Simple Living

I have recently renamed by blog Merry Melodie. A guy in high school once told me that is how he remembered my name. It is just like Merrie Melodies the cartoons. This brings to my attention I have misspelled Merrie. I will change that...maybe. I will think on it. Anywho, on to another thought.

I recently purchased a copy of O magazine. This is the first time I have read Oprah's mag. I must say I really am enjoying it. I originally purchased it because she discusses her thyroid issues. I myself suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Oprah's article was pretty good, but not as informative as I wanted. There was an article I read that I found extremely intriguing, informative, and thought provoking. The article is titiled Back to Basics and explores "voluntary simplicity". What Is Simple Living?

Simple living — aka voluntary simplicity — has just about as many definitions as there are individuals who practice it. Simple living is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. Rather, it is about living an examined life — one in which you have determined what is important, or "enough," for you, discarding the rest. "Living in a way that is outwardly simple and inwardly rich."— Duane Elgin

I find this whole way of thinking very inviting, to some extent, and rather refreshing. One part of the article really hit home for me. The author explains "People who pursue intrinsic values---self-acceptance, making the world a better place, helping polar bears---are much happier than people who chase popularity, money , and image." Very often I feel I am pursuing the intrinsic values. I often practice self-acceptance and do my part to make my corner of the world a bit brighter, but there are times I find myself chasing acceptance from others and buying certain things in order to perceive myself as acceptable.

With the New Year right around the bend, I have been mulling over resolutions. I don't know what they will be, but I know simple living will definitely play a role in molding a 2 or 4 of them. Stay tuned folks for a resolutions post, but be prepared to answer a couple of questions about yourself.

It's The Itchy and Scratchy Show....Eczema

It is 2:30 in the a.m.! I can't sleep, but fortunately I don't have to go to work tomorrow. Let's hear it for Christmas vacation!!! Keep in mind as you read this that it is 2:33 a.m. and I have taken so very powerful eczema medication. So I have been mulling over a few ideas for my blog. One would be to chronicle my weight loss and journey into a healthier me. I somehow think this would be a motivational tool for me. However, the topic could be personal at times. I am not sure I want people to be able to read all the gory details. Another idea would be strictly from my momma role perspective. It would be all about Mollie and my adventures as a first time mom. Then there is always the general posts which could be about both topics above and whatever else I want to throw into the mix. I guess I need to determine a purpose for my blogging. Do I want it to be like a diary or a scrapbook? Am I writing to entertain others or just myself? Well, Mollie is now awake and I must go check on her. She has an ear infection and is on antibiotics which equal frequent dirty diapers. Like you wanted to know about that or maybe you did?

Oh Holy Night - Breath Taking

A friend sent this to me via e-mail. It moved me.
I had to share it. Now I must see the movie The Nativity Story.

Tagged Post

Okay, I was tagged to do the following post. I was actually tagged about a month ago, but I have put off doing it. I would think about it and then over think it. It is only a post read by about 2 or 3 folks.

20 years ago November 1988
I am a freshman in high school. My big brother is a senior and has to drive me and 2 of my freshman friend to and from school. He hates it and tries numerous ways to get out of it. I am a staff writer for our school Newspaper "The Orange and Brown". A fellow freshman named Jason is the subject of my latest crush. I daydream of he and I going on a date as I listen to the melodic tones of Phil Collins in his hit song A Groovy Kind of Love. After school my friends and I go putt-putt golfing, rent videos , and listening to The Beastie Boys. My baby brother is 5 and has just started K. He is just so darn cute! Not sure exactly when Mike came to Darby Drive. I think it was around this time and we began MOST and MOP. We had so much fun! Life is good and all is well.

10 years ago November 1998
I am now 24 years old. I have been out of college for about a year and a half. I have been feverishly working to pay off ALL the debt accumulated in college....those darn credit card companies would get me roped in with the promise of a free t-shirt or water bottle every time. Currently I am working just one job at Towles House of Carpets. I am a sales associate/design consultant/office assistant. I really enjoyed this job and was so glad to just be working one job. I had just finished about a six month stint of work 3 jobs- Heavenly Ham, Franks Italian Restaurant, and Columbia Cottage Assisted Living. Joey and I have been dating 3 years and all is well.

5 years ago November 2003
Now 29 years old. We have been married for a year and a half. We live in our little 'shotgun' apartment at Gilbert Court. One bed and bath. I have been out of college ( went back and got a 2nd undergrad degree) about 6 months. I have just been hired this month as a Title I assistant at Harlan Elementary. I love this job. I have wonderful co-workers and get to help the kids who need it the most.

1 year ago November 2007
Mollie Bear is 9 months old! She is crawling all over the place and has just learned to soothe herself to sleep at night. I had to do the cry it out deal for a few nights, but she got it very quickly. Thank goodness. This is when she begins to sleep 12 hours straight at night. Joey and I have been married 5 and a half years; more in love than ever. (gross I know...but true). We have been in our house for 3 years and feel so at home. However, there isn't a lack of improvements and repairs that need to be made. This is just one of the joys of homeownership. We are just thankful to be homeowners. I completed my masters in elementary education 2 years ago. I am beginning my 3rd year as a K teacher at Weeden elementary and love, love, love my co-workers and kids. I know I said the same thing in the previous post, but I have been so blessed with great situations. When I was hired in at Weeden as a K teacher, so were 3 other first time teachers. Four new K teachers at one time and 2 great K veteran teachers who took us all under their wing. We all quickly bond and create our K family. I truly feel blessed to be at Weeden.

Yesterday November 27th 2008
Today is the first Thanksgiving of my entire 34 years on this earth that I haven't been with my Honey (grandmother). She passed away August of this year. We miss her terribly. However, I am blessed to be surrounded by all my family. We ate lunch at my mom's, came home for a nap, and ate dinner at Joey's mom's. Perfect day!

Today November 28th 2008
Enjoying the last work week day off! I have gotten so much accomplished. Joey and I got down all the Christmas decorations out of the attic. Joey has assembled the tree and I have put out all the decorations. I finished planting my pansies (fingers crossed for their survival). Mollie and I run a few errands. Life is good!

Tomorrow November 29th 2008
Will attend a morning meeting at Weight Watchers. My mom are attending together and have been on it for about six weeks. 7lbs gone so far. At 2p.m. my best girlfriend and I are going to see Four Christmases. We go each year to see the latest holiday film. We are going specifically at 2pm to miss the Iron Bowl. I know that Bama will win and I simply can't sit through an entire game. Also, I want to miss all of Joey's armchair coaching etc.

So there you go.

I tag Kayla and Caroline.

Attn: Parents, Teachers, Future Teachers

Found this video and just had to share. Amazing and so very true!

Smart Women Vote

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed
nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking
for the vote.
And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing
went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of
'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above
her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.


They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his
guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right
to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their
food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.


Woodrow Wilson and his cronies tried to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. The doctor refused. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote
this year because-why, exactly?
We have carpool duties?
We have to get to work?
It's raining?
Our vote doesn't matter?



Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so
hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

New Furniture

We got a new couch!!!
We went to Barnett and Brown.
Several people have told us it is a great store.
We were very pleased with the service, quality of furniture, and affordable pricing.
(No they have not paid me for this endorsement)

Mollie acted awful. She ran around squealing and climb on the furniture. If Joey went after her she would get louder or just go limp. If I had her she did okay for a while, but then wanted down and would squeal more. I was hot already, but she made me so nervous and embarrassed. I felt as though all eyes were on us. Joey says it wasn't nearly as bad as I have made it out to be. I don't want people to think she is a bad kid or that we are inadequate parents. I am sure they all understand that kids are kids. She had acted fine until we got there. Perhaps she just got tired. She is napping now.

They deliver our new couch, chair, and ottoman on Wednesday. They also will take our old couch and chair and deliver it to our church's Friendship Center. The Friendship Center is a large building which houses clothes, toys, food, household goods, and furniture for those in need. I thought it was very kind they will do that for us. I know Joey will be so sad to see our bright red couch with the huge flowers on it go. Somehow, I think he will cope.