Archive for June 2009
I sometimes wonder what spies might think if they bugged my house. There are things that are spoken that would sound all wrong out of context.
Tonight at dinner, when my child discovered banana slices in banana cream pie: You have to warn people when you put something hard in their mouths
Another meal, when I asked why Quincy’s head was in my lap, my niece: Maybe he wants some
And cooking, I said: they want to get their mouths on my drippy meat
There’s more. Always funniest when it’s inadvertent. But I’m too tired to think much. Listen in sometime. You might be amused.
Cheap and Easy
Posted on: June 28, 2009
Spelled wrong, but it was funny enough that I turned around to get a picture. I know some people like this…
My Happineff Post
Posted on: June 15, 2009
I had a captive audience today (more literal than you might think) and began to explain, as much as she could hear, that she had lots of gifts inside her, and that she had all she needed. I’ll see how it works out, and if she returns to her safe place to do what needs doing, or if she’ll remain on the run from everything that is too hard to face.
It’s hard to face that life hurts. Pain isn’t fun. But without it, we never grow. At least if we have to hurt, we should pull something from it that’s good. Maybe it’s all there because we need to grow. Although a little less pain isn’t so bad.
We also talked about positive risk—taking chances where we could fail, but where e know we grow from trying. Starting a business in a recession is a good example (worked for Walt Disney). Sending a manuscript to a publisher. Submitting a resumé. Fallinig in love. All could hurt us deeply if we fail, but we’re better for having tried.
I finally had my break today, and found a safe place to get it out. I feel so much better after laying it all out there when I had a shoulder to cry on. It’s good to let the tears out, because they cleanse us so we’re ready to start fresh. Five minutes was all it took, but I needed to get rid of the numbness that I was feeling. But I won’t do that often!
Anyway, I really want to help my special person, but the truth is the only one I can really help is me. We all have to do our own work. And I should get back to mine.
The Purfuit of Happineff
Posted on: June 14, 2009
The title comes from a Stan Freberg skit, the founding fathers reading over the Declaration of Indepedence. But it works for me because it makes me laugh and I think we all need to laugh. There are statistics out there on how often we laugh; I can’t quote them. But little kids laugh all the time and as we all age, in our teens and beyond, the number of times we laugh plummets. I’m pretty sure it’s less than five times a day for adults. Some people I know, it’s less than five times a month.
I know a lot of unhappy people right now. But there is one I know who is unhappier than most. She seems to think happiness is a factor if place. Get away from the bad place and the people who expect too much, and all will be good. For those who have tried to go elsewhere to find happiness, of course, we know this doesn’t work. All it leaves you feeling is more isolated and lonely, with no familiar bearings to call home.
But people run far away. They have reasons, because if they just get away from this place, or remove themselves from these people, then they can finally be happy. But happiness is not a factor of place. It’s not a factor of things or other people. Happiness comes from within.
If we are truly content with who we are, if we can laugh at life (sometimes after we shed the tears we need to shed—we still have to feel what we have to feel), if we can think about who we are, wherever we may be, and concern ourselves with that person’s happiness—that scared, frightened, lonely person inside us who so desperately needs us to love it—then it doesn’t matter where we are. We can find that elusive happiness that so many people never find.
So I wish for my special person, but really for all people, that they can find contentment, which really is the root of happiness, I think. In all things, in all places, to be thankful for something. I’m not living some princess fairy tale existence and just saying this. A lot of bad stuff has happened to me lately, but…
I’ve had little joys along the way that have helped me to still find happiness, in the midst of pain, loneliness, disappointment. There’s that bouquet of flowers on the porch table when I get back from my visit to the hospital to see my special person, there’s the friend whose day is ruined by helping me with an exploding tire. I’m grateful for it all, and, in spite of everything, I am happy.
I am taking what I have, right where I am, and making the most of it, even if the end seems very far away. I’m trusting that whatever path I find myself on, even if I veer off course a bit, it’s where I should be, and I should find out why I’m there.
We’ve all got a lot of work to do, but especially for my special person, I hope it works. I hope you find that all you need is within you. You already possess all you need to be happy.
And that’s the end. I could close by saying something clever like “we hold these truths to be self-evident,” but that’s a bit pompous, don’t you think?
Relief!
Posted on: June 10, 2009
Bless the therapist who had the unfortunate job of clean-up for my wound site(s). She clipped away the flopping skin that was giving me the creeps. I sting now, but I did then. She also covered the velcro on my splint so it won’t rub the tender flesh.
If you live near Nashua, NH, and need therapy Apple Therapy, 17 Riverside Drive is amazing! Go there ,they’re good.
My new improved look:
Open wounds
Posted on: June 9, 2009
The steri-strips did not survive a full day of physical therapy. There is a segment of my finger where the skin sections don’t touch, and where they pull apart when I straghten the finger during physical therapy (700 times a day). No active bleeding, so I’m hoping it’s okay. It gives me the creeps, though. I think dead skin just won’t connect so well.
Posting a few pictures of the open section, the full hand uncovered, and my sexy superhero ice packs, People will be jealous, I know it!
Awesome flower!
Posted on: June 8, 2009
I can’t garden with my injuries, but I have a perennial that opted to bloom for the first time ever this year. This is my amazing black iris. I love it! I have a thing for black flowers. I should look into more!
For some reason, it only imports sideways! But it is still nice!
My black tulips were also lovely. They bloomed later than the bright colors, and were taller, too.
I think black is m new favorite iris color. My neighbor called it macabre, but I think it’s beautiful!
Unstitched
Posted on: June 8, 2009
I have steri-strips no, but no more stitches. The steri-strips stay on until they fall off. I have to massage often for scar management, so I’m sure they’re not long for this world. The doctor warned me to stay with the program , be patient, heal as I should, and gave examples of things people do to screw up. So I’ll try to be patient, as frustrating as it is!
Anyway, the cuts without steri-strps are very, very healed—and one was a surgical incision! Starting to look more hand-like, less Bride-of-Frankenstein-like. Pretty cool!
Yes, it hurts to have them removed, but they were irritating me too, so no more pain now! From stitches. Plenty from the nerves!
Cast Off
Posted on: June 1, 2009
Sometimes that means something else. Here, I mean my cast is off. Posting my post-surgery pictures. Starting physical therapy. It’ll take a lot of work, but my hands are worth it!
Lisa's Take on Life: Don't Let the Past Rob the Future 