The thing I'm trying to learn is being frustrating, so I'll be going back to basics instead.  How basic?  Did you brush your teeth?  Someone in my house still needs to be reminded about this.  So - How is your self care?

Self care is the basis for coping skills.  If your hair stinks, it doesn't matter which Axe you use.  If you allow your clothes to stay dirty, then don't be surprised when no one wants to hug you and that it doesn't matter which jeans you're wearing.

I'm grinning as I write this because this is still my super-long morning.  Up before dawn and mumbling around until I have to bundle up for the crappy job.  I'm still in jammies with scruffy teeth!  (giggle)  So, what would I be doing if I were taking good care of myself?

I set up flylady at one time to help track things.  Things that are measured will show improvement.  Self care is measured in the depth of what you care about.  So, where are you today?  Zinging and awesome or flirting with depressive levels?  Either way is fine - it's just a snapshot of who you've chosen to be right now.  You can go be someone else if you like.  Today, I get to be a lazy bum for another 10 minutes, and I'm choosing to blog about it, so stalkers bugger off!

First, I'm going to rewrite my routine.  Today, I woke to my alarm and called for the person who needs early help.  "Are you up?"  "Yes"  "Are you really up?"  "YES!"  "Are you dressed?"  "YES I AM"  "Did you brush your teeth?"  "Not yet"  (sigh)  I'm not even asking about the clean underwear and socks because I don't want to know.

The person that needs help has a routine written out to the small details.  Most people probably don't need this, but it might be helpful to have an authority reminding you to just use the good sunscreen along with the routine basics.  If nothing else, having a basic routine posted, and using it daily will be one easy thing to accomplish. It only takes 30 days to start new habits, so start a routine to make sure that you've done the things that leave you FABULOUS and ready for your day.

Homework - write yours up now.  Every morning, what do you care about within the first hour?  You can write another list of everything you'd like to accomplish (and I will), but the most important fits in the first hour.   Put the entire routine there, all the details of EVERY morning.

This is already too long, but my first hour is usually:
Alarm - one snooze allowed - ONE!
2nd alarm - actually get up and pee.
N - moving?
Medicate the dog
Coffee
Fire

Bonus points for
EAT!  Coffee creamer is not enough
Vitamins - Multi, D, Calcium and C
Yoga -
Computer (email, Rav, FB?)
Shower
Teeth
Dress to shoes

So, where are you today?  I'll write more on this theme tomorrow.  If you want to jump ahead - http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/   It's the best outline, but it can be quite overwhelming and "This doesn't apply to me"  My schedule doesn't apply to most either, but I have a woodstove and people to care for.  It's where I am at this second and is now on a green post it on my mirror.  Plus, I'm already late for the shower part (grin), so DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Saying that I'll get back to this again.  (giggle)  The podcast project went really well, and eventually I'll post up the results.  Making me happy right now is Knit Wits, Cast On, and having NPR on tap.  I need to return the funky stuff to skullcandy and get a good set, but I'm back in cheap ones - even if they are SkullCandy.  (Yay - PURPLE!).

The huge success is that I'm finding the HEALTHY!  Yes, I'm doing it up.  Lost more than 70 pounds, taking my vitamins, off all meds, and LAUGHING!  Yes, me - bursting into giggles over my own stable of LOL cats.  I still should be doing lots of things better, but I don't have to beat myself up over it or get beaten around the head.  It's better and that's just fine.

Well, another blank page to stare at.  I came in to post a small story with the links that I want to keep.  My obese Siamese kicked over the computer and killed it dead.  Son and I worked for 4 days to reinstall an operating system, but dead is dead.  I, of course, threatened to break cat's legs almost hourly but she just showed me her butt and wanted to use the free lap space for warmth.

So, I have to start my podcast journey from the beginning of the road.  I know the ones that I want to stay with, but I'm sure there will be many that I forget.  So, I started with a search for NPR and rejoined a few of those.  Then, I went to Ravelry, because everything is on Ravelry, and the podcast junkies group has a big list of the podcasts of interest.  Some of those are podfaded, some of my favorites flashed in time like a Nova and I only saw a minor reflection of something wonderful.

This makes me want to document the research and start my own podcast.  I'd really like to read some books for Librivox, I'd really like to document what I'm designing and knitting.  I'd like a place to sell the yarn that I haven't found a wonderful use for or fallen out of love with.

So, the first that's making me happy is the Celtic Mythology Podcast.  It does have a subscribe button, and a place to listen from the website.  What a WONDERFUL treat!  The old stories told with passion and a bit too many sound effects.  They do an absolutely fabulous job with just a minor rub up against the Pagan side.  I don't want to convert to Paganism, thanks.  But, finally understanding that the stories are populated with the shadows of history told in best tall-tale fashion is a thing of absolute wonder.   There's also just something about highland music that stays under your skin until the call of the wild places has overtones of reeds, whistles and bagpipes.  I do also enjoy the idea of spending some time with men who own kilts and might actually wear one.

Today, I'm listening to Classic Poetry Aloud Podcast. My favorite is "If" by Kipling If this link works, I'll put up some more favorites.

Just tripped over the Rail River Folk School, and OH, it looks like FUN! Stalk their webpage for the calendar and bloggy goodness.

Hey there. This is Nikki. I have three set of American girl books here, and I want to sell them to a home instead of tossing this lovely books in the trash. Is there anyone interested in purchasing this books? I would try to set up an e-bay account, but I misplaced my routing number.

Here are pictures of the books in question. (Good quality. Some binder and book box edge wear. Each of these books came from a smoker home)

Molly. (1944. Intellectual american girl. Kind of a social nerd type of character. Reminds me of an old classmate)

Samantha. (1904. Victorian girl. She's friends with an orphan girl. How astonishingly novel! :0)

And Kirsten. (1853. Swedish immigrant. Nice girl)

The book box has this weird chocolate stain on the lower corner and the bottom. The side I pictured is the clean side. I am not sure where it came from. I think a cousin of mine handled the book box and made the stain.

Book 1 has a twenty page crease on it's cover. It doesn't affect the word print quality that much, but it is a bit annoying.

Also The book in the bottom middle depicts our Swedish heroine being alarmed by a bear. Oh my!

Many things have changed, and I'm just trying to find my way. I've lined up all of the little things that I can, and asked for many forms of help. I'm just trying to find a way to get a grip, even when one person tells me that I'm fantastic and "doing great" and another twists anything into "irresponsible" and "creating drama". Is it any wonder that I feel like I can't do anything right?