my freezer had an aneurysm

Pray for my freezer.... As I was working earlier I heard an odd crashing/breaking sound. I got up and looked around, thinking perhaps it was one of the kitties breaking something but I saw nothing except a somewhat innocent-looking cat. I returned to my computer and then after a while smelled a very pungent plastic-burning odor. I got up and looked around and sniffed everywhere I could think to sniff but could not find anything. I opened each door to see if it was drifting from outside. Nope. I burned a candle and opened a few windows. But everytime I went into the kitchen the smell was very intense. So I got down and sniffed the bottom of the fridge where there are those little slats. Phew - A ha! I pulled the fridge out from its crevice and nothing could be seen except some black gunk and dust. But later when I got my ice cream out, it was soft and mushy... Aghhhhh!!!! I need serious prayer team guys, my freezer had an aneurysm and I don't have refrigerator health insurance right now.

Earlier as I was leaving the grocery store I walked past this 70 or so year old man. He was rail thin and his pants were belted up to his belly button and he had the equivalent of a camel toe. But the thing that made me break into a huge grin was his face. I wish I had a photo of his face to put above my computer and everywhere I go. He literally had a frown that looked like the arch of a rainbow ETCHED into his face. It was his permanent facial feature - and he looked very bitter too. I know that the faces we make certainly become our wrinkles, laugh lines, frown lines, and I thought that he is certainly not going to achieve that Deepak Choprah saying about having your heart as light as a feather when you die...

Actually the funniest thing is that after I saw the grumpy old man and had this huge shit-eating grin on my own face I walked past a woman and she spontaneously broke into a smile upon seeing mine. It was a cogent reminder of the power and contagiousness of joy.

Alas it also a very good reminder that I need to smile more. I know that our faces reflect our inner spirit, and yet we can also improve our mood by simple things like smiling. I can be very serious and even though I'm not unhappy and I generally have a basically happy demeanor, I do tend to look a bit serious as reflected by photos etc and just when I catch myself. So all day I made a conscious effort to smile at people.

So I've also made a renewed committment to eating healthy and cooking more. I enjoy cooking but find myself over the past months (years?) not having time due to feeling like I have to constantly work. I truly enjoy the simplicity of cooking healthy though, and need to get to a routine where I can enjoy that part of my life again. So I bought a bunch of veggies and healthy stuff and have been cooking more.

Oh! And I spent all weekend redesigning my website so please check it out and let me know what you think! http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com and I'll be offering a 6-week "Writing about Nature & the Environment" e-course that you can sign up for if you're interested in writing, I've taught it before, and am offering it again. It starts Dec 10. You can register HERE.

I'll also be putting on two very exciting "Manna Sandwich Inspiration Retreats" a Yoga-Nature Retreat in January and a Writers-Artists Workshop in March. They'll be held in TX at a forested venue yet to be announced, and I will reveal more details as they are available. It will be top of the line! I love to teach and this is something I have long wanted to do. And I got a couple of friends, who are very talented, interested in helping me out. We are going to do great things! I hope you join us :)