tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32974697184320787432024-02-07T13:16:11.938-05:00Jane RidgewoodThe official website and blog of Michigan based writer, Jane Ridgewood.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-30688817216509246802013-11-23T14:02:00.000-05:002013-11-23T14:02:24.447-05:00Moved Blog!<div align="Justify"><font size="4" face="Arial"><b>It's a little late, but this blog has moved directly to, <a href="http://www.janeridgewood.net">janeridgewood.net</a>!</b>
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Be sure to sign up for membership on the new blog and subscribe!</font></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-84157836709182289732013-05-18T19:26:00.000-04:002013-05-18T19:26:59.010-04:00Snakes, Alligators & More!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII8ur6ipGxWNk-dowvewGgQREPLGCMg0UMUIXNmF-CXrTTCzuoEbJn3QwT-H7Y1JJERSm-ImaAS5iziwbvoY8wdurAs1CqQPZ_XgqVDmCDflzjFCnczS-X1LV4noNn6v9VjT56yK-TLo/s1600/boa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII8ur6ipGxWNk-dowvewGgQREPLGCMg0UMUIXNmF-CXrTTCzuoEbJn3QwT-H7Y1JJERSm-ImaAS5iziwbvoY8wdurAs1CqQPZ_XgqVDmCDflzjFCnczS-X1LV4noNn6v9VjT56yK-TLo/s320/boa.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well today I had the absolute fun of
visiting <a href="http://www.boulderridgewap.com/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park</b></a>!
It was a special treat to go, a gift from others who are proud of how far I’ve
come. To be honest, their proudness in itself would be enough for me – but I’m
still a huge animal lover and can’t turn down the offer to go see some!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It was a lot of fun, because while we did
arrive bright and early – we got to be the first ones inside the park. We also
got a private reptile show, where we were all able to pet various lizards and
things. As you can see in the photo I’m including on this post I held a boa
constrictor! The lovely young lady who was showing us the reptiles, asked if
anyone wanted to hold the snake, I put my hand right up as bravery took over.
LOL! It was kind of weird feeling the boa actually begin to constrict on my
neck a little. I wasn’t nervous about it though, to be honest. I know it sounds
silly to say, but I felt totally in control of the situation with the snake.
And yes, that is a screen capture from a video – because the lovely lady
accidently hit the record button on my camera, but that’s okay. It gave me a
whole one second video to put up on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/janeridgewood" target="_blank">my YouTube channel</a>. LOL!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So on top of holding the boa constrictor, I
also held a baby alligator. I actually asked to hold that one. It was so
adorable and seemed quite content in my hands. If you want to see more photos
from the day, check out my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/janeridgewood" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> and go to Photos – I got a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.502109133171977.1073741825.212464552136438&type=1" target="_blank">publiclyopen album</a> there. In the album you will also see photos from me facing one of
my personal fears – birds! I actually went inside the Parakeet Avery and held a
little stick with seed-stuff on it. I had birds all over my hand and on my feet
– nipping at my shoelaces. LOL! I admit I was really nervous all throughout it,
especially when they would all woosh around flying together, but I’m really
glad I did it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hope you all have had an amazing Saturday
too!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-35259141396819897592013-05-15T18:12:00.001-04:002013-05-15T18:12:26.123-04:00I Spoke Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ8wjBe_Pc5vwWTd14ZXGcUIl1CIct6luav13hAFv1QP7NhzxuVEMUthaLUsVWOqMDS3MDyB3_ny4DBIsPHxfYI9GmKAxwOGhojbB6dRlYaJ_Ix2oMQM3ywwy8cGfiJFNy83-CQDkS00/s1600/podium.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ8wjBe_Pc5vwWTd14ZXGcUIl1CIct6luav13hAFv1QP7NhzxuVEMUthaLUsVWOqMDS3MDyB3_ny4DBIsPHxfYI9GmKAxwOGhojbB6dRlYaJ_Ix2oMQM3ywwy8cGfiJFNy83-CQDkS00/s320/podium.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Today was… well incredible. I was asked a
few weeks ago, to be a guest speaker for the Disability Advocate of Kent County’s
fundraiser luncheon today. To be completely honest, I was a little hesitant –
as public speaking is really not my forte, but I accepted it. After all, my
experience with them definitely helped bring me to the place I am today. So instead
of going through the motions of writing out a new version of my speech today, I
am just going to continue this blog post with my actual speech from the luncheon
today (with minor edits for privacy sake). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hello everyone, my name is Jane Ridgewood
and I would like to start this off by saying thank you to Disability Advocates
of Kent County. Without your services I truly don’t know where I would be at
this moment, it’s an absolute honor to be able to stand here in support of all
of you right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I would like to share a little piece of my
story with all of you. Prior to my experience with Disability Advocates, I was,
like many around us, one who suffered from severe depression and anxiety. I
often found myself preferring to sleep all day avoiding running into others I
lived with. They hadn’t done anything wrong; I just was feeling too anxious to
be around even those closest to me. This included friends. Despite how much
time I spent with them, I would always feel that inner bubble of anxiety rise up
inside of me. It would feel as though my throat was trying to close up and a
sense of nausea would wash over me. On top of that, I always felt inferior
around others. Like I didn’t matter and was a waste of space.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">People had often told me how much potential
I had and I couldn’t believe them. I used to think quite harshly of myself.
There were never any positive notes to think. No encouraging words to myself as
simple as, “I can do this”. It was all pretty negative, which put me in a dark
and lonely place. I spent more time hiding in my bedroom than anywhere else.
Avoiding others had become a fulltime job. My depression left me to feel achy
and tired constantly. As much as I wanted to do certain things, I felt no inner
motivation to actually get up and do them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It was one day though, that it dawned on me.
How I was feeling wasn’t right. How I was behaving towards myself, wasn’t
healthy. I feel so fortunate to have come to that conclusion and even more
fortunate that my next move brought me into connection with Disability
Advocates. You see, upon my realization I turned to my father whom I live with.
I was able to muster up the strength to admit I needed help. From there, my
father reached out to those he knew. I was able to start seeing someone to talk
to and even further, I was able to be introduced to the lovely Denise B. by a
mutual friend in the process of seeking help.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">At that first meeting with Denise, I felt as
if I was talking to someone who understood my language. She may not have gone
through the same things as me – but she got it. She got me. It was, refreshing.
I was able to share three big goals I had for myself at that time, get my
license, my GED and a job. I craved each of those things badly, but still had
no inner motivation to truly try for them. I let myself use my disabilities as
a crutch not to progress. When our first meeting had wrapped up, Denise
encouraged me to attend the Skills Exploration Workshop class she teaches, that
Disability Advocates put together.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Upon arriving to that first class I was
feeling a little apprehensive. My anxiety was doing its best to creep up and
all I could do was slink my way in and take a seat, alone. I kept telling
myself it was important, I needed to be here. I also told myself, it was a five
week course and I only had to show up one day out of each week. However, by the
end of even that first class I attended I felt something spark inside of me. I
felt something that I had never really felt before, a sort of “I can do this”
moment… but it wasn’t with doubt. It was with an actual positive feeling
attached to it. I was able to meet others with disabilities as well, and while
class-wide there was a variety, it was as if I stepped into a place where we
all spoke the same language. It didn’t matter where anyone came from or what
anyone did, that class was a safe haven for all of us. It was a place where we
could learn and support one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As much as I did learn about seeking job
opportunities and focusing on my skills and rights on the workforce, I learned
a lot about myself as well in those short five weeks. I learned that not only
can I be around others – I can do things. I found something in myself that I
had needed all along, that self-motivation I required. I truly walked into that
first class feeling as though I was a shell of a person and by the time I
walked out of the last, I was not only socializing with my classmates, but with
others around me. I was finding a piece of self-confidence and I was feeling as
though I could really do something with my life. Because of one class that
Disability Advocates provides, I was able to find a spark of life in myself. It
was a spark that craved me to live, to get out and to truly, finally go do what
I’d been saying I wanted to do for so long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">People around me began to see something that
they hadn’t in quite a while, a smile on my face. There was a sincerely chipper
outlook on the big picture of my life suddenly. So I continued on my journey to
wellness after I finished the five week course. A journey in which I am happy
to say, that this past January I finally obtained my driver’s license. I also
got over a personal anxiety with riding the city bus, and not only am I
attending a GED Preparation Program, but I am also looking forward to starting
my new job within the next few weeks.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Every morning that I wake up now, I breathe.
I smile and I face a new day – granted, with a cup of coffee in hand, but I do
it. I am getting out there. I honestly believe if it had not been for the
assistance I received from this organization, I would not be able to stand here
in front of all of you today. To show you a living example of someone who could
break through what was holding her back. To be able to stand here and thank
these wonderful people who make such positive effects on the lives of others.
Who aid and assist to the best of their abilities and who teach those of us who
need to learn the lessons, that yes we are worth living and yes, we can live
life in spite of our disabilities.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I could sit here and ramble out all the
details of how I journeyed on and accomplished these things, but for the sake
of time I just want to say again, thank you to Disability Advocates of Kent
County. This organization provides so much support and care for those who need
it. It’s not easy going through life when you have something that puts a
disadvantage to daily living. After all, like in my case, can you imagine ever
having a panic attack at just the mere thought of leaving the house? Thanks to
this wonderful organization I was able to attend a class that taught me so much
more than the subject material. It was just five weeks, but it was five very
powerful and impacting weeks that I am so grateful to have had in my life. It
was a real stepping stone for me to be able to progress as a person and to
break free from my shell of depression and anxiety.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thank you all very much for your time and
again, thank you to Disability Advocates of Kent County for all that you do for
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">There we go! That’s exactly what I wrote and
said today at the luncheon. I had a lot of people tell me that I should be
proud of myself, that I inspired them and I even had one lady give me a hug. She
admitted with didn’t know each other, but she ‘couldn’t not hug me’. I hope you
all have a blessed day and if you would like to learn more about Disability
Advocates of Kent County, I definitely encourage you to check out their website
– <a href="http://www.disabilityadvocates.us/" target="_blank">disabilityadvocates.us</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-78463227392822389852013-05-13T21:44:00.000-04:002013-05-13T21:44:01.036-04:00It's Been A Long Month...<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span id="goog_172880511"></span><span id="goog_172880512"></span>As I gently blow the dust off, while I creep
back to<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Y1TSjYXDQ06lokRjBf57fMUQlwfykLnPAgw5sx0BQtxl6_Q8UdX3w1usKpsZGJcYkvsTXFdejoeBzu5ZW4Un2v3PdhdPqzm-5CPnji_i_wLmf7l2UJNC0d7QOi30MuOc4YVhe0U6Fw/s1600/auntpam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Y1TSjYXDQ06lokRjBf57fMUQlwfykLnPAgw5sx0BQtxl6_Q8UdX3w1usKpsZGJcYkvsTXFdejoeBzu5ZW4Un2v3PdhdPqzm-5CPnji_i_wLmf7l2UJNC0d7QOi30MuOc4YVhe0U6Fw/s320/auntpam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aunt Pam (May 12, 1957 - April 08, 2013)</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[ photo from <a href="http://instagram.com/janeridgewood" target="_blank">Jane's Instagram</a> page</span> ]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
my blog I feel I need to hang my head low. I did not mean to disappear
for so long, but life has been quite… trying over the past month or so. On
April 08<sup>th</sup> of this year I lost my Aunt Pam. She was one of my mom’s
baby sisters and she was a woman, who I spent a good portion of my childhood
years with. Her death has taken more of an impact on me than I like to admit –
publicly or privately. Part of me feels as though I do not deserve to grieve
her, as silly as that may seem, while the other part of me is still in shock
over her sudden death. It feels so surreal to know that she won’t be calling or
that I can’t simply pick up a phone and call her. It haunts me truly that I
didn’t take more time to call her over the more recent years. Oh the joys of
dealing with guilt when someone we love passes, eh? I feel it though. I do. I
admit it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So upon her sudden death, I had to spend a
week with my mom to take care of her. As I said this is one of my mom’s baby
sisters. She is the first of my mom or her sisters to pass away. My mom, who
has heart issues, was told in person. One of my older brothers broke the news,
but it was him, a sister-in-law and I who were right there together for her
when she received it. So I called my GED Prep Instructor, and explained to him
what happened, as it was I had to rush out of class for this family emergency.
He understood the situation and fortunately I was able to stay with my mom
through the funeral. We did end up in the Emergency Room and she (my mom) says
I saved her life, I just say I wasn’t messing around and giving her the option
– she started having problems with her chest, therefore I called 911 to get her
help. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The rest of April seems like such a blur
now. After the funeral I had come home and sort of found myself going through
the motions. Monday through Thursday I just woke up at my usual 7:00am, got
ready and headed out to my GED Prep Class. I didn’t study as hard as I had been
prior to my aunt’s death. I’m not blaming her for the sudden slow-down, but in
time of grief we all tend to get a little spacy with ourselves. And I sure as
heck did. I didn’t realize it right away; in fact, it was only towards the end
of last week that I realized within myself that I’d been struggling. While I’ve
managed to get on my third subject (out of the five) to study for, I find
myself still floundering around a little. I’ll get there. I know I will. I do
know that mourning a loved one’s death takes time, but I think I’m still
floating off in denial to some degree. Not wanting to accept she is no longer
with us in this life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">My days have not all been somber however, as
I did mention I have been keeping up (for the most part) with my GED Prep
Class. I’m currently studying my third topic – and I hope to be going off soon
to start taking the actual tests. I am sincerely trying to get myself back in
gear and re-prioritize myself again. I actually have a lot going on this week
(including giving a speech at a fundraising luncheon), but I will be doing my
best to keep up better with my blog from now on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I thank all of my dedicated visitors/readers
and friends for your continuous support of my blog! Your patience and
understanding in my down times, goes so far beyond words of appreciation. Thank
you all again and I do hope you’ve all had a good month!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-85717638138423338072013-03-29T15:26:00.000-04:002013-03-29T15:26:13.284-04:003 Negs & A Strong Positive!<div align="justify"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Where to begin? Well how about the beginning. As you see at first, I had a laptop issue arise. Now granted there is a very good chance my laptop has just recently shown me that I am on the verge of a dying hard drive. However, with the wonderful skill and knowledge of my amazing older brother Tim, my laptop has been fixed from its error. Or at least the error I was receiving. So fortunately, that problem was squished pretty quickly, but still I went a couple days with falling behind on things as I had to re-install certain programs and such.<br><br>
The next dilemma came when I seemed to have caught a sinus infection. So many things have been floating around, that I’m personally glad that’s all I caught. Still though, it was pretty nasty, but I focused (in-between classes) on getting rest and doping up on some cold medications. Unfortunately in a way, I had to learn the hard way that certain cold remedies apparently do not mix well with my anxiety medication. As you see, I ended up having a panic attack out of the blue. The fortunate side to this was that I was able to tell what was going wrong with me when it started. I knew what it was and while I did have to leave class early that day, I was able to assess it might have been a medication mixture. So for that day I took no more cold meds and the next day I felt just fine again. Also, bonus plus side to feeling and knowing what was wrong with me, I didn’t freak out in front of others and was able to leave early with (what I hope) was discreet grace.<br><br>
Now for my third negative encounter. Last night I went to unplug my laptop and I was met with a large spark and a puff of smoke. My eyes widened as I looked to my cord to see the plug part actually broke off from the cord. Fortunately there was no fire or electrical problems due to the sudden breakage. I also, have already ordered myself a new adapter for my laptop – as without one, I can’t charge the battery on it. The fortunate side is that while I’ll have to wait till Monday (thank you overnight shipping) for my new cord to be here, I am indeed getting one! I’ll be away for the weekend as I’m spending Easter with my mom, so it’s not like I’d be on a whole lot over the weekend anyways. I may still manage a bit of poking around the net, but in the meantime of Monday I’ll happily be occupied getting in some much needed mother-daughter time.<br><br>
Okay folks, now it’s time for my big positive note! Even though yes, throughout each of my negative ones I have easily found an upside. Anyways, the positivity is that just three weeks into my GED prep class I think I’ll be getting sent to do my first GED test. I have taken three practice social studies tests thus far and my last two were above the average scoring. Not to toot my own horn as I don’t think I’m some genius suddenly, but I am getting more anxious and excited about taking the actual test. Next week is spring break (yep, I actually get one), but here is hoping that in the following week I’ll be able to wrap up one of my tests!<br><Br>
--XOXO, Jane</font></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-10949836764452029092013-03-15T17:17:00.001-04:002013-03-15T17:17:30.533-04:00Re-hauling & Updating<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Have you ever just sat back and felt the
urge for change? Recently I have updated my site’s overall appearance. I’ve
made new social buttons, updated the color scheme and spread it as best I could
throughout my social media pages. I very much love my new color scheme on here,
not that I didn’t love my old one – but it was time for a change. I’m actually
slowly working on updating a lot of things regarding this blog. Including my “about”
page. I’ve just added today a “links” page and will be adding more to that as
soon as possible! Soon however, I will be losing the “community” page. I’m
quite sad to have to lose that, but for those of you who aren’t on BlogFrog
(where my community is hosted through), they are shutting down communities on
all bloggers. I am not completely clear on why they are they doing this, but
sadly on May 31<sup>st</sup> all communities that they host will be shut down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Aside from the pages, I will be going through
my blog (all 80+ posts thus far) and adding a tag system. This is more for a
help to add to my organization around this site. I will also be finally
incorporating some a couple weekly posts. Get back into the swing of “Thankful
Thursday” as well as add on another. I may even start doing a guest blogger of
the month post; permitting that I can find bloggers who would like to
participate in that. If you’re reading this and you are interested, then head
right on over to my contact page and drop me an e-mail!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Of course, I plan to share more of my
writing as well. Not just these personal blog notes, but some actual writing. I
have a few things I would like to review and share on, as well as some other
things. So… another thing that can be expected is more writing from me on here!
I literally write every single day, even if it’s not on this blog. Rest assure
though dear readers and supporters, I will become more active on here. My goal
is to get back up to at least 3 or 4 posts a week – if not more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-45810551996598791782013-03-14T14:22:00.000-04:002013-03-14T14:24:40.172-04:00One Week Down!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQACWw0UeelnVFFe8p63oM9yeiaeYvliPJngH5ZRqa_NaBJ0ypd200CMRTnMbI7Spc-iRxU-07lsrblsZIQNZcjAHop4YR6-pkLKASaSq4UsG-nFHPN57dpXw6yD0kZeXaSsRt2Pmvno/s1600/aaa3a35a8a6d11e29cbd22000a1fafdb_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQACWw0UeelnVFFe8p63oM9yeiaeYvliPJngH5ZRqa_NaBJ0ypd200CMRTnMbI7Spc-iRxU-07lsrblsZIQNZcjAHop4YR6-pkLKASaSq4UsG-nFHPN57dpXw6yD0kZeXaSsRt2Pmvno/s320/aaa3a35a8a6d11e29cbd22000a1fafdb_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">from <a href="http://instagram.com/janeridgewood" target="_blank">Jane's Instagram</a> page</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Oh my goodness! I swear I have not fallen
off the face of the earth again. I’m around; life has just been rather chaotic these
past few months. Dealt with a basement flooding, which let me tell you it’s not
fun walking out of your basement bedroom stepping down onto the carpet and
having water rise up around your feet. After that there was a dryer issue –
which fortunately appliance insurance covered. Beyond there have just been a
few family emergencies and me enrolling for GED classes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am excited to say that today has completed
week one of attending. It’s really nice being in the class. It’s been so long
since I have been in school – let alone, actually applied myself. So a lot of
what I am looking at is information that was either not covered before I left
school, or has just been a long time since I looked at it. My first subject to
study for is Social Studies. The instructor for the class provides a pop quiz
everyday though. On one side it’s math and on the other grammar. Okay… clearly
one side of this daily pop quiz I adore. Not to say I pass every single bit of
it, but grammar and writing are (no surprise) something I’m rather passionate
about. However on the other side of the pop quiz… well, let’s just say talk
about new information.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">See I dropped out of school before things
like Algebra and Geometry were gone over. Fortunately at class there are a
couple guys who’ve helped me out a lot! Slowly, even just after a week I think
some of this is actually clicking into my brain and making more sense. Now I still
firmly believe math is a pretty evil subject, but none the less I embrace
learning it as best as I can. LOL!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">No matter I have awhile before I will be
studying for the GED Math test. Social Studies is indeed my first subject to
study for and I think I’ll move onto Science afterwards. Another evil topic,
but I’m going to take this one topic at a time. I just pray I am able to
accomplish my GED by the end of the year, because come 2014 they are changing
the GED program and I would have to start all over if I’m not done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well aside from feeling like a zombie, I do
believe this week has overall gone okay. I’m just such a night owl by nature
and flipping up to waking at 7-7:30am four days a week is a big change for
someone like me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alright folks, that’s it for me today. I
hate to end this abruptly, but there is a lot to get done today. Hopefully I shall
be back tomorrow with more information – like the changes on the blog. LOL!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-18236335880384610462013-02-18T18:34:00.003-05:002013-02-18T18:34:38.004-05:00Three Year Anniversary<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As I sit back and attempt to blow the dust
off this blog, let me assure you I am not blowing it off with smoke. Today (February
18<sup>th</sup>) marks the three year anniversary since I quit smoking. It
still amazes me to think I went from a pack a day to absolutely nothing. Oh
yes, I quit cold turkey. It helped that at the same I was dealing with a severe
sprain, was on crutches and the outside world was a little too nasty out for my
clumsy butt to even attempted hobbling up to a store to buy a pack of
cigarettes. I regretfully smoked off and on for ten years. More on than off,
naturally as I can say from experience it’s a rather difficult habit to break.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Now to this day, three years after I stopped
smoking, I still have the occasional craving. Sometimes bad enough that I almost
want to climb a wall. I also still have the occasional dream that I am in fact
smoking again. Sometimes those dreams will be so vivid that I wake up smelling
my hair, just to make sure I didn’t actually smoke. It’s amazing the kinds of
tricks our minds can and will play on us when we’ve let go of a filthy habit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Don’t get me wrong, I won’t sit here and
preach about how everyone should quit. Come on, we all read the labels and
warnings with smoking. It’s your choice if you want to harm your body. I will
sit here though and say it’s simply amazing how much my own personal health has
improved over the past three years. It’s quite nice being about to move around
more without getting winded so easily. I could go on, but then it might very
well seem I’m border lining preachy and that is far from what I want to do
here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I will end though, on a little message to
any potential smoker. I don’t care how young or old you are… if you are
thinking of starting or just started up? Stop. I know it’s the cliché thing to
say, but seriously stop while you are ahead. It’s considered one of the hardest
habits to break and it really can cause a lot of major health issues and
illnesses. I thank God every day that I do not have lung cancer, emphysema or anything
else along those lines because of the years I spent smoking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-87237939774656427672013-01-23T08:06:00.002-05:002013-01-23T08:06:35.222-05:00Oh Television...<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a3H-vlG2oyChJlCk0E-O9bSM6SxLncYCM578j38MLQXzJHr2WfqB8sL5MIuqKyjkFoo5nNLkD3otR7xROijV-i9FQCPOm-Ru3x-eSClfPou5XpBhFGcq6fww6JYGZ0e1hk-hbPxB4mY/s1600/thelword.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a3H-vlG2oyChJlCk0E-O9bSM6SxLncYCM578j38MLQXzJHr2WfqB8sL5MIuqKyjkFoo5nNLkD3otR7xROijV-i9FQCPOm-Ru3x-eSClfPou5XpBhFGcq6fww6JYGZ0e1hk-hbPxB4mY/s320/thelword.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I cannot be the only one who gets into a
show post production. I don’t mean shows from before my time that I’ve grown up
watching reruns of like <b>I Love Lucy</b>. Although granted, that is indeed my
absolute favorite show – that is not my point. So staying on topic here, I’m
talking about shows that were perhaps made just a few years ago or so like <b>Sex
and The City</b>. When that show was in a current run on HBO I could have cared
less. I never watched an episode, but I was so over it just from the hype the
show received. Everywhere I went I found shirts that said “I’m A Carrie” or
other various forms of merchandise that related to it. I didn’t get it. So
during its original run on television I ignored it. it wasn’t until after Sex
and the City was being shown on other networks all cutup and edited that I actually
took the time to watch an episode…then another and another. I got so into the
show that I now own all six seasons and both movies on DVD. I even got Candace
Bunshell’s book the series was based off from.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">These days I find myself, yet again getting
into a series that is no longer in production. Enter, <b>The L Word</b>. It originally
aired on Showtime from 2004 to 2009. Again it was another that only lasted six
seasons and again, it was another that I did not watch until catching a cutup
edited version on another network. Presently I have the first two seasons on
DVD. I finished season one just the other day and have officially begun onto
season two. I’ll admit it here and now, I’m hooked. This show has made me laugh,
gasp, yell at certain characters and even nearly cry! And that was just my experience
with the first season. Already just a few episodes into season two I am
cheering on for a certain pairing and still feeling the loss for another. The
show has definitely captivated my attention and best believe I shall soon have
to be investing in the rest of the seasons!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So tell me, what shows do you like that you
could have watched when it was in production, but didn’t get into until after?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-73574319220770313192013-01-17T21:51:00.000-05:002013-01-17T21:52:03.441-05:00Thankful Thursday<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shaking off the negative, as it’s time to
embrace the positive once again! Oh yes, taking a page from <a href="http://theresjustonemommy.com/" target="_blank"><b>There’s Just OneMommy</b></a> once again for a ‘Thankful Thursday’ post! Life is full of ups and downs,
but it’s important (at least in my opinion) to take the time to remind ourselves
of all the little things we have to be grateful for. Now I do swear this week
has flown by. I swear it was just yesterday I wasn’t writing about yoga, but my
last ‘Thankful Thursday’ post, but that is not going to slow me down from counting
my blessings this week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">My friends are what I am thankful for today.
Life is not all sunshine and rainbows, so it’s good to have people you can lean
on when it all gets cloudy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m blessed in the family
department as well, but this week it’s about my friends. My four core
friendships that keep me going. They keep me motivated and let me lean on them when
I need it. Of course they also know they can lean on me as well. Its equal opportunity
friendships with these ladies and I couldn’t feel luckier with them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Granted we all hit our ups and downs with
one another, hello being human, but really if not for my four core friends. I
can only hope that others out there have the sort of friendships I do. The kinds
you can feel secure in and relax in. The kinds that you can let all your walls
fall down when you are with them (be it one or four or more) and just be
yourself completely. Embrace your best friend(s) today. Embrace them for all
they are and give them a hug!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-39457783995325428012013-01-16T21:15:00.001-05:002013-01-16T21:15:27.222-05:00No Yoga = No Food<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWJQUs9hCvNArzXVJa9YBvzWE_sGp7C45HsKUJfT6fF6Hjo3tBfATMgIKrXYXLCHkGAzonRrZiL2QcGVMUpnPT13AJpEBbEoe0sbcfPiaXrCrkLDLMqs1XPngCQ89q7426EhOKMo2MLs/s1600/yogastuff.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWJQUs9hCvNArzXVJa9YBvzWE_sGp7C45HsKUJfT6fF6Hjo3tBfATMgIKrXYXLCHkGAzonRrZiL2QcGVMUpnPT13AJpEBbEoe0sbcfPiaXrCrkLDLMqs1XPngCQ89q7426EhOKMo2MLs/s320/yogastuff.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sometimes in life we have to learn the hard
way. That was such a case with me today. Prior to doing a yoga session with one
of the DVDs I’ve got, I had nothing to eat. It wasn’t that I intentionally
starved myself or anything drastic, I simply hadn’t gotten around to it and
well… didn’t think eat before yoga. Also, I made the mistake of only drinking a
little coffee. You see, as much as I love my coffee I have to admit it’s not
always enough to make my body go. However prior to doing yoga today I didn’t
think it would be horrible. So with practically nothing in my system, I went on
and rolled out my yoga mat. I popped in the DVD and began my yoga workout.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It was strange because while this was only
the second time I’ve attempted yoga, I struggled from the beginning. It was not
like the first time through at all. About midway through the hour long workout I
found myself getting a little dizzy and even nauseated. I actually stopped
moved into a “childlike” stretch pose and concentrated on my breathing. I had
to move a little bit from that pose and sit up and just really concentrate on
breathing for the dizziness and nausea both to pass. When it came close to the ‘cool
down’ portion of the yoga session, I slowly began to participate in the moves
again, but I was moving at a slightly slower pace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As you’ve likely gathered here, my lesson of
the day was to make sure I am well-nourished before doing yoga. No I don’t plan
to eat right before, but I will have more in my system then a spot of coffee!<br /><br />--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-44674819658984322792013-01-10T21:48:00.000-05:002013-01-10T21:48:04.670-05:00Thankful Thursday<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQdZTllN4rEhodLZrFm6LQySH3fX9YR7gMvKxc41WnOLApAZDuaIxGEQD7gYlyFbZEAqtW2-e8jNtAOO9jI0sxrZxzdt6SH6GKqfhP0XkzBFLTy4P78c4dVCXEJgCFJhY0wUV_1FFot4/s1600/peacetoes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQdZTllN4rEhodLZrFm6LQySH3fX9YR7gMvKxc41WnOLApAZDuaIxGEQD7gYlyFbZEAqtW2-e8jNtAOO9jI0sxrZxzdt6SH6GKqfhP0XkzBFLTy4P78c4dVCXEJgCFJhY0wUV_1FFot4/s320/peacetoes.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alright peeps, I am taking a page out of
<a href="http://theresjustonemommy.com/" target="_blank"><b>There’s Just One Mommy</b></a>’s book and linking up on this ‘Thankful Thursday’ theme
of things! I love the idea of sharing something to be thankful for. I also want
to encourage others to go ahead and do it as well. It’s always good to kick the
negative in the butt, by simple kicking back and thinking of something you are
truly thankful for in this life. So here we go with my first post for this
weekly themed post!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Since I don’t have my hard copy yet or a
photo with my passed certificate, I am sharing a non-related photo to what I am
thankful for this week. You see, if you’re a long time reader of this blog than
you know from previous posts that I have dealt with plenty of troubles on the
depression and anxiety front of things. With that, there were plenty of things
that I did not achieve and get handled when… they may have been more age
appropriate. Included in that is my driver’s license. In my youth I never
really learned to drive nor had I ever got my permit. Here I am though, today,
a licensed driver!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">One year ago today, I would have laughed and
not believed for a second I would have come this far. Seriously. So while it
may seem silly to some that I am 28 and just now licensed for the first time, I
am excited. I also feel accomplished that I got it done. My driving instructor
was a true friendly spirit. When he first approached me he greeted me by my
first name and I just knew from the vibe, this was going to be ace. Of course I
had a few mess ups – hello testing nerves – but overall I did a good job
overall and I passed! Though I admit there are things I need to work on, I passed
and I was like beaming from ear to ear. I even hugged my instructor… okay I asked
him if it would be totally inappropriate if I hugged him and he sort of
sideways leaned into it and said I could hug him that way. LOL! What a good
sport putting up with my excitement! LOL!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anyways, I went straight from the testing
spot and right on over to the secretary of state. Now I have my paper license
until the real deal arrives in the mail to me. I am excited and I feel like I really
accomplished something. Also here’s the fun kicker, I didn’t tell anyone except
for my therapist/friend whose been teaching me to drive and brought me to the
test. We set up the appointment yesterday and I just told people I was going
practice driving with him. So when I got in, I got to surprise my family and
friends with my exciting news.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But yes, this week I am thankful that I got
my driver’s license! That I passed the test and all went as well as it did. Sure
it could have gone better, but hey I was nervous and at least I still passed.
LOL! So watch out roads of Michigan, Jane Ridgewood is on the loose! ;) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-9242837283279593132013-01-06T13:09:00.000-05:002013-01-06T13:09:02.409-05:00Time To Get In SHAPE!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOM3yJ0N6i5LuD-gi0jbI_zR3J6W0AY26fC6oAM5drHbOhh7L0RINA7PmlDd_QAWQtx1hvp_7UqBCIaaC2WJ0M1lww3yW_CwUQlHt0XMG3kaKvuhtRbkYoQOzyWYDdf0Y2q8r3i3fsew/s1600/shapemag.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOM3yJ0N6i5LuD-gi0jbI_zR3J6W0AY26fC6oAM5drHbOhh7L0RINA7PmlDd_QAWQtx1hvp_7UqBCIaaC2WJ0M1lww3yW_CwUQlHt0XMG3kaKvuhtRbkYoQOzyWYDdf0Y2q8r3i3fsew/s320/shapemag.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Have you ever felt like you not only got a
sign, but you got slapped in the face with it? All throughout my two week
getaway out of town where I first house/dog sat then spent the holidays with my
mom I was going on and on to her about how I want to start Yoga in the New Year.
It was an encouraged suggestion for me to do from one of my best friends’ ages
ago, but now I’m ready to give it a shot. How I fully intended to get with one
of my other best friends at least once a week to work out together, but I’m
really going to learn to take care of myself better this year. It’s going to be
a year of incorporating more health and fitness into my regimen. So I ordered a
couple of DVDs for beginners and a Yoga mat to get me started. – Which I’m
still anxiously awaiting to arrive in the mail to me.<br /><br />So with that all settled as the friend I shall
be working out with is all on board for Yoga, I came home yesterday evening to
discover that I’ve somehow managed to acquire a subscription to SHAPE magazine.
How on earth I got signed up, I have no clue. It’s been suggested I could have
purchased something awhile back that came with a subscription and I didn’t
realize it. It’d be far too soon of an order for my start in Yoga supplies as I
have both the December and January/February issues here. Truthfully regardless
of how I came into the possession of having this magazine subscription, I’m
looking at it as a sign I’m on the right path. A very loud sign indeed, but
definitely taking this with great optimism and encouragement of what I’m about
to really embark on for myself. After all, what are the odds that I would have
a mystery subscription arrive to me when I’m finally really feeling ready to
take charge and make a difference in my health?<br /><br />I’m definitely looking forward to reading
each one in its entirety. I’m also looking forward to seeing if more end up
arriving in the mail as time goes by. I’ll be sure to soak up the health and
fitness information I can get from those. My health is something serious for me
to get on track and in order. There’s a lot of diseases and illnesses that run
in the family line (on both sides for me really) and I would like to avoid as
many as possible. So here I go, starting off my true healthier lifestyle, but
cracking open the pages of a magazine geared towards such a thing.<br /><br />--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-9011546089746433282013-01-01T13:30:00.001-05:002013-01-01T13:30:59.453-05:00Twas A Spicey Surprise!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UDP0c6QHbiHaFb-uRo_VEkdVYsveGgRY7RZXeiIdPbC-FkQDdomEsembzELFWa3veRB2cjq5PbPpub9K6FKtcf91pj4foXgWcgtsZV_U9TrZukcjOfrwEdypuJQGp6KiAJMeKJl2M2Q/s1600/spicegirls.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UDP0c6QHbiHaFb-uRo_VEkdVYsveGgRY7RZXeiIdPbC-FkQDdomEsembzELFWa3veRB2cjq5PbPpub9K6FKtcf91pj4foXgWcgtsZV_U9TrZukcjOfrwEdypuJQGp6KiAJMeKJl2M2Q/s320/spicegirls.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Who was your hero when you were a teenager?
For me it was five ladies that hailed from England. Five pop singers who while
weren’t everyone’s cup of tea, were quite the worldwide phenomenon. They spread
the message of ‘Girl Power’ and stole the hearts of many – including mine. The
Spice Girls were everything to me. I like to say I had a “mild obsession” back
in the day, but my family and friends beg to differ on that one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Back in the day, I was all about collecting
anything I could get my hands on when it came to the girls. I joined a club
with some friends…where, prepare to roll your eyes, we were each our favorite
girl. We learned the lyrics; we sang the songs and even at times came up with
our own dance routines as well as mimicked the ones of the ladies. I made a
scrap book that contained several clippings and images – including the
newspaper clippings out of the Grand Rapids Press when Victoria and Mel B both
first became mommies. My four fellow Spice fanatics and I would rush to the
store to get the dolls, the other merchandise and any VHS (you know the thing
before DVD) of the movie and any other official tapes we could get our eager
hands on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Spice Girls inspired me in many ways. They
were really, the first official introduction to feminism (little did I realize
at the time), as well as the ones who made the music I turned to the most in
those years. I was not a popular kid in school – quite the opposite and while I’m
fortunate to have never been physically bullied really, I was verbally attacked
quite often by my peers. It was the positive tunes that I could escape into
with the message of Girl Power that kept me from turning to darker vices of
release from my pain. Really I still consider the five girls as part of my
niche of heroes in this world. Though I can’t say I’m as wild about the movie as
I once was (even though yes I occasionally watch for nostalgic purposes), I
still love them. I was truly heartbroken when the end came for them as a group,
but still I flat out loved them and followed along with their solo careers.
Perhaps not as closely to when they were a group, but still I followed them. To
this day I proudly call myself a fan and even when I was more self-conscious
and not as self-confident, I would declare myself a fan of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Recently my mom and I had a pretty open
conversation about the girls. About my continued adoration and it came about
how I want to recollect the dolls. As back in the day I only had two of the
Geri (a.k.a. Ginger Spice) dolls and one group set. However, when we are young
we don’t always properly care for things and it’s possible I took them out of
their boxes to play ‘concert’ with my friends. So truly I want to get them all over
again. But not just the ones I had already, all of them. To have them sealed in
their boxes to be put on display in my home to cherish completely. Well fast
forward that conversation that took place weeks ago to Christmas morning. Imagine
my surprise when I opened up a large box and one by one, unwrapped each Spice
Girl from the ‘Spice Girls On Tour’ set. All I remember saying was “OH MY GOD!”
Then… then there they were. Some extra goodies from the wonderful person my mom
purchased the dolls from to add to my own Spice collection. There was a set of
magnets, playing cards and a candle. All of it was in beautiful pristine
condition and will definitely be displayed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Needless to say, I was in complete shock as
I opened each item in the box. Heck, I’m still in shock! It’s hard to believe I
actually have one complete set of the few the girls released back in the day. I
do feel the biggest need to give a special shout out to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roxanne</b>, the lovely and beautiful individual who sold the dolls to
my mom and included those extras for me after hearing of my enthusiasm for the
Spice Girls. I swear I am going to cherish these dolls and extras forever!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Included on this post (forgive the makeup
free shot) is me posing with the dolls Christmas morning! As you can also see
at the bottom of the pic are those awesome extras as well. I am so excited
still and just in complete awe of it all. The thoughtfulness my mother put into
this for me and the kindness of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roxanne</b>
to include the magnets, playing cards and the candle!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You know though before I officially end this
post, I’ve got just one thing to say… GIRL POWER!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-4821868599765756682012-12-31T22:55:00.000-05:002012-12-31T22:55:10.403-05:00Bring On 2013!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah6p6SkWnkqpvdznChb-mmmAYqlBYTjTlH3hF3t2djsUjntSxiR2ylrWBp89aSo8VcgHDH-E3kpQcxiQUnkiBJ7Gom77hZxbcynO3y8ASd1_B7m1m6QfgHgJh6vDsniDiFIS8f2wFf-o/s1600/buckledturkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah6p6SkWnkqpvdznChb-mmmAYqlBYTjTlH3hF3t2djsUjntSxiR2ylrWBp89aSo8VcgHDH-E3kpQcxiQUnkiBJ7Gom77hZxbcynO3y8ASd1_B7m1m6QfgHgJh6vDsniDiFIS8f2wFf-o/s320/buckledturkey.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Am I the only one that feels like 2012 went
by super-fast? Here we are already though, saying goodbye to one year and
preparing for the next. Personally I am feeling pretty damn optimistic for this
coming year. I have so many personal challenges and goals to conquer over the
next twelve months. Naturally, I am planning on sharing my ventures along the way
on here. So of course, this means one of my personal goals is to re-prioritize
my online time and schedule my general day to day life better. This blog is
important to me and I enjoy it quite a bit. Yes I know I’ve fallen short these
past few months by a lot, but I am going to push myself to make self-improvements,
including pumping up my blog more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So much in store for this fast approaching
year, but first let me take a quick step back. While I have failed to come back
and finish my thankful days of November I am going to be doing a thankful post
once a week<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- starting very soon. I also
want to step back to my last post on here and thank everyone who sent well
wishes and prayers over my brother’s health. Although he is out of the
hospital, and has been for a while now – he’s not completely out of the woods. Blood
clots still remain in his legs (don’t get me started on how angry I am at that
particular hospital right now) and he is pretty much bed ridden. So prayers,
well wishes and good thoughts/vibes sent his way are always appreciated from
the bottom of my heart!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well let’s get on with the photo being
shared! I quickly snapped this shot of our Christmas turkey buckled up on the
local bus. I’m presently out of town for the holidays and the particular bus
driver we had decided for safety during our travel from the bus back to the
house, the turkey needed to be buckled in. It was quite the laugh fest with him
that day, needless to say. LOL! Anyways, I should put this entry to a stop. We
are just about an hour away (here in Michigan) for ringing in the New Year and
all I got to say is bring it on! I’m ready to begin reaching out further and
improving myself and life for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Happy New Year Everyone!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane Ridgewood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-40440412256807528432012-12-01T15:41:00.003-05:002012-12-01T15:41:45.268-05:00A Special Request<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Before I can type anything else, I first
must do something I rarely ever do. I am asking for prayers, thoughts and well
wishes for my older brother Tim. He is a husband, father of five and just an
amazing older brother – one of my absolute best friends. Presently he is in the
hospital due to kidney failure issues amongst other things. The official
diagnosis is something called Rhabdomyolysis. Which basically means muscle
tissue is breaking down and getting into his bloodstream. We do not at this
point know how this happened. Now granted there has been a very, very slight
improvement on his kidneys today, but he’s not completely out of the woods just
yet. Although the upside is, that the improvement was great enough the hospital
canceled their plans of putting him on dialysis today. I saw my brother for a
few minutes today though and he’s in a lot of pain. I myself am praying that
improvements continue and that the medical staff assisting him may find the
answers and cures needed here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Aside from that I do want to apologize that
November ended up being a bust on the blog. Between being sick, going out of
town for the holiday and now facing this family emergency amongst other things
I have been heavily distracted from this blog. So my deepest apologizes to my
readers. I fully intend to come back on here either tonight or tomorrow to
write down the rest of the month (that I missed) of November with my daily
thankful tidbits. As truly even in times of great stress it’s good to count our
blessings. Therefore after a bit of rest and a bit more coffee gets injected
into my system I shall return with that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-3363881880899861412012-11-12T23:32:00.001-05:002012-11-12T23:32:40.791-05:00Birthday Thankfulnes!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well there is nothing quite like spending
the majority of your birthday sick in bed. I really feel I could just lay right
back down - get all snuggled right back in my covers, but I wanted to tend to
the blog. Maybe I’m just too stubborn and determined, sitting up like this and
slowly typing out an entry for the blog tonight. I have been a bit distracted in
life the past few days and I don’t like going too long without posting up
something on here…so without further ado (and despite feeling miserable today) here
I go catching up on some more thankfulness!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
09<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for “bags of crap”. LOL! Okay,
seriously it’s what one of my best friends, Malice and I have referred to gift
bags for one another over the years. Whenever we can do it, we like to get one
another bags full of fun and cheesy little things filled inside. I got one this
year as an early birthday present from her. It was fantastic; especially the
room scented stuff that makes my bedroom now smells like apple cider. So yummy!
LOL!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
10<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for time with friends and
family. Although last Saturday I had a nasty migraine, it did not stop me from
getting out of the house and having a television show marathon with some
friends. Also of course getting to see two of my nephews and one of my nieces
was a big bonus as well! Despite the fact the night ended with everyone feeling
pretty crappy, I always cherish my time with loved ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
11<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for a comfortable bed! The best
way to end a day (in my opinion anyways) is to crawl right into a comfortable
bed. Get all snuggly with the covers and rest my head for the night. So yes, as
silly as it may seem to some I am thankful for my comfortable bed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
12<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for even numbers! Oh yes,
despite my being sick today I am happy to have turned 28! I don’t know why I’ve
always had such an odd preference for even numbers, but I do. LOL! So yay for
me on getting to be even once again! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alright, I do believe my bed is calling for
me again! I just had to pop on and catch up though with my November thankfulness.
Of course I am still encouraging all of you to share what you’re thankful for!
If you make a post on your blog link me, I don’t want to miss it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-57130210204613349282012-11-08T22:20:00.000-05:002012-11-08T22:20:38.024-05:00More Thankfulness!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxytvbqsYSWdGnR-hNZ9IwpWmYaovqePlFGrWS8u6xvUT400eBXGyc0ZWqbMFcFifeAVy0DrG2vSco2PMyk7EAOzW12vST_jmuNtPxR2H77NL2Mg6GTeSEVT4SocWANVtflqd8lbpfTWQ/s1600/sweatshirt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxytvbqsYSWdGnR-hNZ9IwpWmYaovqePlFGrWS8u6xvUT400eBXGyc0ZWqbMFcFifeAVy0DrG2vSco2PMyk7EAOzW12vST_jmuNtPxR2H77NL2Mg6GTeSEVT4SocWANVtflqd8lbpfTWQ/s320/sweatshirt.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Oops! I accidently missed a whole day…
already! However, in all fairness though I had quite the migraine yesterday. I swear
I thought my head was literally going to explode. Jumping right off that
though, as this is a month of thankfulness and positivity – not misery, here I go
with some thankfulness for yesterday and today!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
07<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for my old worn out and
oversized sweatshirt. Now I’m not normally a sweatshirt friendly person, but
this one has always been my exception. I’ve had this sweatshirt since I was
fourteen years old. It was too big then and it’s too big now. No, it’s not the
most fashionable thing – especially after all the years, but I love it. It’s
warm, it’s comfortable and it’s perfect to curl up in. It’s perfection for
lounging around the house – therefore I’m not concerned with the minor holes,
rips, tears and stains (thank you bleach accidents) from over the years. It still
keeps the warmth in it and it still is my favorite cold weather accessory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
08<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for soy almond milk! No
seriously… I have a lactose allergy and just within the past few days was I able
to finally try some of this stuff. It’s freaking delicious! At least to me… not
to my friend Cuddle Monkey who practically gagged on it, but I find it to be an
amazing drink! Not even going to try to hide it or deny it, it excites me to be
drinking some kind of milk. I can’t exactly just pour myself a glass of the
real stuff without getting a bit sick – so this substitute is wonderful to
someone like me! So yes, today I am thankful for almond milk – more specifically
the vanilla flavor that I tried. Freaking delicious people!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alright, let’s hope I can be more right on
top of this tomorrow! LOL! Again I definitely want to encourage that you all
share things you’re thankful for as well. Be it here to me in comments or on
your own blogs and social pages!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-77576640823697698912012-11-06T20:01:00.001-05:002012-11-06T20:01:41.840-05:00A Month Of Thankfulness<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SjzBa74LdgK5C_MTb3Y_mGcwgKHjOVgioSrsGSI5U62ho3hOXhA_Nkq9Caj9orHFwb_HSvpBiYFWlgLB0ejqnj3iOtzviYd-n3kWEOcYQb0-4Q7O3m3jfNzbg-3bpG_iIrlgGNTSz20/s1600/ivoted.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SjzBa74LdgK5C_MTb3Y_mGcwgKHjOVgioSrsGSI5U62ho3hOXhA_Nkq9Caj9orHFwb_HSvpBiYFWlgLB0ejqnj3iOtzviYd-n3kWEOcYQb0-4Q7O3m3jfNzbg-3bpG_iIrlgGNTSz20/s320/ivoted.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let me preface this with the fact that I normally
don’t jump on board with trends. I’m really not ashamed to say that I am so not
a trendy person! However, with Thanksgiving fast approaching I must say I am
admiring what seems to be the latest with social media sites and blogs this
month. Each and every single day thousands upon thousands of Americans (and
likely others) are posting something they are thankful for each day. They are
going as far as if they miss some days; they make up for it when they can post
online. I love this trend! I love the positivity and expression of gratefulness
for the blessings of life. So this time around I am definitely jumping right on
board!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So yes, I realize it’s the sixth already and
therefore I have some days already to make up for! I am seriously going to try
and get on to post something each and every day though. Naturally if I can’t I will
make up for it as soon as I can post, but I think it’s too good a trend not to
participate in it and regardless if you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, I definitely
encourage others to also partake in this!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Without further ado though and in no
particular order, I bring you the first six days of thankfulness!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
01<sup>st</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for my close family. They are
my cheerleaders, my support system and the people I feel I can turn to for
anything. They are great for advice, unconditional love and to put me in check
when I get out of line. They tolerate me as much as I do them and somehow in
the peaceful dysfunctions it just works. I thank God every day for the blessing
of the family I have. There’s a theory that floats around about how we pick our
families before we are born. I have to admit I like that; I definitely would
pick mine on purpose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
02<sup>nd</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for my friends. Lord knows I am
not the greatest friend. I’m horrendous with picking up the phone and well, let’s
just say I’m not perfection. Who is though? Anyways, onto point my friends whom
I cherish so much and tolerate me so well! They stick by my side through thick
and thin and I could not be more grateful to the understanding and loving souls
I am surrounded with. Especially when they admit such things to me as Melly-Belly
has about disliking gum simply because it’s “tedious”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
03<sup>rd</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for large coffee mugs. Sometimes
it really is the simplest pleasures in our lives that we can be thankful for. Seriously,
what better way to kick back for a self-proclaimed ‘coffee addict’ than to sip
from an oversized mug on a cool day? Some days I just really love a good takes
two hands kind of mug to use for my hot coffee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
04<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for my driving permit. Okay,
this is a partially embarrassing one as I know at my age it’s not so common not
to be driving yet, but depression and anxiety can hold you back on a lot in
life. Now that those things are well under control for me though I am taking
charge in my life on many levels. I’ve recently had the excitement of
successfully attaining my permit and with some luck, soon hopefully my driver’s
license. At this point in time though, I’m just so thankful to be getting to
that point for myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">November
05<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful for role play. Now you just
get your mind right out of the gutter! I do not run that kind of a blog. I am merely
talking about the writing game. It’s a creative source to write with others,
creating characters, building storylines and so forth. I know this one sounds
positively silly, but I strongly feel it has truly helped me hone and develop
my writing skills on a much better level. So for that, along with it just being
a wonderful creative outlet for me – I am actually thankful.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /><br />November
06<sup>th</sup>)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thankful to be an American with the
right to vote. Okay, I don’t want to get too politically charged here, but I voted
today. As you can see in the blog photo being shared I even got my sticker to
prove it! I shamefully admit this is the first year I’ve voted, but I happily
will say it will not be the last. I felt like such a giddy geek though when I arrived
to vote. I was positively cheerful and felt myself nearly skipping up to the
person who handed me my ballot and off I went to my seat to fill in my votes. No,
I won’t say who I voted for publicly, but I will say I’m not going to lose
sleep over who wins or loses this election. My despairing feelings for our presidential
candidates though did not prevent me from feeling patriotically charged up as I
submitted my votes! I’ve had a smile on my face since. Damn it’s good to be an
American!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well alright, there we have covered the
first six thankful days of November for me. I most certainly won’t be stopping
on Thanksgiving by the way; I plan to keep right on going to the final day of
the month! I do hope you all feel inspired to share some things you are
thankful for with me. I would love to read them, be they big, small or just
plain silly to some!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-63195038116997932162012-10-31T18:18:00.001-04:002012-10-31T18:18:09.838-04:00Happy Halloween Everyone!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6HWkQvYMkm3CbswtcSlbjg10KJCX4xoUMFfMjQrQlrvDNg1T2-TPEMrQgIhA_uA9M3NlwLZqzF4P3YwU3fbFhGKkxtDUcTDsXm8-aAheSKIGqvg50bOMd4fqcu1MYAL8w-TtSaqIOkk/s1600/nephewshalloween.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6HWkQvYMkm3CbswtcSlbjg10KJCX4xoUMFfMjQrQlrvDNg1T2-TPEMrQgIhA_uA9M3NlwLZqzF4P3YwU3fbFhGKkxtDUcTDsXm8-aAheSKIGqvg50bOMd4fqcu1MYAL8w-TtSaqIOkk/s320/nephewshalloween.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It’s the best day of the year boys and
ghouls! LOL! My favorite holiday has finally come and it’s officially the best
day of the year! I woke up in such a good mood today. Despite any bit of
headache that wants to try and lurk around me, I am so excited this evening. I
think perhaps getting to see three of my nephews have got me in such a good
mood. I love being an aunt and love that I got to watch the three of them get
ready. As you can see (with permission from their mom of course) I am sharing a
photo of my trick or treating ready nephews, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">creepy</i> pirate, vampire and ninja! Technically right now the boys
are out and about roaming the neighborhood collecting their candy as I can hear
them in the distance still yelling “TRICK OR TREAT” at the top of their lungs.
Oh it makes my heart smile this holiday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Presently I am awaiting my first batch of
trick or treaters to reach my door. The porch light is on and the bowl of candy
is ready to go. I will be passing out candy to all the little ones who come
yelling at my door. Although it’s not quite like it was when I was a kid, where
the streets were filled with dozens upon dozens of children in costume running
about with glee going from house to house, it’s still an amazing thing to me. I
love seeing whatever costumes we do get and I love wishing them all a Happy
Halloween!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What are (or have) you done this year for
Halloween? Did you dress up? Do you have a favorite memory regarding this
glorious holiday?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-3126674849635342272012-10-17T19:10:00.001-04:002012-10-17T19:10:23.976-04:00Gotta Brace Myself<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcQFBbmkzFj-2QxYKU9qi7VhZmi5MkN82gCA_vxdTZTqUDvJ9ZQeUMmlhCvwVuAs4JwA9dliCJJMl7FPmEM_NtpgC_pYBgXaeqLCAC0V_1Rqs2SaLiO17B2zfvYWU1r1wcpqyCNwVQwM/s1600/thebrace.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcQFBbmkzFj-2QxYKU9qi7VhZmi5MkN82gCA_vxdTZTqUDvJ9ZQeUMmlhCvwVuAs4JwA9dliCJJMl7FPmEM_NtpgC_pYBgXaeqLCAC0V_1Rqs2SaLiO17B2zfvYWU1r1wcpqyCNwVQwM/s320/thebrace.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Precisely six weeks ago I went to the ankle
specialist and well, ‘<a href="http://janeridgewood.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-got-boot.html" target="_blank">I Got The Boot</a>’. Today, I go to the ankle specialist
nervous as ever worried that despite the pain and swelling lessening I may
still have to face surgery someday. Well, that never once came up. Instead I actually
felt no pain while the good doctor was messing with my ankle and foot. I also
was happily able to delight in the fact that indeed the pain and swelling have
gotten better. Granted, it’s still a little sore occasionally and a tad
swollen, but it’s definitely improving. So my good news of the day is that I was
able to take off the boot once and for all! Six weeks of an immobilized ankle
is not fun, let me assure you!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As you can see in the photo though, I am not
completely out of the woods from ankle care. I do now have a brace to wear for
the next month or two. The good news to that is I am able to wear both shoes
again! The concept of putting on my shoes has never excited me this much
before! Six weeks is definitely enough to make a person appreciate their left
shoe. LOL! At least it has for me. So now the game plan is that it’s
recommended I do a little physical therapy for my ankle (which has yet to be
scheduled) and wear this brace. Naturally take it easy and just ease back into
the walking. Oh how I look forward to the day of mile walks once and no
contraptions around my ankle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m feeling quite thankful though, because I
was more than prepared to throw a fit – I mean a two year old styed tantrum of
throwing myself on the ground, if surgery was still on the table of
possibilities to happen here. So hurray to the notion that surgery wasn’t even
discussed and my ankle is making good progress here!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">--XOXO, Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-72898235179062871262012-10-09T14:32:00.000-04:002012-10-09T14:32:22.300-04:00Bring On The Coffee!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoYl469rzCh_ohMjXKgwTkckJTgziJptS69oQBDnYi3uZjnAYKY34GAzCRAZg-9Hz0QHSHG7x5UZoZSW_ANIMb3zxLCjVKZ9MdmqOe9f5x4KIOBCfOHDPo_Fm8IKe91a2ZB4NDN-qOPU/s1600/coffeecup.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoYl469rzCh_ohMjXKgwTkckJTgziJptS69oQBDnYi3uZjnAYKY34GAzCRAZg-9Hz0QHSHG7x5UZoZSW_ANIMb3zxLCjVKZ9MdmqOe9f5x4KIOBCfOHDPo_Fm8IKe91a2ZB4NDN-qOPU/s320/coffeecup.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's
one of those days I feel like I could receive an unfathomable amount
of coffee. In fact...as much as I am a bit needle-phobic, I'm about
ready to just set myself up for a Coffee IV. Let's just pump me full
of something highly caffeinated that will help boost those inner
gears at a little quicker pace. My coffee cup of choice lately (as
you see pictured) says it all! Now don't get me wrong, it hasn't been
a bad day. In fact it's been a fairly productive one thus far. It's
just one of those days where I woke up a hour before I really needed
to. Of course I couldn't go back to sleep, so I started my pot of
coffee. Ate a small breakfast, got ready and headed off to nutrition
class.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While
at class I was fairly awake, paying attention and taking note of
things I didn't already know. Some things were noted that I did
technically know, but it's good to give ourselves certain reminders.
Anyways, afterwards it was off to lunch with some peeps and now here
I am at home. Feeling suddenly sluggish and sleepy, but knowing it's
much too soon to fall asleep. Plus I'm not really a good napper, when
I go to “nap” it usually ends up with me just being crashed out
for a lot longer then an hour or two!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So
no naps for me today! Besides there are some things I really want to
get handled and done. Some writing I wish to do and some reading I
need to do! Got a personal (and only semi-embarrassing) milestone of
life I hope to be sharing with all of you in the near future. No more
talk of that for now though. LOL! For now, let's just keep it to the
notion that it's just one of them days where I just can't seem to get
enough coffee in me!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hope
you all are having a much more alert Tuesday than I am! LOL!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--XOXO,
Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-78707834643043254742012-10-08T19:46:00.000-04:002012-10-08T19:46:28.932-04:00Monday, Monday...
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc43UmImJZQDPyQGnuo5_icu-neIa7-rOK-RLe_catVb9QBeIN1_OiUL2SvxcIhMGnpNaVM6slekj6vHH70raB3xAl0wyMLrqww2bsI_1vbqrlDwP-XTk-GFkGcky2N9YzuYwUc8QGHSc/s1600/archrock.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc43UmImJZQDPyQGnuo5_icu-neIa7-rOK-RLe_catVb9QBeIN1_OiUL2SvxcIhMGnpNaVM6slekj6vHH70raB3xAl0wyMLrqww2bsI_1vbqrlDwP-XTk-GFkGcky2N9YzuYwUc8QGHSc/s320/archrock.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So
what happens when a Monday is indeed true to its reputation? Well I
don't know about the rest of you, but today I am looking back through
photos of the Mackinaw City trip I took back in August with friends.
Part of the trip, was an actual visit over to Mackinac Island. That's
where this particular photo I'm sharing on this post comes from. It
was during the carriage tour did we pause by this natural limestone
occurrence. It's called Arch Rock and formed during the Nipissing
post-glacial period. It's recorded at standing 146 feet above the
water levels over Lake Huron! As someone who saw this first hand (and
snapped that photo you see), I can't say I argue. The thing was
pretty high up. Seemed like quite the drop down to the lower part of
the island.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When
we got back on the carriage though for the rest of the tour, our tour
guide shared that the Arch Rock is sadly deteriorating. Now it's been
a couple of months since the trip, but if memory serves right he said
there is a prediction that in a matter of fifty or so years it won't
exist anymore. At the very least it won't look like it does now. My
mouth sort of fell open at that shared prediction. As, looking at
that breathtakingly beautiful sight, it's hard to imagine it won't
always be there. It's also kind of sad and exciting to know that as
well. Sad, because generations to come may miss out on such a sight.
Exciting though, because I did get to see it. I got to capture it
with my camera and stand there in awe of the beautiful view it
provided.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now
see... this is exactly how I have turned my “Monday blues”
around. Thinking about Arch Rock has seriously just put a smile upon
my face again. It really was beautiful and I strongly recommend that
anyone who goes to the Island, makes sure they stop by and see it for
themselves. It's just simply amazing and more beautiful in person.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--XOXO,
Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-26269700725261841002012-10-05T14:56:00.001-04:002012-10-05T14:56:28.544-04:00Good Friday Everyone!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtK3szxL7VwROqOOOe1tBfbYNi7tcZu_IhXihpNoM2IR8NsgsJ5L7TpNdY6gh0xoTbrIN6546eXSrQD1-ICMZnGlhzCP7SQVraX5lem5lhOveyVYs6t4Kx7f3GpMDxtdqyWuioIE5s24/s1600/coffee.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtK3szxL7VwROqOOOe1tBfbYNi7tcZu_IhXihpNoM2IR8NsgsJ5L7TpNdY6gh0xoTbrIN6546eXSrQD1-ICMZnGlhzCP7SQVraX5lem5lhOveyVYs6t4Kx7f3GpMDxtdqyWuioIE5s24/s320/coffee.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coffee
is officially poured and now my mind can wake up! Okay, it's in the
early afternoon so it seems a bit late to be waking up... but I have
been in a fog since I crawled out of bed around ten this morning. No
particular reason, I just think my bed had the right amount of
comfort and my body was not wanting to part from those warm
comforting blankets that had me so snug and tucked in. Oh yes, it was
a morning when I peeked one eye over at the clock and mumbled against
my pillow because indeed I could have slept all day long.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now
that I am up though...and the coffee has hit my system, I am happily
plotting away today for the blog. I don't want to give anything away
just yet, but I will say you all can expect a couple of weekly themed
posts in the near future! Aside from that though, I must say it's a
beautiful Friday. The world may not be perfect and life may have it's
present challenges. However, there is so much to still be thankful
for. Like for big brothers and today happens to be my big brother
Tim's birthday! So if he catches this post - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO! I
love you and I thank God he gave me you as a brother!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's
also a day where I am feeling that motivation to get things done.
Like, finally folding and putting away my clean laundry from
yesterday's washing. I suppose I could blame the influence of growing
up with older brothers and live out of my laundry basket until I run
out of clean clothes again. However... I just can't honestly recall
any of them actually having done that. Least not to my knowledge,
LOL! So instead, I think I'll suck it up and stay on top of things
this time around and get that laundry put away. With my ankle/boot
scenario still going on I can't exactly do a whole lot of other
physical activity unfortunately. Therefore my day will probably
result in getting some writing done, getting some reading done and
perhaps just relaxing in front of the television with a good movie on
for viewing.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What
are your plans for the day?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--XOXO,
Jane</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297469718432078743.post-42200437003395721552012-10-04T07:38:00.001-04:002012-10-04T07:38:42.364-04:00Sisterhood Bloggers Award!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSHyzBb-N88k5tIboP-WecisopAFWm5zOhyKA3GiuRJ1zS2pw_FQ3dJpHqVcw-A1Y51pwpdj7yiAqhMVN840OzJnRmJxO4-gcmD5s8pIMI13tWTJF3i1k0Hl365tvcO0kW-Icf0v3oto/s1600/SisterhoodofWorld+Bloggers+Award.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSHyzBb-N88k5tIboP-WecisopAFWm5zOhyKA3GiuRJ1zS2pw_FQ3dJpHqVcw-A1Y51pwpdj7yiAqhMVN840OzJnRmJxO4-gcmD5s8pIMI13tWTJF3i1k0Hl365tvcO0kW-Icf0v3oto/s200/SisterhoodofWorld+Bloggers+Award.png" width="193" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another
blog award has been passed my way from a fellow blogger! It may seem
silly to some, but quite honestly I am finding myself completely
touched and inspired with each of these I've received. I'm so touched
to know that my fellow bloggers do support me in such a way. I'm
inspired to keep going with the blog. It's been such a positive
experience for me and I really appreciate all the support this blog
has received!<br /><br />Getting onto the award though, a big thank you goes out
to <b>Vickilicous,</b> <a href="http://thegreekhousewife.blogspot.gr/2012/10/more-awards.html" target="_blank"><b>The Greek Housewife</b></a> for this latest one
I'm receiving; Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!<b><br /><br />THE
RULES OF AWARD:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thank
the blogger who gave you the award.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Post
7 things about yourself.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pass
the award onto 7 other deserving bloggers. (Let them know about it!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Include
a logo of the award in your post.</span></li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Well
there are the guidelines as mostly copied from <a href="http://thegreekhousewife.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>TheGreek Housewife</b></span></a> blog. Now onto seven things about me!<b><br /><br />Facts
of Jane</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Robert
Englund is my absolute favorite actor! I completely adore him!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I
could watch cheesy Halloween specials and movies year round.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When
I was 3 years old I carried around a rubber skeleton and called it my
“baby”.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Year
round I keep at least a small touch of Halloween fun on display.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One
of my favorite Halloween movies is Hocus Pocus. Watch it every year!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A
favorite Halloween tradition for me is passing out candy to the
trick-or-treaters.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Captain
Barbossa is my favorite pirate – no offense Captain Jack!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Now
onto the nominees!</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://a-lifeofourown.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ALife Of Our Own</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.lemondroppie.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">LemonDrop Pie</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://meteobeauty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">MateoBeauty</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://sandboxgems.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">SandboxGem</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.suburbanlifejournal.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">SuburbanLife Journal</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://mswritingspace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">TheWriter's Playground</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://theresjustonemommy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There'sJust One Mommy</span></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well
there we have it! Thank you so much to <b>Vickilicious</b> again for
the award! Hope everyone has a beautiful day today!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--XOXO,
Jane</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6