New Year

Wow, is this year already gone? So much has changed and happened this year for me. I've moved twice, once back to NC & then from the NC mountains to the coastal area. Now don't ask why. Everyone always asks why. I think it's because they can't believe I would leave the beauty of the mountains to come to the flatlands of NC.

Anyway, goodbye 2008 & Hello 2009!

2008 was more good than bad, more hard than easy and so much more than I expected. It was hard to carve out a new role for myself - but, at the same time it was strangely rewarding. I think it fits. I will hopefully be ringing in the New Year awake, but I could possibly be asleep.

So look to hear more from me on all my upcoming changes in 2009; back to school, hiking/backpacking stories, getting in touch with my art again, getting fit through healthier eating & exercise, and hopefully getting back closer to my beloved mountains.

I'll be back in 2009 with good things to share. Happy New Year, internet.

After Christmas Effects

I had a great vacation! The weather was warmer than I would have liked but being with my family was fun. They had two furry bundles of joy. Although not nearly as friendly as mine (perhaps I'm a little biased), they were very cute and cuddly.

Of course my pack was their normal energetic, crazy selves and I think they may have driven my parents slightly crazy. You have to be a unique person to get along in our house with 7 australian shepherds and a border collie. I wouldn't trade any of them for anything, even in the morning when they pounce on me; I still love them to pieces. I guess we're doing our part in the world of saving critters. God bless my husband, he is as patient as he can be; and loves each one too!

Christmas

Woo! Hoo! Christmas is only 3 days away and I am looking forward to spending time with my family. We'll be traveling to West Virginia over the holidays and unlike the warm weather here, it's gonna be cold and snowing there! I am excited. My husband & I are packing the car up and heading out Wedsnesday afternoon with two dogs & three puppies! Needless to say my family will have a house full but thankfully my mom is being awesome and letting all the pups come too. (thanks Mom!)


I usually only get to travel home about 1-2 times a year and I hate that! I love spending time with my family and I know each year is more precious than the last since my parents are getting older. My husband usually gets home less cause where my family is seven hours away, his are 13. Sometimes I wish our families lived closer.

Odette & her Girls...

So I have been following this blog about Odette & her girls in Rwanda. It is heart wrenching to hear about her daughters who are still in Rwanda; they're working through the political red tape to get her girls with her in the US; but this can take years.

Odette escaped Rwanda and survived the violence of the genocide. She is a war widow with two girls, Grace & Lillian. She has been working here in the US and doing everything she can with the help of Jen Lemen, attorneys & hundreds of contributors; to get her daughters here safely with her. Her oldest, Grace; has suffered from malaria and TB; she has recovered but their health as well as their lives are always at risk. This blog always tugs at my heartstrings. Read it and if you can help them in any way, please do. I know money is tight for many people this holiday season; but the best gift you can give anyone is help.

If you're interested in checking out another great non-profit group you should really check out Hope Aid. This non-profit organization was started by my very ambitious, and wonderfully talented friend; Ginger. This organization to steal a line from her, "is about developing nations through sustainable development."

View of Graveyard Fields from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Freezing!

Did you know today in Quebec it's -45? That is COLD! I'm following another blog and this girl is talking about how it's that cold where she lives. Crazy! Who enjoys that kind of weather?

ACL

So the good news is that I am down to talking on one crutch! Yesterday I went to therapy & my therapist has finally said that I can start to walk again. I never realized how heavy the knee brace is that I wear. Now if you have had this surgery before then perhaps you know what I'm talking about. I think this brace weighs about 10 lbs. on its own! Combine that with my already weak knee, wimpy quads and hamstring & I look pretty ridiculous attempting to walk.

But I can walk. I don't have to rely on everyone to bring my everything anymore. Although I was getting used to asking all the guys in the office to bring me things. hehehe

Hiking, Backpacking, Kayaking, oh my!

Okay so I'm being a little goofy with the title but for those who know me, they know how I love the outdoors. I would rather be outside hiking, camping, backpacking or kayaking; in fact I would stay outside practically all the time if I could. But gotta pay for my hobbies so at least the next best thing is I work at GOPC talking with people about all those cool things!

So since for the next many months (feels like years) I am not going to be able to do all those wonderful things, I thought I would compile lists of the places I have visited and share them with you all. One of the great things about these hobbies is sharing them with friends; that way we can all visit these beautiful places. So in my lists I will only posts places I have been to so I can speak from first-hand experience. Check the lists in the right-hand side bar.

Enjoy and remember the LNT philosophy!

Cool Pic

I love this pic, it's so cool taken on a cold morning from a recent rain...

Yummy Cookies

Okay, so thanks to my friend Cory & his girlfriend, Amanda; I love pumpkin cookies. I think they are the best cookies ever! So I have searched the internet for a receipe that sounds as delicious as their cookies were. I sure hope so, I think I could have eaten a whole batch of those cookies!

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
If you like pumpkin or fall or warm spiced tea or orange leaves or a brisk walk - you will LOVE these cookies. If you're looking for healthy, go somewhere else. These are not it, but they are good!

Caners Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon (I usually add about 5)
1/2 tsp salt**optional - I usually add a tsp or so of ginger or nutmeg just to shake it up.

Cream butter, sugars, vanilla, pumpkin, egg - not too much. Just enough. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add slowly to the butter mixture. Be careful not to over mix. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes @ 350˚F. Voila!

**these cookies are meant to be slightly soft and moist. Do not overbake. Add cranberries if you're looking for a twist.**

Yummy Cookies

Okay, so thanks to my friend Cory & his girlfriend, Amanda; I love pumpkin cookies. I think they are the best cookies ever! So I have searched the internet for a receipe that sounds as delicious as their cookies were. I sure hope so, I think I could have eaten a whole batch of those cookies!

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
If you like pumpkin or fall or warm spiced tea or orange leaves or a brisk walk - you will LOVE these cookies. If you're looking for healthy, go somewhere else. These are not it, but they are good!

Caners Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon (I usually add about 5)
1/2 tsp salt**optional - I usually add a tsp or so of ginger or nutmeg just to shake it up.

Cream butter, sugars, vanilla, pumpkin, egg - not too much. Just enough. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add slowly to the butter mixture. Be careful not to over mix. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes @ 350˚F. Voila!

**these cookies are meant to be slightly soft and moist. Do not overbake. Add cranberries if you're looking for a twist.**

Today...

Well, another day has gone by in coping with the ACL surgery after-effects. I am working on bending the knee more than 90 degrees so my therapist will be happy with me; and so maybe I can sleep in peace at night. It's amazing how anyone gets any rest remaining stationary at night. I don't know how anyone does it! I toss & turn and then of course wake up cause I have moved my knee in some pretzel-like direction it's just not ready to go yet.

But, I found this great website though called ACL Solutions which I highly recommend to anyone who is going to have or is recovering from this type of surgery. It's been really helpful to me & I have even passed the site on to my therapist; Sharon.

The other day my therapist assistant, Kierstin, said once I can do 30 leg raises I can start walking without crutches. I have successfully done this several times at home, so keep your fingers crossed that I can do it tomorrow.

Most importantly, I am excitedly looking forward to driving again. I have even more evidence that I am a control freak cause I have decided I don't like the way anyone else drives when I am in the car! I often find myself hitting on imaginary brakes on the passenger side of the car; so in the best interest of my husband and my friends I need to start driving soon; although that date isn't until 1/11/09.

Today...

Well, another day has gone by in coping with the ACL surgery after-effects. I am working on bending the knee more than 90 degrees so my therapist will be happy with me; and so maybe I can sleep in peace at night. It's amazing how anyone gets any rest remaining stationary at night. I don't know how anyone does it! I toss & turn and then of course wake up cause I have moved my knee in some pretzel-like direction it's just not ready to go yet.

But, I found this great website though called ACL Solutions which I highly recommend to anyone who is going to have or is recovering from this type of surgery. It's been really helpful to me & I have even passed the site on to my therapist; Sharon.

The other day my therapist assistant, Kierstin, said once I can do 30 leg raises I can start walking without crutches. I have successfully done this several times at home, so keep your fingers crossed that I can do it tomorrow.

Most importantly, I am excitedly looking forward to driving again. I have even more evidence that I am a control freak cause I have decided I don't like the way anyone else drives when I am in the car! I often find myself hitting on imaginary brakes on the passenger side of the car; so in the best interest of my husband and my friends I need to start driving soon; although that date isn't until 1/11/09.

Friends

So I've been in Greenville for about 10 months now and I have met a lot of people. I'm really grateful for the friends I've met here. I know some of them will be life long friends; even if their travels take them to say...Boston! :) I think we take for granted how hard it is to make friends, not acquaintances but the kind of friends who will help you or your family when you're suffering. Or the kind of friends who will come to your house at midnight just to hear you vent because you're frustrated. I have friends like that, I have friends who will drive from hours away for no other reason than to say "hey!" Having those friendships take work but in the long run they have been the best relationships next to my family.

Thanks to all my friends who have to helped create many great memories over the years!

Friends

So I've been in Greenville for about 10 months now and I have met a lot of people. I'm really grateful for the friends I've met here. I know some of them will be life long friends; even if their travels take them to say...Boston! :) I think we take for granted how hard it is to make friends, not acquaintances but the kind of friends who will help you or your family when you're suffering. Or the kind of friends who will come to your house at midnight just to hear you vent because you're frustrated. I have friends like that, I have friends who will drive from hours away for no other reason than to say "hey!" Having those friendships take work but in the long run they have been the best relationships next to my family.

Thanks to all my friends who have to helped create many great memories over the years!

Really?

You know having ACL reconstructive surgery is frustrating as hell. It really is! I mean by all comparisons it's not nearly as bad as the aftermath and surgeries I went through after my accident in Oct. '04; but in some ways it's worse. Now I know my friends in Charlotte would be screaming right now :) especially after all the number of hours they spent with me in the hospital.

However, the main difference for me is that I can't do anything I want. I can't drive, hike, go target shooting with my friends at Uwharrie this month, etc., etc. When I was in the hospital in '04 my whole body was shot and there was no going anywhere. I can go places this time and it's frustrating to see everyone else doing all the things I love to do! AND to top it off when I visited my surgeon yesterday there was a guy waiting who had surgery on the same day as me; HE'S WALKING!!!!! Damn, how can that be?!?!?!? He isn't even using crutches and hasn't used them ever.

I know, I know; it sounds like I'm whining and maybe I am just a little bit; but I thought since no one else wanted to listen I could at least write it here.

Stay tuned for more to come, hopefully as the days go on I'll be stronger. :)

Really?

You know having ACL reconstructive surgery is frustrating as hell. It really is! I mean by all comparisons it's not nearly as bad as the aftermath and surgeries I went through after my accident in Oct. '04; but in some ways it's worse. Now I know my friends in Charlotte would be screaming right now :) especially after all the number of hours they spent with me in the hospital.

However, the main difference for me is that I can't do anything I want. I can't drive, hike, go target shooting with my friends at Uwharrie this month, etc., etc. When I was in the hospital in '04 my whole body was shot and there was no going anywhere. I can go places this time and it's frustrating to see everyone else doing all the things I love to do! AND to top it off when I visited my surgeon yesterday there was a guy waiting who had surgery on the same day as me; HE'S WALKING!!!!! Damn, how can that be?!?!?!? He isn't even using crutches and hasn't used them ever.

I know, I know; it sounds like I'm whining and maybe I am just a little bit; but I thought since no one else wanted to listen I could at least write it here.

Stay tuned for more to come, hopefully as the days go on I'll be stronger. :)

Practicing Gratitude...

As I am reflecting this week a thought has stuck with me for some reason. Do I practice gratitude?

In fact, who do I know in life that practices this on a regular basis? To be honest there is no one I can recall that I see practicing gratitude daily; sadly enough not even myself.

We often talk about how lucky we are to have this and to have that; these things are usually material objects, but how often are we thankful for the intangible things? Perhaps this is nagging at me because Thanksgiving is next week, or maybe because as I near yet another "event" in my life I am reminded to be thankful because "it" can all be gone in a minute. When I refer to "it", I am not referring to my car, my house, my clothes, my job, all those things which I consider necessary to maintain my cushy life. But instead I am referring to my husband, my precious Rogi, all my adorable critters, my parents, my friends - whether they be close or distant, my ability to get out and enjoy my life everyday; as well as many other things which would create a list too long to read.

The reason I write about this is not to point out what we already know, that we should all be thankful; but instead to remind myself that I need to be more diligent about practicing gratitude. It comes with practice, it comes in those moments of quiet when you look around at your life. Remind yourself to have gratitude for all people in your life, all moments; because they happen to teach us, and for all things even the smallest of things.

Practicing Gratitude...

As I am reflecting this week a thought has stuck with me for some reason. Do I practice gratitude?

In fact, who do I know in life that practices this on a regular basis? To be honest there is no one I can recall that I see practicing gratitude daily; sadly enough not even myself.

We often talk about how lucky we are to have this and to have that; these things are usually material objects, but how often are we thankful for the intangible things? Perhaps this is nagging at me because Thanksgiving is next week, or maybe because as I near yet another "event" in my life I am reminded to be thankful because "it" can all be gone in a minute. When I refer to "it", I am not referring to my car, my house, my clothes, my job, all those things which I consider necessary to maintain my cushy life. But instead I am referring to my husband, my precious Rogi, all my adorable critters, my parents, my friends - whether they be close or distant, my ability to get out and enjoy my life everyday; as well as many other things which would create a list too long to read.

The reason I write about this is not to point out what we already know, that we should all be thankful; but instead to remind myself that I need to be more diligent about practicing gratitude. It comes with practice, it comes in those moments of quiet when you look around at your life. Remind yourself to have gratitude for all people in your life, all moments; because they happen to teach us, and for all things even the smallest of things.