Dia De Los Muertos

The family requested we set up an Ofrenda this year after many years of not doing so. It was time. Traditions needed to be brought back front and center. We needed to honor our past people, which is what the altar is all about.

This is what you do. Grab those photos of the ones that have past and give them a taste of their favorite food or drink or hobbie or pasttime. Throw in the candles and sugar skulls and you have everyone looking over every small detail of each thing you have set out. 

It really is a great way to remember and talk about the memories.

Then, because the whole family got together, we needed some food and it's almost halloween. We went with a mexican menu. Guacamole, anyone?

 We then made up some corn masa and fried up some sope shells. Add those refried beans, chorizo and potatoes or picadillo with lettuce, tomato and cheese.  Add a stuffed jalapeno or two on the side and yowza!

Then, as if that wasn't enough, we made our own ancho chili sauce and made some stacked enchiladas. Simply layered tortillas, sauce, cheese, a little onion if you like, and bake. Then! Top with a fried egg and dig into that one! Ahhh, now you're talking.

Dessert! Sonny made what we are calling, Da Dirt Pie. You can see the little hands and fingers at the edge of the picture, waiting for their slice. They know what's coming since they got to lick the spoon and pulled a gummy worm or two out to eat, already.

And then, if you like, have a sugar cookie, or sugar finger. Go ahead. They are going fast.

Too much is enough! And today is Halloween. Candy, anyone?
TT

Stop to think

Whoa, whoa! Give me a minute to catch up.

Isn't this great? Things have been clipping right along so fast I don't have time to see where I'm at. Everything seems to be getting done, there is that excitement that occurs when you are looking forward to certain things you are working towards, and then you need to stand still long enough to take it in.

I am taking the last two days of this month off as vacation and it will be a culmination of getting ready for Halloween, All Saints, All Souls...Day of the Dead. I'm in the midst of getting things organized and planned and family has gotten all involved and now it's turning into the type of event we used to do so many years ago. It's this and that and I have pieces and bits and the past weekend and the day before and this morning are all swirling around with the ideas that are circling in my head until I am at the point to say whoa! Think time.

I have most of the components scattered around. Let me sit still long enough to put this event together.
TT

Sleep planning

I am so glad it's Saturday. It isn't even because the past week was hard. If anything, the week went rather well and everything was just fine. I guess that only enhances the fact that since today is Saturday, I have that week behind me, and I have my own options to consider.

I let myself laze in bed a moment longer than usual while I mull over some immediate ideas to get started. You know that brief time when you are half awake and still in bed that your mind takes you away. I somehow manage to get some brief planning done in that space of time. I go through the ideas of I'll get up, do this and then start that. I should have this done by such-in-such and then, oh yeah, I need to do that, too. I'll fit it in during this time. Before I know it, I'm up and making coffee which is the only real and routine way I start every day. Doesn't everyone?

So my Saturday is off and running before my feet even hit the floor. Now that I am actually conscience and not in a half-sleep I can sort through my wanna-get-dones. And here you go. I can already check one item off the list...I put this up. My method works.
TT

Down time

I've been trying to put together a post for a couple of days but 'things' keep me from getting it all put together. I even stole away a few minutes at work to try to draft it up and ended up leaving it saved and stored. I don't seem to be making any attempts to getting that draft completed by any stretch.

It isn't as if I don't have time after work but that particular slot of time seems to have become another type of zone. It must be a really protected area because it seems nothing gets done in that space (of time). I'm not sure why. I believe it's because old habits are hard to kill and the enormous waste that is produced in that allotted time-frame has grown notoriously. I should stop that.

So this isn't the post I was working on (not that I work long or hard on any of these). But I have three different drafts I should spend some time on. I can decide if there is anything in them I want to keep or just delete the silly suckers. They are probably nothing to save and that would be a good fit for my time slot I mentioned earlier. At least I would be keeping within the same theme of wasting time within my time wasting period already in place.

I've got to make better use of that time. Soon.
TT

Conscience motion

Aren't we all moving forward. Shouldn't we be?

We can all ride the waves of life and let the pull and push of it take us where it will. There is always a time and place when we should relax, lean back, and let it take us away.  Drifting along creates a proper balance in our lives at times we have been in a tailspin of overwork, overproducing, and just plain getting caught up in the hype. Learning how to lean back and enjoy the drift is something that can be crucial to our well-being.

There are other times we might need to stop the regular flow and find our direction. If we drift, there is a chance of finding ourselves totally off-course. We may be in a spot we didn't want to go and or in a place we didn't want to be in. Obviously, it's time to put some direction and focus into the things you want.

You might say to yourself: Here I am. I want to be there. How do I do that? Move forward. Stop the drifting for now and make conscience choices to get from your point A to point B. Slowly. It isn't a race. Keep that calm you've achieved.

As you move along the way, it's okay to change your mind about the process. Maybe the way you thought to get where you want to be isn't working. Some might think that is failure and are afraid to take the first steps much less rethink what you are doing mid-way. This is only part of the things that need to happen. Plans never turn out exactly as expected but focus keeps you on track. Keep in mind you will learn as you go. Doing one thing that doesn't work will give you another idea of what else might and the motion stays constant. Only this time instead of drifting you are deciding the proximity of where you want to end up.
TT

Open for more than normal

Another week to crank up and get started. There is nothing except the normal on the agenda. It's going to be a fairly regular, run of the mill, type of week from this view so far. It will be nothing more than a little of the same old, same old.

I might wonder if that type of attitude keeps anyone from having any more than the same old agenda. Does not expecting any more than what you would normally experience cause the everyday occurrences to happen again and again. Does it happen that way because we aren't open to something out of our normal?

Would it make any difference in our day to day if we stayed open to the possibility of something different happening? Is something small yet new happening during these routine weeks but because we are so wrapped up in what we recognize as our normal, we don't see or accept the new and different that might actually be taking place?

I guess there is a chance of that going on. So maybe with this new week cranking up, I need to be on the look-out for anything out of the norm. It will change things up. Time to be open to more than than normal.
TT

What do you want

I've been doing a lot of thinking about where I am, what I want, and where and what do I want to do. That can be dangerous. Oh, I don't mean all those questions. I mean, me doing a lot of thinking. Anytime I spend a considerable amount of time to think it can be more confusing than if I made a quick decision.

But dry humor aside, let's face it. How long do you really need to think about all that stuff? Come on. In the back of your mind you know the answers to most of those questions but are too afraid to admit them. You surround the true answer in all the possible  reasons you can't do it or shouldn't do it and let that confuse you into thinking you don't have a choice. Just answer the question. Be honest. See what that feels like to admit it and think about only that.

What do you want to do? ______________________________.

Did you fill in the blank. Did you let yourself see what it is? Picture it in your brain. Now that it's clear, think about that. How do you do it.

• Figure out the smallest step to start. 
• Make yourself do it because you will never feel like doing it. 
• When you decide you will skip it, give yourself 5 seconds to go do it.

Be a strict parent to yourself. You know what's good for you but listen instead to that inner voice that constantly lies to you. Stop. And go. Fill in the blank and decide to get started. 

TT