My Own Life House

July 4th

2011-07-05T10:18:00.001-05:00

My favorite holiday.
Just a few short years ago, my house was full of friends and their families. Each year, all were gathered for food and drink and play with the other children.
Sparklers in the street, cartwheels in the yard, pictures to remember it all by.
This year I was home, just me and my daughter...so different from the years before.
As we sat together, watching the show from the houses around us, I was reminded of the "4th" in the first summer of my marriage. I stood alone in the driveway watching fireworks in the distance, after my husband declined to watch them with me. As I stood there, that hot buggy summer night, listening to the sounds of a faraway show, I allowed the tears to run down my cheeks. I was alone in my sadness mixed with joy.
This year, sitting in the canvas chair, watching with my girl in my lap, I felt her flinch in fear with each launch. She said to me, "I don't like the loud boom...but I'll suck it up, because I know how much it means to you." My daughter is an amazing little girl. Her words were a gift that meant more to me than she will ever know.
~L

Lately

2011-03-11T23:56:00.001-06:00

I feel like I don't fit anywhere.

Beauty

2011-01-23T13:53:00.001-06:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I am still alive...

2009-11-25T09:15:00.001-06:00

and my whole world has changed since i last posted here.
when i have some idea of which way is up, i will consider getting back to My Own Life House.

i've run out of free time...

2009-02-18T13:31:00.003-06:00

or i guess, i've just decided to use what i had for other things.
i haven't posted on here in such a long time! i thought i had forgotten my login.

so much has been going on.
A:
has turned 7 complete with skating party, lost/had pulled two front teeth, competed in a regional dance competition winning first place with her team! and qualifying for nationals...a different nationals than we will be attending. she has another competition coming up the end of this month in the city. and another the end of next month.
has been 'not well' for about 3 weeks now...cold, stomach issues, this week it's strep. :(
we've had something going on every weekend.
hectic, hectic...

E:
is considering changing jobs...anyone who has ever met him knows that he will, of course, be successful. but, the transition will be interesting.

me:
in week three of training for a half marathon. feeling great! feeling tired! having trouble managing my time to get my miles in and still see my family!
in lesson 6 of spanish 2; seem to be stuck on repeat.
i am so incredibly ready for summer...especially if it means that i will be 'off' of work.
my contract with my current job is ending soon and i'm still unsure how they will respond to that, if at all.
i've joined a social-networking website, only to find that there are a lot of people in my past that i wish i had never lost touch with; some that i think it will be 'too much' to try to keep up with; some that have made me remember things i had forgotten...what is the quote about letting sleeping dogs lie?

anyways, i hope to be making some time for posting on here again.
random thoughts
new music
things that make me smile

bbs
~L

What a waste...

2008-12-27T20:28:00.002-06:00

This evening in barnes & noble, as I exited the restroom, I noticed a grown woman standing in front of the sink brushing her teeth. At first I thought, "good for you, taking care of your teeth..." then, noticing that she left the water running while brushing, I thought, "what a waste...". Now, I'm not one who's big on recycling, ozone and all the 'going green' goings on, but come on! Turning the water off while you brush...that's elementary.

Tonight, when I was almost home

2008-12-04T17:46:00.001-06:00

i realized that I couldn't recall most of the drive. my thoughts kept
me distracted...entertained.

and now...

2008-11-21T08:11:00.001-06:00

gas is a buck65. so, no excuses for not overspending this Christmas!

Sent from my iPhone

Self portrait...

2008-11-17T15:05:00.000-06:00

...at orange. Sorry Uncle C.

Where I am

2008-11-06T08:03:00.001-06:00

gas is a buck 85.

Sent from my iPhone

Today...

2008-10-03T08:18:00.000-05:00

As I drive to work I'm going to sing so loud and strong that I'll be
exhausted when I arrive.

Sent from my iPhone...from mydriveway.

As my boss always says, "Set your boundaries"

2008-09-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

This was an IM sent to me from the guy across the cube aisle...having
overheard me telling my own boss how much I LOVE my job & how busy
it's keeping me lately & how much I don't mind that it interferes with
my home life.
anyway...as i was driving this evening, on my way to the grocery, a
thought popped into my head. i spend my entire day trying to make
people happy, only to come home and try to make my husband and my
daughter happy. don't get me wrong, i don't mean to imply that i do
so at the expense of my own happiness, we all know i'm selfcentered;
everyone should be ;)
and then, when i got home, i found an add that had come in the
mail..."you've taken care of everyone else, now let us take care of you"
i swear the universe is telling me to take some ME time. even if it
isn't, i'm going to believe that it is. :)

Test

2008-08-22T09:45:00.000-05:00

This is only a test.

Sent from my iPhone

Dove promises...

2008-08-21T13:18:00.002-05:00

Do a little more each day than you think you can.

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.

Happiness is contagious.

snippet of thought...call it a day dream. I admire you standing next to me.

2008-08-18T22:28:00.003-05:00

i

2008-08-12T21:41:00.002-05:00

Just did it!

Monday Mosaic

2008-08-11T13:31:00.003-05:00

1. Like Walking On A Green Moon, 2. The cycle of life & death II: a green star, 3. It's tough being green, 4. clover, 5. Textured Green, 6. the green chairs series continues..., 7. Green Birthday Balloons, 8. Damp ... texture, 9. Green stairs, 10. green sea of chairs, 11. green revolution, 12. Behind the Green Door...

catching up...

2008-08-11T09:06:00.003-05:00

i know, its been too long.
life right now is...
dance work-week was last week.
she loved it! don't know who's most
excited, the girl or the parents.
had to get my birth certificate to
get a new driver's license, done.
i really preferred my old picture
this one makes me look old-er.
i guess it has been a few years.
school starts thurs.
meet the teacher is tomorrow
work is slowing down,
i think we may be getting ahead!
training for my race on the 31st
miles, miles and more miles.
took a fall last night after the first mile
i had forgotten what it felt like to fall
thank goodness it was dark
ran three more miles...
would have liked to do another.
less than 3/4 of a mile from 500
tracking my miles on Nike+.
Olympics on the TV, 24/7
flat tire on the car
broken eBay package in the mail
new chandelier for the dining room
had to exchange due to damage...
what's up with my postal-service luck?
saw a comment on Mary's myspace that
hinted that she's running...couldn't find proof
maybe she'll come run the 1/2 with me in oct.
waiting for the weekends to slow
so that i can paint the walls
kitchen first, dining room second
then i think i might do the laundry room
A's bathroom, the guest room...
that's probably all.
lesson 26 of espanol...cuando tengo tiempo
estudio mucho para aprender...
y tambien puedo hablar con mis amigos!
still looking for some new tables
for the living room.
can't wait for fall...
changing leaves, cooler nights,
sweatshirts, football, baking.
Already planning the list for Santa. :)
Barbie dolls and web-kins everywhere.
trip to nearby nature park/museum
driving through dad's old stomping grounds
greasy bar-b-que and a nap on the way home
no time for hobbies ('less you count running)
laundry and cleaning
think i might hire a service
need to come up with a strategy
for getting organized
and staying that way!
thinking on the way to work
about skipping some afternoon
to go to the show and eat popcorn.
time for a date night
need to kick my weight training up a notch
think i might try the step class this sat.
growing my hair out a bit
so i can wear it back when i run.
seriously think i'll just cut it come dec.
10 year anniversary coming quickly
need to decide an appropriate way
to celebrate a decade.
looking forward to what the next 10
has to offer.
hoping that they are just as easy
as the last 10.
time to get to work now,
talk to ya soon.
maybe.
:)

what if the moon were a disco ball?

2008-07-25T19:33:00.001-05:00

for you Miss G - not alone...

2008-06-22T12:42:00.004-05:00

in my achievment oriented world?
there is no better feeling than having set a goal and meeting it.

so.
Interested in running with me?
This is only my second 1/2 marathon. i didn't run more than 5 miles, mostly just 3 miles/run, before training last year.
The COOL thing about it is that you can run anywhere in the world using the Nike+ with your iPod Nano. i use it to total and track all my miles. {i can remember when i hit the 100 mile mark, now i'm almost to 500!}
no, no, the COOLEST thing about it is that your registration goes to aide in cancer research, you get a Nike dri-fit Tee (the best!), and you get a key chain from Tiffany's (last year's is a leather flower in tiffany blue, pretty cool)!
if you start training now, you'll have plenty of time to get ready.
Nike+ gives you a training option...if you want. i don't prefer it. its beta and it has its issues.

now.
i trained without Nike+ last year. i used Hal's program...it was just my speed.
i've just this weekend decided to lay off the Nike+ training and pick back up on Hals, so i've just set the dates and all. if you wanna chat about starting, give me a ring.

i need to get an update in...

2008-06-16T21:54:00.002-05:00

so much has been going on...
quickly, ...
A is in 'day camp' for the summer, her first time to go to 'daycare' since she was a baby.
she started ballet this week. (more on that later, because i can't remember what i've posted about her dance lately, i'll need to review)
i've started training for the Nike+ Human Race, a 10K that will take place on Aug. 31st. Shortly after, i'll run the Nike+ Women's 1/2 Marathon...Oct. 19th, i think. You can get information on both of those races here...maybe we can run togther?!?!?!
E's grandmom turned 90, so we took a trip to LR to help her celebrate.
hmmm, what else?
last week i was drying my hair and my hairdryer caught on fire...that was exciting. it didn't quite work the same after that, so i got a new one.
and i can't think of anything else rt now.
ttyl.
~L

tonight it rained

2008-06-16T21:41:00.004-05:00

little stinging drops
in my face for the first three miles.
:(
but the air was cool.
and at the end i took a moment to
stretch and let the sweat drip from my
forehead to the pavement.
extreme 'reach throughs' and
extended 'downward dogs'
feels so great.
:)
the cool night air turned to a swift breeze,
and i couldn't resist pulling a brandi chastain
and dancing to 'shadowplay' by the light of
the streetlight.
feeling so energized, i could go another 5...

bathing suit season

2008-06-05T20:14:00.004-05:00

and tonight, because i temporarily lost my mind, i thought it might be a good idea to take a picture of myself...the goal being that i could see what other people see. there's a saying, "never ask a question that you don't want to hear the answer to".
yeah...not an answer i really wanted to face. even taking into consideration that most of us are more critical of ourselves than others might be AND that the camera adds 10lbs. ;) still not an answer i'm ready to share at the neighborhood pool. i think i may wait a bit to swim this year.

gravity

2008-06-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

something always brings me back to you
it never takes too long
and no matter what i say or do
i'll still feel you here 'til the moment i'm gone

you hold me without touch
you keep me without chains
i never wanted anything so much
then to drown in your love
and not feel your rain
set me free
leave me be
i don't wanna fall another moment in your gravity
here i am
and i stand so tall
just the way i'm supposed to be
but you're on to me
all over me

you love me 'cause i'm fragile
and i thought that i was strong
but you touch me for a little while
and all my fragile strength is gone
set me free
leave me be
i don't wanna fall another moment in your gravity
here i am
and i stand so tall
i'm just the way i'm supposed to be
you're on to me
all over me

i live here on my knees
as i try to make you see
that you're everything i think i need
here on the ground
but you're neither friend nor foe
though i can't seem to let you go
the one thing that i still know
is that you're keeping me down
you're keep me down

something always brings me back to you
it never takes too long

*lyrics as performed live by Sara Bareilles

"i love walking with you

2008-04-26T20:26:00.004-05:00

and holding your hand, Mommy. I'll walk with you forever and ever."
It doesn't get any better than hearing things like that...simple, matter of fact.

Blow Pops

2008-04-17T20:37:00.001-05:00

really are the perfect sucker...because they end with gum.

and spring...sharing pics

2008-04-10T14:01:00.011-05:00

Rubbing her tummy and patting her head...

Such a poser!

Saved my favorite for last.

easter...sharing pics

2008-04-10T13:24:00.005-05:00

i haven't done so in such a long time...

Truth...no dare

2008-04-01T20:33:00.004-05:00

i'm struggling...i need a straight answer.
the truth.
tonight i wondered where this is going.
is it just a rut?
is it something that will be ignored for now
only to become something worse later?
is it me?
spring fever?
is it just for now?
expectations?
tell me what you want it to be.
if i can't make that happen,
if i can't be that person,
can i do enough?
is enough okay?
what about the tension?
the guilt?
the lack of desire?
the absence of mind?
absence in general...?
is history repeating itself?
am i sabotaging?
could i go back?
accept that?
what about her?
how far does it go?
how much is within my control...really?

i left you a note on wednesday...

2008-03-22T20:13:00.005-05:00

then thursday, friday and the weekend happened...mostly.

thursday, first day off of my vacation that was supposed to start on monday. HSM dance camp in the a.m. mommy and friend shop at Whole Foods for those most interesting yummies, pack a picnic lunch and a scooter. 12:00 add one danced out little girl and some sunshine...play park until 3 - work interrupted through to 5:00. out to shop for a new grill! joining playmates for dinner and assembly of said grill...late night, again. no bath, no book, straight to bed.
FRIDAY!!! bath.(i know you were starting to wonder, she was starting to stink...j/k)last day of HSM dance camp, she asked on the way to the studio 'is this day five?', me-'yes, are you going to miss it?' she-'yes.' as we drove home the day before i had asked how many days a week she'd like to go to dance, her answer '15!' ummm...ok. back to friday...dad's day off, to the mall a shopping we shall go, this time for mommy. i'm feeling a need to update my tee collection, a new pair of sandals, and new bag would be nice, maybe even some new shades. 11:30 performance, we got it on the cam [i'll share if i can]. it amazes me what they learn so quickly! lunch out and an afternoon running with daddy. dinner guests - menu: grilled steak, chicken and veggies, tabouli, wheat rolls; hot dogs and mac'n cheese for the little ones...another late night, lots of toy cleanup to do, that's going to have to wait...until i feel like it.
saturday morning, coffee from starbuck's, always a good way to start the day. neighborhood easter egg hunt at 10:00, sun was shining but that was just to fool you, it wasn't at all warm. play date at 'the girls house', lunch at chuck's, play at carl's, introduced to the wild cherry M&Ms (OMG! don't even start...run) play time ends early. just tired or missing mommy? :) coloring eggs for the easter bunny! no mess, can you believe it? neither can i!!! can't seem to get enough chocolate, would like it intravenously, please?
dinner at home...what i like to call smorgasbord, totally improper us of the word, food nonetheless. nancy {pause} out for 1.75 miles, sunshine was again misleading, brrr {resume} drew, again because daddy didn't get to see it the first time around. downloaded a great little track by 'flunk', a cover of 'blue monday' made popular more recently by 'orgy', its on the soundtrack. i could spend hours sampling music on iTunes. seriously. hours.
tomorrow is easter, the bunny will come, eggs, candy, the whole nine. church. sunday dinner. hopefully no rain. i'll take the misleading sunshine over rain clouds any day.
happy holiday.
i'm out.

mountain dew...

2008-03-19T22:43:00.004-05:00

at 2 in the afternoon seemed like a good idea at the time.
now?...not so much.

wednesday
hump day
halfway through spring break.
and what a week its been.
please watch as the scales rise... ;)
it all started last thursday night, really.
daddy left town to play with his brother in WV.
nana took A to dance, i met them there.
afterward we went for pizza and pasta (and wine for mommy).
no school friday...shopping day for nana and the girl, 'cause mommy still had to work.
friday night, home by 5:30!
chinese noodles and Nancy Drew with the girl.
saturday morning brunch with 'the crew'...all the neighborhood kids and the dads...and me, dad sub for the weekend ;) then off to shop for special webkinz ->bday present, some spring wearables for the girl ->tees and summer dresses, standard trip to wal-mart->home goods, 2:00 party -> pizza and HOMEMADE cupcakes (yum-o!), on to Hobby Lobby -> total thrill for the girl, then dinner at the burger joint-> one of A's current favs and her suggestion, how could i say no?
Sunday morning bagels and fruit for breakfast, off to see 'Horton Hears a Who'-> loved by all, on to Whole Foods->lunch and grocery shopping, then to the furniture store to 'shop' for dining room furniture...no luck :( ...long day.
Monday morning HSM dance camp for the girl, back to work for mommy, dinner at nana's ->she cooked, so nice to have homecooked after a weekend of going, especially since I didn't cook it! followed by a nice trip to the bookstore and then to the airport to pick up daddy :) delayed flight, but not by much...home and in bed...late night for the girl.
Tuesday, more HSM dance camp, she's really loving it. work keeps mommy occupied all morning, dance class is over at 12, meet the whole 'crew', again mostly the same kids, for lunch at the sandwich shop before meeting our 1:30 reservation for BounceU...there really are no words to describe it...then home and back to work :( dinner, out, again...bath, book, bed.
Wednesday, introduced 'props' into dance routine...mom forgot the prop, daddy delivered ;) he's really had my back (thanks, E) work kept me again for the morning, lunch AT HOME (woohoo!) then off to the scrapbook store and an afternoon of scrapping -> for her, i get nothing done :) work again in the afternoon to wrap the day, trip to target for fruit, eggs, sweet potatoes and tea...strange list, i know, but really all we needed and we didn't buy anything that we didn't go there for, that's a first. back home, spent time looking at the afternoon's scrapping project, bath, book (ivy & bean, very cute, perfect for little girls), bed.

mountain dew fully in effect.
lesson learned.
stupid
stupid
stupid.

mmmmmmarshmallow...

2008-03-10T19:34:00.002-05:00

so, its not been a great day.
i celebrated that by having too much to eat for dinner and 3 marshmallow peeps in old school yellow.

and now, i'm back to work.
think i'll be taking vacation next week....yes, i think i will.

~L

so, i married a rock star?

2008-01-31T08:41:00.000-06:00

...guess that's better than an ax murderer* ... ;)
this, my friends, is one sweet guitar playing "rock star".
and he's all mine...so, don't get any ideas.

lately, we've been considering getting this...
because, once upon a time i played percussion.
and for some reason E seems to think that i would enjoy playing the drums in this game.
i think there's a greater possibility that it would only frustrate me.
besides, i'd really rather learn the bass guitar...very sexy.

*this in reference to an awesome Mike Myers film, pre-austin powers.

it IS a word...

2008-01-28T20:22:00.000-06:00

my husband and i have an ongoing argument.
it concerns certain words, and whether they are actual words.
i'm pretty good with words, most times.
i've always been a pretty good speller.
i have, on occasion, used a word that he SWEARS is not a word.
if you know him, i'm sure you can just hear him,
"its not a word, but you can still use it, and i'll still love you...."

tonight, as we drove home in separate cars leaving gymnastics;
him going to get gas and me to get dinner,
he noticed the license plate of the car in front of him,
and he took a picture just for me, ...
see! it IS a word.
i swear!
his response: if you use that logic, then XJ5-E14 is also a word.
whatever, i win!

ps. you're only allowed to comment if you agree that it IS a word.

i am SO done...

2008-01-26T19:59:00.000-06:00

with WINTER!!!

i've grown tired of the cold,
cloudy gray days,
early darkness in the evening,
breathtaking winter winds,
heavy coats and scarves,
i'm completely done with all of it.

you hear me old man winter?
i'm kicking you to the curb!
be gone already!

i need sunshine
warmth
to run outside
longer days
painted toes and flip flops
tank tops
and vacation.

i'm SO ready.

mmmmm, Tita

2008-01-25T13:43:00.000-06:00

this afternoon i am sitting at my desk,
waiting for netMeeting to work its way out
and craving chocolate.
i keep a 'stash' at my desk of things that are healthy choices just in case i get hungry after lunch or need to work late and miss dinner...anyway, mixed in with that i have also a few 'guilty pleasures', specifically Dove dark Chocolates :) but also, a dwindling supply of these yummy little cookies called Tita's. They're not exactly, but similar to this...
My beautiful friends/coworkers from Buenos Aires were in the states last year and brought with them some goodies that they enjoy and wanted to share...let me tell you, i'm sad to know that i have only one remaining before my 'supply' is all gone. :(
guess i'll have to try to get to Buenos Aires this year, no?

friday night...

2008-01-12T18:23:00.000-06:00

birthday party at Chuck's; never again.

like a good/bad working mommy...

2008-01-10T19:15:00.000-06:00

today i had a sort of important meeting.......my first ever 'go/no go' for implementation of this "tool" i've been working on since starting back to work earlier this year.
the meeting started at 4:00........which on Thursdays happens to be when i need to leave to make it to A's dance class on time, not early enough to make it home and get her ready and take her to class, that's for good daddy to do, just early enough to meet them there and watch/not watch.
so, today that wasn't happening, and i ended up just driving straight home after work and arriving at the same time they did after dance was over. so, like a good/bad working mommy i missed her dance class for the first time ever. and with errands to run and a 'fast dinner' already a part of the plan for the evening, i just got in the car with them and we went to eat at McDonald's, feeding her a good healthy meal like a good/bad working mommy.
while at Mickey D's i went to the counter to get some pickles, since they forgot hers and a burger just isn't complete without it. while there, the manager says to me, "You look like someone, like a movie star...but i can't quite figure out who." i just shook my head to imply that i had no idea who she might be thinking, and she continued with "Have you ever seen Lethal Weapon 2?" "No, can't say that i have."
so, of course when i got home and settled i had to look to see the cast of Lethal Weapon 2...and for the first time ever IMDB has let me down. there were no pictures of the female cast (actually just one, but there are no similarities)...and i know she didn't think of me as looking like Mel Gibson, so...and i could take a picture to see who you think i look like, but really its been a long day and i'm afraid to look at a picture of my tired face tonight...
anyway, apparently i remind the McDonald's manager of a "movie star"! only, i can't find out which one and so i'm not sure if that's good/bad working mommy...(doesn't really work here...)
it could be Patsy Kensit, or Darlene Love, or Traci Wolfe, or the girl cast as 'Computer Operator #2: Catherine Guel...i'll probably never know, because that would require me actually googling them individually...not gonna happen, not tonight anyway.

i've given the girl a bath, put her to bed and now i think its my turn to take some time for me and go to bed early...like a good/bad working mommy.

strawberry shortcake

2008-01-05T10:57:00.000-06:00

smells like what?
strawberries.
last week A was coloring/reading from a book that her grandma got her, a strawberry shortcake one, and i mentioned to her that i used to have strawberry shortcake dolls when i was little. and one of them was a baby doll that blew scented kisses, but that i had gotten rid of it. she wondered why, so i told her that it was because it had gotten wet while in storage and even though i could clean it up i couldn't know that the inside didn't have mold and i didn't want her getting it and blowing moldy air in her face.

this a.m. while having coffee, A was at the table having cereal, cherrios with a sprinkle of sugar like when i was young...anyway, on the table was a happy meal toy, also strawberry shortcake, from earlier in the week, still in its package. she picked it up and looked at it so i asked if she wanted me to open it. she slid it across the table to me and said, 'I wonder what it does?' as i opened it i told her that it doesn't do anything, it just smells. when i got it opened and put it to my nose, she asked 'what does it smell like?' i told her, 'it smells just like it did when i was a little girl.' and she responded with, 'mold?'

ouch...

2008-01-04T08:17:00.000-06:00

i'm a bit achy this a.m.
i added 5lbs to my weight 'routine' last night and i'll be feeling that all day long, i'm sure.

starting a 'challenge' with the hubby; goal: get totally fit before the pool opens in may.
we'll see, i'll keep you posted.

one more day...

2008-01-03T19:23:00.000-06:00

and the week is over.
for a couple of days rest...
i swear, if this phase of my project doesn't end soon, i'm going to start drinking too much, and quite honestly...i'm almost done caring.

and this is over.
yes, they'll be coming to fix the accident that happened on Thanksgiving day!!!
i am so excited. we've had the cars out in the weather for the last couple of months...through the ice and frosty weather...which translates to 'i hate cleaning the ice and frost from my windshield on 24degree mornings, and it took this happening for me to realized that'. and as of friday, it will all be finished!

t.g.i.f is a catch phrase for a reason...

have you ever had a conversation...

2008-01-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

that went further than you ever expected it to?

that makes you think about things in a whole different way?

that brings up thoughts that hide in the back of your mind?

that makes you feel both completely secure in who you are and at the same time question the one simple thing that could change the you that is?

that blows organized thinking completely away and leaves you jumping around in your own mind trying to make sense of what's been put before you, but you simply cannot keep up?

that doesn't even require a response, but prompts so many opinions and many questions, but the time for asking has come and gone?

that doesn't feel like it should be any of your business, but you can't help but want to make a change for someone?

that comes out of nowhere, but is so obviously needed?

that makes you wonder if honesty is anything more just because it was given without questioning whether it was deserved?

that makes you wonder why you ever hesitate to say the things you're thinking, especially when you know they won't be misconstrued?

that is raw and revealing yet guarded, and in the end completely protected?

that leaves you, like the season finale, wanting more but having a certain satisfaction in the close of that episode?

and funny how it makes you appreciate the existence of unconditional.

feels like monday...

2008-01-02T07:50:00.000-06:00

and it actually feels good.

i am eager to jump in...
i was awake at 5
up at 5:20
had my session with the treadmill [dreaded but then much enjoyed]
showered dressed and at work by 7:30
i've had my protein bar...mostly
i've started on my coffee
and now i just wait as others pour in around me and the day gets started.

i am so ready for the 'routine' to return.

tick tock tick

2007-12-31T12:33:00.000-06:00

literally only minutes left in the year...
did you accomplish what you wanted to in this year?
will you be setting goals in the new year?
will you make a list of things that you need to do?
...things that you want to do?
this year, i want to take a family vacation.
this year, i want to take more photos of our lives.
this year, i want to devote more time to A's education.
this year, i want to have more dates with my husband.
this year, i want to create a new space.
this year, i want to live healthy.
this year, i want to take it slow.

what do you want from this year in your life?

MOVE

2007-12-25T22:35:00.000-06:00

making a home is so much work.
i've discovered over the last couple of days that i can have my home look and feel the way that i want it to...if i never stop moving.
i'm going to do it, too.
...let's not call it a resolution,
but this year, hell, tomorrow! requires more moving and less 'not moving' [haven't been just sitting, so not really sure what to call it.?]
either way.

you'll notice it.
i'll share.
move with me.

MOVE: its my new word

nothing moves without making a difference...

Christmas eve...

2007-12-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

and the drive to work this a.m. was actually kinda nice.
no traffic when getting on the highway,
the local DJ had his son in with him playing carols, one i hadn't heard since last year that happens to be my favorite,
and the parking wasn't too bad when i got to the campus either.
i got in where its warm and made fresh coffee with peppermint mocha creamer, my favorite.
i brought cookies to share and a yummy fruitcake, at least i hope its yummy. ;)
and i'm hoping that the meetings this morning don't bring many action items so that i can take this afternoon to put on some music, get some yummy snacks and 'bubbly beverage' (hey, it will be 5 o'clock somewhere), and wrap presents and spend some time with the hubby.

so, let me just say, right now...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

i've just decided

2007-12-23T22:16:00.000-06:00

and i realize that Christmas has
yet to come and go, but why wait!
i've decided that i'll have
5 new year's resolutions...

i want more color
and so i've decided that
#1 will be
to wear less lip gloss
and more lipstick.

and for color in our home
#2 will be
to paint the rooms we spend
the most time in.

i need to feel like i've
accomplished something,
anything...so
#3 will be to reach a
personal goal that i've
been working on
since having the girl.

#4 will be to reach a
professional goal
and "be the change i
hope to see".

and last, final, the numero
cinco...#5
to take back my time
to enjoy my family and friends
and leave a mark on this year.

i hope this note finds you
happy and healthy in your
holiday season.
~love ya

lights out...

2007-12-11T22:59:00.000-06:00

all over town.
80% of the city is without power.
we've been in the dark and cold for a couple of days...
every candle in the house lit
because of the ice storm
and more is said to be on its way this weekend.
as soon as the power was back on this evening i started doing everything i was unable to do this week...i ran my dishwasher, vacuumed my floors, cranked the heat and gave the girl a bath blew her hair dry and turned the electric blanket on for her to sleep cozy tonight, pulled my mail and stuff for work...even considered doing a load of laundry just to run the washer and dryer. it has been too quiet, except for in the early part of the storm with the sound of branches breaking under the weight of the ice.
it just amazes me, the amount of damage that the storm has brought.
if i get a chance to take pictures, i'll share.

right now, a cozy pre-heated bed awaits me
and my alarm is set for 6:00 a.m.

Jingle Bells Rock!

2007-12-09T15:15:00.000-06:00

last night was the event we've all been waiting for,
they've been practicing for days and days...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

packages in the mail

2007-12-06T18:40:00.000-06:00

this time of year we receive the occasional package that is a bit unexpected.
after dance class this evening we came home to find a package on the doorstep that neither of us was expecting and to my surprise it was for ME!!!
my finisher tee and tiffany's key chain!!!
...and a lesson in 'angles' that resulted in the above picture as evidence that there is no flattering way to take a picture of words written across ones chest...it seems only to exaggerate the assets and remind me of how much i hate pictures...but i had to share!!!

the tee is awesome...it had a sticker on it that says:
___________________________________
The NIKE SPORTS TEE

BUILT TO BE THE
WORLD'S GREATEST
SPORTS TEE.

LIKE COTTON, ONLY BETTER.
___________________________________

its thin and comfy, dryfit.
love it.
i'm so doing this again next year. wanna join me?

a taste of India

2007-12-04T12:51:00.000-06:00

today a co-worker brought lunch to share, a dish called Idly (Idli).
it was fantastic!
it looked like this...the white round things to the rt side of the pic.
although not exactly, since i found this photo here.
and she told me of how she made it, starting the process yesterday, mentioning some special 'plates' that she brought with her from India...i think these are what she was talking about.
and served with a sauce made from grinding nuts and red chili and tamarind...a spicy little citrus flavored yummy-ness!

it looks like a lot of work! ...that i really appreciate, 'cause let me tell you, it was good!
It was so good.

monday's rainbow...

2007-12-03T13:30:00.000-06:00

i do NOT take these pics...though i truly wish i had the time to. follow the links below to find the talented someone who did...
and i use this neat-o little site to build these...using links to the individual sites on flickr. enjoy!

1. neon rainbow, 2. Trip the Light Fantastic, 3. Nothing better then a new box of crayons..., 4. another brick in the wall..., 5. In Rainbows Discbox, 6. 9 lifes, 7. Color of Beads, 8. Lights of the light brite, 9. Who's the fairest of them all?

friday, friday,friday...

2007-11-30T09:44:00.000-06:00

today is a perfect friday!
i always have a starbucks on friday morning and this morning it was nothing short of yummy! i've been listening to my favorite Christmas CD all morning and tonight we will decorate the tree and bake cookies for the cookie jar! When A saw the cookie jar on the counter she was really excited and i told her we needed to bake some cookies for it. She said, "Yeah, and we need to bake some for Santa, put them on a plate and leave a note that 'If you want more, there are more cookies in the cookie jar, and we love you." all while moving her hand through the air as though she was writing the note in cursive...serious stuff.

We had dance class last night, they've been preparing for the recital...need to check that date and put it on my calendar (i've been SO bad about keeping track...).
then we were able to run some errands that i've been putting off all week...i picked up some new yarn for my winter knitting. i think i'm in the mood for a new scarf...something incredibly soft and cozy would be nice, no?

this week it has been so hard to get out of bed...tomorrow morning i will sleep in!

and then i think the plan is to do some furniture shopping, maybe check out a new rowing machine (!) and i plan to take the girl to do her Christmas shopping this weekend, also.
hustle and bustle, in the thick of the holidays!

now, if only my house were as clean as i would like it. ;)

blackandwhite

2007-11-27T21:39:00.001-06:00

1. __Lovin'_in_All_Stars__, 2. Broken Love, 3. Love XOXO, 4. sfiorarsi che nevica, 5. La pluma 1, 6. Moma Graphics, 7. 2D2, 8. Underwood, 9. Old cafè..., 10. Seven about to happen three different ways, 11. Tired Treads, 12. la femme qui passe, 13. Stairway to heaven I, 14. Waiting for inspiration, 15. Hozenji, 16. Conscientious early-morning commuters

LiveLee on:The Best of Both Worlds

2007-11-23T12:39:00.001-06:00

"she's so lucky, she gets the best of both worlds..."

FYI - I'd choose their 'world' over yours any day, because they don't need all of your materialistic bullshit to find happiness in this messed up world.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Hug the ones you love and know that they love you for who you are, not what you can give them.

Monday Mosaic - Updated

2007-11-19T23:15:00.000-06:00

1. summer gift, 2. my rainbow sandwich !, 3. Showing my true colors, 4. Red and gold, 5. gazania, 6. paperpiles, 7. Old San Juan (48b), 8. bug or bird?, 9. Monday colors for my friends
**********************************************************
placeholder...because i don't have time right now, but didn't want to post on tuesday. that defeats the purpose of the monday mosaic. even though, i will actually post it on tuesday. its a loop hole, rt?
don't judge.

Monday Mosaic

2007-11-05T09:33:00.000-06:00

feeling red...
1. put on the red light, 2. Red is the Rule: Wavelength ~625-740 nm: Blood is Red, So is Wine...so well they combine....Ah! just Divine!! - Titled by Abhinav, 3. reflection of light2 / shadow on wood, 4. Red Rant, 5. le rouge et le noir / red and black, 6. *FAKE PLASTIC TREE*, 7. Red Shoes, 8. Succulent, 9. Untitled

LiveLee

2007-11-02T23:09:00.000-05:00

live lee, lively.
today someone asked, "what's the story behind LiveLee?"
i assumed he meant the name not me as a person. i said, "Poker."

You Are the Ace of Diamonds

You are a lucky person, and you always seem to find yourself surrounds by pretty, shiny things.
You have a knack for success and money - though your skills can't really be learned or taught.

You shine in a room, and you a have a truly sparkling personality.
A true extrovert, you always are able to share a witty joke or the latest scandalous gossip.

While you do have an eye for bling, you are also quite generous.
A lot of wealth and luck comes your way. And you're not afraid to pass it on.

A gamble you should take: Sports betting

Your friends would describe you as: Captivating

Your enemies would describe you as: Greedy

If you lived in Vegas, you would be: A trophy wife or husband

What Playing Card Are You?

may all your pots be large and your cards be live...

spooktacular...

2007-11-01T22:14:00.001-05:00

real quick...these were taken last thursday when she wore her costume to dance class.

this one was from last night...a little more elaborate makeup, and trying to look scary while smiling.
i'll post more later.

merry christmas...

2007-10-30T19:47:00.000-05:00

i know, i know...tomorrow is halloween.
thanksgiving is weeks away, but we all know that after tomorrow time will fly. so, not to rush things or anything, E shared this with me and i really enjoyed it.

have a safe and happy all hallows eve!

woot woot!!!!!

2007-10-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

13.36 miles DONE!
it is over...i have finished.
i just did a 1/2 marathon.
OMG.

my running partner said to me, "did you ever, in your life, think that you would do a 1/2 marathon?"
my response, "no. do i think i'll ever do it again? ...no."

seriously, though...13 miles is like 10. if you can do 10, what's 3 more, right?
i had a good time.
the weather was perfect.
i was well rested, and well hydrated.
and i was in good company.

i had a good time.

tgif....

2007-10-19T19:24:00.000-05:00

funny thing happened today.

i work in IT. many of my co-workers are from foreign countries, India in particular.
so, as i passed one of my developers she sighed a heavy sigh, and in response i said to her, "tgif, huh?" and she looked at me quizzically, said, "pardon?" and it hit me...it may not be t-G-i-f for her. Maybe, she practices Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc. OR maybe she just didn't understand what i said, as it was in passing. and as i repeated myself to her i wasn't sure she understood or that i wouldn't offend her in explaining...either way, it struck my funny bone. and i giggled all the way back to my meeting with Sukumar and Abhijit...so you can see, that it only became funnier to me now, because i couldn't even address it with these guys without wondering would it offend them...

tgif. wherever you are. and wherever you're from.

a complete mess...

2007-10-18T08:06:00.000-05:00

i am a complete mess.
something i've just realized about myself.
i had a friend tell me once, and i may have already mentioned this to you before, but she told me that she wished she was more like me. that i was good at everything i did and she wished she were the same. and at the time i thought to myself, 'what do you say to that?' and then i thought, 'if you only knew...' i responded by telling her that the trick is to only do the things that you know you're good at.
so, i'm re-thinking that statement today. i've been working pretty hard lately, long hours...very busy time for the project. and i think that i'm good at my job, who doesn't right? however, i've been noticing that though the work is 'in order' everything else is a mess. my purse, my car, my closet, my house, my thoughts...a little.
so, really, what i should have said, 'I'm good at what you see. what i represent. everything else, is a mess.' honestly.

so, you do the best you can.

high points of the week...

2007-10-15T19:30:00.001-05:00

and its only Monday.

first and foremost, the CANCER is gone!
i don't know much more than that.

second, the CAST is off.
xrays indicate it is healing nicely
she just has to be careful with it for a while.

third, monday is almost over,
and i survived.

ps. the pink eye is gone also...

you my-y brown eyed girl...

2007-10-12T19:01:00.000-05:00

has become pink.
pink is good for casts,
not for eyes.

333.53

2007-10-09T22:22:00.000-05:00

3.2
32:28
9:43

numbers, numbers, numbers.
say that out loud.
that word never sounded so strange...

anyways.
that is total miles logged to date,
miles tonight, in amount of time,
and time it took for first mile,
respectively.

the cool night air was perfect.
i have decided this is my ideal run weather,
hope that it stays so cool until the 21st.
i hardly believe that 12 weeks of training
has become 2 weeks remaining.
and tonight i put it off, and put it off
until it was after 9:30.
but i'm so glad i got to it.

i have an early morning and a long day tomorrow.
good night.

lists...

2007-10-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

grocery lists
'honey do' lists
to-do lists
life list?

i was reading over here about the cool people, and considering joining them. i just don't know if i'm cool enough, yo!

like a few of the others i sort of feel like writing it down means i plan to make an effort to actually do those things. and then i think, 'what things?' i don't even know if i could think of 10 things i would like to do with this life.

hmmmm...

P!nK...

2007-09-27T15:31:00.000-05:00

its neon, and that makes it okay.
A had an appt. earlier this week with her doc and it was determined that it would be best if her arm was casted...doesn't she look enthused?
i think she really liked the doctor...she told E and I that she wanted "not to see dr S or that other dr again, and just see him." and when we explained that he was just a bone doc and that he wouldn't be able to help with other things she replied, "exactly! that's why i'm saying to see him. he can't do the icky tickle or give me shots, that's why i want to come here."
she is one smart little cookie.
who is getting very good at coloring with her left hand.

Dallas...

2007-09-27T08:18:00.000-05:00

last weekend i went to dallas with the girls,
shopping,
dancing,
nice to get away.
we stayed here,
and shopped here and here.
and partied here.
i have some pics that i may share
if i get a chance.

after having approx. 8 hours of sleep over a
weekend, its taking some time to recover.

i'm too old to party like a rock star.

i saw this...

2007-09-19T07:55:00.000-05:00

over here at Ali's and couldn't help but want to share it too.
it made me start to think about how i want to spend my time...

"...but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
~Anna Quindlen

have a good day.

what a nice surprise...

2007-09-18T14:03:00.000-05:00

because i am married to the biggest 'tech-gadget' geek i've ever met, i came home to this yesterday afternoon.
an iPod Touch.
nice, huh?
he's so sweet to me.

pics...as promised

2007-09-17T19:51:00.000-05:00

my 'broken arm'

it hurt so bad i cried...

just kidding...i tricked you!

i feel great, can't you tell?

here's my cheesy picture-day-smileand mom's favorite.

sticks and stones...

2007-09-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

who needs 'em.

i was sitting at lunch today with some friends, one of which is expecting her second baby boy[next week!] and we were chatting about illness and injury and all the things that you worry about. and it got me to thinking about how the worry never ceases ~ as an expecting mother- the hopes and prayers that they are born healthy, and then a new mother-concerns that they grow and develop at a rate that is, for lack of a better word, 'normal'...walking and talking when they should, etc., and how the worries change as they grow...how are they doing in school, do they have friends to play with on the playground, did they eat their lunch, drink enough water after playing in the heat...you get the picture.
well, worry as you might, you can't keep them completely out of harm's way.
last weekend i was out flitting about with a friend, having lunch and doing some shopping when my phone rang. it was E calling to tell me that the girl had fallen while playing at the park and was 'hurt' enough that she wanted to go home, but that he didn't think she was 'injured'. She cried for a while, put some ice on it and was resting watching tv. saturday night she had some tylenol, went to bed and didn't sleep as well as she could have. sunday morning she woke and could move it pretty well, as she did the day before, but she still wasn't using it.
so, better safe than sorry, we decided to go and see a doctor and get an x-ray, which i think she was pretty excited about...so long as they didn't intend to draw blood.
two hours later, she has her arm in a splint and cool pictures to show daddy...its a torus fracture to her right radius.
the worst part about that being, and i quote, 'its my coloring and sticker hand.'
poor girl, she's now learning to peel and stick stickers with her left had, since daddy bought her some new posterboards.

and today is picture day at school, she said, "oooh nooo, how are we going to take a picture with a cast?" i hope she smiles...
and with the added care to the arm, we almost missed the bus...which means i didn't get a chance to take pictures of her before school like i did last year.
but i will put up some pictures this evening...since we won't be going to gymnastics, probably for a while, i may just have some extra time tonight.

The Girl and Her Flower

2007-09-11T19:05:00.000-05:00

as drawn by: The Girl.
This is a self -portrait with her standing next to a flower, roots and all. Notice also, the blue sky and the white clouds above it.

wouldn't it be nice...

2007-09-06T10:31:00.000-05:00

to be able to speak a different language from those who sit around me at work, so that i never have to wonder if they're listening to my entire conversation...because you can't help but hear every word, even in hushed tones.

almost succeeded at doing nothing

2007-09-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

but instead, did very little.
the girl got a fever and didn't go to school on friday.
school was out mon. and tues., thus resulting in a 5 day weekend for her.
nice.
...except that she was in with a persistent fever until sunday night.
and we're still not entirely sure what the cause was. [?]

anyway.
we watched a lot of disney and took naps each day.
again, nice.
and her little friend from the neighborhood stopped by to bring her a fairy coloring book, since she was missing out on the last weekend of swimming.
our neighborhood pool closes every year after labor day, signifying the end of summer - sort of.
E says, nice.
he was so done with the pool 2 months ago.
just doesn't like spending so much time sitting in the heat.
whichever. i rather enjoy just sitting. it doesn't really matter where it happens.

i got some new kicks on sunday.
not sure if i'm liking them...
dealing with these shin splints. {which i'm beginning to wonder are actually not, at the risk of being a total self-diagnosing-hypochondriac.}
and water retention.
they feel much better walking than running...but i have a 10 mile run on saturday.

ah well.
guess we'll see.

miles...

2007-08-30T22:17:00.000-05:00

just trying to get in my miles.
this is a 'recovery' week, so i guess i can take it a bit easy.
251.03 miles recorded as of tonight.
my left lower shin is giving me some aches.
tomorrow is my off day...from running that is.
the inlaws came in tonight for the weekend.
went and ate, got a Rx filled, did some grocery shopping, got the girl to bed, baked cookies for the Buenos Aires test team, ran 3 miles and will probably bake a cake tomorrow instead of tonight, as it is entirely too late to fire up the oven again.
saturday is my FIL's bday.
and BIL's on the 14th...i am aware but so very bad about remembering to give a call.
so, i'll probably forget between now and then.
the 15th i do a 5K race, which may help me to remember...
[mental note: night before race, call C]
now, at the end of my day, which i feel has been too long, i am exhausted and ready for the weekend.
looking forward to the holiday and a long weekend.
i know most people make plans for such a thing, i plan to do nothing.
that is my plan.
wish me luck on succeeding.

have a good one.

the doodley-doo song...

2007-08-23T07:15:00.000-05:00

she doesn't like the doodley-doo song.
how can she not like the doodley-doo song.
i love the doodley-doo song.

i sing it to her every morning when i wake her up for school.
i remember it from when i was a child.

J & K, sing it with me...

Good morning, good morning, good morning
its time to rise and shine.

Good morning, good morning, good morning
i hope you're feeling fine.

Good morning, get up, get outta bed.
You've got to wake up, you sleepy head.
The day is starting just for you,
and all your dreams are coming true-doodley-doo,
doodley-doo, doodley-doo!

(Repeat)

now, who wouldn't want to be greeted with such a lovely song?
every morning, woken from a deep and cozy sleep by a crazy lady, singing at the top of her lungs and occasionally dancing and clapping along to such a catchy little tune?
i don't get why she doesn't like it...

a mother's work is never done...

2007-08-19T21:27:00.001-05:00

and so it goes.
sometimes i look around and see mess where i just cleaned and i will actually ask out loud, 'is it never ending?'
and tonight i admitted to myself that this new stage of her life [starting school] brings with it more work for me. lunch to pack, homework to make sure she attends to, and adding 'all that comes with getting her up and out the door in time to catch the bus' to my morning routine. thank goodness E is a dad who stays engaged...don't know what i'd do otherwise. i don't know how a single mother gets by without losing her mind. seriously.
a fellow mom sent me this link, so i thought i would share this little bit of Momsense.

so, give yourself a pat on the back today if your feeling this.

Such a BIG girl...

2007-08-17T07:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the first day of school.
My baby is in Kindergarten...and such a poser.
She wanted to ride the bus,
was actually very excited about it.
All the other little ones stopped and
turned to look back for photos.
She just took off up those steps and
never looked back.
At the end of the day, she looked hot
and tired, and just wanted to be home.
As we walked home from the bus stop
and her daddy tried to take her hand to
cross the street she shook him off saying,
"I'm in kindergarten now, i'm not just a
little tiny girl, i'm a big girl now."
There were more stories about her day
than there were last year.
And this morning i had a hard time waking her.
Once awake she seemed really excited to be going back...i think she's really going to love this school year.

Not my baby boy...

2007-08-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

because i don't have one. but my friend is due in October. she's having a boy and she's taking name suggestions. Her first son has a less common name and she's favoring some very strong and still less "mainstream" names like Dax or Rhett.
so, i got to thinking about it and came up with a few that i like...just for fun.
again, a little less common names, i think. not your average 'Joe' or 'Colton' or 'Logan'.

Ace is Anglo Saxon for One who excels,Noble
Felix is Latin for Prosperous
Zeke is Aramaic for Shooting Star*
Cameron is Scottish for With a Crooked Nose **
Gage is Old French for A Pledge
Isaac is Hebrew for Laughter**
Jake (from Jacob) is Hebrew for Conqueror
Luke is Latin for Luminous (say that 5 times fast)
Maddox is Celtic for Beneficent
Nash is Old English for Protruding Cliff
[although, this is right up there with Jett]
Pierce is Old Anglo French (who knew?) for Rock or Stone
[so, he kind of gets his Rocky....?]
Quinn is Irish for The Wise
Simon is Hebrew for He who has Heard
and last but certainly not least,
though i'm not even sure i like it, is
Otto which is Teutonic for Prosperous

Now, you get to vote or offer up your favorite names...

* This is my personal favorite!
**These are names i like to think would have been considered had we had a boy.

out of the mouths of babes...

2007-08-07T16:47:00.000-05:00

the other day we were driving home from the local water park when the following conversation took place...

me: 'A' i haven't enrolled you in 'Little Idols' yet. i want to wait and see how busy it gets once school starts and you'll still be in gymnastics. i'll be working full time, and nana and peepaw will be here...
her: ok. i'll be patient.
me: [a little caught off guard] ok, i just wanted to make sure that you knew. i haven't enrolled you.
her: i understand.
me: thank you baby. [and in my head i'm wondering if this is normal for a 5 year old...]

~

the other day the girl came in to tell me that we needed to get Life Alert. [you know, that necklace that they make for the elderly to wear in case they fall and can't get to the phone to call for help.]
she came to me saying..."cause if you just fall and get hurt and your house is burning down, then you just push the button and the firetrucks just come real fast and put out the fire and save your life. that's just why we need life alert."
my point - advertising works.

~

today when i got home from work i was sitting at the table making a 'To Do' list when E shows me this picture...
he said that when the girl saw it she asked, "Who is that?"
he said, "Holly."
the girl: "She's pretty."
E: "Yes."
the girl: "But not as pretty as Mommy. I love Mommy, she's pretty."

~

she was wrestling on the floor with her daddy when she started saying..."you can do it 'A', your strong and healthy. you can do it."
giving herself a little pep talk.

one thing...

2007-08-05T19:03:00.000-05:00

after another, after another.
i don't feel like i've stopped moving for even five minutes in the last 4 days, with the exception of sitting down to have a meal.

and now i'm off again.
i was going to share something spectacular with you, but haven't got a thing.

i'll try harder this week.

edited to include this note: i just hit my '200' milestone! 200.56 miles as of tonight.

long run...

2007-08-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

tomorrow i have my first long run.
it'll be the shortest of the long runs to come.
i'll hit the trail at about 6:30 in the am.

wish me luck
and speed.

lucky 13...

2007-08-02T09:33:00.000-05:00

13 days until the end of summer and the beginning of something new.
Kindergarten.

if you had one wish...

2007-07-31T22:38:00.000-05:00

what would it be?
and no asking for more wishes. you get ONE.

sometimes i wish that i didn't have the opportunity to go back to work part-time, but that they had required that i come back full time from the get-go. i think it may have been easier to just dive right in than to juggle work and kiddo and home and etc. etc. etc. i'm feeling a bit pulled in too many directions. like if i could just get thru back-to-school and set some sort of routine. ya know?

sad but true #1:
i think i'm ready for fall, already

sad but true #2:
laundry and home cooked meals have become my biggest challenges

sad but true #3:
it's not even 11pm and i'm exhausted...

good night.

Thursday Thing...

2007-07-26T18:21:00.000-05:00

You Are Most Like Gisele Bundchen

Slightly exotic and perfectly gorgeous

Which Victoria's Secret Angel Are You?

umm hmmm, that's right.

LOL

over 1,000,000 served...

2007-07-25T21:48:00.000-05:00

is what i think of when i look at the miles i've logged on my Nike+ with iTunes. in case you're not familiar, and you actually care, you can read about it here. anyway, today when i finished my little walk i sync'd my nano and noticed that i've racked up over 180 miles [i know, far cry from 1,000,000] since i started using the whole system. nice.
and...that number is about to start moving drastically.
because i have "gone and done it" so to speak.
i have made the commitment to run a 1/2 Marathon!
[and right now, i'm not sure if the '!' at the end of that last sentence is excitement or insanity...]
i guess we'll see.
this is huge!
for me anyway.
the longest run i've ever participated in is a 5K.
so, you can imagine.
this is huge!

so, starting July 27th [that's just 2 days from now] i will begin a 12 week training program, at the end of which i will run 13.1 miles.
all at once. really.

really.

this is huge!
excitement, its excitement.

started reading...

2007-07-22T21:47:00.000-05:00

but i just can't seem to keep my eyes open very long once i start.
i think i've lost my excitement over the whole series.
for instance, the movie that's now playing...still haven't seen it.
we may go this week.

anyway, i'm trying to avoid all media sources that may spoil the ending for me. no TV news, no podcasts, no web sites...other than blogs of course.
it looks like it may take me a while to get through it, though.

ps. if you've already read it and think it might be funny to post a spoiler as a comment. i will hunt you down, no lie.

something i'm sure my hubby is glad to hear...

2007-07-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

Guys Think You're Easy to Be With... But Not Easy

You're definitely a flirt - and a good one.
But you also know that you shouldn't make a move on any cute guy who passes by.
You save your seductive moves for someone who already knows the real you.
That way, your sex appeal is just part of the whole package.

Are You An Easy Girl?

hmmm...
i am so glad i'm not single and dating.
for those of you who are, i do not envy you.

any bad date stories?
or first date stories?

this week's end

2007-07-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

was really a nice one.
i got to see all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, grandparents on my mom's side, and Granny.
i think that she and i look alike...
and we got to play a little.
you should have seen these sparklers...they were almost as long as she is tall.
this one was my favorite.
it was fun.
i'll share more later.
there are so many things that i wish i had pictures of...
i wasn't behind the camera much. just enjoyed the days.

deep breath...

2007-07-12T13:26:00.000-05:00

and exhale.
repeat.
today is my friday as far as the office is concerned
and after spending this week bouncing from 'Dr. office' to 'office office', i've had enough office.
no appts.
no meetings.
i'm done.

until monday.
today, we'll get on the road to Missouri.
great because i'll get a chance to listen to my iPod.
i've been enjoying books by David Sedaris read by David himself.
there is something about the way he depicts the situations with his voice...
it makes me giggle.

and i thought i'd share a pic or few...
this is my new table that i told you i'd get a few shots of...
i like it.

this is a store we always stop at on the way back from houston. they have the best stuff. jerky and home canned pickles, relishes...they actually taste like my granny's recipe. yum.
and this is the truck that makes people look twice.
and laugh.
i did at least giggle. the funniest part about it being that i took this picture in the parking lot of 'Woody's'. now do you see how that's funny?

and this is the girl stretching her legs while on a 'gas stop' mid road trip.
hanging from a pole by her fingers...
silly monkey.

and here is proof that:
a) my hair is NOT gray, even though it looks like it in my last posted pic...me, on my birthday. just wanted to clear that up.
b) it is time for a haircut.
and 3) i really should put some lipstick on when i take self-portraits.
i should have pics from our July 4th bash...soon. i need to look through them and see what turned out, then i'll share.

and now, i'm off.
see you at the other end of the weekend.
enjoy.

ps. just so we're clear. i do not have gray hair at 32.
pss. Mary's was just 'enh'.

happy birthday to me...

2007-07-11T13:21:00.000-05:00

happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me,
happy birthday dear, smart, pretty, awesome, creative, loving, sometimes funny, liveleeeeeee!
happy birthday to me!!
and many more,
better than before.

Normal

2007-07-10T13:16:00.001-05:00

"you're normal.
a perfectly healthy normal little girl."

that's what the pediatric neurologist said yesterday.
her test results were normal.
his diagnosis was syncope with seizure.
so, he believes that she had a sudden drop in blood pressure which caused her to be 'partially conscious' which triggered the seizure.
ok.
so, she had her follow-up test for UTI today, results were unchanged from before. i'll know more friday when the culture comes back AND now her pediatrician is requesting an EKG to double check the rhythm of her heart because of the diagnosis yesterday. so...tomorrow afternoon for that.
...

rain. rain. and more rain.
will it ever end?
i'm just about ready for August and the sunshine it always brings.
...
E got a new toy...yes, its a Mac Book Pro.
too bad i just got a new laptop last year, i might be motivated to get one myself.
it is the sh*t, i won't even play like i don't know that.
...

tonight is my dinner club, we'll be having Italian.
yummy.
...

tomorrow is my birthday.
32.
i'll be 32.
...

thursday we leave for the family reunion (out of state) at my Granny's. i can't wait to see her. my sis and her family are already there with my dad, spending time i wish i could spend too.
...

i'm hoping to share some pics soon...hopefully the end of next week things will slow down a bit and i'll have time. i'll make it a priority.

see ya~

When it rains...

2007-07-03T12:36:00.000-05:00

it pours.

a quick update of the last week in my life...

last week i worked mon./tues./wed.1/2day, so i was able to leave the office at 11:00am on wed., drive home, and we were on the road by 11:50, destination Houston. we arrive in Houston at 9:30, so we made pretty good time. the plan for the next day was to hang out, do some be-boppin' around, just get ready because friday morning we would go and pick up the U-haul and move most of E's parents things here to their new home...well, things didn't exactly go as planned.
expected timeline:
wed.-arrive that evening
thurs.-down day
fri.-get truck, load boxes and furniture
sat.-drive back home, unload
sun.-down day
mon.-back to work
tues.- work 1/2day and prepare for cookout
wed.-cookout at our place
thurs.-A's EEG (as a result of recent seizure)
fri.-work

actual timeline:
wed.-arrive that evening
thurs.-down day
fri.-get truck, what?!? no truck - not reserved. A's Dr. calls and prescribes additional meds for UTI
sat.-check back for truck - (FIL backs into my car, crunching in the door) no truck
sun.-TRUCK!!! load
mon.-drive home (in the rain with a leaky door, stuffing towels in the top to keep the rain from dripping on my seat and shoulder. i get almost home when my sister calls my cell. "you need to call Dad." call dad...find out my granny has been diagnosed with cancer...behind heart, on lungs and throat...concentrate on just getting home), call around try to find out what i can about grandma's cancer, unload, begin preparing for other demands of the week, handle work emails/messages
tues.-work. let E deal with taking the car for repair/body work and later i will unpack/clean house/prepare for cookout/grocery shop...etc.
wed.-cookout, keep the girl up until midnight
thurs.-wake the girl at 5:00am in preparation for her EEG, afternoon work
fri.-work...then TGIF; feeling a bit overwhelmed, i think i may get drunk.

honestly, there were some high points to the week.
i may share pictures later...maybe friday.
look for it.

i'm a little devil...

2007-06-26T21:31:00.001-05:00

You Are 59% Pure

You're not so innocent... in fact, you're quite unpure.
You have seen and experienced a lot. And you're no worse for the wear!

The 100 Question Purity Test

umhmm, that's right.
i think it was the 3 tatoos that kicked me over the top, no?

WTH?

2007-06-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

i just called my daughter's dr.'s office to double check an appt time for next tuesday, because 1) i have to work that day with afternoon meetings already scheduled and 2) i had forgotten what time i scheduled the appt for and needed to just double check to make sure there was no overlap.
the appt is a follow-up that was scheduled for tuesday because the girl had been prescribed 10 days of antibiotics and that would be the day after completion of her meds. HOWEVER, last week, after only 3 days of the meds the nurse told me that the UTI for which the prescription was written was no longer testing positive (not enough colonies or some shtuff) and that i could take her off of the anitbiotics. and i did.
so i said to the woman checking my appt time, i'm not sure we need to hold the appt because it was a follow-up to the UTI and we were told to stop administering meds...yada, yada"
she says, "well, the notes say something about a seizure...so, i would go ahead and bring her." in a tone that implies 'what are you even thinking?'. talk about making me feel like the worst mom ever for even suggesting that we not put her (the girl who freaks out at just the mention of going to see the dr.) through it. i can just see her little face, all stressed out about whether or not they're going to try to do 'the icky tickle' (strep test) or try to take blood. it was only recently that she became comfortable with peeing in a cup. why wouldn't i want to avoid that?
anyway. i held the appt time, like a good guilt-ed mommy would, because she did have a seizure last week...i don't really want to get into it, because it still freaks me out a bit to think of it, because i picture it and, anyway, the end.

my point, --don't judge me, appt-line-lady! you don't know me!

deep breath.
exhale.

i feel better.

random entertainment...

2007-06-20T16:28:00.000-05:00

sarah jessica parker and Sex and the City. just recently started watching the series on DVD. love it. and now they're talking about doing a movie. to do: check out what info i can find on that-later.

avril's magazine cover. heard that she's naked on the cover of some mag after (at the ripe age of 17) she very explicitly stated that she would never use 'sex' to sell an album. how's that workin' for ya? to do: look for that cover art. is it true? did she really?

wondering about the new fall lineup. can't wait to see what it is, even though i don't feel like i really have the time to watch what i already like to watch, much less add some new show to the mix.
speaking of...just added 'Weeds' to the blockbuster queue. going to start it from the beginning.

9:32, 1:46, 1:56, 2:25. you may wonder, what do these numbers mean? these, my friends, are the times at which Mr. McCartney (my hygienically challenged cube neighbor) decided to clip his fingernails today. now.come.on. get a hobby. find some other form of entertainment. please.

and last but certainly not least...for your enjoyment, Evolution of Dance

have a good one.

love Confetti...

2007-06-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

all over my house...really. love confetti. little tiny hearts. everywhere.
i told E, 'i thought it would be at least a week...'
she got them yesterday.
today i come home to this...
they were in her bed, her laundry basket, all on top of the furniture...every. where.
and when she sat in her floor and then walked out of her room she left a trail of little silver hearts everywhere she went.
i asked her if she 'sprinkled' them around her room.
she said no.
me-are you sure?
her-no, i didn't sprinkle them.
me-then how did they get all spread out?
her-i don't know.
me-if you don't know then who does?
her-i don't know.
me-you can tell me, it will only make me angry if you don't tell me and pretend you don't know.
her-i was...(pause) i was just throwing them up in the air and making it pretty. just making them pretty. i just thought it would be fun.
me-oh, that explains it.
[2 beats-while she waits for the verdict]
her-whew, i'm just glad you're not angry.
then she spent the next two hours making a slight dent in picking them up.

After i took the pic of her she said to me as i walked out of the room, "I smiled. Should I have smiled?" it wasn't until later that i asked her how it got that way, so she wasn't sure if she was in trouble or not. This is not because she gets in trouble often, its more that she doesn't make messes like these and she knew it was a BIG mess. I think that she was sorry; not thinking about picking them up as she tossed them in the air...i just wish i could have seen her do it.
it was probably 'pretty'.

chop chop...

2007-06-09T11:08:00.000-05:00

i got it all cut off...
and i love it! its so easy!
i think i may have this cut for a long time.