Poo in a box

First things first, 'Poo in a Box'. It's a thing. I bought it as a shit (sorry!) gift for my brother while we were in the UK because... well, come on, it's 'Poo in a Box' and it sure beats the "all I got was this lousy keyring" gift. Basically its various seeds encased in elephant, reindeer or rhino poo. You plant in the garden, give it some TLC and it grows into a plant that you can forever tell people came from the crappiest (you can slap me for that) gift ever. I'm still shocked I managed to get this through customs. All I can say is that having a toddler on the verge of tantrum shooting "Don't mess with me buddy" death stares at everyone can only help you.

Poo in a Box

I've neglected this blog. I'm aware of it. I want to blog more often and I have about 25 to 30 draft blogs waiting patiently to be finished and posted and I swear to myself that I'll look them over on the weekend and blog at least one. The weekend comes and goes and I don't give the blog a second thought and the cycle repeats itself over and over again.

The problem is that this is a blog about my life with Crohn's Disease and I just feel like I don't really have anything else to say about Crohn's Disease. Aside from the periodic flare-up I'm doing ok. I have an issue with a stricture that continues to be a pain in the arse (I'll slap myself for that one!) but otherwise it's business as usual.

I could write superficial pieces about various medications or new treatments available that I've researched from the net, but honestly, if you're looking for information about these things you should really speak to your doctor not seek out the opinions of random bloggers. There is so much misinformation and personal experience stated as fact that I'm personally pretty wary of anything I read on the internet. You should be too (except when it comes to Poo in a box, that's the real McCoy).

Also I don't want anybody looking to me as though I'm some kind of expert just because I can regurgitate stuff I find via google. The only thing I'm an expert on is my particular brand of Crohn's as it relates to me. That's a pretty small area of expertise.

Lack of direction, not lack of time is the problem. We all have 24 hours in a day. ~ Zig Ziglar

I like the blog, I don't want to kill it and I definitely don't want my Crohn's to start going ballistic just so I'll have some writing fodder. Given all that it doesn't really leave me any where to go...
So I guess the blog is on hiatus... unless I just put the Crohn's side of it all on hold an blog about anything that takes my fancy but that feels a bit unfocussed and aimless and to be honest all that scope just leaves me staring at a blank screen wondering what to say. I guess I'll ponder it awhile.

New Years Resolutions

How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? ~ Dr. Seuss

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is on the doorstep and the New Year is looming on the horizon. It’s the time of year when we all get caught up in the excesses of gift giving, food and beverage consumption and obligatory family, work and social gatherings.

I’m feeling very reflective this year. Where am I? Where have I come from? Where am I headed? And where do I want to be? I feel as though the last year has been dampened by my negative attitude. The year started with my undesired return to work which meant depositing Lil’ Edges in day care. Instead of making the best of a bad situation, I got stuck in a narrative of negativity. Anything good that happened was quickly drowned out.

If life seems jolly rotten,

There's something you've forgotten!

And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing,

When you're feeling in the dumps,

Don't be silly chumps,

Just purse your lips and whistle -- that's the thing!

~ Monty Python

And there was plenty of good that happened. I ran the Mother’s Day Classic, an 8km fun run to raise money for charity. A monumental achievement considering that I was only relatively new to running and have never really been that interested in physical activity before. Now I can’t imagine not exercising on a daily basis.

After a little encouragement from a friend and without any real planning, I did NaNoWriMo and completed it. Fifty thousand words in 30 days (give or take a couple of hours). The book is currently needing some editing and possibly some illustrations but the foundation is there and it won’t take all that much to whip it into some kind of readable state.

I’m writing this blog from the merry old land of England. Yes, the Edges clan made the journey to the UK to visit Mr Edges family. I’ve met my in-laws for the very first time. Travelled overseas for the first time (technically 2^nd time, but I was kid and barely remember it). It’s exciting stuff. I still can’t really believe it.

So, where to from here? I want to lose the negative attitude. Glass half full, not half empty. Bad shit is going to happen, there’s nothing I can do about that, but I don’t have to dwell on it or let it get the better of me.

Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage it can be delightful. ~ George Bernard Shaw

I want to have more energy and to wake up feeling refreshed. I’m tired of being tired, of everything feeling like both a physical and emotional effort. Is this a state of mind? I don’t know. It might be. At any rate I want to blog more, run more, write more, think more, do more, see more, learn more, read more, enjoy more, laugh more, love more and live more. I want to be motivated and interested. I want to be engaged and engaging.

All that being said, here’s what I hope to achieve in 2013: (though I reserve the right to change these if and as I see fit ;-p)

Attempt a half marathon.

Publish the 2012 NaNoWriMo book. 

Start a home based business.

You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating. ~ Barbara Sher

What are you hoping to achieve in 2013?