I have hit the wall. It doesn't happen often. I sometimes can even fool myself into thinking the wall doesn't exist. I am here to tell you.....it does.
No! Not the "runner's" wall!
The Sugar Wall.
(which kind of makes me giggle because the Dave Matthews Band has a song called "Sugar Will" Not funny to anyone else but me? Alright....carry on....)
This time of year I am especially prone to hitting the Sugar Wall. There is this divine moment where my body and mind say....no.more.sugar. It's not a happy, giddy moment. It is more of a "one more sweet thing passes those lips, and a coma is in your not-so-distant future." The desire to eat something with an inkling of nutritional value is overwhelming. And that is a scary thing.
So, tonight I will be scourging my kitchen for something purely protein for dinner and swigging back a large bottle of water. Maybe I can get my blood sugar levels back to somewhere near normal. And then.....bring on the fudge!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Sentimental fool
Sentimental doesn't EVEN begin to describe it. And this time of year is the worst (or the best, depending on how you look at it!) If it has anything to do with Christmas as a kid, then you better believe it is part of my season now.
Even though I am well on my way to the big 4-0, I still can't get enough of the Christmas specials of yore. I not only watch all of them, I have taped them and transferred them to DVD! Charlie Brown is my favorite. My sister and I had the record when we were little. The album cover actually had a book with all the lines in it incorporated into the design. Hence, I have the whole thing memorized and recite it ad nauseum when it's on (hey, it's just me. And the cat doesn't care). I also love Rudolph ("I want to be a dentist!"), Frosty ("(Santa) spoke fluent rabbit") and all of those claymation shows....even the really hokey ones, like Nestor the Long Eared Donkey.
My Christmas CD collection also reflects my childhood more often than not. I don't know of many people that own Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and Barbra Streisand (yes, the JEWISH Barbra) holiday recordings. For the longest time, if I heard a "regular" Johnny Mathis song on the radio, it made me think of Christmas. Because that's all he does, right?? I have added some more modern favorites.....I have two Amy Grant cds and two Garth Brooks cds. But my favorites will still always be the oldies but goodies. And listening to them brings me to.....
Christmas cookies. We would always have the Christmas music playing full blast while cutting out the traditional cookies each year. The recipe is from my Great Grandma Barnett. It isn't specifically a Christmas recipe, but it's the only time we ever made them. My sister and I would cut out cookies with our metal cookie cutters and cover them with red and green sprinkles (which would promptly fall right off after baking). The kitchen was a mess of flour and a combination of too thin or too thick cookies. I think I'm the only one that keeps this tradition up. I even went to a flea market a few years ago and found some of the same cookie cutters. I paid far too much for them.....but they are priceless!
And I simply love to sit on the couch looking at my tree and try to recapture little snippets of memory of Christmas' past. Like the green and red foil-like wrapping paper my grandparents used, or the wooden decoupage ornaments my mom made, or loading up the car to drive to my aunt and uncle's for Christmas Eve, or the smell of the Xerox'd (?) sheets they handed us in music class for each year's Christmas pageant (you know the ones....typed up with that purple ink!), or the trip through the North Pole and all the animated characters on the way to see Santa (I don't know where we were living at the time.....but they did Santa at the mall up BIG)
I hope Christmas is always a fun trip down memory lane for me. I can always get my nostalgia fix for the entire year in one short month! Now, time to hunt down a Christmas cookie or two....
Age 2, Grandma and Grandpa's, 1972 (I wish you could see the revolving color disk pointed at the tree....classic!)
Even though I am well on my way to the big 4-0, I still can't get enough of the Christmas specials of yore. I not only watch all of them, I have taped them and transferred them to DVD! Charlie Brown is my favorite. My sister and I had the record when we were little. The album cover actually had a book with all the lines in it incorporated into the design. Hence, I have the whole thing memorized and recite it ad nauseum when it's on (hey, it's just me. And the cat doesn't care). I also love Rudolph ("I want to be a dentist!"), Frosty ("(Santa) spoke fluent rabbit") and all of those claymation shows....even the really hokey ones, like Nestor the Long Eared Donkey.
My Christmas CD collection also reflects my childhood more often than not. I don't know of many people that own Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and Barbra Streisand (yes, the JEWISH Barbra) holiday recordings. For the longest time, if I heard a "regular" Johnny Mathis song on the radio, it made me think of Christmas. Because that's all he does, right?? I have added some more modern favorites.....I have two Amy Grant cds and two Garth Brooks cds. But my favorites will still always be the oldies but goodies. And listening to them brings me to.....
Christmas cookies. We would always have the Christmas music playing full blast while cutting out the traditional cookies each year. The recipe is from my Great Grandma Barnett. It isn't specifically a Christmas recipe, but it's the only time we ever made them. My sister and I would cut out cookies with our metal cookie cutters and cover them with red and green sprinkles (which would promptly fall right off after baking). The kitchen was a mess of flour and a combination of too thin or too thick cookies. I think I'm the only one that keeps this tradition up. I even went to a flea market a few years ago and found some of the same cookie cutters. I paid far too much for them.....but they are priceless!
And I simply love to sit on the couch looking at my tree and try to recapture little snippets of memory of Christmas' past. Like the green and red foil-like wrapping paper my grandparents used, or the wooden decoupage ornaments my mom made, or loading up the car to drive to my aunt and uncle's for Christmas Eve, or the smell of the Xerox'd (?) sheets they handed us in music class for each year's Christmas pageant (you know the ones....typed up with that purple ink!), or the trip through the North Pole and all the animated characters on the way to see Santa (I don't know where we were living at the time.....but they did Santa at the mall up BIG)
I hope Christmas is always a fun trip down memory lane for me. I can always get my nostalgia fix for the entire year in one short month! Now, time to hunt down a Christmas cookie or two....
Age 2, Grandma and Grandpa's, 1972 (I wish you could see the revolving color disk pointed at the tree....classic!)Tuesday, December 04, 2007
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
I love telling people about stuff I love in hopes that they will love it too! (Kind of a "Stephanie's Favorite Things" all year round). So to kick off the inaugural favorite things post, I give you:
Kiva.org
Seems appropriate since I learned about this organization on Oprah (I don't hardly ever watch Her Oprahness since I work when she's on....but I caught this one because my buddy, Bill Clinton, was on and I just heart Bill!)
Anyway, Kiva is this absolutely wonderful organization that allows anyone to loan money to businesses in developing countries. The people you are loaning to are business men and women who are trying to build themselves out of poverty and make their way in the world. You simply go to the site and pick out someone to loan money to. They have a featured business or you can search by where they live, or what type of business they have or how much they need or whatever. The businessperson's page will give you all the info on what they're doing (some are just starting.....others are looking to expand). And all of them have pictures.....so you can see the person you are helping!
But here's the best part......you loan a minimum of $25, which then gets added to what other lenders have given until the business has all it needs. But it's a LOAN! You get the money back! The length of the loans varies.....the man I loaned to has 15 months to pay the money back. And I've already got some back because he's made some payments already. Once the loan is fully paid (and my $25 has been paid in full), I can turn around and loan that money to someone else. So my measly $25 can be used again and again. I love it! I have many favorite charities that I try to give to every year and it's nice that one of them can use my recycled money.....or, if I find $25 burning a hole in my pocket, and I can do another loan while waiting for my first to be paid back.
So here is my loan recipient:
Dramé Mamadou is a dynamic 40 year old tradesman. He lives in Port-Bouët, a very populated suburb in the south of Abidjan District. Mamadou owns a well managed store and sells fresh milk, sweets, candies, juices, soaps, sugar, etc. Mamadou is married and has 4 children. He wants to expand his activities and diversify his product range by selling rice. He will use the loan to purchase goods in bulk from the largest wholesaler in order to get lower prices and improve his profit margin. He joined the AE&I Microcredit Program in 2005 when he heard about the organisation from one of his friends. Mamadou has performed very well since then and is honest and well organized.
Isn't he great?? I just want to fly over to the Ivory Coast and give him a big hug and shop in his store!
So please go out to Kiva.org and take a look around. This loan thing is fun AND addicting. You've been warned.
Kiva.org
Seems appropriate since I learned about this organization on Oprah (I don't hardly ever watch Her Oprahness since I work when she's on....but I caught this one because my buddy, Bill Clinton, was on and I just heart Bill!)
Anyway, Kiva is this absolutely wonderful organization that allows anyone to loan money to businesses in developing countries. The people you are loaning to are business men and women who are trying to build themselves out of poverty and make their way in the world. You simply go to the site and pick out someone to loan money to. They have a featured business or you can search by where they live, or what type of business they have or how much they need or whatever. The businessperson's page will give you all the info on what they're doing (some are just starting.....others are looking to expand). And all of them have pictures.....so you can see the person you are helping!
But here's the best part......you loan a minimum of $25, which then gets added to what other lenders have given until the business has all it needs. But it's a LOAN! You get the money back! The length of the loans varies.....the man I loaned to has 15 months to pay the money back. And I've already got some back because he's made some payments already. Once the loan is fully paid (and my $25 has been paid in full), I can turn around and loan that money to someone else. So my measly $25 can be used again and again. I love it! I have many favorite charities that I try to give to every year and it's nice that one of them can use my recycled money.....or, if I find $25 burning a hole in my pocket, and I can do another loan while waiting for my first to be paid back.
So here is my loan recipient:
Dramé Mamadou is a dynamic 40 year old tradesman. He lives in Port-Bouët, a very populated suburb in the south of Abidjan District. Mamadou owns a well managed store and sells fresh milk, sweets, candies, juices, soaps, sugar, etc. Mamadou is married and has 4 children. He wants to expand his activities and diversify his product range by selling rice. He will use the loan to purchase goods in bulk from the largest wholesaler in order to get lower prices and improve his profit margin. He joined the AE&I Microcredit Program in 2005 when he heard about the organisation from one of his friends. Mamadou has performed very well since then and is honest and well organized.
Isn't he great?? I just want to fly over to the Ivory Coast and give him a big hug and shop in his store!
So please go out to Kiva.org and take a look around. This loan thing is fun AND addicting. You've been warned.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
....or so they say. I think the suicide help lines would beg to differ on this one....
I don't get too terribly stressed out during the holidays. There aren't endless parties to go to. I have no children to entertain. I have a small family and few friends to buy for. If I get Christmas cards out, great. If not, maybe you'll hear from me next year. I don't have to decide where to spend the holiday and no one in my family is arguing. All in all, this time of year is pretty easy for me!
I realize anything could happen in the next four weeks, but so far I haven't had my usual "I'm all alone in the world" pity party. I tend to get all smooshy about not having a guy to cuddle with in front of the tree and to please get me another glass of egg nog and, oh yeah, maybe another cookie while you're up? Yes, I do ask Santa each year for a boyfriend (to-become-husband). So far the Big Guy hasn't delivered, but maybe this year is my year. My Dave Matthews look-alike is out there somewhere! Where-oh-where are you, Twin Dave?? I have egg nog and cookies waiting!
The only stressor I have in my life right now is I'm having a group of girls come over on Saturday to help put together our blanket squares. I have never had people over. I've always used the (pitiful) excuse that my apartment is way too teeny tiny to have more than two people in it. I moved out of my excuse two months ago. So now I'm a little freaked out. I have to clean, first of all.....and put away (shove) all my crap somewhere that hasn't found it's place yet. I went to the store last night, so hopefully I have stuff people will like to eat and drink. And I have NO seating, so that should be fun. I know I shouldn't worry because these people are my friends and they at least won't say I'm a crappy host TO MY FACE. I just want my first time entertaining to be successful, or this may be the first and last time I open my door to the free world.
Ok, as promised, it is time to draw another life change out of the Dave Matthews Band-themed ice cream container. The turning off the tv has gone very well....it was nice to have an easy one to start out with. So here we go.....my next project is:
Oh, this is a biggie. I have the horrible habit of trying to get a jump start on my next contribution to the conversation. In the meantime, I don't really hear a word the person I'm talking to is saying. I will even sometimes go so far as to interrupt the person just so I can get out what I want to say. It's the height of rudeness and I, obviously, hate that I do it. I have a sinking feeling this one is going to take a bit more work than the last one. But if I can conquer this ugly habit, I will be so very proud of myself! God, grant me the patience to shut up. Thank you.
I don't get too terribly stressed out during the holidays. There aren't endless parties to go to. I have no children to entertain. I have a small family and few friends to buy for. If I get Christmas cards out, great. If not, maybe you'll hear from me next year. I don't have to decide where to spend the holiday and no one in my family is arguing. All in all, this time of year is pretty easy for me!
I realize anything could happen in the next four weeks, but so far I haven't had my usual "I'm all alone in the world" pity party. I tend to get all smooshy about not having a guy to cuddle with in front of the tree and to please get me another glass of egg nog and, oh yeah, maybe another cookie while you're up? Yes, I do ask Santa each year for a boyfriend (to-become-husband). So far the Big Guy hasn't delivered, but maybe this year is my year. My Dave Matthews look-alike is out there somewhere! Where-oh-where are you, Twin Dave?? I have egg nog and cookies waiting!
The only stressor I have in my life right now is I'm having a group of girls come over on Saturday to help put together our blanket squares. I have never had people over. I've always used the (pitiful) excuse that my apartment is way too teeny tiny to have more than two people in it. I moved out of my excuse two months ago. So now I'm a little freaked out. I have to clean, first of all.....and put away (shove) all my crap somewhere that hasn't found it's place yet. I went to the store last night, so hopefully I have stuff people will like to eat and drink. And I have NO seating, so that should be fun. I know I shouldn't worry because these people are my friends and they at least won't say I'm a crappy host TO MY FACE. I just want my first time entertaining to be successful, or this may be the first and last time I open my door to the free world.
Ok, as promised, it is time to draw another life change out of the Dave Matthews Band-themed ice cream container. The turning off the tv has gone very well....it was nice to have an easy one to start out with. So here we go.....my next project is:
Oh, this is a biggie. I have the horrible habit of trying to get a jump start on my next contribution to the conversation. In the meantime, I don't really hear a word the person I'm talking to is saying. I will even sometimes go so far as to interrupt the person just so I can get out what I want to say. It's the height of rudeness and I, obviously, hate that I do it. I have a sinking feeling this one is going to take a bit more work than the last one. But if I can conquer this ugly habit, I will be so very proud of myself! God, grant me the patience to shut up. Thank you.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Over the river and through the woods.....
*Note to self: This post needs pictures and links! Pronto!*
In a few hours I *hope* to be on a plane to Dallas. Flying is always an adventure because I fly on employee passes everywhere I go. It's a great perk.....I'm incredibly thankful for it (and will remember that on Thursday!). But it comes with it's stresses too. Mainly, will I get a seat on the plane. More often than not, I do. But, as Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part. And if I don't get on the flight tonight, then I get to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow morning for a 6 AM flight. And no one should have to see me that early in the morning.
After a long drought of just working on homeless hat after homeless hat, I have finally gotten the spark to do some personal knitting projects! Damn Michael's for having a yarn sale. Anyway, I bought some Lion's Brand wool in bright green and brown to make a felted bag. This is my second adventure into felting and I'm hoping it goes a little better than the first. The huge rectangle that was supposed to become my needle case came out of the machine a little wonky on the sides. And I couldn't block it to save my life. And couldn't cut it to save my life either. Perhaps my second go will be much more successful.
I also bought some Moda Dea Tweedle Dee to make a scarf. Originally it was going to be a drop stitch scarf, but I decided I wasn't crazy about how that was looking. So, it will more than likely become a simple stockinette stitch scarf instead. This is my plane project. The felted bag doesn't fly well as I end up poking my neighbor with the needles for two hours!
And, lastly, I got some yarn that I can't remember the name of right now to make my first knit sweater. My friend Courtney had on the To Dye For sweater from the famous Stitch 'n Bitch book on when we went to meet Crazy Aunt Purl and I coveted it! She said it was easy. We will see. I know it involves counting. And math. Mmmmmm hmmmmm. Don't hold your breath on this one.....
And in final news before I head off on my Thanksgiving travel adventure, the whole turning off the TV thing is going really well. I no longer have to force myself to do it (with all these knitting projects, why would I turn on the TV?). So, after the break, it will be time for change #2. I know I'll be waiting with bated breath.
Gobble, gobble.
In a few hours I *hope* to be on a plane to Dallas. Flying is always an adventure because I fly on employee passes everywhere I go. It's a great perk.....I'm incredibly thankful for it (and will remember that on Thursday!). But it comes with it's stresses too. Mainly, will I get a seat on the plane. More often than not, I do. But, as Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part. And if I don't get on the flight tonight, then I get to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow morning for a 6 AM flight. And no one should have to see me that early in the morning.
After a long drought of just working on homeless hat after homeless hat, I have finally gotten the spark to do some personal knitting projects! Damn Michael's for having a yarn sale. Anyway, I bought some Lion's Brand wool in bright green and brown to make a felted bag. This is my second adventure into felting and I'm hoping it goes a little better than the first. The huge rectangle that was supposed to become my needle case came out of the machine a little wonky on the sides. And I couldn't block it to save my life. And couldn't cut it to save my life either. Perhaps my second go will be much more successful.
I also bought some Moda Dea Tweedle Dee to make a scarf. Originally it was going to be a drop stitch scarf, but I decided I wasn't crazy about how that was looking. So, it will more than likely become a simple stockinette stitch scarf instead. This is my plane project. The felted bag doesn't fly well as I end up poking my neighbor with the needles for two hours!
And, lastly, I got some yarn that I can't remember the name of right now to make my first knit sweater. My friend Courtney had on the To Dye For sweater from the famous Stitch 'n Bitch book on when we went to meet Crazy Aunt Purl and I coveted it! She said it was easy. We will see. I know it involves counting. And math. Mmmmmm hmmmmm. Don't hold your breath on this one.....
And in final news before I head off on my Thanksgiving travel adventure, the whole turning off the TV thing is going really well. I no longer have to force myself to do it (with all these knitting projects, why would I turn on the TV?). So, after the break, it will be time for change #2. I know I'll be waiting with bated breath.
Gobble, gobble.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Psssssst! Who's there??
Ok, I have reason to believe that someone has actually come here and read my blog. I realize that is what it is for.....and I do want readers. I think. See, I haven't told a soul that I'm doing this. I don't know....I guess I'm just not ready to announce to my friends that I write on the internet and please read it! And please tell me it doesn't suck! It very well might suck, though I hope my friends would lie and tell me it's delightful reading anyway.....
Soooooooo......if you are reading this, welcome! Chances are you got here by mistake, but make yourself at home anyway!
In other news....the "turn off the tv" experiment is going well so far. It's been easier and harder than I thought. It was easy to say "there is nothing on so time to turn off". It was even easy to find something else to do. But I can also see that finding something else to do will be challenging at times. Yes, there will always be some corner of my house that needs to be cleaned (lordy, ain't that the truth!). There will always be a book to read (sometime I will share the titles of the PILES of books I have waiting to be read). There will always be knitting to be done (hats!). But there will also be times where I say (or whine, as the case may be) "I don't feel like doing something else! I want to become a bad tv zombie!" It will be a test of strength and, I'll admit, there will be times where I give in to temptation. I guess as long as I don't plant my ass on the couch with the box turned on for endless hours, I'll be ok if I zone out once in awhile....
Tonight is knitting. Have I shared about our Hands On Nashville (HON) knitting group? I may have to come back and edit if I have not. Let's assume I have. So, as I was saying, tonight is knitting.....and I'm not really looking forward to it. This is going to make me sound like a mean, heartless person, but, I'm getting kind of tired of teaching people to knit. I was not cut out to be a teacher in any capacity (god love teachers....I don't know how you do it!). I don't explain things well, which gets everyone just a tad frustrated. Also, I am part of this group because I love to just sit and knit and drink coffee and gab about stupid stuff. But when I have to teach a new knitter, I don't really get to do any of this (for anyone that doesn't knit.....it cannot be learned in a quickie 5-minute lesson. Let this be a warning to you). So, I get to hear my friends laugh and carry on and KNIT while I focus on one person who is usually looking at me like I just spoke to them in Japanese.
Now, this does not in any way, shape or form mean I don't want to bring people into the knitting family! When you have a passion for something, of course you want to share. But having it thrust on you when you were really looking to just unwind (hee!) and not think about stuff makes it not so enjoyable. Not to mention the fact that time after time we teach these people, send them off with our yarn (it was all donated....but still) and never see them again. We're basically running a free knitting class (and free yarn distribution). I'm getting a little bitter...can't you tell??
Just let me knit in peace!
Soooooooo......if you are reading this, welcome! Chances are you got here by mistake, but make yourself at home anyway!
In other news....the "turn off the tv" experiment is going well so far. It's been easier and harder than I thought. It was easy to say "there is nothing on so time to turn off". It was even easy to find something else to do. But I can also see that finding something else to do will be challenging at times. Yes, there will always be some corner of my house that needs to be cleaned (lordy, ain't that the truth!). There will always be a book to read (sometime I will share the titles of the PILES of books I have waiting to be read). There will always be knitting to be done (hats!). But there will also be times where I say (or whine, as the case may be) "I don't feel like doing something else! I want to become a bad tv zombie!" It will be a test of strength and, I'll admit, there will be times where I give in to temptation. I guess as long as I don't plant my ass on the couch with the box turned on for endless hours, I'll be ok if I zone out once in awhile....
Tonight is knitting. Have I shared about our Hands On Nashville (HON) knitting group? I may have to come back and edit if I have not. Let's assume I have. So, as I was saying, tonight is knitting.....and I'm not really looking forward to it. This is going to make me sound like a mean, heartless person, but, I'm getting kind of tired of teaching people to knit. I was not cut out to be a teacher in any capacity (god love teachers....I don't know how you do it!). I don't explain things well, which gets everyone just a tad frustrated. Also, I am part of this group because I love to just sit and knit and drink coffee and gab about stupid stuff. But when I have to teach a new knitter, I don't really get to do any of this (for anyone that doesn't knit.....it cannot be learned in a quickie 5-minute lesson. Let this be a warning to you). So, I get to hear my friends laugh and carry on and KNIT while I focus on one person who is usually looking at me like I just spoke to them in Japanese.
Now, this does not in any way, shape or form mean I don't want to bring people into the knitting family! When you have a passion for something, of course you want to share. But having it thrust on you when you were really looking to just unwind (hee!) and not think about stuff makes it not so enjoyable. Not to mention the fact that time after time we teach these people, send them off with our yarn (it was all donated....but still) and never see them again. We're basically running a free knitting class (and free yarn distribution). I'm getting a little bitter...can't you tell??
Just let me knit in peace!
Friday, November 09, 2007
To change the world, starts with one step....
.....and no matter how small, the first step is hardest of all....
So I had said that I was going to make a list of things I would like to change about myself and throw a dart at it to see what thing would come first. Then I realized I don't own darts. So Plan B was to write (or type) up the list, tear it into individual strips and pull one out of a hat (so to speak). And that's just what I did....
(The List.....all chopped up)
(The List in "the hat" a.k.a. my DMB ice cream container....)
What is change Numero Uno??
Turn off the tv.
This does not mean I am not allowed to watch tv (because that would never fly). I just have a tendency to come home from work, turn on the news and not turn the tv off until it's time for bed. Nevermind if there's nothing on. I'll have the Weather Channel tuned in if nothing else. Or I will flip and flip (knowing I won't find anything, but flip I must). And so I sit, ass to couch, for hours on end and accomplishing nothing (well, sometimes I knit/crochet....so I am getting something done). While a little mindless tv viewing is ok every once in awhile, at my house it's become the rule rather than the exception.
So, starting today, if I see that there isn't anything that just jumps out and grabs me on tv, I will turn it off. And read a book. Or clean my house. Or call a friend. Or do yoga. But no more tv for background noise or just "something to do".....cause there's plenty I SHOULD be doing! (hi. crap still piled in my dining room? I'm looking at you.)
So I had said that I was going to make a list of things I would like to change about myself and throw a dart at it to see what thing would come first. Then I realized I don't own darts. So Plan B was to write (or type) up the list, tear it into individual strips and pull one out of a hat (so to speak). And that's just what I did....
(The List.....all chopped up)
(The List in "the hat" a.k.a. my DMB ice cream container....)What is change Numero Uno??
Turn off the tv.
This does not mean I am not allowed to watch tv (because that would never fly). I just have a tendency to come home from work, turn on the news and not turn the tv off until it's time for bed. Nevermind if there's nothing on. I'll have the Weather Channel tuned in if nothing else. Or I will flip and flip (knowing I won't find anything, but flip I must). And so I sit, ass to couch, for hours on end and accomplishing nothing (well, sometimes I knit/crochet....so I am getting something done). While a little mindless tv viewing is ok every once in awhile, at my house it's become the rule rather than the exception.
So, starting today, if I see that there isn't anything that just jumps out and grabs me on tv, I will turn it off. And read a book. Or clean my house. Or call a friend. Or do yoga. But no more tv for background noise or just "something to do".....cause there's plenty I SHOULD be doing! (hi. crap still piled in my dining room? I'm looking at you.)
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Baby Steps
That is the lesson of the day. The lesson I hope to learn....today......tomorrow.....sometime soon.
Baby. Steps.
I am an exaggerator and a drama queen. And Chicken Little. So for me to get a mature handle on my life and the things happening around me is just short of impossible. I usually spend the majority of my breathing moments completely overwhelmed because OH MY GOD, if I don't figure how to become a good friend in the next 20 minutes, whatever will I do??? Oh! And not only do I need be a better friend, I also need to get my house completely together...NOW! The pressure I put on myself. I should be fired.
So I need to learn baby steps. One thing at a time. And that thing isn't going to be perfect between now and when I roll my ass out of bed tomorrow. Patience is probably one of my worst faults (adult ADD, you guys....I just know it). I'm really not a "work long and hard to get results" person. I'm a "I want it and I want it NOW" person. a.k.a., a three-year-old.
(a little aside here....I started this post after taking half of an Ambien. And I don't remember writing any of this. Scary)
Ok, where was I? Oh yeah....me and my freak-outs.....
Now I need to decide what to work on first (the list is oh so long). Do I work on something from the social skills genre like calling people more often? Or do I pick something from the general personality traits list like live in this moment and stop worrying so much about tomorrow? What to do, what to do. I sometimes wish I could jet off to a deserted island and have all the time in the world to contemplate my navel and work through my issues in my head and I would come back a whole new person. Realistic, no?
Perhaps I will just make a list and then throw a dart at it and see what comes up. Then I'll write about my issue d'jour and what I plan to do about it! Isn't this FUN??!!
Baby. Steps.
I am an exaggerator and a drama queen. And Chicken Little. So for me to get a mature handle on my life and the things happening around me is just short of impossible. I usually spend the majority of my breathing moments completely overwhelmed because OH MY GOD, if I don't figure how to become a good friend in the next 20 minutes, whatever will I do??? Oh! And not only do I need be a better friend, I also need to get my house completely together...NOW! The pressure I put on myself. I should be fired.
So I need to learn baby steps. One thing at a time. And that thing isn't going to be perfect between now and when I roll my ass out of bed tomorrow. Patience is probably one of my worst faults (adult ADD, you guys....I just know it). I'm really not a "work long and hard to get results" person. I'm a "I want it and I want it NOW" person. a.k.a., a three-year-old.
(a little aside here....I started this post after taking half of an Ambien. And I don't remember writing any of this. Scary)
Ok, where was I? Oh yeah....me and my freak-outs.....
Now I need to decide what to work on first (the list is oh so long). Do I work on something from the social skills genre like calling people more often? Or do I pick something from the general personality traits list like live in this moment and stop worrying so much about tomorrow? What to do, what to do. I sometimes wish I could jet off to a deserted island and have all the time in the world to contemplate my navel and work through my issues in my head and I would come back a whole new person. Realistic, no?
Perhaps I will just make a list and then throw a dart at it and see what comes up. Then I'll write about my issue d'jour and what I plan to do about it! Isn't this FUN??!!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Maybe I should try Britney's approach.....
I have a love/hate thing with my hair. I've come to terms with the fact that it's fine and that it's not quite naturally straight but not quite naturally wavy. I've got cowlicks on both sides of my temple and I always have a little peach fuzz at the top where it breaks off. All that I have learned to live with......the length and color are what give me trouble.....
I am 99% sure I have ADD.....no, seriously, I really think I have a deficient attention span. And this carries over to what my hair looks like on any given day. If it's short, I want it long. If it's blonde, I want it brown. If it's got layers, I want it all one length. You get the idea.
So about once a year I change it. And usually I'm changing it BACK to a way it's been before! In the 20 years since high school, I bet I have had my hair in my senior year hairstyle at least 5 times (a little past shoulder length, blonde and hanging in my eyes just enough to hide behind). You can bet that no matter what style my hair is, that I will soon decide I hate it, I will change it, but sometime in the next 5 years I will go back to it. I need help.
And that brings me to today. Well, first it brings me to two years ago. I decided that coloring my hair was doing too much damage and I wanted to go natural (though what that color would be, I did not know). After my roots had grown to a length where the two tones no longer looked classy, I cut my hair to just below my ears and did my best to color it matching my actual color. I got lots of compliments and actually liked my new short style.....for about a month. I immediately started growing the length back out.
Fast forward to about 5 days ago. I decided that my natural color was not working for me (nevermind this is the hair color God gave me. Perhaps He is colorblind). So I called my hairdresser and made an appointment for highlights. For today. Cause I don't like to sit around and mull this stuff. Once I get a hair-changing idea in my head, you can count the hours until it happens. And there aren't many.
So today I got my hair highlighted for the first time in my life (before this it was always a full-blown coloring). I like it. Though I can't decided if I'm happy that it's really just my color with a little kick or if I'm disappointed that it's not more drastic. Not that it matters anyway....in about 6 months I'll decide to change it whether I like it today or not.....I should make the appointment for the head shaving now.....
This is before....very blah
This is after....not as blah...but maybe not as wow as I thought
I am 99% sure I have ADD.....no, seriously, I really think I have a deficient attention span. And this carries over to what my hair looks like on any given day. If it's short, I want it long. If it's blonde, I want it brown. If it's got layers, I want it all one length. You get the idea.
So about once a year I change it. And usually I'm changing it BACK to a way it's been before! In the 20 years since high school, I bet I have had my hair in my senior year hairstyle at least 5 times (a little past shoulder length, blonde and hanging in my eyes just enough to hide behind). You can bet that no matter what style my hair is, that I will soon decide I hate it, I will change it, but sometime in the next 5 years I will go back to it. I need help.
And that brings me to today. Well, first it brings me to two years ago. I decided that coloring my hair was doing too much damage and I wanted to go natural (though what that color would be, I did not know). After my roots had grown to a length where the two tones no longer looked classy, I cut my hair to just below my ears and did my best to color it matching my actual color. I got lots of compliments and actually liked my new short style.....for about a month. I immediately started growing the length back out.
Fast forward to about 5 days ago. I decided that my natural color was not working for me (nevermind this is the hair color God gave me. Perhaps He is colorblind). So I called my hairdresser and made an appointment for highlights. For today. Cause I don't like to sit around and mull this stuff. Once I get a hair-changing idea in my head, you can count the hours until it happens. And there aren't many.
So today I got my hair highlighted for the first time in my life (before this it was always a full-blown coloring). I like it. Though I can't decided if I'm happy that it's really just my color with a little kick or if I'm disappointed that it's not more drastic. Not that it matters anyway....in about 6 months I'll decide to change it whether I like it today or not.....I should make the appointment for the head shaving now.....
This is before....very blah
This is after....not as blah...but maybe not as wow as I thoughtFriday, November 02, 2007
Every woman's obsession
Yep, it's time to talk about weight.
Let me start by saying that I am not as obsessed with my weight as I used to be (maybe as I get on in years, I just don't care as much). But it's still an issue and I'm still dealing with it.
The method of dieting I have found works best for me is counting calories and exercising. I did this three years ago and was very successful. "How successful could it have been if you are doing it again?" you may ask. Well, I did very well for a long time and the weight (not even all of it) has come back very slowly. But come back it has, so it's time to buckle down!
I write down everything that goes in my mouth (try that sometime....it is scary!) I have a website I just love that helps me figure the calories on things not packaged (it also has a bunch of other calculators on there....quite a lovely site!). I, personally, am trying to stick to 1,200 calories a day...that's what is healthy for me at my height and weight. It's not easy to do right now because I have stretched out my stomach and sometimes get hungry before the next meal/snack. But I know from experience that my tummy will get used to the reduced food intake and pretty soon I won't even be able to eat the amount I did before. Oh what a happy day it will be when I don't reach for that third piece of pizza!
The second part of the equation (and, to me, the most important part) is the exercise. I *really* slacked off during the summer (it's too hottttttt!). But now I'm able to walk at lunch and I'm finally using that yoga dvd I got for my birthday (yoga: an obsession for another day....). See, I didn't really gain that much weight.....but I sure have gotten flabby! I look 5 months pregnant most of the time. Only it's not cute on me and there will be no bouncing baby whatever in the next 4 months (can't make adorable baby booties for this lump! No way!)
Anyhow, my short term goal is 5 pounds by Thanksgiving (three weeks). But, really, just being able to breathe in my clothes would make me happy. (as we speak, I am sitting here in a pair of jeans that I have unbuttoned and unzipped under my sweatshirt. So classy. And so embarrassing.)
And, just so I have this on record......on November 1st I weighed in at 152 pounds. Can I reach 147 by Turkey Day?? Methinks the answer is a resounding "abso-freakin-lutely!"
(Tune in tomorrow when we will discuss my love-hate relationship with my hair.....)
Let me start by saying that I am not as obsessed with my weight as I used to be (maybe as I get on in years, I just don't care as much). But it's still an issue and I'm still dealing with it.
The method of dieting I have found works best for me is counting calories and exercising. I did this three years ago and was very successful. "How successful could it have been if you are doing it again?" you may ask. Well, I did very well for a long time and the weight (not even all of it) has come back very slowly. But come back it has, so it's time to buckle down!
I write down everything that goes in my mouth (try that sometime....it is scary!) I have a website I just love that helps me figure the calories on things not packaged (it also has a bunch of other calculators on there....quite a lovely site!). I, personally, am trying to stick to 1,200 calories a day...that's what is healthy for me at my height and weight. It's not easy to do right now because I have stretched out my stomach and sometimes get hungry before the next meal/snack. But I know from experience that my tummy will get used to the reduced food intake and pretty soon I won't even be able to eat the amount I did before. Oh what a happy day it will be when I don't reach for that third piece of pizza!
The second part of the equation (and, to me, the most important part) is the exercise. I *really* slacked off during the summer (it's too hottttttt!). But now I'm able to walk at lunch and I'm finally using that yoga dvd I got for my birthday (yoga: an obsession for another day....). See, I didn't really gain that much weight.....but I sure have gotten flabby! I look 5 months pregnant most of the time. Only it's not cute on me and there will be no bouncing baby whatever in the next 4 months (can't make adorable baby booties for this lump! No way!)
Anyhow, my short term goal is 5 pounds by Thanksgiving (three weeks). But, really, just being able to breathe in my clothes would make me happy. (as we speak, I am sitting here in a pair of jeans that I have unbuttoned and unzipped under my sweatshirt. So classy. And so embarrassing.)
And, just so I have this on record......on November 1st I weighed in at 152 pounds. Can I reach 147 by Turkey Day?? Methinks the answer is a resounding "abso-freakin-lutely!"
(Tune in tomorrow when we will discuss my love-hate relationship with my hair.....)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Damn, I'm good.....
What has it been.....7? 8 months? I've never been good at the diary thing....some things never change....
While I would love to do a "catch up" post....ummmm...not so much. Most things are the same anyway. I just live in a house now. That's been my life since April.
(this was last year....it's been too dry for fall color this year...)
I am going to get married in October. The year (and the groom) are yet to be determined. If I could find a place on earth where it is fall all year long, I would be on the next plane. You people can have your springs and summers.....fall and winter are my seasons....bring on the cold!!
So tonight will be my first Halloween in my new house. I have no idea what to expect as far as trick or treaters go. I have my super huge bag of Smarties (sorry, I can't afford the good stuff!). I hope we have a moderate amount of kids come down our street.....I do love seeing the little kids dressed up.....though I also hope I don't hear my doorbell ring at 10:30 at night (it has happened to my parents....so I know). Oh, and the teenagers can stay home. If I have to ask you if you are maybe a bit old to be trick or treating, then you are. So, maybe an hour's worth of kids will be good....after that, the novelty will have worn way off....
We are allowed to dress up at work (which is surprising considering some of our dress code rules) Anyhow, about half the people get into it....and that includes your's truly. The last two years I went as a hippie (which was so not a stretch). This year, with Potter-mania, I am Hermione Granger. It was actually easier than I thought....the only stuff I had to buy was the socks and tie! It ended up being the perfect choice because I can totally pull off the Hermione hair (this weekend I'm getting it highlighted, so after that, not so much). And tomorrow I'll already be thinking of what I will be next year....
Jennifer is "barefoot and pregnant" and I am just fat in this outfit....
While I would love to do a "catch up" post....ummmm...not so much. Most things are the same anyway. I just live in a house now. That's been my life since April.
Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. While Tennessee doesn't get cold enough fast enough for me, we are at least now at the point where it is downright chilly in the mornings and I'm no longer sweating halfway through drying my hair. I love the changing of the leaves and even have my kitchen decorated in fall colors (all year round....not just for autumn). And, to me, the "holiday season" started at the beginning of October....Halloween being my favorite holiday! (I am going to ignore the fact that Christmas decorations have been in the stores since Labor Day.....)
(this was last year....it's been too dry for fall color this year...)I am going to get married in October. The year (and the groom) are yet to be determined. If I could find a place on earth where it is fall all year long, I would be on the next plane. You people can have your springs and summers.....fall and winter are my seasons....bring on the cold!!
So tonight will be my first Halloween in my new house. I have no idea what to expect as far as trick or treaters go. I have my super huge bag of Smarties (sorry, I can't afford the good stuff!). I hope we have a moderate amount of kids come down our street.....I do love seeing the little kids dressed up.....though I also hope I don't hear my doorbell ring at 10:30 at night (it has happened to my parents....so I know). Oh, and the teenagers can stay home. If I have to ask you if you are maybe a bit old to be trick or treating, then you are. So, maybe an hour's worth of kids will be good....after that, the novelty will have worn way off....
We are allowed to dress up at work (which is surprising considering some of our dress code rules) Anyhow, about half the people get into it....and that includes your's truly. The last two years I went as a hippie (which was so not a stretch). This year, with Potter-mania, I am Hermione Granger. It was actually easier than I thought....the only stuff I had to buy was the socks and tie! It ended up being the perfect choice because I can totally pull off the Hermione hair (this weekend I'm getting it highlighted, so after that, not so much). And tomorrow I'll already be thinking of what I will be next year....
Jennifer is "barefoot and pregnant" and I am just fat in this outfit....Thursday, March 22, 2007
Where Are You Going?
This post brought to you by wine....love it or leave it!
I cannot promise in any way, shape or form that this will make any sense. But so be it.
I'm not happy.
Specifically, I'm not happy with me.
I came to this conclusion about a week ago. I've had my share of ups and downs. Right now I'm in a down period. I hope it doesn't last long. But, more importantly, I hope that only good comes from it. Feeling better isn't nearly as important as learning, changing, and growing. (Oooooo....so deep!)
I won't go into all the ways I'm displeased with the person I am. It would take me forever anyway. I just know that things have to change. I am someone that I wouldn't particularly want to hang out with. Not good, eh? I have just been so negative recently.....it's been toxic. I've not really shared this yet, but I am a spiritual person. I talk to God on a pretty regular basis. Again, details aren't what I want to get into right now, but I'm trying to walk the walk, so to speak.
Anyhow, my biggest dream in life is to find the man of my dreams. Read that as you will, but being single is not a happy place for me. But I realized (for maybe the ten thousandth time) the other night that meeting Mr. Where-have-you-been-all-my-life right now might not be the best thing. What do they say? "You can't love another until you love yourself"? Ain't feeling the love right now! I want a man that "loves me just as I am".....but I don't love me just as I am, so I'm thinking the timing isn't right.
It's just so hard. Will I ever get to that perfect point? Will I ever feel like I could truly be happy with or without a man? Will I ever stop worrying about how the rest of the world views my singleton status? I seem to have a lot more questions than answers. How I wish I could turn to tarot card readers or horoscopes or something to tell me my future! Just a little glimpse.....please!!
But I keep on keepin' on. Tomorrow is another day and all that. The good Lord is probably wishing I'd lay off the wine for awhile (if only!) But for right now, I will snuggle under the covers and cuddle with my kitty. I mean, how could you not just love and chuckle at this face?
I cannot promise in any way, shape or form that this will make any sense. But so be it.
I'm not happy.
Specifically, I'm not happy with me.
I came to this conclusion about a week ago. I've had my share of ups and downs. Right now I'm in a down period. I hope it doesn't last long. But, more importantly, I hope that only good comes from it. Feeling better isn't nearly as important as learning, changing, and growing. (Oooooo....so deep!)
I won't go into all the ways I'm displeased with the person I am. It would take me forever anyway. I just know that things have to change. I am someone that I wouldn't particularly want to hang out with. Not good, eh? I have just been so negative recently.....it's been toxic. I've not really shared this yet, but I am a spiritual person. I talk to God on a pretty regular basis. Again, details aren't what I want to get into right now, but I'm trying to walk the walk, so to speak.
Anyhow, my biggest dream in life is to find the man of my dreams. Read that as you will, but being single is not a happy place for me. But I realized (for maybe the ten thousandth time) the other night that meeting Mr. Where-have-you-been-all-my-life right now might not be the best thing. What do they say? "You can't love another until you love yourself"? Ain't feeling the love right now! I want a man that "loves me just as I am".....but I don't love me just as I am, so I'm thinking the timing isn't right.
It's just so hard. Will I ever get to that perfect point? Will I ever feel like I could truly be happy with or without a man? Will I ever stop worrying about how the rest of the world views my singleton status? I seem to have a lot more questions than answers. How I wish I could turn to tarot card readers or horoscopes or something to tell me my future! Just a little glimpse.....please!!
But I keep on keepin' on. Tomorrow is another day and all that. The good Lord is probably wishing I'd lay off the wine for awhile (if only!) But for right now, I will snuggle under the covers and cuddle with my kitty. I mean, how could you not just love and chuckle at this face?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Hi! I suck at this blog thing!
Thank goodness no one is counting on me to write on this thing every day because they would be so overwhelmingly disappointed.....
Ok so....house news. After weeks of stress wondering "will I get the house?", "have I gotten all my paperwork in?", "is anyone ever going to call me back?" I does look like this thing is a go! I still don't know when the actual building will begin, but I drove by last night and the lot has been cleared:
And how exciting is it that I have trees! I am assuming that these will stay since they did clear out a few dead ones already. I was also excited to find out that I have a "driveway" (actually, a paved "ramp" leading up to my yard) This is great because I really want to be able to park alongside the house or even in the back (fingers crossed that the deck is high enough to park under).
So now I wait. I will drive by again on Saturday and see if anything has changed. This is just too cool!
Other news snippets:
Ok so....house news. After weeks of stress wondering "will I get the house?", "have I gotten all my paperwork in?", "is anyone ever going to call me back?" I does look like this thing is a go! I still don't know when the actual building will begin, but I drove by last night and the lot has been cleared:
And how exciting is it that I have trees! I am assuming that these will stay since they did clear out a few dead ones already. I was also excited to find out that I have a "driveway" (actually, a paved "ramp" leading up to my yard) This is great because I really want to be able to park alongside the house or even in the back (fingers crossed that the deck is high enough to park under).So now I wait. I will drive by again on Saturday and see if anything has changed. This is just too cool!
Other news snippets:
- I bought a ticket to see The Police in Dallas on June 27th! STING!!!!!! I am going by myself, which is a bit of a bummer....but it's STING!!!!!
- I am going to see a Stars game this Saturday and I'm hoping to meet Ralph & Razor (our announcers). They are just too cool. No one can make me laugh more during a hockey game....
- I finished the Magic Scarf (pictures soon....I promise!) and am now working on jungle animals for Michelle's twins. I've been overloaded with the baby stuff recently....though I can't complain too much since it gives me the chance to work on some new things...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Neglecting my blogging duties
I think about posting to my blog a lot....but follow-through is another thing. It couldn't be that my list of thing to do is longer than The Oddessy or anything. Or that I think "well, that would be a good thing to write about....but it will need pictures....meh....". Or especially that I think there is no way I could write anything that anyone would be remotely interested in. Nope....those wouldn't be reasons at all.....
So, this is a very important week. It is the Week of the New House. On Monday I met with my real estate guy and we completed and signed my contract offer (this followed the freak-out I had last week that said house would be sold out from under me while said real estate guy was out of town). So now I sit and wait (not patiently) for the seller to come back with an acceptance or counter offer of my offer (we're pulling for the acceptance here people).
Yesterday I spent my entire day lining up a new lender (the one I was going to go with didn't meet all the requirements) and making sure I was crossing t's and dotting i's with the Housing Fund, with whom absolute acceptance is necessary. And again with the waiting.
I am pretty sure this is going to happen. And then I will become a homeowner. How scary is THAT?! But it's going to be so cool. I've been decorating and upgrading this house in my head for a week now ("Hello, Home Depot! I am your new best friend!"). And, since ground has not even been broken yet, I have plenty of time to plan and pack and save up some more money. Cause I hate to be rushed.
In other news.....I am going to a single's mixer this Friday (all a part of that "getting out more" plan). I will, of course, be very nervous since my social skills suck. But, as my mom always says, "Just go. You might meet someone." Well....I certainly won't if I don't go. So here's hoping that I can think of something to say!
Ok, I will leave you with a composite drawing of my (hopefully) future home:
It's so PRETTY!!!!
So, this is a very important week. It is the Week of the New House. On Monday I met with my real estate guy and we completed and signed my contract offer (this followed the freak-out I had last week that said house would be sold out from under me while said real estate guy was out of town). So now I sit and wait (not patiently) for the seller to come back with an acceptance or counter offer of my offer (we're pulling for the acceptance here people).
Yesterday I spent my entire day lining up a new lender (the one I was going to go with didn't meet all the requirements) and making sure I was crossing t's and dotting i's with the Housing Fund, with whom absolute acceptance is necessary. And again with the waiting.
I am pretty sure this is going to happen. And then I will become a homeowner. How scary is THAT?! But it's going to be so cool. I've been decorating and upgrading this house in my head for a week now ("Hello, Home Depot! I am your new best friend!"). And, since ground has not even been broken yet, I have plenty of time to plan and pack and save up some more money. Cause I hate to be rushed.
In other news.....I am going to a single's mixer this Friday (all a part of that "getting out more" plan). I will, of course, be very nervous since my social skills suck. But, as my mom always says, "Just go. You might meet someone." Well....I certainly won't if I don't go. So here's hoping that I can think of something to say!
Ok, I will leave you with a composite drawing of my (hopefully) future home:
It's so PRETTY!!!!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
A day late and a dollar short
I was going to write this last night, being that it was Valentine's Day and all, but my laptop picked the international day o' love to crash. Thanks HP. Love you too.
Now, back to the topic at hand. Valentine's Day. I am a vocal hater of said V-day. I have worn black from head to toe every year since junior high. If you are within 100 feet of me in the month of February, you will get to hear *why* I think Valentine's Day is the stupidest idea ever. Even in the (very few) years I have had a boyfriend this time of year, I have told them that I don't really *do* Valentine's Day and could they please just surprise me on some other random day? (This usually didn't work as said boyfriends would think I was joking and that they would be in very hot water if cards, chocolates and flowers were nowhere in sight on February 14th).
But this year I broke the mold. I have spent a lot of energy on this hate fest and, you know what? Valentine's Day still exists. My protests, boycotts and all-around bitterness haven't hindered the sales of flowers one bit! And I'm sure in year's past that I have just been an absolute joy to be around. So this year I just ignored it altogether. I was indifferent to the commercials, I wore cream and green yesterday, I partook in a pink and red cookie a co-worker brought in, and when someone wished me a Happy Valentine's Day, I said it right back without the nasty tone or a diatribe on it being nothing but a Hallmark Holiday.
I'm growing!
Happy Day After Valentine's Day everyone!! XXXOOOXXOOXXXXOOOO
Now, back to the topic at hand. Valentine's Day. I am a vocal hater of said V-day. I have worn black from head to toe every year since junior high. If you are within 100 feet of me in the month of February, you will get to hear *why* I think Valentine's Day is the stupidest idea ever. Even in the (very few) years I have had a boyfriend this time of year, I have told them that I don't really *do* Valentine's Day and could they please just surprise me on some other random day? (This usually didn't work as said boyfriends would think I was joking and that they would be in very hot water if cards, chocolates and flowers were nowhere in sight on February 14th).
But this year I broke the mold. I have spent a lot of energy on this hate fest and, you know what? Valentine's Day still exists. My protests, boycotts and all-around bitterness haven't hindered the sales of flowers one bit! And I'm sure in year's past that I have just been an absolute joy to be around. So this year I just ignored it altogether. I was indifferent to the commercials, I wore cream and green yesterday, I partook in a pink and red cookie a co-worker brought in, and when someone wished me a Happy Valentine's Day, I said it right back without the nasty tone or a diatribe on it being nothing but a Hallmark Holiday.
I'm growing!
Happy Day After Valentine's Day everyone!! XXXOOOXXOOXXXXOOOO
Friday, February 09, 2007
Risk Taken!
Per yesterday's post, I have taken my first leap into riskdom. Go me!
Ok, so I read our local paper online and I happened to notice that a single member of the male persuasion had been conned by his fellow newspaper staffers to attend a speed dating event. He was supposed to blog his experience leading up to the event and afterwards. I didn't even see this until the day of, so I was unable to sign up to speed date the night he was going. Anyway, I thought he was cute from his picture and I laughed at his blog entries. But what to do now? I didn't want to be seen as blog stalker girl and I also figured ala Sleepless In Seattle that he had received e-mails from every single woman in Nashville by this time.
But, because I was Ms. Risk Taker Extraordinaire, I decided to e-mail him anyway. And I had to put my creative juices to the test....because no ordinary e-mail would do. So I wrote it from the angle of writing him for a "friend" ("My friend thinks you're cute and funny", "My friend would love to know how she might meet you"). It's hokey beyond all belief.....but I sent it anyway!
Now it's a wait-and-see game. I'm not holding my breath. But I'm just glad I chose to do something rather than sit back and hope a miracle would occur. I'll let you know if I hear anything....
Ok, so I read our local paper online and I happened to notice that a single member of the male persuasion had been conned by his fellow newspaper staffers to attend a speed dating event. He was supposed to blog his experience leading up to the event and afterwards. I didn't even see this until the day of, so I was unable to sign up to speed date the night he was going. Anyway, I thought he was cute from his picture and I laughed at his blog entries. But what to do now? I didn't want to be seen as blog stalker girl and I also figured ala Sleepless In Seattle that he had received e-mails from every single woman in Nashville by this time.
But, because I was Ms. Risk Taker Extraordinaire, I decided to e-mail him anyway. And I had to put my creative juices to the test....because no ordinary e-mail would do. So I wrote it from the angle of writing him for a "friend" ("My friend thinks you're cute and funny", "My friend would love to know how she might meet you"). It's hokey beyond all belief.....but I sent it anyway!
Now it's a wait-and-see game. I'm not holding my breath. But I'm just glad I chose to do something rather than sit back and hope a miracle would occur. I'll let you know if I hear anything....
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Don't mind that girl staring at you....she's practicing!
It's time.
I really try hard not to get wrapped up in the fact that I am 36 and single. Everything happens in it's own time, right? Not everyone is married by 25. There's nothing wrong with me. Blah. Blah. Blah.
But, to be quite honest, it bothers me. Like this past weekend when I'm visiting all my relatives in Kansas City. No one asks me about my love life.....but I wonder if they wonder. I am the only adult not in a relationship (not that the other adults necessarily have "healthy" relationships, you understand). I just want them to know that, yes, I am a heterosexual female that is quite capable of having a boyfriend...I just don't right now!
So, not being one to just sit around and wait for things to happen, I've decided I need to make more of an effort. Now, I've tried online dating sites and I've tried speed dating....both with minimal results. I still can't quite shake wanting it to happen "by chance". So here's the plan:
First, I need to just get out and do more. I have my knitting groups and other volunteer things, but, let's face it, I'm meeting a lot more women then men doing this! But, even when I'm knitting with the girls, I need to LOOK AROUND. A few months ago a fellow knitter met a guy during one of our meetings.....so it is possible. I've been meaning to go to the local Amnesty International meetings for awhile now. No more excuses. Must go.
The second thing closely follows the first. I need to pay more attention. I am terrified of making eye contact....am I staring? Was that look long enough? Too long? It's high time I started practicing. How many people have I missed meeting because I am too scared to look up?
And thirdly, I have to take risks. I am so guarded that I don't ever take a chance. What if they don't like me? What if they don't smile back? What if they think I'm weird? What if's be gone! I have to put myself out there. Set myself up for rejection. Stop taking the safe route. Safety is overrated! There will be people that don't like me, but I have to learn to deal with that. Hell, there are people that don't like me now, and probably because I am so meek and scared. I've always heard that once you get into your 30's, you start caring less about what other people think. Yeah....that can start happening anytime now!
So, there you have it. Obsession with self-analyzation? Check! Now I'm going to enjoy some alone time....because soon it will become a thing of the past....I hope.....
I really try hard not to get wrapped up in the fact that I am 36 and single. Everything happens in it's own time, right? Not everyone is married by 25. There's nothing wrong with me. Blah. Blah. Blah.
But, to be quite honest, it bothers me. Like this past weekend when I'm visiting all my relatives in Kansas City. No one asks me about my love life.....but I wonder if they wonder. I am the only adult not in a relationship (not that the other adults necessarily have "healthy" relationships, you understand). I just want them to know that, yes, I am a heterosexual female that is quite capable of having a boyfriend...I just don't right now!
So, not being one to just sit around and wait for things to happen, I've decided I need to make more of an effort. Now, I've tried online dating sites and I've tried speed dating....both with minimal results. I still can't quite shake wanting it to happen "by chance". So here's the plan:
First, I need to just get out and do more. I have my knitting groups and other volunteer things, but, let's face it, I'm meeting a lot more women then men doing this! But, even when I'm knitting with the girls, I need to LOOK AROUND. A few months ago a fellow knitter met a guy during one of our meetings.....so it is possible. I've been meaning to go to the local Amnesty International meetings for awhile now. No more excuses. Must go.
The second thing closely follows the first. I need to pay more attention. I am terrified of making eye contact....am I staring? Was that look long enough? Too long? It's high time I started practicing. How many people have I missed meeting because I am too scared to look up?
And thirdly, I have to take risks. I am so guarded that I don't ever take a chance. What if they don't like me? What if they don't smile back? What if they think I'm weird? What if's be gone! I have to put myself out there. Set myself up for rejection. Stop taking the safe route. Safety is overrated! There will be people that don't like me, but I have to learn to deal with that. Hell, there are people that don't like me now, and probably because I am so meek and scared. I've always heard that once you get into your 30's, you start caring less about what other people think. Yeah....that can start happening anytime now!
So, there you have it. Obsession with self-analyzation? Check! Now I'm going to enjoy some alone time....because soon it will become a thing of the past....I hope.....
Friday, January 26, 2007
A little hodge, a little podge
I'm dealing with the cold that isn't really but isn't not. And if that made sense to you, you must have what I have!
My week has been a variety of fun emotions....mostly on the negative side, but I'm working hard to turn it around. I'm already stressed about the house thing. I drove by the first two houses my real estate agent found and the neighborhoods were a little....well....discouraging. The first was across from a tall apartment building and the houses next to it were not well kept (if you know what I mean). The second was so cute but seemed very out of place in the industrial area it was in. Sorry, but living next to a wrecker service wasn't exactly what I had in mind.....
I am *not* the poster child for patience and I'm already anxious about not finding something in time. And I haven't been out to actually view a house yet. This is probably normal...I mean, I just talked to my house guy for the first time Monday night. But I'm just ready to be done and settled! And don't get me started on the money. I start breaking out in hives just thinking about it.....
Oh, but I broke a promise to myself but feel it was totally worth it......I have now packed one box! I was supposed to wait until February 1st because, once I get started, I can't stop, and I swear my entire apartment will be packed in a week. But it's worth it because it makes me feel better when my stupid neighbors are making noise with their music, swearing and stomping up and down the stairs. It gives me a zen feeling that in three months (or less) I will move to a place where the only music making the walls vibrate will be mine (and it will be Dave...oh yes....it will!)
But back to the money (and total lack thereof), I've managed to spend a LOT of it this month. Not going so well with the budgeting. Some were necessary expenses (i.e., car registration, Rachel's birthday gift, etc.) Most were not (i.e., the shirt I bought MYSELF when buying Rachel's birthday gift). So I've got to get back up on that wagon because life as I know it will be over once I sign my life away to a 30-year mortgage.....
Then there's the eating. God, I can put away the ice cream! It's probably everything else that is causing me to eat worse than normal and it's showing on the ol' waistline (oh what pretty grooves my jeans make on my skin!). I've been doing better with the walking (and am about to head out in a minute). I just need to think before popping stuff in my mouth....because mindless eating is a bummer.....
On a happier note.....they have mentioned the s-word for Saturday night (no, not THAT s-word....the SNOW s-word!). If it happens, you can bet that I will be sitting all bundled up on my porch watching it all.night.long. It's been a long wait and I want to see some white stuff, dammit! I don't even care if it accumulates....just to see it fall will make me giddy. Oh please Snow Gods! Please let me see snow!
Ok, enough rambling. Time to go home and plan my strategy for tomorrow's house hunt with a glass of wine and a kitty on my lap....
My week has been a variety of fun emotions....mostly on the negative side, but I'm working hard to turn it around. I'm already stressed about the house thing. I drove by the first two houses my real estate agent found and the neighborhoods were a little....well....discouraging. The first was across from a tall apartment building and the houses next to it were not well kept (if you know what I mean). The second was so cute but seemed very out of place in the industrial area it was in. Sorry, but living next to a wrecker service wasn't exactly what I had in mind.....
I am *not* the poster child for patience and I'm already anxious about not finding something in time. And I haven't been out to actually view a house yet. This is probably normal...I mean, I just talked to my house guy for the first time Monday night. But I'm just ready to be done and settled! And don't get me started on the money. I start breaking out in hives just thinking about it.....
Oh, but I broke a promise to myself but feel it was totally worth it......I have now packed one box! I was supposed to wait until February 1st because, once I get started, I can't stop, and I swear my entire apartment will be packed in a week. But it's worth it because it makes me feel better when my stupid neighbors are making noise with their music, swearing and stomping up and down the stairs. It gives me a zen feeling that in three months (or less) I will move to a place where the only music making the walls vibrate will be mine (and it will be Dave...oh yes....it will!)
But back to the money (and total lack thereof), I've managed to spend a LOT of it this month. Not going so well with the budgeting. Some were necessary expenses (i.e., car registration, Rachel's birthday gift, etc.) Most were not (i.e., the shirt I bought MYSELF when buying Rachel's birthday gift). So I've got to get back up on that wagon because life as I know it will be over once I sign my life away to a 30-year mortgage.....
Then there's the eating. God, I can put away the ice cream! It's probably everything else that is causing me to eat worse than normal and it's showing on the ol' waistline (oh what pretty grooves my jeans make on my skin!). I've been doing better with the walking (and am about to head out in a minute). I just need to think before popping stuff in my mouth....because mindless eating is a bummer.....
On a happier note.....they have mentioned the s-word for Saturday night (no, not THAT s-word....the SNOW s-word!). If it happens, you can bet that I will be sitting all bundled up on my porch watching it all.night.long. It's been a long wait and I want to see some white stuff, dammit! I don't even care if it accumulates....just to see it fall will make me giddy. Oh please Snow Gods! Please let me see snow!
Ok, enough rambling. Time to go home and plan my strategy for tomorrow's house hunt with a glass of wine and a kitty on my lap....
Friday, January 19, 2007
The House - Part 1 in a series.....
I am the queen of whims. I get grand ideas in my head all the time. Most of them I never even follow through on.....some I do (like my trip to London).
My latest whim is a home of my own. It came about because of two things:
1) I am totally obsessed with HGTV. The thought of actually being able to ALTER my living space is just too tantalizing to handle! I want to paint.....I want to install things.....I want to tear things apart and put them together again. Can't do that in an apartment....
2) I have spent a good part of the last three years hating my neighbors. I live on the second floor of a three-floor building. This means I have people on ALL sides of me. My last two upstairs neighbors have driven my nuts.....the last guy was a STOMPER. I swear he was wearing concrete-enforced combat boots. The current guy plays reggae music very loud. And I think he owns only one cd. And it's not any better downstairs. The last tenants were a Hispanic couple that yelled and threw things a lot....and always at really inappropriate hours. The guy now screams out obscenities and bangs on the wall at strange intervals. Needless to say, I am SO looking forward to not sharing walls with anyone....
So today I took the first big step in the house hunting process.....I applied for a loan. I will hear on my pre-approval early next week and then I can hit the ground running. The lease is up on my apartment in April and I am *praying* that everything falls in to place at the right time. I am going to go and talk to my apartment manager about what I need to do. I am hoping that, because I have been a very good tenant for over 5 years, they will cut me some slack.
Anyhow, I am excited and scared. I really have no idea what I'm getting in to. I really hope I can afford all this (if I could just win the $205 million Powerball, this would not be a problem). My monthly payments are going to go up, I know that utilities will go up, and the upfront costs of movers, appliances, getting utilities switched, etc. But other people do this every day, right? If they can figure it out, so should I!
Next step is to find a real estate agent and have them start looking. The next three months are going to be a whirlwind of craziness! Hopefully ending in a cute little house that I can start to demolish......
My latest whim is a home of my own. It came about because of two things:
1) I am totally obsessed with HGTV. The thought of actually being able to ALTER my living space is just too tantalizing to handle! I want to paint.....I want to install things.....I want to tear things apart and put them together again. Can't do that in an apartment....
2) I have spent a good part of the last three years hating my neighbors. I live on the second floor of a three-floor building. This means I have people on ALL sides of me. My last two upstairs neighbors have driven my nuts.....the last guy was a STOMPER. I swear he was wearing concrete-enforced combat boots. The current guy plays reggae music very loud. And I think he owns only one cd. And it's not any better downstairs. The last tenants were a Hispanic couple that yelled and threw things a lot....and always at really inappropriate hours. The guy now screams out obscenities and bangs on the wall at strange intervals. Needless to say, I am SO looking forward to not sharing walls with anyone....
So today I took the first big step in the house hunting process.....I applied for a loan. I will hear on my pre-approval early next week and then I can hit the ground running. The lease is up on my apartment in April and I am *praying* that everything falls in to place at the right time. I am going to go and talk to my apartment manager about what I need to do. I am hoping that, because I have been a very good tenant for over 5 years, they will cut me some slack.
Anyhow, I am excited and scared. I really have no idea what I'm getting in to. I really hope I can afford all this (if I could just win the $205 million Powerball, this would not be a problem). My monthly payments are going to go up, I know that utilities will go up, and the upfront costs of movers, appliances, getting utilities switched, etc. But other people do this every day, right? If they can figure it out, so should I!
Next step is to find a real estate agent and have them start looking. The next three months are going to be a whirlwind of craziness! Hopefully ending in a cute little house that I can start to demolish......
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Obsession #583: Knitting
I've already touched on my love for crocheting, but I also love to knit. I first learned about 2 years ago from my co-worker, Kim (who has mad knitting skills). I made a lovely yellow and red Chiefs scarf (you know...the Chiefs....obsession #407). I made it from very basic Red Heart yarn and learned a lesson all knitters do.....stockinette stitch rolls.
I blocked. I washed. I dried under cinder blocks. I ironed (verrrrrrrry carefully). Still rolls. Oh well.
Up until a few months ago, I mostly crocheted. Crocheting is faster. I have self-diagnosed ADD. We ADDers love fast. But watching all the knitsters at my knitting group made me give knitting another try. I've gotten a little faster after taking up the continental method (learned from Amy on knittinghelp.com.....she's fabulous!!)
I am also working on a project now that gives me LOTS of practice.....I'm making a case to carry my needles in....and it's going to be felted! This is my first voyage into the felting world and I really hope it turns out the way I want. The thing about felting projects is you have to make things really big because they will shrink in the wash. This case has to be 36" long! That doesn't sound like much, but this is the case at a little over 23":
My yarn obsession has led to some nice new strange habits (knitter know of what I speak). I am already a part of a knitting group through Hands On Nashville (we make hats, scarves and blankets for the homeless, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) and now I want to join the local Stitch n' Bitch group so I can work on personal projects with knitsters as well. I read one knitters blog....Crazy Aunt Purl. The girl is a RIOT and writes ten times better than I ever could. I can now spend hours at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's Fabrics just looking at yarn and dreaming up possible projects. I Tivo the show Knitty Gritty on HGTV everyday. Oh, and I've become a no-bad-place-to-knit knitter. Of course I knit on my couch, during my lunch hour at work, and on airplanes......but I've graduated to knitting in my car in traffic (don't worry....no knitting is done while the vehicle is in motion!) I haven't become quite good enough, or brave enough, to knit in movie theaters or at church....but I aspire to those heights! (I also aspire to knit while not constantly looking at my work.....I know it can be done because I've seen others do it!)
I will post my knitting (and crocheting) adventures as they come along. Though I didn't too well on posting my finished sweater.....whoops. Guess I need to try adding "photography" and "posting to my blog" as obsessions...ya think?
I blocked. I washed. I dried under cinder blocks. I ironed (verrrrrrrry carefully). Still rolls. Oh well.Up until a few months ago, I mostly crocheted. Crocheting is faster. I have self-diagnosed ADD. We ADDers love fast. But watching all the knitsters at my knitting group made me give knitting another try. I've gotten a little faster after taking up the continental method (learned from Amy on knittinghelp.com.....she's fabulous!!)
I am also working on a project now that gives me LOTS of practice.....I'm making a case to carry my needles in....and it's going to be felted! This is my first voyage into the felting world and I really hope it turns out the way I want. The thing about felting projects is you have to make things really big because they will shrink in the wash. This case has to be 36" long! That doesn't sound like much, but this is the case at a little over 23":
My yarn obsession has led to some nice new strange habits (knitter know of what I speak). I am already a part of a knitting group through Hands On Nashville (we make hats, scarves and blankets for the homeless, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) and now I want to join the local Stitch n' Bitch group so I can work on personal projects with knitsters as well. I read one knitters blog....Crazy Aunt Purl. The girl is a RIOT and writes ten times better than I ever could. I can now spend hours at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's Fabrics just looking at yarn and dreaming up possible projects. I Tivo the show Knitty Gritty on HGTV everyday. Oh, and I've become a no-bad-place-to-knit knitter. Of course I knit on my couch, during my lunch hour at work, and on airplanes......but I've graduated to knitting in my car in traffic (don't worry....no knitting is done while the vehicle is in motion!) I haven't become quite good enough, or brave enough, to knit in movie theaters or at church....but I aspire to those heights! (I also aspire to knit while not constantly looking at my work.....I know it can be done because I've seen others do it!)
I will post my knitting (and crocheting) adventures as they come along. Though I didn't too well on posting my finished sweater.....whoops. Guess I need to try adding "photography" and "posting to my blog" as obsessions...ya think?
Monday, January 15, 2007
I'm such a coward.....
The local Amnesty International meeting starts in an hour. I haven't been to one yet....and it doesn't look like I'm going in an hour either. Why not? Hell if I know. I guess I'm scared. Scared of meeting new people, scared I'm going to say or do something stupid, scared of leaving my house. And I know I'm going to regret it. (I already do) Why can't I do this? Why is it so hard for me to just get myself together and go?
Oh, but I will just sit here and make up excuses (for who, I'm not sure). But the guilt and feeling stupid will last all night. The next meeting isn't for another month....and I tell myself I will definitely go to that one.....kinda like I said I would definitely go to this one. This is bad. I haven't so much as stepped out my front door in five days. The only person I have had any contact with is an hour-long phone call with my mom. I am far too comfortable being alone.....this hermit-ness cannot in any way be healthy.
And doesn't stop with staying home from social functions. Oh, but I wish it did. I also tend to avoid phone calls. Unless I am expecting a call, I often let people just go to voicemail (to all my friends....it's not you, it's me!) I hate being caught off guard (it's when I tend to make my stupidest social gaffes). Of course, I hate talking on the phone anyway. I'm not good at it at all. I'm a very visual person....so when I'm talking to someone, I like to see facial expressions and body language. When I'm on the phone, I do a whole lot more of the babbling-to-fill-the-silence. It ain't pretty.
Ok, I need to stop thinking about this. It's too late to do anything now, so I just have to take a deep breath and tell myself that tomorrow is a brand new day and that I WILL get better at this. I really, really will.....
Oh, but I will just sit here and make up excuses (for who, I'm not sure). But the guilt and feeling stupid will last all night. The next meeting isn't for another month....and I tell myself I will definitely go to that one.....kinda like I said I would definitely go to this one. This is bad. I haven't so much as stepped out my front door in five days. The only person I have had any contact with is an hour-long phone call with my mom. I am far too comfortable being alone.....this hermit-ness cannot in any way be healthy.
And doesn't stop with staying home from social functions. Oh, but I wish it did. I also tend to avoid phone calls. Unless I am expecting a call, I often let people just go to voicemail (to all my friends....it's not you, it's me!) I hate being caught off guard (it's when I tend to make my stupidest social gaffes). Of course, I hate talking on the phone anyway. I'm not good at it at all. I'm a very visual person....so when I'm talking to someone, I like to see facial expressions and body language. When I'm on the phone, I do a whole lot more of the babbling-to-fill-the-silence. It ain't pretty.
Ok, I need to stop thinking about this. It's too late to do anything now, so I just have to take a deep breath and tell myself that tomorrow is a brand new day and that I WILL get better at this. I really, really will.....
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Where is winter?
It's a balmy 70 degrees here in Nashville, Tennessee. I hate it. I moved here five years ago from Ft. Worth in hopes of seeing "real" winters. Since that time, North Texas has gotten significantly more winter weather than we have. *grumble grumble*
I love snow. Love, love, LOVE! I am not a fan of driving in it....but, duh.....I stay in when the white stuff starts to fall! I'm a native of Kansas City, so I am not a run- to- the- grocery- store- for- all- the- bread- and- milk- I- can- grab person. Hello Nashville? When was the last time you were trapped in your house for a week due to snow? And I'm such a homebody that it's heaven for me to not have to leave my house for days.
I know I should consider moving even further north. I have thought about Minneapolis. Or even east to North Carolina. My politics have seriously got me looking at Canada. Hell, I could move back to Texas.....it's 32 there now! But I know the moment I pack up and head north, Nashville will have it's snowiest (is that a word?) winters on record and wherever I go will be snow free for years!
I love snow. Love, love, LOVE! I am not a fan of driving in it....but, duh.....I stay in when the white stuff starts to fall! I'm a native of Kansas City, so I am not a run- to- the- grocery- store- for- all- the- bread- and- milk- I- can- grab person. Hello Nashville? When was the last time you were trapped in your house for a week due to snow? And I'm such a homebody that it's heaven for me to not have to leave my house for days.
I know I should consider moving even further north. I have thought about Minneapolis. Or even east to North Carolina. My politics have seriously got me looking at Canada. Hell, I could move back to Texas.....it's 32 there now! But I know the moment I pack up and head north, Nashville will have it's snowiest (is that a word?) winters on record and wherever I go will be snow free for years!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Meet my little baby punkdoodle
Or my Josey-kitten.....or the Josmeister....or do-wat ("do" as in "do-re-mi" and "wat" as in "lightbulb watt")....or the most precious baby kitten on the planet.....the nicknames do just go on and on....
Josey is 9 years old and queen of the household. She was named after my favorite song by a college band I used to see....Deep Blue Something ("Breakfast At Tiffany's" anyone?). Though most people assume her name comes from Josie and the Pussycats. Cute. But not true.
So far Josey has tolerated her human fairly well. I may be a little slow on opening the door to the back porch, I don't make trips to the fridge to get her chicken/turkey/ham as much as she'd like, and then there's that having the audacity to think I can sleep in HER bed. But she's kept me around this long.....what a cross she must bear.
She would tell you that, despite my shortcomings, I'm good for a few things. I take those wonderful showers every morning that leave water on the tile for her to lap up. I fill the birdfeeder to give her hours of chirping enjoyment with the birdies. I bought a papasan chair perfect for afternoon naps in the sun. And I DRIVE to Texas every Christmas just so she can go and see her Nana and Grandad, peruse their much bigger habitat, enjoy three laps instead of just one, and chirp at many more birds than our poor little apartment ever sees. But she's not spoiled....not at all.....
Josey is 9 years old and queen of the household. She was named after my favorite song by a college band I used to see....Deep Blue Something ("Breakfast At Tiffany's" anyone?). Though most people assume her name comes from Josie and the Pussycats. Cute. But not true.
So far Josey has tolerated her human fairly well. I may be a little slow on opening the door to the back porch, I don't make trips to the fridge to get her chicken/turkey/ham as much as she'd like, and then there's that having the audacity to think I can sleep in HER bed. But she's kept me around this long.....what a cross she must bear.
She would tell you that, despite my shortcomings, I'm good for a few things. I take those wonderful showers every morning that leave water on the tile for her to lap up. I fill the birdfeeder to give her hours of chirping enjoyment with the birdies. I bought a papasan chair perfect for afternoon naps in the sun. And I DRIVE to Texas every Christmas just so she can go and see her Nana and Grandad, peruse their much bigger habitat, enjoy three laps instead of just one, and chirp at many more birds than our poor little apartment ever sees. But she's not spoiled....not at all.....
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Happy Birthday, Dave!
Today's is Dave Matthews' 40th birthday (I had to look up the year....I thought he was only 39...). I love Dave. I would marry Dave (except he already has a wonderful wife and two beautiful girls). If I could find a guy that LOOKS like Dave, I would be happy. *sigh*
My DMB obsession started back in 2002. Actually, I had bought Under The Table And Dreaming in 1995 because I loved Ants Marching. But, at the time, I didn't like anything else on that cd. My musical taste must have gone through a dark period. Anyway, fast forward to 2002 and a very brief "relationship" with a Dave fan (yes, I know there are five equal members of the band, but it's just easier for me to refer to them as "Dave"). I had mentioned said blip-on-my-dating-record to my best friend from college and this sent her into a frenzy.... "Oh! I love them! Do you listen to them?! You should! Oh my god!" So, in a moment of weakness wanting to have something else in common with the Blip, I asked Laurie to recommend a cd where I could get a good sampling of music. As any real fan will do, she suggested live stuff.....Red Rocks, I believe, was her first choice. She also mentioned that they had a new cd coming out soon....Busted Stuff. And, oh my god, I should go out and get as many Dave cd's as possible right.this.minute!
Well, I waited until Busted Stuff was released (July 7th....a date I remember well). I went to Best Buy because they tend to put everything by an artist on sale on release day. Bingo! I got about 5 cd's that day....I was so excited! I popped Busted Stuff in as soon as I got in the car and headed home. I enjoyed the title track....windows down....very nice. But the second song. Oh, that song. Grey Street. See, Blip had broken my heart. I was not in a good place. And that song. I know it sounds stupid, but Dave got into my head and wrote that song! I had to pull over I was crying so hard. And then I listened to it again. And, thus, my love for the DMB began.
So, today (as with pretty much every day (hee....Everyday!) ) I will be listening to Dave and his lovely voice on WDMB radio.
Love you, Dave! Happy Birthday!
Mom, it's my birthday
What would you say...
-What Would You Say, 1994
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
New Year, New Blog
Hello 2007. Will you be better than 2006? Worse? About the same? I'm going to put all my chips on better....because, really? What do I have to lose?
So far this blog hasn't had much direction...and I'm not promising it ever will. Most blogs I've read (and there haven't been that many....yet) have a "theme"....one thing that the blogger is mainly focused on. But my interests and obsessions change day-to-day and what I want to focus on today is not necessarily what will interest me in the least tomorrow (ADD anyone?). Five years ago I would have talked ad nauseum about Garth Brooks (*ahem* stalker *ahem*). But today I hardly listen to him at all (though my lovely right ankle tattoo is a constant reminder of the life I used to lead). Today's obsessions include knitting/crocheting, the Dave Matthews Band, getting asked out, my weight, travel, reading, my Tivo.....oh, the list goes on and on.....
As of today, I have not made this blog "public" (haven't told a soul)....I probably will soon. And then we'll see just how many people want to obsess with me! (one way ticket to psycho coming up....)
Ok....off to knit....while listening to Dave.....and thinking about where my next date is coming from....
So far this blog hasn't had much direction...and I'm not promising it ever will. Most blogs I've read (and there haven't been that many....yet) have a "theme"....one thing that the blogger is mainly focused on. But my interests and obsessions change day-to-day and what I want to focus on today is not necessarily what will interest me in the least tomorrow (ADD anyone?). Five years ago I would have talked ad nauseum about Garth Brooks (*ahem* stalker *ahem*). But today I hardly listen to him at all (though my lovely right ankle tattoo is a constant reminder of the life I used to lead). Today's obsessions include knitting/crocheting, the Dave Matthews Band, getting asked out, my weight, travel, reading, my Tivo.....oh, the list goes on and on.....
As of today, I have not made this blog "public" (haven't told a soul)....I probably will soon. And then we'll see just how many people want to obsess with me! (one way ticket to psycho coming up....)
Ok....off to knit....while listening to Dave.....and thinking about where my next date is coming from....
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