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Post by cathygeha on Sept 19, 2022 6:57:48 GMT
Affirmation: Believe -> See
Mind: Open
Body: Miraculous
Spirit: Contemplative
Gratitude: Chats with family and the internet that makes it possible...whether internet to the house or via G4
We talked to our son and his daughters yesterday using my phone since we didn't have DSL service to the house. Our oldest granddaughter played a note or two on her new trumpet and our youngest was more into their cat. Our son was exhausted after a week in Cairo and looking forward to a couple of weeks at home before traveling to Australia.
MICHELLE: I have a LOT of books to plow through in the next few days so will work on that when not driving to the carob molasses plant to pick up the payment of molasses for the pods we took to the refinery. The plumber has to return again for water problems. Not sure what else is on the agenda for today. I LOVE that Buttercup is the program coordinator for the daily dog activities...and that YOU understand her commands
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Post by michelle on Sept 20, 2022 3:21:50 GMT
Affirmation: My life is perfect in every way. Attitude habit builder: Adulting Body: OP, Outside Steps and Yoga Spirit: Special Gratitude: The class in Logic I took in college.
I went to town today, ran some errands and then attended a lecture in a branch building of the University that is part of the "Elder College" for seniors. Lots of active minds in that group!
Cathy, Children are so delightful sometimes. I got such a visual of your granddaughter and her trumpet.
Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 20, 2022 6:58:53 GMT
Affirmation: Life is what I make of it
Mind: Inquisitive
Body: Healthy
Spirit: Adaptable
Gratitude: The ability to see two or more sides of situations
Water pump is still an issue as is not receiving water from the government. My husband is going to have the water in the cisterns (huge cement ones that collect rainwater) checked to see how clean they are. If clean, could boil for drinking or bathe in them...if they don't smell like pond scum. The carob molasses is ready to pick up and we will get a minimum of 30kg of the stuff...more if we take containers to put it into.
MICHELLE: My sister is enjoying time with her grandson and sons up in Seattle. I wish I lived as close to my children and grandchildren as she does! It is overcast and cooler today. Put jeans and socks on yesterday for part of the day. I think autumn is arriving soon! It goes from summer to winter with a short autumn here...same with winter to summer. Spring and Fall are both SHORT and this shows in how laundry goes from one season to the next in one washing period.
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Post by michelle on Sept 21, 2022 3:32:18 GMT
Affirmation: Slow and steady wins the race. Attitude habit builder: Perserverant and Optimistic Body: OP, Dog walking and Yoga Spirit: Peaceful Gratitude: Rain!
It rained last night and also some today which was special for us. I walked the dogs twice today and enjoyed getting out in the fresh air.
Cathy, I need to google what your cistern might look like. Are these quite large? I suppose it's rain water. We don't have enough each year lately to do something like that. The carob molasses sounds interesting, does it taste good?
Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 21, 2022 10:07:40 GMT
Affirmation: Believe->See
Mind: Open
Body: Capable
Spirit: Wise
Gratitude: Grateful for every day in some big or small way
We came home with 30kg of carob molasses - too many calories for us to eat it all in a year SO will gift quite a bit of it, probably. The water is still an issue...none has really arrived in a week or so. The cisterns or water reservoirs or whatever are of two kinds. The two under the back patio are huge poured cement cubes with a poured concrete top that has hatches to look in from the top and holes on the side for water to be put into as well as receiving rainwater from the gutters on the roof. There are two aluminum(?) tanks with lids near the cement ones that we use for bathing and cooking and laundry...they receive fresh water from the government and we boil before drinking. The ones on the roof are big gray plastic and we have two of them. The water from the aluminum tanks is pumped to the roof and it flows to bathrooms and kitchen by gravity. On the lower piece of land my husband built a HUGE storage tank to store water in...again poured concrete...it is I don't know how tall it is or how much it holds but you have to climb a ladder on the side to get to the top of it...quite high. The plastic ones are kind of like these and hold a lot: encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToEvytyNok4ul0fO_7v4KkUsLQ5lJiuqrL6Q&usqp=CAU
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Post by michelle on Sept 22, 2022 2:33:16 GMT
Affirmation: My life is wonderful! Attitude habit builder: Friendly and outgoing Body: OP, Dog walking and Yoga Spirit: Lyrical Gratitude: Modern conveniences
Busy day wrestling with the Office Paper Tiger and now I am almost done with this huge annual project. Other than that got outside a number of times with the dogs to walk them and so on.
Cathy, The information about the cisterns was very interesting. I liked your gratitude. One of the benefits of posting here is that I do notice small things I am grateful for. Actually, I notice a lot during the day of those kind of things. I think it is interesting how profound of an effect this message board has had on my life.
Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 23, 2022 8:43:39 GMT
Affirmation: I am supported by family and friends
Mind: Quick
Body: Miraculous
Spirit: Intrepid
Gratitude: Good friends
It has been a busy few days with intermittent internet. Water has finally arrived in greater amount than the past few weeks so did some laundry and enjoyed a shower. Water has stopped again so we are back to conserving. USAID provided money to Tripoli and the north to assist with pumping water so perhaps that is why things have improved. Weather is cooler and I would love to believe Autumn has arrived but fear Indian Summer with hotter days will likely visit again at some point.
MICHELLE: I agree that this thread is a great way for me to take time to SEE and think about my blessings. I look forward to it and am not as happy when it is not possible.
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Post by michelle on Sept 24, 2022 5:06:50 GMT
Affirmation: The journey is the destination Attitude habit builder: Visionary--Make it Happen! Body: OP, Dog walking, Raking and Yoga Spirit: Protected Gratitude: Memories We are having absolutely lovely weather! No need to rush through these beautiful days. Lots to do in the area of office work but I am managing to get outside to enjoy it. I am a world class Transcendental Meditaton raker so each day I rake up pine needles and throw them in the hole. Cathy, Lots on your plate lately, sorry for these items and hope that the water situation will improve permanently. When I was young we lived in very humble conditions until I was in the 5th grade. My older brother and I didn't even know it. But this toughness never really leaves a person or at least it hasn't left me. However, it's one thing to face 11 days without heat and water in the middle of freezing temps which is usually the worst we encounter as opposed to ongoing circumstances that you have. I love!!! the word "intrepid" as your Spirit for today--it says it all. Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 24, 2022 7:23:31 GMT
Affirmation: I am in charge of ME
Mind: Intuitive
Body: Strong
Spirit: Indomitable
Gratitude: Weekend chats with family
Yesterday I did two loads of laundry and had a quick shower...it was marvelous. Today I will make mjudra (lentil-onion-garlic) with cabbage salad dressed with garlic-lemon-olive oil. We will talk to our daughter today and our son and his family tomorrow. I took the door off the cat carrier that the cat can get out of, put it on the shelf I used to have the plastic box house I made for her and her mother (it broke after four or five years) and she was thrilled to be in it the last couple of days. She probably needs a BIGGER box so will check into that later.
MICHELLE: I remember reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories and the winter they did not have food...you reminded me of how tough that sounded for them with the no heat or water for ten days. I don't know if we have been without water in winter but...probably...and we don't usually use the heat but also...it doesn't get below freezing (usually) here so...can't imagine what it was like for you. I remember dad saying he and his sister would rush down to the stove in the kitchen after waking in bedrooms that were COLD in Des Moines, getting dressed by the stove, and heading off to school. I don't think children see the difficulties and take them in stride unless their parents complain all the time?
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Post by michelle on Sept 25, 2022 4:27:18 GMT
Affirmation: Slow and steady wins the race Attitude habit builder: Consistent and determined Body: OP, Dog walking, Raking and Yoga Spirit: Happy Gratitude: Fun times spent with my dogs
Another office work day for me due to sending out the engagement proposals for next year which started a flood of incoming emails to deal with. I think I might be able to get out from underneath the Paper Tiger by late tomorrow. Today I got outside for some raking in La Fiesta. Also played a new game with the dogs which got them all excited.
Cathy, I completely agree about children taking things in their stride in years gone by. Now they have TV and the Internet for them to get a glimpse of others realities and LOTS of complaining goes on. I am so glad I grew up when I did. We definitely took it in our stride about the nuclear bombs that were being tested above ground 90 miles from us. We had to wear dog tags and little plastic encased pictures of ourselves which we thought were quite ridiculous since we all knew that they would melt (along with us) if anything went wrong. It didn't phase us at all! I love your affirmation.
Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 25, 2022 8:49:50 GMT
Affirmation: I look forward to eating healthy meals
Mind: Bright
Body: Wise
Spirit: Integrated
Gratitude: Knowing that I get to talk to my son and his family later today
Lunch is done - made spinach-bulgur-onion-black eyed peas. Still have leftovers but won't be having them for lunch today. Talked to our daughter yesterday and lost internet midway through the conversation. Not fun but not unusual. We didn't have much to say so that was that and will hope it doesn't happen talking to our son today.
MICHELLE: who is engaged? curious minds (me) want to know! As for taking things in stride...not sure my children took the wars, SCUDS, carrying gas masks to school well...as I hear now...but...they carry on and so do we. They didn't have a choice to leave as we stayed...and sometimes wonder how it truly impacted them longterm.
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 26, 2022 14:20:32 GMT
quick check-in...internet has been intermittent so am posting and running instead of doing the usual post.
that said...grateful that we got water today and were able to do some laundry and shower.
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Post by michelle on Sept 27, 2022 5:32:55 GMT
Affirmation: My world is filled with happiness! Attitude habit builder: Fun and Focused Body: OP, Napping, Steps and Yoga Spirit: Undaunted Gratitude: The simple things in life
Very busy and productive day for me. Clair and Sam joined me for an afternoon sitting under the apple tree where I fell soundly asleep rather quickly but then did my Yoga. The dogs saw a tiny lizard and were fascinated by it. Actually it was very cute.
Cathy, Glad you are able to enjoy time spent with your son.
Onward>>>>
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Post by cathygeha on Sept 27, 2022 6:09:39 GMT
Affirmation: Believe -> See
Mind: Focused
Body: Willing
Spirit: Wise
Gratitude: Cooler weather and water for a shower and to do some laundry yesterday
Not much happening here. Reading, reviewing, cooking, and such. I researched getting my passport renewed and it shouldn't be difficult and won't require a trip to the embassy...also figured out how to apply to vote online as I live in a qualified hostile territory...trickiest bit of that was figuring out how to write a wobbly signature using the mouse since I didn't have a stylus.
MICHELLE: Love the visual of you sleeping under the apple tree with trusty canine guards to protect you. Do you take something out to lie on while under the tree?
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Post by michelle on Sept 28, 2022 5:07:38 GMT
Affirmation: The best is yest to come. Attitude habit builder: Optimistic Body: OP Steps and Yoga Spirit: Revitalized Gratitude: New thought patterns
Cathy, I love to sit in a beach chair that is very low to the ground and I managed to fall soundly asleep in it. The apple tree hangs low and there is a bush that reaches up to meet it so it is like a bower and in the desert that is saying something. Lovely fall weather here that will be here for at least another couple of weeks.
Onward>>>>
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