New blog!

I have decided to keep blogging...I have a new blog titled, Je rêve en français.

Thanks for following :)

And it's over

Well, the big day has come and gone. I'm now part of the dirty thirty, flirty thirty, or whatever thirty club. The weirdest thing happened, too. I woke up yesterday, my 30th birthday, with wrinkles all over my face! I screamed, naturally, and then realized it was just a dream. Then I really woke up. No changes so far. However, my colleagues at work did say I seemed more considerate when I brought the contents of their mailboxes in to their rooms. Of course, the catalyst for that could have been the beautiful gift basket they presented to me that morning, clad with shower gel, lotion, body splash, sensual aromatic lotion, a red rose bush, and a very racy card. I believe there were also some hand sanitizer wipes and a giant container of Clorox wipes for my, ahem, germophobic tendencies. (Hey, I work around kids all day, and I have to protect myself!) Husband took me out for a delicious dinner at Coppertop, followed by some gift opening. I am now the proud owner of the Eclipse DVD, along with a video documentary about Forks, the real town that inspired the setting for Meyer's saga. How exciting!

Today I spent the day at the Turning Stone Spa. What a delight! I started in the whirlpool and followed that with a 75 minute massage and lavender wrap. I could just feel those toxins running from my body! Eight hours later I am still fully relaxed. Seriously, what a wonderful treat! I cannot wait to go again...I had a nice meal and even made time for some gambling before my departure. Unfortunately I wasn't lucky while gambling, but the people-watching was surreal. I'm always up for that entertainment!

And now I am home. What a fantastic 30th birthday! I feel truly blessed to be a year older. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, and I am one happy lady!

Thank you for joining me on this journey. It has been a great deal of fun blogging these past 10 months. I really am sad to write this final entry. It's just so....final! So, instead of abandoning the blog entirely, I've decided what I really need is a new blog. Thus, I am taking suggestions from you. Comment with ideas and/or titles for a new blog! I'll be checking periodically over the next few days, so don't be a stranger :) Send me your ideas!!!

On the Eve of a New Era

On the eve of my 30th birthday I...

• cleaned snow and ice from my car, and shoveled my driveway, front walkway, and side walkway 2 times
• got my car stuck at the end of my driveway, then had to shovel and dig myself out - using all sorts of 30-year-old expletives!
  
• took a long afternoon nap
• made and ate a pizza
• and........
• watched Eclipse, my favorite of the twilight Saga movies

Now that I've had my Edward and Bella fix I can sleep easy, dreaming of all the wonderful blessings tomorrow will bring! (I won't actually be 30 until about 12:45 Thursday afternoon).

Despite the shoveling and time spent out in the bitter cold, I enjoyed the beautiful scenery Mother Nature has provided for my 30th. (But seriously, Lake Ontario, you can turn the snow machine off now. We're approaching four feet here in 95+ hours - more than plenty!)

On the eve of this new era, I'm thinking of all the people that have come into (and out) my life. I'm thankful for every one of them. I have had many blessings in my life, and if there's one thing I've learned this last year before turning thirty, it's that life is precious and shouldn't be wasted. While it's easy to get caught up in the little things that seem big, the good things in life can pass by. So, I am making a promise to myself, to each day honor my family, my God, and the Green Bay Packers. Just kidding, Jimmy Valvano! I vow to focus on the important things in life: God, family, friends, and people in general, because we are what makes the world what it is. Without people, our lives would be meaningless.

Come and get me, 30! :)

Holy Snow!

TWO. MORE. DAYS!

Let's see. It's been snowing steadily since Sunday. When I say "steadily", I mean it hasn't stopped. Non. Stop. Snow. It feels like a blizzard, dumping over two feet of snow. Now, where I come from (downstate New York), that would be considered a snow STORM. But here in upstate New York it's called snow SHOWERS. Did you read that correctly? SHOWERS. My ass.

Snow brings with it a magical feeling. I dream of snow days, and I want to put on a snowsuit, run outside with my snow tube, and find the nearest sledding hill. That's the child in me itching to come out. Instead I wake up to an alarm and force myself to get dressed, shovel a path to my car, dust it off, and head out on the slippery, unplowed road, determined to get to work in one piece. That's the adult in me forced to come out. Funny how life has changed.

Since Sunday I've shoveled (with my husband's help, of course) the deck twice. Each time the snow was over a foot high. Initially I felt bad about missing the gym two days in a row due to a disinterest in driving late on snow covered roads, but no longer! I actually considered creating a workout video called "Shoveling Moves: A Full-Body Workout!. My abs, legs, arms, and back are definitely feeling the burn.

A little while ago I went to put the garbage out at the curb and observed that we've gotten about three more inches since I came home a couple hours ago. As I look out the window I can see the wind is kicking up (the pine tree actually dumped snow on me as we were shoveling the deck and I mistakenly blamed my husband, thinking he had thrown snow at me) and it is blustery!

I do want to go on the record for having predicted this storm long before it even hit weather radar. Over a week ago I mentioned to my husband that historically there has always been a snow storm around my birthday. Mother Nature did not disappoint this year. What would make a lovely gift for my special day this year? A snow day! What a blog entry that would make for the finale of this blog! Fingers crossed, everyone, and we'll see what your intentions will bring :)

SNOW DAY SNOW DAY SNOW DAY!!!

To beard or not to beard

Why do men (and apparently some women) have the capability to grow facial hair? What useful purpose does it serve? Some people may argue that its purpose is to keep its owner warm. But how much warmth could it possibly provide? And why do some men have the ability to grow a thick and plentiful beard while other men can barely grow a whisker? Recently I heard a radio show that claims Native Americans cannot grow facial hair. Could that be true? And wouldn't they have needed facial warmth, if that is indeed the purpose of a beard?

If anyone cares to shed some light on this topic, please do! I welcome your thoughts :)

Say hello to Husband with a beard (which, ironically, will be removed on my birthday, leaving only the mustache behind!). As you can see, he is quite capable of growing a thick and wiry beard. For the first couple weeks it was very itchy and uncomfortable. I'm pretty sure he's itching to lose the beard, though there may be some separation anxiety when it comes time to remove it. In his (and my) defense, it is part of a six-week Toys for Tots fundraiser. The culmination is a mustache contest, but he refused to grow the mustache without the beard. His reasoning? Some people can pull off a mustache and look decent, while other just look creepy. He didn't want to look creepy (thank goodness!)

Countdown: 5 more days!

I cannot believe that the date is approaching so quickly! It seems like I've been blogging about it for ages. This past week I've had the chance to think more about the whole idea of turning thirty. At first I started the blog because I thought all the hype about turning thirty was just that, hype. But my thoughts may be changing. Turning thirty means the end of my twenties. For the next ten years I can be only thirty-something, no longer a twenty-something. But is that really so terrible? I frequently hear on television shows and movies that forty is the new thirty. Wouldn't that mean thirty is the new twenty?

So here's the bottom line: I'm turning thirty in five days and can't do a thing to change it. I could borrow my mother's idea and start counting my age backwards, which would mean I'd either stay 29 or return to 28. A tempting idea, but I'm not interested in denial.

They way I see it I have two choices. I can mope about and fall victim to society's irrational obsession that turning thirty means the end of my youth, or I can embrace my upcoming 30th birthday and see it as a blessing. Intuition tells me the latter would be the better choice.

TGIF and the search for the perfect shoe

Thank goodness it's Friday! Really. What. A. Week. It went by quickly, but it also felt especially long if that makes any sense at all.

In a previous post I wrote about how disappointed I was (and maybe still am) in the lack of comfortable, stylish, and affordable shoe options for teachers. We, like nurses, doctors, and other professionals, are on our feet all day. By the end of most days my heels, calves, knees, and sometimes back hurt from standing in mediocre shoes on an unforgiving tile floor for most of the day. Recently I noticed multiple teachers I work with wearing the same style shoe. After inquiring, I learned that those shoes are DANSKOs, a brand of expensive clog originally designed by a couple from Denmark. Every owner/wearer I spoke to swears that they are so comfortable they bought more than one pair. So, out of pain and desperation I bit the bullet and bought a pair. I have to say, so far I'm not convinced they are so wonderfully comfortable. I wore them around the store and it felt like I was walking on a hard wood block. How can that be good for my feet? I do like that they have a substantial arch, which I find most dress shoes lacking. I also like that they have a bit of a lift to them, because that will help me look taller without having to suffer through heels all day. I feel much older than 29 right now. Who thought I'd be searching for comfortable, practical shoes before my 30th birthday? Certainly not me. Happy almost-30th Birthday, Bridget, you now own a pair of plain black clogs. Whoopee!

If you have DANSKOs and love them (or don't love them), please comment below and tell me! I'm on the fence - do I keep (and give them a chance) or return?

Old Man Winter

I've known for awhile that winter would rear its cold, snowy head eventually, but we've been so spoiled the past couple of years that I hoped it would hold off for a bit. Well, it's here and it looks like it's staying. So I shouldn't have been surprised by the bone-chilling cold air today. But I was. Time to break out the long, poofy bubble coat, which I bought for these cold New York winters.

By the way, for those of you who might think cold weather is something new for me, I grew up in Southern New York. The air was just as cold there. Could it be that in my old age I am becoming less tolerant to the cold weather? I blast the heat in my car until it gets so hot that when I move my arm my watch, which has been in the direct path of the heat vent, burns my skin. But I don't learn. Every day I do the same thing. I am THAT desperate to get warm. Right now I am curled up on my couch in my warm flannel pajamas with a super warm and buttery soft blanket wrapped around me. Between my body and the blanket, leaning against my stomach, is a microwavable heat bag. Most people stick it in the mic for about a minute and a half, I heat it for three minutes. And then reheat it again. My shower water is scalding hot. I even brush my teeth with hot water. I revel in sitting in the sun, feeling its warm rays on my body.

I think the snow is really pretty, especially when it clings to the trees and sparkles in the sun. I like tubing and want to try snow shoeing. I've gone cross-country skiing but I wasn't very good. Maybe I'll try that again this year. In the past I've enjoyed skiing. I even have a pair of skis engraved with my name - I know, LOOOOSER! But mostly I enjoy curling up on the couch with a heat bag, under a blanket with a cup of hot tea cradled in my hands watching a cheesy movie or reading a fast-paced book. Ah, the possibilities. For now, I'll welcome winter, cozy up to my heat bag, and remind myself to wear my poofy coat.

Let it rain, let it rain, let it RAIN

Notice how people are always so entertained by the weather? It's such a common conversation piece. There is something so exciting about storms, whether it be pouring rain, snow, wind,or thunderstorm. Right now it's about 50 degrees and raining, with strong gusts of wind making eerie noises through the house. It shouldn't be fascinating, but to me it is. If it was cold enough to snow, we would be in trouble! There are major flood warnings out through Thursday morning, and the local news channel is predicting massive power outages as a result of 50 mph winds. I don't think I want to know what a gust that strong feels like! Again, if this was snow I'd be wearing my pajamas inside out and backwards, flushing ice cubes down the toilet, putting cotton balls underneath my pillow, and running laps around the dining room table hoping desperately for a snow day. Wait, I think I just heard thunder. Or it could be the train (which also captivates me!). I think maybe the weather is so exciting to me because it's a force that cannot be controlled. Mother Nature is unstoppable (although I did hear recently about scientists that have devised a way to alter weather patterns and precipitation - very bad idea!), and her storms can be quite fierce and unpredictable. I mean, how often are weather predictions correct? More than half the time it seems that the meteorologists are taking their best guesses on the weather for any given day. Even storm predictions fall short. A prediction for a foot of snow really only drops 3 inches. A 5-inch snow prediction has left us with two feet. Is there no way to accurately predict the weather? If there isn't, that's fine, but let's not pretend there is by creating and using fancy technology like the Doppler system.

As a kid I was absolutely terrified of thunderstorms. At the first sound of thunder my entire body would stiffen and I'd break out in a cold sweat! If I was at home I would immediately retreat to the basement with my favorite teddy bear and a flashlight...all by myself, counting the seconds until it would all be over. Crazy, huh? My family thought I was absolutely nuts. My brother loved thunderstorms so much (either that or he just loved torturing me) that he would stand outside in a thunder and lightning storm, staring up at the sky. I attribute my fear to the day I was in the child seat on the back of my dad's bike and we were several miles from home. It started to thunder and I remember being really scared. It started lightning and pouring and I started screaming and crying. My dad says I totally freaked out. I think that is definitely the day my fear was born. My fear of thunderstorms has, for the most part, diminished - thank goodness! Now house centipedes have replaced that fear! (Ewwww!)

10 DAYS and flush

Whew! Thanksgiving was a whirlwind this year! We spent Thanksgiving with my family, then traveled back upstate for a second feast. Sunday we were invited by my in-laws to another turkey dinner. I loved every minute of it! THREE Thanksgiving dinners and I didn't have to cook a single one. I'd say I made out well.

Well, the birthday to end this blog will occur in 10 days (Dec. 9th). I don't really know what I'm expecting to happen, or if I should expect anything at all. Will something magical happen the moment I turn 30? Will I be wiser and more sophisticated? My bet says no. Just another year, another number. One hope is that I'll be able to celebrate somehow, sometime, and somewhere with my Love and good friends! The other is that I get a Blog of Note.

Now onto the real blogging part. I have to bring this up. What is it that prevents people from flushing a public toilet after they've gone to the bathroom? I hope that on my birthday I'll have an entire day of no unpleasant surprises when I walk into any stall. It's so gross, really. I mean, is it that difficult to push the handle? A gentle kick would also do the job. I don't mind so much when there is only pee in the bowl, but there's absolutely NO NEED for anything more substantial to linger behind. Oh, and.... if you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie! PLEASE!!!!!

'Tis the season

'Tis the season for peace, joy, love, and crazed shopping!

Well, the day after Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season here in America. Store decorations are up, sales are abundant, people are skittering every which way looking for the perfect gifts for their precious ones, and Christmas music plays on the radio. Hanukkah begins the first week of December, with Christmas soon to follow.

Usually the holiday season raises my spirits and adds an extra spring to my step. Not this year, though. I am not feeling Christmas-y. It's unfortunate, really, because I look forward to this season all year long. I guess I'm in a rut. Maybe things will turn around?

With that said, I'm hardly getting any shopping done because I'm not in the right mood. Anyone who normally gets a gift from me at Christmas, including my family, may feel gypped this year. I'm hoping my advance apology will grant me pardon!

Enjoy the season...

Thanksgiving = Give Thanks

I love this time of year. Thanksgiving is here, and Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner. Holiday lights are up, the temperature is getting colder (well, that isn't much fun!), and snow starts to flurry. People are abuzz with shopping lists and pre-holiday tasks. Parking lots are packed and people seem a little cheerier. It's a magical time of year!

But of course, nothing would be magical if I didn't have family and friends to celebrate with. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of giving thanks for who and what we have in our lives.

I plan to take some time over the next few days and focus on the people and things that I am thankful for in my life. I recently heard someone say that we should be happy with what we have instead of focusing on what we don't have. That resonated deeply with me because it's so easy to get caught up with what we don't have and what we want. Television commercials, magazine ads, billboards, and movies all remind us of what we don't have but could have.

When we sit down to make our holiday "wish" lists, maybe we could also make a "thanks" list. What are we thankful for? Who could we give thanks to? It always feels better to give than to receive (although receiving feels wonderful, too). If you try this and find you have difficulty listing things you are thankful for, watch the documentary titled "God Grew Tired of Us". It's the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan who trekked over 1,000 miles to reach safety at a refugee camp in Kenya while their country was torn apart by civil war. Many have been placed in the United States, where things like electricity, indoor plumbing, refrigerated food, and beds were a new experience for them. These are things I take for granted every single day. This documentary was a reminder of how much I do take for granted, so this year I'd like to spend time being thankful for what I have instead of thinking about the things I don't have.

Have a safe, happy, and thankful Thanksgiving everyone!

Zombie Apocalypse

My husband sometimes refers to a "zombie apocalypse". I didn't get it at first so I had to look it up. According to wikipedia, it's "a widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization."

Now, I doubted that he really believed this would happen because of its supernatural implications, and was thoroughly relieved when I realized he was really referring to the state of people's minds as being zombie-ish. He feels that people today are walking around in a state of complete self-centeredness, in an altered reality, failing to see what's really going on around them. And in that case, the zombie apocalypse IS really upon us, as you can witness for yourself by clicking here.

Can you believe this? I am astonished. And frightened. Really frightened.

Final Countdown

Well, I realized today that The Big Day, my 30th birthday, is less than one month away. On December 9th I will turn The Big 3-0. I can hardly believe I have been blogging for nearly ten months! In light of the upcoming event, I took some time today to ponder the idea of a birthday. In my mind, birthdays are celebratory. Why not celebrate the day one was born? I believe life is a gift, and a birthday is a perfect opportunity to be thankful for that life and celebrate it with the people who really make up that life: friends and family. Then I started to think about how we only celebrate that one day. I mentioned to someone that I would like to celebrate my birthday for an entire week. She suggested the entire month. At first I laughed at the ridiculousness of it, but then I stopped. Why NOT celebrate for the entire month? So, I made a decision. This year, the year that I turn "Dirty Thirty", I am going to celebrate my birthday for the entire month of December. What does that mean? It means I am going to do something to celebrate "me" each day for the entire month. It might be something small like taking the time to paint my nails, meditating, or giving myself an extra hour of sleep. Or it might be something bigger like having dinner with friends or going to a movie or show. I don't get to do all the things I enjoy because life gets in the way. That is no longer going to suffice as an excuse, at least for the month of December. I am thankful for my life, and I know that 30 has great things in store for me. I'm going to celebrate being 29 until December 9th, and then I'll celebrate being 30 until the 31st (an beyond, of course). Life is a blessing and I am very happy to be here. I plan to celebrate that blessing!

Countdown: 22 days!

Meditation Medication

It shouldn't be any surprise that I thoroughly enjoy reading. I used to read simply for entertainment, getting my thrills as a kid from books like The Babysitters' Club, Sweet Valley Twins, and Nancy Drew, and later moving on to mystery/thrillers by authors such as R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, and Stephen King. In high school and college I had no time to read anything for leisure as my days and nights were filled reading mandatory selections, and I was barely able to finish those on time. I entered into a reading slump at that time, with reading for fun taking a place on the back burner. After moving back home after college, and pre-graduate school and working almost full-time, I started dabbling with books again. The first one? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Poor choice. I hated most of it, but trudged through it to the end. I got smarter with my second choice: The Da Vinci Code Special Illustrated Edition. That got me back on track and things progressed. Now I LOVE reading again, and not just for entertainment. I like to read some non-fiction, too, in hopes that I'll better myself in some way.

Some teachers are stuck on having students read "quality" literature and the classics, but I have to be honest, I've read a lot of what's considered "quality" literature along with many classics and they just don't keep my interest. We took our classes to see the musical Little Women last year, and to prepare myself I read the unabridged, original version. I won't even say how long it took me to complete it, but it was a long time. So I don't push the classics or even quality literature. My advice to students (and their parents) is read. Read a magazine, newspaper, cheesy chapter book, even the back of the cereal box. As long as a child is reading, and reading for fun, they are becoming a better reader and they will love reading. That is my personal opinion.

Anyway, I'm finishing The Giver right now. It's a young adult novel, so it's a quick read. The messages in this book are so powerful and relevant to our world today. If you have not read this book, make sure it's your next pick from the library or bookstore. It will change the way you look at society and the way things are. Now off to my next book, a gift from a friend: One Day by David Nicholls. I can't wait: I'm so excited! Reading has now taken the place of TV watching in my life.

(If you have book suggestions, send them my way. I love reading books based on personal recommendations!)

Two springs ago I read Eat, Pray, Love (don't judge it by the movie). I think it was that book that introduced me to the idea of introducing meditation to my life. After reading the book, I tried to meditate. I mean I TRIED. Rather than calm me, it frustrated me. I couldn't do it with ten thousand thoughts popping through my head. I love how the sun feels on my back right now. That breeze feels good. I wish I was at the beach. Maybe we can go to the beach this summer. I'd need a pedicure first. What color should I get? It went on and on and on. Then I got smarter, realizing I couldn't do it on my own, so I picked up a guided meditation CD from the library. I had better success with that. The problem is, I haven't graduated beyond the guided CD. The book I just read by Deepak Chopra recommends meditating 30 minutes twice a day. I would love to do that, but I don't think I can. Can I even sit still for that long? Probably not. Anyway, that is one of my new goals, to meditate twice a day (even if only for a few minutes). Everything I've read claims it is restorative to the mind, body, and soul. I'm ready to be restored!

Frenchie French French French!

I may have already mentioned this, but I am absolutely infatuated with France and most things French. I have even idealized the French people, and often find myself making excuses for what others perceive to be rude French behavior. Maybe I was French in a past life.....

Anyway, I studied French in college and later enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris while on a study abroad adventure. There were some trying days, but all in all it was a pleasant trip full of personal growth and discovery. And lots of baguettes! I came back from Paris in 2001 and graduated from college in 2002. In 8 years I have spoken little to no French, but find myself waking from dreams completely spoken in French. I have regretted not being able to continue my practice of the French language, and I do miss certain aspects of French culture. I've even been stalking novels that take place in France just so I can get my French "fix". Well, God has been listening to the silent wishes of my soul.

On Friday I learned that I would have the opportunity to teach both Social Studies AND Language Arts to a young boy from Madagascar, whose second language (and the language spoken in his previous school) is French. He speaks little English, so I was thrilled to get him in my classes. He speaks English as much as he can, and then sometimes asks for clarification in French. Today I explained the concept of a lake (remember where he is from - he understands it as a sea), and he told me "J'ai pas de gomme." It took me a minute, but eventually I realized he needed an eraser. Evidently I've forgotten the difficulty of bouncing back and forth between languages - not an easy feat, at least not yet. I do, however, love that I am able to communicate with him. And here's the best part: today he told me that my French "is very good"! Woo-hoo! Still got it...

Wegmans

I have to say it. I love Wegmans. LOVE L.O.V.E LOOOOOOVE Wegmans. It is the greatest supermarket in the world (I'm guessing on that one, but it seems like it has to be). If you've never been to Wegman's, you are truly missing out. Did you not hear Alec Baldwin during his stint on "The Late Show"? His mother refuses to move closer to him because she'll miss Wegman's. Now if that doesn't speak volumes about Wegman's, I don't know what will. Bottom line: it is the be-all-end-all of supermarkets. When my parents come to visit, my dad spends no less than two hours shopping there, filling the car with bags of amazing things. It is superior.



There is one thing that drives me crazy about Wegman's, though. The people. Earlier this week I referenced those with no spatial awareness. Tonight I'll focus on the cart leavers. That's right. The people who can't walk ten feet to the nearest cart return. Instead, they leave it next to their car and drive off, or they push it away from their car and drive off, leaving the cart to smash into some innocent shopper's car. We all know that's rude, but how LAZY is that? The cart returns are strategically placed in the parking lot, making it more than easy to walk the cart and leave it there for the cart crew to pick up. Maybe I am especially annoyed by this because my car was once hit by one of these "runaway" carts and dented to such a degree that my front door would not open. If I ever personally witness someone doing this in the parking lot, you can bet money that I will confront that person about their rude and lazy attitude and it will NOT be pretty. Very little irritates me MORE than people being inconsiderate due to laziness. It was almost 70 degrees today. It's not even snowing. There is no excuse. Return the cart!

It is such a widespread problem, in fact, that there is a support ribbon for it! (See a previous post on Support Ribbons )

Fear Mongering

Fear mongering, according to Wikipedia, is the use of fear to influence the opinions and actions of others towards some specific end. Yesterday I spent my day off getting the flu shot (my arm still hurts today) and having my yearly eye exam. The "vision center" was an absolute zoo. I suppose I should have expected it, with it being a holiday and all. Finally, my name was called and I sauntered back to the dreaded glaucoma test site. There has to be a better way for testing besides blowing air into each eyeball. I can usually sit still for the first "puff", but my eye has a mind of its own and blinks uncontrollably in anticipation for the second "puff". When it was over I was directed to a row of chairs to wait. I pulled out my book, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and read. Minutes later I was called into the exam room by a man not much older than me. I sat down in the exam chair and he read my file aloud. I said "correct" several times, mentioned that I swim with goggles over my contacts, and then he launched into a speech about contacts and bacterial infections. Apparently baths, showers, pillows, pools, lakes, rivers, and hands can cause serious eye infections. He pulled out a poster of hideous eye infections to illustrate his point. What the heck, dude? He hadn't even assessed my eyes at this point, but I was concerned. Was there something wrong with me eyes? Upon examining my eyes he found no problems (thank GOD!), but I was still shaking. He continued his rant about how people overuse their contacts and then come into the office complaining that they scratched their eye, which he said is impossible to do. I couldn't help it, but I had to interrupt him and point out that my husband did indeed wake up one recent morning with a terrible searing pain in his eye that turned out to be a scratch. He was treated with antibiotic drops and felt better. The "doctor" then backtracked and said it was certainly possible, but not often. I think it's time to find alternative eye care. Fear mongering isn't appreciated, especially when it's unwarranted and directed at me while I'm sitting in an exam chair. So take note, doctors, keep your fears to yourself.

Success

I have to admit that lately I've been very interested in spirituality. Maybe it started a couple years ago when I read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Her exploration of three different countries and cultures helped to heal her soul and put meaning back into her life. I just finished listening to an audio book of Deepak Chopra's called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. I love Deepak, I really do. I've read a few of his books and thoroughly enjoyed them, but they were challenging to get through. Deepak doesn't fluff his writing. Every single sentence is meaningful, thus making it impossible to read quickly or leisurely. Mostly, I find myself reading and re-reading specific sentences and paragraphs. When listening to this audio book I was constantly rewinding so that I could receive the full impact of his messages. It turns out there is also a DVD version of the book. I watched that, too. His book promotes positive thinking and living, and the 7 laws are simple. Check out the extremely condensed summary of each law, along with suggestions for daily practice HERE. I absolutely believe the world would be a better place if more people read books with messages like those that Deepak conveys.

Practice silencing your mind. Wish people well when you come into contact with them. Don't be hasty in actions: think of the potential consequences beforehand and focus on bringing good things into people's lives. Accept things as they are (within reason, of course). Ask yourself: What do I desire? Don't force things. Find your unique talent and use it to serve humanity.

Spatial Awareness

Recently I have noticed that people have very little spacial awareness. This evening I was at Wegmans trying to get some produce and meat for supper, and I was continuously encountering people who were just standing around in La-la Land. I must have said excuse me at least 20 times, and the people would eventually move but not without bumping into my cart or a store display. Coming down aisles I was greeted frequently by carts just sitting in the middle of the aisle while their drivers were gazing blankly at the shelves. When are people going to realize that they are in my way?! (Ha-ha!) Seriously, though, a little bit of social awareness in public wouldn't hurt any of us, and it would probably allow more people to be more time efficient.