What Do You Do When You Are Blindsided and Can't See A Solution?

Three going on....?

"Have you noticed how much happier everyone is this time of year?"  Someone asked me that the other day and frankly, I was a bit shocked.

I witness the opposite each year. Maybe it is because we are in retail business and people are regularly complaining -- not enough time or money to do what they need to do.  In general, people are impatient and grumpier than the rest of the year - hands down. 

Stress is over the top for many people at Christmas time. Personally, I find this time of year relaxing as I am prepared at least a month or two in advance. My goal is to have all the gifts wrapped and baking done by November.

How to Know When It Is Time to Say Good-bye

November is my birthday month but celebrating it has never been a priority. My mom was very ill my entire childhood and spent most of her life in bed fighting a debilitating disease. Birthday parties were out of the question. I often hoped my mom would forget my birthday so she would not have to feel guilty if she was not well enough to bake a cake or buy me a present.

Consequently, I often forget my birthday if I am busy or forget to check the calendar. Yet, I love birthday celebrations and try not to forget those special days for family and friends. And even if I may forget... my family always remembers.

I often wondered:  Why don't we celebrate our mothers on our birthdays?  After all, they did all the work!

Fall is here

Do You Talk to Yourself When You Do Something Stupid?

Do you talk to yourself when you do something stupid?  

"Why did you do that?"  

Then you continue by answering yourself:  "I don't know.  I can't believe I did that."

I have had a few of these conversations this month and they went something like this:

My spaghetti sauce had been cooking all day and I was ready to boil the pasta.  Removing the lid of the pasta pan, I almost fell over from the stench.  The bottom of the pan was covered in mold.  Under the layers of mold it appeared I failed to wash the pan the last time I made pasta.  

"How did that happen?  How is that even possible?  Someone else must have done that."

I'd post the picture but it isn't pretty -- just take my word for it.  Here's a picture of the pasta instead.