Dazzling and Diligent December

[cyntree]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Hello all - fresh snow here in MN, twinkling lights and scary driving (for someone who has been in the desert for 8 years!)

The surreal/wonderful aspect of my visit is continuing...last night we met with a former student of my husband's - he literally saved her from a life of alchoholism and drug abuse. Now she is 52, a mother and upstanding community member -- such an interesting journey. Then we met my HB's cousin (a psychic - no kidding) and attended an extraordinary theater piece performed by one of my dearest friends from the past, the heart-wrenching "I am my Own Wife", does anyone know it? Anyway, at intermission, cousin psychic noticed that my head wound is exactly where the 'third eye' is supposed to be on one's forehead...(another little strange tidbit). She said that it signals an awakening, that 'now it is time to write your own play'...hmmm.

This morning I'll see another of my dearest, deepest friends from this era of my life - how is it that I have been so out of touch with these wonderful souls? This racing toward the Solstice is making me feel dizzy - I feel like the change toward more light is calling out to all of us, each in our own way here.

Chill - in addition to Glucosamine, have you heard of Wobenzyme? It's been used in Germany for decades to treat inflammation, I first came across it for treating my dog, but it is really for humans -- many people have had remarkable results, check it out. Thanks for posting the phrase from that blog - that was what caught my eye, I think it is so poignant and true.
Mr G, always such a pleasure to hear from you, Sped glad you have a foggy chill of a day, I'm with you, Rustop, Blonde (such a wreath!), PMom, I've been a fan of Caesar's for a long time, so great to hear, everyone, everyone, have a wonderful day.

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good late morning friends

Decided to get out & get errands done before stooping in today!

Beautiful pics Blondie

cyn, glad you didn't damage your third eye
Enjoy that snow but be careful!

Greetings to Rustop, Star, papmom, Mr G, Shelley, Chill, bear & everyone!
Not sure what I'm doing with the rest of my day but a granny nap is high on the list!!

Enjoy your AF Monday!
Lav

[ladybirdheart]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Very pretty wreath, Blondie, I love the sea. While I ended up in the Rockies, I still have shells somewhere in every room. Hello dazzlers, it is very cold here today, snow, a wind chill of 4 degrees Fahrenheit, and dropping. I drove early on to an indoor pool and pretended that it was July. It worked and now I am still toasty. I did not get to check in yesterday, we were all over the place for this and that including a very funny play, ?Cat on a Streetcar Named Iguana?. I think Tennessee Williams would pop a rib laughing. I don't know the play you mentioned, Cyn, but shall look it up. I can't wait to find out what your third eye sees. I wanted to briefly add to the words on glucosamine (and now wobenzyme, what a funny name), Chill, that turmeric is supposed to be really good for inflammation, you can make a lot of curries which should be wonderful no matter what in the cold or take it in tablets. I started using it in the winter along with biotin (for wintry dry skin) and glucosamine/chondroitin. Not very scientific with all those independent variables but I can fling myself rather merrily down a cold dreary street. Later. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Your play sounds like a one of my bizarre dreams LBH :H
Glad you like it though!

I've been using Schiff brand Glucosamine/MSM for several years now & I'm absolutely sure it works for me. I just laugh off the studies that claim glucosamine in not effective

The sun disappeared along with my ambition.
Seriously considering a rare granny nap!

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Evening guys

Bear - Feel better soon, cant believe your fav month is December! I must have been a sunflower in a previous life and bloom and grow best in the daylight.

Blondie - love your Festive wreath and your color schemes, the tones are clean and calming.

Rustop - how was the cinema? Did you get to see the Help? I loved the book.

Cyn - I will google wobenzyme, that's a new one to me. Love the idea of your third eye! They say nothing is by accident so maybe your psychic is on to something I for one will be delighted to get passed the winter solstice, 2011 has been my most stressful yet and I need the boost a fresh New Year brings. I see we are heading to a full moon this Saturday.....

Lav - did you get your nap?

LBH - thank you for the reminder about tumeric, it is a very healing plant which is related to the ginger family, another great healer. I will definitely be adding both to my winter dishes.

I am feeling good today and have been enjoying the Chopra Meditations again. Also re reading teachings about the ego are helping me to accept that when Im unhappy with how life is going, it is the work of the ego, our true self knows that everything is love :h

[Rusty]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good Afternoon Dazzling December Divas and Dignitaries!:H

Papmom-I, too, yesterday, wrote a LONG post in response to Chill's post, which I totally loved:

Dear Alcohol
We had a deal where you would
make me funnier, smarter and a
better dancer......
I saw the video.

We need to talk.......

and the list we could add to that is endless. It really was a very one sided relationship, where AL just took took took. Welcome to the AF zone where we now ARE funnier, smarter and eh well maybe I need to work on that dancing.

Chill, thank you for that post, because for the longest time, I have wanted to post "My Dear John Conversation With AL. We're Done!" Ever since I think DG or someone on the Daily Thread compared giving up AL to breaking off a relationship. That is sooo true....and my post was a conversation I had with AL when I quit drinking. I have only had 1 longterm relationship in my life....and I broke it off. The guy I broke up with is someone I fell in love with and over the course of 5 years...fell out of love with... for some very good reasons. Like AL, things were not a problem for a few years....we had a lot of fun...it was all so romantic. But just like a person might do when their drinking becomes a problem, I realized I was miserable with this man...and that even if we tried out best to work things out....it never would. I would end up miserable and sad with this man. Just like if my drinking had continued...I would end up miserable and sad...and lose everything I had.

Long post even longer.....I thought I would post my "play" or my "conversation with AL" in the General Discussion Forum.

Wow, I'm going to miss my flight. Must run! More later.

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Hi Rusty, I LOVE the idea of a "dear John" (you can call me AL ) thread! It could be done in a fun way like Bridget's post and we can all add our reasons why we dumped him!

Not only did he lie about my dancing, he told me I could sing!! :H

[Dewdrop]

Dazzling and Diligent December

LBH it?s lovely to have you back on the thread, I have (and I know I speak for the group here) missed your posts, they are always so eloquent and heartfelt and I look forward to reading them, welcome back my dear friend. P3 how amazing to actually see Caesar in action, my goodness you must have learnt so much and I really do think that was money very well spent.

Chill my Mum has arthritis and has had it for years, she had no pain and was able to function perfectly when she was on Celebrex but when the scare came along about Vioxx and that was withdrawn from the market by the FDA and the EU most doctors in the UK stopped prescribing Celebrex (wrongly in my opinion and they still can prescribe it here but they choose not to) and her quality of life has gone downhill since. She went from being an active, sprightly Granny running after the grandkids to being crippled almost overnight. She takes glucosamine and it does have a positive effect on her symptoms, she also has trouble affording the supplement (as a pensioner) because it?s not cheap at Holland & Barrett where she gets her supply but she looks out for their buy one get one free offers and stockpiles a few months supply. She has tried cheaper varieties but they have not been as good and always goes back to what works. If I?m going to visit I often buy a box instead of taking in a few cakes or scones. Mum has it in her feet, knees and her hands and really suffers during the winter to the extent that Dad has to help her dress and undress, lift heavy pots and pans etc. It?s a progressive disease so the longer you can contain and stop it from progressing the better so in your situation I?d do the same regarding food and healthy living and keep taking the glucosamine.

Cyn you had such an emotional trip and I loved reading your post. Rustop please just stop the cleaning ? I?m getting a headache!! Rusty I love your post and you are so right in so many things ? as usual. Hi to Sooty good to have you back in charge of the bus; Welcome Bear ? I just love Christmas too and with three grandkids it?s going to be wonderful this year.

I am so busy these days it?s very difficult to get time to post. I guess I should explain, I bought a second home a couple of years ago to retire to in a few years in a place that I just love in Scotland, it?s in the middle of all the hill walking that I love, near the skiing in Scotland and 200 metres from the banks of a river where they do white water rafting, canoeing etc. Pretty idyllic and a real outdoors setting. I?ve been fortunate to rent it out since I bought it but my tenants moved out 2 months ago. I?ve debated what to do with it and after talking to the family I?ve decided to rent it out as a holiday home so that we can all use it in the low seasons, both sons hillwalk, one climbs and wild camps and they would love to take their families there in the holidays. My parents just love where it is and it would be great to let them have time there to relax and get away from the family.

So, we have spent the past 4 weeks at the weekends painting and decorating, organising and moving furniture and white goods etc. getting it all ready and it goes on a national website this weekend. That?s project 1, and at the same time I am working on Project 2 which is my new franchise business. I have done a couple of days training for this and I planned to start it officially at the end of the month, however I spent Sunday afternoon cold calling some potential customers and I have three very positive leads to follow up this week so that might move faster than I thought. At the same time I am working fulltime and normally work a 50+ hour week so I?m squeezing a lot into each day. I am knackered at the moment but I do know why and I can always catch up on sleep I just feel a bit like the hamster on the wheel and it?s getting faster as each day passes. Must go get some beauty sleep (I wish!!).

Dewdrop :h

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Wow Dewdrop!
You have every reason to be tired tonight ~ hope you sleep well

Chill, I started feeling the moon effects two days ago - really. Some months it's really bad

Rusty, there is a large package on the way to you
Hope you have a good flight - wherever you are headed!

I had a message from our friend Dill!
So hopes to get back to the thread at some point

No, I did not get a nap today - put my feet up for a bit but that was it, oh well!

[BlondeAFAmbition]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Hi everyone!

Dewdrop...Can I rent your place for a holiday? Sounds so lovely. I am of Scottish ancestry, 100% on my mom's side, but yet to see Scotland. It's on my top 10 list of places to see . Coincidentally, I am listening to a Scottish Christmas CD right now...weird!

Chill, I went with seafoam green for my bedroom and would do it again in a heartbeat. Love the soothing color and the constant reminder of the ocean. Lady Bird Heart, I have shells EVERYWHERE. My husband calls my decorating style: ROCKS AND SHELLS. lol. But I am an ocean girl at heart and love to have them everywhere. And they are so pretty, simple and elegant for decorating.

Busy day today at work. One more to go and I'm off for 2 days. Will be busy finishing decorating and cleaning in preparation for my mother's birthday party I am hosting on the 14th.

Have a lovely evening all. Peace!

[sdlovespackers]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good Evening Friends!!

Rusty--Wow....58 seconds???? Did you even doubt that Aaron Rodgers wouldn't pull out that win??? He's so awesome...he didn't even look a bit concerned!!!:wd: Also, I loved your idea of the Dear John Letters...I'd have a thing or two to tell that POS!! LOL!!!

:yay: Dill is coming back!!!!!! That's fantastic news Lav!!!!!

Blondie---Another awesome masterpiece!!!

Dew--that is crazy how much you have on your plate right now!!! Geez, just the working 50+ hours makes me look like a wuss!!! :H Make sure you take care of yourself!!

Chill--I'm sorry for your pain...I wish I had some wonderful advice...alas, I have none...lol!! Good thing we have many other wiser women on this thread!! I'm feelin' dorky tonight! I think it's lack of sleep...I was up with my sick dog last night (3:30AM she woke up throwing up)...and didn't stop the rest of the night. She's only threw up once since I've been home from work....my mom said to give her some honey??? If she throws up tonight I'm calling the vet.

Cyn--Your MN experiences are sounding amazing and almost enlightening (if thats the right word???) maybe that not the word I'm thinking of...did I mention my lack of sleep??? heehee....I'm enjoying reading about your time there...very neat!!

Ok everyone...this gal needs some rest....I'll have to catch up with everyone else tomorrow!! Have a great Tuesday!!
SD

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good morning everyone

2c here (I think that's about 29f) so its pretty cold and I have another morning of inspections. Will look forward to finishing them and getting back to the warm office.

SD - Hope you dear dog stops throwing up and you managed to get a good long sleep.

Lav - talking of sleep, it's usually around this time the moon interferes with mine, so far so good but the dreams are a little bizarre!

Blondie - we get lots of energy from the sea, I think it's good to have shells around you, anything natural like that does have a calming vibe.

Dewdrop - boy you are busy! I hope you are managing lots of good rest time in there too. Your 2nd home sounds like the ideal retreat and that's great that the whole family are going to put it to good use. Thanks for your take on the glucosamine, I too buy the best from Holland & Barrett, the cheaper brands are a waste of money. Its like the omega 3 i take, so many dont have the high enough dose of EPA which are no point in taking but of course the good ones are very expensive. My mother and grandmother developed arthritis in their early 60's, I guess I'm just a bit ahead of schedule.

Have a great day guys......

[rustop59]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good morning everyone

Chill - sorry to hear about the arthritis. The cold damp weather does not help so hope it works out for you that you get back to Portugal.

Lav - what would we do without you. You are great keeping in touch with one and all. Glad Dill made contact, look forward to having her back on the thread.

Dew - whew, you certainly are like a hamster on a wheel. The cottage sounds magical, wish I could rent it out, thats exactly the kind of place we love but teens wont be seen near them in years. Looking forward to the empty nest!!

Papmom - your meeting with Caesar sounds well worth while. Looking forward to hearing how you get on.

Blond - love the photos.

Cyn, Rusty, Sooty, LBH and anyone else I missed big hello.

Rustop

[Stargazerlily]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Good morning to all....

What a busy thread, so good to have so many sharing our journey.

Dewdrop, you sound busy and engaged in life, just make sure to rest when you need it. How wonderful to start another business, good luck to you.

Chill, sounds like a move to a warmer climate is a necessity for you, not just a wish. I have a bit of arthritis but in the cold bitter winter months, it gets really bad. I do not take supplements yet, but was glad to learn about some.

Blonde, love your shell decorating, I love the ocean too, but only live on a creek. It is beautiful and I am grateful to live by water.

Rusty, you are right, alcohol destroys things, although it promises glamour and laughter, just think of the commericials on TV, it is so misleading.

Lav, so good to hear Dill may be back. Thanks for taking the time to contact her.

Cyn, your trip sounds amazing. My understanding of the third eye is that it is about intuition and understanding the past and future. It is also related to psychic abilities. Hope you are healing.

I have been busy with Christmas shopping and planning and working. I have also been struggling with hot flashes again, darn it. Nights and early mornings are the worst. I think I need to exercise more often, that helped in the past. However, I like to take it easy in the morning and it is hard to change the routine. I enjoy coming home at night to a lit up Christmas tree and cozy fire, loving my family and cats, along with a good book. This is the part of winter I like.

To all, have a great day, AF.

[BlondeAFAmbition]

Dazzling and Diligent December

Morning December D's!

Off to work in a few minutes so just flying in for a quick hello to you all. Looking forward to my days off which launch tomorrow (just 2 but I love that they are 2 in a row!). Will be busy getting ready for my mothers birthday party which I am hosting NEXT Wed., the 14th for her and her friends. She wants me to serve wine so I told her she can be in charge of purchasing it so she can take it with her if there is anything left. That is the one thing I am not looking forward to is having a bunch of buzzed old ladies in my home but I know that some of them in the group don't drink AL, just diet soda, so I'll join them in staying AF. My mother I'm sure will get buzzed but it is her party and I have no control over that. It will be over with early in the day so at least I won't be tempted during the witching hour.

Star, sounds lovely where you are, living by a beautiful creek. Yes, I love just simply living by the water and feel grateful for it everyday. We actually live in town and don't have a waterview or anything but within minutes, anywhere you go in town is the sea. We're in an old fishing village, it's quaint and lovely.

Well, running late as usual. Hoping today goes smoothly at work. It's been a challenging few days for me as AL has been on my mind coming to close to Christmas. But I just read Oney's post about a sober Christmas over in the General Discussion area and it perked me up. I know these are just thoughts but I wish they wouldn't get so planted in my brain. This will be my first sober Christmas in about 20 years...wow.

Love to all and I'll check in with you later! Have a wonderful day everyone!