Zoo Pass

Andy and I bought a zoo pass.  We love the Zoo!!  I never was an animal person and then I started to live with a dog.  Now I view animals in a totally different light. They make me smile and wonder.  I have a bigger heart for all of them.  I'm amazed and curious about everything they do.  I know many think it might be sad to see an animal in cage or locked up.  I once read a book that softened my heart about all of those fears.  It described how a zoo actually provides for an animal.  They never have to go hungry-they are always fed.  They don't have to hunt and go through seasons where they  can't find enough food for themselves or their family.  They also aren't hunted. They are safe.  Nobody will attack them or chase them or their little ones. 

That being said...they may miss "the hunt" or the adventure that lays outside those zoo walls.  Maybe they don't have enough space to run as much as they'd like.  I'm not sure.  The Milwaukee Zoo is pretty amazing.  The animals are not in "cages" with stone floors and four walls around them-they each have an individual atmosphere.  A lot of the areas have a zoo employee standing there to tell you something about the animals in addition to the written info-this last weekend one employee told us that the little monkey just turned four last weekend.  Maybe that is not what being an animal is all about-but every single person she told that to said "awww".

 Because I'm afraid of bears-I would never stand within 30 feet of them and watch them in awe like I can at the zoo.  But this last visit I was amazed.  There were two bears being VERY active in the water.  They were playing and wrestling.  I loved it.  Also, we walked up to a really large gorilla sitting on a stump.  He was in "The Thinker" position.  Then he slowly rolled off and laid down.  Another little monkey was taking food and hiding it while we all watched.  The sea lions swam back and forth and I never knew how fast an otter could swim.  I want to get my mom there....how can I convince her?

The Gorilla aka The Thinker

I have nightmares about bears....not sure why we were this close!

The Pile

Someone told me something months ago, maybe years ago. And it resonates in me. Reminds me. Teaches me. And surprises me. 

Imagine if there were 20 people in a room and everyone wrote down their problem/s down on a note card and threw it in a pile.  After 5 minutes everyone gets to search through that pile and find a new problem to take.  Most (MOST!) people would decide to choose their own problem back. 

I thought long and hard about that and I had to agree.  I'm not saying my problems are less or more than anyone else's.  Usually I think that it is not the problem in itself, but it is how it affects someone and how they deal with it that defines how monumental the problem is or isn't.

Let's list a few problems...(these are all made up!)
-Eating disorder
-Arthritis
-Diabetes
-Fear of heights
-Illiterate
-Deaf
-Addicted to drugs
-poor relationships with family
-unable to keep friendships
-chronic lying
-goiter
-Cancer
-Celiac Disease
-Leg amputation
-A child with downs syndrome
-obesity
-gambling
_________(enter your problem here)

So...would you choose your problem back-or pick another?  Remember, most people have multiple worries or problems.  Some are minor.  Don't hate me for this-but I think a fear of heights is minor.  But to that person-that could be major as it might keep them from traveling (flying or climbing/hiking or sitting in the cheap seats etc).   Of course one reason we would all pick our problem back is because we've learned to deal with it. Some of us may have accepted our problem, figured out how to be indifferent about it or be in control.  Thinking of some of those other problems may scare us because we aren't sure how to fix it or just be ok with it.  

Of course there are some problems that people have that I didn't list that I wouldn't choose for sure-things so hard I won't even list them in case you, readers, have those problems.  When people have a problem you don't think you'd ever want, I think it's fair to validate that to them.  Because it is those worries that weigh on their heart just as strongly as your most major problem. 

I work with a great group of dietitians.  Often we'll giggle at the different diet orders that the doctor's write and sometimes we'll groan for the patient.  We know that a cardiac, renal, diabetic, pureed diet would not be fun.  We get sarcastic and say- why not add low fiber and gluten free to that diet order.  We've also had discussions about which diet would be the worst.  I've heard people say that they would hate a diabetic diet-they love their carbs.  Some say a cardiac diet would be hard because they love salt and dairy products.  I always thought a renal diet would be hard but I never, ever, ever ever ever ever wanted to have to follow a gluten free diet.  I love my noodles.  But look at me now.  I have faced one of my greatest fears and I would pull that out of the pile.  I would also pull the fear I had with Eli's health problems over most too-and that was a large struggle in my life. I would choose our financial situation over being famous/rich but not being able to go out to dinner without people staring etc.

I bring this up because I always need a reminder that what I've got-is just that. It's what I've got.  Good, bad, ugly, scary-I can do it and I will do it.  I will learn to adapt, love, stop, start, change, embrace all the problems that come my way.  Because once I do that, I've accomplished something in the pile that I'd be brave enough to take back and claim as my own.

Sluuuurp

My favorite meal to make (because it is so easy and yummy) has always been spaghetti.  Now that I'm following a gluten free diet it's been more difficult.  We have to make 2 pans of noodles, 1 pan of sauce (if we're lucky and the sauce is gluten free) and one pan of vegetables.  So we got all 4 burners cooking folks.  And we have 4 different spoons going (one for each of the 2 noodles, one for the veggies and one for the sauce). Akkkk. It just makes for a lot of dishes and hotness in the kitchen.  Tonight I wasn't happy with the gf noodles I made so I threw on another brand of noodles and tried to mix them.  Honestly-spaghetti s not as yummy to me as it used to be-but it's doable.  However-tonight was the 1st time that Eli LOVED it.
Watch and learn.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

giggle

When I giggle....I like to share a giggle with someone else.



If you're a dog lover-you'll giggle or tip your head.  If you're not a dog lover, don't visit my blog again! 
(totally kidding-just MOVE ON).

ps for reference I found this on a blog titled  http://itfeelslikechaos.blogspot.com/ and it states that the video  above is just a joke.

Neighborhood

Wow!  I am old enough to live in a neighborhood!  We don't know that many people in it...but the few that we do are good people.  The elderly couple near us do not give us a hassle and often help snow blow our sidewalk. Near them is a younger couple who will soon have a baby.  The husband is very handy (used to work at Home Depot) and has been more than willing to come over and help us with our many household emergencies.  One day I ran into the wife who was walking to a friends house around the block with a back pack that hid a wine bottle.  I think we could be friends!

A few weeks ago the elderly gentleman next came over with a broken wrist to inform us that his wife fell and broke her hip.  She was in the hospital and he wanted to confirm that Andy could help him get her in the house when she got home.  She is now wheelchair bound and something needed to be done.  Our handy-neighbor got Home Depot to donate a bucket-load of materials for free and away the boys went.  I think at one time or another there may have been 4 or 5 guys over there to start with.  But last weekend, Andy and handy-neighbor finished it up.  It's looking good.  I'm proud of them. 

The news channel came over to interview handy-neighbor and elderly-neighbor.  Andy was in the background working away but I can't seem to find a link to the interview.  Below are some during and after shots.  I didn't get my tush out there soon enough to get the "before" shot.  Eli said all day "Big boys?"- meaning he wanted to go out and see what the big guys were doing out there.

Inspiring to me.

So yeah....neighborhood-I think we live in a good one.

Classic

Classic like a hot dog at a baseball game.
Or like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
As classic as the first word, first step or first win at a sporting event.
As classic as "Celebration" and "YMCA" playing at a wedding.
As normal as turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving day and a red heart on Valentines day.
The same type of classic as when you open your mouth in surprise when the water balloon breaks on you and yes it's cold.

Every mom probably has this picture. Every mom probably laughed at this classic moment.  Every dad probably called mom into the room and said "grab the camera. It's that classic moment time!"

Mom, I'm wearing your shoes!

That kind of classic.

Block

I have blogging block. 
I have a ton to write.
Tons of blog posts have been swirling my brain, throbbing in my finger tips.
But a few nights ago, I started one of those blogs and it got deleted before I was able to post it.
Again.
It deleted my draft and while it was deleting I was still typing.  And when I looked up it saved within 20 seconds.
Meaning when I went to the drafts section to pull it back up, all that popped up was half of that last word I was typing.
I got so mad that I pouted (am still pouting) and I haven't been able to collect my thoughts.
I haven't been able to write anything.

And I've been a bit busy...errrr sick...errr tired.  Either way, I'm coming back.  I have updates. I have things to say! Words to type. Ideas to throw out there.
So don't you worry.