Growing UP Blog Friendly

I like my little blog. It is helping me to finish growing up. I am deliberately keeping it light when I write in this blog. I can carry on conversations about politics and nutrition and world events. But when I write in this blog I want to keep it uncomplicated and random.

There are times that a subject means more to me than others, but in my writing here I still keep it light. For some reason this helps me say things and step back.

There are so many blogs online and we all have our own reasons for "owning" them. In my case, I am owning up to my feelings and when I write it helps me understand myself better. I find out so many things I am interested in when I google something or something comes into my mind when I am not at the computer.

The appearance of simplicity in this format and the simple language I use to express things here are what I am comfortable with. When I wander through the other blogs it gets to be too much, all the ads down both sides, all the different colors, the different font sizes. I just want to read something, not have to wade through all the distractions to get to something worth reading. I am not judging other blogs, I am only helping myself understand what I like about the simplicity in my blog.

When I check out other bloggers' profiles, many of them have more than one blog. I am content with one.

Sunday

Probably half the people I know are celebrating Easter Sunday today.

I send greetings for a momentous day.

My day is just as I would like it to be.

Free. Peaceful. Simple. Loving.

Not just today.

Everyday.

SUNLIGHT

Found here:

"Here’s something completely different that might be just the ticket. Sunrise Serenade ($150) uses a soothing translucent orb that gradually changes the amount of light to wake you up to a simulated sunrise. You can also change it around and fall asleep to a calming sunset."

Since I do not have to use an alarm anymore, I wouldn't have the need for this alarm clock, but if I had known about this sooner, I would have owned one in a heartbeat!

My Friend Anthony

The first time I met Anthony was at a large hall. The interesting seating arrangement was the first thing that caught my eye. Instead of the usual rows of chairs, there were round tables, similar to card tables with padded table tops. And comfortable chairs around the tables. We were all there to hear a panel discussion so there were long tables in front and tables in the rear with coffee urns and brochures and books.

The table I was standing beside was nearest the front door, so when Anthony walked in the door we met. When Anthony's friend arrived a few minutes later, they both sat at the same table since we had already met.

Since that first meeting, I have come to know Anthony and consider him a friend. One of the things I like about him is learning that the quiet manner is not shyness, rather, he is not someone who talks to hear himself talk. When he says something it is usually important and sometimes profound. I am always happy to be someone in hearing range of this talented young man. And he is that: Very talented. An artist.

Another unusual trait is his hearing. He has the ability to listen. Listening with respect, without judgment, and truly hearing is something some people never learn. For someone so young to be able to listen like Anthony does, is a window to his soul.

I am looking forward to Anthony's visit today. He is coming to see us today. We are preparing loaves of bread, timing their completion to when Anthony will be here so we can share fresh bread with him.

Being friends with Anthony is a blessing for me. We can talk candidly about any subject and it teaches me that human beings can meet on even ground and teach one other many things no matter what age any of us are at the time. There are many years between Anthony and myself, but we are friends. Something I have had very few of in my life.

Building A Soup

Learning to cook has come late in my life. I was not taught how to cook or work in the kitchen like some children were, so when I was on my own in an apartment and working and supporting myself, I could make a sandwich or open a can of soup. I was not Suzy Homemaker. No offense to the true Suzy's I have admired and envied.

This past year I began experimenting with making soups in the crock pot. Sometimes using leftovers and sometimes trying something a little unusual.

This morning I went through the cupboards and the refrigerator, pulling out things and setting them on the counter. I could see how I was learning the art of building a soup. I can also understand why I was not able to do something like this before. I was not thinking clearly enough to build anything, even soup.

Today all the collected ingredients will go into the crock pot and will be another soup to nourish the body. For me, it will also provide sustenance for my soul.

I'm still not Suzy Homemaker, but I have tasted the joy of combining foods and having some soups turn out very well.

This is a good start. Building is a good thing, even just starting with building a soup.

I Like To See The Morning

One of the things I will now be able to do in a relaxed state is SEE THE MORNING.

Even as a very small child, one of my secret pleasures was seeing the morning arrive. We moved so often that Sunrise through the trees was one of the only constants. I understand this constant now.

I have always been a "morning person", not able to stay up very late, more in tune with nature, when the sun goes down my system gets ready to rest to be ready for the next awesome morning.

Every morning is awesome, whether it is cloudy or brilliant first sun. AWESOME.

Now that my mornings aren't busy with the pre-work rituals, I can get a cup of coffee and open the curtains and watch with an open heart, trusting that the first peep of sun is an indication for me that I will enjoy another day of natural sunlight and warmth for my soul.

I REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE MORNING!! To experience it and be part of it.

Oh, happy days ahead for me.

I Threw Away My Lunch Bag

Today is Monday. Usually on Monday I have to get up early and make my lunch and go to work.

NOT ANYMORE!!

This is a picture of me throwing away my lunch bag. I won't need to make my lunch anymore.

NOT ANYMORE!!

Today is the first day of my retirement. My last day to go to work was Friday. I won't go to work anymore.

NOT ANYMORE!!!

Say It With Color

White:white lie, white elephant

Black:black as telephones, black sheep,black belt

Green:green with envy, green thumb, greenback, greener pastures, green-eyed monsters, green around the gills,green horn

Red:ruby red lips,rosy cheeks,seeing red, red carpet treatment, caught red handed, not worth a red cent, red letter day, red tape, in the red

Blue:feeling blue, true blue, out of the blue,blue plate special,once in a blue moon, blue blood, blue suede shoes

Brown: brown bagging, brown out, brownstone

Then And Now---Driving

Years ago when I was a teenager learning to drive, the rules of the road were written in cement. I attended drivers training classes at school, passed my driving tests at DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles), earned a drivers license along with the privilege of driving my old klunker car up and down the main drag on the way to and from school.

During those times there was something called a "rolling stop" which was not making a complete stop at a stop sign. And guess what, there were consequences for not making a complete stop: A Traffic Ticket.

Today at least in the area of the country I live, most of the drivers do NOT make a full stop at a stop sign, in fact they don't attempt to slow down at a stop sign. I have to admit I have done the same thing myself at a corner that is very familiar to me and driving on a one way street and absolutely no traffic. One day I did the rolling stop at that corner in front of a local police person. And received a smirk from the driver of the police car and nothing else. The police these days have so much more to do than worry about a driver not making a complete stop at a stop sign.

Part of me is melancholy when I think back to the days of less traffic, less populace, simple rules.

Could it be that my memories are dim after all these years? I don't think so. I do remember riding in a car with other people who were pulled over and given tickets for not making a complete stop. That is why it is clear to me that there used to be interest in enforcing the minor traffic laws but like other things in this life there are way too many more things to do than the simple rules of yesteryear.

Driving Forward

Driving forward is a lot easier than driving in reverse.

In reverse, you can't see as clearly, you take the chance of running over something or hitting something head-on.

If the gear is in park, that means sitting still, not moving at all, not forward or backward.

As in my life, it doesn't get me anywhere constructive to look backward or live in the past and it sure doesn't get me anywhere to sit still and be stuck in the present even though I believe that living in the present is the healthy thing to do. But when I live in the present, it is healthy to be actively living there, to participate and BE present. When I do that, I am actually driving forward, seeing the road clearly and making wise decisions. I might have to stop once in awhile to clean the windshield and get focused again, and then the wheels begin rolling again in this earthly vehicle I call my life.

No Queues To Use The Head

Hopefully they cleaned the sinks first.

This is a pretty handy dandy restaurant.



Apparently the first Taiwanese Toilet Bowl Restaurant was so popular that they opened a second one … who knows, maybe this will become the next big global franchise. 10 years from now, instead of visiting the Golden Arches, you might just be stopping into the
Poo Poo Palace!

Dreaming In Multi-Color

Most of my dreams are in color. Brilliant colors. Brighter colors than on a television screen or a cinema screen. My life has certainly not been dull, so the fact that my dreams are such amazing colors seems as natural to me as having my first cup of coffee in the mornings.

I said most of my dreams are in color. There are a few stragglers from my distant childhood that remain black and white. Unpleasant dreams. Not of any actual events, but visions that were unnerving for the child experiencing the nocturnal nightmares.

Leftover dreams from my childhood are in black and white.

I don't have those dreams very often anymore.

Today's dreams feature people, pets, adventures. In brilliant color.

Missed Calls

This morning there were three missed calls on my cell phone. I am not one of the people walking around holding a cell phone to an ear or driving while trying to negotiate traffic. I don't begrudge anyone who uses a cell phone most of their waking hours. My lifestyle is different by choice.

To the best of my recollection, people used to use etiquette on the phone and this was taught to children in beginner telephone 101.

In the past, if I wanted to know if I missed a call I would install an answering machine to the home telephone and that way someone could LEAVE A MESSAGE. What a unique concept.

When I see the orange blinking light on my cell phone, I know I either have a message or there was a missed call.

If there is a missed call, I console myself with my standard approach of "hey, if it were important, they would LEAVE A MESSAGE".

Chili For Breakfast

We chopped green peppers, lots of onions, and opened cans of black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans while ground turkey and chili seasoning browned on the stove. These ingredients were placed in the crock pot and stewed tomatoes were added to the mix.

We awoke to the smell of chili.

We scrambled eggs and poured chili on top.

How's that for a hearty breakfast???

Like the shrimp in Forest Gump, we can do chili dogs, chili nachos, chili and cheese, chili on baked potato, chili rice, chili spaghetti, chili burritos, chili fries, chili casserole, chili macaroni, and chili and shrimp!

Guess that makes us full of beans!

This Baby Makes Sense

Lists, Lists, And More Lists

My life is ablaze with a myriad of lists.

Not just the standard grocery list. Or the Target list.

Nah, I have lists of chores to get done by next month. And then lists of chores to accomplish by two months from now.

I have attacked one of the lists this week and have put the items up for sale that will not go with us on our next move. The second car was snatched up in the first day. Only two other large items to sell and then we can have a yard sale.

Elimination can mean so many things.

Love and Romance

I Found My Heart In The Dust

On the tall dresser is a small box of gold leaf and etched glass. Inside are all my bracelets.

My dear husband casually mentioned that he had left me a note on the dresser. After searching later that afternoon, I saw something beautiful.

Written in the dust of the top of the etched glass was a heart and and arrow pointing to the heart. Since it was glass, it was not easy to see and did not stand out.

So when I walked back into the living room I said "I found my heart in the dust".

Ah, true love. It is so grand.

Scabs On My Knees

There is difference between scabs and callouses.

Callouses are like wearing a medal of honor to show continuous work.

Scabs show my inability to let it heal, my unwillingness to give up the pain and my pleasure in picking away at the sore and my enjoyment in the new pain.

Learning to live a healthy life is a circle of becoming aware of when I am picking at the scabs as opposed to building up the callouses.

Mushy Stuff

Valentine's Day is approaching. I am aware of that because of the advertisements in the newspapers strewn across the tables in the lunch room at work and hearing snippets of conversations between co-workers. There is an excitement akin to the Christmas holidays with people looking forward to presents, flowers, or at least a box of chocolates!

This is not a Bah-Humbug post. Not at all. In fact, I am one of the proponents of romance and love and mushy stuff. But in my case, I like that mushy stuff throughout the year, not on one day a year.

At our house we do not give each other Valentine's Day cards or presents or flowers or even chocolates. The reasons for this are:

We sneak little notes to each other several times a week, in a cupboard, in the medicine cabinet, on a pillow, inside a book one of us is currently reading or in an odd place that presents us with a happy surprise. There is no need to buy a card and sign it or even make a card when we do that all the time.

We do not buy presents for each other because we are at an age that we have what we need and want and the more important reason is that we have been the loveliest gift to each other and we are thankful for every day we have together. We are a gift to each other every day, not one day a year. Even when we argue, we don't want to hurt each other, we just want to be heard and get our opinion recognized as important.

Flowers are lovely and we each appreciate the glorious beauty of nature; however, seeing a smile on my beloved's face and the twinkle of the eyes brings more joy than a roomful of flowers could present.

Chocolates are not out of the question completely, except that we do not use any sugar; not natural sugar or synthetic sugars. The only sweeteners we have used for a year and a half are honey and pure maple syrup. We make our "candy" using carob and natural items and we share a piece of candy in a loving, peaceful atmosphere throughout the year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and maybe some of the sweetness of this particular holiday will find its way into your life more often throughout the year and not be absent in your life until the next Valentine's Day.

Little Red Wagon

A neighbor has a sweet older red wagon on her front porch.

Her name is stenciled on the sides in white paint.

I think we all should have a sweet little red wagon with our names on it to remind us of a time to play and laugh and run and share rides.

I never had a sweet little red wagon, and never had a childhood of laughter and play and shares. I do now though. My goal is this year to find a small sweet little red wagon and put my name on it.

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Music, Music, Music

"Guitar strings are the toner cartridges of the guitar industry"

explained James Winningham, guitar play extraordinaire, as he was relating the guitar playing business to a full time office employee person.

"Guitar players hate to change strings, so there are new tech strings coated or wrapped in something, called Elixir Strings, that are twice the price of regular strings."

Listen to the clip of James' music in the sidebar of this blog. He is currently finalizing 7 original tunes for an upcoming CD.
I found some info on the Elixir Strings on Guitar Talk:

"If you like the smoothness of the Elixir strings, I highly recommend the D'Addario Flat Tops and D'Addario Chromes. I exclusively use Flat Tops and Chromes, and have never experienced breakage or defects with any of them. Two of my instruments actually had the same set of Flat Tops on them for nearly three years, and they never broke or sounded "old." I finally changed the string sets on both instruments, out of sheer embarrassment that I left the same strings on my instruments for such an insane amount of time. D'Addario Flat Tops were the obvious choice for the new sets!"

At Key Note Music:

"Strings are not just strings. They are the connection between you and your music. When strings go dead, so goes the inspiration to play. After all, who wants to play when strings feel crusty and their sound is dull and muddy? It's a curse we lived with for years.
With a vision to change the world one set of strings at a time, Elixir set out to develop the cure for the common string. Strings that deliver great tone for a really long time. Strings that stay feeling clean and smooth."

Living with a guitar player has its rewards: He plays for ME!! He sings to ME! He is marrying ME! And I am learning more every day from a wonderfully talented musician/composer.

Beautiful Women

Put your sound on, relax, enjoy the many faces through the
progression of earth time.

Good Neighbor Policy?

Found
the
graphic
at
rottenneighbor.com.

Cute idea, huh.

Also found some good words about neighboring at can you hear me now:

"All of us have a neighbor or two that is less than desirable.
They say that one out of three homes are owned by rotten type neighbors.
Look around you. If the neighbors on either side of you are OK;
GUESS WHAT?

If you find out that such a site exists for your area, would you be afraid to go there and check it out?

If you answered YES! to that question perhaps some radical changes are needed on your part.

Have you noticed this awful odor and it's pretty strong where you are sitting? That's another clue that there's something wrong and it's closer in the mirror of life than you suspect."

Taking A Personal Inventory

It is taking a long time for me to take a personal inventory. This is something I want to do and that I think I will benefit immensely when it is completed. I am writing down a few significant people in my life during different age groups up to and including the age I am now. And then I am building upon that by writing about an event that I remember that was significant to me at that time. And then I am writing what was my part in it and how did it impact my life; what behaviors did I begin or what reactions did I reinforce.

This didn't sound like a difficult task. Until I started doing it.

There were so many different people who have been significant in my life, so picking the top three or four for each age group was the first challenge. Then for me to really be honest and to see my part in each incident requires some soul searching.

I know that many other people have done this same type of personal work and have lived through it and gained insight into their past. I know that many people have done soul searching work and benefited from the honesty and self evaluation. To do this kind of work on myself and fly through it and not do a rigorous personal inventory would be like calling myself an honest thief or an anorexic chef or a blind bird watcher. I have to give it my all. I want to. This is taking more time than I thought it would. But I have lots of time. I have the rest of my life. And the rest of my life is looking healthier and happier and serene.

Memories

I found a wonderful post on The Art Of Intimacy:

"A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen."by Edward de Bono.

Our memories are what keeps us connected to reality. Read this post and the rest of her blog. Very encouraging and enlightening.

Kids Will Eat Anything If It Is In McDonald's Wrapper

According to this story in the New York Daily News, young children think

"anything in a McDonald's wrapper - even a vegetable - tastes better than the same food in a plain wrapper."

...and...

"It's not just burgers and fries. Carrots, milk and apple juice tasted better to the kids when they were wrapped in the the Golden Arches.

The study had youngsters sample identical McDonald's foods in name-brand and unmarked wrappers. The unmarked foods always lost the taste test. Robinson said it was remarkable how children so young were already so influenced by advertising.

The study involved 63 low-income children ages 3 to 5 from Head Start centers in San Mateo County, California."

I raised my kids on McDonald's. Yikes!!!

TechnoBabe Needs More Technical Expertise

Wow! For the past two weeks TechnoBabe has had to watch helplessly while James struggled with the physical demands of the move to the new domicile. The dog has not stopped barking for longer than 10 minutes in the two and a half weeks we have been in the new place. The computers were down for two weeks due to problems in the phone line so there was no DSL and when we switched to cable company for digital service they were unable to provide the service as well. So my persistent fiance worked for two days to learn the ins and outs of wireless service and set us up on our own wireless network. What a guy!!! And to make it even better, the cell phone service was not available at the new place either. The cell phone was with a different carrier than the DSL so that meant two companies to be contacted every day, and the only way he could contact anyone was to drive a few blocks away to the parking lot of the grocery store and make calls. I was at work during the day so I was not able to help and even if I had been here I could not have helped as I am a dope about hooking up the internet and not the technobabe as advertised. The truth is out. The techno behind the babe is James.
And I am so very grateful to him for hanging in there and completing the move and the trials and tribulations that went with it.

So we are getting settled in the new place, a few boxes left to unpack. The pictures are on the walls and we have cooked on the new stove.

This is a tribute to an amazing man who has endured and won. And won my heart again and again and again.

How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of The Ex

We all have at least one ex. An ex-spouse, an ex-lover, an ex-friend. The key being EX. The longer we were in the relationship with the ex, it stands to reason the longer it takes to get over the ex. Even if it was an abusive relationship, we seem to want to carry around the memories and bring them out once in awhile like a photo album.

The question is: How long should it take to phase out the ex? I know the memories cannot and should not be eradicated. The experiences with the ex were a stepping stone to the present.

If we are harboring feelings of shame or remorse for any behavior toward the ex or any unkindness to the ex, even more difficult to clean out the closet completely.

I could shell out the $14.95 here for a book to help get over the ex, or I could just get over it. I choose the latter.

Monday Monday

I look forward to Wednesdays.

Sunday mornings too.

But Mondays still suck.

Ah well.

I've Been Tagged

What were you doing 10 years ago?

In 1997 I was I working as a mortgage processor and I was 3 years away from ending a long term marriage.


What were you doing 1 year ago?

I was with living with James and our dog and was self employed.

Five snacks you enjoy:

1. Raisins
2. Dried apricots
3. James' homemade carob candy
4. apples
5. cheese and crackers

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:


1. The Reason
2. The Star Spangled Banner
3. Peaceful Easy Feeling
4. Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
5. American Pie

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Buy acreage to build a simple home and have plenty of land
2. Put a Geodesic Dome on the land
3. Provide anonymous scholarships
4. Not have any debts
5. Quit my job

Five bad habits:

1.) Scratching my ear
2.) Interrupting
3.) Procrastinating when it is something I do not want to do
4.) Shutting down
5.) Avoidance


Five things you like doing:

1. Reading
2. Walking
3. Listening to music
4. Writing in my journal
5. Being with James


Five things you would never wear again:

1. A bathing suit
2. Large jewelry
3. Flannel nightgown
4. Blue nail polish
5. Formal clothes



Five favorite toys:

1. Bubbles
2. Darts
3. Squirt gun
4. Swing
5. Paints

TAG, YOU'RE IT:

Lorna
Fancy

Giving Up Daydreaming and Living For Real

I spent most of my life daydreaming. Not in a soft romantic way. Not in a planning the next day way. My daydreaming was a way to hide away from the cold cruel world and not be myself. I didn't have to feel real feelings or deal with real issues and I chose not to participate in my own life.

Too many things happened to me as a child and as a young adult that prompted my "absentmindedness" so to speak. To cover up the pain and to help me survive, I chose to close down and hide myself away and not get close to anyone and not let anyone see me and know the real me. That was hard work!!

Today I am getting to know myself. Today I am awake. Today I am feeling. Today I am getting healthy.

Independence VS Codependence

Independence. Autonomy. Liberty. Freedom.

Codependence. Powerlessness. Loneliness. Isolation.

I am learning to take responsibility for myself. Answers come from within.

As I learn how to care about myself and take care of myself, I find a new freedom.

I am finding my independence. And happiness.

Happy Independence Day to all who are healthy and all who want to be healthy and all who will one day want to be healthy. Health within self is true independence.

Alcohol in Powdered Form

Found at cnn.com:

"AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuters) -- Dutch students have invented powdered alcohol which they say can be sold legally to minors.

The latest innovation in inebriation, called Booz2Go, is available in 20-gram packets that cost €1-1.5 ($1.35-$2).

Top it up with water and you have a bubbly, lime-colored and -flavored drink with just 3 percent alcohol content.

"We are aiming for the youth market. They are really more into it because you can compare it with Bacardi-mixed drinks," 20-year-old Harm van Elderen told Reuters.

Van Elderen and four classmates at Helicon Vocational Institute, about an hour's drive from Amsterdam, came up with the idea as part of their final-year project.

"Because the alcohol is not in liquid form, we can sell it to people below 16," said project member Martyn van Nierop.

The legal age for drinking alcohol and smoking is 16 in the Netherlands.

The students said companies interested in making the product commercially could avoid taxes because the alcohol was in powder form. A number of companies are interested, they said."

I am sure there will plenty of companies interested in promoting one more thing that will add to the destruction of future generations. The young people of today are the adults of the future. I feel sorry for them. They are bombarded on all sides by so many things that keep them from being focused, healthy, productive, and happy.

A Power Greater Than...

Meet 3C438, a galactic cluster a few bleems away, which features a titanic energy burst radiating from the center. The Chandra Telescope shot this picture, but the words used to describe the energy burst blew me away.

"Equivalent to one billion exploding Suns."

Kinda puts things in Perspective, don't it?

In Recovery, we come to believe in a Power Greater Than Ourselves.

For me, 3C438 is an example of this power. Since I don't do Religion, my Higher Power is a benevolent, interactive Universe, with the local Natural World as a guide.

Thanks for letting me share.

Found this on Matt's blog called Empathy. Great blog.

"I Can't"

I happened upon a great post over at Dixie's Heart And Soul. Here are some of the highlights. Go over there and read the post, it is good reading.

"All the students were working on a task, filling a sheet of notebook paper with thoughts and ideas. The ten-year-old student closest to me was filling her page with "I Can'ts."

"I can't kick the soccer ball pass second base."
"I can't do long division with more than three numbers."
"I can't get Debbie to like me."
By this time, the activity engaged my curiosity, so I decided to check with the teacher to see what was going on. As I approached her, I noticed that she too was busy writing. I felt it best not to interrupt.

"I can't get John's mother to come in for a teacher conference."
"I can't get my daughter to put gas in the car."
"I can't get Alan to use words instead of fists."

"Friends, we gather today to honor the memory of "I Can't." While he was with us on earth, he touched the lives of everyone, some more than others. His names, unfortunately, has been spoken in every public building - schools, city halls, and state capitols and yes, even The White House.

We have provided "I Can't" with a final resting place and headstone that contains his epitaph. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, "I can, 'I will' and "I'm going to Right Away.' They are not as well known as their famous relative and are certainly not as strong and powerful yet.

My Life Is Similar To The Sign

I had been concentrating on not getting hurt by the sharp edges
in so many ways in my life and totally neglecting to notice that
the frickin bridge was out ahead.

Not just once. Over and over.

So now I am working on seeing the whole picture and living in reality and truth.

Danger Danger Danger

Children's Meth


Checked this
on Snopes
and it is true
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that all need to be aware of. There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks. It smells like strawberry also and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. I'm sure it will make its way around the country if it hasn't already. Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the E.R. in dire condition.

It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange ~` it looks just like pop rocks.

Please instruct your children to not accept candy that looks like this even from a friend and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc.

Please pass this around it could save some family a lot of heartache!

That is what they are calling strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

This was in an email sent to me.

Whatcha' Consuming?

This research report (.pdf) and the graphic above goes a long way to help us understand how we're viewed by the people who compete for our ears and eyeballs. Well, and wallets, too, huh?

We're consumers. Spenders. Shoppers. Buyers. And we're not behaving like we're told.

The report and this article tell us that we've stopped buying CDs not because of piracy, but because so many ways to consume, spend, shop, and buy media entertainment are competing for our time, we're moving away from the old model, to the horrified gnashing of capped CEO teeth and rending of corporate garments.

TechnoBabe and I haven't bought a physical CD since we've been together. Lots of iTunage, but no crippled disks with a fixed playlist thereon. We spend the most on Amazon for books. We spend nothing on television, since we don't have one, and we spend $20/month on broadband, $10/month on Netflix, $8/month on Live 365 web radio.

What do you do with your entertainment time/budget?

Installing The Love Software

I found this on a blog called gurushabad:

"A customer called up the service section of a computer company. . .

"Customer: I heard you provide Love software. Customer Service Representative (CSR): Would you like to install Love software? Customer: Yes. But I'm not very technically skilled. Give me the instructions and I will try to install. What do I do first ? CSR: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart, sir?
Customer: Yes I have, but there are several programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running ?
CSR: What programs are running sir?
Customer: Let me see ... I have Past hurt.exe, low-esteem.exe, grudge.exe, and resentment.com running right now.

CSR: No problem. Love will automatically erase past-hurt.exe from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually overwrite low-esteem.exe with a module of its own called high-self-esteem.exe. However, you have to completely turn off grudge.exe and resentment.com. Those programs prevent love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off, sir?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how ?
CSR: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke forgiveness.exe. Do this as many times as necessary until grudge.exe and resentment.com have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, I'm done. Love has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal ?
CSR: Yes it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your heart. Do you see that message?
Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed ?
CSR: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops ... I have an error message already. What should I do ?
CSR: What does the message say?
Customer: It says 'error--program not run on internal components.' What does that mean ?
CSR: Don't worry sir, that's a common problem. It means that the love program is set up to run on external hearts but has not yet been run on your heart. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in nontechnical terms it means you have to have love in your own machine before you can find it in others.
Customer: So what should I do ?
CSR: Can you find the directory called self-acceptance?
Customer: Yes, I have it.
CSR: Excellent, you are getting good at this.
Customer: Thank you.
CSR: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the my-heart directory: forgive-self.doc, self-esteem.txt, realize-worth.txt, and goodness.doc. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete nagging-doubt.exe from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with really neat smiles. Smile.mpg is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that warmth.com, peace.exe, and contentment.com are copying themselves all over my heart !
CSR: Then love is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go...
Customer: Yes ?
CSR: Love is a freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.
Customer: I will. Thank you for your help. Love is running well. But what if I run into problems, by the way?
CSR: Please repeat the whole process. You can always call us. We are open 24 hours a day. "
This is parallel to what I am working on right now. It was a pleasure to find this as I was surfing around the blogosphere.

Killing Us Softly

I saw this BlogAd, and immediately clicked it because I'm interested in the connection between food, mood, marketing, and (gasp!) politics. TechnoBabe and I have been losing weight steadily since the first of the year, and being physically closer - as in less of us between us - has been a delicious surprise, besides the personal validation of permanently changing our beliefs about food. I've also eliminated the high blood pressure, high cholesterol/triglycerides, and pre-diabetic conditions for which my exasperated doctor was prepared to medicate me. Nyah nyah... Obesity caused all of that, and when I dropped 30 lbs since November, all of that stopped happening. Who knew?

Anyway, I clicked on the ad and went here, where I was encouraged to support healthy, fresh. local food.

Cool.

But, cynic that I am, I decided to keep clicking. At the bottom of the site I found "Farm and Food Policy Project."

Okay, but tell me more.

I clicked that and noticed "Food And Society Home" in the sidebar.

So then I clicked "Who We Are", and was not surprised to find out who wanted us to demand more healthy fresh local food.

Kellogg.

You know, the people who bring us...Apple Jacks®, Cocoa Krispies™, Eggo®, Froot Loops®, Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®?




















So, if I understand this process correctly, the people who make the food that creates obesity which causes the 100 billion dollar tab every year... are exhorting us to write letters to Congress to make them support fresh local food.

Killing us softly, indeed. Like cigarette manufacturers creating dummy foundations telling us to plant trees. Domination through diversion.

During our journey out of food addiction, we killed all the myths we carried about food. You know, what a "meal" is, what a "diet" is, what "full" is, what "exercise" is, etc. The surprise was learning that our bodies slyly anticipate a rapid, but predictable, drop in calories, and by adopting a random pattern of eating, with random selections, but ever-smaller portions, the body's starvation-response mechanism can be fooled. We do not count calories or fat grams or carbs. We eat no refined sweeteners or refined grains. We cook together, and I'm talkin' in and out of the kitchen ;-)

Oh, and the television? We don't have one. We have no idea what the next swell new processed food product is, or the next cereal to be made from some candy bar.

We're off that teat.

Thanks for letting me share...

On Acceptance

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my (insert life challenge), I could not stay (insert spiritual result); unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening.

JamesEagle here, joining the Technobabe's blogging adventure, with some thoughts about Acceptance. The opening words are part of every Recovery program. Not a bad concept to consider regardless of how your spiritual journey's going.

For instance, I wanted to change the order of profiles in the sidebar, because this is TechnoBabe's place, and when I joined the blogging team, Blogger put my name first. When I worked the HTML to generate our pictures as links to our profiles,

all the
type
on the blog
crashed over
to
the left side
like this.

So I accepted, for the moment, that this is the way it is, and will get back to it later. (Now updated :-)

I've been thinking lately about the convergence of depression and acceptance, or any other major emotional condition and acceptance. We will posit as a general stipulation that biochemistry plays a part in emotional balance, and nobody knows that more than I, a professional M.D. (Manic Depressive)

Furthermore, which comes first, the biochemistry or the attitude of grateful acceptance? We know that the physical act of smiling generates the endorphins of positive feeling no matter what condition our condition's in, even profound depression. So can acceptance play a part in regulating our emotional balance?

Is happiness a cause or a result? Dependent on external validation or generated within and expressed externally? Can happy be a verb, instead of an adjective?

Is acceptance snarling, resentful rejecting of (insert whatever) but outwardly acknowledging we cannot control it?

Or is acceptance simply letting something be as it is, without a single feeling about it beyond detached observation?

Thanks for letting me share...

Working On My Rough Spots

Medium grade sandpaper following the contours and removing some of the rough spots.

Sometimes there is so much that needs to be removed that it takes longer to do the job.

Sometimes it takes so much energy and focus that the job has to be put aside until there is energy and enthusiasm to begin again using different tools.

After much time and diligent labor, it is finally at the point that a fine sandpaper can be used, and it takes less effort to remove the unwanted component. There is definition as well as signs of accomplishment. But this is not complete. Much work still to be done. Much has been achieved.

I have been working on things within myself and for myself, clearing away the things that are not healthy and learning to stay in the moment. I have been attending meetings and listening and absorbing and reading and in my own way praying and learning to believe. I have come to believe that I am worth it.

Is Life Like A Box Of Chocolates?

Life isn't like a box of chocolates .

It's more like a jar of jalapenos.

What you do today,
might burn your ass tomorrow.

Office Etiquette Part I

Now that I work in an office with about fifty other people, I am reminded occasionally of some of the reasons I wanted to work from my home. I was self employed for a few years and returned to the open workplace about seven months ago.

The atmosphere at my new place of employment is fairly casual and for the most part is accommodating to each one of us employed there.

One of the things I like about the place is that there are all ages and all nationalities. There are about six men at the office, so they are doted upon by all the women and we all get along very well.

I am allergic to a few things and I don't use any cosmetics that have a fragrance.I keep a box of tissues close by wherever I am; office, home, car.

There is a woman who was hired about three months ago. I don't interact with her at the job except passing in the halls. This woman wears a very strong perfume. Two times when she stood in a close proximity to where I was working I started sneezing, and itchy watery eyes were the next symptom. Since that day, I have heard a few people say something about the strong perfume smell throughout the office but I haven't heard of anyone else who may have the same allergy problem.

This young woman is in the process of getting a divorce, losing weight, and is now a single working mom. She is very attractive and is aware she is good looking but she gets along with everyone and is good at her job. I have to give her kudos for starting over and for her positive attitude.

I don't know if I should be the one to talk to her about my problem with her perfume.
This is apparently my problem and no one else's that I know of, and I really don't want to start a war or endure ongoing antagonism. But clearly I will be doing something soon.

Found at Environmental Health Perspectives: "While many people enjoy wearing perfumes and using scented products, there is a growing outcry from some people who claim that exposure to certain fragrances, including perfumes and scented products, adversely impacts their health. They report symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty with concentration, and allergy-like symptoms. It has been shown that many asthmatic patients have adverse reactions to perfumes and other fragrances, and some researchers hypothesize that exposure to fragrance may actually cause asthma."
...and...
"As information continues to surface on the issue of indoor air pollution, it appears that fragrances may represent part of the problem. Some researchers believe that exposure to the types of chemicals found in many scented products may contribute to the development and exacerbation of sick building syndrome, a health condition allegedly caused by indoor air pollution. The chemicals in perfumes, colognes, and deodorants worn by employees add to the chemical mixtures in indoor air, as do fragrances in cleaning products."
...and...
"Unfortunately, a lot of people don't realize that this is a serious issue, because it sounds so trivial. There's a huge population who do get sick from these products. In order to help solve the problem, people should use less-toxic, unscented products and be considerate of those who are affected by fragrance sensitivity."

My thoughts exactly. People who have been working in an office environment for many years are aware of things like this and are aware of their part in good office etiquette.

Efficient, Energy Saving Technology

This is a great post on The Alternative Consumer:

"History Channel and Invent Now have announced the winner of their 2007 Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge: Michael Sykes and his Enertia Building System.

The Enertia Building System technology turns a piece of wood into a thermal battery. Wood is no longer just a structural component, or just a decorative trim or paneling- it becomes a solar energy storing device, and when the house is properly configured and sited it can heat and cool itself. With this technology the more wood the better, so the invention is especially applicable to solid wood homes. Enertia Building Systems has developed a line of solid Gluelam wall homes to maximize the energy-storing potential of the wood, and to offer the mainstream appearance necessary to attract traditional housing buyers. Because Enertia® homes ‘sequester carbon’ in their massive wood walls, as well reduce carbon pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, they caught the attention of the Modern Marvels’ judges - who were looking for breakthrough inventions with global potential.

In the Enertia Building System, solid Energy-Engineered wood walls replace siding, framing, insulation, and paneling. An air flow and access channel, or Envelope, runs around the building, just inside the walls - creating a miniature biosphere. Here solar heated air circulates, pumping and boosting geothermal energy from beneath the house, storing it in the massive wood walls. Thermal inertia causes the house to “float” between the cycles of night and day, and even between the seasons. "

KEY COMPONENTS:

* solid wood walls - store energy during the day and release energy at night
* thermal inertia - geo-thermal principles create heat/or cooling from the earth and employs lag-in time principles to heat and cool the home
* heat pump house - solar energy gathered during the day is used for night-time heat making the house itself a “heat pump”
* envelope - a heat path just beneath the structure’s wood skin channels heat in winter and also creates a cooling system in the summer. It can also create oxygenated air via plants and give access for upgrading systems, wiring etc.
* floating - energy stored from sunny days can be stored in the structure’s mass for long periods of time to either heat or cool the home.
* radiant heating and cooling - radiant walls and floors hold heat or cool
This sort of energy saving house is the kind of thing I am so interested in. Why aren's houses being built like this throughout the world now? Maybe it is already too late to start saving the planet???

Cheers to Dr Seuss

Click to enlarge.

The Ripple Effect

Darling Tisha! over at Serenity Quest featured a great blogger today; in fact, she asked him to be a guest blogger. Tisha! finds such interesting people out there in the blogosphere. She has a big heart and is witty and generous and well spoken. Her blog is one I want to read every day for the variety and humor and sometimes she poses poignant questions for the rest of us. Hmmmm. Sometimes even heart wrenching.

Her guest blogger is Steve who writes his own blog called Ripple Central. Great name for a really cool blog. Can you guess what the ripple refers to? Yep, one little kindness can cause another and another and on and on. A good deed can start a warming trend!!!

The description on the Ripple Central blog says:

"The Ripple Effect is a shift in perspective that leads to greater connections, better business and stronger community.

Just like stones thrown into a pond, simple actions create ripples in the lives of all the people you touch and sometimes people you have never even met.

Now is the time to make a real difference in your life, workplace or world. Begin to maximize the power of your connections and relationships today, and start to Ripple!"

Start with Tisha!'s blog at Serenity Quest and read the great post by Steve and then visit his blog too!

Let's start a great ripple!

Anticipation Without Expectation

Looking forward to something is a good thing; however, living in the present moment is the best place to be.

Energy is powerful. Not just physical energy. The energy we put out to the universe when we send good wishes to someone. There are probably numerous names for the type of force I describe as energy. I believe that when I am in synch the energy flows and thus I am right where I need to be doing the right things with the right people.

Having expectations sets me up for disappointment. Usually in myself. Being in acceptance and enjoying the moment keeps me in reality.

I am learning some really great things at this time of my life. And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks! I say HAH!!!

Hello

Feeling loved and encouraged. How about you?