The Third Day of Valentines

In true Laura fashion, my third Day of Valentine's completely contradicts my previous health-pumped days. For my thrid day I was feeling awful- I'm sure it's chemical. My favorite artist said, more or less, at an open house, "If nothing is working, and everything is terrible, and everyone is terrible- it's probably chemical."


So what's my solution for an injured foot, a disheartening "talk" with someone about my work performance, anxiety, and overall poopy feelings? ICE CREAM!

Now I realize it's never a good idea to eat my feelings- but it's not a regular occurence. I usual listen to music, work out, or rant my feelings when I'm feeling awful (and now I sometimes play the guitar!). So I wanted some ice cream therapy and I ate a bowl of ice cream. I wont lie, I wanted someone to bring me ice cream so I didn't have to walk on my muscle strained foot- but in the end I bucked up and went to the store for some cookies and cream. I don't have any junk food on hand, I guess I always figure if I want it enough to go buy it, then I can have it.
So there you have it, the third day- I ate some major empty and delicious calories.

The Second Annual: 14 days of Valentines!

Remember the great event?! It's on again! 14 Days of appreciating love, Laura, and life! Here's a link to last years celebration.

As Shelly said last year, "A 14 day celebration of all things lovely and a countdown to the holiday d'amour! Everyday we are to complete some romantically exciting task. If you are single or have always been indifferent or perhaps even bitterly loathed V- Day, that is ok. You can take this as an opportunity to fall madly in love with yourself."

So, in an effort to skip redundancy I'll just start in on this year. If you want to read up on the description, or last years events- read the old blogs. 

Day 1, 2011: For day one I was good to my body and spirit. I discovered a great liking for yoga at FHE and taught a lesson on gratitude and service. Here is a clip from said lesson:

"Julie B. Beck said in the March 2008 CES fireside:  “The…young adult years are usually times of great self-interest. There are so many decisions to make, and it is easy to be turned inward. The first thing I…would encourage you to do is forget yourself. You should probably be participating in fewer activities that are meant merely to entertain when you could and should be finding ways to make life a little easier for someone else. The quickest way to find friends, to find happiness, to feel grateful, and to have the companionship of the Spirit is to get on your knees and ask the Lord, “Who needs my help today?” and then begin helping.”

I know we’re all busy and we have work, school, homework, facebook, whatever- but we can always find time to serve. We don’t have to plan elaborate service projects to help other children of God. Service can be as simple as picking up trash on the street, smiling at someone, inviting people to play games at your house, heart attacking a friend, making someone a card, participating in church activities, or limitless other things. Service isn’t always about toil and time (though service that involves those things can be incredibly rewarding). Service is about love and friendship and sharing that with other people...

Sister Beck continued, “You could serve as individuals or prayerfully organize yourselves in your callings with your single-adult groups, ward and institute groups, and Relief Societies and priesthood quorums; together you would be able to make a difference for good in the world. Most service opportunities are found very close to home, within your families and wards. You are now old enough and mature enough to lead out in planning and organizing these types of activities. You also know how to receive answers to prayers to learn what the Lord would have you do. As you look outward, the Spirit will be with you to guide you in all the life-changing decisions you are making because the Spirit always accompanies righteous service. You will not have any trouble finding places to serve. While you serve with your peers, you will form good friendships and have meaningful social experiences."

After giving the lesson we made cards and listened to a mix cd of mostly classic rock. Overall, I'd say the evening was a success and I felt an appreciation for myself and my body.

Day 2: Tuesday was all about my well being. I went to a wellness coach and made 3 month goals with her. She also set me up with a personal trainer, and that evening I "got my sweat on" on the treadmill.

Lazy book reviews :)

I thought I'd briefly mention a few books I've read lately. The first is Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Honestly I had a hard time getting into this one. I loved it, and I love the stories- but it didn't keep me in it. So I took a break and read Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, and something else...but, being the queen of the worst memory ever...I can't remember the other book I read in between...Any who, I also read I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (but I'll review that next). So some of you might be saying, Cheaper by the Dozen must have been a crap book- but despite taking a break in the middle of it, I really liked it. The stories were full of wisdom and wit, and they were all around funny and entertaining.

 I loved it when they talked about baby talk and how their father thought baby talk was dumb (he said it but didn't believe it I suppose, because he was caught baby talking when he thought no one could hear him.) I suppose I like this bit because I abhor baby talk. I might, MIGHT, baby talk to a dog, but most certainly not to a human at any age. So here's a clip about baby talk:

"Dad had long held theories about babies and, with the arrival of Anne, he was anxious to put them to a test. He believed that children, like little monkeys, were born with certain instincts of self-preservation but that the

instincts vanished because babies were kept cooped up in a crib. He was convinced that babies stated learning things from the very minute they were born, and that it was wrong to keep them in a nursery. He always forbade baby talk in the presence of Anne or any of his subsequent offspring. “The only reason a baby talks baby talk,” he said, “is because that’s all he's heard from grownups. Some children are almost full grown before they learn that the whole world doesn't speak baby talk.”"Dad" wouldn't allow baby talk  and he would talk to the babies in an intelligent way. 

The nurse (or nanny) thought it was foolish and said this: The German nurse whom Dad had employed was scornful. “Why she can't understand a thing you say,” the nurse told Dad. “How do you know?” Dad demanded. "I like "Dad's" response because I think babies understand a lot more than people think. So overall, I'd rate the book a 6 out of ten. It was smart and fun. It was interesting, but it didn't suck me in and keep me in.

Next I'll mention I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I read this book because I was talking to my friend Rouchelle about skinny dipping and streaking. It was from there that Rouchelle was reminded of how the main character's (Cassandra Mortmain) step mother (Topaz) would commune with nature (aka streak), and more importantly how at one point in the story Cassandra lays out in the sun nude. Here is an excerpt:

"While I was hanging my bathing-suit out of the bedroom window, I had a sudden longing to lie in the sun with nothing on. I never felt it before--Topaz has always had a monopoly of nudity in our household- but the more I thought of it, the more I fancied it. And I had the brilliant idea of doing my sunbathing where nobody working in the fields or wandering up our lane could possibly see me. It felt most peculiar crawling naked up the cold, rough stone steps-exciting in some mysterious way I couldn't explain to myself. Coming out at the top was glorious, warmth and light fell round me like a great cape. The leads were so hot that they almost burnt the soles of my feet; I was glad I had thought of bringing up a blanket to spread. on the top of the bedroom tower, It was beautifully private. That tower is the best-preserved of them all; the circle of battlements is complete, though there are a few deep cracks--a marigold had seeded in one of them. Once I lay down flat I couldn't even see the battlements without turning my head. There was nothing left but the sun-filled dome of the cloudless sky. What a difference there is between wearing even the skimpiest bathing-suit and wearing nothing! After a few minutes I seemed to live in every inch of my body as fully as I usually do in my head and my hands and my heart. I had the fascinating feeling that I could think as easily with my limbs as with my brain--and suddenly the whole of me thought that Topaz's nonsense about communing with nature isn't nonsense at all. The warmth of the sun felt like enormous hands pressing gently on me, the flutter of the air was like delicate fingers. My kind of nature-worship has always had to do with magic and folklore, though sometimes it turned a bit holy. This was nothing like that. I expect it was what Topaz means by "pagan." Anyway, it was thrilling."

  Sorry, I realize it's rather long, but that's some sweet self awareness/discovery right thuuurr! In a way I feel like that except sums up the whole story. That's not to say that it's a nude romp of a story, but rather a coming of age story that takes us along for some of Cassandra's life lessons and the changes that take place in her family. I REALLY enjoyed it because self awareness and meta-cognition have been a big part of my life this year, and I think this book illustrates a version of those things beautifully. It's not a happy ending/love story necessarily, but I think it's perfect just as it is. I don't recommend the movie, which is R rated for nudity (communing with nature), because it takes out the best bits about social tact and Cassandra's thoughts. And the movie totally screws up the last conversation Cassandra has with her love interest. Boo you whore to the movie. But Gruel to the book!

Other than that I read Nine Days A Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi. It was okay. I liked learning about the chronology of royalty after Henry the 8th and before Elizabeth, but it was just okay. I mean really...I have nothing more to say about it.

So that's what I've read recently...oh and I listened to The Life and Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith by Truman G. Madsen. I recommend that book a million times over! I learned so much from it. SERIOUSLY. A million times over!!!

 

Nest on the docket, Matilda by Roald Dahl and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens