Taxes...Taxes...Taxes...Cleanse...Cl

Waaahahooooo- I did my taxes today. All by myself. Some of you may think that is no big deal but to me that is nigh unto torture.(I used to have a boss who said nigh unto all the time and it would always crack me up- I obviously don't have the gift of using that word). I have never done it this early, in fact I have never done it before April 10th. Seriously, I am afraid if I do them later the government is going to run out of of money.....I heard California is giving IOU for State returns. Who thinks I am crazy?....,don't worry if you do, I think I am a bit of a lunatic myself.
Speaking of torture, I have been debating about whether or not to do the Master Cleanse again. I need to clean out my liver (mine works as well as a pair of dull scissors trying to cut your big toe nail.) My feet itch every night and food it staying in my stomach way too long. But for those of you who have done it, it is no picnic...mostly because you are essentially starving.... I better go, I have to go torture myself some more with the thought of starting the cleanse.

A different kind of New Years

I really hate the beginning of the year. In my puny brain for some reason there is a cavernous space when I envision the time between December 31 and January 1. I have no idea why. It is just like any other 24 hour period....second and minutes passing into each other, unstopping, without jumping over a time canyon.
There is so much pressure to make resolutions, to change for the better, to do something different. Unbelievably I have been able to master to some degree some things I have always wanted to change about my self this past year. I have always wanted to be a better house keeper, and I have gotten better. I have wanted for years to get into shape, I have almost acheived that goal. For years I thought those were the really hard things to accomplish, those were the things blocking my peace, fulfillment etc. (Just an aside -you can't be at peace while obese and living in squalor-) But like everyone knows losing weight doesn't make you happy, having a spotless house doesn't bring joy. Those things alone mind you. I have discovered that while striving for all those things that a certain degree of presence, of concentrated investment into my life and heart and into the lives and hearts of others is key to my peace. I have been thinking about this a lot lately, tried to slow down a bit- put less stock into how fast I am progressing as a photographer, what the scale is reading, whose live are practically perfect or far more exciting than mine (a dilusion often sold and bought in the blogging world).
And invest more in smelling my baby's skin (while it still smells good) dancing with Coco to her favorite cds, sitting next to David and looking into his big browns while helping him spell (his latest obsession). I can feel this time slipping by so fast and I want to remember it for the best of it.

P.S Since blog posts can be pretty boring without pictures I threw some in. Last 3- Evidence of Coco's possible multiple personality disorder.
First 2- evidence of the most darling, sweet, good natured boy every to hit the planet (besides yours of course)