Puzzle Girrrrl (new moniker)

So.  Salad Girl said I should choose the name Puzzle Girl and quit dinking around about having a new name every time I post and since I like jigsaw puzzles (as evidenced by the 5000 piece puzzle I recently completed), and the fact that I don't like to do anything normal, today I'm going with Puzzle Girrrrl for my newest aka.

When I wear my tiara I'm to be referred to as "the goddess of everything", or "the goddessa" for short.  It reminds me of when my friends two daughters were young and I convinced them to address me as "Auntie Weeze Goddess", and was truly tickled when they actually did it - out of the mouths of babes...  course I also taught them how to swear in Spanish - who knew they'd remember that!!!???

But they did of course.  Sigh. So now that I have a name for today, I'm looking forward to working on my list o' 52 tings.  I have an artist friend who posted in her Daily Thotz the following:

It is also the first day of a two-day celebration of unplugging. The National Day of Unplugging is observed this year on March 3-4, but is really meant to encourage a weekly day of rest. 

Typical of me, I didn't read it until said days of unplugging were over, but it made me think that other people out there are trying to make the world a better place as well and here is the rest of the story (in case you should want to try some of these ideas your own self)...

This is what www.sabbathmanifesto.org has to say about it:

Way back when, God said, “On the seventh day thou shalt rest.”  The meaning behind it was simple: Take a break. Call a timeout. Find some balance. Recharge.

Somewhere along the line, however, this mantra for living faded from modern consciousness. The idea of unplugging every seventh day now feels tragically close to impossible. Who has time to take time off? We need eight days a week to get tasks accomplished, not six.

The Sabbath Manifesto was developed in the same spirit as the Slow Movement, slow food, slow living, by a small group of artists, writers, filmmakers and media professionals who, while not particularly religious, felt a collective need to fight back against our increasingly fast-paced way of living. The idea is to take time off, deadlines and paperwork be damned.

In the Manifesto, we’ve adapted our ancestors’ rituals by carving out one day per week to unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, and get with loved ones. The ten principles are to be observed one day per week, from sunset to sunset. We invite you to practice, challenge and/or help shape what we’re creating.

Not sure how to turn the Principles into reality?

Here are some tips on interpreting the Sabbath Manifesto as you see fit:

To some, “avoid technology” means not sending text messages. To others, it means not using a stove or riding in an elevator. To some, “be healthy” means running the next NYC marathon. For others, it means chewing each mouthful of food you eat real slow – 18 chews a bite.

You get the picture. Find the balance that works for you.

Do you have multiple cell phones? Take your ipad to the beach on vacation? Ever find it hard to get through a conversation without posting an update to Facebook? Is your computer always on?

We increasingly miss out on the important moments of our lives as we pass the hours with our noses buried in our iPhones and BlackBerry’s, chronicling our every move through Facebook and Twitter and shielding ourselves from the outside world with the bubble of “silence” that our earphones create.

If you recognize that in yourself – or your friends, families or colleagues— join us for the National Day of Unplugging, sign the Unplug pledge and start living a different life: connect with the people in your street, neighborhood and city, have an uninterrupted meal or read a book to your child.

For our Sabbath Manifesto, we created 10 core principles completely open for your unique interpretation. We welcome you to join us as we carve a weekly timeout into our lives and to continue the momentum of the National Day of Unplugging throughout the year.

THE TEN PRINCIPLES

1.      Avoid technology.

2.      Connect with loved ones.

3.      Nurture your health.

4.      Get outside.

5.      Avoid commerce.

6.      Light candles.

7.      Drink wine.

8.      Eat bread.

9.      Find silence.

10.  Give back.

The Sabbath Manifesto can be practiced solo or in a group. You choose. Or experiment. Gather a few friends together, your family, your local bartender, give everyone a principle to interpret. Meet up. Share your interpretations. Do it again next week. Everyone takes a new principle. It’s that simple. Over time you can create your own new rituals.

I think that some of those ten things listed might be in my list as well.  Happy Unplugging everyone!

The Puzzle Goddess - yea, I like that name...