NEW BLOG THEME: Landon - Life Lessons

Just made it - under one year since my last post. So now that another year has past - a small semblance of my life has return back to the way it was. Vince and i have been talking and thinking about capturing our thoughts on your blog. so here is my attempt to do so.

What is this new blog theme - something along the lines of what we learn from landon and then another potential them is still baking. :)

So...today's topic...of the new theme of L3 (of course i would make the 3 a superscript but can't seem to figure out how do that): Lessening Distractions. Vince and I have been talking a lot about what child care situation Landon should be in. This in and of itself stems many specific topics for discussion. But today...it is Lessening Distractions.

As we consider what is the ideal place for Landon to spend most of his day at this age (which is 2 weeks shy of the big 2!)...one thing that we have received consul on and have been tossing around has been the idea of lessening distractions so we can learn and grow. We are in daycare situation where Landon is familiar and comfortable and is inspired and stimulated. Enter the potential new more school-like situation where the program is scheduled for before class session, class in the morning and then lunch and then nap, and the after nap care. We were faced with a very constant day - Landon being in one classroom/yard with the same kids and teachers for the day (of course little excursions around the school could be had) versus changing environments every 2 hours or so, with most kids and teachers leaving throughout the day while Landon would be---literally ---one of the last guys standing...

One of the points of discussion was the ideal developmental situation for a very-soon-to-be 2 year old. On the one hand, we were told that kids that age need consistency and not a lot of transition or change during the day. On the other hand, were were told kids are resilient, they will adapt and they will grow accustom to their situation and what comes of it.

ARGH! what should we do?! stay at the current daycare/school? or move to the new one? What would Landon want? what do we want? What is the best thing? is there a best thing? what is ideal?

In the end, we opted to keep Landon where he is...for a variety of reasons...one of which is our topic today which is: Lessening Distractions to optimize development. The lesson here is that why crowd Landon's little life with complications or things that would take away his ability to learn and develop? Of course, even in the distractions there is learning to be had. But the though materializes as: learn and develop or cope and adjust. What does Landon spend his time doing? If he is busy trying to cope with his new surrounding and the changing environment and people, does that get in the way of his learning a new skill or figuring out a new connection between things? As parents, what do we want to create for Landon? How best do we help him grow into the person he will be? are we tipping the scale in a negative way by introducing a significant change?

so many things to consider. But there is something to be said that if we create an environment for Landon that minimizes stress, change and the unknown, then he could focus more on learning new skills and trying new things and developing his brain. so by lessening distractions, we can optimize growth and development.

So doesn't this hold true as adults? we are inundated with technology and responsibilities and burdens that can hinder our ability to learn and grow - perhaps on occasion assist. But how often are we feeling like we are puled in so many directions and have so many demands on us that we can't do what we want...or what we need. Family obligations. Work obligations. stress . drama. No one needs stress or drama in their lives. So if we can lessen the distractions that cause us stress and drama, then would we fare better with growth and development too? i THINK so. i know for me that rings true. if i want to grow in my career, i have to be more efficient, cut out the noise and lessen the distractions so i can focus on learning new concepts and more skills. in personal life it's the same. less drama and stress would equal more time to focus on my life and relationships and how to make the deeper and better and more real. stupid blackberry or iPhone. the electronic work leash. that darn red blinking light.

it takes intention to constantly review our lives to see if the distractions are creeping into our lives to the point that we are not living or growing optimally. of course, to live and grow optimally differs from person to person. But i think the principle holds true - for my 2 year old and for me. Lessen one thing. and improve the other.

So thanks Landon. Thanks for helping me to learn that i need to be intentional about what impacts my life. That for me to keep growing and learning in life, I need to lessen the distractions to be able to focus on the growth and to be aware of learning new things.

wow...it's been more than a year since i've posted. poor poor showing. well. someone named landon has been keeping me busy. will try to post more!

Slides and Flip Flops

So i just revisited the blog...and was chuckling at my flat shoes entry. some of you may know...i'm pregnant...very pregnant! due anytime now. which is what prompted me to buy flat shoes.

the chuckle...well, can't really wear the flat shoes at all now! my feet and ankles seemed to have retained lots of fluid and are markedly swollen and puffy!!! to my great dismay, i looked at my feet and ankles one day a several weeks ago...dare I say even a few months ago...and noticed that my feet looked veeerrrrryyyyy different! It took me a little bit of time to register what was happening. And then the shock settled in. my feet were fat!!!!!!! i knew that my fingers were a bit swollen so my rings didn't fit...but they don't look puffy!! sadly, the feet and ankles....significantly different from their normal appearance. so no flat shoes for me even now. only slides and flip flops. and the slides, only the ones i had been wearing for a while now. new slides...feet don't fit.

*sigh*

i really really really really hope my feet and ankles return to normal. it's not like i can work out those areas or anything. :P

soon enough...baby time! :)

the F-word

in our discovery of the wonderful programming on justin.tv, we have been sucked into a new (for us) Gordon Ramsey show called "the F-word." This appears to be one of his early shows. The show's premise....open a restaurant that served 50 ppl a set 3 course menu and invite a brigade (3-4) amateur cooking enthusiasts to work the kitchen to serve the ppl. The ppl, depending on whether they liked the food/service can opt to pay or not pay for each course. I believe at the end, the brigade with the highest number of ppl out of 150 that paid (3 x 50 dishes) get to come back...and do what, i don't know.

What makes the show more interesting is that other things are weaved into the program. Gordon will have a recipe show down with a friend or other chef where that guest makes their favorite/signature dish and Gordon makes his version and then there is a blind taste test and those 5 ppl choose which one they like better. Then there is also Gordon's reaching out to Londoners to help them get back into cooking and eating well (and fast too). Then there is also a thread of something he is doing usually with his family involved. The ones season we just saw involved his family raising pigs...for slaughter of course. By the way, he has a beautiful family!

Gordon does have a mouth on him, as does most of his friends...but for some reason, it sounds really nice with an European accent (British, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, French). Somehow the accent makes all the words sounds proper. It's pretty funny.

Anyhow, good show, lots of interesting recipes that I hope to get to try someday. How much to i like the show... :) last night..i was dreaming and ppl were all speaking with British accents. :) haha. no cussing though. I suppose i have the subconscious censor on in my brain.

Thanks Gordon for loads of fun and entertainment!!!

Flat Shoes Debut

So today is the first day i have broken out the flat shoes. :) I have not worn flat shoes in a long time...mainly because flat shoes don't suit my body type. Though they sure seem to be more comfortable than my normal 3.5-4inch heels. But alas...for the next few months...or longer, i will have to adapt to the flat shoe style.

So I bought my shoes from zappos where i love their return policy and i wore them around the house a few nights to make sure they were comfortable and fit and i liked them. and they were comfortable. And then today! the flat shoe debut at work.

I had high hopes...but to my dismay...blsiters. :( and seeing as how I am normally sitting in front of the computer only really leaving to chat and go to the copy maching and the bathroom...i am so sad that my heels hurt. :( to the point where i put bandaids on my heels...but now wnat to just go barefoot because the are so not comfy anymore. sniff sniff..i will have to bandage my entire foot. and then the shoes won't fit.

I should also qualify today to say that i did walk around more so than the usual routes. I went to the copy center twice...then out to lunch. So sory feet and shoes! it may have been my too high expectations for these wonderful shoes.

i am hopeful thought that the first day is the hardest day and that my feet will grow accustom to the sensation and that the shoes will soften up a bit. :( because I do like them...even though they make me feel really short and I had to lower my chairsso my feets would reach the floor and I can be ergonmically correct (to be continued on a future posting).

wishing myself well for the hopes of conquering the flat shoe pain!

is any one still out there? I have been away for a long time. part due to laziness. part due to feeling like i have nothing interesting to write about. but i am considering resuming a more regular writing attitude so hopefully you all are still out there. :) stay tuned...

fyi...i just discovered how great justin.tv can be so this will be an uphill battle.

EUREKA! TV watching revelation

A little background before my Eureka! moment.

So V just broke the news that many shows are being canceled. I have no details other than some of the shows I watch are on the ax list. :(

Or most of you who don't know, V and me have been without cable or satellite tv now for about 2.5 years. fear not! thank God for the internet! we've been getting our tv fix from free online shows! yea!! so i've been able to keep up with some things...and long to be able to watch others.

In thinking about my tv watching habits, I've come to learn that...EUREKA! i like shows that come to some sort of conclusion at the end of an episode. Don't get me wrong...I do appreciate the series arches and being sucked into shows as a devoted watcher...but I think I get the most out of shows that conclude after the 45 minutes or so airtime. A perfect example...Law and Order (full episodes not available online - what's up with that?!?). You do get invested in the characters..which I like to do...but I can be confident that the crime, investigation, trial and verdict are all wrapped up neatly in the one episode. I do also appreciate the occasional cliff hanger to be continued next time and the thems that run over the whole season...but for me...the more drawn out it is...the less i will like the show.

Take Lost for example. Great character investing...exciting...heart-wrenching...but after so many years...I an waiting for some sort of conclusion. At least (don't read this sentence if you haven't watched last season!!) at the end of last season some of them were rescued. Voila! some sort of closure.

The current mystery of my tv watching practice. The Hills. WHY DO I WATCH THAT SHOW???!?!?!! NOTHING ever happens! i wast 20 minutes every week watching...when NOTHING EVER HAPPENS!!! what is wrong with me.

Anyhow...I best be getting back to work...but I wanted to share my Eureka! moment:

• Thumbs up for shows that have some kind of closure at the end of the episode for satisfaction sake...but still allow for character development and series themes.
  

• Thumbs down for shows that drrrraaaaaaaaaggg.

i heart tv.