WHAT'S NEW WEDNESDAY?

Mickey, I know how that goes!!!!! We have two other trips planned that we are going to be driving so we can plan something then. Carla  Ill let you know when that will be.

Aloha Karen and all of my OFF family,

Well, I am exactly where I need to be for the healing process to begin......at my spot looking out at the calm ocean in the early hours of a new day.  After my hectic time in Calif. (or maybe it's just the perception of hecticness in Calif.), Maui looks so good to me......so serene, peaceful and fragrant.  As you all know, this time of the morning (6:30 a.m.) is my favorite.  The sun has not yet popped up over Haleakela, but the top of the volcano is beginning to glow with the promise of a sunrise soon.  The ocean is calm, and the tour boats are beginning to chug into the harbor preparing to board the visitors on their morning runs out to Molokini to snorkel and "brunch."  It's as if I can breathe in the essence of LIFE from this scene...it is my daily magic, my fuel, my healing of mind, body and spirit.

Karen, I LOVED your reference today of loving ourselves and especially our little child inside first.  When I used to do therapy, I often would refer to the "child within" and how very precious and valuable she/he is.  She is still there....always.....seeking safety and love and validation.  We nourish our inner child, and we thrive as grown up children.  It's not easy..especially for women.  We are so good at taking care of everyone else...and we often get last dibs.  I am going to try to start giving my "little Karen" a big hug each morning and telling her how unique and special she is, and that I love her, flaws and all.  Thanks for that insight, Karen!

Yesterday I went back to my exercise place and did a half assed job of it.  My heart just wasn't in it yet for some reason, so I cut the session short and went shopping instead.  Bad Karen!  In the evening I treated myself to a big bowl of chicken chili with lots of cheese and onions, and it tasted great.  For dessert I had a sugarfree fudgcicle.....yum-o!  

OK, now I've spent some time with my favorite people....I'm heading for the shower and then who knows what.  I'm going to let the day tell me where it wants me to go.  Don't you love days like that!!  

Aloha nui loa,

KarenS

Good afternoon to everybody. I keep having to remind myself it is Wednesday.  Having Monday off throws you on what day it is. Not much going on for me.   It is really slow at my work.  They were suppose to run reports for us to mail out and they didn't run them, so now we have to wait another day to have somehing to do. It is still rainy looking here.   We are suppose to get rain but nothing major yet. Karen from Hawaii.  You make me want to see Maui again.  We stayed on the Kanapali side. We stayed at the Kanapali hotel. It was nice. We went on a catamaran one day to Lanai.  Went snorkeling, had lunch and toured the island, then came back and went swimming some more. Then headed back to Maui. Of course, I was a lot bigger then and was self conscience about my weight.   I finally found a muumuu (sp) that would fit me.  I felt like a big fat mama in my muumuu.    Well, better get going  Take care

Howdy, OFFers and Karen!! Love the snipit from Mom's book again.  I remember a psych class I took for some post-grad work I did that talked about the inner child and when I did OptiFast in the 80's the 'counselor' that lead our group talked alot about inner child and how to connect and nurture it.  Thanks for reminding me!!  Still busy with unpacking - will it EVER end!  DD made the comment last nite that we have already outgrown the house trying to combine the two households.  We will have one big ole garage sale in a couple of months after we've gone thru all the boxes!!  We are hoping to make enough for a garage door opener and shutters for the kitchen and dining room maybe.  She unpacked about 10 boxes and I did another 4 or 5 after work then we went and got the FINAL LOAD from the old place and set the garbage can on the curb for today.  Now....I have to find the kitchen counter tops - DD left ALOT of stuff sitting out for me to comb thru and toss or keep.  The scale gods are still being kind to me - if I've done the math right, I am 142 down total - 90 since surgery in September 06....and ONLY 58 pounds from MY goal......WOOHOO!!!  My size 16's are hanging off of me......and someone made a comment yesterday that I was looking skinny.....but I told y'all that already, didn't I?  Sorry I'm repeating myself.....but I can't remember ever being called SKINNY!!!!!  Safe travels to all our travelers out there on the road; prayers for all who need 'em........good wishes and hugs to the newbies coming up.......hugs to those who need 'em too!!!!  That is a TEXAS SIZE {{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}                              

Karen,  Your posting is very much appreciated. You are an excellent writer and keep me well informed. Thank you for your hard work. I work with people with developmental disabilities. For many years I was the manager of a group home which was HOME to 12 people. No longer wanting the stress of a managerial position, I am classified as a Community Support Staff. It is part-time (perfect) and I work with an individual to become integrated in the community. It is my job to enhance her basic life skills.  As soon as the paperwork is completed for the grant, she and I will begin cooking together.  My son-in-law has been tested and retested by several Cardiologists.  They "think" his problem is an electrical problem which will require an electric jolt to his heart.  He sees another specialist next week. Scarey, doesn't begin to describe our fears. Today is 1/2 off day at our Salvation Army.  The store is not organized and quite dirty. Looking at my scant wardrobe, I decided to take a gander.  I couldn't force myself to enter their dressing room - so very dirty.  I picked up 6 pair of shorts and 6 tops for under $15.00. They went in the washer as soon as I returned home.  When Tom got home I gave him a fashion show. A couple of things are too small - that's okay, soon they will fit me. What an experience - not very good but now I have some clothes. Melanie decided to run laps at gymnastics today. The little imp runs like the wind and I kept up with her. (thanks to WLS) She didn't stay on the track, but ran around the gym perimeter.  Goodness, it was an obstacle course.  We ran over the bungie course, over and under the balance beams, took a leap into some sort of foam pit, stopped for a few hops on the trampoline , climbed the ladders <- her not me, crawled through the tunnels, and did it all over again.  Phew! It was fun. Not bad for a 59 year old Granny.

Hi Karen and everyone: Boy, it's late and I'm just starting at work, and I'm really tired. I had physical therapy this morning on my knee. Carmen was my therapist a couple years ago when I was having knee pain, and she's a hoot. I was heavier then, just a year out from surgery, so when I came in last week and saw her, I said, "Boy, I'm skinnier and you're bigger." (She's eight months pregnant.) She's a little thing really, just about 5 feet tall and actually not very big. But we were talking about the problems of being heavy and how it affects how you walk, etc., and how now she understands.  Anyway, after PT, I went to the credit union because yesterday when I got home my 401K loan check had arrived so I had to put it in the bank.  So now I have the money for my repairs. So overnight I made the decision to go with the Carrier furnace/a-c ... it is the best price; I called the guy back and talked to the woman in the office because I had some questions before we proceed: such as, taking off the air cleaner (can't get up to the attic often to clean the filter) and making sure they will be reliable on servicing the stuff because they didn't show up the first time I called. I think they will probably bend over backward to provide me service because of that. I also made an appointment for next Monday to have my car repairs done. It is supposed to cost $700 (worst case scenario) but I have a 15 percent off coupon, plus I had bought a lifetime muffler from them a few years back that fell off and they weren't open to repair it, so I had to spend money elsewhere, so they said they would figure that in and give me something off.   After the credit union, I did spend a little bit of money at Kohls; my coffee maker has been failing ... the little plastic thing through which the coffee drips has fallen off; I can still brew coffee but have to put the plastic thingie up and then the pot to hold it up. Once I move the pot away, the plastic thingie falls away. So Kohls had a thermal carafe pot (my preference) on sale, so I bought that, plus a back massager mat (I have had one in the past and needed a new one; I wear them out). Don't want to spend too much money, but tomorrow is payday and I did get some overtime last week, and will get double time for working Monday, so I have some leeway with the paycheck.  Anyway, I should look to see if there's any work to do. I'm so tired and my knee hurts so much. Carmen really stretched it.  As to loving my inner child, I guess I have problems loving myself, even back then. It's one of the reasons I probably have always stuffed myself with food. I was a fat little kid, had a lisp and clunky brown orthotic shoes and a lot of kids made fun of me, so there wasn't much that I could love about myself. I guess if it wasn't for Sister Madonna Marie, I wouldn't have known that I could be a good writer and that there was something good inside of me. She brought a lot out of me; she got me help for my lisp. To this day, I still have problems with self-esteem issues; I think we all do. I need people to tell me that I do good, that I am good. I don't always even believe it. I always think I'm going to screw something up along the way.  Well, have a good night. I should go to work. 

Hi, Karen and everyone.  Had a busy day today.  I got off my butt and hauled (felt like it -- literally) myself around the neighborhood for a five mile walk this a.m. before it warmed up too much.  After lunch, Ron and I went grocery shopping.  His size 32 summer shorts arrived from Cabelas and they fit nicely.  They do have a little elastic on the sides of the waistband -- but they're not stretched to the max like he thought they'd be.  He's going through the whole body image thing of seeing himself as much larger than he is.  He has his six month follow-up appt. on Monday.  He's 3 lbs. away from his personal goal.  (Darn, men lose so much faster than women -- it's not fair.    But, I'm so proud of how he's adjusted to this new lifestyle that we have.  So many different things going on with different members of OFF.  Lots of changes happening.  Some happy, some not so happy.  Life takes work.  I think when I was younger I didn't see that but now I do.  Getting old isn't for sissy's.   I'm sending cyber {{{hugs}}} to those that need them.  Come to think of it, we all could use a hug, couldn't we?  No matter where we are in life's journey.   Let's have a group cyber {{{hug}}}! ! I appreciate all of you.   Cindy P.

I love the part about "getting old isn't for sissy's"!!!  I'm putting that one in my list of favorite quotes. {{{{{HUG}}}}}} a BIG ole Texas size hug right back at you!!!  

what a hot muggy day here! I slept in *tries hard to look ashamed*       ..no..no ..no...noo..Im letting my inner child rest, ya, thats it *s*

So today, I got busy and  cleaned both bathrooms then the kitchen...I blanched a humungous pile of fresh asparagus to freeze for the winter...JB cuts it daily out back where it grows wild along the creek.

Then I drove up to the Falls and took mother three continares of homemade potato salad...one for her friend, Ginny with no onions...one for her friend Mae, with onions and one larger one for mother..loaded...took her reading material and picked up the photo and the verse that she wants me to put into the local paper on the anniversary of my dad's death, June 8th...its almost hard to beleive that he is gone now 12 years!

From there I drove to the manicurist and got my nails done then drove to the mall to buy a skirt that I fell in love with 2 weeks ago...baby blue slinky fabric, past my ankles and gored s=inserts all around the bottom...kind of a swingy sort of skitrt..Id fallen in love with it several weeks ago but was busy collecting donations for our dinner/auction and meant to come back for it...sadly..it had been bought the day before *wails*  Guess I wasnt meant to have it right now...they didnt have anymore XL...the LG was too tight.

From there, I went to buy the necessities of the bathroom, toilet tissue, kleenex, some fresh makeup, perfume, Bowel Buddies...important stuff like that *s*. The on to the Bulk Barn for nuts and protein powder then home.

No one was home when I got there so I heated some homemade chili and freshened up and then drove into the city to attend a "Passion Project"..an interaction presentation basxed on the same idea as The Secret...clarifying your desires so that you can ficus clearly on them to achieve anything you want in life. It was a very interesting concpet and I was able to articulate just what it is that I truly want.  It seems so simple once youve done it. I also bought the book. Amazingly, I had three separate ladies come up to me to introduce themselves saying that they had either heard of me or met me briefly at another function....I made some amazing contacts as well, including the workshop facilitator....one can never have too many friends! *s*

By the time that I got home, Derek was on his way out and JB was still at Dannys..they work later now that they finally have electricity in the barn. So here I sit after 11pm..all alone!  Im still getting teased alot by the "young'uns who were with me Sunday at dinner when I got hit on twice by the restauarant owner...lol....silly JB didnt find it amusing at all *grins*

Nancy B

 

 

Karen dear....it is tough to love yourself unconditionally when I screw up so often....but I have been very fortunate to have been deeply loved all my life....my parents were amazing parents in that department.....they made us all feel like we hung the moon....but owed a debt of gratitude to the world in general. One of the things my Mother said to me many times was "do a good turn everyday...and don't tell anyone about it....if anyone finds out about it ...it doesn't count. That has become something I find GREAT pleasure in doing now. I believe in love. I think it is the most important thing in the world...not just self love.....but love of your fellow man, love of God, love of the world around you, love of difficult people etc. I know most of you have either read or heard [at many many weddings] 1 Corinthians 13, it is one of my favorite verses. This is the version I like. I may speak in different languages..of people or of angels, but if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prohency, I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge and faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love. Love is patient and kind, Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes and always remains strong. Love never ends. I also think it comes down to something so simple that one day appeared on my refrigerator and I have never removed it. I don't know who put it there. It is the only thing I allow on my refrigerator. GIVE LOVE.....GET LOVE.   My my I have certainly rambled on and on. We went to our final Foccus couple training tonight. What a lovely bunch of people. We will work as facilitators for engaged couples planning to marry. I know this is done in many churches, not just the Catholic church. I am excited and feel quite priviledged to be doing this. Maybe that is why I rambled on so much about love tonight. It was a lovely day in Madison today. My husband and I went over to a vacant listing of mine and we weeded and trimmed. The lawn care guy just mows and that is it. It was fun to be working outside. My sweet couple is living our East now and can't do it.. I showed some houses to another couple. What fun it is to work with these young people striving to make their dreams come true.. The rest of my day was filled with paperwork and pictures.....and oh yes, I stopped by at lunch time and got lots of kisses from my two grandsons.....oooh that sweet delicious baby skin keeps me going all day. Hope your day was beautiful. Hugs, Marti