Technology

The man who invented the flush toilet gets my vote for the best idea today.  I know, gross.  I'm a bit under the weather and not having to go outside to the door with the quarter moon cut out is wonderful.  Whoever came up with the notion that moving waste far away from where you live did a great thing to advance human longevity.
This doesn't tie into my ADD experience in anyway other than to give me something to write about before I list what I'm grateful for.

So today I'm grateful for:
1.  Indoor plumbing
2.  The West Wing (the TV show).  Now ask me how it goes along with indoor plumbing...(don't tell Merlene).
3.  Warm covers
4.  Italy's greatest contribution to mankind - PIZZA!  OK, I really don't believe that.  There's art, music and other contributions to mankind that came out of Italy.
5.  My sister-in-law.

Plus the 7 everyday things.

Till Tomorrow...

Silence

Silence truly is golden.  Silence is also noisy.  Right know I'm alone and I can hear the heater forcing air through the ductwork, the refrigerator motor plus there is also a low hum going on in my ears.  But back to silence is golden.  I really treasure the moments I'm all alone with no one around to interrupt what I'm doing or expecting me to interact with them.  This is the time I can really unwind and relax.  Sleeping doesn't recharge me like it does for "normal" folk.
I really have to prepare myself to interact with others.  I frustrate my family because I don't respond as quickly as they think I should when they ask me a question.  People with ADD need to process their surroundings.  They are hypersensitive to stimulae and struggle to pay attention midst everything vying for their attention.  Add to that a brain that is on hyperdrive and sometimes connections can take a while to connect.  Living with someone with ADD requires patience, a premium quality in today's "gotta have it now" instant gratification society.
When I go to an event such as a family reunion or someone's birthday party I prepare myself and plan on extra time in bathrooms to pull myself back together so I can be social.  Don't get me wrong, I love interacting with people, but in groups they really intimidate me. Individually, people fascinate me.  I love to hear their stories of how they got to where they are.  I could spend hours getting to know some one.
Before I knew about ADD and that this is normal for me I used to think that I didn't like group functions because I believed that people were checking me out and criticizing me.  Really, I care that people like me but if they don't, THEY'RE the ones missing out, not me.
Also, I love singing in front of people so that theory was sort of off balance.  So the ADD reason fits me much better.  Hypersensitivity to sound, and other stimulae makes much more sense in my situation.   
Now do I want to get rid of the hypersensitivity?  NO!  It's what makes me, well, ME.  I really like myself.  I get my jokes, I enjoy who I am.  I like my own company.  I honestly believe that in order to bring anything to a relationship you have to be comfortable in your own skin.  I don't need my husband in my life, I WANT him in my life and wouldn't enjoy the adventure without him.

So Today I'm Grateful for:
1.  Silence
2.  Me
3.  People - they're fascinating.
4.  Alone time
5.  My Mom's dog sleeping on the couch and not demanding that I play with her...

Plus the everyday 7.

Till Tomorrow...

Interruptions

I get soooo frustrated by the interruptions in my day that by the end of the day I'm pretty snapish.  I especially hate that I haven't been able to watch something on TV from start to finish without someone interrupting.   That's also when my ADD med wears off.  I hate being so cranky but it feels like my nerves are on edge that pretty much anything can just about set me off.  I manage to exercise self control most of the time and keep my snide comments to myself but if anyone could read my mind they'd probably never talk to me again.  The problem with holding it in is that this can create a kind of emotional pressure cooker and every once in a while that little safety valve blows off.  I've been able to blow the pressure off pretty much alone but sometimes my husband gets in the way and gets hurt.
A side effect of ADD can be extreme sensitivity both emotionally and physically.  There have been times when clothing on my skin or a popcorn shell stuck to the bottom of my tongue has triggered an anxiety attack.  Add to the physical sensitivity a person who doesn't understand what I'm talking about and is trying to help me cope and you get Mt. St. Helens just prior to erupting.   Just stand back and watch the fire works.
All this to say that without ADD meds I can be a powder keg waiting for a match.
Fortunately, today I haven't exploded.

So for today I'm grateful for:
1.  ADD Medication
2.  A calming car ride
3.  A soothing word and a hug
4.  The sun on my face
5.  The sound of animals (I haven't seen them, just heard them) running up and down the tree on the other side of the driveway.  They make a unique crackly sound.

I'm also very grateful for the usual 7 items, probably a little more so today.

Till tomorrow...

Frustrations

OK, I admit, I'm pretty adept at this computer thing but sometimes it can completely frustrate me.  I'm trying to load up some Christmas music onto my iTunes so I can put it on my iPod but Roxio Burn keeps getting in the way.  When I try to copy a CD to iTunes it shuts down the program.  I know I can load it onto Windows media player and copy it over to iTunes but I don't want to.  I want iTunes to work like it has in the past.  So this adds to the frustration of my day.  For someone with ADD this can really impact my mood.  I'm already overwhelmed by all the things I need to do and am close to shutting down so this just adds another straw to this camel's back.  I wish things would go easier for me.....I know, I'm looking for some cheese to go with that whine....  Maybe a nice muenster would brighten my day...

Today I'm grateful for:
1.  Cheese.  Love it, gotta have it in my life.
2.  My iPod - it helps me sleep better and so much more.  Like having all my music in one place.
3.  Music - it really does soothe the savage breast.
4.  Reading.  The only way to travel to far away places.
5.  My Computer.  Yes, even though it frustrates me, I would go through withdrawal if it was taken away.

I'm also grateful for:
1.  A roof over my head
2.  My comfy bed
3.  Humor
4.  My dogs
5.  My Salvation
6.  The Holy Spirit leading, guiding and directing me.
7.  My wonderful husband who loves me even when I'm unloveable.

Till Tomorrow...

Black Friday

Today is known as Black Friday because this is the day when all major retailers bank accounts come out of the red and into the black due to large sales volume.  I refuse to participate.  Not that I want the big retailers to lose money on my account, I just believe that we should support the small local retailers.  The specialty shops we find on main street in our communities.  It may cost us a little more in cash but it would save us cash in the amount of gas we use to get to the large malls and shopping centers.  This is especially true for those of us who live in rural communities.

I also refuse to participate because I can't stand the crowds.  There is too much stimulus in a WalMart with the normal crowd.  Triple that amount of people and I want to hide.  Some people find shopping on Black Friday a great time and make an annual tradition out of it.  I'd rather make a tradition out of staying home and reading a good book.

Today I'm grateful for:
1.  Lunch with my Mother.
2.  A real door on my room and not just a screen door.  I'll feel so much safer at night.
3.  Thanksgiving leftovers.  Do you find that leftovers can taste much better than the initial meal?  We even make some meals in advance so they can sit in the freezer and get richer in flavor.
4.  Good Friends who really care.
5.  Christmas music.
6.  A good book.

Plus my usual 5 along with
1.  My salvation
2.  The Holy Spirit leading, guiding and directing me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is the day that we, as a nation, sit down with our families and give thanks for all with which the Lord has blessed us.  When I think of what our nation should be thankful for I can't help but name Freedom as the number one blessing.  We wouldn't have this freedom without those who serve in our armed forces to ensure and secure that freedom.  There are times when I'm in a whiny "why me" mood and I'm reminded of people in third world countries who get positively giddy over a refrigerator box to use as shelter.  Even in a recession or depression we are so much better off than the majority of the world and yet we corporately demand our rights and get nasty when we even think that they have been compromised.  The reality is that we have no rights except those blessings we enjoy because of where we're born and blessings aren't guaranteed rights.

So today I'm grateful for:
1.  That God let me be born in the USA.
2.  The Servicemen and women who are spending this Thanksgiving away from their families to ensure freedom for those less fortunate than us.
3.  That I didn't have to cook the whole Thanksgiving dinner (really, I only cooked the oyster dressing and set the table), and I don't feel guilty in the least.
4.  My brother who is cooking the sausage stuffing, white potatoes, gravy and green bean casserole.
5.  My mother for her ability to laugh as her children stumble through the job she used to do.
6.  My Husband for growing the sweet potatoes, sweet corn and cooking them along with the turkey.

Now, overall I'm grateful for:
1.  A roof over my head in a time when a lot of people don't have one over theirs.
2.  A wonderful bed that makes my back feel better.
3.  Laughter, one of God's best gifts.
4.  My dog, Gabbi who loves me unconditionally.  Hopefully, one day, I will live up to her opinion of me.
5.  Most of all the gift of Love my husband gives me every day...

Thankfulness Challenge

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I will be starting a 3 week challenge to list 5 things each day that I'm grateful/thankful for. I was scanning through Dr. Amen's web site and read that if people make a habit of listing at least 5 things each day they're thankful or grateful for by the end of 3 weeks they will be less depressed and more positive. This challenged me and I decided to use Thanksgiving as my starting point. Sooooooo, tomorrow I will begin to list 5 things I'm grateful for each day. I have listed 5 things I'm grateful for, but not very consitently. Maybe once or twice a week and never three weeks in a row. My mother keeps telling me "attitude of gratitude" which has driven me nuts for 30+ years sooooo now I'll put that theory to the test. Hopefully this blog will be my accountability factor to be consistent. I may list the same things each day but at least I'll be consistent. I may list more than 5 things who knows but I'm excited about trying this experiment. Hope others will join me. Till tomorrow....