About Me

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About me, always hard to put into words a description about myself. We always see ourselves differently than others do. My likes: I love sports, all kinds. Especially NASCAR and baseball. Yea, strange I know, a bleeding heart liberal who likes NASCAR and country music. But here I am. I also am profoundly proud of the relationship that I have with my children and my family. They made me who I am today. Pink is my favorite color. I like all kinds of music, except perhaps rap. I am a rabid NPR listener and love my doggie. I work full time, am a semi-vegetarian, a voracious reader and a wanna be writer. Doing all that I do in the beautiful South Florida sunshine.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Moved my blog

I've moved my blog to Wordpress. I'm hoping to be able to use the variety of features that they seem to have over this one. That and I can't figure out how to merge blogger accounts, but it was very easy to move this one over there. Hmm. Anyway, if I have anyone who reads my blog, then please find me at here.

Or type in ritaliccious.wordpress.com into your web browser.  Thanks!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pictures

I'll be sure to include more pictures from now on. I just went through and the posts with pictures are definitely more interesting than the posts without.


So in that regard, there's my coffee. I start every morning with a big cup.

It's Tuesday, which is a day I usually don't like. Shy was home sick yesterday. Allergies, not Swine.  She will be getting the H1N1 vaccine as they are giving them at her school.  I don't usually get flu shots, but there seems to be a higher incidence and the fact that the CEO of my company who is a Neo as well as someone whose opinion I value said to get it means that she will be getting it.  As will J.


Lunch is a veggie burger and some leftover mixed veggies. I'll have pictures of that at lunch time.

I'm off to get ready for work.

Monday, October 26, 2009

A new week

It's Monday. Again. Another one.  I definitely could have used another two days off.  Hopefully Shy is feeling better. Yesterday was a fun day with my friends at lunch. Then we had ice cream at Kilwin's and then hung out with the kiddo at Barnes & Noble.

We went to the grocery store and then came home to work on her book report.  After that I had a mini John Adams marathon and watched the first two episodes on DVD.  That was such a well done show.  I watched it with the kids since it was history and I wanted them to appreciate what it took to stand up for your convictions and beliefs back in that day and age.

I ended my evening with Don Draper and the gang of Mad Men. That is one of my favorite shows.

This morning I'm enjoying some coffee before I head out to work, after dropping the kids off at school.

I definitely should have taken off today. Or tomorrow. Or any day.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Another football day

Hopefully my Dolphins do better today than the Hurricanes did yesterday.

I love relaxing and being up early with my cup of coffee before everyone gets up.  I have quite a few things to do around the house, but I'm taking a bread at lunch time to have lunch with my friends from high school.  We try to get together at least once a month. We try to do it more, but it hasn't worked out that way.

I totally neglected my reading yesterday even though I did go to the library.  I'm hoping to finish the Uglies  today or tomorrow.  I have so many books on my TBR list that I'm not sure which one I'll pick up next. I'll probably pick back up Sunday Money since I am about half way through and dropped it to participate in the DystopYA challenge.

I'm down a pound this week.  Very happy about that. I know I made some positive changes, but I also know that there are a bunch of things I could change that would make the loss more significant. However, it's not about big pendulum swings but rather slow and steady progress that will remain.

Breakfast will probably be toast with coffee and a slice of cheese.  A light one since I'm going to lunch with the girls.  I'll try to remember to take more pictures.

Coffee calls.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

It isn't a thriller in OT when you are on the losing side of the thriller

What a day.

I ran errands in the morning and did some housework. One of the errands was heading to the store to replace my Hurricanes hat which broke while I was getting dressed. Under normal circumstances a broken and unwearable Hurricane cap would not have required an immediate replacement. BUT, today was no ordinary Saturday. I was heading to the Clemson vs. Hurricanes game this afternoon and I needed to be sporting my UM pride.




Sadly, it didn't do anything for the team.  But the view from the box was amazing!

The game was exciting I suppose. since there were 12 lead changes. But, we lost it ourselves.  There was a lot of sloppy play where we weren't covering in the secondary, we were giving the opposing QB too much time to throw AND the penalties were ridiculous but warranted half the time.

Anyhow, I still love my 'Canes!

In other sports related activity, the Yankees and Angels game was postponed to tomorrow. The Dolphins play New Orleans tomorrow. You know, the New Orleans team that is still undefeated. The NO team that has Drew Brees, the quarterback we passed on.

I'm fading fast but I wanted to come on and say hi. Good night all.

Friday Night Lights

No, I didn't go to a football game. Just came home with the munchkin and had dinner


This was really good.  Shrimp fried rice that I made with some baby shrimp and a mix of broccoli slaw, snow peas and broccoli. There
s a couple of popcorn shrimp on top and that's amazing roasted cauliflower on the side. If you have never tried roasting cauliflower then I suggest you add it to your grocery list for today.  I absolutely love it. Sprinkled with some tarragon, thyme and lemon dill this time. Lemon juice and a dusting of parmesan cheese tops it off at the end of the roasting time. I used my mini oven and it toasted up quite nicely.  I wish I had more. Maybe then again not.

I watched Friday's GH and then watched a Dateline episode which freaked me out as always.  Those can be scary when you are home alone.  Ugh, I'm such a wimp sometimes.

I woke up Saturday morning to this


I'm not sure if you can see it in the background there, but it's a rainbow. It must have rained on and off throughout the night (I'm one of those dead to the world kind of sleepers so I'm not sure) but this is what I woke up to when I walked out my front door.

Today involves running some errands this morning and then potentially going to the Clemson vs Univ of Miami game later this afternoon.  I'm waiting to hear back from a friend who has an extra ticket. The cool thing is that it is in a box, so that if it rains we won't get wet.  Additionally, I'll get to bring my daughter with me since it's in the box.  She and I had plans for the afternoon but we rearranged them and would rather go to the game.

Have a great Saturday!!

Happy New Year!


Today's my January 1st. The day I begin with my resolutions etc.  If I do, then I'll be down at least 10-20 pounds.  As I've mentioned, I've come to realize the reasons that I eat at night. It's not just a bad habit, but rather my own defeatism as well as Lois. You remember Lois right? The name I gave to my alternate self that always puts me down. I would kick Lois' ass if she talked to my friends like that, so why do I let her talk about me like that.
 
I've been visualizing myself through my daughter's eyes and have found that it's been an eye opener. She thinks I am beautiful and loves me unconditionally regardless of what I weigh. I know that eventually, I will truly believe that I am worthy. Actually, you know what, I am. I'm not going to throw the pity party for myself anymore.  I'm worthy of happiness right now. The number on the scale doesn't define that.  It won't ever again.
 
However, I do need to lose weight, first and foremost to get within my healthy weight range. I am not going to obsess on one number, but rather what the healthy range is and get to that. By eating and acting like the healthy and thin person I want to be. She's in there, I just have to let her out.
 
I am happy to report that I didn't eat anything after dinner. No snack. Yes, re-read that. It says I had no snack. And according to Dr. Oz a 24 hour fast is a good way to cleanse yourself of impurities in a natural and healthy way, not using harmful chemicals and expensive products that you see marketed all the time. I chose today to do that. I have to admit to drinking coffee with milk in it, because I would be useless if I didn't have my coffee. Hey! Leave it at that. One demon at a time ok.  I'll get to eat dinner since that will have completed my 24 hour cycle.  It's 430p as I write this and I will admit to not feeling quite right. Let's just say I'm counting down until I get to eat again.  I needed to to do this exercise for a couple of reasons. Mainly though, I wanted to feel real hunger. I wanted to know and to show myself that hunger is NOT an emergency. (yes, I've stolen this from The Beck Diet Solution and one of her exercises).  And I needed to prove this to myself.
 
I'll finishing up at the job, where thankfully this one individual who doesn't thrill me has been particularly busy today and after a rocky morning has settled down for the day. I'm leaving here, stopping at the library to renew some DVDs that I checked out. (Devil Wear's Prada,Mad Money, Nanny Diaries)  I'm getting Shy from Nanny's. I was going to stop at Target and get that done tonight, but I'm not feeling like shopping right now. I'll be heading straight home to heat up my veggie mix and chicken (again, yes, I'm eating chicken) and maybe having it with some quinoa pilaf.  I'm also going to have a green monster (no, I STILL haven't tried those) for a snack tonight, if I need one. Probably I won't, so maybe that will be breakfast tomorrow. Either way, I'm busting out the camera. It's time to document all of my food. I mean, it is my January resolution afterall.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Special Place in Hell

For people who harm children.

I've been watching the news on the little girl who was murdered in northern Florida and I wasn't going to blog about it, but I feel compelled to express my sadness for this family. I have a 6 y/o little girl, so of course I make the natural comparison's but any parent would feel the gut wrenching horror that this poor mom is going through.

Who can harm a little girl like that? And this poor, poor woman. My heart breaks for her.

And I don't want to hear one more time about who lets a seven year old walk home without adult supervision. You don't know the situation and you don't know the circumstance that lead to that horrible and tragic decision. As I said, it's luck. We (parents) have all made seemingly innocuous decisions that could have led to tragedy but didn't. This poor woman will be forever questioning herself.

How do you survive something like that? I just saw her on the Today show and she seems incredibly strong. Much more so than I would have been.

I'm going to hug my children now.

TGIF!!!

The kids don't have school today and I realize that I should have taken the day off. But I didn't. So, I'll drop them off and go to work, but I'll try to get out early that's for sure.

Nothing exciting today.

The kids are getting the h1n1 flu shot. And I'm not really sure I believe in flu shots, but they are going to get them anyway. Yes, I reviewed the pros and cons and came to this decision.  If something happened and I didn't have them get the shot the guilt and hindsight would kill me. Yes, that is the main reason that I am getting them the flu shots.

In other weight related news, I've been working some internal work and realize what and why I eat and what positive intent it gives me. Now, I just need to work out the habits and get into something else. Well, last night, first night I don't eat at night after dinner. Yea me.  That was huge for me.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Try, try again

I'm trying to think of a quote, something like "the difference between failure and success is one more try." I think I just made that up.  But I like it.

I'm going to try again today. And keep trying until I make it through a full day.  It's that important to me.

I have to watch the Devil Wears Prada. Apparently, according to a friend of mine at work, the Glen Close character is just like my female boss and what her expectations are.  Well, said boss is back today. Yesterday was a nice and quiet day at work. We'll see what it brings.

I like to think that I can trace my struggles with when said boss was promoted and thus got on her power kick, thus increasing my chronic stress levels, but that's just an excuse. Some kind of spell comes over me when I walk in the door at the end of the day and I need to bust out of this rut.  It's gone on long enough.  I'm sure I'd make a great case study at the local College of Psychology.  Speaking of therapy, I'm thinking of not going back. I mean, I've gained 15 pounds since I've been going, so part of me thinks, what the hell am I doing. I do, however, realize, that I've made some serious progress on the demons that I have. Although, you won't see me posting a crazy ass video on here like poor Kanye did on his website. That dude is a case study for sure.

Today will be a busy day I'm sure. I'm just sitting here enjoying the quiet before it begins with some coffee.  Breakfast will be my standard fare, a bagel at Nanny's.  Lunch will be salad with some leftover chicken on top.  I'll have a yogurt w/kashi cereal as a topping for a snack in the afternoon with my tea and then dinner will probably be mixed veggies with some lentils and rice.  My evening snack will be popcorn or a popsicle.

Definitely woke up too early. I'm tired already and I haven't even gotten dressed yet.

Monday, October 19, 2009

I miss my friend

No pictures of my food today. Sorry.

This is going to be a rather short post as well as I'm just not in the mood to write. Well, I could always write, but if it isn't anything meaningful, then all I'm doing is typing grammatically correct sentences. And even that is questionable.

I miss my friend.  This person knows who they are. Or they should. I miss talking about everything and anything.  I miss the comfortable lapses of silence.  I miss the friendship most of all. Knowing that someone was thinking of you and waiting to share the day's events at the end of the day.

There will be some of you who are so vain that like Warren to my Carly you will think this post is about you. It isn't.

I've denied the funk that I've been in for months because of the ending of this friendship. I was able to distract myself for awhile but eventually I suppose I need to acknowledge it. My sadness about the ending of this friendship.  I have to in order to move on. I miss you friend. But I'm letting go and moving on.  I was able to see today that I've been holding out for a rekindling of our friendship. I see now, that it won't happen.  I've learned a lot from it.

In the meantime, I'm going to go watch West Wing and read.  Not necessarily in that order.

Manic Monday

Not really. I've said this before, but I totally don't mind Monday's.  Both bosses are out of the office, so I can use this time to play catch up.  I'll be trying to utilize Google Calendar as I really prefer the functionality that it has vs Outlook or iCal (both of which I have/use) because I can access the calendar anywhere, from any computer.  The fact that I can have tasks incorporated with the calendar are one of the things I like. My preference, of course, would be if I could use iCal and Outlook at the same time w/my iPhone. Outlook at work and iCal at home. If you know how, let me in on the secret. kthnx

In eating and health related news, I'm up two pounds. WTF??  How did that happen. Apparently the same way someone can not really pay too much attention to what they are eating and go down two pounds. (Yes, Michael, this means you!)  Well, I know I haven't been writing EVERYTHING down, so I guess it's time to own it and do it. I'll need to plan out my meals in advance. I always am more successful when I do that.

My breakfast today is the same thing I have every morning: a bagel w/a spritz of butter spray and a tbsp off sugar free orange marmalade.  Lunch will be a sandwich using up the leftover chicken breast. Yes, I started eating fowl on occasion. Sorry if that disappoints my veggie/vegan friends.  Dinner is going to be a veggie stirfy w/a garden burger. Pictures to follow later.

Now for some local news, fall is finally here.  We went from record highs of 92 to a record low of 57 the next night. Yes, it's true and I'm not exaggerating.  It was so nice to open all the windows and enjoy the weather for a change.

Time to get the kiddo-s up and at 'em.  Enjoy your Monday.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

BOTNS Books Podcast #47: DystopYA | Books on the Nightstand Blog and Books Podcast

I have not only read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for this challenge, but I couldn't help but to immediately read Catching Fire as well. I was so enthralled by The Hunger Games, that I skipped all my other books that were in queue before Catching Fire to read it immediately. And read it I did, in about three days.

The Hunger Games, begins with Katniss in the woods with Gale. The year isn't really known but it's a good ways into the future. The United States, obviously is no more and now is known as Panem. The 50 states have been broken into 12 Districts and are under strict control from "The Capitol" which is somewhere near Denver. I can understand the sisterly love and sacrifice that Katniss makes for her sister. This book is a YA novel and I don't really read that genre, but the writing was good and kept me in suspense almost the entire time. I found myself wanting Katniss to really be in love with Peeta and I suppose that in a way, she does find herself in love with him. I have to keep reminding myself that these are teenagers that I am reading about. I did like the Romeo and Juliet ending, albeit not as deadly as Shakespeare's original.

Moving towards Catching with Fire and trying not to give it away for anyone who is reading this and hasn't read the books yet, I can honestly say that I didn't see where the plot was going. Each plot twist was surprising to me. I soon became as confused as Katniss and didn't know who to trust and who not to trust. I definitely didn't see the ending of the second book coming either. As a matter of face, I had to go back and re-read the last few pages to be sure that I was comprehending what the author was trying to tell me. Really?? How did I not see this ending coming? And better yet, when the hell is the third book coming out.

I have to say, I thank Ann (and Michael) for pointing me towards this series. It's the second series (Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo being the first) that I am scouring the internet trying to see when the publishing dates are and marking them on my google calendar. A first for me.

And was I the only one who puts myself into the story and imagines how I would survive living in a country like that?? I could totally go off on a political tangent now, but I'll save it for another post. I'm such a tease, I know.



EDIT OF ORIGINAL POST

So, I realized that I left out the things that I didn't like. Or why I liked it other than I just found it to be a page turner.  I feel that anytime a book elicits a strong emotion, be it anger, frustration or impatience or positive emotions such as happiness or excitement that it must be well written. Well, these two books hit all of those and then some.  Currently, the biggest emotion is anticipation. Anticipation of the third novel to quell the curiosity that the crazy cliffhanger that Collins left for us.  But I'm putting the cart ahead of the horse. Because I also felt frustration for Katniss and her inability to see that Peeta really is the one she should choose. I never really connected with Gale because he seemed to be a supporting character in both books. I know he figured prominently in Katniss' mind, but for us, the reader, there were too few instances where he appeared for me to be able to connect with him. I was rooting for Peeta all the way, and actually got angry with him when he failed to fight for Katniss and was willing to let her go so easily.

I guess the one thing that I didn't like about the novel was that they had to go back to the Arena and fight again. Big plot moment in that, yes, I know, but I still thought there would have been or could have been a different way to do this. To get the rebellion going.  I did have to say that I did enjoy it once I got past my anger at them having to get tossed back into the games.

I never realized that this was supposed to be a trilogy so imagine my shock and surprise at the ending.  It's been hours since I finished it and I am still stunned.


Sunday Competition

Shy had another gymnastics competition this morning. she did great! All of her scores went up, except the beam which stayed the same. Her score would have been even higher had she not forgotten one of her jumps on the beam. I'm so proud of her and she is really into this. She breathes, eats and sleeps gymnastics. The only down side is that the older she gets the more time consuming it is. So, I'm a gymnastics mom!

The bad thing about drawing an 8a start time is that you have to get up really early, especially since the meet was about 45 min away. The good thing is that we are done and home by 11a and the day isn't totally lost. I've got laundry (don't I always) to do and then we will be hitting up Books-a-Million for Jon for his weekly comic book fix.

Dolphins are on a bye week, so it'll just be NASCAR today.

In other random news, I still chuckle ala Beavis and Butthead anytime I hear the term 'tea baggers' in a political sense.

Friday, October 16, 2009

TGIF BITCHEZZZZZ!!!!!!!

It's Friday. I've got some new clothes from my good friend D and it makes me feel really good to look good again. I cleaned out my closet last night and that purging and organizing is something that really centers me. Are you like that as well? I'm totally running late and need to go and get dressed for work.

I'm going to start using Google Calendar to see if I can get myself more organized than I am. Work has been really crazy lately and it seems that I'm going to have to take a more proactive role in certain areas of my work life. I'm ok with that, I'm just trying to figure out how to be efficient and effective without making myself totally crazy.

I'm also going to plan my meals for the week and hit the grocery store. I'm feeling so energized after finally getting out there and running again. Of course I didn't run the whole time, but I ran more than I walked. Either way, it really does feel good, and makes me want to eat right.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Went Running

I almost didn't. I almost dragged my clothes and running shoes back into the car without using them. As I had been doing this entire week. And last week as well, if I'm being honest. But not today. Got to the door of the bathroom and without thinking just went into the big stall to change my clothes. I started to make excuses...there's laundry to do...I'm 15 minutes late...it's set me even more behind...I'd rather just go eat dinner and read a book. But then, I thought to myself, remember that feeling. You know the one. That feeling of having just powered through something that you didn't want to do but knew that you would feel great if you did it anyway. The feeling of accomplishment. The feeling of sweat running down your face and the after effect of stretching. How good it is to stop running after you've done it for so long. You know,"C'mon! Just get through this next 2 min/song/to the next tree/corner whatever the case may be milestone. Then I can walk", you tell yourself. Well, I hadn't felt that in a very long time. AND, my friend D wants to run a 5K on 10/31. Well, that's just two weeks away. If I'm going to do that, then I definitely need to get my ass out there. So I did. And man did it feel good.

Not all the time, and definitely not at first. But when the sweat started dripping down my face and I had those running songs on. Well, it was like visiting with an old friend. It just felt good.

I did almost three miles today. I can totally handle that. Watch out. I'm back.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

BOTNS Books Podcast #47: DystopYA | Books on the Nightstand Blog and Books Podcast

BOTNS Books Podcast #47: DystopYA | Books on the Nightstand Blog and Books Podcast

My book, as previously mentioned, is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I've just finished reading it and will post a review this week. It was one of those books I couldn't put down and stayed up late to read.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Heat, heat and more heat

OMG, it's been so hot lately. It's October, and while I do remember times where it was warm/humid on Halloween, I truly don't remember this horrible heat before this late in the year.

I've been feeling a restlessness. This in and of itself is nothing new. But, I've been thinking more and more of moving northward. The biggest problem is my job. I've been there for 14 years. I suppose the best scenario is one where I get a promotion in a different city and therefore can still keep my job and scratch my restlessness.

I had yesterday off which was quite nice. Not the original reason that I had the day off but the fact that we were finished by 10a and I had the rest of the day to myself. I wound up running errands and doing chores at home, but I watched a couple West Wing episodes and this, for me, is definitely a treat. I loved that show and there hasn't been a show on it since for me. There are a couple who come close, but they still lack something.

I finished The Hunger Games. I'll have an official review coming up, but needless to say, it was one of those books that I couldn't put down and needed to finish. It was that good.

In sports related news, the Dolphins won!! We beat the hated Jets. Which is my usual goal for the season. Beat the Jets and the Patriots. Well, one out of two isn't so bad.

I've been eating intuitively, or at least trying to. It's obviously working since I lost over a pound this week. Hopefully, this momentum will continue. I'm going to do it anyway. Time to get ready for work.


Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The FTC doesn't have to worry about me writing about books. This one I checked out of the library. And the other's I've done I've bought on my own.

For those of who don't know what I'm referring to, the short story is that the FTC apparently doesn't have enough to do so they decided to focus on book bloggers (bloggers in general actually) and that anytime a blogger reviews a book that they have to give full disclosure. OR something like that because in typical government form they are very ambiguous and not clear at all what their expectations are.

Anyway, I digress.

I started reading this book as part of the BOTNS DystopYA challenge. Well, I was sucked in from the first page. Ok, maybe the second page. By the time they were at the square and pulling names for The Hunger Games, I too was yelling, no, no. And wondering, could this really happen. I look forward to reading this over the weekend. I'll finish it by tomorrow probably.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Hope lives again

Wow! President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm sitting here in shock because I don't think anyone expected this. But this does touch my cynical heart. While I tell my children all the time that if they work hard enough, they can accomplish anything, truth be told, I don't really believe that. There are so many obstacles that are out of your control, that sometimes, it takes more than hard work. It takes luck. And money. Neither of which seem to be abundant in my life. I'm not whining about it, since I do have riches in other areas that matter. The way things are, it seems to me that there isn't much hope for them, even if they work hard.

President Obama has given me back that glimmer of hope, that yea, if you work hard, even coming from poverty, you can do anything. We don't live in poverty, but we do live paycheck to paycheck. And there isn't a lot of money for extras. Usually, this can bog me down. Seeing the President win the Nobel Prize, while he has so many detractors and so many critics makes me feel like you can persevere. The fact is, he came from nothing and look where his hard work has taken him. I have hope again, that the little boy in the bedroom across the hall can make his dreams come true. The little girl in the room next to his can as well. I can help them affect change. I believe this again. It's actually a nice feeling.

I can't wait until the kids wake up to tell them.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Best Missed Connection on Craigslist so far

to the lady that i repoed her car - m4w - 23 (Hollywood)


Date: 2009-09-30, 1:22AM EDT


me= the repo man who took your car
you= the lady that came running outside as i was driving away in my black tow truck

you looked pretty cute and i know the sterio type repo men are white trash and nasty... but im dead sexy :D

what kind of car do (or did) you have? hit me up i might be able to help you get it back :D



    OMFG! This is great! LMAO!!

    Just Write (sung to lady gaga's just dance)

    That's what all the books about writing say. Read, then write. Then rinse and repeat apparently. So, that's what I'm doing. Actually, I'm going to enter a contest. The Washington Post is having a "pundit" contest in which you submit a short (no word count, ugh, torture) essay about a topic currently in the news. Then you write a brief bio paragraph. LMAO!! Since when am I brief. The winner gets a semi-regular column or space in the Post. I'm not sure if it's the paper or online version that they refer too, but either way, for me, the aspiring wanna-be writer, I figure it's worth a paragraph or two.

    Except that I'm never sure if I can keep it at that length. Then of course, there's the matter of choosing the subject. Well, shit, I work in healthcare and that topic couldn't be more prevalent, right? Sure, you say, write about what you know. Except what if writing about what you know, could get you in trouble with the powers that be. Of course, it would really be more of an op-ed piece. Hah, or even an insider story. Ooh, which reminds me, I am considered an insider by the SEC, so I don't suppose that I could write what I know even if I wanted to, right? Or write. Or Just Write (again with the Lady Gaga Ear Worm). Speaking of Lady Gaga, did you guys see her the other night with Madonna. Yea, that skit wasn't the funniest, but I'll admit I did chuckle a couple of times.

    I'm just about half way through with Await Your Reply. And it's due back at the library tomorrow. I don't think I can read half a book in one night. So I'll have to recheck it out again, and hope that I remember where I left off. Sadly, the finances do not foresee a trip to B&N or Borders this week. Or anytime soon. It's about to be the Holiday Season, and I've got to start planning and saving now. Otherwise, come December, the kids (really just Shy) will be in for a rude awakening. They'll think that Santa dissed them. Well, he should. That reminds me, did I ever tell you guys about the time that I really put coal under the tree for my eldest.

    Wait, don't yell at me yet, hear me out. He was being such an ass. Spoiled rotton kid. Really, he was. Hell, he still is, only difference is he is a man now. Anyway, I warned him about a million and one times that Santa doesn't bring presents to little boys who disrespect their Mommy (he was like 8 at the time, Jon was 2 and Summer must have been 14 or so. Anyway, he started hyperventilating Christmas morning when he saw that there were no presents but rather a bag of charcoal. Sadists that we are, we started laughing, until I felt a slight twinge of guilt. Hey! He totally deserved it, and if I could, I'd give him coal again this year, but he's 18 and knows it's me now. Anyway, his presents were in the closet, the little shit, and we gave it to him. After he acknowledged that he was really sorry for being disrespectful. I don't think it lasted until the 26th.

    Enough procrastinating, I'm off to clean up the dinner dishes and read a bit. I must be getting old because I've been falling asleep at 10pm-ish these days. 10p is the 11p.

    Tuesday, October 6, 2009

    Random musings that aren't worthy of their own post

    I'm over hearing about the Kanye/Beyone/Taylor incident. Really. Done. Get over it people.

    I don't understand why the library lets you check out up to 40 books but doesn't let you renew if someone has a hold on it.

    If it's on Twitter, it's not breaking news stop-the-presses worthy.

    I am never going to finish "Await Your Reply" by Thursday. I'm about 1/2 way through. Sadly, I have to work.

    Is it wrong that I chuckled when I heard Tom Delay had to bow out of Dancing With the Starts. Hah. I'm evil, I know.

    I love Mad Men. It makes me miss smoking. Not enough to endure the ramifications of actually smoking. But enough that I wish that there weren't any ramifications.

    The FTC really doesn't have anything better to do.

    Even though I love Mad Men, West Wing is still my favorite show, ever.

    When is it going to get a little cool down here. I mean, it is October. Today was a good day. I journaled everything. I now you were wondering. I may take a walk tomorrow. If it doesn't rain. And even if it does. I may channel Gene Kelly.

    Monday, October 5, 2009

    Acceptance of myself through others

    It's another week, and I'll start again today. Start changing my lifestyle, how I eat. Listen to my body and give it the fuel that it needs, not eat out of nervous energy to stuff my emotions. My mom said that to me yesterday, that as she observed me eating, it looked like nervous energy. It was good to hear that actually, because it put a visual to the feelings and emotions I go through. As I weighed in, I am up again. Two more pounds and I am not surprised. I'm also not freaking out about it. In actuality, I think I'm finally able to let this weight go. To release it the right way. It's been giving me the perspective of my life that I need. I've mentioned before how I feel that whenever I've been really thin that my priorities weren't in order. I think that they are in order for the first time in a very long time, years in fact.

    It's really about the way you eat and how you live life. I said something to my daughter yesterday that my mom said that she really likes the way I said it to her. She, my daughter, had said she was finished with dinner and I said, are you satisfied? My 6 year old then says, what does that mean? And I answer, "not hungry." Did you get that?? Not hungry. That's what we need to eat to, not full. But satisfied, which means not hungry. And this was something that I really want her to learn. My mom said that she really liked the way that conversation went, because I am showing her, at a very young age, how to eat and how to feel about food. And that is, not feelings at all. It's fuel that we eat for energy. I need to remember this.

    Of course, my daughter has been instrumental in my learning how to accept and love myself and not be so self critical. I love her unconditionally and the emotions are so strong for her. This is how I need to think of myself. I've realized that. I teach her and she makes mistakes but I don't think horrible things about her because of this. I don't, instead, I want to use those opportunities to teach her to grow and improve herself. Well, then, why can't I...no change that, why don't I treat myself that way. I'm not sure of the why, but what I do know is that I am and have been treating myself that way.

    Wow, this was a long post, but one that I needed to get out. I look forward to each and every day as they are really gifts. Enjoy each moment.

    In other random news, I'm going to start reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins as part of a Dystopia YA challenge on Books on the Nightstand podcast and blog that I follow. (See my blogroll, they are there).

    Saturday, October 3, 2009

    Sleepy Saturday

    I have to be up at the crack of dawn to take Shy to a gymnastics competition. I'm yawning, but continue reading Await Your Reply.

    Had a fun day with the kids and my Mom, who is down visiting strictly to see Shy compete tomorrow. I'll be sure to update when I get home what her scores were. We hit the book stores today and I picked up Vincent Bugliosi's tome on the Kennedy Assassination. John's that is. This book is huge, but according to the flap summary and the TOC, it covers every aspect of the case and what is and isn't true. This is a book to keep. I'll read bits of it at a time, I'm sure, since it's so large.

    Then Shy and I went to the library since our libraries are now closed on Sundays and we won't have an opportunity to go as was our routine. I guess Sat library visits are now going to be the norm. I got some vegetarian cookbooks and a chick lit book on Sex and the City that came in.

    I've also heard murmuring that The Girl Who Kicked Hornets will be out in 2010. I hope so as I feel like The Girl Who Played With Fire left me hanging. I mean, who survives a bullet to the brain?? Well, I guess if it a bibi gun (which is what I'm going with) then I suppose it was possible.

    In other completely random and unrelated news, I'm so excited that Brett Musberger is giving Randy Shannon props on ABC and the game, Hurricanes vs. Oklahoma. It looks like OK is going to score. Ugh, I've got to get to bed since I've got to be up so early.