Almost There

Now that Christmas is officially over, it doesn't mean the holidays are.

There's still New Years to deal with - and of coarse to those who didn't get what they wanted for Christmas, it's the time of year when you go back to the store and exchange items.

But for us we have one more celebration to add in there. My husband's birthday. It's the 29th. I barely finished baking cookies and fudge for Christmas and now I will be baking a German chocolate cake.

Oh, and then we have to have our Christmas dinner because my husband wasn't home for Christmas. So for us, the holidays are far from over. I still feel like I'm in that holiday buzz...you know the one most people are in on the 23rd of December when they are getting ready for Christmas. Yeah, that's where I am now. I guess I'm lucky enough to get an extended holiday season.

As soon as my husband leaves again though, all those Christmas decorations are coming down. ha! We're almost there....

Happy Holidays

I'm not sure that I'll get much of a chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas before the weekend. As you all know it's a very busy time of year. It's busy for me too. So before I get busy making fudge and baking cookies, I thought I would take a few minutes to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! From our family to yours, we wish you all the best for the Holiday!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I checked my email a few moments ago and saw this...

***
Dear Vanessa,

This is to inform you that your email have been selected for a cash prize of $950,000.00 and a brand new BMW X6 Series Car from the BMW AWARD DEPARTMENT.

Description of prize vehicle;
Year: 2011
Model: X6 xDrive50i
Color (exterior/interior):Your Choice
Mileage: 0
Transmission: Automatic 6 Speed

Options: Cold weather package, premium package, fold down rear seats w/ski bag, am fm stereo with single in dash compact disc player.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system(ess) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This promotional lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our fiduciary claims department for more information as regards procedures to claim your prize.

BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT

**ADDRESS WITHHELD**

Contact him by please providing him with your secret pin code **pin withheld** and your Reference Number BMW:**number withheld** You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as possible:

1.Name in full.
2.Address.
3.Nationality.
4.Age.
5.Occupation.
6.Phone/Fax.
7.Present Country .
8.Short comment on our products. [optional].
9.Fax [optional].

We ask that you keep this award personal, till your claims have been processed and your funds remitted to you. This is a part of our security measures to avoid double claiming or unwarranted participants or impostors, taking advantage of the situation Failure to claim your prizes (CASH) would result to forfeiting and will be used for next 10,000,000 pounds sterling international lottery program.

Furthermore, should there be any change in your contact address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Once again congratulations.

THANKS,

Name With Held

****

If only it were true!

All I Want For Christmas...

It's that time of year when your kids make their last minute Christmas list for the things they want.

Last night my son - who is quickly turning into a teenager - came up to me last night and said, "Mom, I want a guitar."

I think most parents would groan at this point. Guitar = noise. But then he said, "Not one of those kinds you have to plug in. I want one that is made of wood."

"Ahh, ok, I gotcha. You want an acoustic guitar?"

"Yeah."

I immediately thought to myself "Sure! That actually sounds like a good idea." And I started looking on Amazon at guitars. My son ohhhed and awwwed at all the guitars and we put a couple on his wishlist.

As I thought about it, I think it might be a good idea for him. It would be another creative outlet for him and he's very creative. I could see him writing his own music and playing at coffee houses. ha!

I was talking to my husband about it and he agrees that it would be a good outlet for him too. He suggested it on a bigger scale though - nice equipment and lessons. While that can be expensive and not really what I thought originally, it might actually be good.

So we decided that we would not get a guitar for Christmas. We need more information- we'll go to the music store and look around. We would probably get one after the first part of the year. Soon my son will be strumming along.

In the meantime, we're going to get my son his own cell phone for Christmas. ;)

NaNo is OVER!

Finally, NaNoWriMo is over!

30 days of writing madly on my laptop and it's FINISHED! Well, the story is FAR from being finished, but I have reached 51000 words! It was a GREAT feeling to reach that goal.

But I still have much work to do as the story isn't even halfway complete. I know it was going to be long, but I didn't realize just how long. haha! And I'm still working on my other book... I'm currently calling it Book 2 because there isn't a title for it yet.

But it's over. NaNo is officially over. I can breath now...

Blizzard

Nope, I'm not talking about Dairy Queen's yummy ice cream treats. It's much much too cold to be having one of those right now! ha!

Last night we were hit with a "blizzard". You know, really REALLY REALLY cold temperatures, high winds, and of coarse lots of snow.

15 years ago I would have been very excited to be in the midst of a blizzard because that meant that when it was over, I could go outside and play in the snow. But now, I'm not so excited. In fact, I dread it.

You see, to most people around here, winter isn't a very big deal because they have tractors and plows, 4 wheel drive, and more importantly, a well insulated home. We have... none of the above.
We live on a mountain where we are assured to get lots and lots of snow, and our driveway is north facing, and it's steep, so that means I have to constantly clear the driveway and throw sand down. By hand. I don't have a tractor or plow.

Our home is poorly insulated. Heat goes through the windows, walls, and ceiling real fast. So in order to stay warm, we have to either 1) Spend $350 a month on propane; 2) Heat the house with 15+ cords of wood (just for winter); or 3) Use the horribly expensive and useless baseboard heaters.

Seeing as how it's hard enough to make rent and pay bills, it's probably obvious that we don't pay $350 a month for propane and paying an extremely high power bill is most likely out too. So we use wood. My husband and I spend spring, summer, and fall getting firewood in and ready for winter. It's pretty tough considering that my husband is a truck driver and is only home a few days a month. So gathering wood is an ongoing process for us.

So, the house is poorly insulated, which means we constantly have a fire going in the wood stove (in both wood stoves if it's very cold, like now). But wait!! The wood stoves are ancient and rather inefficient, so it can be extra daunting to keep the house warm during extremely cold days and nights.

All this just to keep the house ( and it's not even the whole house - just the living room) barely at 60 degrees.

So you see, when it's cold, and I mean very very very cold, I dread it.

I know you're thinking, "Why don't you move? Any sane person would move." Easy answer...we can't. We can't afford to and my husband's ex has made it almost impossible just to rent the place we are in now- but that's another story.

So while everyone is dreaming of a White Christmas (or Thanksgiving), my mind is thinking of a nice warm tropical island and cabana boys bringing me drinks with those little umbrellas while I lounge away on the nice white sandy beach. I guess we can both have a "White" Christmas! LOL

Weee! I mean..Wii!

Friday my son went to a party celebrating IDVA's ALP Team on winning the Idaho Math Cup. He was so excited that he woke up early and did his chores before my husband and I were even awake!

During the party, they held an awards ceremony in which his classmates received a tshirt and an $80 Visa Card! Since the kids in Team ALP are scattered across the area, they will hold a statewide ceremony at the Capital in Boise where the class will be awarded the Math Cup!

What made Friday so exciting for my son was that he was awarded a certificate for Most Valuable Player and a Nintendo Wii in addition to the other prizes!

Congratulations!! We are SO proud of you!!

History

"All history becomes subjective; in other words there is properly no history, only biography"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I take a break from writing for NaNoWriMo, I happen to come across this quote. It seemed appropriate since my son was working on a history lesson at the time and he was having a problem agreeing with what was being taught. I had to explain to him that most of the time, history books were written by those who "won", so naturally, the "losers" would be portrayed as the "bad guys". At least that is how I think of it.

But that's not what I was thinking about.

I was actually thinking about events that have happened in my own life and how others see them differently than I do. As I did so, this quote became even more evident. History, being a story, like everything else, is relative. It is relative to everything and everyone around us. In other words, what is good to one is bad to another and vice versa.

History is not history. It is a biography. It is a story of events and people and what happened. If someone were to write a biography about me, they would most likely get it wrong. Either because of preconceived notions or because they just didn't know me at all. And how many of our history stories were just like that? We may never know unless we somehow build a time machine and go back in time.

History is a story. A story we are to learn from, just as a biography is a story of a person's life or events. We can learn from that too.

Just a little thought for the day. I guess I just liked the quote a lot and thought just how much truth there was to it.

NaNoWriMo

I have been so busy with NaNo that I have forgotten my blog. Okay, I didn't really forget about it, I just haven't done anything as of late.

My awesome son and I took a short break after the Math Cup, and now we're back to our normal routine.... except that now I'm NaNo-ing.

The goal is to write a 50000 word novel by the end of November. So far I've gotten over 15000 words! I'm writing anywhere from 3500-5000 words per day.

I know that seems like a lot, but it's already been written. No, not for real, but everything has already happened, so it's really easy to type it all up. It's based off the true story of...well, me.

I'm sure that when the end of Nov. rolls around I will have my 50000 words, but the story won't be finished. So in December, I'll continue on with it, intermittently while I continue with my second book that I'm working on.

Hmm... I think I might need a break somewhere in there too.

Happy Birthday to my AWESOME son!

Today is my son's birthday and it is a FANTASTIC birthday for him!

My son took part in the Idaho Math Cup hosted by Apangea Learning these past few weeks. For 4 weeks, the kids who signed up were to do as much math as they could or a specified period of time.
The class that passed the most "threads" of math wins the cup, but there were also individual prizes. The winning class received dinner and movie gift cards and the Math Cup and individual regional winners had the choice between a Wii, an iPod Touch, or a $200 Walmart Gift Card.

My son's class started this competition over a week later than everyone else. When my son first started, he was discouraged to see that there were already people that had done a lot of math. He said that he was sure they did not have a chance at winning. I'm sure there were other kids that felt the same way.

The kids worked hard as individuals, but my son's class worked hard as a team. They racked up points and the competition was fierce, but more importantly, throughout the competition his class sent emails back and forth supporting and encouraging everyone else in the class. I have *never* seen such support in a classroom before - and this is a "virtual" class. NONE of these kids have met each other. Okay, I shouldn't say none, because I'm sure some of them have met. But these kids in his class are scattered all over the state.

By the third week of the Math Cup, my son's class had risen the ranks to the top ten classes! And shortly afterward, they were in a neck and neck race for first place.

Math Cup finally ended Oct. 24th at midnight. I tell you what, these kids were DEDICATED! A few of them stayed up until midnight to do as much as they could. Including my son. They sent emails back and forth encouraging each other and cheering...all through the late hours of the night.

Monday came and everyone was nervous to see the results. Breakfast came and went, and there were no results yet. Lunch came and went and no one knew who won. And then dinner. The kids were getting antsy... I know *I* was! LOL

Then by chance, I happened to see on Facebook, they posted the results.....

Team ALP of Idaho Virtual Academy (my son's class) WON THE 2010 MATH CUP!!
His class won the cup, won dinner and movie gift cards, and t-shirts too.

What was even better?? My son was MVP (Most Valuable Player - or Person) and he could choose from a Wii, iPod Touch, or $200 Walmart Gift Card!!

What a great birthday for him! But we are VERY VERY proud of him and all of his hard work and dedication to the competition and to his classmates!

Next blog will probably be about how "mom" got hurt playing on the Wii! LOL

Reminiscing

The other night when my hubby was home, we were lying in bed talking about things that we did when we were younger. Somehow we got on the subject of old people...well, they were old when we were little.

Somehow, we came to the conclusion that there was always some "old" person who had old cookies set out on the table.

Next to the bowl of plastic fruit.

Next to the crystal bowl of peanuts that had been there for years.

Next to the jar of ribbon candy that was so old, they all stuck together.

And somehow... that bowl of plastic fruit was really inviting. My hubby told me how he would chew on those plastic grapes. So did I. Admit it...you know you have always wanted to chew those plastic grapes...we all have. HAHA!

I think I'll get a bowl of plastic fruit for entertainment!

Dirty Little Secrets

We all have dirty little secrets. You know, those quirky little things about ourselves or things we like that we don't want anyone to know about. Maybe we are afraid of what people will think about us if they knew about our little secrets or maybe it's not common and we just don't fit in with the rest of society. Everyone has them.

My dirty little secret is that I am really the heiress to an enormous fortune and castle in Europe and that's why my husband married me. But the strange thing was, I could not lay claim to my inheritance until my son reaches the age of 18. So in the meantime, my castle and fortune are laying dormant in the hills of another country. One I have not yet been to. Wouldn't it be great to wake up one morning and find something like this out?? I sure was.

Okay, okay, I know. That's not really my dirty little secret. To be honest, I don't have any. I mean, there are things that some people will never know about me simply because they do not know me. The most important thing is that the people closest to me know my little secrets. Since they know them, they are not secrets. Following me?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone's dirty little secrets are only secrets if they hide them from their loved ones. To the rest of the world, it doesn't matter. Because your dirty little secrets might just be accepted by the strangest and most unsuspecting people. Everyone.

Just a thought I had wandering my mind today. Have a great weekend!

Kindess

Yesterday was "Do Something Nice" Day. To be honest, every day should be Do Something Nice Day. I thought this article a nice one about doing something nice, even if it is a "little thing".

Have a great day!

******************************

Kindness
Living the Ideal

Kindness expands the light within us and reaches out to touch the light in others as well. This can change the world.

Kindness is an ideal that is easily accessible to all of us. We all know that a small kindness can make our journeys lighter and more enjoyable. Even bringing an instance of kindness to mind can put a smile on your face days or weeks later or perhaps even inspire you to share kindness with another. Though it may seem simple to the point of insignificance, many cultures throughout the world and history have recognized kindness as a powerful virtue. It may be the simplest way to experience and share all the grandest ideals of humanity. We can make the choice to act from the best place within ourselves at any time, while simultaneously recognizing the highest potential in another with the smallest of acts, nourishing the seed of hope in each soul we encounter.

In a way, kindness acts as the oil that makes the engine of our world move more smoothly and with less friction. We can still get where we are going but the ride is more pleasant, and those around us can share in the ideal world that we help to create. We are all fortunate that kindness is limitless in its supply and available to everyone. When we act in ways that confirm our ideals, we make the ideal our reality. Then, instead of affirming the experience of struggle and competition, we can shift our experience to the reality of ease and pleasurable camaraderie with the fellow citizens of the world.

Whether giving way to someone in traffic or letting someone go ahead of us in line, donating money or sharing our homes in a crisis, we actively create a universe of kindness and giving with every choice we make. The smallest gesture can bring a smile to light the shadow of an unpleasant situation or remove tension from a difficult task, but it’s effects can echo and extend far beyond the moment. We can be sure that we will receive a kindness in return, but giving is its own reward. Kindness expands the light within us and reaches out to touch the light in others as well, giving us all a glimpse of the glow that has the power to enlighten our world.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/25532.html

Life is a Garden...

Dig it... You Reap What You Sow... We have all heard these little phrases.

Yesterday morning I was baking some zucchini bread and as I was grating the zucchini I thought to myself how much we harvested this year. I thought about all the work that went into planting my gardening, weeding it, watering, and taking care of my plants, and then my harvest. The efforts I put into my garden yielded some nice results.

Life really is like a garden. The efforts you put forth in doing something in your life often bring pleasant results and when it does, you can enjoy the benefits of reaping something good in your life. But there are things, like the weather affects our garden and causes slow growth etc, that we have no control over.

When that happens, what do you do? Some people like to throw in the towel, others like to blame it on something else, there are many things you can do. Me? I like to do what I can with what I've got. Sometimes you just have to get creative and get your hands dirty.

Like this summer, it wasn't long enough and my squash didn't feel like growing, no matter how well I took care of it. But my zucchini did really well. I've managed to have too much zucchini and have found a new way to get my son to eat it! Sometimes life is like that too. Not everything goes as planned, but there are other things that will be abundantly pleasant. :D

Harvest your fruits and enjoy them!

Writer's Madness

Yesterday I found myself writing. And writing. And writing.

Some days I can kick out 3000 words, other days I'm lucky if I can get out about 300 words. And then there are days where I can't write at all.

But yesterday it seemed like I was writing all day long. I thought I was making excellent progress until I realized something...

I wasn't writing in my novel! HAHA!!

Baking Time

It's October, the leaves are gold and falling off the trees, the nights are cold and mornings crisp.
The scent of burning fires floats through the air. It's Fall and you know what that means?

Baking time!

It's time to get out all those recipes for pies and breads and tasty treats we all like to nibble on.
The smell of baking bread and pies and cookies is one of the most wonderful smells ever. It reminds me of the times we would go to my grandmother's house for Thanksgiving or Christmas and she was always baking some kind of yummy bread.

This weekend I plan on baking another zucchini bread since that seems to be a favorite in my home and its the only way I can get my son to actually eat zucchini. haha!

I love this time of year... although, I could certainly do without the knowledge that winter is soon on its way and everything will be frozen and covered in white and the only smell will be the smell of the snow blower!

Have some hot apple pie and enjoy the scent!

Can I Stay Home?

I am very blessed to be able to stay at home and school my son. It has been such a wonderful opportunity and he has progressed so much that it's almost mind boggling. But with schooling at home, comes a downside.

This morning my son says "Mom, I don't feel good. Can I stay home from school?" I had a little laugh, gave him some hot tea and his Literature book to read. He groaned. What he had meant to ask was, "Mom can I take a day off from school?"

It's just a little head cold for him. Give him some hot tea and he's usually okay. But he's certainly not sick enough to miss his lessons. Two hours later and he's finished 3/4 of his lessons for the day and he's begging to play on his PlayStation!

Sure you can stay home... haha!

Guilty Pleasures

We all have little things we like to do that make us feel a little guilty doing. For some it's listening to music and shutting everything and everyone out. For some it's running. Eating chocolate. What's yours?

I guess I have many little things that I like to do, but to be honest, I don't really feel guilty about doing any of it. haha! I don't know why. Maybe it's because I try to balance things out. Maybe I feel like I actually deserve what I do because I really don't do very much for myself. And with that, I come to the point of my blog.

To those of you, and I know there are a lot of you out there, that do a lot for other people, take some time to indulge yourself in some guilty pleasure. You work hard, you do things for others, now it's time to sit back and do something for yourself. Whether it's taking a weekend to go to the spa or simply reading a book in a hammock in the sun - treat yourself to some pleasure.

And DON'T feel guilty about it. :D

Grumpy

When I hear the word Grumpy, I always think of the dwarf in Snow White. Or the movie Grumpy Old Men. Or the Grumpy little Care Bear...I used to like Care Bears while I was little. hehe

There are sometimes people in our lives that always seem "grumpy" or "depressed". I can certainly understand that things get tough and it gets overwhelming, but it really bothers me when those people are constantly grumpy or depressed. They end up making you feel...well...grumpy and depressed. I tend to just not talk to those people until I feel like it.

Then there are the kind of person who, and I have no way to put this nicely, intentionally go out of their way to make you feel bad so that they feel elevated. I have one thing to say to those people...

You CANNOT make me feel any way. Your petty games to make me feel bad DO NOT work, so go away and never come back.

Okay, I know I got a little off topic with that last bit, but I think this article should apply to those too. People cannot make you feel something unless you let them.

Enjoy the article!

***************************

Shining through the Clouds
Grumps

Grumpy people can only affect your mood if you allow it. The sun and stars can still shine in their presence.

When we're in a good mood, we shine like the sun. But if we find ourselves in the presence of a person, or people, in a grumpy mood, it can feel like a dark cloud approaching to dim our radiance and block our positive way of seeing the world. We can remind ourselves that clouds pass, while the sun and stars continue to shine above. Then it's easier to think of these "grumps" affectionately, knowing that they only have the power to affect our mood if we allow it. With the power of change firmly in our hands, we can choose how to respond to a grumpy person, or a grumbling group of people, with confidence and understanding.

Like a lighthouse, we can continue to shine through the darkness, offering our light to help others find their way back to their own. We can send them a silent prayer of peace or a sympathetic smile. We may sense that reaching out to offer a comforting touch or hug can ease their frustrations and cause the clouds to dissipate. If they need understanding, we can sympathize without reinforcing the negativity they may be experiencing by directing their attention someplace more positive. Helping them find the humor in their situation might be appropriate and is a great way to lift spirits, or a logical approach may help them see all the good in the situation, in their lives and in the world.

We might find that someone we encounter often seems to be in a perpetual state of gloom. Our tendency in such cases may be to try to avoid them, but instead we can make the choice to offer support that comes from the heart. We may be inspired to ask if they would like some help or to offer suggestions that have helped us in the past. We can include thoughts of their health and happiness in our times of prayer and meditation. When we lend our energy to uplift another in any way, we improve our own lives while making the world a better place for all of us.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/25341.html

We're Moving!

I found our new house! And it is BEAUTIFUL!! Just look...wouldn't it be gorgeous decorated at Christmas time?? :D


And to get to our new house, since it is nestled deep in the snowy mountains of Montana, we are getting this...



All family and friends are welcome to visit anytime, there's plenty of room! :D

Obligations

We all have obligations and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I was thinking about some of the difficult, but more pleasant obligations in my life and I realized that I have a lot of them! Teaching my son is the biggest obligation for me, and although it seems difficult, it's the most rewarding.  The others, like hauling water and heating with firewood, are things we *have* to do to survive, but they yield pleasant outcomes- like a nice hot roaring fire and clean clothes. ;)

Well, as I was thinking of our obligations I came across this article this afternoon and thought it was a good one. It's about obligations and balancing them out. I thought it was rather ironic that I read the article while I was thinking of our obligations.

Enjoy!

**************************************

Obligations
To Others and To Ourselves

Obligations can tend to feel heavy and overwhelming, there is nothing wrong with an occasional "no".

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

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

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

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/25340.html

ABC's of Friendship

The A-Z of friendship A Friend....

(A)ccepts you as you are

(B)elieves in "you"

(c)alls you just to say "HI"

(D)oesn't give up on you

(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished = parts)

(F)orgives your mistakes

(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you

(I)nvites you over

(J)ust "be" with you

(K)eeps you close at heart

(L)oves you for who you are

(M)akes a difference in your life

(N)ever judges

(O)ffers support

(P)icks you up

(Q)uiets your fears

(r)aises your spirits

(S)ays nice things about you

(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it

(U)nderstands you

(V)alues you

(W)alks beside you

(X)-plains things you don't understand

(Y)ells when you won't listen and..

(Z)aps you back to reality

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift, A friend is someone we treasure, For our friendship is a gift, A friend is someone who fills our lives, With Beauty, Joy, and Grace And makes the world we live in a Better and Happier place.

Update

Wow, here I go again neglecting my blog. I have good reason though! Really I do.
I've been busy...still writing. I started my second novel and it's been going slower than I had imagined though.

I've been a little stressed out - our last paycheck was only $44. Yeah, you're reading that correctly, $44. That's supposed to last us 2 weeks for bills, food, and gas. HA!

Today was the first official day of school, although my son has been working hard through the summer. The middle school program is a lot different than what he is used to and I think it will take a little time to get used to it and get a routine going. He has to attend live classes three times a week - mandatory to pass to the next grade. His teachers assign him homework and he has to have them turned in by a certain time. I know, it's all normal for you people that attend a regular school, but it's different for us. It's new and exciting, but scary at the same time.

Let's not forget all the wonderful things we have to fix around the house. And I've been working on this laptop I inherited from a friend. It's been frustrating, but I think once I get the laptop running like it should, it should be a pretty screaming machine.

Summer is officially over... it's been cold lately. Our highs have been in the low 60's. I've got to get some more firewood split before it gets too rainy.

Well, there's not much else going on...just busy surviving and schooling. Hope you're all well!!
Have a fantastic weekend!

I Need a Vacation

Why is it that you take a nice vacation, whether it is a long exotic trip to the tropics, or a quick jaunt to a nearby tourist attraction, you always return exhausted and in need of a vacation?

I just got back from a little visit. I drove to the Seattle area to visit my friend, stayed for a few days, then drove back. On my way home, when I was free of the city traffic, I popped my iPod into my car stereo system and turned it on. Nothing. I then realized that I had forgotten to charge it! I had to drive 8 hours without music! Sure, I could listen to the radio, but there was nothing worth listening to, and then when there was, the radio signal would fade out! How fun.

It was hot and sunny, the air conditioner in my car is okay, but not the greatest and since I live in an area that doesn't get too hot, I'm not too concerned about recharging it. Well, I wanted cold air that day! haha! Then to top it off, I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep the night before. I made frequent stops so that I wouldn't nod off.

I got home, safe and sound, and fell on the bed exhausted. The next day, I was still tired. And the next day and the next. Even today I'm still tired. I think when we take a vacation, we often forget to allow ourselves time to recuperate from our trip.

I think we all need more vacation time from our vacations...

On the Flip-side

I'm on the flip-side enjoying my little vacation. It's been beautiful weather here and just perfect! The scenery is gorgeous! And it is so relaxing to not have to worry about all the things I normally have to worry about at home.

Here's a ferry I rode on the way over-


Deception Pass.. so pretty, the pictures don't even do it justice!




The bridge that goes over Deception Pass... it is MUCH higher than it looks, and the views are amazing!



I hope to go to the lavender farm tomorrow!

Road Trip

Tomorrow morning I am leaving on a little road trip. I'm going to visit my friend in the Seattle area. I will be going alone...no kids, no hubby. I'm fairly nervous. Not that I can't take care of myself. I know, lock the doors, yada yada yada. I can kick butt if someone tries to be stupid and attack me. That's not what I'm nervous about. I'm nervous because I'm going far away from my home (comparatively) and I'm worried that my car will break down. I know, not a great way to start my trip, thinking negative things like that.

*deep breaths, calm thoughts*

Much better.

Since I used to live in the Seattle area, I would think I might know my way around, but it has been over 8 years since I lived there. So my husband suggested that I map it. This morning we mapped out my route on the mapping /gps program on my laptop. Then we mapped out an alternate route. I'm certainly glad to have this program, but I think a paper map will suffice.

Today I will be spending the day packing and getting things together for my trip....but I already have "that feeling." You know that feeling- the one where you know you're forgetting something?? I'm having that feeling. I will have that feeling all day. It won't be until I get half way there that I remembered something essential. And yes, I've made a checklist.

Once I get over there to my friend's house, I will fall over with pure exhaustion because I will be tense and nervous the entire way over - I don't drive much, you see. Going into town is a "big trip" for me. haha! It will take three days to recuperate and guess what? I'll be driving home again! HAHA!

Awww...let me load up muy ipod with music and take plenty of chocolate, I should be fine. :D

See ya on the flip side!

Completion

I have been floundering back and forth for several weeks on writing my second novel. Some days I wanted to write but had no ideas to work from and other days I had ideas but no desire to write. I think most of my non-motivation was because I was lacking an outline. The ideas were there, but I was disconnected on how to tie them all together.

Today I spent all day on the phone with my husband talking out ideas while he drove. I don't know of what he heard, but as I talked out my plans for the book, I could see the entire story play out before my eyes. After I got off the phone, I was able to write out the outline for the rest of my second novel and start the outline for the third. I even have an ending to the series! I was excited when I finally saw the death of the main villain in the story and felt as if the story was over. Glad to have rid myself of this villain, another more sinister villain has made its way to the forefront of my mind.

Although I have already written 6 chapters in book 2, I feel as if I have not written anything. but now, I am extremely excited to start writing again. I have my path laid before my feet, now I must simply follow it.

Drama

Sheesh! I did not realize how long it has been since I last blogged. I have been extremely busy this past month and blogging has crossed my mind a time or two, but when I had a free moment, I fell asleep of pure exhaustion.

Yesterday was a day of drama...

I had not heard from my husband in over 2 days. This is highly unusual because we normally talk several hours a day. At first, I figured he was just busy and would call me when he had the chance, but when I called him, I got dropped into his voice mail right away. I left him a message late at night letting him know that I was going to bed, call me in the morning.

The next morning, still no call. I waited and waited. When I called again, voice mail. So I waited more. Still no call. By now, my mind was worried and I was thinking of all these horrible things that might have happened to him.

By the suggestion of my Facebook friends, I called his dispatcher and had them send a message to his truck via satellite. But what good would the message be if he could not call me??

So I waited and waited and my stomach started churning and I felt sick. Then suddenly my phone rings. It's my husband.

"There you are!" I said. Not hello. Apparently he had been in Amish country and he had no cell phone service. Normally in this situation he would call from a pay phone, but there was no pay phone around either.

Well, now I'm highly relieved that he was okay and got ready for the day and ran into town. Checked the mail at the post office and saw my income tax check that I had been waiting for since January! WOOT! So it was off to the bank for me and then shopping for food.

The rest of the day went well.

I get home and I can't open my car door. LOL!!!

A little bragging...

I went to the post office yesterday to get the mail and noticed a rather large envelope addressed to my son. No one ever sends my son mail, so I curiously opened it and glanced inside. As soon as I saw what it was, I ran back to the car with a huge smile on my face.

My son asked me why I was grinning like a crazy woman and I handed him the envelope. He asked me what it was and of coarse I told him to open it and find out...but be VERY careful opening it. He looked at me strange and opened it carefully.

As soon as he got it out of the envelope he screamed. I was expecting this, but it still startled me and made everyone else in the parking lot look in our direction. haha

"OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!" My son screamed and his eyes fixated on his "mail".

I know you're thinking...what the heck is it??

He was awarded with The Presidential Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence!



The PAEOAE (as I am calling it) has been around for about 27 years that awards students for their academic success. One of the criteria for this award is high scores on standardized state and national tests. Many parents have no idea what these are because their children attend public schools, but when you're a homeschool mom, you have to take your child in for these tests. It's a very big deal. Well, my son, whom I am extremely proud of, has scored (on every test) in the 99th percentile. Which means that he scored better than 99% of kids taking the test.

Anyway, Dustin (and I) are very excited that he was awarded the PAEOAE! Way to go Dustin!! We are so proud of you!!

Video Blog

Wow, it's been a long time since I have blogged. I have been really busy with my novel - editing takes so much time.

Well, I thought I would try something different today - a video blog!



Have a great day!

Attacked...by a what??

I was attacked today while hiking in the woods behind my house. Don't worry, I'm okay...didn't get hurt.

I was hiking down the hill, carrying my camera, minding my own business and listening to the creek running. We've had so much rain lately that the creek is running fast. It was a nice warm walk when all of a sudden an animal burst from the bushes and ran out in front of me. It startled me and I screamed. Yay, I know, I'm a wuss. LOL

The next thing I know, this...creature was hissing at me and circling around me through the tall grass. I'm looking around trying to see what it was, but it was camouflaged fairly well.

It jumped out in front of me again and growled. It looked like a freaky turkey puffing up its feathers. It started dancing back and forth all the while hissing at me. This strange little bird did not intimidate me in the least. I was certain that it was a female guarding its eggs and I was concerned that I was very close to its nest and I didn't want to step on its eggs. So I stopped and looked around. No eggs in sight.

I turned on my camera and snapped a picture of it as it started running towards me in a mad rush. I took a step towards it so that I could get another picture and it ran behind a tree...still hissing. I shrugged and continued my walk and this strange little bird stalked me through the bushes and trees a good ways.

On my way back up the hill, I did not catch a glimpse, nor did I hear, my little attacker, but I did manage to get her portrait...


Who knew a grouse could be so aggressive??

Back to the Routine

Wow, what a great vacation getaway with my husband! I won't even go into details because I think it will bore you all, but I will say that I had an absolutely wonderful time. It was very relaxing and I didn't have to worry about anything at home- it was all taken care of.

My husband and I spent every moment together enjoying each other - yeah yeah, in more ways than one. *wink*

We were so relaxed and at peace and on the way home...


Yup...the car broke down. We were 100 miles from home when it happened and we had to have it towed. My husband suspects it's either the fuel pump or fuel filter, but regardless, we had to have it towed 100 miles on a holiday weekend. What an ending to our vacation! LOL

We had fun though and enjoyed every moment of our trip, but at this moment I'm exhausted and taking it easy. In a few days I might get the energy to post pictures!

Name That Call

Last night I was lying in bed reading a book and I heard this strange noise outside my window. It sounded like a cow except that it was not long and drawn out. And this animal was constantly "mooing".

Living remote, you often hear strange sounds like this, so I didn't think much of it. Just another animal traveling through making noise. Or...

There is a large pasture with cows not far from here and occasionally a cow gets loose and we hear it mooing. We see llamas too, but I haven't heard them moo.

I ignored the animal as I closed my book and turned off the light. But then, as if it didn't want me to sleep, it got louder. My dog heard it and her ears perked up, alert and ready to defend her home. She does this silent bark thing that alerts me of something before she launches into a full blown bark.

Seeing as how it was getting late, it was about 11pm, I wanted my dog quiet so she wouldn't wake up my kids so I quietly got out of bed and flipped on the surveillance camera and the flood light. In the middle of my driveway was a baby moose. It was mooing...I suppose it was calling for its mom.

This isn't unusual. We see moose a lot here in the woods. I just never knew a baby moose sounded like a cow.

The baby moose decided that it did not like the flood light on him/her or the fact that it might soon be making its national debut on Youtube and it ran off. The dog settled down and I finally fell asleep.

But I dreamed about cows... haha!

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's to all you mom's out there! Happy Mother's Day! And a VERY special Mother's Day wish to all my friends at the Second Wives Cafe! May you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

10 Wonderful Years and Counting!

Planning our 10 year wedding anniversary has been fun. Now I get to sit back and wait so that we can enjoy it. 22 more days! I can't wait!

These past ten years have gone by so fast that it seems like we only met yesterday, but at the same time it seems like we have been happily married forever. Even now we are enjoying each other as if we had just met. We have had a crazy roller coaster ride in life, but our love has remained strong and steady. We have bonded even more over the years and grown even closer...could that be possible?? lol

Here's to the next 10+ wonderful years!

Life is Short

"Life is too Short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't."

This is my new motto for life and felt it appropriate to post in my header. :D My husband and I have been dealing with a bunch of BS for the past 12 years - not us, our relationship is fantastic even through it. This weekend we both made the decision that we were going to push forward with our lives regardless of what the past thinks about it. We are going to move forward with a positive outlook even if the past doesn't like it.

Why?

The past is where it belongs. In the past. The past will no longer haunt us nor will it prevent us from living our lives happily. If the past does not like it...tough. The past can choose to move on with its life too.

We renewed ourselves this weekend by building an Earth Garden that is full of natural and positive energy. Not only is it a pretty little garden and is quite peaceful, it will always remind us of the positive things in our lives and to not dwell on the past.

So I say now to the past, you will remain there forever and we shall move forward with our lives and we shall give no more thoughts to you. From this moment forward, you are no longer a part of our lives. You are the past that we choose to forget and from this moment forward you are now forgotten.

At the moment our Earth Garden is brown, but we've planted all kinds of wildflower seeds. When they come up, it will be really pretty and full of color!



Already the birds like the bird bath!

Brightest Blessings!

The Blame Game

I don't blame my parents, but this article is a good one for those who seem to be always blaming others about the "bad things" in their lives or for those who can't move on with their lives and cling to the past.

Being able to live in a blame free environment and a relationship is truly a blessing. I won't deny that I have problems, but I do not blame others or make excuses for those problems. I deal with them quite effectively. It's great. Anyway, on to the article.

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Burdensome Feelings
Blaming Others

Blaming sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward and puts resolution in the hands of others.

As we begin to truly understand that the world outside of us is a reflection of the world inside of us, we may feel confused about who is to blame for the problems in our lives. If we had a difficult childhood, we may wonder how we can take responsibility for that, and in our current relationships, the same question arises. We all know that blaming others is the opposite of taking responsibility, but we may not understand how to take responsibility for things that we don’t truly feel responsible for. We may blame our parents for our low self-esteem, and we may blame our current partner for exacerbating it with their unconscious behavior. Objectively, this seems to make sense. After all, it is not our fault if our parents were irresponsible or unkind, and we are not to blame for our partner’s bad behavior.

Perhaps the problem lies with the activity of blaming. Whether we blame others or blame ourselves, there is something aggressive and unkind about it. It sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward under the burdensome feelings of shame and guilt that arise. It also puts the resolution of our pain in the hands of someone other than us. Ultimately, we cannot insist that someone else take responsibility for their actions; only they can make that choice when they are ready. In the meantime, if we want to move forward with our lives instead of waiting around for something that may or may not happen, we begin to see the wisdom of taking the situation into our own hands.

We do this by forgiving our parents, even if they have not asked for our forgiveness, so that we can be free. We end the abusive relationship with our partner, who may never admit to any wrongdoing, because we are willing to take responsibility for how we are treated. In short, we love ourselves as we want to be loved and create the life we know we deserve. We leave the resolution of the wrongs committed against us in the hands of the universe, releasing ourselves to live a life free of blame.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/22960.html

"True Love"

I feel so blessed that I have such an effortless relationship with my husband. We have had such a great relationship since we've been together and it seems that all of the things that we have had to deal with have only strengthened our relationship. 

I have been in a relationship in which I felt tired and depressed all the time and it is not pleasant. Many people are stuck in relationships like that, and it seems to only make those people...I don't know...worse. 

For all of you stuck in a not-so-good relationship, this article is for you! Read it, digest it, take it to heart, and get that happy, wonderful relationship you want!

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The Real Thing
Love Should Feel Good

Love should feel good. Relationships that leave you feeling depleted, sad and making excuses are not based in love.

Often in our lives, we fall prey to the idea of a thing rather than actually experiencing the thing itself. We see this at play in our love lives and in the love lives of our friends, our family, and even fictional characters. The conceptualizing, depiction, and pursuit of true love are multimillion-dollar industries in the modern world. However, very little of what is offered actually leads us to an authentic experience of love. Moreover, as we grasp for what we think we want and fail to find it, we may suffer and bring suffering to others. When this is the case, when we suffer more than we feel healed, we can be fairly certain that what we have found is not love but something else.

When we feel anxious, excited, nervous, and thrilled, we are probably experiencing romance, not love. Romance can be a lot of fun as long as we do not try to make too much of it. If we try to make more of it than it is, the romance then becomes painful. Romance may lead to love, but it may also fade without blossoming into anything more than a flirtation. If we cling to it and try to make it more, we might find ourselves pining for a fantasy, or worse, stuck in a relationship that was never meant to last.

Real love is identifiable by the way it makes us feel. Love should feel good. There is a peaceful quality to an authentic experience of love that penetrates to our core, touching a part of ourselves that has always been there. True love activates this inner being, filling us with warmth and light. An authentic experience of love does not ask us to look a certain way, drive a certain car, or have a certain job. It takes us as we are, no changes required. When people truly love us, their love for us awakens our love for ourselves. They remind us that what we seek outside of ourselves is a mirror image of the lover within. In this way, true love never makes us feel needy or lacking or anxious. Instead, true love empowers us with its implicit message that we are, always have been, and always will be, made of love.

Busy Day

It feels like I haven't blogged in ages!

I had to bring my son into town today so that he could take his "big test". He's testing and I have an entire day to myself. I just wish I had known what I was going to do. I do have some errands to run, but I decided that while I waited I would visit our library and use the internet for a little while and here I am writing a blog that really has no meaning. lol Oh well, at least I can spend some time alone, right?? lol

Today is that nasty day called Tax Day. I hope you all don't owe. I had to pay the state of Idaho. I have to every year because my husband's employer does not take out Idaho taxes. He works for a company out of Washington and they don't have to take out taxes for other states. So every year I set aside enough money (at least I hope it's enough) to pay our state taxes. I already mailed them in, so I'm set.

My son's German lessons are going great. I am so proud of him! And I am enjoying learning right along side him. I have been practicing writing in German as you can see by my Google profile. One day, I think I will write a blog in German! But hopefully I don't offend someone by calling them a purple zebra or something weird. lol

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but I finished my book. The story is still not finished, so I'm positive there will be an additional book. I think I actually have enough material for 2 more books! The editing process is going much slower than I had expected. *sigh*

Well, I don't have much time left on the computer at the library. Have a great weekend!

Judging Others

Everyone knows the phrase, "You can't judge a book by its cover." It typically applies to people as well as books. Too often I hear people making a snap judgment about someone else simply by looking at them and then treating that person based on their judgements.

I try not to judge like that. I will however finally make an assessed judgement based on someone's actions and words over a period of time. I think it is only fair to give someone a chance to prove themselves. Sometimes, however, that period of time can sometimes be very very short. lol My assessment and final judgement of a person is typically right on. Call it a gift or whatnot, but I still try to give that person the benefit of the doubt.

Why do I assess a person before I judge them? Well, it really has nothing to do with the article, but I thought I would share it anyway.

I have been judged. I have been judged as a "white trash, money grubbing, husband stealing, mistress", but this is not who I am. Far from it in fact. One, I am not white trash. I'm not trash at all, but I have not had the luxuries in life that most people have. Does that make me trash? No way. I am proud that I can survive by hauling water and heating with wood. At least if it came down to it, I know I could survive without help.

Money grubber? Don't think so. The person who called me that is really the money grubber, but that is an even longer story I don't want to tell. Check out my son's blog for that one. haha Sure I like money, who doesn't?? It buys you all kinds of cool things if you have it. Sure I'd like to have more, but hey, I don't, so I use what little I do have to do the things I need to do. I see it as a tool, just like a hammer or a saw.

Husband stealer I am most certainly not. I never have, nor will steal another woman's husband. However, that is not how someone else might view it, but I know the truth and am satisfied with that whether or not someone else believes it or not.

Mistress - well, see above paragraph. This is simply redundant.

But you see...someone has judged me to be this person. In reality, I am a fun, loving, caring, intelligent woman who is very easy to get along with. I am open and happy. Many people have described me as "a breath of fresh air". But someone has unjustly judged me as a horrible person and it doesn't feel so good to be judged as such. I suspect that this person is just trying to justify a reason for what happened. But to be honest, it is quite unfair to me. Oh well. Let her think it.

And that is one reason why I don't do snap judgments. I judge you by your words and actions. Wow, I need to hop off my soap box and get back on topic and onto the article! By the way...April 1st's post about the $40,000 was an April Fools joke...you get that right?? LOL

Have a great weekend!

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What We See
Judging Others

When we judge others we should ask ourselves where these judgments come from, is it something we see in ourselves?

Though it is human to evaluate people we encounter based on first impressions, the conclusions we come to are seldom unaffected by our own fears and our own preconceptions. Additionally, our judgments are frequently incomplete. For example, wealth can seem like proof that an individual is spoiled, and poverty can be seen as a signifier of laziness—neither of which may be true. At the heart of the tendency to categorize and criticize, we often find insecurity. Overcoming our need to set ourselves apart from what we fear is a matter of understanding the root of judgment and then reaffirming our commitment to tolerance.

When we catch ourselves thinking or behaving judgmentally, we should ask ourselves where these judgments come from. Traits we hope we do not possess can instigate our criticism when we see them in others because passing judgment distances us from those traits. Once we regain our center, we can reinforce our open-mindedness by putting our feelings into words. To acknowledge to ourselves that we have judged, and that we have identified the root of our judgments, is the first step to a path of compassion. Recognizing that we limit our awareness by assessing others critically can make moving past our initial impressions much easier. Judgments seldom leave room for alternate possibilities.

Mother Teresa said, “If you judge people, you don’t have time to love them.” If we are quick to pass judgment on others, we forget that they, like us, are human beings. As we seldom know what roads people have traveled before a shared encounter or why they have come into our lives, we should always give those we meet the gift of an open heart. Doing so allows us to replace fear-based criticism with appreciation because we can then focus wholeheartedly on the spark of good that burns in all human souls.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/22706.html

A Pleasant Surprise!!

Holy buckets!!! I went to the post office yesterday and inside my box was a check addressed to me for $40,000! That's right, $40,000! I nearly peed my pants from excitement! My book has sold!! I'm not even finished editing it and I already sold it! Oh yeah! Go me!

I'm so Popular!

haha... not really, but my phone keeps ringing.



I don't know what suddenly happened, but I am getting calls almost every hour of the day. I have turned the ringer off to phone numbers that are not in my contact list, so I don't even hear it ring anymore. I will happen to look over and see that I have 20 missed calls. Sheesh!

Out of 20 missed calls, only 2 left voice messages. I listened to my voice mail after missing a call I actually wanted and suddenly people are calling me about selling me their service. Please call them back blah blah blah. Yeah right.

I never signed up for anything and I never put my phone number online for that very reason, but I suspect that someone else has. And I know just who you are. If you think it irritates me, you're wrong. As I said less than a second ago, I don't even hear the phone ring. ha. It is so sad when an adult has to act so childlike. At least I can take the higher road and not give in to such stupid games.

Well anyway, it doesn't matter that I get all these unsolicited calls because I'm constantly on the phone with my husband or mother. In fact, my husband and I talk so much that I usually have to charge my phone 2-3 times a day! And it never fails that when my husband calls, so does my mother. So I'm always on the phone. Then someone else I want to talk to calls. haha!

I guess I am popular after all! I think perhaps I need to embed a phone in my head or something! haha!

Resentment

I know of someone who could definitely benefit from actually taking this article to heart, but I wanted to share it with everyone because it is sound advice. Enjoy!

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Demolishing Anger’s Walls
Resentment

It is when anger has no outlet and morphs into resentment that it carries with it the potential to cause turmoil.

Anger, when channeled into the pursuit of change, can be a useful tool in our emotional palette. Anger is experienced by most people, some more than others. It is when anger has no outlet and morphs into resentment that it carries with it the potential to cause great turmoil. Allowing us to assign blame for the pain we are feeling, thereby easing it, resentment tends to smolder relentlessly just below the surface of our awareness, eroding our peace of mind. The target of our resentment grows ever more wicked in our minds and we rue the day we first encountered them. But resentment is merely another hue on the emotional palette and therefore within the realm of our conscious control. We can choose to let go of our resentment and to move on with our lives, no matter how painful the event that incited it.

Hanging onto resentment in our hearts does not serve us in any way. Successfully divesting ourselves of resentful feelings can be difficult, however, because doing so forces us to mentally and emotionally confront the original source of anger. When we cease assigning blame, we realize that our need to hold someone or something responsible for our feelings has harmed us. We thought we were coping with our hurt when in fact we were holding onto that hurt with a vice grip. To release resentment, we must shift our attention from those we resent back toward ourselves by thinking of our own needs. Performing a short ceremony can help you quell resentful feelings by giving tangible form to your emotions. You may want to write down your feelings and then burn the paper and close your ceremony by wishing them well. When you can find compassion in your heart, you know you are on your way to healing.

Free of resentment, we have much more energy and attention to devote to our personal development. We can fill the spaces it left behind with unconditional acceptance and joy. And, as a result of our subsequent freedom from resentment, blessings can once again enter our lives as the walls we built to contain our anger have been demolished.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/22613.html

Be Happy Every Single Day

A fabulous article by Daily OM.

Just because I do not have a lot of major events that are joyful doesn't mean that I can be happy. I am happy to be happy with myself and those few little things that happen in life. Sure I'd be ecstatic if I was awarded the lotto. I've been thinking a lot lately on happiness. How to get it. How to be it.

While I have many quotes on happiness such as

"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness."

and

"Most people are about as happy as they make their minds to be."

There are many quotes and advice on achieving happiness, but one thing is for certain...don't wait for the "big event" that will make you happy. Find happiness in the small things while you wait. For example, my new phone. That is not a big thing. It was a small thing. It was a small thing that brought a smile to my face. When I smile, I feel good and that brings me happiness.

Anyway, without further ado, the DailyOM article...


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Being happy doesn’t come naturally to everybody. It is your birthright to be happy, choose happiness everyday.

Our lives are rich with potential sources of happiness, but sometimes we become victims of negative thinking because we believe that focusing on all that has gone wrong will provide us with the motivation we need to face the challenges of survival. When we choose to focus on what makes us happy, however, a shift occurs in the fabric of our existence. Finding something to be happy about every single day can help this shift take place. The vantage points from which we view the world are brought into balance, and we can see that being alive truly is a gift to be savored. There is always something we can be happy about—it is simply up to us to identify it.

On one day, we may find happiness in a momentous, life-changing event such as a marriage or the birth of a child. On another day, the happiness we experience may be a product of our appreciation of a particularly well-brewed cup of a tea or the way the sun shines on a leaf. If we discover that we literally cannot call to mind a single joyful element of existence, we should examine the cause of the blockage standing between us and experiencing happiness. Keeping a happiness journal is a wonderful way to catalog the happiness unfolding all around us so that joy has myriad opportunities to manifest itself in our lives. Writing about the emotions we experience while contemplating joy may give us insight into the factors compelling us to resist it.

Happiness may not always come easily into your life. You have likely been conditioned to believe that the proper response to unmet expectations is one of sadness, anger, guilt, or fear. To make joy a fixture in your existence, you must first accept that it is within your power to choose happiness over unhappiness every single day. Then, each time you discover some new source of happiness, the notion that the world is a happy place will find its way more deeply into your heart. On this day, find one thing to be happy about and let it fill your heart.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/22512.html

Bluetooth For Me

This past week I ended up getting a new cell phone with Bluetooth capabilities. It's awesome! I have had the same cell phone since 2005 and it was still functioning nicely, but my husband's phone broke and was not working properly. Earlier in the week I was told to buy one of those prepaid phones and swap out the sim card and my husband would have a new phone. So I figured, sure, that's what I would do.

My husband came home for his home time and I told him about this prepaid phone route to get him a new phone and he happily agreed. So we ran our errands and ended up at the new AT&T store they had built in our little town to search out prepaid phones.

Before we had gone, I did some research and picked a phone I thought my husband would be happy with and printed out my research. I presented it to the AT&T rep and was told that phone wasn't being offered as a prepaid phone in the store. They were slower to get the plans than the website. Then he suggested that the cheapest price on these prepaids was, surprisingly, at Walmart. He suggested we go there and get one.

As we were in the store my husband and the phone rep talked phone techy talk and my son spotted a red phone he thought was cool. He brought it to me and told me how cool it was. I nodded, waved him off, and looked around the store. They had all kinds of nifty phones that looked like miniature computers. Cool, but I don't need one of those.

Then I heard the guys talking about my phone. It was a good phone, a strong phone, a very well built phone. My husband wished he could *have* my phone. But it was old. So? It was still a good phone. I kept looking around and spotted this red phone that my son had shown me and I played with it for a bit and looked up at my husband and said, "I kind of like this phone."

It was settled. We would get *me* the new phone and give my husband my phone. To top it off, I got my phone for only $30. Yup. How cool! I signed my contract for my upgrade and walked out of the store playing with my new toy as my husband drove off to run more errands. I took lots of pictures with my little phone camera- which was very cool for me since my other phone did not have one.

I quickly discovered that my phone was Bluetooth. Who cares? Every phone has Bluetooth now. I did not know this. I thought only the upper end phones had this. I got very excited and wanted to check out headsets at Walmart. $18 later I have a headset! Woot! Then around the corner was something even cooler! A Bluetooth USB adapter - I can transfer songs and pictures back and forth from computer to phone. Awesome! $20 later, I'm adding songs and images and making them ring tones and caller images.

Ever since, I've been playing with my new little toy and my husband left with a much better phone than what he had...and my son now has a cell phone that he plays with.

Bluetooth is so cool...

I finally passed the finish line!

Today I sit here before my computer trying to think of the next thing that I will be writing in my novel only to find that I have just finished it! While writing last night, I thought to myself, "I still have so much to write. This novel is going to be massive!"

But no! I actually found a good place to end the novel and better yet, there *is* still more to write, so I'm actually already working on the second novel! Go me! Now comes the harder part. Editing.

After spending four months writing this novel, I am somewhat attached to it and I don't want to loose ANY of it. It is all very essential to the story. But I know that my first draft has major grammatical errors and I know that I could rephrase a lot. I am sure that I will be bantering back and forth with myself and my pre-editor editor, my husband, and we'll toss around lots of plans and ideas. And I am sure that some of the story will be cut, much to my protests. I suspect the editing will take much longer than writing the actual novel.

I think the hardest part is going to be finding a publisher that is going to be interested in my book(s). So how do those famous authors come out of the blue?? Maybe I'll find out. At this point, I'm very excited about it. In about a month, I won't be so enthused. Three months from now, I will probably be irritated and in about 6 months I believe it will be a depressing time as I receive countless letters of "No!" Perhaps if I pre-program my mind I will not be so disappointed.

So on to the next chapter! HAHA!

There'll be no chance to escape
On judgment day.

- "Silent Warrior" Enigma

Doctor Patient Relationships - An Update

This blog is an update to Doctor Patient Relationships.

After we filed our complaint and a visit to the Bonners clinic it was clear to us that Kaniksu Health Services are NOT worth going to. The DR in Bonners was only interested in covering their backsides and not truly interested in helping my husband.

After 2 hours of arguments and multiple "rigged" tests, he spouted, verbatim, what Joyce Wilson in Sandpoint said. He explained that he was "validating". My husband, feeling not at all satisfied with their services, stopped by Sandpoint Fire and had a blood pressure check which came out normal. To "validate" further, he stopped at Sagle Fire and had another blood pressure check which also came out normal. The next day he went to a health care provider in Spokane and had another full physical completed with a blood pressure check and EVERYTHING came out normal.

He called the patient advocate service and complained and wanted charges removed. After a week, they did not answer. He called once more. Still no answer. He called again and said that if they did not resolve the issue he would be filing a complaint with the state among other agencies. It was only then they finally called and backed off the charges. Regardless, we are proceeding to file a complaint with the state board of nursing against Joyce Wilson and we will complain to agency responsible for giving this organization funding. Why?

The answer is simple. 1. Joyce Wilson is too incompetent to practice medicine. 2. Kaniksu Health Services will not get rid of her and is responsible for her actions.

If you seek health care, avoid Kaniksu at all costs. Your life will thank you.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I know that statement sounds very cliche. This week in my son's literature lessons we have been reading and discussing stories in which a character is allowed to make wishes. Things go wrong or the character is not so happy with his wish as they thought they would be and ends up dealing with the fallout of their wish. The moral or lesson of the story is, Be Careful What You Wish For.

I find myself wishing for something all the time, and for me, none of my petty wishes come true. It is more of a wishful hope I suppose. You know, I wish I could win the lotto, things like that. Well I'm certainly not going to win the lotto unless I play and I'm not playing because I don't have the money to waste on the lotto. Maybe when I'm 85 and about to die, then I'll buy a ticket. LOL

Wow, getting off topic. Anyway, there are several other things I would like to wish for, and I think about what the consequences might be if those things were to happen. I would hate to wish for a million dollars and someone died so that I could have that, or someone robbed a bank and dropped the money at my door. No that would not be good.

But there is one wish that I would really like. If it were to come true, then 90% of our stress would be gone and I could work on the other things that I would like to wish for. lol I think the consequences for the one wish would be tolerable. lol

I know you are wondering what is it that I want so bad that I am willing to take the consequences, but I'm not going to say. That is between me and "my genie of the magic lamp" so to speak, but when it happens, I will be sure to let the whole world know! In the meantime, I'll keep my wishes in my head. ;)

Words Have Weight

I really love these articles from DailyOM, they are so inspirational and when I feel low or off and I read one of these articles, it really puts things in perspective. This latest article is about the words we speak and how big of an impact they can have on our lives. The smallest word can make the biggest difference, one way or another. That is why I choose this article today...I hope that you all (one person in particular) can realize that the things they speak of to their children can make a drastic impact in their life...not not always for the better.

Take care what you say...especially to children for their minds are the clay in which we mold. Make sure you mold them in a positive way.

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Words Have Weight
Feeling Our Words

Choose the words you speak with carefully as they are more powerful than you know.


Words carry energy and this gives language its power and its potential to heal or hurt. Most of us can remember a time that someone sent a word our way, and it stuck with us. It may have been the first time we received a truly accurate compliment, or the time a friend or sibling called us a name, but either way it stuck. This experience reminds us that what we say has weight and power and that being conscious means being aware of how we use words.

The more conscious we become, the more we deepen our relationship to the words we use so that we speak from a place of actually feeling what we are saying. We begin to recognize that words are not abstract, disconnected entities used only to convey meaning; they are powerful transmitters of feeling. For the next few days, you might want to practice noticing how the words you say and hear affect your body and your emotional state. Notice how the different communication styles of the people in your life make you feel. Also, watch closely to see how your own words come out and what affect they have on the people around you.

You may notice that when we speak quickly, without thinking, or rush to get our ideas across, our words don’t carry the same power as when we speak slowly and confidently, allowing those receiving our words time and space to take them in. When we carefully listen to others before we speak, our words have more integrity, and when we take time to center ourselves before speaking, we truly begin to harness the power of speech. Then our words can be intelligent messengers of healing and light, transmitting deep and positive feelings to those who receive them.

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/22176.html

Toy Story Trailer

Fifteen years ago I watched Toy Story and loved it. I was already heading off to college when it came out, and originally thought it was going to be a silly movie. Until I watched it. I was excited when Toy Story 2 came out and my son laughed hysterically as we watched. Now more than 10 years later, we get to see Toy Story 3! Yay! I'm a fan, so I wanted to share! :D



Toy Story 3 will be coming out in theaters June 18!