Hannity Grace

TGIF - Inspired by Brene Brown

Happy TGIF ..and this time I am writing this post actually ON Friday - and it's not even the end of the day yet! As always a huge thanks to Brene Brown at Ordinary Courage for inspiring me to be the most authentic me that I can be, and reminding me that the things I should be grateful for are not always immediately obvious.

This week was a long one. I have started working on my own at the restaurant. I am finding in many ways that being fully present in the moment is the only way to work. Being at a table conversing with a customer, taking someone's order, tending to their needs, requires focus to do it well. The restaurant is always a swirl of action, operating in some ways like a well orchestrated play, everyone knowing their roles and next steps and yet in other ways it is more like controlled chaos. It is a delicate balance of being absolutely focused on what I am doing at any given moment and also being able to transition from moment to moment almost instantaneously. The minute I leave a table after taking an order I am instantly intensely focused on the next task.

The trick is making sure that in those moments I don't try to divide my attention. I am sure this is something that the 20-somethings are not giving this much thought to this level of their actions when they come to work, but it is something that even in my few short shifts I have noticed.

Today I'm trusting somehow the next 6-9-12 months will work out financially and that come next year this time, we will have a bit more breathing room.

I'm grateful for my family and their understanding that I am not around as much these days. I am grateful for their endless acceptance of me as who I am, and my less than perfect ability to keep a perfect home or tend a perfect garden. I am grateful that they love Marley as much as I do and are there to fill in the gaps when I am working.

I'm inspired my growth in personal insight. While I am still learning and sometimes stumbling as I grow, somehow along the way I have learned to be more gentle with myself, learned to hear what my body is saying, and learned how calm my mind (at least a little bit! It's a start!).

Happy Friday everyone!

Training to Fly Solo

Tonight was my last night of training at the restaurant. My first solo shift is Thursday. I am trying not to psyche myself out about what *could* go wrong. Being one of the *ahem* older waitstaff (in some instances by as much as 19 years!) I feel as if "the kids" have some kind of pool going as to what might possibly be my first foible. I know I can roll with it and I am sure I will do fine. My biggest concerns are 1) making sure I get the orders entered correctly so I don't piss off the chef - pissing off the chef is bad and 2)  not being able to open a bottle of wine table-side without putting the bottle on the table. 

Neither of these concerns are earth shattering. In fact what I find most liberating about this job is that my life, bills, survival is not depending on it and it I can stop thinking about it when I walk out the door. The people are nice, some friendlier than others, as is always the case anywhere. 

So I fly solo Thursday for the first time, then if I manage to make it through the night I will work 3 other shifts this week F, SUN, MON (the week goes from Thursday to Wednesday). Ideally I will only work 3 shifts but right now, especially till November we need the cash so I will take the 4 shifts when they are offered.

Ordinary Courage Comes in Felt Sometimes

WOW I won something! Isn't it amazing that when you visit amazing blogs, amazing things happen. About a month ago now I came across Brene's blog Ordinary Courage. It was exactly the right inspriation at the right time and I have been visiting often ever since. Brene does a weekly TGIF - Trust, Gratitude, Inspiration Friday post that I love. It is an excellent trastion for me from the busyiness of my work week into my weekends. It is also a great way to slow down and remember what is important in my life each week.

About 2 weeks ago now, she blogged about Ann Tucker who she had met during the Women Healing events.  Ann is an artist and she "felts"- some people's creativity is so amazing to me! Ann just opened up a shop on Etsy and made some of these felt pillows for the WholeheARTed movement!

By leaving a comment that day on Brene's Blog, I was entered to win one of Ann's felt pillows. I was really suprised when Brene contacted me to let me know I had won! She has so many faithful readers, I nevfer expected it, but can honestly say it made my day!

Thank you Brene for inspiring me daily with your words and creativity! And Ann your creativity is beautiful and I am blessed to be able to have one of these pillows in my home! I can't wait for it to arrive!

What is Better than TWO?

What a wonderful party it was. Balloons all along the fence, a water park to play in, pizza delivered to the park, a cake with mounds of frosting, friends galore and lots of Dora gifts all around. What better way is there to turn 2!?

I cannot believe what a difference there is between a first birthday and a second birthday. I will post a photo comparison soon. I took a ton of photos and will have them posted this week.

Dora and Boots gifts were definitely the big hit, along with a tea set, a great refinished little kids table and chairs from her grandma and pop-pop.

TGIF - Inspired by Brene Brown

Happy TGIF on Saturday yet again. As always a huge thanks to Brene Brown at Ordinary Courage for inspiring me to be the most authentic me that I can be, and reminding me that the things I should be grateful for are not always immediately obvious.

This week was a good one. I am thrilled to be working at my 2nd job waitressing. I am sure at some point I will be challenged by working two jobs, trying to get everything done that life asks of me, and not be exhausted but right now this is what I am supposed to be doing. 

Today I'm trusting that my life is unfolding as it should in the long run, that obstacles and challenges that I am faced with happen for a reason and that I am making the best possible choices along the way.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have a 2nd job and be earning some extra income right now to help pay down some debt.

I'm  inspired the simplicity of my dog's life - her ability to be happy as she loves unconditionally, sleeps soundly, and enjoys watching the world go by is a great guiding light for my own happiness.

Peanut Butter Thang

not your ave.rage jo.esThe training thing at work is going pretty well. It is amazing to me how quickly I am remembering all of the steps and "tricks" around waiting tables. 

The best part about training is being able to pretty much eat our way through the menu. Tonight was appetizer and dessert night. The Peanut Butter Thing (PBT) is by far the best thing on the dessert menu (after the apple cinnamon - fried dough like - sticks). I think it just really depends if I am in a chocolate mood or not. 

The PBT is ice cream and cookie dough and oreo cookie crust and carmel drizzle and hot chocolate drizzle and whipped cream, and of course a garnish of mint!

The recipe is on their website in case you are feeling daring and want to try and make your own. I have 2 more training shifts Monday and Tuesday and then hopefully next weekend I will be able to take on my own section. Based on the tips my trainers have been making I think this will work out nicely as a second job - 3 shifts a week - to help us with bills.

Tomorrow is my niece's 2nd birthday - can you believe it! Two already! I am sure I will have plenty of photos to share tomorrow night or Monday.

Question of the Day

What is your most cherished possession?
Submitted by Hometown Girl.

My most cherished possession would be one of two things. It would either be my engagement ring or the stuffed rabbit I have had since I was born.

My engagement ring is special in two ways. One, my husband gave it to me when he asked me to marry him over 8 years ago and it has my great grandmother's diamond as the center stone.

My stuffed rabbit has been through it all with me, growing up, surgeries, going to college, getting married - and yes coming on our honeymoon. He survived a dog *ahem* attack on his paw a few years a back and now is resting comfortably in a bureau drawer to prevent losing too many beads through his worn fibers -- but he still comes out to make me feel better on the really bad days!

I will have to post some photos of him soon!

One Book

If you were only allowed to own one book, what book would you choose?
Submitted by The Private Library.

If I were to own only one book it would be this one, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron. I read this book at a time in my life about 6 years ago when I didn't know which way was up. My marriage, my self-confidence, my financial situation, all of it was just about as bad as I could have never imagined.

I read this book and somehow I was able to breathe again. It didn't solve my problems but it changed drastically how I looked at the problems, how I looked at myself and somehow it moved something inside of me that allowed me to move forward.

I have carried what I have read with me in the years since a first and second reading of the book and suspect that a third reading may not be far off. I will be interested to see my perspective on her teachings and on how I absorb them as I read from a better place in in my life. 

Our visitor left the house - and other random updates

A few days ago we realized we had a small visitor in our basement. I'm not one of those people who freak out over a mouse. Actually it wouldn't bother me much if he lived down there (much better than trapping him). BUT I do know that when the weather got colder he would probably invite his friends and family and have a rock star party in my walls, so perhaps it is best that he moved on today and left of his own free will when presented with the opportunity of a door left open. This is a photo of him as he headed out the door.

Isn't he cute?

Now onto more serious matters. Ivy is spreading...from 1 leg to the other in small amounts and now disturbingly....into some areas that are ... well really undesirable areas to have poison ivy. Let's just say it started on my hip bone and well...it's traveling south. *SIGH*

 

 ~ you can click if you really want to see the details!

After some back and forth trying to convince the office gal at the dermatologists appointment that waiting THREE weeks was not an option, I have a 10:30 appointment at the dermatologist tomorrow morning. (Truth be told my dad had an appointment with her this morning and I asked him to go and BEG to get me in - thanks dad!)

, I had my orientation shift tonight. I will do 5 training shift between tomorrow and next week and then I start on my own - 3 shifts a week. It actually felt somewhat exciting to be back in the "business". I really enjoy the people part of waitressing. We'll see how much I like working 2 jobs...for now it feels good to know that we will have some extra cash coming in to help pay down bills.

Hug a Tree

Some days you just have to hug a tree.