You just never know what might pop out of my mouth at any given moment. I might be talking about my Indian Ringneck, or Full Time RVing. Maybe I'll be talking about the path to happiness or griping about the state of healthcare or maybe about chronic illness. I have lots to say and sometimes I'm just plain RANDOM.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thoughts for the Day

Just because happiness is a choice, doesn't change the fact that we ALL have various emotions that pass through us. We all have difficult moments. We all get sad, angry, fearful, frustrated and a slew of other things. The difference between someone who chooses happiness and everyone else is we don't let those other emotions take hold and take over. We allow them to run their normal course, pass through, feel them, and then continue along our journey of happiness.



We are all just doing our best as we walk along within our journey. We are none of us alone. We exist as unique individuals but our actions and words have impact on the lives of others sometimes in very significant ways.

One tool is to put yourself in another's shoes. Think about how they feel that might be causing their words or actions. Think about how they might feel if you say or do a certain thing. Be aware of how your actions might affect others and think before you speak or act. Empathy for others shows great emotional maturity and can help you succeed in your everyday relationships.

Not only can this help us in our everyday interactions but it is also a tool to assist us in forgiving ourselves and others. When you try to see a situation from the perspective of another it can truly change how you feel about an interaction that might have caused you pain or anger.

It is also healthy for all of us to do some internal work and take our own inventory before stepping forward in order to succeed in the things we wish to accomplish and to avoid making missteps that we have made before. Learning from our own mistakes sometimes takes a bit of effort on our own part and I highly believe in self-responsibility, which generally starts with looking at ourselves from the inside out.


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Just Who I Am




We each have our own unique way of being in the world. 
It's about love and acceptance both of the self and of others around us.
Our differences make us special and interesting.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Mental Illness is just Illness


Mental illness is no joking matter. It's also doesn't or shouldn't carry the negative stigma that it once did.

Mental illness is like any other illness. It's a part of your body that is not well. If you had a problem with your leg, back, wrist, etc you'd seek medical help and have no issue with others knowing it was there. If you had a disease like MS, Arthritis, Kidney disease, etc you'd seek medical help and usually have no issue with others knowing.


Mental illness is no different. It is a disease, a part of the body that is not well. One should seek medical help and shouldn't be embarrassed about it, but sadly so many do not seek help and are embarrassed even today.

One of the most common mental illnesses is Mood Disorders, including but not limited to Major depression. People with these disorders have moods that go beyond feeling "blue." Experts find that mood disorders have varying degrees of severity. These may include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder.

Major depression is characterized by persistently sad, hopeless and worthless feelings. It can be a debilitating illness and needs treatment usually with both medication and some form of therapy. The symptoms of fatigue, lack of focus, changes in appetite and thoughts of suicide interfere with everyday functioning.

A person who has suffered from long term depression generally develops their own 'self treatment' options that help them get through their days. Often this might be turning to drugs or alcohol, sometimes it might be cutting or self harm, but it also might be certain social interactions that help a person to feel less isolated and alone.

Isolation from support systems can severely impact the individual suffering from such a disorder and can negatively affect their condition. Reactions can vary from feelings of anger and resentment to self hatred and the loss of a desire to continue living. (if you are having thoughts of suicide please seek immediate assistance either locally or contact the National Suicide Hotline - In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255)

If you have a friend or a family member who is suffering from a mental illness it is important to be informed and supportive if at all possible. First off it is important to recognize and accept that this is an illness like any other. A part of your loved ones body is not well and needs care.

The next step is to educate yourself about the illness. Find out what it is and do the research. Being willing to go the extra mile simply to understand can be beneficial to both you and your loved one. It shows them that you care enough to try and it gives you the necessary information to make informed decisions.

Reach out for support for yourself. If there are support groups for loved ones, join one. If you feel you'd benefit from some sessions with a trained professional, get them. Don't get burned out because this isn't good for either of you. You cannot be a help to your loved one if you have no energy left. One great resource for education and support is The National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Make sure that you allow your loved one some control in their life, in choosing their support system, and in their treatment. People with mental illness often feel they've lost control of their lives or their lives have spiraled out of control. This affects them at many levels but certainly it heavily impacts their self esteem which can be a detriment to them getting better.

When interacting with your loved one, remain calm. Though you are not responsible for another's reactions or illness, your actions can influence your loved one and can impact their symptoms and quality of living. A calm demeanor when interacting with them can do nothing but help. Yelling, getting angry & even crying can create feelings of guilt, frustrations, and anger within any person and to do so with a person suffering from mental illness can cause a setback in positive steps forward that may have been seen. Patience and understanding go a long way here.

Mental illness is not an easy thing to live with for the person who suffers from it or from those loved ones who support them, but it doesn't have to be impossible. Love, understanding, patience, and leaving judgement behind can go a long way to help someone live a happier life.

The mentally ill are first and foremost people. They deserve love, compassion and respect just as any other human being does. They have dreams and hopes just as any other person does. They are no different except in that they are ill and need support and understanding with that aspect of themselves.

Most mental illnesses can be controlled with medication and therapy but as yet their are no 'cures'. However, it is possible to get to a place of living one's life in peace and happiness even with these illnesses and a major component of that is the love, support, and understanding of friends and family.

If you think you may be suffering from a mental illness or if you think a loved one might be, seek out professional help. Don't suffer in silence needlessly. Life is too short to live in pain.

Friday, January 25, 2013

From a Pet who has Passed



Recently I met a wonderful lady who's long time four legged friend had recently passed. Then today another friend had to lay her dog to rest. This poem is for all those who have lost a long time four legged friend. Remember that you were loved and that your love gave them a wonderful life.


_____________________________________________________


Doggie Heaven

Happy days
Running free
Through the open fields.
No pain or sorrow
No illness here
Lots of bones and yummy meals.
It was my time
Please don't be sad.
You will always be my friend.
I'm right here
Playing happily.
We'll be together again.
I know it's hard
I know you hurt.
I'm sorry that you're sad.
Always remember
It was because of you
Such a wonderful life I had.

by: Tracy Seekins
_____________________________________


A Different Full Timer Story


I was recently invited to an interesting event. I was under the impression it would be filled with music and singing, which I always enjoy. However, it wasn't as much music as I had hoped. Either way it was quite interesting and I wanted to share the information with you.

The show was brought to us by the Estell Family. This is a Full Time RVing, Homeschooling, family of 8. Yes I said 8. There aer the 2 parents and 6 children in a 25' RV traveling all over the country spreading their message and supporting their lifestyle with this ministry.

They book events at different places all over the country. Some of these might be churches, retreats, homeschool groups, clubs, and even RV parks or events.

What is their message? Well the Estells are 'Creation Scientists'. They share their message through poetry, song and stories of their own discoveries during their travels.

I personally could not accept all that was shared as my own but a lot of their information was interesting and they share it, mostly, in a fun and entertaining way.

The slides of the different places they've been are simply beautiful. They are very well educated and able to explain many interesting facts during their presentation. They also carry with them fossils and petrified wood that is a real treat to get to look at.

The real saving grace of this family are the kids. They are intelligent, friendly, and pleasant to be around.

Their older daughter has a simply beautiful singing voice and even though I wasn't impressed with the message of at least one of the songs I couldn't help but enjoy the music because of her amazing voice.

 I was fortunate enough after the show to be able to visit with some of the children and ask them some questions about their travels, which is what really interested me. I asked four of them what their favorite place they've been was and they unanimously said Hawaii. The 10 year old was able to share with me a lot of information about Hawaii and the interesting things he saw there.

When I asked them their second favorite place 3 of them said Georgia, which is their home state. I think they are missing it a bit.

I also asked each of them how they liked being homeschooled. The older children were quite happy with it, while the middle and younger kiddo's were about 50/50. They could think of reasons they like it but also reasons they don't. As a used to be homeschooler myself, I understand that. My sons both have had their ups and downs with our homeschooling as well.

I also asked each how they liked traveling. All the kids were a bit 50/50 on this. They miss having a settled home but they really love getting to see all the new places and meeting such interesting people wherever they go.

This family has much more to share with you than just their religious message. They have had such wonderful experiences along their travels that any homeschool group, church, RV park, or other organization can find something within their show to speak to them in some way.

I may not follow their particular spiritual beliefs in the whole but I certainly was impressed by this family and I feel blessed to have met them.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Quick Announcement

Keep your eyes open. Soon I'll be posting information and reviews as well.

Reviews on products, campgrounds, places, events, stores, and more.

These will not replace more typical blog posts, simply add to and enhance the usefulness of this blog. I hope you'll find my reviews helpful to your everyday life as well as any adventures you take of your own.


What do you do?


One day I was down at one of the events here at this campground we are currently at and I was asked what I do all day in my camper since they so seldom see me outside.

I was taken aback. First I have never before really been curious what other people do with or in their lives and I was surprised at the question. I didn't answer it very well because I'd never really thought about my life in terms of what I do every day. I just live my life and go with the flow.

The more I thought about it, the more I wondered how other RVers might answer this. So I went to a forum for RVers that I belong to and posted the question. I got a lot of different and wonderful answers. I'll share some of theirs and then I'll share mine.


  • Work (online) and worship the cat pretty much fills our days 

  • Spending time with my family. Sightseeing mostly. Visiting local eateries.
  • We work-camp. Today we covered two campgrounds around the lake and checked each of their fire rings and grills to see which ones needed to be replaced, or reset into the ground.. Before that we went into town and shopped and ate lunch.
  • Hiking, motorcycling, jeeping, sightseeing, hitting Vegas buffets, errands, friends, errands, chores, maintenance, family visits. National Parks and natural areas are big with us. Never bored. My wife loves visiting wineries too.
  • I'm up at about 4am, do bible reading, as the sun comes up I do a 2-3 mile run, back and shower then to a 20 mile bike ride, my wife gets the activity schedule up and running (we are the activity couple at our park), back and do my activities for the park (KJ, DJ, Happy Hour, Ping Pong, Pool, Shuffle board, Peganque tournaments, walk in Movie night, dances, dinners, then go to my rig and watch a little TV and go to bed for the next day.
  • Total outdoors......taking walks, going on hikes, biking, grilling, reading or simply watching the sunrise with your coffee or sunset with your evening cocktail. I also do a lot of crafting. :)
  • I like to jump in the Escalade and see the surrounding neighborhoods, shopping centers, and all the local outdoor functions that are available. I am always striking up conversations with everybody I run into and end up talking about RVs and RVing. My wife likes to complete her cross stitching projects. This is her way to relax and be some what crafty. We also have a Havenese puppy that is pawing at us for attention, he fills that special place in our hearts that only a puppy can fill.


There were many more but I don't want to share them all, as you'd be reading for a long time.

I myself have many things I do but it's almost never the same. I play online games. I write articles. I write poetry, prayers, and short stories. I do a lot of social networking. I watch shows on netflix and youtube. I create videos for youtube. I'm currently working on writing 2 different books. I enjoy crafting. The crafts vary depending on what I have on hand and what I'm in the mood for. I spend a lot of time with my husband talking and snuggling. We enjoy watching movies together sometimes just to snuggle. I also have my dog to take care of and she can take a lot of time some days. Then there's the normal cleaning and daily activities that always need to take place.

RVers do most of the same things anyone does in order to fill their days. Many of them hold full time jobs or work from home. Some are retired or disabled. A few work-camp just to cover basic bills and may have some other income that covers their food and such. But we are all just like other people, the only difference is our homes have wheels. We can move on down the road when we are uncomfortable, unhappy, or can't find work where we are.

So I guess my question would be what do you do to fill your days? What are your hobbies? What do your days look like? If someone asked you this question, how would you answer it?
Leave your answers in the comments and let's share ideas.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Emerging From Chaos


Do you think that we ourselves have trouble forgiving our past mistakes and find difficulty overcoming those mistakes because we feel that other people continue to judge us based on them or hold them against us? Have you made past mistakes that you have overcome? Do you think you are a different person today than say 10 years ago?

Often times I think that people forget that it is natural to make mistakes. Big mistakes and small mistakes and everything in between are a part of life. They are a part of growing and becoming.
People see what someone did at any point in time and believe that is who they are forever, but does that mean that we ourselves have to hold onto that same belief? Do our mistakes, our misjudgments  our difficulties have to permanently define who we are? Or should we see these things as growing pains and learn from them but move forward?

I have a friend who was once heavily into drugs. She didn't just smoke the occasional marijuana joint but did serious heavy drugs. She snorted pills, shot up, and basically did anything to keep her 'high' going. There came a time when I had to step away from her because what she was doing began to affect me and cause me pain and sorrow. This was many years ago.

Today this same friend is back in my life. She is on track. She doesn't do any of these things she used to. She is fun to talk to and always has an opinion to share that makes me think. I enjoy her perspective on things so much. She is not the same person she was when I had to step away, but others don't want to or try to see that.

It's sad that the people around her still whisper about her past and hold it against her. They smile to her face and then coral their children away from her like she is a leper or something. They treat her as if none of the work she has done on herself matters because the only thing they can see is who she was at a very dark time in her life.

And yet, she continues forward. She doesn't let their words or judgment affect who she is now. She keeps trying and someday she hopes that she'll have created new memories for these people to see. She hopes that over time the past will fade and who she is now will be what is in their mind's eyes.

I remember a time when I thought that every one of my missteps  mistakes, or misjudgments would follow me forever. Every embarrassing moment just added to my self loathing and downward spiral. I felt everyone remembered every single moment of my discomfort and whispered about it behind my back. And probably some did. I KNOW that some used very inane little issues to keep me at a distance.

Today though I am a different person. It took a lot of years and one big leap of faith to get here but I know who I am and I like who I am. I have let go of past mistakes and judge myself for who I am today. I don't hang on to every misstep that I make because we ALL make them and they are just a step along a very long journey.

Am I different than who I was 10 years ago? Heck yes! I'm different than who I was 10 months ago. I pride myself on continual growth and change. I believe in cherishing my experiences or at least learning from them. I am always looking for the hidden lesson in every situation and generally I can find one or more.

I don't think we have to become stuck in who we think we are or who the world thinks we are. We can step past it. We can step out of it and into something new. It may take time for others to see it but we ourselves can make the choice for change and decide who we are in any given moment.

Living with Social Anxiety


"Oh I totally understand. I used to be terribly shy too."

"My son used to have that social shyness stuff too and then he just made himself get out there and talk to people. Now he's over it."

"Just get over it! Who cares what other people say or think. Just do what you need to do and to heck with them."

Try explaining that you or a loved one has serious social anxiety or social phobia and these are just a few of the responses you may hear. It's frustrating for those of us who live with a loved one with this disorder, but it's extremely detrimental to the person with social anxiety.

I personally do not have this debilitating ailment, but my husband does. Just as with many ailments, both physical and mental, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes it's worse than others, but it is ever present.

There are things that can aggravate this condition just as if I do to much housework and aggravate my arthritis or fibromyalgia. There are things that can help lessen the severity just as if I sit or lay in a way that alleviates some of my pain.

It helps to live with someone who 'gets it' and tries to assist in ways that keep it from being aggravated  but that person has to be careful not to assist so much that it actually makes it worse. Finding a balance with this disorder is a fine line.

Let's start here by trying to explain what social phobia/anxiety is. It is NOT shyness. Maybe more like shyness on steroids and speed with panic attacks, paranoia, and heart stopping fear thrown in for good measure, but definitely not simple shyness in any way.

I cannot tell you in just a few words what it is, although I just read the above description to my husband and he was very happy with it. It's still SO much more than that.

I am a very spontaneous person, but I've had to curb that because he cannot be. For instance, one day I decided I wanted to go to the casino local to where we were living and I was happy and excited about the idea of it. I went out and told my husband that I wanted us to go out and he was good with that. He asked where. When I told him he broke into a cold sweat. I saw panic on his face. He turned red and pale all at once. He didn't speak but I could see he was in pain. Realizing what I had done, I sadly said never-mind  Relief washed over him. Then a new emotion. Guilt. He felt terrible to disappoint me as he knew he had, but the thought of going into a crowded casino was too much for him on short notice.

I thought it would be better not to give him time to think about it because often if he sits and thinks about going some place for too long it causes him great anxiety. The anxiety builds up until it is much worse than actually just going there and getting it over with. Alas, I was wrong. He needed time to think, just not too much time. Again that fine line of balance I am constantly seeking.

Many times doctors have nearly called an ambulance for him because his blood pressure was so high upon entering the office. More than once we've had to explain that they need to wait till closer to the end of the appointment and retake it because the anxiety of sitting in the waiting room sends it through the roof.

Then we have the telephone. I've heard a lot of men say they can't stand the phone but his distaste for it goes far beyond that. He has a more difficult time on the phone than many other social situations because he can't see the other person's face. It is literally painful for him to use the phone so he avoids it as much as possible and I usually make our needed phone calls.

My husband is very attentive and supportive of me. He is kind and loving and takes wonderful care of me. He is funny and fun and my best friend. With all that in mind you have to know it tears him apart when I have to go to the emergency room. He has a very difficult time going in with me and often can't at all. There have been times he has and I've had to send him out due to my concern for his well being. This isn't about pushing past some discomfort. It's about physical reactions that his brain creates in his body that he has no control of.

We often talk about what kinds of thoughts cause these physical reactions. We talk about what it's like to have this disorder and what we can do to try to work on it even a little at a time. One thought he's often shared with me is feeling like others are talking about him, laughing at him, or thinking ugly things about him. Rationally he knows that it's most likely not the case. Rationally he knows it doesn't even matter because who cares what they think. But rational thought does not prevail with this disease. The fear and panic take over. He can try to talk himself down but once it takes hold it often cannot be calmed without removing himself from the situation.

I know when it's happening, I know what triggers it, and I know the signs that show on him physically when it's gotten a tight hold on him. Sometimes I can redirect his attention to help him get control. Other times I can redirect a conversation with others in such a way that it diffuses what was causing his stress. But 80% of the time he simply has to remove himself from the situation.

Sadly at some point, people with social anxiety often become tired of even trying and begin to avoid situations that might cause this massive amount of stress. This often means avoiding ALL social contact.

At one point my husband didn't leave our camper (which we live in) for eight full months. A nosy neighbor in the campground didn't believe I had a husband and snuck up to our bedroom window to peek in and see. We were later informed. This type of behavior only serves to worsen his condition and validate his concerns.

In order to be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, an individual must experience excessive levels of social anxiety, severe enough to bother him or her significantly, or to cause interference in his or her daily routine (ie: work, school, relationships).  This website  (http://anxiety.stjoes.ca/socialphobia.htm) also contains some very helpful information on this still very misunderstood disorder.

Some people claim to have social anxiety but have never truly been diagnosed and in reality don't even understand what this disorder is.  Just because you occasionally get nervous in social situations does not mean that you have social anxiety or social phobia. Many people are shy or self-conscious, at least from time to time, yet it doesn't get in the way of their everyday functioning. Social anxiety disorder, on the other hand, does interfere with your normal routine and causes tremendous distress.

Those who honestly have this struggle every day in every moment. Even when they are not out in social situations they are often in pain because they are either thinking of the next social interaction they will have to endure or they are feeling guilt and pain because they cannot live like others do.

Even in explaining to people that one has social anxiety there lies trepidation, a fear, a note of anxiety that one might be judged, not believed, or completely misunderstood. Sadly, a good portion of the time, people validate this fear by their reactions to the information even if it is simply out of a lack of understanding and knowledge.

Social anxiety is painful in a way that most people can never understand. It steals away one's life and makes every moment that much more difficult.

What's even worse is most people will never hear about this because most people who suffer from this CAN'T talk about it. I'm sure when I read this article to my husband, as I do with all my writings, he is going to be very stressed about my publishing it but I feel it is so crucially important for others to get even a basic understanding of how this affects someone's life that I felt it important to share.

I've only scratched the surface of how intense social anxiety can be for someone who suffers from it. To fully understand it one would have to live with it or live with someone who has it and be totally open to hearing everything that person shares about it.

Because I have lived so closely with it for so many years, because I've watched it develop over time in my husband and seen it in both the good times and the worst ones, I can recognize it at all levels of difficulty in others. I see the potential for it in our youngest son. I did some research and found out that it can be inherited. He too worries that he might have it and he fights it all the time. He works at staying in the world and not letting it take him down. I hope he continues to succeed at that.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

A day in the life....


I don't often just write blog posts about Full Time RVing anymore or about my 'day to day' life but I feel the need to tell ya'll about my amazing day.

So right now we are staying at a park with some AMAZING snowbirds AND some AMAZING full timers who actually live in this park year round. You seldom find a park with such a great combination of personalities. Beyond that, during the winter months (snowbird season) there are planned activities 3 - 4 times a week. Things like bingo, karaoke, movie night, pot lucks, game nights, and more.

Last night was Karaoke. John and I decided that would be our date night. I actually even dressed up.
We went there a little early so that we could get our table. When we go there a couple others were already there setting up. One of those was my friend Flo. She asked me if I wanted to go thrift shopping with her in the morning. I JUMPED at the idea of getting out of the park for the day and at spending time with this amazing woman.

So today I got up earlier than usual and Flo was already outside ready to go. We went to all the thrift shops in the area. I didn't find what I really wanted, which was jeans for John and Johnny, but I did get a couple of AWESOME new shirts.

At the end of our trip we stopped at a discount food store and did a little food shopping. I got a lot of good food for us to get us through and possibly it will pull us through the month now. I also picked up a couple of cute items for the "Yankee Swap" event this month.

When I got home the weather was so nice that John and I decided to go for a walk. Then I went out and did a new "Adventures in Full Time RVing" video. While that was rendering that I went outside and called my mother. She and I had a wonderful talk. I am so grateful that we have such a good relationship now. I so appreciate who she is and her love and acceptance.

While I was on the phone with her a young lady here in the park who has a toddler walked by with her little girl. I let my mother go and went for a walk with her and her little one to get to know her a bit better.

When we were almost to her RV, Johnny came running out from another ladies camper. He had been with her most of the day. Apparently she had cooked a turkey and wanted to send some over to our house. He handed me 2 Ziplocs with turkey in them to take home. I excused myself from the young mother and went to thank Johnnies friend.

We stood and talked for a bit. She was yet another super nice lady here in the park and she enjoys Johnnies company so that makes me happy. While we were talking yet another friend came walking by. This was the younger of my friends (17). I excused myself and walked with she and her friend to her camper along my path home.

Again we stood and talked for a bit and then I hugged her goodbye. As I began walking off I was invited in to see the couple with the baby's camper. They showed me around their amazingly clean and beautiful home. I got to visit with the little girl and chat with her parents.

Then I realized it was getting dark. I worried that John might be wondering where I was or worrying about me, as I'd been gone much longer than I had intended. I thanked them and headed back toward our camper. I found my handsome husband sitting at the pavilion. He wasn't worried but he was wondering.

I gave him a rundown of my activities and asked if he wanted to go walking with me. We walked around twice. On our second trip around another of my new friends stopped their car to say hello and chat with us for a minute.

At this point we began talking about the possibility of staying here longer than we originally planned. This is such a true community and there are such amazing people here that we both think this might be the right place for us to stay for a while. We haven't made any final decisions yet but it's definitely become an option.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

I Remember....


I Remember

I remember days of swinging high
And reaching out to touch the sky
Of laughter, singing, skipping too
I remember childhood days with you
I remember a boy, his loving smile.
To be with me would walk a mile.
Treated me with such pure love.
A gift to me from high above.
I remember playing hide and seek
Sneaking a Christmas present peek
Dancing to the crocodile rock
Going to the record hop
I remember all my childhood dreams
And my crazy million dollar schemes
In innocence there is a joy
That it seems time seeks to destroy
But it's there inside if you wish to see
Remember.... look.... be happy.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Peaceful Prayer



Today I am peaceful, Happy, and Grateful.
I am grateful for those who love me
And those I have been gifted with to love.
I am grateful for myself!
Thank you for the many people 
In this world who still care
And for the things they do each day
To remind others to have hope.
I am thankful for this life
I will cherish it.
I am thankful for this day
I will find joy in it.
I am thankful for this moment
I will just be in it.

Filling the 'Down Time'


What do you do during your 'down time' to keep yourself busy, happy, or occupied? What hobbies do you wish you could take some time to enjoy doing? What do you want to make time for that you have not been doing?

We are disabled and Full Time RVers so there is often a lot of 'down time' to fill up. For me I have a wonderful partner who I spend time with, I have my writing and my videos, I have my dog and I have a lot of things I enjoy online.

I am so lucky because I have a husband I enjoy spending time with. We often just sit and talk for hours. We enjoy curling up on the couch together and watching videos and even if the movie is bad the company is amazing. And of course we enjoy spending 'couple time' often as well.

I have my hobbies of writing and now creating videos that I enjoy incredibly. I have other hobbies I enjoy as well. When I have the money and ability I love crafting jewelry and other items. These all keep me very busy and happy.

I enjoy doing research and learning new things. Right now I'm trying to learn some more Spanish again, as I feel that is most useful down south. But I also will get on kicks for other things I want to learn and I want to learn them as fully as possible so I'll dive in and go for it.

I have my dog who takes up a good deal of my time. I have to take her for walks and play with her. She sometimes just lays here and cuddles with me while I watch videos or even just when I'm doing nothing at all. She is a great comfort to me.

I also have all of my online communities where I post quotes and information. I have the blog that I have to keep up to date. I have games I play online. All of that brings me enjoyment and keeps me busy.

I would really like to learn a new craft. I'm not sure what yet. I've been debating on whether I want to learn to make quilts, which I think is useful, or if I want to learn to crochet or knit and create things that are also useful. I know I want to learn at least one of them and I will. I will probably buy some knitting needles this month and find some videos to teach myself.

One thing I haven't been doing that I really want to make time for is meditating. I think that would be something John and I could do together and it would be good for us both. I also want to reconnect with my spiritual path and get John and I doing something at least once a week that helps us along in that way. We had been doing 2 or 3 nights a week at one point where we listened to a spiritual teaching, watched a video on YouTube that was by a speaker like Wayne Dyer or we went to online classes. We were studying together working on our Masters degree in Metaphysical Counseling until money got tight and I had to pause our classes. I very much want to get back to all of that.

John asked me earlier today what my New Year's Resolution was for 2013 and I didn't know. I think now it is to get us back on track with all of this. We have the ability to make the time and I feel it is so important. It is also to find a craft I can enjoy once again making something useful AND to help John acquire what he needs to have a hobby he can ejoy as well.

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(dedicated to the woman who asked me "What do you do all day? We almost never see you.)