Special

I was strolling through the grocery store the other day when I spied them. A whole display of lovely orchid plants.

I just love orchids. I had them all over my wedding, so many years ago. The are special to me. They're so delicate and yet sturdy too. Often they need a little support to stand tall and I think it's a nice reminder that we all need a little support sometimes.

Now, I love them - too much to take them home. Because I fear I am a killer - of plants. I do try to keep them healthy. I tend to be an overwaterer. Kill em with kindness is my motto.

Plus of course they are pricey and I have mentioned before I am a little cheap. I typically can't justify 20+ dollars for a plant.

So like every other time I see the bounty of loveliness - I headed right over to admire them. Then I saw the price. A 4.99 Easter blow-out. Seriously? Five bucks! Seriously!

So now I have a lovely orchid plant on the kitchen counter. Creamy white petals with bold pink centers. I am enjoying them so very much.

No special occasion - just life - and I'm seeing that is reason enough to treat yourself to something special. 

Settling In

Well the kittens are settling in to the routine together. I am so happy they are getting along so well. I was so worried. I tend to do that though. Worry.

It is such a useless activity. It doesn't fix any problem. If you believe in the idea the universe brings you what you think about the most - then it may actually be hurting things. It doesn't seem to make it any easier for me to stop it though.

Worrying is one of those activities I'd like to give up. Maybe take up faithing instead. I'd like to replace worry with believing that everything is as it should be. All part of the grand design.

Kitten

Well finally you get a real perk for reading this blog. 

First peek.

Better limber up your squee muscles.

Meet our Greyson. 

I'll be sharing all the details on my Housecat Confidential blog, but here's the low down. We scooped up Greyson last Monday. I had met him about two weeks before, but he had a very bad cold and was put in quarantine. 

He is about 4 months old. He is very friendly and playful. He likes to wrestle and therein lies my worry. He and Quill are getting along pretty well, but Quill isn't always sure how to take the little fella. 

I've never had two cats before, so I don't always know what is acceptable play and when things are getting a little too hot. Greyson will pounce Quill and then Quill gives chase and it usually ends in a wrestle. After awhile of that things seem to get a little hotter. When I put one in the cool zone they cry to get back together and play patty paws under the door.

Greyson is a frustrated squeaker (he squeaks at us too at times). So it's hard to tell if he's in trouble or just frustrated he can't get the upper paw. 

He is a bit bossy too, he likes to push Quill out of his dish and wants to share Quill's window posts. So I don't want to take away Quill's right to defend his status either.

Greyson seems to want to snuggle with Quill. Quill has given him some sweet licks. They are falling asleep closer and closer.  So I think things are working themselves out. Any advice is welcome, cause we really want it to work out.

Looking Ahead

I feel a little adrift right now. At first I was enjoying the lack of driving focus, but now it's starting to feel a little too unfocused.

I think I need to recenter myself and figure out where I need and want to go next in my life. I need to figure out the destination of the next phase of my life's journey.

I also need to trust in the path that will get me there. So often I want to see exactly where my next step will take me... usually before I take it.

I tend to be a worrier and spend too much of my mental energy focused on what could wrong. I want to change my focus and instead think about what can go right.

Time to hit my journal again and try to find my center and my focus. Reconnect with the core of myself and set my compass back to my True North.

Farwell Fridge

After many years of needing a new one, we got a new fridge!

I'm trying not to feel guilty about my purchase and feeling a need to justify buying a fridge. Old habits die hard. Cause we really needed a new fridge.

Over the years many of the bars on the door broke. Hubby has glued and taped to keep it all together. One of us got the bright idea to use a bungee cord to hold in the peas on the freezer door. Yep, we were pretty proud of that piece of ingenuity.

The new fridge was a splurge and so worth it. Every time I open the door and it lights up I have this "Ahhhhh" moment. I have positioned the water jug so the light comes through it and it sparkles. Yes I know that sounds like a crazy person, but I really love it.

I realized my food was not looking up to snuff. So I bought some new containers too. First time I used one my hubby thought they were the disposable kind and threw it in the trash. I found it in the bag at the curb just in time. Whew.

Our power company has a recycling program and they came to pick up the old fridge. On it's way down the driveway I see this giant cloud of dust coming off the coils in the back. I had sudden visions of Pigpen. I was glad the guy was walking in front of it, and that there was a good stiff breeze.

Oddly I wasn't that sad to see the old ham safe go.

Playing Hooky

Friday I played hooky from work with a friend. It was such a nice time.

What is it about taking time out from the routine that just can perk you up? I really needed a break.  We window shopped till we dropped. 

Maybe I should take another time out and see a movie in the middle of the week. Scandalous.

I know my hooky days are pretty tame, but still it was enough.

I think it's time to move forward with getting the screenplay out into the world. In the meantime it's been an odd time of mental rest.

The story has been in my head - demanding to be let out - for so long. It feels different to not have it pressing against my conscious for awhile.

Have you ever had a creative idea move in to your head and refuse to leave until it's been expressed?

Next time one takes root I'll be less afraid of that feeling and be faster about getting it out.

Jumping In

So posting about the script last week to all of you gave me the courage to jump a little farther. I sent out my pitch to a couple of high school pals in the business. We'll see what happens - no word yet.

The story about the woman who feels other peoples pain is not autobiographical I'm happy to report. I have always felt pain deeply - at least I think I do.

When I was a kid my family often accused me of being overly dramatic when it came to pain. After many years - I began to wonder if they were right. Did I have a lower tolerance to the bumps and bruises of life? If I did, was it all in my head or was it really in my body.

Very early in life I had a desire to show someone what my pain felt like - or to see what their pain felt like to them. Pain is so subjective - and so personal. It is felt physically and emotionally different by everyone.

As a young woman I developed an autoimmune illness that caused me daily pain. My pain became something I had to find a way to live with. I tried to find the silver lining in feeling the way I did. I can't say I've welcomed my pain, but I have found ways to accept it.

When my hubby developed a horrifyingly painful condition, my whole view of pain changed. I remember seeing him in such pain and telling him that if I could take away his pain I would. He said something that surprised me so much.

He said he loved me too much to allow me to suffer instead. I realized how much that answer meant to me.How much more I loved him because of his answer.