Life Outside the Box

You Think You Know Someone...

2008-10-10T14:04:00.002-06:00

When I called our insurance company to file losses from Ike, I learned that for some reason our Windstorm Insurance Policy had not been renewed this year. We had dealt with our agent, Darryl Golter, for years. He was a trusted associate. Last night, Channel 13 news told us what happened. Thank God the agency he used to work for is refunding our money. They are also treating the 75 families like we did have windstorm coverage, so no one is going to be out money from damages from Ike.

I am just flabbergasted.

Miscellaneous

2008-10-07T07:38:00.004-06:00

It's a rainy Tuesday morning, and I have a full day ahead of me. Things are pretty much back to "normal," with the exception of not having a back fence. Well, we have 1/3 of the back fence, as our fence guy has gotten that far. Something tells me that he won't be working in the rain today. But Lord knows, we need it the precipitation. It hasn't rained since the hurricane.

I got in right under the wire and registered to vote for the first time in my life. Now I get to talk about politics! I never did before, since I didn't vote. I have to start researching candidates and issues for myself instead of depending on what others are saying.

We were looking forward to going to Philly to see Christian make his first DVD! Of course, there's a wedding that weekend, not to mention Punkin's BFF's birthday party. It's funny how everything seems to fall on one weekend every once in a while. I need clones. Anyway, I'm sure he'll be fabulous even without us in the audience.

And while I'm bragging on my buds, I have to publicly congratulate Kambri for selling her book to Random House!! This woman continues to be a stellar example of "thoughts become things." I'm a little jealous, but much more proud. Congrats, KC!

There Is Only Now

2008-10-03T12:01:00.000-06:00

What a great DailyOM!

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It can be easy for us to walk through the world and our lives without really being present. While dwelling on the past and living for the future are common pastimes, it is physically impossible to live anywhere but the present moment. We cannot step out our front door and take a left turn to May of last year, any more than we can take a right turn to December 2010. Nevertheless, we can easily miss the future we are waiting for as it becomes the now we are too busy to pay attention to. We then spend the rest of our time playing catch up to the moment that we just let pass by. During moments like these, it is important to remember that there is only Now.

In order to feel more at home in the present moment, it is important to try to stay aware, open, and receptive. Being in the present moment requires our full attention so that we are fully awake to experience it. When we are fully present, our minds do not wander. We are focused on what is going on right now, rather than thinking about what just happened or worrying about what is going to happen next. Being present lets us experience each moment in our lives in a way that cannot be fully lived through memory or fantasy.

When we begin to corral our attention into the present moment, it can be almost overwhelming to be here. There is a state of stillness that has to happen that can take some getting used to, and the mind chatter that so often gets us into our heads and out of the present moment doesnt have as much to do. We may feel a lack of control because we arent busy planning our next move, assessing our current situation, or anticipating the future. Instead, being present requires that we be flexible, creative, attentive, and spontaneous. Each present moment is completely new, and nothing like it has happened or will ever happen again. As you move through your day, remember to stay present in each moment. In doing so, you will live your life without having to wait for the future or yearn for the past. Life happens to us when we happen to life in the Now.

A Good Cause...

2008-10-02T15:33:00.001-06:00

Hey, folks - go here and vote to help a good family win replacement technology lost to Ike!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

2008-09-30T07:06:00.001-06:00

Here's another great DailyOM:

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When our next best course of action seems unclear, any dilemmas we face can appear insurmountable. Yet there is nothing we cannot overcome with time, persistence, focused thought, help, and faith. Whatever the situation or problem, there is always a solution. And if you remember to look within, even as you search around you for the right course of action, you will be able to center yourself, clear your mind, and see that nothing has to be impossible.

The first step in overcoming any obstacle is to believe that it can be overcome. Doing so will give you the strength and courage to move through any crisis. The second step is to make a resolution that you can prevail over any chaos. Enlist your support network of family and friends if necessary. The more minds there are to consider a problem, the more solutions can be found. Dont discount ideas just because they seem impractical or unrealistic, and dont keep searching for the best alternative. Often there is no best choice, there is only a choice to make so we can begin moving beyond whatever is obstructing our path. At the very least, making a choice, even if isnt the ideal one, can give you a sense of peace before you have to figure out what your next course of action will be.

If you feel overwhelmed by the scope of your troubles, you may want to think of other people who have turned adversity into triumph. We often gain a fresh perspective when we remember others who have overcome larger obstacles. It can be inspiring to hear of their victories, helping us remember that there is always light at the end of every tunnel. It is during our darkest hours that we sometimes need to remind ourselves that we dont have to feel helpless. You have within and around you the resources to find a solution to any problem. And remember that if a solution or choice you make doesnt work, you are always free to try another. Believe that you can get through anything, and you will always prevail.

More Ike Humor

2008-09-26T20:57:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Reasons Hurricane Season Is Like Christmas

Number Ten:
Decorating the house (with plywood).

Number Nine:
Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season.

Number Eight:
Last minute shopping in crowded stores.

Number Seven:
Regular TV shows pre-empted for 'Specials'.

Number Six:
Family coming to stay with you.

Number Five:
Family and friends from out of state calling you.

Number Four:
Buying food you don't normally buy . . . and in large quantities.

Number Three:
Days off from work.

Number Two:
Candles.

And the Number One reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas:

At some point you're probably going to have a tree in your house!

Things Ike Has Taught Me

2008-09-26T20:52:00.002-06:00

Not so stealthily stolen from Bubba's Sis:

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Things Ike Has Taught Me

Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.
Hot pockets taste pretty good deep fried on the outdoor cooker!
My car gets 23.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY
He who has the biggest generator wins.
A new method of non-lethal torture -- showers without hot water.
TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.
Flood plain drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong.
People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.
Hampers were not made to contain such a volume.
If I had a store that sold only ice, chainsaws, gas and generators... I'd be rich.
Waterfront property can quickly become someone else's fishing hole.
Tree service companies are underappreciated.
MATH 101: 30 days in month, minus 10 days without power equals 30% higher electric bill??
I can walk a lot farther than I thought.
Heat makes you be brutally honest!!!!
You can never have too many gas cans!
Suddenly you realize you DO have neighbors!
Neighbors are much more sociable when your trees are being removed from their houses.
That neighbor who knows how to use a chainsaw is your new best friend.
What looks acceptable by candlelight in your bathroom will scare you when you look at yourself in the mirror at the office.
Coffee is NOT a luxury - it's a staple! And withdrawal is hell!
Rather than campfires, you find families huddled about tiny battery-operated televisions to watch The Simpsons.
Peanut butter and jelly is a perfectly acceptable meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the same day.
Ice is a form of currency.
Coming home from work with a pizza and a charged-up laptop so the kids can watch a DVD makes you a hero.
You run out of things to barbecue after Day 3.
Hair can dry without a blow dryer, but it may not look the way you planned.
Baseball caps go with any post-hurricane ensemble.
You can't train yourself not to flip on light switches when entering a room.
Lukewarm is the new cold.
It's easier to ignore a dirty house when you can't see it.
A new opening phrase when seeing someone: 'Got lights yet?'
Daydreaming consists of thinking about what you will do when the freak'n power comes back on!

Ike, Ike Baby

2008-09-26T10:51:00.001-06:00

From the email files:
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Ike Ike Baby

All right stop, evacuate and listen
Ike is here with some big ambition
People, close your homes up tightly
It's blowing like a hurricane daily and nightly
Where will it stop? Yo-I don't know
Turn off the lights and let's go
To the coastline Ike rocks like a vandal
Start up the car and watch me drive like an animal

Dang, hardware store sales boom
Ike's killing my plans like a poisonous mushroom
Deadly, evacuate they tell me
Anyone left will be charged with a felony
Love it or hate it, you better get away
Ike will hit the bull's eye, the storm don't play
If you're on vacation, Yo, Ike stalled it
Check out the eye while the bands revolve it

Hurricane Ike Ike Baby, Hurricane Ike Ike Baby
Hurricane Ike Ike Baby, Hurricane Ike Ike Baby

Now that the people are jumpin'
With their stuff packed up and the gas done pumpin'
Quick to the road, to the road no fakin'
Pass McD's get a burger with bacon
Burnin' 'em and follow the symbol
I go crazy when I hear some imbecile
Revving, in a souped up Pinto
Now I can roll, it's time to crack the window
Rollin' in my Chevy Tahoe
With my window down, I can feel Ike blow
My laptop's on standby, Waiting for some Wi-fi
This spot hot? No - and I gotta fly
Kept on pursuing to the next block
I busted a left and I'm beating the clock
The light was red

Yo -- so I continued to I-37 to San Antonio
Wish I was there in a blink like a jeanie
How I'd love to be sippin' a martini
Jealous 'cause my girl's living fine
She left yesterday and was there by nine
Ready to give my homies a call
My homies acting ill because their car just stalled
Humidity, the air is sticky as h*ll
Ike's on his way, the weatherman yells
Moving toward the gulf coast real fast
I'm in my car, can't give it no gas
Bumper to bumper the interstate's packed
I'm trying to get away before Ike attacks
Police on the scene, what can it mean?
They hooked me up, now there's another lane free
If you're on vacation, Yo, Ike stalled it
Check out the eye while the bands revolve it

Hurricane Ike Ike Baby, Hurricane Ike Ike Baby
Hurricane Ike Ike Baby, Hurricane Ike Ike Baby

Yo man, let's get out of here! Word to your mother!

Back to Normal

2008-09-25T13:40:00.002-06:00

So, life's back to normal now. The kids go back to school tomorrow (yay!) and I went back to work on Tuesday. Just found out that our lovely insurance guy did not renew our windstorm insurance last year - and that he's left the company now - so we are SOL on any reimbursement for our fence repairs. I hear whisperings that the Homeowners' Association may pay for it since we border a county road, so let's hope that's true.

Otherwise, life is back to focusing on what we're having for dinner. Hot dogs tonight, I think.

Post-Mortem

2008-09-22T15:52:00.002-06:00

For some pictures of our area, check out Bubba's Sis. Her pics are almost identical to those I would have posted. Here's part of my "processing" of Hurricane Ike:

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It’s Wednesday. No, Tuesday. The days have started to run together. I forgot my good friend’s birthday yesterday. I called her today and she didn’t seem to hold it against me. My world is topsy-turvy after a hurricane named Ike.

We had been “keeping an eye” on it (pardon the pun) as it made its way over Haiti, Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico. Having been through Hurricane Alicia in 1983, which had been a higher rated storm, we were not that concerned about a stupid category two. But we sighed, rolled up our shirtsleeves and followed proper etiquette – boarding up what windows we could, making pretty little “X”s with masking tape on the windows we couldn’t. We filled both tubs with water in case we lost water pressure. We bought a 700 watt inverter to power a fan or TV. We stocked up on “non perishables” (read: beans in a can), ice and bottled water. Then we “hunkered down” and waited.

Ike started to breeze in on Friday afternoon. The wind picked up and we had some gnarly gusts – some up to 30 mph. Our good friends who were going to ride out the storm with us came over and we decided to go ahead and cook dinner around 6pm. Halfway through preparing pork chops and veggies, the power flickered a few times and then finally died. I was quite disappointed, as the weather hadn’t gotten angry quite yet. I called around to some friends who lived in the area and they all had power. Yay, us.

As the sun set, the eeriness of not having electricity really set in. We had to tote flashlights with us everywhere, and no matter how many times we instinctively flipped the light switches, nothing happened. Fortunately, we still had gas and water service, so we could use the toilet and shower as much as we needed. We hooked up our inverter to power a small television/DVD player for the kids and a fan for us. Our neighbors were kind enough to lend us a battery powered TV, so we felt some connection with the outside world. Being in a house with boarded up windows and no electricity feels more like a prison than a home.

As we watched the news people on TV getting blown around by gusts of 50 mph, we tried to stay optimistic. We tried to convince ourselves that we had made the right choice to stay and not evacuate. Around 10pm, we all decided we had heard enough and we all took our respective sleeping pills and went to bed.

My cell phone rang, dragging me out of a dead sleep at 4am. It was my concerned father, asking how we were doing since we were now “in the worst of it.” As I tripped into consciousness and took my earplugs out, my heart was gripped with fear as I heard what Hurricane Ike had to say to us. There’s just no real way to describe what 80+ mph winds and torrential rain sounds like. It was like a giant monster roaring continuously, or maybe the Titanic bearing down on the house. That sound is etched in my mind, and I never want to hear it again!

I went upstairs to check on the children and was even more amazed at the sound I heard up there. It was if a ghost train was speeding by just outside the window, passengers throwing uncooked pasta at the glass. Surprisingly, the girls were sound asleep. Thank God, I thought as I wasn’t sure I could appear brave in front of them. I would be useless for comfort. I went back downstairs to find my husband placing a pan on the bedroom floor to catch the water dripping down from a poorly installed vent. The rain was coming down virtually horizontally, sending it in torrents into our attic. It was too dark to see the maelstrom outside and I was able to put my earplugs back in and go back to sleep.

A couple of hours later, I woke to see some light coming in through the blinds. Dawn had broken along with our back fence, palm tree and some of our spirits. After making sure everyone was accounted for and well, we inspected the house and grounds. Our insurance man is definitely going to get a call as soon as we get phone service, I thought, looking through the back yard to the street behind our absent fence and the apartment complex beyond that. Their car ports had been made of corrugated aluminum and had been peeled back like sardine cans. One next door neighbor had lost their back fence as well, while the other neighbor’s fence looked like nothing had happened.

We spent the morning doing the only thing we could: sit and wait. We had to use the inverter sparingly as we were draining our car batteries and had to jump start them several times. Around noon, the weather let up and my husband got to work on a temporary fix for the fence. My friend and I got in her car to go check on another pal’s house (she had evacuated wisely to Austin) and emotion ambushed me. Looking around at everyone’s downed fences, trees and roofs, I just couldn’t pretend to be brave anymore. My friend sympathized with me as I wept, and she pointed out that even though we had been one of the lucky ones, this still was quite a trauma. You’d think with my “million-dollar education,” I would have figured that out on my own.

Update

2008-09-19T13:40:00.002-06:00

Well, it's Friday and we are now 100% "normal" with our Internet returning this afternoon. We are oh so grateful for this! I know so many people are still without power and hot meals, let alone clean, running water and Internet.

For those of you who have texted me, please call or email. I am over my limit for text messages and am not going to respond via that method anymore.

We are going away this weekend to the Washington County Fair. We are tired of cleaning and sitting around, so this seemed like a nice way to get in a mini-vacation before work and school starts up again (most likely, anyway) on Monday.

We still have houseguests, as Punkin's BFF and her mom don't have power at their house. I know they are itching to get back to more familiar territory. Being displaced, even if you have comfy accomodations, is not fun.

I am so, so thankful for my spoiled rotten life. I really am!

Update

2008-09-15T07:15:00.002-06:00

After a couple of days of no power, the heat and boredom were getting to us in a big way, so we went against the mayor's pleas to stay put and evacuated to my in-laws' house in Brenham. It amazes me how much I take power for granted. The kiddoes were driving us nuts and it was pretty much impossible to sleep.

Now I am comfy in the a/c, watching whatever I want on TV and eating food that did not come out of a can. We are planning to stay here until the power is back on.

As far as damage, we lost a majority of our back fence, which Shane got temporarily repaired yesterday. We got a little water in our master bedroom from a poorly designed vent on the roof. Overall, we got very lucky.

If you went through Ike and are reading this, let me know how you are! Cell phone service is so spotty that we can't get through to a bunch of folks.

Update

2008-09-12T17:01:00.002-06:00

The winds are really picking up now and the power is blinking on and off. According to the news, we're starting to get 50+ mph wind gusts. All is well with us, though. It's just a challenge to find stuff to do with no power. The kids are going bonkers.

We're trying to cook a pork chop dinner, alternating kitchen lights and flashlights. Perhaps we're trying to hold onto some sense of normalcy in this chaos.

Until later...

Update

2008-09-12T08:10:00.002-06:00

It looks like the folks who have houses on Galveston Island are already S.O.L. The storm hasn't even gotten here yet and many of the houses and restaurants on the shore are just about under water. The tide is really coming in!

Here, the wind has picked up a little, but it still looks like your average sunny day in September. It's hard to believe that in less than 12 hours we're going to be experiencing 50+ mph winds! We've got boards up on the windows that face the north and west where the big gusts are expected to come from. One thing about having a two story house is that it is too dangerous to get up to some of the second floor windows. We'll just pray for the best there. It feels like a prison in the rooms with boarded windows.

Our neighborhood is filled with the noises of saws and hammers as people finish up their windows. I am not surprised at how many people are staying after that mess with Hurricane Rita a couple of years ago. I think one of the reasons that the highways didn't get insane is that a lot of people who left during Rita are staying this time.

There are still some folks out trying to find gas and sundries, but good luck with that! Most of the gas stations around here were out of gas yesterday. Shane had to buy premium to top off his tank. From what I've heard, most or all of the stores are boarded up and closed today.

We will probably have some friends come over later today to try to make things less scary for the kids. We'll make it one big slumber party. With 100 mph winds, 10" of rain and maybe a tornado. It'll be the party of the year!

Ike and the Hummingbird

2008-09-11T10:01:00.003-06:00

So, it looks like Hurricane Ike is coming to visit. We are going to board up and "hunker down." I was feeling pretty apprehensive about it until I went out into the garage and saw a lone hummingbird flitting around. I got a broom and the bird landed on the bristles, which allowed me to take it outside - then it flew away.

Last year, I had an intuitive tell me that the hummingbird is my symbol for peace and prosperity. I will look at this as a good sign! I'll try to keep you posted as events unfold, as long as we have power.

Living For Ourselves

2008-09-08T16:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a fabulous DailyOM!

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Most of us come to a point in our lives when we question why we are doing what we are doing, and many of us come to realize that we may be living our lives in an effort to make our parents happy. This realization can dawn when we are in our 20s, our 40s, or even later, depending upon how tight a hold our family of origin has on our psyche. We may feel shocked or depressed by this information, but we can trust that it is coming to us at this time because we are ready to find out what it would mean to live our lives for ourselves, following the call of our own soul, and refusing any longer to be beholden to someone elses expectations.

One of the most common reasons we are so tied into making our parents, or others, happy, is that we were not properly mirrored when we were children. We were not honored as individuals in our own right, with a will and purpose of our own, to be determined by our own unfolding. As a result, we learned to look outside of ourselves for approval, support, and direction rather than look within. The good news is that the part of us that was not adequately nurtured is still there, inside us, like a seed that has not yet received the sunlight and moisture it needs to open and to allow its inner contents to unfurl. It is never too late to provide ourselves with what we need to awaken this inner being.

There are many ways to create a safe container for ourselves so that we can turn within and shine the light of awareness there. We may join a support group, go to therapy, or start a practice of journaling every day for half an hour. This experience of becoming is well worth the difficult work that may be required of us to get there. In whatever process we choose, we may feel worse before we feel better, but we will ultimately find out how to live our lives for ourselves and how to make ourselves happy.

Love Knows No Limits

2008-09-08T14:06:00.000-06:00

Housing Queen

2008-09-05T20:46:00.001-06:00

This pic linked to a story about Freddie Mac, but I couldn't help immediately thinking about Freddie Mercury...

Anatomy of a Social Hack

2008-09-05T11:50:00.003-06:00

Check out this article from Scientific American on how easy it is to steal someone's identity. Amazing!

Sick Days

2008-09-04T14:53:00.002-06:00

Labor Day really threw me off this week. I thought Tuesday was Monday and today I keep thinking it's Friday! Maybe that's wishful thinking?

Punkin stayed home sick yesterday. Apparently lots of kids are getting the crud. Punkin said that one of her friends from class is getting sick but refuses to stay home. Apparently, this young lady has had perfect attendance since Kindergarten! Punkin's lucky if she has perfect attendance for the month!

I don't remember missing much school when I was a kid. I do remember practically needing to be on my deathbed before my mom would let me stay home sick. I think I got a few "perfect attendance" certificates in grade school. I'm pretty lax with Punkin. If she's not feeling well, she can stay home - and that includes the occasional "mental health" day. I sure wish my mom had done that for me...

What Conclusion Would You Draw?

2008-09-02T17:18:00.004-06:00

So. . . .a husband and wife, married about 16 years, hit a rough spot. They separate, go through counseling, and reconcile, the wife thinking they are more deeply in love than ever. After a year and a half back together the following happens:

1) In December, the husband comes home giddy about the "hot" new job candidate he's interviewing, making sure to tell the wife she's a former model.
2) In January, the husband and wife go to a function the former job candidate (now employee) chairs. Afterward, the husband e-mails his best friend about how he'd like to have sex with the woman.
3) In February, after the husband and wife share their Valentine's dinner, the husband calls the woman and spends an hour on the phone with her, giggling and being silly. The wife doesn't hear the entire conversation, but at one point he's holding the phone to the dog's ear, so the woman can talk to the dog.
4) From the day the woman is hired, she and the husband spend numerous nights "working" at the office, the two of them staying alone until midnight - and later.
5) In March, the wife overhears the husband and the woman saying how they love each other.
6) In April, the husband and the woman make a bet involving the NCAA final basketball game. Loser gets to tie the winner to the bed, and must bring whipped cream, restraints, and champagne.
7) The wife, growing increasingly suspicious, starts checking the husband's Blackberry. She finds e-mails between the two of them: "I love you."
8) In April, the husband announces the marriage is over. He's not in love with the wife any more. But no, he's not leaving her for the other woman.
9) Husband moves out of the family home and rents a townhouse. It happens to be exactly a mile from the other woman's house. He says the geography is entirely coincidental.

10) It's now September, and neither the husband's divorce, nor the woman's divorce, is final. However, the two have announced they are getting married.

So, blogospherians - what conclusion would you draw???

Addicted to _________

2008-09-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

So I was driving around this morning doing errands and thinking, as I often do, about other people's problems. Since we are all connected, the misfortunes of others have some effect on me. Some folks more than others, of course.

Anyway.

This train of thought led me back to an often talked about subject: addiction. If we can be addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, food, working out and gambling, why can't we be addicted to people?

Take the woman who's been married for 20 years who suddenly gets sucker punched with, "I want a divorce." If that husband has been the woman's addiction for so long, wouldn't it make sense that the healing process might look a lot like recovery? Cravings for his company or to be in his life in some way...all encompassing thoughts that border on obsession at times...the inability to see where he ends and she begins.

This stuff happens all the time! I think we get so carried away with making the other person happy that when the blow is dealt, we don't even know who we are anymore outside the context of the relationship. The good news is that complete recovery is possible (and probable). The bad news is that varying degrees of discomfort will be lurking behind every corner for a while.

What do you think? What are your biggest addictions? I think one biggie for me is thinking. I think way too much and it can interfere with my normal everyday functioning at times. But how do you cut yourself off from thinking?? Ahhh, to be Zen.

Good for Grins

2008-08-28T07:29:00.002-06:00

Getting back into a routine now that school has started back up has been quite a challenge this week. After months of going to bed late and sleeping in, my body fights me when I say it's time for bed at 10pm and I can barely open my eyes when the alarm goes off at 6:30. I know it will get easier as time goes by, but patience isn't one of my virtues.

My classes have been great! One of them is standing room only (36 students) and they are already participating and making class fun. Yesterday, a girl ended up having a serious asthma attack in class and I had to take her to the office so they could call an ambulance! Very scary! She got to the ER, where her mom met her and they got her all fixed up. The other class is primarily high school students taking dual credit classes, and they haven't proven to be quite as fun yet. Lots of heavy sighs. But they amuse me with their naivete'. They whooped when I told them they could bring food and drinks into class and that they didn't have to ask to go to the restroom.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-08-26T08:11:00.003-06:00

So, yeah...it's my birthday. We had a small gathering on Sunday which was really awesome. It's nice to look around the table and see all the people that are important to me gathered in my honor. I really have fabulous friends!

I've gotten some phone calls and emails today already, too. I sure do feel special! Thanks, everyone!

Pics are Ready!

2008-08-23T15:19:00.002-06:00

Me goofing around at Ochi's Lounge in the basement of Comix.

Check out the rest of my pics here.