tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27225395222442420662024-03-12T18:45:41.386-07:00Gluten-Free GratefullyKim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-85632043835022598172012-03-16T14:21:00.001-07:002013-09-23T07:29:33.474-07:00You Learn Something New Everyday[Update: Gluten Free Gratefully can now be found at <a href="http://www.glutennazimom.org/">www.GlutenNaziMom.</a>org, where the GlutenNaziMom blog lives. Kim Jorgensen Gane's general, 'woman power' related blog can now be found at <a href="http://www.westcoastposse.com/">West Coast Posse</a>.]<br />
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Apparently I've been committing a big NO-NO by cross-posting my Gluten Free Gratefully blog on Blogger to my WCP Bloggage blog at <a href="http://www.westcoastposse.com/wcp-bloggage.html">West Coast Posse</a>. The topic of a post on BlogHer yesterday (which I can't find again today, bummer), leads me to believe that continuing to do so will hurt my standing with Google, and thus make it impossible to ever show up in searches in the future. We CAN'T have THAT!! Therefore, this marks the end of my short period of posting regularly, yet long affair with Gluten-Free Gratefully. I will be posting original blogs on West Coast Posse, and cross posting only to BlogHer. If you found this blog because you were looking for gluten-free support, please visit <a href="http://www.glutennazimom.org/">www.GlutenNaziMom.org</a>, and please follow <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/glutennazimom/www-glutennazimom-com/">my pinterest board</a> for all my favorite #GF resources.<br />
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You can connect with <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-jorgensen-gane/50/560/47a">Kim Jorgensen Gane on LinkedIN</a>.<br />
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And you can review her <a href="http://kjgane.wordpress.com/about/">CV, of sorts, here</a>.Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-36628691654212139592012-03-15T23:00:00.002-07:002012-03-15T23:58:46.274-07:00Finding My VoiceIn order to gain insight and a belief in my ability and intent to write, I have sought out the work of local authors to make it feel more human to me and thus more possible. Here in San Diego, <a href="http://margaretdilloway.com/">novelist Margaret Dilloway</a> and <a href="http://www.debbieford.com/">non-fiction, self-help author Debbie Ford</a> have both been of interest, and I recently read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Skirt-Memoirs-Nun/dp/0983611203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331872568&sr=8-1">"The Red Skirt Memoirs of an Ex Nun," by Patricia O'Donnell-Gibson</a>, from whom we bought our house in Michigan, although I never met her personally. Through Facebook, I've also renewed friendships with those from high school who have successfully made writing their career. My friends <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Low-Carb-Slow-Cooker-Cookbook/dp/1569244286/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331872692&sr=1-1">Kitty Broihier</a> and <a href="http://skirt.com/sondradee">Sondra Dee Garrison</a> actually spent time honing their craft in college, whereas I have little more than an excellent high school English department to bank on (thank you, SJHS and Mrs. Nealer, much as I may have despised it at the time, and Mr. Hop, who inspired and encouraged me and so many others, including my step-daughter the year he retired), and I have always operated at my own speed, especially when it comes to believing in myself. <br />
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There's a saying by Dr. Seuss, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Well, I've spent my entire life trying and feeling as though I failed to fit in, fighting that fact and vacillating between being proud and feeling bad that I'm just different. I have always enjoyed the spotlight, while others may shy away from it and look at me as though I'm an alien. I was a single mom before all the celebrities were doing it. I certainly didn't fit the mold of the corporate employee when I worked at Whirlpool. I have enjoyed having standard poodles because of the attention they attract since people don't see them every day (and the no slobbering and no shedding parts, which kinda rock). And I've had to relearn practically everything about parenting that was successful with our daughters, because our son is a different creature with unique needs. And it only took me six years to make that boy; later in life when anybody my age with any sense was finished building their families. Let's face it; times they have a'changed very much so from when we raised our girls. Did I say I have always operated at my own speed? There was a reason I was dubbed The Poky Puppy in Kindergarten, and I’m stubborn, too. <br />
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It isn't as though people have told me my whole life that I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>worthy; quite the opposite, in fact. The spotlight I enjoyed so much when I was younger came from my singing, for which I received a lot of appreciation, support and encouragement. But it's almost as if singing was too easy. My words were different. They were personal, and they were my (crazy?) thoughts and feelings...things I was afraid to put out there for the world to see. I did have teachers who encouraged me about writing, from as far back as grade school. I can vividly remember Mrs. Schroeder telling me in fifth grade how descriptive my writing was. And during one of the most difficult times in my life, working in corporate America and so not fitting in, a communications consultant I'd befriended told me that I had the ability to impact people someday. College just never happened, but motherhood did, and years of keeping my words to myself made any confidence I may have once had falter. I occasionally showed my daughters bits of my writing and they liked it, but what else could they say? <i>What if everybody my whole life was just humoring me?</i> I mean, watch American Idol auditions for five minutes and you realize there are plenty of people whose families delude them into thinking they’re great.<br />
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Well this is me. Operating at my own speed. In my forties, I'm finally coming to accept that maybe I don't have to be Special, I just have to be Willing. Everything I write doesn't have to be Brilliant, it just has to be Good, and it's OK to do it just for myself. Writing daily does seem to be having a positive effect on quieting my mind, and that's a good thing. At some point, however, I have to be willing to risk rejection, to risk people rolling their eyes and thinking, "Who does she think she is?" (Probably my worst fear and what has paralyzed me more than anything else over the years.) In the meantime, if you get something from what I write, GREAT! If not, as my very encouraging friend and “writing colleague,” Sondra Dee Garrison said, "There's plenty to go around." There exists something out there that will resonate with you, and in turn, what I write will surely resonate with someone. Anyone? Hello? <br />
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<a href="http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-march-2012-blogroll?wrap=nablopomo-blogrolls&snid=570491">Check out the Blogrolls here.</a> Cross-posted to <a href="http://www.westcoastposse.com/wcp-bloggage.html">West Coast Posse</a>, which will be home in April.<br />
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" /> Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-63221101458743293942012-03-14T18:23:00.003-07:002012-03-14T19:26:41.854-07:00Hungry Anyone?A couple of years ago, my then thirteen-year-old niece told me about the book she was reading, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331772522&sr=8-1">"The Hunger Games," by Suzanne Collins</a>. She absolutely loved it, and even my brother was reading it. Still, I was a little dismissive about reading a book whose intended audience was initially middle schoolers and up. As hungrily as both of my girls read the entire Harry Potter series and have eagerly awaited every movie, I've yet to read the books. I believe all the hype; I'm certain they're as wonderful as everyone says they are, but I guess I'm waiting to experience them for the first time with my son. Unfortunately he's still absorbed in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Quest-Ferno-Fire-Dragon/dp/0439906512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331772692&sr=8-1">Beast Quest series, by Adam Blade</a>, and he's not quite ready for demons and parents dieing. Which, by the way, is a great way to get a little boy who is a reluctant reader off and running.<br />
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Flash forward to all the hype surrounding The Hunger Games series recently, and the fact that the <a href="http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/">movie</a> is being released on March 23, and I finally got on board. And I'm so glad I did. I finished the first book into the am hours last night, and immediately got the second one and can't wait to begin reading it tonight. Even though this series was conceived or at least marketed for young readers, it is so tightly written, and the story develops so well through the action, you won't feel at all like you're reading one of your kids' books. <br />
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I always try to read a book before I see a movie, because I think the best thing about hunkering down with a truly great book is the part my own imagination plays in the experience. And in my imagination, my amazing niece was Katniss Everdeen herself. She is one of the strongest young ladies I know. She's a competitive gymnast and an archer, and I could clearly see the determination she shows in her sport in every one of those pages. I imagined Rue as a blend of my three younger nieces, and saw the admiration they have always had for their big sister in Prim. All my nieces are feisty, fierce and admirable in their character, strength and fortitude, both on the mats and off, and I certainly wouldn't bet against any one of them in any game. And from now on, I'll keep an open mind when they recommend a good book.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-march-2012-blogroll?wrap=nablopomo-blogrolls&snid=570491">Check out the Blogrolls list here:</a><br />
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" /> Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-32277326005337516202012-03-12T18:16:00.002-07:002012-03-12T19:47:23.351-07:00Oops, I Did it AgainUgh! It doesn't take much to put me in a tailspin. A simple one hour time change will do it quite sufficiently. My son and I both had a devil of a time getting out of bed this morning, and then horror of horrors, I was looking at a clock that didn't get switched and failed to pick him up at noon (never mind the itty bitty one in the corner of the computer screen I was sitting in front of)! An ENTIRE week of half days for conferences WOULD have to coincide with Spring Forward! Really? <i>This</i> is good planning?<br />
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Am I the only mom who requires a good week to maybe a month to become accustomed to the spring time change? I don't seem to have nearly the problem adjusting in the fall that I do in the spring. Maybe the problem is when I lose that hour, it takes me until fall to find it.<br />
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Of course, this isn't the first time I've failed to pick up a child, and Lord help me, but it probably won't be the last either. When my oldest daughter was young and I was working full-time, there was one day a week she didn't go to her after school program because she had Brownies. This meant I had to collect her half an hour earlier that night than the rest of the week. This created a bit of a problem. I'm pretty good when I can get into a routine, but any little wrinkle and I'm trying to head off trouble at the pass. Mind you, this was well before iPhones with alarms and calendars were invented to keep us on track. I had only my Franklin Planner, and as brilliant as they were at the time, it didn't yell at me to go pick up my kid! So...let's just say there were occasions when I might have arrived a few minutes late.<br />
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Snooty Mrs. Brownie Leader did not like me, and therefore she didn't like my child. She clearly saw herself as Mrs. Perfect Mom and saw me as Single Loser Mom, when I was really more like Trying To Keep Her Car From Getting Repossessed and Keep Her Kid Alive Mom. In the long run I failed at the first part (briefly; got it refinanced and got it back, thanks to someone who didn't look down on single moms), but must say I did pretty brilliantly at the second part because my daughter is a Purdue graduate and will marry her high school sweetheart later this year.<br />
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Anyhow, Snooty Mrs. Brownie Leader had warned me that this particular Tuesday I <i>had</i> to be on time because she was leaving at exactly 5:30 to go vote at the Baroda Town Hall. Well that's like inviting a kid not to take the last jelly bean when you turn your back. I mean, if you put it in my mind, make me fret and obsess about it all day long, chances are pretty good that it's going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy and become exactly what I do. It's just the way I'm wired! I don't like being wired that way, but I am.<br />
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So I drive frantically all the way from Whirlpool, which is way north of town, to Hollywood School, which is far south of town, only to find the parking lot empty and the gymnasium doors locked. Remember that this was well before iPhones? I didn't even have the <a href="http://www.mycricket.com/community/sites/all/uploads/images/michael-douglas-wall-street.jpg">Michael Douglas shoe phone</a> from Wall Street! I had to drive through my tears to a payphone at a gas station and call my brother who lived two blocks from the Baroda Town Hall. He sprinted across the lawns in his bare feet, found her with Snooty Brownie Leader, and sprinted back to his house with her on his shoulders, giggling and delighted at the prospect of spending the unexpected time with her uncle and aunt.<br />
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Yeah...she never went to Brownies again. And she didn't miss it one bit. Unfortunately, my son still has to go to school tomorrow.<br />
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yLNGabmjNfJH1w7NGabmjNADs0Zpua5248WQW2rQ2Mts4WZgqShwepwCR6f0q4Upzvyq9jKpWhTtzu1zpM1n/wBqRnVXsMqWCqcgnIJ7HI/lmqWra9Ha2UgjkSOUrlXcHpkZx2zg+lUNB1m11O08hJB9shnLGSR/nlG3K5yOADxn0NdFPDScHJq/b/P9Djr4201GPzOTvcHTpMn5iy4+u4VlbMZ471riayRjDdSPJtlG7yiNuxQcsD65/nVWd9JN2fs+oDyDg5dW3L6jpzj9a91M8No9f/Z7OB4iT/agP6NXt2a+bfhV4nHh291RNOtX1WS6VGMUe5DGFJGeVOc7q9Q/4WHqu058Kzgjp+9bH/oFVdCsehUV8+eOviPrw1W38ue80ZfJ/wBRE5w/zH5uQPp+FXPAvxN8QyW89qLaXWnMu5ZZ5W3rwPlAA6d/xp3A92orz5fGPjBn+Xwflf8Aro2f5UDxT47b7vhGEfWRqdwPQaQ1wI8ReP2Tjwrahs8EyHGP++qG1r4itjZ4b04eu6Q//FUXA7w9KYw71wz6r8SGf93oWlIvo0hJ/wDQqYL74mMTu0zRwMcDJ6/990XA7rPNMuc/Zn/D+dcBLefE2OMsbPSyfRI8/wDs1eKeLLrXG8UXranb3K3TsGlC7lXJHYZxii4HouaM03NGa+UPrLjs0ZpuaVQzsFUEkngUwuSSWrT+HLzU4L6wjESygLNcbW3JkHjHqK84j8P6lreq2VxYRb7eNY2knmO1AQckZ7n2FdfeaVoulyy3WpzNJ5hJ+yK58sk9cqPvE/5zXGa146vNTvIbC1U2lnvVGhj4YjdgrkdB7CvaoRioWpq3c+exE5zn7zv2Ou1Txdo3hq1bTl2XEsiqknAdhg8nP8Nc/a2Hg1kv9S03Wbm5uVUSOlxblEQls8dM4P8AKmX2hRReH726extEcQb0aKLDBtw759M1wUC4kZdhOQzYx2Cmrwsoyg1HoZ14zjL392KJi9xJGZWEcm7hTgHqRWnYxxRqN4H5daw41aWdVQZJOBW4mnzMoIniOB2yf6V1PQxPXfgi8A8WXwQAH7Ce3+2te7F19RXzP8K72TQPEdzdvFJcrLamIJCMHO5T/FgdBXpb/FG2EpiTStRkcHGECHn8GqlJWFZndapoWja0Y21PTra6aPIQyoCVHsaNO0TR9JYnTtOgtiepiTHFebT/ABk063lMc2l6jE69VkVVP6muL8efE6HWrK0Fhdanp0kMhYrGylZsjHzAEHjt9TRzIdj6Ja+txdC18+P7QULiLcN+0dTjrjnr71IZR6j86+Ixrtwskk3mTNPIfnl80hmHoT1/WpYNY1KdZP8ASZcBc/fP8yaLiPtH7fbfaDbC4i8/bu8reN+PXbnOKSW9t4BmaeKMZ/5aSBf5mvkDw14jfQbyfVCgnuo9vk3DFt0ZIIJHPPXv6VJr/iy48TrPcXkMc955aoLgqVdQG4AwcevbuaLgfXB1K0XrdQD/ALar/jUFzr+l2kLTXGo2kca9WaZeOcetfG6SzRxqzsfKZyAcZHXp61spqXh2LT4CIL036q3nbnHlSnHyjHUAHn8KLgfW0eo204HlXEMuRn5JA3H4GmTtAyEvFGx9wK+SdB8Rtos8V6J8TRSb44IFKjIBHzEnGOe2a9CT43O0QSXSk3EdftHX9KfMFjTzRmm0V8sfVDs1bkb7B4fuL9QDOQRHnoAO/wCf8qpVS1/VETRms9w3gAAfXn+tdmCgpVG30RxY+dqaiurKtjpnnsLy9czTvzk9B7Ckfw1YNdm58pQ+d3A6mtK1GLWIf7NSk4rndSSbszojShypWKOrW7S6TNFGMqsbOyZ2l1UbiobsSB1FeQT3qXFw5hV4YuSqvJkgeme9evatcSW+mXMkLBZBE4BI9VIrx+TTg1wEgLSM7BURVJJJ6ADrXo5fzWknt/VzyswS9on5Gx4Xsf7SvTukljiKMu9RnDcev1rs4/AccoD/ANqHPYNDx+jCuYstP17wvKsV1pxtzMN4hukeJyOmQGGa0p/H0unXBt7jT5VdR0LYNdsk29DiVrampLoF/px/0fVxEAT/AKqIqTn/AIFXO62buytkaIWzyltrMLZAx98+tPuPH6XMbN9hfHfL1kXOtXmqxkW9qqInzFnbI/XihKQNoge6u70Fby5f95w7SvngDj6AegrGupvPnLhVUdAFGBiphHeXcU8/LRpgOSQB7Ae/sKqjpWqRLEUZNSnAAAV1+ppg+Vs1biJYDmmItWFq11btB5DKhYEuSAT+dXbvSXttPkeCBjkqDhwSefQc11ehyeH44bdrzUbVf3C7lYHcG7g49PpWzeX3hN4VEOpwCRWH3VP0PapA8jZf4fIkDZ+5k9aWWCRFLsgVc9A2a2bsK+o3TxMBb+c5RyOCu44x60yGEXcv7wN9nTOSTgsfr/nFMZh7l45/OnwtEX+cIy/7Xaunl023kQuyoAPvZHyj+qn2PHpXMXVuEdpEGIiflwc4HofemI91opuaM18yfUDs1wl/ef2hreEyVMhb/gOcD+ldN4g1Aafo80ucO3yJ9T/gMn8K5XwxZyXd39odTtznPsOn+fpXfhv3dKU310POxV6laEF01O8hG2JB6Clc4FA4AqOQ8VwW1PQ2Rl6wPtNjPBkjzEK/TIxTvhh4O1O28VRapLYK4tozcWyXKsnnYIB8s4ILAEfmKsW1i2qavaWCk/6RMsZI7AnBP4DmvQ/EJsL/AMSw+Z4hXRrbSv8ARbZ0IBMu0F8EnAABQHP0r0sLdQZ5eLtKSuY2rRWfiHwpHdXlhq0ulWF1KZItXdlvLhn52xbTnC545/hweAaxtM8K6FY+J4dPu0s9XtbmxkurOW7VS7w7WdDzjBBBB+hrW8Q64PCE8Gt6t4rh8Q3dvIP7NtIyqY3Aq7uqHGdpIDHPU96891H4otf+Ljr76Jbs6WZs4IjcMqxIwYPwByTubnjtXpWPNN/S9C8P6hBoN02j6fJJe3dxb3P2UiSBVELOqttJVZQRkBe2a4tfAt2FsrJr2Eat/ZpvhY7W/wBXzJt3dA+w5x0981JoPjz/AIR63trSx0qCOyhuGumia4dmllMZjBZsdApOFAHPJzTX8cyyXEd59mhj1JLI6et6GZisRGzdt6GQJ8u7p3xmmBozeDY/DVlq95c39tPd6VJbLLatBuhMswyMsSNwC55APPPTmtq48OWNv8SvElu2jaV/ZlvYXD2sP7skNGhZW27t2d2c5FReJfFXhrU7S6iufs13bQBBpkdvcXKsQCq/vI2Hlp8mc7QCD931rG/4WDanxTquuPpCPNqUDwSKZn+VWUq23jjIPT60AQxfCfUp757We7S3uY5bdLpPsz7IjOQq7W6PhmQNjpk4yBXM+IdBi8P3wtItUt76eNpI51hVh5LoxUqSRz0zkdsV0L+NLW48UQ+I7rSYJdVR4ZHlZ3Ad4iu1to4DHauT0POAM1z2q3NvqutXeogfZxcytKYwC4BY5bBPuSfxpiM6N5QeSf8AgQqxGZh90g9zhcnNSILcf8t3P0T/AOvUiS2qE/vJST/0zH+NIYCCSQF5GycdM1cRv3gbgcDocAAfy/8Ar896rfabYdGl/wC+R/jTWubdm+ZpSufu4GPx5oAnu7xZIyikCIDr93P9VXuOoyPSs6OJru7PzujD7zrjcPqCRnPrUsk1s4z++Bz1AH+f8akjvLeFVQJIYxnKNgqf/wBVLUD1uiiivnD6YzNX0yPUvJEpOIySATxk45x61as7OKzhWOJcDHX1ooq3J8qXQzUUpN9SzTH6GiioNGVHVlcOjlWHIZTgisrVI2OnXAZ2YKjsATkbiOT9TgfkKKK3pt3RzVUrM87nUJFHjuwpgXrRRXvHghgGjHNFFABjFGOaKKAFpaKKAFxSbRmiigAxQBRRTAMHHWk2+9FFAH//2Q==" />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-85938420031967781462012-03-10T15:37:00.003-08:002012-03-12T19:45:20.661-07:00Big Girl PantiesThat's my new mantra.<br />
<br />
As in:<br />
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I don't <i>want</i> to clean my son's bathroom (ew)...<i>put on your Big Girl Panties, your rubber gloves and a face mask and just do it</i>, <i>preferably right before your shower, and maybe even naked</i>.<br />
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I don't <i>feel like</i> walking today...<i>put on your Big Girl Panties, your shoes and just do it</i>.<br />
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I don't <i>know</i> what to write today...<i>put on your Big Girl Panties, sit at your computer and just start typing.</i><br />
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I don't <i>care</i> to fight with my kid about eating his broccoli...<i>put on your Big Girl Panties, make the damn broccoli and just </i><i>set a good example and </i><i>eat it yourself first.</i><br />
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And here's a big one:<br />
<i> </i><br />
I don't <i>have a clue</i> where to begin to help my kid succeed in school...<i>put on your Big Girl Panties, talk to his teacher, and be willing to go in </i>every day<i>, STUDY THOSE MATH FACTS </i>every day<i>, and give him the opportunity to rise to the high expectations he is more than capable of meeting. </i>In other words, make him put on his <i>Big Girl Panties.</i><br />
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Self-discipline has never been something I tap into easily. But the payoffs are magical, numerous and probably limitless (I say probably because I only just started so I don't actually know for sure yet, but I have an inkling). For instance, you won't be embarrassed when the Potty Queen is over, however briefly and unexpectedly, and must use your bathroom. If you just put your shoes on first thing when you change your clothes in the morning, you'll be more likely to walk, which will feel great and your dog will love you even more and won't pester you so much when you're trying to write, which could eventually lead to something delightful and unexpected even if you didn't know in advance what you were sitting down to write that day, but that probably actually came to you while you were walking. <br />
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And best of all, the kid who cried daily about math homework and took hours to complete five problems, suddenly answers, <i>"Actually math,"</i> was his favorite thing at school, when, "Recess," was the usual answer to the daily question. Not only that, he approaches homework enthusiastically, and completes it in a timely manner and has time to <i>actually play</i> after dinner <i>on a weeknight</i>.<br />
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So what if he still doesn't eat his broccoli with similar enthusiasm...neither do I. But <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-roasted-broccoli-recipe/index.html">this recipe from The Barefoot Contessa</a> might actually rectify that situation in the future. And here you go, in case you need your own <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hanes-Women-s-Cotton-Brief-Panties-6-Pack/10855203">set of Big Girl Panties</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-march-2012-blogroll?wrap=nablopomo-blogrolls&snid=570491">Check out the Blogrolls list here</a><br />
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<img alt="" 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" />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-25570588932957944862012-03-08T09:57:00.002-08:002012-03-08T13:46:44.906-08:00I Totally Lied!I'm a sucker for validation. I do need it, and when I don't get (enough of) it, I pout.<br />
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This is me. Pouting.<br />
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Plus, I need to do more than just wash m' bits. I need a real shower, like shaving and hair washing and blow-drying and all. Maybe I should just get a wax. Alas, no--been there, done that, and NEVER again! <a href="http://mwwah.com.au/mwwah/never-wax-your-hoo-ha-by-unknown/%20">This IS NOT mine</a>, but consider it my public service announcement and a humorous little bonus for today.<br />
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And, writing every day means the dust bunnies are winning.<br />
<br />
I've missed my <a href="http://www.dyson.com/store/product.asp?product=DC26-CFIRSB">Dyson Canister Vac</a>; we need to get reacquainted.<br />
<br />
Back tomorrow with more wisdom (I hope) and introspection. I do some of my best thinking when I'm vacuuming...and showering...so tomorrow should really be good!<br />
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<img alt="" 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yLNGabmjNfJH1w7NGabmjNADs0Zpua5248WQW2rQ2Mts4WZgqShwepwCR6f0q4Upzvyq9jKpWhTtzu1zpM1n/wBqRnVXsMqWCqcgnIJ7HI/lmqWra9Ha2UgjkSOUrlXcHpkZx2zg+lUNB1m11O08hJB9shnLGSR/nlG3K5yOADxn0NdFPDScHJq/b/P9Djr4201GPzOTvcHTpMn5iy4+u4VlbMZ471riayRjDdSPJtlG7yiNuxQcsD65/nVWd9JN2fs+oDyDg5dW3L6jpzj9a91M8No9f/Z7OB4iT/agP6NXt2a+bfhV4nHh291RNOtX1WS6VGMUe5DGFJGeVOc7q9Q/4WHqu058Kzgjp+9bH/oFVdCsehUV8+eOviPrw1W38ue80ZfJ/wBRE5w/zH5uQPp+FXPAvxN8QyW89qLaXWnMu5ZZ5W3rwPlAA6d/xp3A92orz5fGPjBn+Xwflf8Aro2f5UDxT47b7vhGEfWRqdwPQaQ1wI8ReP2Tjwrahs8EyHGP++qG1r4itjZ4b04eu6Q//FUXA7w9KYw71wz6r8SGf93oWlIvo0hJ/wDQqYL74mMTu0zRwMcDJ6/990XA7rPNMuc/Zn/D+dcBLefE2OMsbPSyfRI8/wDs1eKeLLrXG8UXranb3K3TsGlC7lXJHYZxii4HouaM03NGa+UPrLjs0ZpuaVQzsFUEkngUwuSSWrT+HLzU4L6wjESygLNcbW3JkHjHqK84j8P6lreq2VxYRb7eNY2knmO1AQckZ7n2FdfeaVoulyy3WpzNJ5hJ+yK58sk9cqPvE/5zXGa146vNTvIbC1U2lnvVGhj4YjdgrkdB7CvaoRioWpq3c+exE5zn7zv2Ou1Txdo3hq1bTl2XEsiqknAdhg8nP8Nc/a2Hg1kv9S03Wbm5uVUSOlxblEQls8dM4P8AKmX2hRReH726extEcQb0aKLDBtw759M1wUC4kZdhOQzYx2Cmrwsoyg1HoZ14zjL392KJi9xJGZWEcm7hTgHqRWnYxxRqN4H5daw41aWdVQZJOBW4mnzMoIniOB2yf6V1PQxPXfgi8A8WXwQAH7Ce3+2te7F19RXzP8K72TQPEdzdvFJcrLamIJCMHO5T/FgdBXpb/FG2EpiTStRkcHGECHn8GqlJWFZndapoWja0Y21PTra6aPIQyoCVHsaNO0TR9JYnTtOgtiepiTHFebT/ABk063lMc2l6jE69VkVVP6muL8efE6HWrK0Fhdanp0kMhYrGylZsjHzAEHjt9TRzIdj6Ja+txdC18+P7QULiLcN+0dTjrjnr71IZR6j86+Ixrtwskk3mTNPIfnl80hmHoT1/WpYNY1KdZP8ASZcBc/fP8yaLiPtH7fbfaDbC4i8/bu8reN+PXbnOKSW9t4BmaeKMZ/5aSBf5mvkDw14jfQbyfVCgnuo9vk3DFt0ZIIJHPPXv6VJr/iy48TrPcXkMc955aoLgqVdQG4AwcevbuaLgfXB1K0XrdQD/ALar/jUFzr+l2kLTXGo2kca9WaZeOcetfG6SzRxqzsfKZyAcZHXp61spqXh2LT4CIL036q3nbnHlSnHyjHUAHn8KLgfW0eo204HlXEMuRn5JA3H4GmTtAyEvFGx9wK+SdB8Rtos8V6J8TRSb44IFKjIBHzEnGOe2a9CT43O0QSXSk3EdftHX9KfMFjTzRmm0V8sfVDs1bkb7B4fuL9QDOQRHnoAO/wCf8qpVS1/VETRms9w3gAAfXn+tdmCgpVG30RxY+dqaiurKtjpnnsLy9czTvzk9B7Ckfw1YNdm58pQ+d3A6mtK1GLWIf7NSk4rndSSbszojShypWKOrW7S6TNFGMqsbOyZ2l1UbiobsSB1FeQT3qXFw5hV4YuSqvJkgeme9evatcSW+mXMkLBZBE4BI9VIrx+TTg1wEgLSM7BURVJJJ6ADrXo5fzWknt/VzyswS9on5Gx4Xsf7SvTukljiKMu9RnDcev1rs4/AccoD/ANqHPYNDx+jCuYstP17wvKsV1pxtzMN4hukeJyOmQGGa0p/H0unXBt7jT5VdR0LYNdsk29DiVrampLoF/px/0fVxEAT/AKqIqTn/AIFXO62buytkaIWzyltrMLZAx98+tPuPH6XMbN9hfHfL1kXOtXmqxkW9qqInzFnbI/XihKQNoge6u70Fby5f95w7SvngDj6AegrGupvPnLhVUdAFGBiphHeXcU8/LRpgOSQB7Ae/sKqjpWqRLEUZNSnAAAV1+ppg+Vs1biJYDmmItWFq11btB5DKhYEuSAT+dXbvSXttPkeCBjkqDhwSefQc11ehyeH44bdrzUbVf3C7lYHcG7g49PpWzeX3hN4VEOpwCRWH3VP0PapA8jZf4fIkDZ+5k9aWWCRFLsgVc9A2a2bsK+o3TxMBb+c5RyOCu44x60yGEXcv7wN9nTOSTgsfr/nFMZh7l45/OnwtEX+cIy/7Xaunl023kQuyoAPvZHyj+qn2PHpXMXVuEdpEGIiflwc4HofemI91opuaM18yfUDs1wl/ef2hreEyVMhb/gOcD+ldN4g1Aafo80ucO3yJ9T/gMn8K5XwxZyXd39odTtznPsOn+fpXfhv3dKU310POxV6laEF01O8hG2JB6Clc4FA4AqOQ8VwW1PQ2Rl6wPtNjPBkjzEK/TIxTvhh4O1O28VRapLYK4tozcWyXKsnnYIB8s4ILAEfmKsW1i2qavaWCk/6RMsZI7AnBP4DmvQ/EJsL/AMSw+Z4hXRrbSv8ARbZ0IBMu0F8EnAABQHP0r0sLdQZ5eLtKSuY2rRWfiHwpHdXlhq0ulWF1KZItXdlvLhn52xbTnC545/hweAaxtM8K6FY+J4dPu0s9XtbmxkurOW7VS7w7WdDzjBBBB+hrW8Q64PCE8Gt6t4rh8Q3dvIP7NtIyqY3Aq7uqHGdpIDHPU96891H4otf+Ljr76Jbs6WZs4IjcMqxIwYPwByTubnjtXpWPNN/S9C8P6hBoN02j6fJJe3dxb3P2UiSBVELOqttJVZQRkBe2a4tfAt2FsrJr2Eat/ZpvhY7W/wBXzJt3dA+w5x0981JoPjz/AIR63trSx0qCOyhuGumia4dmllMZjBZsdApOFAHPJzTX8cyyXEd59mhj1JLI6et6GZisRGzdt6GQJ8u7p3xmmBozeDY/DVlq95c39tPd6VJbLLatBuhMswyMsSNwC55APPPTmtq48OWNv8SvElu2jaV/ZlvYXD2sP7skNGhZW27t2d2c5FReJfFXhrU7S6iufs13bQBBpkdvcXKsQCq/vI2Hlp8mc7QCD931rG/4WDanxTquuPpCPNqUDwSKZn+VWUq23jjIPT60AQxfCfUp757We7S3uY5bdLpPsz7IjOQq7W6PhmQNjpk4yBXM+IdBi8P3wtItUt76eNpI51hVh5LoxUqSRz0zkdsV0L+NLW48UQ+I7rSYJdVR4ZHlZ3Ad4iu1to4DHauT0POAM1z2q3NvqutXeogfZxcytKYwC4BY5bBPuSfxpiM6N5QeSf8AgQqxGZh90g9zhcnNSILcf8t3P0T/AOvUiS2qE/vJST/0zH+NIYCCSQF5GycdM1cRv3gbgcDocAAfy/8Ar896rfabYdGl/wC+R/jTWubdm+ZpSufu4GPx5oAnu7xZIyikCIDr93P9VXuOoyPSs6OJru7PzujD7zrjcPqCRnPrUsk1s4z++Bz1AH+f8akjvLeFVQJIYxnKNgqf/wBVLUD1uiiivnD6YzNX0yPUvJEpOIySATxk45x61as7OKzhWOJcDHX1ooq3J8qXQzUUpN9SzTH6GiioNGVHVlcOjlWHIZTgisrVI2OnXAZ2YKjsATkbiOT9TgfkKKK3pt3RzVUrM87nUJFHjuwpgXrRRXvHghgGjHNFFABjFGOaKKAFpaKKAFxSbRmiigAxQBRRTAMHHWk2+9FFAH//2Q==" /> <br />
<a href="http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-march-2012-blogroll?wrap=nablopomo-blogrolls&snid=570491">Check out the Blogrolls list here</a>Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-90946638821036799752012-03-07T13:28:00.003-08:002012-03-07T14:43:45.845-08:00A Rose by Any Other Name....I was sitting in my neighbor's kitchen having coffee this morning, looking out over her spectacular view of the San Diego coast, and wishing we didn't live on the other side of the street. We were chatting about the things neighbors chat about, and I told her about my recent daily writing expedition for <a href="http://www.blogher.com/">BlogHer</a>'s <a href="http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-soup-add-your-march-posts">NaBloPoMo</a>. And lo and behold, today's writing prompt asks us "Would you rather have more blog readers or more blog comments?" This is timely for me because I was lamenting that the blog I started with one measly entry back in 2006 not only fails to define me now, but I fear it also fails to attract readers. Being gluten free defined me then, because I allowed it to define me. All these years later, however, being gluten free represents only one very small facet of my life, my experience, and what I feel I can contribute to the Blogosphere.<br />
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Point in fact: I finally had the chance yesterday to visit and peruse Melissa Ford's blog, <a href="http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://stirrup-queens.com/">"Stirrup Queens."</a> Before visiting, I couldn't imagine what a blog of that title was about. I assumed she was an expert of all things horsey; that perhaps she road horses, showed horses, owned a barn, shoveled shit in a barn, heck, maybe she even did her writing <i>in</i> her barn. I've met some horsey people from my daughter's years of taking riding lessons, and am familiar with the drama that tends to go on in barns. I thought it could be an entertaining way to pass the afternoon, and it could prove to be good research. Well you could have knocked me over with a flake of hay when I discovered that the stirrups to which she was referring were the ones we women put our heels into when a doctor type is having a look...er, down there!<br />
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It turns out that Stirrup Queens is a meticulous blog, into which Melissa has put an incredible amount of volunteer work. It connects women who are dealing with or have dealt with infertility (IF), whatever the outcome. Oh, to have had access to this fifteen years ago, but it still very much resonated with me because it isn’t something you forget or ever get over. Within her blog are sub-blogs that help connect those with one diagnosis vs. another who, through whatever means, achieved pregnancy but without a baby at the end (me), those who have adopted, and those who were blessed to give birth to a baby or babies at the end of it all (also me, very fortunately so). Through Melissa's blog, I came upon <a href="http://peanutsmom.blogspot.com/">"Certainly Not Cool Enough To Blog,"</a> written by a woman who identifies herself only as "msfitzita," whose journey through infertility has come to an unfruitful end, with which she is trying to make peace. She writes so eloquently about being a "childless mother," and being in "perpetual mourning," and her feelings are so raw and palpable; she puts into words almost everything I've ever felt about being a mother, trying to be a mother again, being a mother whose monumental efforts end in loss, and even being a mother who can't believe some days how blessed I am to have become one again. I can't know how it feels to be a mother who can't touch, sing to, mold, treasure, and even fight with her children, except through msfitzita's beautifully penned words, and others like her.<br />
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It's been tossing about in my mind for some time, but it is partly through reading her blog that I understood that being a mother is the very essence of who I am, and permeates every facet of who I became the moment I realized I was pregnant with my daughter at only twenty years old and alone; as well, through the struggles and riches of being a step-mom. If I possess an ounce of the power to help and connect others as these women do, I would rather have more readers, whether or not they ever post a comment. I don't think I can do that with the Gluten-Free Gratefully name I chose for my blog so many years ago. The only people who are likely to read it now are those who are looking specifically for gluten-free answers, recipes and advice, of which there are probably thousands out there now. Back then there weren't so many, and if I hadn't been so mired in our daily dietary and behavioral struggles, and trying to survive from one day to the next, like Melissa I might now be recognized as a pioneer in that community.<br />
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And here's another thing...I didn't follow the normal, ‘conventional medicine’ path to have my son. I started out that way, but my path veered off in a very different direction, when I overcame my polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis through natural, dietary and holistic means. This is also something about which I feel I can share and contribute. It is also the original vision I had for my wannabe website, <a href="http://www.glutennazimom.com/">"GlutenNaziMom;"</a> yet another example of the ideas being right there, but the execution hovering just out of reach due to my self-diagnosed ADD ways. Not only am I all over the place in my daily life, I'm pretty much all over the place on the internet, too. So in this particular case, if you are reading, I would appreciate your comments with any pointers in the right direction. Speaking of which, I need to catch up on that Writing for the Internet online course I'm taking so I can figure out how to put it all together into one place.<br />
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<i>Stay tuned</i>......<br />
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src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-20906853951021867152012-03-06T11:18:00.001-08:002012-03-06T13:33:28.029-08:00Conflict of Interest InterruptusI<i> tried</i> to write yesterday, really I did. My day began delightfully, with a rare hour and a half spent talking with my mom on the phone. She was excited and energized about her business and a new friendship with possibilities of romance, and she has a great idea about how to develop her business this year. I encouraged her to take a leap of faith and go for it. I was energized and excited by my newly developed "daily" writing habit which, for my ADD addled brain, is a pretty hard habit to come by. Of course she was proud of me and encouraged me to keep it up. <br />
<br />
Just a little caffeine helps keep me somewhat focused, but some (many) days it's not enough. Yesterday was one of those days. It didn't help that I had a hair appointment I had to rush to get ready for, the gecko needed worms (like, bad!), my son had Taekwondo after school, homework had to be done, dinner wasn't even on the radar yet, so somewhere in there a quick stop at the grocery store was required. By the time I had a moment to write, I was beyond pooped, and nothing I came up with was worthy of publishing. <br />
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And, well, The Bachelor's "The Women Tell All" episode was on and I was distracted by the horrific behavior of those women toward one another, again. I am still dumbfounded by any of it surrounding this particular bachelor (sorry, Ben). He has a certain charm to him, but he needs to stop cutting his own hair and the smacking! He is the smackiest kisser I can recall on any Bachelor or Bachelorette season yet. I actually found him more appealing in the silliness of the outtakes than during what's been aired all season. <i> </i><br />
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<i>So why am I still watching?</i> Why are any of us still watching? Why do any of the shows that depict people, particularly women, who behave so badly toward one another draw such an audience? Clearly, the presence of cameras brings out the worst in people who aren't trained or scripted to behave otherwise, and maybe that's the key to and the definition of (anti-)Reality TV.<br />
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Perhaps shows like that allow us to become absorbed in someone else's drama momentarily; to fantasize about how we would have liked to respond to that parent at school who yelled at our kid, or the person in front of us at the grocery store with thirty-eight items in the fifteen item or less express lane, or even our husband who "helpfully" removes the package of plastic cups from the refrigerator and stores them <i>above our eye level</i> so we have to search frantically to find them when we need them to go to school with the drink we have to provide for the class Valentine's Day party, which is why they were in the bag in the refrigerator with the drinks that went with them in the first place; so that our ADD brain couldn't possibly leave for school without them!<br />
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Sometimes I would love to be the lady who talks to herself like there's someone standing next to her by the grapefruit and then by the peppers and again by the apples (and I never did see her buy anything), or that person who parks their car all askew and makes no attempt to fix it, or the one to leave a package of pork chops on the shelf by the laundry detergent instead of taking it up front to the checkout where a bagger can run it back to refrigeration, but I'm not. I'm just the girl who sometimes gets distracted a little too easily and forgets what she was doing five minutes ago, who leaves laundry in the washer too long and has to rewash it, who forgets to buy worms for the gecko for two weeks, or who has a little trouble focusing on her writing on a particularly hectic day and just needs to escape reality for a little while...<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Squirrel!</i><br />
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" /><br />
http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo-soup-add-your-march-postsKim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-23490699734994921872012-03-04T20:25:00.003-08:002012-03-06T13:37:26.977-08:00Trying to Find Love in a TabletOn a recent visit with her family to San Diego, my girlfriend, Anna, shared a great book with me; "The Happiness Project," by Gretchen Rubin. I've only read the first couple chapters so far, but perhaps you've noticed in my blog that I've been conscious of making the best of being so far away from family, longtime friends and what will always be home. Let me tell you, spending the afternoon with newer friends, sitting beside a pool on March 4 was definitely a good reason to be grateful and happy today.<br />
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I just love pools, beaches, and activities of any kind on any body of water. Growing up in a resort town on the shores of Lake Michigan has made me a water child, for sure. Plus I'm a Cancer, which is a water sign. I also love books. One of my favorite things to do while relaxing by a pool is read a great book.<br />
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I dearly miss books, in fact. Good old-fashioned, curl the pages back, dogear them all you want, paperback books. I love to display hardcover books; the colors of the jackets and the art are pleasing to me. I have books out in my guest room in case my guests can't sleep. And once upon a time, I even had two large library shelves filled with books in my living room. My children have all had vast book collections; even Aidan, who is coming of age in the tablet generation. <br />
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I've been trying to get accustomed to reading e-books, but it's just not the same. I miss hungrily turning each page. I miss the smell of books; ruffling the pages so the smell wafts up on the breeze it makes. Books feel warm and like things to be treasured, tablets seem cold and impersonal. Most of all, I miss passing along a book to a good friend, and receiving one in return.<br />
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I'm trying to be hip...after all, I'm writing a BLOG, aren't I? But let's just say that I'm not in love with my tablet just yet in the same way that I've always enjoyed a love affair with a great book.<br />
<a 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" 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" /></a><br />
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http://www.blogher.com/join-us-daily-blogging-marchs-nablopomo <span id="goog_706455386"></span><span id="goog_706455387"></span>Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-19728922062177322052012-03-03T18:39:00.002-08:002012-03-06T13:13:12.338-08:00My PosseI've been very fortunate in my life to be enfolded by a large support group of women; the equivalent of a constant hug. I have been blessed with two wonderful daughters, my mother, grandmothers, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, aunts, bosses, employees, roommates, neighbors and exceptional girlfriends. We’ve leaned on one another in times of struggle, and we’ve celebrated one another’s victories.<br />
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Of course there have been other women in my life; women who have been less support system, more saboteur or even assassin. And in fact today’s blog is inspired by a friend’s Facebook status that was lamenting mean girls in her daughter’s first grade class. This is about the good, not the ugly, but I regularly see snippets from anti-reality shows like any of the Real Housewives, Jersey Shore or practically anything else on MTV, The Bachelor (a guilty pleasure of mine, as much as I hate myself for not just watching, but downright anticipating such drivel—let’s call it research), and wonder what we’re teaching young girls today about how real women function in the real world. Reality TV is the farthest thing from reality in most cases, and it certainly doesn’t represent my experience of how the majority of grown up women relate to one another in the real world.<br />
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My Posse has taught me to cheer women on, to vote for women, to hold them up and help them succeed. We forgive the occasional misspoken word, give the benefit of doubt in most cases, and accept apologies when offered. We hope for only the best in life for our women, and we’re there to help them survive, overcome and learn from the all too common snag. <br />
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I always knew how lucky I was to have so many wonderful women in my life, but moving to California has given me the opportunity to value them even more, and to miss them desperately. It’s also given me the opportunity to meet some amazing women, and begin to build a posse that spans the U.S., literally coast to coast. And NaBloPoMo on BogHer is a wonderful reason to provide a whole lot of love to a multitude of really thoughtful, talented women writers. I’m proud to count myself as one of them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo">http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo</a><br />
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yLNGabmjNfJH1w7NGabmjNADs0Zpua5248WQW2rQ2Mts4WZgqShwepwCR6f0q4Upzvyq9jKpWhTtzu1zpM1n/wBqRnVXsMqWCqcgnIJ7HI/lmqWra9Ha2UgjkSOUrlXcHpkZx2zg+lUNB1m11O08hJB9shnLGSR/nlG3K5yOADxn0NdFPDScHJq/b/P9Djr4201GPzOTvcHTpMn5iy4+u4VlbMZ471riayRjDdSPJtlG7yiNuxQcsD65/nVWd9JN2fs+oDyDg5dW3L6jpzj9a91M8No9f/Z7OB4iT/agP6NXt2a+bfhV4nHh291RNOtX1WS6VGMUe5DGFJGeVOc7q9Q/4WHqu058Kzgjp+9bH/oFVdCsehUV8+eOviPrw1W38ue80ZfJ/wBRE5w/zH5uQPp+FXPAvxN8QyW89qLaXWnMu5ZZ5W3rwPlAA6d/xp3A92orz5fGPjBn+Xwflf8Aro2f5UDxT47b7vhGEfWRqdwPQaQ1wI8ReP2Tjwrahs8EyHGP++qG1r4itjZ4b04eu6Q//FUXA7w9KYw71wz6r8SGf93oWlIvo0hJ/wDQqYL74mMTu0zRwMcDJ6/990XA7rPNMuc/Zn/D+dcBLefE2OMsbPSyfRI8/wDs1eKeLLrXG8UXranb3K3TsGlC7lXJHYZxii4HouaM03NGa+UPrLjs0ZpuaVQzsFUEkngUwuSSWrT+HLzU4L6wjESygLNcbW3JkHjHqK84j8P6lreq2VxYRb7eNY2knmO1AQckZ7n2FdfeaVoulyy3WpzNJ5hJ+yK58sk9cqPvE/5zXGa146vNTvIbC1U2lnvVGhj4YjdgrkdB7CvaoRioWpq3c+exE5zn7zv2Ou1Txdo3hq1bTl2XEsiqknAdhg8nP8Nc/a2Hg1kv9S03Wbm5uVUSOlxblEQls8dM4P8AKmX2hRReH726extEcQb0aKLDBtw759M1wUC4kZdhOQzYx2Cmrwsoyg1HoZ14zjL392KJi9xJGZWEcm7hTgHqRWnYxxRqN4H5daw41aWdVQZJOBW4mnzMoIniOB2yf6V1PQxPXfgi8A8WXwQAH7Ce3+2te7F19RXzP8K72TQPEdzdvFJcrLamIJCMHO5T/FgdBXpb/FG2EpiTStRkcHGECHn8GqlJWFZndapoWja0Y21PTra6aPIQyoCVHsaNO0TR9JYnTtOgtiepiTHFebT/ABk063lMc2l6jE69VkVVP6muL8efE6HWrK0Fhdanp0kMhYrGylZsjHzAEHjt9TRzIdj6Ja+txdC18+P7QULiLcN+0dTjrjnr71IZR6j86+Ixrtwskk3mTNPIfnl80hmHoT1/WpYNY1KdZP8ASZcBc/fP8yaLiPtH7fbfaDbC4i8/bu8reN+PXbnOKSW9t4BmaeKMZ/5aSBf5mvkDw14jfQbyfVCgnuo9vk3DFt0ZIIJHPPXv6VJr/iy48TrPcXkMc955aoLgqVdQG4AwcevbuaLgfXB1K0XrdQD/ALar/jUFzr+l2kLTXGo2kca9WaZeOcetfG6SzRxqzsfKZyAcZHXp61spqXh2LT4CIL036q3nbnHlSnHyjHUAHn8KLgfW0eo204HlXEMuRn5JA3H4GmTtAyEvFGx9wK+SdB8Rtos8V6J8TRSb44IFKjIBHzEnGOe2a9CT43O0QSXSk3EdftHX9KfMFjTzRmm0V8sfVDs1bkb7B4fuL9QDOQRHnoAO/wCf8qpVS1/VETRms9w3gAAfXn+tdmCgpVG30RxY+dqaiurKtjpnnsLy9czTvzk9B7Ckfw1YNdm58pQ+d3A6mtK1GLWIf7NSk4rndSSbszojShypWKOrW7S6TNFGMqsbOyZ2l1UbiobsSB1FeQT3qXFw5hV4YuSqvJkgeme9evatcSW+mXMkLBZBE4BI9VIrx+TTg1wEgLSM7BURVJJJ6ADrXo5fzWknt/VzyswS9on5Gx4Xsf7SvTukljiKMu9RnDcev1rs4/AccoD/ANqHPYNDx+jCuYstP17wvKsV1pxtzMN4hukeJyOmQGGa0p/H0unXBt7jT5VdR0LYNdsk29DiVrampLoF/px/0fVxEAT/AKqIqTn/AIFXO62buytkaIWzyltrMLZAx98+tPuPH6XMbN9hfHfL1kXOtXmqxkW9qqInzFnbI/XihKQNoge6u70Fby5f95w7SvngDj6AegrGupvPnLhVUdAFGBiphHeXcU8/LRpgOSQB7Ae/sKqjpWqRLEUZNSnAAAV1+ppg+Vs1biJYDmmItWFq11btB5DKhYEuSAT+dXbvSXttPkeCBjkqDhwSefQc11ehyeH44bdrzUbVf3C7lYHcG7g49PpWzeX3hN4VEOpwCRWH3VP0PapA8jZf4fIkDZ+5k9aWWCRFLsgVc9A2a2bsK+o3TxMBb+c5RyOCu44x60yGEXcv7wN9nTOSTgsfr/nFMZh7l45/OnwtEX+cIy/7Xaunl023kQuyoAPvZHyj+qn2PHpXMXVuEdpEGIiflwc4HofemI91opuaM18yfUDs1wl/ef2hreEyVMhb/gOcD+ldN4g1Aafo80ucO3yJ9T/gMn8K5XwxZyXd39odTtznPsOn+fpXfhv3dKU310POxV6laEF01O8hG2JB6Clc4FA4AqOQ8VwW1PQ2Rl6wPtNjPBkjzEK/TIxTvhh4O1O28VRapLYK4tozcWyXKsnnYIB8s4ILAEfmKsW1i2qavaWCk/6RMsZI7AnBP4DmvQ/EJsL/AMSw+Z4hXRrbSv8ARbZ0IBMu0F8EnAABQHP0r0sLdQZ5eLtKSuY2rRWfiHwpHdXlhq0ulWF1KZItXdlvLhn52xbTnC545/hweAaxtM8K6FY+J4dPu0s9XtbmxkurOW7VS7w7WdDzjBBBB+hrW8Q64PCE8Gt6t4rh8Q3dvIP7NtIyqY3Aq7uqHGdpIDHPU96891H4otf+Ljr76Jbs6WZs4IjcMqxIwYPwByTubnjtXpWPNN/S9C8P6hBoN02j6fJJe3dxb3P2UiSBVELOqttJVZQRkBe2a4tfAt2FsrJr2Eat/ZpvhY7W/wBXzJt3dA+w5x0981JoPjz/AIR63trSx0qCOyhuGumia4dmllMZjBZsdApOFAHPJzTX8cyyXEd59mhj1JLI6et6GZisRGzdt6GQJ8u7p3xmmBozeDY/DVlq95c39tPd6VJbLLatBuhMswyMsSNwC55APPPTmtq48OWNv8SvElu2jaV/ZlvYXD2sP7skNGhZW27t2d2c5FReJfFXhrU7S6iufs13bQBBpkdvcXKsQCq/vI2Hlp8mc7QCD931rG/4WDanxTquuPpCPNqUDwSKZn+VWUq23jjIPT60AQxfCfUp757We7S3uY5bdLpPsz7IjOQq7W6PhmQNjpk4yBXM+IdBi8P3wtItUt76eNpI51hVh5LoxUqSRz0zkdsV0L+NLW48UQ+I7rSYJdVR4ZHlZ3Ad4iu1to4DHauT0POAM1z2q3NvqutXeogfZxcytKYwC4BY5bBPuSfxpiM6N5QeSf8AgQqxGZh90g9zhcnNSILcf8t3P0T/AOvUiS2qE/vJST/0zH+NIYCCSQF5GycdM1cRv3gbgcDocAAfy/8Ar896rfabYdGl/wC+R/jTWubdm+ZpSufu4GPx5oAnu7xZIyikCIDr93P9VXuOoyPSs6OJru7PzujD7zrjcPqCRnPrUsk1s4z++Bz1AH+f8akjvLeFVQJIYxnKNgqf/wBVLUD1uiiivnD6YzNX0yPUvJEpOIySATxk45x61as7OKzhWOJcDHX1ooq3J8qXQzUUpN9SzTH6GiioNGVHVlcOjlWHIZTgisrVI2OnXAZ2YKjsATkbiOT9TgfkKKK3pt3RzVUrM87nUJFHjuwpgXrRRXvHghgGjHNFFABjFGOaKKAFpaKKAFxSbRmiigAxQBRRTAMHHWk2+9FFAH//2Q==" />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-31399358554157835112012-03-02T18:35:00.001-08:002012-03-02T18:39:13.054-08:00Anti-Choices, or Procrastination at its Finest, or My Husband is a Very Patient ManWould you rather make your own choices or have someone make them for you?<br />
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That's the writing "inspiration" we received for today's NaBloPoMo post. Wow. If you knew my whole history, you would know that's a perfect question for me to ask myself. I have a history of not actually making choices, but letting things happen to me. Or more like procrastinating so long that I'm out of choices and there's only one thing left to do. <br />
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Take for instance, having my daughter alone at the tender age of twenty. I didn't want any other opinions influencing my decision, so I didn't tell anyone until I was nearly six months pregnant. I was living in Kalamazoo with several roommates, any one of whom I could have told, but I kept it to myself. I wasn't ready to face the reality of what would come next; telling my family. It was so easy to hide being away, and living with frequently drunken women apparently, because nobody ever guessed. But whether or not I was ready to tell my secret to the world, she continued to grow. Whether or not I was ready to be a mother, I was blessed with the most delightful daughter. Whether or not I was the best mother, or perhaps despite having me as a mother, she has blossomed into a spectacular woman who is a college graduate and who is getting married later this year. <br />
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Our restaurant is another example of one of my anti-choices. Owning a restaurant was a dream my husband had long before we met, when he was a firefighter/paramedic/police officer and used to cook in the firehouse. When we were living in a southwest suburb of Chicago, two states away from his daughter, the second daughter I've been so very blessed to have (also a spectacular woman, despite having me as a step-mother), the restaurant represented a purpose for coming home. That I wanted to do. I didn't like our family being so fractured, and I didn't like being away from my hometown, and I rather liked the idea of us building something and working on something together. I dreamed of myself handling the front of the house, my husband handling the back of the house, and us working beautifully together. The reality hit when three months after we opened he received a job offer in his field, and suddenly I was running the restaurant solo. <br />
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When I did make a conscious choice to have a baby together with my husband, nature seemed at every turn to tell me no. It took six years of dogged determination on my part: a miscarriage, hormones, surgeries, drastically changing my diet, changing everything I'd believed before about health, baby making and child raising and unapologetic-ly driving my family absolutely crazy. But without all of that, there would be no Aidan, and I think the world would miss him. I know our family would.<br />
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Flash forward to moving to San Diego last year; leaving behind my hometown, our house of twelve years, our extended families all living within an hour, being able to get to our daughters within 24 hours, and a multitude of friends for my husband, myself and our son, and my poor husband is forced to drag me nearly kicking and screaming across the country. That was a long drive, and it only got longer the closer we got to the west coast.<br />
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I look back and see many occasions in my life when I've been little more than a passive bystander. I've been angry at others and blamed them for taking away my power, when it was really I who gave it away. It's only taken me 45 years to recognize that. The Pokey Little Puppy strikes again.<br />
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Whether I consciously make a choice, or allow others to make it for me, it is always my choice as to how I handle the results. There have been times I've made good choices, and times I've handled things rather poorly. I think I always come around eventually, but seriously, isn't it just easier when I'm happy?<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo">http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo</a>Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-45603091399581691902012-03-01T15:51:00.008-08:002012-03-10T20:40:18.391-08:00Spring Fever...Kind ofI thought Spring Fever was a phenomena belonging only to those living in Northern or Midwestern states, but my girlfriend here in sunny SoCal said her son was feeling it this morning, and my son has mentioned it in the last couple of days, too. I guess March 1 is March 1 whether you live in Michigan where we hail from, or Southern California where we live now.<br />
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Of course, the weather in Michigan this year hasn't been nearly as extreme as in years past. My friends in the southwest corner enjoyed a 65 degree Leap Year bonus, and there were celebrations all over Facebook...and then it snowed that evening. They've only had a few good sledding days, and at times their high temperature has just about matched ours in San Diego. Yesterday, in fact, it was higher.<br />
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I find myself feeling nostalgic for spring, but for springs past; for the crocuses poking up through crusty snow; for the fresh smell of loamy soil; for the annual laugh among neighbors at the one couple who shoveled their slowly dwindling snow piles ONTO their driveway about this time each year. Of course I'm nostalgic for anything at all to do with Michigan, except perhaps for that one set of crazy inhabitants of the old neighborhood.<br />
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I didn't come willingly to San Diego. It wasn't a choice on my part, except to keep my children's parents together, which is of course the worthiest of choices. Were it not for San Diego, however, I don't think I would be taking the steps I am to follow the dream I've had since middle school of being a writer. I would have likely remained complacent with my Michigan life, and done nothing but continue to dwell on an empty dream.<br />
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Here I am faced with so much time alone, that I have no choice but to look inside and ask what I hope to be. Here there are a bevy of choices in what classes to attend, workshops, writers groups, and it seems more accepted, even expected of someone to want more for herself. Whether it's near obsessive exercising, botoxing or shopping, many of the moms here seem to make no apologies about focusing on themselves during their children's school day, and I'm beginning to admire it and even strive for it.<br />
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Maybe it should be our time; my time. After sacrificing clothes, a social life, income, job advancement, and risking the dreaded hole in our resumes, isn't it about time we think about what we want to be when we grow up? I've been a mom for twenty-five years, for nearly all of my adult life, and of course I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I have my last child at home, and if I don't work on myself now, if I don't take the opportunities that are available to me and use this time being on the complete opposite side of the country from both of my girls; the very essence of who I have been only so much more, then I'm not only cheating myself, I'm cheating them when they become mothers and must struggle with some of the same challenges.<br />
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But why is it so hard for me? It's hard to believe in myself and my dreams, it's hard to justify sitting at my computer all day spending the time writing. It's really tough to spend the money on classes that may or may not pay off one day. And most of all, it feels damn near insurmountable to even imagine submitting anything I've written and risk certain rejection, let alone actually do it.<br />
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I'm afraid I don't have the answers. Maybe I just have to accept that doubting myself is a battle I will continue to fight every day, and make myself do it anyway. After all, I did take that creative writing class last fall, and it went very well. I'm currently taking an online class on Internet writing markets, and I'm signing up for Creative Writing II, with the same instructors I adored from the first session. I'm friends on Facebook with Margaret Dilloway, a local San Diego author who wrote the delightful,<a href="http://margaretdilloway.com/blog/"> "How to be an American Housewife,"</a> and who frequently posts great pieces about writing that I'm finding inspirational and informative. In fact it was she who lead me to seek out the classes I'm taking.<br />
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Perhaps I haven't come very far from The Poky Little Puppy I was dubbed by Mrs. Wisebrook in kindergarten, but slowly and surely, I'm fighting my way to becoming a local San Diego author, too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/">http://www.nablopomo.com</a> Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-51727752937299895352011-10-11T11:23:00.001-07:002011-10-11T11:59:47.903-07:00Weight Watchers Gluten Free--TOUGH!!Six weeks in, and I've yet to break the five pound barrier on my gluten free Weight Watchers journey. FRUSTRATING! I've been exercising, I've greatly reduced my portions, and I'm still struggling with a breakthrough. Although not exactly WW sanctioned, I'm doing a cleanse this week to try to get a jump start happening. Gosh, I hope it works! <br /><br />One thing that Weight Watchers has helped me to see, is how I got where I am eating the typical gluten free swaps you might find in your local grocery store, and I'm definitely seeing a trend:<br /><span id="SocNetBaseMainContentPlaceHolder_MainContentPlaceHolder_uctrBlogPosts_dataListItems"><span><span style="padding-right: 10px;">gluten free swaps make you fat!<br /><br />There's just no other way to say it! The sooner we accept that as fact, the sooner we can come to terms and go about gluten free life smarter and wiser. <br /><br />But what a bummer! The reason we went gluten-free in the first place was to get healthier! And initially, yes, we did feel better. We felt better, we began absorbing nutrients (and calories! ACK!!) more efficiently, we had more energy; all good reasons to eat gf. <br /><br />In my husband's case, being gluten free has quite possibly saved his life! Because I was going to kill him if he spent one more minute in the bathroom, suffering with his IBS, which then progressed to ulcerative colitis, and was beginning to look like debilitating Crohn's Disease! Our lives revolved around where the nearest bathroom was, and that was WITH meds that had to change every so often because they would stop working. Now that he is gluten free, he is also medication free, and I would say his number of bathroom visits is within normal parameters, at least by my tolerance scale. See? A life saved! (O; And I always know when he has fallen off the wagon, because he snores when he ingests gluten. The wife ALWAYS knows!<br /><br />In my 8 yr old son's case, a gf/df diet has dramatically helped with his ADD/ADHD-type behavior and learning challenges in school. He's been gluten-free since birth because of my six-year battle with infertility. Visit www.glutennazimom.com for the back story on that whole roller coaster ride. My son is not the least bit overweight, but I think the key for him is how very active he is. We could all take a lesson there! He also just doesn't like many sweets, even if I make them at home. We avoid refined sugar and watch artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives, so that eliminates constant requests for "over the counter" candy as well. He enjoys occasional natural sweets and candies, free of refined sugars, flavors and dyes. A wonderful neuro-therapist here in San Diego has helped me to understand his system's need for protein and nutrient-dense foods and supplements, including absolutely essential probiotics, all to his great benefit.<br /><br />When I began eating gluten-free, I definitely noticed fewer skin issues, an increase in my energy and stamina, and a definite bonus in the digestive department, though I was nowhere near suffering to the extent my husband was. But the years of relying on carbs to fill me up, comfort eating and hording food have taken a terrible toll on my weight. Even though my son didn't enjoy them, I was buying and making gf cookies, brownies, cakes, and prided myself in finding the most delectable versions of such goodies available, and taking a mix and making it better. I order Sami's bread, bagels and pizza online, only I'm the one eating it most often. And I could eat brown rice pasta for every meal, and some days I probably did! And boy, did I go overboard in the portions! (Incidentally, Sami's Bakery is not a dedicated gluten free facility, and therefore their products might not work for someone who requires a strict gluten-free diet, due to cross contamination.) <br /><br />Perhaps the better way for anyone to navigate a gluten-free diet, would be to focus on lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and save the indulgences for special occasions. We need to recognize that our gluten-free swaps are higher in carbs, fat, sugar and calories, and that just because a replacement product is available, doesn't mean we should be eating it. Especially not every day. Or even several times every day, thinking it's only a bite, or it doesn't matter. <br /><br />Tracking my points and getting up and MOVING every day is definitely helping me to feel better than simply eating a gluten free diet has done, and I'm hopeful that Weight Watchers will help me to navigate a gluten free lifestyle more consciously, and ultimately prove successful. </span></span></span>Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-3285859271910096442011-08-26T10:40:00.000-07:002011-08-26T11:32:05.200-07:00Holy Outta Whack, Batman!! Ode to Chad Sharkey, DC, and Small Town AmericaWell, after ten lllllooonnngggg months of not seeing a Chiropractor, today I finally bit the bullet and saw a new one for the first time in our new state of California!
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<br />Believe me, it wasn't that I didn't need it all the while--I've limped and hobbled my way through the progressively worsening pain, which started appearing at about month four. It was that I found it surprisingly difficult to see someone new. Coming from a very small town, where you can take a poll and get several common answers, here you ask people and everyone has a different answer. Impossible to choose among so many providers!
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<br />And well, there's the small fact that our Chiropractor in Michigan was so much more than just our chiropractor, he was my husband's Best Friend, and a treasured friend to me and our whole family as well.
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<br />There's something very incestuous that happens in a small town; something wonderful that I miss dearly on a daily basis. Your best friend is your chiropractor, your business partner, and he's also the guy who coaches your kid in baseball or football or softball or all three. His son is your son's best friend, and his wife is your wife's best friend. He and his family are the people who are there for you when one of your oldest and dearest friends dies, and you're there for them when a parent passes away. You're there for each others triumphs as well as disasters.
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<br />But Chad is even more than that, too. He's the guy who is supporting a local family with a little boy who has cancer, who is having a food drive, who answers his own office phone on occasion and tells you to come right over, a man who gives his time and his energy to his community and especially the kids in it tirelessly, who goes to church and tries every day to be a good person, a good father, husband and friend. He is a healer who helps people feel better than they knew they could on a daily basis, who's there for you whether you know you need it yet or not.
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<br />We've all had falls, fender benders, times of stress, ergonomic tension, pregnancy/childbirth/ child holding (for endless hours--getting that pinch between the shoulder blades), BEEN born, been dropped (well, let's hope not), fallen down when learning to walk, fallen down when you've been walking for decades, had sports injuries, surgeries, ankles twisted, knees torqued, the list is endless of the every day mishaps and conditions that mess up the spinal alignment and thus interrupt the electrical system that is our nervous system that creates digestive, reproductive, and a host of other maladies that don't even seem related to a spinal adjustment.
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<br />So take it from this small town girl; if you are lucky enough to live in St. Joseph, Michigan, or nearby, and especially if you've never tried chiropractic before or it's been a long time since you have, give Chad Sharkey, DC a call and feel better than you knew you could. And give him a hug for me!
<br />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-90408614462428982942011-08-22T15:20:00.000-07:002011-08-22T16:21:43.214-07:00Wow! October 2006 was my first and last entry!"What in the world have I been doing since then," you might ask. You might wonder if I'm still gluten free and whether or not I ever registered for that schooling I was talking about. Well yes, I'm still gluten free, and yes, I did register for the school. I am deeply ashamed to admit, however, that after my dear husband paid for the course and the books, my ADD brain couldn't seem to ever begin! I got completely stuck when it came to actually starting a lesson or doing an assignment.
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<br />Which is pretty much the story of my life.
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<br />It seems that I'm just not a self-starter kind of a gal. I require bricks and mortar, instructors in my face, accountability to force me to be answerable to someone other than myself! Why is it that keeping a promise to myself or not letting <span style="font-style: italic;">myself</span> down is never enough? Why am <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> never enough? Why did I start a blog almost five years ago and never ever go back to it after one measly entry? Well, I'm no psychologist, so I don't have an answer. But psychology is another one of those things I thought I might do someday.
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<br />I've started and never finished more things than I can count. I've let down friends, family members, my own husband, but the person I've let down the most is myself, because I've known me the longest. Maybe it all started when I was a kid and never did my homework. Maybe it began with my mom telling me to go clean my room and then never checking to see whether or not I did it. I've felt this cast of shame over my life for as long as I can remember, and maybe it's because I've never been my own best friend.
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<br />We recently made a huge, very scary, life altering move from Michigan to San Diego, CA. We left my hometown, a house we'd lived in for 12 years, in an idyllic town where my kids wanted to always come home, and where I had every expectation I would be waiting for them to do so forever. I went from being a small town Michigan girl to landing in California in the Land of Fruits and Nuts, where you plan every activity around the traffic and the crowds. I find myself aching for summer to be over, for tourist season to pass, and for my son to get back in school because with few friends, little money (we still own that frickin' house in Michigan, Lord help us!) and no desire to fight crowds or traffic, I don't have a clue what the hell to do with him most days. The weather is annoyingly the same from one day to the next; the sky pretty much goes from fog to sun and not much in between. How I miss the rain! What I wouldn't give for a good old fashioned Midwestern thunderstorm! With the rolling, changing sky, the cleansing showers and the lush gardens and green pastures.
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<br />But I digress. There are a few opportunities available in San Diego that I wouldn't have been able to take advantage of in Michigan. Not the least of which is the array of colleges to choose from within a very easy commute of our home. When I was young, I had dreams and every expectation that those dreams would magically one day come true. I was a singer who was encouraged to sing and a writer who was encouraged to write. (Too bad I was never a good student who was encouraged to study!) But then my parents divorced when I was in high school and suddenly I didn't believe in anything at all. Life became all about them and their drama, and less about me and my brother. We bounced from parent to parent, living out of suitcases and never again had a safe place where we felt at home. Until we were able to build our own homes. We both are avid nesters, and real homebodies. And when I became a mom at the tender age of twenty, thoughts of college grew even less realistic.
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<br />With our oldest daughter having recently graduated from a pricey out-of-state college and planning a wedding, and our middle daughter working fervently on her own college career, full time college isn't an option for me right now. But! The University of California San Diego Extension has a writing curriculum that I can hack away at as time, money and the limitations in my own mind allow. I will be enrolling next Monday, first thing, after I drop my son off for his first day of third grade! And that's a promise to myself that I intend to keep.
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<br />Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722539522244242066.post-44850427789656272642006-10-10T21:24:00.000-07:002009-03-01T14:13:30.696-08:00And so it begins....Wow! My teenagers will be so proud of me; I'm officially a Blogger!! OK, so I don't yet know how to post a picture, or what in the world this post will look like when I'm done, but at least I'm on my way.<br />So why did I want to start a blog? Well, we have multiple food issues in our family, and sometimes I feel pretty alone as a parent. I believe in food as our first medicine, and try to run my house as holistically as possible, including organic food and products as they're available, choosing alternative therapies over conventional medicine whenever possible (including for my pets), and seeking out experts/data on such whenever and wherever I can. In fact, I'm scared to death, but I will begin distance learning to earn a bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Healing the minute I get up the guts to finish the registration process.... Any moment now.... Really! Probably what I should be doing right now instead of this.... I'm trying! Actually, sleeping is what I should be doing right about now. So, signing off on my first blog post! More soon. G'night, and good health.Kim Jorgensen Ganehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400689869970027627noreply@blogger.com0