Kindness To Yourself and Others

 

Need To Figure It Out

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are." (Bernice Johnson Reagon)

 

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

     So, you might've noticed I've been a bit in and out lately, and I wanted to touch base about it. Huge apologies for the blog silence – things have been a little whirlwind-y on my end.

 

    On the home front, Mom's still dealing with pain, but thankfully, we're seeing more good days than before! It's been a journey. Honestly, the biggest headache has been navigating Kaiser; it feels like she's been getting bounced around a bit. The one bright spot has been her kidney doctor – even though he's out of network, he's been a real lifesaver.

 

    All this pain has really taken a toll on her overall health. Her blood sugar's been up and down, and her A1C is higher than we'd like. They've been adjusting her meds, trying to find the right balance. She's off Metformin now, and her insulin dose has been increased. Unfortunately, they can't move forward with her back treatment until her numbers come down.

 

     It's been rough seeing Mom go through this, and honestly, it's been dragging me down too. Her moods have been all over the place, and lately, it feels like anger is the default setting. We've been butting heads a lot, and it's just wearing me out. Nighttime has become my refuge, those moments catching a movie and just chilling with Mike after a chaotic day. Having him around this past week while he was on vacation was such a relief.

 

     And speaking of Mike, it's wild – we've had this connection for a year now. We're actually planning to meet up this summer and see what happens. It's the strangest, most wonderful thing to feel this kind of bond with someone.

  

    You know, by the time evening rolls around, all I crave is sinking into the couch with a movie and Mike's company. It's funny 'cause even though it's snowing right now, I can feel that warmer weather just around the corner, and with it, I know there'll be more ways for me to unwind. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands in the garden again and taking Scoots on some longer walks, just the two of us. I just need to get a better handle on my time and stress levels, you know? I also have this feeling that if I actually made time to blog, it would be a great outlet.

    So, yeah, I'm making a promise to myself to be more present here and get some better blog posts up. My sister's been on my case, telling me it's time I got a little "selfish" and actually focused on what I need for a change.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Just the Facts #7

 

 "Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch -  what makes you go beyond the norm." (Cicely Tyson)

 

 Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 Baseball's heating up! Since it's in full swing, I thought we could chat about sports and my past experiences with them.

 

1.  Man, those summer mornings at the community pool were the best! My mom and the neighborhood crew would be up before the sun, hustling to snag us all spots for the free swimming lessons. Each year, it was the same exciting progression, moving up to the next level. But that final hurdle? The diving board. It loomed like a monster to my ten-year-old self. Blame it on 'Jaws' and that eerie feeling of the deep unknown, but that thing was pure terror! I remember one year, my patient instructor was in the water, cheering me on, and I'd walk out onto that board, heart pounding, only to chicken out and walk right back. Did that for a whole summer! But something shifted the next year. Maybe it was the thought of another year of diving board dread, or maybe I just finally had enough. Then, just a few days before the pool gates closed for the season, I did it. I jumped. And then? I couldn't stop! Up and down, over and over. That fear just melted away with each splash.

 

2.  Summer nights on our block? Pure magic. As the days stretched long, we kids were a force of nature, turning the street into our playground. Kickball battles raged, bases marked by stray shoes, and the cheers echoed between houses. Then there was the thrill of hide-and-seek, the shadows our allies as we plotted the perfect hiding spot. But "Freeze"—that was something else. Waiting for the hush of twilight, the distant hum of an engine, and then BAM! Instant statues in the car's fleeting headlights. Talk about a rush! Weekends were epic, especially when the kickball came out and our dads joined the chaos. My dad? That guy had a cannon for a leg! You'd see the ball soar, and the grown-ups would be lined up on their driveways, laughing and catching up while we ran ourselves ragged. Those were the days, weren't they?

 

3.  Ringers and tetherball? Recess was on! Most days you'd find me soaring through the air on those ringers, skipping one to really get some speed. Yeah, those blood blisters were a badge of honor, even if Mom wasn't thrilled. Tetherball was my go-to on "ringer rest" days, and honestly, having a pole in the backyard? Hours of glorious spinning battles!

 

4.  Man, pro wrestling's been my jam since way back! Growing up, Sunday mornings meant AWA with my dad, and then BAM! WWF took over. Living here in Denver, I've hit up a ton of shows, even some TV tapings and PPVs. It's totally my number one guilty pleasure, always will be. You know what's wild? When I was working security at the airport after high school, the wrestlers came through after a show. Snagged autographs from Bret Hart, The Undertaker, the whole deal!

 

5.  Growing up with my dad working at the University of Denver meant Friday nights often involved Pioneer hockey! We'd grab a quick bite at home and then head to the rink. Those stadium hot dogs were practically our dinner as the four of us settled in to watch. My mom? She was all in! Even after my sister started at DU, we kept up the tradition, though she'd be up in the student section – the legendary "Bleacher Creatures." When it was my turn to be a Pioneer, Dad still managed to snag tickets, though maybe not quite as often since the team was busy racking up championships!

 

6.  That 8th-grade trip to New Mexico sounds like a blast! With a big group from three schools, they offered some cool choices for excursions. Since horses and I weren't exactly a match, white water rafting it was! Honestly, it was way more fun than I expected, and the rapids weren't too wild. The funny part? When I got home and told my mom, she was totally surprised. Apparently, "getting wet" didn't exactly fit her image of me, but hey, sometimes you gotta shake things up!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again.

Its Getting Better Out There

 "You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result." (Mahatma Gandhi)

Hello, my lovely friends!

Well, I hope you’re all enjoying and having a relaxing weekend. Jack Frost has left the state and went to other places and the warm sun has come out. It was so nice and sunny yesterday that many neighbors were out washing their cars and cleaning their yards up. We did neither, but we were inside doing some deep cleaning upstairs in our T.V. area. We were able to open up the windows and get some fresh air inside. Today we’ll finish up the rest of the upstairs.

       Anyone starting spring cleaning? It’s something that we want to get done ahead of time. Once the time is right to get outside and work on the yard we’ll be out there gardening. Since we’re able to get snow even in the month of May, mostly everyone knows that you don’t plant outside until after Mother’s Day. So, we have a bit a time before we get outside. I still want to get everything deep cleaned before this month ends and we can just plan the garden and get things together for the month of May. I’m always sad to see winter and the snow go, but this year I’m eager to get outside and start planting.

 

     My mom made bell peppers the other day and she had such a good time cooking. She said we should do that more and I agree. It was nice cooking with my mom. She doesn’t think she can do things like that anymore, but she did. She did hit something the other day that she doesn’t have confidence in herself with almost anything since my dad’s death. Now I have to find something for her to do to build her back up and cooking together and gardening will help out.

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Feed Your Soul

 

Just the Facts #6

 "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." (Dr. Seuss)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 Happy Friday Funday! Let's ditch the formalities and dive into the wild world of Paula. You've seen glimpses, sure, but this week, I'm pulling back the curtain and revealing the inner workings of my delightfully chaotic personality. Get ready for a peek behind the madness!

 

1. Think of me as a connoisseur of the mundane. I have opinions—strong ones—about the perfect pen stroke, the ideal paper texture, and the only nail polish that truly sings to my soul. And yes, there's a very specific, almost artistic, way I load groceries onto the conveyor belt. It's not OCD, it's... curated chaos. A personal symphony of preferences, if you will.

 

2.  I'm the picture of serenity, a walking zen garden... right up until you find my 'line'. It's a long, long line, but once you step over it, you'll wish you hadn't. I'm a laid-back soul, but mess with my mom, sister, nephews (all three!), or brother-in-law, and I'll redefine 'protective'. I'm a tiny titan of fury, ready to throw down. Don't mistake kindness for weakness. You'll regret it.

 

3.  My internal thermostat is perpetually set to 'chill.' I inherited this from my dad, a man who could probably defuse a bomb with a well-placed shrug. Tomorrow's problems? They're future-me's headache. And if I can't wrangle fate into submission, why bother throwing a tantrum? I'd rather save my dramatic energy for deciding what to have for lunch.

 

4.  I operate on a 'laugh first, ask questions later' policy. My brain's a bit like a browser with too many tabs open, and most of them are memes. Since life's already given us a hefty dose of drama, I'm just trying to balance the scales with giggles.

 

5.  I'm a walking, talking, sugar-coated giggle factory with a side of delightful oddness. What you see is what you get! If you find my brand of sunshine appealing, wonderful! If not, well, more sunshine for me

 

6. Imagine a cozy, quiet room filled with books and soft light. That's pretty much my ideal social scene. I'm an introvert, and I've always found my peace in solitude. I cherish the few close friendships I have, each one a rare and beautiful gem. Forget the popularity contest; I was always more interested in the quiet corners of the world.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Be Back Friday

 

Mourning Our Loved Ones

 

Honoring My Dad on His Birthday

 

 “In the grief of losing someone,
Why do I feel like the lost one?”
(Terri Guillemets)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

    Tomorrow would have been my dad’s 80th birthday. I thought I;d share some more crazy things about my dad.

 

1. When I was five I went Christmas shopping with my mom and I really wanted to get my dad a basketball, not because he played just because. All the way she kept telling me not to tell my dad and I said okay. Well, we got home and I told my dad we got him something but I can’t tell him what it is. I did tell him its round, orange and goes bouncy bouncy. 

2. Every time we would finish dinner my dad would say all that was missing was chocolate cake. He did this for years. One day while grocery shopping with my mom she bought a chocolate cake and hid it in the pantry. When dinner was finished that night he did his usually saying all that was missing was chocolate cake. I ran to the pantry and got the cake and we all had a big laugh about it. 

3. He had season tickets for the Denver Broncos and would always take a friend, my mom, his brothers or my sister to the games. When I was five I wanted to go so bad and he decided to take me. I’m not fan of football and still not. Through the whole game I was reading a book and then when the hot dog guy came I didn’t want one, but when he left I wanted one. I did the same thing with peanuts. Well, that was the first and last time I went to a game. 

4. As kids we collected pop cans and my dad would take us to recycle them twice a year, Christmas and 4th of July. We would split the amount and go buy fireworks. I would get the bag with mixed fireworks and there was always the ones you could put in cigarettes to make them explode. My dad smoked and I would always put them in. One time he was watching a horror movie and it went off and scared everyone.

5. When my oldest nephew was born my dad decided to stop smoking and did so quietly. A month passed and no one realized what he did. One day he asked all of us if we noticed anything different about him. We’re all looking at him and nothing clicked with us and when he told us we were shocked. He never smoked a cigarette again. 

6. When I was in second grade our school was going on a field trip to Casa Bonita on St. Patrick’s Day. I came home from school and asked my dad if he wanted to go to Casa Bonita for his birthday and he said yes and thought nothing more of it. Days before his birthday I let hi know what time to be at school and he was puzzled. Being in second grade I failed to tell him he volunteer to be a parent chaperone for our field trip. On the bus trip there I informed everyone it was his birthday and we sang to him. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

   

Just the Facts #5

 "Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes." (Gloria Naylor)

 
Hello, my lovely friends! 

    My Dad's birthday is on Monday and I thought today let's get into some facts that I have with my dad. Let us all know some facts you have with your dad. 

1. My dad had a lovely tradition of giving me flowers for my birthday and Valentine's Day. With my birthday being just a week before, I was always delighted to receive two bouquets in quick succession. He always made a special effort to find purple flowers for my birthday, while Valentine's Day was marked by a bouquet of carnations. This tradition is why I now try to bring carnations whenever I visit his grave, a small way to remember him.

 

2.  My dad had a wonderfully goofy side that he only showed to me. He'd serenade me with silly songs or break into spontaneous, crazy dances. If I tried to tell my mom, he'd deny it with a playful grin. Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right” instantly brings those cherished moments flooding back. That song is the sound of my dad's secret, silly world with me.

 

3.  When my high school staged 'Dracula,' I decided to audition for the role of the maid, which required a believable English accent. Surprisingly, my unlikely passion for WWF wrestling and the iconic British Bulldogs had me covered! I landed the part, and my mom was so thrilled she called my dad at work. That night, he came home with a dozen roses and a card that I still cherish. The card read, 'This isn’t because you got the part, but because you tried. If you were a boy I would give you a beer, but since you’re a girl, here are some flowers.' Gotta love that!"

 

4. Okay, so when my dad got sick, the man turned into a giant toddler. Suddenly, I, the teenager, was in charge of fetching things. He even wrote me a "get well soon" note on a napkin, promising a hamburger next time I was sick. Apparently, my dad thought a greasy burger was the ultimate cure-all.

Being the responsible teen I was (and also really wanting a hamburger), I carefully tucked that napkin into my bedside drawer. Fast forward a year or so, I'm feeling under the weather, and BAM! The napkin resurfaces. I presented it to my dad like it was the Magna Carta of meat patties. He just stared at it, then burst out laughing, probably thinking, "Did my kid really keep that?" But hey, a deal's a deal. And you know what? I got my darn hamburger. Totally worth the year-long wait. 

 

5. Forget Uber, I had Dad-er. He was my dedicated drop-off and pick-up service for anything fun. Concerts especially meant Dad pulling an all-nighter in the car, probably reading a book and silently judging the length of the encore. Bless his patient, slightly-sleepy heart.

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Beautiful Time of Year

 "Just because I laugh a lot, doesn't mean my life is easy. Just because I have a smile on my face every day, doesn't mean that something is not bothering me. I just choose to move on, and not dwell on all the negatives in my life. Every new moment gives me the chance to renew anew. I choose to be that." (Author Unknown)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

     Alright, weekend vibes are practically here! But hey, let's be real, doesn't it feel like every day's a mini-vacation sometimes? Anyone else been soaking up all this sunshine lately? It's been absolutely dreamy! Buuuut, hold onto your hats, folks, because it sounds like Jack Frost decided to clock in for some overtime. Yep, snow's making a surprise guest appearance tomorrow! Guess winter's determined to squeeze every last snowflake out.

    

    The good news is, my mom's pain seems to be finally easing up! She's definitely using way less of the pain meds and gummies, which is fantastic. I still give her a nighttime gummy, and honestly, it's been a game-changer. For the past month, she's been sleeping all night long! Seriously, she used to be up and down constantly, so this is a huge win. 

 

    She chatted with her doctor about the pain last week, and they're keeping an eye on her A1C levels, which are a bit high. Of course, with all the stress, pain, and meds, it's understandable. She's working hard to get those numbers down so she can explore some treatment options. 

    I've been encouraging her to try physical therapy and some gentle stretching. She doesn't move around much during the day, and I think that's really contributing to her discomfort. We're hoping some movement will make a big difference! 

 

     Alright, sunshine lovers! Next week's forecast is looking absolutely glorious, which means... it's officially yard-spruce-up season! Time to dust off those gardening gloves and get ready to make some magic happen.

 

    I'm super pumped to dive into my garden this year, especially after a few… ahem… learning experiences last season. (Let's just say my tomatoes decided black spots were the latest fashion trend, and some lettuce containers threw a full-on no-show party.)  So, operation "Revamp the Garden" is in full swing!

 

    First on the to-do list: fresh potting soil! It's been a few years, and I think my plants deserve a spa day for their roots. Then, it's seed-sorting time! I'm already dreaming of all the delicious veggies we'll be growing. And guess what? Those garden tables I bought ages ago? They're finally getting assembled! More space for more veggies! Woot!

 

    I'm feeling a real buzz about growing my own food this year. It feels like more and more of us are rediscovering the joy of getting our hands dirty and watching things grow. Let's make this year's garden the best one yet! What are you all planning to plant?

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Back in the Day Salad

 

“My heart says chocolate and wine, but my jeans say "For the love of all that is good, eat a salad!" (Anonymous)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    I love me a good salad, any kind of salad. Nowadays, it’s all about the darker greens because those are the healthier ones. Sometimes you want to go back to the salads you grew up with. Growing up all we had was iceberg lettuce, it’s cool and crisp. Now when I have iceberg lettuce it’s in tacos or a topping on a burritos and enchiladas. Today we’re going back to those days when iceberg was the lettuce of choice. 

Classic Iceberg Salad
1 head of iceberg lettuce roughly chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery sticks, sliced
5 radishes sliced
½ cucumber, sliced
4 boiled eggs, 2 for each of us
2 sliced of ham, chopped
2 cups of croutons
½ cup of cranberries and walnuts salad toppings, ¼ cup for each person
Ranch dressing or your favorite salad dressing

    It’s easy to put the whole salad together, but there are some things that I do. I keep the cucumbers in a separate bowl because in the fridge they can make the salad too watery. 

    This salad reminds me of my childhood with some new extra things thrown in like the cranberries and walnuts. My mom would make this salad and sometimes we would have French dressing or a homemade Poppy Seed one that my grandma would make and give away. That is a recipe I would love to have. Sometimes the simple salads are the best ones to have.
 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Be Stronger