Smoking

On October 2nd, 2012, I celebrated my 10-year milestone of quitting smoking.  I was at work on a break when I made the decision to not smoke so, as you can guess, I went cold turkey.  It was not a fun ride but it was only a few weeks out of my life that were pure hell.  The rest really hasn't been that bad.  

Eleven days after I quit I was on the Internet and searched on "quitting smoking" since I thought I needed to learn more about it.  I found on About.com a forum that was just about that:  quitting smoking!  I quickly joined and have not left.  Many friends have been made and many people have been helped because of this place.  It has helped thousands of people to quit this nasty habit and stay that way.  

I became a moderator a few years after I quit.  The moderator's job is to oversee the forum to help educate and support those who are quitting smoking.  We also make sure people play nicely and follow the forum rules.   There is a guide who oversees the entire forum and writes the major articles, educational and current news items.  I absolutely love my job as moderator because I feel like I am paying it forward and that's an awesome feeling.

Ten year milestone post

One of my friends who has visited the forum and is one of my heroes, is now very sick.  She is a lung cancer survivor but I really can't go into what is wrong with her now (it's not cancer, thank God).  I am asking for prayers.  She's such a special person to so many and we need for her to get better.  Pray, pray, pray!

I really want to go on an anti-smoking rant but I won't.  Remembering how I felt when people shoved down my throat the cons of smoking I just won't go into it.  If you smoke, you know what you are doing to your body.  If you don't, you know you are living a healthier life because you aren't polluting your lungs.  If any of you are interested in quitting, leave a comment and I'll get you the information you need.  I am always here for anyone who desires to quit.  That's the first step in becoming a healthier and happier you!

Otherwise, life is chugging along.  I am absolutely loving my new job since every day is a challenge.  It feels good to be using my brain and trying to figure things out.  And you know it's tough for an old person to use their brain.  LOL  Just kidding.

Thanks for reading my blog.  I know it's not anything special but it feels good to just write about things.

Until next time....

Linda

Random Thoughts or My Mind is Totally Filled with Mess that Needs to be Unloaded

Hi everyone!  Sheesh, been a while since the old blog's been updated but life's been sort of busy.

THE JOB

I got a new job and started on August 31, 2012.  It's with a different division and it's a data manager position with the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program or better known as BCCEDP.  My first day there was training on weekly reports that weren't too hard to understand but that's thanks to the written instructions from the previous data manager.  Thank you!  So I looked on as the person who had been running it after the other data manager left did her thing and yesterday I did it with her by my side.  Next week I do it by myself.  Honestly, it isn't difficult to read the instructions and do as they say.  We do that with recipes, right?   Right?  

Monday was Labor Day so I had a nice 3-day weekend before really learning about the job.  Tuesday through Thursday brought more training and more acronyms.  In HIV/AIDS, where I come from, there were acronyms but NOTHING like here.  I kept asking, what does CHW mean (case health worker, I think), or CBE mean (clinical breast examination), or this means...well, you get it.  But my new work peeps are very patient and really want to help me learn.  I thought acronyms might be the death of me but MEETINGS!  Dear Lord, they have meetings out of the wazoo.  There were 7 meetings I attended in 2 days....SEVEN!  Holy cow, Batman.  But I did learn and glad I went...but still SEVEN?!

My new work peeps are very nice.  I really like my new supervisor and all who I work with.  There is one woman who is very hippie-ish and she even admits it.  She grew up in the 60s so that should tell you something.  One of the girls who trained me earlier in the week is such a sweetheart.  She loves to do photography and does very good work.  I see something on the horizon for her that might not be working with the State.  :)  

Okay, I'm dragging on...so I guess you can say that I have been overwhelmed with acronyms and meetings and like my new job so far.  There is still so much to learn but there shouldn't be a problem with that.  Well, I hope it won't.  

RAMBLINGS

Food Photography:  Remember a few posts back I was bitching about food photography on Facebook?  It never stops!  I can't understand how people think that posting a picture of a half-eaten plate of food is appetizing.  NO!!!!  STOP!!!  Most of these pictures are so up close that the food looks like they're half-chewed.  STOP!!! 

Political Statements:  Lots of political statements on Facebook because of the upcoming presidential election.  Most of my friends are complaining about them but I just hide the statements or block the person until election time is over.  However, there are quite a few cartoons out there stating this so people..QUIT POSTING POLITICAL STATEMENTS!  Yeah, I know, first amendment, blah blah blah, but 99.9% of your friends give a rat's ass about your political views.  So just stop.  Oh wait, let me give you my view:  I am voting for the man I believe will run the country most effectively and make the nation prosper.  That's my view and I'm sticking with it.

Political Phone Calls and Such:  How many of you are receiving calls from Mitt Romney's or Obama's campaigns?  I am and I wish they would quit.  Or surveys?  I'm getting calls about surveys.  I don't want to complete your survey now or ever.  Leave me alone!  STOP!

Heh, sounds like I'm just a bitchy woman, which I am.  What are your ramblings for the day?

Until next time...

Linda

Happy Birthday to Me

As I look at the little girl to the left I see someone who isn't going to get everything in life but is very lucky just the same.  She would grow up to have a lot of friends but just a handful who she considers close.  She would grow up to have a job which has nothing to do with what she studied in college but is more-or-less happy.  And she really wishes her mom and dad were with her today as she celebrates another birthday.

That little girl in the picture is me, taken on March 6, 1961 when I was 6 1/2 months old.  I had some really big ears but I did grow into them, I think, and I had that cross-eyed look, which I'm not.  Think the photographer must have been real close to me when he took it so my eyes had that crossed appearance.  Whatever, I think I was kind of a cute baby.  ;)

Today is my birthday.  Last night while on the computer I took a hard look at this picture and thought of the above but what I was really thinking of is that I miss my parents not being here to help celebrate.  Their lives came to an end in 1990 for my mother and 2010 for my father.  I sort of feel gypped that they are not here because they are the ones who gave me life and I am sure that those who have lost their parents feel the same way.  Your birthdays just aren't the same.

I remember, growing up, waking up on my birthday and the first thing that I said in my mind with a smile on my face was "happy birthday.  Hadn't done that in years until this morning.  I woke up and gave myself a happy birthday greeting and actually feel in a good mood.  Oh, the coffee is excellent this morning so that is helping make this day even better.  

There are good memories of celebrating my birthdays while growing up.  I really don't remember ever having parties but I do remember that my parents would let my brothers  and me choose the restaurant we'd eat at to celebrate.  That was awesome because it could be any place from McDonald's to Joe's Spaghetti House which served the best steaks in Tallahassee at the time.  Mama would bake us a cake with the candles on top and we'd make our wishes hoping they would come true.  You know how kids are, we'd wish for that special bike or a new football or new doll.  I don't remember what I wished for but I'm sure it was for material things.  Today I only wish for a healthy year so I can see another birthday.

We all need to remember that even though our dreams may not come true year-to-year or we can't have everything we really want on our birthdays or any day, we need to appreciate what we do have.  I live with someone who cares about me even though he really doesn't show it to anyone but me, three wonderful pups (happy birthday, Renegade!), a new job to look forward to starting in 12 days, a house that I love living in, and friends who love me, too.  I am truly blessed.  We all are.  Take a minute to count your blessings and see how rich your life is.  

Until next time.....

Linda

Food Photography (say that fast 3 times! HA!)

Hello everyone!  Hope you all had a good weekend and may the upcoming week bring you sunshine and laughter.  If you're in a sour mood, then bah humbug and go get a life.  ;)

This past Friday, my niece and her husband had a going away party at Hurricane Grill here in Tallahassee, FL.   They are now living in New Bern, NC, a very small town compared to Tally, but life will be so relaxing and rewarding for them.  My sister-in-law came up to help them move.  She is such a love and we all are very lucky to have her in the family.  I know that she will have the entire house unpacked and decorated by the time she leaves Tuesday.  

The title of this blog is about food photography.  I really have a beef with that (no pun intended, I think).  This is mainly about what I'm seeing on Facebook but other sites, too.  I cannot stand to see pictures of people's half-eaten meals nor pictures of food that looks entirely unappetizing.  They make me want to throw up and give up eating all together.  Hmmm, maybe that's a good thing since I need to lose weight.  

Seriously, why do people think their food looks good when it isn't?  Okay, I have taken pics of my homemade pizza and hamburger buns I made for the first time but I don't do it consistently.  My hamburger buns were funny looking and I made jokes about it, but others think their foods look so yummy and even say so.  They aren't.  I wish they would quit taking pictures!  Oh, I did take a picture of this humongous salad I had at Newk's restaurant and it came out almost professional. No, it really did.  Here, take a look:

This was taken in March 2012 from my Android.  Not bad, eh?   Um, you're not going to throw up, are ya?

Now, looking at magazines/TV/Internet sites with foods that are prepared for photography is another thing.  These foods are actually 'beautified' by food stylists that will glaze food items to give them a special shine, or paint to give a deeper, lighter, whatever color, to make them more appealing.  I get that.  That is different than what I am talking about.  Those foods are foods I'd eat.  Amateur photos, not so much.

I have seen on Facebook amateur pictures of restaurant food taken by my 'friends' and some are half-eaten (gross), blurry (why post if you can't see what the food is), burnt (do you really want to show what kind of cook you are by letting your friends see your burnt food), and foods that just look icky.  I don't get it.  Do you?  So, these people are my pet peeves.  Just wish that if they take a picture of food to make it pleasing, not something we would have an aversion to.  Make it appealing enough that we would comment with "Wow!  That looks really good!  What did you prepare it with?"  Something where we would want to make the dish ourselves not go "Geez, that looks like someone chewed it up and spit it back out."

So what do you think about food photography?  

Until next time with a new topic...

Linda

Family

Hello everyone.  I promised I would blog about family and that I shall do.  

To start, today is the 22nd anniversary of my mother's death.  It's amazing that time has flown by so fast and that it's been over 20 years since I've seen my mom.  It's funny how your brain retains minute details of tragic events.   I remember her death as if it happened yesterday, every little detail, who I called first to the paramedics telling me Mama was dead (their words, not mine), to my brother trying to comfort me, and me feeling like I lost my world.  But, as you know, time keeps going and so does life.  

Mama wanted a graveside funeral and that she had.  I remember turning my head back at the funeral and seeing a sea of people.  I knew Mama touched a lot of lives but I didn't know she had so many people who loved her.  We held a minyan for 3 nights at my aunt and uncle's house and there was so much food (Jews know how to cook!) and good memories of Mama.  Everytime a person told me they were sorry for my loss I used the phrase 'thank you, you're so sweet.'  Really didn't know what else to say.  I, too, was at a loss for words.

So, life has gone on and lots of things have happened in the 22 years since Mama died.  I've moved 5 times and am now in a permanent residence, lost 2 dogs and now have 3, promoted countless times at work and now supervising 5 people.  Things are good there but, honestly, I sometimes feel so lonely and left out.  Uh oh, here comes the pity party. 

My father, who passed away two and a half years ago, loved and lived his family.  Family meant the world to him.  He lived in South Florida for almost 40 years so we really didn't get to see him often, but we talked to him at least once a week.  When Daddy got his cellphone he and I would talk every day when I got home from work.  Sometimes we'd talk for over a half hour, sometimes for a few minutes, but this time spent with my dad made us extremely close.   

Daddy treated us to cruises, which all were awesome.  I got to spend a week with my family with my niece and I sharing a cabin.  We had a lot of fun with the most memorable cruise being seeing Alaska.  Alaska has to be one of the most beautiful states and I highly recommend a cruise.  It's expensive but just think---no threat of a hurricane!

When Daddy died my brothers and I settled into our lives without parents.  With no parents it's not like we HAD to see each other.  One of my brother's I will speak to just about every week and I will take care of his dog.  About once a month we'll go out to eat or he'll come over for a homecooked meal.  My other brother and his wife I don't keep in touch with too often.  His daughter and son-in-law live here in Tallahassee but I rarely hear from them and I'll see them once every whenever.  I know the phone works both ways but, honestly, I'm afraid to call because she'll be busy with something.  So I don't call.  But now they are moving to North Carolina.  She got a fantastic job with a school and I can't wait to hear how she loves her new job and North Carolina.  That state is another beautiful state and I know they will love it there.  

I have a birthday coming up soon and it will be the third one without a parent.  When us kids were little we would get to choose the restaurant we wanted to go eat and celebrate.  As we got older, Mama would ask us what we'd like for her to cook for our birthday dinners.  Mine was usually her prime rib, which was always cooked to perfection.  After Mama died, Daddy would come up for the weekend closest to our birthdays to celebrate and it was always so special.  I loved spending time with him even if it was just sitting around watching TV.  Right now I'm having a memory of hugging him goodbye at the airport and deeply smelling his cologne.  We would hold each other tight, give each other kisses, he would stroke my cheek and told me he loved me.  I miss that.  I miss him.
Thanksgiving now just feels empty.  My brother and his wife come up and stay with their daughter.  My other brother & I come for dinner, stay a few hours, then say our goodbyes and go home.  I miss my parents not being there.  I felt my dad's spirit among us the first Thanksgiving and gave me some comfort.  This past Thanksgiving was okay.  I don't think it's my family but that it's me.  I feel like I don't belong and something is missing.

So, family........yup, my immediate family is there.  Sometimes I wish I was included in outings or impromptu get-togethers but I guess I'm not thought of.  No, I'm not mad but just a little sad with the whole thing.  But, you know what?   I don't dwell on these things.  Life goes on, positive attitude prevails, and I am okay.  

So if you're in a family that fights, makes up, loves one another, and sometimes you feel left out, or you don't get phone calls, it doesn't mean you're not loved.  It's just that sometimes our lives are so busy we push back doing things for our families.  

I bought my mom a Precious Moment figurine (think I still have it somewhere) that said "Sometimes I hate you but always I love you." This fit my mother and I to a T.  I think it fits all families.  :)

A New Beginning

Well, hello there!  It's been three years since I blogged last.  A lot has happened but I really don't want to get into any of it.  I feel that my past will creep up in future posts so we'll just do the catching up then.


I've decided to blog again but doing it a little differently than just a diary of my life.  What I would like to do is to take a topic and just go from there.  The subject can be anything from family to cooking to politics (which I really don't like talking about) to life in general.  I want to be matter-of-fact, straight on, and will probably hurt some feelings along the way.  Now, I don't want to hurt feelings because I truly do care about people.  However, there are times when those emotions are pent up and need to be released no matter what the tone may be.  Just keep saying "I forgive her" as you read and know that what I may be feeling is that feeling at that moment and not necessarily to hurt anyone.  


I'm going to stop right now.  I do have another blog topic in mind but will get to that at a later time like within the next few days.  A hint:  family.  


Until then....


Linda