So my head doesn't explode

Random things which I feel the need to express; I clearly am not spending enough time with people or maybe not enough time with wine or at the gym?

1.  In regard to Pinterest:  and yes, I know it's free.  I don't want to see "related pins" from people I don't follow.  I can do that by clicking over on the left on a topic of my choosing.

2.  Fall.  People it is August.  Here in S. Fl. temps do not drop until Halloween (maybe) but really, Fall starts on September 23 this year.  I checked since I know I lack perspective given it's so HOT here.  Stop with the fall stuff, you're rushing.

3.  Someone needs to let me know when everyone is done with the ALS challenge.

4. If you know what has been going on in my life for the past month, please don't ask me why I don't look/seem like myself.  The fact that I am clean and clothed is enough.

5.  I like cooking way more than shopping for food to cook, planning what to cook or cleaning up after I cook.

6.  Why are some people comma happy?

7.  Why are beds so cozy if you can't stay in them all day?

8.  Hospital beds are not made for tall people.

9,  If I could choose a superpower it would be teleportation.

10.  Sleep helps me be nice.

11.  A nothing box would be awesome.  

7 Quick Takes

1.  It's Friday night and I imagine most folks are either out having loads of fun or getting ready to crash on the couch after a long week.  I was going to have fun by crashing on the couch with my husband, watching some Netflix.  I know, we are W I L D.  Alas, he is ill.  But not from my cooking or I would be sick and I'm not, I'm having tea and writing my quick takes.

2.  Before I started writing I checked out some of the posts at Conversion Diary where we link up for these takes.  Lots of pictures of pregnant women this week, just saying. It makes me feel a bit old, that's all.  But then I met someone with the same name as me! Seriously, not usual for me at all.  Her blog is Life Out of the Boat.  I like that name.  It's a win/win, great name and great blog name.

3.  My son is moving so our garage is full of his things.  Technically it's only half full since the car still fits in the garage.  My daughter and I were looking at all of the stuff and she said, "This is all he has?"  in a sort of "that's not very much" tone.  I said, "I guess so, unless there's more in the house we didn't see."  Turns out, it's not all his stuff, more is coming this weekend!

If I do enough squats, will I look like her?

4.  I asked my trainer today if he stayed up nights thinking of ways to torture me.  He says he does not but I find that more frightening than reassuring.  I think I did at least five different types of squats this afternoon.  And not just one set of each, multiple sets of twenty five.  I estimate I did two hundred total and I am not exaggerating for story telling purposes.

5.  My legs are shaking all over again just thinking about those squats.

6.  Okay, I'll be serious.  I am reading a great book, Evangelical Catholicism by George Weigel.  It is a great book about what Catholicism looks like now.  I've just finished part one.  I will have a series of posts about it over at New Evangelizers starting this Monday.

7.  Shameless self-promotion, my reflection on today's Gospel over at CatholicMom.  IMHO, those reflections, written each day by a different person are awesome.  And not just moms, everyone.  Really.  Go see.

Distracted

I think I've figured out something that might be helpful to a few people.  Or you might think it is so obvious and can't believe I didn't realize this already that you know longer think I am brilliant (cough, cough).  Either way, it's a risk I'm willing to take so here goes.
I realized the other day that I forget what I am doing because I don't focus on what I am doing but rather on the next thing I am going to do.  Case in point, we had dinner and my husband needs to go back to formation work in his man cave.  I want to write a post but I need to clean up from dinner.  So I bring the dinner dishes to the sink, thinking about my post, even though I see I need to clean up, decide to go to the bathroom and then come to my computer thinking I need to get started on my post.  Then I say to myself, "wait, did you clean up?"
I think if I just focused on the task at hand instead of the list in my head I would get things done more efficiently and not be so forgetful. So many of us walk around thinking about we have to do instead of focusing on what we are doing that we forget what we are supposed to be doing.  Is this making any sense here or do you now think I have ADD?  I don't, honest.  
I need to pay attention and be more mindful.  Doing one thing at a tine is not a bad thing.  Start and finish a task before going on to the next thing.  
Oh and by the way, I rarely clean up after dinner since I usually cook but until the comps are over my other half is relieved of household duties, except the trash.  

7 posts in 7 days, check us all out!

Sometimes I wonder...

why my blog has nothing new on it when I go look at it.  And then I remember, I need to post what is in my head so it appears on the blog.

If only there was a way to get it from my head to here without me sitting down and typing.

I've become that person

I've become that person.  You know, that person who forgets to respond to emails and phone calls and texts.  I like the rule, return communications within the day received.  I lived by it as much as possible, but the last few weeks have been an epic fail in this area.

I've become that person who writes the wrong date or time on the calendar and so I am in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I keep double-booking and over-booking myself, not allowing time to get things done like food shopping or laundry.

I've become that person who thinks running around being busy is productive and must mean I am important.

I've become that person I complain about; you know that one who says "I have so much to do" and you think, "really, too bad for you, I just sit around eating bonbons and watching soaps all day", while in real life you work full time and take care of your aging mother and toddler and teen.

I've become that person and she needs to go.

There she goes running rowing away....

No, that's not me, but that is the machine I use at the gym!

It's Wednesday

I have no idea how we have arrived here already and I broke my promise to myself to post regularly.  I have a few excuses but none of them are reasons so we'll dispense with the list.

St. Ignatius, from St. Peter Basilica 

Today is the feast day of St. Ignatius, one of my favorite saints.  He founded the Jesuits and now I have a favorite Jesuit Pope.  Well, we all have a Jesuit Pope, but Pope Francis may not be your favorite, which is fine, but I hope you lat least like him very much.

This morning I was actually a bit busy at work.  I had two people stop in and three phone calls.  Now it is after lunch and the phone is quite silent.

What is better than hearing from a friend you haven't heard from in a long time?  I am so happy when that happens and yesterday was the day for me.

I think I may be a Floridian.  I had lunch outside because of the breezes and it not being 90 outside, only 86.

Today will be workout #10 at Boot Camp.  As I drive into the parking lot I often wonder "what fresh hell is in store for me today?"  Sometimes I check the website to see the workout, but I usually have little to no understanding of what they are talking about and if I watch the demo video it's a bit freaky.

When I was a girl, I played jump rope all the time.  At school, outside in the street, at the park.  I am so embarrassed that I can barely do it any more.  Let's face it, when I go to boot camp there are many things I cannot do, but the other day jump rope was on the schedule and I thought, "great, no help needed to figure this out!"  !WRONG! Yesterday I did 10 jumps in a row!  Yea for me.

Just an FYI, these ramblings in no way reflect the state of my mind.

Weekend Random Review

A list of totally random things floating in my brain about life that I feel the need to share with you.

1.  I went to 7 boot camp classes and while I felt sore each and every day I never actually hurt myself.  Today, while adjusting the water temp in the shower, I pulled something in my back and it traveled up to my neck.  Really, how is that possible?
2.  While I have given up alcohol for a time, if you need an inexpensive very drinkable Cab Sav may I suggest Low Hanging Fruit?
3.  Since I was on retreat, I missed most of World Youth Day coverage.  If you did to, here's a great site to read and watch and find out what you missed, Salt&Light WYD Central.
4.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself on the retreat weekend and learned so much about the Eucharist, the table culture of Jesus' time and how important meals are in Luke's Gospel.  I'll post a overview soon.  I want to share with you a video the the retreat leader closed with to show us how great God is to us. (the video is in Portuguese, but words are not necessary to understand this)

5.  I posted every day this week and I liked it.  Going to try again this week.  

Snippets of the Day

• I went to Boot Camp again; much better than the last two days. 

•  I cooked this for dinner: Shrimp and Spaghetti Squash.  Most excellent!  Here's the recipe.

• We got caught in a light rain walking home from our friend's house tonight.  The usual banter occurred between daughter and father about the rain.  D says, "it's still raining" (after she sees us wet) F says, "wait, let me check the radar"  and then "nope, not raining."  My wet hair begs to differ.  This conversation, or some variation of it, occurs far too frequently around here.
• I am praying the prayer below for my St. Ignatius Novena which I began yesterday and will end on his feast day, July 31.

Holy Father Ignatius,  through the centuries millions must have known the influence of your inspiration. Our world today needs to find your secret of finding God everywhere, of putting Him first in our intention and endeavor, of desiring nothing but what He wants, of yearning for nothing but His love and grace. Teach us the freedom that comes from committing ourselves to God’s designs for a world laden with creative beauty yet marred by our violent ways. You knew that Christ was your companion at every step of life. You joined him in his ongoing work for the salvation of us all. Help us to find courage in his presence, to feel that he works with and in us. May God, through the power of your prayer give us peace and joy and grant us our most intimate requests in this Novena if they be for His greater glory and our greater good. Amen.

PS:  I hear thunder, better ask my husband to check the radar:)

Growing

I realized today that I am being called to grow in some very ironic ways in the next few months.  No big lightening bolts coming down from heaven, but it dawned on me that I am doing two things that if you knew me personally would sort of surprise you.  First, I am hosting a puppy shower. Why and what is that about?  Well, a friend of mine's son has juvenile diabetes and he is going to get a diabetic alert dog or DAD; hence the puppy shower.  And while dogs are not my favorite creatures (I prefer two legged) this is a great way to help my friend and teach people about juvenile diabetes and what a DAD can do for people. Plus, I love to throw parties!  And who can resist those faces?

This next area is way more of a stretch since I am fond of telling people that country music is against my religion.  (joking people, just joking).  Our vacation bible school is SonWest Roundup from Liguori Press.  It is a western walk through Exodus, complete with twangy music, western themed decor and cowboy hats.  I will have to say things like "Howdy" and "Yee Haw"; go to a rodeo; and sit on a bale of hay.  The things we do for love of Jesus.
Honestly, I'm in with the puppy shower 100%; the country music though is tough.  I can't grimace in front of all the kids while singing.  I need a desensitization plan which I am fairly certain will involve listening to country music.  It's just so twangy.

Blogging Advice

I have been blogging for quite some time, since February 20, 2007 to be exact.  And while I enjoy it I sometimes  often have blog envy, mainly in the areas of traffic and/or comments. So I look at various posts that give advice on how to drive traffic to my blog and use the ideas I like and that's that.
But today I read a great tip from Jennifer at Conversion Diary.  And it is not at all difficult or even revolutionary.  It is basically common sense, the tip is and I quote"BE YOURSELF.  Be wholly, unapologetically yourself."   Then she goes on to use a favorite quote from St. Catherine of Siena, so I am sold on this be myself idea.
I also read about the Pope's message for World Communications Day and am firmly convinced that we who blog, tweet, facebook, pin, tumbl, YouTube, and more as Catholics are needed.  If you read the news link from the Vatican you'll see that the Pope says so too, so even if you don't want to believe me, you should believe the Pope. We can be the voice of truth and reason, proclaiming the good news to those who read our posts, check our status, or eye our board.
Be yourself while you spread the Word.  And remember, you will never be bored working for the Lord!

Woman vs the Machine

I believe technology is a good thing.  I use it as often as possible and love to learn about new technology.  Today was a learn new thing day or maybe it was a re-learn moment, I'm still not sure.  I was asked to help our women's guild with their meeting since they didn't have a speaker.  No, they didn't ask me to speak; they want to show a video and thought I might have something, well, I didn't.  After much searching we settled on two Matthew Kelly youtube clips about The Mass.

I arrange to borrow a projector, and do a dry run.  Two hours later...I think I have it figured out.  First, I take this very heavy machine out of the case along with the cord and a cable with those pinpoint thingees on each end.  WOW!  I haven't seen one of those in a while but I move forward, connecting power cords and cables, turning on devices and viola, it works on the first try!  Well, no, if it did why would I be telling you this story?  I get the picture to project, but on 2/3 of it is on the wall, even though all of it is on the laptop screen.  So then I have the brilliant idea to have it only project and not be on the laptop, thinking it would work better that way.  Except, it doesn't it and I can't get out this because I can't see what I need to on the screen.  Plus, it's very blurry and I don't have on my glasses which I need for distance.  So, now I am not happy, it's too late to call the guy I borrowed the projector from,and my screen is black.  So I proceed to so the most important high tech trick I know.  I turn off both machines, say a prayer and start again.  I change the screen resolution numerous times, I toggle the FN and F5 key, I toggle the Windows key and P... not working   I'm annoyed, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty and need to go to the bathroom.  I take care of those issues and then back to the machines.  I download one thinking that maybe if I play it directly form my computer it will work.  No.  I'm desperate.  I change the input on the projector.  Nothing.  I look for a book in the projector case.  Nothing.  I start moving the cable to different inputs on the projector, It WORKS on input 2 with a full screen picture.  Now I can see Matthew Kelly in all his Aussie glory in the center of the screen.
And so woman wins over the machine.  Let's hope I win at the meeting!

Adjectives

I am getting tired of my usual adjectives such as great and wonderful.  Awesome sounds dated, cool shows my age, as does crack and bad.  So what else is there to say?  First, let me explain why I have this situation.  I am so happy at my new job, people ask me how things are going and I say, "great" "wonderful."  The lack of variety in my vocabulary is grating on me.  So like a good geek, I looked up the words in the thesaurus and here are some possible new adjectives:   admirable, best, dynamite, exceptional,  fab, fantastic, fine, first-rate, good, hellacious, marvelous, masterly, number one, out of sight, out of this world, out-and-out, perfect, positive, super-duper, terrific, transcendent, tremendous, unmitigated, unqualified, wonderful,  amazing, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, brilliant,  divine, enjoyable, excellent, fabulous, incredible, magnificent,  miraculous, outstanding, peachy, phenomenal, pleasant, pleasing, prime, remarkable, sensational, something else, staggering, startling, strange, stupendous, super, superb, surprising,  unheard-of, wondrous.
I do feel pretty amazing and think this might be the best job I have ever had.  I hope I am awe-inspiring while having a hellacious good time with everyone.  It seems like this excellent position came through divine intervention and it is a tremendous opportunity to work in such a pleasing environment.  The church itself is stupendous, its' beauty almost staggering, with phenomenal stained glass windows and the awe-inspiring Sacred Heart altar.  Our location is a prime real estate spot just a few minutes walk to the magnificent Atlantic ocean or the pleasant inter coastal. I can also walk to some superb restaurants with super service for lunch or grab a cup of coffee in the fine market next door. 
Think I'll stop now, as I am really annoying myself. I think I like miraculous, divine and wondrous. Let's see how those work out for the next few days.