Resolutions--Results and New Idea

What I hoped to accomplish in 2012 and how I did:

1. Get healthy...find the underlying cause of my medical problems and fix it! I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Finally found the problems, and although I'm on oxygen every night, I am healthy and active again.

2. FINISH my dissertation; and it might kill me, but it will be done. Submitted! Waiting for my defense date in January or February. 

3. Eat healthier and get back in shape. Started tracking what I eat...last-minute submission and pressure to finish kept me from working out. 

4. Spend more time taking care of the little things that need to be done. Did better, could still use some work.

5. Focus more on family and friends...even if it is a phone call or email, I need to stay in touch with those I love and that love me. I think I did better at this...only my friends and family can truly answer it. 


For 2013, instead of coming up with a list of resolutions, I have decided to follow the advice of My One Word and choose one word to guide me through 2013. My word is FOCUS. 
I need to FOCUS on:

-Defending my dissertation
-Finding a job
-Getting in shape
-Friends and family
-My faith
-Renovations and projects
-Blogging more


I will be using this blog to keep myself in check with my One Word.

Dissertation...

SUBMITTED!!

Merry Christmas to Me!!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

The tree is finally up and decorated! Just a few more decorations to put up outside...as well as rehanging the garland on the stairs as I didn't "swoop" enough!

It's s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Usually on Black Friday I shop then on Saturday I wrap and decorate. This year:

-The tree is up; the beads are on...no ornaments yet.
-The candelabras are in the windows...nothing else
-That's it...the boxes are in the upstairs hallway
-Wrapping is about 1/3 done...all but 2 people are bought for--one I am taking shopping and the other is just too damned hard to shop for *Mom* ;-)

I love finishing decorating and shopping early so I can truly focus on friends, family, and the true meaning of Christmas!!!

How is it Already Thanksgiving (Next Week)??

Where did this year go? I feel like it was just summer. I haven't even started shopping for the holidays and I am usually almost done by now. AUGH!!!

Does anyone else feel like this snuck up on them? Are there still 12 months in a year, because it only feels like 6?

Take a Moment Today...THANK A VETERAN!!!

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S. Please take a moment from your day and thank a veteran for his or her service. Thank their family members for allowing the veteran to serve. The family worries as much as the soldier/sailor/marine.

Thank you to all the veteran's who have served and are actively serving! I enjoy my freedoms and my lifestyle because of your choice to serve. God Bless all who serve/d in the military!

Election Day is Tomorrow...Please VOTE!

Take a few minutes out of your day and exercise your right to help choose our leaders! Voting is a privilege, not a right.... Help choose those who will lead our country for the next four years.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Halloween (no matter when it is celebrated)!!! (Ours was moved to Saturday because of Sandy's effects).

New Wreath!

For only $4 at the Dollar Store I made this wreath for our front door to celebrate Autumn!

It's Here!!!

My iPhone 5 is here and I am setting it up! Loving it!!!

iPhone 5 in Black...

Pre-ordered!!!!!

For the Heroes, Victims, and Survivors...

God Bless America! 

These colors don't run!

Posted on Other Blog, But I Have More Readers Here...

These are questions raised by my research. What are your thoughts?

1. Is email "old" technology?
2. Are conversations at a gathering "private"? Should they not be shared on the Internet?
3. Do you get upset when someone you are with checks email, Facebook, etc.?
4. Is multi-tasking bad or good?
5. How do you / do you use Second Life?

Meeting Liberty!!

Finally, after reading her blog for at least 9 years I was able to meet Liberty face to face!! It is probably because she lives in California and I live in Pennsylvania that it took this long but she is so sweet and a great person...just as I always suspected! I also had the privilege of meeting TDO, her husband! We met for lunch today with Firewalk...who no longer posts his blog, and had a very nice time. 

She is so not what I expected, but she is even more awesome than I imagined! It was like meeting with an old friend...because I really was, but it was nice to put a real, live, breathing individual with the blogger who I've grown to know and love over the years!! And that gorgeous necklace I am wearing...Liberty made that for me several years ago and sent it to me. She is talented and beautiful!!

Safe travels as you head home this weekend! 

Seven Years!

I find it hard to believe, but D and I have been married for seven years! I cannot imagine life without him, nor do I hope to ever have to. Finding and falling in love with him has been the best thing that ever happened to me. Happy Anniversary D! Here's to a lifetime of love and happiness!!!

Eye Issues

Wow, eventually, I'm going to share some good news or something of interest on this blog...I promise. Today, however, is not that day. Yesterday I woke up with my right eye all red...not bloodshot, just red. It was a little sore, but I didn't think twice about it after all, I'm on blood-thinners. Today, I woke up and the eye is still red, it hurts, and my vision is blurry. Luckily, I was able to get an appointment with my doctor for this afternoon. I will keep you posted, but please send good vibes my way this afternoon. **UPDATE** I have a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage in my left eye. I just have to let it heal on its own with cold compresses and artificial tears. It definitely could've been a lot worse. The doctor said there is no damage to the eye.

Why Do People Care / Why is It Your Business???

I am so tired of the questions about my having kids. Do you have any? Why not? Don't you like kids? Don't you want kids?

No, I do not have children. No, I do not want children. Yes, I do like children. I am raising a dog.

OK...that seems a little harsh but at 41, almost 42, I am really tired of the questions. There are numerous reasons why I don't have kids...in no particular order:

1. My health
2. I got married later in life
3. Different priorities in life
4. Never had the desire

OK, so that last one is what always seems to cause a problem. I do believe on some level I never had the desire to have kids because I know that they could "inherit" my medical issues...after all they are birth defects and, while not hereditary, I run a much higher risk of having a child with the same problems or worse. Yes, medical treatment has come a long way in 40+ years, but still. My mother didn't know that this was even a possibility. I do. Wouldn't it be selfish of me to put a child through what I went through? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy let alone my own child.

I didn't get married until I was 35...the time that counted, anyway. Definitely not a great time to start a family when the health risks are great for you and the baby. OK, so my baby survives but I don't. Not really fair to my child to have to grow up without a mother just because I wanted to be a mom.

I have been career-driven my entire life...even when I played Barbies I was the career Barbie, not the one with a bunch of kids. I didn't even own the little sisters so I wouldn't have to babysit.

OK, rant over. I just get so tired of the questions. My main gripe with these questions...even for my parents and D's parents...what business is it of yours. It is mine and D's decision alone, no one else has a say in whether or not I have kids...I don't care if they would be "your" grandkids....(not that this rant is about the parents...but if it's not their business, how could it possibly be anyone else's!)

P.S.--the parents, either set, have said nothing that was purely an example.

Five Adjectives!

Completely stolen from Rude Cactus! Seems his daughter, Mia, had an assignment which included listing five adjectives to describe herself...you can read the full story here. Anyway, what I hope to be my five adjectives are:   

- Smart
- Caring
- Fun
- Stressed
- Pretty 

Of course, I don't really want to be stressed, but I am trying to write my dissertation, so yeah, stressed. It is the other four that I hope really work. So, do you think I'm even close? Also, what are your five adjectives?? (After all, it's no fun if you don't play!) ;-)

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone is enjoying Spring! I have been working, writing, and knitting! It seems that everyone I know is suddenly pregnant and I am trying to keep up with knitting baby blankets. I finished one last night around 11...and it was a good thing because the baby shower was at 11 this morning. Now, I have another one to start. Although I am working towards an August graduation date, the knitting helps keep me calm and relaxed.

I hope everyone has time to relax tomorrow and remember the true meaning of the holiday...not just the bunny and the eggs!

Time Moves Quickly...

I cannot believe it's already March! Where did the first part of the year go? I am not complaining since I hate cold and snow. Loved the weather today...Soxy and I even went for a walk when I needed a writing break!

I am spending most of my time writing and editing, but also attempting to keep the house in order and myself in shape...

Need Motivation...Found Motivation

Need Motivation: I have been dragging on my writing these days. I just can't find the motivation to get moving...always something to distract me (i.e. reorganizing the master closet, making yet another baby blanket, etc.) but I need to finish my dissertation this year. Time to focus and power through.

Found Motivation: As of Thursday there will only be two of us that sat for exams at the same time that will not have finished. And, I know the other person is on Chapter 4, whereas I have just started Chapter 2....

No more excuses about my health stopping me. I need to power through and focus!! My screen saver now reads "Focus, Write, Finish" -- hopefully this will help fuel my motivation to get this part of my life behind me so the rest can move forward.

Any, and all, encouragement welcome!

Happy Hearts Day!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's Day. My main Valentine is in Texas on business, so I am spending time with Soxy, my other Valentine.

Sending hugs and smiles to all my online Valentines!

<3

Phase II of Getting Back in Shape Begins TODAY!!

OK, so I've blogged about getting back in shape by going to the gym. I love it. About killed myself yesterday trying to keep up with a workout routine I downloaded onto my iPod, but I'm "resting" today as the program says. However, I gave myself a one month leeway on tracking what I ate and drank. Since today is February 1, it is time to start writing down everything I eat and drink. If I do this correctly, the weight should start coming off. I am 22 lbs above my goal weight. I have never had to diet before in my life, because I was always active. I still am not calling this a diet because, if done correctly, it will be a life-long way of eating and exercising that I will find enjoyable and easy to maintain.

Wish me luck!!!!

Missed My Blogiversary--January 16th!

Oops! I totally missed by blogiversary...under different names for a time. But on January 16, 2003 I started my first blog...krushkreations. I can't believe I have been blogging for 9 years but I have met some incredible people through my blogs...in fact, some of those bloggers helped pick my permanent blog name--Therapy Failed--in a survey on my blog! Love you all!!

I enjoy blogging so much and am thankful for all of my readers--past, present, and those yet to find me. I must love blogging, I have done research on it in the past and am currently writing my Doctoral Dissertation on the subject!

Back at It

I took the weekend off from the gym, although I did manage to get on our elliptical in the basement yesterday. Today, I head back to Snap! I am completely sore and really tired (no idea why) but I'm hoping a good workout will bring me back to life. Then it's home to empty out our closet, we bought the ClosetMaid shelving kit to install once I paint the closet and D helps remove what is currently on the walls. I can't wait and hope it really does give us more space. I would love to have all of my clothes in one closet. Then it's back to writing and working on my next chapter. I meet with my Director on Chapter 1 on Thursday and I hope to have something to show him on Chapter 2 as well.

How is everyone doing?

Slip, Sliding Away

I made it to the gym today. As I was working out I kept watching it snow outside. I wasn't worried about it because I had the 4WD car. Unfortunately, they had not been out to clean the roads yet. I slid around the bend as I was entering our complex. Then, as I was pulling into the driveway I slid up there also. It was just snow so I don't get why I was sliding. But, I got home OK, and that is all that matters.

Hope everyone has a safe commute tonight.

Yay! I Have Readers and Somewhat Good News on the Medical Front!

I would respond to each of you, but I still haven't figured out how to extract email addresses from Blogger...I know, I'm dumb. I am so excited that some people are still reading, and for that I thank you!

Somewhat good news from the doctors...my ailments are not life-threatening. In fact, it seems my body is just over-reacting to symptoms that most people wouldn't even notice; i.e. if I have an extra heart beat my body starts to treat it as a past condition--atrial flutter--instead of just ignoring the extra heart beat and starts to respond as if the problem was larger. This means I just have to get used to it and deal with it. But I am allowed to start working out again!!! Yay! Even though we have a fully equipped gym in the basement, I may join a local gym for a couple of months...they offer a month-to-month membership...just so someone is around as I get started again.

First Post of 2012

If anyone is still reading, please say Hello! I will continue to blog even with no responses, but would love to know there is an audience, no matter how small still out there.

I was blessed to have D home for almost 3 whole weeks over the holidays. He might have been working for part of it, but he was in the house and I got to see him. Now we are back to his crazy travel schedule.

2012 started the same way 2011 ended...I still have no answers on my medical issues and my symptoms aren't getting any better. I have slowed down my posts here because I hate to type "I don't feel good" posts all the time, but it's either that or "I'm writing my dissertation"...I need some outside interests or fun Soxy stories to tell you about. I will leave you with a picture of Soxy after playing in the snow.