Disconnected

We were about a block away from home yesterday when I realized I left my phone charging on the kitchen counter.  We were on our way to a movie and then to get some dinner so I knew that I'd be without it for quite a few hours.  My hubs offered to turn back... We were only one block away.

I had a quick flashback to when there were no cell phones.  We'd leave our home and be completely disconnected from everybody that wasn't with us.  I also thought about how that made it possible to be completely, undividedly, dedicated to the person/people you were with... no distractions, no alerts, no posts, no emails, no games nudging you to take your turn....

"Nope," I said to my hubs.... "I.don't.need.it"

My cousin's hubby told me about a fun exercise he heard about... Go out to eat with friends and everyone puts their cell phones in the middle of the table.  Whoever gives in and picks up their phone first, also picks up the tab!! LOL! I thought that was a brilliant idea!  My hubby, yeah, not so much...

Getting back to last night... The movie we picked was Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise.  I don't love the dude but I really do enjoy his movies.  So, then, I guess that means I like him...?  Oh and I do have to make a note that I checked the parent guide in IMDb and I wish I would have read it more carefully because I really felt guilty about taking Ethan to see that. (Ethan is 10yrs old)  About half-way through the movie, I made him dim the light on his 3DS and play video games for the rest of the movie... (and no, nothing distracts him when he's playing video games so it was fine)  I thought the violence should have been scored more at an 8/10 not a 6/10.   Lesson learned... ok!  No spoiler here really, just that the character, Jack, talks about how he is completely disconnected from everyone and everything.  He lives his life, day by day with no cell phone or computer and feels that he is the one who is "free"... and the rest of us are not free at all.  I gotta say, in my opinion, he's right!

Okay so I wouldn't want to be completely disconnected like Jack Reacher.  I like my phone and I like my computer and I like feeling connected to some people on a daily basis.


Question:  Being that I was only a block away from home... if it was you, would you have turned back for your phone?  Have you ever been "disconnected"?  For how long?

Frost Bitten Brain

We have had some seriously cold weather these past couple of weeks! We Zonies are not used to our high temps being in the 40's and 50's.  I go into a frozen, coma-like state when I'm cold.  I can't move, I'm sleepy, I'm grouchy, I think too much, and strange but true fact:  My pinky finger on my left hand goes NUMB!  That there is my indicator that I've had enough of this cold weather so I am super happy and excited for this beautiful, mid 70-degree weather on this MLK, three day weekend!

So like I mentioned before... I think too much when I'm frozen.  Lots of good thoughts and lots of bad thoughts.  Lot's of mixed up thoughts and lots of contradicting thoughts.  It's all up in my head like a mush of scrambled eggs and marshmallow fluff.  Gross right? So I've been going on and on about positive this and positive that.... I'm sure I'm sounding like a broken record by now.  I'm doing a little soul searching which brings me to numero uno...


1. Church:  I'm not a super religious person.  I have my beliefs (that are barely hanging on by a thread) but I'm trying to be better about it.  I learned a lot from my cousin and her hubs while they were here over Christmas break.  Made me rethink a whole lot of things about my life and the people that are in it.  It also made me realize... that I need help.  I need guidance.  I need answers and if I can't get them, I need to be okay with that.

2. Family:  I am a very sensitive person and I feel like the people that should treat me the best, are the ones that treat me the worst.  To be clear, I'm not talking about my husband and kids here... they are amazing.  And they should be enough.  But I felt very lonely growing up and I've always felt the need to have lots of people around.  I admit I've made a few bad choices in friends who I can happily say are not in my life anymore because it's easy to cut those ties... but what do you do with family? what do you do? what do you do? WHAT.DO.U.DO?  I dunno.  Not so easy to cut ties.  See #1.Church.

3. Life:  I put my life on hold to be a SAHM (Stay-At-Home-Mom).  Yes I did.  I always knew I'd be a mom and I always knew that I would raise my own kids.  Unfortunately, people try to pressure you to go work once your kids are in school full time.  I fell into that pressure trap a little (okay I'm lying a LOT!)  But I don't feel that pressure anymore.  *BIG SMILE*  I keep myself plenty busy.  I may not make any moola but THIS, (being home with my children, cleaning my own home, gardening, laundry, cooking, errands, paying bills and keeping us on a budget), IS MY JOB.  Sorry, I get a little defensive about the whole SAHM thing.  I shouldn't have to 'splain myself but there are a lot of IDIOTS, I mean, IGNORANT okay, one more time... there are a lot of JUDGMENTAL people out there.  So now my hubs has started his own development company and is working from home.  He can do his job from anywhere. Yup.  You have no idea...  how.bad.I.want.to.move.outta.state.  Running away? Possibly.  Once again, #1.Church: I need some guidance.

One of the things we learned at Church last week is that you should allow yourself to be known.  The GOOD. The Bad. The ugly..... I think I tip the scale a bit on the ugly.  But this, I guess, filters out the people that could be a positive or negative influence in your life.  I'm just not sure if I'm ready for that.

What helps you keep the faith and keep moving forward when you're feeling down?

Happy New Year!

I know, I know... I'm fifteen days late!

My New Year is kinda funky right now.  It has started off good... and bad.

Good news...
I got to ring in the New Year with my uncle and my wonderful, out-of-town cousins.  It was a nice, cozy celebration.  I don't like to go out on New Year's... not yet anyway.  I'm terrified of something bad happening and leaving my boys with no parents.  What else is good? Well, we lived to see the year 2013!  Woohoo! No seriously, I never believed that nonsense!  Let's see... I'm eating healthier and working out again.   And most importantly, we started going to church again!  Looking to take their introduction classes and signing up for some of their study sessions as well as they are very needed and so overdue...

........whiiiiiiiich brings me to the bad news.  ........whiiiiiiiich I realize now that I don't feel comfortable putting it out there so let me just say this.

Family is number one.

FOR YOUR SPOUSE:
Your spouse is your best friend, treat them that way.
Have date night with you spouse.
Compliment your spouse.
Be spontaneous.
Always support their dreams.
Listen to them, don't just "hear" their words.
Be playful :O)
and most importantly...
LET GO OF THE PAST.

FOR YOUR KIDS:
Cherish your children, they are miracles.
Tell your children you love them daily even if they've upset you earlier in the day.
Hug your children, OFTEN.
Respect your children, demonstrating respect is how THEY learn!
Use kind words with your children.
Teach your children compassion, by demonstrating it.
Say sorry to your children when you are at fault.
Always kiss your children goodnight.

FOR YOU:
Love yourself.
Give yourself.
Respect yourself.
Be true.
Be loving.
Learn.
Surround yourself with positives!


Letting people treat you badly over and over again, whether it's verbally, or physically, or mentally is no way to treat yourself.  And yes, if you are allowing it to happen then YOU are basically treating yourself poorly.  I have to add, that sadly, you have to purge your life of those negative things even if it means losing family members.  Some people never change.  Learn from other's mistakes and break the cycle.

This is how I plan on having a fantastic and healthy year and I hope yours is (and has been so far) just as great!

What kinds of goals do you have for the year?

Here I am with my wonderful sons and hubby

of almost 19 years! :O)