Through The Tulips

When he was younger- any chance that JJ had to spend with either Marcel or myself- he would choose Marcel every time. He always sat by Marcel- followed Marcel, but always listened to me better- I was the consistent one with making sure he did what he was supposed to do.

I’ll admit that I was a little jealous. I was the one who spent time training him- I was the one who was consistent with him, but he seemed to love Marcel mare. I know- I shouldn’t be a little jealous of such a trivial thing- but I’m honest in admitting I was.

Then at some point something shifted- I really stopped thinking about who JJ loved since it was obvious that he adores us both- but in different ways. I will always be the one who is consistent with discipline and Marcel will always be the fun playmate-

Several weeks ago- I noticed a shift- JJ has started being at my side ALL the time- It started when I was not feeling well and just really feeling down- Maybe it was going on before that but I didn’t notice. Now- he is beside me at all times. Right now- he’s lying beside me on the sofa- and when I get up in a moment to make myself a cup of green tea- he’ll follow me to the kitchen and wait until I’m done- then follow me back.

Unconditional love- that’s what my little guy has for me- and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m one of those people who really delight in the little things. I know the ‘little things’ vary by person, but I’ll give you an example. We needed dog and cat food, but I’ve been putting off ordering it because it’s expensive. Granted, it lasts for six months or maybe even longer, but it’s still a chunk of change at once- especially when we need both.

So- I was online getting ready to place the order and I had been looking around for coupon codes (Something I always do before checking out anywhere online) and I couldn’t find anything. I decided to go through my email and see if there were any there- and the ones that I found were expired. Then I saw one from two years ago that was for bulk orders, and since what I was doing was technically a bulk order- I decided to try the code- after all what’s 20 seconds of my time? It worked!! AND it saved us about 12.00!! Needless to say- I was a very happy girl.

See what I mean about the little things? What little things have made you happy lately?

It’s no secret that I love music. I love hearing the blues and jazz when I’m in New Orleans, plus I love rock n roll. Each type of music has their own sound, and their own emotion but I can relate to all of them. I’ve stood in a standing room only venue watching someone play solo on a charvel san dimas and been mesmerized and also stood in the middle of the French Quarter and been exactly the same watching someone play the sax. Something about it taps into my soul- My favorite? I’d be hard pressed to choose, but I think it would have to be the sound of the electric guitar. Something about it is- well, electrifying.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things in life that I’m grateful for. I know that’s nothing new if you know me- or have read this blog before, but for some reason I’ve really been thinking about it a lot. I’ve also been thinking about the things that don’t work in my life any longer- and working on letting them go as easily as possible. Some things are easier than others- but in the end, we shouldn’t hold on to what doesn’t work for us.

I have a lot to babble about- but it’s going to have to wait until tomorrow. I had some technology issues that had to be sorted and it took longer than I thought. But before I go, I’d like to take a moment and share a few things I’m grateful for today.

My Gratitude List for January 19, 2012.

Today I’m Grateful For:

• The joy and happiness that I feel when I see JJ do crazy little things- like jump in the water unexpectedly after a stick or dance a little jig after he gets out of the bathtub and I’m drying him with the blow dryer.
• The gorgeous orange roses that Marcel brought home to me today.  I was wondering why he was late- and I found out. What a great surprise.
• The wonderful dinner that I cooked for us tonight-  It was pure comfort food but it was so delicious.
• Having the strength to do 30 minutes on the elliptical and then going back and doing another 10.    I was beat, but it was such a great feeling.
• Seeing the sun peek from behind the clouds and bathe me in its warmth after a dark and rainy day.

I was looking through pictures on Facebook the other day of one of my friends. It’s someone’s page that I haven’t been to in a long time, and I always enjoy seeing what things people share- especially when it’s related to their home. This particular person had built and moved into their new home and one of the bedrooms was furnished with log bedroom furniture. It is a rustic cabin and I really loved the way it tied into the theme. Their view is amazing as well, as they live in the mountains.

Isn’t it funny how much we can learn from people just by looking at their pictures and reading their wall’s on Facebook?

As I mentioned before- I’m working on getting back in a routine of getting regular exercise, and while I don’t think I’ll ever ‘love’ it- I do love the feeling that I get after doing it- (notice I didn’t say during) and since starting back up- I’ve asked myself several times how I could have let myself get away from regular exercise, because I really DO feel better and I know my body thanks me. We only get one chance and one body- so I’m trying to be more conscious in taking care of it.

With all that being said- I didn’t realize how out of shape I’d gotten over the past year from not doing regular exercise. The past few days I’ve been regularly walking and I’m back on the elliptical and I’m feeling it. I usually alternate between the two- but yesterday and today I did both and tonight I’m absolutely beat! I had a lot of other things around the house to get done- and I was happy to sit down and just be done with having to move today.

I can tell that my body needs a day of rest- so tomorrow will be one of my ‘no exercise’ days for this week. I’ll admit I’m looking forward to giving my body a rest.. There’s definitely such a thing as too much of a good thing..

In a few weeks, Marcel and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe that it has been that long in some ways- and in other ways it seems like we’ve been married even longer. I try not to make a big fuss about it- but we do usually do something special, and I’m usually the one who mentions it first. I guess that’s a woman thing. I was suprised yesterday when I walked by Marcel’s computer and he was doing a search for wife gift ideas, which made me smile. He shut the laptop lid so I couldn’t see, but he wasn’t quick enough. Obviously someone is thinking of our upcoming anniversary and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.

The number two item on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list is to do something for someone without them knowing about it. Without going into any details (because the person may read this space and realize that it was me), I’ll say that I definitely did this and in a big way. I won’t say when or anything else about it, but I will say that in spite of their suspicions, I denied having any involvement and I think they bought it.

What I did was not about me, nor was it about checking something off of my list- (In fact, I’d forgotten it was on the list until much later.) Instead it was about spreading a little love, hope and kindness to someone who was in need at that moment. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Day one of 2012. Wow! A clean slate and a year filled with potential and endless possibilities. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the realizations I had towards the end of last year and how it is going to help me increase my potential and better understanding of myself in this one.

January 1, 2012.

Today I’m Grateful For:

• My Family-   They are always there for me through everything- and I’m so grateful.   What would I do without them?
• My Friends-  Some of them I count amongst my family and again- I’m so grateful and blessed to have such a precious group of friends.  
• PJ days-   Today is one of those lounge around the house and just catch up on little things days- and I love it.
• Learning to let go-   I’ve had a problem with letting go of things lately and I’m learning to let go of the things that I really shouldn’t be holding on to.   It has been a little painful, but it’s a good thing.
• Possibilities-  potential and a new day and year to do my best!

It’s hard for me to believe that it is the 28th day of the last month of 2011. 3 days left before we close the chapter of this year and pull out a blank book and begin again.

A new year- so many possibilities, so much potential to be whatever we make of it.

Goals, I’ve been setting a few mentally, but it’s time I put pen to paper and set them in stone. I’m a visual person, so seeing them on paper will help push me to make them happen.

At the top of that list is nurturing
the important relationships in my life and stepping away from those that are more toxic than anything else. I keep myself pretty free of those, but there are a couple that I need to keep a little more distance from.

Avoid energy vampires. I guess they could technically be on that Rubik’s cube of toxicity, but somehow different. Sadly, there is one that I really love dearly but they have become nothing but an energy drain and anything but pleasant to know. I hate it, but they are too stuck in the victim role to want to do anything else. I can’t change it though.

These are just a couple of many. Plus I plan to check some things off my 101 in 1001 list. I can’t believe it has been more than six months since that project started.

How are you expecting your life to change in 2012?