April 29, 2010
Yesterday I stopped in the at the library and found a really interesting book called “The Zen of CSS Design: Visual Enlightenment For the Web” by dave shea and mollie e. holzshlag …It’s a c2005 book… but oh my goodness, it really inspires! It is the hard copy version of the css Zen Garden site. If you’re at all interested in css based design, you want to check these out! Inspiring! And so many possibilities for your own design work!
I’ve been wondering how to fit in my three “number one” early morning activities, into the early morning hours (ie between 5 am and about 7 am when hubby generally gets home from work). Those three things are:
1. focused time with Papa (reading His word, conversing with Him, recording some of those conversations in my journal … and talking to Him about “prayer requests” people pass on to me … I find myself more and more asking Him what HE wants me to pray… which often doesn’t end up being what others – or myself too – would, well, wish for or suggest as “answers”);
2. street breakfasts/ coffee time/ gatherings; and
3. top of the morning “one-thing” writing-related item for the day. I’ve decided I can do #3 after breakfast … but #1 and #2 have been a problem. Still, Pastor P, the street pastor, dropped by and said he’s going back to just doing the street breakfast thing on Sundays, so he can do what Father has really called him to – be out there on the streets, not in a “coffee shop” (even one that is outdoors). So I don’t know what that means for what You want from me, in relation to the “street ministry,” Father … but it certainly does free up those early morning hours for focused time with You… which I really do need at the start of every new day with You!
Okay. So today’s “one thing”: reading and note-taking from blog entries I’ve been book-marking: The Art of Non-Conformity, Zen Habits: Simple Productivity, stuff from the some of the writers over at The Word Guild’s “Where Writers Converge”, and some RSS feeds I subscribe to. I do suspect it is going to take more than one day, though. I’ve been bookmarking for weeks – really should actually take a good look at things and note down what I need, instead of ending up with an enormous “bookmark” list!
…. Later … so spent most of my “one thing” time reading through A Simple System to Achieve Your Goals, a free e-book by Paul Meyers of TalkBiz News newsletter fame. Well, at least I read – and worked through – part 1. I know, I know, that isn’t on my “one thing” list … but I had it book-marked because it was linked to by one of the sites above. Anyway, it’s really interesting, and pretty useful too. Except I think it might be a lot more “simple” if I was a lot younger and had a lot less work/ volunteer/ hobbies/ education/ LIFE! It has reminded me, however, that I haven’t updated my detailed resume for a long time. Guess I need to do that before I go on to part 2. But he says that even after that, it’s good to take a few days off before part 2, so I’m going on to note-taking on my other inspirational stuff – the things I actually intended to read!
I have been drinking a lot of green tea. Someone said it helps to shed weight, especially belly fat, and it seems to have been working. Of course it could be that by drinking so much liquid, I’m not eating as much. I have had a tendency to dehydrate, and then think I’m hungry when I’m really thirsty. And of course I’m avoiding white carbs and bad fats and such, and adding things like avocados and olive oil and low-fat yogurt to my diet. And getting out and enjoying this spring weather, with lots of walking. So maybe it all work together. Oh! I don’t really like plain green tea, so I was combining plain green tea with jasmine green tea (which I find too “jasminy” on its own), and really like the combination.
I’ve been having some “computer problems,” where I can’t seem to load pages sometimes unless I click on this multiple times. This was freaking me out until I realized that there is a good chance that my poor old mouse battery is running low – and the mouse itself is literally falling apart. Sure hoping that’s all that’s wrong!
I didn’t really want to go out for my daily walkabout today because it has been gray and breezy and a bit damp all day. I was thinking, “Brrr…. I’ve had enough chill already this winter and spring.” But when I actually got outside, it was great. What I beautiful world we live in. Blossoms, endless hues of spring greens everywhere, and much warmer than I expected, despite the lack of sunshine.
I zipped through the mall and through Wally World on my walkabout, and Timmy’s too, to see if there was anyone about who I knew. No… but then out on the sidewalk I ran into my former landlord, and had a great chat with him. Yesterday on my walkabout I ran into another old friend who I haven’t seen in ages and had a great chat with him. This town is just small enough that running into people you know is a good possibility! I like it! (Though it’s not like small towns I’ve lived in, where you know pretty near everyone…)
Amazing things:
- With all the stuff in the mall and in Wally-World, there wasn’t a single thing I needed to wanted! Yay! I love simple living! (Though I sure was tempted by the thought of an Ice Capp at Timmy’s, lol)
- Very few people smile (okay, I guess that’s a rather sad amazing thing)
- But when I smile, lots of folks do smile back. Some even wave or say hello (looking kind of puzzled like they figure I must know them if I’m smiling, but they can’t remember who I am…)
When I got home, there was a facebook request from a girl who has been reading some of my blog posts, thanking me for the encouragement they’ve given her in her walk with Father, and asking to be on my facebook friends list. That really, really encouraged me, because sometimes I do wonder if anyone is reading. In fact it encouraged me so much that I went and checked my stats for my blogs and website (which I’ve not been doing much lately) and found a lot more hits than I expected! So thank You, Father! And thank you, young lady! Both of y/You have really encouraged me today. I am excited! And delighted! And encouraged to keep on writing.
I love You, Papa!
