back to work...and on to Christmas

It's been a busy couple weeks, I finally started back to work, which was both satisfying and tiring. It was very slow which is excellent as it allowed me to slowly ease back into working, and since my week starts on Wednesday but I got Christmas off I ended up only working 4 days this week...PERFECT!! I have to head in tomorrow for the next 5 days, but then I get 4 days off in January, so it should all work out fabulously!

As for Christmas, it was wonderful. Busy, but amazing. There is something so magical about Christmas; I get to see family I don't see the other 11 months of the year, nobody fights and nobody argues.

I love the holiday season! I do however hate the consumerism and materialism that are taking over the holiday, but I don't want to be a hypocrite, I definitely enjoy giving and receiving gifts. I think our presents were well received this year, everyone seemed to have smiles on their faces as they tore open their presents...

I of course was no exception...I was spoiled silly and received many presents, but took a photo of my favourites. In the photo you will see my cute "underdog" tee and strawberry shortcake (i.e. cake cakes) pj pants, my new tripod which should work with my Nikon and our digital cameras, a Jack Johnson DVD that includes 2 seperate concerts (In Between Dreams AND On & On), a Burts Bee's foot cream gift pack (which I asked for specifically and ended up with two of), TWO new pairs of leather gloves (that's what happens when my Dad goes shopping), a new hot pot (just trust me it makes yummy yummy food), Alfred Sung "Forever" perfume and new 16oz boxing gloves. Unfortunately, what you might not see in the picture is a new large bottle of tantric lovers essential oil; it's so small it got hidden between the boxing gloves and the burts bees.

I had a great Christmas...I hope yours was too!

another week...

I was hoping to return to work and life yesterday, but a quick trip to the doctor on tuesday crushed that dream!! Of course being told I have to sit at home and watch tv for another week isn't exactly punishment, but the boredom has set in at full tilt. I have crocheted a ton of hats and scarfs, wrapped nearly all the christmas presents, watched oodles of movies and spent hours on the computer in the last three weeks.

BUT my face works! And that's really what's important!

I'm going on my first official outting in a month this saturday. I debated whether I should attend, but I really want to go and I don't want to waste the money, so I'm going to try and stay warm but attend. Attend what you ask?

A Christmas Carol Boat Cruise! Some of J's friends go every year, and although it is not his thing; a boat AND christmas carols AND dancing definitley sounds like fun to me, so I'm going with his friends and leaving him at home. Should be fun fun fun, so long as I can find something cute but fun to wear!!

Busy Days

Things to do today
How can I possibly be so busy when I haven't worked in 2.5 weeks?

• Buy a present for my dad
• Buy a present for j
• Take the recycling out
• Buy Fire Logs
• Make Lunch (mmm I bought frozen dim sum, that was worth it)
• Clean off dining room table (if you've been to my house, you know that's a chore)
  
  This is the line that exists between the things I have already done (above) and the things I'm still going to try and do today!
  
  
• Iron j's clothes for the FW christmas party tommorow
• Test the water in the fish tanks
• Sew a button back onto j's shorts
• Paint a christmas door hanger for our nephew
• Crochet a scarf (work on it at least)
• Get Boxes (to wrap presents)
• Wrap presents
• Empty the Dishwasher
• Laundry
• Make dinner

Wow, I think I better stop here, its already 3:30 and I could end up spending the rest of the afternoon writing a list of things to do...and that really wouldn't accomplish anything would it?

yummy

Fresh Baked Pillsbury Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Covered in Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream
Drizzled with Strawberry and Caramel Sauce

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Tarot Spread: Relating

Now is the time to contribute patience without anxiety, all that is necessary of one's self is to be alert, calm and patient while the right moment, the right time, presents itself. Like the image on the card, it is a time to be passive and allow nature to run its course regardless if it takes the passing of many moons. I must not be sleepy or indifferent, but wait with ease and a peace of heart for the change that is to come.

When we take the time to be still and wait our inner self is given the time to grow and to develop. With time, the inner self will burst forward in this life.

My partner in life struggles to find the master within, to find the power to accept life as it is given to him without need to create change for his own benefit. "Together, [we] create an energy field that supports each individual in finding his or her own light."

Once the separation between the self and the mind is found, one has the freedom to behave only in ways that bring joy, fulfillment and happiness to ones life. Which makes the experience of life a work of art and great beauty. As we find ourselves we will find our freedom.


Society teaches us to be strong, to have a brave face and never expose our pain and hurt to the world around us. We become trapped within ourselves, where it becomes easier to remain frozen than endure the pain that will set us free.

Together we need to break out of our isolation and find it within ourselves to be free with each other. Together, with our energy we can help one another melt the layer that finds its way between us.

To make this happen, we must become like the water; relaxed, peaceful, passive and receptive. We must allow the world and our life around us to exist without wishing things were different or trying to change the natural state of being. This card assures us that now is the time to have faith that life will support us, that we can float on the currents of experience without worry or harm. Remember, water has no ego or desire to be extraordinary or unique and yet it holds both power and beauty, everything is occurring just as it was meant to.

Readings taken with OSHO ZEN TAROT CARDS
http://www.osho.com/tarot

procrastination fodder

"PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard."

I love this website, it is updated on Sundays and I find some sort of peace or solace in sharing in the secrets & fears of strangers. There are so many possibilities, so much to contemplate, so much to be thankful for and so much love to be shared.

In addition to the website there is a traveling exhibit featuring postcards, a post secret book was recently released and postcards have been featured in an "All-American Rejects" music video.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com

Bell's Palsy

I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy a week ago.

I woke up from a nap with J tuesday afternoon, and my face felt a little weird but since I had fallen asleep on his arm, I quickly attributed the odd sensation to a kink in my neck. I remember trying to eat some cereal, and as I slid the spoon out of my mouth, I felt the milk dribble out from between my lips, but I thought nothing of it.

On wednesday, my face still felt odd, I remember glancing in the mirror, but I failed notice anything disconcerting. Still certain I had a kink in my neck, I headed off to kick-boxing with the hope of loosening up all my joints and muscles. When I arrived home however, J noticed that my face looked a little "wonky".

I seemed to be sneering instead of smiling, the entire left side of my face was pretty much maintaining the status quo rather than participating in emotions and expressions.

And so, thursday morning brought me to the doctors office. Bell's Palsy is a partial and (usually) temporary paralysis of the face that is caused by a virus (they don't know which virus however) that attacks the nerves in the face. They think that it is associated with stress or a weakened immune system, but there is no real hard facts about where it comes from or why people get it. Since it is a viral issue, the remedy includes not leaving the house and taking large doses or steroids (to minimize swelling around the nerve).

The first few days were very upsetting and fairly devastating. I didn't want to look at myself and I didn't want anyone looking at me, and yet I didn't fully want to be alone. Thankfully there is no shortage of people, whom I love so much, who dropped in and out to give me hugs and love and comfort.

I have been feeling my mood increase over the last few days, and yesterday, I noticed some cheek bone movement on the left side of my face when I smiled. This is especially encouraging as my doctor told me she has never seen the condition degenerate, once it has begun to improve.

I'm still scheduled for another week and a half of recovery, surely I'll be stir-crazy by then, but so long as my face works, I promise not to complain...

My colour...

You are the color turquoise. A fairly tempermental person, you're either upset or tranquil most of the time. You can be as calm as your color. You're a mysterious person, yet somehow outgoing. You're balanced, simply put. You're somewhat bold. You're generous and sophisticated--but never ever snobby. You're lively and rich in personality and attitude.You're a beautiful person, aside from the fact that you're a perfectionist and painfully honest. But life is good to you!

What color are you?
brought to you by