Day Two

I made it through the first 24 hours.  I am still alive.  The headache only lasted a few hours.  Nothing major to report.

I did make some discovries during the first day.

• Spaghetti cools off really fast and is tricky to eat on account that it sticks to itself like Seran Wrap.  
• Rice Chex is a pretty good snack
• Raman is okay with out the seasoning packet
• Rice is nice
• Cream of Wheat without sugar or butter or anything else added will not kill you.
• Holiday eating guilt and sufferages can be cured with bread
• I really am capable
• I have a lot of people reading my blog that I would love to have become followers :)

Renivation Project: It's all White

I'm rolling up my sleeves and getting ready to start my first project.  This one is about healing and repair--and is personal.

I have had stomach issues for years--years.  I don't want to get into too many details--for your sake and mine.  I like to place blame on my inactive Thyroid (if the lazy thing would work, I wouldn't be so quick to point my finger at it, even if it's not true).  The quick and dirty of my issue is, I'm tired of it.  Putting in new organs (or removing parts of me) is not really an option for me, so I turned to one of my favorite heath care peoples web site (karenhurd.com) and did some re-searching and finally decided to try the White Diet to help repair my innards. 

Today is day one of the first 3 days.  Everything is all white--not that I can eat everything that is white, it is a very limited list of white:  white bread, white rice, white pasta, cream of rice, cream of wheat, rice crispies, and rice chex--oooohh and also raman noodles, just the noodles.  And Water (and exception to the white)  No butter, sauce, spice--just  plain plain plain delights for the next few days to feed my insides gentlely--nothing abrasive or harsh.  And as much as I want. 

I'm trying to face this with as much positive vibes as I can.  I'm excited to challenge myself and test my limits (because it's not just 3 days.  No.  After 3 days, I slowly add items back into my life for 12 more days--unless I have some hurdles to get over then it could take longer).  I'm excited.  And I'm also tired of the issues.  Really tired.  Tired enough to feast of a bland, colorless, caffeine free buffet for the next three days. 

How far will I make it?  Maybe if I blog about it and have the support from my fan club, I can make it further than just past lunch.

Update:  It is now past lunch time.  Hunger level fine--Rice Chex and Pasta in my belly.  The headache from lack of caffeine is hitting me hard.  This too shall pass.

2013--A New Year and New {re}Beginning

I feel rushed this year.  The holiday season has been busy and full and wonderful and fun and busy.  Busy.  I have loved every moment of it, but am looking forward to getting back into our normal grove.  Back to work, back to school, back to evening filled with here and there and not a moments rest.  I'm well rested.  Too rested.  My creative brain seems to work better on the brink of exhaustion.  I feel better.  My senses more alert.  My mind seems quieter and stiller.  Or maybe that is just what I tell myself.  To get by.  It works.  I get by.

I'm so excited to share my word.  I think it is a far different word than I have used in the past and I hope the results and the connections click and things fall into place with out too much of a hitch.  I love all my words really.  They have become my friends over the years. Some staying in the strong for front and others softly slipping behinds the sceens waiting for their role to be needed.  I love my words.  I love words.  I love.

In honor of keeping this tradition going for FIVE years.  I wanted to find the perfect word.  That was a challenge because, in essence, all words are perfect.  I want a word that celebrates the best of me.  A word that repairs and heals and moves me forward while reflecting in glory and beauty.  Strong lines of Art Deco, soft and gentle flow of the Victorian era, simplicity of lean years, oddness of the 80's, cleanest of Frank Lloyd Write, sturdy.  The reveal:  My word for 2013 is RENOVATE: 

ren·o·vate

transitive verb \ˈre-nə-ˌvāt\ ren·o·vat·edren·o·vat·ing

1: to restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding)

2: to restore to life, vigor, or activity.

I'm so excited to get to work.  I want to bring back the best of myself while living in the today.  With love, care and time, I can get the job done.  I know that renovations always seem to take longer than planned.  I'm in no hurry, but I look forward to the revile. 

In health, love and renovation--To a Beautiful 2013.

A quick{ish} Review

This year marks the 5 year anniversary of my Word.  It all started with a word that was pinging around in my brain and bust into action after reading a blog a friend had posted.  When I checked the original source link, I found that the page no longer exists.  Bummer.  With some further sleuthing, I found that the source has just moved  and become bigger than just one small word (you can even pursue your word in class form) Read all about it here:  http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword2013.php


My first word choice was Wassail: (wŏs'əl, wŏ-sāl') n. 1) A salutation or toast given in drinking some one's health or as an expression of goodwill at a festivity. 2) The drink used in such toasting, commonly ale or wine spiced with roasted apples and sugar. 3) A festivity characterized by much drinking.v., -sailed, -sail·ing, -sails.v.tr. To drink to the health of; toast.
v.intr. To engage in or drink a wassail.
[Middle English, contraction of wæshæil, be healthy, from Old Norse ves heill : ves, imperative sing. of vera, to be + heill, healthy.]

I did not spend the year drunk--I used the word as a motivator to celebrate life.  To enjoy.  To live.  In heath and festivity.  I still love this word.


Year two was the year of Possibility :  (ps-bl-t) n. pl. pos·si·bil·i·ties 1. The fact or state of being possible. 2. Something that is possible. 3. possibilities Potentiality for favorable or interesting results.
This was a lesson in learning how big one small word can be.  It was a year when the possibility of anything could (positive or negative) could happen.  What a growing year it turned into.


Simple:  /ˈsɪmpəl/ [sim-puhl] Show IPA
adjective, -pler, -plest, noun
–adjective
1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools.
2. not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.
3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.
4. unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
5. not complicated: a simple design.
6. not complex or compound; single.
7. occurring or considered alone; mere; bare: the simple truth; a simple fact.
8. free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional: a frank, simple answer.
9. common or ordinary: a simple soldier.
10. not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious: a simple way of life.
11. humble or lowly: simple folk.
12. inconsequential or rudimentary.
13. unlearned; ignorant.
14. lacking mental acuteness or sense: a simple way of thinking.
15. unsophisticated; naive; credulous.
16. simpleminded.
17. Chemistry .
a. composed of only one substance or element: a simple substance.
b. not mixed.
18. Botany . not divided into parts: a simple leaf; a simple stem.
19. Zoology . not compound: a simple ascidian.
20. Music . uncompounded or without overtones; single: simple tone.
21. Grammar . having only the head without modifying elements included: The simple subject of “The dappled pony gazed over the fence” is “pony.” Compare complete ( def. 5 ) .
22. (of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) ( opposed to compound).
23. Mathematics . linear ( def. 7 ) .
24. Optics . (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.
–noun
25. an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
26. something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
27. simples, Textiles . cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
28. a person of humble origins; commoner.
29. an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes: country simples.

After a year of possibilities, simple was all I wanted.  For the most part, I think I nailed at least one aspect of the word. 

The word for 2012 was Present: pres·ent  /ˈprɛzənt/ adjective
1. being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current

For me, being present is a challenge.  I am always thinking ahead for what is the next this or that and have a hard time being still.  I will continue to work at this.  I'm sure by the time I am a grandparent many many many many years from now--I will have mastered Present.

So a very short review drawn out long to build anticipation for the New Year and a New Word.  My word for 2013 is:  (wait for it)  . . .

Table for two

I am having a day with my girl.  I love her--whole heart kind of love.  When I draw her into my arms I can smell that wild earthy scent that belongs only her and feel a warmth that runs through me like hot coco on a cold autumn morning.  Those moments melt me. 

Holding onto those moments must be what gets me through the power struggles, temper tantrums, and times of defeat.  My petite fleur is a strong willed, intense, singled minded, determined, passionate, free spirited being.  Creative.  Dramatic.  Talented.  She makes me question my parenting ability, worry about my blood pressure, and tests my patients daily.  There are days that I have to take deep breaths, a lot, in order to prepare myself for anything she throws my way. 

She is a lot like me.  My brother reminds me of this often, with laughter.  She is.  A lot.  Like me.  Today, we are feeding each others souls and feeding them well.  As the Indigo Girls station on Pandora sings to our spirts the glitter glue flows freely and her mood is light and airy.  We are having the best day ever.  I entered this day with the only expectation of being with her and letting her do.  I forget that her soul needs to be feed well, too.  The busy pace is not good for either of us.  Messy stickiness is our drug.  Being allowed to create is what fits us best.  Someday, we will not struggle against each other, but balance and complement.  This day together is bring us closer.

A need to write

When I was younger I kept a diary.  It wasn't an everyday thing and most of my entries were about so and so and this and that and so on and so forth.  When I have gone back and looked through my written memories, I noticed that my longest ones were when I needed to express my feelings (normally frustration).  At some point, I gave up the written record of my personal thoughts and reflections.  I'm not sure why--life gets in the way sort of thing, I imagine. 

I love writing, always have.  I remember sitting on the steps of my parents house with notebook and pencil in hand and trying to come up with wonderful stories--asking my parents how to spell this word and trying to find a different word for another word (how wonderful a computer truly is).  I have stacks of those notebooks that I to this day can not part with (I really should try to type up those stories--for laughter's sake if nothing else.) 

Even though I am terrible at spelling and make up the rules and words and all kinds of things that would make all the Mrs. & Mr.'s of my education cringe, I write on.  In my writing mind, I forget it all and just let the words rush (or trickle) from my brain to finger tips.  Sometimes I am please with the quick result, other times I have to work and fuss and tweak before I am seeing perfection.  Perfection.  That is the things that always seems to stand in my way.  I envy people who can just do something and be satisfied with their first result.  Me, I have to work and work and work until the words don't always match the story that I see.  Sometime I should just "publish" my raw materials and throw perfection to the wind--my stomach is balling up in knots a little just saying that, that must mean I need to push myself to try--I'll at least spell check before hitting the big orange publish button.  (where did all that come from)

The beauty of writing from my mind is I get it out.  I have been feeling pent up lately--and maybe it's because I carry all these thoughts around and never getting them out.  So why not share them here with others so that my thoughts are just not mine alone (don't worry I wont punish you with all my thoughts)  Because I need to write and blogging can be food for my soul.

BTW--this is mostly a raw writing.  Mostly.

Feeding my Soul

Squash, black beans, onions and bell peppers--this is soul feeding food for me

                           
I'm a care giver, by profession, as mother and wife, as a friend and every person in between.  Somewhere in the shuffle of feeding, lending a helping hand, transporting, and loving, I forget to do one very important thing:  Take care of me.  I don't make time to do things that feed my body, mind & soul.

 I'm not sure if I do this because there just never seems to be enough (time, energy, care) after giving to other or if it's because I'm better at giving than receiving?  It could have something to do with the fact that I feel selfish putting my needs before the needs of other, no matter how many times my husband tells me "If you don't take care you, who will take care of us?"  I just feel guilty when I make myself the priority.  I need to get over that.  Now!

So now I need to figure out what I need in order to feed myself well.  I'm not just talking food here.  In order to be alive, awake, alert & enthusiastic what elements are required?  What is the magic potion that will put a spring back into my step, the shine in my hair and song to my laughter?.  How will I create more hours in my already busy day? 

It is time to ask the hard questions,  what brings me joy?  what do I love?  what do I need? Do I find joy in the smiles of those I love or is it found when I feel their arms wrapped around me.  Is it feeling nature kiss my cheeks as I move my body to the beat of my heartsong or is it having dirt covered toes that I love?  Do I need to be challenging myself and eating foods that speak to me in a sound that only I can hear when I'm really in tune with my true self? 

The hardest part is providing myself these joy makers, passion filled need.  Will I be more present to notice and feel the love that brings me joy.  Will I make the time to spend with nature and bury my toes in deep so I can hear my heartsong?  What will I do to challenge myself?  What food speak to me in a healthful way?  Who is up for this challenge?  Me?.