Take Away 27 - Think About It

I bought three big boxes of microwave popcorn equaling 75 bags. That's what the gremlins will be getting in their pumpkins when they knock on my door tonight. I simply cannot have a gigantic bowl of candy sitting in my living room this year. 

TAKE AWAY: I am powerless over candy.

October Take Aways

For fun, I thought I'd put all my October take-aways in one link.  I can see that I didn't do a great job of numbering them. Oh well.

• Take Away 26 - Dance Every Chance You Get
• Take Away 25 - Talk is Cheap
• Take Away 24 - Connect the Dots
• Take Away 23 - Be Flexible
• Take Away 22 - Just Do One Thing
• Take Away 21 - Dignity and Respect
• Take Away 20 - Pack a Lunch
• Take Away 19 - Try Something New
• Take Away 18 - Seasons Change
• Take Away 17 - Full Moons
• Take Away 16 - Sleep
• Take Away 15 - Power Naps
• Take Away 15 - Say Yes
• Take Away 14 - Listening
• Take Away 13 - Blogging
• Take Away 12 - Home Remedies
• Take Away 11 - Suit Up
• Take Away 10 - Time
• Take Away 9 - Treasure Tricks

Take Away 26 - Dance Every Chance You Get

Went dancing with Gene last night. It made me so happy. Love that guy. If we danced every day, it wouldn't be enough.

TAKE AWAY: Do what makes you happy.

Take Away 25 - Talk is Cheap

If Monday wasn't bad enough, I perhaps ate even worse yesterday. I was on the run yesterday, met with a friend, ate very bad fast food on my way from work to friend's house.  At least I did a little time on the treadmill but not nearly enough to make up for fried chicken strips and fries.

TAKE AWAY: Get real.

Take Away 24 - Connect the Dots

Yesterday I ate a piece of leftover birthday cake someone left in the lunchroom at work. It had pretty pink flowers on it with glazed strawberries in the middle with a light whipped, yummy frosting on top. The selling point of the cake: it was from a Mexican bakery in Pasco. I sliced a piece of it early in the day, thinking I'd have a bite of it about 3p.m. with a cup of coffee. It never made it past 12:30. I felt sluggish and "icky" about it all afternoon ~ especially when the banana and apple I had sitting on my desk kept staring at me. Late in the day, a well-meaning co-worker dropped a bag of buttery, popped Orville Reddenbacher at my desk. At least I had the foresight to share it with the next cubicle over. If that wasn't enough, I met a friend for dinner and had a nice, lite bowl of chicken pho, which wasn't too bad calorie wise but the salt put me over the top. 

TAKE AWAY: I need to remember that what goes in 

determines how I'm gonna feel, whether it's food or information.

 

Take Away 23 - Be Flexible

My weekend did not turn out anything like I might have imagined it would. There are still piles of laundry to fold and I just finished washing dishes from a bit of baking I did on Saturday. So, here's what happened.  The sun shined! We got up yesterday and took a drive into town at sunrise to take some photos and meet a couple of friends for an awesome pancake feed and then decided it was far too nice of a day to pass up a motorcycle ride. Knowing I still had dishes in the sink from the day before and laundry piled up, I went anyway. It was probably the last good riding day for me. I don't do cold rides and it was a little chilly where we rode. 

TAKE AWAY: Be flexible with your plans. 

The dishes will always wait for you.

Take Away 22 - Just Do One Thing

I have a friend who is in her 40's and going to college at night as her goal is to change careers. I met her at my last job and we became good friends. She's  an earth muffin like me and I see her as a mentor in making less of a carbon footprint on the world. I didn't even know what a carbon footprint was until she told me to go to the website in this link. I always asked her a lot of questions about recycling and how each of us can really make a difference in the world.  She told me, "just do one thing". If each of us just changed one thing, we can make a difference. I have made a lot of changes but know I can do better.

TAKE AWAY: Change just one thing.

Take Away 21 - Dignity and Respect

The president of the company I work for stopped by my desk yesterday to say hello and introduce herself. I think my desk was just a random stop for her but I appreciated it nonetheless. In appearance, she looked like any other hard worker. She wasn't dressed in a 3-piece suit and she certainly did not put on any airs about who she is. It made my day! And it reminded me of the good old days when people were treated with dignity and respect.

I love, love, love this company I am working for right now. The communication from the top down is excellent. We receive daily emails about what is happening in the company and it's written in a positive fashion intended for busy working staff to read. This company is set for closure in the next two years but you'd never know it by the great  "can do" attitudes I see every single day I am there.  Git'r done!

TAKE AWAY: Always treat everyone you meet 

with the dignity and respect they deserve. 

Take Away 20 - Pack a Lunch

For the very first time in my 30+ years of working, I only have 30 minutes for lunch. This means I pack a lunch every day instead of blowing it off and eating out.  "Eating out is a  treat to working women", said one of my mentors  a long time ago and I adopted that mantra.  However, I must say that I am enjoying packing a lunch immensely. I'm eating much better food and have actually shed some pounds because of it. I also get great lunch ideas from the other wonderful women in my office who have been packing their lunches way longer than I have. My new mantra:  Pack a lunch.  Thanks girls!

TAKE AWAY: Be creative while packing lunch. 

Take Away 19 - Try Something New

We took a road trip to The Dalles, Oregon yesterday to spend time at our favorite thrift store and found 2 others to roam through. We asked the last store owner for a recommendation for a local place to eat. She turned us on to the absolute best Thai food we've ever had and recommended we try the Pumpkin Curry dish. I decided to be brave and ordered it with vegetables. The pumpkin tasted a bit like potato but much firmer. The rest of the veggies were still firm, which is the only way I like them. I had to give the dish a "10" and give myself a huge kudo for ordering something totally out of my comfort zone.

TAKE AWAY: Life is so much fun. Try something new.

Take Away 18 - Seasons Change

I have been incredibly busy working along with having company. I go to work in the dark and by the time I get home from work, eat dinner and maybe go out of the house again, it's dark. I went for a quick drive today to run an errand and noticed the season has seriously changed.

TAKE AWAY: Slow. Down. Right. Now.

This. Is. Your. Life.

 

Take Away 17 - Full Moons

There is a full moon tonight. We had a blustery day and there were a few clouds lingering but I  still got to see the bright, full moon as it was making its way to wherever it goes at night.  I don't know how many times I've seen a full moon in my lifetime; I always think it is amazing. When I look up at the moon, I always wonder if all the people I love and care about are seeing the same moon.

TAKE AWAY: You might be many moons away from me 

but I'm still thinking about you. 

Take Away 16 - Sleep

TAKE AWAY: Long day ... need more sleep.

zzzzzzZZZZZZZ ....

Take Away 15 - Power Naps

This is day six of feeling crummy. While the sore throat and headache are gone, I'm left feeling zero energy. Thank goodness my friend from Phoenix who is visiting for the week is also sick. We watched a movie and then both took nice, long afternoon naps. While I'm still feeling less than 100%, there's nothing better than taking a nap on a Sunday afternoon.  Even better than that is having a friend who is totally okay with doing the same thing.

TAKE AWAY: Do what I need to do to care for myself, 

even if it feels a little rude.

Take Away 15 - Say Yes

We went bowling with a great group of friends last night. It was already 9:30 by the time I got the bowling shoes on and rolled the first ball. My knee started throbbing with the first throw but I kept bowling in spite of it, not knowing if I'd be able to walk on it today. I'm fine. 

I'm still not feeling 100% after being sick this week but I said YES to bowling anyway. I have learned to say yes to things that maybe I don't want do. I've learned to ignore the lame voice in my head that spouts some stupid excuse not to go. I would have missed a great amount of fun. The best part was watching my friends have so much fun.

TAKE AWAY:  Say yes even when you don't want to.

Take Away 14 - Listening

Today I sat for an hour with a friend, listening and then hearing myself offer suggestions. I am reminded that the suggestions were not anything I thought of ... merely suggestions someone else gave to me when I felt the same way.  I hold a huge amount of gratitude for those who have really taken the time to hear me when I was down. Pay it forward takes on a new meaning when I remember we're all in this together. 

TAKE AWAY: Always take time to listen to others. 

Someday I might be the "other".

Take Away 13 - Blogging

I have ventured out and stuck my toe in the world of blogging and this week my blog has been featured in what is called a Blog Hop. The "hop" is to help other bloggers get their posts out there and read by each other's followers. It's a great idea and I have discovered some interesting reading by simply clicking on the links. I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out the blogs below and if you are a blogger, feel free to add yours to the list. Just don't ask me how the whole thing works (read: there are codes I know not how to write) ... I'm new to "hopping" and the real truth is I jumped into this with both feet. The take away?

TAKE AWAY:  Try new things!  Let's go.

Welcome to 

Thirsty for Comments Thursday! 

 

Hosted by Acting Balanced and SilverFaeries and Dragonflies 

Check out the cool new badge:

and our first Featured Blogger of this new era is:

Susan from 365Takeaways!

Please make sure you show her some comment love this week, 

in addition to visiting some of the other fabulous links!

If you want to be featured in the near future, visit your fellow participants and give good comment!

What is Thirsty for Comments?

This is a blog hop dedicated to giving good comment - please, when you are visiting, actually READ the post that is linked and make a thoughtful comment!  

This is NOT a hop for "I'm here from the hop, follow me back" comments!

Link up your own SPECIFIC POST that you'd like comments on - remember - no giveaways!

*****************************************

The rules are simple - 

1. Link up a SPECIFIC POST (NOT just your blog URL) that you'd like to have more comments on - can be anything EXCEPT GIVEAWAYS and OTHER BLOG HOPS - they will be deleted

2. Visit AT LEAST THREE other blogs and READ the posts and then comment thoughtfully on the post.

Extras (nice but not required):

Consider following the blogs you visit 

Add the Thirsty for Comments button to your post

Blog about Thirsty for Comments

Add Thirsty for Comments to your Meme List!

Leave a comment here on how I can improve Thirsty for Comments :)

 **** This is a BLOG HOP LINKY, so you can grab the code for your own post and share the linky directly! ****

You are next... Click here to enter
This list will close in 6 days, 11 hrs, 10 min (10/12/2011 7:34:14 PM CST)

What is a blog hop?

Take Away 12 - Home Remedies

Well, I only made it to 10:00 a.m. on Monday at work. I came home sick and ended up at home for 2 days. Bad cold. I haven't been sick in years and years. I don't do sick very well.

More than once I have recommended the Neti pot to my friends and family. Years ago, I had a friend who kept bugging me to get a Neti pot every time I complained about my allergies. The symptoms got so bad, I finally spent $13.95 on a pot and wondered why it took me so long to try it.  While I love to give advice, sometimes I don't like to take my own. Thank goodness my husband was here to encourage me to get my Neti pot out and use it. I could hardly breathe before I flushed my sinuses but within a minute of using it, I felt so much better. I also have been gargling with warm salt water and it works miracles.

TAKE AWAY: Home remedies work, especially the Neti pot. 

Just try it. Best $13.95 you'll ever spend.

 

Take Away 11 - Suit Up

I'm not feeling my best today but I'm going to suit up and show up and see what happens. My experience over the last 30 years of working tells me that once I get going I'll be okay. I always have the option of throwing in the towel and going home if I'm too sick to work.

TAKE AWAY: Suit up and show up and see what happens.

Take Away 10 - Time

"I see my folks, they're getting old, I watch their bodies change...
I know they see the same in me, and it makes us both feel strange...
No matter how you tell yourself, it's what we all go through...
Those eyes are pretty hard to take when they're staring back at you.
Scared you'll run out of time ...
Life gets mighty precious when there's less of it to waste. "  ~ Bonnie Raitt 

TAKE AWAY: Don't waste time.

My dad was here for a visit this weekend. I can't seem to get the lump out of my throat. He took a fall several weeks ago and hit his head. He hasn't been the same since. He's dizzy all the time and life is just not much fun for him right now. I see the fear in his eyes that perhaps it never will be again. We didn't talk about it. Those words will be left unspoken.  

I'm going to try to live my life to the fullest. There's no time to waste.

Take Away 9 - Treasure Tricks

About 20 years ago, I worked in administration with a great group of women at the small hospital in Juneau, Alaska. One of the ladies there was also volunteer for the Salvation Army thrift store. She shared a tip with me that was the best "take away" I remember the most. I want to share it with you.

She was always dressed to the 9's so I asked her one day where she shopped and she let me in on a little secret. Because she was a volunteer, she was allowed to choose 2 items each shift from the mounds of donated clothing. She said the trick to finding brand name treasures at thrift stores is to start at the beginning of the rack and to move every single hanger. You cannot stand out from a rack and expect to see the treasures.

Personally, I think this trick works when meeting new people.  How many times I have judged someone in the first 14 seconds of meeting them and when I took the time to move the obstacles away, I found such treasures.

TAKE AWAY: Carefully look for hidden treasures in every situation.