tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23996331591222583322012-02-16T01:50:52.759-06:00Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.comBlogger1871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-16846991624238363072010-10-07T12:07:00.004-05:002010-10-07T12:17:27.855-05:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-37598011770574747162010-03-04T08:06:00.000-06:002010-03-04T08:33:36.927-06:00

So, we are dealing with The Chief being unemployed for the next little while. Hopefully a very little while, but in this economy, who knows?And the worst thing about this for me is not the big stuff, like how the hell are we going to make the mortgage payment--which is big, but between severance benefits, savings, and retirement funds, I think we've got that covered for a while--but the little

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-88934813320082179932010-02-23T09:05:00.001-06:002010-02-23T09:16:51.038-06:00

So it's been a while. September, it looks like. Well, to be perfectly honest, not a lot has been happening. What with the constant stress of the threat of lay-offs, 2009 was pretty much a crap year, and I was quite glad to see the hind end of it come December 31, and don't let the door smack your ass on the way out, 2009.Unfortunately, 2010 is not shaping up to be a whole lot better. The

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-34093870010897883292009-09-08T07:51:00.003-05:002009-09-08T07:59:31.724-05:00

You know they're growing up when they no longer want you to come to the bus stop with them on the first day of school. Little Mouse, who is in her second year of middle school, said it was all right if I waited down the block, but the Barrister, who is a freshman in high school this year, directed me to wait on the back porch. "You can see the bus through the trees, Mom," he told me patiently.Yes

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-40580923113733789062009-07-19T18:20:00.002-05:002009-07-19T18:22:58.633-05:00

"Does being quiet mean no crashing and banging, too?" --Little Mouse, about five minutes ago.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-50541050614717635892009-07-19T10:43:00.005-05:002009-07-19T11:01:48.242-05:00

After promising knitting pix months and months ago, and not really delivering, I've finally got some! Okay, first up is the Embossed Leaves socks. The green is actually much deeper in real life--it reminds me of the deep, dark forest. This is Malabrigo sock yarn, and I love it. One sock is finished, and the other is barely begun.This next one is a shawl called Queen Anne's Lace. I love the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-78043821826122141332009-07-17T22:31:00.002-05:002009-07-17T22:41:59.613-05:00

The Chief and I went over to help his mother pack up her last minute stuff in preparation for her move to a new apartment tomorrow. I shall not tell you about how we were only supposed to be helping "get a few things down from high cupboards", and how the "few things" turned out to be the entire contents of her kitchen--the details are still too painful for close scrutiny.I must, however, report

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-70328279134334737832009-07-09T08:52:00.003-05:002009-07-09T08:58:17.640-05:00

Okay, so this is bad. As if I don't have enough Hobbies That Cost Money. There I was, innocently knitting up a shawl, when the spinning bug crawled up my leg and bit me in the butt. I knew right then and there that I was going to have to get me a drop spindle and have a go. I got The Chief's blessing to spend a bit of his hard-earned cash, hiked up my skirts, and sallied forth to the local

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-82085745725885060202009-06-19T18:47:00.003-05:002009-06-19T18:48:46.063-05:00

Remember when they first introduced aspartame (Nutrasweet), and they told us it was perfectly safe? Made from two amino acids found in milk and bananas.Like eating milk and bananas, they said.Yeah. Right.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-58623993341441955952009-06-11T20:53:00.008-05:002009-06-11T21:09:08.256-05:00

Little Mouse and I dyed yarn last weekend, and I finally managed to get the pictures out of the camera without them running out the wires and dribbling on the floor. I managed this difficult feat by lurking about in earshot of The Chief and saying plaintively, "Boy, I sure wish my pictures were in the computer so I could post them on my blog. I'm sure my three readers are just dyeing to see them.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-81765465248676159222009-06-10T12:41:00.004-05:002009-06-11T20:51:04.521-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of school. And it's a half day, at that. (Who ever thought of half days of school? They must not have been mothers.)Strangely enough, I am not dreading it this year. Instead, I am thinking about the following:1. I am released from the dreary monotony that is Lunch Making.2. For three whole months I do not have to rise at 5:45 am (which will make the reinstatement of this

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-29414299373783343462009-05-06T09:53:00.010-05:002009-05-06T10:13:35.967-05:00

So...this was supposed to be the one morning of the week when I did not have have to Go Out. I was going to laze around in my sweats, drink my morning chai (made with soy milk...wards off those annoying hot flashes, dontcha know), and read some blogs.Yeah, right.7:12 am: last child out the door. Peace.7:35 am: having stripped and remade the kids' beds with fresh sheets, get laundry going.7:40 am:

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-62505921530021232912009-05-04T14:29:00.003-05:002009-05-04T14:38:35.752-05:00

1. Eating healthy is a heck of a lot of work. Just thought I'd pass that on...2. I am seriously getting my butt kicked by a shawl. I knit and knit and knit, and it never gets any bigger. I am beginning to feel like it will never end.3. How hard is it to stay on track with an English project that involves multiple checkpoints, a mother who is constantly reminding you of your deadlines, and a

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-30819848592731728082009-04-15T09:00:00.004-05:002009-04-15T15:45:21.522-05:00

I am a Terrible Mother.I have just opened the washing machine to remove the childrens' sheets and chuck them in the dryer, and what Dreadful Thing awaited me at the bottom of the washer?None other than Little Mouse's beloved Froggie. All limp and wet and sad.He must have crawled to the bottom of her bed in the night and gotten tangled up in the sheets when I stripped the bed this morning. (In my

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-29481040416467719992009-02-25T16:19:00.004-06:002009-02-25T16:53:34.086-06:00

Gianna first asked me to write this back in December for the Recovery Page at her blog, Beyond Meds. It was posted there about a month ago, but I thought I'd put it here, too, since this blog is kind of about reclaiming one's life after being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and buying into the bullshit for a while before finally seeing the light.In retrospect, I find it interesting, tragic,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-32073675798395206942009-02-21T22:06:00.002-06:002009-02-21T22:18:00.125-06:00

So, I am, contrary to popular belief, still hanging about the blogosphere, I've just got a whole lot of things dancing around in my head competing for my attention. Like...1. Knitting. I have socks (2 pairs), mittens, hat, dish cloth, and shawl on the needles at the moment, and am contemplating taking the plunge and trying a sweater. Eek. Somebody stop the woman before she hurts herself!2. Baten

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-56765656134063727032009-02-09T06:19:00.006-06:002009-02-09T06:48:30.686-06:00

Okay, so that really sucked.Ever have one of those weekends when everyone is sick, all at the same time? It's a mother's nightmare, to be sure. I can handle it if The Chief and the kids all get sick together...but if I'm sick on top of it, it is Pure Hell.Hell's Barrister is to blame...he had it last week and missed two days of school. By Friday, The Chief was all fever-and-arfy-barfy, but the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-40064556416062013122009-02-05T07:24:00.003-06:002009-02-05T07:38:01.343-06:00

Sorry for the Big Silence, folks...Computer issues top the list of reasons for not being here much...my hard drive blew up...well, not literally, although it might as well have. Apparently there was a Bad Sector, which happened to be in the Dangerous, Mystery-Shrouded Location That is Called the Registry. Fortunately, The Chief is an Absolute Friggin' Genius when it comes to those mysterious

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-63086228812157490942008-12-31T09:56:00.003-06:002008-12-31T10:03:22.183-06:00

New Year's Eve once more, and I find myself not at all reflective or seeking closure of the year just past. Unusual for me, but at the moment, it seems like such an arbitrary thing, to say this is the last day of the year and so you must reflect, sum up, list accomplishments, and set goals for the coming year.It seems so very contrived...life is a dynamic process, and it doesn't always fit into

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-7560074818526971312008-12-19T07:38:00.007-06:002008-12-19T08:13:41.813-06:00

A big thank-you to Matt at It's Quite an Experience for bestowing the brand new A Hoy Award upon my humble little blog (which I haven't been paying nearly enough attention to lately, and it's amazing that it hasn't wandered off to find someone else who will love it and nurture it a bit more than I have lately).I am to pass this award on, and I fully intend to do so, but at the moment...Xmas is

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-16572037924037996582008-12-08T07:01:00.003-06:002008-12-08T07:02:41.492-06:00

Sad, but true...the first thought I had last week when the kids started wondering when we were going to put the tree up and decorate the house was, Didn't I just take all this stuff down?

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-91591615786372524392008-12-04T07:36:00.005-06:002008-12-08T18:39:38.477-06:00

Most memes are kind of annoying, but I found this one on one of the knitting blogs I read, and I thought it was kind of neat, so I thought I'd do it. Anyone else who wants to can consider themselves tagged. Go for it, dudes!1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. And way too big. But we're not going to go there.3. When do you put up the tree? Soon...

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-87167823279273726792008-12-03T07:02:00.008-06:002008-12-03T07:14:14.888-06:00

The Chief and I have shared living space for over twenty years now and I fear I shall never enlighten him regarding the difference between in the laundry basket and next to the laundry basket.The difference between in the laundry basket and next to the laundry basket is, in actual, three-dimensional, Euclidean space, about six inches, possibly less.In The Chief's own little world, however, that

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-36655674606329545862008-12-02T07:30:00.001-06:002008-12-02T07:33:10.646-06:00

Every year about this time I get Anxious and Worried about some Terrible Event occurring just before Christmas. Like someone ending up in the hospital or worse. So every time I have to go out, I'm imagining ending up dead in a car wreck. And every time The Chief goes out, I'm imagining him ending up dead in a car wreck. And if it's not that, it's some other unlikely, convoluted event that only my

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-87850303284275099622008-11-08T08:37:00.002-06:002008-11-08T08:43:02.857-06:00

After yesterday's post extolling the virtues of snow, I thought I needed to clarify a little...in November when you haven't seen snow for a number of months and have been scorched/drenched by heat and humidity all summer, then snow is quite a welcome relief, and very beautiful. However, in late March, when you are standing out in the middle of your driveway clearing out a foot of snow for the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-22239422923539526962008-11-07T07:34:00.002-06:002008-11-07T07:41:28.664-06:00

It is snowing here in lovely Minnesota...wet snow that is sticking to the bare trees and turning my neighborhood into a gorgeous white fairyland. I love the snow and I hope it sticks around. My dogs love the snow, too. Being 3/4 husky, they are dressed for it, with thick fur coats and soft, downy undercoats (that end up all over my floor in wispy drifts when it's shedding time...which is most

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-60842820004643996182008-10-28T07:37:00.003-05:002008-10-28T07:56:40.558-05:00

Some of you...well, okay, one of you (Tamara, you know who you are!) has asked about the Industrial Accident I mentioned in my last post. I am not sure if I am ready to speak of it, but in the interest of healing and "letting it go" I shall try.Let me begin by saying that if Draino weren't so darned caustic, it would make an excellent floor cleaner. The fact that it removes the finish on the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-72391411103075518482008-10-24T16:19:00.002-05:002008-10-24T16:27:12.990-05:00

4:20. (p.m.) (perilously close to dinner time)Dudes. I am totally having a dinner rebellion. I have no will or desire to cook dinner. All the good intentions to make healthy food for my family have been sucked out of my brain and I am left in a limp, coagulating puddle in the middle of the living room floor. About six inches from the Industrial Accident. (Do not ask about the Industrial

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-82944211499100252302008-10-14T07:47:00.005-05:002008-10-14T08:13:06.952-05:00

No, gentle readers, "socks" is not a cat (or a chinchilla, although The Chief's first pet chinchilla was named Sock, as she was too small to make a coat out of...). "Socks", in this context, is an article of footwear I am attempting to knit. Attempting being the operative word, here.Actually, I am attempting a sock. Just one. I probably don't have enough wool for two, and who am I kidding, this

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-74917452830657365652008-10-13T11:43:00.000-05:002008-10-13T11:45:19.942-05:00

School conferences last week went amazingly well. I am starting to think that Hell's Barrister may finally be starting to get it together as far as the whole Organization and Time Management business is concerned.*slaps self up side of head*Oh, dear. I've gone and said it. Well...typed it, at least. And thought it, which is generally more than enough.Now I picture the Universe cackling with glee

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-56314720857677494052008-10-08T08:17:00.004-05:002008-10-08T08:35:58.752-05:00

In a daring move, demonstrating that I am currently at the pinnacle of creativity, I have (dramatic music) invented a new knitting stitch! The stitch was created out of absolute necessity, and I'm sure it will take the knitting world by storm.The new stitch is called Remove Ubiquitous Dog Hair, and is abbreviated RUDH. It is performed by gripping the offending dog hair between thumb and

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-68465554998620683562008-10-06T09:17:00.002-05:002008-10-06T09:20:07.183-05:00

The lacy pink scarf I was knitting for Little Mouse for xmas has morphed into a grey wrap with a pink stripe...I attempted to take pix over the weekend, but it just looks like a tangle of grey yarn, and until it is blocked, I fear it will continue to look like a pile of yarn barf...Still, I'm getting on with it...it is nearly two feet long already, and I've used up nearly half of my grey wool,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-80529584696228987812008-09-30T09:05:00.002-05:002008-09-30T09:08:34.131-05:00

I am waiting for someone.I know he's out there. I have a vague picture of him in my mind, and some restless ideas about who he is and what he wants. But he hasn't shown himself yet, nor has he spoken to me."He" is the main character of my next novel. He doesn't have a name yet, or a story, but I have that sense that someone is out there, lurking on the edges of my mind, waiting for the right

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-3551183376790133802008-09-23T12:12:00.002-05:002008-09-23T12:18:54.531-05:00

I just heard from the director of the community education program here, and not a single soul has signed up for my journal workshop, so they are having to cancel the class. I'm not too terribly disappointed...while it would have been a good experience and probably fun to meet other journal writers, I am by nature a shy, quiet sort of person, and so I am just as happy not to have to do any sort

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-57832034969955534302008-09-19T07:25:00.002-05:002008-09-19T07:32:08.126-05:00

This whole knitting thing is going quite remarkably well. I have knit a couple of dishcloths using simple stitches (sorry, no pix yet...I'm just not tech savvy enough to figure out how to get them out of the camera and into the computer without them running out through the wires and ending up all over the floor, and The Chief has about had it with computers lately, as he's had to do a number of

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-66922496461199910522008-09-15T16:17:00.001-05:002008-09-15T16:21:20.561-05:00

So much for the oodles of time I was supposed to have once the kids got back to school. Between dealing with contractors for some repairs on our house and dealing with school (would someone please explain under what educational paradigm it is acceptable for a sixth grader to be getting four hours of homework a night?) and dealing with my mother-in-law moving into her own apartment (

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-52824758317465278972008-09-11T07:22:00.002-05:002008-09-11T07:24:24.460-05:00

Ever since I was given the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom, and once the children were in school, the time and energy to pursue my writing, I've been trying to understand why it is that I have no interest in the whole publishing game.I've written. I've written volumes. Novels and a writing book and reams of poetry...and of course, pages and pages of journal stuff. But I have absolutely no

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-70353685397524905472008-09-09T13:06:00.002-05:002008-09-09T13:10:04.035-05:00

Canis Dafticus has allergies. He has been chewing on his presumably itchy feet for about a week and a half now. Last week I started him on Benadryl (you wouldn't believe how much Benadryl a dog can take, and it doesn't slow him down one bit!), but he had gnawed a very sore spot on one of his feet. It wasn't looking any better today, so I took him to the vet.Talk about pathetic.Canis Dafticus may

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-36117643930663876742008-09-08T09:55:00.002-05:002008-09-08T09:57:33.442-05:00

*Breathes huge sigh of relief*Finally, a normal quiet day with kids in school and no noise! It's been a terribly busy and chaotic few days. Thursday and Friday I had a construction crew here replacing hail damaged siding on two sides of our house, so there was loud pounding and much doggie nervousness and doggies-cooped-up-in-the-house-ness for two very long days. But it is done now, and they did

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-36876721137675668552008-09-04T08:30:00.001-05:002008-09-04T08:32:25.219-05:00

I put my first baby on the high school bus this morning. He's not even a high school student yet...he's taking an advanced math class at the high school and then being bussed back to the middle school for the rest of the day. Judging from the kids I saw at the 8th Grade Back to School Event a couple of weeks ago, he's just about the shortest kid in the 8th grade...I am hoping he manages all right

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-48919050113633179532008-09-02T11:31:00.004-05:002008-09-02T11:37:09.748-05:00

I have knit.I mean, really, made a cute little swatch of knitting with no mistakes in it! If you use your imagination, it actually looks like it could be part of a sweater or a rather pathetic little scarf instead of something barely alive that the cat dragged in.The key was finding a book that had pictures in it that I could actually follow (and showed me a left-handed method different from what

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-77381263444025471162008-08-25T11:05:00.002-05:002008-08-25T11:08:44.618-05:00

So, I know I've been silent for a few days, here, so I just thought I'd pop in and let you know what I've been up to. I have a new passion...knitting. Not socks and mittens and booties kind of knitting, but elegant cobwebby lacy shawls kind of knitting.You know, the sort of knitting that takes years of practice and oodles of talent.You know, the sort of thing I don't have.In spades.So the other

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-15532685321178621162008-08-18T12:21:00.004-05:002008-08-18T13:19:30.303-05:00

Friends, I will be taking a break for the next couple of weeks. I have a whole lot to do with getting the kids ready for school, and I am feeling the strain of a long summer with little time to myself. I will try to get around to your blogs now and then, but I probably won't be posting much for the next couple of weeks...so don't panic! All is well!

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-32222412053408224962008-08-15T09:21:00.001-05:002008-08-15T09:22:54.107-05:00

The dreaded sniping has begun. This summer was going fine up until the last couple of days, but now, as we enter the home stretch (three more weeks til school starts), the kids are suffering from an overdose of togetherness.I suppose it doesn't help that neither one of them is particularly social. My son has always found pre-arranged playdates to be agonizing, and my daughter would prefer to

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-44964072223832583542008-08-13T11:24:00.000-05:002008-08-13T11:25:02.639-05:00

Last night, after a quick thunderstorm had cleared the air and the clouds had moved out, I went out into the front yard, perched on a rock and stared up at the moon. I have always felt drawn to the moon, but it is a very subtle sort of feeling. I feel certain that our bodies, made of so much water as they are, must be subtly affected by something that is powerful enough to influence the very

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-43907464591514687992008-08-11T22:56:00.004-05:002008-08-11T23:20:03.093-05:00

I feel like a terrible parent. Aren't I always supposed to know what to say, what to do, how to make it better? As my kids grow older, the number of things I can make better seems to be dwindling rapidly...About half an hour after I had tucked her into bed tonight, Little Mouse (who is eleven) drifted into the family room where The Chief and I were relaxing with a movie. She was clutching her two

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-90473619075841301632008-08-07T08:46:00.002-05:002008-08-07T08:52:02.899-05:00

My in-laws are Italian. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be an excuse or an explanation, but they are at it again, trying to stick me in the middle of a family feud. And it's a tough situation, because, as usual, I have the empathy to understand both sides.It's funny how families differ...my own mother would never dream of enlisting one of us kids to side with her in an argument with the other,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-82173774215086759432008-08-04T09:51:00.002-05:002008-08-04T09:56:29.157-05:00

"Instead of elders, we now have elected politicians who speak with corrupt and self-serving voices; instead of fragrant local wisdom we have homogeneous civil law and institutionalized religion to guide us." --Caitlin Matthews, "The Celtic Spirit"I often find myself yearning for a different time, a simpler time, when we lived in harmony with the turning of the earth. Although technology has done

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-352588624777677622008-08-01T11:06:00.003-05:002008-08-01T11:36:54.790-05:00

The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves have so much power over us. They shape our self-concept, mold our identity, because in the ways that count, we are what we believe we are.So it's important for me to decide which story I want to believe about my "bipolar" adventure. That "manic" episode I had that was so out of control, that drove me to a psychiatrist and into chemical restraints...

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-71852541560744723512008-07-30T09:04:00.005-05:002008-07-30T10:39:34.177-05:00

Terra Incognita has given me the Arte y Pico Award...which I feel really guilty about accepting considering what a lousy posting job I've done over the past week or so...but that's just my insecurities babbling inanely, so pay no attention...and thank you, Terra!“This award is given based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogging community."Here are the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-24408344094650958712008-07-29T18:12:00.001-05:002008-07-29T18:14:14.559-05:00

I haven't been very good about posting, have I? To be perfectly honest, there's just not that much going on right now.Mother-in-law is back home and doing fine, although I'm not sure if this latest episode was enough to get her on track to becoming more healthy.The kids are getting along with each other better than ever this summer, so it's been a lot less stressful for me.I'm off the trazodone,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-81650772290433356872008-07-26T20:09:00.005-05:002008-07-26T21:27:33.219-05:00

My mother-in-law is back home now, crisis averted for the moment, and we all breathe a huge sigh of relief...until the next time. Thank-you, all, for your supportive comments and emails.Warning: extreme snarkiness ahead....read at your own risk...and if you'd like to preserve your image of me as a sweet, gentle, understanding soul, well, perhaps you'd better not read at all...Over the last five

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-22340288936709377572008-07-24T10:49:00.004-05:002008-07-26T20:09:16.780-05:00

I may not be around much this weekend...I've just had word that my mother-in-law has been rushed off to the hospital. She has a history of heart problems (quadruple bypass surgery just over a year ago), so I do not know what the weekend will hold.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-34934869911997178212008-07-23T10:12:00.001-05:002008-07-23T10:14:08.115-05:00

I quit my quilters' guild. I was supposed to go on Monday night, and I just couldn't deal with sitting in that room with all those women that I don't feel I have anything in common with...except that we all make quilts. Of course, my quilts don't look anything like theirs...mine aren't these pretty, traditional things in country blues and pinks with perfect points and lovely neat blocks. My

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-62111043966239493712008-07-22T09:01:00.001-05:002008-07-22T09:04:14.374-05:00

For yesterday's writing prompt, I asked what is one thing you are thankful that you learned, and one of the responses I got was from Susan at Wellness Writer, who said:"By her example, my mother taught me how to write. She wrote a neighborhood column for a community newspaper for 40 years. And from the time I was child, she wrote poetry to tell us how much she loved us, or to make us laugh! I

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-77430909221998930602008-07-21T08:43:00.004-05:002008-07-21T09:06:51.222-05:00

Two weeks after my last 25 mg of trazodone, and I finally feel like I am sleeping normally again without it. I am falling asleep quickly, and staying asleep, and I feel much more rested and alert. I'm still taking Benadryl...but that's normal for me this time of year. I have allergies, and as August and ragweed season approach, there is no way I can leave off the Benadryl right now. Once we have

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-72851120405516338862008-07-18T10:11:00.001-05:002008-07-18T10:13:41.204-05:00

What, exactly, is a writer? I think a writer is someone who writes. And I think a real writer isn't necessarily someone who has been published (as some of those who have will tell you--like it's some sort of exclusive club or something), but I think a real writer is someone who can't not write.It's a mind-set rather than a list of accomplishments. Because when it comes down to it, published or

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-61198680604286498362008-07-16T11:57:00.000-05:002008-07-16T11:59:14.311-05:00

Part of being well and staying well is knowing how to pace yourself. Sometimes we load too much on our plates and then we get stressed out and don't do any of the things we're trying to do to our satisfaction.My sleep is still disturbed after my trazodone withdrawal, and I'm trying not to take anything to help because I feel like then I'm just trading one chemical for another. As a result, I'm a

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-47065767093352536462008-07-15T09:06:00.003-05:002008-07-15T09:11:53.681-05:00

Ever since I was a little kid, I've felt like I was on the outside looking in. While I was growing up, much of what the people around me felt was important--the "right" clothes, the "right" hair, being part of the "right" group--all bewildered me no end, and still does. I find it very hard to relate to this culture's value system, and now, as an adult, I have realized that I will probably never

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-91662046415856634632008-07-14T11:33:00.001-05:002008-07-14T11:37:01.154-05:00

One of the things that has helped me stick with my wellness routines--such as eating healthy, exercising, meditation, and sleep hygiene--has been the positive feedback I've received. And I'm not talking about positive feedback from other people--I'm talking about the positive feedback I'm getting from my own body.Since I put these routines in place, I have lost 45 lbs, and the benefits of this

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-24811399128439579842008-07-11T13:59:00.002-05:002008-07-11T13:59:53.208-05:00

I really need a media break, so I'm going off-line for the weekend. I'll be back Monday to check up on everyone's blogs! Have a great weekend!

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-18349582028893901592008-07-11T09:53:00.002-05:002008-07-11T09:58:27.716-05:00

While tapering off of trazodone has been really good for my mental acuity and creativity, I am still struggling with sleep. I took my last 25 mg of trazodone last Saturday night, and since then I have had a difficult time falling asleep and staying asleep.Sunday night I tried Sleepytime Tea (by Celestial Seasonings)--the one with valerian and chamomile...which did actually make me sleepy, but not

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-87738007929770136542008-07-10T08:16:00.000-05:002008-07-10T08:18:11.798-05:00

Rituals can be extremely helpful in centering ourselves and preparing our minds for journal work. If we engage in a ritual for long enough, it can help give our minds the push they need sometimes to get into the mental space where we do our journal work.Journal writing rituals are as varied and individual as the people who come up with them. What's important is not so much what the ritual is, as

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-528248220795107742008-07-09T08:44:00.004-05:002008-07-09T09:26:59.810-05:00

Beyond Meds has an interesting post up today about a Newsweek article in which Dr. James Gordon is interviewed. Gordon is the author of the book "Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression."I read the interview, and it really struck a chord with me because these are exactly the recovery methods I used to get myself off of bipolar meds and to stabilize myself: excellent

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-54932635162521370642008-07-08T09:57:00.003-05:002008-07-08T10:35:15.005-05:00

I just filled up another journal notebook. This was volume 51. Volume 1 was begun when I was thirteen years old. So for those of you doing the math, that's 51 volumes in about 30 years, since I started around December of 1978 (when I got a blank book for xmas and decided that it should be a journal). The last 25 volumes were filled during the past ten years.I don't know what it is, but I have

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-17510081811812796212008-07-07T08:43:00.004-05:002008-07-07T08:51:31.109-05:00

Last night, for the first time in a few years, I didn't take any trazodone. I had a cup of chamomile and valerian tea before bed...which was a mistake, because then I had to keep getting up to use the bathroom. The tea did make me sleepy, but not sleepy enough to ignore my brain, which kept yammering on at me in a particularly shrill tone that I hadn't taken my trazodone and that I would never

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-1621668859071839262008-07-06T11:48:00.004-05:002008-07-06T11:59:49.510-05:00

The range of behaviors society is willing to call "normal" seems to be narrowing at a rather alarming rate. Behaviors that only twenty years ago were considered part of the incredible diversity of human expression are now considered pathological, and we are encouraged (every night during numerous television commercials sponsored by Big Pharma) to seek help and take powerful medications (whose

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-7552404208313650882008-07-05T09:17:00.004-05:002008-07-05T09:24:55.805-05:00

One of the most insidious effects of my bipolar diagnosis was the way it robbed me of my identity...I was not suicidal, nor was I psychotic, or even a whole lot out of control. I initially went to my GP because I couldn't sleep. I hadn't slept more than a few hours for nearly a week, and wasn't feeling tired, and I figured that wasn't normal, I ought to be exhausted...so maybe I better get this

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-83457161746837488172008-07-04T08:33:00.000-05:002008-07-04T08:34:53.925-05:00

"Mom...will you help me get a quilt started?""Mom...I spilled paint on the dog.""Mom...my socks feel funny!""Mom...will you put sunscreen on my back?""Mom...I'm hungry, when's dinner?""Mom...I trapped a squirrel...can I keep him?""Honey...how does this toast-making contraption work?"Independence Day, huh?

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-75474914750551909192008-07-03T09:21:00.004-05:002008-07-03T10:36:11.361-05:00

My Journal Workshop proposal was accepted by our community education program, and so assuming my background check comes back all right (tremble, shiver, whimper), I will be teaching the class in October. The class will be taught in four ninety-minute sessions.I've never taught a writing class before...but I was on speech team and drama club in high school, I gave a lot of seminars in graduate

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-24987388133146454972008-07-02T08:45:00.002-05:002008-07-02T08:48:03.993-05:00

I'm still working my way (slowly) through Ira Progoff's "At a Journal Workshop", which is all about working with the different periods of your life and building a life history from them. There's more to it than that, but I'm only about a quarter of the way through the book, working through the exercises as I go.The problem I'm running into is that the first time period I chose to work with

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-29091542810185250902008-07-01T09:34:00.002-05:002008-07-01T09:38:56.513-05:00

Susan, the Bipolar Wellness Writer had an interesting post up yesterday about wanting wellness. Her key question to people who are on medication for bipolar disorder or depression but who are not moving in the direction of wellness is "What are you doing besides taking medication?"It's a good question because so many things feed into our health and well-being, and taking medication is only one of

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-19153293086789622992008-06-30T10:29:00.004-05:002008-06-30T10:34:15.842-05:00

Little Mouse's birthday was over the weekend, and one of the gifts she got was an "Action Replay"--a special cartridge for her hand-held video game machine (Nintendo DS for those of you in the know). Action Replay is a product that contains all the different "cheat codes" for the video games you can play on the DS, which means that she can get unlimited money or have already caught all the

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-22184285371225342152008-06-29T09:05:00.002-05:002008-06-29T09:30:32.101-05:00

I know I said I wasn't going to post this weekend, but mother-in-law snuck out early this morning before I was even awake, and Little Mouse was so exhausted from the "sleep"over that she is still sleeping. It is quiet and I have thoughts...my own thoughts, even!Books have played such an important role in my life. I have been an avid reader since I was very small. In our house, we don't have

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-21714495286815687822008-06-28T08:05:00.003-05:002008-06-29T09:31:22.743-05:00

Last weekend I dropped my trazodone down to 25 mg from 50 mg. I've had headaches on and off since Monday, so that's not good, but next weekend I'm stopping it entirely, so we'll see how that goes. It's funny how some cuts I've not noticed anything in the way of symptoms, and others I've had headaches for a week after.The stuff isn't doing anything to help me sleep anymore, which isn't surprising,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-55777512819627637352008-06-27T08:59:00.002-05:002008-06-27T09:01:27.180-05:00

Writing Prompt: What fictional character would you most like to have as a friend and why? This doesn't have to be a literary character, it could be from a movie or a comic book, or even for you writers out there, a character of your own design.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-32458539199806481222008-06-27T08:21:00.002-05:002008-06-27T08:23:44.109-05:00

Just popping by to say I'll probably be offline most of the weekend...Little Mouse's birthday is this weekend, and between the houseful of eleven-year-old girls arriving at 10:00 this morning for tonight's slumber party and my mother-in-law's overnight visit tomorrow, I'm probably not going to be spending much time at the computer. If I get a minute, I may whip off a quick post, otherwise I'll

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-47506516069276904762008-06-26T08:56:00.002-05:002008-06-26T09:00:01.289-05:00

My friend Gianna over at Beyond Meds was up at 3 am last night writing out her anxieties over a trip she is taking this morning. Her post got me thinking about all of the times I have done exactly that--sat down feeling all wound up about something, scrawled my anxieties or pain or fear (or sometimes all three) across several notebook pages, and come out on the other side feeling, if not better,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-78472869556667802052008-06-25T08:38:00.004-05:002008-06-25T08:46:37.086-05:00

My knee is acting up.Not that I'm looking for sympathy, mind you. Oh, no, I brought this on myself, playing DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) barefoot with my kids for the last couple of weeks. I guess 40-something women who still have a few pounds to lose shouldn't be mucking with that stuff.But hell, t'was only five years ago I was tearing up the dance floors at some of the more fashionable night

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-12241106899936294632008-06-24T11:44:00.001-05:002008-06-24T11:52:25.366-05:00

Weather can have such a huge impact on mood. Some of us experience depression in the winter due to lack of sunlight (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and some of us (like me) have a really hard time in the summer when it is hot and humid.Writing Prompt: What sort of weather makes you feel the most alive? What kind of weather is the hardest for you to deal with?

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-1880012676483543832008-06-23T10:05:00.002-05:002008-06-23T10:10:30.682-05:00

Naturalgal has been running a series on foods that are healthy and foods to avoid. Reading her work and talking with my psychiatrist the other day got me thinking...I find it interesting that my psychiatrist has never asked me about my diet. Nor does he have any interest in which supplements I am taking. Now, admittedly I'm not taking anything exotic, but so many substances that are marketed as "

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-6242691809771077322008-06-22T08:56:00.002-05:002008-06-22T10:04:21.586-05:00

...when I checked my stats yesterday and discovered that my post about Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition was the top post...so now I have to wonder how many of you actually do play D&D but won't admit it for fear of appearing geeky.So for all you closet gamers out there, I suppose I will post something that only you will understand...the rest of you, please bear with me, it is only a temporary

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-35404849129134967272008-06-21T09:05:00.001-05:002008-06-21T09:08:38.635-05:00

I have been pondering silence lately. Silence and peace.Silence is extremely important to me. I can't stand a lot of noise around me. I don't have television on, or the radio, or even music, most of the time. Sometimes I like it, but mostly I find it irritating. I even have my computer's sound muted because the constant blipping and beeping drives me bats.It's the same with visual input. I can't

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-38533864527508676022008-06-20T08:03:00.002-05:002008-06-20T08:08:34.868-05:00

Clinically Clueless has challenged me to write my memoir in six words. Being a writer, of course I cannot resist...Anxiously leaving myself to come home.Writing Prompt: I'm not going to tag anybody specifically on this, but I am going to challenge you all to write your own memoir in six words...and if you did the exercise on naming the chapters of your life, perhaps you could write each chapter

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-9314959930922606492008-06-19T10:15:00.001-05:002008-06-19T10:23:10.173-05:00

I went to see my psychiatrist, Dr. L., yesterday. We are on a 3-month check-in schedule right now, with me now off all meds except trazodone, and having been stable for the past four years.It was actually a good visit. I was afraid I might be feeling rather hostile and bad-attitudinal, especially with all the feelings that my art-journaling experiment the other day stirred up. But I was in such a

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-16664561150290238452008-06-19T10:13:00.002-05:002008-06-19T10:18:43.670-05:00

Thanks to Shiv for the following idea:Writing Prompt: You can go back in time for one day, and while you are there, you can tell anyone, including yourself, anything, possibly changing the future. When do you go, who do you talk to, and what do you tell them? And if any of you have any ideas for interesting prompts, shoot me an email and I'll post them and give you credit.

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-22453383708367692922008-06-18T07:43:00.003-05:002008-06-18T08:37:11.983-05:00

I've been visiting some of the websites that I have listed on the sidebar under "Resources", and I've been thinking about trying art journaling...pictures and words. I've collected a lot of art supplies and scrapbooking supplies over the years, so it's not like I would have to make a substantial investment to get started. I just need to get myself past the critic in my brain that says, in glaring

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-72094063100186749022008-06-17T10:11:00.004-05:002008-06-18T07:48:55.254-05:00

Well if Superlagirl can do it, then so can I.Dear Blogosphere,Please excuse Jazz from making a meaningful entry today. She hasa vicious jungle virus brought home from the wetlands of outer Mongoliaa large, purple creature with fangs and teeth sitting in the middle of her living room demanding fooda rift in the space/time continuum right in her own backyardan appointment with the local dragon,

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-7070232247704627242008-06-16T10:18:00.002-05:002008-06-16T10:22:13.273-05:00

So I'm working with The Intensive Journal Process, which is described in Ira Progoff's book "At a Journal Workshop", which I picked up years ago and have only just now started reading.I'm still trying to figure this thing out.Rather than the rambling, several pages long Morning Pages (for those of you familiar with Julia Cameron's work) style entries, my daily entries, called Daily Logs, are

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-75738207520295268832008-06-15T08:42:00.002-05:002008-06-15T08:46:05.713-05:00

Our lives are made up of a series of connecting moments, and it brings us a sense of comfort, safety, and continuity to engage in rituals--the little things we do that bring a sense of familiarity to a moment.One of my favorite rituals is my morning tea and journal writing. Every morning after I have done the necessary things, which during summer break means walking and feeding the dogs, and

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-56938521277593355272008-06-14T08:56:00.003-05:002008-06-14T09:02:25.646-05:00

Home means something different to each of us. It can be the place where we first felt secure or where we put down roots. It can be the place your family comes from, maybe even a place you've never visited. It might be the first place you ever made completely yours--your first apartment, your first house. Or maybe it's a place you're still searching for.I've moved around so much that I think for

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-49738036610098257642008-06-13T08:17:00.001-05:002008-06-13T08:19:16.475-05:00

I dropped my trazodone from 75 mg to 50 mg last weekend, and yesterday afternoon I felt particularly fatigued. I'm not experiencing any other symptoms, and I'm getting plenty of sleep, so it's possible that this is due to the reduction in trazodone.The good news is that I'm sleeping well and I'm not having any mood issues at the moment. I plan to stay at 50 mg for two weeks, then do 25 mg for

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Writing Prompt: Think of your life as a book, and try to come up with interesting chapter headings for each chapter, or each period, you would divide your life into.Mine look like this:1. England2. The Kid by the Fence3. Fading into the Herd4. Waking Up5. A Herd of One6. The War7. Iowa Only Has Three Pigs8. The F***ing Desert9. Motherhood10. The Bipolar Thing11. Healing

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Little Mouse and I are doing writing exercises every morning...more focused on creative writing than journaling, because, being ten, she has yet to accumulate much baggage, and is much more interested in writing stories and poems than deep self analysis. Yesterday we worked with lists, and we each came up with 10 wild animals, 10 trees, 10 favorite foods, 10 favorite books...and then I challenged

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What breaks your heart?That was the journal prompt I was working with the other day. I wrote a series of short paragraphs about a number of different things that break my heart, and the one that struck me the most was this:It breaks my heart to think of that little-girl-me who was uprooted from almost everything she knew...in one fell swoop she lost her home, her beloved Nana, her toys and books,

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Writing Prompt: What breaks your heart?

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-52170085092304811692008-06-10T07:56:00.001-05:002008-06-10T07:57:53.446-05:00

I feel as though I am at some sort of cusp or turning point. For the last three years--since The Chief's heart attack and my subsequent liberation from chemical restraints--I feel as if I have been curled up inside myself. In a state of hurt bewilderment, I've been laying low and licking my wounds.But over the last year or so there has been a gradual opening up, a reclaiming of territory I once

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Writing Prompt: In my daydreams, I see myself...

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-46016579745936991952008-06-09T19:55:00.001-05:002008-06-09T19:56:29.282-05:00

Writing Prompt: If you could change one part of yourself, physical or mental, what would it be? How would this change affect you?

Jazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399633159122258332.post-28941057173914463052008-06-09T10:52:00.003-05:002008-06-09T19:55:09.599-05:00

Sorry, I know most of you probably don't have a clue what I'm talking about...I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) since the first set of hardcover rulebooks came out back in 1977 or so. The 4th edition of my beloved game was just released on Friday, so everyone in our Friday night group came over on Friday with their new rulebooks and we gave it whirl. It was a lot of fun!And I am not a

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