stay in the moment

I like to look forward to things: events, birthdays, new challenges. In doing so, I often miss the opportunity to enjoy today. So, today I enjoy my laptop, bringing out the summer clothes and shoes for the wardrobe shift, listening to Anna, and folding warm and clean laundry. I am so thankful for good friends that listen and do not judge, for big squeezing hugs, and the card I received from a client on Friday reminding me that my work makes a difference.

Today, Anna told me that her foot hurt. I said, 'Whaaaat?' mock surprised because something always hurts on that girl. She said, "I know, right?" She kills me.

KJ is looking forward to graduation. He completed his FAFSA and sent it to the correct school. About to put the grad announcements in the mail, and am planning his graduation party for May 30. I am enjoying my last days of mothering a minor.

Duct tape

A sight like this is not such an unusual occurrence where I work, but this cracked me up. Sometimes all you need is some duct tape to fix almost anything that is broken. In this instance, it was the whole side of this person's car. Or it could be the window to your house, or hold you computer chair together. You just never know. Maybe duct tape will be our generation's "aluminum foil". Probably not. I am in Wichita KS today at a training. Packing for this trip reminded me that I have way too many things that plug in. My phone needs to be charged, as does my Kindle, IPOD, and laptop. Sheesh. Of course I don't 'need' all of these things. But I sure like them a lot.

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Bowling

This is a picture of me and my siblings: Davena, David, and Sherri. It is a rare, one of a kind occurence. Anna wanted to do something with her cousins for her birthday. We went bowling. So, my little brother David (not so little anymore) came with his daughter and two sons, my little sister Davena (not so little) came with her five children, and my older sister Sherri can with her daughter Shania. Mia and Terrance are grown and making their own babies now. I have pictures of all of the 'cousins' on my other phone. To take the picture Anna yelled out "Cousins! Everyone say cheese!" It wasn't so bad. My brother Howard has been up to visit a few times. My brother Tim is coming up from North Carolina next month. You never know, you might see a picture of six out of seven remaining siblings soon. Oh! and my mother. But she is not talking to me much these days. Loooooooooonnnnngggg story, for later. FYI: All three of them beat me at bowling.

twit

I don't get the twitter thing. I am usually all over the latest electronic device/technology. However, I do not want to know what other people are thinking via instant message all day long. I have a job people! Nevertheless, I am experimenting with twitter. We will see if I become smitten with it. I check into facebook about every other day, and I always see something that makes me smile. I love checking in with friends from far away or friends from long ago.

Aruba

Will, one of my great friends, went to Aruba this month (see picture above). This is just one of the many pictures I will be enjoying from his trip. I will definitely have to go get into some trouble there one day soon. Until then- Vegas here I come in 12 days! I am thinking breakfast in bed, massages, and a show. You never know- I may win a million $ too. Can I do that playing $10 blackjack?

It has taken about twelve years, but I have finally fallen out of love with Oprah. She gets on my nerves. Ok, I still record her show and watch the good parts. I still have O magazine and love to read it. And I listen to Oprah radio on my satellite in the car. She's a hard habit to break.

Oprah started to get on my nerves with the "New Earth" new agey stuff. Now I just don't get that loving feeling when I see her anymore. I'm not going to break up with her over it, we will get through this phase.

Book addiction

Hi, My name is Etta and I am addicted to books. I haven't really watched tv in two weeks. I feel clueless about the news, who shot who, and what the President said yesterday. It is great! Of course, I won't keep it up. I have still watched the Biggest Loser on the DVR. And my fav show "In Treatment" is starting up again so I will watch that too. So, I have shifted to a more 'mindful watching' mode. I choose what I want to watch, watch it, fast forward through commercials, and then turn it off. No more noise. I didn't realize how much noise tv creates.

Back to my addition, I have been reading vampire books. Not the Twilight series- I read those a year ago and liked them. But the Charlaine Harris "Sookie Stackhouse" series. They are a little on the slutty side. But the characters are so interesting, and I can't really predict what is going to happen next! I inhaled 8 books in a little over a week. I had no control whatsoever. Now I am sad. I miss the characters. I usually don't re-read the same books over and over. There have only been a few in my lifetime that I have been able to completely re-read. Well, because I love these characters I have re-read the entire series. Oh yeah, and as I get older I find myself re-reading some books because I don't remember them! Ha! It's a whole new world of reading :)

Now I am on the hunt for a new book again. I read a few samples of Anne Rice. Whoa! Evil stuff. She is the Toni Morrison of vampire books. I needed a map and a character list to get through the few chapters I read. I think I will go back and read Edgar Sawtelle.

Count down

6 days until my little sunshine Anna turns 9. 24 Days until my Vegas vacation (God willing). 48 days until my little KJ turns 18. 54 days until my monster KJ graduates from high school. Today... I do not want to go to an Easter Egg hunt. But I will go because it will make Anna happy. So, I need to get up and take a shower and go. Then I will go to a 17 year old kid's house to do a mental health assessment. Then I will come home and write it (probably not... procrastination). Then back to reading books on my Kindle. YAY! I love my Kindle. It holds all of my books, I can switch back and forth. My Bible is on it too. It is well worth the money. I can't think about it too long, or I will not get a shower and go to an Easter egg hunt. I will stay in my robe, read, and drink coffee until I have to go to work. I can do plenty of that when my kids are grown, right?

Today I am so grateful for good books, coffee, cartoons, Anna's teachers, clean yummy water, and Gail's tendency to buy me silly putty and other little stress relieving amusements.

Oh yeah.... now that I have had my 5 year anniversary at work, I am thinking about moving on again. Too many changes.

On with the shower, on with the show.