Today I Noticed . . .

Been shopping locally - here in Beloit - that's a good thing right? 

Yes it is but two nights in a row - two different stores - my heart was broken.   

Last night a nasty old man was "allowed" to have a little boy with him - I assume it was grandpa and grandson - - - yelling at the top of his lungs at the little boy - about 3 I would guess - - - telling him in many words just how bad he was acting - ordering him here or there - and saying - No wonder your parents never take you shopping!  Oh let's see -I watched - the little boy walked around looking up at the clothes - wasn't running - wasn't crying - wasn't begging for toys or for anything!!  Just being yelled at cuz an old man evidently wanted to be noticed?? make a scene?  I know that I stopped my shopping and just watched.  And listened.  Sad.  

Tonight more of the same at another store - only we were blessed with both mom and dad.  Little girl was crying - guess she wanted something as they checked out.  Probably didn't need whatever it was.  Then came the loud ugly yell "Shut up that crying - shut it up - shut up"  The little girl - oh yes about 3 began to scream - for her mother - as the dad and I use that word lightly - drug the little one - - - Mom was helpful.  "Shut it up!"  I stopped and stared as they all three left the store and climbed in the car.  I looked around the store was anyone as upset as I was?  Didn't seem so.  I moved out from behind the music cd's and peered out the doors of the store - hoping not to see anything more that might have caused this fed up grandma to bolt after them.  

Yes you might ask - "but did you ever take your children shopping and just want to ring their necks???"  Yes I most certainly did - I did and said some stupid things as a mom.  I don't care.  I am infuriated and actually scared when I see adults yelling at defenseless children.  It has taken me all evening to write this post - I am trying to think of something profound to say - but there is nothing I can say.  No comments express how sad it was.   No way to say why someday I may be in the news for chasing down a stranger and kicking him in the shin!

Blessings found?  Another day to be thankful for my parents and grandparents and many aunts and uncles who treated me with kindness and love.  

"Everything our children hear, see, and feel is recorded onto a cassette. Guess who is the big star in their movie? You are."  -- Stephanie Martson - Parents as Role Models.

Today I Noticed . . .

It's Friday and you know I have had a week of noticing some very strange things . . .


This week it has been all about how I see things differently and experience things differently than I did as a younger woman . . . for example:


     Today I noticed that I am cold.  I am cold through to my bones.  I am known for running in and out of work all winter long with no coat.   The most I would do is grab a light jacket or my leather jacket - unlined - and COLD.    Granted, our temps have dropped to single digits this week and the wind has blown.  Moisture has been in the air and ice has been on walking surfaces . . . and strangely enough . . . I have been cold.  I turned up the furnace and put on flannel pants and long sleeve jammie shirt . . . and thought to myself . . . girl you are getting older . . .


    Today I noticed that I am becoming oh just rather a grump . . . I try not to share much about work on my blog - but I may have mentioned before that we have gone through a two year period of computer conversions.  If you are one of my best friends, or one of my sisters, my mother, my children, my hubs, my post man, dentist, or hairdresser . . . I may have mentioned that I am frustrated with work.  I am not a perfectionist, I make plenty of mistakes and I own them.   I work with others at my job and follow the rules my mother taught me - say please, say thank you, keep your word, and be nice.  But mooooommmm,  you don't understand . . . these "people" are rude and lazy and they tell lies and they avoid work at all costs - and other than making my job harder than it need be . . . they really aren't my problem . . . EXCEPT that I have noticed I am becoming a tad bit negative and cynical . . . and I don't like it!!    I find myself impatient with other people in the public who I deem are being rude, lazy and dishonest.  The good thing about noticing this behavior in myself is that I can change it!  Nothing warms my heart more than the UPS man who delivers my Avon at 8:30 at night when the temperature is nearing 0 degrees - - - HE gets my respect and praise - - - as does the cashier at the grocery store who helps me with my groceries - - - and the pharmacist who researches the best medicine for the money for me - - - and the waitress who does a wonderful job at my favorite restaurant.   All people doing their jobs.  THEIR moms would be proud.  
    

I hope you have a great weekend!  

It's all a matter of paying attention, being awake in the present moment, and not expecting a huge payoff. The magic in this world seems to work in whispers and small kindnesses.”


― Charles de Lint

Today I Noticed . . .

This was not a peaceful week and I NOTICE that when my mind is wrapped up and focused on work issues - I forget to pay attention.  It's easy to miss those moments.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and so I paused to reflect.   Have the weekend planned with family and so I am thankful for that and for many blessings.

Once again at work today and I notice that the day after a holiday can be very peaceful and quiet here.  Although we have a short crew - we have had a quiet day and my mind is at rest and I can remember things. 

So - Today I Noticed . . .

Finding an old text on my hubs's phone from our son - simply saying "How is mom doing after surgery?" was so sweet - He had asked me - but so much cooler that he had asked his dad also.  Weird mom thing?  Maybe so.


Homemade Pumpkin Pie - from scratch - still beats a store bought one.  Especially if the home it's made in is my mom's. :)


A house without a dog is extremely quiet and a bit lonely. 


 (catching a urine specimen from said dog requires agility and skill and patience)



Nothing stops an argument faster than when one person is too tired to argue :)  I think this is actually a famous quote by someone - but I discovered it to be so true this week.



How has your week been?   Did a moment come when you just paused and thought - aha! 
Please share and I promise to be more in tune next week!  I'm done with frustration, stress and arguments.  You heard it here first - - -



“Our culture encourages us to plan every moment and fill our schedules with one activity and obligation after the next, with no time to just be. But the human body and mind require downtime to rejuvenate. I have found my greatest moments of joy and peace just sitting in silence, and then I take that joy and peace with me out into the world.”

― Holly Mosier

Today I Noticed . . .

It's Friday and time again for "Today I Noticed . . . "     My new weekly fun post!

The idea behind this is to make me more aware and to pay attention to what is going on in my world. It is a little challenging to find something in each day that makes you just pause and "take note".

And when I say "today" well I really mean this week - - - but - - - you get the idea.

Today I Noticed  . . .

That in this day and age of nearly all communication done at the tip of your fingertips - emailing, twitter, blogging, texting, buying online, or on the go cell phones . . . it is really NICE to be invited into someone's home and asked to sit at the kitchen table and chat.  My Avon business has brought back some old memories of when I had an Avon lady back in the 1980's and when my mom used to buy from the Beauty Counselor rep who was a close friend of the family.  Sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, chatting about the latest!  Sometimes it is just nice to visit face to face.

That at the age of 54 years I can no longer work a fulltime job - 8 hour day - and go to an event in the evenings.  I cannot do it.  I have no desire.  I have nothing to give to anyone after working all day.  Through the years, I have spent many evenings at ballgames, school programs, meetings, Pampered Chef parties, Bible Studies, etc. and loved it!!   I have started new Bible studies numerous times only to drop out or let it go by the way side after a few years.  Doing the day time night time running around is really expected of women. You work either inside the home or outside the home all day and then the night time job begins!  I'm here to say - at age 54 I now declare that I am done with that phase of life.  I will go to my job and work hard at it and give it my all.  I'm even open to working some from home when it is required on weekends or nights.  And sadly this week, I decided to drop out of a weekly Bible Study that I have been in for several months.  We are at a fairly new church for us and it has been a good way to get to know a small group more intimately.  Not for me.  I find myself unable to keep up with the homework that is required and when Wednesday night comes around - I am too tired.  I feel much better after explaining and apologizing to the leader.  And I realized this week that it's okay.   So . . . you will find me happily at home each evening either cooking, exercising, playing on the computer, reading, crafting, watching TV, and occasionally selling Avon, or any other chore I choose to do!  Or hey - - - just plain resting.  

That it's exciting around the office when a winter storm is brewing.  We all huddle together and brew up some more coffee and watch the sky and get texts from our husbands on the latest weather update.  Don't ask me why - I didn't say I would explain all of my randomness!

That is for this week!  Please leave a comment and tell me what you have noticed!

Little things console us because little things afflict us.
Blaise Pascal

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/little_things.html#EzRXlzgrIURaULqM.99

Little things console us because little things afflict us.
Blaise Pascal

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/little_things.html#EzRXlzgrIURaULqM.99

Little things console us because little things afflict us.
Blaise Pascal

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/little_things.html#EzRXlzgrIURaULqM.99

To realize The value of a sister:
Ask someone Who doesn't have one.

To realize The value of ten years:
Ask a newly Divorced couple.

To realize The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize The value of one year:
Ask a student who Has failed a final exam.

To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.

To realize The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has Given birth to a premature baby.

To realize The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.

To realize The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize The value of one-second:Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

To realize The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has
Won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend
Lose one.

Today I Noticed . . .

Welcome back to my blog family and friends . . .

A few weeks ago I was driving down the street from work and I noticed something and it caught my attention and it was just a special moment where I thought to myself - ahhh I never NOTICED that before . . . for the life of me . . . I cannot remember what it was that hit me and I said to myself - that would be a great blog idea - - - listing things that I notice!!

So here goes - and even though I can't remember the unique thing that inspired my new post idea - I have decided to call it "Today I Noticed"

And so every Friday I will be back to share with you!

Today I noticed . . .

Wearing a ring on my right hand . . . which I never do - - - feels totally awkward!  Why is that?  First of all my right hand ring finger is larger than my left side - so most rings won't fit - but this week I found a ring that became too loose on my left hand and fits rather nicely on the other.  All day it knocked against my fingers - and felt uncomfortable.  Since I am one who likes to feel "comfortable" as you remember from this post - - - I guess I just won't be a decorated two handed ring person.  Bummer.

That going into work at 6:30 a.m. is very nice and conducive to getting organized for the day before the busy-ness of it takes over.

What I learned in early grade school about the 26 letters called the alphabet and alphabetical order and the numbers 1-10 that I became aware of in first grade or before - would stay with me for life and be EVER so important for so many reasons.    Not everyone was present in class the day I learned such things, evidently.  I'll say no more.

Meeting new people and learning about a new business is very good for a 54 year old mind - - - I am having a great time with my new business of selling Avon and met some wonderful women this week at my first district meeting.

This is what I noticed this week folks . . . crazy and random I know . . .

I'd love to hear from you - - - What did YOU notice this week?

Take notice of whats in front of you cause did I mention you're about to miss a good thing...