Anxious

#8 Complete this sentence - I feel anxious when-

I feel anxious when I have to walk into a public place when I feel people may be watching me. Especially alone (not when I go into a grocery store or shopping but true when I go in a restaurant, party, or something like that)

On my way to work I feel anxious , not knowing what the day will bring.

Traveling, just the arriving part..I always worry that I'll be late or unable to find my way.

Driving someplace unfamiliar...I'm awful with directions.

This is all part of the 101  Journal Questions for Women book . See previous blogs for the first 7 questions.

Strength

Todays Question from "101 journal questions for women": What is your best strength as a woman.


I took a facebook quiz and it said being positive. Which I believe I am.
But I think even greater than being positive is being compassionate.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

#3 in the book "101 Journal Questions for Women" by Tony Robinson
What is the greatest lesson you have ever learnt?

Something my mother has been saying to me as long as I can remember "Don't sweat the small stuff" and in the phrase made famous by the movie Frozen...LET IT GO.

I know this was something that I wasn't very good at for much of my life prior to around age 35 maybe...so it gets easier with getting some maturity under your belt..or it did for me.  
My ex would tell me "It will all shake out" and 9 times out of 10 whatever I was working myself up about would "shake out" and be nothing after all.

The serenity prayer comes into play here too...it's all about learning to accept what you can and can not change.

Question # 1
Question # 2

Achievements

a·chieve·ment

noun

1. 1.

   a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.

   "to reach this stage is a great achievement"

   
   
2. 2.

   the process or fact of achieving something.

   "the achievement of professional recognition"

Todays prompt in the "101 journal questions for women" book is to list your top 10 achievements. 

This one is very hard for me. For each thing I came up with, a negative thought followed with "but I didn't follow through, or it wasn't because of any great effort on my part" type of thing.  I feel like I have not had to work too terribly hard at things that I have really wanted , I have put them out in the universe and they've happened for me and I have an amazing family that has helped me and given me tons of things/support/love/opportunities to make things happen over the years. 

1. Fostered dozens of children for two years after becoming a foster parent. By far some of the  most difficult and rewarding days for me. 

2. Traveled to Europe while in high school as a High School Student Ambassador with the People to People program. 

3. Coming out as a gay women at age 39 and changing up my entire world as I knew it. 

4. Spending a year being there for my dad as he was dying of cancer. Skyping everyday, making multiple visits to stay with him during his treatments and being there to send him off. Not sure it's what you'd think of as an achievement but it fits in courage and effort and something I'm proud of doing and would do again.   

5. Purchasing a brand new  car all by myself.

6. Growing up.Not just getting older but growing up mentally and emotionally. With the wonderful world of Facebook I see that not all of my school friends have mastered this and seem to be stuck back in high school. Life is so much better when you open your mind, let go of negativity  and stop allowing drama into your space. 

7. Getting the lap band surgery. I had the surgery almost 3 years ago. I am not where I want to be yet as far as weight but I know that I never would have gotten there without it. My health issues were just getting worse and after having both hips replaced my mobility was not at a state to just add exercise and expect to get where I needed to be. 

8. Starting this blog. It's been 5 years now. I don't keep up with it everyday but as much as I love journals, diary's, calendars it's fantastic to look back and see where I was and what I was doing back then. 

August 3 2010   It's amazing when I looked back to that Aug. 3 2010 blog and it was so similar to these 10 achievements..WOW! 

9. On the courage part..I went parasailing. I am afraid of heights and will never go again..but I went. 

10.  An achievement that I'm still working on..is trying  new foods and expanding my pallet. As a child I  was a very picky eater and even into adulthood had very limited "likes" in food. Vegetables were out of the question and now I will eat most or at least try them.  

101 Journal Questions for Women #1

While looking around on facebook the other day I saw a post on a friends timeline for a book that sounded like something that would be very helpful for my blog ideas. 101 Journal Questions For Women. Plus bonus, it was on sale at Amazon for only $5.53 ! 

Well today it arrived! Before I even got dressed or put on make up I found it in my mailbox and jumped right online to post in my blog. See, the book is already working on making me motivated to blog more lol 

#1 Question was "What Makes You Happy?

I think overall I am a happy person naturally. Here is my list just thinking about it for half a second; Sunny days , full moons, bright star lit nights, the way my dogs greet me when I get home no matter if I'm gone for two weeks or two hours, the smell of fresh cut grass, the feeling of clean sheets, unexpected texts from Vic saying "my heart is full of love for you" , hearing my mom laugh, getting mail, times spent with friends or family, milk duds, having a clean house, a full tank of gas that I didn't have to pump, hugs, messages from beyond, fire flys, pink anything, youtube, facebook, lifelong friendships, good hair days, random acts of kindness, puppy breath, baby toes, glitter, trees,music...there just isn't enough space for what makes me happy. Life makes me happy! 

April 9 2014 WOW Another weekly update

I am pretty impressed that I'm updating weekly again. Not that there is a ton to update on but I like looking back week to week to see what has been going on.

The work started on our house this week. Today is the third day. The dogs are about to drive us crazy with all the barking but it will be worth it. The front of the house already looks amazing. I kept thinking I would get pictures so i could do a before and after but of course I didn't, and when i came home Monday it was already too late. FAIL

We started watching Game of Thrones this weekend. We have now watched all three seasons and it's only Wednesday if that tells you anything. Awesome show!! Many late nights because we had to watch just one more. As if we needed one more show to be totally addicted to!

Another week of spring breakers brought on some excitement. Tenants locked out right after we've left the office of course so we had to drive back up. Late night parties with complaints by the neighbors , causing a late night trip to the key to check things out. Everything was under control..over cautious (nosy) neighbors. Fun times. 

And...an almost tragedy. Vic got back home from the late night trip mentioned above and our baby D.J. (the spoiled rotten favorite miniture dachshund of ours) ran out the door to chase our cat (both solid black) in the dark of the night. After nearly having a heart attack DJ decided he was afraid of something across the street and turned and ran right back into Vic's arms! (thank you Spirit!!!) For the rest of the evening he stayed glued to Vic. Ever since we brought DJ home as a puppy when ever he was scared or hurt he found comfort in Vic's arms. The rest of the time he's 100% mommas boy and can be found in my lap.  

That's about all the fun that's fit to print.

Have a blessed week. 

March 26 2014 Update

I have meant to post before now but Vic was using my lap top while hers was getting fixed. I have my beautiful pink laptop back in my  hands now and will do better to stay caught up!

In my last blog I mentioned the five people I knew having babies. I can now tell you that one is my niece and the other is my nephews girlfriend. One is having a girl and the other a boy! I have only purchased a few things so far but go crazy every time I'm in a store with baby things. It is going to be so wonderful to have a baby around!

Also since the last post , Vic and I went to see Rosie O'Donnell at McCurdys comedy club. I bought the tickets for a Christmas gift but had to spoil the surprise when Vic was about to buy the same tickets not knowing I had gotten them already. The show was  planned for January but Rosie had some tooth problem and had to re-schedule the show for March. The show was hilarious! We had a really good time time and ran into some friends there too.

We've been super busy around the house with some plans on remodeling and stuff. Not ready to share all of those details yet but will soon hopefully with pictures of before and after. I'm looking forward to a new fence so the dogs can spend more time out in the yard without the barking. I think if they don't SEE the neighbors they won't bark at them...right? Let's hope!

Here are some recent photos of my world..

Vic went back to a charcoal grill, yummy surf and turf 

Picture taken at McCurdy's Comedy Club when we went to see Rosie O'Donnell

My sister Steph got me addicted to these! Nerds jelly beans.

Dexter getting some kisses in while we are trying to take a selfie

St Patty's day Selfie 

Getting supplies ready for girls weekend 

Joined Pinchme.com so I get free samples. Love it! 

My March Glam Bag from Ipsy, Love it!!

I love it when I go to the mailbox and my #Ipsy glam bag is there! To get yours toohttp://www.ipsy.com/r/44in

Night out with friends 

Full moon over Venice 

March Then and Now

1995
My Nephew Brandon was born
Dad and Cyndi got married in Las Vegas


2000
Got PonyBoy (my cat)

2001
Went and saw hanibal with a group of friends

2009
Planted Roses in the back yard
Britt got sick and was in the hospital


2010
Saw RENT at Venice Little Theatre
Got Dexter Fixed


2011
Earthquake struck Japan
Did a photo shoot at Asolo for Sarasota Magazine
Signed lease for our new office


2012
Dad started Chemo, Went and spent two weeks with him
Victor moved to Florida and started working with Vic and I