Xmas Grandkid Pics

My Co-Workers

My baby girl, Bess and Piper (Pippy-dog) work with me at my in home office.

How To Get a Girl

9 year old Alec Greven wrote a book on how to get, keep and get over, a girl.
It's amazing how so much changes and then so much doesn't.

I AM a nice person

Damnit, I am a nice person.

As a nice person, with high expectations for myself and others to also be kind and considerate of others, I'm always extremely let down when others do not ascribe to the same high level of caring and concern that I have.

Worse yet, that same "code" (not quite the same as Dexter's code, but sometimes I wish I could go that route)keeps me from stooping to the level of what some would consider "normal" behavior for someone who has been wronged.

In my world, during shower therapy - long, hot, showers where I daydream about all the coulda-shoulda-woulda's - I think about all the things I could have said, or should do. Many of these thoughts stick with me for days and I debate the wisdom of the course of action I consider. What would be the ultimate gain? Would I feel better for doing it? Would causing someone else discomfort really make me feel any different? Better? Worse? Do I really think that any action I take will truly be viewed in the manner it was intended? If my point was to educate/elucidate a point, would the dumb-ass be bright enough to even grasp the concept?

Ultimately, the answer is "Probably not."

Now, do I come to this conclusion because I'm just a weak-willed person who would rather deal with a situation than create one? Am I someone who will allow herself to be the victim instead of becoming the aggressor? Or am I just a nice person who believes that Karma will even everything up in the end anyway, so why put a deficit in my own account?

Went to the Gym

Last March, the hubby and I joined the gym. It was our 23 wedding anniversary present to one another. We decided we needed to be healthier so we could annoy each other for another 23 years.

We started going regularly and the few pounds hubby had on him melted away.

I was jealous.

I was busting my butt, and really working hard, but no matter what I did, he seemed to do double what I was and was getting better results. grrrr...

Ok, that's not really a healthy attitude, right? So, I tried to deal with my competitive and comparing nature and just keep going. I started walking, as well, and finally, I started seeing some results.... just in time for an injury to stop everything.

Off to the doctor who said to behave myself and figure out when I wanted to take care of my injury. He said it would be a while before I could resume my normal routine. DRATS!! I finally got motivated and into "the groove" and everything...

Then I remembered that I had paid up front for a personal trainer. I called the gym, made the appointment and met with the woman today. She's so tiny, half my height, but she seemed to know what she was doing. I asked her to get me a routine I could do to work around my injury until it was 'all better' and I could then include my other activities into my routine. On Wednesday, I'll know what she's got up her tiny little sleeves for me, but GOOD. I want to move, I need to move. I need to peel myself out of my comfy, warm, warren and force myself out into new situations.

Being a rabbit, we really do love calm and cozy and minimal drama/excitement, but that can lead to stagnation as well. So to hell with my nervousness and fears and self doubts about my ability... let this tiny little woman do what she will. I'm ready for a change anyway.

Thanksgiving will be outside next year...

First, and I'm sure this will sound totally UN American, but I can't STAND the smell of turkey roasting in my house. Poultry skin stench of any kind is not tolerated, but turkey in particular is abhorrent to my delicate sensitivities! ;)

Second, I've tried to lighten the T-Day meal in some ways by including more fiber and whole grains, fresh ingredients, less butter (whaaaaaa) and overall better nutrition. This year the menu was Turkey (cooked outside on the grill... frees up space in the oven and avoids that "aromatic" problem) a naturally cured, no nitrite ham, fauxtatoes (mashed and whipped cauliflower) corn with red peppers and broccoli bits, sweet potato whipped with maple syrup, nuts, and some egg whites on a pecan meal crust, stuffing made from scratch with double protein whole grain bread cubes, cranberries pulsed together with an orange, some orange juice and a few walnuts, steamed string beans, wheat rolls and yes.. finally... some butter! Kinda heavy on the starch side but definitely full of fiber.

Third, due to the menu above, there is now another "aromatic" problem in my household. About an hour after dinner, all night last night and so far all this morning, there have been a plethora of gaseous emissions from my family. The lingering kind.

Oh
My
Gawd!

So, I've decided that next year some extra planning must be given consideration and that I should leave myself a note in the cyber-world to remind me of what I need to do differently.
1. Buy some flame-less candles. (No need to tempt the Methane Gods into blowing up the house.)
2. Move the TV, couch, beds and video games outside so everyone can enjoy some fresh air!
3. If there is bad weather predicted and you can't move life outside, remember to purchase air fresheners for each room of the house, extra TP and turn on the whole house fan.

A Pumpkin and some fun

Pictures from our trip to visit Libby over Halloween and Frank's birthday weekend.