BulgingButtons

November 29, 2014
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights. I always have, ever since I was a little kid and realized that we didn’t have them while most of our neighbors did. My parents explained that Jewish people just don’t do that. At least in those days they didn’t. Now, though, there are a lot of Jewish people who have adopted various Christmas traditions, including lighting up their homes.

I’m one of those people. I love to decorate for holidays, and for Christmas in particular. I think it’s because I felt kind of left out all those years when my friends and neighbors celebrated Christmas and our family just kind of stood on the sidelines watching. When I married a man who celebrated Christmas, I took it as a pass to go for it. I’ve been doing Christmas decorating ever since.

Today we did the outside lights. We bought some new ones a couple of weeks ago and set them aside, waiting until after Thanksgiving. This is our first Christmas in this house, so we’ve never done the lights here before. We decided to go with the larger old school style bulbs. I’ve always liked those, they remind me of gumdrops on a gingerbread house.

My sweetheart got on the ladder, and meticulously placed those lights so that there’s not a single crooked bulb. He took his time, and they look perfect. My son set up the row of candy canes, and he put together this year’s new decoration, an angel pig, complete with wings and halo. I do love my flying pigs, and I was delighted to find this one a few months back. My job was to wrap the bushes out front in lights.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, we flipped the switch. Santa inflated, the pig lit up, and the candy canes sparkled. The multi-colored gumdrop lights looked perfect too. The left side of the yard was a success, but the right side stayed dark. Cords were checked, bulbs were wiggled, and strands were removed. I was disappointed. I grabbed one of last year’s colorful icicle lights and wrapped a bush in that. It wasn’t great, but it gave some balance to the yard, and I can replace it.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with our lights. I may add a few more strands to the bushes, we’ll see. I think it looks pretty good the way it is. In fact I like it a lot. I’m just glad we don’t live one street over. On the block behind us the amount of Christmas decorating is insane. People were up on their roofs (on two story homes) messing with their lights. Yards are full of inflatables and handmade wooden cut outs and lights, lights, lights! There are exactly three houses on the entire block that aren’t festooned with brightly lit holiday displays, and it’s not even December 1st yet. I’m curious to see if those houses continue to stay unlit or if they join the rest of the block. The amount of pressure to put up a great display must be insane. I’m happy with my little display, it brightens up our home and puts me in a happy holiday mood.

What about you? Do you decorate with lights? Inside or out, or both? I would love to hear about your lights and your neighborhood. Is it like mine? Mine is crazy for Christmas, and I kind of like it.

November 28, 2014
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Leftover Words: Why Can’t I Hear My Body?

The following is my attempt at today’s daily prompt: Today, publish a post based on unused material from a previous piece –a paragraph you nixed, a link you didn’t include, a photo you decided not to use.

Why Can’t I Hear My Body?

This eat the right thing and get enough sleep and make sure to move my body thing just hasn’t been working out recently. I could give you all the reasons, but honestly, it will just sound like a list of excuses, so I’ll spare you the details and just skip it.

This, of course, has been an ongoing battle for me. Sometimes things click and I do well, and other times I slip into my old bad habits and any progress toward improving my health habits quickly disappears. It’s frustrating, especially since it’s purely my choices that derail me.

I had a conversation several months ago with a yoga instructor about some of these struggles (as we were enjoying our cocktails and hors d’oevres). She has worked with all sorts of people over the years, with all sorts of body types and issues. She is also human, and has had her own struggles over the years. She has changed her diet more than once, and her advice to me was, “listen to your body.”

It sounded like good advice. Our bodies, after all, are incredible. They do so much for us, and they constantly make tiny adjustments without us even thinking about it. The whole keeping the heart beating and keeping the lungs breathing routine is awe-inspiring. The body is no dummy, so it makes sense to try to listen to it. I’m okay with this idea. In fact, I kind of like the thought.

The problem, however, is that my body and I don’t seem to speak the same language. I have no idea what it’s saying much of the time. I confuse fatigue with hunger, and I often allow myself to get to the point where I’m completely parched, or the opposite, my bladder feels as though it might explode. How come I don’t take care of these things earlier? I just don’t really seem to notice or understand the signals that my body gives. Either that, or my body gives me the wrong signals.

That was certainly the case during my pregnancy. I had no idea I was pregnant for several months. Why? Because to me it appeared that my cycle was functioning as normal. I saw no change in the monthly rhythm, even though I was pregnant. How am I supposed to listen to a body that doesn’t even give me a clue that it’s pregnant? Oh sure, I began to look a little thicker around the middle, but I’m a big girl, and putting on a few pounds with the arrival of cooler weather didn’t raise an eyebrow. In retrospect I should have noticed some movement, but I had never been pregnant before and put it down to some kind of digestive upset.

I used to mock those people who didn’t know they were pregnant. How could they be so stupid? Well, I’m not stupid, but it wasn’t until late December that I suspected I might be expecting, and got the confirmation. I was given a due date in August, but in a subsequent appointment the doctor shook his head and told me I was much further along than that. An ultrasound was ordered on the spot, and my due date was moved up to April. Junior arrived on April Fool’s Day weighing in at a healthy eight pounds. Perfect timing. I was six months pregnant before I even knew I was having a baby. And this is the body I’m supposed to listen to?

So yes, I try to pay attention, but it’s difficult when we don’t seem to speak the same language. I know there are certain things that will benefit my body regardless of the signs or signals I might miss. Good food and exercise will always be helpful, so I’ll keep on trying, even if I have no idea what my body is actually saying to me.

November 27, 2014
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

Paying Bills on Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s a wonderful day of food and family and tradition. I love Thanksgiving. I always have. But before I get too caught up in the cooking (yes, I started yesterday, and today my sweetheart is doing most of the meal, so I have time) I’m going to take care of some business.

Why? Well, as I was clearing off the kitchen counter I moved some mail, and in it were a few bills. It seems to me that Thanksgiving is the perfect time to pay those bills (online, of course). Why spoil a perfectly good holiday? Because to me it isn’t spoiling it at all.

1. Credit Card- I paid off my credit card a while back, before I got divorced. I use it now for online purchases and travel related expenses, like airfare and hotels. Some months there’s not much on there (although usually there’s something, since I download too many books for the kindle). Other months it gets pretty high. Never as high as it was back in my married days, though. When I get this bill it reminds me that I have the opportunity to travel and the means to provide the little extra comforts that I enjoy in life, like my collection of digital media.

2. Electric- These folks make it possible for me to keep my home warm or cool, to wash and dry my clothes, to refrigerate and cook my food, and to enjoy technology. Oh, and they keep the lights on. Yes, I’m thankful for all of that.

3. Cell phone- I’m happy to pay to not only keep connected to my loved ones, but also to have access to emergency services should I need them. Add it the convenience of data where I am and yes, I’ll pay my bill, no problem.

4. Mortgage- Granted this one is a big one, but it pays for the roof over my family’s head. We live in a comfortable home in a neighborhood that feels safe and friendly. I looked long and hard to find this home, and I’m glad to call it ours. I remember this every time I send in the payment.

5. Insurance- I pay for the peace of mind. I’m glad that if something DOES happen, I have insurance to help us through it. It’s worth it to me.

I’m not wealthy. I don’t live extravagantly. I do, however, have enough, and for that I’m very thankful. Paying my bills reminds me that I’m fortunate to have what I do have and to live as comfortably as I do. I work hard for what I earn, but I’ve also been lucky. There are many hardworking people who struggle and barely scrape by. I’m aware of this, and for that reason I’m thankful that I’m able to pay my bills and still have a little something left over to enjoy life. If paying bills isn’t a reminder of my fortunate situation, I don’t know what is.