By http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/joyce_wadler/index.html?inline=nyt-per Published: August 12, 2009 LIKE many hosts who give too much, Darlene Dennis, 73, traces her problems back a long way — in this case, 40 years, when she was hosting a good friend’s mother for a week. The woman’s elderly Chihuahua urinated nightly on the guest bed, and Ms. Dennis, at a loss for what to do, did nothing and held her breath, particularly when it came time to embrace the guest. Later in life, after Ms. Dennis had become a teacher of English as a second language and settled in the San Diego area, there were additional houseguest outrages. One of the worst involved an old student and her husband, a former United States Naval officer, who were living in Brazil and called — just as Ms. Dennis was preparing to go on a three-week vacation in the Far East — to say they were moving back to San Diego and would like to stay in her home until they found an apartment. Ms. Dennis said what all hosts who give too much say in such a situation: “Sure.” The problems began as soon as Ms. Dennis returned. The husband, picking her up at the airport, did not have enough money to get out of the parking lot. On the way home, he complained that she had left no food in the house. She also found that her guests had brought along their pets, a caged parrot and six free-range tortoises. “They were munching the flowers in my garden — to be fair, they also ate the weeds,” Ms. Dennis said, showing yet another sign of an oppressed host: hyper-sensitivity to another person’s point of view. She also had a particularly vivid memory of the husband in the bathroom screaming, “I need toilet paper!” “It took me two or three weeks to get these people out of the house,” Ms. Dennis said. “I finally lent them $200 to get an apartment. When I told them they had to leave, she went into hysterics.” The fact that Ms. Dennis permitted such behavior for decades prompted her to write http://hostorhostage.com/ a battle plan for doormat hosts, self-published this year.  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/garden/13guest.html?8dpc

"My God, I pray better to You by breathing. I pray better to You by walking than by talking." This quote reminds me just how important it is to make space for contemplative silence in my life.....

And he is off....Yep, discovered those things attached to him are pretty good once you get used to them....now I am getting prepared to do ALOT of running after him....something tells me that he is not going to stop once he starts.......LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Anxiety and becoming a new mom... Did anyone have challenges with anxiety before becoming a new mom? I am trying to differentiate between mommy challenges and a bout of anxiety. Does or did anyone face these same issues?

TOMORROW IS RECOGNIZE RETT SYNDROME DAY, WEAR PURPLE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!! :)

Well, hello french martini.  This is my favorite cocktail and one that was always on the menu and often enjoyed for girls night!  This post is for my girls!!!  Hopefully, you have a group of friends like this.  We love to get together and have lunch, have girls night and do whatever! These are the group of girls that have helped me through some of the most difficult times of my life!!!!  The girls, I can call at any time of any night, and ask for help, or just cry on their shoulders. The girls I love tremendously and the ones I consider part of my family!  The girls that I have too much fun with and the girls that remember me, and still love me, after I moved 8 hours away!!!!  Jackie, Kelley, Deb, Kalynn, Kim and Nancy this post is for you my loves!!! Cheers to you my friends!   If, perhaps, you notice a furry friend in the background, that is Bruno.  He is the LOVE of our lives, and the child who has not abandoned us, like the human two.  He wants to be in every photo I take so I'm sure this is not the last time you'll see him.  :-) Now for the recipe!  Most peeps put champagne in this drink.  I LOVE champagne but in this mixed drink it does not work!!  Just try it this way once and let me know what you think! French Martini 2 parts pineapple juice 1 1/2 parts vodka or vanilla vodka-chilled in the freezer **see note** 3/4 part Chambord-no substitutes! Directions: 1. Fill shaker with ice.  Pour all ingredients in shaker.  Shake vigorously.  The more vigorous, the more the lovely foam! 2. Pour into a martini glass.  Enjoy!! **note**  vanilla vodka produces a slightly sweeter martini.

I visit Barnes and Nobles and buy a chai latte if I have the extra cash to spend. I listen to New Age instrumental music. I take a hot bath with candles--I usually wrap a towel tightly around my body--I've found that my muscles relax more when the hot water soaks into the towel. It is kind of like swaddling--for adults:)

I had a temper tantrum today. A small one, but nevertheless I had one. It was full of whining and complaining. I even kicked my feet (I was on my bed). Why? I was asked to come in to work, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. I did not want to go and if I had to go I wasn't going to like it. So I pitched my little fit. At home, in the safety of my bedroom. My husband was very sympathetic. What's the big deal? For two weeks I've worked 12-hour shifts, had guests at my house, done church activities or work activities on my days off, and today I threw a baby shower for a friend. I haven't had a single day to decompress and I'm cranky. Even my Sabbaths, when I'm supposed to be relaxed and reconnecting with God, have been busy.I'm even dreading going on vacation this week because it means being around more people. The planning alone is making me cranky because this feels more like work and less like fun. I was excited about this trip until about a week ago. My husband is slightly alarmed by this attitude and has told me I need a mental health day. I think he's right. So I'm going to fold my arms, be stubborn, and say "no, I don't wanna go and you can't make me." I'm going to be antisocial as much as I can this week and see if I can recharge my batteries. Time at home doing laundry, being with my kids and hubby, sewing or painting.... but not out socializing. No friends, no church stuff, no work stuff... I am no longer able to function as a professional. Sorry!Guess I'll have to put myself in time-out for a while. Oh darn....

Hi MOMS ON THE LABYRINTH and all other friends on the Path! Check out this FABULOUS new iPhone app (just 99 cents!) created by Notebook Press. You can "walk" six different labyrinths to the music you select from your iPod library. Here (finally!) is Peace for everyone's Path on-the-go! Love, Robin http://www.notebookpress.com/info_ipause.html

To Life, To Love, To Spring!

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I would REALLY love for my kids to stay in bed so I CAN enjoy a little ME time! I'm seriously thinking about locking myself in the bathroom just to catch a few moments of peace! lol

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Hi, My ME time is going to the grocery store, or even sitting down to read a book when i have a free moment or even going out to take a walk, I love the time I can have with my daughter but i also just enjoy that me time that I can have.