Go-Go-Gaget-ARM!

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooor NOT.

Last night I managed to tweak something in my neck-trap area while trying to hook up the old xbox Katie gave me.  OUCH!

I just needed my arm to stretch an extra half an inch to reach the cords without having to move the 8 million pound TV, and it did-- and then I got stuck.  I've never pinched or pulled anything in my neck-area before, and man, does it HURT!  My head, neck, trap, shoulder, and arm are pretty much stuck being perfectly alligned and vertical- all on the right side... typing, writing, everything hurts.  No slouching, no shrugging, no bending or moving, no air guitar strumming -because, yes, I find myself doing that when listening to any music w/guitar accompanyment....

It's unfortunate that we won't be doing a Christmas performance, but in a way a silver lining- there's no way I'd be able to hold my choir folder right now, and maybe it will give me time to get to a Massage Envy before they close tonight.  Of course, if it's still too sore to touch, they might not want to work on it just yet. 

Too bad I can't take my muscle relaxers at work... I'll have to make due with advil.

Breathe In, Breathe Out (lather, rinse, repeat)

Okay, maybe no lathering or rinsing involved... but repeat, for sure.

Today's Daily OM is all about centering yourself. 

The water helps to center my Self.  A candle helps to center my Self.  Music helps to center my Self.  One thing I really miss about living in Seattle is how close the water is.  There were so many nights I'd take a few blankets, a travel mug of tea, and sit on my favorite pieces of driftwood down at Alki.  Just me, the seals, and the few divers in dry suits exploring the Puget Sound's night life.  Sometimes, even crying helps me to center my Self, believe it or not! 

The most centered I've ever felt is when I was volunteering on the confirmation retreats.  In a cabin on Lake Crescent, holding 24-hour prayer vigils (praying for other people is such an amazing feeling) and singing, playing piano for everyone else to sing too... Of course, throw in some Holy Communion and fellowship, and it's my Utopia.  It wasn't a Heaven-on-Earth feeling, it felt more like a step towards Nirvana.  I felt in tune, complete, satisfied, smiling in my liver.

How I long to find that again!  I know there's a "trick" to it, that I'm close-but-not-quite, and it's so incredibly frustrating for me.  I think I may have found a path to try... but I don't know how to really form words to talk about it right now.  Perhaps that's been a big part of my writers' barrier. (remember, it's not a full on writers' block)

*shrug*

Let the journey begin...

Just a Teaser....

I'm going to leave my blog public again for a bit... if you haven't asked to be added & would like to be, please let me know.  I will make sure to add you as a reader if/when there's a need for the blog to go private again. 

And I promise to write some more insightful things in the near future.  I'm planning a mini get away to the family farm, coming up in the near future, and I'm hoping to get some good soul searching in.  I'm also hoping for some serious brain food to get me past this frustrating writers' barrier.  It's not quite a full-on writers' block, because I still get snippets of inspiration, but man, do I feel like the flood gates are going to explode- if only they knew they were supposed to!!! 

Rain Down

That's what my tears have been doing quite a bit lately, raining down.  This time, it's because choir rehearsal is cancelled for tomorrow.  Even though it would have been incredibly hard for me to sing, I was really looking forward to seeing everyone. 

Yes, I'm thinking that I'm still feeling a little emotionally raw.  *heavy sigh* 

When somebody dies, it always sucks for people who are left behind.  It's even harder when a person dies of something other than natural cuases.  And it's even harder when it's not the first time that family has had to experience the untimely loss of a loved one under the age of 21... especially when that person feels like their only option was to take their own life.

There is so much more to write about, but I think I will save it for my journal...

Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine.

"That Man" being Stanley, of course!

I'm sure there are more pressing things to be blogging about, like how magnificent Andy & Alissa's wedding was, how incredibly happy I am with the selection of music in choir, how I'm frustrated that my furnace pilot light won't ignite and my house is about 60 degrees right now.... but instead, I'm going to state the obvious. 

I ♥ my dog. *grin* 

I swear, it's like I have a kid, and I need to keep a camera as well as my video camera rolling at all times!  If you see what I just posted on FB, yesterday Stanley had me in stitches.  You all know, or maybe you don't, that he has a "thing" about textures, especially walking on textures, and he cannot stand the tall grass.  My yard is currently growing like a chia pet, and so he always cuts under the deck to the part of the yard where the grass isn't as long.  Yesterday, though, was different.  He stood on the cement pad at the bottom of the deck just staring at the yard, looking around.  The next thing I know, he leaps off the pad and jumps from brown patch to brown patch, much like a child playing "Hot Lava Monster"!  He did this all around the yard and back to the deck, then sat down and wagged his tail, just as proud of himself as ever! 

It was absolutely HILARIOUS. 

If you haven't met Stanley, you should come visit.  After the furnace is fixed.