ThE pHaIrEsT lOvE

HeAtHeR bRoWn

2012-01-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

You read about Kailua Village in "downtown" Kona in my Hawaii post. There are quite a few art galleries along the way. We went into one and I fell in love...

With Heather Brown. I absolutely LOVE her paintings. She does all of her paintings on an eco friendly sugar cane paper. Awesome.

Here are a few of her paintings. I love the vibrant colors. The thick lines. The "piecy" look.

I love the look of the differnt birds bunched together

I think this is so cute. The birds. The couple.

Wouldn't this be perfect for Christmas time? I love the way she does birds.

These Plumerias are beautiful in this painting.

I will get my hands on the painting below. Trust me.

That's Heather Brown for you. She also has some beautiful paintings of the sunset and the ocean. Heather Brown also does designs on t-shirts, bags, iPhone covers, and even surf boards. Maybe I'll get a paddle board and have her design on it?

Aw. Love them.

KoNa, HaWaIi

2012-01-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

ALOHA! Nic and I headed to the Big Island for a week with my parents (January 14 - 21).

This was Nic's first time to Hawaii...EVER.

Day 1. We arrived in Kona, Hawaii. We watched the sunset poolside and enjoyed a delicious dinner there.

Day 2. We went to church (of course). The ward choir sang "I Am a Child of God" in Hawaiian - it was beauitful.

We then headed to an amazing beach: Hapuna Beach.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner in our condo. Unfortunately there was a bit of a grill accident.

No worries though - no one got hurt. My dad only fried his hair a little bit. The steaks turned out delicious!

Day 3. We went to a gray sand beach: Hookena Beach. We did a bit of snorkeling.

There were a lot of Spinner Dolphins jumpin' and splashin' around.

We headed to what I call "downtown" Kona to Kailua Village. Lots of restaurants and shops on Ali'i Drive (Ali'i means chief in Hawaiian). We had dinner at LuLu's and watched a beautiful sunset.

There is the one and ONLY place to get a true shaved ice (NOT a snow cone). I remember this place from when I went with my family quite a few years back. It's delish.

Nic's first experience with shaved ice: Rootbeer and Dreamsicle.

Yummy Watermelon.

Day 4. The resort we stayed at was called Hali'i Kai. There were lots of other places to stay around, but in the midst there was the Kings and Queens shopping areas. The type of shopping at Kings was Tiffanys, Louis Vuitton, etc. We had a relaxing time at the pool.

My parents celebrated their 33rd anniversary - woo hoo! We went out to dinner at Ruth's Chris (yummy steakhouse).

Day 5. McDonald's in Hawaii has a traditional breakfast: rice, eggs and Spam (yes that's right). My parents love to eat at McDonald's and love the Spam.

We had to try it out.

It was surprisingly really good and naturally GF. :) Maybe it was good because I was sitting in Hawaii? Whatever the reason, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Off to another beach (it had a really long Hawaiian name that I can't remember). More snorkeling. Work it Nic!

My dad, Nic and I tried paddle boarding. Paddle boarding is standing a larger than normal surf board with one paddle. It's harder then it looks.

That evening we headed to Kailua Village and ate at Bongo Ben's. Nic also bought me a beautiful Plumeria necklace with earrings. Love them.

Day 6. Nic and my dad headed out on wave runners while my mom and I did a little shopping and...more shaved ice! (Once you try it you'll want it everyday, trust me)

We stopped at a flea market.

And met Bruno the rooster. He had a girlfriend: Brownie the chicken.

We stopped by the Kona Hawaii temple. Such a beautiful place.

We watched the sunset at Hapuna Beach. Nic and I attempted to do some boogy boarding but the waves were GINORMOUS.

Day 7. More time at the pool.

I have always wanted to ride in a helicopter - it's on my bucket list. I got to cross this one off!

We took a beautiful ride to some valleys on the Big Island. In the distance (below) there is a snow capped mountain. The Big Island is the only island in Hawaii that gets snow.

Stunning ride.

There was one other guy that rode with us. We had a great time!

Back to Hapuna Beach to watch the sunset. Nic and I also got to "swim" with Manarays. We were out in the ocean and lo and behold, there they were. They were no more then 10 feet in front of us.

Sunsets on the beach never get old.

Yay.

That night we had dinner poolside and...more shaved ice! (I know you're jealous ;)

Day 8. This was truly a day of mourning as we did not want to leave. This is the condo we stayed at. Beautiful resort.

Our beloved front door. haha

This was our sweet ride during the week. It has a soft top that you can pull down. :)

We headed to a national historic park.

One last trip to the Scandinavian Shaved Ice.

It was then time for our goodbyes. :'(

Wow. What an amazing time we had with my parents.

We did so many wonderful things and made some great memories (BEAT IT!). You won't understand that one. haha Not to mention everything we did, but the whales were so active the whole week we were there. We also got to see some sea turtles. Needless to say, it was a fab trip.

Mahalo mom and dad for a wonderful week in Hawaii!

Aloha.

2012-01-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

We are back from our week long vacation to Kona, Hawaii (big island).

We went with my parents.

Such an amazing time! This was Nic's first time to Hawaii.

I can't wait to post pictures of all of the fun we had - I even crossed a few things off my Bucket List. :)

It's back to work and snow for us...

2012 nEw YeAr LeTtEr

2012-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

2011. Done and done. This is the Christmas “card” the Phair Family is sending out this year – a “letter” on their blog. Time just ran away from them. They kept busy, in a good way of course! (You can read how the Phair Family got to this point by reading 2010’s letter.)

Nic continues work at Klamath Insurance Center and is busy heading up the commercial side of the business. He is always out and about going from one business to another. Allison continues her work at Sky Lakes Medical Center as a Discharge Planner. The winter season is the hospital’s busiest time of the year – isn’t it that way for everyone? The Elders Quorum continues in good hands with Nic as the president. It sure keeps him busy. Allison still remains in Primary, however as the secretary in the Primary Presidency. She doesn’t know if she could ever leave “her” kids. She is still the Ward Choir director and completed her second Christmas program with success.

Last year’s letter left at the point of the adoption process through LDS Family Services. They started the process, but as time went on Nic and Allison both got the impression that they needed to stop. Their case manager was very understanding of this decision. He sees so many couples go through what they have been and are going through. Nic and Allison both felt like they needed more time for their emotions to settle. They re-evaluated in September and still felt like it wasn’t their time yet. In the mean time they bought a house. This wasn’t their plan, but they have learned that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Things happen for a reason.

Nic and Allison found a 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath, 2500 square foot home – built in 1995 . It has an oversized 2-car garage with a backyard. They couldn’t pass it up and knew it was their future home the minute they saw it. They put in an offer in April and closed in October. They look forward to raising their kids in this home.

Even though adoption wasn’t for them this past year, they did adopt a harrier “child” to their family: Harrison Phair. He’s a career changed Guide Dog, Black Lab. A family they knew was raising him to be a Guide Dog, but unfortunately failed due to a barking “problem” (he barks at low, unfamiliar noises). He turned 1 on November 21st. They are happy to have him as part of their family. Harrison is very well trained. Minus the walking on four legs and the black hair, he is very much like a toddler.

Nic and Allison celebrated their 3 year anniversary on December 27. Three years already? Wow (in a good way). Time flies. They are happily married and look forward to 2012 and the new adventures it will bring to their family. Nic and Allison hope you have been blessed this past year and may the upcoming year bring joy to you and yours.

2012-01-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

*I apologize for this post*

The Downsies: feeling down and you just can't beat it.

Have you ever experienced "the downsies"?

I don't know what is going on, but I have been stuck in "the downsies" for a few days now.

It's not like I have this horrible life - I am a very blessed person.

I have also been very anxious - rapid heartbeat. What do I have to be so down and anxious about? Nothing. So what is going on?

If you have ever experience "the downsies," what are your suggestion and getting out?

MeRrY cHrIsTmAs

2011-12-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

We hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house with Nic's parents and his brother (Craig) and family. I couldn't wait to be the hostess at our new house. The tables all set and ready to go:

How cute is this face?!

I love my boy

Everyone...almost, before dinner. L to R front row: Christa, Kole, Chase, Krew. L to R back row: Craig, Molly, Nic, Bob, Rita.

Yours truly and Neeko

The extent of Christmas decorations in our house was the wreath on my front door. No tree. No nothing. Thankfully my parents let us borrow their fake tree which definitely helped add some Christmas spirit in our home.

The candles are lit. The drinks are poured. Let's eat!

After dinner, we discussed the Nativity. Each kid opened a "present" (AKA pieces to the nativitiy) and then we discussed each piece.

Christmas Eve wouldn't be Christmas Eve without opening some presents

My FIL hanging himself with the new tie we got him. He must have really liked it. haha

My MIL Rita with her new scarf. (I was tempted to keep it for myself)

We got Craig and Molly a frame that said something about Family on it. Super cute.

This is who I like to call Harrison's foster mom, Jeanette. She raised Harrison and then we adopted him. She and her kids raise Guide Dogs. We got her a picture frame (included with a picture of Harrison) so she can put pictures of all of the Guide Dogs she raise. :) We wouldn't have our little guy without her.

Sunday was absolutely wonderful. I was in charge of the Sacrament meeting program and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

We headed up to my parent's house after church. Ate more food and opened up some presents.

We hope you all had a Merry, Merry one as we did.

30Th BiRtHdAy

2011-12-31T11:26:00.000-08:00

Nic turned the big 3-0 this year and I wanted to do something special for him, so what did I do for him?

Throw him a surprise party of course!

With my parents help, I got him out of the house to set up while everyone showed up. :)

It turned out so well and I even kept it a secret for over a month.

This party came with a chocolate fountain with oh so many things to dip (i.e. bacon [yeah, that's right], cookies of all kinds, gummies, pretzels, and so much more).

We also played what I like to call "Nictionary." Played just like the good ol' regular Pictionary, but with clues about Nic.

I think he had a great time - I fun planning and celebrating with friends and family.

After the party, the birthday boy opened presents.

This t-shirt had Nic written all over it - if only it said "Diet."

Who doesn't like Reese's and Sharpie pens?

Candied Pecans

His own personal non-gluten-free food: chocolate chip cookie dough

The Grill Master with a new grill set

Happy Birthday Neeko! Hope you had a happy one!

MrI

2011-12-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Where did I leave off with my back?...

I had an appointment with an ortho doc (Dr. Conaughty) and I really liked him. Discussed pain levels, movement, activities, etc. Got more X-Rays done. Scheduled me for a MRI for December 29.

It's a blessing and a curse to work at the hospital: you can look at the results of your tests.

I looked. Some things I knew, but unfortunately some things I didn't know.

Follow up with the ortho doc on...wait for it...January 31! That was the soonest I could get in - I am on a waiting list.

I will discuss with him the next course of action.

Until then. Trial of my patience.

2011-12-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

It has been crazy busy here at the Phair household.

From anything to everything we have been busy painting, throwing a surprise birthday party and, of course, Christmas. It's time to settle down and ring in the New Year.

Pictures are in store for you lovely readers. Patience is heavenly.

WaLlPaPeR

2011-12-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

I despise wallpaper.

Thankfully it's only in the master bedroom and bathroom.

This is one of the first projects we wanted to tackle before anything else.

The previous owners chose such beautiful wallpaper. NOT.

They could have used a lot less glue.

It's hard work scraping and scrubbing glue.

Who knew there was a white wall underneath all that glue?

All done. No more glue.

At least not in the bedroom.

There is that bathroom...

GoBbLe 2011

2011-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

We had a great Turkey Day with my family.

Everyone came...almost (we missed you Summer Family)

Turkey. Prime Rib. Pumpkin Pie.

Family laughs.

Beautiful centerpiece

We each had our very own place settings.

N is for Nic.

A is for Allison

GIVING THANKS

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

I feel bad continually posting updates about my back, but maybe some of you might be interested.

I saw my primary doc yesterday. Put me on a new anti-inflammatory. He referred me to an ortho doc here in town, which is what I expected.

I see him on December 20.

Because of the good man I married, he's been researching spondylolisthesis and surgery vs not. Nic has my best interest in mind. :) He takes really good care of me.

I have been reminded that this is a trial of my patience.

Bring. It. On. I could use some more patience.

BiRtHdAy BoY

2011-11-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Harrison's 1st Birthday by not doing much.

He did look pretty cute in his party hat!

He got a new rawhide bone.

Love my 2 boys.

He's such a party animal.

HaPpY 1sT bIrThDaY

2011-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 1st Birthday to Harrison!

So I'm going to do a post about our 1 year old dog similar to those of parents' kids turning 1. Don't make fun. Harrison is our little toddler.

Yes, it's November 21 and Harr Bear turns 1 today. I can't believe our little guy is 1. He is such a great dog and we love him very much. :)

At 1 year old Harrison loves:

~ Laying by the fireplace

~ Laying by your feet

~ Playing with his blue toy

~ Going on walks

~ Eating

~ Peanut Butter anything

~ Car rides

~ Fetch

At 1 year old Harrison doesn't like:

~ Vacuums

~ Unfamiliar noises

~ Spider webs

Although maybe the year 2011 didn't bring our "blessing from heaven," but we were blessed with Harrison. He is such a joy to have around.

Happy Birthday Harrison!

SpOnDyLoLiStHeSiS

2011-11-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

That's what I have. Spawn-dee-lo-lis-thesis (do you like how I just pronounced it for you?).

I have been going to my Physical Therapist for some weeks now.

He's breaking up with me (giggle).

He told me I can still see him, but that it's time for me to see my primary doc.

The therapy isn't working as well as we all hoped for.

I have an appointment scheduled with my primary doc and then he'll probs have me go see an ortho doc.

If I see an ortho doc who knows what will happen.

I talked with my PT about surgery. :/ (This is the last thing I want to think about right now)

He said there are pros and cons about having surgery at my age.

Then again an ortho doc might say that I'm not a surgical candidate.

The only problem is the Spawn-dee-lo-lis-thesis can get worse. My vertebrae has nothing to hold onto - it's a bit fractured.

So for now, we shall wait and see what my primary doc says.

Don't go breakin' your back now ;)

OuR nEw HoMe

2011-11-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

It's time for pictures of our new home (PS there are LOTS).

The front.

Our backyard with the enclosed desk.

Down the right side is a future potential dog kennel.

Down the left side is a long driveway.

More of the backyard.

Plan is to grow trees along the fence for more privacy.

You just walked in from the garage and are standing in the laundry/pantry room.

Kitchen. Dining room. Den.

One side of the kitchen.

The other side (someone stole that cutting board - it matches the countertops. Grrr.)

Laundry area and pantry.

On the other side is a half bathroom.

Dining room.

Don't you love the yellow trim? Ha. Not!

Main living area.

On the other side of the left wall is the dining area.

Another view of the living room with the mysterious black curtain.

Master bedroom in all it's 90's glory.

Master bathroom.

Opposite side is the walk in double shower. :)

Master closet.

I'll admit, it's not so master in its size.

Our future baby's room. :)

Coat and linen closet in the "landing area"

"Guest" bathroom, or the main bathroom.

Extra bedroom

Another extra bedroom that is currently the "master bedroom"

The spa room in all its glory. What a great room for our little guy to hang out!

We do plan on selling the hot tub.

We couldn't be more thrilled about our new home. Yes, it needs updating but it's worth it.

We are homeowners!

ThE SCAR pRoJeCt

2011-11-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

As I was roaming around on pinterest I came across a startling photo. It wasn't obscene. I didn't take offense. But it did cause me to stare. I couldn't take my eyes away. It was touching and beautiful. I clicked on the picture and it took me to a website about The SCAR Project.

[STOP. PAUSE.]

WARNING: The photographs on this website are all of women who are naked from the waist up.

[CONTINUING ON.]

You're probably thinking to yourself: Why is Allison looking at pictures of women who are without clothing from the waist up? How dare she. Look at this website and you'll see why I couldn't stop staring and maybe you won't. A fashion photographer, David Jay, wanted to raise awareness of breast cancer survivors - all of the women photographed are 40 or younger. I will honestly say that I think the photographs are absolutely BEAUTIFUL - STUNNING - AMAZING. I have no words to describe my feelings. Look at the website and see for yourself. Before you head on over let me leave you with a quote the photographer said:

For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease. It helps them reclaim their femininity, their sexuality, identity and power after having been robbed of such an important part of it. Through these simple pictures, they seem to gain some acceptance of what has happened to them and the strength to move forward with pride.

P.t.

2011-10-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

I had my first PT appointment yesterday...my back was really sore afterwards. It's ok though because my mom came over and we made a pumpkin pie with a GF crust. So delish! Even Nic liked it. :) Back to PT. My PT explained Spondylolisthesis to me a bit better (he said it has to do with some type of syndrome that I can't remember the name of). Basically I have a stress fracture on the spine part of my L5 vertebrae. Most likely both sides of the spine are fractured. What that means is that the vertebrae has nothing to hold on it so that's why it has moved. They grade Spondylolisthesis in grades 1-4 - I have a grade 1 which means it has moved 1/4. When you think of how not big the body of a vertebrae is, 1/4 of a movement is quite a bit - about 5-6 mm. Eeek. Good news is that most of the time you can seek pain relief with PT and it will heal itself. Other times not so much. I don't even want to think about that. Let's start with PT and we'll go from there. I still have NO IDEA how it happened and don't think I ever will.

So in last night's PT session I did some ab exercises and stretching - all about strengthening my core. Ideally I will do exercises 5 times/week and get 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 times/week. For the first little while, my PT wants to see me a couple times per week and then it's up to me on how often I see him, which is nice that he's left it up to me. My abs were a bit sore this morning and I have my exercises to do. I'm glad I finally have some answers, because for a minute I didn't want people to think I was overreacting or making it up. I wasn't, I promise! ;) I don't want to mess around with my back. Bring on the PT!

PaUsE

2011-10-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

Meditation is:

~ "It is exactly like muddy water left to stand in a class. Little by little, the sediment sinks to the bottom and the water becomes pure." (Taisen Deshimaru)

~ Meditation is not the goal; it's the journey.

~ Three-Step Meditation (how to not let your thoughts take over):
1. Recognize that you're thinking
2. Gently return to meditation
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 as needed

DAY 6 October 14, 2011 I close my eyes, relax, and feel my body. I paid attention to every square inch of my body. My hands in my lap, my breathing and the noises in my house. I tried being alert as possible and stated: Meditation is allowing what is three times. I said it slowly and paused after each statement, letting the words sink in.
This can work for anyone - it's a taste of what meditation can be and feel like.

DAY 7 October 15, 2011 This session was different because it was really short. The reasoning is as I was reading my meditation book, I came across a fill-in-the-blank statement: Meditation is a process that can help me _____________. Hmm. Why am I meditating? 101 goal. Ok but for there's a reason why I started meditation on October 9, 2011. I sat on my couch, closed my eyes, focused on my breathing and said the above statement. I thought I knew my reason, but the answer did kind of surprise me (in a good way). Being relaxed and focused, I found my answer: reduce stress, not be angry with myself, and be more relaxed. *If you want to start meditating, I recommend that the above be your first session.

PAUSE.

I've accomplished my 101 goals...in a way. I kind of learned how to meditate (according to a CD) and I did it for 7 days - I would say that these past 7 days were successful and helpful. I really can see why people get "into it" with meditating. Here's what I've decided to do: I'm going to continue reading my "8 Minute Meditation" book and really learn how to meditate. This book lays out an 8 week program of meditating (Part II) and then you can upgrade in Part III. I'm going to continue documenting my experiences (not on blogger) and test out this 8 week program. It's only 8 minutes/day - I'm pretty sure I have 8 minutes to spare in my day. Let the program begin...NOW.

BaCk UpDaTe

2011-10-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Remember this post about my back pain? I went to my primary doc yesterday afternoon to discuss it. I got some X-Rays done right then and there. We looked at them and he said structurally everything looks nice and healthy. He said he would talk with radiology but really didn't think he missed anything. My spine is a little crooked but nothing to worry about. He prescribed me an anti-inflammatory and recommended back stretches and core strengthening (the las time I did this, it hurt my back). The doc also said that I have to be careful with the core strengthening because it can hurt your back.

Fast forward to last night at 5:45. I received a call from my doctor. Uh oh. No one wants a call after hours. The doc said he talked with the radiologist and my L5 vertebrae is tipped forward - L5 sits right on top of your sacrum. No wonder why it hurts worse when I'm sitting. He also said that I have the beginnings of arthritis which means we have to keep a closer eye on my back. Arthritis? Really? I thought this was only supposed to happen to older people (no offense to anyone). I'm 24, right? He wrote me a prescription for Physical Therapy. I'm interested to see what they'll have me do. I'm hoping I'll see results with the anti-inflammatory, the PT and stretching and strengthening.

Sometimes I feel like the insides of my body are a lot older than the outside. I specifically remember my IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) doc saying that I had 40-year old eggs. Apparently I also have a 40-year old spine. At least the outside is looking young. :)

2011-10-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

DAY 4 October 12, 2011: I sat in my bed again for the session - once again comfortable. This session was about focusing on breathing - exhale longer than inhale. I wasn't able to focus for the first few minutes, because Harrison was antsy, but he finally left the room. Once completely focused on breathing, the relaxation kicked in. It was another good session. When going to sleep, I did the breathing from the session which helped relax me into sleep.

*Only 3 more days until I complete my 101 goal: 7 days of meditation

2011-10-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

DAY 3 October 11, 2011: It definitely helped to be sitting on my bed with the covers on. I was very comfortable. It also helped me to wear earphones - she was talking directly to me. It's important to be as comfortable as possible: volume of the CD, lighting temperature, sitting vs laying down. There's can't be any distractions - your mind has to be so focused on what the CD is saying to have a successful session. At the end of the day, all of those things that were stressful/frustrating/angery during your day don't matter. It is what it is and tomorrow is a new day.

DaY 1 & 2

2011-10-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

As I go through the process of learning how to meditate, I am writing down my experiences with each "session" (I don't know what else to call them :).

DAY 1 October 9, 2011: Sunday has been a rough day and I have been very down on myself. I thought it would be the perfect day to start meditating. I did about 20 minutes of a guided meditation CD (male's voice). I was so relaxed afterwards. I didn't feel anger or stress as I had previously. It was a wonderful feeling. I did my meditation sitting on the floor in my living room - legs crossed, eyese closed, and arms relaxed on my legs. I noticed that by the end of the session, my body and mind felt so relaxed that I was slouching. I think day 1 was a success.

DAY 2 October 10, 2011: I tried a PM Yoga Meditation CD (female's voice) - I think it was about 20 minutes. This is supposed to help you clear your mind and relieve the stresses of the day. I think I prefer the male's voice over the female's voice. On 10.9 I was sitting and tonight I tried lying down thinking this would help me relax more. I think on 10.11 I will try either sitting or lying on the bed. There were many things distracting me (uncomfortable on the floor, cold, too much light even though the lights were off) - I had a hard time focusing my mind, but by the end I did feel very relaxed. It's trial and error for me as a beginner meditator.

*Tonight I will be trying the PM Yoga Meditation again, but will do a different "session" on the CD. I'm going to be on my bed (with the lights off and the computer not facing me). We shall see if this helps. I'm thinking a sleeping mask would definitely help in PM meditations. Hmmm....

2011-10-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

My 2 lovely sisters made a trip to Klamath and we had a great time (missed seeing my 2 SILs Sharon and Nikki). We headed to see The Lion King in 3D (hence the funky glasses:

I bought a new hat:

Head to the punkin patch (as Nic would say about the little pumpkins)

Sisters. Sisters. There were never such devoted sisters. ;)

Loved seeing Summer and Dani and their wonderful kids! Thanks for the great time.

posted from Bloggeroid

SeArChInG

2011-10-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

I have been asked by a few people how my 101 in 1001 is going...slowly but surely. The hardest one I'm trying to complete is #15: read 5 classics. The ones I've tried reading are just not grabbing me and I've been having a hard time finding the time to sit down and read. I guess I need to start reading on my lunch breaks at work...Anyways. I have been slowly crossing things off my list without saying so on my blog. I've only accomplished 26/101 - not very good progress, considering I have a little over a year to accomplish the rest. The show must go on!

What I have been "searching" for is #38 and #39: learn how to meditate and do it. I went online to my town library and have requested quite a few books and cds. I think meditation is a good thing for all of us (not that I've ever tried it). At least we should all try it a few times. This is in my future:

(I wish this is where my meditation could take place - I'll be in my home like regular, normal people :)