I love whimsey

Yesterday, I bought the coolest doll at the Crosby Gardens Art Festival. Here is a picture of a similar doll in the series. My doll is called ... are you ready for this ..."Not a Puppet." She is holding scissors in her hand and has the marionettes strings on her lap. When I saw her and read her name I started to cry. I realized how much I strive to be my own person, almost to a fault. I am a control freak and I am so afraid of being someone's puppet. I think she will be very healing for me. Checkout some of the other dolls at "The Doll Makers," they are great!

Movie Review: Wanted

I loved this movie! This film is based on a comic book series and there are some very “supernatural” or “superhero” type elements in this story. If you go in with an open mind, expecting some very strange and wonderful things to happen you’ll probably get exactly what you’re expecting. The action sequences were intense and well executed. The special effects were excellent. The movie has one of the best chase scenes I have seen in a long time! You will be in awe, yelling YES!! Now, about the story line. The more you think about the storyline the more you’ll realize how many problems there actually were with it. Don't dwell on that, just think about the great action and how much fun it was! This is the type of movie that will have a sequel but how that will happen will be interesting You’ll know what I mean when you see it.

It is official I am on a Weight Loss Regimen!

Just a warning you might want to stay away from me for several days because I am on day four of my weight loss program and I am just a tad bit CRANKY!! Actually, I am not physically hungry but I am mentally hungry. I want to eat chocolate donuts, my husband's buttery popcorn and ice cream but I can not because I am an addict with no willpower and will not stop eating once I start. I am addressing that issue and feel I am now motivated I am tired of: aching knees, being out of breath, wearing baggy clothes, hiding my body from my husband and being disgusted with my image in a mirror. I have joined a Gym and I will lose at least 50 Ilbs. I did it once, I can do it again and this time it is for good!!

What the Hell ...

Yesterday, was a "Hell" day. I do not know what got into me but every other sentence was "what the hell ..." or "who the hell ..." I did it so often that one of my co-workers said " Janis, are you feeling rowdy today"? I have been trying to curb my use of four letter words but I think I might have some type of disorder. I do not even notice I am using curse words half the time till someone says something or my husband gives me a dirty look. Most of the time I am pretty sure I am just thinking all those thoughts to myself. Sometimes they just slip out?

On Sunday, I was bored out of my skull so I turned on the Denise Richards reality show and I though I was bad, she is like a sailor! Every other word was getting bleeped. She was so bad her dad told her every time she cursed she would have to give up a pair of shoes to Goodwill. By the end of the show she was dropping off 13 pairs of shoes. These were not ordinary shoes mind you these were shoes I would drool on! Jimmy Choo's, D&G and Prada to name just a few. Maybe I should try that approach every time I curse I need to give something up. I sure as HELL know if I had Jimmy Choo's that would be the last damn thing going to the friggin Goodwill!

A very strange dream ...

I do not normally remember my dreams but... last night I had an interesting dream. I dreamt (by the way, did you know dreamt is also the only word in the English language that ends with mt.) that I was being guided to an understanding on why I do not sleep through the night and wake up always around 2:30 - 3:30 am. In my dream I was taken into an area and I saw that I had been a very young monk left by my parents at a monastery. The monks would get up very early around 12:00 am to pray after that I was suppose to get up around 3:00 am and I did not like to get up so I was beaten regularly by a cruel Abbott. I loved God but started to turn my back and lost my belief because I did not understand how he would allow me to be beaten and treated the way I was when my life was devoted to loving him. At the end of this dream I saw a large ancient book and I reached out to touch it and I heard "do not touch it, it is unclean and is covered in blood" but it was too late I already had it in my hands. I dropped the book and looked down and my hands were covered in the blood. I knew then that I had the Plague. This dream was very intriguing because for one it fits into my life; I studied Philosophy of Religion at UT, I love chanting, reading Thomas Merton, and solitude. At one time, I wanted to be a Buddhist Nun and have always been drawn to contemplation. For many years I have searched for God and yet I always turn my back on my beliefs and any church I get involved with. Right before I woke up I heard " It is alright to believe now.

Finally, Sonic comes to Toledo!

It was announced in todays local newspaper, there will finally be a Sonic in Toledo with the first one opening in August. For years, I have been driven mad by the Sonic commercials that would play on the television. Why was this commercial on the TV when as far as I could find there was not a Sonic to be found within 100 miles! Your mouth would water as they described their Burgers and Slushies. So, when I drove to Florida with my family I added " Eat at a Sonic" to my life list. I would once and for all find this elusive restaurant!
Well, as luck would have it there was a Sonic a few miles away from the Condo we were staying at in Florida. The night we decided to experience Sonic's it was pretty funny. We pulled up into the restaurant parking lot in our "We are so white-bread mini-van" and the lot was filled with Hispanic street racers. Almost every spot was taken up by a "crotch rocket" or modified Honda Civic. We stood out like a sore thumb but not to be deterred we were on a mission. Even my kids were excited to actually see a Sonic. Well, I must report that they have one of the best burgers I have ever ate at a fast food restaurant and great Slushies with flavors like watermelon, blue coconut and my favorite Pineapple. If you like burgers look for the Sonic in August and let me know what you think!

The Love of My Life: My Daughter Claire

As our kids get older we become invisible to them, their friends and activities are more important. Gone are the days when it was alright to hold hands or hug in public. We become cooks, taxi drivers, time keepers and on some days only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

There is a legendary story about man who came to visit a cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

As parents, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of an invisible parent.

I love Claire and would not have it any other way; she is my masterpiece.

Replaced the Nasaline with a Jala Neti Pot

My friend A.H. recommended the Jala Neti pot as a replacement for the Nasaline. I ended up with an ear infection after I pushed the syringe a little to hard and ended up with fluid in my Eustachian tube. The Jala Neti is as you can see stainless steel and is very sturdy. The stainless steel will be good to use with essential oils because it will not absorb the aroma of the oils and will not break down because of the oils. I ordered the Jala Neti pot from a company in India called Health and Yoga. They have a great site and customer support for Neti (Nasal Irrigation) help. Actually, their FAQS are pretty amusing here are two questions and responses from their site:

Q. I want to know if Neti is helpful in straightening of the bone in our nose.
A. Aaaah, no. Salty water is not known for its abilities to bend bones back into place.

Q. There are other more expensive nasal irrigators that are marketed. What advantages does the Neti Pot have over the other systems?
A.Whilst we yogis are not all luddites who think that anything modern is stupid (I am typing this on a computer), it is beyond my comprehension why, when there is a perfectly good gravity irrigation system available and that body saline is the most neutral solution one could use, anyone could think up a need to force water thought the nasal cavities with a mains (or battery) powered machine carrying a concoction of pharmaceutically manufactured chemicals. All the time and effort and cost and complexities of such a device all seems so unnecessary.

Oh and one more thing, I can not believe how fast my Neti Pot arrived from India, I think they have a Magic UPS Carpet!