Blog Express, Zen & Millionaire Mommies

August 25, 2008

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If you expressed your interest in joining the Blog Express - don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m sending emails out this week.

Today, I discovered a new blog: The Millionaire Mommy Next Door. Her posts are interesting and insightful. But some of her commenters are the types you’d cross the street to avoid - in fact, you’d take your chances, even if a double decker bus was coming towards you.

The blogger is a woman who has patiently worked towards her goal of achieving financial freedom, to enable her to adopt a child and stay at home to care for her. And she’s generous enough to share her knowledge & wisdom with others. But some people are never satisfied.

In the article - “Is Your But Too Big?” the author showed a huge list of excuses folk make, beginning with the word “but” - each one accompanied by an hilarious picture. She then went on to explain the benefits of thinking positively.

And here’s a response she got: Is there any evidence (scientific or anecdotal) that thinking good thoughts DOES improve your life? That thinking positively, in and of itself, can really change anything?

Clearly, I’m a cynic, but I’m one who could benefit - IF IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT. And, for me, it *would* take effort to focus my thoughts on the positive.

Point me in the direction, if you know of some.

Hey Anonymous. The author has clearly put a lot of effort into the post. Why don’t you get off your lazy negative “but” and find us one person who has become successful through thinking negatively?

Something drew me back to Zen Habits today. I guess I must be telepathic. If you read this earlier post: Why I Don’t Like Zen Habits, you’ll know I was sick and tired of feeling feckless, in comparison to those productivity bloggers. But today, Leo made an extraordinary confession - he isn’t perfect at all. In fact he said,

“I’ll be the first to admit it. I take naps. I sometimes take a day or two off and feel unmotivated. I will let tasks pile up. Not all the time, not even most of the time, but sometimes.”

Isn’t that great? Now, I won’t feel nearly as bad when I’m reading his advice on how to get myself amazingly organised, knowing that I’ve probably got more chance of flying to Mars in a modified bathtub.

I found the Millionnaire Mommies blog through Annie Anderson. Have you discovered any interesting websites or blogs lately? Please share in the comments section.

Posted by cathlawson | Filed Under Misc | 19 Comments

Rita - You’ll Make A Lot Of People Rich

August 23, 2008

Rita - You’ll make a lot of people rich - with your father’s amazing blackjack tips.

Vered - You made me cringe when you showed me these photos - who would make fashion mistakes like that?

Al - You made me hope - that people would read this and stop treating strangers so bad.

Kelly - You made me realise that what we see in the world, is often a reflection of ourselves.

Urban Panther - You’ll make a lot of people think, before they start fiddling about with their bits.

Brad - You made me hungry ‘nough to eat a saddle blanket.

Barbara S - you made me realise that more candy was needed on my blog.

Barbara L - you’ll make a lot of people aware of the marketing tricks that Internet scammers use.

Friar - you made me laugh at how aliens probably see the olympics.

And Lillie - you tagged me to do this silly name meme:

1. Your real name: Cath

2. Your Gangsta name:(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle) Catizzle

3. Your Detective name:(fave color and fave animal) Blue Giraffe.

4. Your Soap Opera name:(your middle name and street you live on) Ann Stoneymount

5. Your Star Wars name:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name) Lawca

6. Your Superhero name:(your 2ND favorite color, and favorite drink) Green Wine

7. Your Iraqi name:(2ND letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, 1st letter of your middle name, 2ND letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, and last letter of your moms middle name) Awalyse

8. Your Witness Protection name:(parents middle names) Jane Raymond

9. Your Goth name:(black, and the name of one of your pets) Black Misty (I don’t have a pet so used an old one)

I’m tagging anyone who’d like to play along.

Posted by cathlawson | Filed Under Misc | 25 Comments

Swimming Naked, Biscuits and Sex On A Plane

August 18, 2008

I don’t often participate in meme’s, but I loved reading these ones so much that I felt like I had to give something back: Who Is The Panther Anyway? Sucked Into The Lion’s Lair and Kelly Comes Clean With A Weekend Meme.

This is a little bit about me - Cath Lawson

I am: Honest, outspoken, loyal, creative and passionate. And bad tempered when I have PMT.

I think: About things in depth. And that if I age too quickly, I can always photoshop myself.

I know: Far less than I would like to know. And that I will never grow old gracefully.

I have: A burning desire to emigrate. And too many handbags.

I wish: I’d spent less time working when my children were younger. And that Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups were healthy.

I hate: Lies, gossip, disloyalty, chauvinism, racism, cruelty, exploitation, abuse of power, and jealousy. And also supermarkets and mosquitoes.

I miss: My grandparents. Summer - the UK doesn’t get it anymore. And Sex and the City.

I fear: Wasting too much of my life. And that I’ll never find the biscuits.

I hear: Nothing when I’m concentrating deeply, or submerging my head under the bathwater to blow bubbles.

I smell: The sea and pina colada. Also coffee (hopefully my husband will take the hint)

I crave: Understanding, knowledge and something good to eat (I skipped breakfast and lunch).

I search: For ideas, meaning and simplicity. And for where the biscuits are hidden.

I wonder: Why there is so much evil in the world. And if the real evil is ignoring the atrocities that go on around us. Also, whether I’ll need to resort to botox in the next couple of years.

I regret: Not following my passions and instincts earlier in life. And not hiding the biscuits myself.

I love: My husband (even though he hides the biscuits) and children (even though they eat all the biscuits), the amazing people around me who inspire me, travel and swimming naked.

I ache: For a world without cruelty. And when I’ve done the Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD.

I am not: A liar, or a gossip. Or organised and tidy.

I believe: Most people have the potential to improve the world, through small random acts of kindness. And that Oprah should be President of the United States.

I dance: Round the room on a whim - my kids think I’m nuts.

I sing: Disney songs when I’m happy. And when I’m on rollercoasters.

I cry: Constantly when I’m hugely upset, little when I’m not and easily, when I read or see something moving.

I fight: For justice and truth. And also to try and get a biscuit before they’ve all gone.

I win: When I really want something. But rarely, when it comes to finding the biscuits.

I lose: Patience with gossips and backstabbers. And at golf because I suck.

I never: Forget how lucky I am. Or joined the Mile High Club - yet.

I always: Try to find the good in people. And worry too much over things that may never happen.

I confuse: Myself often. And also the words soul and sole.

I listen: With patience to people’s stories. And also for signs that someone’s about to put the kettle on.

I can: Do anything I put my mind to. And still wrap my leg round my neck.

I am scared: Of becoming isolated, spiders, snakes and men with beards.

I need: To communicate with people. To follow my dreams. Cuddles.

I am happy: With people I love. In the sunshine. In the bath. And when I find the biscuits.

I imagine: That anything is possible. And what it would be like to be a mermaid for the day.

I tag: Anyone who would like to join in and share a bit about yourself - on your own blog, or in the comments section.

Posted by cathlawson | Filed Under Misc | 35 Comments

Don’t Be Like The Women On The Titanic

August 14, 2008

“If I wrote a book (ha ha), I know what picture I would put on the front cover. I have this fridge magnet - you bought it for me, Lisa, long time ago. I can’t remember exactly what it says and I can’t be bothered to go downstairs and see, but it’s this black and white photo of some Edwardian-type women sitting at a table, and it says something about the ladies on the Titanic, who waved away the dessert cart. Makes me laugh every time I remember to notice it. I’d call my book something like Life’s Short: Eat Pudding First. Could be a Christmas best seller that could.

You can’t just do that when you get ill, girls. (Maternal lesson alert!) You have to do it all the time. Do it always. Life is short. Even if you don’t get cancer, even if you die an old lady in your bed. It’s still a blink and you miss it, ever increasing speed, white-knuckle ride.” an extract from the novel - Things I Want My Daughters To Know by Elizabeth Noble.

Wasn’t that a powerful extract? We all mean to live every second of our lives as though it could be the last. But life often gets in the way and it’s easy to forget that the present is a gift to be enjoyed.

The novel was given to me by my two wonderful children, Jessica and Joshua. It’s centred around the lives of four daughters who have lost their mother to cancer and the letters and journal she left them when she died.

And it made me realise that aside from letting my children know how much I love them - there’s other things I want them to know too, so they don’t make the mistakes I made. For a start - I want them to know they always have choices. And it’s not worth wasting your life in a bad marriage, or a job you hate, or any other undesirable situation. There’s always a way out - no matter how bad things seem.

Also, they should grab every single piece of happiness they can - don’t be like the women on the Titanic who waved the dessert trolley away.

What words of wisdom would you leave in a letter to your children?