It Would Be Nice …..

Regular blogging is not my thing, apparently.  I think about it and then don’t do it.  It would be nice to finally get myself together and do what I promise myself I will do.

Anyway . . . , or as John Lennon used to say, “anyroad” (see In His Own Write ). . .  or as George Harrison used to say “if you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there . . . “  I have such trouble making goals and following through — it really is a bad example.  I have many plans and no executability.  I guess if I had been more successful in my life I would have been the person with the ideas and someone else executing and making them a reality.  Depressing to think what might have been and what isn’t .

“ ‘But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ said Alice. ‘Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the cat. ‘We’re all mad here.’ ” (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 1865, Lewis Carroll)  Oh, yes, and the original “…any road will take you there. . . .”  quote.  No map, no destination — float like a leaf in the river and end up stuck against a branch being pummeled into nothingness.

It would be nice if I had it in my power to fix this situation.  Oh, wait.  I do.

Help Vitamin Angels and Help Yourself

Vitamin Angels is a cause dedicated to helping keep children healthy.  Univera is a major supporter.  If you are into using nutritional supplements (especially ones that work!), why not use the best there is — bar none!  Take the 90-day challenge and see if you don’t Feel Better, Look Better and Perform Better.  Take the appropriate products (ask me, I’ll help you decide which ones) for 90 days.  If you don’t experience a rejuvenating effect, I will give you your money back, no questions asked.

Irons in the Fire

I guess you could say I have a lot of irons in the fire:  I am involved in 2 business “opportunities” (read: direct sales networking companies) (one with products and the other with services), going to school online to finally finish my education (previously delayed by marriage, children, inflexible job, no time, no money, no motivation, no stick-to-it-ive-ness), a fledgling business sewing custom clothing for children, a new opportunity to help those in direct sales networking companies be more successful and make more money, and a real part-time job.  Sometimes I don’t know which way to turn and feel like I have a boa constrictor by the tail.  Wow, what do you do then, I hear you asking.   So what do I do then when I feel overwhelmed and underenthused?  Nothing.  I knit and nap and cook.  Not terminally non-productive, but certainly not pushing anything forward. 

This year D2 and I made an agreement to “knit-a-long” together (everybody participating does the same project at the same time; giving a feeling of support), but we decided to do only the WIPs (works in progress) until those were whittled down to a manageable size.  Shortly into the adventure, I discovered why most of them are WIPs rather than finished:  I don’t like them anymore;  they are dull, dull, dull.  Besides, I don’t have the instructions anymore so I don’t know what they were intended to be anyway.  Along the way of going through these projects and categorizing, I came across a cap sleeved t-shirt style sweater that I started for D2 while she was in high school that I never completed  (the front is finished, the back is half-finished).  I was upset to see it.  She has been married 12 years this year. 

Currently I have a fancy shrug for D3 (Vogue Knitting Spring & Summer 2009) in off-white,  

2 pair of toe-up children’s socks;

 a knitted kimono for D1 in sage green;    and

a mitered block afghan in purple, turquoise, lime green, raspberry pink and multi.

Too many projects and too little time.  Quit wasting time on this and get to it?  Is that what you’re saying?  I agree.  I can make it — thanks for the help.

HomeMade Holiday

For some reason, people who NeVeR cook seem to believe that they MUST do so for that ultimate food holiday:  Thanksgiving.   Why do we do this to ourselves?  I think this leads to disappointment and adds to the stress of an already stressful day.  Some years ago, my 3 sisters, my mother and I spent 3 days before The Day making homemade rolls, fresh cranberry sauce, fresh garlic mashed potatoes, creamed peas and baby onions,  dressing, giblet gravy, sweet potato casserole, roasted turkey,  pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cheesecake, whipped cream, and chocolate chip cookies (for those who wanted a “little something sweet”).  For before, we made “zoo mix” (Chex party mix to the rest of you, but with lots more garlic, onion and worchestershire; “zoo breath” is the result), home made sweet chili pecans, mixed veg platter (with homemade dressing), homemade fresh salsa, homemade queso, and homemade tortilla chips.  I know what you’re thinking — no one needs that much food.  You’re right, but we ate it anyway. 

So, anyway, “before” food was spread on the table about 10:00 AM, lunch was served at about 2:00 PM, grace was said at about 2:01.  The meal was over at 2:20  with several mumbled “Mmm, good” compliments and the place looked like a Plague of Locusts had come and gone.  Who was there:  we 5 women, 5 men, 7 children.  It was a vast disappointment that all that work took less than 20 minutes to destroy.  The following year, I was in the store a couple of days before The Day.  Had a 25-lb turkey and assorted necessities in the basket when I came by the Deli counter in the store and saw a guy picking up several large boxes.  The clerk charged him $25 each.  When  I inquired about what was in the box, I had an “aha” moment:  15-lb turkey, rolls, dressing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie — already cooked.  I bought two of the boxed dinners and took them home.  On The Day, I transferred the dressing, gravy, potatoes to my bowls and served up the turkey just like always.   Total cook time:  20 minutes re-heating.  Same number of  “Mmm, good” remarks.  No one said anything about missing the “before” food or the extra desserts or the variety of vegetables.

I haven’t cooked for Thanksgiving since.

Intro

Hello.  I have been thinking about this for a while and I finally decided to take the Nike philosophy and Just Do It.

The title is meant to be both factual (as in I know how) and encouraging (keep slogging, it’ll get better).  Some days, I need all the encouragement I can get and the only way through is to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

So to the intro, I have LOTS of interests and I tend to get involved in things – I’m a quick decision-maker; if it makes even a little sense, I’ll probably go for it and figure out the rest later.  Sometimes that makes a messy situation, but more often than not it turns out OK (eventually). 

Personally, I am long married (38 years this year), have 4 grown children (AJ, EL, HP and CL) who have 7 grandchildren (IR, JD, MX, ID, IM, SLR, and EJ) among them – actually, only two of the four have contributed to the increased population and the other two. . . time will tell.

I cook, sew, knit, crochet and I have taught these skills to three of the four. 

Professionally, I am currently self-employed:  (1) I’m a small business expert and group benefit specialist with a company that offers voluntary employee benefits and consulting; (2) I’m an “independent representative” with a natural health products company (got into that with my DH to give him something to do as he is currently unemployed, but he is unenthusiastic); (3) I’m a trainer with a company that specializes in assessing skills and providing training for those in network marketing companies who would like to actually achieve the promised “time and money freedom” to enjoy life; (4) I make custom-made children’s clothes (sizes 2-12).  Help my DH with his ventures and, undoubtedly, there is more to come.

Anyway, I’ll share more later.