Thankfulness

So last year I did a November blog challenge to post 30 things I am thankful for over the 30 days of November. I thought about doing it again this year and decided against it. Not because I couldn't come up with 30 things to be thankful for, I certainly could. Instead, I just decided to have one day in which I verbally (bloggily?) publicly am thankful.

Of course I am thankful for the usual, family, friends, home, employment, etc. I am. I really am. I am also thankful for the random people in my life who have offered support, kind words, suggestions for dealing with a body that refuses to function the way I believe it should. I do sort through it all and pick and choose what works for me and for my life, but I am grateful for those who have said "Hey, me too, this is what I did." In a way it is nice to know there are others out there. And it is sad. That so many of us are suffering (that word might be a little strong, but I couldn't come up with a better one). And I am thankful for those who take care of me and my family in so many different ways.  I am grateful to live in a country where I can list 30+ things I am thankful for and publish it for the world to see. These things do not escape me. Even on days when I do not feel very thankful, I have things for which I am thankful! And when I focus on those things, then the day isn't so bad.

Wouldn't the world be a kinder, gentler (more gentle?) place if we continued to be thankful all year instead of just daily in November?

The spicy side of life

Every week, Feeling Beachie posts four statements with blanks for you to fill in and post on your own blogs. This week I am co-hosting again! Email if you want to be a co-host!

This week's statements:
1. _____ make me _____ because _____.
2. Whenever someone _____ that ____ I get very _____.
3. I know I should never ____ but sometimes I can't help it.
4. I have fond memories of _____ from childhood.


My answers:
1. Tacos make me thirsty because they are spicy?
2. Whenever someone insults someone that I love I get very irritated.
3. I know I should never whine and complain about my health (because it could be worse. MUCH worse.) but sometimes I can't help it.
4. I have fond memories of playing with my cousins from childhood.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

Ever have a day when the weather outside doesn't match your mood? Normally sunny days make us feel happy and sunny inside, especially in the cold winter months (and since there was snow on the ground today, it is now winter in my book). But today, the sun is shining and I feel cloudy inside.

I got word today that something tragic and senseless and probably preventable happened to someone I used to work with (a client, not a coworker). And it has left me feeling unfocused, unproductive, unhappy today. Cloudy. And what happened will affect so many other lives too. I'll do my processing of the event today and move on to sunnier skies tomorrow (maybe even tonight when I get home and can snuggle my Punky). But for many it will be a long time before the sun shines on them again. Which makes me think of all those tragic events that happen to people I don't know. Everyday things happen that bring the shadows into people's lives. I hear it all the time. On the news. In books. In my office. Some days are harder than others to not feel the pain of others. Some days that job at Starbucks looks better and better!

But the clouds will roll away and the sun will return. And I'll come out of my funk.

There's a chill in the air

And I'm getting in the holiday spirit! 

I'm already ridiculously excited about Christmas. I mean, really, ridiculously excited about Christmas. I like Christmas on the average year, but I feel a little over the top this year. I guess the Christmas spirit has really gotten its claws in me or something.

Maybe it's the anticipation for the much needed girls' trip. Or the planning for the foster family Christmas party. Or the office Secret Santa. Or the fact that Punky might actually be "in" to Christmas this year. 

Whatever the reason, I am ready! I have my Secret Santa all planned. I have my girls' trip present game present and holiday jammies purchased. I even have almost all my shopping done. Almost. Now I just have to wait until after Thanksgiving to let my red and green colors show! 

I do my best to not skip over what is an important holiday. Thanksgiving. Even though I do not eat turkey. Or stuffing. Or green bean casserole... I still like the tradition of getting together with family. It's kind of like a kick off to Christmas! 

I know by the time New Year's rolls around, I will be sick of family togetherness and holiday stress. But for now I am enjoying the anticipation of getting out my trees. And decorating my office. And watching Christmas movies. And baking (even if I can't eat) cookies. 

I don't know why my holiday spirit is on steroids this year. I'm just going to enjoy it as long as it lasts!

Two Mouses Lack Common Sense

Did that title get your attention? Well guess what time it is? (It's time for lunch! Sorry, too many episodes of Bubble Guppies...) It's FRIDAY FILL-IN TIME!

Each week, Feeling Beachie posts four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.
This week’s co-host is William from Speak of the Devil! He came up with the last two statements!

This week’s statements:
1) I can’t believe that _____
2) To celebrate ____ I _______
3) The meaning of life is _____
4) I can’t stand _____

My answers:
1) I can't believe that my daughter will turn two in less than two weeks!
2) To celebrate her birthday I will make a Minnie Mouse cake.
3) The meaning of life is not always easily identifiable.
4) I can't stand the lack of common sense in the world today (well, at least in my corner of the world...).

Cooking and Baking, Baking and Cooking

I used to enjoying cooking and baking. A lot. I liked that, even though I didn't eat a lot of it, I could still put together a tasty meal for people. See, I am vegetarian by choice. I have been for almost 1/2 my life now. I remember torturous meals growing up with meat on my plate. I did not like it Sam I Am. But I would fix meat dishes for others with no problem. 

Then something happened. My body quit functioning the way it used to. And my joy in cooking disappeared. It's difficult to cook when you don't want anything to do with food. It's hard to prepare meals for others when you know eating what you are making will make you feel awful. It's really hard to get excited about food when you have no idea what you can eat.  Meat- gone. Dairy- gone. Sweets, caffeine, carbonation- gone. Gluten- working on getting it gone. Taste- long gone!

Of course, if it makes me feel better I'll do it. But I won't lie, it won't be easy. Gluten is in everything. No, really, EVER-Y-THING. I have to find time to sit down and research meals. Then find time to research where I can purchase items for these meals. Then find time (and money) to actually purchase these things. And at the end of a long day of work, I don't want to think about food or cooking not one meal, not two meals, but most often three different meals. 

As for baking, I still occasionally get some pleasure out of it- though I cannot sample my works of art. And that does diminish some of the enjoyment. However, baking is more of an art and does, therefore retain some if its value as a stress reliever and source of fun. But it depends on the day. 

Some days the kitchen is my least favorite room in the house.

Co-hosting

Feeling Beachie posts four statements with blanks each Friday for you to fill in on your own blogs. This week, I happen to be the co-host (*gasp*)!  You can co-host too, just email your statements!

This week's statements:
1) I wear the color ____ a lot.
2) I think that ____ make the ____
3) Ugh! ____ is getting on my nerves!
4) ____ was a major accomplishment _____.


 My answers:
 1) I wear the color black a lot.
2) I think that breakfast makes the day better.
3) Ugh! Medical testing is getting on my nerves!
4) Paying off a credit card was a major accomplishment this week!





 

One Step Closer

Maybe....

I have been prodded and probed and scoped.  Now I get to be X-Rayed. And try to figure out what to eat that DOESN'T contain gluten. Sometimes I think the process of healing (or figuring out what is wrong in order to try to heal) is worst that the illness itself!

I was getting gas this morning and noticed how pretty the moon looked up in the morning sky. And it struck me. We have the technology to send humans to the moon (unless you are a conspiracy theorist and believe that was all a hoax), but we can only "practice" medicine. Multiple tests and horrible procedures to try to find answers as to why our bodies suddenly quit functioning the way they used to function.

It could be worse. They ruled out cancer. Which, of course, I hadn't even been considering as possibly the problem. And only the start of an ulcer, not an actual ulcer. It doesn't seem to be my gall bladder...

So let's see. I stopped eating meat at age 16. Then I cut out pretty much all sweets, caffeine, carbonation, and dairy. Now I have to try to eliminate gluten. So that leaves, what, grass?

Okay, yes, I'm feeling a little sorry for myself right now. I admit it. By tomorrow I'll be over myself. But today I am sad and frustrated. I want macaroni and cheese. Anybody have a gluten free, dairy free (taste free?) recipe?

A joyful new body full of love letters?

Each week, Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. This week’s co-host is Lisa from Lisa writes! she came up with the last two statements!

This week’s statements:
1) Help! I really _____
2) My ____ is my _____
3) I cannot wait to _____
4) The sentence has ______________ letters.

My answers:
1) Help! I really need a new body!
2) My daughter is my pure joy.
3) I cannot wait to  have answers about my body.
4) The sentence has to be perfect to end love letters.

Eat breakfast, don't starve

Each Friday Feeling Beachie (www.feelingbeachie.com) lists four statements with blanks for you to fill in on your own blogs. This week Pam from TROUPPETRIE co-hosted and supplied the last two statements. Join in the fun! 

Phew this week's are tough!

This week's statements:

1) I get so ____ when _____

2) ____ is my favorite ____ for _____

3) I would rather ____ than any ____ to make my life easier

4) The one safety rule that is always followed at my house is ____ because _____

My answers:

1) I get so annoyed when the Huz doesn't being in the empty trash bin on trash day.

2) Breakfast is my favorite meal for the day. But not necessarily at breakfast time...

3) I would rather starve than eat any  meat which would make my life easier.

4) The one safety rule always followed at my house is don't run with scissors because that's the first safety rule I thought of that I know we enforce...