busy, busy.

Sorry for this shortie post in advance...  Too much to do this week to properly sit down and write about all the awesomeness.  I am still on top of my good deeds however.  I have managed to do at least one thing every day and most days I do many.  A lot are too small to even mention on this blog, but they still get done.  Here is a quick list of the few things I have done since my last post:

Saturday - Did a fellow stylist's hair without expecting anything in return.  Stayed a few hours later than I needed to so I could do it for her.

Sunday - Bought 20 or so new books for the kid's school library.  We are taking them in tomorrow.  The kids are stoked.  We also got a gift certificate for my son's teacher to buy some books for their classroom.
*Bonus - Marnie made 2 pairs of earrings for a couple of her classmates.  She wrapped them and anonymously left them in their lockers for them to discover.  She reported that it was really fun for her and she wants to do more.

Today - Gave a man holding a sign outside a shopping center $20.  The sign said his daughter was admitted to the hospital with a heart condition.  He looked very sad and was shaking from the cold.  My husband is trying to fight the belief that all of these people who stand out and ask for money are full of it.  Maybe.  We lived in Chicago years ago and it made him jaded in this area.  You would see someone beg for money and then round the corner and climb into a Cadillac.  It was disheartening.  I have come to an understanding however that it simply doesn't matter.  Does it make the gift any less important?  The giving is always the same no matter who is on the receiving end.  My heart remains the same.

I hope to find some time to sit and write to you in further depth later on this week.  I have a few things that have been on my mind and in my heart and I want to begin to share them.  Maybe get some opinions...

Stats:
Daily Points - 20
Extra - 3
Bonus - 3

Days left to go: 355

lotto and run.

Let me tell you about Christmas Eve.  I have, in the past, adopted families for Christmas and bought toys for needy tots.  I have participated in Operation Christmas Child and picked angel ornaments off trees in order to provide a gift for someone who otherwise might not have received one.  One year I even organized a 'Cut-A-Thon' in which a bunch of stylists and myself did haircuts on the masses from our town and then donated the proceeds to a family of four boys whose mom dies of brain cancer a week before Christmas.  I am no stranger to harnessing the power of the Christmas Spirit.  However, never have I left my good deeds up to fate the way my family and I did on Christmas Eve and as my project intends.  Never have I given willy nilly without any background information or careful selection of the recipient.  It was shakes inducing and my trust was absolutely tested.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the fam and I decided to put $100 towards a random stranger's purchase at our local discount super center.  This idea in theory sounded like a great idea.  We have donated much more money to adopted families in Christmas' past than $100, so what's the big deal?  There have many stories on the news reporting that people were paying off random layaways.  I think that is a fabulous idea and I wish we had thought about it prior to Christmas Eve.  Layaway gives me the impression that a person likely has need to pay a big purchase off over a few smaller payments.  This gives the giver some sort of indication that the gift may be appreciated.  It's like insurance.  We decided not to take out that policy though.  I did not happen to hear of the trend until the night prior to Christmas Eve and by that time I would assume that most people have collected their goods in order to wrap them for the big day.  If by some chance there were a few left at the store, I would think it likely they would forever remain at the store - unclaimed.  I did that once.  I tried on and loved something like 20 dresses when I was a teenager and put them all on layaway.  I handed over the $40 I had at the time and promised to pay the rest of eventually.  I never went back.  In fact I moved out of state.  Good intentions but I couldn't follow through.  That would be my biggest worry - that I would pay it, it would go unclaimed and then the big corporate store would get to keep my money AND the stuff.  I understand that it is about the action and not what happens with the gift, but I am still working on that.

So instead, we went with a donation towards a real, live, in the flesh kind of person who was finishing up their procrastination shopping.  We had discussed the few ways in which we could make the payment without rejection or causing the receiver any embarrassment.  We decided the best way was to purchase a gift card and then on our way out of the store give it to someone in the checkout lane with the tagline: "There is a couple of bucks left on this, would you like it?  We don't get to this side of town often."  Simple, yes?  Well that was the plan.

We arrived at the strip mall where the store is located and split up.  Troy took the kids to the dollar store where they needed to buy a few last minute gifts and I headed to the superstore to pick up some items for dinner the next day and the gift card.  As soon as I walked through the sliding doors my stomach began to rumble and I felt sick and nervous.  $100 is a lot of money to just give to someone for no reason.  I mean, what if the universe is not listening and we choose the wrong person?  Like a child molester or a Republican.  It was such a crapshoot.  I silently asked for a sign.  At that moment I looked up and spotted my cousin Barb.  Barb lives in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan in a town many hours away from us.  Her parents live  in a town nearby, but we never see them.  I stopped her and we embraced and talked of life.  She told me she was just thinking of my dad (he died in an accident of sorts in June 2009).  I told her I had just been thinking of her the day before.  I had a previous by chance run in with her the year prior at a different store and had been wondering if she was in town.  It is amazing how such things work that way.  We exchanged digits and parted ways.  I finished my shopping a neared the checkout.  The gift cards live there.  Sucking in a deep breath, I picked one up.  Surely that was a sign.  Or was it a coincidence?  By leap of faith I bought that card.

I trekked down the cement walk that linked each store entrance to the next.  I contemplated my nervous tummy and what it meant.  Spying the up coming bookstore that was in my path, I decided to dash in for a cup of coffee before meeting the rest of my troop and carrying out our mission.  Someone was ordering and I fell in line behind him.  He was inquisitive and asking the barista many questions about the pastry.  I paid attention and little attention and then great attention as I noticed that he too was yet another one of my father's cousins.  This one I had not laid eyes on since the day we laid my father to rest.  It was lovely to see him and it calmed my nervous stomach as well as my spirit.  Of course there are greater things at work than me and my selfish worries.  There is a plan.  I can either be part of the good or step back and let life happen beside me.  That is my role and I get to choose.  After wishing my cousin a Merry Christmas, I skipped like a six year old out of the store to gather my brood.

We stalked the crowds of the superstore upon our return and looked for the perfect scenario.  We headed to the toy section first but found it nearly empty.  We moved on to the groceries only to discover many carts filled with two or three items each.  Everyone was on their game this year.  No procrastinators to be found.  Ethan had a bit of money burning in his pocket and had the desire for a wallet, so we decided to allow him to make his purchase and then intended to wait up in the front of the store where we would have a better view of the registers.  On our way to cash out we saw her.  A lovely lady checking out by herself.  The grocery belt was full of goods as was her cart.  There were toys and food and boxed gifts with included tags.  She was perfect.  Ethan paid and then displayed his bag as if to show 'See?  We really did do some shopping'.  Quickly and without thinking I slip in beside her at the register and gave her my line about the few bucks left on the card.  She took it and we scrambled out the door before she could finish loading her cart back up with her bagged goods.  Did she appreciate it?  I don't know.  We left.  Does it matter?  No, it doesn't.  We gave and that is indeed what matters.  I hope she did and I can dream she did.  But the lesson is the same to my children regardless of the outcome.  The lesson is the same to me too.

As for today, I did a fun little give.  I am sure this will be a repeat offender as I found childlike joy in the activity.  I bought some scratch off lotto tickets and then left them under the wipers of a few cars.  I attacked at the bank and then again at the courthouse.  I had to open my business account and apply for my DBA respectively and incorporated my acts.  There was a fun element of sneakiness due to the fact that there are lots of people just sitting in cars in the parking lots of both places.  People do not take kindly to you messing with cars, so doing business quickly and then running away so you are not caught is the best option in my opinion.  It was fun and each time I left one my daughter squealed with absolute delight.  The fun is rubbing off already.

Stats:
Daily Points - 7
Extra - 1
Bonus - 0

neighbors being neighborly.

What a difference today was.  I awoke still in a funk.  I felt drained and uneasy.  Even though I could not put my finger on the exact why, I had the general feeling that it was still do to the mom.  I could not stop thinking about it and the way that I felt.  The reaction I had yesterday shames me a bit and I just could not wrap my head around what happened exactly.  I was so excited about the prospect of changing the situation prior to leaving for the mom's house.  I had high hopes and I was going to rise above and move on.  It did not go the way I intended.  Now granted there are many, many missing details from yesterday's story - but even had I included them, it would probably have read pretty bland and as though I am making something out of nothing.  I understand this.  I logically can see that I am being a big baby, but then why can I not shake the encounter?

As I do in every situation - good or bad, I ran everything past my husband during our morning coffee pow wow. He knew how much I was dreading the afternoon and how I had been anxious over what to do and how to end it.  Being the amazing sounding board that he is, he listened to me drone on and on and on about how bizarrely bad I felt when I left.  I described how my mood changed as soon as I entered the home, how insanely tired I became half way through (my friend had to make me espresso because I suddenly could not keep my eyes open or formulate a sentence), and how worthless I felt when I left.  A feeling which kept clinging to my mind throughout the night and into this morning.  I relayed a feeling of all the energy being drained from me.  Ding! Ding!  The idea hit me that maybe that IS exactly what happened.  Maybe it was not the mom at all per say, but the fact that I lost energy.  I recalled the one previous time that I had visited my friend's house and the fact that intense sleepiness overcame me then as well.  The mom was not there at the time but still I felt drained.  Maybe it was in fact the house and not the mom.  Maybe it was both.  Who knows and really who cares?  The fact of the matter is that I feel drained after being there.  I did a quick google on energy drainers and found lots of useful information and also a lot of rubbish.  Amongst the good, I found some articles regarding wearing crystals to protect your energy.  I have never really bought into that kind of thing in the past, but am a firm believer in the fact that if you believe something to be true long enough it will become so in your mind.  I have also been keen on acquiring  a stone or some such artifact that I can relay my sense of gratitude upon.  Troy and I have been studying the law of attraction and gratitude is an idea that I am fond of.  A crystal seemed perfect and the dual purpose made the stone in mind even better.

Marnie and I had some Christmas shopping to do, so off we went with a small detour to the New Age shop in our town.  I was a bit apprehensive about going in - let's just say I am not a frequent visitor.  The staff could not have been more helpful though and they did not make me feel like a moron.  They explained crystals and stones to me and the different properties or 'powers' some have.  There was this large tree like structure that hung dozens of stone pendants from it.  The colors were amazing and I am a total sucker for anything shiny.  Both shop keepers told me to concentrate on the stones and one would appear to me.  The one I was drawn to would be the exact stone I would need.  I looked but felt nothing.  The female took a lovely green stone down - jade I think - and read me it's properties out of a book.  It was nice but not right. The male chose another green stone which was also quite lovely but not what I was looking for.  Then a stone began to glow - I shit you not - it actually glowed to me.  I pointed and asked what that stone meant and after a quick flip through the book learned that amongst many other things,  it helped  you deal with difficult people and situations.  It was to be my rock. Ironically my chosen rock was also green.  I wonder if the two helping me knew I was going to be needing a green rock or if it was mere coincidence.  I wish I had thought to ask.  A silver chain, a fairy book for the girl, and $50 later we were out the door.

Is it going to work?  Yes, sure it will.  If I believe it to it will become what I need.  I do already feel much better about the whole thing.  I came home and cleansed the rock - and by cleansing I mean I washed it in water.  I held it and thought about what I want it to do for me.  I sent waves of gratitude from my ming into the rock.  Then I went in the hot tub.

Hopefully this rock will do me some good.  An interesting side note here: After returning home, I looked up the stone and learned some more information about it's properties.  One mentioned was the fact that it has been known to help with physic abilities and communication with those who have passed on.  Wouldn't that really throw a crazy twist into this experiment if I ended up being able to talk to dead people?  We won't dwell on that however - let's move on to my act for the day.

A quick note before I start though - I have been thinking of what to call my experiment.  All over the internet there is information about random acts of kindness and paying it forward, etc.  That is not exactly what I am wanting to do here.  It is swell and all but I am not doing anything exactly randomly.  Every recipient is pre selected or at least the idea of them is.  Every act has been planned out.  As great as it is, there is no spontaneity here.  Maybe that can be implemented in the future.  As of this moment however, I have decide to call my acts Premeditated Acts of Kindness.  P.A.K. if you will.  I like this because the main change I want to implant into my life is the shifting of my focus.  From negative to positive.  From myself to others.  Random indicates that little thought is put into the actual act.  Planning ahead suggests the idea that you were thinking of that person for an amount of time and the joy you might bring them.  Random is great and I hope to do that too, but I want to be much more involved than that and maybe a year from now I will feel a bit more evolved.

Today's act was a lovely full head of highlights on my very sweet neighbor, Leah.  She lives a few doors down, has three very small children and loves to bake.  I also think she is very alone.    Leah asked a few days ago if she and the girls could come over to decorate some Christmas cookies with my kiddos.  That is one tradition that we do not normally do at our house due to not eating sugar and baking gluten free stuff  that is sugar free and has no chemicals in it sucks.  Leah however has a Celiac sister and was up for the challenge.  I asked her to come on over a bit earlier than planned so I could do her hair and she was thrilled.  The afternoon was a circus.  Little girls everywhere.  Marnie, at seven, was the oldest by more than two years and Ethan was odd man out.  There were fights and bruises were made from many a fall.  But there was more fun than furry for sure.  There was one questionable moment in which one of the children emptied out four bottles of liquid food coloring onto my dining room table and her clothing and the proceeded to sit on my red leather chaises - all whilst her mother was laying on my kitchen counter with her head in my sink.  No permanent damage though and the child was allowed to live.

It was great though.  I was able to spend a lot of time with Leah.  I have been intending on having her over for a long time - since I met her, but have just not found the time.  I think she needs a friend.  And maybe so do I.

Stats:
Daily Points - 2 (on target)
Extra - 0
Bonus - 0

Mother's Day goodiness

What a nice success! Last night my mom and step-dad came for the evening before continuing on to the house up north in Traverse City. Since they will be there all weekend and will therefore not be in the vicinity for Mother's Day - we made my mom dinner and gave her a gift last night to show her how awesome she is. It went pretty well if I do say so. Here was our menu:

Fontina cheese served with sesame and seaweed crackers
Steak, shrimp & scallop kabobs
Red, orange & yellow peppers, mushroom and vadallia onion kabobs
Twice baked potatoes with green onions
Vino

Yummy.

I wish I had thought to take pictures of the meal. It was really beautiful with all the colored peppers. I had planned to, but alas...

As for the gift - I always have such a hard time picking out gifts for my parents. They have everything that they need and if they don't, they go out and buy it. My mom does not really collect anything and despises knick knacks and anything that doesn't have a real purpose. That is one of the main reasons I prefer to make gifts instead of buy them - usually what I make is practical and if it's not, you feel to guilty to throw it out or not use it because someone spent so much making it for you. Anyhow, this year I did not have the time to make something - I just had too many other projects going on. I decided to to go the charity route via this bag.
Not only is the bag awesome, but it also feeds a child for an entire school year. How can you go wrong? I am going to get one for myself also and so should you!


World Food Programme Feed Bag