Dear 5:00

Please come quickly.

Thanks and best regards,
~Roz

Happy Friday all. For some reason today's been dragging on. I came to work 15 min late (was NOT able to get up...), I took a 2 hour lunch (had lunch with husband and his coworkers and since I work in the stix, an hour of that lunch was driving back and forth time), and it's still ticking by like molasses. Plus a lot of you haven't posted today. I checked. Four or Five times. hehehe

Have a great weekend!

I'm going...

to see a movie BY MYSELF this weekend. I'm going to the crappy local theater (that KJ refuses to step foot near) sometime on Sat to see Knocked-Up (probably an extreme girl-movie that again, my husband will probably not step foot near. We can rent them, but asking him to commit to a theater seat that he's paid $83 {you all know like I do that the movies are waaayyyy over-price} for and no promise of action but the threat of a birth scene...yeah, not happening.). I'm considering it an adventure. It's been a minute since I went to the movies by myself. In fact if I think back, I don't know if I ever have, I think so, but maybe my intent to do so was so strong it overtook my memory...

Anywho, I tried to think of someone I know here that may want to go on my little outing with me. Ummm, the girl from the gym who gave me her number (twice) who I never called and haven't seen in months (still trying to cancel that membership...), if I could remember her name or find her number... maybe. Ummm, my neighbor who has 3 kids under the age of 5 and whose husband has been away for 2 weeks and is returning this weekend....she's probably going to be busy. Ummm, 65 yr old Ms. Mary who lives at the end of the street and is really friendly, who before we went out of town told me she wasn't feeling well and I still haven't made it 4 houses over 5 days later to check on her...don't know if this movie will be her thing (but if Menopause ever comes to town, she's my girl). And just for the record: I'm going to check on her tonight. There is the girl at the corner of our subdivision whom I'm obsessed with her home improvement efforts (she's doing amazing things in her yard and I confess: last night she left her front door open and I drove by 3 times to see what she's putting up to coordinate with her lovely living room wall color...), but it'd be hard to introduce myself without seeming psycho... So I resolved that I'm going by myself. I like me, and know that I'll be great company at the movie. Plus, I never hog all the popcorn... ;-)

Happy Thursday

Having to Share...

I teach Sunday School and Wednesday night class to the children at church. I've got the 8yr - high school group (seems like a broad range, but our church is small, so max I've ever had in class is around 9 students and most are between 3rd grade and 8th, and my younger ones are brilliant so I teach lessons on a higher level so not to bore the older ones), and I LOVE my class. The kids are kids. They're my kids. They have their good days where they're attentive and clue in to the lesson's theme immediately and their bad days when they don't want to pay attention and they gripe if I give gum instead of lollipops as rewards (to which they know I will take away the "prize" because a blessing is a blessing and should we complain if God gives us one thing when we thought we wanted another...). Anyway, I came to this church when they only had 2 youth workers/teachers (one recently moved to another city, so we're back to 2) and they had been there for a while and were eager to let me join the teaching squad so that we could rotate and no one would be burnt-out. Great!

Now here's the having to share part... Recently a new member has joined our church and expressed interest in teaching. So last night the other youth worker called me and said, "Sis. G wants to teach, so I thought that you and she could rotate with your class. That way you won't get tired or burnt out." Pause. I'm not tired, I'm not burnt out. I'm on a roll and I HATE rotating because we all have different teaching styles and I feel like I sometimes have to reprogram my class when it's my turn again. In my heart I know that it's only fair that I let this other sister teach also because I know I appreciate the chance and avenue to serve in this fashion and who am I to deny it to another. I would not have wanted them to have done me that way, right? Right. So I asked the other youth worker if it might be okay if we just establish that I teach on Wed. and she gets Sun morning. Am I giving her the shorter end of the stick? Honestly... yes. There are more kids there on Wed. and b.c we travel so much on weekends I often have to have someone substitute. So I'm going to offer her Sun mornings. Is that wrong? Am I keeping the big piece of cake to only share the crumbs??? I'm a good teacher (I am. Not bragging really, I just love my kids and know how the whole youth worker thing goes b/c I've been doing it for so long.) and I don't feel it's fair to make me do all the adjusting when "it ain't broke". Sigh, I'll let you know how it goes. ;-) Maybe Sis. G could teach my class on Sun mornings and the Nursery class (2-5 students on average from the baby in church to the 7yr olds) on Wed nites (giving the other youth worker a "break"). That way she gets to familiarize herself with both groups! Yeah, both groups... I think I just discovered the positive spin on how I'm going to present the idea to her and the other youth worker. This solution still counts as sharing, right???

Happy Wednesday!

10 on Tuesday:

1) Some days my job is a challenge (good thing, I love the feeling of conquring) and some days it's just challenging (bad thing, my attitude towards Jim's stupidity constantly a battle). Lately it's been more challenging then a challenge. I think I need a sabbatical.

2) Last night I made a scrumptous salad with strawberries and sharp cheddar cheese (and lettuce, carrots, etc, but the berries and cheese were the highlights), only to realize that my raspberry vinaigrette dressing had gone bad. Confession: If Kj had not walked in and MADE me pour the bottle out, my plan was to pour all the white stuff out b/c the bottom of the bottle looked fine. We ended up finding a quick recipe for vinaigrette dressing and made my own. Really, you can't eat a salad with berries with any other kind of dressing...you thought about it and other options seem gross don't they... RECIPE HERE {just fyi}

3) Kj and I had a couple over on Sunday nite (they're getting ready to move to TX. of course. I find a friend and poof, they're gone...) and we played Spades. Here's the catch, KJ was my partner. We've NEVER played together and it threw me off. Hard to trash talk your husband when he's on your side. Plus it was hard to read his signs and I wasn't about to give him mine b/c when Liz and Jon come to visit there's a rematch to be had! (needless to say, we lost... I considered it a courteous going away present...)

4) It's FREE MUSIC TUESDAY on iTunes! Wait, I just checked to see what the free song was and I'm not enthused about gats and explict lyrics. ::sigh:: but the free discovery download is nice and I always get the latin free song so I guess 2 out of 3 isn't bad. Oh and just because I had to see if I was spelling gat (slang for gun) right, I found out that the slang term is derived from this {another fyi}

5) I read this blog daily: Amazing Trips and I think she's hilarious. Taking motherhood in stride. ;-) {Today's post is on the serious side, but go to the one underneath it for a good giggle}

6) Okay, I'm listening to the free song I just downloaded and it's soooo good. He's name is Till Bronner and the free download is A Distant Episode. Beautiful! This is another song of his. See how soothing... I think I may buy the cd...{umm, yep, bought the cd via iTunes and I'm LOVIN' it}


7) I want to read this book. Baby Love I'm torn between returning to my local library that gives you 3 days to check out, read, and return a book (okay, probably a little more days then 3, but not many...) Mind you I owe them for my last overdue books that I never even got the chance to read... or, just buying it online and having it arrive in my mailbox. Does anyone know a cheap online bookstore?

8) My parents have finally closed on their new house. I'm really excited to see what items my mom decided to let go of after 30+ years of "collecting"

9) My coworker, Tina, went to Hawaii and brought me back this:

It's a good luck tiki man and it makes me giggle. I love that its hands are on its hips like, "I dare you to not feel lucky" I've also decided that if needed, it's the perfect weight to peg the aforementioned dept head in the back of the head when said stupiditity reaches its maximum. ;-) Talk about luck, hehehe

10) It's taken me way too long to do this 10 on Tuesday, but it's made me smile. Forget work, I'm grabbing on to little morsels of happiness however I can get um!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Weekend Adventure (wrap-up)

Shea is the wife of Kj's old college room-mate, Rance, and I believe that they're the couple that holds the record for having known/done things with us "as a couple" for the longest. Kj and I hung out with Rance and Shea when we were just dating (first time around). I went to Shea's wedding when I didn't even really know her, unaware that she'd be a constant presence in my life. hehehe And during the time when Kj and I had broke up, it was Shea who proclaimed, "I'm so glad you're back!" when we started dating again.I'm not hesitant to say that with Kj, no one else compared when it came to being his better half. She confirmed it for me. ;-)

Anywho, we decided we needed a "Ladies Day" so we headed up to Montgomery in search of an adventure... and that's exactly what we had.
We had plans to eat at the Montgomery Brewery Co, ride the lunch trolley to see the downtown sites, then head over to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival to catch a play. Perfect plan... until we got to Montgomery. We get to the restaurant and it's closed (what?!?!), apparently it doesn't open til 4 on Sat. Then we go to catch the lunch trolley to just go to another restaurant, but low and behold we can't seem to catch the trolley for the life of us (we waited at the Biscuits {the Mont. baseball team...don't ask...) ticket office...taking refuge in their shade... for about an hour when finally a trolly comes around), apparently, the lunch trolley only runs during the week b/c all the restaurants downtown are closed on the weekends, but our "trolley man" kindly suggested a local hotdog place. (You all know I love my hotdogs!). So we get to the hotdog place and when we walk in the man says, "You all want to eat here??? Ummmm, we should have turned around then, but we were starving so we braved it past the front door. Hole in the wall does not begin to describe our little eatery. I told Shea that it reminded me of being in the back of someone's great-grandmother's house, where everything smells old, and it looks old, and there's a thin layer of dust over most things, and a thick layer over a few things, but you feel like it would be insulting to just leave, so you sit... and order... and act-like you're eating (Shea pinched off pieces of her hamburger to create the illusion of eating, but I scarfed down my hotdog...an 85 rating has never scared me away... SHAME...). ;-) Yep, 15 minutes later we were back on our trolley and my stomach was gurgling (no worries, a few watermelon gummies set it straight). We seriously could only laugh, so far the day was not going as planned, but we were having fun. We got to the theater about 45 minutes before our play Menopause the Musical started. Just enough time to converse with the crowd of 60 -80 year old women in the restroom, get to our seats, and count the 23 men whose wives had dragged them to see a play about The Change. hehehe

We had a good time. By the time we got home we were exhausted, but we learned that 1) with or without our husbands, Shea and I can have a great time 2)downtown Montgomery dies around 5:00 Friday, only to come back to life on Monday and 3) a crowd of around 125, 50 -80 year old women may think it's unladylike to show bare leg and not wear pantyhose, but will laugh hysterically and hoot and holler if a microphone is uses as a prop when singing "good vibrations". really.





Hope you all had a great weekend.

The things we say...

I've been waking up the past couple of mornings around 5 something and simply rolling over knowing that I had about 40 more min of zzz's to catch. This morning when I awoke at 5:30 I decided to walk around the neighborhood.


The weather was perfect, I'd guess around 60 something degrees and I had my iPod to keep me moving. This morning I discovered 4 things. 1) I love walking around the neighborhood. There are 3 streets in our subdivision and all incline (or decline depending on your direction) so I feel like it's a good "wake-up body" workout if I'm walking briskly. 2) Walking around the neighborhood gives me a chance to see what people have done to their houses/yards without seeming nosey. (took my camera so I could get pics of some yard ideas for Kj)
3) I should grab my cell phone and leave the camera. After my 20 min walk, I rounded the corner only to see my sleepy-eyed husband (he doesn't wake up til 7:00) standing in front of our garage looking for me. Apparently when I turned off the alarm system it woke him up and when he came to check and my car was still there (when it's gone he knows I've gone to the gym), he got a little worried. I don't know where I could have possibly have taken off to or what danger I could have been in, but it was sweet and besides feeling bad for not letting him know I was going so he could get his additional hour of sleep, I felt very loved.
4) It's been too long since I worked out b/c my legs were itching like crazy, which I know has something to do with circulation, but it makes me think that the cellulite and fat cells are bumping into each other. I may have to start walking with a loofah sponge. hehehe

So, on the way into work this morn on the radio they were talking about the funeral the NAACP is going to have for the n-word. Kudos! I was brought up to know that the word is hateful when spoken by ANYBODY and I'm glad to see society stepping up and stating the same. I believe this campaign is targeting more so the entertainment industry because music is the only aspect that I can think of where the word is used frequently without consequence or being reprimanded. It's not slang. It's not cute. It's not okay.
The radio dj had Sinbad {the comedian... I love his stuff} on the show and he said that he was actually at the comedy club when the Michael Richard's (Kramer from Seinfeld) incident happened. He made the statement that he believed it might have been the first time some of the younger generations have really heard the n word in all it's true nastiness and hate. Good point. I think so many times we become desensitized to things seen/or heard commonly that we "gloss over" how awful it really is.

Okay so the radio broadcast this morn, coupled with an article I read yesterday in which a mom tries to explain to her son why his peers say he's "acting white" made me think about things that are said and should not be said. Granted, I don't say the n-word and I'm very cautious of offensive racial generalizations and terms, (like Indian-giver. A friend of mine works for the Southern Poverty Law Center speaking across the country on promoting tolerance of different races/cultures and intolerance to slurs/ symbols/ negative actions and such. Anyway, B. pointed out to me that terms like Indian-giver are in fact offensive.) but I do/did have the tendency to say the word heifer when referring to a female that had got under my skin. Maybe not on the same level as the n word, but still offensive to females, right? Sometimes when you hear the very thing that you say come out of someone else's mouth, you hear how bad it sounds. Some friends and I were at an event where a group was singing and a woman behind us, knowing one of the girls in the group, yelled. "You better sing heifer!" Not in a mean way, but in a "you go girl" kind of way. Still sounded bad. So from that moment on, I made/make a conscious effort to not use the term unless I'm actually referring to cattle. (I've have adopted Cindy's term chic {pronounced chick} like "You better watch it chic." or "Okay now, chic" when a lady's overstepping her bounds)

Soooo, what brought all this on... just that radio broadcast and a 45 min drive to work to think how just like a good sermon in church, it may not hit you directly, but indirectly you can find pieces of yourself to always work on. This morning I woke up with the intent to work on this ole body. I've also decided to include working on this ole mouth (the things that come out of it) and this ole attitude (I shouldn't let people affect how I present myself, my demeanor...). Yep, always room for improvement.

Happy Thursday!!

Remember when...

So I'm toughing it out and trying to meet a package deadline that I've been procrastinating on for a bit here at work. This morn I came, turned on my iTunes and got Billy Jean by Michael Jackson going (to set the work pace) and it hits me that this song is part of my childhood memories. I used to loooovvvveee Michael Jackson (still do love the old Michael, not the new...). That man could make some music. My dad bought me this record:


so that I could play it on my own record player and dance like a maniac in my room, and my mom gave me a Michael Jackson button to wear (we all used to wear buttons, it was the 80s, hehehe). Couldn't find an image of the button, but this type of button, just to jog your memory...


Anywhy, this post is not about Michael, but about childhood memories. Kj and I have this discussion quite often about how he can remember something that happened when he was 2 years old (he really can), but how my earliest memory may be from when I was 5 and then up until about 10, it's pretty sketchy. Shameful b/c I know that I should have some good memories in there when I look at old pictures, but I guess my mind choose what to hold on to and what to let go of. So, this morn as I was getting into "work" mode with Billy Jean blaring, I had a flash back of: dancing (a fast running in place type thing with arms flying) in purple sweat pants (mom says I didn't like jeans b/c they "felt funny on my legs"...I was an odd child), and a white t-shirt, in a little space by my bed until I was sweating and out of breath only to collapse on my bed and think, I love Michael Jackson. I was about 5 years old. I also thought Michael was saying that "the Jed is not my son" which is how I still sing the song. Such a good memory! It made me smile (22 years later), and then I ate my Frosted Flakes with strawberries and drank the milk from the bowl like my father showed me many years ago. hehehe That's another memory for another post. So here's to childhood memories. It's good to let your mind go back to a time before work and bills, don't you think? ;-)

Happy Wednesday!

10 on Tuesday:

1) Tried to cancel gym membership, but I'm under contract til 8/08 and they haven't added any classes for after 6, so the program still stinks and I'm doomed to the elliptical machine for $25 a month.

2) Made spinach and ricotta tortellini with a creamy butter garlic shrimp sauce and the meal was completely experimental (no measuring, no recipe, just a spice cabinet and lots of tasting) except for the tortellini, which unfortunately wasn't that good (trying new things... this one was a dud, but the sauce was a keeper. Can't go wrong with garlic and butter!)

3) Had to move my topiaries to the front door b/c the wind keeps blowing them over (and I've even put bricks in the planter). Kj thinks they look better there. I'm not convinced...

4) I thought my office mate was over there pooting, but it's just him scrapping something across his desk... I think...

5) Watched Norbit last night and it wasn't as horrible as we expected. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't good, just not as horrible.

6) My drive to get things done seems to be a "home" thing b/c here at work I'm tip-toeing all around the little deadlines I need to meet. sheesh!

7) When you make a conscious effort to try and save up some money, you begin to wonder more oft then not, "Where is my money going???" I'm seriously not seeing it.

8) It's been raining a lot here lately, only downfall is that it rains while I'm at work and by the time I get off it's still hot and muggy.

9) Yesterday I checked everyone's blog about 25 times apiece. Please post! I'm avoiding work people! hehehe

10) Is it really only Tuesday?!?! I was pretty sure my calendar was broken. hehehe

Happy (almost done with the work day) Tuesday all!

"Get it done" mode

This weekend was eventful. Really started checking some things off the wayyyy too long "To-Do" list. Okay, honestly I checked off 3 things (sent an invoice and sent 2 people their final logos for review), but those 3 things felt soooo good. But here's the stinky part about a "To-Do" list, just as soon as something's checked off, something else has the nerve to jump on board. ;-)
So this morn this is what I googled b/c it's an unchecked box on my list:


That's right. 10 Year Class Reunion!!!! I know I know, very few people get excited when they think back to those high school years, but I've never been with the norm. High school was a fantastic time to me! Not that, "I'm stuck in the 1994-98s and I don't want to move forward" kind of weirdness, but the, high school wasn't so bad and I have some great memories and a few growing pain recollections (a certain someone wanting to fight me in the hall for liking her ex-boyfriend and making fun of my sneakers {I'm sure I wasn't the only person who wore nothing but gleaming white keds and considered them to be perfect for any athletic activity}... oh C. Warren, I haven't forgotten... forgiven, but not forgotten...) that I look forward to rehashing with the AHS Class of '98.
So, as class pres, hehehe, I'm going to get the ball rolling. I've got my trusty internet see this list, my old high school phone number, and a few other 98ers who check this blog and have therefore been recruited to help me spread the word (yes, I'm calling you out: Colleen, Klancy, Candi, Monica, Lauren, Kendi... and any lurkers who think I don't know you're there...hehe). So get ready. I'm in a "get it done" mood and this is high up on my list. I wonder if this can be attacked like planning a wedding... Any words of wisdom out there???

Happy Monday all!

****Ahhh-hhaaaa: Called the school, no help pretty much said it's all on the person planning the reunion. Then I went back to my trusty internet and found the AHS Alumni. Just google the school and the city and you'll see the school webpage. Then click on the Alumni link on the left. This is going to be my saving grace, I believe. So log on and put your info in and pass the site to others please. Colleen and Klancy, you're up there already, but only 23 out of our graduating 200 something are registered. I may also have to resort to myspace... ::sigh::*****

Watcha watching?

Okay so I don't have a ton of tv shows that I watch. Pretty much it's just:
1) Girlfriends
2) One Tree Hill
3) Grey's Anatomy
4) America's Next Top Model
5) Lost

Those are the one's that I'm almost sick if I miss an episode (esp. Grey's. Thank goodness for the online full episode thing. And what do you all think about Burke {Isiah Washington} being taken off the show????)

Anyway since my regulars are all finished with new episodes for the season, I'm branching out and seeing what some other shows are about. The 2 new ones I'm testing are: Army Wives and House of Payne.
Let's start with Army Wives. I like it. It's a little dramatic, but it's Lifetime. I'm happy with the story line and anxious to see what goes on with the characters. Have you seen it?

Ummm, House of Payne... Was anyone else thinking that those first two episodes would be the last?
I'm sorry, but they just weren't good. Not funny. Not like a sitcom, but a rushed play. So this week we gave it another try. I watched the 3rd one (still not funny and I think Allen Payne may be getting on my nerves...) and fell asleep on the 4th (b/c you know right now they're doing those back to back episodes). Kj promises that the 4th got a little better, I'll have to rewatch it and see.

So for now I'm recommending Army Wives, but I may be pulling the plug on House of Payne (sorry Tyler Perry.) Do you have any shows that you watch that I should get in on (if not then it's Army Wives and reruns of the above that will fill my lovely DVR Thursdays. I tape all my shows and watch them on Thurs nite when KJ gets his hair cut so that I'm not swayed by his that doesn't make sense, what's wrong with her, that's not realistic, sarcasm...he's such a boy... hehehe)?

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

I had a hunch

yesterday was going to be crazy. (see Wednesday's post, last part if don't want to read the whole...awww...)

So about a month ago, one of my co-workers was telling me about the practical jokes they used to play in to office. Moving all the furniture out of someone's office, having them arrested at work, placing signs detailing "fake" embarrassing medical conditions in the bathrooms of the opposite sex of those on the end of the joke... yep, they were some pranksters. Evidently, they've been in retirement, but like so many before them (Jordon, JayZ.. um that's all I can think of right now who's retired and then come back...) they decided to get back into it yesterday and thought I'd be the perfect candidate.

So preface: Whenever the sales guys come into the office (they live in different states) they always ask if I'm pregnant yet. I'm the ONLY person in the office young (under 40) and married. There's a few singletons, but they don't bug them about marriage near like they do me about kids. Hellooo, I work in the juvenile industry and they probably just want me to birth a kid so we can have a new model for our packages. hehehe So you may see where this is headed...

Yesterday before lunch people started coming by the office and sending me emails saying Congrats! What's your due date? Girl or Boy? EVERYONE in the office, president and all (our company is not huge). So I finally figure out that one of my dear coworkers in cahoots with the sales guys went to our receptionist and had her send this out to everyone (but me) in the office yesterday:


Are you serious??? LOL! They got me. Perfect set-up and I was bombarded by people who wanted to come see if I had started to show. hehehe

So anyway, by the time I left work yesterday my jaws hurt from laughing so hard and I had come up with about a million ways to say I'M NOT PREGNANT.

Today I'm wearing a bikini top and daisy dukes while holding my stomach in and parading around the office... just incase there's any left over doubt... hehehe

Having a song on your heart ;-)

I woke up this morning with a song in my head. This song to be exact:


It's my current car-dancing fav. Immediately I wish that I could gyrate my hips like the girls in the caribbean, but alas, I've changed my ways and don't dance like that in public anymore (hehehe) and my hips have NEVER been that limber. But oh, in the car... I'm getting it!
Anywho, I saw this on another blog the other day and decided how appropriate for my "Day of Song". The idea is that you go to your iPod (Klancy, your new Zune is perfect if you choose to play along), hit shuffle or random and then answer the questions below with the songs that appear in the play list. Easy enough. Let's see what I get...

How does the world see you?
Beautiful Disaster - Jon McLaughlin (Grey's Anatomy soundtrack)
Hummm, don't know if I'm flattered or offended. ;-) I guess I am a bit of a spaz, but disaster seems a bit harsh don't you think?

Will I have a happy life?"
My My My - Johnny Gill
MY life Johnny...will it be happy? sheesh, it's not always about you...

What do my friends really think of me?
The Guide - Borne
LOL! Some, I may lead, but for the most part I think we're walking side by side in life's journey.

How can I make myself happy?
Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King
I've always said I wanted to be fluent in Spanish... apparently not only do I need to be fluent, I need to teach it in Harlem... now that's a far cry from Bham so I don't know if that's going to equal happy oh wise iPod...

What should I do with my life?
Shawty Roc - Southern Style Dj's
Oh, you ain't said nothing but a word. I wonder if "rockin it out" is office appropriate?

Will I ever have children?
Back To My Roots- Lucky Dube & The Slaves
Ummm, little iPod, are you talking about when I was younger and wanted 5 girls so I could name them all after flowers??? Sorry, I don't think Kj's going to have that.

What is some good advice for me?
I Me You I'm Your - Jim Noir
Spit it out already! What's my advice?!?!?!

How will I be remembered?
All I Want - Toad The Wet Sprocket
Well, I guess that is true. I do really want to be remembered, but to say that's all I want is a bit understated...

What is my signature dancing song?
Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
Now you're talking! Someone please pass me my sparkly glove and black loafers!

What do I think my current theme song is?
Where Is Your Heart - Kelly Clarkson
Well, it's with Kj of course... should he be singing my theme song?!? That could be a loaded gun that I don't need to hand over... no telling what I'd get... ;-)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Suga Mama - Beyoncé
Hehehe - I'm flattered that you all think I've got it like that.

What song will play at my funeral?
Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
True, I don't want that day to be sad, but this kind of rocking might have people talking...

What is my day going to be like?
Carnival Town - Norah Jones
Yep, had a feeling I was in for a wild ride today... it's only 9:30 so I'll have to keep you all posted. ;-)

Happy Wednesday everyone!

When

As I go further and further into adulthood, I realize that somewhere along the way the questions changed from Why? to When? Has anyone else noticed that?

• When do I support a friend thru a decision I don't agree with {just b/c I'm the friend and I'm sure they've given themselves enough grief already}? *** I started to remove this one b/c it's flagged some alarm in my girls. Then I thought, let me just explain... simply, I believe I worded this wrong. I'm the positive friend. Always have been, always will be. I'm honest, but I'm kind. I take pride in that. I WILL NOT SHOOT YOU DOWN. It's not in me. In the past, present and future, my girls and I have been on some rollercoasers in our day. I've had situations where all you can say is "What the crap!" and so have they. This morning I woke up and started wondering when, or if I'd ever spout off the first thing in my mind when things come up. I pray not! Slow to speak, slow to anger right. If I'm nothing else I'm understanding. I don't ever say, "I don't know how that could have happened," because quite frankly we don't know what we'll do in a situation until we're in it right? So the a-fore mentioned is not about anyone/thing specific. And I already know the answer to the "when?". Answer: Always. I will ALWAYS support my friends. I support the people that they are. Not always the decisions, not always the situations, not always the circumstances, but the people. I'm friends with fantastic people and through years of sifting the good ones stuck ;-) and we're all different, we handle things differently. Do I always agree? NOPE. Do they always agree with me? NOPE. But I voice my concerns in a kind and honest manner. I believe that's what has come to be expected from me and I like it that way. {Don't get me wrong, we've had our fair share of fussing}. Sooooo, no need to fret. This was something that seriously just popped in my mind this morn and as I was driving. Just a thought. Again, should have probably worded it differently, but was trying to post before jumping into the work pile.**** I'm okay everyone. Please return to the regularly scheduled post. hehehe*****
• When do I stop calling my last residence home {and focus on where God has placed me now}?
• When do I increase my investments {and decrease my general spending}?
• When do I stop comparing my old church family to my new {and really embrace loving my new like my old}?
• When do I decide to bring a baby in the world {and accept the responsibility of raising him/her to be a better person then I am}?
• When do I stop supporting {those who don't have the know how or desire to start supporting themselves}?
• When do I seek better opportunities {or do I realize that I'm in the best opportunity}?
• When do I give a personal experience to show I can relate {and when do I just listen, keep my business to myself and just nod agreement}?
• When do I call {when do I email}?
• When do I smile when I want to cry {when do I go ahead and cry}?

I think a lot of this was triggered by my recent decision to retire. When to let something go... This post kind of sounds sad, but I promise it's not! These are just a few that crossed my mind this morning. Some are things I've dealt with, some are things I'm dealing with.
The more I trust in God and give things over completely, the less I ask Why? That's a blessing. I'm not worried about the why's because I know they'll be revealed in time. It's the when's that get me. When to move and when to just sit still. The most pressing 'when' on my mind this morning??

• When do you cancel a gym membership? Seriously, if you haven't been in months AND the $25 could easily be contributed to something else AND the thought of waking up at 5am makes you sick to your stomach AND they don't even offer classes that you like so all you do is tough it out on the elliptical... then isn't it time? You can be straight with me... ;-)

I'm done.

That's right. I'm officially retiring from the freelance game. Hanging up my hat. Letting the fat lady belt it out. Throwing up my two fingers and screaming "Peace Out!" Been tinkering with the idea for a moment, but when I said it out loud this morning, it felt good. It feels right. I'm just tired, you know? I sit in front of a computer for 8 (sometimes 8+ hours) at work and when I get home it's around 6pm. From 6pm to around 10pm I do the cook, clean home, spend time with husband, thing and then I'm sleep. (Really I probably do all of that within the first 2 hours of being home to be sleep by 8pm hehehe) I'm getting to the point that I resent my computer and the work I used to enjoy so much. Never wanted to be bitter with the career that I love, so I'm going to get, while the getting is still good. Toodles freelance, I've got a million other things that I really NEED to get done. So I'm determined to knock out some long overdue and some "just come up" jobs by the end of next month (7/31/07 people!!!) and then my home laptop will be used for random internet googling only. Yep. And typing this up and posting it makes me feel all the more human and less hostile about the projects that I have at hand. There is an end, and I WILL meet it. {If you're reading this and currently I have something on my plate that is long overdue for you, I'm not going to lie, it would be wise to email me, but don't call. I'm lining up my targets in order of date needed, date job received, and whatever other cryptic method of organization I can muster up, and I'm picking them off one by one. If you email, I can put an end to your "why the crap is she taking so long" misery and give you an ETA (estimated target (or project) assassination). I promise I haven't forgotten, I'm just procrastinating the mess out of it... sorry....

On a happier front. Or really does it get any happier than announcing RETIREMENT? Anyway, I had a small goal of obtaining some topiaries for the front of our house. I consider it my contribution to my husband's yard (fore I am not a yard-work kind of girl and refuse to touch a mower. The yard is Kj's creative canvas like the inside of the house is supposed to be mine {sans the new "I'm not sure how that's going to look/work/go" creative interior design voice that has been developed by an unnamed member of this family unit of two}. So if you dip your paint brush and mark on my canvas, it's only fair that I can do the same to yours right? Okay, back to my topiaries. Well, I wanted the spiral ones like these:



but the cost is ridiculous! I also want them to be artificial as my green thumb well... because of its past performance the color is in question... so, I decided I'd make them. Brilliant, right?! So Saturday morn (when I should have been doing some freelance, but I digress...) I set off to Old Time Pottery in search of cheap greenery and some planters. Absolutely no luck on the greenery and the planters I picked up, well, I was pretty sure that they were going to have to go back (so sure that I had the cashier tape the receipt to the box). I was feeling kind of low and decided to stop by Michael's Craft store on my way home. My last ditch attempt in the 183 degree heat (really) to complete my dream topiary project. Low and behold, I believe God thought I'd had enough because I walk into the store and I see that their topiaries are on SALE. 40% off. Then I spot 2 "ball" topiaries that I immediately decide will do just as well as the spiral. Whoooo-hoooo! 1 splinter, a few sprigs of moss in my hair (one was on a top shelf and yes, I disregarded the sign and climbed on my cart and the lower shelf to get MY topiary by MYSELF with no store assistance), and $60 later I was the proud owner of these:



Don't they just make the house look lovely. I think so. The planters even worked perfectly! And no one else in our sub-division has them! It might have something to do with living in FL and these things not even looking like they really belong in a heat-stroke hot, no dirt, but sand, palm tree infested habitat... but I could care less. They so bring out the AL in me. ;-) So for the rest of my time here in FL, should you come to visit, we're the house with the green ivy balls by the garage (at-least until the direct sunlight turns them turquoise... but the Michael's lady said I've got at-least a year before that happens...)!

Happy Monday!

Because my mom

reads my blog (but never comments online just over the phone hehehe), I'm going to try to do better with updating on my randomness.

Today I look like a sheriff's deputy. See:


Khaki and brown??? What was I thinking? Leaving the house I felt like some orange accessories would have made this outfit POP, but all who know me know that I don't own a single colorful fashionable accessory. Not one. How do I even dare to call myself artsy-fartsy...

My Co-worker friend Rae is on vaca this week in Costa Rica. I'm mourning her absence by eating in all week for lunch (plus lunch being $7 min not including tip in our little work city with no dining options...it will kill a budget which I'm trying to establish/stick to). The great part is that I've been watching tv on my computer, catching up on a few shows I don't normally get to watch like: All of Us. See... Full Episodes Here
oh yeah- I also discovered 2 of my mom's homemade egg-rolls in the freezer this morn and gladly brought them along to make the lunch hour "special" ;-)

This past weekend I went on a youth trip with my old bham group. I absolutely LOVEEEE these things. Those are MY kids, and boy are they growing up quick. My little girls are hitting that boy crazy stage (12.5 and yes I was constantly reminded of that .5 during the weekend, hehe) and I want to publicly apologize to every youth chaperone that ever went on a trip with me some 15 years ago. I believe I had it just as bad (if not worse) than they do... This group is special because they're family. Yep, good ole church family that won't let me go no matter how many hours away I am.





Update: from my neighbor's Tastefully Simple party I ordered $26 (shipping pushed me over my $20 budget) worth of goodies and met 1) Ms. Mary: an older woman in our neighborhood who's originally from Gadsden, AL so she says we've probably got some of the same kin-folk {didn't have the heart to tell her that my fam is originally from NC}. I've decided that she was nice enough to be my older caucasian 10th cousin or so... 2) Ashley: who's husband is in the coast guard and often away from home, so her and her daughter Ava "would love my company any time". Used to be a vet technician, but now I believe she just adopts stray animals that the neighborhood kids bring to her (her words not mine). 3)Christy: Former AU alum who walked the campus from 98-02 just like me! When she asked what school I graduated from, I got a little stumped (duh: Fine Arts!, but nobody EVER asks that. Generally my answer is Auburn and that's good enough), so when she told me what 'school' she graduated from I like a moron didn't quite listen and ended up saying, "Oh really, what field is that?" and she had said something like Economics (still don't remember). Anyway, point being my question was answered before I even asked it and she laughed it off with me and that equals "nice person" in my book.
Did meet some unfriendly people who kind of tooted up their noses (for reasons unbeknown to me), but I don't remember their names and they live at the end of the street, and frankly I never make it down that far.

That's a general wrap-up of what's going on this way.

Watched a couple of good dvds. Domestic Disturbance and Apocalypto if you need some recommendations.

Been cooking some interesting dishes: Monday: Pecan encrusted tilapia and and sweet potato casserole (hadn't made this since Thanksgiving...) Last Thursday: Mini english muffin pizzas. My oven and I are getting reacquainted.

Life's great. Oh yes and Kendi and Derrick (parents to my wonderful god-baby, baby S) are in town (or really the vicinity) so we're all going to hang out on Fri nite. Have I mentioned how much I love when people come visit??? hehehe maybe only a few million times huh?

Happy Wednesday!