This month I'm participating in a detox challenge. Today was my first full day. This week we're focusing on cutting out sugar and caffeine. I'll let you guess how it went.
*glares sarcastically in your general direction*
I am addicted to Excedrin Migraine. I've said this before. Caffeine alone doesn't take the edge off my craving... it's got to be the precious combo of ingredients found in those special, special pills. I am afraid of head pain... any twinge or twitch in my temples and I go running for pills. I suffered from severe migraines as a child and though I haven't had a proper migraine in years (thank goodness I ran out of that karma), I still fear the pain. As a matter of fact, I don't deal well with discomfort of an sort, really. The previous times I've tried to kick my Excedrin habit I was quite shocked with the amount of discomfort I had. Mental and physical. Today I had 2 pills. Normally I might have 4 or 5. Tomorrow I'll have 1. After that I may start pulling out my hair and barking.
Sugar's a bit easier for me to avoid because I'm more of a salty snacker. Still, I skipped my usual Rice Krispies this morning because the second ingredient is pure sugar. I opted for oatmeal instead. Quick cook oatmeal made with water. I don't recommend it AT ALL. I'll be heading to the market in the morning sometime to find a better choice. I'm told steel cut oats taste much better. I heard about a way to soak the oats overnight in milk in the refrigerator. I think that's the only way you'll get me to try them. I'm not a warm cereal fan. Still, I know oats are a good choice for a hearty breakfast so I'll do my best to find a way that I'll eat them.
So now let's discuss why it was that around dinnertime today (I was still at work) broke my positive momentum and not only popped Excedrin but started eating chocolate and kettle corn. And Jack in the Box tacos. And 1/2 an orange.
Mental discomfort. I had a project I wanted to do but I was at work and I didn't have all the tools I needed, nor the time, to start the project. I was feeling indecisive about some weekend plans, and was displeased with the outcome of a letter I'd started. I was unhappy that the USPS website kept giving me an error when I was placing my stamp order. My own dissatisfaction with menial, unimportant things toppled my motivation and down I fell. I'm not making excuses. It took some contemplation to recognize the dissatisfaction as the trigger. It was as if I just threw my hands up and shouted "Well, so what?!" At the time I feel very distracted and outside of the situation, like I'm watching it. Logically I'm aware that I'm making poor choices but I seem to just stand aside and judge while I watch myself do that which I ought not be doing. This is very interesting to me. This is something to examine and skillfully address.
2/04/2012
Card Making Idiot makes Cards
Well, I haven't made any cards yet, but I'm going to.
I signed up at work to be a "virtual volunteer" for the palliative care division of my company, to make birthday cards for patients in hospice care. I recall the bright expression on my grandmother's face when she saw the birthday cards she received last June. She couldn't recall who the people were who sent them but she appreciated the colours and designs and messages of the cards.
I'm not really a card maker, per se. It just sounded like a fun and caring thing to do, so I said ok. I need to learn how to make pretty and creative cards stat! Somebody point me to a good card making site or blog!
I considered going to my local craft store and wandering the aisles. I know there are all kinds of pretty papers and card stocks and stickers and things I could turn into cards. But I worried that I'd go over-board if I went in without a plan so I decided to make a list of card ideas and then flesh-out what materials I'll need based on the list.
What are some themes that would be appropriate? Balloons? Cake? Candles? Maybe happy things like birds and ladybugs? Colourful lettering?
I really could use some help with ideas, y'all.
I signed up at work to be a "virtual volunteer" for the palliative care division of my company, to make birthday cards for patients in hospice care. I recall the bright expression on my grandmother's face when she saw the birthday cards she received last June. She couldn't recall who the people were who sent them but she appreciated the colours and designs and messages of the cards.
I'm not really a card maker, per se. It just sounded like a fun and caring thing to do, so I said ok. I need to learn how to make pretty and creative cards stat! Somebody point me to a good card making site or blog!
I considered going to my local craft store and wandering the aisles. I know there are all kinds of pretty papers and card stocks and stickers and things I could turn into cards. But I worried that I'd go over-board if I went in without a plan so I decided to make a list of card ideas and then flesh-out what materials I'll need based on the list.
What are some themes that would be appropriate? Balloons? Cake? Candles? Maybe happy things like birds and ladybugs? Colourful lettering?
I really could use some help with ideas, y'all.
2/01/2012
Girlyfight Creativity Prompt: A Day without Obligations
Pretend you have the day off from all obligations. The only thing on your to do list is to spend the time on those creative pursuits you always want to enjoy but can’t for whatever reason. That reason doesn’t exist today, so what will you do?
Hmmm, firstly, if I had no obligations (and presumably no one around telling me what to do), I'd make a mess. My creativity of choice being letter writing, I'd take out every pen, pencil, eraser, sticker, note card, stationery, envelope, rubber stamp, glue stick and postage stamp I owned and lay them all out in an organized fashion all over the living room floor, just to do an assessment and really see what I've got. Or more importantly, to see what else I need! I'd shuffle and reshuffle everything, enjoying seeing things I forgot I had, and recognizing the go-to goods I use too often. I'd make random stationery "care packages" for some of my pen pals and set aside some of the good stuff for use with my closest friends.
For lunch I'd make garlic and parmesan angel hair pasta. I'd eat while I wrote so some of my letters might have little spots of olive oil on them. Gross? Or charming?
If I have no obligations today, could I also have unlimited dollars today? I'd hit up Etsy and the USPS online store as well as a craft store or two for card making supplies. Though it technically is an obligation, I recently volunteered through work to make cheerful birthday cards for hospice patients. On this, my day without obligations, I'd take some time out to carefully craft beautifully colourful cards and simple messages of wishes for a wonderful day.
At the end of my day I'd have a basket full of cards and notes and letters ready to be sent out. I will have touched base with everyone I think about so often, and they will be all caught up on what's going on with me lately. I often forget to whom I write what so I'll have carefully logged all my correspondence. I'll gather up my mess and re-store it in the drawers and baskets it all calls home.
1/28/2012
The Story of a Blazer
I probably acquired my black knit blazer sometime last year while I was job hunting. I got a pair of black trousers (at my mother's insistence despite the fact that I don't wear pants) and this nicely cut, multi-buttoned knit blazer. Both of these items sat in the back of my car for probably 6 months or more. Even after I started working, it just didn't occur to me to wear the darn thing. And then I got a new job and moved into a part of the building that needs to be kept cool 24/7 because the servers are there. I needed something nicer than a stained navy blue sweatshirt to keep bundled up in my cube. And though I'm a swaddler in terms of scarves, I don't believe in wearing blankets at work. Enter the wonder that is the black knit blazer.
It's perfect. It keeps me warm. It makes me look professional and pulled together when really I'm a good-natured scatterbrained mess. I can add a touch of personality to the ensemble with a colourful or sparkly scarf, whimsical brooch or rhinestone barrette. It's shocking to me that I let my blazer hang in my closet for so long. Now I'd like to get a couple more blazers (in grey, of course!) to keep it company. I feel silly going on for so long about a jacket but it really was a case of duh.
Perhaps next time we can analyze why I like grey so much and why I felt like 2 grey sweaters was too few while 5 may be too many but for some reason 4 is just right. Does it matter that they're different shades of grey?
1/27/2012
1/25/2012
Currently, Possibly, Futurish, Eventually
I've been participating in a 30 Day Reinvention Project since 10 January. The project has posed many questions that've taken a lot of thought, and provided me with some new healthy information to integrate into my life. One of the lessons posed was about crafting your "ideal day" and "ideal life." I was a touch stumped by the exercise. I'm not entirely sure what my ideal day would look like but I think I have an idea of what I'd like my life to be. But does the exercise mean my ideal day in my current life? Or my ideal day ideally, without restrictions? Either way, I'm having a hard time differentiating between what I think I'd like to do and what I think I should do. Hmmm.
To be honest, I feel sort of limited in what I can "craft" because I have family to consider. If it was just me (no husband, no pets), my crafted life would be a lot different. But because I have responsibilities (let's call them blessings), a certain amount of realism is required.
Currently, we're full time squatters with family, all our possessions in storage. My husband is gone 99% of the time, out on the road with his truck. I work down the freeway in the OC. I am unhealthy, poor and have a bad hair-twirling habit. Everything needs fixing.*
If I could tweak my current situation, I'd like to live within blocks of Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling, in a little breezy (affordable) cottage with lots of windows. I'd work from home and putter around with my pets. My husband would be home whenever possible, and we'd do little home improvement projects and visit my family on the east side on Saturdays. Every once in a while, we'd have family and friends over for supper and conversation. I would walk regularly (circuambulating the gompa) and home-cook all our meals. My health would improve, my 401K would grow, and everything would be on-track.
Monkey wrench: My husband's place of work is in San Gabriel Valley. That's about 30 minutes north of where we are now. He wants to live near his workplace. It's an hour from my work. Though I just started the job, I know I have a goal of working from home. Once I qualify, living in SGV won't be a problem. It's more affordable than staying in the South Bay and it's more likely we'll be able to find a place to rent that'll accept my dog.
What'll probably happen for the time being: We'll stay bunkered down here while I work to qualify to work from home. Then we'll find a small house to rent in SGV somewhere that'll accept us and my pets. I'll work from home, my husband will continue to work and be home maybe 1 week a month. I'll come down to the south bay about once a month to attend teachings at GSTDL (I'll also try to attend at LCB) and see the family.
What'll probably eventually happen: I predict we'll end up in a trailer in San Gabriel Valley. Me, him, the pets. Me working from home, him on the road. I'll do my best to make a trailer a home, knowing its value will never appreciate. It'll have a little patch of grass in the back for Lala's potty, and an astro-turf covered deck that I'll fill with houseplants and plastic patio furniture. There'll probably be a Yuban can ashtray filled with sand and incense sticks.
What I'd prefer: I'd like to have a nice, sturdy house with a secure yard in West Covina, near Land of Compassion Buddha. I'd work from home (somehow miraculously making a good living), and my husband could sell the trucks and retire. I'd like him to return to doing art. We'd have a guest room and I'd have an office where I'd do all my high-tech, eagle-eye auditing.
What I dream: We'd own the little cottage near GSTDL, and we'd be independently wealthy. I would work full-time on the behalf of the Tibetan Nuns Project and other Buddhist monastic support groups, rescue and foster rabbits & guinea pigs and generally do whatever I could to help other folks.
So... where's the middle ground?
*Don't misunderstand these statements for ingratitude. I'm VERY grateful for everything I have.
To be honest, I feel sort of limited in what I can "craft" because I have family to consider. If it was just me (no husband, no pets), my crafted life would be a lot different. But because I have responsibilities (let's call them blessings), a certain amount of realism is required.
Currently, we're full time squatters with family, all our possessions in storage. My husband is gone 99% of the time, out on the road with his truck. I work down the freeway in the OC. I am unhealthy, poor and have a bad hair-twirling habit. Everything needs fixing.*
If I could tweak my current situation, I'd like to live within blocks of Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling, in a little breezy (affordable) cottage with lots of windows. I'd work from home and putter around with my pets. My husband would be home whenever possible, and we'd do little home improvement projects and visit my family on the east side on Saturdays. Every once in a while, we'd have family and friends over for supper and conversation. I would walk regularly (circuambulating the gompa) and home-cook all our meals. My health would improve, my 401K would grow, and everything would be on-track.
Monkey wrench: My husband's place of work is in San Gabriel Valley. That's about 30 minutes north of where we are now. He wants to live near his workplace. It's an hour from my work. Though I just started the job, I know I have a goal of working from home. Once I qualify, living in SGV won't be a problem. It's more affordable than staying in the South Bay and it's more likely we'll be able to find a place to rent that'll accept my dog.
What'll probably happen for the time being: We'll stay bunkered down here while I work to qualify to work from home. Then we'll find a small house to rent in SGV somewhere that'll accept us and my pets. I'll work from home, my husband will continue to work and be home maybe 1 week a month. I'll come down to the south bay about once a month to attend teachings at GSTDL (I'll also try to attend at LCB) and see the family.
What'll probably eventually happen: I predict we'll end up in a trailer in San Gabriel Valley. Me, him, the pets. Me working from home, him on the road. I'll do my best to make a trailer a home, knowing its value will never appreciate. It'll have a little patch of grass in the back for Lala's potty, and an astro-turf covered deck that I'll fill with houseplants and plastic patio furniture. There'll probably be a Yuban can ashtray filled with sand and incense sticks.
What I'd prefer: I'd like to have a nice, sturdy house with a secure yard in West Covina, near Land of Compassion Buddha. I'd work from home (somehow miraculously making a good living), and my husband could sell the trucks and retire. I'd like him to return to doing art. We'd have a guest room and I'd have an office where I'd do all my high-tech, eagle-eye auditing.
What I dream: We'd own the little cottage near GSTDL, and we'd be independently wealthy. I would work full-time on the behalf of the Tibetan Nuns Project and other Buddhist monastic support groups, rescue and foster rabbits & guinea pigs and generally do whatever I could to help other folks.
So... where's the middle ground?
*Don't misunderstand these statements for ingratitude. I'm VERY grateful for everything I have.
Year of the Dragon!
Dear letter writer friends, do you like pens and pencils and other office supply stuff?
The Well-Appointed Desk is offering a give-away for a $25 Jet Pens gift certificate!
And hey, Melissa over at Craftgasm has coined a word for us lovers of mail:
Phil*e*pist*list (fil-ih-pis-list)
noun
One who enjoys writing and receiving letters & postal mail.
1/22/2012
January Update
Hello, friends.
I survived my first week at work and successfully graduated with a certificate in Quality Auditing. It's just the beginning! Today's my first real day of work following training. It's a Sunday so I imagine things will be pretty laid back. I'm bringing a few personal items for my desk... not much, just a few things that make me smile and will make being there more comfortable. Like a big orange plush flower for my pencil cup. And a rabbit-shaped calendar. And a popcorn-scented air freshener. And a mini Tara thangkha. You know, just the essentials.
I work from noon to nine with Thursdays and Saturdays off. I prefer the later shift since the earliest available one didn't start early enough for me. The shifts have to do with when reports come in that need to be worked.
I learned that working from home is definitely an option with this position. Huzzah! So besides focusing on just generally kicking ass and getting good numbers, I'll be learning about what it'll take to qualify to work from home. After that, we can look into finally moving. We are interested in moving north of our current location. The area's a bit more affordable and we could possibly rent a small house for what we could get an apartment for nearer to the beach. We're not beach people, anyway.
I also learned this week that through my employer I could request a free membership with the National Bone Marrow Donors registry, and get a free kit to send in a donation sample. So I did that. But there's a catch. I'm too heavy. I'm over the maximum weight for my height to qualify as a donor. This really disappointed me. So I now have a firm goal to qualify as a donor. I would be horrified to learn that I was someone's match but couldn't donate because I'm too heavy/not healthy enough. Can you imagine the heartbreak? So there's that. I'm jumping back into My Fitness Pal this week. Come join me!
I survived my first week at work and successfully graduated with a certificate in Quality Auditing. It's just the beginning! Today's my first real day of work following training. It's a Sunday so I imagine things will be pretty laid back. I'm bringing a few personal items for my desk... not much, just a few things that make me smile and will make being there more comfortable. Like a big orange plush flower for my pencil cup. And a rabbit-shaped calendar. And a popcorn-scented air freshener. And a mini Tara thangkha. You know, just the essentials.
I work from noon to nine with Thursdays and Saturdays off. I prefer the later shift since the earliest available one didn't start early enough for me. The shifts have to do with when reports come in that need to be worked.
I learned that working from home is definitely an option with this position. Huzzah! So besides focusing on just generally kicking ass and getting good numbers, I'll be learning about what it'll take to qualify to work from home. After that, we can look into finally moving. We are interested in moving north of our current location. The area's a bit more affordable and we could possibly rent a small house for what we could get an apartment for nearer to the beach. We're not beach people, anyway.
I also learned this week that through my employer I could request a free membership with the National Bone Marrow Donors registry, and get a free kit to send in a donation sample. So I did that. But there's a catch. I'm too heavy. I'm over the maximum weight for my height to qualify as a donor. This really disappointed me. So I now have a firm goal to qualify as a donor. I would be horrified to learn that I was someone's match but couldn't donate because I'm too heavy/not healthy enough. Can you imagine the heartbreak? So there's that. I'm jumping back into My Fitness Pal this week. Come join me!
1/21/2012
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