Occasionally Deep Thoughts

Wow, Ed, Farrah, and Michael all within a couple days.

"I had to come back here to find out I didn't have to come back here, I don't belong here, I hate it here. You know where I belong? L.A. You know why? Nobody belongs there, it's the perfect place for guys like us." Lorne

Andy Hallet, otherwise known as The Host or Lorne on Angel, died of heart failure last night.  He was only 33.  I hope he's somewhere over the rainbow.

Only 33...really makes you stop and think.
 

Current Mood: sad

The yellow haze is back.  When I wiped away the moisture from my windshield this morning, I could see the yellow ooze dripping down the sides.  I know there was no yellow haze in Texas, but I don't remember if there was when I was young and living in Pennsylvania or Kentucky.  I should ask my mom.  The grasses in Texas made life hell sometimes.  This is not so bad.  My eyes water a little and I sneeze every now and then.  I have it easier than a LOT of other people.  Mostly, we just can't leave anything outside unless we want it covered in yellow dust.

Over the weekend we took out the tents, got them set up, and let them air out.  We're planning to take the kids camping on Easter weekend.  Actually, we're planning to give them a choice.  Typically they spend Easter with their mom because they have all of their religious activities that they participate in and Ed hasn't wanted to disrupt that.  Easter falls on what would normally be our weekend this year, and we'd rather not go four weeks without seeing the kids.  So, we're giving each of them the choice of staying at home with their mom that weekend and doing all their traditional stuff or coming with us camping.  We may end up camping alone, but I don't think so.  The oldest has been camping before.  The two younger ones would not remember camping.  We're hoping it will be a good experience all the way around.

We have a very busy schedule planned for the next few weeks.  We have the kids this weekend and I'll be working on Sunday.  Then, the next weekend we'll be going to a wedding.  Easter weekend we'll be camping.  The 17th we're planning to go see friends in Florida.  Then, of course we'll have the kids again and I'll likely be working again.  The first and second weekends of May we have a friend visiting from Texas.  Then, my mom is SUPPOSED to come out, but I haven't been able to nail her down as to which weekend.  I'm looking forward to it all.
 

Current Mood: sneezy

"Life is pain, anyone who tells you differently is selling something." Wesley in The Princess Bride

It's been absolutely beautiful here the last several days.  We've been making sure to get out into as much as we can.  Sunday we went disc golfing.  Boy are we both sore in our shoulders and biceps.  Yesterday, I was able to get outside to go walking at lunch and then after work we took another short walk up to the mailbox.  I'm hoping to get outside to walk more today, too.  I managed to walk over 23k steps in the last two days and Ed's right there with me.  Yay us!

Anyone who reads my LJ knows that I've been endeavoring to eat more fruits and vegetables.  Spinach is one of those that I just really don't like except, oddly enough, in spinach artichoke dip.  I don't like artichoke, either, btw, which makes it even stranger.  Maybe it's all the cheese. ;)  Anyway, my dear hubby was quite surprised last night when he discovered that the frozen pizza I picked for dinner was chicken, spinach, and red peppers.  What surprised us both even more, I think, was that I really enjoyed it.  It was a Digiorno Thin Crust pizza and was only 6 points in my WW program.  That both did and did not surprise me.  I guess it's because the meat is chicken and it had lots of veggies.  I'll have to have that again in the future when I'm craving pizza.  For breakfast this morning, I mixed 2 6oz blueberry Dannon Light N Fit yogurts with Kashi Summer Berry Granola.  It's very yummy and very good for you.  It's also a bit of a break from cereal or a Delights breakfast sandwich, which are my norm.

Current Mood: cheerful

"I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities." Whoopi Goldberg

My husband is the world's best cook.  At least I think he is.  We've been making a concerted effort to eat more vegatables.  For me, that's typically a problem.  I think everyone knows I really don't like most vegatables.  Ed's ability to cook so well has helped me with this more than I can express.  Last night he threw together this absolutely wonderful meal that had mushrooms, celery, green peppers, red peppers, onion, serrano peppers, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, low fat cream of mushroom, low fat cream of celery, low fat cream of chicken, 2 chicken breasts, and hot Italian turkey sausage served over brown rice.  It was SO yummy.  Not only did I not pick out ANY of the veggies, I loved the whole thing.  I wanted seconds.  Didn't have them, but I wanted them.
 

Current Mood: happy

“The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he's going to keep digging, he's going to keep trying to do right and make up for what's gone before, just because that's who he is.”  Joss Whedon

So...did YOU know that Joss Whedon is Numfar of the Deathwok Clan in Angel?  Do the Dance of Joy, Numfar!

Current Mood: silly

From hermes_wade 


Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Turn to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post that sentence along with these instructions in your LiveJournal. Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I'm at work.  The closest book to me is "itSMF The IT Service Management Forum"

"It requires a full understanding of the business requirements and their demands on IT services and resources."

"At the end of the day, whether or not those people are comfortable with how you're living your life doesn't matter. What matters is whether you're comfortable with it." Phillip C. McGraw

I'm very please with myself.  Yesterday was the first day since I injured my foot and the first day of 2009 that I got in 10k+ steps again.  I really had to work for it, but I'm proud of myself.  I intend to get a lot further in 2009 than I did in 2008.  We finished getting our Christmas tree down and everything put back into the boxes last night, so I'm feeling accomplished there, too.  We only kept the tree up THIS long so that the kids would have one more chance to see it.
 

Current Mood: accomplished

"Never let the fear of failure be an excuse for not trying. Society tells us that to fail is the most terrible thing in the world, but I know it isn't. Failure is part of what makes us human." Amber Deckers

Thought I'd share this info from WW online cause it shocked the hell out of me.  Guess I won't be getting popcorn at the theater any more.  :P

Popcorn shocker
If you're used to popcorn being a better-for-you option at the movie theater, you'll probably fall out of your chair when you find out the stats on the movie theater version. A large size with butter packs in around 1,500 calories and 130 grams of fat. That's a POINTS® value around 40 and almost two days worth of POINTS values for many people — ouch! Opt for the smallest one, leave off the butter and it'll still set you back around 500 calories and 25 grams of fat (POINTS value around 11). It just doesn't seem worth it at all, especially since we're all used to munching on those mini bags that have a POINTS value of 1 to 2 each. Sneaking in your own microwave-popped bags is one potential solution, but we don't need to tell you that movie theaters frown on this. So chomp on your own popcorn at home or just skip it altogether, because movie theater popcorn + you = larger pants (sad, but likely true).
 

Current Mood: disappointed

"Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself." Marva Collins

I've heard lots of people say they were disappointed with or unhappy in 2008.  For those people I hope that 2009 is a happier, healthier, and wealthier year. 

As for me, I can't agree.  Without a doubt there were things I could've done without: having to move real quick, being unreasonably unseasonably sick, needing to heal a heel so I don't feel the annoying PAIN.  There were many more marvelous moments, starting with the very first few minutes and a proposal of marriage which of course I accepted.  Together with family, like my sister Sheri, my youngest cousin I did see marry.  We went to Yellowstone National Park and watched the stars at night in the dark.  Ed and I, we tied the knot while I had to hobble around a lot.  We toured the Northeast driving thousands of miles which still didn't out number the number of smiles.  I walked and biked a virtual transcontinental trail and across all of Virginia I did trevail.  Over the course of the year 1,695,552 steps I did take, 608 miles til my legs they did quake.  I hope that this year is at least as great and who know maybe this time I'll walk 1008.
 

Current Mood: cheerful

Here's the quote recap for 2008.

"Most of us are on a journey. We’re looking for something, though we’re not always sure what that is. The way is foggy much of the time. I suggest you slow down and follow some of the side roads that appear suddenly in the mist." Real Live Preacher

"It's entirely an artist's eye, patience and skill that makes an image and not his tools." Ken Rockwell (on photography)

"Alliteration - the repetition of a leading vowel or consonant sound in a phrase." by wikipedia

"The longest journey begins with a single step."  Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."  Calvin Coolidge

"Snowmen fall from heaven... unassembled." Author Unknown

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting." Benjamin Franklin

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think." Oprah Winfrey 

Current Mood: contemplative

"Keep your sense of humor. There's enough stress in the rest of your life to let bad shots ruin a game you're supposed to enjoy." Amy Alcott

Good advice from my WW Online forum today for all of you who are stressed out this time of year.

It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year--but not if you let negative emotions take hold of your holidays. So let's be honest. The holidays are packed with stress, and therefore provoke tons of anxiety. But there is hope. Whether fretting about something as trite as stocking stuffers or as complicated as managing difficult family relationships, apply these 9 simple rules to put the joy back into the festivities--or at least keep you from hurling a mistletoe at Santa and landing yourself on the "naughty" list.
 
1. Expect the Worst: Now that's a cheery thought for this jolly season. What I'm trying to say is that you have to predict bad behavior before it happens so that you can catch it in your holiday mitt and toss it back, instead of having it knock you to the floor.

2. Remember to "SEE": SEE stands for Sleeping regularly, Eating well, and Exercising. Without these three basics, you can forget about an enjoyable (or even tolerable) holiday. Get your seven to nine hours of sleep and practice good sleep hygiene: go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up in the same nightgown with the same man at the same time in the same house every morning.

Eating well and exercise are codependent because a big motivator for exercising is the reduction in guilt about splurging on a bite or two of holiday dessert. But, be careful: Large quantities of sugar or high fructose corn syrup can poison your brain! Another acronym to remember during the holidays is HALT: don't get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

3. Beef Up Your Support: If you attend a meeting once a week, go twice a week during the holidays. If you attend a yoga class twice a week, try to fit in another. Scheduling an extra session as insurance against the potential meltdowns ahead of you. Pad yourself with extra layers of emotional resilience by discussing in advance specific concerns you have about X, Y, and Z with a counselor, minister, leader or friend (preferrably one who doesn't gossip).

4. Avoid Toxic People: This one's difficult if the toxic people happen to be hosting Christmas dinner! But in general, just try your best to avoid pernicious humans in December. And if you absolutely must see such folks, then allow only enough time for digestion and gift-giving.

5. Know Thyself: In other words, identify your triggers. As a highly sensitive person, I know that my triggers exist in a petri dish of bacteria known as the Mall. Between Halloween and New Years, I won't go near that place because Santa is there and he scares me with his long beard, which holds in its cute white curls every virus of every local preschool. Before you make too many plans this holiday season, list your triggers: people, places, and things that tend to trigger your fears and bring out your worst traits.

6. Travel With Polyester, Not Linen: By this, I DO NOT mean sporting the polyester skirt with the red sequinned reindeer that only the Bee Gee's would envy. I'm saying that you should lower your standards and make traveling as easy as possible, both literally and figuratively. Do you really want to be looking for an iron for that beautiful linen or cotton dress when you arrive at your destination? I didn't think so--life's too short for travel irons.

7. Make Your Own Traditions: Making your own tradition might mean Christmas Eve is reserved for your family and the extended family is invited over for brunch on Christmas Day. Or vice versa. Basically, it's laying down some rules so that you have better control over the situation. As a people-pleaser, I make a better guest than host, but sometimes serenity comes in taking the driver's seat, and telling the passengers to fasten their seatbelts and be quiet.

8. Get Out of Yourself: According to Gandhi, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others. But that doesn't necessarily mean holding a soup ladle. There are a variety of ways you can serve others. Start with the things you like to do. Empowering others through unselfish actions contribute to a better world just as much as if I had delivered a box of non-perishables to a homeless shelter, not that I should overlook that opportunity as well!
 

Current Mood: determined

"We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other peoples' models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open." Shakti Gawain

This is a true story I just had to share because I found it so amusing.  Ed and I were discussing a conversation he observed on one of the forums he reads.  It was basically about how stupid adults can be when naming their children.  He tells me that they were talking about someone who named their child Le-a, spelling it out for me.  So, if you’re like me you pronounced it like Leah (leya) and thought, well they just decided to use a funky spelling.  Well, like me you’d be wrong.  Apparently, it is pronounced Ledasha.  Oh my god.
 

Current Mood: peachy
Current Music: Gettin Jiggy With It

"The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered." Tina Turner

On “Black Friday” an employee at a Wal-Mart in NY was killed by a stampede of shoppers that just HAD to be sure to get their bargain priced item.  What the HELL?  I can’t believe that our society has gotten to the point where saving that $5 is worth hurting other people.  When the Wal-Mart staff announced that everyone had to leave because someone was DEAD…they just kept shopping.  Someone even said, “But I’ve been in line since yesterday morning.”  I can’t begin to express how disgusted I am with those people.  Every last one should be put in jail.
 

Current Mood: aggravated

Gotta love snow....IF you don't get much of it.

"Having a dream is what keeps you alive. Overcoming the challenges makes life worth living." Mary Tyler Moore

I had a great, albeit emotional, Thanksgiving.  Why is it that being around family turns us into emotion filled bags where the slightest squeeze makes it all overflow?  Wish I knew.  In any case, it was good to be back in Texas and spend some time with family and friends.  Lots of food was consumed (although I managed not to gain weight), some shopping was done (and it wasn’t too bad), and some football was watched (even though my team won, I really couldn’t celebrate).  We had a long drive yesterday getting home around 9:30pm.  We’re glad to be home.
 

Current Mood: hungry

"The roses, the lovely notes, the dining and dancing are all welcome and splendid. But when the Godiva is gone, the gift of real love is having someone who'll go the distance with you. Someone who, when the wedding day limo breaks down, is willing to share a seat on the bus." Oprah Winfrey  (or willing to carry all the luggage cause you're on crutches)

As most of you know, I tore my plantar fascia tendon about 2.5 months ago.  That’s the one that goes across the bottom of your foot from your big toe to your heel.  Needless to say, my goal for walking 10k steps per day went pretty much down the toilet.  I started wearing my pedometer again a few weeks ago if for no other reason than so I don’t give up.  I finally figured out my numbers again this week (I’m on week 34), and I’ve just passed 1.5 million steps for the year, just under 550 miles.  Yay me!

Current Mood: accomplished

"Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it." Michael Crichton

Most of you know Michael Crichton died Tuesday.  He was among my favorite writers.  The Andromeda Strain was the first of over a dozen of his books that I’ve read.  Here are some things you may not have known about him.  He attended Harvard College as an undergraduate, graduating summa cum laude in 1964.  He graduated from Harvard Medical School, obtaining an M.D. in 1969.  While in medical school, he wrote novels under the pen names John Lange and Jeffery Hudson.  Crichton was married five times and divorced four times.  He is a creator, writer, and executive producer for ER.

Current Mood: STILL sick

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." Mark Twain

“Just because you got the peep.  Just because you’re not feeling 100%.  Just because you are my wife.  Just because it is a day ending in ‘y’.  Just because I love you.  These are for you, just because.”  That was what the card on the flowers that were sent to me by my sweet husband at work yesterday said.  It’s a beautiful bouquet of red and orange carnations, yellow daisies, purple forget-me-nots, purple daisy poms, and dark pink hibiscus flowers.  It’s so nice receiving flowers out of the blue just because, just to show that someone is thinking about you.
 

Current Mood: tired