Friday, March 11, 2011

Random Thoughts from a Blogger Slacker

Dear Blogging World,

Please forgive me, it's been 3 months since my last post.  I have no good excuses so I won't try to make any.  Here are a few random thoughts and things that have happened since my last post:

1. Christmas was wonderful.  Sarah was home from DC and that made it perfect.  Had 30 people for Christmas dinner and the beautiful Arizona weather let us all eat outside on the patio where we had enough room for everyone.  It was really great and I enjoyed every minute of it....even the mini melt down I had when the turkey refused to be done on time...eventually, I loved that too.  It's all about embracing who you are...more about that later.

2.  Sickness...I've had my share plus the share of a few others.  I've been sick 4 times since the new year....not fun.  This last lovely little bug, which I am not fully over yet, really kicked my butt.  I am ready to be well again for a good long time. 

3. I've been re-reading a favorite series of books over the last several months.  I'm finally finishing up the last book that I actually read (over 15 years ago!) and ready to start on the last books in the series which I never got to read.  I'm loving this because I got Sarah involved in these books and we've been reading them at almost the same pace.  It's fun to share these with her, and it always makes me so happy that she shares my love of reading.

4.  I've been crocheting up a storm.  I made several afghans for Christmas presents and have been working on some baby afghans for the newest little members of my family.  I've been toying with the idea of starting a business with this craft of mine.  I still have some research to do but I really think I want to do this.  I'll let you know how it progresses.

5.  In April I will be going, for the first time in my life, on a trip by myself.  I'm going to DC to visit with Sarah.  We are planning a wonderful Mother/Daughter trip and I can't wait.  I just hope I don't get lost in the airport....I think I may need that Valium prescription after all...more on that later.

6.  After a couple of years of fighting it, I have decided to fight no more and embrace my daughter's tattoo's.  This is not an easy decision for me but I figure, there is nothing I can do to change it so I must embrace it.  She is currently in the process of having a major back piece done.  Flowers and vines.  She's been working on it for about 7 weeks and she has at least 2 or 3 more weeks to go.  I have to admit....it is beautiful.  And of course, like every tattoo Beth has, every detail has meaning for her.

7.  Spring makes me sad.  I think I am the only person on the face of the earth that wishes it would stay darker longer.  I hear people all over rejoicing at the coming spring, daylight savings time, more sunlight.  Yuck.  I think because I have lived my entire life on the surface of the sun...I don't value sunlight like most people.  I, for one, relish winter and all it's dark, cold days.  I do realize that I live where there is no snow and that my winters are mild compared to most of the country, but to me, spring just means 115 degrees is right around the corner...and who wants that?  I would give anything for three more months of winter...please? 

8. OK, last but not least, I've come to the part where I explain the "more about that later" part.  Last Friday I ended up in the ER with chest pain.  Thank goodness, there is nothing wrong with my heart.  The doctor thinks it was caused by anxiety and sent me home with a prescription for Valium.  Really, me anxious, who knew?  Everyone who knows me, that's who.  I do know I have an anxiety problem, but like everything else I don't want to face, I just chose not to do anything about it.  I will be the first person to tell you that I worry too much, obsess too much, and basically drive myself and everyone around me crazy.  So, this week, as I was confined to my sickbed with nothing else to do but think, I decided to pull my head out of the sand and tackle this anxiety thing.  I think it's all about embracing who you are.  I think when you are truthful with yourself about who you really are, that's the first step to managing it.  Can I say I will ever be anxiety free...I highly doubt that, and I think that's unrealistic.  But, I can say, that I will do my research and find a way to cope with this that works for me.  I'm not sure Valium is it, I haven't filled the prescription yet, but I will find a way to tackle this.  So, wish me luck, and some prayers wouldn't hurt either.  I'll keep you posted....


Quote for the Week:

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.

Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC), The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse