Saber-Tooth Tiger Survival 101

I really wanted to name this one "Survivor" (you know, after the Destiny's Child song) because after last weeks post I felt a bit of an old-song theme starting, but I realised it would look far too melodramatic.  Anyway, hum a few lines with me ...

I'm a Survivor

da da da make it

la la la la la

dum dum dee dum dum

Rightio - back to the serious stuff.

A few weeks ago I wrote about feeling lucky.  And I mentioned the ectopic thing.  And I don't want to harp on about it again and again and again, but then I thought, that I do think about that day a lot.  All the time in fact.  And it's not in some "oh poor me" way, it's just reliving some small part of the day. And I could talk about it all the time.  I don't though, I mention it on here more than in real life, but if someone does get me started then I'll just keep going until they fall asleep.

I thought it was just me.  A Liffey-ism.  Until I was in the kitchen at work talking to 2 work colleagues.  One who's just recently come back to work after being quite ill.  It turns out that they both had very similar conditions - and they started comparing stories and discussing treatments and side affects and all sorts.  I was walking away leaving them to it, when I heard one of them say "I could talk about this stuff all day".

And it made me think.  These 2 people had survived something quite scary and mean and deadly.  They were survivors.  And they were sharing their survival stories... finding the parts that they had in common and the parts that were different.  It's so strange - you'd think that after going through horrific experiences that people would want to move on and forget, and I'm sure that lots of people do have that approach, so why do some of us want to ... not dwell on it, but just keep remembering?

It could be that we're self-absorbed and just like to talk about ourselves (she says writing a blog all about herself!), but I don't think that's it.  I think we want to share our experiences because we're saying ... "We Beat Death".  And yes, that does sound overly melodramatic, but it's true.  It's kind of a big deal don't you think?

Maybe the same types of stories started when we were cave men discussing tips on how to get the better of the neighbourhood saber-tooth tiger.  Without those stories, we might not be here today.  So if you've gone through something craptastic and you want to share - I say go for it.  Don't go crazy and shout your story from the rooftops (unless that's your thing), but talk talk talk about it.  It will probably make you feel better - sharing always does.  And who knows, it might contain the one tip that keeps the human race going for another 100 000 years.

Insane In Da Membrane ...

... Insane. In Da Brain ...

Remember that song...  from the *cough* 90's?  Ahhh - loved it.

Anyway.  Have you heard of Insanity?  It's a crazy workout DVD series.  Each session is anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour long, and the main aim is to make you throw up because it's so flipping hard.

Yes, well, last year, when I turned 40, Dan gave me the Insanity DVD's for my birthday.

!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!

Yup - seriously!

I'm not really sure how he managed to do that and still lives. He has the knack though of making everything seem so happy and un-mean.  Schmoozer!

So, given that I actually did need to do some kind of exercise, I started last October.  The program is meant to take 9 weeks.  It took me 13.  It also didn't work.  I mean I did almost throw up every time I did a workout, and it made me insanely hungry, but when I finished I didn't look like the girls in the DVD.

Waste of time?

Well actually no.  Here's the thing.  I really enjoyed it.  So much so, that when I finished I felt kind of lost... until I got a hold of the next Insanity DVD workout set - a 30 minute version with the same trainer.

Anyway, the actual workout isn't the point here, it's the fact that doing exercise makes me happy.

*gasp*

I quite honestly NEVER thought that I'd be the type of person who did exercise because I enjoyed it.  But I do now.  If I miss a few days I get down, and I even miss the crazy trainer.  It feels like he's a part of our family (I know that Dan won't mind because I'm pretty sure he feels the same - ha ha!).

And another big upside (apart from the happy beans), is that now when someone asks me what I do for fun (which is the kind of question I HATE being asked, because before I'd mumble something about reading, eating cookies and guzzling wine), I reply ...

Going Insane!

Don't be such a Cranky Pants

A few years ago I was walking across the park just in front of our house.  It was spring, so all the snow had melted and the grass was starting to return to the greener end of the dead spectrum.  It wasn't particularly warm, and I don't think the sun was even out, but I was skipping.  Skipping across the grass feeling so SO happy.

I was on my way home from a medical checkup after the whole ectopic malarky and I was counting my blessings... again.  I felt so lucky to be alive, and realised how blessed I was just to be able to walk/skip across the park like a lunatic.

Fast forward to today.

Today I was grumpy.  For no good reason really - I was just in a grumpy mood.  Too much to do.  No time for 'play'. Snow all over the place. Anyway, this afternoon, I had to walk my cranky pants self across the park... and I remembered the feeling I had walking across that other time... 

So I might not have all the children that I'd like, and my family might live on the other side of the planet, I feel like I've turned into an old woman overnight and I constantly end the day feeling like I haven't had time to breathe until that minute because things are just too busy... but ...

I have a wonderful little family - Dan and Kalani and even our two crazy cats.  I have a child.  Millions of women don't get the chance to have one child.  Or they have so many that they can't afford to clothe and feed them (I met a lady the other day who was about to have her sixth child.... yup - you read right, SIXTH!!).

So my family lives a 31 hour plane journey away.  But at least I get to go and see them when I can, and they're all healthy and happy and not living in the middle of a civil war or a famine or ... America! 

Yes, I've just turned that awful four. zero. age (which btw is not just a frickin number... it's VERY. VERY. OLD).  At least I get to grow old. I might not be doing it very gracefully, but I am able to do it.

And yes, my life is busy. Whose isn't?  Work can be crazy and all encompassing, and there's the constant guilt that I'm not doing either of my jobs well (mother/wife and the one that I actually get paid for), but ... at least I have a job.  A job that I enjoy, and am qualified for (i.e. I'm not a surgeon driving a taxi because my new country of residence won't recognise my medical degree).

So my point is this.  I'm sure that everyone of you goes through grumpy stages like I do, and I'm sure that you don't always have good days.  You'd have to be on drugs for everything to be sunshine and roses all the time.  But... is your life really that bad?  Have you looked around you, or even looked inside you... and seen all that you do have?  I bet you've got it pretty good!

And if you can't see just how very lucky you are, then just be thankful that you don't live in north-eastern Nigeria, wondering if your town will be wiped out next.  

See - things aren't so bad after all are they!

Life. Is. Good.  

New Years Resolutions

I don't make New Years Resolutions. I'm not sure if I ever have. Or maybe I did make one once, but then immediately broke it so decided that it's a waste of time to try again.

Anyway, I don't make New Years Resolutions, but if I did they would be:

1. Stop drinking so much (I write this while drinking my 2nd glass of white wine for the evening).
2. Stop being so lazy (after I finish this I will probably go to bed .... to sleep!).
3. Be more patient with Kalani (which is not at all related to my next resolution)
4. Be more patient with stupid people.

Okay, so maybe number 4 would never be achievable.

Who am I kidding. None of those are remotely achievable!

Happy New Year everyone. I am hoping to do this blogging thingie a little more this year. It's not a resolution, or a promise, or anything official... just a thought.  

So don't hold me to it.