Shhh...Quiet Time in Progress

Here's my day:
Wake up
Have breakfast (maybe)
Get ready for work
Hop on the Freeway (which doesn't feel very "free")
Sit in traffic for 45 minutes to an hour
Work
Hop back on the Freeway to head back home
Maybe stop at the grocery store if there's nothing at home to cook
Get home around 7:00
Make dinner
Interact with the kids
Maybe watch 1 hour of TV
Maybe spend 1 hour (total) on the computer (Facebook, Blogging, Email, Ebay)
Read a chapter in the Bible
Shower
Go to bed

That's a typical SUMMER day. During school months we'd have to add dropping 2 kids off at 2 separate schools, picking them up after, and helping with homework.

And on Tuesdays, we're at Bible Study from 7:15p until around 8:45p. So the schedule varies.

Makes for very hectic days either way it goes.

A few days ago, I think it may have been Sunday, a friend of mine brought an article to my attention. The article was about making "quiet time". As soon as I read it I knew that this was something I REALLY needed to do.

Now the quiet time can be used for whatever. If you want to just sit in a quiet room somewhere, you can. If you want to listen to music, you can. If you want to make this a spiritual experience and maybe spend the time praying, or studying God's word, you can. The KEY is to carve out the time, and to do this for 30 days.

The article suggested starting with 15 minutes.

So on Tuesday that's what I did. I was very surprised to see how quickly 15 minutes goes by. Yesterday, I did the same. Then I realized...15 minutes isn't really enough. So I've decided to add a minute each day.

On Tuesday, I checked with my friend to see how it went. I think she may be having a tough time finding time. That's ok. She'll find the time, when she's ready.

For me, I'm committed. I'm gonna stick with it until the 30 days are up.

Not sure what I'm expecting at the end of the 30 days, but I'll never know what's in store unless I go through with this all the way.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Do you make it a point to carve out some "quiet time" in your day? How long do you give yourself? Is there a certain spot where you go each time?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Gone Fishin'

(Grab your coffee, you're gonna be here a while with this one)

If you live in Southern California, then you've been stuck in plenty of traffic. Especially if you travel in the mornings or in the evenings as I do. Tell me, what comes to mind when I list the following:

105, 405, 605, 91, 110, 710

The answer: TRAFFIC!!! Slow moving, practically non-moving TRAFFIC.

But every now and then, that traffic serves a purpose and actually proves to be beneficial. Today, was one of those days.

It was 6:00 p.m. and I was heading eastbound on the 105. It typically moves pretty well from Crenshaw (where I get on) until just after I pass the 110. Then, it transitions to a very slow crawl.

So today, I'm sittin' there, stop, go, stop, go, and out of nowhere came of memory of something that happened to me way back in the 7th grade. Now that's no easy feat when you consider the fact that I have 3 children who have ALL already completed the 7th grade themselves.

Anyhoo. So out of nowhere, I recall going fishing with my good friend Mitch (Mitch was a girl by the way, and if anyone who knows me is reading this...you know which Mitch I'm talking about and would LOVE to reconnect with her). One weekend while I was sleeping over at her house, her dad Mike decided to take us girls fishing. Cool! I LOVED to fish. I fished with my "Paw Paw" all the time. Fishing was nothin' new to an old pro like me {wink}.

So we head over to the fishing hole and I quickly realize that this experience is gonna be a little bit different than fishing with my "Paw Paw". You see, he did EVERYTHING for me. He put the bait on the hook. He cast the line. All I did was hold the fishing pole, and reel in anything that bit.

Not so with Mike. He handed me the pole, showed me where the bait was, but when it came to casting my line, I needed help. So he helped me. And he helped me. And he helped me. Eventually, I realized that there was absolutely NO way I could ask this man to throw my line in again, so I decided to give it a shot on my own.

I had my bait on the hook, had my pole, flung it behind me, lunged forward, everything was good, and cast my line. In it went, and IN I WENT right behind it. Yes folks, I fell in!!!

So I'm in the water flappin' and flailin' and Mitch is crackin' up. Although I could swim, I was certainly not the BEST of swimmers. So Mike did what he could and "fished" me out of the water as we watched his fishing pole float away.

Now I'm standing there, soaking wet, and oh, did I mention that my attire that day was a white T-shirt and shorts. So of course, we all know what happened with my shirt...it became completely transparent. How embarrassing!!!

Now, I needed clothes. I forget what Mike did for a living, but he rustled up this orange jumpsuit from the trunk of his car, and since beggars can't be choosers, I put it on.

This would've been fine and dandy if we had gone straight home. But nooo...Mitch and Mike were hungry (I was too), so we went to eat at a nearby restaurant. I can STILL see the looks on the faces of the restaurant patrons as we walked in. Mitch and Mike all nice and tidy, and ME...sportin' and orange jumpsuit and an Afro, lookin' like a Soul Train flashback. Wow!

Even with the embarrassment, I wouldn't have changed anything about that day. I was with my friend Mitch, doing something that most of the kids at school probably never imagined her doing. She was pretty busty for our age and had a bit of a reputation. None of that ever mattered to me. All that mattered was that she was my friend, and when we were together, we had a ball.

Sure wish I could find her today.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! What's your BEST fishing story?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Splish Splash!

Yesterday, I did something that I haven't done in YEARS. I got into a swimming pool with a swimsuit on. Yes I did!

Didn't want to at first but I was amongst friends (my two very BEST friends to be exact), so it wasn't as bad as it would have been around other people.

Why was this such a big accomplishment? Why has it been so long since I've been in a pool?

A. I'm a BIG girl, and big girls don't look so hot in swimsuits.

But ya know what...I'm a BIG girl in a swimsuit or out of one in regular clothes. So who am I hiding from. Do I really think that people don't see my size when I'm wearing regular clothes. Ummm, no. So why suffer and fry in the hot hot heat when I don't have to. I didn't.

B. I have the weird thing with my eyes where I HAVE to wear special sunglasses ALL THE TIME. I thought it would be strange getting in with them on, but guess what...my two friends had their sunglasses on, so I didn't look so weird. What a relief! They wear theirs to be fashionable. I wear mine out of necessity. Either way, it worked and I didn't look like a "weirdo".

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Are you a BIG person? Plus-Sized? Overweight? Fat? If so, when was the last time you got into a swimming pool? Has it been a while? If so, why?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

The Shell has Cracked - UPDATE

So here's where we are:

I actually sent 3 requests yesterday, and 2 of them "confirmed" me as a "friend". Not too bad for someone who's not into taking the proactive approach when it comes to things like this.

Today's post is short & sweet. Let the DIALOGUE begin! How long do you let a "friend request" sit out there before you retract it? Hmmm?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

The Shell has Cracked

For years, going as far back as my childhood, I've been insecure. Wanting to step out and do certain things, but never having the courage to do so, for fear of the big "R" word...REJECTION.

Yes, I was ALWAYS the last one picked for teams.

What would happen if I asked someone to go somewhere with me, or do something with me, only to have them respond with NO?

So, in order to avoid receiving a negative response, I would simply rather not ask.

I wonder though...how many missed opportunities have there been as a result of me not asking for what I want. Probably more than I'd care to acknowledge.

Well today, I've decided to turn things around. I've come out of my shell (a bit). I decided to start small.

Anyone who's on FB knows about "friend requests". I know you, you know me, friend request is sent, (tick tock, will they or won't they?) then confirmed (hopefully), and there ya have it...you're "friends" now.

I've been on FB for 2 years now and have rarely been the one to SEND the request, for fear of NOT being accepted. Can't tell you how many mutual connections there are that I have simply ignored. Yes, I know that person, and yes, that person knows me, so if they want to be my "friend" they'll send me a request. That's been my thinking. Until...today.

Today I decided to just give it a try. I sent two requests, and we'll see what happens. Confirm. Ignore. Doesn't really matter. What matters is that I have come out of my shell and done the "uncomfortable". So whether they "accept" me or not, I've already won.

Corny phrase o' the day: You can't have eggs if you don't crack the shell.
You may quote me on that one (smile).

Let the DIALOGUE begin! If you're on Facebook, are there people you'd like to "friend" but haven't? Why haven't you?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

LIVING with Limitations

Have you ever bought a new car and then noticed that every other car on the road was the same as yours? Coincidence? Or did you just become more "aware" once YOU too had that car?

I'm experiencing something similar, yet different at the same time.

If you've followed the blog for a while you may recall the "not so great news" that I received back in January of 2009. In a nutshell, I had to see a retina specialist who told me that I had the WORST eyes he's EVER seen, and he sees 12,000 patients each year. He followed that with asking if I had a history of blindness in my family.

He was full of bad news...didn't give me anything to hope for...just shook his head and sent me on my way. Not cool!

So here I am, 2 years and some months later and Thanks be to God, I still see just fine. And I'm BELIEVING that I will continue to see just fine.

Although I am a firm believer in prayer, I also know that God is not a magician, and I have to do my part.

So I've changed my diet, incorporated lots of dark leafy greens, and protect my eyes from the sun ALWAYS. I never go outside anymore without sunglasses, "solar shields" to be exact.

In the beginning I was a bit self-conscious because these are not glasses that a woman MY age would wear. These are glasses that my GRANDMOTHER would wear. They go over my regular glasses. But I don't care about LOOKS. I care about being able to SEE. And so, I wear them.

So if you see me out and about, or in pictures and wonder, "why does she have those HUGE sunglasses on?", now you know.

After these 2 years & some months, I've come to the realization that my life is a little bit different now. Somewhat limited.

When I'm out at the park or the beach, the majority of people don't have anything covering their eyes, and they're having a rip-roaring good time. Pretty much everywhere I go, most people don't have anything covering their eyes. For me...no can do.

I used to wear contacts so that I could wear "regular" sunglasses, but my eyes do "weird things" when I put the contacts in now, so I've chosen not to wear them.

Does it sadden me to see others out in the sunshine without needing to cover their eyes? Not at all. I am THANKFUL that I can actually SEE such people. I understand that I will never be able to do that, and that is a-ok with me.

It's like this...some people need medication to regulate abnormal functions in their bodies. Some people need to walk with a cane to help with their stability. Some need hearing aids to help with their auditory functions.

So you see, there are various limitations that people are living with, but the key word is LIVING. People with limitations MUST continue LIVING. The limitations are just little bumps in the road. You go over the bump with caution, and keep it movin'.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Are YOU LIVING with any limitations?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Running behind, but Catching up

Since the 1 year anniversary of "The Dialogue Den", I've made an effort to blog daily. Hasn't been easy because life always seems to have something more pressing for me to do. Or in this case, FUN was calling and I HAD to answer. So I missed posting yesterday.

Where was I? Out with friends having sushi and singing karaoke. And oh what a time we had! I must've sung 20 songs and belted each one out at the top of my lungs. FUN, Fun, fun!

By the time I got home July 1st was over and I missed posting for the day. So today, I'm doubling up, and catching up.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Do you sing karaoke? If so, do you have a "signature song" that you like to sing?

Talk to me!

Til next time...