JAN 21 Cling to Your Dreams Like a Tiger!

Hi Journal & Friends,

My hand is throbbing today (from the surgery Thursday) so will make this short.

Today is a Guest Post by Vevie (rhymes with Stevie). 

She said to tell ya'll:

DREAM BIG! 

And never give up on those dreams!

From Dr Phil's book: "Express your goals in terms of specific behaviors and feelings."

My verse for today:  "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

My quote for today: "We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors... but they all have to live in the same box. " --author unknown 

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 525

DAY 511 Finding the Determination of a Cat

Hi Journal & Friends!

Included on my new Checklist is a daily leg stretching routine. Due to several reasons, my legs, at the hips and knees, don't straighten out all the way. I had a physical therapist tell me that with persistance, there is the possibility of getting them straighter. It's hard to walk when you are crinked over like a pretzel! So I am motivated... but I think I had doubts, and some of that old "what's the use" mentality.

So, I have included a daily stretching routine this year! My mini-goal is that at the end of 2011, I be looking back at the year, excited at how Limber I have become. :-)

Yesterday I was standing at the side of my bed and when I leaned over onto it to start my stretches... the bed made a muffled "Mmmmpht!"  And then, under the electric blanket, a lump moved. I pulled back the corner of the blanket, and a sleepy black and white face popped up!

Vevie (rhymes with Stevie) had decided she was chilly, and somehow managed to crawl up under the blankets. No wonder I hadn't seen her all afternoon... she had been snug as a bug in a rug!

Moral of story: where there is a will, there is a way (or as Les Brown says, Shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you'll land among the stars).

From Dr Phil's book: "Having specific, carefully mapped out, vividly envisioned goals is an absolute requirement for success."

My verse for today: "...let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

My quote for today: "By God's grace, and my will..." --Mother Teresa

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 503 Roasted Mouse, Anyone?

Hi Journal & Friends,

First, thank you for the nice comments from yesterday's grumpy post. My hand is much better now. No more throbbing...unless I am careless and bump it! Another round of general antibiotics, while waiting for the results of the culture, so we can specifically target these little resistant buggers!!

On with today's thoughts (it doesn't hurt to type now... yippee).

Last April, shortly after losing our 16 year old Dusty, I wrote a post called Things I Learned From a Cat (here).  Dusty was special, and had her own way of communicating with me.

Well, on Christmas day it seems my two current furbabies, Butterfly and Vevie (rhymes with Stevie), had another thing to teach me.

This Christmas day was the first time in many years that Jim actually had off work. And I was so not used to it, it didn't even occur to me to plan a special meal. I just spaced it! 

So there we were, Christmas Eve, and it finally dawned on me that it's not the usual, just me eating left-overs. Jim would be here! 

What to cook?? What's in the fridge? Anything in the freezer I can thaw? Eek! All the grocery stores were closed, and I wasn't sure which might be open on Christmas day.

Oh sure, there was a lot of food in the house. The "usual" stuff. But... it wasn't right. It wasn't special. It just wasn't "Christmas-y". 

Huh??

So it got me thinking... why was I all in a dither over what I was going to fix?? 

Then I looked at Butterfly and Vevie. They were not fussing over their "special" Christmas meal. To them, it was just another day, just another meal. A little kitty chow, and we're good to go. They weren't throwing a hissy fit because they didn't get Roasted Mouse for Christmas.

And I realized that for me it wasn't about the food itself. We decided to try to find a store open and buy ribs to make BBQ spare ribs for our special Christmas day meal. But why?? Cuz I was lusting for BBQ ribs??

And I was kind of happy to realize that no, it really wasn't about the food--for once! It was about tradition.

All growing up, my Mom would cook a special meal for Christmas. Something we didn't have all the time. Well, with 4 kids to feed on a blue collar workers salary, lets face it... ya don't have prime rib every week! And she would make something special to go with it, like yummy side dishes, and Indian Pudding or homebaked pie for dessert.

The point is... it was special. And I realized THAT was what I was longing for. Not the food itself... but the feeling of "special". Of tradition. Of nice memories. Of nostalgia.

So yes, after we played Santa and enjoyed visiting my sister and my nieces, we discovered an open store and found sugar-free punky pie and spare ribs. 

We rented a cool movie from Blockbuster, Inception, and had our traditional "special" meal after all. 

It was nice... a "normal" feeling, that it was not about the food. It was about tradition and memories and all that.

So thank you, Butterfly and Vevie, for reminding me what's really important. 

From Dr Phil's book: "You now have a concrete plan of action in place for living a healthier, richer, and fuller life. When it comes to managing your weight for a lifetime, make use of everything you've been given..."

My verse for today: "Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light."

My quote for today: "If you don't see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner." --Zig Ziglar

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 352 Fair Pics!

Hi Journal & Friends!

Uh oh, I took 111 photos at the Fair! Guess I'll choose my favorites, and divide them up. Today I feel like re-living the more amusing ones. And that's what it feels like, getting the pics ready to post: re-living it.

I can still hear the sounds of the Fair, feel the hot sun, the refreshing mist of the water-mister fans that cooled us down. 

The smells of the Fair food, the petting zoo and the moo cow barn.

The noisy children, crying babies, and laughing people. 

The colors and wild designs of the games Midway, with the banter of the barkers trying to draw us into a game. 

Oh, the colors! It was a feast for my eyes. Was it cheap and tacky if you looked close? Absolutely. And I loved every minute of it.

Life!

Oh, how much I've missed out on... how much being "morbidly obese" has robbed from me for too long. It might be no big deal to most people to go to a Fair, but it was huge for me!

But I'm not looking backward today. I'm excitedly looking FORWARD to more life! And look out next year... I want to drag along everyone willing to join me! LOL! And I'll bet I'll be able to go on some of the rides, too... nope, forget the Zipper! (can click pics to enlarge)

Yesterday I showed my "before the fair" pic with my pink umbrella. Well, right after that, Jim put his hat on my head to see if that would be better than carrying around the umbrella... and said to take off my sunglasses. Yikes! It was so bright I could hardly see!

This was an old-fashioned country Fair, with 4H exhibits, arts and crafts, carnival rides and a games midway, and homemade food competitions and ribbon awards. 

It was so much fun! Brought back so many memories... and I cracked up at this homespun "planter" made from a pair of athletic shoes. On the back side was an old split-open football made into planter. Yep, some of us'ns is cuntree, here in Orygun.

And then there was the Ant Parade! We grow ants BIG here in Oregon. A little known fact is that there is a lot of volcanic ash around here that blew down from the Mount St Helens eruption. It has affected generations of ants, and they have unusually hard shells and larger than average body size. Really. It's true. Honest. Here are the pics to prove it.

And then there was the Moo Cow Parade! Actually, the 4H girls were leading their moo cows to another barn... the one that you can NOT enter unless you are a moo cow. It just struck me funny (maybe too much sun?!).

This next one had me choking trying not to laugh out loud. I was trying to remain "invisible", so I could get a good picture. Do you see what tickled my funny bone??

The ride looked Spikey... and the little boy in the front left staring at the Spikey ride had a Spikey mohawk "do".  I was cracking up!! I would never have shown his cute little face online, so fortunately for me he was intent on the ride, with his back to me. Too funny!

Did I mention we also grow Dinosaurs here? Metallicasaurus Rex.

Vevie is rarely alone all day... one of us is usually here. So when I got home yesterday afternoon, she ran up, sat down right in front of me, and gave me a very serious, accusing look... just staring at me for the longest time. 

I  apologized for leaving her all day. 

She forgave me. 

We're good now.

From Dr Phil's book: "Describe yourself in a manner that reflects a winning identity."

My verse for today: "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."

My quote for today: "The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created. First in the mind, and then in the will, next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating." --John Schaar

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 350 Fair Time!

Hi Journal & Friends,

Off to the Fair!

Vevie will be holding down the fort til I get back.

Here she is in her favorite spot... a sunbeam (can click to enlarge).

Enjoying  the Journey at the Fair,

Loretta

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DAY 339 Kitties, Doggies & Raptors, Oh My!

WED DAY 339

Hi Journal & Friends,

I think my new kitty, Vevie, is part dog.

I've had cats all my life, but I'm telling ya, Vevie (rhymes with Stevie) like to play tug-o-war with her toys, and is constantly chewing on stuff like a puppy! 

Stuff like... oh... the cord to my ipod earbuds. Or electrical cords. Or my clothing... while I'm IN them. Or ANYTHING within reach of her raptor-sharp little teeth!

I guess it's normal... I guess. It seems as though she MUST do this, like a teething puppy. But she's almost 5 months old now. 

I've tried all kinds of "coping techniques"... different substitutes. Healthy ways for her to handle her "stress", the need to chew. Nope.

/\___/\

(='.'=)

(")_(")

Finally... today... SUCCESS! I discovered she loves the texture and "chewability" of an old, thick, wash cloth rolled up into a tube shape. She wraps her paws around it in a hug, and chews away contentedly!!

And it got me to thinking... it's just like us. We, too, must find the ways of coping with daily stress that we actually like, that are healthy, that work for us. Chewing electrical cords wouldn't work for me, methinks.

We try things... they don't work. But that doesn't mean we give up!! We KEEP trying, til we hit on the "chew toy" that works for us. I've found a few ways for myself... now to keep doing it, making them habit,  til it becomes automatic, the "new me".

Never quit... just keep going, and you WILL find your own healthy "chew toy".

Now I'm off to buy new ipod earbuds. :-}

From Dr Phil's book: "You must embrace the fact that you own your problems and take action to solve them."

My verse for today: "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

My quote for today: "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." --Muhammad Ali

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 335 Peaceful Saturday

Howdy Journal & Friends,

Today looks to be another 101 degree day here in Southern Oregon! It feels like a lazy Saturday.

I'm not sure why, I just don't feel like being "deep" today or even rah-rah. I'm not blah. Maybe just... quiet? Content? Restful?

I woke up feeling thankful, maybe that's it. I've been cruising Bloggyland the last couple of days, visiting new people, link-hopping. And was smacked with the reality that lots of people are dealing with such heart-breaking circumstances.

When I am particularly touched by someone's situation and feel so led, I'll stick up a note on my computer to pray for that person daily. Well, I think I was feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff people were dealing with... and feeling almost guilty that right now, at this time and space, there is peace in my life.

Peace. I don't mean inner peace... we can have that anytime in the midst of the storm, from the Prince of Peace. I mean circumstances are peaceful right now. We are "between storms."

My biggest "problem" is that every time I sit down to the comuter, Vevie  (rhymes with Stevie) takes that as a cue to come and demand that I play with her, or, she wants to cuddle up right in front of the keyboard and sleep.

If that's all I have to deal with right now, I am blessed indeed.

So you can see why I'm feeling thankful... even for small things.

Thankful for a good air-conditioner in this heat.

Thankful for a day I don't have pressing obligations, so I can just relax.

Thankful for having met so many wonderful bloggy friends.

I'm not being glib on that last one. This is embarrassing to admit... but I was truly surprised that people have been so friendly and accepting to me. And that they comment with such support and uplifting words. There are so many very giving and creative people out there. And it took the internet to open my eyes to see that!  See... you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

From Dr Phil's book: "When you are on the right track, there is an enormous energy that uplifts you."

My verse for today: "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."

My quote for today: "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."--Muhammad Ali

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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