Category Archives: life lessons

Dentist-Schmentist, Weigh In-Schmay In

Leave a reply

Well, I tried to weigh in this morning before heading into the dreaded dentist for my cleaning, but I got my times totally messed up and they weren’t open yet. Then of course, with my cleaning scheduled, I’d miss the next WI. So basically, I just gave up and I’ll just do a cursory WI tomorrow morning. I’m still not expecting much since I went a little crazy my birth-a-versary week, but who knows. I’ve been doing a lot of walking and that’s got to count for something.

All I know is after this vacation, I really, really need to get back on track with WW. This has just been pathetic. I got back into my smaller stash of clothes and just kind of got lazy after that. All I can say is while I’m thrilled beyond belief to be able to visit with J&C in a couple weeks, I’m also dreading the visit. She’s done amazingly well, and I’ve just done okay. For the most part, I’m fine with this since I look and feel SO much better. But you know, I just don’t want to be judged and sometimes, we just can’t help but harbor little judgey thoughts, you know. Love or not, it happens. But overall, I’m just thrilled with our upcoming vacation and so happy to visit with them again. Just chalk all this up go my being a bit of a goofball.

Sidenote: The toilet broke again last night and the water has been gushing non-stop (except when I made the hubby turn it off last night so we could sleep). This time around though, I called the landlord and reminded him that he’s fixed it once, we’ve fixed it twice and dammit if it isn’t broke again. So hopefully he’ll fix it right up!

So I had my cleaning today at the dentist. And once again, Xantax to the rescue!!! Man, they should just get a license to dispense that stuff when you walk it. It makes such a difference. My cleaner lady even commented on how much more calm I was and asked if I took one. So yeah, the shit works. She also gave me an A- on my upkeep saying that if it wasn’t for my crazy ass wisdom teeth way, way, way far back in my mouth, my teeth would all be in great, clean, shape! That feels good. It took three years to get back to this point especially after having gone 7+ years between any dental or cleaning work. That is, if I was ever at this point in my life – with my fear of dentists I usually avoided what I could. But yeah, that made me feel great!

So today I just have to do some inside cleaning (if I can manage to NOT take a nap – damn that husband and his only getting 3-5 hours of sleep while working on his latest project) and whatnot and then get ready for Harry Connick at the Greek. I love the Greek, it’s one of my favorite venues to see shows. I’m not so sure what to expect of this show though. Having peeked at a recent setlist, it seems to be ONLY stuff from this Nola CD. I picked it up with a gift card the other day and have been listening while in the car. It’s not bad, just not exactly the Harry I know and love! Hopefully he’ll wow us with the show – much like Michael Bubble did a few years back. Here’s hoping.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!

Bread Does Not Seem to be My Friend…

Leave a reply

Aside from the obvious reason (if you saw me, you wouldn’t doubt the obvious) bread just doesn’t do well in this house. Regardless of where I put it, it starts to mold in a couple of days. I don’t remember that being a problem before moving here. I keep changing where I store it, but the only place it won’t get moldy is in the fridge. And well, once it moves into the fridge, it’s only decent for toast. Really, I can’t seem to win.

In closing, bread is NOT my friend and I’m pissed that I just paid $4 for six low point bagels only to have to throw half of them away!!!

Two random life-note, asides…

1) I shouldn’t have to pick up dog poop that belongs to other dogs!! If I can pick up after my dog when I walk him, then my darling neighborhood friends can kindly do the same.

2) I made a new workout mix today and had a good workout. Now I’m just trying to control those post-workout munchies with a yogurt, some cheese and a few nuts *argh*

How Familiar Does This Sound?

Leave a reply

A friend pointed this story out to me today. It sounded so familiar, I just had to share.

I Has a Sweet Potato

You know, a lot of times I write up random posts and then don’t post them. But Best Beloved just called me, and I could not really explain why I was inarticulate about sweet potatoes, so I said I’d go ahead and post this. That way, she can read it at work and know just what kind of day it has been. (Short version, for those who do not feel like reading the whole post: ARRRRRRG. Fucking sweet potatoes.)

The longer version, summarized in conversation form:

Dog: I am starving.
Me: Actually, no. You aren’t starving. You get two very good meals a day. And treats. And Best Beloved fed you extra food while I was gone.
Dog: STARVING.
Me: I saw you get fed not four hours ago! You are not starving.
Dog: Pity me, a sad and tragic creature, for I can barely walk, I am so starving. WOE.
Me: I am now ignoring you.
Dog: STARVING.
Dog: Did you hear me? I am starving.
Dog: Are you seriously ignoring me? Fine.

[There is a pause, during which the dog exits the room in a pointed manner.]

[From the kitchen, there comes a noise like someone is eating a baseball bat.]

Me, yelling: What the hell are you doing?
Me: *makes haste for the kitchen and finds dog there*
Dog: *picks up entire raw sweet potato, which is what was causing the baseball bat noise, and flees for the bedroom*
Me: *chases dog, retrieves most of sweet potato, less the portion which has disappeared into dog’s gullet*
Dog: See? STARVING.
Me: …That can’t be good for you. It’s a RAW SWEET POTATO.
Dog: I had to do it. I haven’t been fed. Ever.
Me: You realize you aren’t normal. Normal dogs don’t steal raw sweet potatoes.
Dog, sadly: I was badly brought up.
Me: Yes. Yes, you were.
Dog: By people who starved me.
Me: Oh, no. I am not doing this again.
Me: *exits the room, bearing sweet potato*

[There is a pause.]

[There is a noise like someone is trying to eat a baseball bat very very quietly.]

Me: Oh, for the love of GOD.
Me: *heads off to the kitchen*
Dog: I am not eating a raw sweet potato.
Me: You have sweet potato parts all over your snout.
Dog: But you don’t actually SEE a raw sweet potato, do you? So maybe that’s just – um. A birthmark.
Me: Did you seriously eat a whole sweet potato?
Dog: You don’t listen. I told you, I wasn’t eating a sweet potato.
Me, searching around fruitlessly: Look. NO MORE SWEET POTATOES.
Me: Oh, what am I saying? This is you we’re talking about, here. *goes to hide all the sweet potatoes that are left – which isn’t many – in the fridge, because some people cannot be trusted*
Dog: *attempts to look thwarted*
Dog: *does not succeed, because her tail is wagging so hard small cyclones are forming in the kitchen*
Me: *has a very bad feeling about this*

[There is a pause, during which I do not even bother trying to return to what I was doing. I just stand in the computer room, waiting.]

[There is, as I wholly expected, a baseball-bat-eating noise.]

Me, stomping back to the kitchen: OKAY. GIVE ME THE DAMNED SWEET POTATO.
Dog, looking up guiltily: What sweet potato?
Me: THE ONE IN YOUR MOUTH.
Dog: Oh, did you want this? I just, um. Found it. Lying here.
Me: *confiscates the sweet potato and deposits it in the locking trashcan*
Me: Let us say no more about this.
Dog: …Nooooo! They be stealin’ my sweet potato!

[I attempt to remember what I was doing before the sweet potato episode.]

[Some ten minutes later, I succeed, and return to it.]

[NOT ONE MINUTE LATER, I hear a noise with which I have become all too familiar.]

Me, bonking head on desk: Arg.
Me, arriving in kitchen: How did you even get another sweet potato?
Dog, smugly: I have my ways.
Me: Are you punishing me for being away for several days? I was at a FUNERAL, you know. It wasn’t FUN.
Dog: How would I know? You didn’t take me. You left me here with only one human to look after my needs. One human is NOT ENOUGH.
Me: *shuts dog in bedroom, conducts a sweep of the kitchen to track down all remaining sweet potatoes, wipes up random sweet potato particles from floor, eradicates all traces of sweet potato from house*
Me: *lets dog out*
Dog, sulkily: Oh, so you think you’ve won.

[I watch her go about her business with the same sense of overwhelming doom that heroines of Victorian novels get when they meet Count Sinistrus Grimblack for the first time.]

[Half an hour later, there is a wetter, juicier eating noise, as though someone was eating a very moist baseball bat.]

Me, wearily: What NOW?
Dog, hunched over the remains of a butternut squash: *says something garbled because her mouth is full*
Me: Okay. Fine.
Me: *stomps over, empties entire vegetable bowl into trash*
Me: WE JUST WON’T HAVE ANY ROOT VEGETABLES ANYMORE. THERE. ARE YOU HAPPY?
Dog: I’m not even remotely sorry. I told you I was hungry. And you went to a funeral without me.
Me: ARRRRRRRRG.

[A half-hour later, there is another baseball-bat-eating noise from the kitchen. The dog, who apparently does not know how to win gracefully, has found another sweet potato, or possibly caused one to materialize from the Rift.]

Me, hauling chewed sweet potato parts from the mouth of a dog very reluctant to part with them: Oh my god how is this my life?
Dog: Don’t you think it would just be easier to feed me?
Me: EVERYONE GO TO THE BEDROOM AND STAY THERE. EAT NOTHING.
Dog: Actually, I feel…um…not so good.
Dog: *throws up* *vomit is very bright orange*

[Unfortunate details ensue.]

Some time later:
Me, attempting to rescue something from the wreckage: So. What have we learned from this?
Dog: Sweet potatoes are yummy!
Other Dog, looking thoughtful: I should pay more attention to crunching noises. Sweet potatoes are probably yummy.
Me: I need a lobotomy.

And that, Best Beloved – and anyone else who made it through that – is What Kind of Day It Has Been.

FUCKING SWEET POTATOES. ARG.

This story and many others can be found in MetaQuotes – Overheard on LJ

I’ll Keep This Brief…

Leave a reply

I finally got my Secret book! It was on backorder almost any where I looked and it finally arrived yesterday. Of course, I’m in the middle of like three other books right now, so I probably won’t start it for a couple of days now.

Sorry for not being around. I’ve had some challenges over on my site regarding an April 1st joke that seemed to have gone awry. It seemed to have morphed into someone’s personal battle zone and rather than get sucked down to that level, I’d decided to lay low for a while and catch up on some movies!!

Once things die down a bit more I’ll be sure to write it up. Without a doubt, there’s an interesting lesson in everything that went down. The short version…it’s confirmed that life is all about how you react to what comes your way. Lemons or lemonade…the choice is all yours!

Memories of an Ex

1 Reply

I’m not one to give much thought to What Might Have Beens. I’ve never Googled any exes. Heck, I don’t even Google myself or my husband. Though he loves to Google his family and our two boys – have you any idea just how many Griffin dogs or Charlie cats there are out there?

Today, for some reason, out of the blue, my ex popped into my head and I can’t seem to shake him. Once I got home, I thought I’d give that ol’ friend, Google a whirl. Thing is, my ex has a fairly common name, so I wasn’t able to find anything. Not even a crumb. But I still can’t seem to shake him.

I know full well that we’d never have lasted. Not even counting the fact that he was a few years younger (not a big deal, I know), we were just two different kinds of people and in two different places in our lives. He was a hard worker, but he wasn’t college educated and didn’t really see the point. While I don’t think that college is for everyone (my hubby has no college education and is doing quite well surrounded by MBAs), it was still a huge part of who I was at the time. So much so that I went on to get my Masters.

Back when we were dating, I was just finishing up my teaching degree, hoping and praying to get a teaching job. My focus was entirely on getting that job. His focus was entirely on finding someone to settle down with and take care of. Me, I was in that I-don’t-need-anyone, I’m-an-independent-woman phase. I was ready to finally get started being an adult and living the life. Interestingly enough though, we were head over heels, blissfully enamored.

Or so I thought.

One of his co-workers broke up with her husband or boyfriend or baby daddy, or whatever and starting focusing all her attention on my guy. I knew this because he told me. She was an older woman (older than him, older than me) with a young child. He, as I stated earlier, just wanted to settle down and take care of someone. She, it turned out, was just that someone. He dumped me.

He went head on into a relationship with her and never bothered with me again. Well, until she broke up with him about 3 months or so later, that is. Then he came back to me. We went out to dinner and I said that we could try to be friends, but I just didn’t trust him. A week or two later, she wanted him back and back her went. This time, I walked away. For good. Until today.

T that time, I really wasn’t able to look to someone else as my hero or my savior. I just didn’t need that in my life. I didn’t need someone to “complete me.” I can see now how that might be annoying when you’re in a relationship. There’s needs to be some emotional give and take. I can honestly thank him for allowing our relationship to teach me that.

But I do wonder what made me think of him. Was it a song on the radio? Reflecting back over the last couple of weeks, I have heard a LOT of songs that could remind me of him – if I was in that frame of mind. Is it our long ago psychic connection? Is he thinking about me? Is he wondering what might have been?

I’ve got to tell you, I may have had a rough patch of life here or there, but I really, really like my life. I really like the person I’ve turned into. And I really like the friends that I consider my “family.” I really don’t have any thoughts of him, good, bad or ugly, but I do wish him well wherever he may be.

Effortless Perfection

Leave a reply

As a means to get back my focus on life, I’ve started to actively get back on Weight Watchers. It’s not like I ever really went off, I just got sick and got busy, and well, just got lazy. I went back to my old eating habits and shunned the exercise. Tomorrow will be my first weigh in in about a month. Judging from the way my clothes have been fitting, I’m not expecting good news.

But, since I’m on the one in charge of my life, I’m the one that can decide to hold my head up high and get back on track. So far I’ve been successfully tracking what I’m eating (even if I’m not always making the best choices…damn that Chipotle!) and today I made sure to get in a good workout.

I honestly don’t know why I don’t embrace the whole workout thing more. Whenever I’ve finished my workout and I sit down to log my activity (and munch my apple) I always feel so good. You’d think that alone would be enough to spur me on – not counting how it helps to lose the inches. Hopefully, by writing just that, I’ll remember to use it as my motivation on those days when I just.don’t.fell.like.it (or so it would seem).

I also decided to give meditation another try. I was honestly looking for my food & exercise mediation CD to work on a little subtle reprograming, but I can’t seem to find it. Instead, I pulled out my Getting Into the Gap by Wayne Dyer. And again, I forgot how much I enjoy the whole meditation experience. My favorite part has to be the actual floating experience you feel when you are between the gap. Such a fascinating feeling. And like Dr. Dyer says, it’s basically just effortless perfection.

100 Day Challenge – Day 18

Leave a reply

A Couple of Observations…

One – Everyone is going absolutely C.R.A.Z.Y. for The Secret!!! I tried to order a copy of the book off of Amazon last week and it had about a 2 week or so delay. I didn’t feel like waiting, so I canceled my order. Then today, I stopped by B&N to pick up a copy (and my next book club book – Lolly Winston’s Happiness Sold Separately, which they were sold out of!) and they were sold out! The woman said the publishers just can’t seem to publish enough for the demand. Man, that Oprah is amazing…what she can do for book and product sales!

Two – One of the biggest changes I’m noticing since participating in the 100 Day Challenge (aside from the money just showing up!!) is that I’ve become a lot more mellow. I’m noticing others getting upset and frustrated in lines, or in traffic, or whatnot. But me, I’m cool as a cucumber with no worries. And let me just say, I’m SO loving that. Talk about things to be grateful for!

Three – I also seem to be purging a lot of crap. In a good way. I wrote earlier about what appeared to be a little breakdown of sorts with plenty of tears and pent up frustrations getting cleared. This was great because it really seemed to give me some much needed clarity and it brought the hubby and I closer. But now I seem to be dealing with a sinus-turned-bronchitis sort of thing. I’d let it work it’s way out, but I’ll be flying in a few days and after having flown with some sinus congestion a month or so ago, there’s just NO WAY in hell, I’m going through that again. But I do recognize that it’s just my body’s way of purging some crap. So I can be more than grateful for this cleansing experience – and I’m more than open to medication & healing 😉

Who Can Complain About Free Money?

Leave a reply

It’s Day 14 of my 100 Day Challenge and let me say that things are running quite smoothly! I’d had two invitations to take part in consumer testing. Which basically translates to FREE money!! I mean all I had to do is talk about what I like or don’t like about certain products. So my multiple streams of income affirmation is working baby –> I am so happy and grateful now that money comes to me in increasing quantities through multiple sources on a continuous basis.

I also picked up my Ask and It is Given book the other day. You know, for some reason, I seem to have challenges staying focused when reading Positive Thinking/Law of Attraction sort of books. I tend to start day dreaming and going off on tangents, so last night was the first time I’d picked it up in a while.

Did you know that they have 22 lessons, affirmation or games, as they like to call them that are guaranteed to raise your vibrations and to help you get you get focused in co-creating? It’s very cool. I figure I can pick one “game” each night before going to bed and that will give me some focus. Pretty cool, huh?

100 Day Challenge – Day 5

1 Reply

While this entry isn’t specifically about my focus and the challenge itself, it is about what sort of things the Universe brings your way, and what lessons might be in it for you.

Friends have always been a very important part of my life. I like to think of friends as the family we choose to have in our lives. And while I’ve never had what some might consider a lot of friends, I’ve always been happy with the friendships that I have. I’m the type that would do anything for a friend.

Now the Lounge here isn’t my first and only blog. I also keep a pretty regular journal where I have developed some deep, online friendships. I don’t really mix the two and that’s mostly due to my job. As a website administrator in a women’s community, my life is a pretty open book and all of my journal friends, are part of that community (and therefore, my work environment). The Lounge, on the other hand is more for me and not so much about a community.

Well, as one would expect of a journal, I spend quite a bit of my time in there discussing the minutia of my day – work, errands, friends, family, vacations, what have you. And yesterday was no different. So there I was commenting on someone’s behavior (and more importantly, their reaction to a reprimand) on my site. I didn’t name names, nor did I get into specifics, which is how I typically do things. Yet somehow, what I said wound up being repeated in a friend’s journal (in a private – not for my eyes – post).

Interestingly, it was by the very same woman that took something I said once before and repeated it around my community trying to cause some drama. Thing is, when I seem to snark (as we tend to call it) about a situation or a member, it’s not something I haven’t already said to that very member through email or PMs. So basically, I own it. But somehow, I just felt so hurt.

To have this very same individual take something out of my safe zone and repeat it, and then lock me out of it, so basically, it’s all going on behind my back, left me a little shocked. Yet surprisingly, not really bothered. I mean, I had already forgiven this friend the first time around and let her continue to be a part of my journal and my life (never blocking her out to begin with, even after it all went down). This time, I was able to just send her an email to let her know that she hurt my feelings and move on.

This to me is pretty big. Normally I can perseverate on something like this for quite some time, ranting and raving about being violated and disappointed, playing the victim role perfectly. This time around, I just naturally and instinctively chose to handle it all from a higher place and move on. Heck, in my email with her I even wished her well in her future endeavors (she’s been looking for work).

So for me, this is just kind of proof that changing your focus and letting things go, is a much less stressful way of life. I really feel that this is all part of my plan, working in action. Did I not say just the other day that I am so happy and grateful now that I am a complete, confident and beautifully, fabulous woman.

I am grateful for this experience and acknowledgment today. I welcome this confidence with open arms. Thank you Spirit!!

100 Day Challenge – Day 2

Leave a reply

Last night the hubby and I spent time deciding what we’re looking for in our new house. We’ve had this discussion before, mostly concerning what the boys would like in their new house. But as we were in bed thinking about the upcoming warm weather and what seems like our lack of central air.

So here’s what we came up with…3-4 bedrooms; an office space and an entertainment/music room (can be considered part of the bedrooms); walk in closet space; not too wood or hard surfaces so sound won’t bounce around too much (the hubby’s a guitarist); a large master suite; a large master bath with a jacuzzi tub; 1 or 2 extra bathrooms; living room; dining room; plenty of storage; back deck; large kitchen with new appliances and plenty of counter and cabinet space; large fenced in yard that would be safe enough for both the dog and the cat to visit on their own; room in the yard for a garden; laundry room; 2+ car garage; room to entertain; central heating and air; nice neighborhood; this side of the Hollywood Hills with a decent commute for the hubby.

It sounds pretty specific I know, but I feel that the more specific you can be, the better chance you’ll attract what you’re looking for. And of course, let’s remember this is for the good of all involved 😉