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Showing posts from December, 2016

End with a bang

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  Tonight I'm going to burn some old journals. On the beach. In a bonfire. It will be epic. Too bad there isn't a bigger moon, but I hear it's a tradition to have a bonfire here. I hope I can make it. To stay up late I may need an energy drink, but I'm trying to ban sugar from my life as much as possible. Well, maybe I'll bring a blanket to the beach, so I can fall asleep and wake up to fireworks. I suppose it's my own fault for getting up at 5:30am again.   But I'm so excited today! I found my people. Tut.com is doing a free 30 Days to Love Your Life challenge. They have their own Facebook page and a lot of people are introducing themselves. It's very cool because it's a form of meeting new people. And I had forgotten that one of my dreams was to make some new international friends. I feel like I've connected with 20 different people today. I still had time to go for a bike ride to watch the sun set, and make some tasty chicken for dinner.   J...

How was your day?

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  My day has been long so far! Up at 5:30am to the stench of a skunk. Man, it was so bad I almost self-suffocated with my pillow over my face. Good thing we had plans to leave the house!   My Mom and I caught the bus at 6:43am. Some stinky people got on the bus half way there. Some weird cross of chemical and.... hairspray, maybe? Gasoline, maybe? I was hoping that inhaling was optional, because it was strong. But we laughed the whole way there. It takes about an hour to get to the 'big town' with it's crazy one way streets and warped sidewalks. Breakfast of rice and beans and eggs at the edge of the sidewalk, watching the people and the pigeons. It's an open restaurant, like most of them in town.   My mother is determined to spoil me! It was like Christmas all over again. First it was the special perfume shop where we bought 2 perfumes and a deodorant in a glass bottle. We chose the bottles, and we chose the scents from a wall of options in big grey bottles. The 2...

Trying times

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  I have a confession to make. This isn't my first diet ever. I've been both successful and frustrated in my efforts. Like most people. Here is what I decided (including why I am going to burn all of my old journals): my past did not define me, it prepared me. Big difference.   My New Year's resolution is usually to resolve not to make any. Thereby starting the year with humor, and self defeat. This year I simply resolve to keep trying. Because when I set a weight loss goal, it can be daunting. I could go half a year, half a month, half a week, half a freaking day - and be ready to give up, feeling like it's too much. But if my resolve is simply to keep trying, then it takes the pressure off. This is my working theory.   I'm trying to cut out sugar, in a house full of sugar. It ain't going to be easy. I started 2 days ago. I'm not waiting until Sunday. I'm ready to be in shape. Pear is not an acceptable shape. I just need to remember what it feels like...

Hyper excited about my diet

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I'm getting flooded with ideas about my diet decision. Part of it is the question we must all ask: Why? Why am I eating so badly? Why am I making so many bad sugar decisions?   I need to focus on where I want to be. On how good it will feel to be optimally healthy. I have to add a few things to my diet. Like good diet buddies. A lot of self-education. Read a lot of success stories. Hunt down really healthy and tasty food options to fill my fridge. And get excited about it.   Like other addictions, it's about taking your passion for something not good, or over-abundance of passion, or obsession, and re-direct your focus. It starts with this: When I want to do eat chocolate I will do What instead? Read a digestion article? Go for a walk and buy some celery at the local store? Take an extra Spanish lesson on my app? Reach out to someone on Facebook? (my main form of communication anymore). Look up more recipes? That's a good start to the list. I want to add play my ukulele a...

Guess why I already love 2017?

  One of the main reasons that I already love 2017 is because it's going to start on a tropical beach. But that's not my point. One of the other big reasons is because I'm going to feel so good. I'm going to be SO healthy! I'm going to make 46 and 47 years old look good. I'm going to have the time of my life.   Let me tell you how. I'm going to improve my digestion. That's right. We are all so good at neglecting it, aren't we? And it affects everything. Research shows that if I take care of my digestion, it will improve my immune system, balance my moods, steady my energy, stabilize my blood sugar, and give me strong vitality. Who doesn't want that?? How many of us are suffering because of bad digestion? Anyone with a big stomach, for starters.   I had a midwife for my first three kids. The first one wasn't born at home, we ended up going to the hospital. Seth just wouldn't come out. Man. Kiara and Jaden were just fine. When I was preg...

Ward 4 flashback

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Ok, I'm not sure who else will appreciate this set of pictures. This is a way for me to get a bunch of pictures to all of my kids at once. Instead of sending sets of pictures in emails... (I'm having issues getting the kid pictures to download, or upload? But there will be more pictures of the kids when they were little. I am not including the picture of Seth on the potty, or Jaden taking a bath. You're welcome!) Your Canadian Grandma built houses with her Danish husband. But there are 2 big houses she built by herself. This is the first one, on Connie Road. Well, my Dad did some of the drywall, so he helped a little. This is the front of the house. There is a creek behind the house where the yard ends and the forest begins. When we built it, I was 12 years old. 2 stories, 5 bedrooms, dirt road, 10 acres. Awesome place. This is what the yard looked like in the back. Full of birds. Which ones, you ask? Pretty much all of them. Turkeys. Geese. Pheasants. Lita raised ...

Happy Anniversary

  I have a complimentary marriage. Opposites attract, is what they say. I guess we are the proof of that. I doubt words could explain the dynamics of our relationship. If I were the romantic type, I would say we complete each other. Ron is a man with 6 decent sized tattoos, I have none. One of his tattoos is a maybe 6 inch by 4 inch tattoo of my head and shoulders, on his right arm. Without telling me until afterwards. Talk about Wow factor. And Wow, You're Nuts factor. I have never been so flattered in my entire life. He created the font for the name underneath, my nickname Kat.   Ron served 16 years in the military. He grew up hunting and did all kinds of sports. I have never been in a fight in my life. I played one season on the volleyball team in school. I'm a dedicated pacifist. I can barely shoot a melon, let alone a rabbit or deer.   How did we ever meet, and get together? He was raised a Utah Mormon, I was raised a laid-back British Columbia kid.   We...

Waking up

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  Have you ever had one of those days? The kind where it starts with you drowning, while upside down, in yogurt? Trying to figure out how to call for help, and still hold your breath, while doing that chest scream thing with no voice? And waking up kicking and trying to get that scream out? Yeah. I need to straighten out my dream life. It's a horrible irony to wake up tired.   The rest of the day was pretty decent, bike ride on the beach, my honey back from his trip to the U.S. and a nice hour of rain.   I am so freaking tired. But I'm tired of saying I'm tired. So it's time for an affirmation, right? Like... I have more than enough energy!  I have more than enough time! Or, I'm not tired, I'm conserving energy.   I had this idea jar, and now I need to make a new one. I started to eat a candy cane (not easy to get here!), and I was working on the top hook part. I didn't finish, and I set it in the idea jar. I forgot about it. In the morning it had half me...

What child is this?

 I want to understand better the man they call Jesus. Do I really know him? Isn't he supposed to be more than just another historical figure? I can tell you what I think I know right now. I will some day soon compare it to who I find when I read the New Testament (King James version).   I know he had a Mom who was a virgin. He had a step-father. He was born in a manger, yet a king. His life was full of conflict, from day 1. His birth was such a great event that the whole Earth rejoiced, and angels sang. Yet when he was little, the king at the time had all the babies killed, trying to kill Jesus. Jesus sure has a story to tell. He was a carpenter. Of all the options to man-kind, and he was a carpenter. Interesting choice. He came to save all of man-kind with his redeeming love, and his own people rejected him. He came to trump Justice with Mercy. He came to show us the way.   Yet with all of his proclaimed and evident power, he let the people crucify him. So that h...

Everything I hate about Costa Rica

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Well, the lack of mirrors with good lighting. But that's my bathroom, not all of Costa Rica. So..... nothing. Except the lack of my favorite people that didn't get to come with me. Ironically, some people I talk to more. Like Ella, and Liz. I think I text Jaden more too. I was going to write about daily life in Samara, but I've been kind of boring lately. Except that I glue gunned 2 small Christmas trees. One looks ok. The other one is more like a Charlie Brown went to Costa Rica tree. But I can say that I tried. So it takes the sting out of my failure at artistic expression. I will post pictures soon, so you can laugh with me. Right now, I'm too pooped to pop. I was busy being extra super nice to my Mom today. Decorating for Christmas and making dinner and all that good stuff.

Self talk

   Positive Affirmations of Suzette I am creating a good life!  (with_____) I am a force to be reckoned with! It's good to be me! Today is a good day! Tomorrow only gets better! Yes, I can turn Bad in to Good! I can deflect the anger of others! I want to help people! People want to help me! I can do this! (whatever 'this' may be) My life is a statement of unlimited possibilities! I trust I will say exactly what needs to be said! I am bigger than my biggest problem! I have a reason to believe! (in _____) I create my own good luck! I make a difference! I am the master of my emotions! I count my blessings! I can find creative solutions! Everything happens for a reason! That reason is to prove God! Prayer changes things! I trust how far I've come! Everybody has their own story to tell! (remember to shut up and listen) No one thinks exactly like I do! (stop assigning meaning to others) I pay attention to details! I choose to be happy! I am ready! ...

Almost 4 months

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  I have been in Samara for almost 4 months now. It feels pretty crazy. 4 months of only dressing up on Sundays. 4 months of almost zero jewelry, except my wedding band. 4 months of no cell phone, no job, no cold weather. In 4 months the only fast food joint we've been to is 3-4 trips to KFC in the big town that is 45 minutes away. 4 months of not really carrying a purse, except on shopping trips, and not even then sometimes. (if you are reading this, and you are a woman, what is in your purse right now? I'm just curious) I don't wear any make up anymore. And it's been 4 months of not earning any money. All the income is from Ron. Since I don't make money any more, I pretty much refuse to spend it. What do I have to spend it on, anyway? 4 months of not driving a car. 4 months of not buying things for my place, because I live in a room at my Mom's place. Sometimes it feels like I'm 17 years old, all over again. But not in a bad way.   I love this place...

Pacifically

  Good evening. How are you? What was the highlight of your day? The highlight for me, was swimming in the Pacific ocean at sunset. Surrounded by salt water, defying gravity with the buoyancy of the H2O. We went in up to our ribs, and just played in the waves. It was a high tide.   The ocean brings so many perspectives. At first I was just happy to feel the water swirl around me. Then there is the shock of the first drop of salty water on the tongue. Ick. How could I forget to remember to keep my mouth shut? Then it's that last wave that gets me wet up to my shoulders. After that I'm good. The water wasn't as warm today as it has been before. But still not bad. The sun went behind a cloud, and the clouds started to turn orange. The tide was still coming in a bit, and the waves were a wonderous kind of noisy. Just crashing all around us. Not that tall, only 4-5 feet maybe.   But the ocean is like life. It's all about timing. And where you are. And how fast you can m...

Suerte. That means Luck.

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  My Mom keeps telling me how lucky I am. All of life is about the timing, isn't it? We were in the big town on a shopping trip, and there was a bike race going one, they had streets shut down. Whatever. But we happened to be on a street, looking in the right direction, and saw what was probably the last leg of the race, with all of the bikes whizzing by. It was a fun reminder of the Tour of Utah in August. We went to see the main area of people, we wanted to see these tall dancing people. Were they on stilts? We never found out. But in the middle of the busy little park in downtown Nicoya there was a gigantic iguana. His body was at least as long from my finger tips to my elbow. He just sat there and munched on grass while we took pictures, without a care in the world. Very rare. I saw a bird the other day, and Mom said I was lucky, she hasn't seen one in 9 years. I said: Really? Because it was in a tree outside your front window, I was watching it while doing the dishes. Lon...

Crocodile dinner

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  No, I didn't eat a crocodile steak for dinner. I actually watched a large croc eat a big dog, with my very own eyes. Crazy.   A friend walks by and says: it's going to be a great sunset, the clouds have cleared up. So we hop on the scooter and go to the next beach over, because you can watch the sun set over the ocean, and the sun was already low on the horizon.   We arrived and it was beautiful and high tide, we've been to this beach 2-3 times before. Every time we go we see people in the water, fishing and swimming. At sunset. We have explored a bit during low tide, going out on the rocks which are on the left, and behind what we saw today.   We were just on the shore, taking pictures of the sun, which is already very pretty, and there is only about 15 minutes before the sun disappears. There are about 10 other people there, and 2 dogs. One of the dogs raced up and down the shore, and the other one swam out in to the water, chasing birds. I took a really ...

Christmas projects

What does Christmas mean to you? What is the best Christmas gift you ever received? What is the best Christmas gift you ever gave to someone? I find these questions hard to answer. Christmas means the people around me have an excuse to be extra nice to each other. It means bright decorations during winter, when the trees are bare, and the snow comes, and the nights are cold and long. Christmas cheer. Christmas lights. Decorating a tree. Wrapping some presents.   As a kid, it used to mean going to Grandma Szpradowski's house, and being able to see all the cousins at once, all of us on good behavior, with presents to be unwrapped. All the grown ups in the family got along back then. A lovely Christmas dinner. New toys! What did you get me? Oh, look how much you must love me! I don't remember believing in Santa.   Then I grew up and had my own kids. I wanted my children to believe in Jesus Christ a lot more than they believed in Santa. I don't remember much about my stan...

a "What If?" moment

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  I was thinking about my grandchildren. Many who haven't even arrived yet. I think of the ones who are teenagers already. My son Reece is still a teenager too. He's an independent adult, but he's 18.   Here is my What If? moment from this morning. What if you decided to believe that everything in This Life is designed to give you more power? And what are you doing with that power?! I have a daily affirmation. Repeat after me: "I am a force to be reckoned with!"   Every single emotion can be channeled into a greater purpose. Everything from pain to boredom. All of it is a driving force towards something. You just need to choose something. Besides feeling sorry for yourself. Choose carefully. Give it some thought. Before someone else's passion swallows you up. And even that is not a waste. But then you tend to wake up one day and wonder how you got where you are. And why.   What if no day in your life has ever been Truly Wasted? Every day is a building bloc...

Healing moment

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  In case you didn't know. I knew. But it can be SO hard to remember, and to follow through at the time it is needed. I was trying to get out of the water with my fins on. It was still a better option than dealing with sharp and odd shaped rocks. It was hard to see, I had an old mask with a broken strap. I could only see above water (the sun was starting to go down) and I had to carry the broken mask and snorkel. So with fins on, I was stumbling. The water was only calf deep. So I slipped once, and kind of crushed and cut my pinky finger. It hurt a lot. And it started to bleed. I used my bandana to put pressure on it. So then I'm trying to walk holding pressure, and the other things. But I'm used to Awkward by now.   But here's my point. If I thought it hurt in the first place, placing pressure on it was even more painful. I knew about putting pressure to stop the bleeding, and I knew that putting pressure on a new bruise was supposed to help. But if it weren't f...

Visual moments

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  I think it's why I write in journals, and why I take a million pictures. Poor Ron, there are so many pictures of him. And so few of me... But I know the rest of the family loves the pictures of him.  I have a strange mind. As far as I can tell, I don't process things like most people, and I don't have the best memory. Like, I wanted to write this second post, and now I forget what inspired me. Oh. The picture on my google profile, with this blog. It doesn't take long for my brain to travel a hundred paths and forget to look back. Pretty sure there is no ADHD involved. I wish I could transfer pictures from my iPad to this blog. I will try to improve my posts with pictures.   I love pictures! I love the moments they capture. The google picture was from when I worked at the Hard Rock Hotel, and we were at a restaurant there. I was on a date with Ron. He had won tickets to a George Michael contest on the radio. How random is that? I think about dating Ron, and I think ab...

One moment, please

   The most ironic part of life is that we can only live it one moment at a time. And that we are so rarely in that moment. We are not thinking of how our heart is beating and our lungs are filling with air. We are not thinking of the bite of hamburger we are chewing on. We are thinking about the past, and about the future. Neither of which we can currently change. To a certain point. (But that's the point of another blog, I think).   I just finished another journal. It's number 36, I believe. On Deccember 20th of last year I was working as a House Manager for Chrysalis. I had the craziest schedule possible, between training new staff (because other staff like to quit, because it's a very demanding and difficult job) and accommodating staff for their holiday leave requests, and staff getting colds/sick. I wrote in my journal:   All I need is a pocket full of miracles. And a hamper full of hope. And a purse crammed with perspective. Trying to predict my fu...