Shop is closed until further notice

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lickety Splitter is temporarily out of order.  Assistance has been called, and services should be back up and running soon.


We thank you for your patience, and apologize for any inconvenience we know this will not cause.



House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting

Pure unadulterated RAGE

!#!$#%&#$%$$*%$##*&&&&!!!@

I'm mad. Madder than I remember being in a long time.  The kind of mad that feels scary and dangerous.  I feel like the Incredible Green Hulk!

After screaming out my frustrations to my ex ex boyfriend on the phone for a half hour, I still feel mad.  My XXB said he would come over if I needed a hug.  I told him that I do need a hug, but that he probably shouldn't take the risk of coming over while I am feeling slightly deranged.  What I wanted to tell him, but didn't have the heart to say, is that only POOKIE'S hug will do.

I love you POOKIE.  I miss you POOKIE.  I desperately need you right this minute POOKIE.  I'm seriously mad, and the comfort of your embrace is the only thing I crave.


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting

Wandering in the wilderness ...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I've been experiencing a very laid back Saturday, first running a couple of errands, and then reading this book which should increase the happy factor sooner or later:

http://www.suzywelch101010.com/

What I liked MOST about Suzy Welch's 10 10 10 approach to decision making, was her emphasis for people to first hone in on their individual values.  I had to think for a minute what I value in my life, but it didn't take me long to come up with what are likely standard answers:  a personal relationship with God, strong ties to family and friends, complete freedom to be me, living beneath my means, continuous learning and personal growth.  One of my friends told me not to forget to value FUN.  I agreed that FUN is indeed very valuable in our lives.  I also value my surrounding environment.  It is important to me to live somewhere that I find visually appealing, and an area's natural habitat is a big part of that.  I'm sure I have other values, but they aren't as quick to come to mind.  I'm going to work on making a list of those, so that I will have an accurate road map for making future decisions.  

My current dilemma --  I feel as if I'm wandering in the wilderness, waiting on someone to find me and tell me which way to go.  I feel stagnant on many levels, including work, and I need to figure out which direction I want to take, but I have no clear vision, and I don't think 10 10 10 is going to work, if my options aren't clear.  Oh, 10 10 10 doesn't stand for fertilizer, it stands for 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years. 

You know what is really interesting about this book title and the fact that it reminded me of a bag of fertilizer.  It's a woo woo ... de ja vu from Tuesday, when a client was in the office and said that her friend's last birthday was on 10/10/10, and her daughter said 10-10-10 reminded her of fertilizer.  I had the same "fertilizer" thought about Suzy Welch's book title (and her 10 10 10 decision making tactic) when I picked up her book at the library on Friday, and then remembered the other 10-10-10 conversation from earlier in the week.  I'm always looking for signs from the Universe (otherwise referred to as universal rhymes on an WNYC Radiolab podcast that I listened to on my latest roadtrip.)  I don't know about you, but I like the idea of the Universe tapping on my window, and I'm a very practical minded person.  Go figure. 

Turn signal >

In the same vein of decision making, I have started another book by Jonah Lehrer titled "How We Decide."

http://www.jonahlehrer.com/books

Jonah Lehrer's book takes a more scientific look into how we make decisions.  So far, I've learned that humans need emotions in order to make rational decisions.  Never again be jealous of Spock.
 
You don't have to be a scientist to appreciate Lehrer's book.  It is a very friendly read.  


I didn't choose these book based on their connectivity or even their topics.  That was a happy library accident.  I was simply looking past fiction which sometimes feels redundant to me.  To beat the predictability of fiction, I like to explore my non fiction options. 

P.S.  Reader update -- I'm now on page 140 out of the 259 pages in Jonah Lehrer's book, and I can guarantee that if you are even slightly intrigued by human behavior, that this book will give you a lot of bang for your buck or in my case -- trip to the library.)


P.S.S.:

This is for those of you who happen to think reading about human behavior is for sissies and subsequently nothing but a bunch of self help crap.  I would suggest that you put your assumptions aside and read Jonah Lehrer's book.  It is science based with lots of manly examples.  Human behavior affects every nuance of our lives.  Sports, gambling, flying, etc .... not just shoe shopping ... and Jonah Lehrer's book is not only educational, it is interesting.

As for categorizing human behavior as self help, well, that says to me, that you probably didn't enjoy biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, literature or ethics during school (or college), and that you probably don't like movies or fiction as much as you thought, because human behavior is all around you.  Without it, we wouldn't be doing very much, if anything at all.

As for self help material, if it happens to be categorized as self help, and you don't feel you need to help yourself navigate the complexities of this world, then you can advance immediately past GO and collect $200.00.  I personally enjoy an extensive genre of reading material, and am naturally curious about nearly every mystery surrounding us ... from the human brain to dark matter in the Universe.


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting

Take a break ... delegate.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Today is Day 21 of the Everyday Happy Project – Take regular breaks.

We carry out tasks far better if we take regular breaks. Frequent breaks aren’t skiving, they’re energizing and essential for your well being.

There I was, minding my own business, trying to take a break from adulthood ... when all of a sudden I heard a familiar ping.  An e-mail ping.  That ping emanated from none other than the head honcho at work who was emailing me to ask me to take on a very adult task. 

I hesitated before replying.  But, you will be proud to know that I did not say, NO, sorry I'm taking a break from adulthood.  Instead, I said yes.  A hearty, bold, resounding YES, followed by an upbeat ... I would love to help you with that.  Shortly thereafter, panic set in. 

Yeah yeah, I’m well acquainted with life’s MO – plucking people out of desired obscurity at any moment – hoping for willing participants, but also perfectly willing to take those who choose to kick and scream, enjoying the skirmish with its more tenacious resistors. I guess there comes a point in life, when you realize that resistance is futile, and you agree to be a grown up and plan your long time co-worker’s retirement luncheon.

After the panic wore off, I settled into an "oh crap" state of mind.

Born into a non fru fru family, and currently being the antithesis of Emily Post, I have never been much of a party planner. I’m not your “go to person” for showers, receptions or even birthday parties. Not saying that I have never hosted a small soiree now and then, but I sorely lack the skills needed to host a luncheon for 55 people.

My first instinct was to rally the troops, so I called on our eldest and most socially experienced staff member. I explained the task at hand, and told her she was now the unofficial CEO of our two person team, and that all she had to do was tell me what to do, and I would make it happen. She rattled off a list of things that needed to be done, and I immediately called the Public Relations firm which our firm has on retainer, and gave a very perky PR owner all the details “she” would need to make this retirement shindig happen. I used to question the need for a Public Relations firm. I now get it. I totally get it. I’m even thinking of hiring a PR person of my very own. I could really use someone like that in my personal life.

Who knew that being in charge was going to be so easy, while simultaneously outfoxing adulthood?   Talk about laid back multi-tasking.

Ahhhh .... aren't breaks great?


P.S.  Skiving is a non American term (the Everyday Happy book is by an British author) which means slacking off.


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

Fear not! ... okay, fear, but do it anyways.

I've mostly been on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico since Friday night, first in the panhandle of Florida to celebrate a friend's birthday, and then along the coast to Mississippi to attend my uncle's funeral on Monday.  I'm grateful to be safely back inland, even though I already miss the shore and the company of my friends and family. 

I've missed a few days of the Everyday Happy project, since I last posted, so let me quickly recap:

Day 15 -- Watch How You Walk.

Tread, don't trudge.  How you walk around can hugely uplift your mood and having a spring in your step can really improve your frame of mind.

Good gosh, being at the beach put a natural spring in my step, so I was all over that suggestion, right up until I took a twisted fall down a set of stairs in my friend's beach house.  Here's what happens when your socked foot slips off carpeted stairs:  Your instinct screams at every muscle you didn't even know you had to save you, while you are busy making your own noise.  Make noise, is about all you have time to do, as your arms automatically try to take over where your feet left off.  After I checked to be sure I was still alive, I collected myself, shrugged it off, and tried to keep on keeping on with a spring in my step, but some of my body parts were indignate that I wasn't taking their discomfort seriously.  So, I lessened the spring and took an Advil.  I may have hobbled for the rest of the day, but I was happy to at least be hobbling, hobbling across white sands under blue skies no less.  I was back to good by the next day.

Day 16 -- Plan new projects.

I have a lingering unfinished home project, which bothers some of the people in my life more than it bothers me, so I didn't think it best to start planning a new project, lest those well meaning people start a mutiny.  (After waking up at 3:00 a.m. this morning and watching "Heavy" on A & E, I thought I should get a plan, and fast, before I find myself weighing 300 to 600 pounds.  After remembering that I am in no real or near danger of that weighty fate,  I decided to put my preemptive plan in temporary mental storage so that I could go back to sleep.) 

Day 17 -- Deal with fears logically.

Don't worry about things that probably won't ever happen to you. Pay attention to the thing you are particularly fearful of and take constructive steps to avoid any real dangers. Then concentrate on enjoying the day, confident that you'll deal capably with whatever happens, when it happens.

Although, I think weighing 600 pounds is scary beyond belief, I don't have what I think are irrational fears, and I try to face those fears which I find rational.  To be truthful, I don't relish flying or long distance driving, and I wasn't looking forward to all the driving I had to do this past weekend.  But, I refuse to be paralyzed by the very real potential dangers of flying and driving.  I'm motivated to take the risk, because I personally like a change of scenery from time to time, and recognize that even the most seemingly innocuous task such as climbing a ladder or descending a flight of stairs could make for a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."  Just ask Alexander ....

http://www.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/storytimeonline/alexander.html

Do you have any nagging fears?

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

Love your elders ...

The beach was calling my name all week, and I am supposed to be on the road with a couple of my friends to celebrate one of their birthdays.  Instead, I'm here, trying to catch some rays off the small space heater tucked neatly by my feet, waiting for my mother to call me.  

Today is day 13 of the happy quest, but I'm not digging today's suggestion.  Not that it's lame or anything to "think about one's health."  I'm grateful for every healthy day I have and realize that it is in my best interest to do my part in warding off any wayward infirmity.  However, I usually take the opposite approach to wellness than is often prescribed in the media.  Instead of going with the masses (whom I think are often wrong), I side with the rogues who subscribe to natural vaccinating by exposing myself to public restrooms, dirt, dust, and whatever other cootie that I can wallow in, so as to build up my natural immunity.  As for that germ killing soap, gimme a break.  While you may question the rogue in me, I have to say, that I appear much healthier than does my most vigilant "anti cootie" co-worker.  That chick won't touch the ice scoop in our community ice maker, because someone else may have cootified it before she got there.  She won't pour soda out of a can until she has wiped the top off with a wet paper towel (even if it looks free of debris).  And, she is always using hand sanitizer and trying to put another hole in the Ozone with her daily sprays of Lysol.   None of these vigilant actions seem to have done her much good, because she has been sick for about two weeks.  I'm not saying that I never get a sinus problem or a cold, but I can tell you that I don't run to the doctor for a Z-pack or whatever many of the people around me call that mix of potions which they demand from their doctors.  From what I can tell, those antibiotics don't serve them as well as my home remedies serve me.  My super hot showers, mint toothpaste, hot chocolate and hot bowls of soup work wonders for me in about half the time others seem to take getting over most of their ailments.  A friend of mine has been coughing for nearly 3 months, and none of the meds the doctors have prescribed for her, have cured whatever her problem is.  I may have to take over her treatment.  Our first stop will be Romper Room.  There should be enough cooties in there to kill off whatever cootie she presently has.

All silliness aside, I was not able to join my friends on their journey to the beach today, because my uncle, who learned back in October that he was suffering from stage four cancer, passed away yesterday.  He, being my mother's oldest brother (she is the youngest of five) chose not to pursue any radical attempts to save him.  He was in his early 80s, and said he was ready to go.  So, although we are very sad to have lost another elder in our family, we appreciate the fact that he did not suffer immense pain during the last months of his life.  We are sad over his loss, but we also celebrate his life as we make plans to make our way to say our final goodbye.

This brings me to what most grieves me ... elders who go under appreciated or unappreciated.  I love our  elders and want them to be celebrated and appreciated for all the contributions they have made and continue to make in our lives.  The elders in my life, are rich in experience and young at heart.  They have been there  to rejoice with me during the good times, and to help me see hope through my woes.  They've been there, and they know.  They know so much that they don't even know that they know.  And, even if they don't know, they will be with you in the unknowing, and that's all that really matters.

I love that you elders have loved me, and I want you to know that I never took you for granted.  I always appreciated you.


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

This was not where I was going ....

Crap.  I'm always trying to think of some slang term to start off with that sounds less crappy than crap, but crap is my normal slang term, and I don't want to rob any present day or future anthropologist of the truth of my cultural behavior.  I was recently reading an article about our use of words.  Who knows where I read this?  I don't, because I read and listen to so much stuff, that my brain starts to over clutter.   Anyways, I think it's the folks at Carnegie Mellon University who are studying Twitter to learn of the regional differences in word behavior.  They in essence said that Twitter is the easiest online social media for them to study, because many Facebook profiles are private, and because bloggers tend to write more formally.  I would agree with that summation, because I rarely use the word summation when I am speaking.

FYI Carnegie Mellon, I live in the deep deep south (also FYI, south Florida doesn't count as the deep deep south), and I say CRAP more than I would formally like to admit.  I also say shit more often than I should, but could you please instead believe that I am one of those proper southern belles who some may doubt ever existed?  Since I no doubt fail to meet the southern belle standard, I too would love to believe that southern belles are at best a myth.  No such luck.  Even though southern belles are not as easily spotted since they stopped squeezing themselves into hoop skirts tied so tightly as to cause them to faint, I have personally seen this rare breed's fair descendants with my very own eyes.  

I may not be the southern belle type, but I'm not saying that I don't embrace parts of my culture.  If you don't at least give your culture an affectionate squeeze, it will embrace you in its merciless grip, and you will just stand there looking like a fool -- kicking and screaming -- trying to tear yourself from its grasp, while everyone around you stares at you like you should be ashamed.  I mean really girl, get a hold of yourself and let us love you.  You are one of us, and we love you.  So stop all the fussing, before you get the best of our temper.

In all seriousness, I CANNOT help myself from saying y'all, loving my tea ICED with an unhealthy portion of sugar, being mystified as to how anyone could drink tea, soda, Kool-aid or punch without ice (around here ice is the other food group, and I go into shock when I travel outside my iced down territory), and cursing the powers that be for not realizing that the gardening authorities need a thump upside their collective noggins.  Did it ever occur to anyone other than a natural born southerner, that there is a conspiracy going on in the gardening world?  The gardening gurus have steadfastly resisted our southern pleas for a HEAT TOLERANCE grading.  Cold hardy this, cold hardy that.  Sure, it gets cold down here (sometimes even in the teens), and we need to know a plant's cold hardy rating almost as much as those of you above the Mason Dixon line, but by God's green nature, we have seen just as many plants wither away in the heat, as we have in the cold.  So, HOW about a few more equal rights down here?

If I think of any other southernisms that may help you Mellon heads in your quest to further categorize our country into regions, I will so write y'all a formal letter. 

P.S., we really do say "ain't" way more than EVEN we would like, but we have been properly threatened with corporal punishment, from using it in our writing.  We may sound uncouth, and may often appear uncouth.  While we may lack polish, we never fail to shine.  If you are wise enough to appreciate our vernacular for the treasure it is, you too will be won over by our effervescent ways. 

Ummm ... hello usual blog readers:


Today is DAY 12 of my Everyday Happy pursuit.  And, without further ado, here is part of Day 12's entry: 

Notice Goodness.

Notice all the goodness in the world and it will lift your spirits.  It's so easy to get lost in gloom and doom.  The news and media generally tend to concentrate on bad news.  It's more sensational and it holds the public's attention.  As is often state, "Bad news sells newspapers."

Keep a sense of perspective.  There are huge amounts of good fortune, happiness, love and positivity around you, both close at hand in the wider world.  Look out for the goodness and you'll see it's not delusional to believe in it; it's all around you.

I have chosen to notice the goodness that surrounds me today instead of fretting over the news or a little word like "ain't."  Wanna know the best thing about today?  Today is technically my Friday, and I have a friend's birthday to celebrate over the next three days.  I may not be out sunning on the beach this weekend, given the cold weather, but I will be admiring a sunny ocean view!  And, there's nothing but goodness in that : )

What good have you noticed in your day?


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

day 11 -- Revel in sounds

day 11 of the Everyday Happy Book -- Revel in sounds.

Sound is often the first thing we notice when we wake up. This is probably because we've been woken up by it and feel we'd like to linger in bed a little longer. Choose to let the sound make you happy rather than annoyed.

Ummmmm ... HELLO ... I would have attempted to revel in the chirp of the little bird who usually sounds the trumpet outside my window first thing in the morning or in the sound of my very annoying cell phone alarm, but neither that little bird nor my alarm went off this morning.  I think it was too cold out for the bird, but I'm not sure what my cell phone's excuse is.  All I know, is that the lack of noise to appreciate made me LATE for work.  Late I tell ya!  Nearly a half hour late. 

The Universe is trying to test me.  I just know it.  Am I happy about it?  No, but it could have been worse, so that's something to be happy about.  At least I didn't have to fake my appreciation for the early morning sounds which usually annoy me.  I instead received a reminder that even things which we find annoying often have real value, and that's something else to be happy about!

Hmmm, a reminder which brings me to another wonder.  If things we find annoying often have value in our lives, doesn't that also apply to my sarcastic and grumbling side?  Whooooo hoooo!  I think it does!

I also wonder if I'm one of only a handful of people who would dare smack an Everyday Happy book upside its smarmy pink cover.  ( : 

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.  

Make up your own title

I'm not fussing at any of you followers, I'm just giving a shout out to followers who follow and then unfollow me.  It's a free blog country.  Thanks for stopping by.  If you started following me in the hopes of drumming up traffic on your own blog, I'm so sorry that I couldn't help you out with that.  If you left because you realized I wasn't your cup of tea, or if I offended you or bored you with my non scintillating blog, hey, I'm sorry about that too, but I doubt I will lose any sleep over it. 

You know why?  Because, this is the year of HAPPY, and I'm going to be happy damn it, even if it kills me.

Ummm this wasn't my original blogging intent.  I wanted to talk about poetry.  I wanted you, those of you who are still here (ha ha), to share your favorite poem with me, if you have a favorite poem. 

Following is a poem I like by Robert Frost which seems fitting for today's unintentionally snarky blog post, my desire to return this season back to ole Father Winter and my internal "whither" wail.

Reluctance

Out through the fields and the woods

And over the walls I have wended;

I have climbed the hills of view

And looked at the world and descended;

I have come by the highway home,

And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground,

Save those that the oak is keeping

To ravel them one by one

And let them go scraping and creeping

Out over the crusted snow,

When others are sleeping.

And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,

No longer blown hither and thither;

The last lone aster is gone;
The flowers of the witch-hazel wither;

The heart is still aching to seek,

But the feet question 'Whither?'

Ah, when to the heart of man

Was it ever less than a treason

To go with the drift of things,

To yield with a grace to reason,

And bow and accept the end

Of a love or a season? 

Robert Frost.

Don't you just love when a poem and you bump elbows?

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.   

Is your path right?

Is your path right?  That's what day 10 of my Everday Happy book wants me to ask myself.  If day 10 knew me even one iota, it would already know, that I'm confused.  Very confused about that four word question.  As much as I have pondered that very question over the last few years, I only end up feeling worse for thinking about it.

The Happy book goes on to say:

At least once a month check with yourself as to how you're feeling about your life.  If it's pretty well set on the course you want, be glad and appreciate it.  Or perhaps you'll find you need to make a few adjustments.  Just noticing and bringing awareness to an issue that needs attention will set you thinking how to go about making changes, and your subconscious will help you to get back on track, too.  Notice how you're doing.  This puts you in touch with your needs and that connection feels really good.

Okay, so I will think about this thorn in my side another 10 minutes on top of the hundred thousand minutes I have likely already pondered this topic.

I'm mostly living the good life, and I appreciate all that I have, including God's love and help with even the most mundane of problems (like helping me pop the lens back in my eyeglasses or find my glasses about 6 times per week), my family, my friends, the freedom and stability which America has so far provided, my job, my boss (even if he does often drive me to tears), my current mental and physical health and NATURE ... every lovely ray of sunshine, every puffy cloud, every rainbow, every full moon and every gentle ocean breeze ... is appreciated.   I love nature, even if nature is responsible for me waking up with no electrical service this morning.

If I were visiting Africa, Haiti or any other impoverished country, I would be embarrassed to complain about what I feel is missing from my life, because I have so much to be thankful for, but no matter where one is in this world, I think we mostly want the same basic things, and I'm missing what I think is one of the most important.

So, is my path right?  Sometimes, I think yes.  Sometimes, I think no.  The guy in the last video I posted mentioned the three As --Attitude, Awareness and Authenticity.  I'm trying to keep a good attitude about remaining unmarried.  I am trying to stay focused on everything around me which is good, and I am trying to be authentic in my journey.   But sometimes, there comes a time in your life, when I think you just have to stop at the crossroads and take a rest.  That's where I think I am, taking a rest at the four corners, surveying the scenery in all directions.

It is what it is, and I'm going to be happy about it. 

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.   

See Lickety Splitter ...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

gETTing hAPPier, one day at a time.

Day 7's suggestion was to "think first."  Meaning, think before acting, so that we can say and do the right thing at the right time. 

Luckily for me, the primary button pusher of my alter ego's ignition was out of town and subsequently nowhere near me on Day 7 of my happy chase, so I only had to activate Day 7's suggestion once.  A non client who was unhappy with my number one button pusher decided to take his irritation out upon me in my button pusher's absence.  Me, poor little lamb that I often am, was once again left to deal with someone who was looking a lot like the Big Bad Wolf.  I didn't have much time to think first ... but I did the very best I could at restraining my own check and balance system on the offender.  I first politely pointed out that this was my first interaction with him, and asked if he would enlighten me as to why he was less than happy.  He did so, still harboring an accusatory tone.  Successfully masking my own urge to shut him down where he stood, I sympathized and assured him that I would do everything I could to help him and I DID.  By the time all was said and done, the Big Bad Wolf had shed his fangs and I had retracted my mental lash.  We were back to enjoying our peas and carrots.

Day 8 -- Whatever your mood is right now take a second to feel a rush of excitement at the thought that today is a new, fresh beginning.  

Pshaw ... I can't take much credit for following Day 8's suggestion, because it was Saturday, and I always think of Saturday as a new, fresh beginning.  Saturday is my happy day. The day of endless possibilities.  And freshy fresh is what I already had on my mind (I'm beginning to think this book and I were predestined to meet).  I am still in purge mode on the home front, and my mood is all about starting fresh.  I'm trying to turn a tidy new leaf, or at least flip the mattress over.  Cross your fingers that I can do right by fresh.

Day 9 -- Enjoy anticipation.  Delay some of today's small pleasures and enjoy the extra anticipation this gives you. Make it a treat, instead of a given.  

Hmmmm ... I wasn't successful at this today, but I definitely agree with the suggestion.  I need to practice this advice in connection with enjoying music.  I am guilty of loving certain songs to a quick death.  If I love a song, I will listen to it repeatedly until it loses its novelty.  After becoming conscious of this very bad music habit, I recognized my need to savor the absence of the song as much as I savor its presence. 

Is there anything in your life that you have loved or enjoyed all the goodie out of? 


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

I'm sorry. Are you?

Day 6 of my 365 exercises to a happier me, suggests that I practice forgiveness by forgiving someone for something.  The book says bitterness and resentment, however mild, can sabotage personal happiness. 

I feel pretty certain that we ALL are in tune with the principle of forgiveness, and its benefits. My mother consistently whips out Matthew 18:21-22 on me when I vent about my work day.  I don't know why.  She knows she should be doing that to my sister instead of me.  I'm not her casual grudge holding child.  Granted, I have had a few significant grievances that I have had to deal with, and of course never ending daily affronts like rude drivers and my procrastinating boss. 

I'm no one's emotional doormat and I'm not super human.   However, I refuse to be weighed down by the bitter pills I have been forced to ingest during the course of my life.  Forgiveness is part of my nature, even though it is sometimes a difficult process.

I had to forgive my second fiance for abandoning our life to follow a group which I think borders on being a cult.  Forgiving him only took about five years. 

I forgave the cult leader who brainwashed my second fiance.  It took me about 10 years to stop wishing that the whole lot of them would magically disappear from the earth without being raptured!  It is apparently easier to forgive the people you love then it is to forgive the people who in essence steal the people you love. 

I forgave my first fiance for physically abusing me. (Shame on him.)

I forgave Bradley Alford for cutting in line all those times in elementary school, and I hope he forgives me for kicking him in the shin. I immediately forgave him after I exacted my revenge.  I learned early that revenge is never the way to a clear conscience.

I forgave those people on the next street over for painting the white trim on their brick home a questionable shade of yellow, but I still question their sanity in choosing the combination of ketchup and mustard for the outside of their home.  I forgave them, but I no longer drive past their house.  Who needs that jolt to the senses  every day?

I want to forgive my blog stalker, but I haven’t worked through being first disrespected and then stalked. Those affronts remain fresh. One day it won’t matter, and I won’t even have to forgive that heifer.

Today, I will forgive ...

My boss who would be the best boss in the whole world, if he would stop procrastinating my day off the cliff.

Later today, I will forgive ....

Myself for not being as awesome as this guy ....





Is there anyone you need to forgive?


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

Day 5 -- take two

If you are interested in what I'm talking about in this post.  Go read the previous post and come back. 

Day 5 -- which was yesterday -- suggested that I could raise my happy factor by contacting someone whom I had not talked with in a while.  It also suggested that when I did so, that I should be upbeat and put the positive in every syllable.  I just couldn't go there yesterday due to my inability to remain positive.  So, I am shockingly a day behind (eye roll) on that Happy suggestion.  Life is messy.  Bear with me. 

Today, I sent my friend Rick a text and asked if he would like to go to lunch.  Rick and I are friends with a capital F ... the friend F not any other kind of F.  Best buds who rarely see each other, mostly because I totally got over the club and bar scene where he was still kicking it in his quest to find a girlfriend.  After he found a girlfriend (who is 16 years his junior -- just thought I would throw that eyebrow raiser in the mix), he started spending all of his time driving back and forth to where she lives in the next county.  I too have been busy since last seeing Rick, busy unintentionally hibernating.

I'm happy to report that I indeed feel happier after catching up with Rick!  

Rick is a great guy!  He's courteous, gentlemanly, caring and thoughtful (think Boy Scout).  Apparently even really nice people have messy lives.  I learned during lunch that Rick has been through a lot since I last saw him.  The economy is taking a toll on his family owned business, he is coming to terms with the fact that his girlfriend may be too young for his own liking, he underwent an appendectomy some months back, he was recently incorrectly diagnosed with diverticulitis (sp?), and only after more poking and prodding, was later correctly diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.  He has also been experiencing back pain for which he is seeking the best course of treatment for what turns out to be compressed discs (?) -- possible surgery or pain management.  Ummm, did I mention that Rick is only 38 years old.  He was already a slender guy (with no extra weight to lose), but I could tell that he had lost weight since I had last seen him.  He told me he had lost about 15 pounds due to the intense antibiotics his doctor had him on for the supposed diverticulitis.   

Once I learned that Rick was suffering from an ulcer and not diverticulitis and that his doctor now has him on Prilosec, I was kind of excited.  The kind of excited a child is when they are the only one in the classroom who knows the correct answer!  I refrained from raising my hand and exclaiming .... "ooooo ooooo oooo, I have the answer!  Pick me, pick me!"

I, being the non-genius, but the random Mensa magazine reading sort of person that I am, previously helped my ex-boyfriend, 2nd Lt. Mulgrew, find a real solution to his own ulcer.  2nd Lt. Mulgrew's father being an internal medicine doctor had also advised his son to take Prilosec to treat his ulcer.  However, my ex- boyfriend was still suffering.  After reading an article in a Mensa magazine, while I was at the gym on the treadmill, about two guys who had been awarded the Noble prize in 2005 for their research on ulcers, and their ultimate discovery http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/press.html,
I could not wait to suggest a possible CURE to my ex-boyfriend's ulcer, not just a bad patch job.  My ex-boyfriend went to an army doctor (not his father) and asked to be tested for the bacterial infection.  Turns out, my ex-boyfriend had the type of bacterial infection which the nobel peace prize guys discovered is the cause of some ulcers!  The army doctor prescribed the proper antibiotic and I am happy to report that my ex-boyfriend was cured of his ulcer!

Rick promised me that he would ask his doctor to test him for the bacteria.  YAY!!!! I was super excited to possibly help another person by relaying a small piece of read knowledge!

I wasn't happy to know that Rick had all these troubles, but it did make me feel more HAPPY to once again connect with him and to possibly help him further help himself!

Good things do come from staying connected with your friends! 

Do you know anyone who is suffering from an ulcer?  Pass that possible bacterial infection information along.  It could save someone from further suffering and possible death!


(See, I'm not just a hard hearted person who wants to clock people with heavy duty metal 3 hole punches, I am mostly a wanna be Florence Nightingale!)

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

Would you rather be ice shavings or mince meat?

That EVERYDAY HAPPY book, which I mentioned in my last post, says that on DAY 5 (today) I should reach out and make contact with someone whom I have not spoken with for a while -- perhaps a former beloved co-worker who I don't see very often, or a once dear friend who was relocated. 

I'm wondering if I could bend the rules and simply make contact with an iron fist on someone who I usually see 5 days a week, because said person causes my blood pressure to rise almost every day I see said person, and clocking said person one good time, would immediately relieve some of my angst, so much more than would calling someone whom I have not spoken with in a while.  Besides I doubt my chosen friend, would enjoy hearing me vent loudly in his or her ear after not having heard from me in so long.  Oh wait, I could call my friend in New Orleans.  He likes it when I curse.

Fortunately for said annoying and perpetual procrastinating person and any one of my unintentionally neglected friends (and probably me, cuz I'm not the prison type), I simply gazed longingly at the heavy duty three hole punch as I passed it on my way to the kitchen where I instead took out my fury on chunks of ice which should be cubed.  Ahhh ... destruction by ice scoop.  What a cool and refreshing ANGST relief activity!

I feel better now.  Maybe not happy as a blue bird, but better.  Maybe later I will call one of my unintentionally neglected out of state friends.  Who knows, happy may be within today's reach after all.


I'm not crazy or dangerous.  Really.  I'm just helping my blood pressure return to normal by venting my residual annoyance.

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

4 down 361 to go

I'm back in blogging business!  Yay! 

There's nothing like ending the year with a crashed hard drive and a bunch of free time on your hands.  A bunch of free time during which I initially spent saying to myself, "OMG ... what will I do for five days without the internet."  I'm proud to report, that there remains lots to do outside of the computer screen.  A whole host of things practically shouted for my attention ... "OVER HERE, OVER HERE.  DO ME! DO ME!"  So, I did.

This brings me to my New Year's intention.  I intended to start the New Year off by blogging my way through a book I bought during the Christmas season entitled "Everyday Happy ... 365 Ways to a better you."  As you may have surmised, I am now behind in my intended intention due to my computer problems.  So, even though today is not day 1, today's blog starts Day 1 which suggested that I "Do something really active."  Here is the first book entry:

Feeling a bit down?  Try doing something really active and proactive.  You might go for a run, pop round to see an old friend, wash the kitchen floor or start up a new project.  Even just making a decision to do something specific will help you feel happier.

Once you get going, using up energy will generate even more energy, and instantly your body will respond with endorphins (feel-good chemicals).  Not only do you feel good when you are being active, but afterwards you'll bask in the satisfaction of having been active.

I did!  I did something really active on day 1.  I raked and hauled away the pinestraw which covered the backyard.  Later, I went through every kitchen cabinet and filled nearly 3 boxes with items I rarely if ever use, and took them to a local charity.  I then purged all food items that were past date, and found room to store my appliances, which had formerly resided on the top of my cabinets, inside my now roomier kitchen cabinets.  I was so energized by those accomplishments, that I later sorted my two clothes closets and purged enough clothes to fill three laundry baskets which I then took to a friend and to charity.  I sorted, purged, organized and properly stored so much stuff, that I am now happily basking in my newly found s p a c e.

Day 2 suggested that I "Count small luxuries."

Instead of taking these small things for granted, take a moment to appreciate each one to the full.

After day 1, I was happy to take notice of my warm bed, my soft sheets and the piping hot water which is always ever at the ready.  I even had my new luxury to continue to notice, c l o s e t   s p a c e.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the temperature was perfect ... not too cold, not too hot.  I watched a movie called "Despicable Me" which was a feel good small luxury for me.  I love those little yellow minions.  During the movie I enjoyed a bowl of veggie soup and later had a hot chocolate, both small luxuries to soothe my sinuses which were irritated by raking all that pinestraw on day one.  All in all, it was a good day 2.

Day 3's suggestion > "Assess your energy dips."

I scoffed at this entry only because my nap-o-meter is working just fine.

Day 4's suggeston >  "Go for a mini-break."

I wholeheartedly agree with the book!  I just want to know on what planet does day 4 yon break?  I can't take a day-trip or a vacation whenever I feel like it.  I had to work today.  No one has yet to leave me a huge inheritance, and I certainly didn't win the Mega Million lottery the other day, so about all I can do is ruminate on a day-trip or a vacation that I have already taken, or would like to take.  I will give that a go later this evening.  Right now, I have to go purchase new software for my new hard drive.  That will make Staples happy.

Here's hoping that I won't bore you with 361 more of these entries.  I need a spare blog so that I can be lame elsewhere. 




House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

Long lost sheep ...

That is what I feel like.  A lost sheep.

But, I'm not lost.  I just haven't been able to be here.  I have been TOTALLY without computer access for the last 5 days.  My hard drive crashed on my laptop, and it is still in the shop.  Hopefully, I will be back tomorrow to begin my  INTENDED New Year blogging!

I have missed you ALL.  I don't have time right now to catch up with you all, because I only have a few minutes on this computer, but I will as soon as I get my computer back.

I have felt totally cut off from ONE-HALF of my life.  Isn't that sad?

I wonder if the Universe is trying to tell me something.  Like, ummm ... nudge nudge nudge .... "you need a change in percentage!"  The Universe should be proud, very proud.  I have  been very productive at home during this computer crisis.  I have purged my kitchen cupboards and my closets.  At least, my home is happier :)

HUGS!