I want to challenge you to do something for someone else this Holiday Season, expecting nothing in return.  Prepare a dinner for a family, give a gift to a child that won’t be getting presents this year, serve dinner to the homeless…give back any way you can, it doesn’t have to be big!  One of the greatest things about life for me is helping others.  Experiencing and seeing the joy on their faces when they are told their next meal is taken care of is gratifying.

I am not only challenging you but I have taken this challenge on myself and hope to make an impact on a young women’s life who is pregnant with her third child.  She can fit all her belongings into the run down car that she drives to and from work.  She is stuggling to survive in this world alone with three children.  She has been chosen by my small group and I to sponsor this year for Christmas.  We asked her this week if we could help give them a Christmas and she has already thanked us about 5 times…can you imagine her relief?  The basics for her and her children will be taken care of this Christmas all because of the willingness to Pay it Forward.

For the past couple of months we’ve been making renovations on a house that we’ll soon be moving into.  The 2 rooms upstairs has been our main focus for now.  In the beginning I maintained my girly girl sheek, but as time went on it slowly became apparent that it wasn’t working out.  If I was going to get down and dirty I needed to let go of a few daily routines.  Reality is we need to get these two rooms done before we move.  Trimming some time away from tackling renovations to do my nails, hair and whatever else was not an option.  I didn’t dare.  I would have gotten “the look.”

And so, my nails haven’t seen a jar of polish in about a month.  I’ve put my jewelry away for the time being.  My lip gloss collection has been severely neglected.  I’ve been roughing it.  Twice in the past week I’ve sat down to work with plaster in my hair and stuck in my nails.  I’ve found comfort in baggy shorts, men’s t-shirts and old flip flops.  My hair hasn’t seen a good conditioning mask for at least a month.  Sigh.

On a positive note, I will say that this project  has been quite empowering.  Originally we were going to hire a contractor to do it, but, for the sake of preserving and restoring the history of the house, we’re doing it ourselves.  There is an enormous sense of pride in that.  Huge!  Has it been worth sporting the grunge style for a bit?  I would have to say yes…even if I’m still picking plaster out of my hair and nails as I type this.

That came to a screeching halt about a month and half ago.  Mom’s health took a turn for the worst and she now relies on us financially as well as for some daily assisted living.  We made the decision to move into Lori’s house next door and Mom will be living with us.  We had planned on moving there down the road after we made some renovations, but, under the cirsumstances, we have to do it sooner rather than later.  It was our only choice.

My glorified state has now turned to organized chaos.  Although we don’t anticipate being fully moved in until mid January, there is an endless amount of work that needs to be done.  Not only do we have to contend with the hassle of moving, but we need to renovate the two rooms upstairs in the other house before the move,  Okay, I can deal with that.  I’m always up for a good challenge.

I had to seriously rethink the holidays this year.  Time is of the essence.  Every hour of every day needs to be productive.  I’ve drafted up timelines.  If everything goes as planned (knock on wood) we should be okay.  This meant deducting a good chunk of time I usually devote to the holidays.

Do I really need to send out 40 (give or take a few) holiday cards this year each with a few handwritten paragraphs?   Most of these people I haven’t heard from in years.  This task takes me an entire day.  In a day I can apply a coat of joint compound to the walls of both rooms and strip the hardwood floor.  Is it necessary to spend three days baking for everyone we know and have come in contact with?  No.  The possibilities are endless as to what I can get done in those 3 days.

We decided that we’re not decorating this year except for the tree.  By mid December we want to be down to bare minimum here except for the heavy furniture.  The time we spend decorating is obnoxious.  I’m going to take advantage of all the fancy holiday gift bags we have stashed upstairs.  I don’t have time to wrap and ribbon.  The days of stringing popcorn and cranberries are over.  I’m exchanging my kitchen apron for a tool belt.  Pass me the safety glasses and sander.  I’m ready.

I have come to realize that tomorrow is just going to be tomorrow, not the day I receive a large inheritance from a distant relative (although that would be nice, he he he).  I have a choice in what everyday will bring me.  I have a choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood when I wake up.  I have a choice to get up 15 minutes earlier so that I am not yelling at my kids to get ready or eat faster.  I also have a choice to make changes so that my life continuously improves.  Everyday there is a choice to make it a successful day!

This knowledge has helped me to enjoy each day for what it is.  I have learned to see the good in the days that I wish never happened.  I am not saying I don’t lose it or break down, but for the most part, I look for something to make my day easier.  I hope that I can teach my children to look for the good in life and to be able to keep their chin up even when life seems to be crumbling around them.

Carpe diem

If you were to ask my Mom, who is a frequent traveler, what her biggest travel tip is she would tell you one thing, “Buy the ugliest and most hideous strand of wide ribbon you can find and tie it to your luggage.”  My Mom has traveled to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Jamaica and this is the only bit of helpful information she has to give?  I thought she was out of her mind.

I adhered to this tidbit of advice the first time I traveled years ago.  I went to the craft store and bought the ugliest ribbon they had.  It was cheap…almost free.  The cashier smirked at it.  I knew she was wondering why I was purchasing such ugly ribbon and counting her blessings that she wasn’t on my Holiday gift giving list.  I tied it on my two luggage bags and left for my trip.   I happened to own luggage that was identical to several others.  Someone, who wasn’t paying attention, almost grabbed my suitcase and walked away.  The ugly bright green, pink and orange ribbon on it let me know that it was my mine.  Point taken Mom.

I’ve been hooked on ugly ever since.  I happen to think that there is a great deal of beauty in what most would consider ugly.  They are my treasures, my comforts and things that I often brag about.  You’ll find a trove of my beloved ugliness scattered around my house.  I don’t hide them.

I look down at my feet and I’m wearing ugly socks.  They are plastered with bright pink and red stripes.  They keep my feet warm and are the softest socks I’ve ever owned.  I got them for $0.25 at the store.  I bought all 10 pairs. No one else wanted them.  All of the beautiful pairs had been bought already.  I also own ugly mittens and scarves.  They have outlasted any other cold weather accessories that I’ve owned in the past.  I have a couple of ugly purses too that I absolutely love.  There is a sweet history behind them and they’ll never see the bottom of any trash bin.

The biggest and proudest piece of ugliness in my life is the house that we’ll be moving into shortly.  It’s next door and has been in Lori’s family for years and years.  We had planned on moving into the house a few years down the road, but due to Mom’s failing health and financial situation, we’re having to do this sooner than anticipated.   The house is run down and it’s obvious that there hasn’t been cosmetic work done on the inside in a long time.  It’s in rough shape.

For the past couple of weeks we’ve been assessing every square foot on the house trying to establish what needs to be done first and what can wait.  I’ve touched the walls, examined every nook and cranny and gone through items that have been stored in various rooms for at least 30 years.  I have come to love this great big ugly house.  This house is filled with rich history and stories.  We’ve decided to preserve all that we can that had been built by Lori’s grandfather including the banister and bathroom cabinets.  The rest of the cosmetic work will be done over time and blend in with what we preserve.

Ugly, by society’s standards, has a place in my life and I plan on keeping it there.

So, get ready for Rocktober (and hopefully in to November too)!!!

Go Rockies!!!

Now I have always thought it was polite to let  people know when you’re about to step up on your soap box.  Consider this fair warning.

Last weekend my husband got run off of the road while he was on his motorcycle.  Fortunately he wasn’t hurt very bad.  But, and here’s where the preachin’ begins, the really really sad part of all of this is – NOT A SINGLE PERSON, NOT ONE stopped to ask if he was okay.  Even the person who ran him off the road didn’t stop.  He lay there in the ditch on the side of the road and not one person stopped to see if he was okay.  It wasn’t like he was on some road that no one ever drives down.  He was on a two lane highway and lots of people passed him.  I shudder to think what might have happened to him had he been seriously hurt.  But this incident brings up some questions in my mind.

When did we become a society of people not willing to stop and offer a hand to another fellow being in need?  Have we become so afraid of lawsuits or the thought that we’d stop to help and get hurt ourselves in the process that we’ve decided the risk is too great?  Have a few ruined it for the rest of us?  Where is our kindness towards one another?  Yes, I know there are plenty of folks out there who donate their money and time to very worthwhile causes.  My question to them – Is the stranger down the street worth your time and attention?

I am a firm believer that people for the most part are good and just.  But I don’t mind telling you that when things like this happen it shakes up my faith.  We are all put here to help one another (if we don’t, what’s the point?).  So the next time you see a man or woman in distress, take a moment to stop and ask if they need some help.  Let’s show the rest of the world that human kindness still exists.  Let’s start a human kindness movement.  I’m in – are you?

Truth is, there is no way to completely avoid getting sick.  Germs and bacteria that make you sick are everywhere…on every surface and in the air.   In my many years of working with kids, from the infant years all the way up to 21, I’ve had to attend a great deal of classes on general health and wellness.  I’ve worked in daycares, preschools and group homes and these classes weren’t for those who had weak stomachs.  They didn’t do the sugar coat song and dance about washing hands and using a tissue when we sneeze.  The people who conducted these classes went to public places and homes to get samples of the bacteria and germs that are on everyday surfaces.  The results were mind blowing.  Most of us lost our appetite by the time lunch hit.

Stop what you’re doing now and look at your hands.  They look clean, right?  Well, you’d be surprised to know that your hands probably have more germs and bacteria on them than a toilet seat.  How many things have you touched today?  A doorknob, money, your cell phone, steering wheel, computer keyboard, remote, the faucet in a public restroom, etc.  Did you know that your work station has 400 times more bacteria than the floor of a public restroom?  No, you don’t have to rush to the nearest restroom and wash your hands.  Grab some hand sanitizer and use it.  If you don’t have any nearby, get some.  It will kill 99.9% of the germs on your hands.

How many of you use sponges to do dishes or wipe the counters?  If you are one of those sponge addicts, be aware that every surface that has come in contact with that sponge is a bacteria infested minefield.  I’m not saying to give up the sponges that you faithfully use everyday.  I’m merely suggesting that you disinfect your sponge.  Toss in the dishwasher or, after wetting it, put it in the microwave for 2 minutes.  This will kill 99% of the bacteria.

Clorox and Lysol should be a staple in your home (and office).   Whether it’s the bottled spray cleaners or the convenient wipes, stock up!  Think of the last time you cleaned your house.  It looked wonderful when you were done and smelled fresh.  More than  likely there were at least a dozen areas in your home that were dirtier than a public restroom toilet (not sure why toilets always come up, but it gets the point across).  Don’t be alarmed.  80% of those that do housework forget about cleaning these surfaces.  If you’re worried about time, it only takes about 5 minutes to fix the problem.  Grab a Lysol or Clorox wipe (or dampen a cloth with either of the cleaners) and wipe anything that you, or your family, have frequent contact with.  This includes remote controls, phones (cell phones and landlines), all door knobs, faucets, computer keyboards, gaming equipment, banisters, etc.

Carry hand sanitizer in your purse, backpack or pocket and use it!   Some of the most bacteria and germ infested public areas and surfaces are restrooms (think of the door you have to touch to exit…how many people didn’t wash their hands upon leaving…), shopping cart handles, handling money, schools, fast food restaurant counters, the bottom of your purse (yes ladies, it’s true), the ATM, workplace desktops (don’t make me mention the toilet seat again), playgrounds, health clubs, etc.  There are hundreds more!  You can’t wipe off every surface you come in contact with out in public (a simple trip to the grocery store would take several days), but you can slather your hands with hand sanitizer.

With awareness and a little bit of effort, you can decrease your chances of getting the cold or flu as well as the severity.  Since taking all of those classes I will admit I’ve become slightly obsessive about sanitizing and disinfecting.  I still get sick usually twice a year and a few times I’m hit with symptoms.  However, that’s an improvement.  There was a time in my life where I was always getting sick with sinus infections, strep throat and bronchitis.  Now, I take precautions, I faithfully take vitamins everyday and if I feel like I’m getting sick, I hit up my supply of EmergenC.

With all that being said, stay healthy and stock up on vitamins, sanitizers, cleaners and more!

Well have I got a site for you.

Kongregate is a huge, community-driven website full of flash games. There are 1000’s of games on this site. Some of them are terrible, some of them are awesome.

What’s cool about this site is that a lot of times it’s just amateur game-makers putting their games out there for people to comment on and sometimes they come up with some beautiful, intricate ideas. There are also plenty of more professionally done games as well.

Here are some of my favorite games on the site:

Gemcraft

This is a fun tower defense game that can get really addictive. Combine “gems” as your weapons to stop the onslaught of “creeps” that are attacking your tower. Fun and surprisingly intricate. There is also a sequel (Well, technically a prequel).

Music Catch 2

Music Catch 2 is such a pretty game that it is almost soothing. The idea is that you catch the notes as they fall from the sky, building your score. Catch the yellow ones and your catcher grows in size; catch the red ones and it gets smaller. If you can find a flashing one then all the notes come to you. I could play this game for hours and not get bored. Very elegant.

Hedgehog Launch

The hedgehogs have gotten together and decided that it’s time they had their own space program and you are the lucky varmit they’ve chosen as their guinea pig (or hog, as it were). Launch yourself, collect coins from the air so that you can buy upgrades and find your way to space. The best I’ve been able to do is get to space in 4 days, though I’m told 3 days is possible.

These are just a few. Have fun and I apologize in advance for your future lack of productivity.

He is the epitome of integrity, love and hard work.  A sense of humor is definitely not lacking in this man.  There are many times he makes me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt.  Although there have been trials in the last 9 years (which we have conquered) his ability to make us laugh was ongoing and one of the things that helped us get through those tough times.  He has overcome so much and is truly a miracle several times over.  I am very proud of all he has accomplished and so proud to call him my husband.  I love you more than I could ever put into words, so you’ll  just have to settle on me showing you for the rest of our lives.