Resolved

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. 

Napoleon Hill, author

Reflecting on last year's resolutions, I've made progress. I have not created or stuck to any sort of health routine. I began at least recording my financial situation and am slowly developing a retrenchment style and habit. I did make it to Europe. Also, in some other post, I said I wanted to go to rock concert which I did! So I feel successful and really pleased with the memories I made in 2008. 

2009, new year, new possibilities. I really love change (I hear that's odd) because it's exciting to think what might just be. There's a saying that life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself. I believe it. I am a product of my own choices. 2009 is a whole 12 months of new choices. Resolutions are just goals that direct my choices. 

For this year:

1. Be healthy.

2. Fall in love.

3. Get to Germany and Paris. Failure is not an option. 

4. Be more thoughtful. 

5. More family time. 

6. Buy a bike.

7. Take advice. 

2009 will be a great year. 

Crepe Party

Lots of people in my area have gone home for Christmas. Lots, like me, are left behind. So I got the leftovers together for a little crepe-action.

I made the crepes ahead of time, separated each crepe with wax paper, and stuck them in the over until party -time.

 

We love fun people! We chatted it up and watched our fair share of youtube. We have some celebrities among us. Here's Rhiannon's dance and Tom's version of Survivor Man.

Our favorite toppings including the latin Dulce de Leche, Nutella, and berries. When everyone brings something we can get quite a spread. And when you invite some really enjoyable friends, you also get quite a spread.

Organizational Skills

I bought a shelf, hooks, and magazine rack all for under $10 at Ikea. My brother Ty came over to help me install. I learned how to drill. The process was exciting and the resulting very satisfying.

Saturation

I love University Ave. They've really made it awesome. A few weeks ago Kathy and I took a long walk down the Ave to duck into a few favorite businesses. We discovered a new restaurant, the PennyRoyale Cafe. It was shabby chic serving mostly vegan food and hot chocolate. However just recently we had begun frequented a near by hangout, Spark, which is a "restaurant/longue" for mocktails and a sense of superiority and fun. Our thought, how could we support both places?

I began thinking about oversaturation of markets.

I remember hearing a story on NPR about how one contributor to the current financial situation was the oversaturation of the general markets. So many new businesses opened but the consumer could not adequately support everything and thus many went under -- really good businesses -- supported by loans (foreclosure anyone?) leaving folks unemployed and dreams dashed. Maybe you will say that this is life and get used to it. But I think a lot of really good ideas died because there was just too much of a good thing.

For instance, we have Starbucks, and Seattle's Best (which really is the best), and Brewers, and numerous mom and pop cafes. Does anyone need this much hot chocolate? Perhaps. However, it's true that it's great to be able to find your favorite, but if the "vote" is split, my favorite place might go under. 

There is oversaturation in other circumstances. And it leads to a decrease in value of the the product-- when supply exceeds demand. 

I'm not going to make any judgment of the Duggar Family (pictured),but I wonder how you support -- emotionally, mentally, physically, etc -- almost 18 children. Kudos and good luck. 

My ward is oversaturated with girls. The boys cannot possibly romantically support ever girl. And their small minds are overwhelmed by sheer mass of option which paralyzes them.  

Land Before Time -- not stopping at number one has decreased the value of the franchise and made it a joke (there are at least 11 by my count). 

Teens -- they drive me nuts and they're everywhere. :) 

With so many homes on the market, values drop (which is both good and bad). 

There are so many models of cars that we've lost a classic and individualistic styles and the companies are going out (oh wait - the government decided to absolve consequence of poor choices -- just kidding on the last comment). The companies should focus on perfecting a few good models. My parents can still name year and model of old 1960s-era cars. Let's go there again.   

The PennyRoyal Cafe ended up not meeting expectations upon closer inspection so Spark is safe. But had it been amazing, my "vote" would have been split and if that happened to enough people we could have ended up losing both businesses. Not cool.

Who am I?

Take the Quiz here!

Good times were had by all

Aisy and I traveled to the LA area to run a Parent's Support Group. Once finished working we hit Disneyland, a first for Aisy. Sunday we attempted to enjoy Venice but it was too windy so we shopped in Santa Monica and ate at the most expensive restaurant we could find. Spending over forty-eight hours with one person (especially when she's Aisy) brings out a lot of hilarity. Here are some of the best lines from our conversations of the weekend. I am not including context so... good luck. 

"Please don't let that be my personal hell." 

"If you can't joke in the airport, where can you joke?" 

"If you make it all about virginity, it's funnier."

"I don't want to meet that guy. He's got big ears and thinks he knows everything."

"You know, my face kind hurts."

"Those optical illusions get me every time."

"I'm affectioning myself."

"And we did see Cordon Bleu." "Corbin!"

Warning!

I bought a new curling iron and as I went through the packaging I was struck by this warning label: "CAUTION - THIS PRODUCT CAN BURN EYES." Who figured that out? Snap, talk about the school of hard knocks. And to whom would this not occur? Did the founder of this warning believe that iron can differentiate between hair and optical matter? Furthermore, does this warning imply that all other body parts are safe from the wrath of the iron?

Check out these other hilarious labels.

Shampoo for dogs -The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish.

Shin guards - Pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover.

Electric rotary tool - This product not intended for use as a dental drill.

Battery - Battery may explore or leak. (It's a Dora battery apparently.)

Novelty rock garden - Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth.

Toilet bowl brush - Do not use orally.

Butcher knife - Please keep out of children. 

1 year-old's birthday card - Not suitable for children aged 36 months or less.

Deodorant - Do not use intimately. 

Rat poison - Has been fond to cause cancer in laboratory mice.

Manual for an SGI computer - Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or throw the mouse at coworkers.

On seal - Do not eat if seal is missing.

Wristwatch - Warning! This is not underwear! Do not attempt to put in pants.

It's a mad, mad world.

Thankful

Welcome Thanksgiving season. Research really does show that those who live gratefully are healthier and happier. I'd like to draw your attention to my playlist, specifically the song Thankful by my homeboy (like we tight or something) Josh Groban, off his Noel album. Give it a listen, read the lyrics below, and see if you don't feel thankful. 

Somedays we forget To look around us

Somedays we can't see The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves There's so much sorrow

It's way too late to say I'll cry tomorrow

Each of us must find out truth It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for What we know can be

And everyday we hope for What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our difference

There is a place we're all connected

Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for What we know can be

And on this day we hope for What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for.

The Present

Last night I was enlightened by the deep and provocative philosophies of Kung Fu Panda. At one point Po is disheartened by his past and sees only an empty future. The wise Oogway explains that Po lives too much in the past and future. He repeats that cliche, "Today is a gift. That is why is it called the present." 

Lately I've been like Po -- very concerned about the goings-on of the past and especially the future. It's made me crazy/crazier. Prepare for the future. "Later, I'm going to... I hope to... I'm just getting ready for... " I'm so concerned about how I have lived and will live that I forget to live.

Souza said, " For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacles in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

I lead a really busy life. I have a lot that needs to get done, but I wonder if I am like Martha, who is so worried about getting things ready that she gets left out of the now. She misses the fall colors. The can't remember what she just ate. And she couldn't respond to a friend because she was thinking of something else while her friend was bearing her soul. That's tragic because maybe the now is the really important, even vital thing. 

Even as I was writing this in my head I was doing lots of things. I was watching a movie I'd wanted to watch for a long time, but I needed to get some things done, so I was on the computer during the movie. How much more enjoyable would the movie have been, had I given all my attention to it?

In this last conference President Monson said, "This is our one chance at mortal life -- here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the great lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all the you want to do. Instead, find you in the journey - now."

In DBT, yoga, and basically any philosophy based on eastern practices, mindfulness is crucial. The basic idea behind mindfulness is to be totally in the present. Taste your food. Enjoy your bed. Observe the sounds. Feel the pain, the joy, the hunger. Total awareness of right now.

That's my goal for the week. To be in the moment. Sure, I'll take time to reminisce and to get things in order for the future -- it would be irresponsible not to -- but I'm going to take time and enjoy my life today.  Join me?

Retrenchment

It's been said that the best way to get rich is to take a dollar, fold it in half, and stick in back in one's pocket. I'm not quite that good, but in the recent weeks I've begun a financial retrenchment effort and discovered a small portion of benefits.

My brother helped me set up an Excel spread sheet to track loan repayments and my budget. I got a little notebook to use as a ledger (those from the banks are just too intense) then entered my expenses (condensed by category) into the spreadsheet. 

I'm trying to save a bit more and also build up some food storage. My brother, again, pointed out that -- if worse came to worse -- you could get a lot of meals out of Cream-of-Wheat and the boxes don't take up too much room. Also, it is something I enjoy anyway. 

Yesterday I went shopping and only bought the things on my list. I'd noticed, via my little ledger, that I normally purchase a lot of small, unnecessary items. But yesterday I felt very in-control when I only bought that which was needful and suppressed momentary satisfactions. 

I noticed more the free things of life. I went to the local public library and got a free copy (valued at $7.99) of To Kill a Mockingbird, in addition to the books I checked out. It's a public service called The Big Read. At the mall, we went to See's Candy, walked around a bit and eventually got a free sample. Then we walked out. Cost: $0. 

There are lot of ways to get free stuff.

I emailed a local theatre and got free tickets. 

The Silver Jewelry Club just wants people to try the stuff so they give it away (but you do have to pay shipping). Find it here.

Couponmom.com offers free coupons -- or coupons for the price of printing. 

I am a member of paperbackswap.com and get free books. I list books I don't want anymore and pay to ship them to someone who wants them. Then I get a credit for a book I want and someone else with pay to ship it to me. They also have a DVD swap. 

There are lots of ways get stuff for free or nearly free. My mom always told me to ask -- the worst that can happen is they say no. How have you retrenched?