Habits are a funny thing. One example is how the things we choose to incorporate into our lives because they bring an overwhelming sense of happiness, sometimes set us up for some degree of disappointment. What I like to do is the easiest thing in the world... offering a smile at people that I encounter while out and about. Regretfully though, is I am finding evidence that most people choose not to be receptive to this gesture. I often become sad and discouraged by this revelation. But not today. Today was the day that a kindly old lady acknowledged my smile, offered a wave or a smile every time we came across each other while we each did our grocery shopping. It was a good feeling to have kindness reciprocated. It was one of my most enjoyable outings in nearly two years since moving to this area. I wish everyone's day had a moment like this to recall of their otherwise, maybe, busy and stressful day.
Sadly, week one 2015 ended poorly. Again, our world has been rocked by senseless, brutal, incomprehensible... again, senseless violence. Thoughts are with the families and colleagues of French journos whose lives were cut down in their prime. Sending soothing thoughts to all those who have vowed to persevere, and show strength through the power of the pen and pencil. Things like what happened in Paris, should not be the new normal. But, with worldwide alerts for journalist, that's exactly what seems to be suggested. I want our old normal. I've wanted old normal again since 9/11/2001. Such is life, I suppose. The key is to persevere, and the people of France have gathered in thousands, pen, pencil & banners raised in remembrance of the fallen... this is a good thing. I am in full support of their movement. Again, my thoughts today have been with the people of France.
There were things that kept me from sitting in front of news coverage, thank goodness. Plans for the day did not go as expected, but everyone sleeps now, with a new day ahead to accomplish tasks and plans to assure for a productive day.
Until tomorrow, I again, leave you with today's This Is Fifty With Lil vlog:
Yes, 2015 is all about habit tweaking for this lady. Hear me out. For starters, you really aren't starting the year off "fresh." I don't know about visitors to my blog... are you parents? I have three children, and as long as they are still under this roof, regardless of still living at home, being on high school winter break or have traveled across the country to spend winter break from college with the family, well, things can still get pretty nuts. Plans are all up in the air.
So, at this point I'm in full tweaking mode. It's been paying off in some areas. Nobody's complaining about lack of home cooked dinner. Nobody's pressuring me to take them this place or that. It's all good. Most of the holidays have consisted of keeping a close eye on our dogs since both were doing poorly for several weeks starting first week of November. They're all better now. It's the humans who aren't doing too great this week. I'm gonna roll with this tweaking system until mid-January, then work at re-establishing some sort of routine - two years since relocating to Southern California and I really need to accept that here is home now. That part is gonna be the real test. Today I was back in t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. I'm thinking about kicking on the air conditioner for the night. *sigh*
Here's Tuesday's vlog post for This Is Fifty With Lil YouTube Channel. Like, Subscribe, Comment, and visit often. I'm having loads of fun with my new hobby and learning new things everyday.
Worst habit? I'm doing it right now. My worst habit is that I go to bed way too late - well after midnight. It also takes me way to long to fall asleep - lots of tossing and turning. Not to mention this weird thing I have about pulling the soft, cool sheets between my big toe and it's neighbor on each foot. That can take a while to get just right. Throw a 50lb+ corn chippy scented dog between me and the husband and, well... go ahead, I challenge you to try to get some sleep under those circumstances. You must keep in mind that my only other options are to either sleep in the car or hard wood flooring. A cot might be handy, if it did not mean I'd be sleeping in the kitchen. Ah, tiny house bliss.
Feeling well rested has been fleeting at best. Not getting sufficient sleep has been a life-long issue, actually. This may also be the reason why I have chronic illnesses. My body isn't getting that precious restorative benefit which solid sleep provides. This long standing habit remains based on the fact that there is always something to think about, be afraid about, worry about, obsess about... bedtime is stressful.
Another problem: I have the attention span of a dog within sight of a squirrel & a spoonful of peanut butter, and a baby with fish crackers.
Exhibit A:
See. I recorded, edited and uploaded a vlog when I should have been focused on completing my NaMoBloPo blog post.
I gotta get up on Sunday. Get up early, that is... but I did not. Serious breach of protocol. Sunday mornings my alarm is set to wake me at 9:00. A few minutes later I arrive at my mom's apartment to sort out her meds for the week. At 85, my sister and I discovered that mom would be needing a bit of help with proper administration of medication she takes for a number of health issues; having relocated close to mom, I thought I'd take on this task; I've been doing it for over a year now. Anyway, that's how my Sundays start... or should start. It didn't happen that way today. Today was more of an epic failure on my part. Mom's 90 day supply of some of her prescriptions had run out and had no more refills.
Here we are, beginning of a new year and I've already failed at one of my most important tasks: managing mom's care. At least I made sure I did her grocery shopping for the next couple of weeks, otherwise I'd be super annoyed with myself for being so negligent. Another thing I discovered, mostly because of mom needing to change doctors, was that I did not have all her prescriptions filled. So, that's one of the first things I have to do Monday morning. I did what I could with what I had available and assured mom that I'd have new prescriptions to round out the rest of the week, and through the end of March.
Image by L Carilo, January 2015
After leaving mom's place, College Girl and I drove out to Joann's to look for material she would need to line a skirt. Finding that was easy enough, as was some black yarn that she wanted to knit herself a scarf for when she returns to school in the northeastern part of the country next week. So that little excursion was fun, and I even treated myself to some supplies for a floral arrangement. I read somewhere that the color caramel is supposed to represent the month of January, So I'm adding touches here and there to incorporate this warm, rich hue. I think I will be happy with how my little project will turn out using these materials:
I stopped by mom's again in the evening to check how her day went, and to ask if there was anything else she'd need me to pick up while doing weekly grocery shopping for the family tomorrow morning after I drop off my husband at work and my second daughter at the high school. I left mom's with a short list of stuff that I'll pick up, then later drop off at her place before heading back to The Place here. Of course, I also recorded tonight's vlog for This Is Fifty With Lil's YouTube channel. The one word I use to describe it is, UNSCRIPTED. It's one of my favorites so far, and I'm hardly even visible in it! It was fun to make; I'm really enjoying the editing part of it; I'm learning a lot as I go. Let me know what you think of any of my vlogs posted on this blog.
This Is Fifty With Lil YouTube Channel vlog by L Carilo, January 2015
Today's fortune cookie suggested that if the odds seemed good, I should consider taking a risk. I decided, after reading it and cracking up, that I'd tuck it away until I felt I really needed it. Well, I jumped the proverbial gun and made plans to go to the mall with the whole fam damily. The mall is less than a mile from The Place we're staying until things improve (financially), but before even approaching the parking lot, the husband and I were already over the thought of spending another minute in each other's company. Match made in heaven, right?
Image by L Carilo
So, we went our separate ways; he with our daughters, while I sat at the food court waiting for my son's shift at the bookstore to be over. It was a short wait. And, my daughter didn't have any luck finding reasonably priced boots; she'll just have to keep looking. We all finally met up, and it was decided that we should try a new Mexican restaurant that my husband got gift cards through work over the holidays. That was a disappointment. So much for risk taking, right? I tried.
I'm doing this thing this week, and this week only (on purpose, anyway). I'm opening one fortune cookie everyday first week of 2015... you know, just to see how things go. I know, I know, the power of suggestion and everything. Well the skeptic in me has decided to throw logic out the window and embrace the cookie fortunes taken from stiff cardboard like treats one receives after they've stuffed their gob at the end of a Chinese dinner. Having Chinese food is also on my must do list during first week of 2015. This was today's nugget...
Image by L Carilo
*****
Like many others, a new year has me toying with the notion that if I really wanted, I could drop some weight that really must go if I want to treat myself to a new outfit - that will actually look good on me. My youngest child will be graduating high school this spring, and I'd like to look good in photos taken on that special occasion, unlike the way I looked when her siblings graduated. Anyway, I've been mulling over this weight loss plan since I approached age 50 last year. Well, it still hasn't happened; nothing to speak of, really. But I haven't exactly been diligent about sticking to a fitness plan. I really must try harder. This was last year's declaration of sorts:
It's not a new year's resolution, just an idea which must come to fruition sooner than later... or I'll risk showing up for my daughter's graduation in a muu-muu... Oh, no, no, no, no, NO!
Here's today's vlog post featuring my double chins...
Day two and I'm already slipping. I am not one to make new year's resolutions, but I do consider tweaking some of my more problematic habits... biggest challenge, sleep. Or, more precisely, getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Not past 11:49 pm like it is now. One way of working toward fixing this terrible habit is getting into my pajamas by 9:30...
9:31... close enough. image by L Carilo January 2015
Just for fun, I've decided to try my luck by having enough fortune cookies to look forward to cracking open to see what I'll find written on those tiny slips of paper contained within during this first week of 2015. I'm not sure about the whole risk taking idea... not now anyway. Photo Gallery on my mini has been a bit wonky tonight, but slip of paper from today's cookie reads: If the odds are good, take that risk you've been considering. I'll just hold on to this one until I'm ready.
One thing I was challenged with today was not having the time to make a few changes to my elderly mom's meal plans and daily tasks that she needs to follow, like taking her meds as prescribed. I enjoy helping her in whatever way I could, and I know she appreciates it tremendously. So when I didn't have notes I had prepared earlier in the day, I started to kick myself for forgetting to retrieve note pad from our family vehicle. My husband just happened to do something out of the ordinary - have a lengthy visit with his sister - and it was way too late to make necessary calls and scheduling arrangements with regard to mom. I'll do what I can over the weekend.
My family did have a good time this afternoon; we did a burger/cheeseburger blind taste challenge similar to a YouTube video produced for Good Mythical Morning by creators, Rhett & Link. I'll post a link following my YouTube channel vlog for today. There will be a more elaborate vlog post about my family's effort next week, hopefully.
