BENEFITS OF CUCUMBERS

http://www.workoutbox.net/?p=533

1. Fat busting: Do you ever wonder why women put cucumbers on their eyes to relieve puffiness? The photochemical in cucumbers makes the collagen in your skin tighten, thus the lack of puffiness. Did you know that you can rub a cucumber on a problematic spot of cellulite anywhere on your body to lessen the visibility of it? Did you also know that it has the same effect on wrinkles? Wow, it makes purchasing those fifty dollar creams seem a little silly, doesn’t it? You can also rub a little bit under your kiddo’s eyes after a long bout of crying to avoid that puffy ‘I cried for an hour straight’ look.

2. Defogger: Do you get annoyed when you get out of the shower and you have to fight the fog on the mirror? Who has time for that when the kids will be awake at any moment? Try rubbing a slice of cucumber on the mirror before you hop in and not only will you get a fog-free mirror, but you’ll have a nice smell that will boost your mood.

3. Headaches: If you suffer from headaches from chasing your babies all day (or pets or your husband), or had a little too much wine with dinner and want to avoid a hangover, eat half of a cucumber before bed. Cucumbers are high in B vitamins, sugar, and electrolytes, and they replenish the nutrients missing in your body to help you avoid a hang over or to beat that headache that’s been threatening to take over.

4. WD-40 replacement: Did you know you can get rid of a squeak by rubbing a cucumber on the hinge? Wow, now you don’t have to tear your garage apart looking for that little can with the red straw, and the baby won’t wake up when you slowly open the nursery door to check on him.

5. Crayon on the walls: Take an unpeeled cucumber and rub the crayon off of the walls in the event that your kiddo left you some art. You can also use this technique to erase a pen mistake.

6. Halitosis killer: Take a slice of cucumber and put it on the roof of your mouth. Hold it there with your tongue for 30 seconds. The photochemical that you love for cellulite and puff reduction will also kill the bacteria that is causing your bad breath.

7. Tarnish remover: If you’re finding tarnish on your stainless steel kitchen faucets and appliances? Rub it off with a cucumber slice. Not only will it remove years of tarnish, it will leave it streak free and your hands will thank you, and your kids won’t be put at risk from a dangerous chemical.

8. Energy booster: If you’re feeling tired in the afternoon, don’t give Starbucks your five bucks. Instead, grab a cucumber. There are just enough carbohydrates and B vitamins to give you a longer-lasting and healthier boost of energy than soda, coffee, or those health hazard energy drinks.

9. Munchy madness: Did you know that European trappers ate cucumbers for energy and to keep from starving to death? If those big burly manly men can eat a cucumber to keep from starving, you can eat one as a healthy choice when the munchies hit. Slice some up and take them in a small plastic container to the movies if your theater doesn’t offer healthy alternatives to munching on butter soaked popcorn.

10. Frugal facial: Slice up a cucumber and boil it in a pot of water. The chemicals inside of the cucumber will mix with the steam. Remove the pot from heat and lean over it, letting the steam hit you. Your skin will be more radiant and healthy, and you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

11. Shoe polish: Cut a slice off of your cucumber and rub it on your shoe. It will not only shine it up, but it will repel water.

12. Pest control: Put three or four slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and place them in your garden. The chemicals in the cucumber have a reaction that pests hate. You won’t smell it, but it will drive them from your garden all year long. Replace them periodically.

13. Sunburn: Sometimes sun block doesn’t always protect your little ones from sunburn. If you have burnt little kiddos you don’t have any aloe, rub some cucumber on them. Many doctors even use cucumber to treat patients with irritated skin and sunburns.

14. Blood pressure: Cucumber has been long used to treat high blood pressure. If you have it, add cucumbers to your daily diet. There is also ongoing research into the use of cucumbers for lowering cholesterol.

15. Constipation remedy: The seeds of a cucumber are a diuretic. If you’re constipated, try eating a cucumber. If you suffer from chronic constipation, add cucumber to your daily diet.

10 things autism parents want you to know

http://m.blogher.com/10-things-autism-parents-want-you-know

35 costly job search mistakes

http://www.krem.com/story/life/2015/01/18/35-costly-job-search-mistakes-you-might-still-be-making/21958383/

ON A RESUME

1. INCLUDING 5 PAGES (OR EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT FROM THE PAST 5 YEARS)

We've talked about the great multi-page versus one-page resume debate before, but it's worth repeating: It's not important to include that you worked as a dog walker for three months of college and every single thing from that point until now.

Think of it this way: Hiring managers just want the highlights; they want to know what's compelling about you as quickly as possible (especially if they're reading hundreds of resumes). If you really want to go into more detail, save it for the interview.

2. INCLUDING AN OBJECTIVE STATEMENT

The outdated advice to include an objective statement on your resume just won't die out there on the interwebs, which is probably why people still include them. But truthfully, objective statements just eat up space on your resume that could be spent telling an employer how stellar you are. The only time one of these sentences is necessary is if you're making a gigantic career change and your experiences don't line up entirely with the position.

Still want to write some sort of introductory line on your resume? Try out the summary statement. Some people swear by it.

3. INCLUDING BLATANT TYPOS

Yes, we know you've heard it again and again and again. But given that a 2013 CareerBuilder survey found that 58% of resumes have typos, we're going to say it just one more time.

How can you stop falling prey to resume typos? Have someone else read your resume—often, other people can more easily spot errors because they haven't been staring at the page for hours.

If that's really not possible, use Muse editor-in-chief Adrian Granzella Larssen'stips for proofreading your own resume: "It's helpful to temporarily change the font, or to read your resume from the bottom up—your eyes get used to reading a page one way and can often catch new errors when you mix the format up."

4. LYING

Another pretty obvious one, but believe us—it still happens. (Most recently? A candidate listed a certain skill on her resume, then when we asked her about her experience in it, she looked at us blankly and admitted it was simply "something she wanted to learn more about.")

Remember what your mama told you: Honesty is always the best policy. If you feel like there's part of your background that's not quite up to snuff, your best bet is creative—but truthful—positioning. Career expert Kari Reston shares smart strategies to applying for a job you're underqualified for, and Jenny Foss of JobJenny.com shares tips for crafting your education sectionwhen you don't think your degree (or lack thereof) will impress.

5. NOT TAILORING YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB

Once your resume makes it in front of the eyes of a hiring manager, you want it to scream, "I'm perfect for this job!" Right? Well, practically speaking, this means you can't submit the same resume and cover letter for every job you apply to. Since each position will list different requirements, each application you submit should highlight your past experience andaccomplishments specific to that particular job.

So, take a look at the job description and the company's website and do some general industry research, then use career expert Lily Zhang's tips for tailoring your resume accordingly.

6. INCLUDING RANDOM, UNRELATED, OR OFF-PUTTING HOBBIES

Unfortunately, hiring managers usually don't care if you love basketball, are active in your book club, or are a member of a Dungeons and Dragons group, but we still see this stuff on resumes anyway. Eliminate anything that's not totally transferable to work-related skills (or a really, really epic conversation starter).

Not sure if an activity or hobby is a good fit? Zhang spells out three times when personal accomplishments or hobbies can add something to your resume.

7. USING BUZZWORDS THAT MAKE NO SENSE

Saying that you're a master of something like "back-end hyperconverged content conversion gamification" doesn't actually impress anyone—in fact, it doesn't really tell anyone anything. Be simple and straightforward, and make sure that the layperson—a.k.a. the HR person who's probably reading the first round of resumes—can understand what you're saying.

8. PUTTING THE WRONG CONTACT INFORMATION

If employers and hiring managers can't reach you, they can't give you the job. (And yes, we're just as sad as you are when we email an address listed on a resume and get a bounceback.) Did you make the last digit of your phone number a "5" instead of a "6?" Did you forget your middle initial in your email address? You want to double check everything on your resume—but quadruple check this stuff.

IN A COVER LETTER

9. NOT INCLUDING ONE

Even if it's not technically "required," many hiring managers will disqualify you immediately for not sending one. Enough said.

10. NOT FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

When reading a job description, make sure you check to see if the employer put any special instructions or requests in. Some hiring managers may ask for you to explain certain types of experiences or even answer specific questions in your cover letter. They also might ask you to address it to a particular person.

The bottom line: These instructions aren't optional (and it really ticks people off when you don't follow them). Pay attention.

11. PUTTING THE WRONG COMPANY NAME ON A COVER LETTER

File this under more things to quadruple-check before sending out a job application. Seriously, it's so avoidable if you just take one extra glance!

We also recommend labeling all of your documents appropriately so you can tell things apart (naming a doc "The Muse Jan 2015 Cover Letter" is better than just "Cover Letter," so you don't end up sending the wrong thing by accident).

12. USING THE SAME COVER LETTER FOR EVERY COMPANY YOU APPLY TO

Like tailoring a resume for every company, writing a different cover letter for every company is just as crucial. Not only will doing so keep you from making embarrassing mistakes (like talking about the wrong company in your letter), but it will also help you focus on that specific job listing and company and what you'd bring to the gig.

Need a little cover letter inspiration? We've got 31 kick-ass examples to get you thinking.

13. TELLING YOUR LIFE STORY

While telling stories in your cover letter can be a great way to show your passion for the position, you never want to leave a hiring manager wondering, "So, what's the point?" In other words, don't ramble. For one thing, it'd definitely go over the general one-page limit for most cover letters, and for another thing, there's a lot of stuff people (more specifically, hiring managers) just don't need to know about you.

If there's something that must be added in to give context to your application,keep it short and leave out emotions. For example, if you're applying to jobs in New York despite currently being based on the West Coast, there's no need to tell a hiring manager that you're doing it to move away from your crazy ex.

14. REGURGITATING YOUR RESUME

If your cover letter is basically your resume in paragraph form, you're probably going to need to start over. Your resume is likely the first thing a recruiter looks at, so you're wasting your time (and the recruiter's) if your cover letter is a harder-to-read version of something he or she has already seen.

If you find the idea of addressing some person of higher authority to be intimidating, take Alexandra Franzen's advice and write your cover letter as if these people already know you and respect you.

15. SENDING ONE GIANT BLOCK OF TEXT

Not only are giant blocks of text just hard to look at, but they're also hard to absorb. A hiring manager might pass you over for a job solely because his or her eyes are crossing looking at your cover letter's wall of text.

Think of your cover letter like a book. Chapters in books are separated from one another, and the paragraphs of a cover letter should be, too. Doing so allows you to move through several different points without the transitions being too awkward.

16. STARTING WITH YOUR NAME

"My name is John Smith and I'm applying…" Unless you're already famous, your name just isn't the most relevant piece of information to start with. Not to mention that your name should be listed on your resume, the sign-off in your cover letter, and in other parts of your application.

Instead, start your letter with a relevant qualification as a way to introduce yourself. (Here's a bit more about kicking off your cover letter with an awesome opener.)

17. BEING TOO SALESY OR AGGRESSIVE

If you've ever ended a cover letter with, "I will call you next week to arrange a date and time when I can come in for an interview," you're probably being a bit too aggressive.

You do want to be confident, of course, but a salesy tone can overshadow your solid qualifications and make you seem pompous (probably not what you're going for). If you want to express your interest, stick with a safer, less salesy line, like, "I'd love a chance to speak with you further about the position."

18. NOT MAKING IT CLEAR WHY YOU WANT THE POSITION

In the midst of going into detail about your qualifications and explaining any special circumstances that a hiring manager may need to know about, you might have forgotten the most important part of the cover letter: saying why you want the job in the first place.

As you read through a cover letter, read each sentence and see if it answers a very simple question: "Why?"

IN AN INTERVIEW

19. NOT GETTING BACK TO THE HIRING MANAGER IN A TIMELY MATTER

We heard this complaint from a hiring manager recently, and we were shocked that not everyone responds to interview requests as fast as they possibly can! Even if you're busy, you should always, always respond within one business day. Any longer, and the hiring manager is likely going to question both your interest in the position and your general email manners.

20. SHOWING UP LATE

There's really no excuse for being late to an interview. Even if there was an accident on the freeway. Even if you got lost. Being punctual is just the respectful, professional thing to do. Plan to arrive to the office a half hour early, so even if you hit a traffic or subway snafu, you'll still be safe. That said, find a place to wait until 5-10 minutes before your interview so you don't make the mistake of…

21. SHOWING UP WAY TOO EARLY

By showing up early (20, 30—we've even seen 40—minutes in advance), you're putting immediate pressure on the interviewer to drop whatever she may be wrapping up and deal with you. Or, she's going to start the interview feeling guilty because she knows she just left you sitting in the lobby for 20 minutes.

Worse, you might run into the guy who interviewed right before you, and that's bound to throw you off your interview game.

22. HAVING A TERRIBLE HANDSHAKE

While average handshakes usually don't stick in our memories, bad handshakes, sadly, do. And, the last thing you want after leaving a job interview is to be remembered as the one with limp noodles as fingers or bone-crushing lobster claws as hands. Here's a quick lesson to make sure you get it right every time.

23. NOT DOING YOUR RESEARCH

Yes, you'll learn a lot about a company and role during the job interview, but it shouldn't be the first time you're learning everything. With the entire internet at your fingertips, you'll look like you couldn't care less about the position, which is not exactly going to win interviewers over.

So spend some time Googling the company, not just doing a cursory glance at its website. Aim to really understand its mission, vision, culture, and recent news-worthy events. Here's a guide to help you out.

24. TALKING TOO MUCH

While you definitely want to highlight your accomplishments and sell the hiring manager on why you're the one for the job, you definitely don't want to leave the interviewer wondering how long you're going to go on without taking a breath (or looking at his or her watch). Think of the interview more as a conversation than a presentation. And be sure to watch for clues—like your interviewer's body language. If she's shifting back and forth or clearing her throat, it's time to let her get to the next question.

25. BAD-MOUTHING YOUR OLD EMPLOYER

No matter how bad a job was, you never, ever want to bad-mouth a former employer in an interview. Why? Because the interviewer will assume you'll do it again—like when you're leaving this company. Keep your tone somewhere between neutral and positive, focusing on what you've learned from each experience and what you're hoping to do in the future. This especially applies when you're talking about why you're leaving—here are a few tips on how to do it right.

26. NOT ACTING

Here's a little secret about interviewers: Meeting with candidate after candidate isn't exactly the best part of their job. So, if you can make the process a little more fun or exciting by at least acting like you're happy to be there, you'll do yourself a serious favor. This is especially true on phone interviews—since body language and facial expressions are impossible to convey when you're not together in person, you'll need to express a little excitement in your voice. Here are a few tips.

27. GETTING TOO CASUAL

OK, but try not to get too excited. We've heard candidates curse, ask to charge their phones, and talk about using recreational drugs in interviews. Spoiler alert: None of them got hired.

28. NOT HAVING QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER

Please tell us you've heard this by now, but there's truly nothing worse than asking a candidate what questions they have about the job, and hearing crickets. Nearly as bad is when someone asks generic questions that have already been covered—because they've memorized them and can't come up with anything else. Zhang has great advice for asking actually thoughtful, insightful questions.

WHEN FOLLOWING UP

29. NOT SENDING A THANK-YOU NOTE

If you're thinking about not sending one, just think about all of those other candidates who are. You will stand out—and not in a good way. That said, your thank you note can do more harm than good if you make any of the following mistakes:

30. SENDING ONE A WEEK LATE

Thank you notes are the most effective when you send them ASAP or at least within 48 hours of your interview. If you want to leave the impression that you're only mildly interested in the position, then go ahead and take your time. If not, then send it immediately. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

31. SENDING A GENERIC ONE

You might think that going through the motions and sending a generic thank you note is better than sending nothing, but you'd be wrong. Hiring managers get excited when they find exceptional candidates who are really excited about the job. And sending a boring thank you note that could have been addressed to anyone? That's an easy way to shatter your image.

32. SENDING AN INAPPROPRIATE ONE

You don't have the job yet, so don't get too chummy in your note. No matter how sure you are that you nailed the interview, your best bet is to remain professional throughout the process. (That means no nicknames, no sarcasm, and, again, no cursing.)

33. SENDING THE SAME EXACT ONE TO ALL OF YOUR INTERVIEWERS

I know—you think you're being efficient. But interviewers frequently forward all thank-you notes to each other (and HR), in which case your copy-and-paste job will be immediately obvious.

34. FOLLOWING UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Sure, reaching out to the hiring manager you've just interviewed with shows that you know how to use social media. But it also is pretty impersonal, reeks of humblebragging, and frankly seems a bit lazy. Channel your energy into a well-written email instead.

35. BEING ALL ABOUT YOU

Did you forget to mention that one time you did something that was extremely relevant to the job you're interviewing for now? It might be okay to mention it briefly, but it's definitely a mistake for you to transform your thank you note into a take two of your interview. Thank you notes shouldn't be long, so you don't really have a lot of space to, you know, thank your interviewer—let alone share another story. If you must do it, make it brief.

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30 reasons to stop drinking alcohol

1. You will immediately start having more money. Just imagine that great feeling to open your wallet and see a bunch of greenbacks! That’s money you WOULD HAVE thrown away on booze, but instead you’ll be able to use it to buy something nice, pay off some debt, or just save for a rainy day. Of all the reasons to quit drinking, this one will be the easiest to notice!

2. Your brain will begin to heal. The “foggy” feeling in your brain will slowly but surely go away. If you have been heavily drinking for many years you may have forgotten that wonderful feeling of being able to think clearly and deeply.

3. Your liver will begin to rejuvenate. Your liver will begin to repair itself in as little as two months, and you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in your skin, as well as your vision. Many people report that their mood seems better as well!

4. You will no longer need to hide the evidence of drinking from your family.Gone are the days when you will need to hide the booze in a drawer or back shelf, or an empty liquor bottle at the bottom of the trash bag. You know that deep down you felt guilty when you were doing that, and now you don’t need to any longer. You’ve nothing to hide!

5. Your spouse or significant other will have a new-found respect for you. Just imagine the approving looks of your spouse as he or she gazes at you, both impressed and joyous that you’ve overcome that alcohol problem. Feel the pride!

6. Your face will begin to clear up and your complexion will show dramatic improvement. Sometimes we forget how we USED to look when we didn’t drink, and how much our facial features have deteriorated from drinking. Get used to hearing “you look great” from your family and friends!

7. All the little aches and pains throughout your body will slowly but surely go away. Alcohol magnified those little aches because it was constantly robbing your body of the necessary nutrients by preventing vitamin absorption. Without alcohol in the way those aches and pains will be a thing of the past!

8. You will never again have to face a hangover. The joy of waking up sober is one you will never tire of. No headaches. No nausea. No general sickness. Just a renewed energy and zest for life. This is one of the appreciated reasons to quit drinking!

9. You will start feeling remarkably better within just a couple of days. You will have a renewed energy and vitality. Your body and mind will both feel like they’ve been given a second chance!

10. You will stop hating yourself for wasting money. That sick feeling inside about how much money you wasted on booze will be a thing of the past. And the best part? You can spend that money on something else MORE valuable!

11. Your natural energy will slowly but surely return. Within just a few weeks you’ll find that you’re sleeping soundly and awakening refreshed. You no longer will have to struggle to overcome the previous night’s drinking.

12. You will no longer worry about having a supply of booze. Gone will be the days of worrying about how much alcohol you have, or if the store is still open, or if you have enough for the night, or if you have enough money to buy some. You will be free from that worry!

13. Your sex life will improve immensely. Every aspect of your love life will be deeper, stronger, better – and much more fulfilled. Without alcohol in the way you will be more passionate than you’ve ever been. This will become of your favorite reasons to quit drinking!

14. You will be more refreshed in the morning. Get used to the idea of JUMPING out of bed, ready and able to face the day. That feeling will be the new norm, as you no longer will have alcohol holding you back!

15. You won’t miss work due to drinking. There will be no need to lie to your boss about why you can’t make it in. Or, if you really hate your job, you will now have the time and energy to go out looking for a NEW job. And by being sober you’ll also look great at that new job interview!

16. Your friends will admire you for having the strength to quit. And not only will they admire you for not drinking, but you will be a good example to them as they try to improve their lives as well!

17. You will stop wasting time sitting at a bar. No longer will you pathetically sit at a bar with other addicts gossiping about meaningless events. Instead, you will be out DOING things with your life!

18. Your five senses will return better than ever. As you begin to sober up you’ll find that your vision and hearing has improved. Food begins to taste and smell better than it has in years, and every little touch will mean more than it ever seemed to!

19. People will tell you how much better you look. Get ready to get a big head! Family, friends and coworkers will constantly tell you how much healthier you look. If you’re single you’ll find a renewed interest from the opposite sex! Feels nice, doesn’t it?

20. You will no longer feel trapped by an addiction. The feeling of freedom from alcohol will be hard to suppress. You will, in essence, feel like you’ve just been released from prison. And, speaking of prison, you will no longer need to have one eye in the rear-view mirror, constantly worrying whether the police might pull you for driving while intoxicated!

21. Nothing will come between you and your Creator. You will begin to appreciate the miracle of life, and the astonishing fact that YOU are alive, and YOU have been given so many blessings!

22. You will find joy in all the little things of life. Even little things like feeling the sun shine on your face, or taking a walk through the woods, or gazing up at the stars at night, will have joy all to themselves.

23. Your family will love the new you. Every day your spouse and kids and loved ones will show their happiness with your lifestyle change. The new you will mean a lot to them!

24. You will feel better than you have in years. The sickness and tiredness that you’ve felt will be a thing of the past. You’ll have an overall “sense of well-being” as your mind, body and soul become healthier and stronger.

25. Your youthful exuberance for life will return. Alcohol will no longer be at the top of your daily list of priorities. Instead, you’ll find a renewed exuberance for doing things that you didn’t have the time or energy or money before.

26. You will feel empowered. You will have overcome a major obstacle that was keeping you down. You will feel a new sense of confidence and empowerment as you go forward in life.

27. You will constantly smile and laugh. And it will be genuine laughter, not the drunken stupidity of the past. You will laugh and smile easily because of the new-found joy you have within.

28. You will realize how many blessings you have. The profound beauty of every little thing in your life will suddenly be made known to you. You will feel truly grateful as you count your many blessings every day!

29. You will be truly optimistic about your future. As you look forward and realize that you feel better than ever, and you’re no longer wasting your time and money on booze, you’ll be able to see a world filled with endless possibilities.

30. You will feel happier than ever. And, isn’t that what we all wanted in the first place?

http://stopdrinkingalcohol.com/30-great-reasons-quit-drinking-alcohol/

30 ways to live life to the fullest

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/30-ways-to-live-life-to-the-fullest/

1. Live in the moment. Forget the past and don’t concern yourself with the future. (Tanner Christensen)

2. Fully embrace the now, no matter what the situation. (Patrick Flynn)

3. Do the things you love. (Diego Felipe Villa Serna)

4. Learn to forgive and embrace unconditional love. (Ann Glasgow)

5. Live every day as if it’s your last, embracing each experience as if it’s your first. (Jennifer Fertado)

6. Believe in “live and let live.” (Satyendra Pandey)

7. Use quiet reflection, honesty, and laughter. (Erin Rogers Kronman)

8. Be other-centered. (Tricia Mc)

9. Find calm in making art. (Z.r. Hill)

10. Focus on today and how you can do your best to live it to the fullest. (Amelia Krump)

11. Participate in life instead of just watching it pass you by. (Lindsey Wonderson)

12. Stay healthy, eat right, and most importantly, be kind to all. (Tho Nguyen)

13. Pray, forgive yourself, appreciate others, listen to your gut, do things you enjoy, and remind yourself that we are all loved and connected. (Sandra Lumb)

14. Don’t sweat the small stuff. (Allison Gillam)

15. Question everything, keep it simple, and help whenever and however you can. (Lynda Corrigan Sutherland)

16. Try to enjoy every minute of every day. (Maria Ahlin)

17. Appreciate life’s every second. (Anna-Karin Boyaciyan-Demirciyan)

18. Step through new doors. The majority of the time there’s something fantastic on the other side. (Terri Mindock)

19. Remember that all is a gift, but the most precious of all gifts is life and love. (Debbie Teeuwen)

20. Keep your spirit free, be flexible, let go. (Leslie Brown)

21. “Do one thing every day that scares you.” ~Baz Luhrmann (Adam Raffel)

22. Don’t attach to outcomes. (Wp Ho)

23. Spend as much time with a two year old as possible. (Jackie Freeman)

24. Enjoy each and every moment of life. Every day is a new challenge and opportunity to discover something new. (Chirag Tripathi)

25. Budget travel. It is always an adventure! You get to enjoy what fate has to offer with limited means. (Ruby Baltazar)

26. Be honestly thankful for every breath you take. (Jonathan Carey)

27. Just be. (Catherine Halvorsson)

28. “Trust yourself. Trust your own strengths.” ~Gaundalf the grey (Jonathan David Evan Fulton)

29. Pause momentarily before everything you do so that you notice everything you should or could notice. (Scott Hutchinson)

30. Follow your hopes and not your fears. (Jody Bower)

Crazy Emotional Weekend

Friday night around 4:15pm, Mom and Pat stop to drop Keeby off for the night while they head to an Aaron Tippin concert at a Spokane casino.  Pat comes in the house and says there's a duck in the road that about got hit by a car.  I decide to help it (in my sock monkey slippers) and end up herding it two blocks down the road, through 4 yards before I get it between my and the neighbors house.  It seems to really want to get into the neighbors yard, so the goal is to pick it up (but I have a weird fear of beaks).  It ends up panicking and falling into their basement window well, so I get in and try to corner it.  With Mom's help holding up her coat so it wouldn't fly away, I end up grabbing it and lifting it out of the hole to mom who placed it over the fence.  We did it!  I pace for like 2 hours hoping it's actually my neighbors, and ran over when she arrived from work.  After telling her, she is grateful and states that should earn me it's meat when they slaughter it.  WTF.  I should have let it run away :(

Later that evening around 9pm, Dad calls and says he's on the way to Gritman for a constant pain in his side.  We are thinking gallstone or kidney stone, etc.  Bro comes over and we arrive at the ER and wait.  Seeing Dad, you could tell he was hurting.  :(  We spent about 2.5 hours in the ER and they admitted Dad to keep an eye on him.  They essentially could only find out he has a swollen blockage from his kidney, and they don't know what it is or why.  We leave around midnight after they check him in.  He checked out the following mid-morning with pain meds and went home to monitor it.  Still hoping it's a stone rather than something worse.  I'm sure stones hurt, but at least it will pass..

Saturday was the 10th, and would've been Great Grandma's 97th birthday.  I miss her terribly.

Saturday around 4pm, I decide to clean up the shop (which I've been waiting for mom to do since it's her mess).  I moved all my "don't need to open but want to keep" boxes in there, and felt much better.  When I check my phone, I see multiple texts about a shooting around 2:30 in town.  WHAT THE FUCK?  I kept praying it wouldn't be anyone I know, and tried to stay positive.  Facebook was blowing up with different stories, but we knew there were multiple victims in at least two locations.

Around 7, the police released the names of the suspect and the victims, I knew 2 out of 4 victims.  This is awful :(  One was Belinda from Arby's who has been a friend of ours for about 3 years.  She lights up everytime she sees us (but especially my son), and he adores her.  The two male victims were David Trail and Michael Chin.  Michael is my favorite teacher from high school's son, but I've never met him.  He's currently fighting for his life, and is the only victim still alive.  The fourth victim was a woman I have admired for about a decade - my go-to all-around awesome doctor and friend Terri Grzebielski.  Terri meant a lot to me.  She helped me through my anxiety meds journey, my panicky health concerns that were always less a deal than they seemed, she always lit up and smiled..no matter what.  She was just an angel..always calm, collected, comforting.  The shooter was John Lee, her adopted adult son.  I'm literally in shock.  Then I found out that Terri lived at 412 Veatch, which would've literally been in my backyard when I lived at 417 Spotswood.  I didn't realize she lived so close to me.

Reports say John fled in a black Honda and eventually crashed it about 10 miles North of Colfax.  Since he's alive, I hope he explains (not like it'll suddenly make sense).  I hope he sits in jail and rots.  I recall seeing an Asian male in a black Honda hatchback when I lived in my old apartments, and after seeing the pic of the car, I know it was John I was seeing.  He would fit the description and age.  This is just so close to home.... I really hope they figure out the motive and the connection between all the victims because it's so senseless and just plain fucked up.  I can't believe this is real.

I don't know how to tell my son that his buddy Belinda is dead.  I don't know how to swallow that the best doc I've ever had is gone.  I had it on my to-do list to call her and make one last appointment with her before my health insurance lapsed, and now I will never get to.  The world is a harsh place.

Living in a small town is lovely sometimes, but knowing the victims of all the main shootings here in town is heartbreaking.  It's just beyond tragic and my heart is heavy.

RIP.

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