It's sometimes the weirdest thing, having a kid.
I adore, absolutely adore and love my child. She is sweet, bold, independent, smart, and amazing. That said, there are certainly some days that are harder than others. Some days, sweet Mira, is so unhappy for one reason or another (didn't sleep well, teething, growth spurts, uncomfortable in some way, hungry, you name it). Even those days, I cannot get enough of her.
Sometimes, I load her into the car and we head out for this place or that and I fear I left her at home because she isn't RIGHT THERE. She is quietly watching the goings on of the world outside from her carseat, but I panic, thinking I forgot her altogether! It's silly and I know that; irrational. But for some reason, if she isn't right there where I can pick her up and hold her if I want, I sort of freak out for a minute and have to calm myself again.
Like right now: Brendan took her to his mother's house for a little while so I could get some work done. Very thoughtful of him, indeed. But I just frantically reached out to feel for her in the middle of working on something! I miss my baby! This bond is ridiculously strong! Sometimes even when I'm at work, I almost believe I can feel her calling out for me or just longing for an embrace from me. And then I am longing to hold her and hear her talking or screaming or singing or even crying, I don't care how I get her, I just want her.
Don't get me wrong - it IS good to get away sometimes. But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking of her or missing her while we are apart...
Being a mom is very crazy.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Day 38: And now for something completely different
So, first I'd like to tell you a story about the laundromat, yep, the laundromat. I had laundry (I always do!) to do. I took Mira because I couldn't leave her at home alone, a blessing and a curse at the same time. Since it's gotten hot, they've been rigging the door open so you can't shut it even if you wanted too - also a blessing and a curse. The blessing being the fresh air, the curse being that I can't put Mira down because she RUNS straight out and into the parking lot. Not such a great idea for a just barely 1 year old, but so far I can't seem to talk her out of it. That being said, I obviously can't put her down, I have to carry her constantly. Let me tell you that carrying an over 20lb, squirming, squealing baby is no easy task when carrying a laundry basket, getting change loading soap and quarters AND clothes into an about waist high hole for a front loader. So at some point, in front of the washing mashing, loading one thing or another, I leaned in to get closer to the washer. Mira must have leaned in right then too, because I felt a little jerk in her body that let me know she hit something, a shoulder or arm or maybe even a cheek or something. I looked her over to make sure she was okay and she was. The girl didn't even seem phased one bit. Just then, from across the laundromat, I heard "OH MY GOSH! SHE HIT THE BABY'S FACE ON THE CORNER! SHE HIT THE BABY'S FACE ON THE CORNER OF THE WASHING MACHINE!"
It was being yelled shrilly.
It was an older woman, and the longer I think about it the longer I'm convinced she never had any kids of her own. Anyone with kids would know that it was nothing to worry about or spend any time fretting over.
I looked up, there were a lot of people in that small laundromat. I found the face the loud obnoxious and humiliating accusation came out of. Her face was distorted with worry. I really wanted to answer something loudly back, but thought maybe she didn't deserve that. In a world of child abuse and neglect, it is perfectly reasonable for her to overreact to my daughter's very slight head bumping. Humiliated as I was, it was really hard to calmly reassure her that Mira was fine, see, she's fine, look, she hasn't even noticed that anything happened, that is how minor that was, so you can go on about your business.
So that's my little story.
And now, I'd like to share something with you!
If you are buying your coleslaw dressing - STOP! You can make it yourself WAY cheaper, it's very easy AND it is all great ingredients without msg or preservatives or any of that crap. You'll be amazed how easy it is once you try it yourself and you'll wonder why you were buying that crap before.
You will need:
a whisk
a bowl
sugar
white vinegar
water
mayonnaise (real mayonnaise)
salt
pepper
Since I don't know how much coleslaw you are making, I cannot tell you exact measurements BUT don't be discouraged! Just try this and see what happens!
Mix equal parts water, vinegar and sugar in your bowl with the whisk (maybe try about 1tbs of each first). When the sugar is dissolved, add 3 parts mayo (so if you used 1tbsp of water, 1tbsp sugar & 1 tbsp vinegar, you would add 3 tbsp mayonnaise), whisk.
Taste it. Salt and pepper to taste (I prefer A LOT of pepper). If the consistency is a little thinner than you'd like, add a little more mayo (1tbsp at a time).
Some people like to add some Cheyenne pepper to taste or even horseradish, have fun with it; it's YOUR recipe! It takes, maybe, 1 minute and cents to make. When you're done mixing it all in with your cabbage and whatever you like in your slaw, you can say with all of your heart that YOU made this coleslaw.
It's a great feeling.
It was being yelled shrilly.
It was an older woman, and the longer I think about it the longer I'm convinced she never had any kids of her own. Anyone with kids would know that it was nothing to worry about or spend any time fretting over.
I looked up, there were a lot of people in that small laundromat. I found the face the loud obnoxious and humiliating accusation came out of. Her face was distorted with worry. I really wanted to answer something loudly back, but thought maybe she didn't deserve that. In a world of child abuse and neglect, it is perfectly reasonable for her to overreact to my daughter's very slight head bumping. Humiliated as I was, it was really hard to calmly reassure her that Mira was fine, see, she's fine, look, she hasn't even noticed that anything happened, that is how minor that was, so you can go on about your business.
So that's my little story.
And now, I'd like to share something with you!
If you are buying your coleslaw dressing - STOP! You can make it yourself WAY cheaper, it's very easy AND it is all great ingredients without msg or preservatives or any of that crap. You'll be amazed how easy it is once you try it yourself and you'll wonder why you were buying that crap before.
You will need:
a whisk
a bowl
sugar
white vinegar
water
mayonnaise (real mayonnaise)
salt
pepper
Since I don't know how much coleslaw you are making, I cannot tell you exact measurements BUT don't be discouraged! Just try this and see what happens!
Mix equal parts water, vinegar and sugar in your bowl with the whisk (maybe try about 1tbs of each first). When the sugar is dissolved, add 3 parts mayo (so if you used 1tbsp of water, 1tbsp sugar & 1 tbsp vinegar, you would add 3 tbsp mayonnaise), whisk.
Taste it. Salt and pepper to taste (I prefer A LOT of pepper). If the consistency is a little thinner than you'd like, add a little more mayo (1tbsp at a time).
Some people like to add some Cheyenne pepper to taste or even horseradish, have fun with it; it's YOUR recipe! It takes, maybe, 1 minute and cents to make. When you're done mixing it all in with your cabbage and whatever you like in your slaw, you can say with all of your heart that YOU made this coleslaw.
It's a great feeling.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Day 36: Art for $ sake
So I've had John Lennon's Working Class Hero in my head for days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKwXwU5iWs
Here are the lyrics:
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool,
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasents as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me.
I love the perplexity this song leaves me with. And I find I'm trying to justify my own personal decisions while listening to it: "but, but I don't subscribe to the bullshit! I quit schools - a few of them! I denounce proclaiming my worth with pieces of paper whether in the form of diplomas or certificates or dollar bills! I AM a working class hero! And I still don't know how to follow you!" seems to play on repeat in my brain while I listen and for quite a while thereafter.
And then I listen to it again.
And again.
And I dissect each line like it's a religion to be studied and followed.
I do this because, well, he plainly states that something is to be achieved if I do "follow him". I believe that if I DO follow him by subscribing to this song... well... then I somehow am able to denounce the fear, the religion, the classes, the sex, the oppression, the time restrictions/constrictions, the failure, all that. But then I realize that I'm not so sure I believe the author himself was a working class hero. Was he?
I don't know.
I don't even know what that means.
By the time I run all this around in my brain, I don't even know whether BEING one is a good thing or a bad thing. Then I always come to the same sobering, cooling, sweaty realization: it doesn't even matter.
I guess in the scheme of things, it really is just art. Meant to perplex and educate and fulfill and to provoke anger towards "those bastards" who do the spreading of fear through religion, class, sex, time restrictions/constrictions by differentiating us with who is worthy, who is not and who is successful and who is a failure.
I'll tell you one thing: I have succeeded in my life! I am exactly who and WHAT I want to be and I love where I am, who I am and who I am with (more often than not!). I work to feel worthy (the money helps, no doubt) of my own food and shelter and contributions to my community, and my self worth is gauged solely on my own parameters!
This is where I sigh the sigh of relief and listen to the song one last time and the tumult of emotions that plagued me before turn to soft resignation and a deep sigh. I let the relief wash over me as I move on into the next thing.
Whew! I thought my brain might explode there for a minute!
And to be sure: I'm not against education - I love to learn and increase my knowledge. I disagree with the idea that a person's worth is measured by whether they followed a program to completion in order to receive a piece of paper. I disagree with the fact that people cannot usually even just try to DO what they love, they have to jump like a monkey and go through the hoops to prove they are worthy of doing what they love. I disagree because it has turned much of our societies into groups of people who just want more and more paper, oh the paper, gimme the diplomas, lemme have the certificates, then I'll get the money the money the money. It's all paper, where did the love go? And what happened to the value in following your heart? What happened to the integrity of the soul?
I'm sure, if you made it all the way through this, you are probably right in touch with your heart and soul and you have no trouble doing what you love all whilst expressing it.
LOVE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKwXwU5iWs
Here are the lyrics:
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool,
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasents as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me.
I love the perplexity this song leaves me with. And I find I'm trying to justify my own personal decisions while listening to it: "but, but I don't subscribe to the bullshit! I quit schools - a few of them! I denounce proclaiming my worth with pieces of paper whether in the form of diplomas or certificates or dollar bills! I AM a working class hero! And I still don't know how to follow you!" seems to play on repeat in my brain while I listen and for quite a while thereafter.
And then I listen to it again.
And again.
And I dissect each line like it's a religion to be studied and followed.
I do this because, well, he plainly states that something is to be achieved if I do "follow him". I believe that if I DO follow him by subscribing to this song... well... then I somehow am able to denounce the fear, the religion, the classes, the sex, the oppression, the time restrictions/constrictions, the failure, all that. But then I realize that I'm not so sure I believe the author himself was a working class hero. Was he?
I don't know.
I don't even know what that means.
By the time I run all this around in my brain, I don't even know whether BEING one is a good thing or a bad thing. Then I always come to the same sobering, cooling, sweaty realization: it doesn't even matter.
I guess in the scheme of things, it really is just art. Meant to perplex and educate and fulfill and to provoke anger towards "those bastards" who do the spreading of fear through religion, class, sex, time restrictions/constrictions by differentiating us with who is worthy, who is not and who is successful and who is a failure.
I'll tell you one thing: I have succeeded in my life! I am exactly who and WHAT I want to be and I love where I am, who I am and who I am with (more often than not!). I work to feel worthy (the money helps, no doubt) of my own food and shelter and contributions to my community, and my self worth is gauged solely on my own parameters!
This is where I sigh the sigh of relief and listen to the song one last time and the tumult of emotions that plagued me before turn to soft resignation and a deep sigh. I let the relief wash over me as I move on into the next thing.
Whew! I thought my brain might explode there for a minute!
And to be sure: I'm not against education - I love to learn and increase my knowledge. I disagree with the idea that a person's worth is measured by whether they followed a program to completion in order to receive a piece of paper. I disagree with the fact that people cannot usually even just try to DO what they love, they have to jump like a monkey and go through the hoops to prove they are worthy of doing what they love. I disagree because it has turned much of our societies into groups of people who just want more and more paper, oh the paper, gimme the diplomas, lemme have the certificates, then I'll get the money the money the money. It's all paper, where did the love go? And what happened to the value in following your heart? What happened to the integrity of the soul?
I'm sure, if you made it all the way through this, you are probably right in touch with your heart and soul and you have no trouble doing what you love all whilst expressing it.
LOVE!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Day 35: Been slipping up!
So I initiated this blog to be an every day thing. As you can see if you look over to the list (or scroll down) there are some days missing, Day 34, Day 32. I'm sure you can find the rest on your own.
I attribute this to MANY factors, most of which lead to the same end result: I run out of day before I get to the blog. Oh, you want reasons? Work, class, house chores, Mira, sleep, research, social life, Brendan, writer's block and uhm, oh, I don't know: I forgot.
In honor of these things, I pose a question:
WHY IS IT SO FUHREAKING DIFFICULT TO JUGGLE EVERYTHING?
And before you ask, no, of course I am not literally juggling my daughter and her father - or anything else for that matter.
I multi-task (which I hear is actually detrimental to overall achievability), I make lists, I try (and I mean I really, really do try, damnit) all with moderate success.
Surely I'm not alone in the feeling that I just don't get as much accomplished as I plan for myself, right? Don't most people have this feeling at the end of the day and as a result, strive to wake up early and get a good start on the next day?
I mean, is THIS what keeps us GOING?
Is a general sense of FAILURE what gets us MOTIVATED at the start of our day? Okay, well maybe not direct failure, but maybe the FEAR of failure? Is it?
Are fear and failure our main source of motivation?
I think I must be confused (and tired, and a little headachey), because for some reason that is all making total sense to me right now.
On some other level (waaaaay over there, yep, that one WAAAYY over there) I don't think that's right at all, I think it is the promise of hope and potential success that gets us motivated every day. Or the love we feel for the people in our lives and the need to be happy so they can be happy as a part of our lives could also be a major contributor to motivation.
I don't know (as you can tell, I'm sure).
But what I do know is that whatever causes motivation seems to evade me all together sometimes. I think about things I should or could be doing and then I think about how I would or could or should be doing them and THEN I think about how motivated I am toward doing them or getting them done. Generally if I think in my head that I could get away with NOT doing them (only when my motivation is low) for whatever reason, I don't. I just don't.
For instance, I once had to take 26 loads of laundry to the laundromat.
Oh yeah, you read that right: 26 (the big two-six; twenty six) loads of laundry. Because I was not motivated for, like 3 months (I don't know, it could have been more, I wasn't motivated at all, so I wasn't counting things either). That was embarrassing.
For real.
I attribute this to MANY factors, most of which lead to the same end result: I run out of day before I get to the blog. Oh, you want reasons? Work, class, house chores, Mira, sleep, research, social life, Brendan, writer's block and uhm, oh, I don't know: I forgot.
In honor of these things, I pose a question:
WHY IS IT SO FUHREAKING DIFFICULT TO JUGGLE EVERYTHING?
And before you ask, no, of course I am not literally juggling my daughter and her father - or anything else for that matter.
I multi-task (which I hear is actually detrimental to overall achievability), I make lists, I try (and I mean I really, really do try, damnit) all with moderate success.
Surely I'm not alone in the feeling that I just don't get as much accomplished as I plan for myself, right? Don't most people have this feeling at the end of the day and as a result, strive to wake up early and get a good start on the next day?
I mean, is THIS what keeps us GOING?
Is a general sense of FAILURE what gets us MOTIVATED at the start of our day? Okay, well maybe not direct failure, but maybe the FEAR of failure? Is it?
Are fear and failure our main source of motivation?
I think I must be confused (and tired, and a little headachey), because for some reason that is all making total sense to me right now.
On some other level (waaaaay over there, yep, that one WAAAYY over there) I don't think that's right at all, I think it is the promise of hope and potential success that gets us motivated every day. Or the love we feel for the people in our lives and the need to be happy so they can be happy as a part of our lives could also be a major contributor to motivation.
I don't know (as you can tell, I'm sure).
But what I do know is that whatever causes motivation seems to evade me all together sometimes. I think about things I should or could be doing and then I think about how I would or could or should be doing them and THEN I think about how motivated I am toward doing them or getting them done. Generally if I think in my head that I could get away with NOT doing them (only when my motivation is low) for whatever reason, I don't. I just don't.
For instance, I once had to take 26 loads of laundry to the laundromat.
Oh yeah, you read that right: 26 (the big two-six; twenty six) loads of laundry. Because I was not motivated for, like 3 months (I don't know, it could have been more, I wasn't motivated at all, so I wasn't counting things either). That was embarrassing.
For real.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Day 33: "You have to live outside of society to live a healthy lifestyle."
I had an interesting talk with someone this week about being healthy.
Being healthy shouldn't be that hard. If you think about it, really, it is so difficult. Our society is made up of 'convenience' and that convenience is so poor in quality that you really do pay a price for convenience. Some people are shedding decades off their life in the name of convenience. This is a very difficult concept to swallow.
But it's true. How many people do you know who are in very poor health around 50? My guess is, quite a few. How many of those people eat fast food daily, or even more than twice a week? Cook in plastic? Use aspartame sweetened products? What about processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils? Fried foods? Microwaved foods?
I don't disagree that a little convenience is great - but did you know that you lose HALF of your nutrients in food in the first 10 seconds of microwaving?
Or did you know that when you cook in plastic - microwave or other - the petroleum chemicals used in the plastic (which are mostly carcinogenic), leech into your food?
How about the fact that partially hydrogenated oils came about being used in foods just years before the obesity epidemic started, did you know that?
Sure, a few fast food burgers there, some microwaved soup there, it's no big deal. But most of our population does at least one of these things A DAY. No wonder we are dying sooner, deteriorating in health earlier and spending WAY WAY WAY more cash on healthcare.
All this is going on daily and people are getting pissed about airport security. Isn't our day to day health just slightly more important? Isn't the fact that I lost my Granny too young more important than that? We deserve to live reasonably long, healthy lives, don't we?
But someone said something to me the other day that sort of resonated with me. After mulling it over for a few days, I find it to be completely true:
You have to live as an outsider of society in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
It's true. How many people think organic food is "posh". Why? Because it doesn't contain harmful chemicals that can lead to normal bodily function breakdowns? Because it's the healthiest option? Because it's $0.20 more per pound?
Or take my choice to have a "natural birth", a good deal of my friends treated it like it was out of line and unreasonable that I should "want to go through all of that". Nevermind all the health implications that go with a medically assisted birth, I felt as though I was being treated like I was cutting my tongue off!
Then there is the whole breastfeeding thing. So many people rolled their eyes or acted like I was just being difficult when I said that my daughter didn't take a bottle. But the thing is; she refused the bottle from 3weeks on! I breastfed her (and still do at certain times of the day) because it is better for her body, better for her brain and believe it or not; better for her socially. It's also had wonderful reprecutions for me - it took almost 6 months before my uterus went back down, I cant imagine what it would have been like had I not breastfed. And I STILL haven't had a period - I can't tell you how awesome THAT is! And good for my family history of cancers. Not to mention my daughter has NEVER had a fever... Maybe once, she was almost to 99degrees. She has had a couple of minor colds and she got 5ths disease (which EVERYONE gets at one point in their life).
I guess I could go on and on. I don't mean to chastise anyone. I feel like the mainstream ideals are just unhealthy and misleading. I do feel apart from most folks because I am conscientious about my way of life and about what I feed myself and my family. Don't get me wrong, I'll do a frozen pizza here and there: but it's rare, not my way of life. I guess I feel that people aren't really given the opportunities to really LOOK at their habits and see how unhealthy they are. They just see (and I know from experience) what is convenient, what is easy and what is cheap and think "It MUST be okay or it wouldn't be available for me to buy" or "Of COURSE these large label companies have my best interest at heart: they want to keep me as a customer!" You might find, if you really research, that they possibly DON'T care and they are more likely counting on your blind trust and ignorance.
Being healthy shouldn't be that hard. If you think about it, really, it is so difficult. Our society is made up of 'convenience' and that convenience is so poor in quality that you really do pay a price for convenience. Some people are shedding decades off their life in the name of convenience. This is a very difficult concept to swallow.
But it's true. How many people do you know who are in very poor health around 50? My guess is, quite a few. How many of those people eat fast food daily, or even more than twice a week? Cook in plastic? Use aspartame sweetened products? What about processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils? Fried foods? Microwaved foods?
I don't disagree that a little convenience is great - but did you know that you lose HALF of your nutrients in food in the first 10 seconds of microwaving?
Or did you know that when you cook in plastic - microwave or other - the petroleum chemicals used in the plastic (which are mostly carcinogenic), leech into your food?
How about the fact that partially hydrogenated oils came about being used in foods just years before the obesity epidemic started, did you know that?
Sure, a few fast food burgers there, some microwaved soup there, it's no big deal. But most of our population does at least one of these things A DAY. No wonder we are dying sooner, deteriorating in health earlier and spending WAY WAY WAY more cash on healthcare.
All this is going on daily and people are getting pissed about airport security. Isn't our day to day health just slightly more important? Isn't the fact that I lost my Granny too young more important than that? We deserve to live reasonably long, healthy lives, don't we?
But someone said something to me the other day that sort of resonated with me. After mulling it over for a few days, I find it to be completely true:
You have to live as an outsider of society in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
It's true. How many people think organic food is "posh". Why? Because it doesn't contain harmful chemicals that can lead to normal bodily function breakdowns? Because it's the healthiest option? Because it's $0.20 more per pound?
Or take my choice to have a "natural birth", a good deal of my friends treated it like it was out of line and unreasonable that I should "want to go through all of that". Nevermind all the health implications that go with a medically assisted birth, I felt as though I was being treated like I was cutting my tongue off!
Then there is the whole breastfeeding thing. So many people rolled their eyes or acted like I was just being difficult when I said that my daughter didn't take a bottle. But the thing is; she refused the bottle from 3weeks on! I breastfed her (and still do at certain times of the day) because it is better for her body, better for her brain and believe it or not; better for her socially. It's also had wonderful reprecutions for me - it took almost 6 months before my uterus went back down, I cant imagine what it would have been like had I not breastfed. And I STILL haven't had a period - I can't tell you how awesome THAT is! And good for my family history of cancers. Not to mention my daughter has NEVER had a fever... Maybe once, she was almost to 99degrees. She has had a couple of minor colds and she got 5ths disease (which EVERYONE gets at one point in their life).
I guess I could go on and on. I don't mean to chastise anyone. I feel like the mainstream ideals are just unhealthy and misleading. I do feel apart from most folks because I am conscientious about my way of life and about what I feed myself and my family. Don't get me wrong, I'll do a frozen pizza here and there: but it's rare, not my way of life. I guess I feel that people aren't really given the opportunities to really LOOK at their habits and see how unhealthy they are. They just see (and I know from experience) what is convenient, what is easy and what is cheap and think "It MUST be okay or it wouldn't be available for me to buy" or "Of COURSE these large label companies have my best interest at heart: they want to keep me as a customer!" You might find, if you really research, that they possibly DON'T care and they are more likely counting on your blind trust and ignorance.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day 31: There's work to be done
First things first: There aren't many websites I spread around, but the one's I do, I only do because I use them often. I'm about to share a link here. The link I'm sure you will find helpful, but really the WHOLE site is worth checking out. I subscribe to their email list and I find it COMPLETELY useful. So:
http://www.learnvest.com/living-frugally/current-events/freeze-summer-for-later-765/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=lvdaily&utm_campaign=c=guide#top-block
Click it, use it, like it, you got it.
Now, I'd like to mention something that I feel very personal about.
As most of you know, I'm going through a training course to become a certified Doula. In my training I am learning much. Some of which being the true differences and benefits from natural birth and breastfeeding versus other options. While I wholeheartedly agree that every woman has the right to make her own decision for her birth, I do not feel like most women are given the opportunity to KNOW what each choice means.
I know I didn't know. I just thought I had a choice and whatever I decided was related to how I wanted to experience my baby's birth and ONLY related to that. Not true. I won't get into the specifics, but I will get into the fact that I was GIVEN the opportunity to LEARN about not only the different options I had but also the different resources.
I was given this opportunity from month 4 to my 9th month of pregnancy. At the time, Bassett (or my midwife at least) was trialing a program called Centering Pregnancy (http://www.centeringhealthcare.org/pages/centering-model/pregnancy-overview.php).
Centering Pregnancy is a revolutionary way of getting and providing prenatal care. Instead of 15-20 minute visits with your Midwife or OB, you get two hour sessions. It's great! All the vitals are checked, BP, weight, baby's heartbeat, all that stuff, then everyone (pregnant women and partners) gathers in a sort of round table discussion about where they are that week, how they see their pregnancy going, birthing choices, postpartum depression, diet, exercise, neonatal care, mom's healing time, grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, birth control, emotions, relationships, diapering, the labor and birth process; pretty much EVERYTHING pregnancy, labor and new baby. By the time I had Mira, I had about 5 months worth of training and education on not only having her, but caring for her too.
It was invaluable. And amazing. I still hang out with some of the women from my group which allows us to continue our learning experiences through one another as well as giving us other parents to talk to about our struggles with our child (or children).
Now that I've explained what Centering Pregnancy is, and what it meant for me... Well, I have bad news. For some reason Bassett turned down an over $40k grant and discontinued the program.
I am devastated.
This program was amazing for me, my daughter, my partner and I know the other couples felt the same way.
I don't know why Bassett terminated the group. I could speculate that they felt like they had given the midwives too much leeway (they used to have about as much pull as an OB). I could speculate that they need revenue after building the new unit, so they are taking measures to increase the epidural and c-section rate (both have gone UP since Centering was terminated - oh, and Bassett went for more of a medical model for labor and delivery than the previous birth center protocol). I could even speculate that they just really don't care about the education of pregnant women and their partners.
I don't know why they terminated the program. I do know that the Centering Pregnancy program is making some amazing growth across the country due to the fact that women who go through it have healthier, fuller term babies, their labor experience is generally better (more women feel better about their experience, there are less c-sections and epidurals), there is also an increase in breastfeeding which is beneficial to both mom and baby.
SO, all this to tell you all that I am making a commitment to my community and the community surrounding mine. I want to create a program for pregnant women which offers these same benefits. I will offer educational materials, I will offer my expert opinions and advice, and I will provide group settings in which women and their partners can discuss what this information means to them.
I just need to finish my certification program.
There is work to be done.
http://www.learnvest.com/living-frugally/current-events/freeze-summer-for-later-765/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=lvdaily&utm_campaign=c=guide#top-block
Click it, use it, like it, you got it.
Now, I'd like to mention something that I feel very personal about.
As most of you know, I'm going through a training course to become a certified Doula. In my training I am learning much. Some of which being the true differences and benefits from natural birth and breastfeeding versus other options. While I wholeheartedly agree that every woman has the right to make her own decision for her birth, I do not feel like most women are given the opportunity to KNOW what each choice means.
I know I didn't know. I just thought I had a choice and whatever I decided was related to how I wanted to experience my baby's birth and ONLY related to that. Not true. I won't get into the specifics, but I will get into the fact that I was GIVEN the opportunity to LEARN about not only the different options I had but also the different resources.
I was given this opportunity from month 4 to my 9th month of pregnancy. At the time, Bassett (or my midwife at least) was trialing a program called Centering Pregnancy (http://www.centeringhealthcare.org/pages/centering-model/pregnancy-overview.php).
Centering Pregnancy is a revolutionary way of getting and providing prenatal care. Instead of 15-20 minute visits with your Midwife or OB, you get two hour sessions. It's great! All the vitals are checked, BP, weight, baby's heartbeat, all that stuff, then everyone (pregnant women and partners) gathers in a sort of round table discussion about where they are that week, how they see their pregnancy going, birthing choices, postpartum depression, diet, exercise, neonatal care, mom's healing time, grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, birth control, emotions, relationships, diapering, the labor and birth process; pretty much EVERYTHING pregnancy, labor and new baby. By the time I had Mira, I had about 5 months worth of training and education on not only having her, but caring for her too.
It was invaluable. And amazing. I still hang out with some of the women from my group which allows us to continue our learning experiences through one another as well as giving us other parents to talk to about our struggles with our child (or children).
Now that I've explained what Centering Pregnancy is, and what it meant for me... Well, I have bad news. For some reason Bassett turned down an over $40k grant and discontinued the program.
I am devastated.
This program was amazing for me, my daughter, my partner and I know the other couples felt the same way.
I don't know why Bassett terminated the group. I could speculate that they felt like they had given the midwives too much leeway (they used to have about as much pull as an OB). I could speculate that they need revenue after building the new unit, so they are taking measures to increase the epidural and c-section rate (both have gone UP since Centering was terminated - oh, and Bassett went for more of a medical model for labor and delivery than the previous birth center protocol). I could even speculate that they just really don't care about the education of pregnant women and their partners.
I don't know why they terminated the program. I do know that the Centering Pregnancy program is making some amazing growth across the country due to the fact that women who go through it have healthier, fuller term babies, their labor experience is generally better (more women feel better about their experience, there are less c-sections and epidurals), there is also an increase in breastfeeding which is beneficial to both mom and baby.
SO, all this to tell you all that I am making a commitment to my community and the community surrounding mine. I want to create a program for pregnant women which offers these same benefits. I will offer educational materials, I will offer my expert opinions and advice, and I will provide group settings in which women and their partners can discuss what this information means to them.
I just need to finish my certification program.
There is work to be done.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day 29: It was a year ago today
It was a year ago today that I woke up at 5:30am on the dot with my first contraction. By 1:48pm, there was a beautiful crying baby in my arms. She came out aware as any newborn could possibly be and today, on her first birthday she is capable of running, talking, effectively communicating emotion through inflection and making her parents so happy they can hardly stand it.
She is amazing.
And nature must think so too, for she gave Mira a gift today too!
Allergies!
Yes, folks, it is apparently so: runny nose, constant sneezing, puffy and watery eyes. The whole bit, I'm afraid. Mira has allergies much like both of her parents had as children. Lucky for us, we both grew out of them, but she's got well over a decade and a half to go with them if she's got to keep them.
But don't be fooled by the patheticness of her sweet little puffy eyes and runny nose and pouty lips, this girl is STILL HAPPY! Sure, she can't quite dance when she wants to as her equilibrium is off due to mucous build up, but she still tries, falls, gets back up and stumbles on to the next activity.
Can't get that girl down!
And it occurred to me that she may no longer actually be my BABY, but rather my TODDLER at this point. I don't know the rules here; they seem a little hazy to me.
Well, regardless. The work load for my department has been a bit lacking so I've been working half days. I'm sure I'll suffer the consequences when payday rolls around, but it is oh so sweet to get out earlier than usual on a beautiful, sunshiny day like the ones we've been having.
Happy Birthday My Beautiful Darling. I love you so much.
She is amazing.
And nature must think so too, for she gave Mira a gift today too!
Allergies!
Yes, folks, it is apparently so: runny nose, constant sneezing, puffy and watery eyes. The whole bit, I'm afraid. Mira has allergies much like both of her parents had as children. Lucky for us, we both grew out of them, but she's got well over a decade and a half to go with them if she's got to keep them.
But don't be fooled by the patheticness of her sweet little puffy eyes and runny nose and pouty lips, this girl is STILL HAPPY! Sure, she can't quite dance when she wants to as her equilibrium is off due to mucous build up, but she still tries, falls, gets back up and stumbles on to the next activity.
Can't get that girl down!
And it occurred to me that she may no longer actually be my BABY, but rather my TODDLER at this point. I don't know the rules here; they seem a little hazy to me.
Well, regardless. The work load for my department has been a bit lacking so I've been working half days. I'm sure I'll suffer the consequences when payday rolls around, but it is oh so sweet to get out earlier than usual on a beautiful, sunshiny day like the ones we've been having.
Happy Birthday My Beautiful Darling. I love you so much.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Day 28: Happy Father's Day
Hey, Daddies, you are awesome, Happy You Day.
I don't wanna hear about "But I'm not a Daddy"
Because in some way or another, you are.
A daddy takes care of someone or some thing that otherwise would perish.
So if you have a dog, a cat, a fish, a rabbit, a lizard, a plant, even a gleam in your eye - you are a father.
Oh yes, even a gleam in the eye counts. Do you know why? Because every day you forge forward in this life, you are in training for the time that comes when you WILL be a daddy; even if it's for a dog, cat, fish, lizard or plant. You are building experience that you can pass down or use to protect your charge.
So be proud, be loving, be amazing: YOU ARE DAD!
My daddy is awesome. I've laughed with him, cried with him, yelled at him, been yelled at him, drank beer with him, stayed up WAY too late listening to records with him, learned about the world with him, formed my opinions with him, been the recipient of yellow roses for friendship from him on birthdays. He warms my heart, makes me laugh, encourages me to tell jokes and be funny. From him I learned that every day - EVERY SINGLE DAY - is another opportunity to be loved, be loving, accept fault and to be kinder than necessary. From my father, I learned how to be a mother.
I love you, Dad!
Oh, and if anyone wants to know: you can make your own salsa at home. All you need is:
some kind of food processor or blender
some tomatoes
about a quarter of an onion per 4-5 tomatoes
probably half a pepper per 4-5 tomatoes
1tsp per 4-5 tomatoes
1tbsp olive oil per
1tbsp white vinegar per
Blend it all up, baby and you have some kick ASS home made salsa to impress all your friends with at all those parties you go to! ;)
I don't wanna hear about "But I'm not a Daddy"
Because in some way or another, you are.
A daddy takes care of someone or some thing that otherwise would perish.
So if you have a dog, a cat, a fish, a rabbit, a lizard, a plant, even a gleam in your eye - you are a father.
Oh yes, even a gleam in the eye counts. Do you know why? Because every day you forge forward in this life, you are in training for the time that comes when you WILL be a daddy; even if it's for a dog, cat, fish, lizard or plant. You are building experience that you can pass down or use to protect your charge.
So be proud, be loving, be amazing: YOU ARE DAD!
My daddy is awesome. I've laughed with him, cried with him, yelled at him, been yelled at him, drank beer with him, stayed up WAY too late listening to records with him, learned about the world with him, formed my opinions with him, been the recipient of yellow roses for friendship from him on birthdays. He warms my heart, makes me laugh, encourages me to tell jokes and be funny. From him I learned that every day - EVERY SINGLE DAY - is another opportunity to be loved, be loving, accept fault and to be kinder than necessary. From my father, I learned how to be a mother.
I love you, Dad!
Oh, and if anyone wants to know: you can make your own salsa at home. All you need is:
some kind of food processor or blender
some tomatoes
about a quarter of an onion per 4-5 tomatoes
probably half a pepper per 4-5 tomatoes
1tsp per 4-5 tomatoes
1tbsp olive oil per
1tbsp white vinegar per
Blend it all up, baby and you have some kick ASS home made salsa to impress all your friends with at all those parties you go to! ;)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Day 27: The fountain of youth
Another day passed, another one added to the memory banks.
Mira will be 1 on Monday, that's the day after tomorrow. Soon enough it'll be yesterday then last week, then a month ago... Then, it will be next year.
I
I'm at a loss for words about all of it right now. Maybe it's the chili I made sitting right at my throat for lack of a cold drink to wash it down (room temp water just doesn't cut it for me). Maybe I'm just tired.
Or
Maybe I'm just like a good many of the parents out there who are in utter disbelief about the major transformation my life is going through day to day. I'm in utter disbelief that now the passing time takes with it more opportunities to enjoy my growing child.
The way she IS, soon becomes the way she WAS.
Now I understand the fountain of youth. I never cared before, never understood the idea of wanting to stay young. Except now I see it quite differently. Now I see it as an opportunity for me to enjoy the youth of my daughter - maybe I could find the fountain and keep her young so the enjoyment of who she is never leaves me.
I know it doesn't work that way. Without hindsight, how could I ache for "the good ole times"?
All I can say is: at least I know what I've got and I DO take every opportunity to enjoy the ever lovin' begeezers out of that little girl. And I look forward to the next day with hope and I look back at the last one with amazement.
Growing old is fine, watching my daughter grow up is beautiful.
Mira will be 1 on Monday, that's the day after tomorrow. Soon enough it'll be yesterday then last week, then a month ago... Then, it will be next year.
I
I'm at a loss for words about all of it right now. Maybe it's the chili I made sitting right at my throat for lack of a cold drink to wash it down (room temp water just doesn't cut it for me). Maybe I'm just tired.
Or
Maybe I'm just like a good many of the parents out there who are in utter disbelief about the major transformation my life is going through day to day. I'm in utter disbelief that now the passing time takes with it more opportunities to enjoy my growing child.
The way she IS, soon becomes the way she WAS.
Now I understand the fountain of youth. I never cared before, never understood the idea of wanting to stay young. Except now I see it quite differently. Now I see it as an opportunity for me to enjoy the youth of my daughter - maybe I could find the fountain and keep her young so the enjoyment of who she is never leaves me.
I know it doesn't work that way. Without hindsight, how could I ache for "the good ole times"?
All I can say is: at least I know what I've got and I DO take every opportunity to enjoy the ever lovin' begeezers out of that little girl. And I look forward to the next day with hope and I look back at the last one with amazement.
Growing old is fine, watching my daughter grow up is beautiful.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Day 26: Some days are just better than others
Yes, some days are just better than others and today was right in the middle.
Part of me loves days like this, where not much excitement happened one way or the other, and things went along without much of a hitch.
I got all of my coursework finished for the week, got Mira's food prepared for the weekend, passed my quiz for this weeks study material, did a little (I said a LITTLE) housework and got some plans for next week in motion. I'd say it was a pretty good day.
I know I thought of more productive things to mention earlier, but the mediocre day got away with me and now I just can't remember.
So
Have a great night and a wonderful day, I'm gonna try to get some rest as I have to get up at 3:30 in the morning for work.
Part of me loves days like this, where not much excitement happened one way or the other, and things went along without much of a hitch.
I got all of my coursework finished for the week, got Mira's food prepared for the weekend, passed my quiz for this weeks study material, did a little (I said a LITTLE) housework and got some plans for next week in motion. I'd say it was a pretty good day.
I know I thought of more productive things to mention earlier, but the mediocre day got away with me and now I just can't remember.
So
Have a great night and a wonderful day, I'm gonna try to get some rest as I have to get up at 3:30 in the morning for work.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day 25: It's official
I am officially raising a hoodlum. The poor kid never stood a chance did she? I mean, with a punk like me for a momma. I dress "normal" and all that, but deep down inside is a raging punk girl who says ftw and you too.
Maybe I'm being a little dramatic.
Here's the deal:
Mira said shit. Not once or twice or even three times, but REPEATEDLY. And a little voice somewhere inside me said "YAY!" as I giggled uncontrollably. Don't worry, I turned my face so as not to encourage such a thing, but really - aren't there WAY more important things I need to worry about? Honestly, I think "proper language" is pretty low on my list of things to teach her. Grammar being one, correct verbage being another. I, personally don't mind if she uses a swear word as long as she uses it correctly in a sentence. Is that so wrong?
Besides, half the people (only half) I hear complaining about cuss words coming out the mouths of babes have much more serious issues going on in their lives like addiction, abuse, laziness or just down right bad manners. True there are some words that should never EVER be used as they carry an entire history of murder, mistreatment and oppression with them. But shit? Shit's no big deal.
I remember when I was a kid, some kids got sent home for cussing, but not for bullying or being mean or lying or sometimes even for fighting. There's something wrong there.
Besides.
She's not purposefully saying shit.
She's trying to say something else altogether, but it's coming out sounding like shit, literally.
Anyone familiar with Cake's song "Nugget"?
Well, if you aren't you should be - there will be (and I promise this) a day when you want it for your own.
Here, check it out, but don't listen with any kids around: it's catchy and they WILL repeat it.
Cake: Nugget -----From the album Fashion Nugget
Maybe I'm being a little dramatic.
Here's the deal:
Mira said shit. Not once or twice or even three times, but REPEATEDLY. And a little voice somewhere inside me said "YAY!" as I giggled uncontrollably. Don't worry, I turned my face so as not to encourage such a thing, but really - aren't there WAY more important things I need to worry about? Honestly, I think "proper language" is pretty low on my list of things to teach her. Grammar being one, correct verbage being another. I, personally don't mind if she uses a swear word as long as she uses it correctly in a sentence. Is that so wrong?
Besides, half the people (only half) I hear complaining about cuss words coming out the mouths of babes have much more serious issues going on in their lives like addiction, abuse, laziness or just down right bad manners. True there are some words that should never EVER be used as they carry an entire history of murder, mistreatment and oppression with them. But shit? Shit's no big deal.
I remember when I was a kid, some kids got sent home for cussing, but not for bullying or being mean or lying or sometimes even for fighting. There's something wrong there.
Besides.
She's not purposefully saying shit.
She's trying to say something else altogether, but it's coming out sounding like shit, literally.
Anyone familiar with Cake's song "Nugget"?
Well, if you aren't you should be - there will be (and I promise this) a day when you want it for your own.
Here, check it out, but don't listen with any kids around: it's catchy and they WILL repeat it.
Cake: Nugget -----From the album Fashion Nugget
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 23:
Quick, hurry! It's almost 11o'clock! Only an hour left to write today's stuff!
Okay, so today wasn't THAT exciting. To tell the truth, it wasn't exciting at all. I did course work for my certification all day (after I slept in of course) then took Mira to the grocery store for some shopping. I got out and about too late to make it to the Natural Foods Store, but there's always tomorrow.
I made a vat of tuna fish salad, which turned out deliciously. I put more sour cream than mayo in it so it's a bit on the healthier side as far as that goes. And I tried dates instead of sugar in my smoothie today and IT WAS YUMMY! I felt good about giving Mira some too, since there was no sugar, all fructose goodness.
Part of my training is reading and homework and essays and stuff like that, but part of it is watching videos of all different types. Some are about physiology some are about psychology, some are medical and some are theoretical. I watched one today that blew my mind, I loved it. It was about how the birth actually affects the human psyche. In our culture, in the last 75 years or so, the medical industry has claimed that giving birth is a science and it needs to be measured for abnormalities and dealt with clinically. Some psychologists, birth specialists and midwives are saying that isn't so. They say that the change in our birthing style is part of what has caused all the trauma to our teens, leading to a much higher teen suicide rate than ever before. They say it also adds to the inclined violence more prevalent today than in days past. They say, and there is research to back this up, that the infant (fetus, whatever) is responsive to stimulus inside the womb which tells us they have a sense of awareness even then. They claim that not only the trauma attached with a birth, but the first half hour after birth affect an infant so much that if these things have a negative affect it takes months if not years to make it right. They say that infants who are taken to a nursery still bond, just not with people, they bond with walls, with the bin they are placed in and with the machinery around them. These babies will have a much harder time creating personal relationships throughout their lives.
Isn't that interesting?
I believe it. It seems very accurate and it makes a lot of sense. The first hours we are entering and actually enter the world are our introduction to it. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and some people start out with a BAD impression that all they will get in life is cold machinery and metal, rough handling, slapping, and to be left alone. Pretty sad, no wonder some people turn out to be psychopaths.
Okay, so today wasn't THAT exciting. To tell the truth, it wasn't exciting at all. I did course work for my certification all day (after I slept in of course) then took Mira to the grocery store for some shopping. I got out and about too late to make it to the Natural Foods Store, but there's always tomorrow.
I made a vat of tuna fish salad, which turned out deliciously. I put more sour cream than mayo in it so it's a bit on the healthier side as far as that goes. And I tried dates instead of sugar in my smoothie today and IT WAS YUMMY! I felt good about giving Mira some too, since there was no sugar, all fructose goodness.
Part of my training is reading and homework and essays and stuff like that, but part of it is watching videos of all different types. Some are about physiology some are about psychology, some are medical and some are theoretical. I watched one today that blew my mind, I loved it. It was about how the birth actually affects the human psyche. In our culture, in the last 75 years or so, the medical industry has claimed that giving birth is a science and it needs to be measured for abnormalities and dealt with clinically. Some psychologists, birth specialists and midwives are saying that isn't so. They say that the change in our birthing style is part of what has caused all the trauma to our teens, leading to a much higher teen suicide rate than ever before. They say it also adds to the inclined violence more prevalent today than in days past. They say, and there is research to back this up, that the infant (fetus, whatever) is responsive to stimulus inside the womb which tells us they have a sense of awareness even then. They claim that not only the trauma attached with a birth, but the first half hour after birth affect an infant so much that if these things have a negative affect it takes months if not years to make it right. They say that infants who are taken to a nursery still bond, just not with people, they bond with walls, with the bin they are placed in and with the machinery around them. These babies will have a much harder time creating personal relationships throughout their lives.
Isn't that interesting?
I believe it. It seems very accurate and it makes a lot of sense. The first hours we are entering and actually enter the world are our introduction to it. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and some people start out with a BAD impression that all they will get in life is cold machinery and metal, rough handling, slapping, and to be left alone. Pretty sad, no wonder some people turn out to be psychopaths.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 22: Drown in sugar?
So tonight might be the first time where both Brendan and I are exhausted and barely able (if able at all) to entertain Mira. And she is WOUND UP! I'm hoping if I do a little writing, I will wake up a bit since Brendan is totally zonked out at the moment.
I guess it's appropriate that this would be a moment where I miss my friends, and my old lifestyle. I feel like I've not missed them nearly as much as I do right now... It's another transition phase where I've gone in one direction with my life that doesn't really allow for the instances in which my friends were regularly in my life. I'm making new friends, and so far, I really do love them all... But I already have relationships with the old friends! It's so hard to establish a knowledge base for new people in your life! Especially when you're still trying to build your life.
I see a lot of people who seem to already have built their lives. I started all that, then I did a re-do, then I did another re-do, and now I'm really actually committed to the life I'm building. Entrepreneur, warehouse worker, mother, writer, lover, changer of the world: I can totally live with all of that - I've always lived a multifaceted life. It feels a little frustrating when I look around and see the lovely people who have already worked so hard and are now reaping the benefits of the seeds they sewn.
Anyway, now for a bitch session; it's been a while.
Say someone asks you a question (about another person) you are not only not comfortable answering fully, but you just will NOT put yourself in the position to gossip and spread shit. Regardless of how true it is, let's just say you aren't willing to do that. So, say, you tell this person such. For instance, someone asked such a question of me, I replied with "Uh, I will say I think (he) is sleazy, but I'm not going to say anything else because I don't want to get caught up in any gossiping or rumor spreading."
If someone said that to me, I would respect their thought, move on and leave the issue alone. But in my experience today, that is not what happened. The person went on and on, saying suggestive things that so-n-so could have done and playing the "Am I right?" *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* game. Which is not a game to me, I really find it disrespectful and rude. Four times, I had to repeat myself, FOUR TIMES, saying that I was not going to add to any gossip or anything about (him), all I will say is that I find (him) to be sleazy. Four times. Don't you think that's overkill?
I think it's too much. I don't take someone's reputation lightly when it falls in my hands to trash or uphold. Especially when faced with someone else trying to badger me into doing one or the other. It's not only not fair, moral or justified, it's fishing.
Which brings me to my last bit of ... last bit of... stuff.
Did you know the Domino sugar factory is in Baltimore? Did you know they have huge piles of sugar all day long (I'm assuming only in good weather?) resting at the dock and you can watch the crane (or what ever the machine is) pick up gobfulls of sugar and drop it into (I'm guessing) a hopper? Doesn't that sound so crazy and make you want to see the sugar shenanigans? And what if you FELL in the big pile of sugar? Would you drown? Or suffocate? Is it like quicksand?
I guess it's appropriate that this would be a moment where I miss my friends, and my old lifestyle. I feel like I've not missed them nearly as much as I do right now... It's another transition phase where I've gone in one direction with my life that doesn't really allow for the instances in which my friends were regularly in my life. I'm making new friends, and so far, I really do love them all... But I already have relationships with the old friends! It's so hard to establish a knowledge base for new people in your life! Especially when you're still trying to build your life.
I see a lot of people who seem to already have built their lives. I started all that, then I did a re-do, then I did another re-do, and now I'm really actually committed to the life I'm building. Entrepreneur, warehouse worker, mother, writer, lover, changer of the world: I can totally live with all of that - I've always lived a multifaceted life. It feels a little frustrating when I look around and see the lovely people who have already worked so hard and are now reaping the benefits of the seeds they sewn.
Anyway, now for a bitch session; it's been a while.
Say someone asks you a question (about another person) you are not only not comfortable answering fully, but you just will NOT put yourself in the position to gossip and spread shit. Regardless of how true it is, let's just say you aren't willing to do that. So, say, you tell this person such. For instance, someone asked such a question of me, I replied with "Uh, I will say I think (he) is sleazy, but I'm not going to say anything else because I don't want to get caught up in any gossiping or rumor spreading."
If someone said that to me, I would respect their thought, move on and leave the issue alone. But in my experience today, that is not what happened. The person went on and on, saying suggestive things that so-n-so could have done and playing the "Am I right?" *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* game. Which is not a game to me, I really find it disrespectful and rude. Four times, I had to repeat myself, FOUR TIMES, saying that I was not going to add to any gossip or anything about (him), all I will say is that I find (him) to be sleazy. Four times. Don't you think that's overkill?
I think it's too much. I don't take someone's reputation lightly when it falls in my hands to trash or uphold. Especially when faced with someone else trying to badger me into doing one or the other. It's not only not fair, moral or justified, it's fishing.
Which brings me to my last bit of ... last bit of... stuff.
Did you know the Domino sugar factory is in Baltimore? Did you know they have huge piles of sugar all day long (I'm assuming only in good weather?) resting at the dock and you can watch the crane (or what ever the machine is) pick up gobfulls of sugar and drop it into (I'm guessing) a hopper? Doesn't that sound so crazy and make you want to see the sugar shenanigans? And what if you FELL in the big pile of sugar? Would you drown? Or suffocate? Is it like quicksand?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 21: What's that saying?
Some days you bite the bear, some days the bear bites you?
Some days you bite the tiger, some days he bites back?
What is it?
I obviously don't know, but I'll tell you what I do know for sure:
I STRUGGLE with my diet - by "diet" in this sense I don't mean "I'm on a diet" (even though I am, sort of), I mean my overall, general eating habits. I would like to eat healthy, I read labels, I do like healthy food and I often stop myself from eating unhealthy food. But, like, right NOW, I'm eating pizza. Some pizza can be healthy, but not the stuff I'm eating right now - it's got partianally hydrogenated oils, preservatives out the wazoo an NO veggies - I don't even think the sauce counts for tomatoes because it's over processed and has (I'm sure) petroleum based preservatives and flavors. Why is it SO HARD sometimes to just eat healthy food?
Really?
Why?
I honestly want to know!
I've heard of studies done where they conclude that junk food is addictive. And why in the hell would THAT be? Aren't humans supposed to be some sort of sophisticatedly evolved creatures? Then WHY do we get addicted to stuff that's BAD for us?
Heroin? Sure!
Tobbacco? SURE!
Alcohol? Sign me UP!
Junk food? Oh, Yummy.
Something healthy and wholesome and GOOD FOR YOU? Oh hell no.
I smoked for 15 years and quit within 2 months of finding out I was pregnant with Mira. But junk food? I can't seem to shake it! I like a little junk in my trunk, don't get me wrong, it's all the unhealthy diseases, disorders, dysfunctions and short life span that get to me.
Signed,
Frustratingly Enjoying My Pizza
Some days you bite the tiger, some days he bites back?
What is it?
I obviously don't know, but I'll tell you what I do know for sure:
I STRUGGLE with my diet - by "diet" in this sense I don't mean "I'm on a diet" (even though I am, sort of), I mean my overall, general eating habits. I would like to eat healthy, I read labels, I do like healthy food and I often stop myself from eating unhealthy food. But, like, right NOW, I'm eating pizza. Some pizza can be healthy, but not the stuff I'm eating right now - it's got partianally hydrogenated oils, preservatives out the wazoo an NO veggies - I don't even think the sauce counts for tomatoes because it's over processed and has (I'm sure) petroleum based preservatives and flavors. Why is it SO HARD sometimes to just eat healthy food?
Really?
Why?
I honestly want to know!
I've heard of studies done where they conclude that junk food is addictive. And why in the hell would THAT be? Aren't humans supposed to be some sort of sophisticatedly evolved creatures? Then WHY do we get addicted to stuff that's BAD for us?
Heroin? Sure!
Tobbacco? SURE!
Alcohol? Sign me UP!
Junk food? Oh, Yummy.
Something healthy and wholesome and GOOD FOR YOU? Oh hell no.
I smoked for 15 years and quit within 2 months of finding out I was pregnant with Mira. But junk food? I can't seem to shake it! I like a little junk in my trunk, don't get me wrong, it's all the unhealthy diseases, disorders, dysfunctions and short life span that get to me.
Signed,
Frustratingly Enjoying My Pizza
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 20: Grimey
Have you ever been SO DIRTY you couldn't even stand to touch yourself? Yeah, that was me earlier today. I had dirt and grime head to toe, literally. It was so thick it went through my clothes and even my under things! Kind of a fun experience though. I, along with 2 other co-workers were lifting and stacking pallets. Yes, pallets. They are 75lbs, in case you ever wanted to know. Though I wasn't picking up the full 75lbs, I was sharing weight either with one other co-worker or the floor, or another pallet. I'm not crazy.... about lifting heavy objects.
It has rained fiercely here today, I hydroplaned a little on my way to work, and then came pretty close to it on the way home. It's one of those seemingly spiritual days, where even though the sky is grey, it's bright, and for some reason all the vegetation looks extra green while the sky maintains a constant solid grey no matter where you go.
Hope the grey day finds your soul sunshiny!
It has rained fiercely here today, I hydroplaned a little on my way to work, and then came pretty close to it on the way home. It's one of those seemingly spiritual days, where even though the sky is grey, it's bright, and for some reason all the vegetation looks extra green while the sky maintains a constant solid grey no matter where you go.
Hope the grey day finds your soul sunshiny!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 19:
Well, it's been a long week. A very long week indeed. Many sleepless nights, lots of reading, research, writing and talking for doula certification, plenty of food cooked & recipes tried. Now it's time to prepare for three days of intensive commuting and working with not much time for anything else. These weeks go by so freakin fast. I get a lot done, but it's never everything I needed or wanted to get done. I think I definitely did not sleep enough this week, but there still just wasn't enough time to go around.
Anyway. Speaking of recipes, I just tried a silky tofu & frozen fruit smoothie recipe... It's okay but does anyone out there know of any? I'd really like to try something else. I used about 4oz each frozen berries & silken tofu with maybe a teaspoon and a half sugar. Maybe I should use honey or molasses?
I noticed I write with a LOT of exclamation points. I don't think I mean to. I think if I have any exuberance at all in my head when I think out a sentence or a thought, it deserves an exclamation point. Is this true? When is an appropriate time to use the dang things? Because I think it might be apparent I don't know.
It sure was a lovely day out there today, not too hot but warm enough to wear minimal clothes and get away with it.
Happy exclaiming!
Anyway. Speaking of recipes, I just tried a silky tofu & frozen fruit smoothie recipe... It's okay but does anyone out there know of any? I'd really like to try something else. I used about 4oz each frozen berries & silken tofu with maybe a teaspoon and a half sugar. Maybe I should use honey or molasses?
I noticed I write with a LOT of exclamation points. I don't think I mean to. I think if I have any exuberance at all in my head when I think out a sentence or a thought, it deserves an exclamation point. Is this true? When is an appropriate time to use the dang things? Because I think it might be apparent I don't know.
It sure was a lovely day out there today, not too hot but warm enough to wear minimal clothes and get away with it.
Happy exclaiming!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day 18: "Teeth HUHT"
So Mira is actually progressing from using words to completing thoughts.
Which is totally scary.
Let me just tell you what happened today and you tell me what you think.
First, it's important to tell you that Mira has been teething something awful. The poor kid has been MISERABLE for about a week and a half. So far she has 2 teeth more than when she started, but I can see those eye-teeth on the way. She's got a few more weeks of misery and pain. And the hot hot heat isn't helping either.
So, today, we were hanging out in the bedroom. I was on my computer and she was playing around with toys on the floor, occasionally coming up to me for attention now and then. All of a sudden, she comes up whining and crying. I picked her up and we rolled onto the bed. She continued to whine and roll and whine and roll. Oh, the poor kid, I could tell she was in absolute misery. Then she GRABS me, pulls herself up to my face and says clear as day "My TEEEEETH!" I was shocked! I answered back with a sympathetic "Aw, honey, do your teeth hurt?" She proceeded to whine and roll around a little more then muttered a whiny, pathetic little "Teeth huht" back at me.
Her teeth huht.
Her teeth hurt.
Which is totally scary.
Let me just tell you what happened today and you tell me what you think.
First, it's important to tell you that Mira has been teething something awful. The poor kid has been MISERABLE for about a week and a half. So far she has 2 teeth more than when she started, but I can see those eye-teeth on the way. She's got a few more weeks of misery and pain. And the hot hot heat isn't helping either.
So, today, we were hanging out in the bedroom. I was on my computer and she was playing around with toys on the floor, occasionally coming up to me for attention now and then. All of a sudden, she comes up whining and crying. I picked her up and we rolled onto the bed. She continued to whine and roll and whine and roll. Oh, the poor kid, I could tell she was in absolute misery. Then she GRABS me, pulls herself up to my face and says clear as day "My TEEEEETH!" I was shocked! I answered back with a sympathetic "Aw, honey, do your teeth hurt?" She proceeded to whine and roll around a little more then muttered a whiny, pathetic little "Teeth huht" back at me.
Her teeth huht.
Her teeth hurt.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day 17: Big Bad Pot O Beans!
So I am officially knee-deep in Doula Certification training. I don't know what that means, the knee deep part, exactly, except that once I'm certified I will be in over my head X^D.
Anyway, it is supremely interesting, involving and inspiring work! I am officially obsessed with it! I think about it nonstop, I read about it every chance I get. I do take breaks now and then to watch garbage television. Melting my mind, one minute at a time.
I knew what I was going to write about today... I did know, knew, past tense. Then I started writing and now I just don't!
Hmmm, well, I've come this far, I shant be turning back now!
I have a big ole pot o beans, black beans, on the stove. They've been slow simmering for about 8 hours now, no lid. I just put a lid on them and I will probably add the spices and peppers and onions in about half an hour. I hope to eat about 8 tonight. Delicious beans with steamed broccoli & cauliflower and tasty tilapia n peppers. I've been planning this meal since yesterday. I really enjoy planning, and thinking about a meal over the course of a day or two. If I execute the cooking end properly, it makes the food oh my GOD delicious!
The last time I made a big ole pot o black beans, I left them on the stove to cool, then Brendan was going to put them away in the fridge for me. Alas, he got busy with a fussy Mira and the beans - over the course of ONE DAY - because it was so hot and humid here, went bad. Like real bad. That was one bad pot of beans. Stinky.
But I ate about half the pot before they went bad - before they even cooled down. But I love beans, so it wasn't hard to do.
Speaking of fussy Mira....She is teething hardcore now. Poor kid is absolutely miserable between the heat and the teething. We had nursing down to just 2 or 3 times a day, but right now it's the only thing that brings her comfort. We are back to a pretty full schedule of nursing now.
I don't mind, really. I am sort of over it, but I'm willing to give her whatever she needs. The American Association of Pediatrics just released a study stating that kids reap the most benefits through age two anyway. So we'll be continuing on til then. Some people seem to think it's such a big saccrifice but I don't see it that way at all. Some days I'm just glad I have something to offer her that consoles her misery!
Well, kids, I gotta go stir the pot!
Anyway, it is supremely interesting, involving and inspiring work! I am officially obsessed with it! I think about it nonstop, I read about it every chance I get. I do take breaks now and then to watch garbage television. Melting my mind, one minute at a time.
I knew what I was going to write about today... I did know, knew, past tense. Then I started writing and now I just don't!
Hmmm, well, I've come this far, I shant be turning back now!
I have a big ole pot o beans, black beans, on the stove. They've been slow simmering for about 8 hours now, no lid. I just put a lid on them and I will probably add the spices and peppers and onions in about half an hour. I hope to eat about 8 tonight. Delicious beans with steamed broccoli & cauliflower and tasty tilapia n peppers. I've been planning this meal since yesterday. I really enjoy planning, and thinking about a meal over the course of a day or two. If I execute the cooking end properly, it makes the food oh my GOD delicious!
The last time I made a big ole pot o black beans, I left them on the stove to cool, then Brendan was going to put them away in the fridge for me. Alas, he got busy with a fussy Mira and the beans - over the course of ONE DAY - because it was so hot and humid here, went bad. Like real bad. That was one bad pot of beans. Stinky.
But I ate about half the pot before they went bad - before they even cooled down. But I love beans, so it wasn't hard to do.
Speaking of fussy Mira....She is teething hardcore now. Poor kid is absolutely miserable between the heat and the teething. We had nursing down to just 2 or 3 times a day, but right now it's the only thing that brings her comfort. We are back to a pretty full schedule of nursing now.
I don't mind, really. I am sort of over it, but I'm willing to give her whatever she needs. The American Association of Pediatrics just released a study stating that kids reap the most benefits through age two anyway. So we'll be continuing on til then. Some people seem to think it's such a big saccrifice but I don't see it that way at all. Some days I'm just glad I have something to offer her that consoles her misery!
Well, kids, I gotta go stir the pot!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 16: Do you know what you eat?
First, I would like to say that I am a label reader. I concern myself greatly with what I eat and what I bring home for my family to eat.
I no longer buy popcicles.
Why?
Because the majority of them contain propylene glycol. Propylene glycol isn't really a household ingredient, is it? Do you even know what it is? It's antifreeze. Yeah, just like the stuff that you have to keep away from your cat or she will die. It's just like that stuff that in small increments over time, will make you very VERY sick and will kill you. It manifests with symptoms that look like heart disease, fevers, colds/coughing. It could look like you just don't feel well. But it's really the popcicles. Who knew? How that's okay, I don't know, but somehow these things are "regulated by the FDA" and therefore, believed safe.
The FDA says that a certain degree of harmful ingredients is okay. I get that. But what I don't get is the conscious decision by most (yes, it really is MOST) food manufacturers to actually purposefully include these poisons in the food up to the limit.
Like propylene glycol, aka: antifreeze.
I don't know what the "allowed" amount of antifreeze in food is, but you can bet your butt I'm not adding ANY to my food, or to the food I give my daughter. This is not the only harmful additive found in most common foods, it's just the one that chaps my hide the most... Right at the moment.
Some food should come with warning labels, it's ridiculous.
Furthermore.
Has anyone seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? It is startling. The school cafeterias in LA are run by a group called the LAUSD. The LAUSD will not allow an investigation into their food/food preparations (it would appear that everything is basically microwaved in plastic sleeves, I'm picturing zero nutritional quality because the microwave kills nutrients and loads of chemicals leeched into the food from the packaging - think bpa). Furthermore, they disallowed him to even TALK about the food to the kids.
Isn't that unconstitutional? I mean, I'm no civics professor, but freedom of speech is squashed, doesn't that equal unconstitutional behavior?
Good luck, kids, getting your food from school. Good luck living happy, healthy, productive lives.
Anyway, if you've got some time, check it out, you can watch it for free on Hulu here:
http://www.hulu.com/jamie-olivers-food-revolution
Happy eating!
I no longer buy popcicles.
Why?
Because the majority of them contain propylene glycol. Propylene glycol isn't really a household ingredient, is it? Do you even know what it is? It's antifreeze. Yeah, just like the stuff that you have to keep away from your cat or she will die. It's just like that stuff that in small increments over time, will make you very VERY sick and will kill you. It manifests with symptoms that look like heart disease, fevers, colds/coughing. It could look like you just don't feel well. But it's really the popcicles. Who knew? How that's okay, I don't know, but somehow these things are "regulated by the FDA" and therefore, believed safe.
The FDA says that a certain degree of harmful ingredients is okay. I get that. But what I don't get is the conscious decision by most (yes, it really is MOST) food manufacturers to actually purposefully include these poisons in the food up to the limit.
Like propylene glycol, aka: antifreeze.
I don't know what the "allowed" amount of antifreeze in food is, but you can bet your butt I'm not adding ANY to my food, or to the food I give my daughter. This is not the only harmful additive found in most common foods, it's just the one that chaps my hide the most... Right at the moment.
Some food should come with warning labels, it's ridiculous.
Furthermore.
Has anyone seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? It is startling. The school cafeterias in LA are run by a group called the LAUSD. The LAUSD will not allow an investigation into their food/food preparations (it would appear that everything is basically microwaved in plastic sleeves, I'm picturing zero nutritional quality because the microwave kills nutrients and loads of chemicals leeched into the food from the packaging - think bpa). Furthermore, they disallowed him to even TALK about the food to the kids.
Isn't that unconstitutional? I mean, I'm no civics professor, but freedom of speech is squashed, doesn't that equal unconstitutional behavior?
Good luck, kids, getting your food from school. Good luck living happy, healthy, productive lives.
Anyway, if you've got some time, check it out, you can watch it for free on Hulu here:
http://www.hulu.com/jamie-olivers-food-revolution
Happy eating!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Day 15: A Question About ...
I'm sure everyone has these times: You want to tell someone how you feel - not to bruise them, but rather to allow them to see the detriment they cause others. However, they, and others in the same circle are too sensitive to bear the criticism no matter how constructive it may be.
A loose "for instance": if I have spinach in my teeth, I want someone to tell me. I don't care how embarrassing it is to hear, and I don't care who is around when I hear it. I just want to know so I don't offend anyone further. Not that spinach in the teeth is hurtful, just aesthetically displeasing and offensive in that manner. (but just so we're clear, my real life instance is far more serious than spinach in the teeth) Let's say, though that it is not me with the spinach in my teeth, but that the person with the spinach in the teeth is clueless about not only the spinach but also the offensive nature in which they impose themselves onto others. Should I tell them about the spinach? I would want to know! So, I think I should tell them. But, alas, I know that with this spinachy-toothed situation, sharing the information would somehow make the worst of the situation. As if the spinach-toothed person is blissful in their (yeah, I know "their" is plural, and maybe that is intentional as there are a FEW people like this in my life) ignorance and sharing with them the unsightly spinach would be so much more offensive than the spewing of speech through it. Because maybe they feel like not knowing the spinach exists, allows the spinach to actually NOT EXIST, but the moment, the very moment I bring up the spinach, I have somehow CREATED the spinach and am therefore WAY MORE offensive than the god damned spinach.
For crying out loud, just get the spinach out of your teeth! And go find the common sense tree and let some of the leaves brush your cheeks! Hopefully some will rub off!
Ahhh, I feel better.
But seriously, would YOU want to know if you were engaging in offensive behavior? Even if it was clear you had no idea the ramifications of your actions?
I would, I'm interested to know who else would.
A loose "for instance": if I have spinach in my teeth, I want someone to tell me. I don't care how embarrassing it is to hear, and I don't care who is around when I hear it. I just want to know so I don't offend anyone further. Not that spinach in the teeth is hurtful, just aesthetically displeasing and offensive in that manner. (but just so we're clear, my real life instance is far more serious than spinach in the teeth) Let's say, though that it is not me with the spinach in my teeth, but that the person with the spinach in the teeth is clueless about not only the spinach but also the offensive nature in which they impose themselves onto others. Should I tell them about the spinach? I would want to know! So, I think I should tell them. But, alas, I know that with this spinachy-toothed situation, sharing the information would somehow make the worst of the situation. As if the spinach-toothed person is blissful in their (yeah, I know "their" is plural, and maybe that is intentional as there are a FEW people like this in my life) ignorance and sharing with them the unsightly spinach would be so much more offensive than the spewing of speech through it. Because maybe they feel like not knowing the spinach exists, allows the spinach to actually NOT EXIST, but the moment, the very moment I bring up the spinach, I have somehow CREATED the spinach and am therefore WAY MORE offensive than the god damned spinach.
For crying out loud, just get the spinach out of your teeth! And go find the common sense tree and let some of the leaves brush your cheeks! Hopefully some will rub off!
Ahhh, I feel better.
But seriously, would YOU want to know if you were engaging in offensive behavior? Even if it was clear you had no idea the ramifications of your actions?
I would, I'm interested to know who else would.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
day 14: Move ON. Here's some inspiration.
Watch this video.
The Belle Brigade - Losers
Here, now read this.
There will always be someone better than you
Even if you're the best
So let's stop the competition now
Or we will both be losers
And I'm ashamed I ever tried to be higher than the rest
But brother I am not alone
We've all tried to be on top of the world somehow
'Cause we have all been losers
I don't wanna be laid down
No I don't wanna die knowing
That I spent so much time when I was young
Just trying to be the winner
So I wanna make it clear now
I wanna make it known
That I don't care about any of that shit no more
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
No, no more, no
There will always be someone worse than you
Sister don't let it get to your head
'Cause you won't be on top of the world so long
In constant competition
This ain't about no one in particular
But I could list a few
I'm removing myself from the queue
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
Don't care about being harder
Or being Daddy's favorite
Or if you think I'm a mimic
Or if I am a loser
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
Don't care about being harder
Or being Daddy's favorite
Or if you think I'm a mimic
Or if I am a loser
No, no more
No more
No more
No more
No more
No more
I heard this in the car on the drive home. Those of you who know me well know how much I LOVE to listen to meaningful and honest music. And where else can music be heard at its best if not in the car at too loud of a volume??
Anyway, enjoy.
The Belle Brigade - Losers
Here, now read this.
There will always be someone better than you
Even if you're the best
So let's stop the competition now
Or we will both be losers
And I'm ashamed I ever tried to be higher than the rest
But brother I am not alone
We've all tried to be on top of the world somehow
'Cause we have all been losers
I don't wanna be laid down
No I don't wanna die knowing
That I spent so much time when I was young
Just trying to be the winner
So I wanna make it clear now
I wanna make it known
That I don't care about any of that shit no more
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
No, no more, no
There will always be someone worse than you
Sister don't let it get to your head
'Cause you won't be on top of the world so long
In constant competition
This ain't about no one in particular
But I could list a few
I'm removing myself from the queue
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
Don't care about being harder
Or being Daddy's favorite
Or if you think I'm a mimic
Or if I am a loser
Don't care about being a winner
Or being smooth with women
Or going out on Fridays
Being the life of parties
Don't care about being harder
Or being Daddy's favorite
Or if you think I'm a mimic
Or if I am a loser
No, no more
No more
No more
No more
No more
No more
I heard this in the car on the drive home. Those of you who know me well know how much I LOVE to listen to meaningful and honest music. And where else can music be heard at its best if not in the car at too loud of a volume??
Anyway, enjoy.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Day 12: This Might Be a Cop-Out
Today was a good day, we went to check out 3mile point (my first time there) where there was no swimming allowed today. We then went just to ride the carousel at the Farmer's Museum again, which was Brendan's first trip there since (I believe) high school. Then we stopped by the grocery store for some lunch supplies, came home and had a picnic in bed followed by a very nice soft spring (or is it summer yet?) nap.
Anyway, now, I am in an ultra RUSH to get things done before I can go to bed!
So.
Here is something I've wanted to post. It was sent to me via email by an uncle of mine. I've suspected as much for years, but here some professor has gone and done the research. Gotta love it.
Women, go get your girlfriends and hug 'em close!
Taught at Stanford
Someone reported:
"I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture
was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and
disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said that one
of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married
to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do
for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.
Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems
that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life
experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to
create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat
depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share
feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They
rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about
certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes.
Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their
feelings? Rarely.
Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our
sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He
said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our
general health
as jogging or working out at a gym.
There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing
something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with
friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively
engaged - not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and
maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as
dangerous to our physical health as smoking!
So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat
yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something
good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo let's
toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good
for our health."
Anyway, now, I am in an ultra RUSH to get things done before I can go to bed!
So.
Here is something I've wanted to post. It was sent to me via email by an uncle of mine. I've suspected as much for years, but here some professor has gone and done the research. Gotta love it.
Women, go get your girlfriends and hug 'em close!
Taught at Stanford
Someone reported:
"I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture
was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and
disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said that one
of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married
to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do
for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.
Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems
that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life
experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to
create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat
depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share
feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They
rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about
certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes.
Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their
feelings? Rarely.
Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our
sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He
said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our
general health
as jogging or working out at a gym.
There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing
something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with
friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively
engaged - not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and
maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as
dangerous to our physical health as smoking!
So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat
yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something
good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo let's
toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good
for our health."
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 11: To the Farm Again, Farm Again, Jiggity Jig
Well, Mira and I had a fun day today, starting with an early rise to a cool day. Mira was sleeping SO hard this morning because the weather was such a comfy "stay wrapped up in the blanket and be cozy" temperature. But I had to wake her up and dress her for a play group outing to the Farmer's Museum! It was so much fun, even though as the day went on (we were only there just over two hours), the air got cooler and wetter. First the mommies and babies just sort of strolled around and talked and stopped and chatted and walked. Then we made it as far as the little petting zoo area where they raise all the baby animals. They had four kids (baby goats), one calf (baby cow), two lambs (baby ewes) and I believe one gosling (baby goose) and one chick (baby chicken) though they could have both been chicks. The human babies were all a mixed reaction whereas some were right up in the lams' business, so the kids were either sort of boring or intimidating. Or both the lambs and the kids were a little on the scary side while everyone really liked the chicks (or the chick and the gosling). And Mira's favorite was by far, the calf. She saw her before anyone else, and gasped! She followed her gasp with a series of points and coo's and goo's. When I mooed she giggled, she really liked the calf.
Then one of our mommy's noticed a little boy peering around the corner at all of us forlornly. When she went to check it out, realized the boy had lost his own mommy! So the search was on, the group leader (founder, really, we are all equal partners) went off in one direction, and the mommy who found him in another. Eventually the boy's mom came hurriedly down one of the walks, obviously looking for her boy while holding a younger sister in her arms. Probably the sweetest moment of the whole week happened then. The boy saw his mommy and RAN, RAN towards her, arms open. So happy to have found her, and ready to attach to her and never let go. And that is how they walked out of the place, him holding on to her leg as she walked, her sweetly reassuring him as they left. She must have been so distraught, but really there is no better place for anything like that to happen than at the Farmer's Museum.
That place is so great. They have a smithy shop, an apothecary's shop, a broom & loom shop, a general store, barns, restored Victorian dwellings, a church, a tavern, more barns, gardens upon gardens, exhibits and last but not least the original New York Fair Carousel. Oh, but that IS mine and Mira's favorite part! I think it was most of the babies' favorite part. We took one ride and as we went round and round, you should have seen those babies' eyes wide with awe and wonder. They were speechless! And this is usually a very vocal group of youngsters! Of the whole Carousel, some how 3 of us sets of Mom and Baby ended up on the same little sitting area. It was sort of an enclosed little space, so it felt very safe and very cozy once we all settled in. It was absolutely precious to watch the faces on these little ones as we went round and round.
After the excitement of the carousel, the cooling effects of the day and the noon whistle most of the Mom's were very ready to go on about their day.
The more I think back on it, the more I want to go back again and again.
I think we will go get a membership tomorrow.
Then one of our mommy's noticed a little boy peering around the corner at all of us forlornly. When she went to check it out, realized the boy had lost his own mommy! So the search was on, the group leader (founder, really, we are all equal partners) went off in one direction, and the mommy who found him in another. Eventually the boy's mom came hurriedly down one of the walks, obviously looking for her boy while holding a younger sister in her arms. Probably the sweetest moment of the whole week happened then. The boy saw his mommy and RAN, RAN towards her, arms open. So happy to have found her, and ready to attach to her and never let go. And that is how they walked out of the place, him holding on to her leg as she walked, her sweetly reassuring him as they left. She must have been so distraught, but really there is no better place for anything like that to happen than at the Farmer's Museum.
That place is so great. They have a smithy shop, an apothecary's shop, a broom & loom shop, a general store, barns, restored Victorian dwellings, a church, a tavern, more barns, gardens upon gardens, exhibits and last but not least the original New York Fair Carousel. Oh, but that IS mine and Mira's favorite part! I think it was most of the babies' favorite part. We took one ride and as we went round and round, you should have seen those babies' eyes wide with awe and wonder. They were speechless! And this is usually a very vocal group of youngsters! Of the whole Carousel, some how 3 of us sets of Mom and Baby ended up on the same little sitting area. It was sort of an enclosed little space, so it felt very safe and very cozy once we all settled in. It was absolutely precious to watch the faces on these little ones as we went round and round.
After the excitement of the carousel, the cooling effects of the day and the noon whistle most of the Mom's were very ready to go on about their day.
The more I think back on it, the more I want to go back again and again.
I think we will go get a membership tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Day 10: Apparently I Forgot Yesterday
I don't know what happened, but yep, I just checked and apparently I forgot to post yesterday. I can't even remember right now what I did yesterday or what I was thinking about then.
Oh yeah.
Mira. Good golly this heat really has her in a sour mood! All day yesterday and all day today too! Just cranky and bitter and "whatever you say, I'm going to do the opposite". Poor kid. It can't feel good to feel so bad. She's chasing the kitty around right now with a plastic water bottle. Gotta love it.
Had a very busy day today with cleaning and errands and just general getting all my ducks in a row stuff. It feels good to relax now. I think I'll sign off early to play a game. Command & Conquer: Red Alert. And if ya don't know what that is, I am soooo sorry. Because it is incredibly fun.
One last fact about today: I stepped on the same junebug twice with my bare foot (same foot too) because it grosses me out too much to pick up and throw in the garbage. I'm waiting for Brendan to get home.
Oh yeah.
Mira. Good golly this heat really has her in a sour mood! All day yesterday and all day today too! Just cranky and bitter and "whatever you say, I'm going to do the opposite". Poor kid. It can't feel good to feel so bad. She's chasing the kitty around right now with a plastic water bottle. Gotta love it.
Had a very busy day today with cleaning and errands and just general getting all my ducks in a row stuff. It feels good to relax now. I think I'll sign off early to play a game. Command & Conquer: Red Alert. And if ya don't know what that is, I am soooo sorry. Because it is incredibly fun.
One last fact about today: I stepped on the same junebug twice with my bare foot (same foot too) because it grosses me out too much to pick up and throw in the garbage. I'm waiting for Brendan to get home.
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