Realistic, Attainable Goals

Yesterday morning, Emily and I were sitting in the living room messing around on our new laptops.  (YAY!)  She and I spent most of the day lounging around.  I have been plagued this past week with a recurring (and I believe stress-related) backache.  Emily was more than happy to spend a lazy Saturday keeping me company.  From time to time, our conversation broke the silence of our fingers clicking on the keyboards.

Pelicans and Pumpkins

My laptop has crashed on me, and the only computer available to me at this time is the family computer.  I could use my iPad, but I can’t quite get the flow of typing anything of any length on a virtual keyboard.  Call me old-school. So for the time being, I am relegated to using the computer in the room off the kitchen.  There are a lot of crumbs in the keyboard, and I’ve had several pop-ups advertising Sponge Bob related websites.  Lola is standing in the doorway watching me type and asking repeatedly what I’m doing.  T is in the kitchen a few steps away talking with Shannon’s dad.  They are looking through my great-grandpa’s coin collection, and discussing them LOUDLY.  The TV in the nearby living room is blasting, and Pepper the Wondercat is sitting my lap.  This low-level of chaos is making it difficult to organize my thoughts, but I wanted to write for a few moments.

Imagine My Surprise

I’ve been silent for a while in the blogging world.  I’ve missed writing, but I’ve been afraid.  I was a little freaked out.  A couple of weeks ago, I took a sick day.  I wasn’t feeling well, was exhausted, and I knew that the rest of my week was going to be full of long days.  Sure, I could have made it through the day, but I was running on empty.  My tank was sucking fumes.  The  morning I stayed home sick, I took things slowly.  Eventually, I ended up on my patio with my iPad and a cup of coffee.  I was going to write.  When I logged into my blog, I was shocked.  Someone from my office had logged on earlier that morning, but I was NOT in the office.  I immediately changed my password and set the blog to private.

Kindle Me Happy

I question everything.  I seek understanding.  Until I have answers to my questions, my mind won’t shut up.  If I don’t understand something, especially the behavior of others, I mull it over and over until I am satisfied with their motives, reasons, or what is causing their behavior.  If someone snaps at me without cause, I try not to take it personally.  Instead, I want to help.  What has them upset?  What’s wrong?  What can I do to help?  Most times in my life, this has served me well.  My attempts to empathize and understand the behavior of those around me (and not take it personally) has given me a better understanding of myself and has kept conflict to a minimum.

Humbling

Prior to my  recent trip to Baltimore, T suggested that I contact an old school friend of ours who lived near where I would be staying.  We all grew up together.   Jim and T were best friends during high school.  We have once again connected with him though Facebook.  Although I had not communicated with  him personally, I decided to take T’s suggestion.  I sent Jim  a message telling him about my trip to his city and T’s suggestion that I look him up while I was in town.  Jim responded that he would love to get together.  Unfortunately, he had previous plans to be in New York City during most of my visit to Baltimore.  I responded, and told him not to worry about it.  I gave him my cell number just in case he returned home while I was still in town.  I really didn’t expect to hear from him.