Steve Jobs - I never meant that Bill Gates was the creator of Apple... I guess I had a brain fart, that happens when you get my age, and in our day and time, I should have googled, but I have to make this correction, because I so respect Steve Jobs... My bad on the previous post.  Since I have purchased an apple I have tried to learn and read as much as I can about Steve Jobs to find out what made him such a genius!  Anyway, my gufaful... RESPECT Steve Jobs.

Doing Something, Anything Better

More than a year.  I haven't made even a peep about blogging in over a year.  I could say that the past year has been very busy, and making the type of improvements aren't exactly the kind you talk about.
I have spent the past year making "home improvements", improvements to my ever lovin body, and our home.  We had a fire, which had us relocated for a period of time while the home was being rebuilt, and because of my age I am guessing, my body needed a little work done.  So I took the time out of my 'Something Better', and allowed doctors to improve me.
Now I couldn't be happier, most of the time.
My granddaughters are beginning pre-K today.  Yes, Pre-K!  My daughter had an awakening, and is so spiritually on fire, the Glory that God is raining on her, nothing short of a miracle.  Even my husband is impressed!  My son has begun his own awakening... he's quit smoking.
The world seems to have turned upside down though.  The heat that we experienced for the summer season has been HOT... The prices at the gas pump have risen off the charts, and the presidential election between Obama and Romney seems a political game so corrupt that the nonsense caused me to stop watching the news.
The one thing that always remains the constant in my life, my husband of 35 years, and walking.  After getting out the hospital, my only exercise is walking and stretching.  Putting one foot in front of the other.  Raising my knees to allow the quadriceps muscle feel the heat, circulate the blood, get pumped, because this is the rest of my life.
I received my second iPod, an Apple iPad Touch, and the technology blew me off the page.  The clarity with which I see on my screen, whether it's shoes, handbags, fashion, or a YouTube video is nothing short of miraculous.  I was so captivated by the iPod Touch, my husband then purchased an iPad for me!  Really.  I can now say that Bill Gates vision is renaissance!  I love everything about the apple products, from packaging, plugging it in, to turning it off and on again; and one day hope to replace my personal computer with a Mac.
My favorite hobby is still going out and taking photos, spending time outdoors whether walking or working in the yard, and knitting.  And I am good; but writing remains my love.
If I could sit here and write words to lift your spirits, I would, because not giving up is just that.  Lifting your countenance; Our Father, does that for me everyday.  And when I thought there was nothing left in me to give, my spirit was quickened with the words, 'Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee' Psalms 119:11.

Keep your head up and TRUST.

Hey,
It's been so long since I typed my post in blogger, I forgot how.  A little apprehensive even.  I so wanted to have a place to put my "something betters".  I even think it kept me inspired...but letting it go wasn't that hard really, when I had Facebook.  the dreaded Facebook, it's like a punch in the gut with all the blank you know what spewing forth from it's clutches.
Initially, i ended up having two accounts, the stupid program couldn't put the two of us together, so whenever i update one, it doesn't update in the other, and all my friends and family have to friend me twice, fun.  i never had the time to work that out... i just go there and post pictures from time to time. 
Just a few minutes ago, i was responding to a YouTube video, it wasn't even a video, someone posted pictures of the Magic Mesh... you know that commercial, where you see the people walk out the door, or in the door and each time, there's that sweet sound of the door closing behind you.  Come on, you know!  Anyway, I couldn't figure the directions out so, voila, I'll just look it up in YouTube, everything you could think of is over there.  And there it was, easy to understand pictures.  To my delight quite self explanatory.  Sweet!  I want to leave a comment and tell the author about the beauty of his post and eeeehhh... you must go through Facebook!  I must go through Facebook? or twitter, and I am not as familiar with these programs. i found a way to leave a comment though, through another dummy button for Facebook.  Back door way, i am sure.  I liked it, and it went to Facebook without a password!  Yeah, now that I have been completely honest, and I feel good about that. Which brings me to another collective idea i have, but another time.
But my bitch, gripe, discomfort is with Facebook.  Isn't anyone doing anything to shut this down.  I currently use Google+ but it's another one of those programs where you befriend your family and friends, or go to MSN, there's another, or even better still, get your own little space, where you send people your information or get theirs through some subscription.  Which now brings me to another sore point that i have with Facebook...
The dreaded friend chatter.  When your friend or loved one spends their time on Facebook, you get an email as follow up, because we are friends right?  do i really need a blow by blow of chatter entering my mailbox?  I thought that was what Twitter was for.  I don't tweet.  As a matter of fact, i am going to get a twitter account right now.  Let's see how that works out?
Sound out if you like what i said or not.  I am sure we all have our stories, however, the Something Better today, has to be the fact that I have both identified my oppinion on the matter and that makes me better, because i have integrity.  Thank God through Christ that I have had the strength and courage to come back to Blogger, and say something, which makes my day better!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to You All
the number one resolution - "quitting smoking"
http://www.kpcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23665:Quitting-smoking-is-top-New-Year%E2%80%99s-resolution&catid=51:latest&Itemid=79
Can you believe that less than 1000 posts for quitting smoking exist online through google, and yet if I look up handbags in the search engine, i get more than 2000 results.   (What does that tell you?)

 2011 is coming to an end and 2012 is on our heels now.  It should be a time of looking 2011 in the rear view... all the sporting events of 2011, all the news worthy stories, all the discoveries of 2011 coming to an end, and just like every other year, we all have things we want to begin anew in the new year.  I think the biggest ones are, "I want to lose weight", or "I want to quit smoking".  I am sure there are those which are much less glamorous, like, "i'd like to be more agressive", coming from someone who's sort of a wall flower; or for someone who's far too aggressive, "i'd like to control my temper this year", but overall they are the hopes and dreams that will carry you into a new year. 
2011 has been successful for me, it's the 1st year in more than 30 (thirty) that i have gone without smoking cigarettes.  I have actually made it through the entire year, and i am very proud of myself.  But it wasn't easy.  I had days when I just didn't think i could make it through, and then there were days, i made it through with flying colors.  But there were years of practice before making my hope of becoming a non-smoker a reality.  There will probably be news reports on television about the odds of being someone successful in their hopes of quitting something.  And mostly, they have done the leg work, but if you were someone who abuses drugs, and you want to make this year special, by quitting, don't let anyone tell you that you can't.  If you feel you've had it with being heavy and want to lose some weight, don't listen to that voice within your own brain that repeats all your old feelings of insecurity.  If you are going to become successful at what you desire, you have to see, hear, touch, smell, and rise above your old mind set.  If reading is something that will be encouraging for you, read.  If like me, you are a walker, then Walk;  if you like art, use your love for art to encourage yourself. 
I am saying all of this because, having been around the block a couple of times now, I know that there are fears that we all share, the ones that keep us doing the things we probably want to rid ourselves of, but don't because of the fearful voice inside of us, that same voice that took us off our path in the first place, that doesn't want to see us succeed.  In order to become successful at quitting smoking, I had to stop listening to the little voice that always said to me, "who cares?  You are never going to quit anyway".  And the odds of me quitting was really not in that voices' best interest.  So, while being successful at your New Year's resolution would be great 1st time out, don't count on it, but never give up. 
I was so afraid that once I quit smoking i would be less than cool, and boring to be around, when in all actuality, I am more easy to be around because I don't smell like an ashtray anymore, and when I find myself not being the cool person, I just think about how, my grandchildren all think that I am cool as a non-smoker.
Yeah, I finally accomplished my goal of becoming a non-smoker, but without all the previous years of trying, i could not have been this successful.  I know that.  All the little starts and stops actually gave me more confidence each time to continue to try and make this the final accomplishment of my life.  I did it.  I know that you too can quit smoking if you give yourself permission.
So, ring in 2012 with a shout, and do what it's in your heart to do, and i want to wish you great success today and next year.
See you on the other side!
Writing to live, living to write.

Journaling

"The man who does not read good
books has no advantage over the
man who cannot read them."
- Mark Twain

I am in the throes of a book entitled Creative Journal Writing by Stephanie Dowrick.  A very good read so far, easy to comprehend and follow, and everything seems to be like an echo in my spirit, as I read the pages that describe my journaling life. Since I have been journaling on and off for more than 20 years I feel equally accomplished at the task of putting what is in my heart right down on the page.  Sometimes it's just a few words, and sometimes it's many, but however many words, it's a release from my spirit to the world around me.  I feel very accomplished, very happy, and totally satisfied with myself, despite my circumstances. 
The other day I had to run out to the store and pick up some vegetables and fruit; and on my way out, as I was pulling away from the store, I saw a Sister and her sister or friend walking to their vehicle, and as I watched them as they crossed in front of my vehicle, just for a moment, I felt a sadness come over me.  Of course, the moment that happens, I begin praying, but I found myself feeling sad for me.  Maybe because I don't have any money to dress that nicely, maybe because I never had a sister, or even a good friend that I could go to the store with.  I have been living away from my family for more than 12 years, and have yet to find that kind of friend.  So, as I watched them pass,  I began to pray, and feel the circumstances of being unemployed.  Not that being unemployed is bad, but let's face it, working for money is where I have come up short for more years than I care to remember.  Being unemployed means watching the means you have very closely, and getting away from the creditors that try to suck and drain your hard earned money for their benefit.  
But I digress, as I was grateful for them, sister to sister, having someone to share a trip to the store with is truly a gift.  And by the time I pulled up to the curb side with no oncoming traffic, pulling into the turning lane, I looked at the car in front of me, with only 1 (one) passenger, the car on the side of me, (1) one person, and the car across the street waiting for the traffic light, another single person in the car, I didn't feel so alone, and I felt grateful to have seen the sisters together.  And by that time, was able to pray to God through Christ for the privilege of having seen them, sharing.
Good thing for journaling, because now that I have written that moment down, it makes it even more edifying, and I know that I am OK. 

Writing to Live, Living to Write

The Workings of Puzzling

Well, Several months have gone by now, and I have been putting puzzles together, and having a great deal of peace doing it, but I think I must be one of a few.  I look up puzzling, and I see Soduko puzzles, or crossword puzzles, and even jigsaw puzzles, but corresponding with others who sit and put a jigsaw puzzle together... well, You must be out there!
When I was a young girl, probably back in the 60's, when I'd visit my grandmother, I noticed she always had a puzzle going.  It must have had a subliminal effect on me, because, I didn't really start my puzzling until my kids were old enough to leave the pieces alone.  I mean, who gets to the end of a puzzle to find that all the pieces aren't there?
So, for a long period of time, I didn't think about it.  My kids were too young for me to explore the puzzling arena.  And life was far to busy with the aerobic field just hitting the state with full force in the 70's and 80's.  I gave it my all.  I was thin and svelte, I was at peace, healthy, and very much encouraged raising my young children.  Now I am telling my age, but the movement to eat healthy and exercise hit like a tidal wave, and I was first to be in that movement.  The way it made me feel made me want more and more until I became too ill to walk.  The doctors called it Fibromyalgia.  This was in the 80's, and from that time to date... I have used walking as a tool to keep me from feeling poorly.
But I digress, Puzzling was a tool I used in my life when all the kids left home to explore their own futures.  I have been taking care of my granddaughter most of her life, so I didn't puzzle again, until she became old enough to go to grade school.  And since that time, I have put puzzles together.  Now, it's great as a form of therapy, since I cannot get out like I did when I was younger.  And I know that there must be others out there that puzzle.  Whether it's crossword, forward thinking puzzles or puzzle boxes, I am sure that people are using puzzles to exercise their gray matter, and remain sharp in our technologically advanced society.  I intend to bring puzzles back, because you don't get courage watching the Television and finding other people do odd things on those reality shows.  But you do get courage by starting a project and completing it.

Writing to Live, Living to Write

SUCCESS!

What does success mean to you?  A lot of money?  a Job that You Love? Happiness with your familial relationships?  To me, success is being at peace with myself and the world around me.  I cannot control the cost of groceries or gas, but I find there's a sense of peace at having the foods that I need to keep myself and my family nourished.  There's a peace when the grandchildren laugh.  There's always a peace at accomplishing something better.  And I try everyday, to accomplish something better.
This past weekend the garage sale, it was successful, i managed to unclutter the house, i managed to put a little change in my pocket, and I managed to be at peace with myself. after the work that's involved in cleaning out some of the cabinets and closets.  As I continue the road of finding out who and what I want to be and do from home, I know now that it's actually possible to work from home without having to pay my money out for another scam.  I hate being scammed.  And trust me, I have paid out more money that the law allows, with no retribution to get my money back, because online, people find ways to separate you from your dollars.  But I am finally on the right path to actually working from home.

Living to Write, Writing to Love.