The Write Thing

Did you get any letters at Christmas? I'm talking real letters. Hand-written. Not those mass-produced "how great our year was - bet it was better than yours" computer-printed essays.

I got two. And, I've read them both several times. For me, there is nothing better than sitting back in the recliner, hand-written letter in hand, and hearing my friends' voices as I read their words. They told me what they knew I'd love to hear about . They related things to past shared experiences. They were - well, personal.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those computer-printed letters but they somehow carry a bit of detachment with them. I still love to hear what my friends have done during the year. But, it's just not a special event to read them. (Matt & John, you're the exception to this. I can't wait to get your newsletter each year! Love them!!!)

When's the last time you wrote a letter to someone? I try to write at least two a month. This year, I'm upping the ante to one a week. I hope the recipients feel the same way I do when I get an honest-to-God letter.

Most friendly resolution on my list...doing the write thing each week.

Book It Tuesday - Fannie Flaggs' new novel

Tuesday's are going to be "Book It Tuesday" from now on. Another one of my resolutions for this year is to read more. One book down, many more to go over the next 51 weeks.

I just finished reading I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg. EXCELLENT!! I like to laugh when I read. And, I enjoy a good mystery. Laugh I did while reading this funny novel that mixes a bit of mystery with quirky characters (some of whom, I sure I know), love (lost and found), and thought-provoking wisdom.

Ms. Flagg rocks with her guaranteed surprises.

So, what happens when a former Miss Alabama end up selling real estate? Well, one thing is for sure, there are sure to be some skeletons in the closet. We should all be so lucky to have friends like Brenda, Ethel and Hazel in our lives. And, we all know someone like Babs "the beast of Birmingham" Bingington.

Oh yeah, and haven't we all been caught doing something we're not too proud of? You know, like having our weight loss sponsor finding us in the Krispy Kreme donut shop? (C'mon, you know you have!)

Do yourself a favor, get lost in this funny, southern belle of a book. It will be time well-spent!

For more info, click here: I Still Dream About You

BYOB

That's right...another one of my resolutions. And, I hope after you read this, you will make it one of yours.

Bring Your Own Bag.

Plastic bags are handy - but they cost way more than the convenience is worth. You're probably thinking "so, I get a few plastic bags a week, no big deal". But isn't it amazing to open the pantry door and have them attack you? They add up quickly. More quickly than you might believe...

• The average family of 4 uses 1,460 plastic bags a year.
• Plastic bags are made using petroleum (polyethylene).
• Every year Americans use 380 Billion plastic bags. Do you know how much oil that translates to? 12 million barrels! For plastic bags. EVERY year!!! (Just think if some of that could be diverted to one of the many other uses of oil. Maybe gas would be cheaper. Maybe we wouldn't have to kiss the butts of countries that don't like us so much. Maybe...)
• Do you know how long it takes a plastic bag to completely break down? 1000 years. Of course, the toxic chemicals from the break down start leaching into the ecosystem as soon as the bag is disposed of. Toxins from last decades bags have already started to make it into today's food chain. Think about that.

I remember the first plastic bag I ever got. I spent the summer of 1982 in Spain. A few days into my trip, I visited a popular Spanish department store and was given one filled with my purchases. I was amazed at how convenient and what a good idea they were. I couldn't imagine that we didn't have such a thing in the US. I mean, my goodness, I thought Chicago had everything.

When I returned home, I handed out gifts to people in the bags. Mom even took one into the grocery store she worked at. Everyone agreed that it would be so much easier to pack groceries into them than the paper bags that all the stores here used.

Apparently America fell in love with the concept of the bags because not too long after the summer of 1982, they started making their way into our society as well. Who knew then that they'd grow into menace they've become?

So...can you add another resolution to your list? We'll all get plastic bags somewhere along the line this year despite our best intentions. But I am going to do my best to avoid them by carrying my own bags every time I go out. And, you can bet that I'll recycle every plastic bag I do get this year. Hope you'll consider doing the same.

Blank!

It's January 1st and we've all just been handed a blank book with 365 pages. Isn't that exciting? We get to write our story for another new year.

Each page - each day - is ours to make of it whatever we want. We can choose the story. It is ours to create. Sure, stuff happens that we might not like and, unfortunately, send our story in a direction we hadn't anticipated. But, what is important on our page of the day is the way we choose to react to things beyond our control.

So, have you made any resolutions? Have you chosen a new habit to replace one you'd like to change? (That's the key to success, you know.)

I have a few resolutions. One of the most important is to end each page - each day - with a thought that reads "I'm glad I did" instead of "I wish I hadn't".

I'll share my other resolutions over the next several days. But I'll end here by saying...

"I'm glad I posted an entry today. I love writing and it's high time that I make it a priority in my life again." (Oops! Did I just give you another one of my resolutions?)

Happy New Year, everyone. Now, go write a good tale!

Can someone tell me...

...why a sinus infection leaves you between two worlds. The first one is thinking that you're going to die. The second one is wishing that you would.

Honest to God, I've gone through some pretty tough things in my life, but none of them leaves me whimpering like a sinus infection. So that's where I've been the last 2 days. And, that's where I'm heading tonight. The antibiotics are starting to kick in so hopefully the person kicking my face will stop soon. In the meantime, I'm going to whimper my way to bed.

Back soon.

Weight A Minute!

One of the things that happened during my absence is that I became scale obsessed again. Had that problem many years ago. I could tell you my weight at just about any minute throughout the day. Knew how much I'd gain if I drank a can of Diet Pepsi, wore a certain outfit, washed me hair, etc.

Guess what? I have NO idea of what I weigh today. I didn't get weighed this morning. Or yesterday morning for that matter. I'll weigh at the end of the week. And I feel free! Just another symptom of my new attitude.

You see, I've learned that the closer I watch my weight, the more I step on the scale, the less happy I am. The scale has made a slow move downward over the past few months. But, my guess is that it will move down even more quickly now that I'm not freaking out over everything that goes into - or out of (TMI!) - my body.

How often do you weigh? Too much for it to be a motivational tool for you? Not enough to be able to celebrate the small victories?

Balance is the key. And it's a fine line. But when you learn to walk that line by yourself, for yourself, things start happening naturally.

My new plan for balance is a weight-a-week program. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hey, y'all!

I'm ba-a-a-a-ck!

Seems I got lost somewhere over the last few months. But, this weekend, I found myself. And I found my mojo.

Have you ever gotten so deep in the real world that you've lost your way in life. I have. I did. And around noon on Saturday, I decided the hell with it. I turned my car around, drove home, turned on Buffett as loud as my stereo would go and cleared the clutter of life. Figuratively - from my brain. Literally - from my house.

The load is lighter and so is my spirit.

(Speaking of Buffett, he's giving a killer live concert from Gulf Shores right now. On CMT. Really. Turn it on. Find yourself!)

There's so much to cover. Writing. Weight. Oil. The hottest freakin' summer in the history of the planet. But today, it's about fun. And living a light life.

So...are you light? Have you danced today? Have you sung your favorite song out of tune? Why not? I promise you'll feel a thousand times better.

We all take life too seriously. We rush from one place to another. Speeding. Blowing through stop signs like they are meant for everyone else. The joy of the journey is lost.

Of course, there are the times we move too slowly because we are tied to all of our useless stuff. Can't take an impromptu drive to the beach (or the mountains or the local park) because we have to dust or cut the grass or run to the mall for a sale where we can buy more stuff we don't need. Here's an idea (okay, a few ideas) - get rid of some of those knick-knacks that are causing you more work. Or, pay the neighbor kid to cut the grass. Give him a little spending money so that he can start living his life and free up your time so you can get on with living yours. As for the mall...save yourself the trouble. Take the money you were going to spend in order to save 50% and spend it on groceries for the food bank next time you go to the store. You've just saved yourself wasted hours of looking through sale stuff, saved yourself the aggravation of driving, parking, etc, and those groceries will feed an elderly person who might not have eaten because they had to spend their money on medicine. That's a win all the way around. And, it's a light way of living.

In fact, I think it's something to sing about! How 'bout you?

As Jimmy Buffett says "According to my watch, the time is now". Happy life. Y'all!