Trimming the dog

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Here she is. You can’t see the choppiness on the sides. LOL

Interrogation Doesn’t Work

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Remember my dd admitting to throwing her shoe away? Turns out my mom’s little trick got her to admit to something she hadn’t done. My dd’s room is frequently a pig sty–payback I’m sure, right Mom? It turns out her missing she was wrapped up in a leotard in her room. So maybe interrogation techniques do elicit false confessions? 😉

The Difficulty of Doing

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I continue to be fascinated by procrastination and in a broader sense by motivation. I am still using AutoFocus to get things done (see www.markforster.net for more information. I notice time and time again that the tasks that get left on my list are those that I don’t know how to do.

My mother loves to remind me that I didn’t want to go to school because I couldn’t read and I didn’t want to take swimming lessons because I couldn’t swim. I could actually do both but I didn’t have the competence I thought would be expected of me.

With my history of fear of failure, incompetence, rejection or whatever it is, I should not be surprised that novel tasks are put off. My most recent new projects were grooming my dog and making beef jerky. Adding to my fear of grooming my dog were my relatives who said to take her to a pro. I was afraid I would hurt her at worst and make her ugly at best.

The jerky making project involved using an electric slicer for the first time. At worst I was afraid of hurting myself. Then I dealt with the fear that I had wasted a lot of money on a slicer and dehydrator and meat for no return.

Despite the fear I attacked both projects. Most likely my fear of spending money on equipment I never used outweighed my fear of messing up. I also used some positive self-talk:

These things take practice. You’ll get better at them.
If it just doesn’t work, you can get help.
You have taught yourself to do many other scary things.
Just doing it is less anxiety provoking than seeing it on your list every day.

The end of the story is the dog is groomed. I did hurt her once, but she has forgiven me. She looks much better. Does she look professional? No. The great thing is it was much easier than I imagined; I learned something new. I saved money.

I also made fabulous beef jerky with no additives. It was so much easier and faster than I thought it would be. I didn’t get cut. The pieces are too small but otherwise I am thrilled.

What are you procrastinating doing because you don’t know how? Talk to yourself like a coach would and just do it! You will be so glad you did.

Looking for a Transformation?

If you are inspired by stories of changed lives, look no further than Transformation.com. Bill Phillips's new website has photos and videos of dramatic transformations. If you need a little push to get in shape, put your life back together after tough times, or help breaking free of addiction, you may find it here. What you won't find, however, is consistent Christian teaching. Although some of the people profiled are clearly Christians, many are not. As a warning, the discussion on the forum is quite New Age. My Bible-based opinion is that true transformation is not possible by searching within or focusing on some "light," but only by the power of God working in and through you.  

Margaritaville

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We didn't go to Gulf Shores this year with our homeschool friends. Last year when we did I made my homemade margaritas that my girlfriend is crazy about. Today the weather was gorgeous and we had an impromptu pool party, but my friend's husband couldn't join us. I had the naughty idea of sending this photo to him at work, showing him what his wife was up to! Of course I said "wish you were here."

Not to be outdone, Mr. G doctored up the photo to include himself bottom right. LOL What a fantastic day it was even though our pal couldn't join in the fun.

Here's the recipe for Mel's Margaritas (though it really isn't my recipe; I got it from an SCD email years ago):

Serving Size: 2

Juice from 3 limes (I've used bottled juice and it tastes awful; use fresh!)
2 ounces orange juice
2 ounces tequila
4 T honey
2 cups ice

Blend using the grind setting on your blender for a frozen margarita. I always use a leftover lime rind to juice the rim of the glasses. Then dip in sea salt. Enjoy!

Daughters, Deceit, and De Feet

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Last week I wasn't very happy with my daughter. We were getting ready for P.E. and couldn't locate one of her shoes. Now who removes one shoe and leaves it in one room and leaves the other somewhere else? I asked her if she recalled hopping around. No.

Despite promising a $3 reward out of her allowance for the brother who found it, we couldn't locate the missing shoe. We were late for P.E. and little Miss wasn't able to participate since she was wearing dress shoes.

I was sure the shoe would turn up, but to date, it hasn't. Today I took my dd to the store to buy new tennis shoes, which I explained would be paid for out of her allowance. Notice the gold dress shoes she is wearing! On the way into the store today, I was reflecting on my mom's post describing how she managed to get the truth out of my brother oh so many years ago. I decided it couldn't hurt to use her tactic. After all, I remembered something that set off alarm bells in my head. Not so long ago, Miss E asked if she could have new tennis shoes with princesses on them. I said that her Dora shoes were perfectly good and she wouldn't be getting new ones until those wore out.

All of this prompted me to ask, "Which garbage can did you throw your old shoe into?" She mumbled, "The kitchen one." I said, "You were hoping to get new shoes, right?" She answered, "Uh-huh." Lovely. Lots of people are impressed that I manage six children. Folks ought to be impressed, instead, that I can survive this ONE. I think I need a margarita.