Today's musings

• Yes, I am still running the A1A Half Marathon and, no, I haven't trained as much as I should have.
• I went to see 'Defending the Caveman' on Saturday night and fell asleep during the show. Not my favorite, although the friends I went with were so much fun and we had a great time with them.
• I'm tired. School, work, the gym, and finding time to relax is taking it's toll on me. I need to rest, really rest. Chicago seems WAY too far away and I need a break.
• We had all the wood removed from the front of our house and changed to stucco. It's not even painted yet and it already looks 1,000 times better.
• I don't feel well today, and I think it was something I ate over the weekend. I'm not hungry and haven't eaten anything yet and it's already 12:30pm...very unlike me.
• I can't wait for the next cold front to come to town.
• I can't wait to go to bed tonight. I love sleep.

Book Review: The Shack

A fictional story, written by Wm. Paul Young initially and only for his 6 kids, is about one man's journey from grief and anger to reconciliation with God. I have been reading a lot of reviews online about how this author doesn't get a lot of things right...or aligned properly with the Bible. I am certainly not going to try to pick it apart here either.
All I can say is that I did enjoy the book. It started off slow and I had some difficulty with the personifications of the Trinity, but I read on past those things to just enjoy the story...and I did. It was sweet and there was healing and hope. Did I say I liked it? Jen is going to read it next (and my Dad was the one who first read it) and then we will pay it forward.
I only read the 66 books of the Bible as truth, everything else is just opinion. Everyone is entitled to theirs...even the really smart people who are 'experts' in their fields. I am expert in nothing. I excel at things like:
-Saying something I shouldn't in front of people who don't understand my humor.
-Needing to use the restroom when there is not one in sight.
-Day dreaming.
-Spending money (in my head) on things I can't afford (and don't need).
-Waking up at 5:45, just 8 minutes before the alarm goes off.
-Clipping coupons
So you see, all I can say is that I read and finished the book (which is an amazing feat in and of itself) and I liked it. I recommend you read it, if for nothing more than the opportunity for us to discuss it further.
Hugs and Kisses and Happy Days...

Silver Lining...I see you

OK, so I am so cool that I drive a stick shift, yet less cool because it's a 4-door Sedan. Over the weekend I noticed it became VERY DIFFICULT to get the car into gear. I didn't really think too much about it until this morning, when I couldn't get the car out of 'reverse' and into '1st' gear when I was leaving for the gym. Crap, just what I need...another $1000 car problem. I knew it couldn't wait any longer so I brought it into the dealership. The guy calls me an hour later and says something like..."blah, blah, blah, master cylinder in the clutch..blah, blah...Slide cylinder and draining all the fluid, small leak, blah, blah...hydraulic system, ready by 3:00pm...$558.25 before taxes". Double crap. This kind of stuff usually happens when I have just come into some money (3rd paycheck in a month, twice a year) and in this case it will be my much anticipated tax return check. Perfect timing!!! I was going to pay off the last of my new bed and another bill to be DEBT FREE! Here's hoping that I can still do that and pay off the car.
Then I get to work to see an e-mail about tonight's Love Bags and how some friends and strangers of mine are going to go around to some of my homeless neighbors in Fort Lauderdale and bring them food, water, sweatshirts, and the love of Christ. PRIORITY CHECK?! All I can think about is how I am not going to have as much money to spend while in Chicago to ultimately blow on high priced food and wine and these people are sleeping on concrete.
Now I can start to see it and it is actually starting to blind me. I got up this morning out of a brand new bed with freshly washed sheets, put on brand new sneakers, drove a car with a half tank of gas that I own outright to a gym to work out while listening to my ipod with brand new songs. Then I got back into the car and went to my Dad's place to take a HOT shower and get ready for work, called my boss from my brand new text-friendly cell phone to say I would be late and then went to the dealership. Then I got ride to my well paying job by my loving father only to open the Love Bags e-mail. It really puts it all into perspective, doesn't it? All this time I am complaining that I have to fix this problem, yet in reality, I am blessed that this is the biggest challenge I am faced with today.
Thank you Lord, for every single thing you have given me...every opportunity, and every blessing. Thank you most for my lunch that you allowed me to purchase ingredients from Publix and cook in my kitchen. Thank you for my ride to school and my CORE quiz at 4pm and my ride home. Thank you for allowing me to see the silver lining well before I fell into the self made hand-crafted pit of woe I almost finished digging. I love you the mostest!

My Weekend

First off, my Anatomy professor kind of sucks. The guy has a doctorate degree and he pronounces enzyme as EMZYNE and all I can think is "Hey guy, if I have to call you Doctor So-And-So then I expect you to get the little stuff right." He's also exceptionally boring to listen to, and let me tell you, at 8:00am on a Saturday I need a little inflection in my professors voice when he's talking about the joys of Cellular Chemistry.
Publix was predictable, nothing to mention there. I did make some curried chicken (Monday potluck) and stuffed peppers (Greek style) and went to a fun party for Cara's graduation. Even with a splitting headache, I laughed myself silly, almost pissing myself in the process. That is my gauge of how good a time I am having, the amount of urine that could (or does) end up in my pants.

Now, I have skipped a line to tell you about 'The Wrestler'. In a word, heartbreaking. In two words (one that I just made up), heartbreakingly fantastic. Mickey Rourke lived up to the hype and then some. It is a story about how, with a lifetime of choices a man is given, his decisions led him to his current state. The plot is similar to many people's own lives, just substitute 'washed up pro wrestler' with another profession. It was painful, with no Hollywood ending in sight, yet it captured me and never let go. This guy deserves every good review that comes of this movie. There is nudity, violence, and several 'F' bombs and I overlooked all of that to get to the meat and potatoes of the story. In reality, you couldn't have one without the others. If you see this movie, tell me what you think. So far, the only person I can talk to about it is my sister, which is cool...but, she feels the same way I do about the movie and I am always open to other opinions.
Next movie is Slumdog Millionaire...can't wait.

Renaissance Woman

I like to think that I live a very cultured life, when in fact, it's pretty mundane with an occasional bit of excitement thrown in for good measure. I love many different kinds of movies, including but not limited to; foreign films, classics, comedies, and thrillers (think anything with Morgan Freeman). I love music, including classical and opera, old school country, jazz and anything that Cadillac Records put out, good old rock and roll and songs about faith that bring to my knees. I love wine and good food (think gourmet on a budget). I love to travel and write and dream and take pictures. All these things make me feel like the modern Renaissance Woman. Now I know that doesn't really make that much sense, but it's how I view myself.
This in no way, shape or form, leads me to my weekend plans.
I have the regular stuff, school, Publix shopping for the upcoming week, and church on Sunday. I also have some fun stuff planned...a party for a friend who just graduated college and.....drum roll please...I am going to see 'The Wrestler'. I have been routing for Mickey Rourke to make a comeback right around the time he started sinking fast while boxing in his South Beach nightclub. This guy used to be the 'bees knees' in the mid-80's, far too long ago for me to appreciate him. I recently saw one of his more popular films and while he wasn't Oscar-worthy in his acting skills, he was easy on the eyes. When I heard he just got nominated for Best Actor Oscar for The Wrestler, I read up on the buzz surrounding the film and I knew I had to see it. Next weekend is 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I want to see them both this weekend, but I think I am going have to let one really soak into me before I see the other one, because I have a gut feeling they both are going to be...THAT GOOD.
I finally saw 'Persepolis' at the suggestion of a friend almost a year ago and it was really good. Google it, because it's too much to get into here. I will be back soon with a movie review and I hope your weekend is as good as mine.

When I grow up...

When I was a lot younger (Elementary School) I had pretty high hopes for my career, including but not limited to...Astronaut (the thought of potentially donning Depends to wreak mischief on my pretend lover's REAL girlfriend now leads to thank myself I didn't pursue that one) and President of the United States (It could happen, maybe...someday). Then I got to High School and wanted to be a Doctor (I didn't "apply myself to my studies" and therefore never thought I was smart enough), SNL Feature Player (back in the Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and David Spade days), Stand Up Comic (have you ever heard me try to retell a joke? It's like giving a cat a bath), a Published Author (does it count that I publish myself online?) and a Broadway Dancer (I love to eat too much and was afraid of failure). Then I got to college and started working in travel, taking Business classes and I just wanted to finish school. That's when I wanted to be a Travel Writer. Then the Food Network came on TV so I thought I could master that too (although I was never formally trained and was afraid of failure) or be a Restaurateur (do you know what the failure rate is there?). Here I am now, on the brink of turning 32 and I am back in school so that I can be a Nurse when I grow up. I can take your blood pressure and turn you on your side in your bed, and if you need assistance to your wheelchair, I'm your girl. I still want to be on SNL (or at least write for the show) and deep down inside, I know that someday my 'big break' is going to come. When that happens, whatever I end up doing will not feel like work because I will love it...and deep down, in the deepest and most quiet parts of me...I never want to grow up.

Yes we will...

That is all I can say at this point. No, I didn't vote for him...but I will be praying for him. I don't want to see him fail either, contrary to what everyone I have spoken to about the election may think. Politics is all about choosing the 'least worst' candidate for any given office. Same thing goes for the POTUS. I do want change in this country. REAL CHANGE. Not change for a dollar, not spare change, and not just a changing of the guard. This is the hardest job anyone can do and to think for a moment that I (or anyone else for that matter) can sit back as an armchair quarterback and shout out plays from the sidelines is ridiculous. I have already seen him age more than the 2 years it took him to get to today. When everything is said and done, he is going to have even more gray hairs. President Obama...make me proud.
On a lighter and less politically charged note, however, intertwining all the while with the events of the day...what a great day this has been so far. The weather kind of sucks. Gray and overcast and kind of cold and getting colder by the minute. We may be in the upper 30's tonight which never happens here so it's a big deal. I went to get gas in my car after the gym this morning and the pump stopped on $21.00 exactly! Loves it. I have school tonight and I am not ready for the quiz...again...but I will wing it and hope for the best. This is life. What can I say?

1-13-09

This is going to be a totally jumbled mess of thoughts...very much like the way I normally think when I am not writing it down. So I am smack dab back in the real world. I've been to both of my classes once and I am going for straight A's again. I forgot how much time school takes up, namely the time on the weeknights I would have spent watching The Biggest Loser or American Idol. Tuesdays are definitely the worst because I am up before 6:00am, gym, work, and school goes from 4 - 10pm. Yep, 10:00pm on a Tuesday night. The worst part of it is that tomorrow morning I have to be up again at 6:00am for the gym.
Happy Birthday to my little-big girl Tyra. She's 12 years old this month. I was never sure about her exact birth date. I hate clipping the nails on her back paws because I am afraid I will draw blood and I also think she is going deaf, which is hard for me to deal with. She's 12 and I know what the life expectancy for a large dog is and how the decline begins. Very morbid stuff, I know but that's the circle of life. She still thinks she's a puppy and that's all that matters.
I already have one of my New Year's Resolutions crossed off the list, and that actually happened on the 9th. Jen and I are going somewhere we have never been - CHICAGO - for an event we have wanted to go to since I became aware of it's existence - TASTE OF CHICAGO! I got a good deal on NON-stop flights (thank you Spirit) and now I have to find a cheap and luxurious hotel (a little ironic, don't you think?) My traveling life revolves around the places to eat in a city or country so I will be hunting all the cool restaurants and pubs for us to visit. Any suggestions???
Damages (on F/X) came back last week and it is one of the best written and acted shows on television. Totally worth staying up until 11:00pm for...what am I, 79 years old?
Last but not least, is it weird that I want lick my Lean Cuisine container completely clean after finishing the Fettuccine Alfredo? I mean, there's only 280 calories in there and I want every single one of them. Is it even stranger that I want to drink the leftover Ginger dressing from my salad at the sushi restaurant?

I like big butts....

Hallelujah and Praise the Lord! It doesn't just look good, but it's good for me!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,477434,00.html
I happen to be one of those girls with a generous amount of back-side and now science is also "behind" me (pun intended).

1-6-09

So many things to say and so little time to type them...
Teddy and Teresa welcomed their BEAUTIFUL baby girl into this world at 3:41am this morning. I am beside myself with glee and I can't wait to meet her! I start school today...again (4:00 - 10:00pm). Time flies and before I know it I will be posting my cheesy graduation picture online. Jen and I are back on the hunt to buy a place of our own. It's time to MOVE OUT and have space to call my own. Besides, the market is working in my favor this year. Next - so a few years ago I read this book, 'He's Just Not That Into You' during what must have been some "omigosh I am single crises". They have made it into a movie with a bunch of actors including Drew Barrymore (personal celebrity look-alike). The funny thing about the book is that it's all true what they say about the reasons behind why men don't call, text, write you back. They are just not that into you...and that pretty much describes my love life to the chapter and verse. I am comfortably situated between 2 extremes most days. To the far left we have all the guys I would love to love who are paying zero attention to me and to the extreme far right we have all guys I wish wouldn't like me trying to pay all their attention to me. The more single women I talk to, the more I realize that it's pretty much the same for them too. What's a girl to do? Wait, I've got it...stop trying so hard!
There are 2 forces at work in my head most days. Force #1) The skinny workout, Marathon training, fit woman who reads Muscle and Fitness-Hers! and Force #2) The 'other woman' who subscribes to Bon Apetit, Food & Wine, and can't wait for the new episodes of Drive Ins, Diners and Dives to be aired on Food Network. Force #1 is winning today. I am glad that the holidays are OVER. No more champagne, cream cheese, baked spinach dip, cookies, or chocolate until Halloween please. I already have my costume picked out...wouldn't you like to know? Last but not least, this is just one of those random observations I have. There is no graceful way to exit a restaurant booth (or cab or limo for that matter) and I have finally come to terms with that.

2009...nice start

Ringing in the New Year to 2009 was perfect. A block party with a couple of old friends and several hundred new friends. A live band complete with some of my all time favorite songs.

There is nothing more fun than watching about 50-60 white people dance to the Stones and Lynard Skynard.

I was proudly one of them.

My sister was the best date...!

I have been in the backyard now a total of 4 times to work on my tan and I still have 3 more days of vacation left to get just a little darker. I really do feel sorry for anyone who doesn't live here. Flip flops, tank tops, and blue jeans should be the world standard dress code.
A few things that I want to accomplish this year...
*Get accepted into Nursing school. *Pay off all my outstanding debts and then end out the year with no new debt. *Save some more money and start taking more pictures. *And last but not least...take a vacation to somewhere I have never been before.

I hope your New Year was awesome and that all of your wildest dreams come true this year. May God bless you and keep you in perfect peace!

XOXO