Popcorn Hospital

Mom is in the hospital. After calling 911, 8 hours of ER, 4 days in ICU, breathing issues and heart tests/results (leaky valve, blockage and afibulation), she was moved out of ICU. You'd think that'd be cause for happiness, but the small room she was moved too turned out to be a growing place of new issues. Blood thinners, blood transfusion, low blood pressure, black stools, a scheduled colonoscopy tomorrow - all within 5 additional days.

Ten days later, I'm scared as hell. What will the 40 minute procedure show? Will she stop having internal bleeding and can come home? I am not doing well - not being strong for her. I am disappointed in myself. :(

She and I will get through this, together, though.

In the mean time, check out these lovely hospital photos:

Before you can get into ICU....

And here is the sink "behind you."


The hospital volunteers make popcorn almost every afternoon (and becomes my staple of choice).


The hospital staff said I can't take pics in the hospital, so don't share this photo with anyone (they got mad at me for taking the photo), but look at all those IVs! Poor Mom. :(

It's His Loss

I wasn't sure what to title this blog article, but instead of focusing on MY loss, I realize now it's HIS loss.

The amazingly handsome and sexy Channing Tatum was married this month (July 2009) . He married his leading lady co star from Step Up (yeah, I don't like her much).

Every movie he is in.... I go see. :) I'm the same way with James Marsden. :)

To mourn their union, errr, mourn HIS loss, here are some pics of the sexy man himself:





Oohhhh... such a sad day... :(

Bread and Butter

Your mate doesn't live by bread alone; he or she needs to be "buttered up" from time to time. - Zig Ziglar

2009 Movies

See 2008 Movies.

I'll update this as the year goes on...

Avatar (okay, I saw it in 2010) - I really liked it!
It's Complicated - Really liked it!
Up in the Air - liked it!
Surrogates - I liked it.
GI Joe - very disappointed. The only good thing about it was I went with a friend of mine to see it, so I wasn't alone for the two hours. LOL
The Ugly Truth - it was okay
Bridal Wars - liked it
Mall Cop - saw it on a plane, did NOT like it.
He's Just Not that Into You - saw on a place, liked it.
Duplicity - okay.
State of Play - liked it.
Fighting - liked it.
Up in 3D - eh, okay.
Terminator 4 - liked it!
The Hangover - liked it.
Transformers 2 - liked it!
Public enemies - didn't like it.
Ice Age 3D - liked it.

Happiness

All the happiness you ever find lies in you.

Five Things That Waste Your Energy

In order to create that which we most want in our life, we need ENERGY! Sounds obvious, but for many it's a surprising new fact. The first rule of any decent conservation plan is to stop wasting energy. There are many energy-drains that we become oblivious to as we live our life on a day-to-day basis. Here are some energy wasters and how to combat them, so that you can free up your energy and use it to build your dreams.

1. Needless worry.
   Worry over every little thing in your life is one of the most efficient energy drains there is. It's sole purpose appears to be to fill our mind with constant concern over the most mundane things. In that way, we seem to give ourselves a good excuse for not working on what is really important to us.
   
   How to Stop the Leak: Unless you are in immediate physical danger, identify what's worrying you. If you can not control or influence the outcome, let it go. There is a less than 1% chance that the thing you are afraid of will even happen. Stay tuned in to the probabilities and take some long slow deep breaths. Then, focus on what's really important to you!
   
   
2. Doing for the sake of doing.
   We live in an action-oriented culture. If we're not doing, we are made to feel guilty. There is little value placed on thinking or planning. We fill up our lives with activity, purposeful or not, just to prove we are doers, as if that alone gives us our value. This is especially true if you are a person who goes inside to process information. The apparent lack of activity on your part is considered to be laziness by those who process information by talking aloud or doing.
   
   How to Stop the Leak: Don't just look at your to-do list. Look at why the item is on your list. Is there true value in it? What would happen if it never got done? Does anyone (including you) really care about this item? Review your list and eliminate the items which you can't even remember why you put them on the list. Then, start focusing your energy by asking the question: What is the most important thing to do RIGHT NOW? Even without paper in front of us, most of us know what that is. Taking care of the most important thing first recaptures energy as we enjoy the completion and feel energized to do the next most important thing. Incompletions are big energy wasters!
   
   
3. Anything broken that needs to be fixed.
   At any given time, most of us have a list of things around the house that need fixing or just some attention. Burnt out light bulbs, leaky faucets, anything that must be done 'just so' to make it work, these are just some samples to give you the idea. If it needs your attention, give it!! If you don't, you will spend more energy trying to remember to call the plumber than in actually getting the plumber to your house!
   
   How to Stop the Leak: As Nike says, "Just do it!". The worry about trying to remember to get it done and the annoyance caused by the broken item are serious energy drains.
   
   
4. Trying to be Perfect.
   When we focus on being perfect, we consume a lot of valuable energy on a fruitless mission. While we can certainly work on becoming our best self, it's important to note that our best self isn't perfect. It's just the best we can be today and a striving to be even better tomorrow. Perfection is unattainable. That's a simple truth. So spending a lot of energy on getting it 'exactly' right will burn up valuable energy and put us on a hamster wheel of wasted energy.
   
   How to Stop the Leak: Recognize and accept that perfection is not a goal to go after. It is much better (and healthier) to focus on becoming your best self. This will release a lot of energy and self-judgment, which drains even more energy.
   
   
5. Friends who Take, Take, Take your Energy.
   I don't know anyone who doesn't have at least one friend like this. Bottom line, it's all about them. It is a waste of time to try to have a dialogue because all they really want is someone to listen to their monologue. Worse, these people seldom want to talk about the good things in their life (apparently, there never is anything good!). You get off the phone, feeling exhausted and you barely said two words. Or, all you got to say was to agree to do whatever they needed.
   
   How to Stop the Leak: Wish this friend well and let them go! Be less accessible to them when they call. Set expectations at the beginning of the call: "Gee, I only have about 10 minutes before I have to xxx." Then be firm about keeping to that 10 minutes. If they don't start calling you less, then I'd say to invest in a caller ID system so you can see who is on the phone. If you don't feel you have the energy to talk to this 'friend', then don't. You can call them back later when you are feeling stronger. This doesn't make you a bad person, just someone who is committed to own self care.

Most-Requested Column

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the I’ve ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more :

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful , beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.