Foster Me Up

Sep 26, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Post #4

Thirteen Things that Inspire Me
1. Physical therapy patient relentlessly working out
2. Experiencing the success of another unfold knowing s/he has never been introduced to the silver platter
3. Seeing the swelling go down
4. Praying – to what? Doesn’t matter; belief in a higher power depicts faith (the crux of life??)
5. Watching someone handicapped trek uphill to class every day -- even in the rain
6. Losing an inch (or two)
7. A teenager indulging in an organic snack
8. A couple, in their golden years, holding hands
9. Hearing about those who have been victimized and have gotten back up on their feet again
10. Looking down during an intense run and seeing the return of thigh muscles
11. My doctor telling me it’s ok to consume an alcoholic beverage once in a while
12. Receiving a phone call (or email) from a close friend who I haven't heard from in years...who took the time to find ME
13. Observing another reaping a reward for lots of hard work

Now, tell me what inspires YOU!

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Sep 25, 2007

Our Little Person In a Fur Suit

Baci Fiona Jana was named for many reasons. Her mother, Kissed by the Storm, is how she got her first name, Baci, as it means kisses in Italian (we love Rome, that's what the Italy thing is all about). She got her middle name, Fiona, from the character on Shrek, as well as the fact her little ears and big head remind us of an Ogor! Jana is based on her dad’s given name, No Moon Out Tonight. Jana comes from the Italian goddess of the moon. (The moon being the connection here.)

She was born 2-4-06 and was shipped to us from a highly reputable Shar-pei breeder, ShenaniGans Shar-pei in NC. We chose her because of her color, because she’s a protector and incredibly intelligent too. My plan was to put her in AKC shows (some day *sigh*), as she comes from a national champion line. So we got the pick of the litter. This is the pic we saw on the Shenanigans' web site! The breeder titled her foto, "Kisses girl."

She makes me laugh and warms my heart. Her personality is so special, I can’t help but feel like we were paired on a different dimension prior to us coming together. (Look – she’s in the womb!)

Her unique personality makes me also think she is part human. I think maybe I gave birth to her in that other place, because she even does things like me. I began making this funny sound when I yawned and literally a week or so later, I heard her making the same noise! Here’s proof that her latest adorable feat is picking up things that are lying around the house and then showing me what she’s found. She knows she gets a treat for bringing them to me. Here she found a set of lost keys. (Now, I’ve taught her to bring me my flip flops.)

Another unique trait I dearly love: she leans on her shoulder, like a human…While I was driving, I safely (no, really, i did!) took this foto with my camera phone. Look where her right paw is! Do other barkers do this?

In addition to all the above reasons, we got her because of my bouts with depression. When I know I’m dropping, all I have to do is touch her and my whole world changes. Everything is suddenly OK. I love to feel her heart beating; I love to feel her coat. Then there’s that face. I can’t imagine having a dog with more collagen. She’s so touchable, albeit she hates it. How can someone not reach out and grab this? Sometimes it makes me crazy.

Our gorgeous, spoiled little person in a fur suit. She’s my life and friend; she’s our daughter.

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Wordless Wednesday #1

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Sep 24, 2007

Inspiration

I was inspired and am grateful. I read this post: Getting Started by Chris Tysh (you should too) and suddenly, just like that I have a new perspective (thx, WeenieRoast)!

As some of you know, I am into naturopathic health and for good reason (which is a whole 'nother Oprah), so I won't get into that now. The point in bringing this up is that I've been dealing with pain for...well, many years -- abdominal to be specific and not one M.D. has ever helped. The bottom line is: there are many differing opinions about how to get in shape, get healthy, live longer, etc. -- in books, magazines, on the Internet and after reading Chris' post (above), I realized I need to Just Do It - NO excuses!! It was like getting hit with a brick in the head; I need to do what works for me, forget about the pain and just get on with it! The whole reason I became a runner was simply that I could do it whenever - wherever, at a very low cost, and I could become one with nature and God's beautiful earth! (It also helps to gain a carved, lean body amongst many other bonuses...)

So, after finding my 3-year old whey protein in the cupboard, I decide it's time to take a jaunt to the local health food store and see what new stuff is out there (never cared for the whey kind due to higher allergan potential -- so they say)! You guessed it, there are tons to choose from! I pick one from my favorite manufacturer that contains NO soy or sweeteners and head home. I down this green, thick, tasty beverage, put on my running shoes, grabb my water bottle, my MP3 player and am out the door (don't worry, I'm dressed tho' I failed to mention my attire). It's 70 degrees - perfect! And just like the old days, an hour and a half later I walk in the door, sweating, breathing heavily, and feeling like I'm finally on my way am ready for breakfast!

I run upstairs (this feat is tough you understand after my lengthy run) and in the bottom drawer of my nightstand, I dig out and dust off my favorite running book, Runner's World Complete Book of Running, edited by Amby Burfoot (Exec. Editor - Runner's World & winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon). I follow his recommended breakfast (well, close enough) and have 2 pieces of whole-grain toast w/ 2 t. butter, 3/4 cup organic grapes, 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt (with stevia....oh, I threw in some flaxseed) and 8 oz. nonfat milk. YUMMY! The idea is to get more than 300 grams of carbs and just under 30% fat calories. Ahhhhh, can't w84 my next run ---

Checking out now with kudos to another runner in the blogosphere (and to those darned pics I found over the weekend as well -- me, pre-belly surgery, look'n fine I might add ;) at my friend's wedding -- 4-5-02), two important factors that assisted in bringing me back to me. Hugs.

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Sep 19, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Post #3

This one was easy to come up with -- this guy's a gem (lucky me)!!Thirteen Things I LOVE About M&M!
1. He accepts me no matter what .... I'm continually amazed, for ex., that more often than not I am home all day long and fail to accomplish certain tasks (including putting on something nice and maybe fixing my hair), am still in my baseball cap & capris sweats and he still manages to compliment the way I look!

2. His ability to seek to understand me .... Before he jumps on me for something really stupid I say, he simply asks me what it is I mean -- to restate what I said so that he doesn't misunderstand and subsequently react irrationally. I'd give him about an 8.5 on this -- which, I think is waaaay special!

3. If I need to wake him up in the middle of the night (sometimes just to give him a smooch and say hello) .... how does he react? With a smile!!

4. He gets up on Monday morning and as happy go lucky as always just goes to work -- no complaints. He actually looks forward to it. (Yes, he owns his own business, but STILL!...I've NEVER known anybody like this!)

5. He can leave the house at 3 a.m. and not come home until 4 or 5 p.m., not eat all day long and wait patiently for me to fix him dinner -- 'cause I haven't gotten to it yet :(

6. He sits down to eat, and I KNOW he's hungry and yet he chews so SLOWLY!...versus say, eh, how I tend to snarf everything in sight when I'm thoroughly starving!

7. He watches LMN with me and likes it!

8. I don't work and yet he gets up and makes US coffee!

9. If I have an issue and I need to get it off my chest, he listens - intently without complaint AND converses with me until the problem is resolved or I feel better.

10. I might have recently gained 10 lbs and yet he still manages to tell me how beautiful I am.

11. He doesn't care what I order on the menu -- he just agrees, shares it with me and then pays the tab.

12. He's a loving, giving, caring man, and I honestly don't know of anybody who doesn't like him (is this more than one)?! oops

13. He's given me everything I have only imagined I could have in one lifetime.

[Seriously now, I could go on all night. I'm sure as soon as I publish this post, I'll come up with more. Maybe I'll think of a way to post another TT so that I can add to this long list of love haha!]

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One of the loves of my life!

My goal for this blog is to include ALL family members, so I've gone to my "Favs" archive and thought I would post a few of my Baci. She's my Shar-pei show quality daughter. She comes from a family of champions! Matter of fact, you should take a look at her breeding grounds: ShenaniGans Shar-Pei.

In these pics, she's only about 10 weeks to maybe 3 or so months old; regardless, she's leeetle. I'll get to her older fotos soon! Here's another:

Having fun?! Good, now go meet Baci's daddy, Moon!

This one I call, "Got Wrinkles?"

And, before you leave, here is her momma, Kissed by the Storm (national champ):

KILLER, don't cha think?! I do, but hey, I'm a tad bit biased.

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Home at last (again)!

I don't have a single friend or family member who has taken so much time off that they are about to go nuts -- except ME! To date (over the past year), I have been on SIX vacations and am, can you believe, FED UP with time off! Matter of fact, during this last trip, I never even got out my camera!!

I'm looking at other bloggers' pages and noting their regular posts. Though writing my book is currently my main vocation, I blog to get better at writing and to keep my nogg'n go'n. It helps my mind think, so to speak. (Kim, I KNOW you know what I mean -- Remember when summer rolled around after a semester of nothing but study, research, and read, read, read and then BOOM -- all intellect went out the door due to major brain shutdown?!) Problem is, I'm not home enough to keep up with what I love to do - WRITE. Feeling like a failure but hoping all who know and love me and hopefully read my blog, realize I am doing my best.

The good news is, this last trip was a camping excursion that took us up north into the pines AND it was with family, a couple friends and their kids. Though we just spent time with M&M's bro and SIL just a week and a half prior, they flew in from KS and we were blessed with their presence once again! [His sister showed up from KS too (though stay-tuned as her visit was short-lived)].

Two of the neatest things that took place was 1) Poppa Wahala came with us. He's 76 years old, has Neuropathy, Parkinson's and Dementia, but he opted to travel with us so he could be with everybody together; and, 2) Seeing all the brothers together. They were a riot -- they have similar mannerisms and stories and sing to the same classic tunes (while pretending they can play the guitar to boot)! Naturally, there was lots of laughter, a feeling of community and good food (including of course, S'Mores)!

The bad news is, there was an ATV accident right out of the gate - the first day we arrived. M&M's sister and the local SIL bit it, and I mean in a real bad way! Sister from KS (SFK) actually ended up in the hospital with one ankle broken and the other shattered!! She had to have surgery and spent the rest of the trip on morphine and an IV. Local SIL had to have stitches in her face and though she came back to be with the rest of us campers, was in pain for quite some time afterward and immobile for a short bit too. She snapped out of it pretty quickly though, and was on it in every way -- as usual .... (She was even cooking and cleaning b4 all was said and done!)

Everybody is back at home now with new memories and in some cases, leftover pain....Oh, except for SFK and momma Di who actually got waylaid in OK due to lost luggage (of all the luck)! [Other bro & SIL (from KS) got stuck as well due to bad weather but landed safely last evening. Pics from them to follow any day now, I'm sure of it ;)]

Now on to clean-up, doing TONS of laundry, buying groceries and repairing the hole that we accidentally put in the camper we borrowed...but most of all, prayers for the wounded and happy thoughts to everybody who came out to play. Here's hoping we do it again some time real soon.

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Sep 13, 2007

Chapter I -- Into the System We Go

It's coming soon, so you come back! (I know. Way too much thinking involved. I should just write. So I am. Until then, I won't be posting an entire, edited chapter.)

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Sep 12, 2007

TT Post #2

OK, I feel like this is kinda stupid, but I couldn't help myself --- 13 Things About "Your Name" is what I saw when I first signed up for TT, so today I went with it!

Thirteen Things about my name, Rhonda [my last name here]

1. Dead give-away that I'm unmarried ('cause I still have my maiden name)!
2. It's a twin's name; or is it?
3. If you remove the "R" you get a vehicle
4. My last name means "room" in German
5. Part of a well-known Beach Boys' song
6. Means “noisy” in Whales
7. Most likely derived from the name of the Rhondda River
8. It may not be mine; could be that I got mixed up with my twin at birth
9. In Celtic terms, it means “Good Spear”
10. Dianna Ross’ daughter’s 1st name
11. M&M’s girlfriend’s name
12. Special Ed student in “The Greatest American Hero” had same 1st name
13. Babyface’s first love song was written for a classmate with the same 1st name

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In Loving Memory: Marie F. Hays (8-10-13 to 8-11-07)

It was 1985 the last time I visited my grandma. That was 22 years ago. I didn't know her very well and never spoke to her much. But, when I returned with my brother, Curtis, in April of this year, she either didn't realize it had been that long or simply did not care -- We were her grandchildren!

My Aunt Virginia walked us into her home where she sat in her living room. Everything was exactly as I remembered -- except Grandma. She was prettier and so very sweet. I walked up to her and she stood up quickly to greet me (hard to believe she was 93)! When I approached her, I looked down into her face (she was so tiny), and I smiled, told her how pretty she was and asked her if she remembered me. She had the biggest grin on her face! It was so endearing and then she nodded and said, "Yes. Rhonda!" (How she knew that is beyond me -- mostly because I'm a twin!..guess she could've remembered a previous conversation with her daughter, Virginia...?) I gave her a hug and was so happy to meet her again.

As a young child growing up, I focused on the fact she couldn't hear very well. It was difficult for me to hang around her too long, because I simply didn't know what to say. And when I did, she couldn't hear me. Addition to the fact we didn't go see her much because we visited my mother's side of the family more.

I realize hind sight is 20-20, but I just can't help but wish it could have been different. At least I did get to spend some time with her while she graced us with her presence. May she rest in peace.

I hope anybody who knew her will please share the memories they have quietly tucked away; click on "comments" below and tell us how special she was to you.