Day 280 - Friday

TGIF!
(Sorry readers, that's all I really have for today.)

Day 279 - Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for...

Winning $15 via a lottery ticket...

Friends who stick around, or in some cases, come back...

Co-workers who give me snacks in effort to hold me over when working a late night...

Unexpectedly great weather...

Finally finding Cassiopeia in the north eastern sky...

Co-workers who keep promises they made over 3 months ago...

Great parking spaces two nights in a row...

Re-runs of my favorite shows...

Watching two geese take flight in the moonlight...

and

A good night's sleep!

Day 278 - Almost Wordless Wednesday

The Culprit spies a paper bag...



The Culprit destroys said bag.



The End.

Day 277 - Conversation

I had my first signed conversation last night! I found out, rather quickly, that I was actually afraid to use my newly learned skills in fear of signing something incorrectly. It was hard for me to sign outside of the classroom due to feeling intimidated, so I used very few signs at first. More so, I don't think I even signed a complete sentence! The other signer encouraged me, and I got the basics out like, help, home, potty training/learning, class, and breakfast in the conversation and believe that she understood what I was trying to convey despite my nervousness. If they say practice makes perfect, I have a lot of practicing left to do - which surely will be accomplished as I head off to my new, ASL Beginner 2 class tonight!

What new thing or skill have you learned, and then been afraid to use?

Day 276 - MMOM

1. I can't stand when someone ________?
LIES!

2. Do you do daily, weekly or monthly grocery shopping?
I try to stick to weekly, but poor planning lends itself to more like daily shopping trips.

3. What kind of car do you drive?
A (currently) noise free Honda!

4. Crunchy or soft tacos?
Both, just depends on what kind of mood I'm in!

5. What's the habit you are proudest of breaking?
Well... I'd say biting my nails, but I still bite them when I am very, very stressed.

Day 275 - Dependent

According to Webster's dictionary, the word "dependent" means, "not self-reliant: needing to rely on or trust in somebody or something for help or support...". There are 2 other variations of the definition, where one might be dependent on drugs, or someone else for financial support. No matter which description you read, the word dependent seems to have a negative connotation. But what happens when we need to depend on friends? Is that a bad thing?

Of course, depending on how one was raised (a-hem, perhaps like this blog's author?), you might have to swallow some pride, or retrain yourself to realize that depending on and trusting in those who you love, and love you back, is not a bad thing at all. I've had to do that such thing for myself and I can tell you, it's not easy and really, it's down right scary at times.

But, if you can push past your pride and whatever else silly thoughts might fill your head, the benefits of doing so are pretty awesome. I've found that I can open myself to new experiences and deepen relationships by depending on others from time to time. Whether it be for lodging for a night, or help moving, what's there to lose? Go ahead, trust and depend on someone for something.

What do you depend on others for?

Day 274 - Phone-less

We as a culture, rely on our technologies way too much and become a slave to the things we own. As a challenge to myself, I was to go 24 hours without my cell phone. Now, I must admit, while it was a challenge I planned to face, I had not planned on tackling it this particular weekend. Thanks to being in a rush, I left my cell phone at home Friday morning and was not planning on returning home until late Saturday night. While I instantly realized I had forgotten my device and had time to return home to retrieve it, I decided, "Well, now is as good as a time as any to go without my phone" and continued on with my day.

Immediately thoughts of fear filled my head. "What if I need it?". "What if my car breaks down?". "What if there's an emergency?". The "what ifs?" continued to creep into my mind throughout most of my commute. Despite my initial concerns, I found by noon time I was starting to not miss my phone. I was actually thankful to have forgotten it! It was a relief not having to check it or think, "Was that my phone?" every time I heard a slight buzzing noise. By Saturday, I was greatly enjoying the detachment from my phone. I felt free and had no tether and no responsibility to reply to, or answer to anyone or anything.

By the time I reached home again, 36+ hours had passed. I had survived my 24 hour phone-free challenge, and then some. I checked my phone before going to bed and turned it off immediately. Hopefully, I will spend more days "phone-less" in the future, and focus on connecting with the people I care to, face to face.

What item of technology do you feel you can't live without?
Could you go 24 hours without it?