Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

You could ask Erik and he'd tell you, I've been worried lately... worried and wound up. I know my worries are small and nothing to get worked up about in comparison to the worries some have of food and shelter. So I'm leaving my worries behind. I once told Erik that I couldn't turn off my worries like a light switch, so quickly and instantaneously, but I heard you can learn to. So to teach myself not to be in a state of worry, here is what I'm going to do:

• Workout - because that does wonders for the body and the mind.
• Stop dwelling on my worries - the source of the worry still my be present but if I can't do anything about it then I don't need to worry about it.
• Be thankful. Be thankful for family and friends.
  
• Believe in myself.
  
• Enjoy. Enjoy each moment.
• Do good.
  
• Smile.
  

Some quotes I like:

"This too shall pass." - my Mom

"Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awaking worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you." - Charlie Brown to Snoopy

"There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem." - Harold Stephens

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." - Benjamin Franklin

The Well and the Mine

I finished another book... I'm on quite a roll for 2010.

The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I like historical fiction so this was right up my alley. This book was good and I'd recommend it. I enjoyed the beginning, but I felt like it lost something toward the end. It is about a family and living in a mining town in Alabama and quest of two young girls to find out who dropped a baby down their family's well. It is interesting to think about how much people struggled and today we take things for granted, like soles on our shoes.

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In Need of a Weekend?

How about a long one? Oh yes please and thank you! This weekend's plans are to take it as it comes, sleep-in, read, workout, eat, relax and let go, all comes down to some fun.

I started off the weekend by sleeping in a bit, but not too much that you feel like the day is gone. Erik and I went in search of a hike. We drove across town to Baker Park Reserve, and drove around the beautiful country in search of some hiking trails. We could have driven right onto the lake if desired in my little focus. We did find that entrance to the park. We finally found our way to the winter recreation area and found out that there are little to no hiking trails. They pointed us in the direction of one but made no guarantees about it's condition. We found the trudged on trail that looked like it was used by many different users: snowshoers, skiers, hikers, coyote, rabbits, mice, and the song birds (nuthatch, chickadee, and downy woodpecker). Our feet slipped into the snow on the side of the packed down trail making for not quite great hiking, but that was okay as we were enjoying being out and about.


Then we drove into Excelsior and walked around the quaint downtown. We ate at Jake O'Connor's. It was a great place to have lunch. We also stopped into a little overstocked-little-bit-of-everything store, Leopold's, because of the cat in the store's doorway. The cat's name is Boots and is a sweetheart - definitely a great cat for a store.

I finished Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. It was a good read. I liked it a lot, which is obvious because I finished it so quickly. I liked how there was always a turn of adventure and it is based on a true story, the story of the author's grandmother. I also liked the short chapters inside longer ones. They were sort of like bursts of information. I haven't read Jeannette Wall's other book The Glass Castle, but I might have to put it on my to read list, which seems to be growing by leaps and bounds.

Books... they seem like they have been taking me a long time to finish lately. Maybe it is the reasons listed in my last post. Well, I finished one. I read most of it quickly for a book club, but didn't make it that night and put off reading for other activities, but I got to the end finally. I read The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. It was an easy read with fun characters. It reminded me of the challenges we go through and how they shape us and show our true character. Something to keep in mind I guess in the midst of life's many challenges. Next on the agenda is Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I just started this one tonight and I can see that it will probably hold my attention quite well.

There simply is not enough time in the day! I have a multitude of interests and a finite amount of time. I just can't quite get all the things I'd like to do accomplished when I'd like to. This has been sort of an issue with me this week... I feel defeated, but at the same time I know that I'm blessed with all the things that I'm fortunate enough to do and the people I have around me that support me in my activities.

I have read some magazine articles about people who are doing it all and I think wow, I should be able to do it all and have a smile on my face, but the truth is that there may be people out there that can do it all, but there are always sacrifices for what you choose to do, and they probably aren't sharing the negative side of "doing it all" in the article.

I like having many interests. Lately some of my focus has been to workout, excel at work, read (maybe actually finish the book I've been reading for a month), be prepared, do some New Year's cleaning, house hunting, and the other daily things like dishes and laundry that need done and brushing my teeth. :) Other things that I'd like to throw in the mix are some sewing, cleaning of our office, taking some pictures outside (this also requires the weather to cooperate), workout a little longer, and cook some nice meals instead of a bowl of cereal for dinner (although that is good sometimes) and not feel so wiped out when the alarm goes off in the morning. And of course, I think, maybe I'm just selfish that I have all these desires to do things and I do know when the time comes kids will change it all, but for right now, in this moment, I'll do what I can and enjoy every moment that I can.

Here is a quote I liked from my peppermint tea:
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.
- Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)

Deep Freeze

We are in a bit of a deep freeze, actually colder than that of a freezer (the average is set to about zero degrees Fahrenheit). I don't enjoy temperatures this cold, but the one benefit of this Canadian air mass that has situated itself over us - the sunshine. We've had beautifully sunny days and I so love seeing the sun in the winter! So while the farmer's almanac predict January to be a colder than average month, hopefully the sun will be plentiful and we can have some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I'd love to venture out and take some pictures at that time of the day, but I just can't quite convince myself to go out in the cold for a picture. I'm also not sure how the digital camera would hold up to temperatures this cold. So the picture above is from the dining room of my parents as the sun is headed down during that blue time of the day that Katie loves so much.

The new puppy

Erik and I went over to my parents on New Years Day to say hello to the little new guy that became part of the family. Sonoma, or Sonny, is a 5 month old border collie that my parents rescued. He is a great deal of fun and loves the squeaky toys he has been spoiled with. He is a very smart dog and is well trained. Cricket, my parent's cat, is less than thrilled about the new addition, but hopefully she will adapt and come out of hiding.

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year to you! I'm ready to start things anew!

We had a pretty laid back New Year's Eve at home. We had the opportunity to go places for the night, but chose to stay in. We made salmon and roasted broccoli for dinner and had some bubbly. We watched Cinderella Man, which we had borrowed, but as we watched we both realized we've seen before, but a good movie and we didn't remember all of it, so nice way to spend the night. We also discussed/debated when a decade ends and begins and if it is our numerical system or society that decides that today. I'd say society.

The New Year brought with it some chilly temperatures to this part of the country. We are freezing up here, actually much colder than freezing! In fact, our digital thermometer broke last night. It was -10.6 and then it had it and isn't reading right now. I suspect it is the battery, or at least I hope it is only the battery.

I've been enjoying my long weekend with trips to the Y and lounging around in my warm chunky knit socks. I wish I could find another pair of fun thick knit socks like that. They are originally from REI and I've looked for them in many places without any luck. I might just have to knit myself a pair.