Saturday, August 9, 2014

Expectation, Meet Reality

Day 10 has come and nears end.  It's been a difficult week and a half, but here we are.  I thought for sure I'd be posting blog entries in the midst of packing up our few belongings here, preparing to relocate to our former neighborhood, anticipating a time when basic housing conditions would be much improved, fantasizing about spacious living accommodations and a proper yard for our dogs.  In essence, embracing the familiar.

You see, I set the family, but especially myself, up for high expectations, relishing the thought of being back home, thrilled at the thought of more desirable weather conditions.  We were all equally excited about a new job prospect for my husband.  We are all recovering from less than desired result.

Now, it's time to let it go. Time to replace the heartache and stop the tears.

In summary...

Expectation:  Solid first impressions, job offer, acceptable salary, generous benefits, immediate hire.

Goal:  Re-establish career in field of expertise; relocate family; improve financial state.

Conditions:  Industry showing signs of job growth in former profession..

Situation:  Job search results in phone interview and out-of-state travel arrangements for 2nd interview.

Obstacle:  Lengthy period of joblessness; time away from work in area of greatest experience.

Dilemma:  Nature of hiring practices transformed in a decade; possible difficulty making transition.

Question:  What would be chances of ease in relocating household; establishing family home; acquiring essential needs; ability to meet all demands.

Attitude:  Renewed hope

Belief:  Perfect right time; perfect right place; perfect right fit for job.

Hope:  It will happen.

Reality: Not at this time.

RESOLUTION:  Acceptance, patience, understanding, sensibility, courage, resilience, peace.

Yes... PEACE.

Onward ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 7 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo



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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Idly Passing Time

... it's what I do; mostly sleeping, often, alternately, waiting to fall asleep or fighting to stay awake.  Days are a fog; frequently clouded with nothingness.  It seems rare that my time is spent purposefully, or that I feel accomplished.  I could be wrong.  

I love to read, but have not made time to enjoy this simple pleasure.  How could I enjoy it if my effort requires so much strain - mostly on my eyes, but body as well.  I might even add, relationships.

Today I picked up a book that I first discovered in my teens. I found it in a relative's collection of books during an overnight visit all those many years ago.  I remember how it caught my attention. It was one of the narrower book spines among the many to choose from in boxes and on shelves, and the color made it appear older than it actually was. As I handled it, the title and book jacket photo drew me in; opening it revealed that perhaps it's pages had never been turned... I would turn them. The memory of that moment is still vivid in my mind. I sat down, opened it, and read it... all the way through.

This evening I read On Time:

... that yesterday is but today's memory and
tomorrow is today's dreams. ~ THE PROPHET by Kahlil Gibran

It feels forced... reading.  So does being.  Is this difficult to comprehend?  I love to read....but, time.  Why the chore to make the time?  I have time.  I must work to use it more wisely.  Or, is that only a dream?

I'm going to do my best to take the time to remember this:

... let today embrace the past with remembrance
and the future with longing. THE PROPHET by Kahlil Gibran

What do I long for?

I think I'll re-read the passage On Time again, let it sink in.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 7 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo


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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Nine... Eight...

How many minutes I have to write my August 6, 2014 NaBloPoMo.. seven now.

What to write?  All day today I had stuff floating around to choose from, but I didn't write anything down to help me get this post done. Story of my life.

Six minutes: If only the idea of a nm... Ack! How's it spelled?

Five minutes:  ... mnemonic device! If only I could figure out how to make one work for me.

Four minutes:  My son seems to be the one who keeps his dad and I on our toes.  He's good at it.

Three minutes:  That said, seems we've lost the ability to apply memory and planning skills to use in our daily routines. My husband has it better than I do, being as he has a job to go to every day.  I'm here at home, where my brain gets mushier and mushier by the minute.

Two minutes: You know that knuckle trick to help you keep track of which months have 31 days?  I can't even do that!

One minute:  Tips to help me with memory improvement welcome here.

*****
And now, won't you join me for an Italian minute:


Again, thank youFluenz on You Tube


Questo caffè translates to This coffee
Piatto translates to Dish
therefore
Questo piatto translates to This dish

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 6 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo



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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Che Cosa?

Plans, meet window.

Che cosa?

I'm distracted; discovered this today...



 Questo... this. Quello... that.  Fa bene!  Shhhh, I'm learning.

Thanks, wiktionary.org, Fluenz on You Tube  fluenz.com, and translate.google.com

Oh, and special thanks to Mel Ford for her brilliant prompt suggestion for today:  Tuesday, August 5, 2014 ~ Are you good at learning languages or memorizing facts?

Answer: No

So, if you will now excuse me... Questo... this. Quello... that.

Fa bene!

Image: pinterest.com printables & graphics Dollar Downloads


Ciao!

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 4 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo



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Monday, August 4, 2014

Mundane Morning

Mundane? Anything but! After all, it is Monday, rise and shine! It's the start of the week, people... up and at 'em! Early bird catches the worm, ya know.  An apple a day...  and, all that malarkey.  Oh noooo, not this Monday.

Ha! Who the hell am I to try pumping anyone up to start their day, much less the week? Heck, I'm writing this at 9:00 pm! I was up early this morning though; at the usual hour, actually. Our vehicle needed engine diagnostics done, and ASAP.  So, the earlier in line at the dealership service department, the better.  I left the car at the place and made it back around 9:00 am. Thank goodness for shuttle service.  I got home, made a couple of calls, checked the interwebs, and took a nap. I. know.

Monday, August 4, 2014 just did not allow for any type of planning, and it wasn't exactly mundane. It was all about wait and see. I could do that, with a bit of stress thrown in there for drama.  There was no drama, only reality.  A technician checked the car, and the service representative called to inform me what work the car requires, and more importantly, what costs to expect for repairs. sigh

So, no drama, but I wasn't feeling so hot by the time I had to pick up my husband at work. I picked up a breakfast croissant at Jack-in-the-Box on the way to the dealership in the morning, and didn't have a snack until I returned home after picking up my vehicle. By the time we were driving back home, discussing what dinner might be, I began feeling really bad. Quick thinking, and throwing dinner making plans out the window, my husband swung by El Pollo Loco for a family meal deal.  We drove home, and dinner was served.  I waited a bit, worried that if I ate, I may "lose my lunch." I had the shakes and was feeling a clammy, cold sweat. It was better to wait.

Apparently, mundane was not to be this Monday.  Stressful... check.  Unproductive... check. Depressing... check.  Sickening... check.  Have I noted, Stressful?  Years ago, a friend gave me one of those 365-days books that I've used off and on over the years, and enjoyed very much.  When we left Colorado, my son made sure to pack it to bring with us... so thoughtful.  Anyway, you may have heard of it - Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  In addition to my daily planner, I've also decided to revisit Sarah's encouragements, suggestions and recommendations to improve my outlook. I'll focus on order as it goes with the whole "memory & planning" theme this month.  I'll keep you posted how things go.

It's late, and meds must now be taken.  Tomorrow morning will be busy, as we make up for what had to be set aside today.  I'll have to limit the amount of driving until we can have the repairs done, so keeping errands between the house and my husband's workplace.

I guess I should create this week's meal plan and work on the grocery list for market run in the morning. Hmmm, what to buy?  Let's see... definitely, pick up apples. What else? Milk for Mom!

Hey, one thing is for certain... there will be homemade oatmeal cookies! Yum.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 4 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo



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Sunday, August 3, 2014

What's the Plan, Sam? Let's Review...

Hey, hope you had a very nice, safe & sound weekend. Here's my week in review:

So, "What's the plan, Sam?"  First of all, there is no Sam; and today's plan was my son's... a family outing to see Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy movie.  We were all looking forward to this movie being released in theaters. I was, so much, that I fell asleep a quarter into the movie! Nobody even tried to wake me up either. What's that all about. Do they just expect Mom to nod off anywhere, at any time? What a bummer.  I sorta want to go again tomorrow.

FAVORITE

~ Photo of the Week

Kid #2's Guardians of the Galaxy movie inspired nail art
***
Now, Let's review my week, mnemonically speaking:

This planning and memory business might be a real challenge for me. Not that I avoid the concept of organization altogether... I do own a planner. See...


I actually whipped this
baby out last month
in preparation for
July 2014 NaBloPoMo


AUGUST 2014 24 HOUR BLOG ACTIVITY:

~ Most viewed post: August 2, Winging It
~ Least viewed post: August 1, Where's the Dictionary?






MOVIES!

~ Carilo Family Movies*: Summer 2014 flicks that we watched this week, as selected from @EW's "...essential movies kids must see before they turn 13." were...

#34  Princess Bride
         ~ I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
#35  Goonies
          ~ I don't trust anyone after watching this film. Why had no one I know tell
             me how awesome it is?!?
#36  A Christmas Story
         ~ I will not admit to the number of times this movie has been viewed at
             our house.
#37  West Side Story
          ~ My son: "How much more can happen with an hour left?
             Daughter: *snaps fingers*
#38  It's A Wonderful Life
          ~ A Catholic, atheist, & cynic watched this movie together. Thumbs up
             all 'round.
#39  Duck Soup
          ~ Old timey, yet still funny.

WELCOME READERS!

~ This week's A How-To Guide visits from around the globe:

United States
Germany
Poland
United Kingdom
Russia
Australia
France
Hungary
Japan
New Zealand
Canada
Italy
Ukraine

Yay, world!

HAPPINESS...

You know that headache you get when you've napped too long... yeah well, that is so not happiness.

TONIGHT:

Sunday ends with me hoping that I'm able to wake up at the crack of morning in order to drive my husband to work early so that I am then able to get to auto dealership service center to have my vehicle diagnosed ASAP... engine light's on. Ugh.

I guess now is as good a time as any to put that planner back into use.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 3 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo



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