Thursday Thirteen #9: Life Is Precious, Life is Fragile

Here I sit, not having started this list, not starting much of anything yet today. I am so ashamed that I can't discipline myself to even get up and go PAINT for crying out loud. And then I see this headline in my surfing stupor and I am shocked wide awake: "Steven Curtis Chapman's Daughter Killed in SUV Accident."

So in lieu of any silly list I might come up with today, I invite you to go and read what the Chapman family's day was like yesterday and get down on your knees and thank God that you're here and that you still have time to get around to doing what you would like to do with your life, and I'll do the same.

The video on Maria's page is also very sweet. What a lovely snapshot of a family that lives life to the fullest, all the way down to the youngest member of that family.

May you all have a blessed day of gratefulness. Perhaps you can make a list of 13 things you are grateful for today and meditate on it. I'll be doing that. It's the least I can do.

My condolences to the Chapman family. Steven's music and example were always an inspiration to me when I was paying attention. Thank you and may God bless you and keep you through this time of trouble and make your hearts glad again one day soon.

Thursday Thirteen #8 -- I Found Out!

Thirteen Things I Found Out This Week

I've actually started getting things done in my real world space, so this week's list after much brainstorming for something "brilliant" to say to the world! will just be another random look at what's going on in my world (I paused for about ten seconds wanting to say "in my head" while I tried to convince myself that it wasn't JUST in my head, but was, in fact, part of my observable reality!). Ok, so if that introduction doesn't give you a clue about what my life is like when my kids go stay at their dad's house for extended time, maybe the list will help you understand what life without any major routine looks like! =)

1. I found out from a couple of bloggy friends that not only does my favorite flower flourish in Oregon, but that they are blooming RIGHT NOW! Lilacs, how I love thee! Here I come!



2. I found out just how many people (or should I say how few?) on my notification list actually want to read my blog regularly when I asked them to sign up for email subscriptions instead of getting emails from me. Alas.



3. I found out how the raw foodists were right when they said that changing the way I eat would change my whole life...for the better! Everything. From how I look, to how I feel, to how I behave, to how my connection with others and even life itself would change. I'm so glad I started in the spring, too, because my new blossoming is right in line with the seasons and it's truly a joyous combination!



4. I found out that we have Jimmy Buffet's "Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads" box set on MP3 and I am listening to it today as I get things done. Jimmy is definitely a contender in my stuck on a deserted island music list. He's such a poet philosopher. Really. I think he's also one of the people I might say I would be if someone asked, "If you could also be anyone else in the world, who would you be?" (I'm a big fan of thinking it would be really cool to get to life swap to see what it's like...we all live vicariously from time to time, no?)



5. I found out that I CAN live without animal protein every day. I used to think I could not. In fact, I thought about making this list into thirteen new things I have learned to eat since "going raw," but the general concensus of my readers is that it's just too weird, so I'm going to probably just post that on my new raw food blog instead!



6. I found out that after about two months of eating mostly fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nuts, no dairy, no wheat, and very little meat, and exercising more regularly, that I have lost about eight pounds and have tons of energy!



7. I found out that what I like most about my new lifestyle (eating really is a lifestyle) is that I don't feel bloated and swollen and droopy-eyed tired anymore. And I love the food I get to eat! See, I love food, so this really works for me because I get to eat "dessert" for dinner if I want to. Last night, I had four jumbo fresh strawberries cut up and sprinkled with hemp seeds (they taste like moist sunflower seeds but have the highest protein of any nut/seed) and topped with banana "ice cream." That means a frozen banana, four dates, a swirl of agave nectar, a dash of vanilla, and a handful of ice cubes (and a little H2O for mixing purposes since I don't have the best blender). It was luscious! And filling. And good for me.



8. I found out that I've finally hit my stride and can eat much less than I had when I first adopted this style of eating. I know...this is the last one...but I was really worried at first because I just felt so empty eating just raw food. And then I had to go through all kinds of withdrawal feelings and actually DEAL with my emotional eating patterns to get here, so I'm really excited about it!



9. I found out that focusing on being the change I want to see in my marriage is a miracle of Biblical proportions. (hehe) Seriously though. And now I'm reading The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it all makes perfect sense because of the revelations I've been having in my own life lately. I recommend his books. I also just checked out his book of Prayers and have the companion (handbook?) to The Four Agreements. Ancient wisdom. Funny how things don't REALLY change...just new faces and new gadgets!



10. I found out that my computer doesn't respond well to power loss. I was halfway through the last item and the power went out. It was rather funny, actually, because I finished typing a sentence at the same time that a Buffet song ended and them BAM! out went the lights! So, now, about 30 minutes later, I'm back to finish this list that is STILL taking way too long! =)



11. I found out that I still love Turbo Jam. It's fun. Like dancing. In fact, cheery Chalene Johnson actually gives little breaks between sets to just "get your groove on" freestyle. She's a lot of fun, and very encouraging. I can't watch people who are just making a tape, you know? This lady has a heart you can connect to in her videos. (I liked that about Billy Blanks too, but I like Chalene more!)
    
    
12. I found out today that Blogger's wacky glitches have a whole lot to do with why blogging takes too much of my time. Three times now I've had to close out the browser completely (this last time using alt+F4!!!!) because the dang link button gets stuck in the "on" position and keeps popping up a window no matter WHAT I click on....save, exit, anything!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! Guess I'll have to use html AGAIN to bypass the mess. Oh, and need I even mention the crazy addition of spacing everywhere when I have to leave and come back?????? Hmph!
    
    
13. I found out that I really love my life. I'm really learning to stop beating myself up for being a housewife who "needs a job/career" and started just being grateful for the fact that my husband works hard and likes it, that my kids have me around to take care of them since we don't live close to many family members, that I can go and work part time teaching and make some money if I need to, that I have this wonderful time to find my next true calling. I read something about "life's work" on a friend's blog yesterday and thought, "YES! That's exactly right!" Being a mom has absolutely been my calling all this time and when I haven't seen that, it's because I've been thinking I needed to be someone else for someone else (not just one person!) and that's just not who I am! So thank you Zenmomma for your wise words yesterday!!!! =)

And thanks to YOU for reading my Thursday Thirteen!

I've also found that I can do this once a week blogging thing without TOO much trouble. It gives me a focus and just enough incentive so that I don't walk away from my blog for too, too long.

Like I said, there's been a lot going on here lately, and I am preparing my life to be conducive to writing about it more often. Needed to get some things taken care of first, though, and I'm happy to finally be making some major progress. I guess I literally had to start from the inside out and learn to fuel my body so that it will cooperate with me in getting things accomplished!

Have a great day...weekend...and week! May you be grateful for your life--it's the only one you have, and not everbody gets to stick around as long as they would like, so enjoy every day, even if you only enjoy MOPING for the day, ok????!!!!!

Muah! =)

© Nicole J. Williams, 2008, all rights reserved.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #7--Favorite Romantic Comedies

Thirteen of My Favorite Romantic Comedies

Ah yes, I know promised a blog more like the old days, waxing philosophic on some random topic perhaps. Well, then this week happened, and this is all I have for you. A break between a crying smile-fest that is compensating for my feminine slump in front of the television. It's just been one of those days. This is my life.

Without further adieu, thirteen of my favorite movies to watch when I'm in, shall we say, a Lifetime or a We kind of mood--the catch is, they have to be on my movie shelves:

1. The Wedding Singer
   
2. 13 Going on 30
   
3. Must Love Dogs
   
4. Say Anything
   
5. Enchanted
   
6. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
   
7. The Princess Bride
   
8. You've Got Mail
   
9. When Harry Met Sally
   
10. Never Been Kissed
    
11. Forget Paris
    
12. My Best Friend's Wedding
    
13. The Wedding Planner

Yep, I just watched 27 Dresses and that's what gave me the idea. I didn't feel up to writing anything at all, but then I thought, "Oh, surely I can make a list of 'chick flicks' that fit my current mood...I'd hate to TOTALLY miss a Thursday 13." The theme this week was gross, using any interpretation, so let's just say this is what I like to watch when I'm feeling like a wretch of humanity...ok, how about a little blue. (Oh look, it's my very first strikethrough!!! =)

Gee, I just realized that "wedding" is in three of those titles. (Oh, and a bride too!) Revealing, no? Hey, the tradition of the comedy is to end with a wedding, so it's no surprise really. Humanity has always loved its "happy" endings!

Enjoy the weekend, y'all!

© Nicole J. Williams, 2008, all rights reserved.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Meet Pepe!

This post is a completely lighthearted tribute to my favorite Muppet I mentioned last week. For me. For fun. Because he makes me happy, and I was bored the other day and found all these cute YouTube videos of him.

I also posted last week about slowly moving away from my meat eating ways, but I don't know that I could completely give up seafood...forever???!!!. Tuna for the dolphins' sake? No problem. But what about raw oysters? And what about shrimp? No offense Pepe.

But wait! Pepe is not a shrimp! He's a King Prawn, ok?

Watch him and see if you think he's cute too! (If you feel like it. I know at least one person out there who doesn't like Muppets, and I apologize for yet another reference to them!)

A video personal dating ad...



A few scenes of Muppets from Space, where I first met Pepe...



Pepe auditions for a Long John Silver's advertisement...


See you Thursday for a more spiritual, philosophical version of the Thirteen meme! =)

I got tagged by Phyl!

My pal, Phyl, tagged me for this meme! She's the queen o' memes! This one's for you girlfriend! =)

Here are the rules of the game (post these first).

1)Each player answers questions about themselves.

2) At the end of the posting tag 5-6 people.

3) Post their names and then go to their site and leave a comment telling them that they have been Tagged. Then ask them to read your blog.

4) Let the person who tagged you know that you have completed your posting.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!

WHAT WAS I DOING 10 YEARS AGO:

Let's see. At the beginning of May of 1998, I had been officially divorced for about two weeks. I believe I had just had my first bout with Houston influenza that had me dizzy with my head in hand while my kids hunted for Easter eggs outside in the super hot humid weather! I had quit working for Merry Maids because of said flu, that I came down with on Good Friday, WHILE AT WORK, cleaning one of those horrible first time houses that the supervisor would say, "Oh, it should only take y'all a few hours." After four hours, with much more to go, a fever, aches, and the chills coming on hard and fast, with dog hair lodged in my sinuses from the NASTY house, I knew I'd had just about enough of that job. I can STILL see the inside of that house. I think my mom was coming to visit. It was a pretty crazy time in my life. In fact, I have a picture of my kids from when my mom was visiting on my fridge, and I looked at it last night and cried. I could see my little babies on the left and then look up and to the right and see my teenage girls at Disney in December. They looked so much the same, but so different. I just cried the mommy cry. So yeah, ten years ago. Wow.

WHAT ARE THE 5 THINGS ON MY "TO DO" LIST:

Literally on a to-do list:
1)Organize my office: bookshelves, drawers, cabinets, filing. (Can you say ugh?!)
2)Mop the floors.
3)Clean the bathrooms.
4)Organize the kitchen still better to accomodate my new style of eating (i.e. RAW!)
5)Prepare to teach summer school classes next month. (eeeegads, I have less than one month now to get ready!)

On an inner-personal level:
1) Read and take notes on the books I have accumulated on inner growth.
2) Get this office organized so I can read, write, paint, and teach from it with peace of mind AND the ability to find what I need and use the space effectively!
3) Complete to-do list to eliminate stress (SAME AS PHYL ON THIS ONE!)
4) Start walking daily (AND HERE TOO!)
5) Find a source of income that works with who I am inside, and not just as a paycheck to get by and create more stress in my life.

3) SNACKS THAT I ENJOY: Carrots and guacamole; celery with raw almond butter; and yes, ok, chocolate...but I don't feel good AFTER I eat it!

4) THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE: Oh the money I could give away!!!! One dream I have always had is to create some kind of program for teenagers to become more involved in society...obviously, teenagers who do not have the resources to do so. Ultimately, I would want to help motivate them scholastically, politically, environmentally, emotionally, spiritually, and ethically...all at the same time. Hey, if I'm going to dream about being a BILLIONAIRE, it's got to be BIG, right? I truly believe that teenagers are one of the largest untapped markets of creativity and change. Really I think it all goes back to feeling so useless as a teenager myself. And not feeling like I had anyone to show me the way to BE useful. I know there are plenty of things out there that teens can do, but I want to reach the ones who don't have access. Oh sigh, I just want to change the world, you know? Like, let's just revamp the entire education system and make it community oriented instead of consumer and convict oriented. Again, there's so many MORE kids who are left out than who gain from it all. I would love to change that. So there. =)


5) PLACES WHERE I HAVE LIVED: Uxbridge, Douglas, Sandwich, Hyannis, and W. Yarmouth Massachusetts; Vicksburg, Cleveland, and Greenwood, Mississippi; Houston and Humble, Texas. Oregon and California, here I come!!! =)

6) BAD HABITS THAT I HAVE: Refusing to believe in myself more often than not; being a little bit late almost all the time; making to-do lists and then blogging or surfing the internet instead of accomplishing my goals; avoiding household chores more often than ever before; buying too much food; avoiding routines that would make my life less stressful.

7) JOBS THAT I HAVE HAD: restaurant worker (register, food prep, food service--fast-food style in several restaurants), hardware store cashier, factory worker (packed the styrofoam trays that grocery meat etc. comes on), kennel worker, office aide, writing tutor, high school English teacher, (not so) Merry Maid, college English teacher. And my calling so far has been motherhood, although now that the kids are almost "done," I am sad that I didn't do more. Ah well, that good old hindsight added to a perfectionistic bent...what else is new?

Ok, so let's see, I have to tag some folks....um....well, maybe I'll let this one end here for now. I didn't have much luck last time with the tagging part!

Have a blessed day my readers!


© Nicole J. Williams, 2008, all rights reserved.