Changes & Progress... Perhaps.

Howdy Gals! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season & your toes and/or fingers have not turned blue. Last night as I was doing my pre-slumber face wash, I discovered a new mole on my chin. The mole had an inhabitant. One super friendly strand of hair!!! What the holy blue blazin' moly mackerel?!?!? The hair was just a'wavin' at me in the mirror. And all I could think about was: Has this been sticking out of my face all freakin' day? How many folks saw it and were frightened when speaking with me? Ugh. Bleh. Gross. Those were my first thoughts. And then... bada bing bada boom! I became okay with the mole. Plucked out the hair. Finished washing my face and went to sleep. I just cannot fathom spending good energy [read: time I could be sleeping] panicking about facial flaws. Or the rest of my outer flaws. Would I love smoother, silkier skin? Sure. But I gotta be okay with the skin I'm in. Plus, it could be worse. If I ever become a burn victim, I'd pay big Monopoly money for the skin I currently have. Finito. My eating habits are getting a wee bit better. I see some curves to my mid-section & I'm still exercising regularly. The jogging has been put on hold as it's freakin' cold. At least by Georgia standards. And my toes and fingers go numb so dang quickly it's a shame. A shame that one Foghorn Leghorn could attest to. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0D6DZuTPsA

I just finished watching Michael Moore's "Bowling For Columbine" about gun control/violence/whatever in America. It made me want to run away, as do all of his films. I wish we American's weren't so dang scary or so dang violent. Sheesh! Inhaling and exhaling peace. :-) So, I went to small town Mississippi again last weekend. The roundness of all the folks was so so so disheartening. And because I walked about a mile and a half (round trip) to get oatmeal and coffee a couple times scared the crap outta my big friend and his family. "Why you walkin? That's too far! You could get kidnapped out here! Nobody walks `roun' here!" Uhm... Yea! No freakin' kidding! Everyone there needs a walk or three, but instead they all just came to their doors to stare & wave at me walking by. It's so rare for them to see walking people that I was asked FOUR times by FOUR different people if I needed a ride. They figured I was stranded and walking because why else would I be walking alone on those roads. Please take note that there's maybe 5k people in/around this town. Seriously, what could happen to me walking to and from McDonald's on the main drag?!?! Great thing is that I got the senior discount because, "I can just tell that you're not from here. You just don't have the look of people from here." Yep, that's what the McD's cashier guy told me. Oh, my sweet sweet small town Miss'uh'sip! Such a special place. I did get to see a friend from Clovis while there. Her parents now live sorta near where I was staying. I also swung through Tupelo, MS and saw the house in which Elvis was born. What an eventful ... okay, not so eventful... trip. 

Delights, I hope you all are doing fabulously & usher in 2013 just the way ya want. TAPS, glad you're back to work on your own terms and hours. Be great! Cheers!

Celebrations:

♣  Being off work until Wednesday 

♣  Maintaining decent grades

♣  Easy to manager hair

♣  Crown Royal Maple & spiked hot chocolate  :-)

♣  Making delicious fish and veggies

♣  Having someone fix SinnABurst's rattling sound for free

Objectives:

♠  Donate clothes and shoes and un-wanted xmas gifts

♠  Connect with at least 3 old friends

♠  Read 10 pages per night of Team of Rivals

♠  Do next to nada for the next 3 days

♠  Smile & be generous

Mental Stability

Hi Delights! What a rough couple of weeks this has been for a lot of folks in this country. I know we all feel "something" for the community in Newtown, CT where the shootings took place. And the week before in Portland. Then, a day after the awful events in Connecticut, some guy shot three people at a hospital in Arkansas & some other fella shot 50 rounds in to the air at a mall in California. I find myself wondering about the mental health of the shooters. What sort of traumas had the 20-year-old kid in CT endured that gave him the capability to completely disconnect from life?!? He had no regard for human life at all. How does that happen? The bootleg sociologist and aspiring counselor in me has plenty of theories and they all are pretty sad. I always hate when a person can find no peace in their soul and they go off and do the unthinkable. That has got to be a terrible feeling. I don't know if any of you know anyone personally connected to any of these horrible events, but my thoughts are with you anyway. We're all mothers or aunts or occasional baby sitters or god parents to some wonderful kiddos, so I wish you serenity as you try to process and/or explain these terrors. 

I'm entering my 3rd week of the counseling program and happy to say it's going well. I'm on top of all my assignments thus far but still struggling with others' writing. I have to remind myself on a regular basis that their writing does not affect my grade. I may need to play some Enya and chant that phrase celtically. :-)

Celebrations:

♥  That the country is coming together to help the folks in CT and still helping Hurricane Sandy victims

♥  Colouring my mini-fro Red Hot Rhythm

♥  A wonderful & much needed vacation to Phoenix

♥  No airport delays

♥  The kiddos in my life have received their xmas gifts from me already

Objectives:

♣  Continue to exercise and eat better

♣  Clean, recycle, & grocery shop

♣  Try e-couponing for the first time

♣  Un-pack, do laundry & prepare for the week

♣  Remain optimistic about folks' mental health & how fragile we are

Enjoy the day! Ms. Awesome:  GO BEARS! 

Partly Cloudy!

Howdy Delights! Just want you all to know that my partly cloudy really means I'm partly drunk. Was packing for my upcoming Phoenix trip and decided to have wine during the process. There will be quite a few errors in this blog. Justsoyaknow! Maurice is on his way out, but the Lumberjack lingers. I want cookies sooo bad. Help me Baby Buddha! I want to change the spelling of Maruice's name and add an "x." Thus making him Maurixe. Just ran that idea by my gal pal & she said it doesn't look right. What sayeth thou, Follow Through'ers? Anyhoo, my first week of the counseling program was a cinch, which sorta scares me. I've already finished the assignments for week two. Equally scared. I'm sure week three will bring on some challenges, right?!?! Sure. In other news: I'm still hanging with the Country Fella `cause... Well, I just like him. And I think he's gonna mature a little more by the week. However, there's another guy on the horizon who's caught my attention. Yowzuh! I'll keep you all posted as to how that plays out. I'm still rockin' with the fitness, but maybe need to look at my eating habits again. Or maybe it's just cause the Lumberjack was around & I felt the need to eat an over abundance of chocolate. Let's go with that. I actually feel healthier & am getting in the groove of jogging (although I still don't really like it). I had my hair cut off again & plan to take better care of it this time around as it grows/fro's out. I really want an oatmeal cookie. Damnit!

Celebrations:
= Drunk packing for Phoenix
= Steady fitness regimen
= Easy to maintain hair
= Upcoming vacation
= Great wine
= Going to the Spurs game in Charlotte last night

Objectives:
♣  Make sure to look at what I packed to ensure I have the right stuff
♣  Clean & do laundry before I leave
♣  Get a mobile Hot Spot device
♣  Find a ride to the airport  :-)
♣  Rid myself of the Lumberjack

Have a wonderful week, Delights! Own IT!

Hands In The Air

Hey Beauties! It's happening... I begin my Counseling program on Monday. Yep... Like a week from yesterday! I know it's gonna be quite the educational roller coaster, thus I've got my hands up high! Way up in the air. I think I'll be a great student, although beginning in the winter has some challenges. I'll be staying at work late some nights to work on assignments, `cause I know I won't do them when I get home. And it'll be dark, and I'll be hungry, and I'll wanna stay on top of my fitness routine, and I'll be hungry, and it'll be dark, and I'll want to go to happy hour, and... and... and... I'm ready! :-) I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to go to school and have a GI Bill to pay the dues. Yesterday, I read an article on Yahoo! that discussed the despair many folks are feeling because of the enormous amount of student loan debt they have. Currently, student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion dollars!!! More than home buyer's debt. How freakin' ridiculous is that?!?!? VERY! It makes no sense for education to be so unaffordable and out of reach. Especially if that's the way we're taught to get ahead. Anyhoo, I used to complain (surprise surprise) about not seeing my loan debt decrease at a faster rate due to the payments I am making. Today I'm grateful to not owe $40k or $50k or even $20k in loan debt. And I'm beyond grateful that I can at least make payments without going hungry. Anyhoo, I didn't intend to even discuss loan debt and the negativity surrounding it in this blog. My apologies. Just wanted to put out there my future student (again) status and a bunch of random thoughts I've had. Of course, I cannot remember any of them at the moment besides this: What's going on with Dolly Parton's face? Creeps me out. Not CeeLo level of creep out, but close. Elmo Guy now creeps me out on the CeeLo level. The Lumberjack is here in preparation for Maurice. He's brought a very hearty appetite and also left an oh-so-attractive pimple right above my lip. Freakin' evil Lumberjack! He's currently digging through the icebox in search of cookie dough he'll force down my trachea. Evil.Evil.Evil Lumberjack. By the by, I'm still sorta wiggin' out over being a F/G cup in bra size. A second (or third) opinion isn't a bad idea, right?!?!? Thanks. Enjoy the night, Delights! Oh Oh OH OHHH! My Beau's birthday is tomorrow. I think I'll go to happy hour and hum the theme to the Daily Show all night long!

Celebrations:
☺  A 25% productive, 75% relaxing day off
☺  Sinn rolling so much smoother after getting an oil change & her feet rotated
☺  Making my own peppermint mocha...spiked
☺  Finally hand-washing my new big bras
☺  A cozy sofa

Objectives:
☻  Celebrate my beau's birthday in style
☻  Scour or skim the information I'll need to know to begin class on Monday
☻  Find out if I can be reassigned to somewhere west of here next year
☻  Jog two-3 more days this week. YIKES!
☻  Get a 2nd opion/measuring of my kid feeders

Cheers!

No Complaints

Good Morning & Happy Kick Off to the Winter Holiday Season! Yesterday on my super slow trot, I was hit with the realization that I really should have no complaints about anything. I am truly fortunate to be in good health, have great relationships, and the freedom to do just about whatever I want. Yes, my supervisor says some truly stupid shizer more often than I'd like, but that'll work itself out. My nephew's mom has a rare form of cancer and literally dies a bit more everyday. She's in pain more often than not and still manages to listen to me and others whine about trivial crap. I've got friends who have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan and are battling post-traumatic stress on a daily basis. When I thought about these circumstances of others, I found some more motivation to pick up my slow pace & finish that trot smiling and grateful. Again, I will do my very best not to complain about junk that's just not important. I will spend more time saying "Thank you" and just expressing gratitude whenever I can. Thank you gals for offering sound advice on my supervisor's recent ignorant statements & for being phenomenal all the time.
       I've managed to do some sort of fitness every day for the past several weeks. I'm cooking more of my own food and eating better all around. I got a bra-fitting recently. Are yall ready for these numbers and letters??!?!? I surely wasn't. I've slimmed down to a 34 in width but my cup size is an F or G!!! WTHolyHades is that about?!?! I couldn't believe I measured at stripper breast sizes. [repeating a chant to myself] Don't Complain! Don't Complain! Don't Complain! At least I'm slimmer up top and able to afford new bras and got a cute bra & panty set and my breasts are real and .... I'm not complaining! I've also  reading a "real" book in the evenings before I go to sleep. I'm such a connectivity junkie, I've gotten away from the leisure's I used to love. Wish me luck as I plan to delve in to Team of Rivals (the book about Abe Lincoln & Co.) & all of it's 944 pages ... beginning on 1 December. The goal is to have it finished before 2013 expires. Yes...Twenty-Thirteen. NOT 2012! Thanks for your future support. Before then, I'll be seeking yall's advice about what to do with Gold Tooth Guy. Yep, he's still around.

Celebrations:
♣  Daily fitness
♣  Steaming some super tasty broccoli yesterday
♣  Learning more about this wicked iPhone each day
♣  The many wonderful support system's I have
♣  34 F/G   :-)

Objectives:
♠  Clean my apartment
♠  Catch up with Lisa (my nephew's mother)
♠  Choose a dental & vision plan
♠  Grab some gift cards for my Buddah/God/Allah Kiddos
♠  Say "Thanks!" & remain grateful

Own the Day, Delights! Cheers!

Do You See What I See?

Howdy Hey Hotties! So, I'm back from a pretty great time in Albuquerque. I really cannot thank Ms. Awesome Jenna Dophkah Wasmuth enough for being a supreme being and all around great hang out buddy. For those of you who do not know my mother, she is somethin' else and then two somethin' else's on top of that! And Ms. Awesome handled her with such phenomenal grace. Thanks Ms. Awesome. :-)  Let's see... My life is still unchaotically chaotic somehow. I don't know when and where I will go to school. I do not know where I want to live next. I have no idea as to why I love cookies so much. Yum! Anyhoo, the goal of the weekend is to figure out this school thing. Maybe I should research jobs in at least 3 cities I'm considering. Feel free to chime in & give me my 3 cities, please. Thanks. I've taken up jogging again will continue to do so until I finish at least three 5k's next year. Wish me and my hamstring's much luck. Now if I can just get a good ab routine down. Okay, so I have a great routine, I just don't do it routinely. Ugh! Somebody challenge me. Today I visited the Redcliffe Plantation in Beech Island, SC & learned that I really do not know a lot about America's history. Yikes! Anyhoo, today's tour was about the emancipation of slaves and was very informative. Here's the link to the place:
http://south-carolina-plantations.com/aiken/redcliffe.html

Gals, where are you all with your Thanksgiving Day goals? And how the heck is everyone?

Celebrations:
••  Jogging 1.65 miles in about 15 minutes. Not bad for someone who doesn't particularly like running.
••  The plantation information
••  Keeping my weight under control... relatively
••  No more political ads!
••  Homemade cookies

Objectives for the next... who knows?!?!?
◘  Find a program, school and apply
◘  Set up my new iPod
◘  Increase my jogging endurance & distance
◘  Find a volunteer opportunity
◘  Donate clothes

Cheers!

Moonsense Nonsense

Hey Gals! I'm going to blame the crazy moon schedule for bring all the boys to the yard for my milkshake. Everyone has come outta the the woods, brush, treeline, sky. Just from all over the place professing we "need to make something happen." Huh? What? Scoot away sissy fellas and let me figure out what I'm trying to do with my life. I think I'm involved in at least 3 one-sided relationships. Save me Baby Buddha!
Outside of the fellas showing interest, all else is pretty smooth. I was supposed to land in ABQ today, but found out my trip was cancelled on accident. Hold your drawls, Ms. Awesome. I should be there later this week & cannot wait for us to have java or something. Walking is going pretty well. Still eating like a hog on occasion. Ehh... Not sure what gives. Jon Stewart is dreamy. Tyler Perry in "Alex Cross"... not so much. I'm just not a Tyler fan. Not that he did a horrible job, but it was just not his sorta thing. Of course, I cannot think of another actor to play that role at the moment, so... uh... "Seven Psychopaths" was entertaining as all get out & I just might see "Argo" this week. I've started to do 10 push ups when I roll outta bed. It's a good kinda sore, right?!?! Not masochistic at all. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I love Jeopardy. And I've become quite fond of The Big Bang Theory. Genius stuff. My addiction to various Zynga games make me nearly late to work every day. Again, I'm rubbing the belly of Baby Buddha & chanting Celtic somethingorothers for help. Not sure if I told you all that I lost my iPod last week so I ordered another. What do ya think I found today while vacuuming SinnABurst?!?!? Judasfreakinpriest! There ya go. That wraps up my random blog of happiness.

Celebrations:
♠  Fitting comfortably in to size 8 jeans
♠  My Super Support System
♠  A clean habitat
♠  Being okay with my sorta safe addictions  :)
♠  Seeing some curves and a flatter mid-section

Objectives:
♣  Make it to ABQ this week
♣  Stop rushing to work due to gaming
♣  Be open to the learning I'll get while working in ABQ
♣  Make my sister's and my mom's life easier for a week
♣  Keep rockin'!

Have a Wonderful Week Delights!