I found it!!!

What did I find, you ask? Gold? No. My white bra? I found that a couple days ago, remember? My virginity? No, it's still lost. I found true happiness, that's what I found! Now for many, true happiness can be found gazing into a lover's eyes, or on top of a mountain, or after hours of sitting uncomfortably meditating, or halfway through running a marathon. For me, true happiness wasn't that far away or that hard to attain. For me it was a simple phone call to the cable company. The conversation went something like this. Me: "I can't live like this anymore." Cable company employee: "What do you mean, ma'am?" Me: "I need DVR." Cable company employee: "I understand completely." And poof, a few days later I am sitting in the comfort of my own living room skipping through the commercials. That is true happiness right there. To be more specific, not having to listen to the drug ads. They make me insane. Wait, there's a pill for that! UGH.

Now I have to tell you that this is not my first time with the DVR. I did have it back in the day when I was cool, when I had a real job and money to blow. I loved it then, but when I came back from my adventure in Reno, I went with the "just the basics." And having been without for about 2 years has given me much more appreciation for the simple things in life. I can't even tell you how downright giddy I felt when I could fast forward through the commercials. This is truly a sign of a civilized world...and I just couldn't not be a part of that anymore. So, I'm back, baby!

So, if something's got you down, like Valentine's day (true evil, that day) or the weather or just the ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, do something nice for yourself. It can be something just as simple as what I have done. Love yourself. You will appreciate it!

Snow day!!

Yesterday was a snow day. I never had a snow day when I was a kid because we did not live in a place that snowed. I was always envious of those kids who got up in the morning to see that there's piles of snow outside and then find out that school is cancelled for the day. What a gift from the heavens!! Well, I got to experience that yesterday. I woke up to a bunch of heavy, wet snow and thought, great...looks like treacherous driving conditions today. Then I got the call that the massage place I work at in Bend was closing for the day. I was like, sweet! A day of sloth! And that is what it was; one movie, some reading and two naps.

Finally I decided to go outside and take the dog for a walk. As I was on the return leg of my walk I saw a group of unsupervised kids roaming the path in the canyon....it was, after all, a snow day for them as well, and they were probably bored with video games and such and decided to go look for trouble. There was a shopping cart that a group of unsupervised girls were playing with earlier..and left in the canyon. One boy declared that he was going to "toss the shopping cart off the top of the canyon." I thought, great, good use of your time, kid. Now, some of you might say that if I was a responsible adult that I would have intervened here and said, "no, you little punk, you shouldn't do that." But let me make this clear to you now. Unless there is someone getting hurt, the days of me interrupting your roving bands of delinquent brats are over. I did that for over 20 years with very little gratitude. I have done my part and frankly, it is not my responsibility. So the one kid (all his friends were ignoring him....they realized just how stupid he was) started hauling the shopping cart up the cement stairs. He got it up about 4 stairs. Then he let it go. I started laughing. How frickin' lazy can you be? See, that's what's wrong with our country these days. That is what's wrong with our youth. They will not take two minutes out of their completely unproductive day to commit an act of mild criminal mischief just for the pure joy of it. The second it becomes too hard and you don't have the masses jeering you on...you abandon all efforts. Pitiful.

Speaking of that...do you know where your kids are?

Missing anything?

Do you lose stuff sometimes? Now, I am not talking to those people who misplace everything...those people who can never find their keys. I am talking to those folks who are reasonably neat and organized but who sometimes just cannot find one thing....usually an article of clothing, say a bra or a hat or a sandal. And maybe you don't miss it right away...but then after a while you think to yourself, "I thought I just bought a new white bra?? Where the heck is it?" So you look in all the usual places. Nothing. Well, I have a suggestion: Look in your luggage. I swear, every time I haven't seen something in a while, I end up finding it in a pocket on a duffel bag or suitcase that I haven't used in a while. One time I was convinced that this girl who was over at my house once stole a ball cap that says "it's all about me." This hat was a gift from a friend who knew that "it's all about me" and I liked it. Well, I accused this girl of stealing my hat (well, not to her face...because I really had no proof) for over three years. We still refer to her as "the hat stealer" even though she was vindicated when I got out a piece of luggage I hadn't used in a really long time and I slid my hand into one of the outside pockets and came out with my hat. I felt pretty bad that I had blamed this girl for so long. But I was also pretty happy that I found my sweet hat! And it happened again the other day when I was laying in bed thinking, "didn't I buy 2 bras before Christmas? Why am I only wearing one of them?" And then before I could blame anyone falsely for stealing from me...a voice came into my head and said, "check your suitcase you idiot." And so I did and voila....my brand new white bra was right there! And on a side note...you know that your missing socks are in the corners of your fitted sheets, right?

Don't be like me. Look before you blame.

A new year

I don't know why people get excited about new years. I can understand being happy enough to say goodbye to a bad year, that I get. But I don't understand wanting to get hammered counting down the ball and all that. I am all for partying, God knows...every other day of the year...but New Year's Eve? It's "fraught with peril" as my old boss used to say...and there is a good chance of meeting up with way too many amateurs..especially on the roads. So, I never go out on New Year's eve. I cannot stand the thought of waking up with a hangover on the first day of the year. That would just be depressing. Again..any other day.....I'm fine with it.
So, for New Year's eve I made myself a delicious dinner and had some nice wine..and watched a movie. Dullsville, population me, I know. And for the first day of a new year that is full of promise and hope, I cleaned and fixed little things around the house..just to make me feel fresh; start things off on the right foot. I re-caulked the tub and cleaned the oven and fixed a towel rack that has been loose for about two years and bought two new pot holders. Because, you know....nothing says old and tired and worn out than nasty, burned, stained with God-knows-what potholders. This may sound pretty small, heck maybe downright pathetic but I like to at least try to bring a certain energy to the new year..that "life is what you make of it" energy...that "at least I am trying to make things better" energy. I am hoping that current will carry over into my business, of course....and my personal life. That energy that says I have the power and ability and will to make things the best I can make them. I am in control. I got this. I am not and will not be a victim of circumstance. I want to be a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little dirt clod of pain and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making me happy. (Don't you love that last line?? I read it somewhere..on the daily Buddha on Facebook I think. I loved it so much I wrote it down. Perfect!) My new year's resolution (I usually don't make one) is that things need to work for me this year. If they don't they are cut out. That can mean anything and everything; a relationship, a business practice....a logistical detail, whatever. If it ain't working for me I ain't doing it. Period. I am hoping that this tricks me into thinking I have any control over my world. But we all know the truth don't we?

It's only business

Business is tough these days. Anyone who is trying to make a living knows just how tough it is. But even if you are one of the lucky ones that have the steady income you had 4 years ago, you are still affected by how people conduct business. Basically, what I see are two different kinds of business people. The first kind are those who are taking it personally. These people think that the economy is singling them out and keeping them from the lifestyle in which they have become accustomed. These people, as a result, are jacking up their prices to compensate for the decline in sheer numbers....I believe some call it gouging. Or if they aren't gouging they are getting downright angry with anyone who doesn't (or can't) do business with them. It's as if these people feel entitled to your business...perhaps because you have done business with them in the past. But we are all, regardless of our situation, being more careful about who we do business with. And competition is a good thing. The pricing issue is one thing. It's easy to just say, "no...can't afford that" and walk away. It's the attitude stuff that bothers me more. I really don't think it's fair to be hit in the face with your anger because your business isn't doing so well.

The second type of business person is the one who is grateful for what they have. These folks are understanding of the situation that so many people are in and doing what they can to, A)stay alive but B)giving people a break. I have to believe that this second type of person will come out of this recession in better shape. Maybe I am naive, God knows,....but maybe, just maybe those people that you treated fairly will be loyal customers when things improve. I choose to believe.

I can tell you that there are a few of category one people who will never get my business again after having to deal with their negativity. And, you know...these people should be upset by that because, although I don't have any money right now...I might have money tomorrow...and won't they be so sad! And there are more out there who share my attitude...and some of them do have money now.

I guess if I had one wish I would wish that there was more widespread spirit of generosity. I am trying to do my best with walking the talk. I am offering reasonably priced massage to everyone. And I keep offering affordable massage for those people who know how good it is for their health. I am not simply trying to lure in new customers, although, frankly, I could use some, so if you are reading this please come see me!

I have to believe that what you put out there is what you will get back. It doesn't always seem that way, but I'm not gonna give up. There are two old sayings that are either anonymous or I just don't know who to credit. "Like finds like." and "Giving opens the way for receiving." Believe!!

Chi

This is an article that I read on a very good website, acupuncture.com. I am posting this because I think it is a good explanation of chi, and how everything affects our chi.

Weather and Emotions Affects the Flow of Chi
By Jaseng Center for Alternative Medicine

The word chi literally means "breath" and "air," as well as "energy." And all forms of life in the universe are animated by this essential life force. According to the tenets of Oriental medicine, humans and all other living things stand between "heaven," the source of chi, and the earth, which gives life to all things on the planet. And the energy of weather, which is called "celestial energy" as it also springs from heaven, passes through the human body system like electricity moves through a conductor. Chi circulates across the surface of the body, just below the skin, protecting the entire organism from invasion by extremes of environmental energy such as heat, cold, dryness and wind.
It follows, therefore, that the human energy system - the meridians through which chi flows - is strongly influenced by the various types of environmental energy and, in particular, weather conditions. When certain climatic conditions become extreme, specific internal organs are directly affected. The energy of cold, for example, attacks the meridian associated with the kidneys, so extreme cold can cause kidney malfunction.
In addition, the energy of strong wind or brutally cold weather has a negative influence on life force energy in the body, keeping chi from flowing smoothly in the meridian lines. This sometimes causes bodily aches and pains that seem to have no other apparent cause, and in many cases brings on the symptoms of a second-stage cold like headache, chills, and fever, with no evidence of viral invasion.
It goes without saying that working outside for a long period of time in the summer or winter, exposed to extreme temperatures, is harmful to one's health. Symptoms of this type of overexposure include fever, dry lips, constipation and heaviness in the chest. Some people who sit in damp grass or get caught in the rain experience headaches, arthritis, and bodily swelling, as extreme moisture can block the flow of chi in meridian lines.
Sudden shifts in emotions can also trigger a chain-reaction of energy imbalance throughout the body. And these reactions are just as strong as those caused by extreme climatic conditions. It is a well-known fact that a person suffering from extreme personal grief, such as the death of a spouse, becomes highly vulnerable to all sorts of disease. Fear is a symptom of temporary kidney dysfunction, but prolonged chronic fear can actually cause permanent kidney damage. Frequent fits of anger reflect liver problems, but a person who is almost constantly angry will damage an otherwise healthy liver. This then generates even more anger, creating a vicious psychosomatic circle. So, when you are angry, try to stop thinking about what is making you angry. You can do this by meditating, sitting in a quiet place, or simply listening to calming music. In the same sense, mental shock or psychological disorders - which can stem from anything from bad childhood experiences to watching too many horror movies - can also hinder the growth of the body. When the pathways and meridian lines of chi are disturbed by mental illness, they directly influence the condition of the bones, disrupting or even stopping normal growth.
Chi energy moves similar to how electricity moves through a computer, along a well-defined circuit, the meridians. And this energy can be manipulated to release blockages and increase health through meditation, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. With moxibustion, moxa (artemisia) sticks are burned close to the skin over certain points on the meridians. Moxibustion and acupuncture are especially effective in treating breathing problems, pains in the chest and the back as well as disturbed chi circulation caused by an imbalance of energy in the meridian lines. These Traditional Chinese medicine modalities can be very helpful for many other health conditions that are caused by either weather or emotions.

Tis the season

You know how when you are coming down with a cold, everyone offers you advice on what to do? "Eat some chicken soup," "put on wet wool socks and go to bed," "drink water from the other side of the glass," (wait that is for hiccups..never mind) Anyway, it's so annoying all this advice. So guess what? That's right, I'm gonna give you some advice. Didn't see it coming did you?

OK. Now there are times when you just get a cold or the flu. No one is immune to every strand of virus (at least I don't think so...if you are one of those people who are immune than I apologize deeply.) But you don't have to succumb to every viral strand either. You know those people who seem to get everything? Ugh, I hate that...and of course it's always a co-worker that you have to cover for. So, don't be that guy/girl. When you feel something coming on, first acknowledge that you are indeed maybe getting a bug. Do not deny it, "I am NOT getting sick, I am not getting sick..." that never works. Listen to what your body is telling you. Slow down. Decide to go to bed early. Mix yourself a little potion. Echinacea tincture, (I like the Herb Pharm brand that is available at any health food store) mixed with an emergencee and drink it down! if you have the Vivasan lemon and orange oils I have written about..add them. Then get out your neti pot (available at drug stores everywhere) and follow the directions and rinse out those sinuses! This really works! Repeat this all a couple times a day. And get some rest!! I know I have written about this all before...but, like I said..'tis the season. Also, my very wise acupuncturist says that for me, I should not take anything that adds heat for a sore throat. For me...I should try to cool it down. Personally, I like popsicles for this. You can also drink Throat Coat tea which has slippery elm in it. She wants me to stay away from ginger tea, which adds heat. There are two different kinds of sore throat. If you are a hot person, like me (I know, right?) then you probably have a hot sore throat...if you are a cold person..then ginger is probably ok for you. Do what feels right for you.

Sometimes..you just get nailed. And it's usually at the worst time. In that case...I take Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold. It works pretty well if you just have to be somewhere and not have snot pouring out of your orifices. And do the neti-pot thing. I really helps speed recovery.

Be well, my friends.

Your annoying advice giver, Lee