Wednesday, January 30, 2008

As the world turns

My time is short and as always the world is spinning out of control.

We are starting major house reno's. I've been dreaming about this for years. Now that it is beginning and I'm getting a glimpse of what this may entail I'm wondering if this time I may have bit off more than I can chew.

For anyone who knows me, I love renovating things. This time however, there are so many decisions that I sometimes feel like the world is spinning out of control.

Here are some of the decisions I'm in the process of making:

1. Kitchen appliances
2. Cabinets
3. Flooring
4. Front doors
5. Mantles
and the lists goes on.

On the other side of the coin, with this being a reno that we live in, I am trying to pack away furniture and all kinds of junk that we've been accumulating over the years.

Now, this is the topper. We're going on holidays while all of this is happening. Sounds like a good idea to be out of the mess but having not realized all the decisions that need to be made in order for progress to happen while we're gone it is making my world spin at an incredibly fast rate. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited and thrilled that this is taking place. What is kind of funny though, is the difference between preception and reality in this kind of project. I'm sure that many of you are out there saying "I told you so," and I want you to know that you are right.

My one consolation is that I'm enjoying my spiney world.

I'm now going to label my life "As The World Turns"

New thought: I now can litterly be called "one spiny old lady" and you know what? You'd be absolutely right!

How about taking a few turns with me? We may as well get dizzy together!

Friday, January 18, 2008

What is normal?

This blog is about what is normal? I know that there are many areas for normal but this one is just about time and what a normal day would look like for you. This is how most of my days play out. How about yours?

I had hoped to get time to post more often but it seems that life has a way of throwing us a few curves that change the best laid plans. This is not just typical of blogging but of most things in my life. I am forever planning to get all these things accomplished and I find that at the end of the day I'm lucky to get anything on my list done. There are some things that I purposely don't get done because of procrastination, so those I guess don't count. I know that I'm not a high energy person as so many people are but all that aside I still don't seem to find enough time to do all the things that I'd like to do.

Blogging is one of my favorite things to do but it seems that it gets set aside for the urgency of the moment. I find myself saying "when things get back to normal then I'll have more time."

That is when I realized that this is normal and that is why it is taking so long for me to get the time.

Please don't get tired of checking out my blog sight. I love to know that someone is out there reading them even though they aren't as entertaining as most blogs.

Anyway, this has got me thinking lately about what is my normal and what isn't?

Have you ever wondered what normal is?

Thursday, January 10, 2008

"go! go! gadget"

I am a gadget person.

My kids are always saying "oh mom, you and your kitchen gadgets".

I really like picking up those things that look neat and are interesting and make life look alot easier.

I do have to admit that there are some gadgets in my kitchen that have had little to no use but in the big scheme of things they may come in handy.

Here are a few really cool things:

1) cookie dough scoop; like an ice cream scoop and you get the same size cookie every time

2) egg separator; nice little cup that you pour to separate the egg

3) meat hammer; not just any hammer but one that does it all even outside the kitchen

4) perogy maker; flat red square that dough lays over and makes 4 at a time

5) apple peeler; a hands off crank model

6) fancy pastry cutter, and roller

7) potato peelers; numerous styles

8) fancy veggie cutter; makes those nice squiggly lines

9) remote light controls; works well for turning on all the Xmas decorations with a flick

10) numerous floor cleaning devices; styles of brooms, washers, vacuums, dusters etc.

These are some of my gadgets that I can think of off the top of my head. You can also tell that most of the things I acquire are for the kitchen, hence the phrase "kitchen gadgets". As you can see they all seem practical and therefore make sense to own. They may have a little twist to them that make them a little different from the ordinary but that's what makes them interesting and fun to use.

If you have any gadgets that you think I may be interested in let me know. I'm always looking for the next "greatest idea" that's out there.

Soo.....to all those who are gadget people, "Go! Go! Gadget".

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Clean up and shape out

Here I am on Jan. 8 2008 and I am just getting things cleaned up from Xmas and New Years. How can that be you ask?

In my case that is not hard because to me cleaning up from this important time means cleaning up not just the decorations but all the junk food and chocolate as well. I have been well under control with the tree and decorations but this year the goodies and junk food are taking a little longer than usual. I'm not sure if it is because we have had more junk food this year or less company. Anyway, it is one of those chores that if I admit truthfully I kind of enjoy.

What seems to get in the way is the ever popular New Years resolution of losing weight from the Christmas season. Okay, I admit from the past year or maybe the last oh... 2 or 3 years. No matter how you look at it, it is the guilt of this chore because of the urgency of this resolution that gets me in a fluster.

How am I to look good for spring and summer clothing when I need months of weight loss to get to that much desired goal. (By the way, I never reach the goal, it is just to high and there just isn't enough time.)

And so my dilemma goes on. I eat chocolate, chips and dips, cookies and cake while watching exercise videos and reading weight lose books. I even try to figure out if I can afford to join the various weight lose clubs while I'm trying to finish this chore of cleaning up the Christmas food. After all, we all know that you cant' start any new program until your house is cleaned out of all the bad foods. (I can't seem to bring myself to throw that kind of food in the garbage.) So here I am well into Jan. and working my way at getting things done. (Oh, what we women must do to get things back to normal.)

I hope your house is all righted around from the festive season. If you find that you have the same problem with this chore of food clean up then let me know. After all, there is comfort in knowing that you aren't alone in these difficult times.

P.S.
For those of you who know me, you know that one of my first loves is chocolate. So there is a certain amount of bliss in all of this, it is just those darn mirrors.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

The gift of giving

This blog was written back in the Christmas season and for several reasons it didn't get posted. I have decided to post it anyway because the gift of giving is really a year round gift. Hope you enjoy it.

Have you ever wondered about the gift of giving?

Well, that is what is going through my head at this moment. I have just spent some precious time reading devotions with some of my family and the reading today came from I Peter 3:8-17 in the Bible. The particular part that stood out to me was verse 17: "Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong."

If you take the time to really think about the situations you see around you of people suffering for things that they have done, it is usually those who do things that are wrong choices that suffer the most. I have been in both situations and let me tell you, it is much easier to hurt for making the right choice than to hurt for making the wrong choice. I believe that the primary difference is guilt over selfishness. It is much easier to hurt when you know that you have made the right choice. I think it is a miracle that it is actually a peaceful suffering. I know, you're saying to yourself "peaceful suffering?". Yes, peaceful suffering. I believe that peaceful often gets mixed up with feels good. You can have peace in the hardest and most uncomfortable situations when it comes from right choices. The reason that happens is because you don't have to deal with guilt. It still is painful but you have peace that you made the right choice. I believe that God blesses the hearts and emotions of those who do right, thus giving you the unexplainable peace at the root of all that is happening.

So, as Christmas is the time for giving take the time to make some right choices, even if it hurts, and bless someone who really has a need. And if it is nothing else than making a right choice of action or attitude toward someone and giving up something that is totally selfish for the health and happiness of those you love, then blessings to you in your suffering. God is so good and loves to comfort and bless you who make the right choice.

Merry Christmas and Blessings to those who experience the "gift of giving".