I havent’t been very good recently (thanks to my mom bringing home discount sweets and to my lack of willpower), I have been cooking and baking some yummy gluten-free, dairy-free goodies. I tend to eat the bad stuff if it’s in the house; if it’s out if sight, it’s out of mind and I don’t even want it. I don’t even like how the crap tastes, but I eat it anyway. Stupid discount bakery stuff.

One thing I have found that I really like to make (especially when someone is sick) is my feel-good chicken noodle soup from scratch. I make it in a big batch that lasts for days between the three of us.

I use Tinyaka rice noodles (my favorite, and it is also okay for my blood type diet too). I cook up a couple chicken breasts, and dice them up. I then use an organic chicken broth…add in cut carrots, celery, a ton of onions and garlic, and a bunch of various spices, and allow to cook on medium until all the veggies are tender. Then, I add in the diced chicken and the cooked noodles to the broth with the tender veggies and voila…yum!

It really is delicious. :) 1 month ago

“Do your work and then step back: the only path to serenity.”

- The Tao Te Ching, 450 B.C.

1 month ago

fell off the wagon.

I was SURE that I was completely done with this goal, but here I am today (started yesterday) with five of my nails bitten down so far that it hurts to put any pressure on my fingertips. OUCH! Dummy me.

I haven’t even been too stressed out or bored…or angry. I guess the only thing that I can think of is that I haven’t been as diligent keeping up with the things that were working so well for me before: nail strengthener polish, biotin and daily supplements; lotion at night, clipping when I see the slightest tear or snag.

My poor nails aren’t as strong as they were. I stopped biting mid-January, and marked this as done in March. I really thought I would never go back down this road.

Time to get back on the wagon, and ride merrily along as I DO NOT bite my nails. I think it’s time for my rubber bands again; they helped a lot! 1 month ago

this doesn’t seem like much of a goal, but as I’m sitting here using my laptop for the first time, I realize…just how much I HATE the little mouse pad thingie on here where I use my fingers to navigate. It’s a pain in the butt!

I need to figure out which mouse is best for this laptop and what I like best, and get one. I don’t like this. scrolling is awful.

Another thing I need to figure out is why in the world when I’m typing, all of a sudden my text stops continuing where I am currently typing, and decides to start typing in another area of previous text. Weird. I also want to figure out if there is a way to make my keyboard light up. My laptop may not even have that capability…I have no clue, and that wasn’t something that I checked for when we got it. I would really like to be able to see my keys in the dark. It’s a brand-new computer that was kinda spendy. I would think it would light up. Ugh, I wish I was techy. 1 month ago

I am not the same youngin I once was. Thank you for reminding me of that; I tend to forget sometimes.

I have a much better grip on everything now, compared to the lack of grip from back then.

Thank you again for the thoughtful reminder of where I have come from, and where I am now. Makes me feel even more empowered all over again! :)

^{I will definitely be keeping my boundaries.}1 month ago

Happy 6 years here with us, JF!!!
I wish you even more confidence and many more wonderful years of your 43T journey. Thanks for sharing! :) 1 month ago

so very kind and sweet. :)
Much love and blessings to you. ♥
Thank you. 1 month ago

I’m glad he’s kept his interest in yoga. :) Do you find that it calms him at all? 1 month ago

for a rental house has been going on since before we moved back to Colorado, while we were still in Minnesota. It’s a huge pain! We’ve been searching on Craigslist and other websites, but there are so many scams out there. When we got back into town, wr stayed at my sister’s house until we were able to move into the apartment we’re in now.

What’s funny is these are the same apartments we lived in back in 2004…before dashing off to Minnesota. They weren’t so bad back then, but now, eh, it’s not the nicest place to live. We only signed a 6-month lease, as we were hoping to find a place in that time or right after the six months. In all that time, nothing has worked out. So many people call on one housr, that they’re just overdone. Houses are swamped.

We asked my sister if her landlord has any other houses to rent, and at the time he didn’t. My sister called last week to tell us that her landlord called and asked if we’d be interested in a 3-bedoom, 2-bath home close to my sister’s place. This place is in the very same neighborhood as the house I grew up in. It’s up the street and aro und the corner!!! So weird! It’s also kinda scary, because my son’s sperm donor (he has no right to have the dad/father title) lives in the neighborhood across the way. He is the reason we moved from Colorado back in 2004. I am very weary of being that close to him after trying so hard for so many years to keep 1,000+ miles between us.

We spoke to the landlord, and although he won’t allow any pets, it’s a decent fit for a year or two. He said he’d email us applications and go from there. He hasn’t sent them yet, amd we called today to remind him and check in…left a voicemail. Hopefully it works out. Like I said though, I’m quite freaked out by it. 1 month ago

Yahoo, sounds like it’ll be a fantastic trip! :)
Do you have a coutdown calendar? Heehee. 1 month ago

Yesterday, when we looked at the set-up papers for the internet, I knew I had no patience for even trying to figure it out, so my mom got it all figured out. The instructions are awful! She got it to the point where the internet was accessible while being attached to the router, but after I tried setting up the wireless network and detaching the ethernet line, there no longer was internet access.

We’ve been trying all day today to find out why we can’t use the wireless internet connection, but nothing. I even called Comcast, and was on with them for over an hour. One of the five people I spoke with was very knowledgeable and helped me do a router login through Netgear that I wouldn’t have known how to do, but even that didn’t help. He told me that Comcast doesn’t give out both the modem amd the router anymore, but rather a Gateway device that combines the two in one system…so, we will be going to exchange for that. At least we can use the internet for the moment, even if it’s tethered.

Next step is getting the Gateway, and if we can’t get wireless from that, we’ll have to have the tech that services our area come in and hook everything up for us for a fee. Hopefully the Gateway works though! It is definitely something on their end with their products. But, we did set up unternet in the home, so I’m marking this off. 1 month ago

is a good idea if you’re not up to going all-in right away. Whatever way you find that works for you.

If you take away what may be bothering you, you should notice a difference once you take it away amd also when you add it back in…if you’re staying on top of it enough and eliminate it completely. That’s nice that you don’t have to worry about corn, peanuts and soy. :)

Good luck with moving ahead with this and hopefully feeling better all around. 1 month ago

Thank you, Brian!!! Your BIG VIRTUAL CHEER and supportive, kind comment made my morning! :) So thoughtful of you…and applause? You so rock!

I really did make this goal all-around complex (I’m good at that, lol). I’m happy to be able to finally mark this off my list. 1 month ago

how the route after diagnosis goes for so many people.

Sounds like you worked for a pretty good charity if your scheme manager worked so hard. There are tons of other organizations that dobt work that hard and don’t truly care. ..which is sad.

Thanks for the tip! I’m not sure if he has been in contact with The National Autistic Society or not. I will ask him. His mom helps him a lot with his daily activities and routines.

One day, I sure hope this is all much easier! 1 month ago

cupcakes!! Clubs of people who get where you’re at is always a great idea. Hope you got your cupcake. :)

Thank you, it does make it a bit easier, but still a pain. I hope you find ways here and there of moving forward. You’re right—we’ll definitely get there! XX 1 month ago

↑↑↑↑HAHA!↑↑↑↑

Today, I took about 30 minutes to start on cleaning the bathrooms. I organized the many products on the shelf (and cleaned the shelf) in one bathroom, and in both bathrooms: washed down and scrubbed the sink counters and faucets, clean the mirrors, made the toilets sparkle and grabbed any laundry that needs to be cleaned. I love shiny rooms. :)

In addition to the bathroom, I also organized one cupboard in the kitchen; the vitamin cupboard. So many bottles! We grabbed two plastic totes that seperate my son’s vitamins from mine and my my mom’s. They were previously just lodged in the cabinet in a mess, but now they’re all sorted. Pretty.

There are so many entries I want to write on various goals tonight, but I’m too sleepy to keep going. I will see you all back here in the morning (or, at least my morning…not sure about you). Goodnight. Ttfn! 1 month ago

“Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.”- Japanese saying1 month ago

but I wanted to word it differently; uniquely. This wording made me quite happy! I went online and searched a bunch of happy-inducing pictutes (love the puppies!) to pop up for anyone who cheers me on this and helps my cheer arears.

THANK YOU MUCH!!! :) :) :) 1 month ago

Seeing a man driving a car filled with pink, fuzzy accessories! 99% of the time, it is their female partner’s car, but it still makes me giggle to see it. I saw this exact same fuzzy, pink set in the car next to me today, driven by a man…with his gal in the passenger seat. So good! Same thing when I see a big, tall, bulky man walking a tiny, little dog. Love giggles!

1 month ago

When I started this goal, I wanted to feel more confident in these particular areas:
· my personality
· my appearance
· being a good mother
· being a good daughter, sister, friend, person
· my intellect
· my intelligence
· my position in life
· my future relationships
· my ability to stand up for myself
· my small talk with people

I started this goal almost three years ago, on April 15, 2010, and since then, I think I have done pretty well.

◆ I no longer care if someone doesn’t like my personality. I think I kick ass awesomr, and if someone doesn’t like that, I am compleyely okay with it. Everyone has their opinions, and that’s great!
◆ I have grown to love my appearance, in all of its non-perfect glory. I used to pick on myself and stare into the mirror and make myself feel rotten, but not anymore! I won’t ever be a size 3 again (probably not even a 5), I will always have my Latin thighs and bum, I will always be shorter than most people, my toes will always point inward, my teeth won’t ever be Hollywood perfect…but that’s okay. I like having a womanly figure, my thighs and booty look good in jeans, I’m not short – I’m fun-sized (lol, love that), my pigeon toes are funny, and my teeth make a beautiful smile. That’s all that really matters. Plus, I finally have nails, which help a lot!
◆ Since then, I have become a fierce mama bear when it comes to being a good mother! In the beginning stages of my son having issues in school and the schools being general douch bags, I wasn’t able to get the ball rolling on being a good mom and shutting all of the douches up. I didn’t like confrontation of any sort (I still don’t), but I have learned to do what I have to do. I stopped listening to the school distric people and did what is best for my little dude. He’s homeschooling now, and doing better. The whole household isn’t so stressed like we were, things are calmer and we’re working on all kinds of things to better all of us.
◆ I am much more aware of family and people around me than I was when I started this goal. Back then, I was all about me, and what I wanted, and how I felt. I had a hard time relating to those close to me. I did stupid things because I wanted to, and I didn’t care what people thought. I now keep my family and friends (not that I have many) in mind when going day to day. I try to do nice things for my mom, son, sister, niece and nephew. I try to keep any attitude out of it, and try to maintain a smile and be happy. These people are my world!
◆ When it comes to my intellect or how I think, and what thoughts run through my mind, I am doing great! I still sometimes tend to latch on to the ideals of someobe else and use them to shape my own thoughts and ideas, but that doesn’t happen much anymore. I am proud of my thoughts, ideals and inner workings, and I hope others appreciate that.
◆ Intelligence is sexy!! To be well-spoken and willing to learn new information and soak up the world…is sexy! “Big” words that many people don’t hear and maybe don’t understand…are sexy! I love words! People will sometimes tell me I’m just a know-it-all (or something of the like), because I know bits and pieces of tons of information about everything. I love learning and knowing things…and teaching others, although not many folks care to listen, but that’s okay. I used to feel embarrassed about being a smart cookie, but I’m proud of it now! Very proud. I adore my intelligence and wouldn’t have it any other way. :)
◆ My position in life isn’t exactly where I want it to be quite yet, but I’m starting down that way soon. I am happy with where have have come from and where I have gotten to. I am happy with what I have and don’t worry too much anymore about what I don’t have.
◆ When I do have future relationships (definitely in the future!!), I am confident that I will know the difference between good, healthy behaviors and abusive destructive behaviors. I am confident that I will demand respect, and if that does not happen, I know I will be able to let the entire thing go and keep moving forward. I have been in too many bad relationships, that I now know I just have to find the opposite of what I have had. I think I’m golden!
◆ My ability to stand up for myself has increased a lot! I don’t care what anyone else thinks of me being blunt when I need to be. I used to avoid standing up for myself, but if I don’t do it, there surely is no chance that anyone else will. I deserve to be treated fairly and appropriately. I don’t fear that anymore. I a good person, and should be treated well. I’m getting much better at this.
◆ My small talk with othets isn’t perfect by any means, but I have grown from where I was. Small talk, for me, just isn’t a comfortable thing. I over think everything and my head get nervous. I usually just saw the first thing that comes to mind…I lack a great mental filter, but I’m doing okay. I talk to everyone, and not a soul would guess that Ms. Chatterbox me actually has issuses speaking to people I don’t have daily contact with. I’m a clumsy talker. This will get tons better once I start school…I hope!

So, for now, I have tackled every area of this goal, and in the spirit of April’s Boot Vamp, I am Spring Cleaning my list, and this is one to go to the Done Pile! :)

I’m sure there will be more areas similar to this down the road that I will have to add to my list again, bit I’m just going to keep on keeping on and going in this direction. My confidence will skyrocket in time! 1 month ago

_{There aren’t even greeters anymore…lots of stolen goods come from that ridiculous decision made by a former-Target-exec-turned-Walmart-exec…which means lost profit and decreased employee bonuses.}

We should all know that Walmart wants your soul. Low price, low quality, low morals. Profits over people. It really is sad.

My mom never wanted to work at the Big, Evil Empire, but at the time, she had written out numerous applications, and the phone was silent. It wasn’t a good time to find work then. She has always worked factory positions (good money, decent insurance, respectable work force and managers). She tried to find a factory job, but a decade ago it wasn’t easy…that was about the time that US factory positions were stupidly heading overseas (BECAUSE OF WALMART!!! OUR COUNTRY IS THE WAY IT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF WALMART!), and there was no work available. Walmart was the only one to call her back in. And, the rest is history….well, more like hell.

My sister is now working for Walmart too. Sad times, indeed. I’ve had a few of my mom’s managers ask when I would be starting (HAHA! RIIIIGHT!) I know better. My mom wants to quit so bad, but Walmart injured her shoulder to where she needed surgery on her rotator cuff. She has three strikes against her; injured, over 50, and overweight. Not many places would even think about hiring her.

We both have been trying to brainstorm various options on home businesses, so shecan get out of that place, but that’s a tall order. She went to a tech college when she was younger to be an accountant; she’s very intelligent. She has thought of going that route again. I hope I can help her to figure something out. I don’t want her to die in that hell hole. 1 month ago

This is so very beautiful! I absolutely love how it is written. I eagerly await the days when love is no different than hair color. ♥♥1 month ago