Monday, December 27, 2010

If you can't stand for something.....

My daughter and I did our traditional Christmas trek to the movies the other day, and a preview of one of the movies had an actor singing the old song "If you can't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Well, it's not a song, but you get it.
It got me thinking. Yes, right in the middle of the theater, that I don't think I stand up to anything that well. You see, I get really wishy-washy sometimes. I think it's because I would worry how I was labeled. There are things I don't like. I don't like the idea of people hating people that are different, or homophobia, or people who think that all Christians are right-winged conservatives or that all people who wear turbanes are going to blow up a plane (which, BTW, a lot of people who wear turbanes are Seik, not Muslim, at least in my world, so a little education goes a long way). However, I can understand why people freak out about all those things. And that is where I have to walk the line.
My daughter called me a homophobe one day (or implied it) because I told her that I didn't accept homosexuality. Actually, it was more that I said that I feel there are things in our lives that are developmental issues more than genetic tendencies. It didn't mean that if someone was, I was going to convert them or condemn them. I will never try to sway someone another way. It's impossible for me to think that, but I still have my thoughts. I still have my opinions. I'm sitting here trying to figure out why I'm even bringing this up. I guess it's because I feel I don't have a steady and concrete foundation in what I accept or don't accept. I have a friend who has really screwed up in her life. She has done things (and still does) I don't agree with. Can I accept what she does? No. Can I accept her? Yes. Because she's my friend. Does she know how I feel? AB.SO.LUTE.LY!!
However, I sometimes feel that my boundaries, when accepting the friendship, can be shaky. In my head, I'm letting her know it's alright. But I think that's almost the mind of a child. As an adult, I don't have my parents telling me to not hang out with that kid because she's bad news. But I DO have my boundaries by saying that she's my friend, yet I don't condone what she does in her life. She knows how I feel. She expects a little nudge when she sees me. She also knows what she's doing. So. I guess because of that, and because I do value my friendship with her, I do know my boundaries. I just have to show people where I stand with them. Now if I could JUST convince my daughter..... :D

Congrats go out to Jim and Cora on a step closer to having their girl home! Contractions are getting closer together!!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Wishes

Last night, after my daughter's and my Christmas Eve movie watching with snacks (something new this year, but it was fun), I ended up on this computer taking my facebook profile of which Pooh character I was. I wasn't too surprised to find I was Eeyore. It was actually really refreshing to find that I was an avid couch potato and tv watcher, and all the worrying I have for my kid finds that it's because she's very similar to me. As much as we love to play outside, we balance it out well with computers and couches and tvs.
My Christmas wish this year is to be less freaked out about my daughter's love of all things computer. I'm finding it's her outlet. She is working hard at school, so she will have the outlet, along with me dragging her outdoors. :D

May you all have a wonderful Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Ultimate Choice*



Choices. This world is full of them. What kind of bread should I get? The types of grain and baking method are endless in this country! We have abundance like crazy, and don't even know what to do with it! But bread's not my topic. My topic is around this season. What this season means to me. My faith in the last couple years has, I wouldn't say wavered, but I definitely am not the faithful churchgoer as I used to be. I could use an excuse that church doesn't make me anymore Christian than I already am, but I won't, because to me that's an EXCELLENT EXCUSE!! Nope. I've just been lazy. Lazy in a lot of things in my life. I guess you could say that I've taken a break from doing just about everything. But I digress. I'll save the bad vibes for another time.
Back to the topic. Today, I am hitting on a topic that makes me point to the disclaimer above and has me remind you of it before you begin reading anymore. Go on, Read it! THANKS! :D
Okay...choices. Yes. Lots of them. Yup. Did you know I'm pro-choice? I am. I believe that, even though God has a plan for all of us, I am still okay with someone to choose abortion for themselves. He did give us free will. And, like a good parent, he let's us make mistakes and face choices that suck. I had that choice once. I chose to raise her. But I still deliberated. As a woman, we get that decision. But guess what? The Ultimate Choice I'm talking about today was not made by a woman, but a man. Or, in this day in age, a boy. Probably not more than 16-18 years old, yet in those days, he was a man. His girlfriend, or should I say, betrothed/wife, was only about 12-14 years old. His betrothed, Mary was a very faithful Jewish girl who had the most extraordinary faith in God! So faithful that He chooses her to carry the Chosen One. The one that will save all people. The one that God promised since Adam and Eve ate the apple. We don't hear much about her deliberations in the bible except for it to say that she tells the angel (and I always forget if it's Gabe or Mike, or do they even mention it?) that it's impossible to be with child because she hasn't been with her husband. That's how faithful she is. She accepts it, goes and visits her cousin, who is also carrying John, who will become a wild man for Jesus, and looks forward to the birth of her baby. Need I mention that the cousin lives far away, and Mary was not yet showing when she went to visit? Back then, visiting cousins was a seasonal affair. She probably stayed with Elizabeth for a few months. Won't she have quite the Christmas present to bring home, huh?
So Mary, who again, is honored beyond all comprehension to be carrying the Messiah, comes home. Now let's picture this: Cousin Zechariah brings Mary home. Mary no longer has a teenage body. She's full in the belly. She didn't eat too much hummus and pita bread. She has a BABY in there. I always wonder if she sits and comprehends what people will think, like we do? Needless to say, people, including her immediate family, are shocked and surprised. They take her aside demanding the truth of how she got this way! She tells the Truth. She goes to her betrothed and tells him the Truth. The Truth to him is so far fetched that he can scarcely believe it! He faces immense betrayal. He did feel that. He was honorable to the law, and the law back then was that women did not cheat on their husbands. They were stoned for that sort of thing. STONED! This involves rocks, not grass. Now THIS is where it gets good!!!

Let me say something quick. Do you ever hear things that make you so mad or upset that you want to seek revenge or get ticked off right away? I'm raising my hand here. It usually takes someone else to calm me down and justify something to me instead of going and fulfilling the judgment through yelling, or whatever.
So, Joe makes the decision, because he loves his wife enough to not have her stoned to death.(back then, betrothals were marriage, and they lasted a long time, and sex was when the betrothal ended and the marriage began, so they were married, it was just not consummated). You know what happened? I'm going to just put up the passage because I couldn't say it better myself: From Matthew 119 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yeta]">[a] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,b]">[b] because he will save his people from their sins.”
WHY DO I FIND THIS SO SPECTACULAR????? A couple things.
1) The man made the choice. As independent and liberal as I can be, I always love the man making the right decision. I appreciate that. He didn't make the divorce choice to dishonor her. He didn't want her killed. She was going to have the lesser of 2 evils. Remember, this was when women were not esteemed as they are now.
2) God didn't make THE MOVE until Joseph made THE CHOICE. That. Speaks. Volumes.

This goes back to God giving us the choices that we have. He was being Joseph's parent in letting him make a very adult decision that he would never be ready to make, and then he said "SURPRISE!" Believe your wife, because she has found favor with Me (see Luke 1:29-31).

I tend to ponder if Joseph made the other choice, what would have God done? Would He still come down and tell Joseph the Truth, or would Joseph's decision come to fruition? My heart aches thinking of the latter. Yet God made a decision and let His child Joseph make a CHOICE that, although he was still intervened in keeping Mary as his wife, he made the choice to keep her alive. Alive so she would still be able to bear a Son that came into this world to do the works of His Father, which also meant dying on a mere cross so that I can see Him in heaven someday.

Joseph divorcing Mary would not have changed the outcome of a baby being born. But would Jesus being raised without a human father made Him different? I don't know. I'm glad I don't have to know that. However, I know that he would have still served the purpose that was meant by God.

To my friends who are believers in Christ, I hope that you enjoyed a little more in-depth of my human perspective of Jesus' birth. And to my friends who are not believers, none of us deserve the love that we have the choice to receive, yet He loves us so much that He wants us to.

So, my thanks goes out to God for giving Mary an honorable and loving husband who made the decision to keep her from harm.

Merry Christmas!


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Family Christmas....NOT!


I tend to be a sad sort on my blogs. I think that's part of having a journal. I'm letting the world see what I see through a haze of sadness, happiness, excitement, etc. Since it's the holiday season, I'm one of the many that have stress that's really not necessary. It's really the season to reflect on the birth of the Saviour, and not whether I should buy this or that for someone.
I think it's also fair to say that I miss my family. I happen to be close distance to my family. I only live 3 miles away from my brother and parents. But the fact that we all have our own lives makes it hard to see each other. My sister lives a lot farther away. Roughly 800 miles, I believe. I don't miss her, but I miss what we had many years ago. When we say goodbye to each other, I don't cry because I will miss her. I cry because I'm no longer a sister to her in the sense that we were once. I do have that with my brother, and I'm so glad for that. He and I can still drink a glass of wine and banter and yell and tell each other we love each other at the end. To have lost a sibling due to growing up and growing apart makes me sad. To have tried a couple times to right the situation to no avail makes me feel I succeeded in trying. To see no change in the situation makes me angry to the point of despair.
I will never get my sister back. Whatever demons she's had to fight are hers to fight. All I can do is pray and love her, even though I hate her in so many ways. You may think that's harsh to say I hate her, but I do. I hate that she has become someone so bitter that I have to cut ties in order to keep myself and my family emotionally sane. However, I don't sound emotionally sane, do I? Can someone be when they feel this way? How do my parents cope with this rift between us? Are they as empathetic as I, or do they just let it ride and hope that we will become friends again?
Whatever the future brings, I know in my heart that I love my sister. I love the girl that worked so hard to keep it together when she didn't have the guidance she needed to do so. I love the young woman that felt abandoned when all of her family moved away while she was in college. I love the woman that has accomplished so much, and gained the respect of so many. But I hate the circumstances that have made her bitter and poisonous to me and those around me.
I have worked so hard to change the way I molded to some of my unfortunate circumstances. I can't change her, but I can't expose myself and my child to her when she won't change herself. I no longer can be the fixer that I tried so hard to be. At the age of 37, I am too tired to do that anymore. Now I will pray and hope that God takes away the hate. That's all I can do. Tomorrow, I hope I have given it up, so I don't feel this heaviness that I carry.

I do wish you all a Merry Christmas, and for Jim and Cora, many prayers for gifts from China.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Hotness



I went to Bainbridge Island this weekend for a Colin Firth Marathon. As usual, I had a good time with Carol. She's a sweetie pie. I enjoyed it.

I got to thinking as I was sitting and waiting for the ferry on Friday after work and seeing the man of my dreams running to the ferry that I need to do something. Now, once in my lifetime, I was pretty bold and was able to ask people out or go looking for them (is that stalking?) just to check them out or talk to them. Anyway, I haven't done that in a while. Since I've been in pursuit of more PLATONIC male companionship, I've been wanting to pursue some males. Guess what I did? After I got on the ferry, I checked to see if he was on it. He must have been getting the Bremerton Ferry. Oh well.

You may be wondering why I'm being random. Isn't that what this blog is for? I post my thoughts more than what's going on in my life. My life is great. Normal problems, yet at the same time, more happiness than not. Okay, back to my point. I have a hard time approaching guys because they think that I'm wanting something more than a casual friendship. I had a guy friend once say that men and women can't have totally platonic friendships with each other because there is sexual tension. True, because, did I mention that ferry guy was hotness? But we are adults who need to think with the right head and figure out that we don't need that. I would like casual conversation. I think that's what builds relationships. Is there such a thing between a man and woman-casual convo and building relationships?
I'm proud of myself that I actually went to see if he was on the ferry. A while back, I didn't do that stuff anymore. But now I know what I want. I want male companionship in a platonic way because I want to be a person who can have a casual friendship w/ anyone. I want to be able to go to a movie with a guy without it being called a date. There is something to be said about companionship with another of the opposite sex. It's nice to have a hand to hold. To get another opinion, one that a girl wouldn't think of. Mud and Poetry by Tyler Blanski....must read.

<-----------------------------This was ferry guy

Friday, December 10, 2010

IIIIIIIIII'm I'm still alive....



Honestly, I don't care how bad smoking's for you. It's pics like these that make me want to start again! --------------------------------------->



Hi! Yes, I'm still here. Life has been busy. I wrote a whole slew of notes that I wanted to blog about, and for the life of me I don't remember what they are! Oh well. Going over to Bainbridge Island today for a girls weekend w/ a friend to watch Colin Firth movies. "The King's Speech" was already s'posed to be out, so we were going to go see that along w/ our CF marathon, but NOOOOOOoooo...they decided to postpone. Speaking of movies w/ Brits, HOW GREAT WAS HP????????
Okay, need to get ready for work and the weekend. Love to all!!!

P.S. Jim and Cora, I'm praying for you that your waiting game is soon over. Those damn long labors. Too bad this kind doesn't come w/ an epidural.

Friday, November 19, 2010

To Jim and Cora


I found this on one of the blogs I like, and she got it at PostSecret. Thought of you. It was perfect, just like all this timing is going to be perfect. :D

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Chivalry


Okay, so guess what.....I have found that there's still chivalry in this world. It's in the form of homeless men. I was at the bus stop on my way to Seattle when I was standing there and a guy gave me his seat. I kept telling him I was fine, but he wouldn't hear of it. One of the other guys there, as I was pulling out my money for the bus, gave me a bus transfer. When we got on the bus, I went to sit in the back, and a family of five got on a couple stops later. They were parents and 3 pretty little girls. One of them was sitting by me, and she scooted away from me, and I looked at her and asked her if I was crowding her. She was brutally honest and from then on, I had a fun conversation with a 7, 8, and 9 year old. The parents were nice, too. This was the picture of a happy family who was riding to Seattle to have breakfast and spend time together without running around doing Saturday busy-work. It was refreshing to see, and I was happy all day.
Even when I pissed off the Hot Topic worker when I told her that HT made a mistake by being a sell-out with the likes of Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, I wasn't fazed.
Yes, it was a great day walking around Seattle with my friend Carol who is willing to cross the water on the the ferry for 5 hours of window shopping with me. When takes her about that to take the round trip. Thanks friend!!

I hope to remember this post, or be reminded of it when I have a really shitty day and post an angry one. I really had fun. Even when I went to Fred Meyer and had a guy behind me in Customer Service get irritated that my request was taking so long. I handled it well. I told him that the guy was helping me with something and that if he felt so inclined, he could test customer service guy's multi-tasking skills by being helped while I was being helped (I said that much more politely than I said it here). Chivalry....right....HAHAHAHA!!!!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Possibilities

Hi!
I'm back. Thanks for the advice about the fall activities!

Wanted to tell everyone that I'm looking for day jobs. I know the economy is saturated with people who are more experienced than me, but I hope they see that, since I'm trying to stay in the company, they will see that I can be valuable.

It would be organizing the lives of 2 docs who probably can be very ADD. My org skills suck to a point, but I think I can manage, since I'll have my own desk.

Oh, the insecurity of it all!!

Jim and Cora, I hope that you've heard something. Congrats again!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Winter Blues

It's that time of year again, when it starts getting chilly and all I want to do is be on my computer when I'm not at work.
Let me hear some fun fall and winter things you like to do!! Since I only have a couple followers on here, let me know what you like to do and ask your friends!!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010



You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismayed. Be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

Passage from Shakespeare's Tempest

I just liked this enough to post it (and Colin Firth makes me think of Shakespeare...or vice versa). :D

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Living in the Bubble

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. -Albert Pine


Hi! I heard this last night on rerun episode of Criminal Minds, and decided that I want to be late getting out the door this morning and elaborate.

For the past year, I feel I have been living in a bubble of working and coming home. I like to sit in front of my computer, and I realized I haven't been doing much outside of that. I have a job interview tomorrow for a job that defies shift work (aka, 8-4:30, Mon-Fri). I have decided that if I get it, I'm going to find a volunteer position on the weekends. I used to do that stuff all the time, and then got out of it for some reason. Understand that I love what I do now, and I will miss it terribly, but I want the opportunity to be home on the weekend. I have 2 years left with my daughter before she leaves the nest. I want to set an example by showing her the importance of volunteerism, and just having fun on the weekends (mostly, if I'm not slipping off to Carol's on the Peninsula)!

On that note, speaking of changing lives, Congratulations to Jim and Cora, who get to have their lives changed, and who get to change a little life! I'm so happy for you! There are some great things that ARE made in China! ;)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Made in China

So, thanks to my dear friend Carol, who gave me the thought, I have decided to limit my consumption of material that is made in China. However, I did pass up an awesome pair of boots from The Avenue because of it, but because my calves are really thick, I probably will have to buy them in order to have a pair of hot boots.
Understand that I haven't taken this lightly. It's something that I have been thinking about for quite a while. My reasons are:

1) Greed. From what I have heard from people who have real-estate there, many inhabitants are needing to work in factories instead of the villages that they used to sustain through means of agriculture, etc in order to make ends meet. And PLEASE spare me any argument that this greed doesn't pertain to us as American consumers-hence the person I know who has real-estate is American and has established condos for the factory workers which happen to take away farms that used to sustain the village.
2) Toxicity. The toxicity levels of paint is higher in China made stuff, Chinese soil is tainted and polluted due to all the factory pollution, which is also causing cancer in inhabitants.
3) Useless cheap stuff. Having taken a trip to San Francisco's Chinatown, I was floored to see all the useless, overbought stuff that some of the markets carried. It was all from China, and it was like walking into the dollar store. This wasn't stuff from China for purpose of traditional Chinese use such as religious or traditional cultural stuff. It was stuff that you'd see at, that's right, the Dollar store.
4) Overconsumption: We as Americans seem to overconsume, and a lot of that is by shopping in places that have cheap stuff. Did you know Nike has a Chinese factory? I have a tough time w/ that. Those Air Jordans are a little too much for being made there. And don't EVEN get me started about the "W" word, which is full of so much shit. Did you know that the life expectancy of W--mart stuff is 6 months? And what the f--k is W------ doing in China, anyway????? It is. GAHHHH!!

Writing this makes me frustrated.

Oh, and because just about 90% of it is made in China, my Twilight paraphernalia doesn't count. There's only so much sacrifice I can take right now.

JUST AN UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS JIM AND CORA!!!!!!!

Friday, September 24, 2010

ANYONE??????

LOL!! I think I'm desperate. I want to go to a movie....with a guy....Jim, Cora, Carol---the only 3 people who even read this, send a guy my way. Must live in the Seattle area. I would prefer at least 5'10, but not too picky, and has a decent sense of humor. Not one who is 35-40 and still talks about his college days. I had a client who did that the other night. ICK!!

I FB'd a guy from high school who I really always liked, and told him to call me if he ever came to Seattle. He didn't respond. I was so sad. At least he didn't unfriend me. LOL!!
You probably think I'm drunk. Nope. This is just Gretchen. :D

TTYL!

PS. I'm reading "Women with Attention Deficit Disorder". I think the author was spying on me when she wrote it. It's so much like me! Who knew?

Monday, September 20, 2010

Passing the test

I'm looking at a job that doesn't involve shift work, and so I had to go take the skills test today, which I passed by the skin of my teeth!! I go interview on Wednesday the 29, so keep me in your thoughts, please.

Which brings me to my question...Oh! You didn't know I had one? HA! Anyway, a friend of mine who works there told me that a couple people we know applied, and one didn't pass the test, and the other wasn't even called in. These people have been unemployed for a year and even more for one of them. I know that you can sit and tell me that I had the skills to pass that test, but what makes me, a person who is already gainfully employed, who, if it wasn't for the fact that I have to have different shifts all the time would NEVER consider leaving where I work, have more gain to this position than my fellow counterparts?

That's all! Love hearing from you!
Need coloring books? Go to Jim's blog at Color Me Home here on blogger!

Cheers!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

September 11

I know that all of us will never forget where we were when the planes hit the towers. What blows me away is that 9 years later, I get startled by a picture of that stuff.
I'm tired tonight, and I can't go into detail, but I still get a lurch in my chest when I see pics of the towers burning.

I happened to be listening to a song that I love, which will be posted below, and the video has the WTC in it because it was a song from 1998. Made me a little teary.
Anyway. Working on some issues. I'm finding now that I've been working on my trust issues, underneath that is my pride issues. UGH!!!

Love to all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMWfVU1Dxvs

Friday, September 3, 2010

OH GOD THE ANGST!!!

You know what my gift used to be? Remembering things. Names, dates, appointments, phone numbers. All gone. This morning, if I had looked at my calendar BEFORE I walked out the door, we would have not missed my daughter's counseling appointment that the counselor EXCLUSIVELY only came in today for. I realized it at 11. The time we were supposed to be there. 24 miles away.
I know that normal people feel bad and apologize profusely and say "charge me since we missed" etc. What do I do? I cry, throw a fit, still tell her to charge me, then don't get over it for the rest of the day.
Why IS that??

Mindset...that's the book I'm reading right now. I forget who it's from, but I probably will answer my own question if I continue to read it since it's psychobabble.

Any suggestions on how to organize my life a little/remember things?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Well, I'll be damned.....

I bet you're thinking I gave up on this blog! Hi everyone! I'm still here. Just doing other things of utter importance. Will be going to Cali on Sunday for 9 days. Quite excited! Sort of. Doing it on a shoestring, so we'll see.

So, since my last blog, things have been going pretty well. Daughter and I talk more about things, and she's really enlightened me about her depression that she seems to be doing better with. We're really fortunate to have a set of Godparents that really encourage her, and she's been really open with them about that stuff. If you recall my other blog, she had a friend who killed himself, and her Godparents knew him from gymnastics. Because of that, they started talking one night and that's when Marley revealed to them her troubles (of course they knew about the depression, but they were touched that she was able to talk to them about it).

I find that I'm really a spaz. I have 1000 things go through my head and I voice them, and I find that it's exasperating for the people around me. Somehow I need to turn that off.
Please give me pointers on how the shut the hell up!!!

Well, it's great to chat w/ you! Hope all is well. Shout out to Jim and Cora!!

Oh, reading for the month or 2 between posts: I'm starting Harry Potter. I'll let you know if I continue the books. We've had these books for 11 years. I know. I'm a little behind!

:D

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Hey Now


I was looking up a boy that my daughter knew who killed himself this past March. When he died, she never said much about it and just went about her business. It wasn't until tonight that I found out that they had been really good friends and that she missed him terribly.
I don't see my kid cry much, but she finally admitted to me about missing this boy. She has been fighting depression this past couple years, and I have been fighting to not be such an anxious control freak and just try to support her instead of control her.
Anyway, I digress. I looked up someone's livejournal entry about his death, and happened to notice that my daughter had commented on it (I still amaze myself that I knew it was her handle), so then I decided to check out her blog. It was pretty cool, and I have to say that I have a very talented and emotionally charged daughter who has a lot of talent and things to say.......just not to her mother. I kind of feel like a voyeur, but I feel that this is how I will know her in some respects. We all say that we portray ourselves differently over the journals and facebooks, and that's true. So, being the livejournal voyeur, I hope to see another side to this young lady that I thought I knew, but, now being seventeen, maybe I don't. There's a song from Augustana called "Hey Now". Reading her stuff made that song play in my head. Check it out on playlist.com. For now, I'm going to get to know a side to my daughter that I know I have no control over. Oh, God, I pray to learn to give her to You and not be such a control freak.

Love to all
Gretchen

Monday, May 24, 2010

Idols


Hi lovely 1 or 2 people who follow this blog!!
I can't necessarily say "I'm BAAAAAAAAACK" because, who knows how long my next blog will take?
I've been really just needing to soul search a little bit in my life. I have found a remarkable author and pastor from New York who has helped me put some things into perspective...well, er, actually, his books. I've been having a tough time with my faith. I have sort of just let things fall by the wayside when it comes to my spirituality and what is really important in the grand scheme of things.
Well, it IS starting to work itself out some, and I'm feeling better. But it wouldn't be possible without friends who have continued to pray for us and friends (like my girl Carol who sometimes reads this) who just are there when I need them to be. It is without a doubt God really wanting me to put some stuff down and look at Him for my answers.
I think that for the past year, I have looked at my Twilight obsession as an idol that is bad, but I realized that it's such a superficial thing compared to my other idols that I have been carrying around for years.
I was talking to a friend the other day about some of the friends I've made through my "Twilight Obsession" and realized that out of the 20 or so people I have met, I can honestly say that only about 4 of them are people that I'm willing to call on the phone and chat with for more than something over Twilight.
Lisa and I both love music. Her hubby likes open mics, and so we've started doing that together. Michelle and I just like to hang around, and we share our obsession, but we've had a crazy connection from day one, pretty much. Carol and I love wine and just have things in common. I can tell her things that I can't tell others. She's gotten me through my daughter's angst and my craziness. Bree, although we don't agree on a lot of things, is still someone that I care about and I enjoy listening to what she has to say. She's one where I listen more than talk, which is so refreshing. I'm sure those of you who know me wonder how in the world I can listen more than talk. Marne is one who just is fun to talk to. Being as calm and reserved as she is, the class clown likes to come out and see if I can press her buttons, but even she is more of a "Twilight friend". We do plan on going and seeing her one of these days in Vancouver, but not as soon as I hope to go.

So, I do have a point to all this. Twilight isn't an idol to me. It's a part of my whole idolatry of wanting to find the perfect love. Although I'm a 30-something singleton who has been around the block enough, I still wish for that true love that I hope to someday have. A book I picked up from Timothy Keller (the pastor from New York) called "Counterfeit Gods" talks about the fact that we do have idols because of the absence in the heart that we have when we don't have God in it. He even goes far enough to say that in addiction, it is something that needs to be replaced, not squelched. Which makes sense when I give up sugar, I end up eating more salt, etc. Why am I telling you this? Because if you see me on Facebook or in my blog feeling sorry for myself, you can say "Look to your heart, Gretch!" What do I do without a man. I'm really good at self-loathing. I also teach aerobics and I love to read....OBVIOUSLY!

Did I just go off on a tangent again??
Love to all!

My book this blog is "Counterfeit Gods" by Timothy Keller. Whether you're a believer or not, it's a good book. Even has some funny parts in it.

Next book I'm reading is.......shoot. I forget, but it's in my bag.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

HELLO MY AVID FOLLOWERS!!! I'm taking some time off of blogging to do some painting, working 2 jobs, and just not having much to write. TTYL!!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Springtime Blues

Can't shake this blueness that I'm feeling right now. I don't like that feeling at all, but of course, it's there. Yes, I'm one of the pharmaceutical fanclubs! I like my pills, and they usually work! I think right now, I just happen to be at a home that's not my own (we are housesitting for some friends) and I just want my own space right now.

I think sometimes I bite off more than I can chew. I don't feel overwhelmed, but I'm not feeling very rested right now, either. There are friends that I miss and haven't seen in a while, but at the same time, I just want to stay home instead of call on a friend.
I'm actually writing this post over a span of 2 days. I haven't had much inspiration, or at least I haven't been looking for it. But on this rainy RAINY Wednesday morning, I am determined to find the inspiration that will get me through today-whether it be a phone call, a project to finish, or even a line from a book. Oh, I found the line from the book, but I still have a project to finish.
My daughter and I are talking about stretching ourselves. She has a project and she wants to do a topic on her favorite subject: The X-Files. Her teacher says that she knows too much about the subject. What I'm trying to teach her is that her teachers want to stretch her. They want her to find things that she doesn't know about. This is so awesome that we're having these kinds of discussions. I want her to stretch herself, too. I hope that she HERSELF decides to challenge herself. HEY I think that's my inspiration today. Encouraging my daughter to stretch her limits and also be an example of that!

Thanks for listening!
gh

Monday, April 5, 2010

Desperation and Inspiration


So, tonight I was cruising Facebook, when I came along an old HS crush that was someone else's friend. I would never friend him. I don't think we spoke 2 words to each other, but I had the most AMAZING crush on him. Abel is still F***HOT!! So, because I was sitting on my fat ass looking through FB, I started feeling sorry for myself that I wasn't F***hot. Thanks to some awesome friends, I felt better, but that niggling of not being thin enough or firm enough stays with me. I teach water aerobics, and if the students I had only knew how SO uncomfortable I am with myself, I don't know if they would want me teaching! I love it, though. I can't imagine anything better! It's where I can be a kid and give people what they really want. THAT'S what makes me feel good. I just wish I LOOKED like an aerobics instructor. I will start working on that.
ANYHOO! As I was feeling down and out, I found a magazine that had an article about a woman who had bi-polar disorder, which, I will admit, I have. She went to Johns Hopkins to get treatment, and she walked by a statue of Jesus w/ a passage that made me feel so good and I felt better. I will post it at the bottom.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you for taking the time to read and share.
Love, Gretchen

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Sunday, April 4, 2010

To Terms

-------->cuz he's just too pretty to look at
Well well well.....Here I am!! I know, it's been a while.
I have had plenty to say, but sometimes getting it down is easier if I have a notebook with me and not a laptop. I'm not immersed enough into the wi-fi world to carry my laptop everywhere I go.
I really wanted to post something for my own thing to look back and be able to say "I said that!".
Just a very brief history, my darling daughter and I have been just us all her life. She doesn't have a very close relationship with her father, and he and I broke up right before she was born.
I've never had much good to say about his parenting skills, but today, we went to lunch with a single dad friend and his son, who happen to have similar circumstances as dd and her dad, and I realized something. My SD friend is a lot like my ex. They just don't really know what to do with the kids that they haven't known all their lives (both dads didn't have involvement in children's lives until the kids were older). I told dd later that after seeing sd friend, I finally felt less hostile toward ex because I saw someone else's perspective that I didn't have a personal involvement in. Make sense? Your thoughts.

Because I'm a bookworm, I'll recommend a book I haven't read, but dd, who doesn't cry much, read this at school and cried in front of people, so I'm thinking it's gotta be good. "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks. I must find out about him because he's got such a feminine side.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Love to all!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Fit like Jeans


Trying on jeans----------->


Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; Avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy is damnation.~~C.S. Lewis

This was quoted in a book I'm reading called "The Reason for God" by a pastor named Timothy Keller. He actually has a church he started in Manhattan that has become a pretty happenin' place!
Anyway, this is an issue that I've struggled with a lot. I remember telling my friend that I fall (in like, love) hard, but the funny thing is, is then I get really scared and take it all back or just harden my heart to relationships. I don't want to do that anymore. I met a guy I like. I don't know what he feels for me, but he's the kind of guy that I don't want to put a wall up with, and I found myself doing that the second (and last) time I saw him. My counselor told me that I should look at getting to know men as checking out if we fit. Like jeans, I guess. k. That's all. I'm tired. Need to be at work at 6:45 am and it's 10:15 pm. I've been running all week and can't wait for a day off.
Love to all!

Sunday, March 21, 2010


In God I Trust. I define success on my own terms. Happiness is not defined by how smoothly everything is going for me. I aim for big dreams & excellence. Never allow failure to defeat me. I do not allow fear to overpower my progression.<--------got this off a FB page-Thanks LaRayne!


I've been piddling around for a couple days. Finally at the end stages of some nasty bronchitis. Today has been a great day for contemplation, laughter, and just plain old good jibes with my daughter. OH! Also washing all the "sick" bedding. That's tedious when I have a little washer, but I was able to do 1 comforter and 1 pillow in a load, so that was 2 loads, not including the sheets, but that's for another day. My bronchitis was allergy related, and I really need to get rid of the down comforters and get regular poly ones, which I should have done years ago d/t having an asthmatic daughter, but whatever. I'm only thinking of MEMEME! so it will soon get done....maybe. Selfish, aren't I? Yes, I am one of the most selfish creatures I know. That's been part of my contemplating. I love my daughter. I would do anything for her, but at the same time, I always find things to do for me. I wonder how to not be that way. Or can I? I am REALLY thinking out loud right now, so if you feel lost, think of this as being in my head. Scary, huh? Sort of like a clip of "Being John Malkovich".
I really had another point, but instead, I'm going to go have my dinner now.

PS--Check out Jim's coloring books to fund his son's adoption at colormehome.blogspot.com Pass it on to your friends!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

If you plan on seeing "Remember Me" and haven't, don't read this yet.


So, I went to see my honey Rob Pattinson (not to be confused w/ Pat Robertson, Jim) on the big screen in "Remember Me." Not once, but twice, since I went the 2nd time w/ my daughter. If you haven't seen it and want to, don't read beyond this point.
It was a very emotional movie for me. The end was really hard, and I actually had nightmares after the second time, thanks to some old post-traumatic stress from 9/11.
I know, you wonder how someone on the west coast got PTSD from something that happened on the east coast. I'm still wondering that myself, but it happened.
I know I'm rambling, but I loved the movie. I loved the story, the music, the characters, everything. I'm not going to continue because you need to see it. But I leave you with this question. What one accomplishment do you want to do if you knew that you had limited time left on this earth? Would it be something materialistic, something for yourself, or something for others? My new fav quote was quoted in the movie from Ghandi "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it." So....what would you do?

Saturday, March 13, 2010

OH FOR THE LOVE OF ROB!!!!


Okay, I say Rob loosely, because I just saw "Remember Me" last night, and I loved it and cried and blubbered, and realized why I like Robert Pattinson as an actor, because he's great, along with his beautiful and amazing co-stars, and Pierce Brosnan is still hot! There was a great Ghandi quote in there that should be lived by-

“Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it”

But then that opened up another floodgate of emotions that I have been making a big deal out of. I went to a friend's house who introduced me to his brother, and I was really smitten. Yes, smitten is still en vogue. But, you know what??? I'm a dork! I DO NOT know how to act around men that I crush on or are attracted to. You're probably going "REALLY? Are you 36 or 16??" Really. The guy---I don't even know how to call him and say, "hey, do you wanna be FB friends?" so pathethic, I know. I get so FREAKING scared of rejection, that I don't even ask the right questions. Okay, so, advice????
BTW-My friend Jim is trying to raise money to adopt a kid that they love already. He and his wife create some cool coloring books, so check out www.colormehome.blogspot.com. They are going to be great parents!!

Sorry for not updating. Just been busy and in my own little world. No other excuses apply.
Love to all!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Stuff



This pic's for you, hedgie!!------------------>
That could also be Jim with his merlot.



Stressing today. Just a lot of financial stuff going through my head. I think that if I relax, get done what needs to be done, and not overthink everything, I will be just fine. I know that if I give it to God, and let Him help me, I will be fine. I used to be one of those people who would pray, but then do nothing. I had a friend of mine say to me once "if you want to have God help you win the lottery, you have to buy a ticket." That just came back to me in the last couple days, so I guess I'm buying the ticket now. I'm doing what I can to hold back on "STUFF" and my second job is going to bring in some dough, AND my income tax return is solely going to my debt, which will be nice and I can actually pay off my big card that much faster, like in about 3 months. NO, I'm not getting THAT much back, but my debt is more than I can afford, so it's debt.
I hope all is well for you. I love hearing from my readers. If you have any good "get out of debt fast" pointers, let me know.

Love to all (or both, since I only have 2 followers, but I know some others read)!

Book to ponder: Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Christian self-help, and also was a catalyst in why I'm trying to get out of debt and stuff. Good stuff in this book! They're not conservative. They are very sound.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Piano fingers and fiddle bows


Nothing to say about this caption, just nice to look at, and I do mean the piano (hehe). ------------->


I'm listening to a lovely piano piece. I love the piano. It's one of the only instruments that has so many sounds to it. It also is the most eclectic. It has the ability to play in any genre of music, whether it be alternative, blues, jazz, rock, etc.
I was a terrible piano student. I loved it so much, yet thought that I had to be classically trained, so I got frustrated and have just learned, in recent years, after learning how to play the fiddle, that I can also learn the piano that way. I plan on getting a new fiddle when I get out of debt, and it will be a priority.
So many things I want to do. Still have to fuel my Twilight obsession, too, and I always seem to be able to come up with strategies to do that, AND pay bills. WHEW!! Am I getting off the subject again? I don't think I really had one, actually. Just like to have a pert subject to get the conversation rolling, you know.
I've been wondering how much should be disclosed in this journal of mine. What's your thought on that? I am always aware of needing to be private about work and family people, but there are some things I'd like to say, but don't know if I should. THOUGHTS? I know you have them.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Ohhhhh....such a jumble in my head!!



This hotness isn't just a pretty face. He's an AMAZING musician!!-------------------------->

So, I just realized that I didn't wish you a Happy Valentine's Day last week, since I was standing on my soapbox preaching about the woes of capitalism at its best. Sorry about that. I figured out this week why that was happening, let's just say I'm chalking it up to hormones.
ANYHOO!! Had a great day with DD in Seattle. Went to Pioneer Square and International District (aka Chinatown). Had a blast. We like to give socks and candy to the homeless, so we make a trip of it. Then we went to our favorite local bookstores and got a present for her friend. We ended it with the tourist trap that is Uwajimaya. For those of you who wonder what that is, it is an Asian supermarket in Seattle that has just about everything. I call it the tourist trap because tourists are what you see in there. It's fun, though, and we went to a great Cambodian restaurant on one of the main streets of Chinatown. Got to see a dragon dance, too!
I keep forgetting about seeing how THE LIST is going. Mine, not so much, but I'm drinking more water, and I've cut sugar down by quite a bit. I notice that I focus better, which makes me feel so much better, and I don't feel the need for may Adderall as much. :D
Listening to Rob Pattinson right now. GAWWWD I love his voice!! That boy needs to put out an album. WOOT WOOT!!! Hear my playlist of him here: http://www.playlist.com/playlist/19280145675
Love ya!!!
P.S. If you're interested in coming w/ us on our next homeless trip, let me know.

BOOK OF THE BLOG: "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein-Shoutout to Carol, who, if it wasn't for me being a guest in her home, I wouldn't have discovered this sweetness of a book. Garth Stein is a Seattle author. Check it out if you haven't already!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Capitalism at its Best.

This is a wheel from a game where Carol, my dear friend, won a GREAT Twilight poster. Lots of choices on that wheel, huh?----------->

So ironic that me, the one person in the world who loves making it a point of trying to shop local and small business is sitting in Starbucks blogging with my donut (made from a local Seattle company called "TOP POT"--YUM!) and short, single breve coffee. What can I say? I haven't been able to find better coffee than the 3 top Seattle coffee places of Tully's Starbucks and Seattle's Best. But, really? How can coffee be local anyway, since it can't be grown here? Okay, I'm making the soapbox bigger, and so I'll come back to the smallness of it.
The reason for this topic?
Yesterday, I talked to a young woman who studied abroad. I asked her what it was like. It was ITALY for goodness sake! She didn't like it much. I asked her what it was besides the fact that traffic sucked, and she said that she didn't have enough choices. Being a young lady who has been raised in our modern American world for 20 years, she didn't like the fact that going to the market resulted in picking between 1 or 2 brands of detergent, or having to go to one market for detergent, and another for food. Then the food only had 2 choices of pickles and , and the aisles were small...etc....Need I say more?
As I end up at my Fred Meyer or Target (I do not do the W-word store, and if I do, it's out of IMMENSE necessity!!), I realize that half my time spent in the aisle is like this (in my head, of course, maybe)--"okay, so I need ranch dressing. I really like Hidden Valley, but Ken's is on sale, and it's not TOO bad, but LOOK, what's THAT kind? Should I TRY that instead??? Maybe I'll just get the creamy Italian since I now can't make up my mind and can only buy one bottle." You know, my DD and I both have ADD, and I wonder if I've developed mine because of all the damn choices I have!!! LOL!! Just kidding. But I feel that there are so many choices-like the fact that my breve could have 65 different flavors to go with it. What stops me from adding flavor to my breve? I like fat over sugar in my coffee. Skinny lattes suck, with the exception of peppermint mochas. BREVE'S, which are half and half w/ espresso, are yummy and full of satisfying fat. :D I get a short single, because it's the perfect size to carry the perfect balance of flavor. Can you believe I'm mainly a tea drinker? I digress.
CHOICES. We have SOOOOOOOO many of them.
Being a daughter of a K-mart shopper, I know all about selection, and sometimes, I don't like that. I think about the people who make my laptop that I want to replace with something less bulky, who probably go home to a house with many less choices than what I have. I recall having chatted with a Christian missionary who was gone from the US for 5 years and came back and didn't know how to go into a regular grocery store because it was overwhelming for her. Her soap in Africa was what she used for hair, clothes, and body. NOT that I'm saying to resorting to that is great, but it sure can make me stop and say, JUST BUY THE DAMN HIDDEN VALLEY ALREADY!!!

Because of my blog name, I'm going to suggest a book to read. I may or may not have read any of them, but I've seen them and they look intriguing if they are suggested. The one that may be a good book for this topic is called "How We Decide" by Jonah Lehrer. Drop me a line of your thoughts if you've read it or want to.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Melancholia


Feeling blue today. I actually almost feel too tired to write. Ever have one of those days? These are the days where you know that it's just a moody, possibly pmsy thing because my day overall was EMOSEWA!!!!
Since I feel like writing is too much effort, I just PAINTED what I feel. Call it the mishmash of the bipolar mind. HEEHEE. It's titled Sunshine, Daisies, and Broken Hearts.
Anyway, Since I don't have much to say in words, and I felt better PAINTING it, what is your favorite outlet for getting rid of stress or sadness?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

WHERE YOU FROM???


----------------------------------->This is what the mountains looked like from where I lived in Montana. The most beautiful place in Montana was the Fairfield Bench, IMO. :D

Hi! Not much to say, but I have a question that gets posed to me once in a while. Where are you from originally? Well, I'm originally from Montana, moved to Central Washington when I was 15 (Sunnyside, near Yakima), moved to Spokane for 6 years a year after high school, and then moved to Seattle after that, where I still reside. People ask me if I miss any of the places I lived, and I have to say that I miss parts of it. I miss the mountains of Montana, the friends of Spokane, and the grape season of Sunnyside where I could get concord grapes easily. :D
How about you? Where are you from and what do you miss about it?

Friday, February 5, 2010

Jobs

------------------>Me and 100 Monkeys. Nice guys. I would like their job.
So, I was driving to work this morning thinking about what I was going to say on my blog tonight, but guess what??? Drawing a blank.
This week has been tiring. I started doing my workouts that I wanted to do, and then on Wednesday I get a call from the YMCA wanting me to teach 2 of their water aerobics classes. I have been needing a 2nd job, and here it is! I hope I get it. I love the facility, and the crew seems great! I really wanted a waitressing job as a 2nd, to get me out of debt faster, but I think I need to pace myself a little and just enjoy. I'll do the waitressing job if I don't get the Y. The Y called me, which is my way of thinking that this is where I'm s'posed to be.
I really don't have much insight, but here's a good question. What would be your dream job?? It could be ANYTHING!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Friendships

Just me and a couple "friends" of mine. They were a little tough to put my arms around, though. I almost got a paper cut. ;) ------------->
Have you ever known someone who you didn't hang out with a lot in your life, but he/she still was considered a friend and not an acquaintance? Well, I'm giving Greg a SHOUTOUT tonight because he's one of those people that I had that kind of friendship with. In my vanity, I would like to think that he thought I was irresistible from afar and was afraid to be more than a friend, blahblahblah, but seriously, he really was one of the nicest guys I knew. He is now happily married, and just by chatting with him, I've never seen him happier.
I have had a few friendship experiences today. The above was one of them via FB, and I also had a great chat with my girl Carol on the phone, my girl Bree via phone, whom I have to apologize for being all defensive and testy for wanting to roll my eyes and bicker with, and my girls LuAnna and Michele. The former and I painted a room together and ran to the mall, and the latter and I went to Target and chatted all the way through there, the pho takeout, and the gas station before I dropped her at home. Just a fun day overall.
I'm so fortunate to have wonderful friends and acquaintances that have impacted me in so many ways. Trying to name them all would take a lot of page, but YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!
What unexpected friendships have you had in your life? How have they impacted or changed you?

"It is better to be in chains with friends , than to be in a garden with strangers."
-Persian Proverb


Saturday, January 30, 2010

I've got the calendar in my hot little hand!



She-Woman------------------------------------------------------>
Hi!
I'm writing on my calendar the days I'm going to be doing my exercises. I miss exercise
so much, but it's so hard to motivate. My friend Linda got me a Twilight calendar for Christmas, so I've decided to write my exercise on there to make sure I do it. I know I'll feel like She-Woman when I do. Keep me in those great thoughts!!

So, my calendar is going to be my motivator. What motivates you?

gh

Friday, January 29, 2010

Digging Deep


Tonight I went to a birthday dinner for my friend Christine. SHOUT OUT!! Anyhoo, I drank two strong drinks, ate nachos, and ended it with bread pudding.
So much for MY LIST!!!
So, back to the list. I am going to follow the advice of my co-worker/personal trainer, and do the exercises she gave me. I even am going to put them on my Twilight calendar that my friend Linda gave me for Christmas. I'm so glad she's enabling my obsession. SHOUT OUT!!
I really want to start taking the exercising seriously again. I'm tired of not doing it but have such a tough time motivating myself to do it.
BIG THANK YOU TO KIRSTEN FOR KICKING ME IN THE BUTT!!
So, the question of the week is, if you had the right motivation, whether it be an outside person, entity, or goal where money or anything else was no object, what would you do or achieve?
Dig deep for that answer. :D
Love ya!!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ego Trips

Here's what I looked like after my tif w/ my co-worker.------------>


So, today at work I got into a disagreement with a co-worker regarding a procedure that we disagreed with each other on. Funny thing is, is somehow I started feeling egotistical and pissed that she kept arguing with me, even though I knew I was in the right.
I get so tired of arguing that I just throw my hands up and say FINE. I'm mad I did it, though. She said that she had a couple people to back her up, which was fine, but I knew from past information and even our manuscript that I was in the right. WHATEVER! I sometimes wonder why I never stand up for my beliefs and why do I sometimes think that someone's right when they could be wrong?

Have you ever had that happen? How did you stand up for yourself?
SHOUT OUT TO CAROL!! LOVE YOU!!

P.S. After I cooled off, I went to Twitarded and found this fanmade vid! (cut and paste, cuz I'm not that savvy yet.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-t7HE5sAk&feature=player_embedded

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Pondering

I want to protect you so much that I beg you to do your list. Don't follow me...just do it. (I'd like to think that's what Eddy REALLY said to Belly.)----------------------------->

Hey! So, I'm feeling bi-polar today. Mostly happy, but sadness seeps through about Julie. I think of her wonderful daughters and hope that they, along with their dad, can get through this and remember all the greatness!

Don't have much to say, but just felt like saying something. Tomorrow I'm going to "Bill's off Broadway" to sing and enjoy good music (9pm, if anyone's interested) and possibly have a piece of yummy pizza. How's the List going?
Shoutout to Carol! Hope your metabolism thingy's doing well! If you haven't noticed yet, I can be quite vague. I've said "thingy" ever since I can remember.
My List is not that great. I'm really working on that water, and my belly's telling me to start exercising again so it can firm up. Seriously, working out, even for 20 mins a day like I used to do was awesome (or EMOSEWA) for my upper body!!
SO GET CRACKIN'!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Love to all!
Gretchen

Friday, January 22, 2010

Losing a Friend


“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."”

Today I found out that my friend Julie passed away from breast cancer on Sunday.
Julie and I hadn't spoken to each other for 2 years, making me wonder if I would have been considered her friend anymore.
We had children who were friends, and through them, we would all do things together. Children grew apart, thus, Julie and I didn't do as much together.
I can't revere her and say that she was someone I knew inside and out. I didn't. I know she liked a good Margarita, angels were collectible, and she had a great Minnesota accent!
She's one of those people, though, that I would think of often. Julie was about 10 plus years older than I was, even though our kids were the same age. I liked the way she raised her kids, which made me look up to her. I wanted to be a mom to my daughter like she was to hers. When I felt like a was overbearing and controlling, I remembered a bit of advice she gave me. "Let them know what the limits are and then trust that they respect them."
For the last 3 months, I've thought of her off and on. I told her daughter 2 weeks ago that I would call and see how she was doing. Today, I finally made that phone call.
SO! My question to you this week (for 5 points) is, if you knew that you didn't have much time left with someone, even someone you don't speak to often, what would be something you'd want to do with that person?

Micah 6:8

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!


Hi! All Bright-eyed and bushy tailed after a long night at a 100 Monkeys concert! DD was so tired that she didn't want to stick around for autographs!! She even said that THE JONAS BROTHERS wouldn't have made her stay. Oh well. I liked them so much that I'm catching their act in Portland!!
Okay, so this is the day to officially start THE LIST!!! I have decided to drop the one on the other blog because ADD tends to make me paralyzed if I take on too much, and doing my own AND trying to follow someone else makes me freeze.
This week's 5 points iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis........
What drives you to accomplish tough things? This can be a messy room, a goal that is hard to achieve, or even fears that you have.....LET ME KNOW! I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours!!!

Love,
Gretchen

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Procrastination


------------------------------------->This is Lacey, doggy daughter of friend Carol. Isn't she sweet? This is on a fishing boat on Lake Crescent where she and her hubby Mark like to fish. Lake Crescent is beautiful and quiet, and Lacey is so sweet! This is a nice pic to reflect on when the day is tough or tiring. :D


Hello Darlings!!
Because tomorrow is a holiday, we will start the wonderful List (I think that's what I'm going to call it from now on) on Tuesday.
Home from TwiHardLand! Good times! I'll post a pic or two when my darling daughter finds the thingy to upload photos from her camera. AWESOME JOB ON THE PICS!!
SHOUT OUT TO FRANK! aka Daddy Carlisle!!! GET GOING ON YOUR WEBSITE!!!!
Cheers.
Since it's Sunday, and I'm really trying to concentrate on doing more Bible verses, I will leave an inspiring one that my friend Jill sent me in a time of need and high anxiety. ;)

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33and 34

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Ready for Monday?


So, I'm sitting at the Westin-Seattle in the lobby after not following my list that I posted. Since I'm trying to follow it on the other blog, I'm feeling confused....not really, but it's a good excuse for not following it, right?
Anyway. I'm at a Twilight get-together with some friends and I'm having a blast. Not too impressed w/ the whole Twilight convention thing, but there are a couple more events to go, and I've gotten to see some great stars, so it's all good! I've been so busy this past few weeks that I'm so glad that this weekend and the first part of this week is going to be over.
Anyway. I think that I'm going to quit collecting Twilight paraphernalia--maybe. You know what? I'm going to quit blogging now because I had a Washington Apply Martini, and I seriously think it's going to my head. I promise to have something more meaningful and inspiring on my next blog. :D
Oh, for Monday-My favorite life quote ever!!!
If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. -Vincent Van Gogh

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Year Resolutions? ICK!!!


This pic shows what I think of New Year's Resolutions------------->
I don't like New Year Resolutions, but I'm doing a cool thing on another blog that I'm going to try here for my friends. This is something that can take such little effort, yet, I'm seeing that there are things in my day that I don't take the time to do. Thanks to emmeloohoo on Letters To Twilight Blog (seriously people, are you REALLY surprised that I found this on a Twilight Blog??), I'm really going to try to take these little details that she gave us and use them. They are so realistic that I'm willing to do this and know that I can succeed in some things. However, I still haven't mastered drinking 64 oz water. My lips get chapped and my 7 hours of required sleep gets interrupted. I'm working on it!
The 10 things to do on a daily basis are:

1) 20 mins physical activity that gets your body going.

2) 20 mins of time OFF computer or TV that's productive (I'm going to do Bible study time, for example--no Twilight for me on this, hehe)

3) Eat 3 fruits or 2 veggies/day.

4) 64 oz water.

5) Give someone an unsolicited affirmation.

6) Eat only up to 2 small treats/day.

7) Don't eat after 10pm.

8) Be ready for the world by 11 am.

9) Sleep 7 hrs/night.

10) Respond once a week to my weekly post, which will count as 5 points for the week.

You do this 5 days a week because the ones who want to do it so far are superbusy people! If you want to stay in the habit, by all means, keep it up. We will count up points on March 17, cuz you need that day off for Green Beer (or Green sparkling apple cider, maybe?) and if you want to continue, we will go from there!
Please remember that this is very realistic and it's okay to start slow! This is meant to get you into a habit that is good for mind, body, and spirit!

Okay, since we're not officially starting until Monday Jan. 18, you get 5 extra points by responding to this blog this week by letting me know who you are and the toughest challenges on this list are going to be for you. HAVE FUN!!!! IT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT!!

CHEERS!!
Gretchen