Look what happens when I quit smoking!!!

My toenails turn Pink :0)  I found a coupon, on line, for a nail place across the street.  It was interesting, I haven't done that in a long time.  Kind of a yucky process for the nail tech.  It was well worth the price!  I only thought about smoking once in the whole hour.  Now my feet feel fabulous and look kinda cute too :0)

While I was waiting for my nails to dry I stared at a wonderful painting of 8 horses.  All different colored horses running acroos the side of a grassy mountain.  I imagined the orange horse and the green horse were just falling in love and being shunned by the others.  The lone white horse, fought valliantly to be a strong leader despite being so different from the other horses...  This is where my brain goes when everyone around me is speaking a foreign language and I have to keep my feet under the purple light.    So, there is Asian writing on the painting, I kept imagining what profound thing it might say.  When I checked out, I asked the gentleman what it said.  "Eight Horses" he tells me with a strong accent.  I'm sure it sounds much prettier in their language.  It certainly looks prettier in writing.  Hope all is well in blogland. 

This is not exactly what the painting looked like but it's similar.  A Google seach tells me:  "A famous Chinese proverb says "horses come bringing success".  The horse is one of the most popular animals in the Chinese zodiac and is often used to symbolize Yang energy in Chinese culture."

• Healthy, goofy dogs that make me smile every day.
• A new home for my saltwater fish and corals. 
• The ability to be a non-smoker for a week. 
• Hard-working nail tech to make my toes look cute and my feet feel soft. 
• Breathing better each day I do not smoke

One week as a non-smoker

I've had moments where I was just convinced it was time to smoke.  This is not a painless process.  I have to step back, take and few deep breaths and a nicotine lozenge.  It would not be helpful to smoke.  I like breathing without using my inhaler every day.  No wheezing since I stopped smoking :0)  The money is a reason too.  When I went to the grocery store, I kept telling myself that I had $55 extra to spend on whatever I wanted since I was not buying cigarettes.  I've been thinking it would be nice to go get a pedicure with my cigarette money.  I love getting pedicures but do it rarely because it seems like such an extravagance.  I'm proud of myself for not smoking but I am angry that I got so hooked.  Looking forward to the day when the cravings are not as overwhelming.   I've noticed that I crave cigarettes a lot when I'm bored.  Time to get working on other things.  Maybe I can hit the treadmill and excercise these lungs of mine.  Since Merikay is painting, her mileage is on hold.  I might be able to catch up to her :0)  I too could be hiking 1000 miles in National Parks someday.

I sold the majority of the live stock in my fish tank.  I changed my posting on Craigslist to list out more of the specific items I have.  Hopefully will get more interest.   I had a moment of pang when the fishies and corals were being taken out.  It didn't last long though.  I told the man that bought them, I was selling the tank because I was going to move into an RV.  He had a hard time wrapping his brain around the concept. "I guess they have everything you need? Everything you have here?"  It was kind of fun for me.  Something that makes so much sense to me personally, this guy has no grasp of why I would even want to consider it.  It's still making me smile.  Is it the rebel in me that has fun making them wonder??

Having allergy attack today.  What's up with that.  Must be because it rained yesterday

THE BOOK

In my journey to full-timing I've had a couple of moments.  In retrospect, they were moments that realized this life is the place I want to live, the person I want to be.  The first time was reading Howard and Linda's blog at RV-Dreams.  There were references here & there about learning to live from his heart more than his head.  As he was learning to full-time, he was also learning about himself and becoming more comfortable.  Each time I came across those entries, my eyes would start to leak and I wasn't sure why.  There was my adventure to the RV-Dreams rally in Sept 2009.  After 2 full days of people and presentations, I was not on people overload, I wanted more!  Yesterday and today, my eyes are leaking as I read a book.  I am not a reader.  Any books I 'read' are books on tape.  I'm slow at reading, my comprehension is poor and it gives me a headache.  Are you getting the picture??  Not a Reader here.  There is a certain book that kept popping up, I was NEVER going to find on tape.  The other day, I followed a link on a blog and purchased a book called The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing .  While I was ordering that helpful book, this book that keeps popping up.....  popped up!  Imagine that.  The book is RV Traveling Tales:  Women's Journeys on the Open Road .  So, I ordered that one too.  The 'guide to solo rving' is well written and full of helpful info.  It's full of LISTS!  my kind of book.  I'm sure I will return to it again & again.   I started Traveling Tales yesterday.  It touches me and makes my eyes leak.  Things about RV living, that touch me, give me a feeling that is SO hard to explain.  It's a feeling of I WANT!  I want to be there, I want to meet these people, I want to be a part of ALL of it.   The book is collection of short stories from women who full-time.  I want to meet each one of them, each of their dogs, their partners, and yes... even their kids :0)   There's a chapter written by a 14 year old female..  I even want to meet her!  Now there's a surprise.  I want to strap this book to me, eat it (but then I'd have to buy another one and that's just not in the budget :0) and make it a part of me. 

I WILL get there, leaking eyes and all.  I WILL be a part of all of it.  I WILL find how to live more from my heart than my head. 

I've been forgetting my list (gratitudes, blessings, thanksgiving  whatever you want to call it)

• Air conditioning.
• A safe place for the crazy dogs to play and get worn out on days I have to work in the office
• Editors/Authors:  Jaimie Hall and Alice Zyetz
• Nicotine lozenges
• Digital Video recorder so I can watch my favorite shows in my own time

THE LIST

I'm a list maker.  Before my first RV trip, (RVDreams Rally in 10/2009), I had lists of lists all over the house :0)  Lists keep me focused and  make sure I don't forget anything.  Lists also let the control freak in me have something to hold on to.  I have been keeping lists of 'places to see', 'places to stay', 'need for the rig', 'must haves', 'motorhome choices' and 'towed options'.  I recently realized that I am about 1.5 years from my planned adventure date.  That's closer than the 2 years I've been saying before now :0) .  Time is moving on.  So, I made the BIG LIST, with approximate dates of all the stuff that has to happen between now and take-off.  One thing I learned, when I made this list, is that my launch date needed to be moved one month further into nice weather.  Because my estate sale will happen before the house sale and after moving into the rig, good weather for the sale is more likely to be in March than Feb. 

When I was sick, I was smoking very little because I had congestion in my chest and did not want to end up at the doctor's office.  I had to go see a doctor, after I was getting better, because I needed a release to go back to work after so many days out sick.  The Dr. and I discussed how I use my inhaler when I'm not sick (I'd been using it more while I was sick) and the Dr. said it was time to add a steroid inhaler to control my asthma.  I've had mild asthma since I was a child and I've been smoking since I was about 20 years old.  Bad choice, I know.  I don't want to be on steroids and I was planning to quit smoking Feb 2011 anyway (since smoking will make my health insurance premiums more expensive).  So, I moved up my quit date and this is my second day, that I can say 'I don't smoke'.   Best of all, I check the first thing off of my departure list!!!

TO BE DONE BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD:

• Pay off debts (12/2011)
• Weigh < 200 pounds (6/2011)
•  
• Become non-smoker (6/2010)
•  
• Contact nephew to see if he wants Christmas decorations (10/2010)
•  
• Start business for taking medical transcription jobs (1/2011)
•  
• Buy work computer (1/2011)
• Get medical transcription certification (1/2011 - 6/2011)
•  
• Choose Class A (Winnebago)
•  
• Purchase Class A
•  
• Choose toad 
• Purchase Toad
•  
• Purchase and set up towing of toad (with brake buddy)
•  
• Sell truck
• Join Escapees RV club
•  
• Auto & home insurance for rig
•  
• Pull my stuff I want to keep out of the house and into the rig
•  
• Buy personal laptop and transfer computer info to it.
•  
• Clean desktop computer for sale.
•  
• Set up rig on site & move in (friend's field) (end of 3/2012)
•  
• Put home on the market
•  
• Purchase containers to fit stuff and rig
• Notify family/friends to come take what they want from home
•  
• Interview Estate Sale Service (A+A Estate Wizards & Denver Gypsy Boys)
•  
• 1 month notice to job (end of 3/2012)
•  
• Hold Estate Sale (3 or 4/2012)
•  
• Sell home
•  
• Decide on mail forwarding service (mom or Livingston, TX)
•  
• Update will
•  
• Health Insurance
•  
• Disability Insurance
•  
• Road service plan for rig
•  
• Insurance to return rig & transport me and transport brother to me in case of emergency
•  
• Packet to emergency contact with all info and passwords

 

 

 

Today

Wow! So much today.


Tomorrow I was going job hunting

Today I found out the hill I would die on was: I Want to Help People.

Today I found out that I would do it anyway

I know what a BIG DEAL this oil spill will be for this country. Lord knows I am learning what it means for the locals.

Today I thought… what will this mean for the RV I will be looking for in 2012? :0)

Be gentle with each other.  Hope all is well out there. 

Getting Better

Good thing I don't get sick..  EVER.  It really throws me for a loop.  Got some kind of wacky virus.  Achy all over, congestion, coughing, not breathing well and totally exhausted.  Finally getting better.  Thanks for good thoughts sent my way. 

I must be getting better, was wanting to search used RV's for sale this morning :0)

Yep, I'm Sick.

Good things about being sick......   Not working (I'm not sure, if I was given the choice, if it's worth the trade).  Cold meds and colds make me sleepy so I spend my time in this twilight sleep listening to books on tape.  With this cold, at least I SOUND pitiful too, so when someone calls me or I call in to work I get lot's of sympathy.  Glad I am actually ill.  My brain plays tricks, so when I want to spend the whole day in bed, it's good to know for sure that it's physical and not mental. 

Hope all is well out there in blogland. 

Blah, Blah, Blah

Woke up 2 days ago just feeling blah.  Kinda tired and flat with a sort of sore throat.  Not really sick, maybe sick coming on?  Who knows?  Allergy season is here so it could be that too.  Slept most of the the day yesterday, today, still the same only now back is sore from being in bed all day.  I just can't win here.    Just not sure.  Hanging in for today.  Have Dentist this morning.  Yay!!  ME!! 

Still fielding responses from Craigslist for the tank.  I'm getting better at this.  The woman who had expressed interest in the truck never returned call after leaving 2 messages, so that fell through. 

Have good days and be gentle with each other. 

• cheap coffee that still tasted good. 
• artificial sweetener for coffee so I can drink as much as I want. 
• goofy dogs keeping me company and making me laugh. 
• funny morning show on the radio
• dental insurance so the visit today won't cost much at all. 

Back to Work and Craigslist

First day back in the office with my improved attitude was yesterday.  I tried.  If I don't listen to my ipod at work, it helps my ability to interact with people but also let's me hear others being annoying.  It's a double edged sword that I need to find the balance with.  I never realized how much I roll my eyes.  How 15 years old is that?  I know it's rude, juvenile, and must be stopped.  I'm just too old to be doing that.   

I never made it to the Celestial Seasonings plant on my vacation.  Things just kept coming up.  I did manage to loose 2 pounds on my vacation and I enjoyed the time to re-group.  Truck got all fixed up with it's annual check-up and cost less than I thought.  They were even able to fix the broken door at a reasonable price.  The truck will need new tires sometime in the next year.  I have the number of the woman that is interested in buying the truck, I'll keep you posted on how that goes.  I also found out that a friend will be selling her 2002 honda civic soon.  She is the only owner and is getting a bigger vehicle for her growing family.  Guess what!  That particular car tows well & easily.  Stuff falling in to place?  We'll see. 

My Craigs List lessons continue.  The fish tank buyer fell through so I have posted the add again.  Seems like things just take FOREVER.  I want it NOW.  Practicing my patience is becoming a habit.  This is a good thing I suppose.

Did you see?  Jennifer of Living in My Car checked out my blog and left a nice comment.  Thank you Jennifer!  She's dealing with a leak and some other troubles on her adventure right now.  I guess other people get to work on patience too :0)

• Safe place for dogs to stay and play when I have to work in the office. 
• Kind people at work that Get Me! and make me laugh
• 'So You Think You Can Dance' TV show.  The human body is just amazing!
• Still thankful for AC I can afford
• Books on tape, the one that kept me listening in bed this morning was "Candy Girl".  A memoir by a girl that decided to try out stripping, in MN of all places.