Tuesday Tidings!

Well, I spoke too soon...the reactions from the antibiotics did not subside, but came on much stronger last night. I couldn't even take them yesterday because I was not feeling well. Even in the darkest, sickest moments, I still have things to be grateful for:

• Unexpected Yahoo chat with a friend (should have been on yesterday's list)
• D has a second interview for a job next week
• D being so concerned about me that he called my mom to let her know and get some input on what to do for me
• Aspiring New York Banking Mogul treating us to dinners while he was in town
• Surviving the first day of my boss' two week vacation without losing my patience

Today is a pretty mellow work day and I should be able to coast through. Have a great Tuesday!

Monday Moments!

I will admit that Monday, especially this Monday, is a difficult day to find things in life for which I am grateful. However, with my new attitude and in a massive attempt to clear the little black cloud from over my head, there are still things to acknowledge.

• Overcoming the bad nausea from the antibiotics in a short period of time this morning
• The fall morning air...feels a little cooler today
• Mini Nilla Wafers for breakfast...so not healthy, but so good!
• No Chapter tonight...heading home to relax
• Starting a new book and getting lost in it already

All in all, things aren't so bad...I'm hoping that the reactions to the antibiotics will ease up and not last all week. I am alive....that is definitely one thing to be grateful for! Happy Monday!

Sunday Thanks!

First of all, before I make my Sunday list, I am okay...I'm on some heavy duty antibiotics to clear what they think I have. I go back on Friday to see if I am any better. So, on that note, my Sunday list:

• Realizing that the Chargers deserve to lose games if they continue to play so horribly
• Having a nice fresh fish barbecue with friends and family
• Sleeping in past 6:00 a.m.
• Finishing my book club book
• The weather...it feels like fall is in the air...hopefully, the traditional October Santa Ana weather will not come back

Life is progressing...have a good evening!

Saturday Gratitude!

So, in keeping with my attitude of gratitude, I am making my next list. It is difficult to be grateful when there is so much stress, but I'm trying to shift my focus. Today, I am grateful for:

• Spending the day with D at the Tour de Fat and running errands
• Getting to see a doctor instead of having to rely on an urgent care visit
• Finding out what I thought was wrong really was something much more...I'm getting some treatment and will go back in a week to see how I've progressed
• Sleeping past 6:00 a.m.
• Our "child" (New York Aspiring Banking Mogul) getting to his fishing trip at 3:00 a.m. without having to wake us up to get there

Hope you had a nice Saturday!

Attitude of Gratitude

So, for so many reasons, lately, I have been a Bitter Betty or Negative Nelly. I am the classic worrier, pity party of one and all the cliches rolled into one person lately. And, I have been quite down wallowing in this negative energy. Last weekend, I notice that Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith was having a program on PBS. I have met Dr. Beckwith several years ago and have seen him on Oprah earlier this year. He talks about power within and using your potential to grow in life. Last night, I was wired when I got home, so D and I decided to watch it. We only watched a small portion, but learned so much already. One of the things he talked about was eliminating negative thoughts and actions from your life by creating gratitude...for all that we are and have, the negative things/issues we deal with (yes, because without these, we lose the opportunity to learn and grow while things change), and for just existing.

This all brought me to the new focus of my blog...gratitude! So, I'm going to start each day blogging about my daily gratitude items...5 simple things that I am thankful and blessed to have in my life!

• The sunshine and fog mixed that combined to create a nice morning drive
• Having a jay oh bee that challenges me on a daily basis
• Spending Thursday nights with Mom and Meema
• Getting to spend quality time with my purring cats, Oneder and Buttons
• It's Friday and I have some good weekend plans

That's the start of my attitude of gratitude shift...what are you grateful for today? Whatever it is, I hope you have a great weekend!

Accomplished...Learned A Lot!

So, Sunday, we closed the door on the rental. It is ready to be turned over to its new occupants. It took three full weekends of sweat and tears to get it done, but it's done. Refrigerator was delivered yesterday and on the 29th, Housing Authority does their inspection for our tenants. I am so relieved that this is all done and we can get back to life at home. Over the last few weeks, I learned some lessons and things I'd like to share:

• What starts as a simple project will turn into something more complex that usually involves multiple trips to home improvement stores.
• Lowes and Home Depot have a deal to keep each other in business. In our case, we could get everything, but one thing at Lowes which would require a trip to Home Depot (and they are not close to each other).
• Whether we make a list or not, something is always forgotten requiring an additional trip out to pick it up.
• When someone says they are going to clean and get the carpets done before they move out, it usually is not true. And, they are probably trying to distract you from the crayon and pen markings on every surface...including the bathroom door!
• If a project seems too taxing and big, it usually is, but it can be done!
• I can paint like a pro...in three weekends, I did the majority of the heavy painting of a three bedroom house!
• Any paint being used will inevitably end up on me...my feet, legs, arms, hands, face...pretty much anywhere on me!
• The drive east is boring if you do it alone, but doing it with someone and an iPod with the most random mix of music creates many laughs and amateur singing contests!
• The drive requires stops at two Border Patrol checkpoints. These agents have a slightly easier task that those agents in the field. Personally, I have lost a friend in the line of duty while working for the USBP and have several friends and a cousin working for them. These agents risk their lives by being in the line of duty and in the field...more and more, I have a greater respect for what they do!
• We have great friends and family who support us...these trips have been augmented with dinners and visits!
• Testosterone is a powerful thing! Saturday night, we had dinner with our friends who drove in from EC. We went to dinner and ended up in a place televising a MMA main event fright plus the Mayweather-Marquez boxing match. We stayed and watched them for the sheer entertainment of the whole thing.
• And lastly, this whole time has shown me how lucky I am to be with D! It amazes me that he knows how to do all these manly handyman tasks. Plus, we have been able to connect, talk and spend some real quality time together. Without consistent internet, television or other distractions, it ups the time we spend talking. It's been stressful, but I'm glad that we've been there together to get it all done!

Yeah for accomplishments and lessons learned...that's what it's all about (do the hokey pokey!).

Stop the Roller Coaster...I Really Want Off!

Wow...it has been a long time since I blogged. Needless to say, lots has been happening. Lately, life has been one heck of a roller coaster and I am honestly ready to hop off at the next stop. To recap:

• Meema's Surgery: So, this was quite an event! Her routine robotic hysterectomy (at the age of 87, two weeks shy of 88) was a success...they found nothing to indicate cancer. The cyst was the size of a softball and we have pictures of it, but everything else looked healthy. She came through well, but it was a rough week with her in the hospital. She's now home and doing well. It's amazing to see how her major surgery only created 5 scars, approximately one inch long.
• Meema's Birthday: We celebrated her 88th birthday at Ruth's. It was all of the regular players plus Cousin Cleveland and Steve (Aspiring Banking Mogul) adding to our group. We had a lot of fun that night and continued it with a carne asada barbecue the next day.
• Yuma: Our tenant of 3 years gave her notice in August. She told us that she would clean and get the carpets done...WRONG! We've spent the last two weekends working on it and will spend this weekend finishing the work. We have a tenant ready to move in at the end of the month, so that took some stress off us.
• My Jay Oh Bee: Work is busy...I'm still on hold for the other position...I was supposed to have an interview a week ago, but it got postponed at the last minute.
• D's Jay Oh Bee: Last Thursday, D got laid off. While the timing and the layoff itself are not a good thing, this probably is the best thing for D. He really needed to get out of there and find another job. Sometimes, in life, a nudge doesn't work and people need a big push. He already has some leads, so I think it should all be fine.

Well, I have lots of other fun things to blog about...I just have not had the time to do so. Take care!