Recognizing Miracles

I was debating whether or not to write this blog post.  Even now I'm having doubts if I should, talking myself out of it these last few days.  Constant internal back and forth.

Everything has been a bit crazy in life and online.  I've seen sides of people I've known for years shock me on how they're treating others with comments and mean spirited memes.  Kind of makes me want to take another break from social media, but I'm not running or hiding, but remaining neutral out of respect for others despite being super opinionated over everything.  My family knows what I think about stuff which is good enough for me.  Heh, we just vent to each other.

With that said it was really windy last week while two fires blazed in Utah County.  Both fires are now contained.  What was interesting was a picture that was all over the local news in regards to the Knolls fire.  It was an image of a fire line that came right up to the back of a bunch of houses, rectangle shaped, but didn't burn the homes.  The fire fighters were amazing.  And I just read an article about a man who stayed behind, having fire line experience, and was able to create a safety parameter.  All the comments rightly celebrated these men.  They deserve so much praise.  What surprised me was a considerable lack of calling this a miracle, and when people did mention God other commenters jumped in to attack saying only the firefighters deserve praise.

The firefights worked hard.  They were heroic and brave.  But how is pausing to thank God for a miracle taking away the bravery of the fire fighters?  We should thank God for all the miracles in our lives.  And thanking God doesn't take anything away from anyone, it adds to everything in a beautifully magnificent way. 

I do believe in the power of prayer.  I believe in it with my whole heart.  Within the last few years my Dad had neck surgery.  I had an idea of when his surgery was starting and was going to say a little prayer around that time, but 45 minutes before this time I was prompted to say a prayer right then and there.  I was walking around the living room, getting goal steps in, watching Agents of Shield (I didn't watch last season, so it was before this), and I was going to wait until after the episode.  But the feeling persisted.  I said a quick prayer while standing, not even pausing the episode.  Then the words came into my mind, "No, kneel, and say the prayer out loud."  I paused the episode and knelt next to the couch.  The words that came out of my mouth I can't entirely remember, and I said things I wasn't planning on saying.  One thing I do remember was praying for the help of the doctors, that if anything wrong happened they would be inspired to know what to do.

The next 30 minutes was filled with back and forth calls with my Mom who was in the hospital up in Salt Lake.  My Dad's surgery was called off, though I didn't know this at the time.  Something bad happened during prep.  Something with the breathing tube.  The moment I said the prayer my Mom tried to call me, and even though she had no problems calling from that spot before or after my prayer, while I was praying her phone kept dropping her calls to me.  Then after she got a hold of me, literally right when I finished the prayer, the doctor came out to tell my Mom the surgery was canceled, so I hung up for my Mom to talk and get information.  And then my Mom called me back and told me that while she was talking to the doctor, well, technically surgeon, the surgeon got a call that those in prep were able to fix what had gone wrong, so she headed back to the operation room.  The surgeon later told my Mom that over years and years of having operations canceled, only two, my Dad included in this statistic, was turned around and the surgery went ahead and was performed.

The doctors were brilliant.  But what happened that day was a definite miracle.  Prayer is powerful.  Prayer does work.  Does it always work?  Well, that's where faith comes in.  Faith to accept whatever happens.  I always pray to have faith and strength to overcome a trail if there is to be one.  I have so many unanswered prayers.  I've prayed for protection and help, healing, and not received it.  My heart aches with loneliness.  But there is power in prayer.  And there are still miracles happening everyday.  When they do happen lets not forget to pause and say a prayer of thanks.  There's strength in it, not weakness.  There's strength in faith.

July Health Goals: The Sticker Method

Ha! So I did something yesterday.  I threw away my scale.  It was hidden, I found it, weighed myself a few times (lost a pound and then gained it back), and then my scale went crazy: it decided to add random numbers to my current weight, so in the trash it went.  I don't need that mental drama.  The other scale is hidden very well, but hasn't been working right anyway, so it's dead to me.

What is the sticker method?  It's just a simple way to track goals.  Create a main goal, find a wall calendar, collect fun stickers, and everyday you're successful put a sticker on the calendar.  My favorite calendar is by Katie Daisy.  They're super adorable with lovely art.  It has to be a calendar that's not being used for keeping track of events, so that's valuable wall space if you're needing a calendar for said important dates.  I like using a planner for that, which Katie Daisy has also created, and they're even more adorable.  I love cute things.  Then in the corner of the date boxes you can add symbols for other goals, whatever they may be.

June ended up being a flip from May, where I was all over the place in the beginning of May and then got my act together by the end of the month, and then June started strong and ended in a mess.  My stickers represent days where I didn't have sweets, unless it was a nibble of chocolate or something.  Pre-selected treat days are symbolized by cute treat stickers.

Treat stickers are already placed for July.  Treats with a hint of red to go along with the cherry theme.

I could hang my head in shame and give up simply because I plateaued a whole month, but I won't.  On the plus side I didn't gain back the weight I lost in May, so that's good!  Nah, I did spend the last few days beating myself up for it, but I'm trying again on Monday after getting passed the Fourth and celebrating a family birthday.

So what are my goals?

1. Sticker everyday from Monday the 6th onward, because I may have had treats these last few days.  I'm human!  These things happen!  And it's my way of coping with the insanity in the World, plus it's a holiday and family birthday weekend, so it is what it is, but Monday I will focus.

2. Keep trying to get to bed before midnight. -_-;;  Heh, it will happen, and I will be consistent.

3. Walk three miles a day.  I did walk a total of 42 or so intentional miles last month, which is a little less than I planned.  Intentional miles are steps with purpose, above a half mile, no casual steps are allowed.

4.  Try out strength training with circular strength training bands.  Don't know what they're called, but resistant bands in a circle.  I got some off Amazon, so I'll blog about it next month.  I tried the HiiT workout, and my IC flared up a little, so I'm pulling back from that to reassess.  I haven't had bladder pain in a super long time, and I worked really, really hard to heal, so I just need to experiment to see if it was anxiety causing the slight pain, the exercise itself, or if it was all in my head due to fear.  I actually like doing high impact, I just have to make sure it won't make me sick and completely make me stop all together, so low impact stuff is all I can do for the time being.

And you know what?  I think that's good!!  Also, I should mention I've been intermittent fasting for the last couple months.  It's not a goal.  It's not something I was meaning to do, I just don't like breakfast, so I've been skipping it and only eating two meals a day.  Only twice has my hunger attacked, but it's been helping the way I feel.  No sugar sickness, as I call it.  Breakfast really is an annoying meal.  I really should have oatmeal in the morning, though.  Ah well, we'll see.

Later!
And good luck with everything you're trying to improve upon!

2021! We're Halfway There!

So, for anyone who is absolutely done with this year, each day beyond this point is one day closer to January 1st, 2021, and further away from 2020.  Honestly hindsight is 2020--couldn't resist :P--and we honestly don't know how 2021 will look.  Maybe it will be better.  Maybe it will be worst.  But I think we're all wanting a fresh start with new numerals.

It also means we're at this years half point.  It's July!!  Yay!!  Crazy sauce.  Maybe you were absolutely amazing during the first part of this year.  Prosperous!  Great time management!  Accomplished so many things!!  And I'm like, heh, don't look over here, so not me.  Ahhhhhhh.  I'm just laughing.  Well, 2021 is six or less months away and I don't want to wait that long when it comes to creating prosperity and hope.  Yes, there's a lot out of our control.  There's a lot of unknowns.  Did anyone take those murder hornets seriously?  If anything this year will be known as the year of the memes. 

I've been goal planning and figuring stuff out.  All the books I want to read.  All the projects I want to accomplish.  0_0  There's only so many hours in the day, and I'm really fond of sleep.  How did Leonardo Da Vinci do it?  How much sleep did he need?  I have a love/hate relationship with my brain. 

Also, I've been watching the most random stuff.  I still have a news addiction, but I won't touch on that.  Lots of YouTube: Lost in the Pond, Clownfish tv, Nerdrotic, royal gossip (not proud of this one).  Also!  I recently found old episodes of BBC's Changing Rooms, the original before TLC Trading Spaces.  I LOVED THAT SHOW!!  No, seriously, I could watch an episode for the umpteenth time and not care.  It was just so much fun.  People have classic Iron Chef Japan episodes up as well.  None of this is legal, but it's so much fun revisiting these shows.  And my love of travel is being explored through old NHK World Somewhere Street episodes.  Honestly don't know the target audience, it seems young-ish, but it's a nice way to see different cities from around the world. 

Oh, and American Girl is releasing a new historical girl later this year: Courtney, 1986.  We're getting a 1980's doll!!  Spoiler leak pictures have escaped online, and she's playing an arcade game on the cover, so I'm sold!!  She does look like the Maryellen doll, 1954.  Their age difference is the perfect mother/daughter age range.  It would be cool if American Girl did a mother/daughter relationship between two historical dolls, but I'm not counting on it.  But it would be so cool!! 

Anywho,
Until next time,
Ja ne!  (Japanese)

Just A Quickie

Before heading to bed I wanted to jot a little thing on this page.  Apart of being more regular in writing--yes, this last week was beyond sporadic--I've been trying to prepare a post the day or so before it appears, so that it uploads at 3 am mountain time.  It's a good goal, but it's been interesting trying to develop this habit.

It's early in the morning and I don't want to go to sleep.  Read some stuff that got me a little spooked, and I'll leave it at that.  And I knew better, too. -_-;; So regretting it right now.  The fact that it's really windy doesn't help.  It's been windy all day.  I love the wind.  Learned today that my Grandma hates it, which is just weird to me.  But there have been fires on the hills threatening homes, so for their sake I hope the wind calms down and it rains some more.

I've been debating whether or not to continue blogging about past travels.  I put a stop to it when all the boarders closed, because writing about travel seemed wrong.  Apart of it seems selfish.  No, it is selfish, but it's something I want to do.  Mainly because I feel land locked, unable to travel anywhere, and when I did travel my journal writing was inconsistent.  I've been slowly backing up my blog, and even if people may not like what I've shared so far, for my own record keeping sake I'm glad I've shared what I have, just because it's recorded.  But I also find joy in it as well.  So, I'm still trying to figure out how I'll approach it, and it won't dominate this blog as I have other things to write about, but revisiting past trips will be fun.  Kinda need it for my soul.

I'm just starring at the screen right now.  Kind of zoned out there a little.  Listening to cars out late.  The house screeching from wind.  Other creaks that have me jumping a little.  And my stomach.  I don't need a late night snack! 

I'm Also going to take some time in the next several weeks to work on family history.  I won't be sharing it here, unless there's an interesting story.  It's just something I really need to do.  It's pretty overwhelming, honestly.  I have the first part of my Grandma's handwritten life story, and I'm going to type it out for her, so that's going to be interesting.  My Mom and I gave her one of those books with questions, and it overwhelmed her, so I'm going to have to record her while asking questions.  I honestly need to start doing that with my parents.  And I have so many pictures to scan and document.

But I have other projects.  I'm developing a podcast with my brother Michael.  We've been doing practice episodes for over a month.  More information on that later, as we're still working through things.

Music.  I'm still building up to that.  I haven't practiced the piano since my ice-skating accident many years ago.  I know that's pathetic!!!  It is.  So... I think it's just a mental thing I need to crack.  My wrist and arm no longer hurt, so no excuses.  A couple posts ago I mentioned how much I love the music from The Secret World of Arrietty.  Last year while in Japan I found the sheet music in a Yamaha store at an intermediate level.  I've been looking at it.  It's time to just sit at the piano and have a go again.  Brave it.  Accept whatever level I've slipped back to and work from that point.  Silly.  So silly.  But it's time.

Oh, and I'm working on writing stuff, too. ;0)

Pretty much I have a Jack of all trades thing going on here. :\  I just want to do "all the things". -_-;;

Anywho, I need to get off this thing.  Brave the night.  My tummy is making noises.  Heh.  Conundrum.

And until next time... Slán!  (That's goodbye in Irish)
  
(Heh, now do I or don't I proof read this thing??!! :P )
 

The Problem with Wasps...

Needless to say, with everything going on, my car has sat idle more often than not.

A couple days ago I took my car through the car wash.  No biggie.  Nothing dramatic.  Though, as I pulled my car into its typical spot back home, a couple wasps started dancing around the passenger side mirror.  One climbed inside.  The other wasp seemed confused, perhaps mistaking its reflection with another wasp as it hovered next to the mirror.

Now, mind, I'm terrified of wasps and bees.  Snakes are okay, as long as they're not poisonous.   Spiders are okay, too, sans poison as well.  But wasps?  Big nope.

I decided to try an experiment.  Wiggling the mirror did nothing.  The wasp inside the mirror didn't come out and the other wasp still flying in place didn't move.  At this point I decided to drive to the end of the street, hoping the wasps would leave.  As I made a three point turn back at the house a wasp did the most startling thing:  I watched in slow motion as it flew across the street towards my windshield, charging and then flying up as if in attack mode.

After parking two more wasps started hovering around the mirror.  One flew in again, peaking his head above the mirror while wiggling his antennae, waiting for his friend to enter.  At this point I made my escape.  Last night I peaked inside the mirror and saw a small nest, but no wasps, but it's still freaking me out quite a bit.

In all honestly I don't know if I'm allergic to those things.  Never been stung.  Back in high school my Mom and I were driving home from Paso Robles to Porterville after visiting my great-grandparents.  We were in the middle of no where, orange and cow farms scattered about here and there.  The sun roof was open and somehow a wasp or bee flew inside the car, immediately stinging my Mom on her ear.  It swelled!  My brother Michael got stung once and swelled pretty bad.  Allergies are genetic, right? 

When I was 15 my Mom and I were traveling to Ventura/Santa Barbara to visit my Grandpa.  He had a sailboat in the SB marina and we were going to spend the weekend living on it, which was a rare treat, so we were excited.  We had just left Porterville, just 10 or so minutes out of town, when a wasp flew into the car.  I freaked out!!  While trying to get it away from my head I accidentally flicked my glasses out the window!!  We pulled over, back tracked, but couldn't find them.  It was two weeks before I got another pair, spending that weekend in Santa Barbara blind, and when back in school I had to walk up to the dry erase board, only a foot away, so I was close enough to see and take notes.

I know wasps are important to our ecology, or whatever, but that doesn't mean I have to like them. :P

Finally Finding One of My Favorite Soundtracks: The Secret World of Arrietty

 Every now and then a movie produces a soundtrack that touches the heart and soul in various ways.  Some soundtracks inspire a generation.  Star Wars was one of those iconic soundtracks.  Growing up I was enchanted by Chariots of Fire, Field of Dreams, and the original Muppet Movie.  Then it was Ever After, Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow), A Little Princess, and Sense and Sensibility.  In college I was addicted to the first Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack; Barbossa Is Hungry was played on loop (I have vivid memories carrying my discman around campus, perfectly balanced, steady steps, so the CD wouldn't skip).

For some reason soundtracks haven't really caught my attention all that much in this last decade, but when I heard The Secret World of Arrietty, a movie by Hayao Miyazaki, about eight years ago, the songs jumped off the screen full of enchantment.  The music doesn't sound typical Miyazaki, instead it's whimsical Celtic by Cecile Corbel.  The very first time I heard the music I wanted the soundtrack, but couldn't find it, and that was even after visiting Japan.  Guess I was looking in all the wrong places.  But a few weeks ago I finally found it, by accident, on the Amazon Market Place under the title: Karigurashi No Arrietty.  It arrived in the mail yesterday, and it really is simply whimsical and enchanting.  Celtic is such happy music.

 (As a side note, I'm listening to the Field of Dreams soundtrack off of YouTube, that's another hard one to get, and it's bringing back so many memories.  So haunting.)

June Health Goals: Keep It Simple, Stupid

Heh, so....

I'm the stupid one, funny enough, because I'm always setting myself up for failure.  Though... I'm referring to myself as stupid in the most loving way possible.  So no self hate, just being a little light-hearted.

How did May turn out?  It is a tale of dramatic woe in three parts: One (having a hard time getting into the swing of things), two (wake up call followed by an overwhelming despair over whether I can change), and three (turning it around and getting my life in order).  From the start of the year I've gained eight pounds, which peaked in the middle of May.  After reviewing and changing a few things I've lost four pounds from that point.

Through the ups and downs I realized I need to get back to the basics.  I need to simplify things.  Forming habits right now is the most important.  Little steps.  Calorie burn numbers are irrelevant.  What is relevant is showing up each day.  Do the work.  Even if it's small it's the habit that counts, and the practice of doing a little something each day will show lasting, maintainable results.

One of my goals last month was to not weigh myself.  This goal was a major fail as I couldn't stop weighing myself.  It turned out to be a double edge sword as I stressed over the number, but it also alerted me that I was heading towards a danger zone.  My scales (I have two) are now out of my bathroom and have been hidden by a family member.  No more temptation.  It's now about focusing on accomplishing goals and working towards feeling better and overall health.  The scale isn't a proper representation of progress, anyway. 

So here are my goals this month, some repeat, some new:

1. Walk 2 miles a day.  Last month the goal was to walk a total of 100 miles.  Didn't happen.  It was overwhelming, and when I wasn't walking enough each day, this number quickly grew to be unattainable.  2 miles is the minimum, as there are days this month I've already walked 3, 5, and even 6 miles.  Thursday I wasn't feeling well and missed that day, but that's okay.  Just 2 miles a day which is 40 minutes of walking.  Totally attainable.

2. Strength train two times a week.  Technically three times a week would be fantastic, but this is all about baby steps.  This is all about habits.  So twice a week! 

3. Hiit (high intense interval training) twice a week.  There are so many methods on how to achieve this, but for myself I'm running/walking on a treadmill at various speeds.

4. In bed before midnight, which I'm still struggling with.  This is all about getting proper sleep and keeping cortisol at normal levels.  I kind of wonder if this is why so many people are gaining quarantine weight--stress and messed up sleeping patterns--causing cortisol levels to rise.  Better sleep is always good.

5. One sugar treat day a week.  (Though if I need a little chocolate is doesn't count against me, or a little coke if I have a migraine, which doesn't happen too often).

6. Keep a health log.  Just write all this stuff down and stay accountable.

That seems like a good list.  At the end of the month I'll take measurements, but won't weigh myself, which will be challenging.  But it can be done.  It will be done.  Focus on how I feel.

"In any case you mustn't confuse a single failure with a final defeat." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Swiftly Moving Time

Can you believe we're now in June?  Better yet, can you believe we're in the second week of June?  Christmas is in 28 weeks with 2021 New Years following a week after.  Time is moving crazy fast.

Last week it started feeling like Summer in Utah as we reached the 90's.  Then over the weekend it rained and poured, bringing much needed precipitation.  A couple days ago it was a very chilly 52 with snow in the Mountains.  Utah weather, right?  A whole 40 degree difference in only a few days.  It's just crazy how fast time is moving, though I'm not complaining, I just need to be a better steward with my time.

Last Monday night, after off and on rain, the sun came out to dance upon snow capped Irish green mountains with feathered clouds.  So, so beautiful. 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

I'm on a 3rd Podcast Episode: Creator's Playbook, Episode 19, The Vigilante of Vigilantes

Creator's Playbook, which is on Spotify and other platforms, is a podcast my brother's Steven and Robbie created.  It's all about the creative process, and by the end of each podcast they've formed a story idea.

This is the third episode I've been on, the previous episodes being 6 and 12.  What was fun about this episode is that my brother Michael got to be in it as well.  Steven is in the beginning of the episode, but then leaves to help photograph a line of Jewelry my Mom has been working on (the pictures turned out amazing!!), so this episode is mainly Robbie, Michael, and I creating a story.

The episode, The Vigilante of Vigilantes, is all about extraordinary schools.  Originally we were going to make it about Magic Schools, but we broadened it, and we really love what we created by the end.  Before starting each episode none of us know exactly what's going to happen or what we will create.  It's a little nerve wrecking!!  A little crazy, but it's fun seeing what we can create by the end of an episode, and this is the first time I wanted to take what we created and turn it into a full story.

If you love the story creating process, or simply stories in general, give Creator's Playbook a listen. :0)

Up, Up and Away: Watching the Space Launch with Bated Breath

When I was a kid there were two things I wanted to see: Walt Disney World followed by a trip to the Kennedy Space Center to watch a rocket launch.  We had a wall map and I would put it on the floor, grab a ruler, and then calculate how much allowance money I'd have to save to make the trip possible.  It never happened.  Didn't have the discipline to save that much money.  But it was still a fun little dream.

Nine years ago it was announced that the U.S. space program would no longer launch rockets from our soil.  This was devastating news.  Extraordinary especially with NASA's achievements with space flight, creating the incredible Gemini and Apollo missions.  How was it possible that NASA would no longer be at the forefront with Space exploration?

There's been a huge debate with whether having a space program is worth it, considering the financial cost.  As a society we've benefited greatly from space travel.  From NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, here are 20 inventions we have thanks to space travel (their website has more information): Camera phones, scratch-resistant lenses, CAT scans, LED's, land mine removal, athletic shoes, foil blankets, water purification systems, dust busters, ear thermometers, home insulation, the jaws of life (you'll have to see on their website, never heard of it either), wireless headsets, memory foam, freeze dried food, adjustable smoke detector, baby formula, artificial limbs, computer mouse, and the portable computer.

One of the reasons technology exploded during the 20th century is thanks to our race towards the stars, finding innovations to make space travel more easier.  Space travel is worth it.  Understanding the cosmos is worth it. 

Thank goodness for Space X partnering with NASA.  The failed launch last Wednesday was disappointing, but watching the launch last Saturday was so exciting.  All the commentary on NASA and their interviews was fascinating while waiting to hear if the weather would be good.  It was touch and go.  A cumulus cloud threatening lightning was hovering near.  Leading right up to the go ahead there was a 70% chance of good weather with less than 10% chance of bad weather.  I was on pins and needles watching the countdown, waiting to hear if the weather check would be good and the rocket would be "go for launch."   It was!!

I didn't get to see the launch in person at the Kennedy Space Center, instead I was sitting comfortably on a couch while watching the NASA channel.  Apparently there were around 3 million people watching the launch live.  (How were there not more people watching!!!???)  But it was thrilling!  The launch was successful.  And after a 19 hour flight the Dragon crew safely boarded the international space station early yesterday morning.

Hope is alive and well.  Dreams are still being achieved.  There is so much to be discovered, and we're all the more closer to unlocking many more mysteries of the universe.