My Very Own Time Capsule

Today I was the lucky recipient of a package sent by my sister. Inside was a collection of photos (spanning early childhood to me with my newborn son), my year book from eighth grade, old report cards, some of my artwork (one item documenting my first day of first grade), plus a bunch of letters I wrote to my mom over the years along with a few other items of sentimental value.

Talk about a blast from the past!

Getting Into a New Groove

Three short weeks ago, I started a new job and I LOVE it!  I get to work with some great people, doing things I love to do, and so far, it really doesn't feel like "work."  (I know, I know, it has only been three weeks, but I'm still driving to work each morning with a goofy smile on my face and I come home happy every day!)

Now that I am feeling more secure with my job duties, I need to get myself back into an exercise routine.  (I fell off the fitness wagon a couple of months ago due to a bout with a sinus infection which knocked me on my butt.)  I've been able to get back to semi-regular crafting sessions - which really contributes to my outlook, but I have yet to lace up the sneakers and don my workout gear.  While I don't believe my husband would join in my workouts, but I think I need to draft him as a motivatoring force to get me back into the groove of hopping out of bed, mixing up a recovery shake & making my fat cells cry for 20 to 45 minutes in the morning.

I am Grateful for...

• My Faith = it is the foundation of my existence.
• My Health:  this coming week promises to be busy and filled with diverse activities.  I am so thankful that the sinus infection that knocked me on my butt is out of my system.
• My Husband:  Mike is the most understanding man I've ever had in my life.  He supports me in all my endeavors (even when he secretly thinks they could be hare-brained schemes).
• My Family and Friends:  they have been and always will be a fabulous support system for me.
• My technical abilities and my love of learning.  These really go hand-in-hand because so much of my computer skills have been gleaned from watching techies tinker with my computers and the premise that "if it is already broken, what harm could come from messing with it?"

I am a firm believer in keeping a gratitude journal.  Each evening, right before I hit the sack, I take a few minutes to jot down items from my day for which I am grateful.  Saturday evening I made an entry:  "I am grateful Steve has a check for Mike."  (Steve is the contractor my hubby sub-contracts under).  The very next day, the hubster picked up a check from the guy.

Handshakes

I believe I have an overblown expectation when it comes to handshakes, thanks in no small part to my dear departed mother. She taught her daughters to have a firm handshake "You want someone to know you are THERE" she would tell us as we practiced with her.  Knuckle-busting was discouraged, while the full palm to palm contact was the goal.

As a female of the species, I don't have a ton of occasions where the handshake is practiced.  (I more of a hugger anyway.)  But when the opportunity arises, I strive to live up to the lesson my mother bestowed upon me so long ago.  That is why I get so frustrated when I am met with a half shake or the "dead fish".  Let me explain.

The half shake = your opponent grabs hold of your hand prematurely and you only have a grasp on their fingers. This could be a sign of commitment issues on the part of the half-shaker. While the "dead fish" has the appearance of a great handshake, except there is absolutely NO pressure or resistance offered.   YUCK - I really despise those!

[rant complete]

thanks....I feel better now

meanwhile....a story gets posted on Yahoo: 

What Your Handshake Says About Your Health


kinda cool that my need to rant about this topic happened this morning...

A Couple of my Favorite Quotes

"Everything is easy, when you know how" ~ Joe Walden

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" ~ Audrey Hepburn

Hope Is Never Lost

Hope is the basis of my faith.  

Sometimes it can be hidden from view, obscured by our daily toils, but it must never be abandoned.

Behave Like a Christian

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 

~ Romans 12:9-13 (NKJV)

Happy February!

Ground Hog Day has always been a favorite of mine.  I guess because it seems to give me a reason to start celebrating my birthday month.  I wonder how many times the movie will be shown in the next 24 hours.

I got curious about some other important happenings in February and I found the following at www.entourages.com/barbs/february.htm

France surrendered Canada to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris, February 10, 1763.

English essayist and critic Charles Lamb born February 10, 1775.

There are a bunch of other facts, plus she has pages for all twelve months too.

My Google search also turned up http://familycrafts.about.com/library/spdays/blfebdayslong.htm which enlightened me that.....

• February is International Friendship Month
  Check out my page for this special day!
• February is National Cherry Month
• February is National Embroidery Month
• February is National Grapefruit Month

among other things.