Why, Thanks!

I don't know why bad things happen to good people. However, in my current lifetime I have noticed something very interesting:
Yes, bad things happen to "good" people. But bad things also happen to "bad" people.
Good things happen to "good" people. And good things happen to "bad" people.

It makes me think of that Bible verse about it raining on both the just and the unjust.

Sometimes it seems like Karma totally works... and sometimes, if I'm honest, it seems like Karma feel asleep at the wheel. (Hahahahaha, get it? A wheel is a circle.. karma is the idea of what goes around comes around...hahahahaha. Hey, I found it verrrry clever.)

Anyways, the point I'm getting to is this - I could say that you should be thankful, because if you're thankful you'll set yourself up for more good things to happen to you. Truth is, I can't guarantee that. What I can say is that having a thankful heart will enable you to see how much good is already in your life and will keep you in good shape for noticing the good things that'll happen to you in the future. Likewise, if you're not thankful for what you already have, you'll be more inclined to pay the most attention to any negative things that happen to you in the future.

It goes along with that saying about money not buying happiness. After all, it's never about what you have, what your relationship is like, or what your health is. It's always about how you perceive yourself based on what you have, how you see your relationship, how you feel about your health. Ya know - perception is the ultimate reality, it's all relative, etc, etc, etc.
*Not to say it doesn't suck to be poor, lonely or sick - I'm just digging a little deeper than those surface symptoms.

Basically, I just don't think that gratitude is a magical formula that brings good stuff your way. I think gratitude is like a good pair of contacts or glasses that puts things in better focus.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

WHINE Hangover

Lately I'm sad to say that I'm living in a perpetual hangover. The dull headache, the heavy eyelids, the achy muscles, the sluggishness, the nausea, the edginess that makes you want to snap at anybody and everybody. The thing is, my "hangover" is not from alcohol but it has a whole lot to do with WHINE.

I don't know what is up, but my darling super-intelligent 22-month-old cannot seem to request anything without dragging out every syllable.

"Mooo-mmmm-yyy, Iiii waaaant moooore innn cuuuup pleeeeease."

"I waaaant tooo eeeeeat!"

"Noooooottt sleeeeeepy!" 

And my all-time fave: "Nnnnnn-nnnnn-ndy!!!" (Translation: CANDY) 

He recently learned the word "mine" just to top it off. 

These days he even sings his ABC's with a nasally on-the-verge-of-tears ear-throbbing sound.

Did I mention that everything he says is repeated over and over and over and over again and followed by a continuous whimpering even after I've fulfilled his request? He does mix it up every once in a while by adding a piercing cry or throwing himself on the floor in a sprawled out nobody-cares-about-me fashion. (And here I thought I wouldn't have to deal with that attitude until he's a teenager.)

I have to admit that as much as I loooooove him (and I absolutely do) the continuous wailing is really getting to me. It's like someone is constantly flicking my nerve endings with a guitar pick. No, it's not excruciating pain, but it sure gets annoying after a while. 

I gaze over at him now and he is sitting in the floor playing with miniature cars saying "Vrrroom, vrrooom, *sniffle, sniffle, whimper* vrrooom."

Sigh. Maybe he's in pain with the last of his teeth coming in. Maybe it's just a phase, maybe it's a part of his personality. Who knows, really? (If you DO know, please inform me so I may adjust the situation LOL.) Maybe the universe is trying to teach ME something.

Well, I can say that I've realized this much: Hangovers suck. But that doesn't keep me from drinking alcohol on occasion - because the good effects are worth the risk. (And I've learned how to generally avoid hangovers too hehehe.) 

Likewise, when I chose to be Gavin's mommy, I chose the annoying stuff right along with the good stuff. I'll never regret that choice, no matter how intense the symptoms may get - because being intoxicated with his love is worth every damn one of 'em.

                                                   (Forcing him into a picture with Mommy)

Bitter~Sweet

Halloween = Candy
Candy = Sweet
therefore:
Halloween = Suuh-weet

Absolutely. So what's the bitter part? It's all going by so fast. Seems like just last year I was painting my belly into a jack-o-lantern. Sigh...