So my hubby recently sent me an e-mail that contained the following link.  It describes the “12 germiest places” in your life.  Out of the entire article, I couldn’t help but wonder who was the poor sod whose job it was to measure the amount of feces in each pair of dirty underwear … 

http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/2007/10/articles/food-safety-communication/12-germiest-places/index.html

Some people are so good at appreciating luxury.  Five stars are a necessity.   For me, frugality still often wins out.  I just can’t enjoy myself if I feel like I’ve overspent.

My parents recently got a new luxury vehicle.  We all refer to it as the “hotrod.”  I’ve been anxious about driving it as I do not want to be the one to christen it with the first ding. 

Well, I had to drive it today as our car was in the shop.  I sat down on the heated leather driver’s seat and the only thing I could think of was that it felt like I had peed my pants.  One person’s luxury is another person’s …

I have been away from my “blogging practice” lately.  In pondering the whys of this situation, it dawned on me that I seem to have room for only so many “practices” at any one time in my life.  For instance, if I’m working hard on my healthy eating practice, my blogging practice drops off.  Or if I’m spending a lot of time on my cooking practice, some of my exercise practices may fall away. 

I have recently begun a new healing visualization practice, to work on ridding my body of the diabetes it does not need.  This is one practice I cannot afford to give up.

I have incorporated the healing visualizations into my regular meditation time, which is right before I go to sleep at night.  I originally began meditating because I had a hard time falling asleep.  I find that meditating calms my mind and body, and allows sleep to overtake me.  When I first started, I used a CD, but now I can usually reach a meditative state quite quickly and easily. 

Incorporating the visualizations has given my meditation more of a focus.  I get bored quite easily, so I alternate between many different scenarios in which I visualize my body returning to its healthy state.  One of the challenges of a chronic illness like diabetes is that my body sees this state as its “new normal.”  My body needs to be reminded of its once healthy self so it can begin the process to return there. 

I’m not sure which is harder to attain:  the simultaneous “o” (gotta keep it clean, this is a family show) or the simultaneous finishing of the shampoo and conditioner.

I finally figured it out.

While having dim sum today (did I mention how much I love dim sum?), I finally figured out the Chinese restaurant hierarchy. You know what I mean right? Who is allowed to take your order; who is allowed to bring food to your table; who is allowed to refill your teapot; who is allowed to give you your bill, etc. And everything has a specific level and those below cannot do the jobs of those above, but can only relay the information to those above so that everyone does the right thing.

Well, I finally figured out that more clothing = more power.

The top guy wears a suit.

The middle guy wears a vest and tie.

The bottom guy (usually a woman) wears an apron-y thing.

We also discovered the perils of ordering off an all-Chinese character menu. We were able to match up the numbers and English with the Chinese on the order form (or so we thought). All was going well until “steamed duck tongues” showed up on our order, instead of “spring rolls.” I have images of thousands of quackless ducks. Is it just me?

I recently had to write to my daughter’s teacher about “goals I would like her to work on this year.” One of the things I mentioned was that I would like her to focus more on the process of learning, rather than just on completing assignments as quickly as possible.

On reflection, I realized that this is also soooo me, (is it everyone?). I’m constantly looking to “the end,” with the process as something to get over with. I just want the job, the grade, the piece of paper, the satisfaction. And when I look deeper at what I really want, it usually is that feeling of satisfaction. The “check mark” that says it’s been done and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.

I remember my dad and brother having a discussion about being in process, while my brother was in university. My dad wanted my bro to value his educational process, and to look at university as a process of “delayed gratification.” My bro’s retort was “as opposed to premature gratification?” My brother always had a way of ending a conversation, and getting his ass out of the sling, by making my dad laugh. (Yes, I’m still bitter).

So, what’s my point? My point is that perhaps this is our natural human (cultural?) tendency. We want to “check off” life’s laundry list of activities in order to swiftly move on to the next item. We resist the process. Is it because it’s less definable? Less describable? Less valued? I’m not sure. I’ll have to keep processing this one.

“That’s what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get … more stuff!”

- George Carlin

My fingers have not been doing much blogging lately and I’m fairly bursting at the seams. Summer seems to get in the way of all things industrious and easily gives way to watching trash TV and lounging in all different forms. Summer to us also means lots of socializing - a chance to reconnect with family and friends.

We recently went to visit my in-laws who are of the “don’t-you-dare- throw-anything-out-that’s-still-good, and-that-means-basically -everything-you’ve-ever-owned” generation. They remind me of my mom’s parents, who kept every piece of styrofoam meat tray and washed-out plastic bag that ever entered their home.

I wrestle with both the genetic and environmental influences in my constant war against clutter. I admit it. I love stuff. But I hate, I mean I don’t care for, (the word hate is banned at our house) the feelings I get from excess stuff. It’s oppressing, and draining, and an incredible time waster. Purging, organizing, donating, and de-cluttering is now almost as fun as shopping for new stuff. The kids (the real stuff magnets in the family) are even getting good at sorting through their own stuff and deciding which stuff hasta go.

Now if only I could get them to talk to their grandparents about purging their stuff. I imagine something like this … “Grandma, about that old toilet in the playhouse…”

It’s hard to believe, but Wednesday June 20, 2007 marks my first anniversary of blogging.

To celebrate the 90 some-odd posts on my life (in general and specific), my family, my friends, my diabetes, my obsession with food and all things tasty, and my overall conviction to have some laughs while still upright, I’d like to invite you all, dear readers, to post some comments.

I know, I know, you don’t really want to post anything because you’re enjoying your anonymity while being a voyeur into my life. But what about if I promise you a chance for some nifty prizes? Or at least an opportunity to be read by tens of people (who can resist that?) Or you could see it as a chance to use up that vast resource of puns you have at your ready disposal. Or just an avenue for congratulating me on sticking to something for a whole year (did I mention I get bored easily?)

The reasons are countless and my gratitude would be fathomless. So please, take a moment to post a nifty little comment. I so want to hear from you.

I just finished reading a book by Nancy Snyderman called “Necessary Journeys - Letting Ourselves Learn from Life.” One of the topics she discusses is the choices she has made in her life in terms of her career (as a surgeon and medical correspondent), and her role as a mother. She says:

“… Does the work we do - whether that is the work of a stay-at-home mother or a job in the outside world - give each of us what we need?

When we are getting what we need - whether that’s a feeling of accomplishment from supervising homework or performing surgery, an income that supports us or improves our lives, or a sense of independence - we feel strong, act strong, and get better at everything we do. Doing feeds the soul. What a woman does in her life isn’t the point; it’s how she feels about it. And how her work, whatever it is, fills her up and rounds her out.”

I think it’s difficult for people, especially women, not to judge other women. Many of our judgments are based on superficial things like career. I know I instantly get a picture in my head when someone tells me what they do for a living.

I find it challenging to explain my own life path to others (probably because it’s always changing and even I’m not sure what it is!) People are always looking for an easy and convenient explanation - a label or a category to place you into. The truth is, for me, it’s never been that simple. I’ve always caught onto new things easily, and while that’s been great for starting things, the challenge quickly fizzles and I’m looking for something new.

For now, the answer for me is continuing to do many different things. Projects and contracts are great because they’re fun for a while and then they’re done. Continuing to go to school, to expand my mind and my spirit, works well for me. Writing feeds my creative needs, and my family overflows me with love and a whole spectrum of emotions. All I need now is some bucks!

While we were driving to dinner the other night, I saw the sign:

Used Adult Magazines.

You do the math.