so then i said....

so much has changed in the last couple of weeks. so much hasn't changed in the last couple of weeks.

1. we're paperless - no paper napkins, towels or toilet paper and with the exception of a few jokes and a raised eyebrow from a friend, everything has gone smoothly.

2. things are growing - green bean plants were moved from the backyard to the side yard today as were 3 small tomato plants. they looked a little stressed (translation: damn near dead) immediately after transplant but then who doesn't? an unexpected and welcome rain shower helped to perk them up.

3. tonight we ate our first completely homemade meal - there was pizza with homemade sauce and crust, strawberry limeade and for desert honey vanilla ice cream made in my freecycle obtained ice cream maker. months ago i was terrified it would be restaurants & crappy meals for the rest of our lives.

4. i'm working less - in part by choice and in part by circumstance. working for a staffing agency can be unstable. one minute the hospital is begging you to work 16 hour shifts for 5 straight days, the next thing you know there's no work for 2 weeks 'cos corporate just got the bill for the extra shifts. it can be frightening if i let it. after all, there's no more money but the same stack of bills waiting to be paid. it helps to look at what i get in trade. all of the time off means more time with the kids and in the end... when i'm old and gray that's what's going to matter to me.

i've learned that there's more that i can do than i ever thought i could. that i can, slowly, exchange old habits for new healthier ones.