Jayla's first Zoo adventure....

Silence....

Awe the joy of silence. Tonight I have treated myself to a roaring fire, a glass of wine (almost said bottle...that would have been the old me) some fresh bread and a hunk of cheese (the old me would have had a Hunk to go with it). The TV is silent and the only noise I hear is is the hissing of the wood and the howling of the wind. Now this is almost nirvana after the last few days. I almost feel sad that I am enjoying my solitude...but then I get over it.
Yesterday I had a conversation with a very dear friend who is like a daughter to me. It seems that all of a sudden our roles have reversed. She used to be the quiet one, content to stand in the background and absorb what was taking place in front of her. Me, I was the one taking place! Me who never missed a party, was the life of the party and life was a party. I used to try to coax her out, come join the fun. "No, I will just watch"... So watch me she did. Now it is her time, her saying to me...come on join the fun. With me replying....no not tonight maybe next time. She is the life of the party now and the party wants her. Wow, how did this happen? Is this part of the CHANGE???? If so I am OK... I have had so many noisy nights in my life the quiet sounds really good for a change.........and I know where the party is if I should change my mind!

the "NEWS"...

Yesterday our restaurant was closed due to a leaking pipe of some sort. The sort that caused us to close for business for the day. Today didn't look any better at the start either. The reason I mention this is that when my "significant other" Frank isn't working he is obsessed with the TV... not just the TV but the talking "Heads" kind of TV (the news) and old movies. Sometimes I am amazed at how many times he can watch the those old classics just like he was seeing them for the first time. As he says: they don't make them like they used too!
Since my home is of the small variety I can't seem to get away from the sound of the TV unless I go to bed. I also need to mention that I do not watch ANY news programs, local or national anymore. I once read a book on health by Andrew Weil M.D. that suggested people need to take a break from the news. It would do a soul good to get away from the gloom and doom for a little news vacation. I found that for me he was completely right. What news I do get is from the Internet, the kind where you can choose what you read or educate yourself about. No bleeding heart stories for me. If I want to feel bad all I need to do is look around me, someone has it worse than I ever have. There is so much sadness and suffering in our own backyards we don't need to watch the news to feel bad. Someone is always dying, someone is always sick. The list goes on and on. I get up every day and am grateful that I do. If I am feeling down and want to feel better about myself I call downtown to the Red Cross Apheresis center and make an appointment to make a donation of plasma and platelets. I look at the pictures of all those who will benefit from my gift and fill such an overwhelming since of contributing and gratefulness. If I have a friend that is in need of some sort I make sure I offer whatever I have that would be of help to them. I make sure I touch peoples lives that touch mine in a good way and at the end of the day I feel pretty good about the day and look forward to tomorrow.
So after spending a day and a half with the TV going non stop I came to the realization that it is no wonder Frank is a GRUMP! He is being feed the most depressing information a person can consume and not just once, he channels surfs! GLOOM AND DOOM INC. should be the name of some of them. What I wonder is where did all of these experts come from??? For every left opinion there is a right opinion and if that isn't enough there is the middle ground. It really isn't the "NEWS" anymore its really programs about all of the EXPERT OPINOINIST that are out there.
If people believe what they are lead to believe from ALL the different OPINIONS that all the EXPERTS are spouting at them they might as well go to bed and never get out. What surprises me the most is how many EXPERTS there are out there? No wonder our economy is in the pits, our biggest employer seems to be the media! What do these experts do to earn their money???
Its not bad enough that we had to listen to one or two at a time they now have views that have more than 8-10 people across your screen. Each one scrambling to be heard over the others. Who can understand one thing that comes out of their mouths???? Still talking about bad news that happened months and months ago that they just keep rehashing like its going to change the outcome?
I can't take it anymore. Frank has got to go to work or I will go to bed and never get out....

Consistency

As I contemplated the New Year on Jan. 1st. I decided that I was really going work at setting goals this year. So as not to overwhelm myself I decided to keep my goals small, somethng to build on. So in reflecting where I needed some "work" I decided my new goal word to sum things up for this year is "Consistancy".
This is a definition from Dictionary.com: steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.: There is consistency in his pattern of behavior.
Yep, that sounds just like what I need. So I am off to the book store to get me some books on becoming "consistent". This is how I tackle things, I find my answers in books.
Wow! I must not be the only one suffering from this affliction. There were literally hundreds of books to choose from. So I needed to narrow it down to specifics. So where did I need to start? I don't want to answer that here so I will just say that the book I chose was "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. Not only did I buy the "book" I also bought the audio book! We cant have too much re enforcement now can we (this is the way my mind works).
Since another goal I set for myself was to start doing something to get myself in better shape physically I figured that I would be really good and listen to it while I was sweating away on my treadmill. Then, when I had some quiet time, I could pick up the book and read what I had listened to on my player. Now wait, I need to tell you that if I was going to really commit to walking the treadmill I needed to treat myself to a brand spanking new player, new walking shoes, new outfits for walking, you get the picture. I am all geared up! So now I am all set to start on my path......this is going to be the year I get my stuff together.
That was at the beginning of January and this is the beginning of February.....and I am sad to report that I have gotten no things done.... treadmill is dusty, shoes still a bright white. I have worn the new outfits because that are really comfy to wear around the house. I haven't even gotten past the beginning of the book! The only thing I have been able to be consistent at is shopping and spending MONEY!!! Why is that such a natural thing with me??? What am I going to do???? Is there help for me and is there a book that covers this??? (and does it come in an audio?) .....

CHANGE

Change
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change the nation.When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family.Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realized that if long ago I had changed myself,I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on my town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
-Unknown Monk, A.D. 1100
Napoleon HillWorld Learning Centerwww.naphill.org

Social networking works how???

Here is a link to a great description of Social Networking and what it can do for you in business and its a visual, for me thats important!
Check this guy out he is a riot but gets the point across. http://perrybelcher.com/blog6/2008/11/30/how-to-make-money-with-social-media/

That GUT feeling

Today I am reflecting on how long it has been since I have felt a sense of hope about our Country. When I think back to how I felt when GW got elected for the first time, I felt????? a major sense of Dread. When I think back to how GW handled going to WAR I felt???? an alarming sense of Dread. I remember thinking nothing good can come of this. To sum it up I have been walking around with a sense of dread for so long I never realized the effect it had on me. Today I have been in tears most of the morning, thinking of what a monumental moment this is. I, for the first time in a long time, woke up excited and full of HOPE and I have learned to trust my gut. This new president comes with a mighty message. We must all be the change we want to see. I don't know about most but I for one will be! I know that Change will not happen overnight, but the idea that we have someone as our leader that believes it can happen is thrilling to me. I wasn't old enough to remember what the feeling was like when John F Kennedy was elected but I bet it was pretty close to what I am feeling today. Oh happy day....