Are you or aren't you a Resolutions person? Most people I polled this year had nothing but disdain for them. I'm on the fence.
Which is why I took time this morning to put my goals for the upcoming year into writing. Following guidelines suggested by Helen Buttigieg, I wrote down my goals and the steps needed to accomplish them this year. Then I printed it out on paper.
I even printed it out onto paper and have tucked it into my calendar.
The only problem? I have a tendency to never look at things once they are tucked away. I don't want to post my goals. My office is part of the living room. I don't want them to be my screen saver. I don't want them to be public at all. They are my private goals!
So how can I remember them? Or are they going to fall the way of my art journal. I did one entry, put it on a shelf, and, honestly, haven't thought about it again until today.
Once something is gone from sight, I forget about it. Doesn't matter what it is. Jewelry--unless it's out on the stand on my dressing table, I never wear it. Clothes--if they get too far down in the drawer, I never wear them. Shoes in the closet never get worn. Food shoved to the back of the cabinet never gets eaten. Books at the bottom of the pile never get read.
Maybe my only resolution this year should be to learn to look for things!
I know there are people who practice putting everything away all the time. How do you do this? How does it work? How do you know you aren't forgetting something?
I really need to know. I might want to add it to my goals for the year. If I can find the list...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
I Hate to Even Admit This...
but I think I've been getting the endorphin rush from exercising. I know, I know, my non-exercising friends, this is absolutely shocking. But I cannot control it. I cannot stop it from happening!
I'm getting to the point where I don't even think about it. On water aerobic days, I get out of bed. (I'm not so crazed that I leap out of bed at the first sound of the alarm. I still hit snooze several times!) Put on my swim suit, brush my teeth, grab my gym bag, and am ready to drive to the club as soon as Aaron is gone.
I still count the minutes during class, but less than before. Twenty or thirty minutes might pass by before I remember to look at the clock!
On non-water aerobic days I seriously contemplate heading to the club to run in the water or do some other form of exercise.
There. I'll admit it. It's addicting! I don't know if it really is an endorphin rush or just the relief of nothing really hurting in the water.
Whatever it is, I'll take it. I've even found myself pondering alternate forms of exercise.
Will the pod people please return my body?! Maybe later we'll discuss this craving I have for fruit...
I'm getting to the point where I don't even think about it. On water aerobic days, I get out of bed. (I'm not so crazed that I leap out of bed at the first sound of the alarm. I still hit snooze several times!) Put on my swim suit, brush my teeth, grab my gym bag, and am ready to drive to the club as soon as Aaron is gone.
I still count the minutes during class, but less than before. Twenty or thirty minutes might pass by before I remember to look at the clock!
On non-water aerobic days I seriously contemplate heading to the club to run in the water or do some other form of exercise.
There. I'll admit it. It's addicting! I don't know if it really is an endorphin rush or just the relief of nothing really hurting in the water.
Whatever it is, I'll take it. I've even found myself pondering alternate forms of exercise.
Will the pod people please return my body?! Maybe later we'll discuss this craving I have for fruit...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Ladies, We Have Got to Talk...
About bathroom etiquette!
Sure, this is uncomfortable for all of us, but I think some need a refresher course. Frankly, I don't care what you do in the privacy of your bathroom at home. Your home, your business. It's what you're doing in public restrooms that's grossing me out. Big time.
I'm breaking us all into two categories: squatters and sitters. If there is another category, please let me know. Personally, I am a sitter. I have short legs and squatting is just not comfortable.
Just a little lesson about the dangers of public restrooms. Urine is sterile. There, I said it. Yes, there are exceptions when people have a bladder or urinary tract infection. Then it is not sterile.
The only way you're going to get some sort of disease or infection from a public toilet is if you sit on a soiled seat with huge, gaping, weepy sores on your butt. If that's the case, we have a lot more to fear from you than you do from the other public bathroom users. Get to a doctor and get that cleared up.
Let's address the squatters first. Sure, you have strong thighs and quads and can keep yourself hovering above the toilet seat. This is fine if you aren't peeing all over the seat. However, if you do make a mess on the toilet seat, PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Seriously, I am getting tired of coming into the stall after you and either passing it up entirely because you've peed everywhere or having to wipe down the seat before I can even use it.
It's gross. It's messy. It's piggy. You made the mess, clean it up.
Now the sitters. Some of us sit directly on the seat, some of us put down two strips of toilet paper on the seat. Now you have a nice, clean barrier between you and the toilet. Unfortunately, sometimes you leave the nice strips of toilet paper laying on the seat as you pull of your pants and go on your merry way. Again, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Remove your paper strips, drop them into the bowl, and flush. Do not just walk out of the stall and think you're done.
Personally, I don't want to deal with half-sodden pieces of toilet paper. When you dangle it into the toilet, the toilet water is wicked up and someone has to deal with that mess. Do it yourself.
Everyone, it takes mere seconds to turn around, assess the mess, and deal with it. Drips? Amazing how a little tissue can fix the problem. Spatter? Again a little toilet paper.
If you've taken your child into a public bathroom, it is your responsibility to clean up after the little one. Little boys spatter. You hate it at home. We hate it in public.
If we would all just clean up after ourselves, it would be a cleaner, healthier, happier world!
(Let's not even talk about the people who use their dirty, gross shoes to flush the toilet. Just what the next person going to flush wants--a handful of floor filth!)
Sure, this is uncomfortable for all of us, but I think some need a refresher course. Frankly, I don't care what you do in the privacy of your bathroom at home. Your home, your business. It's what you're doing in public restrooms that's grossing me out. Big time.
I'm breaking us all into two categories: squatters and sitters. If there is another category, please let me know. Personally, I am a sitter. I have short legs and squatting is just not comfortable.
Just a little lesson about the dangers of public restrooms. Urine is sterile. There, I said it. Yes, there are exceptions when people have a bladder or urinary tract infection. Then it is not sterile.
The only way you're going to get some sort of disease or infection from a public toilet is if you sit on a soiled seat with huge, gaping, weepy sores on your butt. If that's the case, we have a lot more to fear from you than you do from the other public bathroom users. Get to a doctor and get that cleared up.
Let's address the squatters first. Sure, you have strong thighs and quads and can keep yourself hovering above the toilet seat. This is fine if you aren't peeing all over the seat. However, if you do make a mess on the toilet seat, PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Seriously, I am getting tired of coming into the stall after you and either passing it up entirely because you've peed everywhere or having to wipe down the seat before I can even use it.
It's gross. It's messy. It's piggy. You made the mess, clean it up.
Now the sitters. Some of us sit directly on the seat, some of us put down two strips of toilet paper on the seat. Now you have a nice, clean barrier between you and the toilet. Unfortunately, sometimes you leave the nice strips of toilet paper laying on the seat as you pull of your pants and go on your merry way. Again, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Remove your paper strips, drop them into the bowl, and flush. Do not just walk out of the stall and think you're done.
Personally, I don't want to deal with half-sodden pieces of toilet paper. When you dangle it into the toilet, the toilet water is wicked up and someone has to deal with that mess. Do it yourself.
Everyone, it takes mere seconds to turn around, assess the mess, and deal with it. Drips? Amazing how a little tissue can fix the problem. Spatter? Again a little toilet paper.
If you've taken your child into a public bathroom, it is your responsibility to clean up after the little one. Little boys spatter. You hate it at home. We hate it in public.
If we would all just clean up after ourselves, it would be a cleaner, healthier, happier world!
(Let's not even talk about the people who use their dirty, gross shoes to flush the toilet. Just what the next person going to flush wants--a handful of floor filth!)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Latest Guilty Pleasure
I love the internet. My latest guilty pleasure is only in existence because of it.
I love Mugs in the News! You can see the latest mug shots, what the person was charged with, and then a link to the story about the criminal. Or should I say "alleged" criminal!
I am not that interested in the really bad crimes, but the silly ones. Like the prostitutes who were advertising on Craig's List. One looks like she has the plague and I wonder if she was doing a lot of business looking like that. And they were charging lots of money!
Plus, it's like driving past the porn shop...I'm half hoping and half frightened that I will recognize someone!
Check it out!
I love Mugs in the News! You can see the latest mug shots, what the person was charged with, and then a link to the story about the criminal. Or should I say "alleged" criminal!
I am not that interested in the really bad crimes, but the silly ones. Like the prostitutes who were advertising on Craig's List. One looks like she has the plague and I wonder if she was doing a lot of business looking like that. And they were charging lots of money!
Plus, it's like driving past the porn shop...I'm half hoping and half frightened that I will recognize someone!
Check it out!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Roughing It
My family has made a conscious decision to take a step back from all the technology. We are making strides to become less reliant on technology and closer to living off the grid.
We have (gasp!) decided to let call waiting and caller ID go from our home telephone service!
In an effort to cut costs, I realized that we really don't use the land line very much. But because Jim is in the land line business we are keeping it. (And you should keep yours too!) Mostly we pick up the cordless phone and yell, "toll free call!" and then laugh maniacally as we listen to it continue to ring without answering it. That's our own little protest against the telemarketers of the world.
The first few days without caller ID were unnerving. Each time the phone would ring, we would all stop whatever we were doing and stare at one another like deer in the headlights. No one would move. We held our breath. Only our eyes moved as we desperately looked at someone else for direction.
Luckily, we've moved past this stage. We've learned the hollow buzz sound of the pre-recorded phone call and quickly disconnect. We're learning, "thank you, but I am not interested!" with a quick disconnect. (I like to say it in my Romper Room teacher voice, so the caller knows I am really sincere!)
Aaron is quite amusing because when he answers the phone, he yells, "It's a person!" and hands it off. I want to say, "who else would call, but a person?" But we all know about the computer calls.
Even call waiting is not being missed. If a family member calls home and gets a busy signal, a quick text message solves that. We all are in possession of our cell phones at all moments.
Now we need to work on general telephone etiquette. Aaron has been taking his phone into the bathroom. That's taking it just a little too far...
Happy Talking,
Your Favorite Techno Whore
We have (gasp!) decided to let call waiting and caller ID go from our home telephone service!
In an effort to cut costs, I realized that we really don't use the land line very much. But because Jim is in the land line business we are keeping it. (And you should keep yours too!) Mostly we pick up the cordless phone and yell, "toll free call!" and then laugh maniacally as we listen to it continue to ring without answering it. That's our own little protest against the telemarketers of the world.
The first few days without caller ID were unnerving. Each time the phone would ring, we would all stop whatever we were doing and stare at one another like deer in the headlights. No one would move. We held our breath. Only our eyes moved as we desperately looked at someone else for direction.
Luckily, we've moved past this stage. We've learned the hollow buzz sound of the pre-recorded phone call and quickly disconnect. We're learning, "thank you, but I am not interested!" with a quick disconnect. (I like to say it in my Romper Room teacher voice, so the caller knows I am really sincere!)
Aaron is quite amusing because when he answers the phone, he yells, "It's a person!" and hands it off. I want to say, "who else would call, but a person?" But we all know about the computer calls.
Even call waiting is not being missed. If a family member calls home and gets a busy signal, a quick text message solves that. We all are in possession of our cell phones at all moments.
Now we need to work on general telephone etiquette. Aaron has been taking his phone into the bathroom. That's taking it just a little too far...
Happy Talking,
Your Favorite Techno Whore
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Smile
Quick...right now...smile! Smile again!
You think you look goofy sitting at your screen smiling, but I think we all need to smile more.
Don't worry about your teeth...your lips...your wrinkles. Just SMILE! Lots!
At water aerobics there's a woman who reminds me of those 40s movie queens. Bette Davis, mostly. She rarely smiles. I don't know her name or her situation. Once I saw her smile when she thought no one was looking and it was bright and broad and looked so right. When she smiles at me, her lips are pressed together and she looks awkward. I'm guessing she's self-conscious about something. I think she needs to let it go.
I've been on a mission lately to be more positive. This has been part of the Buddha Mom transformation of 2009. At first I consciously made myself smile at people and say "hello." It's now become habit.
I smile at everyone. I say "hello" and "thank you" and "Merry Christmas." I feel lighter on my feet. Happier on my skin. And I think I'm spreading good cheer everywhere I go.
Or people think I'm completely loony and are only responding out of fear!
Actually, I end up in lots of conversations because of this. People want to chat in the check out lines. They want to share something while we wait in the doctor's waiting room. There are stories to be heard everywhere I go. And I want to hear them all.
Go forth and smile! Be friendly!
You think you look goofy sitting at your screen smiling, but I think we all need to smile more.
Don't worry about your teeth...your lips...your wrinkles. Just SMILE! Lots!
At water aerobics there's a woman who reminds me of those 40s movie queens. Bette Davis, mostly. She rarely smiles. I don't know her name or her situation. Once I saw her smile when she thought no one was looking and it was bright and broad and looked so right. When she smiles at me, her lips are pressed together and she looks awkward. I'm guessing she's self-conscious about something. I think she needs to let it go.
I've been on a mission lately to be more positive. This has been part of the Buddha Mom transformation of 2009. At first I consciously made myself smile at people and say "hello." It's now become habit.
I smile at everyone. I say "hello" and "thank you" and "Merry Christmas." I feel lighter on my feet. Happier on my skin. And I think I'm spreading good cheer everywhere I go.
Or people think I'm completely loony and are only responding out of fear!
Actually, I end up in lots of conversations because of this. People want to chat in the check out lines. They want to share something while we wait in the doctor's waiting room. There are stories to be heard everywhere I go. And I want to hear them all.
Go forth and smile! Be friendly!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Lessons Learned at the Gym
Just a few of my observations from the past couple of weeks. I have faithfully been going to water aerobics classes! I am a graceful ballerina in the water and quite the athlete! Please, stop laughing!
Thongs...why bother? I've seen girls whip them on and wonder what thongs really do. I think you should just go commando and really go crazy!
Tankinis...bad news while working out. The top goes one way, the bottoms go the other. Body parts are falling out. Plus, it's hard to do an arm and leg exercise at the same time when you're constantly trying to hold everything in place.
Ill-fitting swimsuit...also bad news. See above.
Strapless swimsuit...doubly bad news. Today I saw a boob in the pool. I don't want to see boobs. I do not wear a strapless swimsuit.
I have a new exercise buddy. Nancy introduced herself on Monday and said she was going to use me as inspiration. I'm still not sure how to take that. Am I so pathetic that she is impressed that I am able to move my body at all. Or I am such a graceful ballerina, an aspiring synchronized swimmer, that she wants to be like me?
But being an inspiration is hard! I had to make sure I went this morning because I didn't want to let Nancy down! Then when she was late, I was wondering where the hell she was! I felt obligated to work out as hard as I could, pushing myself constantly, in case she was watching. You know, for inspiration. It's tough being a role model!
Thongs...why bother? I've seen girls whip them on and wonder what thongs really do. I think you should just go commando and really go crazy!
Tankinis...bad news while working out. The top goes one way, the bottoms go the other. Body parts are falling out. Plus, it's hard to do an arm and leg exercise at the same time when you're constantly trying to hold everything in place.
Ill-fitting swimsuit...also bad news. See above.
Strapless swimsuit...doubly bad news. Today I saw a boob in the pool. I don't want to see boobs. I do not wear a strapless swimsuit.
I have a new exercise buddy. Nancy introduced herself on Monday and said she was going to use me as inspiration. I'm still not sure how to take that. Am I so pathetic that she is impressed that I am able to move my body at all. Or I am such a graceful ballerina, an aspiring synchronized swimmer, that she wants to be like me?
But being an inspiration is hard! I had to make sure I went this morning because I didn't want to let Nancy down! Then when she was late, I was wondering where the hell she was! I felt obligated to work out as hard as I could, pushing myself constantly, in case she was watching. You know, for inspiration. It's tough being a role model!
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