Ever feel guilty about something that gave you great pleasure?

There are so many days in which we give to others that when we take time to do something we want to do, we feel guilty–or at least I do. A perfect example was last week:

My mom recently moved back into the home she was raised in up in Northern Michigan and I went up to see her for a week along with my youngest daughter. We drove twelve hours from Western Maryland to Northern Michigan and had a great time, just the two of us. It was our first ‘mother/daughter’ trip.

Now originally we were going up to help my mother paint and unpack but it ended up becoming a vacation of sorts. My sister who lives up there, near my mom, came over for the week. We spent days traveling to the towns I’d lived in when I was younger, out to my grandparents property, and up to see the sights at Mackinaw Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Grand Traverse Light House.

The Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island, Michigan

I did manage to put together most of my mother’s library (5 huge bookshelves in one bedroom) but there are still boxes of books (I get my love of literature from her). Still, part of me feels guilty that I was only able to do that much.

When I returned home, part of me felt guilty for spending money on my trip when it could have gone to something else and then I stopped…

My baby girl sitting in The Grand Hotel

Why should I feel guilty about enjoying myself with my family? I splurged so my daughter and I could tour the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island–something I’d never been able to do when I was younger. But now I’ve been inside, took pictures, sat in the white rocking chairs on the worlds longest porch with my daughter and gazed out over the Straits of Mackinaw (where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron come together and the Mackinac Bridge rises in the distance to the right and Round Island Lighthouse is seated to the left).

The day couldn’t have been more beautiful. Daughter and I even braved the trek up Sleeping Bear Dunes, that week, (while my mother and sister opted not to–chickens! LOL!) to see if we could view Lake Michigan on the other side. We traversed up the main dune and over a few more, but when other visitors told us there were still a few more dunes to trek we decided to head back down as it was getting late and we were exhausted. Still we had a blast, worked up an appetite and slept so well that night!

The Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinaw

So when I questioned my spending habits I tallied up the cost (which wasn’t a whole lot but I could’ve saved it for other things), and then tallied up the memories that were made…Priceless!!

What have you done for ‘guilty pleasures’?

A wind blown Loni Lynne at The Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island, Michigan

Mermaid Loni Lynne here and ready to go (after some technical difficulties due to a loose nut in front of the keyboard)! I am so happy to be back among my sisters in the pond! They welcomed the prodigal fish home with open fins and excitedly flapping tails.

I am back from a hiatus in which I had to take for health issues and working on my well-being. But everyone’s well-being is important and we as a society tend to take it for granted.

Little things we disregard about ourselves could lead to serious things if not treated and looked into. But weariness, stress and lack of a proper lifestyle are easy masks to fall back on. We’ve heard ourselves say it… “Oh, I’m just stressed. That’s why I’m not sleeping well.”

Just because ‘stressed spelled backwards is desserts’ doesn’t mean we should take it in stride. We have to fix the issues of our stress and move forward.

Because of a stressful block of time, I had been put out of commission. A visit to the hospital put me on the track to finding I had not only a hiatal hernia in my esophagus (which causes me to have esophageal spasms when stressed–think of getting a tortilla chip stuck in your esophagus and it not going up or down–that is how it feels without anything in there). Not fun! I couldn’t eat or drink for nearly a week without pain. Swallowing was a major issue.

My doctor ordered some tests and a procedure to take pictures of esophagus. In his findings he found the hernia but also something worse…I had Celiac Disease. I had been destroying the very vital villi lining of my intestines (the part that takes in the nutrients into our blood stream). Because of this I was anemic, tired, irritable…just not feeling well at all. I couldn’t function, my brain was sluggish as was my body in general.

How long had I been suffering? I don’t know. Long enough to feel the negative pull on my body.

That was a year ago, almost to the day. I had a follow-up with my doctor and even though I still must maintain a strict Gluten-Free (no wheat, rye, barley) diet, I was given an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale of success. My doctor was impressed and said to keep doing what I’ve been doing. My body is slowly repairing itself…as long as I don’t give in to Gluten.

I’m trying very hard to use that same lesson in issues with Stress. If I don’t feed myself a diet high in stress (gluten), then I can repair my stress issues.

I’ve organized my writing schedule to fit in with my personal schedule. It is a job to me so I treat it as such. Just as any professional would do, I keep a day planner of my writing, so I have six to eight hours a day (not everyone can do this), I take breaks to exercise, drink plenty of water and work on domestic things as needed. By the time my dear hubby comes home, I’m finished with my day, also.

Recently, I took a workshop with the wonderful Candace Haven on Fast Drafting. She had some great ideas about how to pump out your book in two weeks. The word count was my issue but knowing I can (and have) pumped out 1,000 words an hour and knowing I have time scheduled for just that purpose…I can get quite a bit done in my writing. But I am also going through edits, marketing, promotional, etc.

Just like a real job, schedule the time for each item to do. I love lists and marking items off as they are done is a major triumph in my days.

But remember to take time to enjoy your time, your health and well-being (mentally, physically and emotionally). If you don’t, the things that mean the most to you will suffer…leading to more stress.

One thing I’ve always done to keep stress at bay…hugs. Hugs and touch have been known to be cure-all for many issues and lowers blood pressure which is a big stress kicker.

So I used to say, ‘Raising my cup of French Vanilla Cafe to you’ (which I can no longer have)…I will now end with, “Wrapping my arms around you in a hug.’ Perhaps it will help with just a bit of stress in all of our lives.

Wrapping my arms around you in a hug,

Loni Lynne

I made it to Germany on Friday, August 2!

After a seven hour flight from Baltimore to Frankfurt, Germany I was met by my husband at the early hour of 1020 (Germany time) which was six hours ahead of my normal time. Though I did manage to get a couple of winks in on the overnight flight, I was exhausted during the drive from Frankfurt to Landstuhl which is approximately an hour and a half drive south. Believe it or not, I slept on and off while my husband drove about 120mph on the Autobahn! ( And that was in the slow lane!)

We arrived at the wonderful Hotel Rosenhof in which he’d been staying in for a week already and I was greeted warmly by the owner, Sue, Andy and Oscar, the dog and general greeting and security presence. A lovely European style bed (close to the floor, memory foam-type mattress with a duvet cover nearly had me asleep again before dinner. But hubby had me unload my luggage, took me on the tour of the quaint town of Landstuhl, got me hooked up with a cell phone that I can use here in Europe, and then we returned for dinner at the hotel.

Now, here is my real issue lately, I was recently (as in three weeks ago) diagnosed with Celiac Disease which, though more and more common, I’m still getting used to. I have been instructed to go on a strict Gluten-Free diet for the rest of my life to heal and prevent more issues in the near future. This means no wheat, barley, rye or other wheat forms of foods. The one good thing, I was never really a bread and pasta person (I know–weird) but it’s amazing how many foods are made with wheat gluten or prepared around wheat gluten. I have to be very careful in not cross contamination also.

But I’ve also noticed how many things I’ve eaten in the past ARE gluten-free all ready. (Cheese Curls!!!) So I’m not too worse for wear. Also, eating whole foods like, meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables is very satisfying and easy to do. Especially here. The menu and morning buffet is a wonderful variety of meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and creamy

yogurts. I’m learning I can fill up just as much on them as I could eating waffles/pancakes and pastries. So, Friday night I had a wonderful steak cooked to perfection with garlic butter and pesto sauce and pan seared potatoes.

My hubby had a large beer–but since I couldn’t have beer (hops/wheat) I opted for a drink (I’ll have to get the name again) but it was a combination of wine/champagne fresh mint and a hint of lemon. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the night as it cooled down to a comfortable 83 degrees. I felt mellow by my second glass finished off with a wonderful sorbet and fresh fruit dessert. Ahhh, what a life!!

Went in to shower and get ready for bed but the brisk exfoliation of the free-flowing shower rejuvenated my senses enough to enjoy the evening with hubby’s friends and co-workers. They had been kind enough to think of me on their trip to a chocolatier’s to pick me up gluten-free dark, stone-ground chocolate which is delicious!! (Yes, I’ve been savoring it in pieces–but I did share.) They also introduced me to a wonderful appertif of fig vodka! I am not a vodka drinker in general but we toast the end of the night with a shot that you SIP–it’s so smooth and refreshing.

Needless to say, I slept well my first night in Germany! 🙂

Day 2

I awoke on Saturday morning refreshed and ready to go exploring! After an amazing breakfast of fried egg, sliced meats, creamy brie, fresh fruit and yogurt I was ready for anything! Hubby and I drove up to Burg Frankenstein (Castle Frankenstein) which was the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein. It was actually the ‘ruins’ but it was so beautiful and quite a way up in the hillside. From the top turret we could see all the way from Darmsted to Frankfurt. I could only imagine how the soldiers of old could see the enemy coming for miles before they even got close to the base of the hill. (The pictures above are from Burg Frankenstein.) We viewed a wedding there (which we were informed there are many) and enjoyed a light lunch at the restaurant over-looking the Hessan valley.

We also explored the countryside, the small villages which in this region are loaded with vineyards and wineries and Castle Starkenburg (see home page picture) which was a bit of a hike but so worth it (the view was spectacular). It was built in 1060’s and is now partial ruins and part youth hostel.

So far, I’m really enjoying myself (I don’t know how I couldn’t) but when the hubby works, so will I. Most of my day (while he is working) is spent writing, catching up on my reading and blogging about my experiences every few days.

I hope you join me in sharing the fun and excitement as I explore ancient cities, castles and lore. Make sure you stop in and view my photos page to see new photos as they are uploaded. I would love to hear from you all!

I’m having trouble posting pictures so please, go to the site listed below to see the photos we’ve taken recently!

http://www.lonilynne.com/my-european-experience.html