There is a note going all around Facebook where you have to list 25 random things about yourself and then tag 25 of your friends. I finally gave in and did it, so I thought I would share the list here too:
1. The only bone I have ever broken was my toe. But it was a really bad break! My pinky toe was pointing completely west instead of north! It took 8 weeks to heal!
2. My dog has long hair and frequently gets dingle-berries and I have to wipe his butt sometimes because of this. (Oh the things we do for our dogs!)
3. I used to hate diet soda and would refuse to drink it. Now diet is my preferred choice and I rarely drink regular.
4. I hate sweet tea.
5. I have my NC Real Estate broker’s license but have never used it because I am chicken.
6. I won a big poetry reading contest in 3rd grade.
7. I would live in flip-flops year round if I could.
8. I have a conspiracy theory about Target that they pump “feel good” drugs into the air in their stores to make you want to buy stuff because I can never seem to leave that store without spending more than I meant to.
9. I take my dog to the dog park so that other people will throw the ball for him so I can read my book in peace sometimes.
10. I still use my student ID to get a discount at the movie theater.
11. I’ve never had the chicken pox.
12. I always speed and end up tail-gaiting people because I am chronically late everywhere.
13. Most days of the week I don’t wear make-up because it takes too much time and it doesn’t make that big of a difference.
14. In elementary school I took my hamster to school in my pencil box one day because I didn’t want to leave him at home. When my teacher found out, I told her that my brother must have done it as a joke so that I wouldn’t get in trouble. When the teacher called my mom, she told her I didn’t have a brother. I got in trouble.
15. I hate when men at work lean back in their chair and interlock their hands behind their head with their elbows sticking out. I don’t know if they think this makes them look relaxed or what. It makes them look like arrogant jerks to me and I have to look away to control my anger.
16. I think martinis are extremely hard to carry so I try not to order them unless I am sitting down and not moving for the entire night.
17. I love travel-sized toiletries. I think it is because I love to travel. I can’t resist buying small sized stuff, but unfortunately I don’t get to travel that much. So now I have a whole basketful collection in my spare bathroom of tiny shampoos, soaps, etc. and when I look at it I long for a job where I traveled all the time.
18. I have a huge fear of guns. I can’t even look at them and when I see someone holding one it makes me want to run for safety.
19. When I was little I wanted to be a dolphin trainer when I grew up.
20. This is the first year in the last 10 years that I don’t have a wedding to go to (yet).
21. I’ve never seen the Pacific Ocean, but hopefully I will get to this year when I go to San Francisco . This is on the ocean right?
22. I know the whole Greek alphabet and can sing it to you.
23. I pretend like I don’t, but secretly I do have a lot of regrets in my life.
24. I am a goofball and I crack myself up when I am in a silly mood (even if I am completely by myself).
25. If you wear a sweater-vest I will make fun of you. All of the men at my old job would wear sweater-vests all the time and it got to be such a joke that we had a sweater-vest game we used to play to entertain ourselves. I’ve never viewed sweater-vests the same way since then.
I'm not going to tag anyone else, but if you see this and think it looks fun, do it!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
L.I.F.E.- List Idea Friday Everyone!
Every Friday I will feature a new idea from the book Dream it. List it. Do it! that you can add to your life’s to do list.
Today’s item is from the chapter on “Be More Adventurous”:
Jump over a car on a motorcycle
Seriously? Ok yeah, let me go out and try that his weekend and see what happens. Anyone want to volunteer their car? Needless to say this will NOT be added to my list.
In fact when I started looking at some of the suggestions in this chapter they seemed really far-fetched: “Swim with sharks in a cage”, “Participate in a camel race”, “Squat in an abandoned building”, “Travel faster than the speed of sound”, “Wrestle an alligator”? Were they smoking crack when they wrote this chapter? They might have been heavily intoxicated or something because one of the items in this chapter that I might actually consider was “Eat a tequila worm”!
If any of you have done any of these things, I seriously want to know about it, because I can’t fathom ever having the opportunity to do any of those (except eat the worm…but ewe gross!)
Also on a side note, my life has gotten a little crazy in the last week with this match.com thing. I SO want to blog about it, but I am scared. What if I meet the one and he reads about this crazy stuff? What if someone inadvertently finds my blog? How do I write about this stuff but remain neutral? Or should I just let it all out? What do you guys think?
Today’s item is from the chapter on “Be More Adventurous”:
Jump over a car on a motorcycle
Seriously? Ok yeah, let me go out and try that his weekend and see what happens. Anyone want to volunteer their car? Needless to say this will NOT be added to my list.
In fact when I started looking at some of the suggestions in this chapter they seemed really far-fetched: “Swim with sharks in a cage”, “Participate in a camel race”, “Squat in an abandoned building”, “Travel faster than the speed of sound”, “Wrestle an alligator”? Were they smoking crack when they wrote this chapter? They might have been heavily intoxicated or something because one of the items in this chapter that I might actually consider was “Eat a tequila worm”!
If any of you have done any of these things, I seriously want to know about it, because I can’t fathom ever having the opportunity to do any of those (except eat the worm…but ewe gross!)
Also on a side note, my life has gotten a little crazy in the last week with this match.com thing. I SO want to blog about it, but I am scared. What if I meet the one and he reads about this crazy stuff? What if someone inadvertently finds my blog? How do I write about this stuff but remain neutral? Or should I just let it all out? What do you guys think?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Bullies don’t just hang out in schoolyards
I can only remember a few times being bullied or acting like a bully in my lifetime. It was not a big part of my life at all. I remember 1 or 2 bullies making mean comments to me in elementary or middle school and I remember being mean to this boy on the playground once, but it was never anything like full on brawls at recess or psychological warfare the likes of Mean Girls.
But lately I have been bullied more than ever. Now it is a different kind of bullying. It goes on in cubicle-land instead of on the playground. It is political in nature and not overtly teasing or roughhousing someone. In fact it took me a while to figure out what was going on.
But I read a great post today on Seth Godin’s blog and it clicked. I was being bullied and I was still playing their game. I didn’t know how not to! I have to work with these people. But Seth says the answer is to take the ball away and go home.
He says:
“The way to work with a bully is to take the ball and go home. First time, every time.
When there's no ball, there's no game. Bullies hate that. So they'll either behave so they can play with you or they'll go bully someone else.
Call her on her behavior (not who she is, but what she does). "I'm sorry, but when you talk to me like that, I'm unable to do good work. I'll be in my office if you need me." Then walk out, not in a huff, but with a measure of respect for the person (not the behavior).”
I kind of tried to do this with my last bully experience. I took back control of my project when she tried to take over and had as little interaction with her as possible. But yesterday I felt bullied again. (By a different person! My workplace has a lot of bullies!) I just sat there and took it because I didn’t know what else to do. In fact, the only comment I made was negative and I’m pretty sure I sounded disdainful towards her.
It takes a lot of guts to walk away from something or someone at work. Your workplace is your financial stability and it is an unstated rule that you have to play their game. But what if you didn’t? What if you refused to participate in the backstabbing and politics? What if you could change the game all together?
I’m going to try it. It’s risky, but it sounds a lot better than playing a game I don’t like. And maybe, just maybe, I can change the game completely. Or get kicked off the playground! Either way, at least I can preserve some of my sanity and stay true to who I am.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Defining Character: Love One Another
One of the most quoted passages from the Bible during wedding ceremonies is this passage from I Corinthians:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…
When I heard this passage being read I used to think “Oh that is what it will feel like when I meet the one!” or “This is how you are supposed to treat each other in marriage.”
But this passage is really meant for how we are supposed to treat everyone. I would be happy if just one person could embody all those qualities and treat me like that always, let alone everyone! Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone was always patient, kind, humble, calm, forgiving, honest, trusting, hopeful, and would never give up on you?
I can’t control everyone else’s actions, but I can try to control my own. I do not always treat everyone I meet the way I would want to be treated. Usually it is more like a mirror. I treat them how I perceive them to be treating me. If someone is rude and pushing my buttons it is hard not to be rude and try pushing their buttons. If someone hurts me then I want to hurt them back.
But what if I turn that mirror around and instead reflect to them what is in my heart which is love? And if love is all of these things- patient, kind, humble, calm, forgiving, honest, trusting, hopeful, and persevering- then I should reflect that in the way I treat everyone, not just my significant other.
So I am going to try to stop being afraid of being hurt by other people. I am going to try to be patient and calm. I am going to try to always forgive and persevere. Maybe it will change the way people interact with me. Maybe when I am the one holding up that mirror in front of me, it will be reflected back in other people’s actions towards me. And that would make my little world a much happier place!
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…
When I heard this passage being read I used to think “Oh that is what it will feel like when I meet the one!” or “This is how you are supposed to treat each other in marriage.”
But this passage is really meant for how we are supposed to treat everyone. I would be happy if just one person could embody all those qualities and treat me like that always, let alone everyone! Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone was always patient, kind, humble, calm, forgiving, honest, trusting, hopeful, and would never give up on you?
I can’t control everyone else’s actions, but I can try to control my own. I do not always treat everyone I meet the way I would want to be treated. Usually it is more like a mirror. I treat them how I perceive them to be treating me. If someone is rude and pushing my buttons it is hard not to be rude and try pushing their buttons. If someone hurts me then I want to hurt them back.
But what if I turn that mirror around and instead reflect to them what is in my heart which is love? And if love is all of these things- patient, kind, humble, calm, forgiving, honest, trusting, hopeful, and persevering- then I should reflect that in the way I treat everyone, not just my significant other.
So I am going to try to stop being afraid of being hurt by other people. I am going to try to be patient and calm. I am going to try to always forgive and persevere. Maybe it will change the way people interact with me. Maybe when I am the one holding up that mirror in front of me, it will be reflected back in other people’s actions towards me. And that would make my little world a much happier place!
Monday, January 26, 2009
First Kiss?
Over at the 20 Something Bloggers, this month’s Carnival theme is firsts. In particular they want to hear about your first kiss. Since I love to write and feel involved, I thought I’d give this a shot…There was this boy I was friends with before I started school. He lived in the same apartment complex we did when my parents moved to Morganton. I was, oh, around 4 and I think he was about the same age. We were BFFs. In old photo albums I see us all hugged up on each other in little mushroom houses at Smurfland in Carowinds...so I know we were tight. One of the most told stories from my mom about my childhood is about him drinking my Strawberry Shortcake shampoo. I can’t even remember his name. But I have a funny feeling I might have kissed him.
Then there was my childhood husband. I was seriously going to marry this guy when we were in kindergarten. My mom said I told everyone he was going to change the diapers when we had babies. One of my favorite things to do was play dump trucks with him. He was my best little buddy until 4th grade when I moved to public school because I refused to wear a skirt to private school everyday. I don’t know for sure if we got to seal our childhood marriage with a kiss, but it’s a probability.
Throughout elementary and middle school I remember having some classmate boyfriends, but I don’t remember kissing any of them. But that’s not to say it didn’t happen. I just can’t recall.
The first real kiss I do remember was during my freshman year of high school. This was the start to my “bad boy” phase. I had a huge crush on this guy John who was friends with my friends and who ironically lived right up the road from me. He and all his friends were the kind of guys that got in trouble a lot and didn’t do so well in school. But I thought he was so hot and smelled really good.
I remember him coming up to my house to visit me and sitting uncomfortably in my living room with him while my parents were in the next room. I wanted to kiss him then, but it was too awkward.
Then the bad boys convinced us we needed to start sneaking out so we wouldn’t be under parental supervision 24/7. So we did. My friends would come over to my house or I would go over to theirs and we would sneak out and meet the bad boys.
One night we snuck out of my house by climbing out my bedroom window and jumping the fence. We walked down the street to a park to meet the bad boys. I remember sitting at a picnic table at the park in the warm spring night. John had such a great smile and that, along with the excitement of breaking the rules, had my heart fluttering. I remember him smiling and leaning in closer and closer and then it happened- our first kiss. It wasn’t too awkward, but certainly wasn’t the best kiss I’ve ever had. But nevertheless, I was on cloud nine. After that I think he asked me for a real date to the movies. I remember thinking “does this mean he’s my boyfriend now?”
But that date never happened. He abruptly had to move away with his family soon after that. But I still remember his smile and the way he smelled. Boys can smell so freaking good sometimes!
Ironically, I started dating his best friend over the summer that followed. (Why are the bad boys so appealing? I should have just stayed away.) But that’s a story for another time!
Speaking of kisses and great smelling boys, I have some things on my list that will require a boy. Since my social circle has pretty much completely dried up of potential suitors, I have turned to internet dating. (Cue the scary music)
I know. What a loser right? This isn't my first attempt at internet dating. I have heard real life success stories, that have sparked my interest in this phenomenon in the past. I've tried free trials on match.com and eharmony- even signing up for a month long membership on each at one point in time. But I never gave it a real shot. I was picky and ignored pretty much everyone for some reason or another. The ones I did email with never moved past a phone conversation because I eventually would get scared and just ignore them.
But this time will be different. I signed up for a free trial on match.com last week and so far it has gone pretty well. There are actually some interesting guys on there this time. So I'm giving it a real shot.
Need I remind you how much I hate dating?
This should be interesting!
Friday, January 23, 2009
L.I.F.E.- List Idea Friday Everyone!
Every Friday I will feature a new idea from the book Dream it. List it. Do it! that you can add to your life’s to do list.
Today's idea:
Learn CPR.
I have had to learn CPR twice: once when I was taking a Sports Medicine class in high school and again in college when I took a CPR and First Aid class because I needed an easy elective. I had a card proving I was certified and everything, but it expires after 1 year, so I’m not certified anymore. But I think if you were dying in front of me I would know what to do.
Is this something you would add to your list? Do you already know CPR? It’s a good skill to have!
Today's idea:
Learn CPR.
I have had to learn CPR twice: once when I was taking a Sports Medicine class in high school and again in college when I took a CPR and First Aid class because I needed an easy elective. I had a card proving I was certified and everything, but it expires after 1 year, so I’m not certified anymore. But I think if you were dying in front of me I would know what to do.
Is this something you would add to your list? Do you already know CPR? It’s a good skill to have!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Dream It. List It. Do It!
Back in December, I got an email from someone with Workman, a publisher of such books as What to Expect When You’re Expecting and various 365 “page-a-day” calendars. She asked me if I would be interested in reviewing some books on my blog, in particular this one since it has to do with life lists. I said sure and also requested 1000 Places to See Before You Die because you guys know how much I love to travel. Dream It. List It. Do It! Is a great little book full of ideas and helpful tips to making and actually completing your life lists (like my 30 Before 30). It starts out with “10 Rules for Creating and Conquering Your Life Lists” with helpful tips like “define a finish line” and “document your progress”.
The following chapters focus on different themes for “Life List” items:
-Understand Myself
-Learn New Things
-Be More Adventurous
-Make a Difference
-Fix My Finances
-Live in the Moment
-Reconnect
-Cook More
-Be Independent
-Stay Focused
-Make Music
-Be a Better Person
-Be Healthy
-Get a Pet
-Be Happy
…and more! (43 different categories in all!)
There are literally hundreds of ideas in this book. Each theme has pages and pages of items to add to your list that fit with that theme. When I made my "30 Before 30 List" it was kind of spontenous. But I have really loved having my list and I’ll probably continue this tradition and make a 40 Before 40 list. This book is really going to come in handy and give me lots of great ideas for that list.
I know my blog has inspired others to make their own lists (because really, life lists are just so great ya'll!) So I am going to feature a new “List Idea” from the book every Friday. I’ll tell you if I have done that particular item or if it is a contender for my “40 Before 40” list. You can comment and let me know what you think each idea, whether or not you have done it, have no intrest in it, or if you are going to add it to your list. Sound fun? I think so.
(I thought about calling this feature "List Idea Friday Everyone" and shortening it to L.I.F.E. Is that completely cheesy? Probably.)
If you want to get a copy of Dream It. List It. Do It! for yourself to jump start your own Life List, you can find it here.
I also found this nifty little quiz you can take in relation to the book (because who doesn't love online quizzes?!)
I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a
Self-Knowing Healthy Builder
Also be on the lookout for my review of 1000 Places to See Before You Die on my Bookshelf Blog soon.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
SNOW!
I kept saying “If it’s going to be this cold, I at least want some snow!” Well today I got my wish! We have snow and I love it. That is, I love it as long as I don’t have to drive in it. Luckily there is this little thing called “working from home”. It's still snowing and I feel like a little kid. It's so pretty!
It has been a long time since I have seen actual snow accumulation around here. Mostly we just get ice. In fact a few years ago, there was a really nasty ice storm that clogged all of the roads around Raleigh . Luckily it happened just a few weeks before I moved here from Greenville . But I heard horror stories of how it took some people 5 hours to make it home when it normally takes 10 minutes and some people had to stay in hotels because they couldn’t make it home. Cars were sliding around all over the place! I’ll welcome this pretty snow over that nightmarish ice any day.
This is also the first time Cam has seen real snow. He has seen flurries before but nothing like this! He loves it:
Cam eating snow and lovin it!
Cam trying to catch snowflakes
After a romp around the yard
All this snow is getting me excited for my upcoming ski trip in February. (I should really say snowboard/ice skating trip since that is what I plan on doing instead of skiing this year.)
We are headed up to Beech Mountain over Valentine’s Day weekend. It is mostly couples- which scares the crap out of me. Lately I have not really enjoyed being the only single person in a sea of couples. Plus, it is going to be Valentine’s Day which is tough for single people even when you aren’t witness to all the couple’s mushiness on that day.
But they are all my friends and I love being around them- couples or not. We always seem to have a blast on these group trips. We play board/card games like Truth or Dare Jenga or Phase 10. We enjoy meals together and laugh until our stomachs hurt. We fight over who gets to sleep where (I better get a bed!). We act silly and take lots of pictures and sometimes even video! There are always lots of great stories to tell.
This weekend I had to buy new ski pants. The ones I had from my last ski trip were child’s size and were just way too uncomfortable. But it is impossible to find the right length for me in adult sizes! The ones I ended up getting are super cute, but have some drawbacks. They are white (probably a mistake considering how much falling I will probably be doing) and way too long (but I am hoping they will just bunch up around the boots and not drag too much).
I also get to mark something off my list on this trip! I am really nervous about this particular task since I hear snowboarding can be particularly painful the first time. But I am hoping I will pick it up quickly and not come back with too many bumps and bruises!
Oh and can I just say all the inauguration hype on TV is making this day super exciting too. It is a historic moment and I am inspired to see such hope and excitement in our Country!
It has been a long time since I have seen actual snow accumulation around here. Mostly we just get ice. In fact a few years ago, there was a really nasty ice storm that clogged all of the roads around Raleigh . Luckily it happened just a few weeks before I moved here from Greenville . But I heard horror stories of how it took some people 5 hours to make it home when it normally takes 10 minutes and some people had to stay in hotels because they couldn’t make it home. Cars were sliding around all over the place! I’ll welcome this pretty snow over that nightmarish ice any day.
This is also the first time Cam has seen real snow. He has seen flurries before but nothing like this! He loves it:
All this snow is getting me excited for my upcoming ski trip in February. (I should really say snowboard/ice skating trip since that is what I plan on doing instead of skiing this year.)
We are headed up to Beech Mountain over Valentine’s Day weekend. It is mostly couples- which scares the crap out of me. Lately I have not really enjoyed being the only single person in a sea of couples. Plus, it is going to be Valentine’s Day which is tough for single people even when you aren’t witness to all the couple’s mushiness on that day.
But they are all my friends and I love being around them- couples or not. We always seem to have a blast on these group trips. We play board/card games like Truth or Dare Jenga or Phase 10. We enjoy meals together and laugh until our stomachs hurt. We fight over who gets to sleep where (I better get a bed!). We act silly and take lots of pictures and sometimes even video! There are always lots of great stories to tell.
This weekend I had to buy new ski pants. The ones I had from my last ski trip were child’s size and were just way too uncomfortable. But it is impossible to find the right length for me in adult sizes! The ones I ended up getting are super cute, but have some drawbacks. They are white (probably a mistake considering how much falling I will probably be doing) and way too long (but I am hoping they will just bunch up around the boots and not drag too much).
I also get to mark something off my list on this trip! I am really nervous about this particular task since I hear snowboarding can be particularly painful the first time. But I am hoping I will pick it up quickly and not come back with too many bumps and bruises!
Oh and can I just say all the inauguration hype on TV is making this day super exciting too. It is a historic moment and I am inspired to see such hope and excitement in our Country!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Q and A
Thank you to all of you who delurked! I like seeing who is reading my blog and love comments on all my posts, so don't be afraid to comment from here on out!
The only question I got was: I would love to know what God has spoken to your heart about tithing since that post. Also would love to know what you thought of "The Shack".
Well, I still don't know where I stand on the tithing issue. I believe in giving, but I am still not sure about tithing. I think one of the things that bothers me is it is covered a lot in the Old Testament, but not so much in the New Testament and the OT is tricky to me. Some of the laws are still followed and some aren't. Who's to say what's what? Even though I haven't figured out my stance on it yet, I have given 10% every Sunday. I basically pray for guidance on how much to give each Sunday morning (after checking my account balance in the bank to make sure I can cover it, because I think God still wants me to be financially responsible!)
Ironically our church gave out copies of Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving this month and our Bible study group is going to start going through that tonight. I don't think this was just coincidence. So maybe I will have more to share on the topic later.
I finished The Shack last week and I thought it was a great story. I think God's love was really reflected in the story and could give comfort to those who have been through bad things in life. You can see my full review of it here on my Bookshelf Blog.
The Shack
I hope to have some exciting things to post this week including my reviews for some books I got through a publisher who found my blog and emailed me to see if I would review some books on my site! Doesn't that make me somewhat more official as a blogger or something?
I also hope to post the next focus for my Defining Character series. It's going to be about letting go of anxiety, acceptance and living in the now.
The only question I got was: I would love to know what God has spoken to your heart about tithing since that post. Also would love to know what you thought of "The Shack".
Well, I still don't know where I stand on the tithing issue. I believe in giving, but I am still not sure about tithing. I think one of the things that bothers me is it is covered a lot in the Old Testament, but not so much in the New Testament and the OT is tricky to me. Some of the laws are still followed and some aren't. Who's to say what's what? Even though I haven't figured out my stance on it yet, I have given 10% every Sunday. I basically pray for guidance on how much to give each Sunday morning (after checking my account balance in the bank to make sure I can cover it, because I think God still wants me to be financially responsible!)
Ironically our church gave out copies of Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving this month and our Bible study group is going to start going through that tonight. I don't think this was just coincidence. So maybe I will have more to share on the topic later.
I finished The Shack last week and I thought it was a great story. I think God's love was really reflected in the story and could give comfort to those who have been through bad things in life. You can see my full review of it here on my Bookshelf Blog.
The Shack
I hope to have some exciting things to post this week including my reviews for some books I got through a publisher who found my blog and emailed me to see if I would review some books on my site! Doesn't that make me somewhat more official as a blogger or something?
I also hope to post the next focus for my Defining Character series. It's going to be about letting go of anxiety, acceptance and living in the now.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
National Delurking Week
This is a little late, but this is National Delurking Week. What is delurking you may ask? Well, if you have been lurking around here reading my blog but not commenting, it is time to come out of the shadows. Come out and say hi. Really, it would make my day!
So if you read this post, please leave me a comment to say hi. In fact, leave me a question you might have for me. I need something to get my mind out of this funk. I promise I will answer all your questions open and honestly in a future post. It's your turn to interview me, so sieze the opportunity.
And don't worry, I'm a lurker too. I've had to delurk on quite a few blogs I read this week!
So if you read this post, please leave me a comment to say hi. In fact, leave me a question you might have for me. I need something to get my mind out of this funk. I promise I will answer all your questions open and honestly in a future post. It's your turn to interview me, so sieze the opportunity.
And don't worry, I'm a lurker too. I've had to delurk on quite a few blogs I read this week!
If a tree falls in the forest…
“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound?”
I have this fear of dying alone in my house and not being found for like months. And when someone finally did find my body it would be so decomposed that they would have to use my dental records to identify that it was me and not some girl who happened to end up dead in my house. Then I start to wonder if I did die, would Bailey and Cam get so hungry that they would try to eat my decomposing body? Doing that would probably contaminate and kill them too, even if they didn’t choose to starve to death. So by the time someone broke down the door to my house, they wouldn’t even want to come in to find me because the stench from our 3 decomposing bodies would be so bad.
This really isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Sometimes I can go days without seeing anyone. If I didn’t show up for work without calling in for 2 consecutive days in a row, they just consider that you “quitting without notice” and no one would try to investigate- trust me- we are not very personally connected at my work. In fact, I can go months without anyone actually coming to my house, so this really isn’t that far-fetched.
I once fell and broke my toe (it was major…cracked it completely in half…it was pointing in the wrong direction and everything) and if I wouldn’t have had a boyfriend at the time, I don’t know what I would’ve done. He drove over and took me to the ER at midnight and stayed with me and took care of me in the following weeks as I hobbled around. If something like that (or worse) happened to me while I was at home now, I don’t know what I would do.
Sure I have friends who say they would do anything for me, but half the time when I try to call just to chat, they don’t answer right away. So if I was dying on the kitchen floor, I doubt I would be able to get in touch with one of my top friends before I lost consciousness. And really sometimes I doubt some of my friends would be willing to get out of bed at 2 am on a work night to come help me.
Yet another reason I need to get a maid so that at least she could find my body. Or maybe I need a roommate?
Sometimes I hate living alone.
(Sorry for the morbidity. This has been a horrible week, so my thoughts haven’t been all flowers and sunshine. I'll be back to my normal self soon.)
I have this fear of dying alone in my house and not being found for like months. And when someone finally did find my body it would be so decomposed that they would have to use my dental records to identify that it was me and not some girl who happened to end up dead in my house. Then I start to wonder if I did die, would Bailey and Cam get so hungry that they would try to eat my decomposing body? Doing that would probably contaminate and kill them too, even if they didn’t choose to starve to death. So by the time someone broke down the door to my house, they wouldn’t even want to come in to find me because the stench from our 3 decomposing bodies would be so bad.
This really isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Sometimes I can go days without seeing anyone. If I didn’t show up for work without calling in for 2 consecutive days in a row, they just consider that you “quitting without notice” and no one would try to investigate- trust me- we are not very personally connected at my work. In fact, I can go months without anyone actually coming to my house, so this really isn’t that far-fetched.
I once fell and broke my toe (it was major…cracked it completely in half…it was pointing in the wrong direction and everything) and if I wouldn’t have had a boyfriend at the time, I don’t know what I would’ve done. He drove over and took me to the ER at midnight and stayed with me and took care of me in the following weeks as I hobbled around. If something like that (or worse) happened to me while I was at home now, I don’t know what I would do.
Sure I have friends who say they would do anything for me, but half the time when I try to call just to chat, they don’t answer right away. So if I was dying on the kitchen floor, I doubt I would be able to get in touch with one of my top friends before I lost consciousness. And really sometimes I doubt some of my friends would be willing to get out of bed at 2 am on a work night to come help me.
Yet another reason I need to get a maid so that at least she could find my body. Or maybe I need a roommate?
Sometimes I hate living alone.
(Sorry for the morbidity. This has been a horrible week, so my thoughts haven’t been all flowers and sunshine. I'll be back to my normal self soon.)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Chivalry is Dead…
…which is probably why I need to marry a mechanic.
This Friday I went to the movies after work to see Bride Wars with some friends. (it was oh so cute!) On the way there I noticed my car kind of shaking and making a noise. I turned down the radio to really listen and noticed the noise/shaking stopped when I slowed down or stopped. It’s a short drive from my house to the theater, so I didn’t have much time to evaluate the situation, but I found it odd because I had just made the much longer drive from work to home and didn’t notice a thing on that trip.
When I got to the theater, I looked at my tires since that is what I had deduced might be the offender. Sure enough my back tire looked way more flat than my front. I bent down to see if there was a nail or something in it and when I touched it, it was burning hot! I compared it to the temperature of my front tire which was not hot at all and came to the conclusion that something was really wrong. But I would deal with it after the movie.
So after the movie, Steph, Amber, and Alicia came over to my car to try to help. Amber had this nifty little contraption that you plug in to your car and it pumps air into your tire. The only problem is it sounds like a really, really loud generator. No way could you NOT notice us in the parking lot! For such a little thing, it sure made a lot of noise!
But despite this spectacle not one person stopped to offer help or even ask! People were walking past trying to avoid eye contact. One guy even got in to his car right beside us and left without saying a word. I know it is a Friday night and you might be late for your movie, but can’t you recognize a damsel in distress when you see one?!
I mean just to cross off #15 on my list, I sometimes walk around hoping to run in to a situation like this (not that I would be much help in THIS particular situation- cars are not my forte). But judging from this experience, most people have no desire at all to help a stranger.
Back to the story…the mini generator wasn’t able to make a difference at all to the tire after 15 minutes or so of pumping. So I called AAA, who informed me the average wait time was ONE HOUR! We called our friend Spazz, who used to work at a tire place, and he laughed and said he was on his way.
But before he could show up, the AAA man showed up much earlier than expected (flashing lights and all). If we weren’t a spectacle before, we were now.
He tried to pump air into the tire and we could just hear it gushing out. He got my spare out of the trunk (I am amazed one could fit in that tiny little thing!) and set about changing the tire. (After watching this, I know there is no way I could have done that myself!) When he took the old tire off he gasped. There was a HUGE hole along half of the backside of my tire!
I was surprised I made it to the theater alive! I was so thankful to have my friends with me during this whole ordeal, because I seriously probably would have broke down in tears and called my mom for help had I been by myself.
Needless to say I spent all of Saturday afternoon at the tire place replacing the dead tire. I thought they would be cheap since it’s such a little car, but the guy informed me the tires on there now were $215 each! I asked for a cheaper version and came out right at about $175, which is still way too much.
Ironically my car is not completely back to normal. My left turn signal light had went out earlier that week (the one right behind the tire that died). The tire place didn’t have the bulb for it, so my blinker is still out. But it makes me think God was trying to tell me something last week. Maybe if I would’ve gone in to get the blinker looked at my tire wouldn’t have exploded?
Who knows…I hate car stuff which is also why I need to marry a mechanic.
This Friday I went to the movies after work to see Bride Wars with some friends. (it was oh so cute!) On the way there I noticed my car kind of shaking and making a noise. I turned down the radio to really listen and noticed the noise/shaking stopped when I slowed down or stopped. It’s a short drive from my house to the theater, so I didn’t have much time to evaluate the situation, but I found it odd because I had just made the much longer drive from work to home and didn’t notice a thing on that trip.
When I got to the theater, I looked at my tires since that is what I had deduced might be the offender. Sure enough my back tire looked way more flat than my front. I bent down to see if there was a nail or something in it and when I touched it, it was burning hot! I compared it to the temperature of my front tire which was not hot at all and came to the conclusion that something was really wrong. But I would deal with it after the movie.
So after the movie, Steph, Amber, and Alicia came over to my car to try to help. Amber had this nifty little contraption that you plug in to your car and it pumps air into your tire. The only problem is it sounds like a really, really loud generator. No way could you NOT notice us in the parking lot! For such a little thing, it sure made a lot of noise!
But despite this spectacle not one person stopped to offer help or even ask! People were walking past trying to avoid eye contact. One guy even got in to his car right beside us and left without saying a word. I know it is a Friday night and you might be late for your movie, but can’t you recognize a damsel in distress when you see one?!
I mean just to cross off #15 on my list, I sometimes walk around hoping to run in to a situation like this (not that I would be much help in THIS particular situation- cars are not my forte). But judging from this experience, most people have no desire at all to help a stranger.
Back to the story…the mini generator wasn’t able to make a difference at all to the tire after 15 minutes or so of pumping. So I called AAA, who informed me the average wait time was ONE HOUR! We called our friend Spazz, who used to work at a tire place, and he laughed and said he was on his way.
But before he could show up, the AAA man showed up much earlier than expected (flashing lights and all). If we weren’t a spectacle before, we were now.
He tried to pump air into the tire and we could just hear it gushing out. He got my spare out of the trunk (I am amazed one could fit in that tiny little thing!) and set about changing the tire. (After watching this, I know there is no way I could have done that myself!) When he took the old tire off he gasped. There was a HUGE hole along half of the backside of my tire!
I was surprised I made it to the theater alive! I was so thankful to have my friends with me during this whole ordeal, because I seriously probably would have broke down in tears and called my mom for help had I been by myself.
Needless to say I spent all of Saturday afternoon at the tire place replacing the dead tire. I thought they would be cheap since it’s such a little car, but the guy informed me the tires on there now were $215 each! I asked for a cheaper version and came out right at about $175, which is still way too much.
Ironically my car is not completely back to normal. My left turn signal light had went out earlier that week (the one right behind the tire that died). The tire place didn’t have the bulb for it, so my blinker is still out. But it makes me think God was trying to tell me something last week. Maybe if I would’ve gone in to get the blinker looked at my tire wouldn’t have exploded?
Who knows…I hate car stuff which is also why I need to marry a mechanic.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Goodbye Magic Card…I’ll miss you!
The one good thing in this economy is the price of gas won’t cost you an arm and a leg anymore. I mean, it is under $2.00/gallon! I think this is something we should celebrate folks! Just a few months ago it was $4and even $5/gallon in some places. I know I am super pumped about this.
Up until I made my 30 Before 30 List I didn’t really care too much about the price of gas. Sure I would complain about it with everyone else and I thought it was outrageous, but for as long as I have been purchasing gas, I have paid for it with a little piece of plastic that I like to call “The Magic Card”.
The Magic Card is of course a credit card with my name on it, but the bill goes to my mom. I was given the card in high school and I have been responsible enough to keep it in my possession all these years. Back in college there were a lot more things on the list of approved items to be purchased with the Magic Card. Today there remains only one: gas.
I have no idea how I kept gas on the approved list or why. It is just something I was never used to paying. Ironically, the only other thing my mom pays for is my car insurance, so I guess she just really wants me to have a way to get around?
Anyway, the other day I did something I never have done before. I paid for my own gas! It was a conscious decision and I really didn’t want to do it because I love the Magic Card and I didn’t want to put it away forever. We’ve had such a long relationship together. But the time has come. I need to stop pretending my tank just magically stays filled without depleting my bank account.
It feels good. Scary. But good.
Now the only thing I have to do to mark #5 off my list is to take over my car insurance payments in June!
Up until I made my 30 Before 30 List I didn’t really care too much about the price of gas. Sure I would complain about it with everyone else and I thought it was outrageous, but for as long as I have been purchasing gas, I have paid for it with a little piece of plastic that I like to call “The Magic Card”.
The Magic Card is of course a credit card with my name on it, but the bill goes to my mom. I was given the card in high school and I have been responsible enough to keep it in my possession all these years. Back in college there were a lot more things on the list of approved items to be purchased with the Magic Card. Today there remains only one: gas.
I have no idea how I kept gas on the approved list or why. It is just something I was never used to paying. Ironically, the only other thing my mom pays for is my car insurance, so I guess she just really wants me to have a way to get around?
Anyway, the other day I did something I never have done before. I paid for my own gas! It was a conscious decision and I really didn’t want to do it because I love the Magic Card and I didn’t want to put it away forever. We’ve had such a long relationship together. But the time has come. I need to stop pretending my tank just magically stays filled without depleting my bank account.
It feels good. Scary. But good.
Now the only thing I have to do to mark #5 off my list is to take over my car insurance payments in June!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Twitter what?
Do you "Tweet"? If so, I don't mean to be rude, but what is the big freaking deal about Twitter?
I signed up for Twitter a long time ago because I am in marketing and Twitter was to be the next big thing in social media so I wanted to figure it out.
I have some followers and some people are following me, but I just don’t get it yet.
I cannot get into it at all. Is there something wrong with me? I just don't get it. Why is it helpful? What do you use it for?
I like reading people’s status updates on Facebook, but I don’t want to have to go around to 5 million different sites to see what my peeps are up to.
And there are so many “tweets” sometimes I don’t see how anyone can keep up!
Do YOU use Twitter? If so do you love it? Hate it? Ignore it? Obsessed with it?
Someone please help me see the Twitter light…
Also, I think there is some way to use Twitter to update my Myspace and Facebook status all at the same time, but I can’t figure it out.
Help? Anyone??
If you want to follow me I’m ncsuz.
If you’re not on there, sign up, follow me, figure it out, and then let me know what the big deal is.
KTHNXBAI!
oh and go check out my review of The Shack on my Bookshelf Blog!
I signed up for Twitter a long time ago because I am in marketing and Twitter was to be the next big thing in social media so I wanted to figure it out.
I have some followers and some people are following me, but I just don’t get it yet.
I cannot get into it at all. Is there something wrong with me? I just don't get it. Why is it helpful? What do you use it for?
I like reading people’s status updates on Facebook, but I don’t want to have to go around to 5 million different sites to see what my peeps are up to.
And there are so many “tweets” sometimes I don’t see how anyone can keep up!
Do YOU use Twitter? If so do you love it? Hate it? Ignore it? Obsessed with it?
Someone please help me see the Twitter light…
Also, I think there is some way to use Twitter to update my Myspace and Facebook status all at the same time, but I can’t figure it out.
Help? Anyone??
If you want to follow me I’m ncsuz.
If you’re not on there, sign up, follow me, figure it out, and then let me know what the big deal is.
KTHNXBAI!
oh and go check out my review of The Shack on my Bookshelf Blog!
Faith and Dating
I read earlier this week that “Faith is the belief in something that you cannot prove.” I thought that described it very well. Since faith is something no one has a definite answer to, there are a lot of opinions out there. So, the question is could two people of different or even opposite faiths create a life together?
In my opinion, I think it is possible. Would I want to do it? Probably not. Only because I think what you believe of the world and life affect you so deeply. That is why people are so passionate about religion and politics. While it is possible to respect other opinions, it gets complicated when two lives become one and even more so when children are involved. I think it is possible to make it work, but it would not be easy.
I also think that faith is a very personal thing. It might even be possible that no two look exactly alike. One Christian may not have the exact same feelings or beliefs about their faith as another one. One atheist may not see the world exactly the same as another. So even if you do have the same religion or faith, there would still be compromise and respect of differing opinions involved.
For me the real point of contention would be what happens after this life. For me, faith is almost a matter of life and death. I am a Christian and I believe the only way to God (or heaven) is through Jesus. If someone I married did not believe that, it would tear me apart to think what would happen to them after they died. I'm a romantic and to think of not spending eternity with them would kill me. (let's see if I am still saying that after I'm married!) Anyway, that thought might lead to desperation to change their beliefs which would not be good for either of us because I can’t “save” anyone. I think relationships with God (or the lack thereof if that is what you believe) are very personal and the only one that can change that is you or Him.
For me, I would be open to dating someone of another faith because it is not sharing a life, just sharing time together. I think spending time with people of differing opinions widens your view and makes you think. I am always open to that. But when it comes to marriage, I think I would have to marry a Christian. Marriage is more than just sharing time or space. It is a life together and possibly creating new little lives. Even if I wasn’t always on the same page as my future husband, I would at least want to be in the same book!
These thoughts were spurred because I read the most interesting posts from SO@24 at Starting Over at 24 and Emmeline at Harmful if Swallowed about dating/marriage and religion. And almost more interesting than the posts were the comments. You should check them out.
In my opinion, I think it is possible. Would I want to do it? Probably not. Only because I think what you believe of the world and life affect you so deeply. That is why people are so passionate about religion and politics. While it is possible to respect other opinions, it gets complicated when two lives become one and even more so when children are involved. I think it is possible to make it work, but it would not be easy.
I also think that faith is a very personal thing. It might even be possible that no two look exactly alike. One Christian may not have the exact same feelings or beliefs about their faith as another one. One atheist may not see the world exactly the same as another. So even if you do have the same religion or faith, there would still be compromise and respect of differing opinions involved.
For me the real point of contention would be what happens after this life. For me, faith is almost a matter of life and death. I am a Christian and I believe the only way to God (or heaven) is through Jesus. If someone I married did not believe that, it would tear me apart to think what would happen to them after they died. I'm a romantic and to think of not spending eternity with them would kill me. (let's see if I am still saying that after I'm married!) Anyway, that thought might lead to desperation to change their beliefs which would not be good for either of us because I can’t “save” anyone. I think relationships with God (or the lack thereof if that is what you believe) are very personal and the only one that can change that is you or Him.
For me, I would be open to dating someone of another faith because it is not sharing a life, just sharing time together. I think spending time with people of differing opinions widens your view and makes you think. I am always open to that. But when it comes to marriage, I think I would have to marry a Christian. Marriage is more than just sharing time or space. It is a life together and possibly creating new little lives. Even if I wasn’t always on the same page as my future husband, I would at least want to be in the same book!
These thoughts were spurred because I read the most interesting posts from SO@24 at Starting Over at 24 and Emmeline at Harmful if Swallowed about dating/marriage and religion. And almost more interesting than the posts were the comments. You should check them out.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sleepless Nights
Dear Sleep-
I miss you so much. More than you can even imagine. I have tried everything to bring us together more often. I have consulted professionals about what could be keeping us apart, but nothing I try makes you come back to me.
You do visit me in the wee hours of the morning, but by then we have barely any time to spend together. I don’t want to be some late night booty call to you. I want to have a deep, meaningful and functional relationship with you.
I’m just not myself when you are not a big part of my life. I am cranky and irritated all day. I get headaches and have trouble concentrating. I can’t function without you.
Please let me know what we can do to work this out. I love you. You complete me. I don’t think I can live without you!
Groggily Yours,
Susan
P.S. Is this because of all the time I have been spending with Edward?
I miss you so much. More than you can even imagine. I have tried everything to bring us together more often. I have consulted professionals about what could be keeping us apart, but nothing I try makes you come back to me.
You do visit me in the wee hours of the morning, but by then we have barely any time to spend together. I don’t want to be some late night booty call to you. I want to have a deep, meaningful and functional relationship with you.
I’m just not myself when you are not a big part of my life. I am cranky and irritated all day. I get headaches and have trouble concentrating. I can’t function without you.
Please let me know what we can do to work this out. I love you. You complete me. I don’t think I can live without you!
Groggily Yours,
Susan
P.S. Is this because of all the time I have been spending with Edward?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Terrified of Tithing
I am so scared to post this, but I am willing to bet there are other people who have felt this way too. I have a confession: Tithing scares the crap out of me.
First let me just paint my money picture for you. I am young and low on the totem pole as far as salaries go. But I am much better off than I was when I graduated college 6 years ago (wow…I just realized how long it has taken me to get here…and how long it’s been…I really am getting old). But as you can tell from #5 on my list, I still get help from mom (she pays for my car insurance…and gas). I still practically live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have Suze Orman’s recommended 3-9 month’s worth of living expenses in savings. In fact I don’t save much at all. I just started contributing a measly 4% to my 401K.
But lately I have felt this pull in my heart on the tithing issue. It is similar to the one I felt on the baptism issue. I was so convinced that my baptism as a baby counted and this church was just trying to force their traditions on me…until I felt this shift in my heart and I heard the truth. It was just that I was embarrassed of getting dunked in a tank of water…which kind of meant that I was embarrassed of God. I was fine sitting in a sea of people singing His praise but I didn’t want to stand up in front of everyone and say it. That pull on my heart was so strong it trumped the embarrassment factor…in fact it almost made me feel silly about it.
I am feeling that same pull now on my heart. I want to give 10% but then I realized how much money that was and now I am scared. That is more than my car payment! More than any other bill I have except my mortgage! And just like that...POOF! I am going to live without that money? What about #5 on my list? I don’t want to keep depending on my mom to help support me financially.
I guess I could cut out something? Like my little mini-vacations…but I might loose my mind if I have no fun. I already cut out a lot. I don’t get pedicures or manicures. I haven’t had my hair cut since July. I rarely buy new clothes or shoes. Cam doesn’t get doggie daycare anymore. I try to save money where I can.
And then there is the whole economy thing. I have never been more scared of loosing my job and not being able to find another one in my life. What would I do?
Do all Christians believe in tithing? I don’t remember my parents tithing. I remember putting money in the offering plate, but it was just on offering, not a tithe. I have heard discussions on how every law in the Bible is not applicable today…that you can’t take the Bible literally. That you should just follow the New Testament and “give generously” but not necessarily 10%. I am trying to do research for myself on what it actually says, but more so I want to listen to my heart, because that is where God speaks to me the most.
I want to trust that God will provide for me, but where is that line between trusting and being personally responsible for myself? I did put my full 10% in the envelope last week, but I don’t know if I can do it again. It’s just so much! Some people have suggested easing into it and giving what I think I can handle right now. But how am I supposed to determine what I can handle? If that were left up to me, I would just give whatever I had left over at the end of the month after all the bills were taken care of and I felt “safe”. And I think that would be missing the point wouldn’t it?
Anyway, I am praying about this issue right now. I hate money. Believe me it is not the “idol” I struggle with. Seriously, I would rather just not think about money at all. I just wanted to put this out there because I know I can’t be the only one who struggles with this.
First let me just paint my money picture for you. I am young and low on the totem pole as far as salaries go. But I am much better off than I was when I graduated college 6 years ago (wow…I just realized how long it has taken me to get here…and how long it’s been…I really am getting old). But as you can tell from #5 on my list, I still get help from mom (she pays for my car insurance…and gas). I still practically live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have Suze Orman’s recommended 3-9 month’s worth of living expenses in savings. In fact I don’t save much at all. I just started contributing a measly 4% to my 401K.
But lately I have felt this pull in my heart on the tithing issue. It is similar to the one I felt on the baptism issue. I was so convinced that my baptism as a baby counted and this church was just trying to force their traditions on me…until I felt this shift in my heart and I heard the truth. It was just that I was embarrassed of getting dunked in a tank of water…which kind of meant that I was embarrassed of God. I was fine sitting in a sea of people singing His praise but I didn’t want to stand up in front of everyone and say it. That pull on my heart was so strong it trumped the embarrassment factor…in fact it almost made me feel silly about it.
I am feeling that same pull now on my heart. I want to give 10% but then I realized how much money that was and now I am scared. That is more than my car payment! More than any other bill I have except my mortgage! And just like that...POOF! I am going to live without that money? What about #5 on my list? I don’t want to keep depending on my mom to help support me financially.
I guess I could cut out something? Like my little mini-vacations…but I might loose my mind if I have no fun. I already cut out a lot. I don’t get pedicures or manicures. I haven’t had my hair cut since July. I rarely buy new clothes or shoes. Cam doesn’t get doggie daycare anymore. I try to save money where I can.
And then there is the whole economy thing. I have never been more scared of loosing my job and not being able to find another one in my life. What would I do?
Do all Christians believe in tithing? I don’t remember my parents tithing. I remember putting money in the offering plate, but it was just on offering, not a tithe. I have heard discussions on how every law in the Bible is not applicable today…that you can’t take the Bible literally. That you should just follow the New Testament and “give generously” but not necessarily 10%. I am trying to do research for myself on what it actually says, but more so I want to listen to my heart, because that is where God speaks to me the most.
I want to trust that God will provide for me, but where is that line between trusting and being personally responsible for myself? I did put my full 10% in the envelope last week, but I don’t know if I can do it again. It’s just so much! Some people have suggested easing into it and giving what I think I can handle right now. But how am I supposed to determine what I can handle? If that were left up to me, I would just give whatever I had left over at the end of the month after all the bills were taken care of and I felt “safe”. And I think that would be missing the point wouldn’t it?
Anyway, I am praying about this issue right now. I hate money. Believe me it is not the “idol” I struggle with. Seriously, I would rather just not think about money at all. I just wanted to put this out there because I know I can’t be the only one who struggles with this.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Case of the Mondays?
Today could possibly be the most likely day for people around the country to find themselves with a “case of the Mondays”. The Holidays are over and it is back to the grind. After enjoying that long 2 week break, it will likely be a REALLY long time before we escape cubicle life again. My next company holiday isn’t until Memorial Day. That’s 5 long months of straight work to look forward to.I could have been dreading this day. I could have been cursing the return to work and slaving my life away for “the man”. I could have been slamming things around in my cube all morning out of frustration. I could have spent this whole post complaining about the absurdity of office life.
But this year I am not complaining. I am happy to sitting back in my little cube under the florescent lights. I like hearing the ding of the elevator and the steady hum of the printer and the clicking of keys and mouse buttons everywhere. I am happy and feel very lucky to have a job.
Usually Sundays at my house are spent lounging around watching TV or running errands and dreading the return to work the next day. I usually stay up late thinking about how much I am going to hate having to make it through the next week and how I didn’t accomplish anything around the house during my short two day break.
But last night I felt good. I had accomplished a lot around the house. I put all my laundry away and cleaned my bathroom and felt good about the return to my normal routine. I went to bed at a decent hour and even had time to stop for coffee on my way to work.
So far it is a good start to the New Year, and nothing has really changed, except my perspective. So if you are finding yourself with a case of the Mondays today, just be glad you have a job and cross your fingers you can keep it. It’s predicted to get worse in 2009, so buckle up and smile because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. And yeah- #3 on my list- “Find a job I love”, right now I love just having a job period.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Out with the Old...In with the New
Happy New Year everyone! Personally, I am kind of glad to see 2008 go. It wasn't the worst year ever, but it certainly wasn't the best either. So I am welcoming 2009 with open arms!
I must say I hate New Year's Eve though. I can't think of one New Year's Eve that I have really loved. Most just turn out to be OK. Lots of my New Year's memories have drama around them. I can't remember a great New Year's kiss...ever. The times I remember being with a guy on New Years seem to always have involved some drama or let down. Sometimes I don't know why I even bother with that holiday. This year was no different. I went over to a party. Hung out with most of my wonderful friends. Played some Rock Band. Talked about Twilight with other obsessed fans. Had some food and drinks and watched the ball drop and everyone kiss. The year I have a great New Years Eve will be the year I know I've made it. If it doesn't happen soon, I may start boycotting this holiday.
One thing I am not looking forward to in 2009 that I am REALLY REALLY going to miss is a big vacation. For the past two years a big group of us has taken a week long cruise. The one in 2007 was filled with lots of drama but also wonderful! And I blogged about last year's Cruise 2K8 which was even more wonderful. The cruise was always something to look forward to and plan for and motivation for working out. But I am tired of cruising and we are all too broke to afford a big vacation this year. This makes me so sad.
In fact I was looking for a calendar for work and I didn't even get one because I usually have a beach themed one to look at and envision myself on when I am having a bad day, but this year I thought it would just be a reminder of the vacation I am NOT taking!
But I will try to plan lots of mini-get-a-ways this year. I already have a long weekend ski/snowboard trip planned for February and I'm trying to organize a long weekend DC trip for April. I'll take a long weekend at our timeshare at Atlantic Beach in August. And hopefully some more mini-trips will come up too!
I'm also looking forward to getting back to my regular routine. This 2 weeks of vacation has been nice, but it has seriously thrown off my schedule. And there has been nothing on TV! The History channel and HGTV have been the only things worth watching and I miss my regular shows. I find when my schedule gets thrown off I get lazy and do a bunch of nothing and I don't like that. So if I ever find myself with 2 weeks off again, I am going to plan a vacation to avoid doing a bunch of nothing, because doing nothing is so boring.
As far as resolutions, my main one is to work on marking things off my list. I have a few others, but they aren't things like "starting today no more ____." They are more of things that I want to work on throughout the year or accomplish by the end of the year. Hopefully this will be a great year!
I must say I hate New Year's Eve though. I can't think of one New Year's Eve that I have really loved. Most just turn out to be OK. Lots of my New Year's memories have drama around them. I can't remember a great New Year's kiss...ever. The times I remember being with a guy on New Years seem to always have involved some drama or let down. Sometimes I don't know why I even bother with that holiday. This year was no different. I went over to a party. Hung out with most of my wonderful friends. Played some Rock Band. Talked about Twilight with other obsessed fans. Had some food and drinks and watched the ball drop and everyone kiss. The year I have a great New Years Eve will be the year I know I've made it. If it doesn't happen soon, I may start boycotting this holiday.
One thing I am not looking forward to in 2009 that I am REALLY REALLY going to miss is a big vacation. For the past two years a big group of us has taken a week long cruise. The one in 2007 was filled with lots of drama but also wonderful! And I blogged about last year's Cruise 2K8 which was even more wonderful. The cruise was always something to look forward to and plan for and motivation for working out. But I am tired of cruising and we are all too broke to afford a big vacation this year. This makes me so sad.
In fact I was looking for a calendar for work and I didn't even get one because I usually have a beach themed one to look at and envision myself on when I am having a bad day, but this year I thought it would just be a reminder of the vacation I am NOT taking!
But I will try to plan lots of mini-get-a-ways this year. I already have a long weekend ski/snowboard trip planned for February and I'm trying to organize a long weekend DC trip for April. I'll take a long weekend at our timeshare at Atlantic Beach in August. And hopefully some more mini-trips will come up too!
I'm also looking forward to getting back to my regular routine. This 2 weeks of vacation has been nice, but it has seriously thrown off my schedule. And there has been nothing on TV! The History channel and HGTV have been the only things worth watching and I miss my regular shows. I find when my schedule gets thrown off I get lazy and do a bunch of nothing and I don't like that. So if I ever find myself with 2 weeks off again, I am going to plan a vacation to avoid doing a bunch of nothing, because doing nothing is so boring.
As far as resolutions, my main one is to work on marking things off my list. I have a few others, but they aren't things like "starting today no more ____." They are more of things that I want to work on throughout the year or accomplish by the end of the year. Hopefully this will be a great year!
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