The MRI?

You know what I hate? I hate when you break your ankle in 2 places and it seems to be healing kind of and then you go to your doctor after six weeks and he says, "hmmmm.....well, let me know if you want to get an MRI soon."  Okay, hold the phone.  First off, Why would I WANT an MRI?  And secondly, how would I know if it would be appropriate to have an MRI? Sure everyone knows I'm really good at diagnosing medical problems, but how am I supposed to know what to do where this MRI request is concerned?

If I really think about it, I'm probably going to have to request an MRI. Evidence #1: My pal at work today said, "You're not getting better.  You're getting worse. Look at how you're walking."  Evidence #2:  I'm still in quite a bit of pain in the region of the ankle.  Man alive.  This ankle thing is putting me in a wicked bad mood. I wonder if I'll ever be well again.  Bottom line.  I'm feeling somewhat frustrated.

The Gifts

Take away from this week's reading of Gifts of Imperfection.  Cultivate authenticity.  Share a new creation.  Stay vulnerable.  Choose to show up and be real.  Be honest.  Let my true self be seen.  Don't shrink.  Don't puff up.  Stand on sacred ground.  Get deliberate about cultivating authenticity and get inspired.  I'm inspired by this quote I got in my other self helpful book by Jack Gilbert, "We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of the world."

So I've done my reading and it's time for me to get to some writing.  But first I'm showing up for the NYT cross word puzzle with Husbandman.  Husbandman's heading out to Arizona for a few days so I want to have some time with him this morning.  After that, writing.  But here's the thing.  How on earth am I going to get my school work done for the week if I plan on meeting my proposal deadline of 6 o clock tonight AND go  see an independent film this evening?  I've got to accept my gladness today, even though the ruthless furnace of the working world is burning into my brain like a welder's torch.  I can do this.  Don't shrink.  Don't puff up.

The Machines

Do you ever use simple machines to solve real world problems?  I use a wedge (knife) to cut lemons for my smoothies. And I might use the wheel and axle of my scooter again soon because my ankle still freaking hurts.  I frequently use pulleys when I volunteer at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center and have to move the tranquilized tigers into the wheelbarrow (lever) in order to get them over to the health clinic when they need x rays. But I don't use screws too often.  There are flat head screws and pan head screws.  There are even round head screws.  And yet it's as if they live in a whole separate world, a world totally foreign to me. Simple machines.  Do I appreciate them enough?  It's something I'm thinking about today.  

The Rascals

We had a guest teacher yesterday morning because of my two dental appointments.  Okay, I also went out to lunch with 20 Something and Beau D.  But mostly I was out of school because of my TWO dental-related appointments.  Well come to find out, the guest teacher wasn't too confident about teaching Thirdlanders and the Thirdlanders took every advantage of this opportunity to be the little rascals only they can be.  I am slightly annoyed, but mostly I'm annoyed with the guest teacher who totally disregarded my lesson plans that took me a long time to write.  Still, the Thirdlanders and I are going to be having a conversation about doing the right thing today when we meet together at morning meeting. I'm going to tell the Thirdlanders that while I admire their spunky independence, it can be overdone. Time to rein it in and get back on track.

#TwinTuesday

Egg, and Book about living a wholehearted life.  It all seems so unexpected.  As I blog right now, I'm sitting here with 20Something and drinking a green smoothie.  I have some dental work to deal with now, so off I go.

The Greens

I joined the green smoothie challenge last week and I'm happy to report that I have had a green smoothie every day since Tuesday.  I almost messed up one day and was already having a glass of wine after sunset when Beau Diddley and 20 Something helped me hop back on the challenge train.  20 Something said, "You can have an off day, but you can't have a day off."  So, with the help of the young, I took a wine break and created and consumed yet another green smoothie.  After that day, I decided to always start the day with the green smoothie, rather than putting the smoothie challenge off for later.

We had a beautiful week here in the heartland. The weather was dismal, but we got outside, learned about our IU campus and our Brown County and we saw movies and created a veritable feast and made t-shirts.  We saw #1 play some music at a crowded and noisy pub.  We had the best week ever and I do like to brag so I'll tell you that the crossroads of America didn't disappoint our visitors from all over the country, hither thither and yon. They all want to move here and are looking into buying some midwestern real estate.  We miss them a lot already so we can't wait for the relocations.

The Hand Turkeys

We made these T-Shirts.

#TwinTuesday

Kind of neat.  Salamander and a dryer sheet.  KC and I both had the same red salamander and we didn't even know it.  That's the stuff of cheer.  Happy #TwinTuesday my friends.

P.S.  1/3 of the relies arrived last night.  We'll pick up the other 2/3 (66.66666%) later this evening.  And then the games really begin.  They've actually already begun to some extent.  Truth be told.

The Brags

1.  Last year Mitzker and I collaborated on a cool project with the Thirdlanders.  We read and researched articles from Time For Kids News Magazine. Mitz is heading to LRA next week to talk about this project.  I decided not to go because I need to work on the book proposal (see reference to personal sacrifice in earlier post).  I met with Mitz yesterday evening for some food and drink and she went over her power point with me.  It really was an amazing project and Mitz has presented it brilliantly.  I'm feeling proud that literacy researchers from hither thither and yon will get to hear about the awesome Thirdlanders of yore. Our respondent even wrote that the work was "stunning."  So I guess I've got some bragging rights to share with one and all.

2. As November wears away, it's getting harder to find stuff of note to brag about.  Once the family arrives, they can help me think of great things about me for the final week of the challenge.  Get ready for greatness, Family!   Husbandman could do better in the department of Continually Complimenting, truth be told. But let's get real people. As I've been putzing around with revisions the last few days, he's been doing a million errands to get ready for our company.  We're all going to have   to cut him some slack.  I am officially double bragging today.  Not only did I collaborate on a cool project, I ended up collaborating on my life with the one and only Husbandman.  SCORE!

The Revisions

This bragging challenge is really a challenge at times.  Most days, it's fun and funny to sound so obnoxious, but other times, I feel somewhat repulsed by my own self.

But soldier on we must.  We have 8 more days of November and this is the November bragging challenge and no one ever said it was going to be for the faint of heart.

So... what to brag?  What to brag?

I'm not doing anything amazing right now, per se, BUT I am getting down a few ideas for the revision of chapter 2.  And even though I don't have a book contract and may never have a book contract, I did have a phone call with the editor on Monday and I have been working on this proposal for her for 3 years and I'm really sick of it, but I've never given up on it and though I do procrastinate, I also do end up getting some revisions done and not too many people in their right mind would keep working on something like this, but I made a commitment to myself to finish the proposal and I'm honoring that commitment even though it's meant a great deal of personal sacrifice so when you think about it, my perseverance could be considered impressive if looked at in the right light.

The First Snow

Mom and Bro make a pie.  Foto Credit:  Faitho

It's the day of the first snow.  Hoorah!

Today I'm in the house.  I'm supposed to be writing another revision of Chapter 2 for my writing proposal, but come to find out I've got my priorities straight.

I'm looking at the snow and eating pistachios.  I think I might even take a nap.

I know.  You're all thinking about how amazing I am with the procrastination skills, but  I doubt anyone really knows how phenomenal I am at avoidance and fritterance.  Sorry if you think you do know, but you don't. There are no words.

I'm happy to be on break.  Everyone's coming in this week and I'm very pleased to tell you that we're going to have a newcomer in our midst.  20 Something is bringing home Beau-Diddly.  He's going to love it here.  We're planning on buying a few new board games to keep the crew enchanted over this chilly week in America's heartland. I'll probably win most of the games, but of course I'll be charming about it.  That's just how I roll.