrey

It Will Come

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” -Howard Thurman 


"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman.

"Don't give up on me I'm about to come alive....." -Train

Little Blue Boxes

My birthday is 1 month from today.
Nope, nothing I can do about it--it's coming, like it or not.


I guess I need to make a plan to celebrate since it falls on a Saturday and one of my friends already let me know she booked a babysitter---trust me, this is a big deal because she never gets a sitter much less one so far in advance. I guess I'm expected to make a plan. I was hoping something fun like Vegas or the Bahamas, but sometimes life doesn't cooperate, so local it will be. Bummer, right?


Anyway, I think I will need to treat myself to another little blue box this birthday, because, well, little blue boxes help ease birthday blues. I'm pretty sure there are statistics on this fact. :)





I'm thinking a Tiffany Key pendant or two, on a long Beaded chain:

Or maybe a Tiffany Notes pendant:

Or a Tiffany Crown charm on a silver chain to remind me that I don't really want to be the queen, but a princess is just fine. :)

Or a Tiffany Twist Bow Ring...
....a string tied around the finger to remind me of.... being.... fabulous??  ;)
Hmmm...their rings run a little small...think I'd need a size 7....

Not sure.... but thinking about shopping is sure easier than party planning....

Dreaming of Summer

With all the rain we had last month, April showers had BETTER bring May flowers and not more rain or we'll float away....

I'm Dreaming of Summer pretties....some of my favorite flowers. :)

pink Peonies

Peonies 
(Smell so good! We had a bunch of them in our backyard when I was growing up) 

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera Daisies, in bright Crayola colors!
(They make me laugh they're so over-sized and happy)
They come in shades of purple and blue too!

Lilly of the Valley

Lilly of the Valley
(These were by our front door when I was a little girl and the smell of them still makes me happy.)









Lilacs, in purple

Lilacs

(Every house I've ever lived in has had a Lilac bush. When I was little I would cut them and put a bow around the stems and take them to my great-grandmother :)

Rose

Roses in any shade of pink. All roses are pretty, but pink is my favorite!


(AND it's my birthday month flower!!: June) 

Ranunculus

Ranunculus
(A flower that is even beautiful in basic white!)

Dahlia

Dahlia...in pale pretty peach and yellow color combinations! :)

<---White ranunculus with little blue flowers but I don't know what they are....

Purple lilacs with white and pink peonies. I bet this bouquet smells like a warm summer day....  ----->
:)

Try

Festering

Please

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men.....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give..

However, if there is one flaw in women,

it is that they forget their worth.

-Unknown

Ok Fine I Guess You Can Call Me Snoopy

I went to the birthday party of one of my humans last weekend. It was the Elder Human's birthday and it was a surprise party. I've never heard of surprise parties before, but since I've been a part of the human family for almost 2 weeks now (my big 130 pound black lab brother, Buddy, still won't claim me...) I was invited to tag along for the festivities.

It was a fun night--I got to meet a lot of people and I even met a white and orange English Setter named Callie. She's a rescue dog who was found floating on ice in Lake Michigan in February before I was even born, so someone took a boat out and brought her to shore and gave her a new home. She really liked me and I had fun chewing on her long orange ears!

I was held and petted and cuddled by at least 40 people! Humans really seem to dig me for some reason. (I still can't convince them to call me Cornholio though... what up with that people???)

I didn't really like being held by one guy with dirty fingernails though, so I cried to my blonde human to rescue me. She DID right away! She's a good human---cuddles me a lot and lets me play in grass, and she sneaks me little treats and gave me a teddy bear to sleep with. I like that blonde human a lot.


I watched people eat dinner and sing "Happy Birthday" and eat cake...I think they may have been drinking a little, too, because they were awfully silly!

By the time the presents were being opened I was exhausted from all the people-love and I fell sound alseep in my blonde human's lap.

After about an hour of staying safely on the human's lap, she tucked me into my own little space with my teddy bear so everyone would leave me alone and let me sleep, but she kept checking in on me to make sure I was ok.

By the time I woke up it was early morning and I was back home! Wow, I was tired!

So I learned some more new things....about parties, and people, and rescue dogs, and presents! I really like presents a lot! They come in paper and have ribbons that are really exciting to play with! Presents are definitely the 2nd favorite thing, after grass in the lawn, that I've learned about in my 8 weeks on the planet! I can't wait to learn more!

Random Thoughts Grab Me

Sometimes random thoughts enter my mind that come out of nowhere and I get a little teeny tiny bit obsessive with them. (no way..... ;)


Like how I suddenly one afternoon decided I needed a pair of sparkly black sequined ballet flats and then drove all over to 4 shoes stores until I found them.
Why? Not sure. I don't even wear flats! (But I'll wear these some time.... really...I mean they're SPARKLY for gods sake!! :-)







Or how I am convinced the Salad Chef will change my life by making me eat healthier.

(So far I have resisted ordering! But I do enjoy the infomercial...)

Like how I get obsessed and MUST blog about nothing, like right now.






....Or I'll find myself laying in bed nearly asleep and then suddenly think, "I need to know how to publish my own book." So I'll get out of bed, go to my laptop and find out, even though I have no book to publish. But I will eventually....



Did you need to know any of this? No....but I'm not good with sitting and doing nothing, even if the nothing that I'm doing isn't really much of anything at all which is what this is. Get it? Good. :)

Goodbye Meat Diet!

I've given up the "meat" diet. One more day and I would have brought live chickens into my home and made them my pets and hunted Mark MacDonald down and beat him senseless with a turkey burger.

10 days of eating food I hate every 3 hours made me nearly give up the will to live. I realized just how bad it was when I was walking through Target yesterday and started lusting after foods I haven't eaten in decades. Things like gallon-sized containers of cheese puffs and processed cupcakes wrapped in plastic---stuff I don't eat. So it was time to give up meat/meat/meat and veggies before I had a terrible downfall face-down in a trough of Doritos.

While looking for other nutrition plans to help me get rid of 7 pounds before bikini season (!!!), I started to understand why 34% of Americans are OBESE and another 34% are OVERWEIGHT (not obese). For those of you lacking math skills, that's 68% of Americans who are not at a healthy weight (what??).

Nevermind our American fast food addiction, for the people who want help, it's pricey!

Keeping in mind that "healthy" weight loss for a woman is 1/2 pound to 2 pound per week (the less you have to lose the slower it goes, so for me that would be probably 1/2 pound per week--a couple months), that can lead up to a lot of weeks, months, cash!


I asked a friend who is on Jenny Craig to lose 12 pounds how she liked it---she pays almost $150 per week for Jenny food plus spends another $30+ on fruits/veggies/milk at the grocery store to supplement the plan. That's around $720 a month for FOOD for one person for one month. She said the food tastes good though and she's seeing good results.

Yesterday I got a brochure in the mail for something that sounds perfect for me: "The Fresh Diet."  Fresh? Healthy? Nutritious? NO cooking! They deliver to my door? YES, please!

Then I saw the pricing: it's on sale for $29.99 per day, regularly $44.99 per day. For those without a calculator handy, that $900 for 1 month on sale, and $1350 regular price for 4 weeks. A thousand dollars per month for food for 1 person? That's more than the check I write every month for a place to live.

(I'd like to point out, in that same mailing came a delicious offer from NON-diet organization, Omaha Steaks, for a MERE $39.99 filet mignon/sirloin/steak burger/chicken breast/potato offer. ;)





I tried Nutrisystem a couple years ago for pre-bikini season (living someplace where it's REALLY cold 8 months out of the year means you bloat up till it warms up...maybe I should just move some place warmer ?? :) and it was the worst-tasting food I've ever put in my mouth. I tried 4 days of "food" and sent back the 30 day supply. Don't trust food that doesn't require refrigeration is now my motto. Sure, it was around $200/month to lose under 10 pounds (double if you want to lose more), but when the food is inedible it's just $200 down the drain. Sorry Marie Osmond, but you can keep that sh*t to yourself.


A friend told me she tried $500+/month Seattle Sutton's but the food mostly smelled all the same---like it was either all stored together or had a preservative on it or something, and that the portions were very tiny, like a 1 inch square of cornbread; we're guessing because they're not using anything lowfat, and are just rationing out regular high calorie items to make them nutritionally sound and equal 1200 calories. She's petite and was only losing a few pounds for a wedding but said she was hungry all the time so stopped after 3 weeks. I talked to a 2nd friend who tried this plan and she confirmed the same thing. She lasted only 2 weeks.

I feel for people who, for health reasons, have a lot of weight to lose. Diets suck. They're expensive. They're just annoying.

For now, I'm not sure what  nutrition plan I'll end up on in the next 8 weeks to be ready for summer, but I do know that I need to keep THIS in mind----------->

<-----instead of this!
                #nomnomnom

:)

Oh Chelsea, You Let Me Down

I already admitted that Chelsea Handler can apparently sell me stuff and I'm still trying to get back the ass I had at age 21, so when "Body Confidence" by Mark MacDonald arrived in the mail, I gave it a try.

There's nothing revolutionary about the concepts in the book, especially since I spent many years in a past life as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer: Speed up your metabolism by eating every 3 hours, eat 6 small 250 calorie meals (or 300 for men) every day so your body can metabolize the food and keep your blood sugar regulated, eat 25 grams of protein at every meal, and so on.

The 1st 10 days are the most restrictive--see above, but on top of that there is no sugar, no flour, no....well, pretty much nothing but meat, eggs/egg whites, and vegetables and an occassional protein bar or protein drink and a couple other things. This is to take you out of your "heavy" weight and bring you down to your "set-point" weight so you can start the "real" nutrition plan that is much like what I already mentioned but with the addition of a little dairy and other items.


Today I start the 10th day of the plan and I may do 1 more week before I toss it.

I'm considering 1 more week because it says in the book most people lose weight in the 1st 10 days, but in the Foreword it says that Chelsea gained weight during the 1st 2 weeks and THEN started to lose afterward. So I'm keeping that in mind.

Am I hungry? No.
Am I craving sugar? No. Although it does sound heavenly.
Do I have more energy like the author claims you will have? NO.
Have I lost any weight? NO.
Have my measurements reduced since I started? NO.
Does my ass look any different than it did 10 days ago? NO.
Is the food so boring that I'd rather not eat than eat it? Yes.

What HAS changed, however, is the knowledge that I'm not the biggest fan of meat. I'm not a vegetarian at all, but when FORCED to eat chicken or turkey or tuna several times a day, I am just annoyed. Also annoying---eating every 3 hours. I'm not interested in food enough to eat every 3 hours--I even set a little timer on my Blackberry to remind me. By day 3 I wanted to throw my Blackberry out a window anytime it went off to remind me to eat some damn meat, but I ate anyway.

I also learned that I hate the smell of meat cooking in my home and how the scent gets into clothes and hair and lingers in the air. (Yes, I've cooked meat a million times, but do it a couple times a day and everything smells like it.) Yesterday I decided fine, I'll have meat for dinner, but today I'm turning to salad with tuna in it, oatmeal with a protein drink, protein bars and protein shakes for other meals, which is the opposite of what is recommended in the book. I just can't take it anymore.

I don't understand how someone can spend their entire day focused on food and eating hour after hour day after day long term. I think I'd give up the will to live if I were faced with that kind of existence.

On the bright side, when I get done with this plan (maybe tomorrow, maybe in 1 week, unless I see fantastic results in that final week...) I will vow to try and reduce sugar and carbs, just because frankly, they're not great for you. But the truth is I'm never going to be a high protein or meat at every meal person. I just don't like it enough.


Sorry, Mark, but I have a life to live---and it includes thinking about things other than protein.....

That said, it's time to come up with a "Plan B" for bikini season.

Relationships

Relationships with everyone we know should always be like this:

We Always Hurt The Ones We Love