Wednesday, August 05, 2015

A New Day A New Outlook, Even if It Is Lying Down

Sometime in the last month I decided I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I am going to do everything I can to optimize my lifestyle: get better sleep, eat healthier food, and start getting some exercise.  All three of these lifestyle changes will hopefully help with my depression as well as help me get in shape.

There are a few problems with following through with my promises to myself.  For one, my husband is working halfway across the country.  I have a hard enough time sleeping when he is here, it will be even more of a struggle with him away. Last night I figured out that if I place a pillow in bed where he sleeps I feel more secure and sleep more soundly.

I am also dealing with a change in medication, which has brought with it some unpleasant side effects.  I'm hoping as my body adjusts to the medication the side effects will lessen and possibly go away.   Sadly, one of the side effects is excessive lack of energy, which makes wanting to work out a struggle.  At least drinking lots of water won't be a problem, I am sweating so much I am always dehydrated. (Sorry that was probably an over share).

The third problem is that my arthritis has  flared up and I am in increasingly debilitating levels of pain.  My pain medication doesn't seem to be keeping up with it. This is another detriment to trying to work out.  I did some light stretching on Monday and am going to try some Yoga today.

I have decided to do what I can and let the rest sort itself out.  If I need to rest more, nap more and soak in Epsom salts baths every night, then so be it.  I can already tell that the change I. Eating habits have made a difference and it has been a little over a week that I have been eating clean.

I have to remember that the longest journey in the world begins one step at a time.  And in my case it begins right after my next nap. I promise.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Would You Like To Read Along?

Today is the first day of the To Kill A Mockingbird read-along.  Since this book just happens to be my all time favorite book ever written since I was seven years old. I am not making that up, I swear.

I was about three when my Sister Ann wanted to play teacher and needed a student She taught me how to read using her reader: Fun With Dick  and Jane.   I have read everything I can get my hands on ever since. My mom used to say I would read the cereal boxes in the grocery store just to have something to read.

When I was seven (in 1967) I found a copy of To Kill a Mockinbird  on the bookshelf at our house, and the cover looked really fun.  I took it to mom and asked if I could read it, and without thinking she said yes.  It wasn't till later that it occurred to her that there might have been quite a lot of age inappropriate content (rape accusations, murder, racism) for my tender sensibilities.  to be honest, I loved the book.  The writing was so beautiful, Scout was just my age by the end of the story.  She and I were both early readers, and  aye that is why I identified with her.  I had a friend who lived up the block from me who was my Dill He didn't have the same tragic parentage, but we were inseparable in the summers going on wild adventures in the woods just outsides our neighborhood.  I could imagine myself as Scout (even though it was my sister whose name was Jeanne Louise), but that was a consequence of birth, she was born after the book was published, and I was born before.

Even though I faithfully read the book at least once a year from 1967 on, for the life of me I don't think those issues occurred to me until well into my teen years, when I suppose maturity was forcing those issues into my real life.  One of my classmates was raped, and became pregnant, and we lived in a racially diverse city where tensions ran high at the end of the "Age of Aquarius".  There were race riots at the High School, and my Father, who was a guidance counsellor at the middle school I attended became a buffer between the black students (the term they used proudly then) and the all white administration of the school because he allowed the students to talk openly without fear of recrimination or punishment while in his office.  They came to him with their problems, and he was the bridge between them and the Principal and other teachers.

Anyway, I encourage you to get a copy, or get out your copy and read along.  Especially now, with the state our country is in currently.  This book has much to teach us about how calmer heads should prevail.  Sometimes we need to slip into the other person's shoes and walk around a little while.  Won't you join me for a stroll through the tired old town of Macomb. We can say hey to my old friends Scout, Jem, Dill, Atticus, Miss Mamie, and Miss Maudie and even Miss duBose if we dare. If we are lucky, we might even get a glimpse of Boo Radley!  Happy Reading.



Monday, February 02, 2015

I'm Back!

I have decided to resurrect this blog. I want to use the Blogger blog for my general information/humor posts, and keep the wordpress blog for my more theological/spiritual posts.

I hope those of you who follow this blog will continue to follow, and tell your friends. I will be sharing some of my short fiction as well as observational humor and posts about interesting gadgets and apps I come across on the net.

 My goal will be to post two to three days a week here. I am trying to get into a groove with writing, so you all get to come along for the ride.

In the next few days you will see some other changes to the look of the blog, as well as a name change to mirror the change in direction.

Thanks for hanging in there while I was away.  I'm so happy to be back.