Friday....January 22nd...2010

We are so "caught up" in the packing we are "blogless"..ie. we haven't taken the time to write on the blog nor take any pictures....tomorrow we will do better......maybe....

With Janet's help, we are whizzing right along.....much further along than we figured we'd be. We have a Uhaul rented on the 6th and 7th and kids coming to finish packing....cleaning...and loading the Uhaul....of course at Janet's pace so far, we might be done sooner than later.

Linda is doing well...over doing it of course but taking naps and eating good.....she had a rough night last night but will take some sleeping pills to get rested tonight...and she promises to back off a bit tomorrow.

Talked to "Lil Sis's" daughter today...she has been released from the hospital...but it appears the doctor has stopped the chemo as it is too hard on her and hospice has been called in....we hope to hear directly from her soon.

Yesterday we finished the "punch list" established by the buyer's inspection....including some outdoor filling and painting from the sun and weather.....cleaning gutters...patching a couple of roof caps...etc...etc. It was a good thing it was done yesterday as we awoke to 3 inches of new snow today....and headlines of why there was no snow in Central Oregon...yuk yuk....

Pictures tomorrow.....

Six Happiness Tips

Advice from Tal Ben-Shahar

1. Give yourself permission to be human. When we accept emotions — such as fear, sadness, or anxiety — as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.

2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.

3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?

4. Simplify! We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.

5. Remember the mind-body connection. What we do — or don't do — with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.

6. Express gratitude, whenever possible. We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile