BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...

Yeah! I'm treating y'all to a guest visit from Ali & Vic's thoroughly enjoyable blog. Sure, they shame me 'cause their blogging is much more sophisticated than my motherly babble. I loved their ten suggestions for January. Since February is arriving on Friday, let's try some...I really loved the 'Duvet Day' idea!

Eeenjoy!!

Ms. P xxx

1. Celebrate New Year's Day

http://vancouverisawesome.com/2013/01/03/vancouver-daze-polar-bear-swim-centennial-beach-tsawwassen/

Embrace 2013 with gusto by braving the elements, whether you go for a bracing Polar Bear Swim or a cobweb-clearing winter walk.

2. Make a List of New Year's Resolutions

http://fistfuloftalent.com/2012/12/fot-2013-resolutions.html

Yes, it's a cliche, but there is something so satisfying about starting off the New Year afresh with a batch of resolutions. (And, even if you've already fallen off the wagon, you can always "re-start" them on Chinese New Year in February ;-)

3. De-Christmas the House

http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2010/12/29/when-do-you-take-down-your-christmas-tree/

There's nothing so depressing as seeing remnants of Christmas well into January, so make sure that every last strand of tinsel and chocolate santa is well and truly gone so you can move on with 2013.

4. Clean Out Your Fridge

http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/07/cleaning_the_re.html

On a similar note, now's the time to thoroughly clean out your fridge and toss out anything with a 2012 expiry date (because eating food that went off last year sure ain't good).

5. Take Up a Hobby

http://www.docdreyfus.com/psychologically-speaking/the-importance-of-hobbies/

January is apparently National Hobby Month, so why not try your hand at something you've always had an interest in? Now's the time!

6. Have a Duvet Day

http://www.agirlsimagination.com/2012/02/duvet-days.html

Whether you have a legitimate reason (ie. the flu!) or not, everyone deserves a Duvet Day at some point in January. A Duvet Day, for the uninitiated, is a day in which you pretty much stay in bed all day, armed with a stack of books, magazines, DVDs, snacks, etc, etc. The perfect way to while away a dreary winter's day!

7. Watch the Golden Globes

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/14/and_the_golden_globe_goes_to/

Sunday the 13th was the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards; we hope you enjoyed the 3+ hours of escapism!

8. Watch the Presidential Inauguration

http://www.aoc.gov/projects/construction-2013-inauguration-underway

Tune in to see Obama's second inauguration on the 21st - those Americans sure know how to put on a show!

9. Observe National Compliment Day 
http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/national-compliment-day-

Were you aware that there's such a thing as National Compliment Day, and that this year it's celebrated on the 24th of January? Nope, neither were we til now, but it's a holiday we can get behind. Brighten your day and others' by dishing out compliments to all you meet.

10. Celebrate Australia Day

http://magickalgraphics.com/australiaday.htm

Why the hell not?! Even if, like us, you have absolutely zero connection with the Land Down Under, you can still pay a subtle nod to the day (26th January) by watching Summer Heights High...or listening to Kylie Minogue...or eating a Vegemite sandwich. You get the idea!

FIGHTING THE EFF...

FLU!... Must have had it unbeknown to myself but I was waking up in a fever for the past few days. Throw in headaches, backaches, belly aches - to name but a ferocious few. That's why Pollyanna was blogless and I was wide eyed and legless.

On a positive note - since that's what Ms. P is all about, I did manage to sweat off some comfort candy calories. When you feel sick - nothing for it but to give in gracefully and have fun!! Yeah tell the world you're out of action for a few days and hibernate up in bed with glossy magazines and give everyone a good old sob story.

Last night while I was waiting for Ali to finish work, I was sitting in my car off  Government Street, watching all the homeless folk walking up and down the street with their dogs, and worldly possessions contained in garbage bags thrown over their shoulders. It was a cold night with a fair gust of wind blowing. Some poor fellows were huddled in shop fronts and all you could see was a sad pair of feet sticking out.

As I watched them all I realized just HOW lucky I was to have somewhere to lay my head when I was feeling sick. Street people must get the flu too. How scary it must be not knowing where you can go to sleep at night, or when you feel sick. I mean it defies belief. I think everybody should have a home to go to. Home is my favourite place in the whole wide world. It is where I retreat to, relax, eat, pray and love. I cannot imagine what it would be like not having my comfort shell around me.

Yet, despite not having any home to go to, some of these poor folk are the nicest people you could meet. Thy have kindly smiles, and say nice words to you like 'God bless you' when you give them a few coins. Few of them are resentful of what life has thrown at them - which is their inability to fight life head-on. It reminded me of a conversation I was having with Kevin in the office last week to the tune of 'why is it that the nicest people you meet in life are often shunned by society, and get treated terribly by people in the work force. If people detect even a morsel of weakness in another, they go in for the kill... Hence, we get to meet the 'gentle ones' in our office - the nice ones.

So my question today is 'How can one stand up to the ravages and hardships of life, and still remain a decent and successful human being?'

Lets Choo Choo on it!!

Patricia xxx

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'...

If you find yourself gunning for change in your life, you're not unusual. February 10th heralds the arrival of the Chinese Year of the Snake and as we all know - snakes are about shedding their old skin and emerging as new beasts. People born in the year of the snake are charming, elegant and smart with money. Jackie O, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn being perfect examples of what I mean. If you non-snake folk work on acquiring the 3 above mentioned attributes - Charm, Elegance - Money Smarts - then this year is going to be a great one for you!

As well as the snake dimension, Saturn the 'heavy metal' planet of the zodiac - a.k.a. 'The Celestial Policeman' is in the equally strong, deep and transformative sign of Scorpio and continues his reign until 2014. So all you Scorpios be prepared for change and deep experiences...No pain no gain - O.K. Saturn is all about the painful lessons we have to learn in life. My advice to you Scorps is just 'go with the flow' and dig in deep!

Since Scorpio is a sign that can totally transform themselves - just like the snake - just like the Phoenix rising from the ashes of destruction - this means a lot of us are going to be wanting to change some aspect of our lives this year. Are you already experiencing that feeling deep inside? I know for myself, this really rings true. I have transformed my wardrobe completely and the way I present myself to the world. It's like Dah! I've been living in a haze for the past few years and now emerging into the light... That's how it feels.

Looking around me, I see lots of people trying to change some aspect of themselves - How about Michelle Obama getting the new fringe - or that dreadful word 'Bangs' which I can never understand. In my astrological practice a lot of folk are moving to different countries. In the office, people are coming in with new hair styles and moving home, etc. Yes, the times they are a changin'...

Change is good, though never easy - especially if you are born under a fixed sign - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. People with a lot of 'fixed' signs in their birth charts find change disturbing and take time to adjust, both their attitudes and habits. On the other hand, people from the 'mutable' family - Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius and Virgo can adapt to new ideas and  situations with ease. Their curiosity about life and thirst for knowledge is the grease which keeps their wheels a groovin'.

The 'cardinal' guys - Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn are the 'go-getters' and iniatiors of the zodiac. If there is something they really want to do, they will embrace change. Perhaps not with the same elasticity as the mutable fellows, or the tenacity of the fixed signs. They sit pretty somewhere in the middle.

So Polly Pals...my question to you today is - What can you change about your life that is going to make 2013 the BEST year ever? Make a wish list...

Choo Choo and keep on truckin'

Patricia xxx

LET ME EXPLAIN...

It would appear my daughters don't like their mammy lusting after Colin Firth. As I pointed out, the only reason I like the afore-mentioned is because he bears a striking resemblance to Kevin. They could be brothers. Several people made that comment over the years. And of course Colin is a great actor too! I want him to appear in 'Downton Abbey' and sweep Edith off her feet. God help her, she could do with a bit of happiness.

I forgot to mention two other energy draculas in my previous blog. They are:-

NOT GETTING ENOUGH EXERCISE
PEOPLE WHO DRAIN YOU (could be work, family, neighbours, etc.)

Be aware of all the energy vampires in your life and ask youself  'Can I do something about it?' Baby steps is all it takes...

If you act energetic, it rubs off and you automatically become more energetic - so says Gretchen. Maybe it is psychological, but I also find a healthy breakfast and multivitamins get me off to a good start - that and my brisk 45 mins. walk on the chip trail. The day I don't do that, I feel less energetic. I take energy pollen plus pills (1-2) per day. They contain siberian ginseng, bee propolis and green tea. Every little bit helps!

Taking on the exercise challenge, I joined a ladies gym last Monday and am liking it. Maybe one day I'll get to elevate the enthusiasm level from 'like' to 'love'. They had this vile yellow object sitting ugly on the shelf and when I asked them what it was they told me 'That's what 5 lbs. of human fat looks like dear'. I held it in my hand and it was so heavy I nearly broke my wrist. I think they just want to scare us so we'll work harder... working on your energy can be SO exhausting!!

Now to the CLUTTER...look all around you. Do you see what I mean? Just attack it in baby steps. One minute wonders is what Gretchen recommends. Time yourself. My trick is to imagine somebody is coming in to visit in ten minutes. It's amazing what you can accomplish in 10 minutes when push comes to shove!

I did amazing work on the wardrobe clutter yesterday and today...got rid of all my long skirts as my fashion police daughters said they were dated and that I had a great pair of legs and should show them off. So that's what I am going to do from now on. Cleared two black bags for charity and one for garbage and felt lighter. Another thing I have started to do is carry a lighter and smaller bag which I wear over my shoulder to free the hands. I get to walk quicker that way. All I carry is a purse, notebook, pen, pair of glasses, lipstick, small folding brush and keys.

Watch those 'Energy Vampires' and tackle them one by bleedin' one.

Choo Choo!

Patricia xxx

SO SORRY...!!

I did promise I'd be back 'the following day' to share some Gretchen wisdom but my mentor Ms. G. has had me working like a slave - Insanely busy and I haven't had a second to blog! Krazeeee... But it's all good!

Here's how she started her New Year...Instead of being confronted by a million resolutions, she decided to tackle one task per month and to focus on it - hmm smart. Her month of January was dedicated to the pursuit of ENERGY. Yes, energy. She decided she wanted more energy in her life so she could enjoy her kids, and not be cranky all the time, nagging her poor husband, kicking the dog, etc. etc.

She looked at her energy draculas and took them on, one by one. That's why I have been so busy, I've been following suit and because I started this January resolution mid way through the month, I had a lot of catching up to do. (Phew! it's exhausting trying to work on your energy!)  Let's just focus on January in this blog. We'll cross the February bridge when we get to it, D.V.

DRACULAS (sucking her energy)

NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
CLUTTER (Internal and external)
NAGGING TASKS
NOT GETTING ENOUGH EXERCISE

Did you know junk attracts junk? Just like energy begets energy. (It was Joan Collins who informed me of the latter nibble of wisdom). I kinda guessed the junk thing because every time I put a piece of paper, or a random glove on a sideboard, when I look again there is a ton of stuff sitting on the same spot! It happens.

We have 10 days left in January so it's not too late Polly Pals. We can do this together. The miracle of sleep, and the hell of not getting enough, has really opened my eyes...

I made an effort to go to bed 1-2 hours earlier each night. The difference the next day is incredible. At first I found it difficult to sleep earlier, but just being in bed still helps with the energy level, and by day 3 my body was demanding I go to bed early. I read, pray, and just chillax and get mellow. In fact, it thrilled me to be in bed before Kevin. He always beats me because he is an early riser.

By the way did you know the average person gets 6.9 hours of sleep during the week and 7.9 on the weekend, and one study on sleep has shown that one extra hour of sleep per night does more for a person's happiness than getting a $60,000 raise. (mind you I wouldn't say no to the raise!) If you find it difficult to sleep, Ms. G. shared some well researched suggestions:-

Keep your bedroom slightly chilly
Don't do any taxing brain work at least an hour before bedtime
Do a few pre-bed stretches
Keep the lights low around bedtime
Have your room pitch black

I have a few to add to G's list...

Warm bubble bath listening to Leonard Cohen (on the stressful days)
Dream about Island hopping with Colin Firth (makes for a yummy night's sleep)
Don't eat a huge meal close to bedtime (unless it is with Colin)
No electrical gadgets in bedroom.
Have a nice cup of 'nighty night' herbal tea before bed
Relax the brain and do TURN IT OFF. A busy brain = No Sleep!

Sleep is such a wonderful thing and your body will thank you with tons more energy!

Next...The clutter...the nagging tasks...Let's just say I'm working on it.

We still have almost two weeks left - Yeah!!

On that cheerful note, Choo Choo for now!

Love yourselves today and take a happy train of thought ride.

Patricia xxx

GOOD OL' GRETCHEN!

I have a new pal. Her name is Gretchen Rubin and she is the author of the #1 International Bestseller 'The Happiness Project'. Unlike me, Gretchen is highly intellectual, and has done all the painstaking research into happiness, and how to find it. I really like her down-to-earth and business-like approach to the subject.

To learn some more on the topic, she plunged into Plato, Boethius, Montigne, Bertrand Russell, Thoreau, and Schopenhauer - God bless her energy! I'm kinda lazy - I just want to catch the happiness bug, without the effort - if you get my drift.

Well, thanks to a massive amount of reading, she has come to the positive conclusion that YES - it is possible to make yourself 'happier'! According to current research (quoting Ms. R) in the determination of a person's level of happiness, genetics accounts for about 50 percent; life circumstances, such as age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, income, health, occupation, and religious affiliation, account for about 10 to 20 percent, and the remainder is a product of how a person thinks and acts. So basically, people have an inborn disposition that's set within a certain range, but they can boost themselves to the top of their happiness range or push themselves down to the bottom of their happiness range by their actions.

I can add some fuel to this fire of thought, in that I know from studying astrological charts, that yes, some people are more naturally ebullient or melancholic than others. At the same time, melancholics cannot be let off the hook for drowning us (and themselves) in sorrow. They too can be helped. It comes down to their decisions about how to live their lives, which will affect their happiness.

I fully believe (from what I've discovered since hopping on the Pollyanna train of thought) that happiness is attitudinal and NOT circumstantial. We all like to blame our circumstances, but at the end of the day we really, truly and substantially are 100% responsible for our own happiness - yes sir!! No buts or maybes - Your happiness needs YOU! and you alone.

Tomorrow D.V. I'll fill you in on some suggestions from my new role model and mentor, Gretchen. On the strength of what I have read so far...I joined a gym today - no kidding! The lady pumping iron beside me was 91 years young. I felt like a blushing teenager beside her. I liked it!

Choo Choo 'til tomorrow!

Patricia

A VIRTUOUS CYCLE

Thank you Polly Pals for all the positive feedback I've been receiving since boarding the Pollyanna Train of thought last July... It's been quite the journey!! I am thrilled you are enjoying it as much as I am. When you spread good cheer it has the boomerang effect of returning to base. Similarly, if  you go around being miserable you find yourself surrounded by miserable people - not fun!!

I buy my calendars after christmas to enjoy the 50% off  buzz. I couldn't resist getting the 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' desk calendar. Every day is chock full of useful tips and thoughts to ponder on. My wall calendar in the office is large, colourful and surprisingly cheerful. This month features two delightful love birds with hues of yellow, lime, crimson, cobalt blue and the words LOVE JOY PEACE filling the page. When I am working on my computer in the office, it makes me happy looking at it. Since our office is a Psychiatrist's office, we get to see a lot of unhappy folk and keeping positive is non-negotiable!! I've been doing it for 20  years now and over the years have come to the realization that 99%  of people's problems are family related. Which is why today's words of wisdom from my delicious 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' calendar has to be shared:-

"Let's be honest. Being part of a family is a privilege and certainly rewarding, but it can also be a little difficult, even when things are going well. If you want to have an effective, loving experience of family, you must learn to be patient and to not let the little things drive you crazy and take over your life".

Some words of wisdom to chew on...

Cheers and keep writing in that Polly Wolly Happy Diary!!

Patricia xxx

GRAB THAT BULL BY THE HORNS!

If like me, you haven't got all those New Year resolutions up and running yet...Tomorrow, Friday the 11th is the perfect day for a new start! There is a New Moon about to arrive in the determined sign of Capricorn. This is an excellent day to put the wheels in motion and write your plan of action! Your chances of sticking with them are higher than usual, especially if you are a fixed sign (Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius or Leo). I'm not a fixed sign, but I do have lots of fixed signs in my chart. You may have too. Check out www.alabe.com for a free birth chart to see what's going down in your world. Their brief astrological description is surprisingly good and accurate!

I did it! I did it! I did it! What? you may rightly ask. I took my own advice from yesterday's blog, and listened to my 'self-talk'. I was amazed at how one can, without thinking, dump a lot of negative thinking on themselves. It sucks baby! Once I became aware of it, I installed a new door to my brain, with a message on it which read 'No Negative thoughts permitted inside - Trespassers shall be prosecuted!' Just begin observing your own thoughts, and see what I mean...

The other tool from yesterday's blog which I found very helpful was not mentioning any negative stuff in my daily gratitude journal. I just concentrated on all the good stuff - from the sublime to the ridiculous - and it works! If you do this just for 21 days, it will begin to rub in. After dinner, when the house is all nice and tidy, I love to curl up on my bed with a cup of tea and a biscuit, and enjoy the luxury of looking back on the day, with gratitude in my heart...Ten simple things from yesterday to give you an example.

Delighted to wake up this morning - in familiar surroundings - in other words not dead!!

Enjoyed two yummy cups of coffee courtesy of Kevin.

Met a very nice patient in work.

Enjoyed a lovely peaceful mass with Victoria for Daddy's Month's Mind. A soprano sang the 'Ave Maria' and gave me goose bumps.

Brought Chichi to her beauty parlour to be groomed - what fun we had!!

K & I moved the furniture around in the Living Room and what a difference!! Delighted.

Our neighbour John carried in all the empty recycling bags and boxes to our door. Nice!

Enjoyed delicious salmon and potatoes for tonight's dinner - finger licking good!

Had a great chat with my friend Monica in Calgary. Delighted to hear her lovely daughter Michelle was following the Pollyanna Project and had donated a big bag of clothes to charity - WTG Michelle!

Laughed my heart out watching 'Honey Boo Boo' on television - Check her out!!

Last but not least, received a wonderful email from an astrological client telling me how pleased she was with the advice I had given her, and telling me how her life was going. Also, referred a girl who I will see Saturday, and another on the 19th January d.v. What a nice end to a wonderful day!! It was only supposed to be ten things - but when I thought about it there were 12!

Trust me, yesterday also had some negative stuff - what day doesn't? BUT and it's a big BUT - I chose only to remember the positive things. Amazing how it mounts up - from the Sublime to the Ridiculous - try it and let me know how you get on with your Polly Wolly Happy Diary!

Choo Choo and let those Polly Pens start flowing with ONLY Happy News!!

Love You!!

Patricia xxx

D.I.Y. SELF-ESTEEM

Somebody posted me an interesting article from the Serenity Ranch blog  (check out Serenity Ranch). This is a respite centre for folk recovering from the adverse effects of alcohol and drug abuse. I thought the 30 day self-esteem builder was one worthy of sharing...

The more negative self-talk  - the lower your self-esteem (makes sense)
The    "      positive    "     "     - the higher   "               "

How to help yourself in moments when you need a lift.

Make a written list of the following about yourself:-

10 (5 would be plenty I think!) character assets
10 physical assets
10  people who love you
10 things  you are grateful for
5   things you would like to change about yourself

Think about and write on paper...

What kind of God or 'Higher Power' do you have in your life?
What does your 'Higher Power' want for you?
What is your 'Higher Power' willing to do for you?

REMEMBER!

Work on Positive thoughts only.
Progress - not - perfection.
You are somebody - God does not make trash.

When dressing in the morning, look in the mirror and affirm character assets. Say 'I love  you' five times to your image (I don't know about you but if I did that at home they'd commit me!!)

While dressing, think about the people who love you and things you would like to change.

Pick one thing on your list to work from.

In the evening, write all the positive things you did that day  and the good   feelings you had. What made you happy? Don't even mention the negative stuff. Get that gratitude journal going...I think I could handle that one. It's a good suggestion not to mention the negative stuff. Hmm...

Write your most outstanding character assets of the day (were you  kinder than usual? more patient with others?) Why were they outstanding?

Finally, spend time with a loved one to discuss your day.  What if you don't have a significant other? I'd suggest a cuddly toy or pet -  Better again God!!

Hmm...sounds like a lot of work. But when I think of the amount of time our computer or television charms from us...maybe it's not so much work after all!!

After all - you're worth it!...Right?

Have a great day!

Cheers,

Patricia xxx

THREE CHEERS!

Yeah! Downton Abbey is back. We watched a full and glorious two hours of it last night. Wish it was on earlier, but still it was worth the wait. Shirley Maclaine was magnificent, and now that she has teamed up with Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton, the Divine Divas produce pure viewing bliss!

It's true, and you've heard it from me - Television is our friend! There is nothing like a good dose of t.v. to help cure the post-Christmas slump, before the next consumer high - Valentine's Day...and it's coming!! (Yeps, take heart - if you'll pardon the pun - the pink and red have already arrived in some shops!)

The home channel (HGTV) is another frequently visited destination in our home. Thrilling viewing if you're curious to see what property is like in other countries. Over the past few days we've  visited homes in France, Italy, Switzerland, Morocco, Australia and USA, and got a glimpse of what life was like over there. Clearly, in the more desirable destinations, what you lose in creature comforts, you gain in external stimulation.

Then those ooh... 'extraordinary homes' owned by the rich and famous - sheer voyeurism! and the million dollar rooms with their cascading waterfalls and heated floors...and the whacky homes on the sides of cliffs  owned by non-conformists...or tree houses in the middle of nowhere for hermits. The extent of the imagination - and the wealth - is mind boggling! I've seen brilliantly converted warehouses, fire stations, churches, dance halls, ice-cream shops - all transformed into amazing homes. So, if you cannot afford a vacation this year...and you're broke after all that money you spent at Christmas - let those fingers do the walking and befriend your remote control...

Lastly, 'Sell the sizzle - not the steak!' so said Bette Midler in the highly entertaining movie 'Parental Guidance' which I saw yesterday. The dramatically trimmed-down Bette truly sizzles in this movie. So, if you want a 'feel-good' movie, that does not assault the senses - check it out! Bette's wardrobe assistant did a wonderful job. The on-screen chemistry between herself and Billy Crystal is as sweet as candy kisses ....If like me, you're a sucker for sentiment this is the one for you - Enjoy!

On that cheerful note choo choo for now!

Keep on truckin'

Patricia xxx

SILENCE HURTS

HELP PREVENT SUICIDE...I was driving behind a mud covered bus this morning, and that's what a bumper sticker on it said - LOUD AND CLEAR. I heard it. My heart heard it... my head heard it - In fact every fibre of my being heard it. The message resonated with me because only recently I heard of yet another very sad suicide in my home town in Ireland. A young mother of two who I knew to see, took her own life away. No doubt her suicide will have a huge impact on the lives she left behind. SO SO SO SAD! God help her and her grieving family. I also knew of three other young men in our town who departed the planet in similar circumstances. Lovely young men, and with such sweet personalities. Why?

So what can you or I do to help prevent suicide? It's a big one. If you know somebody who has a tendency to depression, maybe talk with them. I have a new idea currently brewing in my head. I feel I could really help somebody by studying their transits and astrological charts and guiding them. I'm going to pursue this as part of my 'five random acts of kindness' which we discussed recently. If you know somebody going through a 'difficult time' - I will try and help them as best I can (complimentary). You have my email and if you are reading this, and know somebody in dire straits - send them to me. I will try my utmost to help them.

Many psychiatrists are now turning to astrologers for help in this area - for obvious reasons. There is a MOUNTAIN of information to be gained from studying a person's birth chart. We are truly puppets to the planets. As above - so below. Trust me on this! Forty years studying the planets has strengthened my belief even more.

On a positive note - Depression can be helped. Over the years, I have seen many people in Kevin's psychiatric practice emerge new people! A combination of therapy, reading, actions, motivation, patience, support, courage, hard work and help from the correct sources, all work together in perfect harmony to create a new spirit. Persistence is the Mother of Miracles'.  SUPPORT is crucial and it is very important to TALK TO OTHERS! Don't bottle things in.

Traditionally, people with a lot of water signs in their charts (Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio) have more of a tendency towards melancholy. But of course there are lots of other ingredients - upbringing, etc.

Something to chew on this 4th day of 2013!!

Choo Choo and 'chew on it'!

Patricia xxx

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

A credit card - Yes! but that's not what I meant... I was referring to my furry four legged kids. I love animals. Even the poor misfortunate mice that 'once' resided in our garage. They had become really friendly and would be there to greet us with when we drove back home. You'd see their beady little eyes smiling back at you. Secretly, I liked them and felt sorry they had to be zapped! Kevin said he'd let them enjoy Christmas before 'doing the necessary'. I reminded him of Mr. Bean's Christmas, and asked if we could also put out Christmas stockings filled with cheese treats for the mice - before the grim reaper claimed them. It didn't happen.

Next, the Deer...I can totally understand why Kevin and our neighbour Judith get really annoyed at them, especially when they gobble up all our plants. (they're hungry - can you blame them?) But again, I like them. They are grown up versions of my little Tallulah Conchita, with their large luminous ears and long skinny legs. When I see them hopping down the street I think of Kangaroos. They are SO cute. I feel guilty because I know I should be mad at them, just like everybody else. At least Kevin allowed me put the gilded version on our Christmas table!

So now we get to 'Man's - and woman's - real and truest best friend' - the domestic dog. If you do not have one - invest in one! You will not regret it. As our Lulu approaches her 12th birthday in May d.v. I give thanks for the day she arrived into our lives. If you want to be happy and content in life - adopt a pet. It's a well known fact they lower the blood pressure - O.K. not when they soil the carpet! but most of the time they do help us relax with their lazy, loving ways and their ability to 'just chill'.

Which leads me to my final point - did you know dogs and cats can suffer from depression? I was surprised when I heard that on the radio today. I noticed both Lulu and Chi Chi were out of sorts during Christmas. I thought it was the extra turkey I had given them had upset their digestive systems. Listening to the lady on the radio it all came together for me. I had my 'Eureka' moment. They had not been getting their walks and their routine was out of whack - just like kids - just like grown ups!

I was concerned Lulu was 'on the way out' and after Daddy's recent demise, could not take another hit. So taking the advice of the lady on the radio - brought the two dogs out for a good long walk and hey presto! They both came back to life.  If your dog/s seem out of sorts, it is recommended that you play with them and also bring them out for 1-2 good walks a day. I just didn't know dogs suffered from depression - did you? You sure learn something new every day. They are worth being nice to - another good excuse for getting that walk in!

Choo Choo for now!

Patricia xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's all ahead of us Polly Pals... A brand new year chock full of opportunities and surprises. Yesterday is history - right?  Nothing so refreshing as a brand new start. Amen!

Did you clean out your kitchen cupboards or the fridge? I did and depressing it was. I mean what kind of slob houses food that expired in 2005? Dare I ask... I even had stuff in the fridge that grew legs and was walking out the door until I stopped it. And no, it wasn't a mouse! Those little critters are history. All is happy now in my squeaky clean kitchen. 

I wish I could zap through those t.v. ads.  Every second one is about weight loss.  Hello! Do they have to be so obvious. Couldn't they wait until after Little Christmas on January 6th.  That being said I went to the supermarket today and stocked up on healthy fruit and veggies. January is a long month. I've often thought it would be better to donate a few days to February. They could do with the extra day or two.

New Year's Eve I had the hair trimmed. It is good Feng Shui as apparently hair absorbs negative energy. Having your hair trimmed regularly keeps good energy flowing. As Chevaun was humming away with the scissors, I read a really interesting article in a magazine, and it got me thinking...I'll share it with you and pssst...please pass it around! This is good gossip.

January has been designated 'Kindness Month' so says Jane Francisco of Chatelaine magazine. Instead of wasting time on self-defeating resolutions - why not join the revolution? Here's what you do...Log into kindcycle.com  and sign up to become a KindAgent. It takes only a minute and costs nothing. You just commit to doing five random acts of kindness during the month of January. If each of the readers of Chatelaine magazine did the 5 kindness acts in January, Ms. Francisco reckons the collective output will be over 20 million acts of kindness in a single month - not bad eh? Any suggestions?

Let the sluice gates of your imagination release a deluge of kindness!

Can't wait to hear  your ideas!!

Choo Choo for now and Happy Adventures...

Patricia xxx