Its Friday and I’m happy dancing quietly in my cubicle because its almost time to go home!  One of my very dear friends, Brookela, is coming over tonight for a sleep over (yes at 50, I still love sleep overs). We try to get together at least once a month, but since she lives about an hour away because of weather and busy schedules its not always possible. Tonight we are going to watch the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie on our big screen TV. We saw it together in the theater, and I watched it when it first came out on DVD with my other good friend, Mama Kelly, and her family.

I will also get to show her all the cool stuff I’ve been gathering for the Harry Potter party next year. It’s going to be a huge birthday party for my daugther who will be 11 in 2007. So far I have 40 small cauldrons, the Gryffondor Sword, the Sorting Hat, the parchment and seals for the invitations, almost all the items needed for the 9 classes I have planned, and a lot of the decorations.

I’m the middle child of the this trio of friends, and for me they are my siblings of choice; I am as close to them as if they were sisters.

I met Brookela when I came to work at my current place of employment 15 years ago. She is about 12 years older then I am, but is very young at heart and we enjoy a lot of the same things. I learned a lot about speaking up and saying what is really on my mind from her. Being outspoken is one of her most remarkable characteristics, even if it does get her into trouble from time to time.

My other dear friend Mama Kelly, I met over 15 years ago at a lecture I was doing on Wicca at the college she was attending (she was the one who kept raising her hand and asking interesting questions). She is about 13 years younger then I am. We have been through a lot together, she joined my circle, and rented an apartment from us on the second floor for awhile. She married and moved back to her home town about 45 minutes away, and had two children. Both our lives for awhile took a turn for the worse, and we were both drowning in stress and choas for a few years and it was hard to stay in touch, but we emailed each other a lot and got together as often as we could. Now we try to get together at least once a month. My daughter is right in the middle age of her two girls, and they have a lot of fun together. I just love to listen to the three of them giggling and playing in the next room while Mama Kelly and I chat for hours about everything and anything.

I am very blessed to have these two wonderful women as close friends in my life.

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

Recommended Reading

Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend’s Soul: Celebrating the Friends Who Cheer Us Up, Cheer Us On and Make Our Lives Complete

Written by Lady RoseTags:about Lady Rose, friends, harry potter

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee…You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.

She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity, boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

This essay is from my collection of inspirational emails that I have recieved over time.   Bright blessings, Lady Rose

 Recommended Reading:

Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times

From the Back Cover

I do not try to be accepted.
I do not search for love.
I want only to be me and am grateful
for the gift of myself.

Written by Lady RoseTags:adversity, humor, inspiration, story

Princess Nibbles was kept home again. She got through all of yesterday without vomiting. But aside from an increase in liquids she ate 3 tsp of applesauce and a few bites of a cheese single. Not nearly enough food to send her off to school.

She woke up this morning announcing happily that her stomach didn’t hurt anymore. She is drinking plenty of water and has moved up to ingesting more applesauce and some buttered toast with no ill effects. We attempted some flan – one of my favorite sicky items – but she thinks it tastes icky. More for Mama I guess.

As for me? Went to the Dr. yesterday and was diagnosed with a sinus infection and the beginnings of bronchitis. Based on what I started coughing up this morning I apparently went just in time. Anyhow, I left with scripts for nasal spray to use from now till June for my misbehaving sinuses, 7 days worth of antibiotics, and (my favorite) codeine.

I also left with a note for work excusing me thru Thursday. Though depending on how I feel I may go in tomorrow anyway. I have to wait and see how I feel in the morning. I can’t really afford to lose the pay, but I also can’t afford to get any sicker.

The main problem with calling out sick is that my insurance premium is equal to about 15.5 hours of work. And since I was only able to work 4 hours on Monday …. you see my dilemma.

The Dr. is also starting to get concerned about the number of sinus infections I get and wants to send me for a CT scan.  I’m choosing to pretend that I didn’t hear him.
___________________________

On another note. It has been an awfully long time since I watched so much children’s programming. I forgot how annoying the Teletubbies and Mr. Rogers can be.  But I wouldn’t trade this time for the world. Its a nice added benefit to be able to cuddle up with my little one, who before I know it will be the size of Miss Artistic and I’m sure with a similar attitude.

___________________________

Hubby is going over to our rental property again today. We have a guy coming over to install a couple of new windows broken by the evil former tenant or her “guilty-by association” children. While he’s there I’m sure he’ll work on a few other things as well.

We already have it “listed” with a local real estate agent to find us a new tenant. I hate having to pay the extra money, but maybe — just maybe — it will save us some of the grief we went through last time.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:kids

PrincessNibbles seems a lot better so, between that and the fact that I need to go to MY doctor, we are hoping to forgo the pediatrician’s office since we know its viral and there’s nothing the doctor can really do for her anyway. Though if she vomits one more time we will not have a choice.

I am pretty tired today. Which I know is in part due to having an infection. But it is also due to:

• taking a really long nap after work yesterday
• the pain and burning in my sinuses
• the post-nasal drippage
• hubby snoring like a fiend

All the above resulted in my not getting to sleep until after 4am. Now that I’ve been up for several hours and have a little tea-induced caffeine in me I don’t feel as awful.

We are both relieved that PrincessNibbles seems a lot better today.  Honestly, she’s not as droopy or sleepy or as clingy. All good signs. And she seems to be getting back to her chatty happy self. But, she says her stomach still hurts and will not consider any food.

I decided to throw her favorite stuffy, Snowball, in the washing machine as he is probably filled with equal parts fluff and germs at the moment. So he is taking a nice bath and will be all soft and fluffy and maybe even white again in time for bedtime tonight.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Related reading:

Sniffles, Sneezes, Hiccups, and Coughs (DK READERS) – a kids’ book

Mommies Don’t Get Sick! – a kids’ book

Written by Mama KellyTags:kids

“To see the world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour”
–William Blake

A gentle reminder to – simplify your life, your rituals, your every day and connect to what is really important.

Nurture your energy and the flame within and it will be available to you when challenges arise unexpectedly or when you choose to challenge yourself to achieve something wonderful.

Take a small step each day to uncomplicate your life.

Toss out things you don’t need (or donate it to someone who does). Strive to own little, but enjoy more.

Keep a notepad handy to jot down things you want to remember so you can unclutter your mind.

Take a few minutes throughout the day to be “still” and just breathe, to focus entirely on being quiet and connect with your inner wisdom.

Evalaute your surroundings and find ways to bring joy and simple comforts to your every day – for example, if you enjoy coffee in the morning treat yourself to a good cup every morning, sip it slowly and truly taste it. By creating an oasis of simple moments of pleasure throughout the day, the outer chaos won’t seem as intrusive.

Homemade Simple – ideas to help make your life more enjoyable, ways to simplify, organize, beautify, and inspire your life and keep it simple. They also offer a free newsletter.

Keep it simple, so your spirit can shine through.  You will be glad you did. 

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Suggested Reading:
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.
Simplify Your Time: Stop Running & Start Living!.
How to Simplify Your Life : Seven Practical Steps to Letting Go of Your Burdens and Living a Happier Life.

Written by Lady RoseTags:inspiration, living, simplify

What a fun day in Mama Kelly land. Not!

As of yesterday evening progressed Princess Nibbles continued to barf. Poor dear couldn’t even keep liquid advil or water down. As of the last temperature taking she is once again “normal” and hasn’t vomited again, but she can’t drink more than a couple of sips without stomach pain and hasn’t eaten even one bite of food. So she’ll be missing another day of Kindergarten.  As I type this she is snoozing next to me.

The sore throat I had yesterday and hoped was allergies, is apparently (based on the multicolors) a full blown sinus infection. I managed to work for 4 hours before my voice crapped out, I came home and slept and am considering staying home tomorrow if my throat still feels as raw. I feel pretty darn terrible. And I’m tired. And if this goop doesn’t stop dripping down the back of my throat I may puke myself.

_____________________

Hubby is at the rental property assembling new kitchen cabinets. He should be home soon bearing ice cream for the porcupine which has taken up residence in my throat.

_____________________

OK well apparently every drop of liquid this child drank today just came back up. A little water a junior-sized juice box and MAYBE 4 tablespoons of tea. That is maybe 12 oz. of fluid. And that is a BIG maybe. So now I’ll definately be home from work tomorrow so we can take her to the pediatrician tomorrow.

Gee, do you think that scotch-guarding the couch was a good idea? I’m pretty sure that it was.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Related reading:

Why Do I Vomit: And Other Questions About Digestion (Body Matters) – a kids’ book

Written by Mama KellyTags:kids

My computer at home as been down since last Tuesday, so I didn’t have access to the internet all weekend. (The computer says we have no router – but I can see the darn thing just fine). I finally gave in and called the Geek Squad. Someone will show up tonight and fix my computer (all hail the Geeks for they shall inherit the Earth or at least a good protion of it). It’s expensive (very expensive) — but hopefully it won’t take the guy more then an hour (because after 60 minutes the price gets very, very, very, expensive). But having no computer skills I really had no other choice. Six days without my home computer and I am willing to pay the price. Computer withdrawal definitely makes me grumpy. Spending lots of money makes me even grumpier.

Plus I may be even more grumpy as a left over affect of buying clothes this weekend — which always stirs up emotional baggage. I really don’t like buying clothes. And I particularly dislike having to deal with “size” — usually I buy 1x or 2x and ignore the whole issue — but Walmart for some reason didn’t have anything except clothes with size tags. I picked up a few tops but refused to deal with any thing else. I don’t need much any way — five outfits for work and a couple knock around outfits for the weekend. But everything I own is getting very worn out and I’m down to 4 pants 5 shirts so I had to get a couple things. My clothes philosphy (no matter what size I am) is: It has to be soft, comfy, and easy to take care of, and no stripes, polka dots, or loud flower prints.

I am a professional yo-yo dieter and over the past 38 years I have lost several 100s of pounds over and over and over again. I know “how” to loose weight — but my body never cooperates and I always gain weight back and then more then what I lost. I have been on a diet since I was about 13, trying to loose a mere 5 pounds so I could be the perfect 120 lbs (according to the charts) – back then (that was before anorexia or bulimia were well known – but most of the girls I knew threw up almost everything they ate, I preferred the not eating techniques, but would throw up when necessary – but that was only during my teens. By my twenties I needed to loose about 20 pounds. I was on diet pills through most my thirties, especailly when I was trying to loose about 50 pounds for my wedding in 1991. By age 40 I needed to loose over 100 pounds and just gave up for awhile. By then at least (finally!) the doctor I was seeing listened to me and did the blood work and confirmed I had hypothyroidism (which I had been telling doctors all my life, but no one believed me – even though it runs in my family). At 47 I was determined to NOT be heavy at 50 and to once and for all reach my goal weight (140 lbs) and stay there. I had been able to starve almost my entire life, so I figured all I needed was determination, will power, and stubbornness and I was going to do it.

I did manage to loose weight, from approx. 290 to 185 lbs. It took a year and half of starving each and every day and counting every single calorie (I had to limit myself to 800 calories a day — anything over I would gain weight). However, after months of not being able to loose any more and creeping up to 190 again unless I fasted, I went to a nutritionist. She wanted me to add more “fat” to my diet. I total her she was crazy. I had my no fat, low-calorie diet down to a science. I humored her a little and added a tiny amount of fat, but gained about 10 pounds in a week and couldn’t get off. Needless to say I didn’t see her much after that.

So being a bit discouraged, I decided that for the holidays I would go off my starvation diet for just a little while — just to taste the mashed potatios and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, to have a couple of cookies at Christmas, and then of course there were the snacks and egg nog with Kaluha on New Year’s eve – and by then I had gained so much weight back I just couldn’t get motvated to go back to starving and not loosing any more. I kept telling myself I would, that in just a week or two more I would never eat anything I like again, but I wasn’t strong enough, and before I knew it I had gained all the weight back and I know I’m more then 290 lbs. now — I can tell by how the clothes fit and other signs — but I have not had the nerve to get on the scale. I have a doctor’s appointment next month – so I’m sure they will let me know and of course tell me what they always tell me – stop eating. Which I have done over and over and over again — yet it never seems to work.

On a good day, I can be strong and I work on building up my determination to starve again. And I really do want to be healthier. It is getting harder and harder to walk every day. Getting dressed in the morning feels like an Olympic event and leaves me huffing and puffing. Walking to my car leaves me so out of breath I often which I had an oxgen tank I could plug into the cigarette lighter so I could breath easier.

But today isn’t a good day — and all my weight issue negative buttons got pushed yesterday I guess just buying a couple of shirts. So I”m feeling like it would be easier to just slit my wrists or eat myself into a coma rather then face starving and not loosing weight again.

I’m going to be 51 year in Oct. — Angelgirl is going to be 10 in May. I hold her in my arms, and no matter how awful I feel — I know I want to see her graduate college, I want to dance at her wedding, I want to hold my grandchildren, I want to enjoy every single moment I have as her mom and to be able to give her everything I have to offer to make her life as wonderful as it can be. And to do that I have to be healthy — it doesn’t matter what the numbers on the scale say — I need to be able to walk, breathe and stay alive. And for her, I will give it one more try; for her I will pull together every last drop of will power I have; for her I will sit down with the doctor next month and come up with one more plan for loosing weight. I would give up everything for her — including yummy foods.

So hopefully, starting May 1st, 2006 I will begin another journey on the long road of getting healthy. At least I’ll have lots to write about for my new blog, Diet Pulpit, that I started as a “get healthy” journal.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:about Lady Rose, dieting, health, weight loss

The barfing continues though on the bright side this time she managed to get it in the lined garbage pail I have sitting at her feet.  While I took her temp at 11:30 and found it normal, Princess Nibbles has also spiked a fever …. I took it again to find that it had gone up to 102 after the first barf attack …. and is still at 102.

Gave her some tylenol melt-a-ways and had her take sips of water from one of those 3oz. bathroom cups and being the mean mommy that I am I kept her awake because I didn’t want to see her vomiting in her sleep again.  I guess it was a wise choice because she just vomited up all the water she drank and probably lost any discernable benefit from the tylenol at the same time.

So what I thought was, at first, too much partying last night, too much junk food, etc. is now officially a virus of some kind which puts the nix on her going to school tomorrow … and I’ll be at work which I HATE to do when she, or her sister, is sick …. granted she’ll be home with her Daddy but …. I’ll feel like a bad bad Mommy all day long.

Blessings

Mama Kelly 

Related reading:

The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor (First Time Books(R)) – a kids’ book

What to Expect When You Go to the Doctor (What to Expect Kids) – a kids’ book

Time to See the Doctor (First-Time Stories) – a kids’ book

Written by Mama KellyTags:kids

I know you are waiting with baited breath to find out if hubby and I ever made it out yesterday on any semblence of a date.

Well rest assured. We did. We went out to the local habachi restaurant, only to find that they had no clue how long of a wait it would take to get a table.

Scary!! I mean “no idea”? Were they implying that we could wait all night, until we were gnawing on the decorative mouldings, and still not be seated?

So we decided to forgo the entertaining antics of a habachi chef and sit at a standard table. It was a wise decision.

We shared some appetizers – pork dumplings, a “sushi roll” that had tempura lobster in it, and a lovely stuffed shitake mushroom creation.

No room for my entree though. That I get to eat today!!!! Yum Yum

Afterwards we went to Coldstone Creamery to get dessert.

So we came home and settled in. Changed into comfies/jammies, watched South Park, and waited for Dad to come home with the children. And waited, and waited.

I didn’t start to get nervous until it was close to 11:00 … they came home around midnight. So I had a good solid hour of worrying. I wonder how many extra calories that burned.

They had a really nice time. Princess Nibbles moreso than Miss Artistic who wound up being the oldest kid there by 5 years. Additionally an 8.5 year old party attendant pointed at her and said quite loud “you have big boobs“. Which left her in tears and feeling like a freak of nature.  I do feel bad for her. These early years of boobalage are hard until the boys catch up and realize they LIKE boobs. And even then it can be hard if the other girls in your circle are not built as curvy.

Princess Nibbles and I are both under the weather today. She’s next to me on the couch under a blanket feeling headachey and yucky. I woke up with a sore throat and ear. LOVELY! That’ll make tomorrow’s telemarketing a pleasure.

Miss Artistic feels fine so as Hubby left to go to our rental property with Dad (to do more hours of repairs that wouldn’t have been necessary if my former tenant wasn’t a pitiful excuse for a human being) he told her that she has to take care of us today.

LOL so far that consists of playing video games while Princess Nibbles watches and every so often pleads for a 2-player game instead. That is, however, until she fell asleep as I typed this entry.

_______________________

EWWWWWW

my typing of this message was briefly interrupted by a vomit incident

Princess Nibbles, who had been blissfully snoozing woke up and proceeded to puke repeatedly on the couch, on the blanket, on herself.  Why oh why do kids rarely, if ever, manage to vomit in the toilet.  I got it cleaned up — THANK YOU Blue Coral DC23 Dri-Clean Upholstery Cleaner. and got her cleaned up, and now I can only hope there will be no further incidents of barf.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:children, family outing

So today Mr. Grumpy is taking the girls to a small family gather. Mainly because hubby and I don’t want to go.  One of my “nieces” is having a small surprise party with just her cousins there. But, I am so not in the mood to deal with either a bunch of screaming children or my relatives.

My paternal grandmother was one of five children. My daughter’s are 11 and 6. And are 3 generations down the tree from that set of siblings. The birthday girl is, I believe, 9 this year and is 2 generations down the tree. So while I refer to her as my niece … she’s really my second cousin and my girls’ second cousin once-removed. Confused about what that means? Geneology.com defines it for you here.

Now I don’t want you to think I have anything against the birthday girl. It’s the adults that get to me. And that my friends IS a post for another day.

So my hubby and I, who begged off of the invitation (which didn’t come till Wednedsay night by the way) by claiming we had plans are suddenly faced with the option to create some plans.  We might even  make UP some plans.  I thought that we’d probably go out to the movies. But as luck would have it I don’t have any desire to see ANYTHING that’s playing.

We are NOT one of those couples who has a weekly, or even monthly, date night. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Our life just fell into a somewhat different pattern. Generally we get out on a date or go away for an overnight once or twice a year. In print that seems so sad. But, in all honesty, we are homebodies.

Both girls are dressed all pretty. I already blew-dry both of their heads. And now I’m waiting for the flat iron to heat up so I can “do” Miss Artistic’s hair properly. I can’t believe how beautiful she’s becoming.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:birthday, family, party