Just over a year and a half ago I bought a car from an old friend of mine after her father had passed away. It was sentimental in a way because back when I was 17 or 18 I had bought my first car off of him as well and it was the same manufacturer too.
Now, don't get me wrong, I liked the car a lot along with the freedom it gave me (even though I didn't use it much), but having to do repair after repair was starting to drive me crazy. Not only that, the first was about 200$, the second 300$ and this one was quoted at 500$ if nothing else went wrong in the process (it needed a new gas tank). The garage I go to is owned by the same people I bought the car from so I have no reason not to trust them as they are friends. So I was relieved (and I cannot stress that enough) when they made me an offer to buy the car back instead of putting me in the poor house! They will fix it and sell it and hopefully make a small profit!
Now, I know this is going to sound strange, but today while selling the car my friend told me that she feels like her dad is haunting her with this car. First she had to sell it, then they repaired it over and over and now they bought it back again. I laughed, but I realized something when she said this. When I told my grandmother I was going to buy this car she was very upset. She was afraid of me driving and getting hurt. So, I bought the car but told her that I had backed out of the deal to make her feel better and she was very happy to hear this. My plan was to get better at driving and then suprise her with a trip out in the car later on in the summer but she passed away not too long afterwards and this got me thinking...
I am now starting to wonder if, after her death, she found out that I had in fact bought the car against her wishes... found my friends father up in heaven (or whereever they are) and plotted against us! Not to be mean spirited, but just for a laugh! I can see both her father and my grandmother doing this to us! I know that this sounds far-fetched, but you never know!!!
Regardless of why all of this has happened I am happy to say that, although I am now car-free, I have learned a whole lot about cars, I know what I am looking for in the future and I have gained more confidence in myself driving. I have already started a 2013 budget to help me plan for a new car in Spring hopefully. And, all of this allowed me to reconnect with an old friend after more than 10 years apart... and that is prieless!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
12 Things To Know Before Letting Go
I don’t remember where I first copied this from, but I knew it was something that I needed to remember. So, with 2013 around the corner I have decided to refresh my memory...
Often times letting go has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We let go and walk away not because we want the universe to realize our worth, but because we finally realize our own worth. And that’s what this article is about – realizing your worth, and harnessing this realization to identify the negative ideas, habits, and people in your life that you need to let go of.
Here are some points to consider:
1. The past can steal your present if you let it. – You can spend hours, days, weeks, months, or even years sitting alone in a dark room, over-analyzing a situation from the past, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve or should’ve happened. Or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and walk out the front door into the sunlight to get some fresh air.
2. Not everyone, and not everything, is meant to stay. – There are things you don’t want to happen, but have to accept, things you don’t want to know, but have to learn, and people you can’t live without but have to let go. Some circumstances and people come into your life just to strengthen you, so you can move on without them.
3. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. – Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles. Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost. Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.
4. Sometimes you just need to do your best and surrender the rest. – Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are plenty of people willing to do that for you. Tell yourself, “I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment. And that is all I can expect of anyone, including me.” Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do, even your mistakes. Because even mistakes mean you’re trying.
5. You are in control of one person, and one person only: yourself. – There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of your control. Letting go in your relationships doesn’t always mean that you don’t care about people anymore; it’s simply realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.
6. What’s right for you may be wrong for others, and vice versa. – Think for yourself, and allow others the privilege of doing so too. We all dance to the beat of a different drum. There are few absolute ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ in the world. You need to live your life your way – the way that’s right for you.
7. Some people will refuse to accept you for who you are. – Always choose to be true to yourself, even at the risk of incurring ridicule from others, rather than being a fake and incurring the pain and confusion of trying to be someone you’re not. When you are comfortable in your skin not everyone in this world will like you, and that’s okay. You could be the ripest, juiciest apple in the world, and there’s going to be someone out there who hates apples.
8. Relationships can only exist on a steady foundation of truth. – When there is breakdown in a relationship, you must have the hard conversation. It may not be pretty and it may not feel good. But if you are willing to listen and tell the truth, it will open up. When you build relationships based on truth and authenticity, rather than masks, false perfection, and being phony, your relationships will heal, connect, and thrive.
9. The world changes when you change. – Practice really seeing whatever it is you’re looking at. You are today where your thoughts and perceptions have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts and perceptions take you. If you truly want to change your life, you must first change your mind. The world around you changes when you change.
10. You can make decisions, or you can make excuses. – Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving. A mistake doesn’t become a failure until you refuse to correct it. Thus, most long-term failures are the outcome of people who make excuses instead of decisions. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
11. It usually takes just a few negative remarks to kill a person’s dream. – Don’t kill people’s dreams with negative words, and don’t put up with those who do. Don’t let people interrupt you and tell you that you can’t do something. If you have a dream that you’re passionate about, you must protect it. When others can’t do something themselves, they’re going to tell you that you can’t do it either; and that’s a lie. These people are simply speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.
12. Sometimes walking away is the only way to win. – Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who have proven that they are committed to misunderstanding you. In other words, don’t define your intelligence by the number of arguments you have won, but by the number of times you have said, “This needless nonsense is not worth my time.”
Often times letting go has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We let go and walk away not because we want the universe to realize our worth, but because we finally realize our own worth. And that’s what this article is about – realizing your worth, and harnessing this realization to identify the negative ideas, habits, and people in your life that you need to let go of.
Here are some points to consider:
1. The past can steal your present if you let it. – You can spend hours, days, weeks, months, or even years sitting alone in a dark room, over-analyzing a situation from the past, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve or should’ve happened. Or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and walk out the front door into the sunlight to get some fresh air.
2. Not everyone, and not everything, is meant to stay. – There are things you don’t want to happen, but have to accept, things you don’t want to know, but have to learn, and people you can’t live without but have to let go. Some circumstances and people come into your life just to strengthen you, so you can move on without them.
3. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. – Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles. Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost. Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.
4. Sometimes you just need to do your best and surrender the rest. – Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are plenty of people willing to do that for you. Tell yourself, “I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment. And that is all I can expect of anyone, including me.” Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do, even your mistakes. Because even mistakes mean you’re trying.
5. You are in control of one person, and one person only: yourself. – There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of your control. Letting go in your relationships doesn’t always mean that you don’t care about people anymore; it’s simply realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.
6. What’s right for you may be wrong for others, and vice versa. – Think for yourself, and allow others the privilege of doing so too. We all dance to the beat of a different drum. There are few absolute ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ in the world. You need to live your life your way – the way that’s right for you.
7. Some people will refuse to accept you for who you are. – Always choose to be true to yourself, even at the risk of incurring ridicule from others, rather than being a fake and incurring the pain and confusion of trying to be someone you’re not. When you are comfortable in your skin not everyone in this world will like you, and that’s okay. You could be the ripest, juiciest apple in the world, and there’s going to be someone out there who hates apples.
8. Relationships can only exist on a steady foundation of truth. – When there is breakdown in a relationship, you must have the hard conversation. It may not be pretty and it may not feel good. But if you are willing to listen and tell the truth, it will open up. When you build relationships based on truth and authenticity, rather than masks, false perfection, and being phony, your relationships will heal, connect, and thrive.
9. The world changes when you change. – Practice really seeing whatever it is you’re looking at. You are today where your thoughts and perceptions have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts and perceptions take you. If you truly want to change your life, you must first change your mind. The world around you changes when you change.
10. You can make decisions, or you can make excuses. – Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving. A mistake doesn’t become a failure until you refuse to correct it. Thus, most long-term failures are the outcome of people who make excuses instead of decisions. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
11. It usually takes just a few negative remarks to kill a person’s dream. – Don’t kill people’s dreams with negative words, and don’t put up with those who do. Don’t let people interrupt you and tell you that you can’t do something. If you have a dream that you’re passionate about, you must protect it. When others can’t do something themselves, they’re going to tell you that you can’t do it either; and that’s a lie. These people are simply speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.
12. Sometimes walking away is the only way to win. – Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who have proven that they are committed to misunderstanding you. In other words, don’t define your intelligence by the number of arguments you have won, but by the number of times you have said, “This needless nonsense is not worth my time.”
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Betta Battle Pt. 2
I finally managed to get a decent picture of my new fish!!! He doesn't stop moving around long enough for me to get a good shot so I had to film him and extract a picture that way. Nothing but trouble this one, huh?
Anyhow... introducing... Romeo!
Anyhow... introducing... Romeo!
Betta Battle
For those of you who don’t know, I am obsessed with Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish). I have consistently had two of them at a time for the last 4 years (each usually lives about 2.5 years on average) and I had a couple previously as well.
A couple of weeks ago, one of them died after a LONG battle with something I could never really identify. Jack seemed to be sick since the day I got him a year and a half ago (when the last Pirates of the Caribbean came out – hence the name). A couple of days after he died, after sanitizing his tank and preparing it for a new fish, I went to a pet store that I do not normally buy from although it is the same chain I go to. They have 48 hour guarantees on their fish and unfortunately this fish barely made it 36 hours! Long story short, the conditions they had him in and the conditions I put him in (the right ones) shocked his system. Anyhow, they told me that I could bring him back but I couldn’t get there for a number of days due to a knee injury preventing me from driving. So what did they tell me to do? Put him in the freezer! Yes, that’s right… in a bag, in the freezer! No refund without a fish in hand; don’t even get me started! Anyhow, then the person I talked to on the phone wasn’t there that night as he said he would be, naturally, so I had to have a battle as to why I was there four days after the fish died. Eventually they agreed to give me a credit note instead of a refund and I left without buying a new fish from them because I didn’t want to go through all of that again.
Fast forward to this past weekend… I go to the shop I usually get my fish from and find the most beautiful Betta I have ever seen – no joke. I asked a sales person how much he is and he said that since he was a “show fish” he was twice the price. It was “Black Friday” weekend so I thought I would get a discount but no, he was twice the usual price. I didn’t care, I wanted that fish! As I was debating for a second, someone walked by and asked me if I was buying him. YES! Decision made, he is mine! He kept walking and said “enjoy!” as he walked away. I asked the sales guy if he could hang onto him for me for a minute because I wanted to look at the others too because I was debating getting a second fish from them (yes, even though I had one at home still). He said sure… and not a minute later he came to tell me that another guy sold my fish! I turned around and, sure enough, he was in a bag ready to go! I looked at who was buying it and it was the same guy who told me to enjoy! After a minute of protest he let me have him and my sales guy joked that we were in the cutthroat world of Betta fish! No kidding! I took my fish, went to the cash and was then told they won’t accept my credit note since another store issued it! At this point, I didn’t care; I just wanted to get out of there!!!
It is now two days later and I am happy to report that the new fish is very happy in his new home. Due to the drama that ensued over this fish I debated calling him Shakespeare, but decided on Romeo specifically instead! He was worth the battle! Now, if only I could get a decent picture of him!
A couple of weeks ago, one of them died after a LONG battle with something I could never really identify. Jack seemed to be sick since the day I got him a year and a half ago (when the last Pirates of the Caribbean came out – hence the name). A couple of days after he died, after sanitizing his tank and preparing it for a new fish, I went to a pet store that I do not normally buy from although it is the same chain I go to. They have 48 hour guarantees on their fish and unfortunately this fish barely made it 36 hours! Long story short, the conditions they had him in and the conditions I put him in (the right ones) shocked his system. Anyhow, they told me that I could bring him back but I couldn’t get there for a number of days due to a knee injury preventing me from driving. So what did they tell me to do? Put him in the freezer! Yes, that’s right… in a bag, in the freezer! No refund without a fish in hand; don’t even get me started! Anyhow, then the person I talked to on the phone wasn’t there that night as he said he would be, naturally, so I had to have a battle as to why I was there four days after the fish died. Eventually they agreed to give me a credit note instead of a refund and I left without buying a new fish from them because I didn’t want to go through all of that again.
Fast forward to this past weekend… I go to the shop I usually get my fish from and find the most beautiful Betta I have ever seen – no joke. I asked a sales person how much he is and he said that since he was a “show fish” he was twice the price. It was “Black Friday” weekend so I thought I would get a discount but no, he was twice the usual price. I didn’t care, I wanted that fish! As I was debating for a second, someone walked by and asked me if I was buying him. YES! Decision made, he is mine! He kept walking and said “enjoy!” as he walked away. I asked the sales guy if he could hang onto him for me for a minute because I wanted to look at the others too because I was debating getting a second fish from them (yes, even though I had one at home still). He said sure… and not a minute later he came to tell me that another guy sold my fish! I turned around and, sure enough, he was in a bag ready to go! I looked at who was buying it and it was the same guy who told me to enjoy! After a minute of protest he let me have him and my sales guy joked that we were in the cutthroat world of Betta fish! No kidding! I took my fish, went to the cash and was then told they won’t accept my credit note since another store issued it! At this point, I didn’t care; I just wanted to get out of there!!!
It is now two days later and I am happy to report that the new fish is very happy in his new home. Due to the drama that ensued over this fish I debated calling him Shakespeare, but decided on Romeo specifically instead! He was worth the battle! Now, if only I could get a decent picture of him!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Benefit Of The Doubt (Dr. Phil)
Dr. Phil McGraw has written a new book titled “Life Code: The New Rules for Winning in the Real World”. I have not read the book yet but I did watch the episode yesterday where he introduces the book for the first time and I have to say I am intrigued. His website describes the book as follows: “It’s time to learn how the world really works, not how you wish it worked, not how it should work, but how it really works. If you’ve been doing everything 'by the book', and your life still isn’t where you want it be, you’ve been reading the wrong book.”
On his show he covered one topic that struck a chord with me – benefit of the doubt. The show was taped so I sat down and typed this verbatim. These are not my words, they are Dr. Phil's.
“The world has changed, so the rules have to change right along with it…
There’s something we’ve been taught that just doesn’t hold anymore. What my parents taught me, what your parents taught you, just doesn’t work anymore; at least not like it once did… benefit of the doubt. We teach people that it’s a good thing to do, that it’s the Christian thing to do; it’s the positive thing to do to give our fellow man the benefit of the doubt. Why would you do that? Why would you give somebody you don’t know the benefit of the doubt? If we said “Ok, here’s what I want you to do... go out in your life and JUDGE everybody negatively” you’d go “I’m not going to do that”. Then WHY would you go out and judge them POSITIVELY?
How about we don’t do either?
How about we don’t give people the benefit of the doubt?
How about we just collect information and make an INFORMED decision in our lives instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt?
I don’t know who made this up or sold it but it doesn’t work anymore… but there is a rule you’ve got to have. You’ve got to LISTEN TO YOU.”
Most people I know either love or hate Dr. Phil, but think about this for a minute. Don’t think about WHO said it, but WHAT was said. Personally, I couldn’t agree more!
I think I might have another book to buy!
On his show he covered one topic that struck a chord with me – benefit of the doubt. The show was taped so I sat down and typed this verbatim. These are not my words, they are Dr. Phil's.
“The world has changed, so the rules have to change right along with it…
There’s something we’ve been taught that just doesn’t hold anymore. What my parents taught me, what your parents taught you, just doesn’t work anymore; at least not like it once did… benefit of the doubt. We teach people that it’s a good thing to do, that it’s the Christian thing to do; it’s the positive thing to do to give our fellow man the benefit of the doubt. Why would you do that? Why would you give somebody you don’t know the benefit of the doubt? If we said “Ok, here’s what I want you to do... go out in your life and JUDGE everybody negatively” you’d go “I’m not going to do that”. Then WHY would you go out and judge them POSITIVELY?
How about we don’t do either?
How about we don’t give people the benefit of the doubt?
How about we just collect information and make an INFORMED decision in our lives instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt?
I don’t know who made this up or sold it but it doesn’t work anymore… but there is a rule you’ve got to have. You’ve got to LISTEN TO YOU.”
Most people I know either love or hate Dr. Phil, but think about this for a minute. Don’t think about WHO said it, but WHAT was said. Personally, I couldn’t agree more!
I think I might have another book to buy!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friendship
“It’s been said that everlasting friends can go long periods of time
without speaking and never question the friendship.
These types of friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday,
regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live and they don’t hold grudges.
They understand that life is busy…
but you will ALWAYS love them.”
but you will ALWAYS love them.”
I completely agree with the quote above and I have a number of friendships that seem to carry themselves that way, but sometimes I can’t help but question a few of them that are like this. There are some “friends” that I am sure I could call right now and we could carry on as though we just spoke yesterday when we haven’t talked for weeks or months but when I really think about it, it feels like that is only because we don’t really have anything between us; like, we have a very superficial connection. In some cases I think it is because I may have misjudged or misinterpreted some of those relationships and I am hoping to work those out over time, one way or another, but in other cases I just know that I was wrong about the friendship altogether and now it’s time to walk away.
I think it started when I realized that, in many cases, I was the only one who was actually making any sort of effort. I would call, I would e-mail, I would text, I would plan and I would “chase”. And, often times, I would also be the one getting “stood-up” and I would be the only one who felt bad about it!
I have confronted a few of those people over the last little while and some of them were genuinely sorry and have been making more of an effort lately. One person admitted that they are simply unreliable and not to take it personally, but promised to try harder and definitely has been which I really appreciate! And others, well, as one now former friend once told me when confronted: “we never really were that close and we were only friends because it was convenient at the time”… only I had apparently missed that memo over the five years we were joined at the hip! Live and learn, right?
And, no, I am not just pointing the finger at others! I realize that in a couple of cases I am also to blame and I am trying to rectify that now as well! See? I CAN look in the mirror and see my OWN faults!
I guess as I get older I feel more interested in quality and not quantity when it comes to relationships with others. I would rather have a small handful of amazing, close and deep friendships than a hundred superficial ones. Who has time for that? Some of those friendships have developed over a long period of time and others are more recent, but I value each and every one of them very much!
Oh, and to my BFF… I will ALWAYS love you, no matter what! And we need to make a phone date soon because I miss you!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Obama Wins Second Term!
"I wouldn't be the man I am today
without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago"
without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago"
Yay America! You did good! Yes, I realize that I am Canadian, but I am far more interested in American politics for some reason... well, their elections at least.
And, while I am on the topic of elections let's talk about Donald Trump for a second. You know... throughout the end of the race he was nothing but a BULLY; offering millions of dollars to a charity of Obama's choice if he produces even MORE documents proving he isn't from Kenya! Get over it already! Honestly, in a way I wish Obama would have given the proof just so he could have chosen an anti-bullying program to donate the money to! And you gotta love Mark Cuban... his response to this nonsense? He offered a million dollars aid to hurricane Sandy victims if Trump would shave his head! Now that was funny! Ah... celebrities and politics... at least they make it entertaining!
So, Obama won, Trump had another public meltdown about everything (courtesy of Twitter), and the world goes on...
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Build-A-“Soother” Bear
I recently saw this idea posted to a friend on Facebook and I thought it was so clever (and cute) that I had to share!
We all know that babies and toddlers can be addicted to their soother/suce/binky/or whatever it is you call it at home. Getting them off of it can easily be compared to an adult trying to “kick the habit” at times! So, what can you do about it? Well, if you were able to wean your child off of it at a young age then this post may not be for you. But, if your child is a bit older and can’t seem to let it go then then this may be a good start!
The suggestion I saw was to slowly get your child down to their last couple of soothers and then, once they are nearly off but maybe not quite, bring them to Build-A-Bear (a fun activity for children of all ages in itself) and have your child put the soothers inside the bear’s belly! For anyone who doesn’t know what Build-A-Bear is, you choose the body of the bear you want and they play a little story/game that has your child stuff the bear by his/her self, choose a heart to give your bear life and then fill in a birth certificate to commemorate the day it was born while they sew up the bear for you. When it comes time to choose your bears name you can call it the “Big Boy/Girl Bear”, the “Soother Bear”, or anything else your heart desires! The point is, your child will hopefully begin to cling to the bear, as they did their soother, and will eventually outgrow even the bear! Yes, in some ways it is prolonging the “soother” use, but in a very different and more grown-up way!
It may not work for everyone, but after this discussion grew on Facebook it seems that it has in fact worked for many people so why not give it a try!
To find out more about Build-A-Bear and find a location near you see here.
Side note: I have come to realize that I have collected WAY to many stuffed animals/bears over the years and most of them, apart from a select few Disney Collectors ones, are sitting brand new in a huge box in my closet. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to find some time to go through them and donate at least half of them to the Children’s Hospital or something this year at Christmas. And, hopefully, I will stop getting more of them!
We all know that babies and toddlers can be addicted to their soother/suce/binky/or whatever it is you call it at home. Getting them off of it can easily be compared to an adult trying to “kick the habit” at times! So, what can you do about it? Well, if you were able to wean your child off of it at a young age then this post may not be for you. But, if your child is a bit older and can’t seem to let it go then then this may be a good start!
The suggestion I saw was to slowly get your child down to their last couple of soothers and then, once they are nearly off but maybe not quite, bring them to Build-A-Bear (a fun activity for children of all ages in itself) and have your child put the soothers inside the bear’s belly! For anyone who doesn’t know what Build-A-Bear is, you choose the body of the bear you want and they play a little story/game that has your child stuff the bear by his/her self, choose a heart to give your bear life and then fill in a birth certificate to commemorate the day it was born while they sew up the bear for you. When it comes time to choose your bears name you can call it the “Big Boy/Girl Bear”, the “Soother Bear”, or anything else your heart desires! The point is, your child will hopefully begin to cling to the bear, as they did their soother, and will eventually outgrow even the bear! Yes, in some ways it is prolonging the “soother” use, but in a very different and more grown-up way!
It may not work for everyone, but after this discussion grew on Facebook it seems that it has in fact worked for many people so why not give it a try!
To find out more about Build-A-Bear and find a location near you see here.
Side note: I have come to realize that I have collected WAY to many stuffed animals/bears over the years and most of them, apart from a select few Disney Collectors ones, are sitting brand new in a huge box in my closet. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to find some time to go through them and donate at least half of them to the Children’s Hospital or something this year at Christmas. And, hopefully, I will stop getting more of them!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Quotes
"Dream more, Complain less, Listen more, Talk less,
Love more, Argue less, Hope more, Fear less,
Relax more, Worry less, Believe more, Doubt less,
Play more, Work less."
Love more, Argue less, Hope more, Fear less,
Relax more, Worry less, Believe more, Doubt less,
Play more, Work less."
Unknown
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Dream Diary: Insomnia... Melatonin?
It has been about 3 weeks now that I can't sleep, not well anyhow. I tried hot milk (which worked for a bit and then stopped). Then I tried over the counter "sleep aids" which did nothing but clear my sinuses. And now I am trying Melatonin...
After a lot of Google searches and talking to people at work I decided that Melatonin might be worth a try. The pharmacist said that I could go up to 10mg but sold me the 3mg capsules so that I could play around with my dose and now I am conflicted.
I tried 3mg the first night and 6mg the next. It seems like both doses help me fall asleep, but neither of them keep me sleeping much past 2:30 in the morning (fun). I had no side effects from the 3mg but the 6mg gave me vivid dreams again (have you noticed that this seems to happen anytime I take anything hormonal). Oh, and not only did I get an interesting night of dreams from 6mg but I also got a wicked headache... at first I thought it was the Melatonin but I have since realized it was a sinus thing.
I guess overall I DID sleep a bit better on 6mg but it was also so restless because of the dreaming! How can you feel rested when your mind has been racing all night?
Anyhow, I took 3mg again last night to see how it would go and I didn't really notice anything at all... so I don't know. Maybe I should just down some whiskey before going to bed LOL.
After a lot of Google searches and talking to people at work I decided that Melatonin might be worth a try. The pharmacist said that I could go up to 10mg but sold me the 3mg capsules so that I could play around with my dose and now I am conflicted.
I tried 3mg the first night and 6mg the next. It seems like both doses help me fall asleep, but neither of them keep me sleeping much past 2:30 in the morning (fun). I had no side effects from the 3mg but the 6mg gave me vivid dreams again (have you noticed that this seems to happen anytime I take anything hormonal). Oh, and not only did I get an interesting night of dreams from 6mg but I also got a wicked headache... at first I thought it was the Melatonin but I have since realized it was a sinus thing.
I guess overall I DID sleep a bit better on 6mg but it was also so restless because of the dreaming! How can you feel rested when your mind has been racing all night?
Anyhow, I took 3mg again last night to see how it would go and I didn't really notice anything at all... so I don't know. Maybe I should just down some whiskey before going to bed LOL.
Friday, October 12, 2012
TV Quote
“Some choices we make for ourselves in life.
And some we make for other people.
Not because we don’t love them, but because we do.
The only way we know it’s right is if it lets us stay true to ourselves.
But we can’t regret our choices.
The past is behind us.
All we have is the present.
And the future.
Whatever that may bring."
Friday, September 14, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Story of Priorities and a Jar
A professor of
philosophy stood before his class with some items in front of him. When
the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He
then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was full.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar.
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar signifies your life. The rocks are the truly important things, such as family, health and relationships. If all else was lost and only the rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life, such as work or school. The sand signifies the remaining 'small stuff' and material possessions".
If you put sand into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks or the pebbles. The same can be applied to your lives. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important.
Pay attention to the things in life that are critical to your happiness and well-being. Take time to get medical check-ups, play with your children, go for a run, write your grandmother a letter. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, or fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first – things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand.
They agreed that it was full.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar.
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar signifies your life. The rocks are the truly important things, such as family, health and relationships. If all else was lost and only the rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life, such as work or school. The sand signifies the remaining 'small stuff' and material possessions".
If you put sand into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks or the pebbles. The same can be applied to your lives. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important.
Pay attention to the things in life that are critical to your happiness and well-being. Take time to get medical check-ups, play with your children, go for a run, write your grandmother a letter. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, or fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first – things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
August Updates
August was pretty slow up until a few days ago so I thought I should update before the month is over!
On Friday, August 24th, I went to see Wicked and it was awesome! I had started to read the book a while back but couldn't get into it. The tickets were a gift and I wasn't too sure about it but I am glad I went! It was entertaining and quite funny as well. I wasn't sure what to expect at first but I was pleasantly surprised!
On Saturday, August 25th, we went out for dinner at Le Vieux-Port Steakhouse to celebrate my birthday and then everyone came back to our place for cake and coffee. Yes, I usually have my BBQ but I really wasn't up to it this year at all and going out was a nice change! Less work for me at least!
And tonight... MADONNA!!! Need I say more? I am super bouncy and excited today and I can't wait! I have AMAZING seats, better than ever before, and I am really looking forward to this show! Apparently she was 2.5 hours late a couple of nights ago but it was her first show in North America so they were having "issues". Her trucks have already been spotted here so hopefully they are all ready to go! I can't wait!!!
On Friday, August 24th, I went to see Wicked and it was awesome! I had started to read the book a while back but couldn't get into it. The tickets were a gift and I wasn't too sure about it but I am glad I went! It was entertaining and quite funny as well. I wasn't sure what to expect at first but I was pleasantly surprised!
On Saturday, August 25th, we went out for dinner at Le Vieux-Port Steakhouse to celebrate my birthday and then everyone came back to our place for cake and coffee. Yes, I usually have my BBQ but I really wasn't up to it this year at all and going out was a nice change! Less work for me at least!
And tonight... MADONNA!!! Need I say more? I am super bouncy and excited today and I can't wait! I have AMAZING seats, better than ever before, and I am really looking forward to this show! Apparently she was 2.5 hours late a couple of nights ago but it was her first show in North America so they were having "issues". Her trucks have already been spotted here so hopefully they are all ready to go! I can't wait!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
From Chick-Lit to Erotica? Part II
So, I did
it. I read them; all three of them. What am I talking about? The “Fifty Shades”
trilogy by E.L. James of course! What are my thoughts? Well, for starters, they certainly do not live up to
all of their hype, that’s for sure!
In my opinion they were OK,
no more than that. Definitely not the page turner I had anticipated and the
storyline was a bit unrealistic but they ARE fiction after all. The main thing
that bothered me was the writing itself. The level and/or style of writing which
the author uses are horribly repetitive and amateur! As one review said, if you
were to pick one of the many “repeated phrases” used in this book and drink
every time you read it you would be blackout drunk by chapter 4! Thankfully, I
got used to the writing by the end of the first book which made it easier to
read the remaining two.
As for the sex
scenes, this is most likely where all of the hype came from I assume. The scenes were
probably quite shocking to A LOT of people. But, after an
average of one scene per chapter I found myself getting quite bored with them and wanting
to just skip through and get to the story amidst all of the sex. As you all know, I
have now learned that I don’t mind a good sex scene thrown in now and then,
but when the book has a higher percentage of smut than plot it is a little discouraging.
In the last book I would literally jump through pages to get back to the
storyline because I didn’t care for the garbage anymore.
I think
this is a series that most will either love or hate, but I am still somewhere
in the middle. Once I was reading I didn’t want to put it down, but after
putting it down I would go days without picking it up again. It kept me busy on
the bus to work and waiting for appointments and such, but I wouldn’t read them
again.
It’s back
to chick-lit for me for a bit! Oh, and to the “Fifty Shades” readers… Laters!
Monday, August 13, 2012
'Ohana
“Ohana means family. Family means no one is left behind - or forgotten."
Lilo from Lilo & Stitch
I used to write a detailed account of my life on all of my websites but those days are long gone. All of those sites have been taken down and in many ways my life has become a little bit more personal than ever before. I think I did it to justify myself and who I was, to help people understand me better, but I don’t feel the need to tell the world my story anymore… at least not so openly; there is a time and place for everything.
I am writing this because, consciously or not, I tend to put quotes around the world “family” when I write and a few people have asked me about it so I will attempt to explain without going into too much detail.
Basically, the dictionary definition of "family" is as follows: 1. a group of blood relatives, especially parents and their children; 2. a group of persons sharing common ancestry; 3. a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption. While all of these may be true, I feel that there are many more variations to the word and that this definition is far from complete! Personally, I do not necessarily consider those that I share my blood or my ancestry with as being my “family”. Yes, I can associate the titles of “mother”, “father”, “grandparent” and such to each person in my bloodline, but I consider very few of them to actually play their defined roles in my life. I hardly know the majority of my “family” members, and of those that I do the connections are mostly lost, forgotten or betrayed.
There’s an old saying that goes: “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family” and I disagree. Many of my closest friends ARE “family” to me and I do not feel that a “family” should be based solely on a luck of the draw bloodline. They should be the people that I feel connected to, supported, loved, and nurtured by, and those that I truly care about. Some people get lucky… they cherish their bloodline, ancestry, and those who make up their “family”; but, not everyone can be so fortunate.
That being said, I do consider myself to be pretty lucky though because every person that I consider to be MY “family” is truly special to me and that is what I feel is most important!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Affair Recovery
I put this together some time ago but never posted it. I found it while sorting through a bunch of unfinished blog entries I have been working on and decided to polish it off and post it. As always, the full article can be found here as I have edited some parts out for length.
Affair Recovery - Oprah Show on Cheating Husbands by Anne and Brian Bercht.
… Infidelity is a topic that strikes at the very core of human emotions, so it goes without saying that people hardly feel neutral about it…
The main and most hurtful ingredient of affairs is the lying and secrecy. In fact you cannot have an affair without having lies and deception. Secrecy is to affairs what sunlight and water is to plants. As long as we keep affairs secret, we as a society are promoting their growth. After witnessing the tremendous pain affairs cause to all 3 people in an affair triangle, to the children, to extended family and friends and on and on and on… it’s evident that affairs are a horrible, deceptive and destructive force in our society…
Why do men (and women) have affairs?
There were reasons which had nothing to do with the marriage or the faithful spouse and everything to do with the character weaknesses of the person having the affair:
- Because it strokes your ego when someone else pays attention to you
- Selfishness/the lure of temporary pleasure
- Provided confirmation, a need fulfilled
- Admiration, the “Adoring Eyes”
Men don’t have affairs just for sex! Men stray from their wives because of how the other woman made them FEEL… Yes, a happily married man can stray... There can be unmet needs and unhappiness in a marriage which makes a man (or woman) look for needs to be met outside the marriage (which still doesn’t justify the behavior), but there doesn’t HAVE to be anything wrong in a marriage for a man/woman to stray.
All marriages are vulnerable to affairs. This does not mean that married couples should start living in fear that it will happen to them, but it does mean they should stop being naïve and judgmental of others…
The men were not having affairs because they weren’t getting enough at home! The other woman was NOT extra special! In the person’s mind the affair seems right at the time. An unfaithful spouse justifies and compartmentalizes their behavior…
Affairs are one big gigantic lie. The definition of lying is not only knowingly giving wrong information, it includes withholding relevant information. If a spouse has had an affair it’s relevant to the relationship. How can anyone think the solution to affairs then is to keep it a secret from their spouse? How can more lying being the cure for lying?
…the cheating husband tells more truth to the mistress than to his wife. In other words the mistress gains a “window” into the marriage. The wife gets only a “wall” into the affair. In order to heal a marriage the window and the wall must be reversed. The wife must get the truth and the mistress must be cut out…
Cheating is reckless behavior … and those engaging in it just aren’t thinking!...
Way to go Oprah for saying “You got to tell the truth!” You cannot even begin to heal a marriage until you have full disclosure. An un-confessed affair in a marriage is like undiagnosed cancer. It will eat away at each cell of the marriage until it destroys it.
We still love each other! Your genuine feelings of love for a person don’t just disappear, because there has been a betrayal of trust. We who’ve been betrayed don’t appreciate the unsolicited advice from people who tell us we should leave our unfaithful spouses and we are weak for staying. What right do you have to tell us what we should do? Do you walk in our shoes? Will you live with the outcome of the decisions we make? The choice belongs to us … the crisis of an affair can in time become a gift. It’s an opportunity to get it right. And staying with someone because you still love them is a dam good reason!...
Not all relationships are salvageable after an affair. Not all unfaithful spouses are willing to change. Always judge the behavior, not the words…
Affair Recovery - Oprah Show on Cheating Husbands by Anne and Brian Bercht.
… Infidelity is a topic that strikes at the very core of human emotions, so it goes without saying that people hardly feel neutral about it…
The main and most hurtful ingredient of affairs is the lying and secrecy. In fact you cannot have an affair without having lies and deception. Secrecy is to affairs what sunlight and water is to plants. As long as we keep affairs secret, we as a society are promoting their growth. After witnessing the tremendous pain affairs cause to all 3 people in an affair triangle, to the children, to extended family and friends and on and on and on… it’s evident that affairs are a horrible, deceptive and destructive force in our society…
Why do men (and women) have affairs?
There were reasons which had nothing to do with the marriage or the faithful spouse and everything to do with the character weaknesses of the person having the affair:
- Because it strokes your ego when someone else pays attention to you
- Selfishness/the lure of temporary pleasure
- Provided confirmation, a need fulfilled
- Admiration, the “Adoring Eyes”
Brian explained his draw to the other woman as a “pulling toward”. She made him feel like a king. It was a fantasy. He was attracted to how HE was FEELING, not the other woman…
There can be no doubt that we all need to pay attention to our marriage relationships.
Men don’t have affairs just for sex! Men stray from their wives because of how the other woman made them FEEL… Yes, a happily married man can stray... There can be unmet needs and unhappiness in a marriage which makes a man (or woman) look for needs to be met outside the marriage (which still doesn’t justify the behavior), but there doesn’t HAVE to be anything wrong in a marriage for a man/woman to stray.
All marriages are vulnerable to affairs. This does not mean that married couples should start living in fear that it will happen to them, but it does mean they should stop being naïve and judgmental of others…
The men were not having affairs because they weren’t getting enough at home! The other woman was NOT extra special! In the person’s mind the affair seems right at the time. An unfaithful spouse justifies and compartmentalizes their behavior…
Affairs are one big gigantic lie. The definition of lying is not only knowingly giving wrong information, it includes withholding relevant information. If a spouse has had an affair it’s relevant to the relationship. How can anyone think the solution to affairs then is to keep it a secret from their spouse? How can more lying being the cure for lying?
…the cheating husband tells more truth to the mistress than to his wife. In other words the mistress gains a “window” into the marriage. The wife gets only a “wall” into the affair. In order to heal a marriage the window and the wall must be reversed. The wife must get the truth and the mistress must be cut out…
Cheating is reckless behavior … and those engaging in it just aren’t thinking!...
Way to go Oprah for saying “You got to tell the truth!” You cannot even begin to heal a marriage until you have full disclosure. An un-confessed affair in a marriage is like undiagnosed cancer. It will eat away at each cell of the marriage until it destroys it.
We still love each other! Your genuine feelings of love for a person don’t just disappear, because there has been a betrayal of trust. We who’ve been betrayed don’t appreciate the unsolicited advice from people who tell us we should leave our unfaithful spouses and we are weak for staying. What right do you have to tell us what we should do? Do you walk in our shoes? Will you live with the outcome of the decisions we make? The choice belongs to us … the crisis of an affair can in time become a gift. It’s an opportunity to get it right. And staying with someone because you still love them is a dam good reason!...
Not all relationships are salvageable after an affair. Not all unfaithful spouses are willing to change. Always judge the behavior, not the words…
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Fourth Trimester
A friend posted a link to this article on FB and I found it interesting so I am passing it along. The original can be found here as I have edited some parts out for length (yet it is still long - sorry).
The Fourth Trimester – AKA: Why Your Newborn is Only Happy in Your Arms.
“My baby is only happy in my arms, the minute I put her down she cries”…
If I had a pound every time I heard these from a new parent I’d be a very rich lady by now! What amazes me though is that society in general doesn’t get it, they don’t get why so many babies need to be held by us to settle and what perplexes me even more is that we do spend so long trying to put them down! ... I am embarrassed to admit now it honestly didn’t enter into my head that perhaps the answer was to *not* put my baby down... It took me a long time to understand and empathise with my baby, to see the world through his eyes so to speak.
“Empathy: the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing
To empathise with our newborns feelings we need to put ourselves in their place, to imagine experiencing their world – but which world? The world they have spent most of their life in, their ‘womb world’ or the world they are in now – our world. To fully understand we must appreciate the enormous transition they have made – a concept known to many as ‘The Fourth Trimester’ -some make the womb to world transition easily, others less so and it is this latter group in particular “the clingy babies” we can learn so much from through this concept.
So let’s quickly compare the two different ‘worlds’ your baby has lived in:
Womb: Dark, Muffled sounds, Constant warm temperatures, Constant nutrition, Confined space, Aquatic, Inability to smell, Constant contact with mother, Constantly “held”, Naked, All surroundings soft and warm.
World: Light, Loud noises, Fluctuating temperatures, Hunger and thirst, Lots of space, Air, Many different smells, Dramatically reduced contact, Held far less, Clothes, Many surroundings hard or cold.
... On top of this the big thing to understand is that in utero the baby’s world was constant, each day was the same, the stimulation didn’t change, but now they are born each day is different – ever changing, ever stimulating!
The concept of the fourth trimester helps us to understand the transition a newborn must make over their first few weeks earth side and once we understand we find so many ways we can help – but to me the most important facet of the fourth trimester is parental understanding and empathy, once that exists everything else will flow naturally…
Movement: The womb is a constantly moving space, Braxton Hicks would squeeze your baby at the end of pregnancy and each time you moved your baby was wobbled around inside... Babies tend to love movement but so often we put them down somewhere completely still. You could try dancing, swaying from side to side, going for an exaggerated quick walk or bumpy car ride.
Skin to Skin Contact: Such a brilliant baby calmer! Being in contact with your warm, naturally (un)scented, skin is heaven for a baby, it helps to stabilise their body temperature, heart rate and stress hormones and stimulates the release of oxytocin – the love and bonding hormone – in you both…
Bed-Sharing: Sharing a bed with your baby is an amazing way of getting more sleep for everyone, babies are generally much calmer and sleep more easily if they sleep with you in your bed, yet it is such a taboo topic and although 60% of parents will share a bed with their baby at some point it’s a subject that makes society very uncomfortable...
Swaddling: Imagine how snug your baby was at the very end of your pregnancy inside of you – now imagine how strange it must feel to them after they have been born and have so much space around them! The absolutely best thing you can do is to envelop your baby in your arms, but for times when you don’t want to or indeed can’t then swaddling is an option…
Babywearing: Wearing your baby in a sling is one of the ultimate ways to keep them calm and happy. It increases the time a baby spends in a state of “quiet alertness” – a time of contentment when they learn the most… Babywearing also means 2 free hands! ... Babywearing is a great way for dads to bond with babies! ...
Position: The “tiger in the tree” position (baby lying on forearm), taken from baby yoga, is often magical, stopping a crying baby in an instant!
Noise: Babies love sound, but for many not the sound you might think. For many babies a hoover is much more calming to a baby than a lullaby. A white noise CD such as the one by BabyCalm below can be played on loop whilst your baby sleeps to help keep them calm.
Feed: If your baby is hungry nothing will calm him, so watch for his hunger cues. Feeding is always better if it is baby led, not led by a routine – whether you are breast or bottle feeding... Babies also find sucking the ultimate relaxation and comfort tool... If you are not breastfeeding you might find your baby will relax when given a dummy/pacifier.
Deep Bathing: The womb is a wet, warm place. The world as we know it is dry and cold! Sometimes a nice deep, warm bath can stop a baby’s tears in seconds – even better if mummy or daddy goes in the big bath with baby too as skin to skin contact is a wonderful baby calmer.
Outside: If all else fails many babies stop crying the minute they hit the open air – I’m not sure if this is because we are usually moving (e.g.: walking over cobbles with the buggy/ bouncing in a sling and the drone and movement of a car) or because of the change in air – but it works!
Sarah Ockwell-Smith – Mum to Four, Parenting Author and Founder of BabyCalm Ltd
The Fourth Trimester – AKA: Why Your Newborn is Only Happy in Your Arms.
“My baby is only happy in my arms, the minute I put her down she cries”…
If I had a pound every time I heard these from a new parent I’d be a very rich lady by now! What amazes me though is that society in general doesn’t get it, they don’t get why so many babies need to be held by us to settle and what perplexes me even more is that we do spend so long trying to put them down! ... I am embarrassed to admit now it honestly didn’t enter into my head that perhaps the answer was to *not* put my baby down... It took me a long time to understand and empathise with my baby, to see the world through his eyes so to speak.
“Empathy: the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing
of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.”
To empathise with our newborns feelings we need to put ourselves in their place, to imagine experiencing their world – but which world? The world they have spent most of their life in, their ‘womb world’ or the world they are in now – our world. To fully understand we must appreciate the enormous transition they have made – a concept known to many as ‘The Fourth Trimester’ -some make the womb to world transition easily, others less so and it is this latter group in particular “the clingy babies” we can learn so much from through this concept.
“Birth suddenly disrupts this organization. During the month following birth, baby tries to regain his sense of organization and fit into life outside the womb. Birth and adaptation to postnatal life bring out the temperament of the baby, so for the first time he must do something to have his needs met. He is forced to act, to “behave.” If hungry, cold, or startled, he cries. He must make an effort to get the things he needs from his caregiving environment. If his needs are simple and he can get what he wants easily, he’s labeled an “easy baby”; if he does not adapt readily, he is labeled “difficult." – Dr. William Sears
So let’s quickly compare the two different ‘worlds’ your baby has lived in:
Womb: Dark, Muffled sounds, Constant warm temperatures, Constant nutrition, Confined space, Aquatic, Inability to smell, Constant contact with mother, Constantly “held”, Naked, All surroundings soft and warm.
World: Light, Loud noises, Fluctuating temperatures, Hunger and thirst, Lots of space, Air, Many different smells, Dramatically reduced contact, Held far less, Clothes, Many surroundings hard or cold.
... On top of this the big thing to understand is that in utero the baby’s world was constant, each day was the same, the stimulation didn’t change, but now they are born each day is different – ever changing, ever stimulating!
The concept of the fourth trimester helps us to understand the transition a newborn must make over their first few weeks earth side and once we understand we find so many ways we can help – but to me the most important facet of the fourth trimester is parental understanding and empathy, once that exists everything else will flow naturally…
Movement: The womb is a constantly moving space, Braxton Hicks would squeeze your baby at the end of pregnancy and each time you moved your baby was wobbled around inside... Babies tend to love movement but so often we put them down somewhere completely still. You could try dancing, swaying from side to side, going for an exaggerated quick walk or bumpy car ride.
Skin to Skin Contact: Such a brilliant baby calmer! Being in contact with your warm, naturally (un)scented, skin is heaven for a baby, it helps to stabilise their body temperature, heart rate and stress hormones and stimulates the release of oxytocin – the love and bonding hormone – in you both…
Bed-Sharing: Sharing a bed with your baby is an amazing way of getting more sleep for everyone, babies are generally much calmer and sleep more easily if they sleep with you in your bed, yet it is such a taboo topic and although 60% of parents will share a bed with their baby at some point it’s a subject that makes society very uncomfortable...
Swaddling: Imagine how snug your baby was at the very end of your pregnancy inside of you – now imagine how strange it must feel to them after they have been born and have so much space around them! The absolutely best thing you can do is to envelop your baby in your arms, but for times when you don’t want to or indeed can’t then swaddling is an option…
Babywearing: Wearing your baby in a sling is one of the ultimate ways to keep them calm and happy. It increases the time a baby spends in a state of “quiet alertness” – a time of contentment when they learn the most… Babywearing also means 2 free hands! ... Babywearing is a great way for dads to bond with babies! ...
Position: The “tiger in the tree” position (baby lying on forearm), taken from baby yoga, is often magical, stopping a crying baby in an instant!
Noise: Babies love sound, but for many not the sound you might think. For many babies a hoover is much more calming to a baby than a lullaby. A white noise CD such as the one by BabyCalm below can be played on loop whilst your baby sleeps to help keep them calm.
Feed: If your baby is hungry nothing will calm him, so watch for his hunger cues. Feeding is always better if it is baby led, not led by a routine – whether you are breast or bottle feeding... Babies also find sucking the ultimate relaxation and comfort tool... If you are not breastfeeding you might find your baby will relax when given a dummy/pacifier.
Deep Bathing: The womb is a wet, warm place. The world as we know it is dry and cold! Sometimes a nice deep, warm bath can stop a baby’s tears in seconds – even better if mummy or daddy goes in the big bath with baby too as skin to skin contact is a wonderful baby calmer.
Outside: If all else fails many babies stop crying the minute they hit the open air – I’m not sure if this is because we are usually moving (e.g.: walking over cobbles with the buggy/ bouncing in a sling and the drone and movement of a car) or because of the change in air – but it works!
Sarah Ockwell-Smith – Mum to Four, Parenting Author and Founder of BabyCalm Ltd
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Back From Mexico!
Mexico? What? When? Yes... that's right... we took off to Mexico and barely told a soul. We were gone from July 7-14 and we were at the Grand Sunset Princess in Riviera Maya. It was a good trip overall and it was nice to get away again! But, I can honestly say that after trying Cuba again last year and finally seeing Mexico this year my heart still remains in DR and I can't wait to go back there again. I have always joked that DR is the happy medium between Cuba and Mexico and now I can say for sure that it is (to me anyhow).
Anyhow, back to work and the usual grind for now!
Anyhow, back to work and the usual grind for now!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Numerology: Part 2
More from www.paulsadowski.com...
Birthday Calculator:
Date of conception was on or about 2 December 1978; a Saturday. (TMI, I know!).
You were born on a Saturday under the astrological sign Virgo.
Your Life path number is 5.
Your fortune cookie reads: There is no limit to love's forbearance (in other words patience and tolerance; hah, funny!), to its trust (apparently), its hope (uh huh), and its power to endure (I hope so…).
Life Path Compatibility: (if any of you even know what you are)
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 5 and 7 (Note: My SIL is a 1, DH is a 5 and my BFF is a 7- YAY!).
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 3 and 9.
You may or may not get along well with those with the Life Path number 8.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 6, 11 and 22.
…
You were born in the Chinese year of the Goat.
Your Native American Zodiac sign is Bear; your plant is Violets.
…
Celebrities who share your birthday: (only the ones I actually know, well, not personally!)
Billy Ray Cyrus (1961). Regis Philbin (1933), Claudia Schiffer (1970) , Tim Burton (1958) (This may actually explain a lot! I love his work!), Gene Simmons (1949), Sean Connery (1930), Rachael Ray (1968) (Shoot me!), Elvis Costello (1954)
Top songs of 1979: (again, only the ones I know!)
My Sharona by The Knack, Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? by Rod Stewart, Escape - The Pina Colada Song by Rupert Holmes (I love this song!), I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, Ring My Bell by Anita Ward
Your lucky day is Wednesday. (Heh heh! “Hump Day”!)
Your lucky number is 5.
Your ruling planet(s) is Mercury.
Your lucky dates are 5th, 14th, 23rd.
Your opposition sign is Pisces. (Too many comments, so no comment)
Your opposition number(s) is 3.
Your birth flower is Gladiola
Your Birthstone is Peridot Peridot is used to help dreams become a reality. Some lists (from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources) consider these stones to be your birthstone too: Sardonyx, Diamond, Jade
Your birth tree is Pine Tree, the Particularity (Note: I am allergic to Pine!)
Loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, many disappointments till it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.
Birthday Calculator:
Date of conception was on or about 2 December 1978; a Saturday. (TMI, I know!).
You were born on a Saturday under the astrological sign Virgo.
Your Life path number is 5.
Your fortune cookie reads: There is no limit to love's forbearance (in other words patience and tolerance; hah, funny!), to its trust (apparently), its hope (uh huh), and its power to endure (I hope so…).
Life Path Compatibility: (if any of you even know what you are)
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 5 and 7 (Note: My SIL is a 1, DH is a 5 and my BFF is a 7- YAY!).
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 3 and 9.
You may or may not get along well with those with the Life Path number 8.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 6, 11 and 22.
…
You were born in the Chinese year of the Goat.
Your Native American Zodiac sign is Bear; your plant is Violets.
…
Celebrities who share your birthday: (only the ones I actually know, well, not personally!)
Billy Ray Cyrus (1961). Regis Philbin (1933), Claudia Schiffer (1970) , Tim Burton (1958) (This may actually explain a lot! I love his work!), Gene Simmons (1949), Sean Connery (1930), Rachael Ray (1968) (Shoot me!), Elvis Costello (1954)
Top songs of 1979: (again, only the ones I know!)
My Sharona by The Knack, Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? by Rod Stewart, Escape - The Pina Colada Song by Rupert Holmes (I love this song!), I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, Ring My Bell by Anita Ward
Your lucky day is Wednesday. (Heh heh! “Hump Day”!)
Your lucky number is 5.
Your ruling planet(s) is Mercury.
Your lucky dates are 5th, 14th, 23rd.
Your opposition sign is Pisces. (Too many comments, so no comment)
Your opposition number(s) is 3.
Your birth flower is Gladiola
Your Birthstone is Peridot Peridot is used to help dreams become a reality. Some lists (from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources) consider these stones to be your birthstone too: Sardonyx, Diamond, Jade
Your birth tree is Pine Tree, the Particularity (Note: I am allergic to Pine!)
Loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, many disappointments till it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.
Numerology: Part 1
I don’t seriously believe in horoscopes, superstitions, or things like the “evil eye” but for some reason I always seem to enjoy reading about numerology. I recently stumbled on www.paulsadowski.com and it was actually kind of interesting. I am not going to post EVERYTHING it told me though, just bits and pieces that I related to most.
What your first name means:
Latin (F): From Cyprus, or from the river Severn. In British legend, Sabrina was the illegitimate daughter of the King of Britain and was drowned in the river by her father's ex-wife. (Note: I knew about the river, but I did not know about the drowning!)
Italian (F): From the border.
English (F): Legendary princess. (Note: That’s right!)
Your number is: 4
The characteristics of #4 are:
A foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.
The expression or destiny for #4:
Order, service, and management are the cornerstones of the number 4 Expression... You are the kind of person who is always willing to work those long, hard hours to push a project through to completion. Patience with detail allows you to become expert in fields such as building, engineering, and all forms of craftsmanship. Your abilities to write and teach may lean toward the more technical and detailed. In the arts, music will likely be your choice. Artistic talents may also appear in such fields as horticulture and floral arrangement, as well. Many skilled physicians and especially surgeons have the 4 Expression. (Note: I have been told that I am crafty and that I write and teach well so I guess there is some truth to this! And despite my allergies I would love to work on the side in a flower shop too! And I have always been drawn to medical stuff too! Interesting…)
The positive attitudes of the 4 Expression yield responsibility; you are one who no doubt fulfills obligations, and is highly systematic and orderly. You are serious and sincere, honest and faithful. It is your role to help and you are required to do a good job at everything you undertake.
If there is too much 4 energies present in your makeup, you may express some of the negative attitudes of the number 4. The obligations that you face may tend to create frustration and feelings of limitation or restriction... Avoid becoming too rigid, stubborn, dogmatic, and fixed in your opinions. You may have a tendency to develop and hold very strong likes and dislikes...
Your Soul Urge number is 1:
With a Soul Urge number of 1, you want to lead and direct, to work independent of supervision, by yourself or with subordinates. You take pride in your abilities and want to be recognized for them. You may seek opportunities to display your strength and usefulness, wanting to create and originate. In your desire to manage the big picture and the main issues, you may often leave the details to others. (Note: The story of my life!)
The positive 1 Soul Urge is Ambitious and determined, a leader seeking opportunities. There is a great deal of honesty and loyalty in this character. If you possess positive 1 Soul Urge qualities, you are very attainment oriented and driven to success. You are a loyal friend and strictly fair in your business dealings.
The negative side of the 1 Soul Urge must be avoided. A negative 1 is apt to dominate situations and people; the home, the spouse, the family and the business… The great need of the 1 Soul Urge is the development of friendliness, and a sincere interest in people.
Your Inner Dream number is 3:
You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. (Note: I do/have done all three!) You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated. (Note: Popular and likable, no; appreciated, yes please!)
What your first name means:
Latin (F): From Cyprus, or from the river Severn. In British legend, Sabrina was the illegitimate daughter of the King of Britain and was drowned in the river by her father's ex-wife. (Note: I knew about the river, but I did not know about the drowning!)
Italian (F): From the border.
English (F): Legendary princess. (Note: That’s right!)
Your number is: 4
The characteristics of #4 are:
A foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.
The expression or destiny for #4:
Order, service, and management are the cornerstones of the number 4 Expression... You are the kind of person who is always willing to work those long, hard hours to push a project through to completion. Patience with detail allows you to become expert in fields such as building, engineering, and all forms of craftsmanship. Your abilities to write and teach may lean toward the more technical and detailed. In the arts, music will likely be your choice. Artistic talents may also appear in such fields as horticulture and floral arrangement, as well. Many skilled physicians and especially surgeons have the 4 Expression. (Note: I have been told that I am crafty and that I write and teach well so I guess there is some truth to this! And despite my allergies I would love to work on the side in a flower shop too! And I have always been drawn to medical stuff too! Interesting…)
The positive attitudes of the 4 Expression yield responsibility; you are one who no doubt fulfills obligations, and is highly systematic and orderly. You are serious and sincere, honest and faithful. It is your role to help and you are required to do a good job at everything you undertake.
If there is too much 4 energies present in your makeup, you may express some of the negative attitudes of the number 4. The obligations that you face may tend to create frustration and feelings of limitation or restriction... Avoid becoming too rigid, stubborn, dogmatic, and fixed in your opinions. You may have a tendency to develop and hold very strong likes and dislikes...
Your Soul Urge number is 1:
With a Soul Urge number of 1, you want to lead and direct, to work independent of supervision, by yourself or with subordinates. You take pride in your abilities and want to be recognized for them. You may seek opportunities to display your strength and usefulness, wanting to create and originate. In your desire to manage the big picture and the main issues, you may often leave the details to others. (Note: The story of my life!)
The positive 1 Soul Urge is Ambitious and determined, a leader seeking opportunities. There is a great deal of honesty and loyalty in this character. If you possess positive 1 Soul Urge qualities, you are very attainment oriented and driven to success. You are a loyal friend and strictly fair in your business dealings.
The negative side of the 1 Soul Urge must be avoided. A negative 1 is apt to dominate situations and people; the home, the spouse, the family and the business… The great need of the 1 Soul Urge is the development of friendliness, and a sincere interest in people.
Your Inner Dream number is 3:
You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. (Note: I do/have done all three!) You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated. (Note: Popular and likable, no; appreciated, yes please!)
Monday, June 18, 2012
From Chick-Lit to Erotica?
Yes, you read the title of this post correctly! What’s happening to me? Years ago I swore I would never read mindless “Chick-Lit”, and then lo and behold I was enthralled by Sophie Kinsella’s “Shopaholic Series”. This led to reading every single one of her books (including the ones written as Madeline Wickham) followed by other authors such as Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and miscellaneous ones that I picked up here and there.
After I was done with those I actually forced myself to read the “Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer (because everybody else was) and – I didn’t hate it! Shocked? I was too! Then I went back and re-read the whole V.C. Andrews “Flowers in the Attic Series” for some reason before jumping on the “Hunger Games Series” by Suzanne Collins which I really liked (first book is far better than the movie in my opinion).
And now? Erotica?? What??? Let me back up a bit…
While DH and I were in Toronto not too long ago he pointed out a big display of books on sale thinking that I might be interested in them. He knows that I devour books but he doesn’t exactly know what I read. I glanced quickly and had no idea what they were so I continued upstairs to get the book I was actually there to buy. Later on, I found out what those books were... the “Fifty Shades Trilogy” by E.L. James. I read about them online and passed them off as plain old trash and swore that I would never read them… but I haven’t stopped hearing about them since!
Now, I have yet to read those but some reviews started commenting on another book and its similarities to the trilogy but they said that it was better written, more mature, etc… so I decide do give it a try. Only the first book is available right now and it is called “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day… and WOW! At first I was shocked (and I don’t shock easily) and was going to stop reading it… but I couldn’t put it down! I would read a chapter here, there and whenever I could. I couldn’t get enough of it. It has dysfunctional characters, passion, lust, intrigue, control, and sex… lots and lots of dirty sex! And… I like it?! Not only do I like it, I have been telling everyone to read it and I can’t wait for the next book to come out in the Fall so that I can see what happens. And, in the meantime, I think I might just read Fifty Shades!
So, as I said earlier, what is happening to me? I have a pile of books at home waiting to be read – books that are NOT mindless, and here I am filling my head with “trash”… and I like it! I guess those other books will just have to collect dust for the summer because my mind is elsewhere apparently! DH, if you are reading this, you can come home now! Do you see what your absence has caused?
Ps. No, I have never read the "Harry Potter" books and I never will! That is one bandwagon I am staying clear of. I tried to watch the first couple of movies but I couldn't even handle those...
After I was done with those I actually forced myself to read the “Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer (because everybody else was) and – I didn’t hate it! Shocked? I was too! Then I went back and re-read the whole V.C. Andrews “Flowers in the Attic Series” for some reason before jumping on the “Hunger Games Series” by Suzanne Collins which I really liked (first book is far better than the movie in my opinion).
And now? Erotica?? What??? Let me back up a bit…
While DH and I were in Toronto not too long ago he pointed out a big display of books on sale thinking that I might be interested in them. He knows that I devour books but he doesn’t exactly know what I read. I glanced quickly and had no idea what they were so I continued upstairs to get the book I was actually there to buy. Later on, I found out what those books were... the “Fifty Shades Trilogy” by E.L. James. I read about them online and passed them off as plain old trash and swore that I would never read them… but I haven’t stopped hearing about them since!
Now, I have yet to read those but some reviews started commenting on another book and its similarities to the trilogy but they said that it was better written, more mature, etc… so I decide do give it a try. Only the first book is available right now and it is called “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day… and WOW! At first I was shocked (and I don’t shock easily) and was going to stop reading it… but I couldn’t put it down! I would read a chapter here, there and whenever I could. I couldn’t get enough of it. It has dysfunctional characters, passion, lust, intrigue, control, and sex… lots and lots of dirty sex! And… I like it?! Not only do I like it, I have been telling everyone to read it and I can’t wait for the next book to come out in the Fall so that I can see what happens. And, in the meantime, I think I might just read Fifty Shades!
So, as I said earlier, what is happening to me? I have a pile of books at home waiting to be read – books that are NOT mindless, and here I am filling my head with “trash”… and I like it! I guess those other books will just have to collect dust for the summer because my mind is elsewhere apparently! DH, if you are reading this, you can come home now! Do you see what your absence has caused?
Ps. No, I have never read the "Harry Potter" books and I never will! That is one bandwagon I am staying clear of. I tried to watch the first couple of movies but I couldn't even handle those...
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A Little Rant
“You don't know what you've got till it's gone…"
"Big Yellow Taxi" - Joni Mitchell
It is far too easy to take things for granted in life or, often times, not to see what you have in the first place. We all do it, I too am guilty as charged, but more and more lately I hear people around me complaining about one thing or another in their lives and I am fed up. There are two sides to every coin… try turning it over to see the other side.
Lately, most of these complaints have been related to people’s pregnancy, children or families in general. Maybe these issues get to me more (long story short), but I really wish that these people would see what they have in front of them! Honestly, just look around you and see what others are lacking in their lives and then take a long hard look in the mirror and see what you have right in front of you – cherish the people in your life, value what they have to offer you and maybe even see how lucky you really are because not everyone is so fortunate.
That’s my rant for the day… sorry!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Re-evaluating Friendships
Last year at this time I wrote an entry entitled “Facing Demons”. Not everybody knows or remembers what triggered that entry, and I don’t expect you to, but it was/is pretty clear that I was going through a rough patch and that I was struggling with certain things. But it is one year later and I am happy to say that, although it needed quite a bit of polishing, I was able to find a silver lining from that period of my life and that is why I am writing this follow-up now. I know that some of you do not understand how this has turned out to be positive, but trust me… it really has!
Have you ever had something happen in your life that caused you to re-evaluate your friendships? Something that made you realize that the people you thought were your true friends really weren’t that close after all? Sometimes people change and they turn out to be different than who you thought they were; and sometimes it’s just that you finally see them as they really are. Don’t get me wrong, it can be heartbreaking when you think you can count on someone and the minute you really need them they aren’t there for you… but it can also be a real eye-opener! And you know what? This might sound cliché, but more often than not it is their loss in the end!
Having been programmed from a very young age that the people you love and trust the most will also be the ones to hurt the worst, I have grown to be a pretty good judge of character. I have a decent read on people and I am meticulous about weeding out the “bad” early on. I am also very particular about whom I allow into my inner circle; even more so as I get older I have noticed. To some, it may sound as though my caution has left me with no one in my life but that is far from true. I have a pretty big circle of close, dependable, supportive, loving and caring friends and some of them have been in my life for as long as I can remember. However, I am only human and I have certainly made mistakes over the years as well. Sometimes, often through no fault of my own, I have missed or misinterpreted the warning signs that someone is “bad” or that someone “good” is no longer “good for me” and I have definitely been hurt by this – terribly. Thankfully I have also been fortunate enough to have the experience of someone, who I least expected to have my back, stand tall for me. It just goes to show that we never really know what people are made of; the people we expect to be there for us aren’t, and the ones we least expect (and wouldn't think to ask) open their arms to you. Oddly enough, last year this all happened at once.
So, I have taken this last year to re-evaluate the relationships I have with my friends. Some have certainly gone up a few notches while others have slid down a few, and unfortunately I can no longer consider some to be my friends at all. Honestly, we do not need a huge circle of friends, only a few who are loyal and who will be with us until the end - through good times and bad, through thick and thin – and that can be hard to come by. Quality is certainly more important than quantity when it comes to my friendships.
Below is a questionnaire I happened to find on-line recently which sums up the re-evaluating process extremely well. So well that I wish I would have found it a year ago! Anyhow, feel free to give it a go…
7 Questions to reevaluate your friendships
I have found that as I grow and mature, so do my friendships. That means that friends come into my life and move on so that others can find their way into my life. Instead of leaving this to ‘chance’, I decided to create intention around my friendship environment. I sat down and wrote out with much contemplation my response to the following questions:
Have you ever had something happen in your life that caused you to re-evaluate your friendships? Something that made you realize that the people you thought were your true friends really weren’t that close after all? Sometimes people change and they turn out to be different than who you thought they were; and sometimes it’s just that you finally see them as they really are. Don’t get me wrong, it can be heartbreaking when you think you can count on someone and the minute you really need them they aren’t there for you… but it can also be a real eye-opener! And you know what? This might sound cliché, but more often than not it is their loss in the end!
Having been programmed from a very young age that the people you love and trust the most will also be the ones to hurt the worst, I have grown to be a pretty good judge of character. I have a decent read on people and I am meticulous about weeding out the “bad” early on. I am also very particular about whom I allow into my inner circle; even more so as I get older I have noticed. To some, it may sound as though my caution has left me with no one in my life but that is far from true. I have a pretty big circle of close, dependable, supportive, loving and caring friends and some of them have been in my life for as long as I can remember. However, I am only human and I have certainly made mistakes over the years as well. Sometimes, often through no fault of my own, I have missed or misinterpreted the warning signs that someone is “bad” or that someone “good” is no longer “good for me” and I have definitely been hurt by this – terribly. Thankfully I have also been fortunate enough to have the experience of someone, who I least expected to have my back, stand tall for me. It just goes to show that we never really know what people are made of; the people we expect to be there for us aren’t, and the ones we least expect (and wouldn't think to ask) open their arms to you. Oddly enough, last year this all happened at once.
So, I have taken this last year to re-evaluate the relationships I have with my friends. Some have certainly gone up a few notches while others have slid down a few, and unfortunately I can no longer consider some to be my friends at all. Honestly, we do not need a huge circle of friends, only a few who are loyal and who will be with us until the end - through good times and bad, through thick and thin – and that can be hard to come by. Quality is certainly more important than quantity when it comes to my friendships.
Below is a questionnaire I happened to find on-line recently which sums up the re-evaluating process extremely well. So well that I wish I would have found it a year ago! Anyhow, feel free to give it a go…
7 Questions to reevaluate your friendships
I have found that as I grow and mature, so do my friendships. That means that friends come into my life and move on so that others can find their way into my life. Instead of leaving this to ‘chance’, I decided to create intention around my friendship environment. I sat down and wrote out with much contemplation my response to the following questions:
- What does friendship mean to me now?
- What do I NO longer want to attract in my friendships?
- What do I want to attract in my friendships now?
- What have I not liked or has not been healthy for me in current or prior friendships?
- What have I liked or was healthy for me in current or prior friendships?
- What do I want in my Friendships now? W
- What am I willing to be and to give as a friend?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Reason, Season, or Lifetime
"People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other
relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant."
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other
relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant."
Unknown
Thursday, May 17, 2012
May Babies
If “April showers bring May flowers” and “friends
are flowers in the garden of life”, then I am truly blessed with one awesome
garden every year! And I don’t mean the one outside my house that I am planning
to dig up!
From the end of April right up until the
first week of June, there are so many birthdays to celebrate and I just wanted
to take a minute and tell each and every one of you HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I hope
that your special day is filled with love, laughter and hopefully some sinfully
delicious cake too!
And, to my BFF… welcome to your “Forever 29”!
Just think, while you are dreading it some of us are wishing we could be back
there again so don’t be bummed – flaunt it!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Dream Diary: A “Charmed” Sleep
For
Christmas, DH got me the “Charmed” DVD box set. I watched this series when it
was on TV and, while I agree it was/is cheesy, I love it! Since I have frequently been a work widow the past couple of months I have been plowing through the
series, sometimes watching 3-4 shows a day… and I think I'm having side
effects.
In a nutshell, the series is about the Halliwell sisters
who are good witches known as “The Charmed Ones”. Each of them starts off with
one power and over the series they gain others but I am not really there yet. Right
now Prue’s main power is telekinesis, Piper can freeze things and Phoebe
has premonitions and levitates.
So, why do I think I have side effects? Because a couple of weeks
ago my dreams were overrun by magic! In my dream I was sitting in my home
office when someone burst through my front door and I could see who they were
through a premonition. Then, I reacted by slamming my laptop shut through telekinesis,
running to the top of the stairs, freezing the intruder and then kicking him in
the head while levitating. And this dream came back night after night in bits
and pieces (which is the usual for me)!
I
am still watching the DVD’s… but not as many episodes per day now!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
April Updates
Where has the time gone? April just flew by it seems… we are already in May! So, a quick update from April…
We were in NYC from April 2-5. It was a pretty good trip overall and I was able to get/do everything on my list… I just killed my feet, knees, and body in the process. I am not made to walk 100 blocks a day! And yes, I did take a lot of pictures, I just haven’t had time to post any of them yet so for those of you who have been asking, they should be up soon!
And, this last weekend from April 27-30 we were in Toronto for my BFF’s wedding reception (the one who got married in Jamaica a month ago). Lots of sleeping in and late nights! We also hit Red Lobster and Medieval Times while we were there so it was a pretty busy, but happy, weekend!
What’s planned for May? So far…. nothing!!! I will be a work widow again for about a week and a half, but other than that – peace and quiet! And I am not complaining! I need some down time.
We were in NYC from April 2-5. It was a pretty good trip overall and I was able to get/do everything on my list… I just killed my feet, knees, and body in the process. I am not made to walk 100 blocks a day! And yes, I did take a lot of pictures, I just haven’t had time to post any of them yet so for those of you who have been asking, they should be up soon!
And, this last weekend from April 27-30 we were in Toronto for my BFF’s wedding reception (the one who got married in Jamaica a month ago). Lots of sleeping in and late nights! We also hit Red Lobster and Medieval Times while we were there so it was a pretty busy, but happy, weekend!
What’s planned for May? So far…. nothing!!! I will be a work widow again for about a week and a half, but other than that – peace and quiet! And I am not complaining! I need some down time.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Jamaican Wedding Bells
My bestest friend in the whole wide world is getting married today... on the sandy beaches of J-A-M-A-I-C-A! I couldn't be happier, prouder or more jealous of her right now! And I am glad to say that I am not losing a "sister", I am gaining a "brother-in-law". Congrats again to both of you! See you in a couple of weeks! Miss you!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
March Madness
Has it really been nearly a month since I posted? Wow! I didn’t even notice the time go by. So, what’s new? Well I guess the funny bit of news is that I literally have a huge “pain in the ass” right now. I slipped and fell last Friday morning for the first time this winter and managed to bruise, pull and tear my gluteal muscle on the left. Sitting, walking and doing just about anything with that leg hurts at the moment. Anti-inflammatory’s, rest and ice are about all I can do to heal it. Honestly, you never really know how much you use that muscle until you hurt it!
And, I was a work widow for 3.5 weeks again but I guess that really isn’t news to anyone anymore. DH is home now for 10 days and then he is off for work again. But, I get to join him for a few days in NYC this time so I am so excited and looking forward to that trip! It’s funny though, because every time I have been to NYC I leave saying I am never coming back, it’s a crazy city, that it is sensory overload and I don’t like it at all… and about a year later I always find myself wanting to return. I will have one day completely to myself and we will be together for the rest so I have my maps and shopping list all ready to go! And, since the “Sex and the City” tour was so good last time I’m hoping to try out another tour that company offers but haven’t decided which yet. And I won’t have to do it alone this time either! Yay for that! Mind you, I don’t think he would have done a SATC tour with me anyhow!
Sadly, my best friend’s grandmother passed away last Friday as well. I’m not going to go into details as this is personal for her, but I do want to extend my condolences again. Despite the circumstances, I do have to admit that I was glad to have her stay with us for a couple of nights though! It was a bit of a shock having DH, BFF, her fiancé and one other friend all arrive the same day for supper after 3.5 weeks alone – but I enjoyed it! BFF is getting married in 13 days and I am unable to attend so it was nice to see her one last time before she is a married woman! I can’t wait to celebrate with you guys at your reception (with a weekend getaway too) in April! We booked everything yesterday so we are set!
And last but not least, our anniversary is this Thursday! After work, DH and I will be heading to the spa for a bit (spoiling for him and more shoulder healing for me) followed by a late dinner at Le Garde Manger. We usually went to another restaurant for our anniversary, annually, but they weren’t great the last few times we went so I think this will be our new place! We have also taken Friday and Monday off together and we have our annual “Shacking Up” event this Saturday as well. A busy but fun few days!
And, I was a work widow for 3.5 weeks again but I guess that really isn’t news to anyone anymore. DH is home now for 10 days and then he is off for work again. But, I get to join him for a few days in NYC this time so I am so excited and looking forward to that trip! It’s funny though, because every time I have been to NYC I leave saying I am never coming back, it’s a crazy city, that it is sensory overload and I don’t like it at all… and about a year later I always find myself wanting to return. I will have one day completely to myself and we will be together for the rest so I have my maps and shopping list all ready to go! And, since the “Sex and the City” tour was so good last time I’m hoping to try out another tour that company offers but haven’t decided which yet. And I won’t have to do it alone this time either! Yay for that! Mind you, I don’t think he would have done a SATC tour with me anyhow!
Sadly, my best friend’s grandmother passed away last Friday as well. I’m not going to go into details as this is personal for her, but I do want to extend my condolences again. Despite the circumstances, I do have to admit that I was glad to have her stay with us for a couple of nights though! It was a bit of a shock having DH, BFF, her fiancé and one other friend all arrive the same day for supper after 3.5 weeks alone – but I enjoyed it! BFF is getting married in 13 days and I am unable to attend so it was nice to see her one last time before she is a married woman! I can’t wait to celebrate with you guys at your reception (with a weekend getaway too) in April! We booked everything yesterday so we are set!
And last but not least, our anniversary is this Thursday! After work, DH and I will be heading to the spa for a bit (spoiling for him and more shoulder healing for me) followed by a late dinner at Le Garde Manger. We usually went to another restaurant for our anniversary, annually, but they weren’t great the last few times we went so I think this will be our new place! We have also taken Friday and Monday off together and we have our annual “Shacking Up” event this Saturday as well. A busy but fun few days!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tumblr: Photo Quotes
You all know what "Photo Quotes" are right? I am sure you have all seen them while wandering the web, on Facebook, etc... but you just might not realize what I am talking about. Well, I have been obsessed with these things lately for some reason and I have just started putting a collection of them up on Tumblr. So far they are only ones I have "borrowed" from others but I may start making some of my own in the future as well.
If you are interested, you can find them here.
If you are interested, you can find them here.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Round 1 (IVF/IUI): Over...
Did my blood test this morning and I just got the call from the nurse. No surprises... negative as expected. So, just to summarize everything up to date:
IUI #1 March 2010: Clomid – Cancelled
IUI #2 April 2010: Clomid – Cancelled
IUI #3 May 2010: Gonal-F – Cancelled
IVM #1 November 2010: Cancelled before starting (cyst)
IVM #2 December 2010: Repronex etc… - 4 embryos, 2 transferred and 2 frozen, Negative (BFN)
IVM #2 March 2011: 2 frozen embryos transferred, BFN
IVF #1 February 2012: Repronex etc…, converted to IUI #4, BFN
I will be meeting with my doctor soon and we will go over the medications I have been using, what I will use the next time, and anything else that needs to be discussed. I believe the next round will also be scheduled but from what I understand there is a LONG list ahead of me so who knows when it will happen...
IUI #1 March 2010: Clomid – Cancelled
IUI #2 April 2010: Clomid – Cancelled
IUI #3 May 2010: Gonal-F – Cancelled
IVM #1 November 2010: Cancelled before starting (cyst)
IVM #2 December 2010: Repronex etc… - 4 embryos, 2 transferred and 2 frozen, Negative (BFN)
IVM #2 March 2011: 2 frozen embryos transferred, BFN
IVF #1 February 2012: Repronex etc…, converted to IUI #4, BFN
I will be meeting with my doctor soon and we will go over the medications I have been using, what I will use the next time, and anything else that needs to be discussed. I believe the next round will also be scheduled but from what I understand there is a LONG list ahead of me so who knows when it will happen...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Round 1 IVF - IVF + IUI = ?
The months leading up to this last round of treatment, as well as the cycle itself, were so frustrating that I just can’t help feeling really “detached” from it all now. I just want this round to be OVER so I can move on with life, whatever that entails.
Yes, I did POAS 10dpiui but it was mainly to be sure that all of my injections were out of my system and not potentially going to give me a false positive later on if I tested again. And now that it is later? I have no urge to test again. I don’t care all of a sudden. Everything I have felt has been a symptom and every symptom could be nothing because of the hormones I am taking right now so I am not reading into anything this time around. Whatever happens, happens, and if I really had a say in the matter then I wouldn’t be doing all of this to begin with so clearly what I WANT doesn’t really change anything!
So that’s where I’m at now, 12dpiui and I have basically lost interest for now. Whether I test on my own again or not does still remain to be seen, but after my beta test next week I will know for sure and we will see where things lead from there!
And, just so you are all aware… I may or may not post the results right away (or at all). We might be away for a couple of days after the test and I will see about posting them after we get back… maybe.
Yes, I did POAS 10dpiui but it was mainly to be sure that all of my injections were out of my system and not potentially going to give me a false positive later on if I tested again. And now that it is later? I have no urge to test again. I don’t care all of a sudden. Everything I have felt has been a symptom and every symptom could be nothing because of the hormones I am taking right now so I am not reading into anything this time around. Whatever happens, happens, and if I really had a say in the matter then I wouldn’t be doing all of this to begin with so clearly what I WANT doesn’t really change anything!
So that’s where I’m at now, 12dpiui and I have basically lost interest for now. Whether I test on my own again or not does still remain to be seen, but after my beta test next week I will know for sure and we will see where things lead from there!
And, just so you are all aware… I may or may not post the results right away (or at all). We might be away for a couple of days after the test and I will see about posting them after we get back… maybe.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The 2WW: Restraint Is Fading
GAH! I am now 9dpiui and I promised myself that I would not POAS (look it up) before my scheduled blood test but I really want to and I have three tests at home calling my name out every morning!
The thing is, I know I shouldn’t even bother until I am at least 12dpiui because it is too early and one of my injections may still give me a false positive at this point… but restraint is definitely fading fast! I even have a plan in mind already to test on 10, 12 and 14 LOL. Maybe I can hold off until 12 at least… maybe!
The thing is, I know I shouldn’t even bother until I am at least 12dpiui because it is too early and one of my injections may still give me a false positive at this point… but restraint is definitely fading fast! I even have a plan in mind already to test on 10, 12 and 14 LOL. Maybe I can hold off until 12 at least… maybe!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Round 1 (IVF): Substituted with IUI
I had my third ultrasound last Friday and things do not go as planned. In the previous scan I had two potential maturing follicles and a bunch of tiny ones, but on Friday I had only one large follicle remaining and all others had shrunk down. This is good AND bad. Good, because my body is responding the way a "normal" woman should finally. Bad because when you are doing IVF you would hope for more eggs to be collected! Why go through everything for only one egg?
Anyhow, so they initially scheduled me for IVF and told me they would phone later with the details on when to come in and everything. My doctor would have to review my file before things could be finalized. Which he did... and then he cancelled my IVF. Basically, with only one possible egg AND the fact that the ovary is still stuck behind my uterus he didn't want to risk the trauma. Not to mention that the government only pays for three cycles and it would have been wasted on this really.
So, how do you get the egg out? Ovulate. He told me to take my "trigger shot" and come in the following day for IUI. I find this ironic because this is how we started treatment YEARS ago and my follicles never fully matured causing them to cancel four cycles. Now that I am in IVF they are maturing well and suddenly we have to go back to IUI.
Anyhow, so we went in on Saturday and had the IUI. DH did his thing, we waited for nearly two hours and then, once my name was called, it took all of five minutes. Romantic, huh? And now we wait. Although I admit I am not overly hopeful. My chances just went from 50% to 16% apparently, so we will see!
So, in TTC lingo I am now 3dpiui (three days post IUI). Unrelated, my sinuses are completely blocked and I haven't been to work yet this week. IUI symptoms? Aside from major cramping the day of I haven't kept track this time because, honestly, everything becomes a symptom and they have only led up to disappointment so far so I am not bothering. I will just take things one day at a time and see.
Anyhow, so they initially scheduled me for IVF and told me they would phone later with the details on when to come in and everything. My doctor would have to review my file before things could be finalized. Which he did... and then he cancelled my IVF. Basically, with only one possible egg AND the fact that the ovary is still stuck behind my uterus he didn't want to risk the trauma. Not to mention that the government only pays for three cycles and it would have been wasted on this really.
So, how do you get the egg out? Ovulate. He told me to take my "trigger shot" and come in the following day for IUI. I find this ironic because this is how we started treatment YEARS ago and my follicles never fully matured causing them to cancel four cycles. Now that I am in IVF they are maturing well and suddenly we have to go back to IUI.
Anyhow, so we went in on Saturday and had the IUI. DH did his thing, we waited for nearly two hours and then, once my name was called, it took all of five minutes. Romantic, huh? And now we wait. Although I admit I am not overly hopeful. My chances just went from 50% to 16% apparently, so we will see!
So, in TTC lingo I am now 3dpiui (three days post IUI). Unrelated, my sinuses are completely blocked and I haven't been to work yet this week. IUI symptoms? Aside from major cramping the day of I haven't kept track this time because, honestly, everything becomes a symptom and they have only led up to disappointment so far so I am not bothering. I will just take things one day at a time and see.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Round 1 (IVF): Ultrasound 2
Ok so the second ultrasound is done. Things are going well but it's still far too early to tell anything. I go back in 3 days for another one so hopefully I will have a better idea of how I am responding to things then.
The injections on the other hand... ouch! I don't know what's wrong this time but I am just not coping with them well. I am taking 2 different ones a day right now (the Repronex like last time and Orgalutran as well) and every day it seems like a different one is acting up on me. My legs are sore, I have huge lumps at each injection site that last for 2 days or so and I will not be ending them any time soon right now. Even the blood test this morning hurt! I guess it's age LOL. Anyhow, it's all for a good purpose so I will stick with it. I may have to try using other injection sites though if I am going to make it through... arms or stomach (ew)!
That's it for now... will post more when I know more!
The injections on the other hand... ouch! I don't know what's wrong this time but I am just not coping with them well. I am taking 2 different ones a day right now (the Repronex like last time and Orgalutran as well) and every day it seems like a different one is acting up on me. My legs are sore, I have huge lumps at each injection site that last for 2 days or so and I will not be ending them any time soon right now. Even the blood test this morning hurt! I guess it's age LOL. Anyhow, it's all for a good purpose so I will stick with it. I may have to try using other injection sites though if I am going to make it through... arms or stomach (ew)!
That's it for now... will post more when I know more!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
This Statement Is So True...
I saw this posted on Facebook and had to re-post:
Did you know the people that are usually the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to get mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it most? Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are I love you, I'm sorry, and help me.
Did you know the people that are usually the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to get mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it most? Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are I love you, I'm sorry, and help me.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Round 1 (IVF)
Yes, you read that correctly; we are beginning our first round of IVF today! The process isn’t very different from IVM at the moment so I will not go into details just yet, but I wanted to announce that we have begun. The injections start tonight and my next ultrasound is a week from now so I will update then.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Good Riddance 2011!
To recap, let’s just say that 2011 sucked for me – big time!
Despite 2 failed attempts at IVM, the first 3 months were great and I really thought it was going to be my/our year. But, those 3 months were soon followed by 7 of what I THOUGHT were the worst months of my life… until I came face to face with the last 2 months of 2011 and I realized that THOSE really WERE the worst months of my life.
So, what’s in store for 2012? Well, we are 3 days in and I suppose things are going well right now but we are only just beginning, right? All I can say for sure is that by this time next year I will NOT be feeling the way I am right now and I will be happy no matter what it takes to get me there.
Despite 2 failed attempts at IVM, the first 3 months were great and I really thought it was going to be my/our year. But, those 3 months were soon followed by 7 of what I THOUGHT were the worst months of my life… until I came face to face with the last 2 months of 2011 and I realized that THOSE really WERE the worst months of my life.
So, what’s in store for 2012? Well, we are 3 days in and I suppose things are going well right now but we are only just beginning, right? All I can say for sure is that by this time next year I will NOT be feeling the way I am right now and I will be happy no matter what it takes to get me there.
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