Through The Tulips Words of 'Wiz'dom

August 10, 2009

Attitude of Gratitude

Filed under: Gratitude,Life — gardener @ 10:23 am

I’ve been thinking alot lately (what else is new?) about being grateful. For the most part, I feel as though I’m very grateful for EVERYTHING in my life, but I realize that there are sometimes when I’m not grateful at all, and I realize that is something that I really need to take a hard look at.

Point and case- Yesterday Marcel was doing something in the house, and I asked him before he began, to make sure that he read the instructions, since men tend to not always want to read the instructions and things don’t always go the way they ‘think’ they should go. He said he would, but at some point he made a mistake that could have been huge in relation to what it was that he was assembling.

I got irritated and told him to let me do it, because I’d specifically asked him to read the directions and he hadn’t.

So I did it- I corrected his error, without problem, and finished assembling and moving the entire project- while he sat on the couch and sulked.

Later- he said: “See you were upset over nothing, and you made me feel as though I do nothing right.”

I felt bad about it- I really did. Not only because he was right, but also because I should have been grateful that I have a husband who actually wants to do those type of home projects instead of leaving them for me to do, or grateful because I have a husband who doesn’t complain everytime I get the urge to buy something new for the house. He may protest from time to time, but he generally says if I really want it, to go for it. I know there are many men who aren’t like that.

This is just one example. I’m sure if I think back, there could be many involving many other situations and circumstances.

Do you have a TRUE attitude of gratitude in your life?

My Gratitude List for August 10, 2009.

Today I’m Grateful For:

  • New Life.
  • Awareness.
  • A day spent walking in the sunshine and shopping with Marcel.
  • Those who choose to make a difference in the lives of others.
  • Downward movement on the scales.

Since Then….

Filed under: Techy — gardener @ 10:13 am

Last time I was here, I was off to put on my nerd cap and see if I could manage to fix a laptop issue on a computer that Marcel’s neices own. Unfortunately, there is a file either missing, damaged or infected and a crucial file to allow Windows to start.

In the beginning, they didn’t want to lose everything and I definitely don’t blame them, but then they decided they’d deal with it (there wasn’ THAT much on there), and that I could wipe it, but after thinking about it, I refused to do it.

I know they weren’t thrilled about it, because that’s going to mean either finding someone who can do it that they know, or paying someone, but not long after they received the laptop from their grandma (my mom-in-law), I had gone over and set up the printer. Some way or another, other installations of the printer got added, and the default printer setting was changed, causing it not to print. There was something-or-other going on at the time, and I wasn’t able to make it over there when they wanted me to, so they had some friend of a friend look at it (and you know how those things go sometime), and rather than going in, deleting the excess installs and changing the default, he decided that rather than Vista, that the computer needed XP, so he installed XP on the brand new computer, voiding the warranty and everything.

In my eyes, that was about the dumbest thing ever- especially since the problem wasn’t Vista related, but to each his own. I am not going to attempt to repair it now that there has been a conflict or problem when I have NO idea what else this guy did to the computer.

Tomorrow, Marcel will call someone we know who owns a computer shop, and see what he’ll charge to repair it. It isn’t going to be cheap, but I’m not doing it. Maybe they can call the guy who changed the operating system in the first place and let him do it. Lord help them though if they do.

August 8, 2009

Putting on My Hat

Filed under: Techy — gardener @ 11:51 am

Looks like I’m going to put on my computer nerd hat and head off to the living room. I had plans to write something more here today, but Marcel’s niece popped in with their laptop that won’t start. They had tried to install a camera driver the other day, and the computer asked to reboot and when it attempted, it wouldn’t start Windows.. Of course, they are horrified that they’ve lost all their photos and such, and I hope that isn’t the case. I’m going to do what I can, but I’m no miracle worker.

The one thing that annoys me.. is that when they got the laptop- a friend of their step-dads decided they shouldn’t have Windows Vista on the computer so they installed XP over the Vista. SO far there hadn’t been any problems, but I have a concern that this has created some sort of conflict with the software.. I guess I’ll try to see if I can get it to boot in safe mode and go from there..

Wish me luck!

August 7, 2009

In My Shoes

Filed under: Inspiration,Life,photography — gardener @ 2:13 pm

I was sitting here a little while ago, writing what started off as an answer to a simple question in an email of someone asking my experience about a particular situation, and that response grew into me sharing personal pieces of my life journey that I haven’t really thought about in a while.   It was in that moment, when I realized that in sharing that journey- that I have a story to tell..  one that may impact the life of another person.

Oddly, this came after my mother-in-law said to me, when I was expressing concern and compassion for someone who was struggling with a particular situation-  “Don’t feel compassion and concern for them, they are the way they are based on their choices.”     My response was that it may very well be the case, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve compassion or concern, and that I can’t be that uncaring.    My mother-in-law may very well be correct in that person being how they are by their own choices, but that’s neither here-nor-there.

I believe we should walk a mile in a persons shoes before we stand in front of them passing judgement and making accusations.  We never know what has brought a person to their current situation, and sometimes, a smile and maybe a bit of compassion makes ALL the difference.

Remember that- and I challenge you to BE that difference.  Anyone can be ordinary.  I challenge you to strive to be EXTRAORDINARY!

August 6, 2009

Filed under: Gratitude,In the Neighborhood — gardener @ 12:59 pm

It has been a warm day here in the land of Never, and my favorite guy has gone off to work for the evening, leaving me home alone to do what I please. Granted, I don’t have anything exciting planned- a little television and a cool bath. That should help cool me off and hopefully will also help me get some rest this evening as well. I actually love the gorgeous days, but I love being ‘cool’ in the evenings when it’s time to snooze.

Lately, I’ve had many ideas pass through the grey matter that I want to write about. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed (and hear it comes with age, although I am not too quick to accept that concept) that if I don’t write those ideas down, that I tend to forget them, which means some ideas that I really found to be great, have fallen by the wayside so-to-speak. Maybe, if I forgot them, they weren’t that great to begin with.

Since I’ve been keeping notes about everything else, and I am trying to pull together some ideas for this and my other sites, it looks like I’d better start writing down everything in hopes of actually ‘remembering’ what I want to say.

Does anyone else have this little problem?

I wonder if I can blame it on the heat?

My cool bath awaits. I can almost hear it calling out to me, so I’ll say goodbye for tonight, but not before I share a few things that I’m grateful for today-

My Gratitude List for August 6, 2009.

Today I’m Grateful For:

  • Spending the day with a great group of friends over shopping, lots of chatter and food.
  • The waiter at the restaurant we had lunch at today, who was as sweet as he could be.  THANK YOU!
  • Leftovers, which meant I didn’t have to cook in this warmer than usual weather.
  • Starbucks- although it isn’t Illy- it’s GOOD!
  • Little notes from people that brighten my life.

August 4, 2009

Kids in Crisis?

Filed under: Health/ Fitness,Life — gardener @ 8:33 am

This morning I was watching the news, and heard some news that really surprised me. A new study shows that more than 70% of American children have lower levels of Vitamin D than they should have, which increases their chances of heart and bone disease.

The cause, based on the study is poor diet and lack of sunshine.

I never remember hearing things like this when I was a child- Why? Because we couldn’t wait to get home from school, get our homework done and get outside. Even in the sweltering heat of the summer months, we came inside to grab something to drink and/or eat and out we went again. Times have obviously changed.

It saddens me when I think about so many children today who would rather sit at the computer, watch television or play video games instead of spend any time outside, and what saddens me even more than that, is the parents who would rather use these items as a glorified ‘high-tech’ babysitter so they can do whatever it is they do during the day.

There needs to be some sort of balance, a balance that is set by the parents, not the children, since we all know, if given their choice- many (notice I said many and not all) children would prefer to stay inside and ‘do their thing’.

I am concerned that if this trend continues, the amount of overweight children in this country will continue to rise, along with the number of diseases that have started showing up in children.

The cycle can be broken. Are YOU doing all that you can?

I’d love to hear your feelings on this subject.

Attitude Adjustment

Filed under: Life — gardener @ 3:34 am

I have to say, that in spite of the cramps I’m having, that my mood is much, much better than yesterday. Even though I find myself slightly irritated about nothing, my mood has improved so much. I can officially say I’ve taken my ‘grumpy pants’ off.

Marcel will be headed to work soon, and I have the afternoon to myself. I’d like to get a few things done, but I’m not sure how far I’ll come. I’ve spent some time curled up on the sofa, and am now starting to move around a little. I did have a discussion with Marcel about what AEDs are, and how having them in restaurants and other public facilities can be the difference between life and death in some instances. I don’t think until then, he’d really heard of them.

I’m also getting ready to turn on my new crock pot for the first time since I bought it last Thursday. I’ve been wanting to test it out, and found a really great black-bean salad recipe, so I have the beans soaking and will get them cooking within the next hour or so. I’ll be sharing the recipe on SimplyWizardress a little later on.

Right now, time to make a few phone calls.

August 3, 2009

Grumpy Pants

Filed under: Life — gardener @ 12:22 pm

I have my cranky-pants on today, which is why you haven’t really seen much out of me in terms of writing today. What I have found, is that there is a silver-lining to every dark cloud, and that Miss Crankypants is able to accomplish quite a bit when she is feeling cranky, so that’s a definite plus.

I had all the household things done so that I’d have the day to do what I wanted, and rather than goof off, I actually caught up on things that had been on my ‘to do’ list for a while.

Tomorrow is another day- I expect for it to be better than today- not that today was actually ‘bad’, because it wasn’t, but you know how it is, when your grumpy, things tend to be magnified. I blame the hormones and that oh-so-fun time of the month. I know, TMI (too much info), but it is what it is folks.

Alot is going on in my world.. fortunately not with me personally, but things that affect people I love. I hate seeing people I love and care for struggle and hurt. It’s a helpless feeling, but I do know that prayer changes things, and as all things- this too shall pass.

See y’all tomorrow.

In the meantime- tell me something good 🙂

August 1, 2009

“Keepers”

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 1:20 pm

My friend Samantha received this from a mutual friend of ours, and she shared it with me. It is one of those things that after reading it, with tears in my eyes, I read it again, and thought about the truth in each and every word- about what matters in this life, and what doesn’t.

Take the time to cultivate and nurture ALL that matters in your life, and don’t sweat the stuff that doesn’t.

“Some things we keep.”

One day a woman’s husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t “anymore”. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more “just one minute.” Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say “I love you.”

So while we have it, its best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick. This is true for marriage … And old cars … And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep — like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!

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