You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February, 2009.
A timely and inspirational birthday gift arrived in the wee hours this morning. The giver does not know me, but the present hit home accurately enough to incite goosebumps (though admittedly, the bumps could be a result of the thermostat wars that rage in our abode).
The gift? February 19th’s post on zenhabits.net: “Achieve Your Dreams Despite Pressures of Work and Family.” The thread of simplicity running throughout the post was two-fold: ya gotta have passion and excitement swirling about your dreams, and they must be made a priority. Excruciatingly simple, yet endlessly challenging to execute.
The timing of this message was darn near perfection. I am beyond blessed to have an amazing, healthy, phenomenal family bringing me joy throughout each and every day. Though perfection is a goal I have no interest in seeking, gratitude abounds for my solid marriage, terrific kiddos, and strong community involvement.
With these blessings noted and cherished, I perch before multiple roads of dreams more personal in nature. Which path to take? The unique and quirky me would guarantee my road was that less traveled, making all the difference (apologies to Robert Frost). Thus, it was with great surprise the zenhabits post concluded like this:
Whether your dream is writing a book or starting a new business or creating your own blog or taking photography or pursuing a graduate degree … don’t always keep your eye on the destination. Enjoy the journey, right here, right now, and appreciate what a gift it is to be able to follow your dreams.
Okay, either author Leo Babauta has a window directly into my brain, or my dreams are fairly universal. The blog? Yup, working on that. Photography? I received a beautiful, intimidating Nikon at last night’s birthday party – a secret wish granted. Book? Have begun outlines for a few titles. New business? Got two – a boutique PR one-woman-shop focusing on nonprofits, and a series of workshop offerings on frugality/finances/simple living/work-life balance. Event the graduate degree – have one, but contemplating another.
Turns out I am passionate about all of this stuff, a revelation a long time coming, after years of second guessing, overanalyzing, and losing touch with the authentic me. So on this, the first day of my 34th year, I commit to grabbing my dreams…
* Write, write, and then write a bit more – for fun, for free, for the good of local organizations, for fame + fortune (scratch the fame – just the fortune bit would be helpful in achieving financial peace)
* Clearly + concisely define business dreams, then set about going above and beyond the wildest versions imaginable
* The Nikon – attack the gathering of photog knowledge with zeal, get confident behind the lens, and enjoy the ride
Okay, identification of passions/dreams – check! Making these passions/dreams a priority – in process…
There are three main time sucks to be milked for extra dream-oriented minutes: taming the e-mail beast, streamlining habits/routines/schedule, and improving home organization.
My family takes first priority, always. But in this 34th year, my other dreams and passions will also be priorities. Less e-mail checking, more writing. Less time wasted re-washing clothes because they sat too long in the washer and got stinky, more time behind the lens. Less time searching for that other boot, the missing library books, or our kids’ water bottles; more time spent exceeding business goals.
This 34th year is going to rock…
A Radon-Free Abode…from basement to countertops
While flipping through the January 2009 issue of Money, I was intrigued by the article: “Does Your House Make You Sick?” Truthfully, there was a smug feeling welling in my belly, convinced was I that we had created an uber-healthy home (After all, had we not spent $50K just last year to remove any traces of lead paint? And what about the nearly $5K we dropped for green, organic mattresses?).
My smugness dissipated instantly upon reading the Radon section, cleverly marked with four charming skulls and crossbones (denoting a high danger level – for a sense of comparison, Mold only garnered two skulls and crossbones). Okay, I was wrong. Really…truly…wrong.
For some reason unbeknownst to me (wait…I do know…it was misinformation from my husband, who is supposed to be the expert on all things home maintenance), I thought radon was a non-issue if one lived in an old house with a drafty basement. I had visions of any potential radon just seeping merrily on its way between our granite blocks.
Ummmm…so that was a pretty ridiculous assumption, or no one advised radon that is how it is supposed to behave, but regardless, leaky basements are no protection from this second-leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking).
Ideally, our house is free of radon. However, you can be darn certain one of my errands today is a stop at the hardware store for a radon test kit; at only $10-20 a pop, the peace of mind will be money exceptionally well spent.
On the good-thing-we-have-not-yet-finished-the-kitchen-remodel front…did you know granite countertops can be a source of radon in your home? Apparently 5-10% of granite countertops out there include uranium which is capable of emitting radon gas. Never checked your basement and recently installed granite countertops? Better add two radon test kits to your list!
Take good care,
Kim
Fourth time’s a charm?
At a recent family birthday party, a gaggle of female relatives was situated around the kitchen table, as oftentimes happens on such occasions. The topic of pets arose, and I shared Monster Minot’s inability to make #1 come out. One of my aunts reminded me of the funny irony that our first kitten could not make #2 (ha! ha!).
This particular kitten was cute, as kittens tend to be, but its arse was literally upside down. Apparently, the mother cat had been “helping” the kitten work its poo out, but with no mama kitten around, the issue became apparent, and the vet bills began mounting. The kitty, named Tuckerman, received a twice daily dose of 2 types of laxatives for months, if not years.
By the time we lost Tucker, his arse had developed a functionality no longer requiring assistance. By “lost”, I really do mean lost. He escaped from the carrier (well, from the cardboard box I had taped closed – he was too big for the cat carrier) in the vet’s parking lot. We searched for hours, put up posters, checked back at the vet daily, and put an ad in the paper, but no dice. We like to think Tucker is whooping it up as an old lady’s love bug, where he is the center of attention, with no little ones around to distract from his cuteness.
Our next cat was acquired full-grown from the shelter, and soon after joining our home, began vomiting yellow frothy bile. Initially, it appeared the kids had slopped yellow paint onto the kitchen floor (a fairly common occurrence). As soon as it was determined the concoction emanated from the cat’s mouth, to the vet we went.
The vet had no idea what ushered in the bile vomit, so tests were ordered, funds were exchanged, and ultimately I was informed whatever ailment was impacting the feline might be contracted by our children, and it was necessary to determine my priority (i.e. my kiddos or the cat). Hmmmm….it took about a nanosecond to decide my children’s health trumped that of any other creature, so back to the shelter Silliness (named by our then 4-year-old) went, with tears and apologies all around.
And now Monster Minot. And his lack of urine output. Perhaps our next pet should be a goat. I hear they can eat anything, and imagine it all works itself out properly in the end.
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure Continues…Meow!
Okay, first things first – counting the days of this adventure is stressful – each morning upon waking I am already behind my goal of daily posting. Hence, no more counting.
Speaking of stress, apparently our cat needs to have less. As if excessive talk of his penile region, urine crystals, and enormously enlarged bladder was not enough, the vet helpfully advised elimination of any stress to prevent further urinary blockages.
I am all for prevention, having just dropped nearly $300 on an overnight stay, muscle relaxants, pain meds, and a prescription only available at the one compounding pharmacy in town. Amusing to me (though, oddly, not to the pharmacy staff), was the requirement I sign a HIPPA privacy notification on behalf of the cat. I am sure he appreciates it.
But returning to this stress issue, how exactly does one make a cat’s life more peaceful and zen-like? The cat sleeps. Most of the day. His water and meals are provided regularly. He has no dishes to wash. Someone scoops up his poop and urine. He moves his fat self from our new King-sized SavvyRest, to the couch, to the ottoman, to the kids’ pillow-filled “submarine” beneath the climbing wall, to the comfy chair in the kitchen, and sometimes to a towel on the bathroom floor. I am failing to recognize a significant source of stress.
Must now dish out a dollop of the super-premium canned cat food from the vet and assure the feline is feeling well-rested and satisfied with his life…
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 30
For reasons entirely unknown to me, I am taking inspiration from the powder room this morning. A little brain candy for your next visit…
Healthy: Ear Wax…
There are Q-Tips in my bathroom. They are not for make-up application, not for cleaning that hard-to-reach space in between the faucet and backsplash, and not for cleaning up over-aggressive application of polish to the tootsies. Nope, these would all be fine and noble uses of a Q-Tip.
Unfortunately, our Q-Tips travel straight from the package into my ears. This is very bad. Potentially ear parts damaging. I possess this knowledge, yet my desire for squeaky-clean feeling ears overrides any sense of reason.
Heed my warning. Buy ear drops. They are rumored to work well. Someday I might even try them.
Wealthy: Floss…
Some of us are lucky enough to have dental insurance. However, I would venture a completely unscientific guess that very few of us with dental have policies covering 100% of procedure costs (aside from those regular cleanings). From a cost savings perspective, regular brushing and flossing can easily save thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars over a lifetime.
Now, the brushing part – no problem there. My brushing habit has been ingrained for more than three decades. The flossing habit has proven a wee bit more elusive. Oh, sometimes floss visits my teeth twice daily, but only when a dental cleaning is looming on the calendar.
Without fail, once settled in the chair, reclined in my bib attire, the inquiry will come: “Are you flossing daily?” It seems this is more an opportunity for scolding rather than a question emanating from genuine curiosity. Come on now, see how my gums are all cut up and bleeding from where I have been attacking with floss in an effort to make up for lost time? Is it now obvious I am not a daily, careful flosser? Let’s just hand over my new toothbrush and be done with this.
Perhaps considering the economic impact of regular flossing will spur me to solidify that regular flossing habit…if that doesn’t work, could always watch root canal videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs0RIh3hPAM
Wise: Drugs…
Lots of things have a rightful home in the bathroom. Bubble bath. Facial masks. Deodorant. Soap. Toilet paper. Good reading material.
One class of items with no business residing in the powder room is medicine. The tropical climate accompanying those daily showers wreaks havoc on meds, whose natural habitat is cool, dry climes. So if you have a pharmacy taking up residence in your bathroom, consider relocating it to another locale. You can use that extra space for floss. And ear cleaning drops.
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 29
Healthy: Got Worms?
The NY Times had a little ditty in the Personal Health section on the astonishing health benefits of worms. Not in your compost, not in your garden, not in a Mason jar as pets (my children are so hankering for a dog, and I fear the worm pets will not assuage them much longer). Anyway, the article speaks to the benefits of worms IN YOU. Fascinated by the science, but horrified by the prospect:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=babies%20&%20worms&st=cse
Wealthy: Memory Game on the Cheap…
Cannot recall where, but saw an ingenious little idea for a Memory-style game to keep in your purse, car, or diaper bag. Home Depot carries paint samples in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head (in the Disney Color by BEHR section). Pick up a bunch of paint sample in 2’s, then keep on hand for Memory when the urge strikes. If any of your kiddos are hip to reading and letter recognition, it will be imperative to cover the tiny section on the reverse of the card where the paint color name is displayed.
Speaking of paint color names, anyone else have a burning curiosity about the folks who brainstorm these hues? Okay, the Disney line is fairly predictable: Three Cheers for Pooh (aka Red), Bouncy Bouncy (Orange), Gamma Sector Green, Laser Beam (Yellow), and Happily Ever After (bright pink – if I opted to paint our bedroom this color I guarantee the result would be anything but happily ever after).
After a little research, I determined the paint color creators fall into a few distinct camps:
Sensible (cannot believe this is really their job and just want to get the pain over with as quickly as possible): Light Blue, Ocean Deep, Designer Studio White, and Brown Bag.
Repressed: Tender Bud, Magical Moonlight, Deep Desire, Cherry Divine, and Cigar.
Devotees of Spirits/Caffeine: Old Burgundy, Merlot, Cider Toddy, and Deep Mocha.
Frustrated Poets: Elusive Blue, Stormy Weather, Forget-Me-Not, and Whispering Violet.
Hungry: Fragrant Cloves, Grape Leaves, Sauteed Mushroom, Crème Brulee, Brandied Pears, Yellow Lettuce, and Green Grapes.
Travel Wannabes: Rocky Mountain Sky, Costa Rica Blue, Bonjour Beige, Key Largo, Jamaican Green, Big Sur Blue, Mediterranean Blue, and Tibetan Jasmine.
The Travel Wannabes represent the largest proportion of my highly scientific paint sample analysis. This result necessitates recognition of a striking commentary about our desire as a culture for constant escape, dissatisfaction even within our own homes, and yearning to be someplace MORE – more tropical, more exotic, more relaxing, more romantic, … I could go on, but suddenly have the most bizarre craving for crème brulee.
Wise: Denture Cleaner Magic…
Picked up this little gem reading an old issue of Real Simple while enjoying a brief respite of “me time” in the bathroom. Apparently, dentures are made of porcelain, just like my sink and claw foot tub. It would appear based on the claims in Real Simple (though I have yet to attempt), tossing a few denture cleaning tablets into standing water will remove stubborn stains with zero effort. I so love that last bit, about no effort, especially when it involves cleaning.
Take good care,
Kim
