The Intermittent Blogger

I am sorry for not posting here in a long time.  Truth?  I am so busy with my kids, my fibro treatment, and my main blog, Southern City Mysteries, that I can't promise to keep this one up.

I would like to swing by here when I need to get some health-related stuff out.  And if you decide to stay for those intermittent posts, you are welcome!  But I won't hold it against you if you have better blogs to follow. 

In fact, if you're looking for a new one, check out Southern City Mysteries.  I write there every day but Saturday.  See you there!

Until next time,

Michele

Exercise Positively

Today I did the exercises that helped my back last year.  I haven't done them in a long time and I really don't know why I stopped.  They basically consist of leg drops, side lying leg raises, side lying leg sweeps and side lying leg circles--all while keeping your center engaged and as still as possible, and your back in neutral.  It's a lot to think about, but doing ten reps on each side (2 sets of the leg drops) each day can really make a difference.

The point, however, is that I did it!  I exercised today even though everything hurt.  My ankles groaned and my wrists complained.  My fingers stiffened and my knee protested.  But I still did it.

I think a good attitude can get you far.  How about you?

The Happy Award comes to Do Beautiful Things

I am excited to receive the Happy Award from Simone at The romantic query letter.  I have long followed her through my other blog, Southern City Mysteries, and was pleased that she stopped over here and became my first follower.  Simone writes beautiful poetry that disguised as prose.  Historical fiction, romance, call it what you like, but stop by her blog and read a sample.  You won't be sorry that you did.

The Happy comes with a few conditions, which I repeat for you here:
1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and link to his/her blog
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blogs to let them know!

First, for ten of the things that make me happy...

Snow sparkling in the sun................................
.........................................................................My children laughing together...
Bartlett Pear candles from Bath&BodyWorks......................
.......................Creative jewelry from Moon&Lola..................................................
Yoga and the healing voice of Margaret at Yoga Garden...............
.......................................My husband....
...........................................................Blog comments (I can't help it!  It's invigorating!)
Thinking like a writer--writing every moment in my head........................
..............My son using big words like "injured" and "actually" (he's 4)...
The quiet that sets in when my children are asleep and my husband is ready to go to bed.  The house has settled and we are all at peace.  It is time, our hearts say, to rest for the night.  A good book, a quick thanks to God for our day and our lives, and we will close our eyes to dream.  No worries about the next day.  Just the darkness and the warmth and the closeness of each other......................................................

(The picture above was assigned to me by Simone when she gave out the Happy Award. If she thinks it is a "beautiful thing," it is worth re-posting here. Thank you, Simone!)

I give the Happy Award to:

Chris at Living with Fibromyalgia -- I learn so much from her!

EmcogNEATO of EmcogNEATo -- because I think she could use a little cheering to get her through having no ice in her freezer!

Kris of The Cajun Book Lady -- because she is creative and pretty darn cool.

And, though she has received it before (maybe even from me, I can't remember!), L. Diane Wolfe of Spunk on A Stick's Tips--she has guest blogged on Southern City Mysteries, supported me here on this blog and is an all around great blogging friend.

Thank you, friends.  And I encourage you all to click on all the links and check out the fabulous blogs!

Snow and Family

Our snow family.

The view from our driveway, kids at play.

Sledding experts.

Pure snow joy.

Admiration.

As for the cold and the fibro, I found that the more I moved and the more fun I had, the more I was able to ignore it.  My current motto is this: I am going to hurt no matter what, so what is the point of sitting still?  I know there will be days this isn't enough to get me moving and overcome the pain, but this weekend it was.  Triumph!

What kind of Snow Thing are you?

I promise to post snow pictures tomorrow, but in honor of the beautiful white powder still covering the ground, and because of the red cheeks crowning tired smiles on little faces at my house, here is a snow quiz for you:

Are You a Snow Bunny?

I am!

"When it comes to snow, the more snow you get the merrier you are.

You believe that snow is magical and beautiful. Just seeing the snow fall makes you feel peaceful.

You love to be out and about in the snow, whether you're making a snowman or hitting the slopes.

You don't even mind shoveling snow. If that's the price you have to pay for a winter wonderland, you'll gladly pay it."

I don't know about that shoveling part, but the rest is true.  Did you get snow this weekend or this winter?  What did you do when it fell?

Childhood Secrets

So I was at a coffee shop this morning (after spending 45 minutes at a lottery getting my daughter into preschool--PRESCHOOL!!!), and a painting caught my eye.  It depicts a little girl lounging on the grass outside a house.  Something about the angle of the home, the way it wraps around the girl, makes me think she is tucked away in a favorite spot of hers.  Perhaps she is hiding or in a place she goes to pretend.  With her in the painting is a golden retriever and the girl has her left arm lazily thrown over the dog's coat.  The childs knees are tucked up to her chest and in her right hand she clutches a candy bar.  Did she steal it from her mother's secret stash?  Did she run away to this sacred spot to devour it in solitude?  And why doesn't the dog snatch it away, you wonder?  Because the dogs mouth is full as well!  Hanging from its jaws is a bra!  Yes, a bra.  These two creatures, child and pet, are both partners in an unholy alliance.  They are both thieves.  They are both on the lam.  They are both content, even happy.

What does this picture say to you?  It speaks volumes in memory to me.  I remember the so-called secret spots of my childhood homes.  I remember the things I thought I was sneaking.  And those memories are as beautiful to me today as the action was at the time.

If she can do it, so can I!

So Jenny from the block looks dewy and beautiful on this cover.  And inside are all her makeup artist's secrets!  If a makeup artist can do it, if a girl with a Hindman booty (Hindman is my maiden name) can do it, then so can I!  A little makup, a few brush strokes and I, too, can look glamorous.  Or at least flawless, right?

Maybe not, but I'm still excited about picking up a few tips from this read.  I've had it up to my Hindman booty with throwing away money on makeup that doesn't live up to expectations.  I'd rather take advice from a pro and get what I'm paying for.

I'll let you know how the book turns out, and how I turn out. : P