May you and yours have a New Year filled with peace, happiness, success and good health!
Have fun, stay safe and God bless,
May you and yours have a New Year filled with peace, happiness, success and good health!
Have fun, stay safe and God bless,
*sniff* *sneeze* *cough*
It's that time of year again. When the Hades-esque south Texas temps drop around 60 degrees, from the 100's/80's to days at 70 and overnight temps in the upper 30's/low 40's. Downright freezing for anyone who has had the privilege of acclimating!
Normally not such a big deal but throw in the stress from the tech apocalypse, normal multitasking single-parent stuff, legal junk with the family, and a few other things and presto! I have the flu.
As if I needed one more thing to come at me.
In spite of what probably sounds like whining, I'm still trying to take care of bidness. Business as usual will have to wait but bidness ab un-oosual marches on.
Honestly, I blame myself for getting sick. I stopped my DDP Yoga for Life Challenge in conjunction with the juice reboot, the Daily Prayer Walk, my weekly Family Empowerment calls, and even taking my vitamins!
Not because I didn't want to be healthy but because I was just too busy.
Those things may have felt like work, like a burden on an already taxed schedule and body, but I need them. I need my health. I need my sanity and I need my spirit renewed often because I don't just reach out to others with my mouth. I reach out with my soul! I mean, why be fake or superficial when I personally dislike that kind of interaction from others, you know?
The weekly Family Empowerment and Daily Prayer Walk calls are just as much for my benefit as they are for anyone that listens in. The encouragement and connection that happens during those sessions helps me to keep going. Helps me to feel like I am making a difference somehow, encouraging others to be the best person - the best them/you/me - that we can be.
It's not my place to say what someone does is right or wrong or that any particular religion or creed is "the one" (I don't even have a denomination/religion). My place is coming from the "we're all messing up somehow or other" camp and let's focus on the Silver Lining Moments in our situations. Learn, grow, help each other move on and up.
So in spite of everything that has happened in the past few months, from battling for my domains to losing my technology in a freak electrical/phone zap and now battling my body just to get out of bed, I am not giving up. In fact, I've actually gained clarity!
Clarity about what I will be doing in 2013 and what things are totally non-negotiable. Self-care, spiritual renewal, homeschooling, parenting (duh, right? LOL), and continuing to encourage and support everyone who crosses my path.
Literally becoming the pebble in the pond. Just like I pledged I would in my university entrance essay years ago. =)
Today, I challenge you to look at your own life and determine which activities are vital to your well-being. Are you taking care of you?
It's that time of year again. When the Hades-esque south Texas temps drop around 60 degrees, from the 100's/80's to days at 70 and overnight temps in the upper 30's/low 40's. Downright freezing for anyone who has had the privilege of acclimating!
Normally not such a big deal but throw in the stress from the tech apocalypse, normal multitasking single-parent stuff, legal junk with the family, and a few other things and presto! I have the flu.
As if I needed one more thing to come at me.
In spite of what probably sounds like whining, I'm still trying to take care of bidness. Business as usual will have to wait but bidness ab un-oosual marches on.
Honestly, I blame myself for getting sick. I stopped my DDP Yoga for Life Challenge in conjunction with the juice reboot, the Daily Prayer Walk, my weekly Family Empowerment calls, and even taking my vitamins!
Not because I didn't want to be healthy but because I was just too busy.
Those things may have felt like work, like a burden on an already taxed schedule and body, but I need them. I need my health. I need my sanity and I need my spirit renewed often because I don't just reach out to others with my mouth. I reach out with my soul! I mean, why be fake or superficial when I personally dislike that kind of interaction from others, you know?
The weekly Family Empowerment and Daily Prayer Walk calls are just as much for my benefit as they are for anyone that listens in. The encouragement and connection that happens during those sessions helps me to keep going. Helps me to feel like I am making a difference somehow, encouraging others to be the best person - the best them/you/me - that we can be.
It's not my place to say what someone does is right or wrong or that any particular religion or creed is "the one" (I don't even have a denomination/religion). My place is coming from the "we're all messing up somehow or other" camp and let's focus on the Silver Lining Moments in our situations. Learn, grow, help each other move on and up.
So in spite of everything that has happened in the past few months, from battling for my domains to losing my technology in a freak electrical/phone zap and now battling my body just to get out of bed, I am not giving up. In fact, I've actually gained clarity!
Clarity about what I will be doing in 2013 and what things are totally non-negotiable. Self-care, spiritual renewal, homeschooling, parenting (duh, right? LOL), and continuing to encourage and support everyone who crosses my path.
Literally becoming the pebble in the pond. Just like I pledged I would in my university entrance essay years ago. =)
Today, I challenge you to look at your own life and determine which activities are vital to your well-being. Are you taking care of you?
Today was CJ's first real day of keyboard playing and he memorized the Scooby Doo theme, practiced Fur Elise, and is working on Red's battle theme for Pokemon Soul Silver.
Oh yeah, we did some research on Beethoven too.
This may not sound like such a big deal but I couldn't make him touch his first keyboard to save my life. Researching composers/artists/statesmen for our traditional homeschool curriculum was like pulling teeth!
Heck, that's why I helped him set up CJ's Kids Club: to promote self-confidence and natural learning fun. Literally. It even says that in the header!
Now, after years of struggling - somehow and in some way I am not quite sure my learning style understands - the unschooling method is doing what I desperately wished to do before: instill a love of learning. Not just loving to learn favorite subjects. Loving to learn everything.
Except that he's aiming for rock and roll legend (acting is a fallback). I've successfully convinced him that knowing how to play instruments - like the piano, guitar, and drums - will help him to understand the music, timing, and the needs of his bandmates on a deeper level.
It would also help him control his career more if he's the one writing some/all of the music and increase his profit potential through songwriting deals on the side.
The best part about this whole thing is that even if CJ doesn't go into music professionally, he will have reaped all the benefits of this learning experience.
Business skills, music, character education, social studies, history, language arts, financial literacy and math, foreign language(s), science (sound, tone, acoustics), reading, research skills, and I get to use my Life Coach skills to help him plan his ideal life? Check, check, and check to the 100th power!
As exciting as this is, it does make me kind of sad that a lot of us don't grow up feeling empowered to be what our hearts and souls yearn to be and do. I honestly believe there is a way to be successful and fulfilled, making our dreams play out in real life (IRL).
In my case, it took a layoff and a difficult job market but others, like pre/post retirement workampers and second career launchers, are finding ways to make their dreams a reality every day. They aren't waiting for Medicare, Social Security, the end of the world as we know it or any other thing to line up perfectly.
That is what keeps me sane and I'm a single, stay-at-home, work-at-home, homeschooling mom to a young, energetic boy with rural responsibilities, numerous pets, and a soon-to-be re-retiring mother! Did I mention that in addition to my recent computer/internet crisis, we cannot seem to agree on an RV, AND we're remodeling the house? LOL
Baby steps, my Friend, baby steps. Make a goal and take one step toward your dream every day. Live your dream!
Wishing you much peace, happiness, and success,
Penny
Oh yeah, we did some research on Beethoven too.
This may not sound like such a big deal but I couldn't make him touch his first keyboard to save my life. Researching composers/artists/statesmen for our traditional homeschool curriculum was like pulling teeth!
Heck, that's why I helped him set up CJ's Kids Club: to promote self-confidence and natural learning fun. Literally. It even says that in the header!
Now, after years of struggling - somehow and in some way I am not quite sure my learning style understands - the unschooling method is doing what I desperately wished to do before: instill a love of learning. Not just loving to learn favorite subjects. Loving to learn everything.
Today's proud homeschooling parent thought was:
My child could someday be a famous homeschool pianist!
Except that he's aiming for rock and roll legend (acting is a fallback). I've successfully convinced him that knowing how to play instruments - like the piano, guitar, and drums - will help him to understand the music, timing, and the needs of his bandmates on a deeper level.
It would also help him control his career more if he's the one writing some/all of the music and increase his profit potential through songwriting deals on the side.
The best part about this whole thing is that even if CJ doesn't go into music professionally, he will have reaped all the benefits of this learning experience.
Business skills, music, character education, social studies, history, language arts, financial literacy and math, foreign language(s), science (sound, tone, acoustics), reading, research skills, and I get to use my Life Coach skills to help him plan his ideal life? Check, check, and check to the 100th power!
As exciting as this is, it does make me kind of sad that a lot of us don't grow up feeling empowered to be what our hearts and souls yearn to be and do. I honestly believe there is a way to be successful and fulfilled, making our dreams play out in real life (IRL).
In my case, it took a layoff and a difficult job market but others, like pre/post retirement workampers and second career launchers, are finding ways to make their dreams a reality every day. They aren't waiting for Medicare, Social Security, the end of the world as we know it or any other thing to line up perfectly.
They are aiming their ship at the island of their dreams and launching their yacht, knowing full well that the sea of life will probably cause some ups, downs, and course corrections.If you aren't living your dream right now, what steps can you take toward making that your reality? Don't make yourself overwhelmed by thinking of it as one major overhaul. Focus on baby steps in the direction you would ideally love to go.
That is what keeps me sane and I'm a single, stay-at-home, work-at-home, homeschooling mom to a young, energetic boy with rural responsibilities, numerous pets, and a soon-to-be re-retiring mother! Did I mention that in addition to my recent computer/internet crisis, we cannot seem to agree on an RV, AND we're remodeling the house? LOL
Baby steps, my Friend, baby steps. Make a goal and take one step toward your dream every day. Live your dream!
Wishing you much peace, happiness, and success,
Penny
Well, I totally understand the good natured complaints about the Blogger and WordPress apps now. LOL
Not only can I not access my Blogger image library or add a link to my text but it wants to stick my location in here too!
Not that I don't love you like the best bloggy friend you are but um, let's just say not everyone is as sane as you are.
Although I know I put a lot of myself out there, an open blog door is not exactly the same as the door to my house or RV. Besides the whole cat hair and litterbox thing, what if I really am blogging in my undies and you'd just dropped by? LOL
It's more of a stay-at-home, homeschooling, work-at-home single mom thing than anything else for me. It always feels like I'm running behind and scheduling stuff like MeetUps and get-togethers really is a sanity saver.
Anyway, I'll be posting my reviews for these and other apps on my work blog. Just wanted to say hello before the tech addiction kicked in and I disappeared into the download/test cycle again.
Let me know if you have any Android or iOS apps you'd like to know more about or have a favorite you'd like to suggest.
Not only can I not access my Blogger image library or add a link to my text but it wants to stick my location in here too!
Not that I don't love you like the best bloggy friend you are but um, let's just say not everyone is as sane as you are.
Although I know I put a lot of myself out there, an open blog door is not exactly the same as the door to my house or RV. Besides the whole cat hair and litterbox thing, what if I really am blogging in my undies and you'd just dropped by? LOL
It's more of a stay-at-home, homeschooling, work-at-home single mom thing than anything else for me. It always feels like I'm running behind and scheduling stuff like MeetUps and get-togethers really is a sanity saver.
Anyway, I'll be posting my reviews for these and other apps on my work blog. Just wanted to say hello before the tech addiction kicked in and I disappeared into the download/test cycle again.
Let me know if you have any Android or iOS apps you'd like to know more about or have a favorite you'd like to suggest.
As much as I enjoy a good rage face in the various blogs and websites, I can't say I ever really wanted to post one of my own. Until today and the whole Katy Didn't thing.
If you aren't familiar with rage faces, they aren't just faces of rage. They aren't even real faces. Well, except for Jackie Chan and a few specific ones.
Sure, there are a few "I'm enraged" faces but there are more varied and a real form of "a stick figure face is worth a thousand words" emotive genius.
Until I can draw better stick figures, I'll just download every rage face in a single zip file and use on an as-needed basis for those times when I can't find the right words. Or when I need to cut a novel down into a post.
You can thank me later.
Oh no Katy didn't ...
This morning CJ stumbled upon what he called a walking leaf and I called a grasshopper. He didn't think "grasshopper" was the right name/type for this insect so we let the interwebz play mediator.
Honestly, I don't have a problem with my son asking questions and demanding I give him specific, scientifically proven facts. It actually makes me very, very happy to get into these kinds of discussions with him.
Heck, I was curious about the little creature myself and so excited to have a good homeschool project and nature study idea for the CJ's Kids Club Nature Kid Members.
The fact that I don't have to push CJ to study is a super rich icing on my unschooling cake. I have zero qualms about dropping whatever I'm doing to help CJ research something he is excited about and that I can count toward school credit.
Anyway, it turned out that we were both wrong.
Katy was a "False" katydid and could bite if held improperly. He was also a boy. Let's just say the equipment on a female is sort of like the equipment on a human male: it sticks out.
Although both the Texas A&M Website and Encyclopedia Britannica say that the katydid sings a "katydid, katy-didn’t", we didn't hear it.
Our guy was too busy trying to escape from our Magnifying Bug Discovery Kit (Dollar Tree has tons of cool stuff) to honor us with music. Which meant that we - once again - fired up the Verizon aircard and the interwebz to see what the concert should sound like.
We saw a few great YouTube videos and heard some interesting recorded sounds but ... we still didn't hear "katydid, katy-didn’t".
Perhaps it's just us?
If you aren't familiar with rage faces, they aren't just faces of rage. They aren't even real faces. Well, except for Jackie Chan and a few specific ones.
Sure, there are a few "I'm enraged" faces but there are more varied and a real form of "a stick figure face is worth a thousand words" emotive genius.
Until I can draw better stick figures, I'll just download every rage face in a single zip file and use on an as-needed basis for those times when I can't find the right words. Or when I need to cut a novel down into a post.
You can thank me later.
Oh no Katy didn't ...
This morning CJ stumbled upon what he called a walking leaf and I called a grasshopper. He didn't think "grasshopper" was the right name/type for this insect so we let the interwebz play mediator.Honestly, I don't have a problem with my son asking questions and demanding I give him specific, scientifically proven facts. It actually makes me very, very happy to get into these kinds of discussions with him.
Heck, I was curious about the little creature myself and so excited to have a good homeschool project and nature study idea for the CJ's Kids Club Nature Kid Members.
The fact that I don't have to push CJ to study is a super rich icing on my unschooling cake. I have zero qualms about dropping whatever I'm doing to help CJ research something he is excited about and that I can count toward school credit.
Anyway, it turned out that we were both wrong.
Katy was a "False" katydid and could bite if held improperly. He was also a boy. Let's just say the equipment on a female is sort of like the equipment on a human male: it sticks out.
Although both the Texas A&M Website and Encyclopedia Britannica say that the katydid sings a "katydid, katy-didn’t", we didn't hear it.
Our guy was too busy trying to escape from our Magnifying Bug Discovery Kit (Dollar Tree has tons of cool stuff) to honor us with music. Which meant that we - once again - fired up the Verizon aircard and the interwebz to see what the concert should sound like.
We saw a few great YouTube videos and heard some interesting recorded sounds but ... we still didn't hear "katydid, katy-didn’t".
Perhaps it's just us?
Have fun, stay safe, and G-d bless,
Yipes! It's been a while since I was so dependent upon an aircard and it shows. I pretty much maxed out my little Verizon friend and am actually already into the overage charges yet I haven't done a quarter of what I am used to doing.
Granted, I'd planned to transition back to what I like to call Mobile Office Central (my go-to travel setup) but it happened much sooner than anticipated and thus, I was caught with my tech panties down.
5 computer systems (2 desktops, 3 laptops), 3 printers, and my DSL line somehow fried. I hadn't realized how difficult it would be to juggle everything in the face of catastrophic, I-live-more-than-30-miles-from-town home office failure. I always *assumed* I'd have at least a couple of systems, printers, and the network available.
The most interesting part of this fiasco is my mindset: I'm not freaked. Something happened in the last few months and I'm not sure when. I started not being so obsessed with tech.
Computers, gadgets, software, WordPress plugins, Blogger functionality tricks ... I still get a kick out of all of it but the almost OCD'ness isn't there.
By golly, I think I've become normal!
Granted, I'd planned to transition back to what I like to call Mobile Office Central (my go-to travel setup) but it happened much sooner than anticipated and thus, I was caught with my tech panties down.
5 computer systems (2 desktops, 3 laptops), 3 printers, and my DSL line somehow fried. I hadn't realized how difficult it would be to juggle everything in the face of catastrophic, I-live-more-than-30-miles-from-town home office failure. I always *assumed* I'd have at least a couple of systems, printers, and the network available.
The most interesting part of this fiasco is my mindset: I'm not freaked. Something happened in the last few months and I'm not sure when. I started not being so obsessed with tech.
Computers, gadgets, software, WordPress plugins, Blogger functionality tricks ... I still get a kick out of all of it but the almost OCD'ness isn't there.
By golly, I think I've become normal!
