Friendships

Well it is almost Christmas, so Merry Christmas everyone.  And may we all have a blessed, healthy 2011. 

Friendships were on my mind today.  I had a few people on facebook that I deleted because I got to thinking were they really a friend ?  To be a friend in my eyes is to say a kind word every now and then, give a boost of confidence when we are feeling not the best about ourselves, give a hug when needed, cry when they cry, laugh when they laugh.

When you talk about me behind my back, laugh in my face at something I said that you thought was stupid, when you lie to me, when you lie about me, when you damage my character with vile words...that's not really what I would call a "friend."  A friend should not be classified by how you dress, money in your wallet, and how many cars, what type of car, what type of house you have.

I have been blessed to have some very dear friends in my life....no we don't need to call each other every day or several times a day to see what they are doing that very minute.  We get together every now and then when time and schedules permit, we call each other just to say hi when we are thinking of them just to make sure they are healthy and happy.  We have been thru wonderful times together, and some rough patches.  My dear friends don't judge every word that comes out of my mouth...we have belly laughs when we do catch ourselves saying something completely off the wall that may have not come out right.

I have been in Arizona now for 2 months.  I have met the most amazing people.  Two ladies in particular, I have known for this short amount of time, but it seems like we have known each other for decades..maybe because we have been thru the same shit over the years?  That I do know is what will make a friendship last, if you can weather the stormy times.

My yoga classes are going amazingly well, which many people scoffed at me when I told them my new direction in life.  Well guess what? I get "sitting" ovations from my students at every session.  They appreciate me and I so very appreciate them.  More people need to learn the philosophy that yoga holds.  Which I will enlighten you with a few of the yoga sutras:

1) non harming
2) do not steal
3) do not lie
4) treat others as you would want to be treated
5) no judgement

these are just a few..........hmmmmm kinda sounds like the 10 Commandments and the Golden Rules to me.

Anyway when I started yoga, I always knew it was a "safe" place to go because everyone there had to be in the same frame of mind.  Treating each other with kindness and respect.

I know I have been guilty of saying some unpleasantries about some people...but damn it ,their actions to me where just getting plan flat old...and I was not proud of my thoughts or actions.

I read somewhere when there is a person making your life miserable, thank them.  So when I was able to leave my last job, I thanked a few of those women in my heart.  Because if they hadn't made my life so miserable I would probably not have made this giant leap in life.

One of my yoga students had to go back home due to health reasons.  A 75 year old man who took his yoga classes seriously 1 man amoung many women .  He didn't show up to the last 2 classes and I started worrying about him, so the day I was going to check up on him, "because that's what friends do", he came at the very end of class "out of respect" to tell me he had to go back home, with tears in both of our eyes we gave each other an endearing hug, because in 6 short weeks I had made a very dear friend with Archie from Canada.  When he told me how he lost a son, we cried together.  When he wouldn't do some of the poses we laughed together.

Christmas is a time when we should think about our friends and what they mean to us....and keep those thoughts throughout the following year.

A friend is someone you hold dear in your heart.

At the end of every yoga class, we put our hands to our hearts and bow to each other and say Namaste.

Namaste:  The divine in me, honors and blesses the divine in you.

I hope this finds you all healthy and happy.  Namaste.

Kim ....

November

We have been in Arizona for over a month now..and a busy month it has been.  I started teaching yoga at the RV Resorts 2 weeks ago.  It has been interesting and fun..a new way of life.  My poor body doesn't know what to do with all of the exercise it has been getting lately.  Daily walks,bicycle rides, yoga...what I realized today was that I won't be going into hibernation mode, which happens when you live in the Midwest in the winter.  We have been having beautiful weather here, the mid 70's, still having to wear shorts/tank tops during the day.  But back to the hibernation mode, I think a person needs that to slow down and regroup. I will be in that constant run mode for 12 consecutive months..

I missed a great fall this year back home.  Everyone said it was beautiful, next year I will wait till November to come down, did not like missing my favorite season.

Everyday am grateful though that I do not have to battle this years winter.  I came walking out of a restaurant Friday evening, the air was a mixture of cool and warm,  as I looked off down the street to the swaying palm trees I had a moment of gratitude.

Sunsets

Sunsets and hummingbirds........

Arizona

Finally arrived last Sunday, I don't know what the date would have been...it was a very long drive down here.  With all of the moving of Jade and us, still trying to work and trying to get everything done just plain wore this person out..I have to keep reminding myself I am not 20 anymore..54 going on 55 soon..things take a little longer, and I need more NAPS !  I still am not 100% having my balance issues again, they flare up when I overdo..going to a cranial therapist tomorrow in Tucson.

I do have some pretty pics of where we are staying. Hope they decide to come thru tonight.

I have 3 Yoga jobs lined up.  I went to visit all of them last week...and the woman that owns this RV Resort and Inn wants me to help her out as well.

Dave doesn't like me at home...but too bad.  I have been working since I was 17.  I think I can take a friggin' month off.

We have hummingbirds all over the place down here.  The sunsets are amazing..it still is a little warm. I know I will feel better when it cools off.  It was over 100 all last week.  Still in the 80's this week.

This was a dust storm that blew in last Friday.

Okay will have to try the hummingbirds and sunset on a different post.

Finally the pics from New Mexico..

There are more.will get them on here sometime this week, but am just plain tuckered out tonight...we finally got to Arizona today. Sunday October 10th.  I am not use to driving long distances..got out of the habit.  Living in a small town out in the middle of no where, having to drive 50 just to do anything and running a custom harvest crew across the United States for 15 years...you think drving would not bother me..I think I'm just plain burnt out on it.

NEW MEXICO

We stayed in Santa Rosa, New Mexico the past 3 night..tonight we are in Deming,New Mexico.  I do believe I like it better down here..the drive today was so pretty.  God's little paint brush was magical..mountain ranges, grasslands, white sand dunes..I had it all today.

Tomorrow if all goes well we will be at our destination.  Florence, AZ

I have some great pics of New Mexico..will put a few on tonight..then more later on.

I am tired didn't sleep well last night at all...I get all keyed up thinking about the drives.

The pics of the blue water is called the "Blue Hole" in Santa Rosa, it is 81 feet deep, 61 degrees, of fresh spring water...it produces 3000 gal per minute...people practice deep sea diving here.

The computer won't let me download the pics tonight..so will have to wait and post them another day.

Good night......

Spring Lake RV Resort in Kansas

So these are pictures of our first stop. And our RV, my home for the next few years?  Don't know, for sure will be in it for 6 months...and for a few months this summer...then back to Arizona..Someday I will show pics of the inside.

But Spring Lake is a lovely place to camp, they have fishing in the ponds, on the weekends they have concerts,church and meals.  They have cabins and trailers they rent out as well.  I feel more rested today, took 2 walks and some yoga..so we are hitting the pavement again tomorrow..heading to Dalhart, Texas.

AGE

I am feeling my age today..I use to be able to go go go..ha. the joke is on me now. NO more.
The last 3 weeks have been moving Jade, moving us, trying to remember everything that needs to be done.  Working at a job that I should have left 1 year ago...our first day of driving (I have 1300 miles to go) last night I was wore to the bone, and when I woke up am still feeling that way...and I wanted to spend the day with the grandkids...

Am hoping after a little nap..my energy may come back...am so mentally drained right now.

I have to put these types of posts in, I didn't say they would all be pretty and sweet.

Plus I have the worry of doing something different with work...

Ai yi yi.....Lord give me strength to carry me on....because I need your guiding hand right now.

Hope everyone else is doing great...

Flying South

I noticed the geese are starting to fly south...and so am I ...tomorrow we leave for Arizona.  I made one more major decision.  I was going to get my dental hygiene license for Arizona, but decided last night not to.  This is to be a life change. Why would I want to go do something that made my life miserable....it is a very hard profession to say the least.  I have a list, but won't bore you with details.

As I am running around trying to get everything in order to leave..I have sticky notes everywhere!  Needless to say, as I am trying to find mousse for my hair (Kim they sell it in Arizona) a lady pulls a sticky note off of my butt...I explained to her what was going on.  I just left,good grief, go home and relax a minute...

Tomorrow we hit the road, hopefully will post pictures along the way. New Mexico is breath taking..

I got to see the trees turning here..so that was a good thing today..reds,browns,golds,greens all around..a nice farewell from the Midwest.

Blessings to all,
Kim

Naming a person

My parents named me Kimberly, Kim for short.  They were thinking of naming me Grace.  Well I married David Pace, that would have made me Grace Pace..whew glad they didn't go that route.

I grew up on a farm, 1 1/2 miles from a German immigrant town of about 900 people.  Everyone was very friendly and close.  To make a long story short.  One of my parents friends, Betty Holle would always come up to me and pat me on my head and say "Hi, Kimmy".  To this day, patients, massage therapists, friends, relatives all call me Kimmy.

As I was walking out of the foot doctor last night, he said " see ya later Kimmy", as I kept walking out the door, I thought I am friggin 54 years old and am still being called this.

My parents should have named me Kimmy.

Breathe

I have to remind myself in the midst of chaos, to breathe.

Having some type of mantra when times are troubling or in upheaval.

Last night as I was tossing and turning in bed, I was thinking of my favorite mantras.

Om, Amen, Peace

Repeat as necessary.

I do believe this picture says it all.

Name of child unknown.  He was attending a Yoga conference.

Moving

Well....moved another load over to the trailer today...it's the kitchen that I am running out of room in..but it will work..just need to re-arrange. 

We are leaving in 2 weeks. Yikes the countdown begins.

I have my jobs all lined up, will be teaching Yoga at 3 different RV resorts..possibly 2 more..will know more when I get there.  Now lets just say a prayer that my body will allow me to do this..my shoulder,neck and back have been giving me fits this past week.  If I could only quit hygiene today..I only have 5 1/2 days left of being hunched over peoples mouths.  Mercy I never thought this career would turn into 16 years.  The one thing I will miss are "some" of the people I have met over the years.

Not much else going on. Next weekend will be busy. Moving my daughter, and us.

The next entries will probably be when I'm on the road!!

It was chilly here today, thankful I am heading somewhere warm.

Have had it !!!

Is everyone else having trouble logging in to this thing, or is it only me?

Anyway, my body will be so happy when I no longer have to poison it with Tylenol and Motrin just to get thru the day.

Being a dental hygienist has taken a huge toll on the body. I have totally blown out the lower back, right neck and shoulder. I should have retired last year.

Just checking in today, it's been an odd day at work.  I only have 7 1/2 more days of this blankety blank blank....see I'm trying.

Thought I would take my mind off of the pain by logging in and saying a few words.  Okay, next patient is here. Better get busy.

Hope everyone is having a good day today.  It's really nice out here, about 82 degrees & sunny, had bad storms and tornadoes last night.. odd for September.

Why the new adventure?

Guess I never really explained why I was going on an adventure.  I have been a dental hygienist the past 16 years, the burn out rate is at 7 years...so I am past due..and with dentists having the highest suicide rate...hey, I was taking any chances.

Last winter was a miserable one, the sun did not come out for 2+ months, and we had over 60 inches of snow.  I am a person that needs her sun ! I don't mind the cold so much, but mercy sakes give me the sun. 

I also had a terrible bout of insomnia last year.  All in all it was miserable for my pyche.

My husband has been retired for the past 4 years, and me being such a nice little wife, I didn't care that he went to Arizona for the winters.  He is originally from there, so it was good for him to be with family and dear old friends.

Well after the miserable winter of 2009-2010, I was seriously considering going to Arizona for the 2010-2011 winter. And I was starting to CARE big time about him leaving and me staying.

What really put the lid on the pot, was some issues at work. I won't go into details yet, they may come flowing out of my mouth at a later date.  So I believe it was 6 months ago that I made the FINAL decision to get out of Dodge, or should I say Council Bluffs.

A good friend has a blog, and she informed me that you can turn these blogs into books. I did not realize this.....I had started writing a book off and on the past few years.  So I may incorporate alot of my past into the present and future so that I will get it all into 1 book.
The reason for the book, I have had so many people tell me, "Kim, you really need to write a book about your life."   Being, my life has been or is by no means a normal, red white and blue life.  So if any of the words I print offend anyone, I certainly don't mean them to be offensive...it will just be actual facts.  Plus I have one heck of a time cursing, trying to be a little better about it.

So on October 2, 2010 I will be living in a 5th Wheel RV, in a snowbird community out in the middle of the Arizona desert.  With my husband Dave and my dear little kitty cat Max. Guess I should say dear little husband too.  So he doesn't think I like the cat more.

Okay........well another day. I really need to practice some yoga now..

A Picture

Well I posted a picture of me ! But then I didn't know how to go back and see what it looked like on the page.

Day by day is my motto.........

K.

Saturday September 11, 2010

Well, 2 friends suggested I start a blog about my new life I am starting on October 1,2010.  Today was a new adventure, trying to figure out how to make the blog page...I have no clue what I am doing, just winging it.  It will be a feat if I can post a picture on here. 

Today Dave and I packed more into the trailer.  Going from 1300 sq ft to about 210 sq ft is my challenge.  So far I'm doin' pretty good with it. I think there will be room for the shoes.

I finally have 2 jobs lined up in Arizona.  I will be teaching Yoga to the snowbirds. Wish me luck, a little stressed on holding classes.  I haven't had much time to devote to the practice lately..so that is where the fear comes in. 

Okay, I managed to figure out how to type the first post. So we shall see how the pics go.  Courtney how on earth do you type a little then post a pic, then type some more, post a pic ?  I see nothing on here where I can post pictures.

Good night all.  Kim