Rick and I sat down and worked on planning next year. I know, come on, why would you put your vacations in writing before you know what the weather is going to be like, etc.? This is to avoid some of the pitfalls our busy schedules caused us this year, his last minute travelling and my real estate insaneness ~ lack of vacations with each other. We took our Pennsylvania trip on a whim and under pressure. That was really the only true vacation we had this year. We didn't even get in one backpacking trip, not ONE. This was, is and has been a big bummer for us both. Well, I believe strongly in putting pen to paper like Harvard says to do so we are trying something new, planning our vacations in advance. I even took it one step further and planned the 4 running races I want to do this year that coincide with my goals (I'll post soon I promise). Everything is updated in my Google calendar, for my "Accountability Partner-In-Crime" to see, and will be in my work calendars first thing in the morning. It's very refreshing, enlightening, and hopefully soon to be rewarding!!
So, that being said, I have in my calendar:
Jan. 31 - Feb. 3 Cross Country Ski Trip with Rick
Feb. 14th , 5 miles Frosty Five TRAIL run
March 13-15 Megan's wedding out of state.
April 24-27 First official backpacking trip
May 22-24 Backpacking trip #2
June 28, 5k Hospice of Lenawee in Blissfield
July 4-5 Geoff and Cheryl's cottage
July 31- Aug. 2 Backpacking Trip #3
Aug. 29- Sept. 7 GRAND CANYON trip, backpacking trip #4
Sept. 27, 5k Big House, Big Heart
Oct. 9 -12 Girl's weekend
Nov. 26th, 10k Turkey Trot in Detroit
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Really...Does Image Matter?
RICHARD CORY
Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich—yes, richer than a king,
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything,
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Day TWO - Wow!!
Overwhelmed, determined, motivated, inspired...overwhelmed. There is simply so much running through my head right now that I can't even concentrate enough to put into words what I have learned and now have to implement. All this while not losing sight of why I'm in the business. All this while keeping in mind that drive and persistence are my strong points and that I am capable of succeeding because of those two things alone. Not to mention the knowledge and resources that I have.
Oh, but I tell you, there is so much more now.
Before we were just realtors. Just someone you questioned about the market. Just another service industry that many clients really didn't care for or want to work with. Now~ I feel we have been given a key to really help people. I belong to an elite group that has always and will always care for our clients. Now~ we have tools that I hope will allow us to help those that are in a position with their back up against the wall. I'm sure I will still complain at times, I'm sure there will be those days that I question the insanity that stresses me out and I'm sure over the course of the next days, months and (gulp) possibly years, I will need to be talked off the ledge multiple times and doubt everything I do down to signing my name but at least I feel the tools I have learned today at a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) will give me the chance to help and hopefully improve the lives that I come into contact at work instead of just the passing through we get now.
Now~ Bring it on!! If you know of anyone who needs to buy or sell, considering relocating, is missing payments, close to missing payments or is in a distressed situation. I may be able to help. It would be my pleasure.
Oh, but I tell you, there is so much more now.
Before we were just realtors. Just someone you questioned about the market. Just another service industry that many clients really didn't care for or want to work with. Now~ I feel we have been given a key to really help people. I belong to an elite group that has always and will always care for our clients. Now~ we have tools that I hope will allow us to help those that are in a position with their back up against the wall. I'm sure I will still complain at times, I'm sure there will be those days that I question the insanity that stresses me out and I'm sure over the course of the next days, months and (gulp) possibly years, I will need to be talked off the ledge multiple times and doubt everything I do down to signing my name but at least I feel the tools I have learned today at a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) will give me the chance to help and hopefully improve the lives that I come into contact at work instead of just the passing through we get now.
Now~ Bring it on!! If you know of anyone who needs to buy or sell, considering relocating, is missing payments, close to missing payments or is in a distressed situation. I may be able to help. It would be my pleasure.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Food and Sun.Well, someone has to do it...
I'm on a work trip...yep, stuck in a freezing cold conference room from 8am to 5pm (or later because there is always that one guy in class that "over-participates"). But hey it is in California so it can't be all that bad.
The plane rides here were uneventful, one area that you really don't want any action. Flight one to Minneapolis placed me next to a Army "Lifer" who has been serving our country for 24 years now. He was on his way home after a 10 day trip to prepare for a 1 year tour starting after the first of the year. His definition of the trip was to hand over the to-do list and figure the exchange of the job title. We immediately connected. We both were placed in the Exit aisle were I made jabs at him for being the required one to save everyone and he kidded with me that there were holes in the wing and how the sides of the plane were moving (I didn't quite find this as funny but he thought it was hilarious and definitely had some hearty chuckles on my account, one bringing a tear to his eye). What's interesting was his story. I shared Rick's story behind joining the service and how much of a positive impact it had on his life and mine indirectly (well, because he is the best husband ever of course). Then I asked what made him commit. His story touched me.
His father struggled with his family to get to this country away from the terror he experienced as a child growing up in their native country where it was riddled with war and corruption. His father had expressed it upon him the importance of serving this country for everything it offered them and more as a "thank you". Dutifully and respectfully, the soldier joined thinking that if it meant that much to his father then he could make that commitment planning on serving an active term and then a term as a reservist. Then 24 years later, he has decided he can't give up what he is doing for his country. He is in the 34th Infantry Division. We could of continued talking forever but this was his 5th flight, having flown from 2 small "puddle jumping" charter civilian flights in Iraq to somewhere to Iceland to Virginia to Michigan and was his last leg before landing in his hometown. It's funny how life happens right before your eyes. I thanked him for what he is doing for this country and wished him a safe return when he heads back over. He said , "hey, I'm just doing my job". Somehow, I feel my "job" pales in comparison. I can say I am not brave enough to lay myself down or step in front of a bullet to save someone else or to fight for this country or what we stand for but I appreciate all those brave souls that do this. God bless America!!
The second flight was by far more aggravating. I could have scratched my corneas out with a jagged rusty nail and it probably would have been less painful. Both flights were packed, every seat filled and every overhead bin stuffed. Poor Martie-Mar didn't even get upgraded to first class. The first flight wasn't bad because we were in the Exit row, unfortunately, Flight Two I was shoved up against the window with all my carry-ons taking up my floor space and crowding my feet. Cramped and miserable for sure. In my row were 2 guys. Immediately after being seated, they noticed that they shared a common thread. Both of them were India descent. One was born and raised here and the other raised in India and came here for an education and never left. They debated the whole flight about which was better and how it impacted their lives. I couldn't listen beyond the first 10 mins. What could have been a very interesting and entertaining conversation to eavesdrop on became an ego debate since India raised guy was a Money Manager and American born Indian was a Physician and of course "who was better and made more money" was also part of the debate and frankly made them both sound like ignorant egotistical fools. However, they did debate over the military and the Draft. I wish Infantry Guy sat in my seat and filled them in on why this country is so great. All I did was asked if the guy in the middle seat to move over and if they could keep it down because not everyone was interested in hearing their conversation (which was primarily ineffective since apparently their debate meant if you talked louder than the other then you were right). Who flies without their IPod being charged...really...who? This was a valuable lesson to me on so many accounts.
So, today is Day ONE.
Already I have learned so much but realize I have so much more left to learn. I think one reason why this trip had me nervous is I would find out how much I could have screwed up but after today I realize I need to give myself some credit, I know more than I thought. (I know, I know...I hear Lisa and Rick saying "I told you so".) The class is packed full. Today was the scary day...how we got to this point, its comparison to the Savings & Loan crisis and Alex's perspective on how much longer we have before their are signs of the light at the end of the tunnel (not 3 years like we hoped for but more like 10-15 years GULP).
Tomorrow - how to implement. Martin and I will actually be adding an interesting category to our goals for next year. How many clients are we going to help to keep their home. Yep - an agent that doesn't sell, strange concept but really there are sellers that feel they have to sell because there is no other way for them to survive unless they get rid of their home, even if it means sacrificing their credit. Well, excitingly enough, we will learn how to assist in loan modifications. Some of those sellers giving up their dream homes and ruining their credit may be able to use this avenue to be success in keeping their home affordably. New concept, huh? Obviously I'm excited (which is probably evident by the time I'm blogging).
The plane rides here were uneventful, one area that you really don't want any action. Flight one to Minneapolis placed me next to a Army "Lifer" who has been serving our country for 24 years now. He was on his way home after a 10 day trip to prepare for a 1 year tour starting after the first of the year. His definition of the trip was to hand over the to-do list and figure the exchange of the job title. We immediately connected. We both were placed in the Exit aisle were I made jabs at him for being the required one to save everyone and he kidded with me that there were holes in the wing and how the sides of the plane were moving (I didn't quite find this as funny but he thought it was hilarious and definitely had some hearty chuckles on my account, one bringing a tear to his eye). What's interesting was his story. I shared Rick's story behind joining the service and how much of a positive impact it had on his life and mine indirectly (well, because he is the best husband ever of course). Then I asked what made him commit. His story touched me.
34th Infantry Division
His father struggled with his family to get to this country away from the terror he experienced as a child growing up in their native country where it was riddled with war and corruption. His father had expressed it upon him the importance of serving this country for everything it offered them and more as a "thank you". Dutifully and respectfully, the soldier joined thinking that if it meant that much to his father then he could make that commitment planning on serving an active term and then a term as a reservist. Then 24 years later, he has decided he can't give up what he is doing for his country. He is in the 34th Infantry Division. We could of continued talking forever but this was his 5th flight, having flown from 2 small "puddle jumping" charter civilian flights in Iraq to somewhere to Iceland to Virginia to Michigan and was his last leg before landing in his hometown. It's funny how life happens right before your eyes. I thanked him for what he is doing for this country and wished him a safe return when he heads back over. He said , "hey, I'm just doing my job". Somehow, I feel my "job" pales in comparison. I can say I am not brave enough to lay myself down or step in front of a bullet to save someone else or to fight for this country or what we stand for but I appreciate all those brave souls that do this. God bless America!!
The second flight was by far more aggravating. I could have scratched my corneas out with a jagged rusty nail and it probably would have been less painful. Both flights were packed, every seat filled and every overhead bin stuffed. Poor Martie-Mar didn't even get upgraded to first class. The first flight wasn't bad because we were in the Exit row, unfortunately, Flight Two I was shoved up against the window with all my carry-ons taking up my floor space and crowding my feet. Cramped and miserable for sure. In my row were 2 guys. Immediately after being seated, they noticed that they shared a common thread. Both of them were India descent. One was born and raised here and the other raised in India and came here for an education and never left. They debated the whole flight about which was better and how it impacted their lives. I couldn't listen beyond the first 10 mins. What could have been a very interesting and entertaining conversation to eavesdrop on became an ego debate since India raised guy was a Money Manager and American born Indian was a Physician and of course "who was better and made more money" was also part of the debate and frankly made them both sound like ignorant egotistical fools. However, they did debate over the military and the Draft. I wish Infantry Guy sat in my seat and filled them in on why this country is so great. All I did was asked if the guy in the middle seat to move over and if they could keep it down because not everyone was interested in hearing their conversation (which was primarily ineffective since apparently their debate meant if you talked louder than the other then you were right). Who flies without their IPod being charged...really...who? This was a valuable lesson to me on so many accounts.
So, today is Day ONE.
Already I have learned so much but realize I have so much more left to learn. I think one reason why this trip had me nervous is I would find out how much I could have screwed up but after today I realize I need to give myself some credit, I know more than I thought. (I know, I know...I hear Lisa and Rick saying "I told you so".) The class is packed full. Today was the scary day...how we got to this point, its comparison to the Savings & Loan crisis and Alex's perspective on how much longer we have before their are signs of the light at the end of the tunnel (not 3 years like we hoped for but more like 10-15 years GULP).
Tomorrow - how to implement. Martin and I will actually be adding an interesting category to our goals for next year. How many clients are we going to help to keep their home. Yep - an agent that doesn't sell, strange concept but really there are sellers that feel they have to sell because there is no other way for them to survive unless they get rid of their home, even if it means sacrificing their credit. Well, excitingly enough, we will learn how to assist in loan modifications. Some of those sellers giving up their dream homes and ruining their credit may be able to use this avenue to be success in keeping their home affordably. New concept, huh? Obviously I'm excited (which is probably evident by the time I'm blogging).
Dinner tonight was great, thankfully not too much real estate talk since I'm strung out on it. We went to Scott's. For my foodies out there, I had a great meal. I kept the alcohol to my usual cranberry vodka aka "ole' faithful". Only one though since I didn't bring my glasses and my eyes are killing me from the strain of reading small text, air conditioning and lack of sleep. I had a salad - Beet, tomato and goat cheese with a vinegarette. Delish! This was the best part of the night. Never does a salad overbid the entree but dessert too. Anyone who knows me should know that this means it's the best salad. EVER. My mouth is salivating right now thinking of it. Dinner was scallops (my newest addiction since Scallop and Shrimp quesadillas from Prickly Pear) and my favorite standby, mashed potatoes. Somehow the pots still pale in comparison to my mom and mother-in-law's pots and especially to my favorite carb dish - German Potato Salad. Of course, I cleaned my plate. Since the boys, Martin and Tony, were ordering sorbet I decided to get the Duet Chocolate. I liked it, don't get me wrong but it didn't hit "the spot". I actually left half of the white chocolate side on my plate. When has chocolate never hit the spot....after that damn beet salad...mmmm...sign me up.
Until tomorrow, I wish Rick well and happy dreams all.
Monday, November 10, 2008
What does Europe Think?
So Rick is back!! Yeah!!
After many hours getting caught up on his trip details, I think what I found the most interesting is how our presidential election was viewed by people in other countries. Lisa - I would love to hear what Erwin and Erin thought too. It could be that it was constantly at the front of Rick's mind, especially since every conversation we had I had to somehow bring it up. As if 2 years of political commercials weren't enough already. He got the play-by-play-while-far-away -yep, pre-election, while electing/voting and post-election details to a "T". I actually called him long distance at 2:30am (my time) to share my excitement that obviously couldn't be contained.
Rick spent week one ~pre-election~ of his international trip in Germany, in several different location. Each location brought on unsolicited conversations on what he thought of the election, who did he want to be elected (apparently they don't know that this is poor manners) and voiced what they wanted to happen or who they would vote for should they be an American and had the right to do so. Pre-election there was a lot of negative feelings toward the Bush administration and, for lack of a better word - concern, of who the next elected president would be. Rick definitely felt the hostility from some opinioners and a few times had to change the subject to avoid faces getting any redder and any further uncomfortableness.
Post-election, Rick was in France. There was an overwhelming and unanimous sense of relief from the opinioners in his election conversations with them, again unsolicited. He struggled with how to describe how people felt about who we elected as a president. Calm, optimismic, hopeful....similiar words to what I felt when Obama was elected. I find this completely enlightening. I never, ever, even considered how MY vote affected someone in another country OR how it woul be viewed by others. I find this, I don't know the word~ breathtaking, enthralling, motivating? Amazing!
I thank every soul who has fought, is fighting or would fight for our country to give us this freedom. This Veterans Day, tomorrow, has newfound meaning to me. God Bless America - The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!! Personal shout out to Rick for serving his time for our country and God Bless and protect Joe Osbourne (my brother's closest friend) during his time. Without you, we wouldn't be the great country we are today!!
After many hours getting caught up on his trip details, I think what I found the most interesting is how our presidential election was viewed by people in other countries. Lisa - I would love to hear what Erwin and Erin thought too. It could be that it was constantly at the front of Rick's mind, especially since every conversation we had I had to somehow bring it up. As if 2 years of political commercials weren't enough already. He got the play-by-play-while-far-away -yep, pre-election, while electing/voting and post-election details to a "T". I actually called him long distance at 2:30am (my time) to share my excitement that obviously couldn't be contained.
Rick spent week one ~pre-election~ of his international trip in Germany, in several different location. Each location brought on unsolicited conversations on what he thought of the election, who did he want to be elected (apparently they don't know that this is poor manners) and voiced what they wanted to happen or who they would vote for should they be an American and had the right to do so. Pre-election there was a lot of negative feelings toward the Bush administration and, for lack of a better word - concern, of who the next elected president would be. Rick definitely felt the hostility from some opinioners and a few times had to change the subject to avoid faces getting any redder and any further uncomfortableness.
Post-election, Rick was in France. There was an overwhelming and unanimous sense of relief from the opinioners in his election conversations with them, again unsolicited. He struggled with how to describe how people felt about who we elected as a president. Calm, optimismic, hopeful....similiar words to what I felt when Obama was elected. I find this completely enlightening. I never, ever, even considered how MY vote affected someone in another country OR how it woul be viewed by others. I find this, I don't know the word~ breathtaking, enthralling, motivating? Amazing!
I thank every soul who has fought, is fighting or would fight for our country to give us this freedom. This Veterans Day, tomorrow, has newfound meaning to me. God Bless America - The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!! Personal shout out to Rick for serving his time for our country and God Bless and protect Joe Osbourne (my brother's closest friend) during his time. Without you, we wouldn't be the great country we are today!!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Back in Action...
First and foremost....thank you, thank you, thank you for all the nice thoughts and birthday wishes. I got great phone calls, texts, emails, blogs and even a surprise visit wishing me well . It's nice to know I have great peeps! Also, a quick shout out to my mom for doing a great job of babying me "just enough" but not too much. *Smooches* to you all. So, time for an epic post to get everyone up to speed.
1) I feel great
2) I am having a speedy recovery
3) I feel no pain
I only used one Vicodin for the whole weekend and that was only after an explosive sneeze that blasted out 2 drilled craters of stitches and blood clots. I'm getting into this whole affirmations thing. Hint: Keep the list short though.
So in preparation for "Mission : Recovery" One way to do that is to feel like I can be completely lazy. Yep~ this may come easy to some folks but for me, if I know I'm in the middle of a project or feel the burden of an uncompleted task, then it complicates the process. So, "Closet Relocation and Organization" had to be finalized. This is of course only after the house was stocked with soft foods. I have plenty of jell-o, pudding, fudge pops and creamsicles now. My favorites though were my mom's grilled cheese sandwich made with real butter and no crusts and chocolate mouse with cool whip. Yum!! There are pros to being in recovery. "Closet Relocation and Organization" ended up being easier than I thought it would be, probably because I had adrenaline of several sorts (anxiety, competitiveness, fear and stress) running through me at once. I had finished all my laundry the night before so that way I would be able to work with everything I owned. nfortunately, true to form, I can never work on one thing at a time. I say it's my ability to time manage but I really thing it's more the inability to do that. While cleaning out my closet I decided to sort what needed to go to Salvation Army too. Afterall, what's the point of relocating something that I wasn't going to use right? So, here is the unveiling of my fancy schmancy closet. I love it! Never again will I have to dig through my bins to find a certain pair of works socks or the right pair of undies for an outfit. The only drawback like I mentioned before is the constant running up and down the stairs with the fully functioning shower on the main level. I'm looking on the bright side and considering this extra exercise instead....not inconvenience.
Wednesday, after a day full of surprises and being notified that my wisdom teeth had to be removed, I decided to prepare for "Mission : Recovery". Pssst...I made new affirmations for my recovery that I think have really been very, very helpful. I had my mom chanting them too.
1) I feel great
2) I am having a speedy recovery
3) I feel no pain
I only used one Vicodin for the whole weekend and that was only after an explosive sneeze that blasted out 2 drilled craters of stitches and blood clots. I'm getting into this whole affirmations thing. Hint: Keep the list short though.
So in preparation for "Mission : Recovery" One way to do that is to feel like I can be completely lazy. Yep~ this may come easy to some folks but for me, if I know I'm in the middle of a project or feel the burden of an uncompleted task, then it complicates the process. So, "Closet Relocation and Organization" had to be finalized. This is of course only after the house was stocked with soft foods. I have plenty of jell-o, pudding, fudge pops and creamsicles now. My favorites though were my mom's grilled cheese sandwich made with real butter and no crusts and chocolate mouse with cool whip. Yum!! There are pros to being in recovery. "Closet Relocation and Organization" ended up being easier than I thought it would be, probably because I had adrenaline of several sorts (anxiety, competitiveness, fear and stress) running through me at once. I had finished all my laundry the night before so that way I would be able to work with everything I owned. nfortunately, true to form, I can never work on one thing at a time. I say it's my ability to time manage but I really thing it's more the inability to do that. While cleaning out my closet I decided to sort what needed to go to Salvation Army too. Afterall, what's the point of relocating something that I wasn't going to use right? So, here is the unveiling of my fancy schmancy closet. I love it! Never again will I have to dig through my bins to find a certain pair of works socks or the right pair of undies for an outfit. The only drawback like I mentioned before is the constant running up and down the stairs with the fully functioning shower on the main level. I'm looking on the bright side and considering this extra exercise instead....not inconvenience.
While in the process, I decided that I needed to do a quick cleansing of my bedroom and make it more into a more calming sanctuary for my speedy recovery. I had planned on doing this in conjunction with the closet relocation project as a surprise for the return of my hubbie. I figured it would take me 2 days to complete prepping and painting (not my strong points for sure) and since I immediately lost one day due to surgery and recovery, well I just decided to bypass those steps completely instead. I have started to learn my boundaries and painting is something I know I can't do successfully on little sleep or while feeling rushed. I don't regret the decision to not paint I love the outcome. My new favorite decorating tool is Wall Words. Simple, easy and what a great outcome...love, love, LOVE them. I also had a little Lisa inspiration. I had bought some curtain panels from Ikea for the closet window and I didn't like them there. Well, I had this strange rod and hangar system left on the one wall from the previous owners so I thought, huh, why don't I hang the panels there to cover the cords. Love it! It really changes the appearance of the space too.
Thursday and Friday were dedicated to laying around, sleeping a lot and watching a lot of HGTV (and now I'm addicted to the Food Network too). Thanks to my mom and her anxiousness to make sure I remained in bed and tried resting she took care of my deep cleaning of the first floor. I really love my mom. Thanks again!! I really needed that rest and it made a HUGE difference.
After Rick's much awaited and anticipated return on Friday night, I began getting stircrazy on Saturday. I L-O-V-E my house, don't get me wrong, but I needed fresh air. Rick and I took SweetPea for a walk, raked some leaves and decided to venture out of my "safety zone" to Melody's wedding. I'm glad I did. I wanted her to know how important she is to me. Boy, did we have fun! However, without my five hour nap that day, I was tired after only a few hours.
Sunday, we picked up Rick's "Ole' Red" and finalized the night with the Brown Clan for dinner, and thankfully not a celebratory birthday one. I'm desperately craving MaryAnn's famous German Potato Salad which I can't enjoy in my current state so in a week or two the party will commence in celebration for yet another year added to my time on earth. One birthday wish I'm going to ask for is that I learn how to enjoy these days and actually celebrate them instead of dreading them. Anyways, I'm back in 90% full swing. I should be 100% in a week as far as the mouth and energy goes so watch out!! Thanks again everyone for the positive energy....I felt it long distance and it worked! I feel great and I'm having a speedy recovery (the pics from Saturday should show that!)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Oh bother~ but yeah OBAMA!!
I will be out of commission for a few days...no emails, phone calls, possibly volunteering or wedding party bliss and no birthday party celebrations. I am excitedly getting surprise teeth extractions! I was able to hold them off to tomorrow but both dentist and oral surgeon want at least one, but preferably all three (I'm one short) out before the weekend.
One tooth is completely routine. That tooth has come in completely but since there is no tooth underneath in the lower jaw they want to remove it anyway. If that was the only tooth being removed, it wouldn't even require local and just a numbing agent instead. The other one is completely impacted (impacted means that it hasn't come in yet) but it's in the upper jaw and there is less pain and complications removing it and, again he said it's not a big deal. The problem is the lower right molar is pretty much completely impacted and causing big problems. In a way, I'm sort of thankful because it means that I am not a huge wimp. There is a small opening in the skin were the tooth is trying to come through and an infection has set in under the skin and causing severe gum irritation. There is simply not enough room for the little bugger. When I'm "under, the oral surgeon will see if there are any problems with the adjacent tooth and if we will need to do root canal in the future. I can't do the root canal at the time of the extraction so it would have to wait. I don't anticipate problems. The nerve is not that close where it shouldn't be over stimulated from the extraction and shouldn't cause any problems. His only concern is my current jaw pain and slight swelling of the jaw so there could be further inspection. The moral of the story: take care of your teeth - they are too close to your brain :) and expensive! The suck part is $375 out of my pocket with pretty decent health insurance (that thankfully I get through Rick because otherwise it's (gulp)$1350.). It's a good thing I had two closings this week. So sell a house, lose a tooth... teehee.
Otherwise, I'm thrilled! I can't quit grinning even though it sends a little twinge of pain through my mouth. I slept great knowing that we are working towards "Change" in the future. Thankfully the majority of the country has chosen to look beyond race and differences and come together to achieve what I anticipate and believe will be great things.
One tooth is completely routine. That tooth has come in completely but since there is no tooth underneath in the lower jaw they want to remove it anyway. If that was the only tooth being removed, it wouldn't even require local and just a numbing agent instead. The other one is completely impacted (impacted means that it hasn't come in yet) but it's in the upper jaw and there is less pain and complications removing it and, again he said it's not a big deal. The problem is the lower right molar is pretty much completely impacted and causing big problems. In a way, I'm sort of thankful because it means that I am not a huge wimp. There is a small opening in the skin were the tooth is trying to come through and an infection has set in under the skin and causing severe gum irritation. There is simply not enough room for the little bugger. When I'm "under, the oral surgeon will see if there are any problems with the adjacent tooth and if we will need to do root canal in the future. I can't do the root canal at the time of the extraction so it would have to wait. I don't anticipate problems. The nerve is not that close where it shouldn't be over stimulated from the extraction and shouldn't cause any problems. His only concern is my current jaw pain and slight swelling of the jaw so there could be further inspection. The moral of the story: take care of your teeth - they are too close to your brain :) and expensive! The suck part is $375 out of my pocket with pretty decent health insurance (that thankfully I get through Rick because otherwise it's (gulp)$1350.). It's a good thing I had two closings this week. So sell a house, lose a tooth... teehee.
Otherwise, I'm thrilled! I can't quit grinning even though it sends a little twinge of pain through my mouth. I slept great knowing that we are working towards "Change" in the future. Thankfully the majority of the country has chosen to look beyond race and differences and come together to achieve what I anticipate and believe will be great things.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Ikea = Idea
Well, needless to say, I had too much fun at Ikea for project completion. Oh but the wheels are spinning......Here are a few ideas for future projects OR I just thought the concept was cool. Tomorrow, yep, I agree that it will be the day to complete the full project. I'm resistance because it is by far the most flippin' unusable space in the whole house and a future demolition project. Of course only after the numerous other projects already in place. I really wish we weren't so compulsive but then we would be lazy so there is a purpose for everything I suppose.
Tonight's Goal : Closet Relocation and Organization
I like posting about my goals that I set for each night. It makes me accountable of what I want to accomplish and gives me a sense of rewards once it's completed. Now the test is to set realistic goals, which still remains quite the challenge. But I have been blessed with my Lisa, who reels me in and makes me see the light. Love you sweetie. *Smooch*
Here are a few things that I think I will need:
I plan on moving my closet from our previous first floor master bedroom to our new second floor master bedroom. This weekend with guests actually utilizing that bedroom reinforced that I need to make the move. My only concern, which I strongly hope is not justified after the transition, is that in the morning I will be taking my showers in the first floor bathroom and will have to hike up a flight of stairs for the whole assembling/dressing process. The contingency that I hope makes it worthwhile is that I will also be moving the ironing board and equipment also upstairs. I have to take into consideration that Rick may want to also make the move if the ironing board is upstairs but we'll cross that bridge when we get there OR maybe it will be my surprise to him.
So, tonight is a trip to Ikea with Jackie, my previous neighbor from my condo. This is a two fold event. Jackie and I will finally be able to get caught up with each other since we moved out and will also be able to make a run through Ikea (which she has been meaning to do for some time and hasn't planned it and I can never pass up an opportunity to go). I'm really looking forward to seeing her. Rick and I loved hanging out with Jackie, Keith and Keith's children Blake and Reilly. It was on the CON list when we were trying to decide to buy our house. I love our house. I do miss our condo though. It was exactly the way we wanted it after years of slaving over projects. Instead I get the pleasure of starting over with the house. The fun part is this is long term so we can make some big chances and not feel bad about the budget. For nostalgic purposes, here are pics of my condo in its completion.
We currently have an ugly wire shelving unit to hold our tv in our bedroom that I had used for storage in my office closet. My thoughts were to move it to the closet for storage of stackable items and then get a better structure (table, shelving unit, wall mounted shelf) to hold the tv. This will really open up the space. At some point I want to stain the 2 end stands in the bedroom, paint the room, hang a beautiful mural I have and finish off that room as a cozy retreat that....um....Rick and I will be spending a lot of time in.
Here are a few things that I think I will need:
baskets or bins for sweaters
possible pant hangers
full length mirror
lights - 1 for over the ironing board, 2 in the dressing area
extension cord
something to hold the tv
check out something for open wall in bdrm. (Art)
Take calendar and get frames to hold the photos
curtain and hardware for close window
Stay tuned for the finished product!!
Monday, November 3, 2008
My Affirmations
af·fir·ma·tion
<af-er-mey-shuhn>
noun
1. The act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed. To make firm.
2. The assertion that something exists or is true.
3. Something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that is declared to be true.
4. Confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.
So Here they are - MY affirmations!! After writing them I feel a little nerdy. It actually proved to be a challenge. I bet you could almost guess which ones I scuffed at and had difficulty writing. Let's see how this pans out. I will say these affirmations daily.
Diet
I live a healthy lifestyle.
I am healthy.
I have a healthy diet.
Each meal gives me a change to succeed in my decision.
I make healthy decisions.
I eat all the right foods for optimum performance.
I am in control of what I eat.
Health
I exercise daily.
I enjoy looking good and feeling healthy.
I like my body.
I am attractive.
I have time to exercise.
I am free of unwanted stress.
I make decisions and deal with stress easily.
I sleep relaxed and wake feeling completely refreshed.
I love to exercise and craze it every day.
Work
I am the best agent.
I know more about the market than any other agent.
I am a very confident salesperson.
People want to work with me.
I always know the right thing to do in every moment.
I prosper wherever I turn.
I deserve prosperity of all kinds.
I reach my goals easily.
I am able to maintain my composure.
Lori - Thanks for Chinese (yum...crab rangoons) and hanging out tonight. It's always great to see you, my love! I hope you have great weekend with Bev and enjoy your "down" time. You deserve it! Can't wait until our next visit!!
<af-er-mey-shuhn>
noun
1. The act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed. To make firm.
2. The assertion that something exists or is true.
3. Something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that is declared to be true.
4. Confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.
So Here they are - MY affirmations!! After writing them I feel a little nerdy. It actually proved to be a challenge. I bet you could almost guess which ones I scuffed at and had difficulty writing. Let's see how this pans out. I will say these affirmations daily.
Diet
I live a healthy lifestyle.
I am healthy.
I have a healthy diet.
Each meal gives me a change to succeed in my decision.
I make healthy decisions.
I eat all the right foods for optimum performance.
I am in control of what I eat.
Health
I exercise daily.
I enjoy looking good and feeling healthy.
I like my body.
I am attractive.
I have time to exercise.
I am free of unwanted stress.
I make decisions and deal with stress easily.
I sleep relaxed and wake feeling completely refreshed.
I love to exercise and craze it every day.
Work
I am the best agent.
I know more about the market than any other agent.
I am a very confident salesperson.
People want to work with me.
I always know the right thing to do in every moment.
I prosper wherever I turn.
I deserve prosperity of all kinds.
I reach my goals easily.
I am able to maintain my composure.
Lori - Thanks for Chinese (yum...crab rangoons) and hanging out tonight. It's always great to see you, my love! I hope you have great weekend with Bev and enjoy your "down" time. You deserve it! Can't wait until our next visit!!
Tonight's Goal : Writing Positive Daily Affirmations
Everyone I know who is successful swears by affirmations. I have always found these to be a bunch of "hype" but you know what, why not give it a try? I have thought of doing this before but never really followed through. Once I wrote down 2 in a training class but after a little researched, discovered that I didn't do it "right". Yep...there is a way to do it wrong apparently. So, to ensure that I will do it, I thought I better put it in writing. Stay posted to see my affirmation list. Until I have the list completed, here are a few pointers to how to do it "right".
1. How to compose affirmations
Focus on what you want, not on what you want to avoid. For example, if you want to stop smoking, don’t say, "I want to stop smoking" because that would focus on the behavior you’re trying to end. If you keep thinking about smoking, you’ll feel like smoking! Instead, focus on what you want by saying, "I want to live a healthy lifestyle." Now the focus is on positive, healthy behavior. Don’t worry, once the message reaches your subconscious, it knows that it is necessary to stop smoking to achieve a healthy lifestyle, so it will automatically create the desire for you to quit.
Keep your affirmation brief. If you try to say too much, you lose focus. Zero in on one issue at a time. Once your affirmation begins to materialize (in about 3 weeks), you can move on to another issue with a new affirmation.
Use the present tense. Don’t say, "I WILL grow confident" otherwise your subconscious will keep postponing your desire to "someday" in the future. Instead say, "I AM growing confident."
Be specific. Don’t say, "I am losing weight." After all, your subconscious doesn’t know how much you would like to lose, so it may stop after you lose one pound! Instead, say, "I am losing 15 pounds by October 31st, this year."
Use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person. When you speak to yourself, you use the first person. For example, you may say, "I am ugly." But this thought was planted into your subconscious by people saying, "YOU are ugly." Also, at times, you heard others speaking about you: "TOM is ugly." Your subconscious is used to hearing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd persons, so do the same with your affirmation. In other words, "I am handsome. YOU are handsome. TOM (if your name is Tom) is handsome."
2. Removing conflict
If I use the affirmation "I am confident," isn’t it because I lack confidence? If that’s the case, isn’t the affirmation a lie? How can I believe a lie? There are five ways to reconcile this seeming conflict.
First, reword the affirmation so it is believable. For instance, instead of "I am confident," say, "I contain the seeds of confidence and courage and nurture them daily." Or, simply say, "Each day I grow more and more confident." The exact wording isn’t important, just as long as it is believable to you.
Second, realize that your affirmation is not a statement of fact, but an announcement of your goal. It is not a fact, but the first step in manifesting your dream.
Third, use denial. Instead of merely stating, "I am confident," say, "I am never cowardly. I am always confident." If you only said "I am never cowardly," you would be focusing on negative behavior, but because it is immediately followed by, "I am always confident," it remains a positive statement. The denial announces to the subconscious that its present image of you as cowardly is false.
The fourth technique is powerful. Use two sheets of paper. On one sheet write your affirmation 20 to 30 times. Each time you write the affirmation, you immediately write the thoughts that come to mind on the second sheet. Keep repeating. Affirmation and response, affirmation and response. As you do so, you will find your responses slowing changing. For example, your thoughts may flow from, "I don’t think this stuff works," to "I suppose it is possible," to "I guess if I religiously practice it, it will work after all," to "I want it to work. I know it will work. I’m going to keep practicing every day until it does work."
The fifth method is to change your affirmation into a question. So, instead of, "I am confident," say "What do I need to do to grow courageous?" or "How can I become courageous?" Your affirmation becomes a question, which results in your subconscious inspiring you with a plan of action.
3. Practicing your affirmation
Before beginning, relax and clear your mind. Decide what issue you want to work on or what goal you wish to accomplish. Then, create your affirmation. Next, practice writing your affirmation and responses between 20 and 30 times. Do this every night before going to sleep. The thoughts you experienced will carry on as you fall asleep, hastening the time it takes before your subconscious accepts the affirmation and changes your behavior. Do this every day for at least three weeks before moving on to a new affirmation. Keep a journal and record all the changes that are occurring because of your affirmations. This will keep you focused, strengthening and speeding up results. Persistence and repetition are the keys. Never skip a day. Make it part of your daily routine. Energize your affirmation with emotion. How will you feel after you achieve the desired results? Experience those feelings now by visualizing your success. This will energize your affirmation and help it to bear fruit.
4. Manifesting your affirmations
Don’t just sit back, waiting for your affirmation to magically transform your life. Start making things happen today. Your actions and affirmations support and reinforce each other. When affirmations and action steps are practiced simultaneously, explosive power is released, and your success is assured. So, do both.
For example, if I’m very shy, I may use this affirmation: "I am no longer shy. I am comfortable speaking to others." However, while I’m practicing the affirmation, I take immediate action. It doesn’t matter how small the steps are, as long as I take steps. So, whenever I see someone I would like to speak with, instead of ignoring them, I now say "Hi!" as I walk by. No need to stop.
As I keep repeating my affirmations and this small step, I will happily come to the realization that speaking to others may be easier than I imagined. Soon I will be ready to extend my "conversation" from a brief "Hi!" to a lengthier "Hello!" Again, there’s no need to stop or wait for a reply (I’m shy, remember?). I’m just taking baby steps, but I am making progress!
Before long, I will greet others with a "long" three-word sentence: "How are you?" When I’m up to four words ("Nice to see you!), someone will probably stop me and start a conversation. "Where are you off to?" they may ask. Without hesitation, I’ll probably say something like, "I’m going to the library."
Wow! Miracle of miracles! I just had a conversation with someone I’ve been wanting to, but too shy to, speak to. How did that happen? The answer is, of course, it happened because of the power released by using affirmations and action steps together. And what they are now doing for my shyness they will soon be doing for other areas of my life! An exciting thought isn’t it?
5. Reinforcing your affirmations
The procedures outlined above are sufficient for reprogramming your mind; however, to hasten and strengthen your results, you can reinforce your affirmations by applying one or more of the following methods.
Make your own 10-minute tape. Make a tape of the affirmation you are working on. Vary the wording and use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person for each statement. Play the tape while you are working on another project, just relaxing, or going to sleep. You do not have to listen to it; just make sure that it is close enough to be audible. (It doesn’t have to be loud.) Your affirmation will be reinforced as your subconscious perceives the recorded message.
Example of recorded message.
I am confident. You are confident. Chuck (your name) is confident.
I am (You are, Chuck is) no longer timid; I am (You are, Chuck is) always confident.
I am (You are, Chuck is) never timid; I am (You are, Chuck is) always confident.
I grow (You grow, Chuck grows) more and more confident every day.
Every day in every way, I grow (You grow, Chuck grows) increasingly confident. . . .
(Repeat often enough to make a ten minute tape.)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
You can write your affirmation on cards, and attach one to the bathroom mirror, place one on top portion of your computer monitor’s frame, and another in your wallet or purse, next to your money. Now every time you look at the mirror, face your computer, or reach for some money, you will see your affirmation. There is no need to consciously look at it, read it, or say it. Its mere presence will serve as a trigger to reinforce and further implant the message in your subconscious. You will soon think of other places where you can put cards, such as in your car. Also, instead of a bookmark, use an affirmation card to keep your place.
1. How to compose affirmations
Focus on what you want, not on what you want to avoid. For example, if you want to stop smoking, don’t say, "I want to stop smoking" because that would focus on the behavior you’re trying to end. If you keep thinking about smoking, you’ll feel like smoking! Instead, focus on what you want by saying, "I want to live a healthy lifestyle." Now the focus is on positive, healthy behavior. Don’t worry, once the message reaches your subconscious, it knows that it is necessary to stop smoking to achieve a healthy lifestyle, so it will automatically create the desire for you to quit.
Keep your affirmation brief. If you try to say too much, you lose focus. Zero in on one issue at a time. Once your affirmation begins to materialize (in about 3 weeks), you can move on to another issue with a new affirmation.
Use the present tense. Don’t say, "I WILL grow confident" otherwise your subconscious will keep postponing your desire to "someday" in the future. Instead say, "I AM growing confident."
Be specific. Don’t say, "I am losing weight." After all, your subconscious doesn’t know how much you would like to lose, so it may stop after you lose one pound! Instead, say, "I am losing 15 pounds by October 31st, this year."
Use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person. When you speak to yourself, you use the first person. For example, you may say, "I am ugly." But this thought was planted into your subconscious by people saying, "YOU are ugly." Also, at times, you heard others speaking about you: "TOM is ugly." Your subconscious is used to hearing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd persons, so do the same with your affirmation. In other words, "I am handsome. YOU are handsome. TOM (if your name is Tom) is handsome."
2. Removing conflict
If I use the affirmation "I am confident," isn’t it because I lack confidence? If that’s the case, isn’t the affirmation a lie? How can I believe a lie? There are five ways to reconcile this seeming conflict.
First, reword the affirmation so it is believable. For instance, instead of "I am confident," say, "I contain the seeds of confidence and courage and nurture them daily." Or, simply say, "Each day I grow more and more confident." The exact wording isn’t important, just as long as it is believable to you.
Second, realize that your affirmation is not a statement of fact, but an announcement of your goal. It is not a fact, but the first step in manifesting your dream.
Third, use denial. Instead of merely stating, "I am confident," say, "I am never cowardly. I am always confident." If you only said "I am never cowardly," you would be focusing on negative behavior, but because it is immediately followed by, "I am always confident," it remains a positive statement. The denial announces to the subconscious that its present image of you as cowardly is false.
The fourth technique is powerful. Use two sheets of paper. On one sheet write your affirmation 20 to 30 times. Each time you write the affirmation, you immediately write the thoughts that come to mind on the second sheet. Keep repeating. Affirmation and response, affirmation and response. As you do so, you will find your responses slowing changing. For example, your thoughts may flow from, "I don’t think this stuff works," to "I suppose it is possible," to "I guess if I religiously practice it, it will work after all," to "I want it to work. I know it will work. I’m going to keep practicing every day until it does work."
The fifth method is to change your affirmation into a question. So, instead of, "I am confident," say "What do I need to do to grow courageous?" or "How can I become courageous?" Your affirmation becomes a question, which results in your subconscious inspiring you with a plan of action.
3. Practicing your affirmation
Before beginning, relax and clear your mind. Decide what issue you want to work on or what goal you wish to accomplish. Then, create your affirmation. Next, practice writing your affirmation and responses between 20 and 30 times. Do this every night before going to sleep. The thoughts you experienced will carry on as you fall asleep, hastening the time it takes before your subconscious accepts the affirmation and changes your behavior. Do this every day for at least three weeks before moving on to a new affirmation. Keep a journal and record all the changes that are occurring because of your affirmations. This will keep you focused, strengthening and speeding up results. Persistence and repetition are the keys. Never skip a day. Make it part of your daily routine. Energize your affirmation with emotion. How will you feel after you achieve the desired results? Experience those feelings now by visualizing your success. This will energize your affirmation and help it to bear fruit.
4. Manifesting your affirmations
Don’t just sit back, waiting for your affirmation to magically transform your life. Start making things happen today. Your actions and affirmations support and reinforce each other. When affirmations and action steps are practiced simultaneously, explosive power is released, and your success is assured. So, do both.
For example, if I’m very shy, I may use this affirmation: "I am no longer shy. I am comfortable speaking to others." However, while I’m practicing the affirmation, I take immediate action. It doesn’t matter how small the steps are, as long as I take steps. So, whenever I see someone I would like to speak with, instead of ignoring them, I now say "Hi!" as I walk by. No need to stop.
As I keep repeating my affirmations and this small step, I will happily come to the realization that speaking to others may be easier than I imagined. Soon I will be ready to extend my "conversation" from a brief "Hi!" to a lengthier "Hello!" Again, there’s no need to stop or wait for a reply (I’m shy, remember?). I’m just taking baby steps, but I am making progress!
Before long, I will greet others with a "long" three-word sentence: "How are you?" When I’m up to four words ("Nice to see you!), someone will probably stop me and start a conversation. "Where are you off to?" they may ask. Without hesitation, I’ll probably say something like, "I’m going to the library."
Wow! Miracle of miracles! I just had a conversation with someone I’ve been wanting to, but too shy to, speak to. How did that happen? The answer is, of course, it happened because of the power released by using affirmations and action steps together. And what they are now doing for my shyness they will soon be doing for other areas of my life! An exciting thought isn’t it?
5. Reinforcing your affirmations
The procedures outlined above are sufficient for reprogramming your mind; however, to hasten and strengthen your results, you can reinforce your affirmations by applying one or more of the following methods.
Make your own 10-minute tape. Make a tape of the affirmation you are working on. Vary the wording and use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person for each statement. Play the tape while you are working on another project, just relaxing, or going to sleep. You do not have to listen to it; just make sure that it is close enough to be audible. (It doesn’t have to be loud.) Your affirmation will be reinforced as your subconscious perceives the recorded message.
Example of recorded message.
I am confident. You are confident. Chuck (your name) is confident.
I am (You are, Chuck is) no longer timid; I am (You are, Chuck is) always confident.
I am (You are, Chuck is) never timid; I am (You are, Chuck is) always confident.
I grow (You grow, Chuck grows) more and more confident every day.
Every day in every way, I grow (You grow, Chuck grows) increasingly confident. . . .
(Repeat often enough to make a ten minute tape.)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
You can write your affirmation on cards, and attach one to the bathroom mirror, place one on top portion of your computer monitor’s frame, and another in your wallet or purse, next to your money. Now every time you look at the mirror, face your computer, or reach for some money, you will see your affirmation. There is no need to consciously look at it, read it, or say it. Its mere presence will serve as a trigger to reinforce and further implant the message in your subconscious. You will soon think of other places where you can put cards, such as in your car. Also, instead of a bookmark, use an affirmation card to keep your place.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween Fun...
The weekend started an hour earlier, thank you Martin. I got home and my parents were already there with everything ready for our Taco dinner. What a nice surprise! I had bought all the candy for the cute trick-or-treaters and had it set aside. So all I needed to do was change into my costume. I was a Camelot Princess and SweetPea was a German Barmaid (to signify Rick's trip in Germany).
The best part of the night had to be the practical joke we played on Tammy. Tammy is absolutely terrified of spiders. She also freaks out about the fact that Rick and I have had a single bat in our house 3 times now. We have no idea how the little bugger gets in and each time we catch him and humanly release him. It's part of having an old house. My dad gave me the best gift ever and homemade bat house so when Rick releases the bat I secretly hope to see it again, except in its own home this time. Well, Tammy got a double whammie - only one part intentional. We were cleaning up the kitchen and a real live spider was in the sink that T was rinsing dishes in. You could imagine her reaction. Running around, screaming, throwing things in the sink, throwing me in in the path of the eight-legged creature, etc. Well, Kyle, Dad and I were in on a stunt to scary T with a very lifelike bat. Well, immediately following the spider fiasco Kyle and Dad threw the bat through the kitchen. It soared like it was real. In fact, even though I was in on the stunt, it startled me a little. Tammy flipped out. She knocked me down, flung her arms around me knocking my glasses off in the meantime, and jumped on my lap burying her face into my hair begging me to save her. It was the funniest thing ever. It was so funny that I pied my pants from laughing so hard and for so long, literally. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have the worst bladder control. Part is based on an allergic reaction to medication as a young child and the other part is simply because I am easily amused. I certainly wish that we recorded it because we could have won the $100,000 prize of Funniest Home Videos.
Saturday entailed me working on my copycat book of Lisa's with the various articles that interested me over the years. What is so ironic is Lisa and I both have always saved articles that interest us. She came up with the great idea to put in a binder, sorted by categories and I think it's so ingenius that I have to do it too. Ironically, we also collect magnets from our travels too. Both before we even knew each other. Wierd, huh?
My brother came over to hang out with me Saturday night. We made homemade pizzas and watched What Happens in Vegas and Hitch. I ended up crashing out early because of my pain. Explanation later.
Sadly, we went through only half of the candy we did last year. I thought maybe it was because of the lagging economy (a lot of the costumes were homemade including (GULP) a McCain costume (who only got one piece of candy instead of a handful) but after talking to my brother it might have been because Clinton was playing in the football playoffs. After handing out candy, Mom, Dad and I watched scary movies. Tammy and Karson hung out for Graveyard while Kyle was at Halloween Party. Then we finished the night with your classic Friday the Thirteenth Part VI and Pumpkinhead.
The best part of the night had to be the practical joke we played on Tammy. Tammy is absolutely terrified of spiders. She also freaks out about the fact that Rick and I have had a single bat in our house 3 times now. We have no idea how the little bugger gets in and each time we catch him and humanly release him. It's part of having an old house. My dad gave me the best gift ever and homemade bat house so when Rick releases the bat I secretly hope to see it again, except in its own home this time. Well, Tammy got a double whammie - only one part intentional. We were cleaning up the kitchen and a real live spider was in the sink that T was rinsing dishes in. You could imagine her reaction. Running around, screaming, throwing things in the sink, throwing me in in the path of the eight-legged creature, etc. Well, Kyle, Dad and I were in on a stunt to scary T with a very lifelike bat. Well, immediately following the spider fiasco Kyle and Dad threw the bat through the kitchen. It soared like it was real. In fact, even though I was in on the stunt, it startled me a little. Tammy flipped out. She knocked me down, flung her arms around me knocking my glasses off in the meantime, and jumped on my lap burying her face into my hair begging me to save her. It was the funniest thing ever. It was so funny that I pied my pants from laughing so hard and for so long, literally. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have the worst bladder control. Part is based on an allergic reaction to medication as a young child and the other part is simply because I am easily amused. I certainly wish that we recorded it because we could have won the $100,000 prize of Funniest Home Videos.
Saturday entailed me working on my copycat book of Lisa's with the various articles that interested me over the years. What is so ironic is Lisa and I both have always saved articles that interest us. She came up with the great idea to put in a binder, sorted by categories and I think it's so ingenius that I have to do it too. Ironically, we also collect magnets from our travels too. Both before we even knew each other. Wierd, huh?
My brother came over to hang out with me Saturday night. We made homemade pizzas and watched What Happens in Vegas and Hitch. I ended up crashing out early because of my pain. Explanation later.
Sunday my parents surprised me to share in the responsibility of home ownership. I had mentioned my guilt of staying inside on such a beautiful day on Sat. when I should be in the yard. So we raked leaves (one of my favorite things to do but sadly I have noticed the decline in the arm muscles this year), cleaned up flower beds, dug leaves out of gutters, dug up precious winter-sensitive plants, collected up yard art for safe keeping and took down Halloween outside decor.
Meanwhile the whole weekend I have sported the worst tooth ache. I have never even had a cavity so dealing with this rather uncomfortableness is something I'm not used to. It started Wednesday. I thought maybe it was from brushing my teeth too roughly or damaging my gums while flossing to hard from the popcorn I ate.....whatever it is, it needs to go away. The pain caused me to head off to bed early on Sat. with lots of Oragel and Sunday I took a long nap after my chores. Still the pain exists. I can't wait for my appt. on Wednesday. All and all, it was a great weekend to help distract me from Rick's abesence. I don't tell my parents thank you enough so here it is recorded in internet-world. Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you!!
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