Just because you say that doesn't mean you get to say whatever you want to say to me!

There should be quotes around that title. It is something that Mr. Dennit says to Ricky Bobby after Ricky makes a disrespectful comment and then comes back with ,"What? I said it with all due respect!"

What is it about human nature that makes people justify their disrespectful natures with some horse puckey? There was a customer today that was just a giant meanie bo-beanie. He wasn't yelling or anything like that but he was quite rude and disrespectful in the way he carried himself. Talk about lessons in humility! I feel like I should print a shirt with my resume on it to wear at work. I try not to let people's perceptions of me drag me down, but old dude was out of line.

I have noticed that about some of the customers. They are my neighbors in the sense that we all live on the same side of town. I think it is a safe assumption that most of them come into the store and assume that we are poorly educated, Eastside hood rats who take the 14 to work. So, I guess they will be surprised to when they start recognizing me in other places.

Sorry, friends, I guess I am just having a rough day. I have been trying to focus on killing people with kindness but have been disappointed to learn that kindness is neither blunt nor penetrating. It is difficult to be mindful of others when they completely disregard you.

Thankfully, it was 60 and sunny here in Ohio most of the day so it helped me deal. Couple of errands and some outside play with the boy and figuring out that the best way I could make up for that dude is to not pay it forward to clerks everywhere and be the lady who makes them forget about the meanie bo-beanies,

Too tired to post about it now

Hello friends, I hope this Monday finds you well! I started my first day of my first full week at my new job this morning and I am tuckered out! Not a complaint, I am grateful to have found a spot somewhere working exactly the hours I have been looking for 6a-11a. Just going to take a day or two of adjustment to the old sleep schedule. 

I am sure I'll have plenty of tales to tell about life in the Tardis of gas station stores.

I'll be back with something more interesting tomorrow.

J

Do You Bake? Sunday

So, Do You Bake is another direct sales company that I am involved in. We offer preservative free food mixes and the like. Since Clever gets Saturday, I thought I would give Sunday to Do You Bake?.

Lazy Sunday, so I'm just going to put up the February Specials today : ) my personal site is http://www.DoYouBake.com/JennyWolfe usually I would have my flyers updated but like I said lazy Sunday.

Saturday's for Clean Up with Clever Container

As I previously mentioned, I am merging my Clever Container blog into this blog. I figure since Saturday is a clean-up and clean-out day for most folks I'd give Saturdays to Clever Container.

If you are new to the blog and are not familiar with Clever Container, it is a direct sales company focused on home organization products. I have been a consultant since May 2011 was lucky enough to attend the first ever consultant conference and hoping to be able to hit the Nashville conference this year.

If you would like to browse the selection, place an order, whatever, hop over to http://www.CleverContainer.com/GetCleverNow  this is my personal consultant site and I do appreciate your business. If there is a party in the drop down, feel free to exercise a little random kindness and add your order to it.

The only thing I really have today...well.. two things.

1. The giveaway is still going on here.
2. February Special!

Have a great day and don't work too hard!

Inexpensive, easy, and good...

...no I am not describing myself.

So somewhere between the Veggie White Castle and today, my hubby and I decided to do a week of vegetarian meals. I don't know if it was the meatless cart or the deals or a combination but our grocery trip came in way under normal.

I wasn't feeling a lot of prep or a lot of effort last night so I made an old favorite of mine called Carrot Tofu Scramble. It's really is simple and easy. One pound of shredded carrots, one pound of firm tofu drained and crumbled, 1/3 cup soy sauce, and a bit of sesame oil and sesame seeds if you've got them.

I used to have a huge skillet to make this in but now I just use my wok. I forget how much oil the original recipe calls for, I usually just eyeball it. Heat up the oil, throw in the carrots cook at medium high about 15 minutes. Throw in the tofu, go another five minutes until the carrots are soft. Add the remaining ingredients, serve hot. It 's recommended over rice. I used broken whole wheat linguine tonight.

I also didn't have sesame oil so I added 2 teaspoons of chili oil after I took out the boy's portion.  It came out great. I used to make this all the time when it was just me and the girl and I could get a couple of meals out of it. Thinking about it while I was cooking, it probably comes out to about a buck a serving to make this. It's hearty, it's tasty, it's easy, so why wouldn't you?

My cell phone camera really doesn't do this dish justice!

Thanks to Golden Charm and Country Bob!

Honesty. Integrity. These things mean something to me. I have allegedly won about 6 giveaways since right before Christmas. I have one of those prizes in my possession. I'm no sweeper, but if I scratched your back you darn well better deliver.

If you did what you said you were going to do, you are alright in my book! So, today, I am going to give props to Golden Charm for introducing me to Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.

It's major award!

I want to sauce you up!

When the UPS guy dropped off the package, I wasn't even sure what it was because I wasn't expecting anything. When I opened the box, the dad from A Christmas Story popped in my head, and I proceeded to dig through the paper to find two shiny bottles of Country Bob's All- Purpose Sauce.

I did what any self-respecting condiment lover would do I cracked one open. The aroma is reminiscent of a certain nationally known brand of steak sauce, but the flavor is something else...and way better than the nationally known sauce, in my humble opinion. Tangy, sweet, spicy but the perfect blend of those. Not to tomato-y, really just right. I always hate how the big brands are leave a strong vinegar aftertaste.

It reminded me of a thicker version of sauce I had years ago. It was a gift to my parents and I think it was called wildcat sauce but I have never been able to find it.

I was pleased to see that my local grocery carries Country Bob. I would definitely try other varieties, and the ability to walk into "kegger" as my son calls it and pick it up definitely increases the likelihood of that happening. 

Hot rods and hot sauce is there
anything Christ can't do?

Kindness in Giving/GetCleverNow.com Rafflecopter Giveaway

In the words of Tone Loc,"Let's do it" (Hopefully you now have the bassline to "Wild Thang" running through your head.)

I said a couple weeks ago that I was going to try do this. I said by I'd try by Spring but then the other day I quoted Yoda. So I'm DOING it! Kindness in Giving's FIRST giveaway!

GetCleverNow.com  is the blog page I have been running for my Clever Container business. It has been fun and I have gotten a lot of good feedback. It occurred to me that it would be a moment of working smarter if I just combined by Clever Container musings into the mix here at KIGCL. What better way to celebrate the change than with a Clever Container Giveaway via Rafflecopter.

Up for grabs is a collection of Clever gear. All items featured in this giveaway can be purchased from Clever Container. The total value of this package is $111.00, and contains a scarf hanger, a Phubby, Car Hooks, Message Center, Couponizer, GripIt On the Go, Iron/Iron Board Hanger and a set of large Shelf Dividers.

This is giveaway is only open to US residents. Clever Container does not currently operate outside the US so it would be soo unfair to get you addicted to Clever Container with no means of getting more. This giveaway will end at 11:59pm on 2/8/2012. The winner will be announced within 48 hours of the contest end.

GOOD LUCK!

Post tomorrow and post yesterday but never post today

I am only posting today to tell you to make sure that you stop by tomorrow. Cooking up my first giveaway and it's pretty Clever if you know what I mean :-)

A question of semantics...

...I think. Once upon a time, I thought I might study linguistics. It seemed really cool to me. But I was 15, and I also thought bean burritos and Snapple were healthy eating.

I have been think a lot about words lately. Not just because of my blogging, but in my relationships. Choosing the right words. Being more succinct. Positive versus negative language. Passive versus active voice. Some of it comes from a series of emails that I got about goal planning for 2012 and using affirmations as part of the process.

So, now I know why Janis Joplin never got that Mercedes. She should have said Lord, will you please buy me a Mercedes-Benz. Lord, will you please buy me a color TV. Lord, will you please buy me a night on town. And now that I have alienated the Joplin fans...

It so true you know. The power of positivity and all that jazz. I don't want a Mercedes, I actually want a Lexus CT Hybrid but I don't know that praying for one is necessarily the right course. God isn't going to give me a Lexus. A better prayer would be Lord, will you give me the tools and the guidance to know your will for me and my husband the wisdom to buy me the car that I want.



No, all kidding aside, I do think that there is something to how you think and talk affecting your outcomes. Or in the words of my Jedi friend, Do or do not. There is no try.
Have a great Monday!

Forgot Friday...but here's a vegetarian take on White Castle to make it up to you!

I started my Friday with breakfast out with my hunny. Being out, I stayed out 'til is was time to pick up the boy. Took him for a haircut. Hung out at home. Made a delicious first run of vegetarian White Castle for my daughter. The hubby decided we should celebrate some good news, so we dined at China Cottage...alone!

So, I didn't post...sorry.

To make it up to you, I am going to satisfy the curiosity you now have about vegetarian White Castle. Like I said it was a good first run but there is room for improvement texturally.

What we used:

• half an onion - minced
• One box of Boca Cheeseburgers - thawed
• 14 slider buns
• cheese (shredded because that's all we had)
• pickle relish (because we were out of slices)
• ketchup
• oil for the pan

First, I put oil on my stoneware baking sheet and placed it in a cold oven. I set the oven at 400 degrees. While waiting for the oven to heat up I minced the onions. I use and highly recommend the Tupperware chopper, can't think of what it is called exactly but it's well worth the investment. Once I had them minced the pan had heated up enough that I spread the minced onions on the pan.

Then, I laid out a sheet of wax paper and placed the four thawed Boca cheeseburgers on the paper touching and covered with another sheet of wax paper. Roll the four patties into large rectangle about as long as your bake pan but not quite as wide. Cut into White Castle patties using pizza cutter. I did not go the extra mile and put holes in my patties, maybe next time.

By this time, the oven was to temperature. I placed the patties on the sheet, ten minutes each side.

Heated the rolls with a tumbler of water in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Then assembled the tasty little treats.

Vegetarian Sliders

I thought the taste was just right but next time I am going to add a pan of water to the oven for a little steam bath action. And of course, American cheese slices and pickle slices but all in all, it turned out quite well. If you are wondering where I got the idea to use a baking sheet...my dear old dad. I remembered that he used to make sliders in a similar fashion. I only have a stoneware sheet, that's why I used it. Dad always used a large metal sheet pan. We used to use hawaiian rolls because slider buns were unheard of outside of White Castle when I was a kid. Anyway. I made them because my daughter has been veg for almost a year and a half and she pondered whether is could be done because it was something she was craving. I didn't get an official word from her but I assume they were acceptable because she ate most of them.

Another thought too, is that you probably could get an even twenty (2 packs of buns). Boca doesn't shrink, and I think with a little more care you could cut that many out.

Have a great weekend everyone! See you on Monday!

The best like in the universe...

Sometimes it really is the little things that make your day.
 

I appreciate all my friends and their two cents, I do. But Maddox, how cool is that? Shhh.. I don't want to hear that it probably wasn't him. That's a dick thing to say, and your a douche for thinking it!

I'm no creeper.

It just really makes up for those nine billion other things that I have posted, shared or tagged that got ignored.
Not that I tag for glory...it's just nice to see that one other person in the world understands social media.

Working out the kinks...

...God knows I'm kinky lol.

This morning on my Facebook, I posted "Why is it that the verge of a breakdown and the verge of a breakthrough feel the same?" It's just how I feel right now.

Blessings last night, a friend gave us a twin sized trundle for the boy. I don't know what I was expecting, but this bed exceeds it. I am very thankful that we have people like that in our lives. Of course, the boy was already asleep when we picked it up so it is disassembled and taking up space in the living room.

I decided yesterday, that I am no longer going to write the Clever Container blog on a separate page. It's very time consuming and not very rewarding personally or professionally. Plus, it weirded me out to see that it has been dissected and strewn about Russia. I will be running a giveaway to coincide with the switch. Not sure what the prize is I have a few ideas, just need to price 'em out. It's nothing to do with Clever Container. It's just me trying to streamline my life. Part of my feeling like I am scattered about is my own doing. I tried to compartmentalize a lot of things and it was an epic fail as the kids would say.

I do kinda feel like I can see the Matrix right now. It's a weird place to be. If I can just manage to stay out of my own way, I'll be in good shape.

I keep thinking of an affirmation I heard a long time ago...I let go of all the no longer serves my unfolding good.  I like the sound of it. I have a hard time thinking of myself as a good person.

Any suggestions on staying on top of housework? I have tried a couple of different systems. I don't need perfection. Nothing needs to gleam and sparkle. I just need to feel comfortable and not mortified at the thought of people coming over. The girl has been having a friend over most days after school and I didn't think so much of it the first time this kid's dad came for pick up. The next day though, it was worse than the day before and I had actually cleaned. I seems the best option would be no one is allowed out of their rooms except for meals and bathroom needs.

It will all come together. It always does.

I just wish it came with an unlimited massage package.

Gone awry

I am little disappointed that my greeting Monday with open arms did not keep Monday from being her normal bitch self. Plenty of good, but enough other stuff to just have me feeling a tad out of sorts. 

I hate that. That old familiar drifty feeling where you go get locked into a time suck because you just don't know what to do with yourself. Or you're tired of putting the living room back together.

My feeds of this into FB aren't working properly. argh! I suppose I could just manual do the posting, but then when I write ahead I am stuck having to remember to share the post. Plenty of people are reading this without the stupid poorly functioning app I use. So maybe that's what I am supposed to learn...no more shameless self promotion on Facebook.

I am working on it. I got really caught up in some things over the summer and now I am trying to untangle from it. I am going to delete my other FB account later this week. It's just been slow because I am trying to like stuff I like on the other page on my real page. And I am trying to pare down things on my real page. I really don't need all that crap clogging up my feed. From there, Ima get it so that I am not importing 4 different email accounts into one. But that's much later....

What do you do on days like today? There's nothing wrong per se, just a bad feeling. Just a touch of feeling out of sync and having a hard time getting synched...let alone psyched.

Disconnected! That's the word I have been looking for...what do you do when you feel disconnected??

Maybe it's just fear that I feel. My body and mind shutting down...well, my ego at least. I think I may have just cheered myself up a little bit...if only because I am thinking about the movie Revolver.

Anyway, I am going to get off of here and make today great because there's no sense waiting for tomorrow to better if I can get that today! :)

Monday! Monday! Monday!

...well, they say attitude is everything so I officially love Monday now. New week. Five brand new weekdays. What's not to love?

Have a fantastic week!

Pave your own roads, but listen carefully to the directions

Feeling quite sure of this thought today.

There was a long period of my life where nothing fazed me and I always felt like I was on top of the world...the world that was my oyster...and that everything would unfold exactly as it should. Setbacks were just small detours and everything was a beautiful adventure.

I hadn't really thought much about that time or examined it much until fairly recently. A friend who has been a friend since almost the beginning of time made a comment that stuck with me. Paraphrased, When did you start caring what people thought. In the folk-lore of my life, there is an archetype of me as non-conformist everywoman...well, that's the best I can explain it. And sadly people have admired me. I say sadly because I don't think I have always been the best person to gild in gold.

The tarnish started to set in about the time I graduated college. 2001. School was done in June. I still didn't have a job by September which gave me way to much time to be affected by those events. Every step forward never seemed to be the right one. I had certain expectations of how things would play out and they didn't. It is actually a big contributor to my non-belief in goal setting and things of that nature. I planned my work and worked my plan and it always amounted to nil. It starts to feel really bad. It feels worse though when you start to construct your own vision of how other people must see you.

I am in a place now where I can admit that maybe things weren't working because I wasn't paying attention to the map, constantly overriding my internal GPS. I just really wanted certain things in my life. I really wanted stability because I felt like I had never known a day of solid comfort and stability in my entire life. Spastic, anxious, fearful, would pretty much describe me in my descent to despair. You can read some of that here if you go back far enough.

There is so much peace in accepting that you are not in control. I remember my puppetmaster days. I thought if I could manipulate the strings just right everything will fall into place. What I wanted though, wasn't even really what I wanted. There is no bone of my body that is passionate about numbers. I have the mental acuity to be good-ish with them, to be a coding queen and denial conqueror, but no part of that job ever felt like me. It was always like I was playing someone else.

I have really been mindful of the things that I do that come effortlessly. I play Iron Chef in my kitchen to the approval of anyone who tries my experiments. I write this blog. I write my Clever Container blog. But mostly I play... My job the past two months, I took responsibility for my duties but I never took it seriously. Every minute was fun because I made it that way. Or as Dorothy Parker is quoted as saying,"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."

Relax. I am not saying to shirk on your responsibilities. I think it is important to recognize that many of us look at the things we most enjoy in life as luxuries. I will set up my craft room when the kids are grown. I will travel next year. I will take a class later. I would love to bake. I would love to play music every day. I would (insert your wildest wish here). I personally do really enjoy writing. I used to be a prolific writer of whatever would hit me. I blogged for years, had one active commenter and it never bothered me. Actually it felt like a great success. Take five minutes a day to do what you have been putting off.

Say you love music, it's your grandest dream to have a music studio in your house. Take five minutes today to set up what you have in an area you can get to it easily. Don't have anything? Take a little time and window shop. I use this example because it is my husband. When I met him, he had a small corner of his apartment for his computer, he a had a little bit of software, a couple of speakers, a bass, an electric and an acoustic guitar. That was 5 years ago. He is the best example that I have that the universe rewards you when you do what's in your heart. That little corner of his apartment has turned into an entire room of our house. It happened little by little but I must admit at times it has happened in the most incredible ways. The deals he has found. The trades that have come along. Heck, even this house, in a neighborhood where people are immune to noise (we have a high school and an outdoor amphitheater with a mile of us).  My husband listens. That is one thing I have always known. He believes and he listens and he is always rewarded.

Getting there is hard. It takes time. When we started dating, I was no where near as enlightened as I feel now. Thankfully, my husband saw something in me that made him stay. I remember we would get in great theological discussions. I really didn't believe in much of anything then, more than a little jaded. He could have been intolerant of that, but he never was. He most annoyingly would ask,"Do you believe that I believe?" He actually still asks that of people in his life who are struggling with the idea that there is something out there greater than them. I could only ever answer "Yes, I believe that you believe." I don't think there has ever been anyone who didn't believe in his spiritual nature. His answer to your answer is always then that your belief that he believes is a good start. (Not exact words but the gist)

Every body gets from A to Z in their lifetime. No two people do it the same, nor should they. Just start where you are today. Forget about yesterday. Don't worry about tomorrow. And listen to what's in your heart!

Since it's Friday, I thought I could get the weekend party started with this classic that coincides with today's blog theme. Have a fantastic weekend friends!

"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name." Revelation 2:17 (The Message)

Yesterday, I talked about the Burning Bowl. Today, it's all about the white stone ceremony. Again, it's a new year sort of thing, and I first took part in one at a Unity church. 

With this ceremony, everyone receives a small, flat stone. The participants then relax into a guided meditation and write their "new name" on the stone. It is a very simplistic explaining but I thought I'd leave the details to the experts. I happened to find this White Stone Ceremony from Unity Center of Peace in Chapel Hill, NC. It is an actual lesson from 2009 and says exactly what I would like to say, only more succinctly and effectively.

Take a minute today to listen, you just might be inspired by what you hear.

Burning Bowl Ceremony (or how to incorporate your pyromania into your spirituality)

Ok, yes, I am not gonna lie. I put "burning bowl" in the post title to have a couple of keywords to sway the High Times crowd this way.

The first time that I ever came across the burning bowl ceremony was last year at a Unity church. Although, honestly, it's very similar to a ritual I had in high school where I would burn love notes and slips of paper with things I wanted to change in a big vase that I had. A very simple concept of burning up what you wish to let go.
 
"The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord, searching every inmost part."  Proverbs 20:27

The Burning Bowl ceremony is very simple and very uplifting and really could be done on an individual basis. The one that I attended there was a short service and meditation and then some time to write out what was on our minds before taking those thoughts and burning them up.

There is something satisfying to me about doing that. Granted when I was sixteen my sermon and meditation was probably whatever was on Z93 or 97X when I was purging away my sadness. Nonetheless, I did it often. Change of boyfriend. Shift in friends. Loneliness. Confusion. I am surprised I didn't burn something every day...then again, maybe that is why I took up smoking.


 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." Psalms 51:10


Do you know what I know about lamps? They get darn dirty. I have many a memory of cleaning the lamps at Girl Scout camp. You don't have to clean them I suppose, but the soot build up dims the light output. Human soul is no different. Eventually the soot of pent up emotions dims our light, and we just don't shine as we should.

I am not saying that a Burning Bowl is the answer. If anything it's a beginning to clearing out and moving on. I bring it up because it is usually a New Year's Eve thing and as I didn't attend one this year it's on my mind.


"So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

There is a lot to be said about pomp and circumstance and prayer and giving our pitiful monkey brains something to help the process along. I say that those because I have a very metaphysical soul and I have always had a natural tendency toward and understand of strangely primal yet infinitely intelligent things like symbolically releasing our worries to ashes. If you were conducting a personal ceremony, the solitude, the intimacy, just you and God and the burdens you've held onto way too long, it would be powerful stuff and hopefully the profound result of that release would be that you would feel better and more inclined to continue on that path. In a group, I found the energy to be exhilarating...a large collective unspoken sigh of relief.

It a total out with the old and in with the new vibe.

So what are you waiting for? Let your dim light shine!

^"Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house." Matthew 5:15

Verses are from NKJV Bible...well, actually they are from the internet :-P

Rafflecopter Launch Giveaway

First off, it seems odd to me that they are launching Rafflecopter this month since I have been fortunate to be associated with people who have been using it since the early stages.

Never heard of it? Well, let me bring you up to speed because it is what I intend to use for the Kindness in Giving giveaways.

If you have ever attempted to run a giveaway, drawing, raffle whatever online then you know it can be cumbersome. Actually, I am sure we have all participated in one and know from that end of things how complicated it can be to try and make something happen virtually.

Rafflecopter makes the process easy for the giver, fun for the receiver.

As the giver, you create a Rafflecopter account and get giving right out of the gate. The templates are easy peasy to use and the dashboard easy to manage.

As the entrant, you may be asking what makes Rafflecopter so fun. Well, to me, it's a little more interactive than just filling out your name and vital statistics and pressing enter. Givers can set up tasks to be completed to gain entries. Givers can also set values to go along with those tasks to encourage better participation. For example, I just sold this blog out for 5 entries in the Rafflecopter Launch giveaway...and no I am not ashamed.

Rafflecopter takes the human element out of online giveaways and lends credence to folks on the web just trying to give stuff away. Most of my Rafflecopter interaction has been with bloggers and mompreneurs. There is a lot of great content on the web that isn't being churned by household names, and with the ease of use on both sides of the giveaway I think Rafflecopter will help propel some of these sites into a richly deserved spotlight.

Prior to this post, I have sponsored one Rafflecopter giveaway for my Clever Container business. Pleased and surprised by the result I was. I didn't do the set up for it but having been on my personal dashboard I can tell you that set up is only as complicated as the tasks you require for entries. On the receiving side, well, here is where I get a little skewed. I won three Rafflecopter giveaways last month. Because you can choose to log in with your Facebook account, it is so easy to quickly enter multiple contest in a short period of time. Heck, go google "Rafflecopter Giveaways" and see how easy it is yourself!

So what's this launch all about? Rafflecopter is giving away on Apple iPad 2 and two Kindle Fires. Want to enter, well check it out below and GOOD LUCK to ya! Oh, and for who referred you, please use Jenny Wolfe...ty!

Thinking it through:The Giveaways

I have been a bit preoccupied with ten different things the past couple of days. I do think though that I fleshed out a plan for my giveaways but not a concrete start date.

I will probably personally sponsor the first several just so that I bear the brunt of the disappointment with the build up. It's not really a big deal. I have my Clever Container and my Do You Bake? to draw from for prizes. Plus, I am in a Swap Group so now I know what to do with the product when it's a company I don't need anything from, and then there is the stack of CDs that could be used.

I think for starters the prize minimum with be $25. It seems a reasonable cost to a sponsor and of enough value to interest people. There's about one place I could see an exception to that and it involves a project of my husband's and that stack of CD's. I know a lot of sites charge for the sponsorship but I do not plan to do that for at least the first year. It all just depends on demand really and if the readership is supporting the site like I think they will.

Anyone can, of course, offer a bigger prize but I think it's counter-productive. Just my observation that a big prize sometimes detracts from drawing genuinely interested traffic to the business.

I know this is kind of a boring post, but I was hoping by putting some of this hear it might prompt someone to ask a question or make a comment that will help me smooth things out.

I should have an online form together for sponsorship by the end of the month. Creation takes time, and I have a pretty full dance card this next couple of weeks. Being sick last week through me off a bit...a great big huge bit...so any time frame I give right now is purely preliminary.  What can I say plan your and work your plan but never underestimate the power of flying by the seat of your pants.

So whaddya think?

TGIF

Thank God it's Freezing!

What were you expecting?

Right now, I am not really thankful for the cold. As a matter of fact, when it first really hit us earlier in the week I thought to myself,"Yep, it's time to move!"

Everyone always says that...expect the unexpected. Flashy marketing, because if it is expected then it never really can be unexpected. I get what they are saying but yeah, it kinda gets a whatever from me. If I were truly able to expect the unexpected then those car repairs last month wouldn't have been such a painful surprise.

Better to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I hate the cold, but at least we don't have to mow the grass for awhile. Those car repairs were a pain, but now we don't have to keep running our cheat every time the car decides to lock up. I maybe not be able to sleep right now, but hey at least I can entertain you.


It's not an easy place to get to though. Well, at least it hasn't been for me. Silver and gray are so close that some days it is nearly impossible to distinguish what color the lining of that cloud really is!

I started to try to reprogram myself awhile back. I kept a little gratitude journal. It was very simple. Before I went to bed, I would just jot down five things from the day I was grateful for. If I was having a bad day or just didn't feel particularly blessed, I had five standard answers: food, water, air, my house, my health. Usually by the time, I wrote that down I eased up a little and would add some more "genuine" gratitudes.

I actually do no keep a formal journal these days but rather express my appreciation throughout the day. Sometimes aloud, but often silently. It does feel a little silly at first. Well, it did to me, I felt self-conscious. Odd really since it wasn't really even something I was sharing with anyone. I realized the other night that I have been being pulled to the dark side of the force.

So yes, thank god it is freezing. Thank god I was sick for two days and slept away most of that time. Thank god these chairs are so uncomfortable or I would sit here all night. Thank god for those of you who take the time to read this. And yes, finally, thank god it's Friday!


(See also http://tisbetter2give.blogspot.com/2010/10/do-mathcount-blessings.html)

Get Clever NOW!: Clever Cache featured on Good Morning America "Ste...

Still not 100% today so I am reposting the Clever Container blog post. Thanks for understanding :)

Get Clever NOW!: Clever Cache featured on Good Morning America "Ste...: Did you see? So exciting Clever Container was featured on the GMA "Steals and deals" segment this morning. Clever Cache ...

Reuse of this blog article permitted only if it retains this sentence which includes the following:
Copyright 2012 - Jenny Reibert-Wolfe - www.GetCleverNow.com, your cooperation is appreciated.

Just checking in today...

Trying to make a habit here, so I am just hopping on to post a quick howdy do.

For some reason, I did not sleep well last night. Talking 3 or 4 hours at best, and I woke up feeling quite awful. I know that it is not psychosomatic, because my husband took one look at me and told me to go back to bed.

Never did fall back asleep. Texted my bro a happy birthday. Watched a show. And now I am here.

I might have actually fallen back asleep if it wasn't for picking my son up from preschool in a little while. I don't know if it is the saving my son the childhood trauma of being "forgotten" or the per minute late pick up charge that keeps me from dozing too deeply.

If I start now, at the pace I am moving I should be dressed in time for the pick up.

I wish I felt better. I have a lot to do and just haven't had the motivation.

Normally, I would prescribe myself a nice, hot cup of tea but I think tea is what started this current health challenge. Or maybe it was sitting in the play area at Chic Fil A for half an hour last night.

Have a great day!

It's only Tuesday...really?

When the holiday falls on the weekend it messes up my flow. I don't know why.

Silliest thing Monday, took Jordan, my daughter for an eye exam and she no longer has a medical diagnosis. I almost cried. I know she thought I was being weird. She has had glasses for most her life. They told me her vision would never be very good, that she's never wear contacts (which she has for 2 years.) Today the doctor said she is 20/20 with correction in her right eye...with no turning. It was something that I was told would never happen. Still tho, if you've got a spare prayer keep her eyes in them. Maybe someday when she's a successful (insert yet to be determined career here) she can get Lasik.

It's the little things, eh?

So, you know what I want to do with this site? I want to give away stuff. Ima gonna learn me some Rafflecopter and make me some people happy. I have seen it done for profit but I keep thinking about just my friends that I know that would benefit. Fun trumps profit for me any day...blame my parents. I am thinking weekly, so you start thinking if you have any thing to promote and if you have something something you could entice people with. If you are not familar with Rafflecopter, may I suggest you jump to http://thesteadyhandblog.com/rafflecopter-giveaway-linky/ and start entering. It's fun really.

Anyway, I am thinking it wouldn't be until next month at the earliest that I would start the giveaways. I honestly will probably cover the first couple just because I don't want anyone else to have the disappointment of a bad result. If you are reading this and are interested by all means get in touch with me. Like I said next month at the earliest...

Tuesday...lordy it's only the second...I think it's this sudden cold that has done more to bring me down than anything.

One last thing...I am thinking about taking some classes. Adobe Illustrator for one. Although, I did this in that without reading a damn thing:


My husband has been whining for a logo. He keeps asking my brother, and I think the fact that my brother works an irregular schedule slows down his artistic efforts. IDK, though, if Ryan buys me a pen for my 'puter I have three hours a day to myself that I could figure it out. Then, I guess, I would be left taking HTML and XML classes because that shit is really interesting to me. I know, I am soo weird.

Anyway, here's to Tuesday that feels like Sunday but really it should feel like Monday. Good Grief!!

Revolution in Resolutions

Tis the season to be high minded. I have never really been much for making resolutions. File it under not making promises I can't keep. Although, I think it's more of an I make more resolutions before 6 than most people make all day sort of thing.

Not perfect, never claimed to be, although from time to time I do manage to amaze myself and others. I have been somewhat underwhelmed by myself as of late, but I am still not convinced a chain of resolutions will help.

Granted, I've never had all that conventional wisdom about goal-setting work for me. I seriously and nearly religiously used to do all that "stuff" when I was a single mother in college. I didn't graduate in the timeframe that I wanted or from the school I wanted. I was never able to pursue the advanced degree I thought I should have. Nothing ever happened, or happens, the way that I would like, the way that I intend. Gives a whole lot of credence to the idea that maybe I am not in control.

Yes, there are things that I am going to work toward in 2012. None of them are pertinent to today, and today is the only thing I know for sure is happening to me. I am not saying so much that people shouldn't strive for something, I am just saying that it seems like a lot of people get so wrapped up in the future that they forget today.

There is a lot of disappointment and disillusion in dreaming. Better to be surprised by good fortune than to feel like it eludes you.

So that's my resolution...to stay in the here and now.

And maybe lose 30 pounds ;)

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

It's a Mark Twain quote and I have been toying with using as a title for some weeks now. I don't mean to further scar my fellow VVMS classmates who remember the hell of those posters and no one being able to use a quote someone else was using.

In the words of LL Cool J, don't call it a comeback. Sure, I could use my own words, but seeing as 70% of my brain is song lyrics OPP (Other People's Prose) comes to mind first.

Happy 2012 everyone! We have put 2011 to bed (THANK GOD!) and now we build a new year that is better than the last. I decided to wait to restart this blog for that reason. I wanted to be done with 2011. By far one of the shittiest years of my existence...well, at least on a human level.

I have been thinking a lot about my original intentions here. I have been thinking a lot my strengths and weaknesses and what makes me tick. I have been really realigning myself and whatnot. It helps that I have spent the last eight weeks in a physically hard job that has afforded me a lot of opportunity to not think at all. I quit because I was completely disillusioned but couldn't put words to it...my own or other people's. It's a weird place to be. Everything going progressively wrong and all the fun being slowly sucked at lightspeed out of life.

I know everyone has been there where they just don't understand what is going on and they find themselves feeling like for every step forward they take they get donkey-kicked back three years. I felt like I had been making so much progress. Life was good, but there were strange inexplicable flares.

One of those flares involved church. I thought I had found a church that I would be with for a long while. I enjoyed and got much value out of the weekly services but when I tried to be of service it left me flat. People were standoffish. Little things were happening and all signs were pointing to stop. So, I did. We did. I still miss it a little. However, no one probably misses us as they perpetually confused us with another couple...even after nearly two years...so they probably haven't even realized that we are gone.

That's really were things got heavy. The whole what to believe quandary.  Eventually, we decided to just go to the church around the corner. I like it as long as I steer clear of the 10am service. Seriously, I don't know why but sitting in a "contemporary" service is like sitting in a room full of chalkboards being scratched on by Freddy Krueger.

The eventually happened after finishing two books: How to Know God by Deepak Chopra and The Reason for God by Timothy Keller.

At one point, I was reading them simultaneously. Talk about a mind-blower. Aside from starting at this new church, I find myself reading a lot more spiritually oriented material and even my Bible. I am up to Acts, and it is interesting to say the least. I find myself wondering why I didn't get most of this growing up. Seriously, there is a lot missing in church education. Anyway...

I am going to leave this post with this sermon. Call it a turning point, if you like. I got something out of this particular sermon that I needed. Granted, "gifted" has a certain negative connotation to me. It has for a long time, so knowing that helps shed light on what moved me. This is from the dreaded 10am but it's the same message I heard. That's right, 11:15 show is same as the 10, except they don't serve veal at church.

November 20, 2011 Barry DeShetler The Journey: "Mary of Nazareth" from Christ United Methodist Church on Vimeo.

More later as apparently I am holding up a trip to get iced coffee.

It's good to be back.