He's Coming Soon

Happy Easter to everyone!

Have a good weekend. I'll be heading up I-75 to see the mom.

Hope the bunny's good to all of you.

Back on Tuesday.

Thoughts on a Tuesday

Winter is passing. Or certainly my interest in it is fading quickly. Today on my way to work, my car was crazily vibrating. I'm hoping it's just the bent rim on the passenger side. It's being looked at right now.

It's those little things that throw me for a loop. But good news. My dad seems to be doing better this week, than he was last week, so I'm thankful for this, of course.

Work is passing slowly today. I've finished a story and now I'm ready to start another one, so I'm thankful that my writing bug is back.

Someplace to put my thoughts and keep them close together. Somewhere to channel the crazy. Someplace to say whatever I want, without repercussion. No wonder I used to like it so much.

And on that note, I'll be getting back to it.

And Baby makes 2

My work day is creeping toward the end of it.

Yay!

Then it's off to my dad's to help him. He's not feeling well. And I feel bad. I'm gonna spend the night there to hang out with him.

I brought some old movies and some Arrested Development on dvd for comedic relief, but we'll probably just end up watching Cops, cause that's what he likes. Doesn't matter to me.

Sleep didn't come easy last night, so now it wants to come far easier now.

In brighter news, K. had her baby today! A girl. What a wonderful surprise. Well, I'm sure it wasn't really a surprise to her, but you know, you never know when that phone call will come from your friend that is expecting.

Go NOW

I am ready for winter to leave. Now, please.

In other news, I've been trying to keep myself busy visiting people and going to the gym to chase away the winter blahs.

Some days it works. Some days it doesn't. I've got a headache. But I've already had pain medicine today. Can't really have anymore.

Looking forward to going home today. Mostly cause then I won't be here.

Post Oscar

Last night was the Oscars. And the Oscars Party. It was a lot of fun. Lots of fancy cocktails, food and waiters in tuxes. Kind of like prom, minus the teen angst.

That dress was an old bridesmaid dress, but a classic style that I was able to wear again.

Highlight of the evening, Cookies decorated in the likeness of the nominees. Which is how I ended up taking George Clooney home. Micheal Clayton indeed.

Thanks for inviting me Tonya.

And the Enevolpe Goes To...

When I was a teenager, I started a love affair with award shows. I love seeing all the celebrities dressed to the 9's, while wishing I could sleep with most of the tuxedo clad men. And I especially loved moving acceptance speeches where a weepy Tom Hanks spoke with honest emotion about his love for his wife, Rita Wilson.

One year in my early 20's, I even got my friend Karlene to dress with me in fancy Oscar attire, while we watched from the living room and sipped apple juice and champagne.

Another year, I went to a coffeehouse that was hosting the festivities and won prizes based on random Oscar trivia.

This year?

I'm attending an Oscar party with a friend at a fancy hotel in Birmingham with free drinks and food. Dressing up is encouraged.

I'm plotting my acceptance speech now.

I'll take 2

I had a good weekend. Watched Martian Child with John Cusack. It was interesting and made me think, so that's always a good thing. And of course John Cusack, you can't go wrong.

Also, had my taxes done and I'll be receiving my refund in about a week. Ireland, here I come. Not sure I mentioned that trip in this space yet, but I'm going to Ireland in April. I can't wait. My mom and I are gonna tear up those pubs and lovely green hillsides.

More on this later.

And, I've decided to take some of my refund and buy myself some cute spring clothes. I am still losing,but some pretty new spring clothes will help with my mission. I never used to buy any new clothes as some sort of punishment for being overweight, which only made the problem worse. Now, I have steadily purchased along the way, so I can see my progress. Like much of life, this is a process that requires patience along the way. And celebration.

So, look out spring clothes. I'll be loading the closets soon.

I heart the snooze button

My mind's a bit foggy this morning. Seems my brain was whirling in the dead of night when it should have been resting. I was after all, sleeping.

Threw off my whole morning. No gym, overslept. Bah. I'll get there after work.

All you can do some mornings, is put on enough make-up to give the illusion you're awake, and drink lots of coffee in hopes the rest of you will catch up.

867 5309

The Eighties are back, or they were for a few hours on Saturday night. I went to a theme party with my brothers at a Knights of Columbus Hall. Complete with wood paneling and beer for $1.75 a bottle.

I felt like I was back in Grayling. But it was fun to relive the 80's now, with beer and less angst. The music back then was innocent and poppy fun.

The biggest thing I remember from the 80's was Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Quiet Riot and Eddie Van Halen. He was my first rock and roll crush.

Stay Away

Two and a half hours until official quitting time. Supposed to meet some work folks after work to hang out for a bit and I'm suddenly feeling a little sick. This won't do. I've already been sick a few times this winter, and I've actually got a theme party to go to tomorrow.

An 80s party. I've already combed the racks at thrift stores to find a suitable outfit.

So, whatever this is, I need it to leave me. Right now.

It really doesn't fit into my leg warmer shopping, gym toting, eye doctoring, I've got planned before the party.

YAY

Today I hit a milestone in my ongoing weight loss journey. A stubborn pound that had been hanging out since before Christmas, finally hit the road today, leaving me officially 30 and then some, pounds lighter.

Hooray! I'm ready to continue to tackle this weight, but for today, for this moment, I am forcing myself to enjoy what I've accomplished so far.

And it made me think about something: After reading a fellow losers journey, she asked, Why do you want to lose weight?

The short answer: To look good. To have more fun shopping, to sound like a shallow female. But that isn't the reason. It may have been that in the begining, but it has given me so much more.

Mostly, it gives me peace of mind. I don't feel trapped anymore by my own body. I no longer feel bad, every single morning when I get dressed. And it's not because I wake up thinking, "Damn, I'm hot."

Cause I don't do that, and I have serious doubts I ever will. But I do feel more at peace. That even if I don't lose anymore, it will be ok. That's not to say that I feel done or that I won't keep working hard to lose the rest, but I have improved my health greatly by doing what I have already done. My health is better, and I exercise on a regular basis.

I still don't love the gym, but I love the feeling I get when I'm done exercising. A bit tired, but refreshed and mentally, I always feel less stressed and a calm sense of it will be alright comes over me. Nothing else in my life gives me that feeling.

Sure, I still love a cupcake, but today I'm choosing better at each meal which gives me freedom to eat one every now and then. Chocolate with frosting.

Soundtrack for a day

Which came first?

The depression or the country music?

Swamped in both. Let's see who breaks first.

Thank You

There is still kindness left in the world. I was happy to discover last night.

I was doing my usual drive home and it was raining. So, of course as I'm barreling down the freeway, my driver side windshield wiper blade flys off, making the drive home a bit scary as I couldn't see.

Panicking, I rush to the local oil change place to get a wiper blade. I'd already been to the gas station and the girl behind the bullet proof glass told me she didn't have any wiper blades. I'm guessing if she was behind glass, wiper blades weren't a high priority.

As I pull into the oil change place, the open sign switches off. I pulled around anyway since I was desperate. The girl comes out to tell me they are closed. I tell her all I want is a wiper blade. Problem? The computer had already been switched off. She then tells me where else I could go.

The manager comes out and puts new wipers on my car for me and asks if I can come back tomorrow and pay him.

This morning, I happily stopped on my way to work. And got an oil change while I was there.

It was nice to know that when you're having a bad day sometimes you can still count on the kindness of strangers.

5 of 5

The rules are simple: post 5 links to 5 previously written posts related to key words, then tag 5 more people to do the same.

Family -
Friends - It was an Honor

Yourself - Phat Pants

Love - This is Spinal Tap

Anything I like - Shelf that Book

So, there is my selection: Hope you find them enjoyable. Since I don't know too many regular blogging types, I will tag, Kim, Laura and Courtney from Writer group, plus Barrie since I read her blog daily.

Writer Interuppted

I've started getting the urge to write again. Which may not seem like a big deal, but considering I've been neglecting my own stories for so long, and had no urge to even work on them, well I'm excited.

So, the other day I found this old draft of a story I wanted to start revising and now I cant find the file on my computer.

I did find a hard copy and if all else fails, I will just re-create the document, but let's hope it doesn't come to that.

In other news, I feel bad for Heath Ledger, his family, friends and daughter.

I just hope they don't talk about him for a week straight, digging for bad info.

Leave the man alone. Let his family deal with this. They don't need camera's in their faces.

I do but oh never mind

Today's recent train wreck of celebrity doings:
Eddie Murphy and his "wife" have already separated after a two week union. The couple released the following statement:

While the recent symbolic union in Bora Bora was representative of our deep love, friendship and respect that we have for one another on a spiritual level, we have decided to remain friends," the statement said.

WTF. Me on the other hand?

I am a dating disaster. A complete sham to female wiles and those women that seem to be born with that natural ability to wrap men around their fingers or draw them to their chests (not that it’s very hard), but as I about to enter my 34th year, I find myself single.

Dating reminds me of the probabilities section of statistics class. It's a numbers game.
The more you do it, the better your luck and etc. I don’t know about that. I’m not a mass quantity kind of person. And I’m not convinced that dating like you're shopping at Costco, and stocking up is the way to happiness.


Strangers on the street want to tell you how to meet a man. An older lady and I were chatting the other day while waiting in line at Walmart, and she asked if I was married. No, I said I'm not. She then asked me how old I was and when I told her, she said, "You may still have a chance."


Or the cashier at Kroger who wanted to know why was I single? I wanted to ask her why she was a 40-something cashier at Kroger. But I didn't. Because it's rude.

It will either happen or it won't, and that is how the story ends.

The Assorted Pack

Dogs run up to me on the street
straining on their leash
Instinctively knowing that I can’t wait
to pet them or rub behind their ears.


My dad was a Marine during the Vietnam War.
And a loner.
But when he was sick with cancer
I moved in.
Fed him, washed his laundry and kept him company.
I’m not a nurse.


I’ve had the same best friend since we were six.
She came up to me in her Dorothy Hamill haircut
And asked me to play on the swings.
Recently she asked me to be in her delivery room,
I was there
24 hours.
She had a boy.


I’ve worked in automotive advertising for years.
I don’t like cars.


I believe in love, but I'm not sure if the romantic kind believes in me.

Sometimes I don't want to learn a lesson.

I was always picked last in gym.
That's not picked at all.

Weekend Update

I'd knock on wood and tell you that I think I'm nearly healthy again. Although tired, but that is a constant.

So, Friday night I finally dismantled the Christmas tree and got the house cleaned up. I had meant to do this a week ago, but that cold thing took me down.

Saturday was more cleaning, and a walk to the library to exchange my West Wing DVD for some more yes, West Wing. Then Shane and Jeff came over for a visit, where Shane brought me my Christmas gift. (This was most helpful).

Then, I ran errands and Becky came over to dinner. We had Zumba and watched Once, about some street musicians in Ireland. I liked it, but I wouldn't say I loved it.

Sunday, I went to visit my brothers since they are practically neighbors. Shane and I hung out for a bit, went to Borders etc. Then we went to see BJ.

BJ and I played Double Dribble or some other titled video game on his old school pre wii Nintendo. I'm not a gamer by any means, but it was fun.

Then I came home to my never-ending pile of laundry. I've been washing clothes to give them away, as sorting clothes in an attempt to de-clutter my closets.

And that's all I've got for this Monday.

Visitor in a Strange Land

Slowly, I am making positive changes in my life. They don't have to be life altering either to have an upbeat impact on my mood. Surely, you're wondering what I'm talking about?

I'm referring to my banishment of quickie hair-cut chains a few years back and the addition of a new gym full of fancy equipment including personalized tvs on each treadmill.

And why does this matter? Well, the haircuts, because I finally realized my hair while I am certainly not obsessed with it, nor do I consider myself "high maintenance", is an important part of my daily appearance. That is when I took a recommendation from a friend for a good salon in Birmingham. The sort of place that offers food and drink while you wait, and employs a separate person that washes my hair, before my stylist comes to give me a cut.

At first, I felt ill at ease in this fancy new salon. Why had I come here and how much was the experiment going to cost me?

The answer of why was clear after that first cut. Sara, did an awesome job and took charge but gave me a great cut that looks good even after it grows out. I'm an official convert and will never go back for a $8.00 haircut again.

And the gym: Well, my old gym was the fitness equivalent of the dive bars I used to frequent. Kind of grungy, nothing fancy, outdated equipment, but at the end of the day it filled my gym requirements.

That was until they raised the price and never would include classes with your paid membership. I decided a change was in order and have landed myself at Yuppie Gym USA.

This gym reminds me of the hair salon or the new club in town. Swanky lightning, low slung cedar benches, fancy weight machines and a tanning bed in the ladies locker room.

I decided I deserve a nice environment to soothe my soul, even if it costs a little more.

I have been sick for almost a week now. It's getting old.

I think the cold part is over but I still have something that makes it possible for me to nap at any moment.

Hopefully this will pass.