A new blog.....really....

I know...I know... six months...

I have always been a fan of lists, but I now HAVE to make them to keep track of my crazy life. Purple note cards: school Pink:Toastmasters Green:work Blue:personal events.... These lists are keeping me sane! (the lists and erasable highlighters that is!)

So- in the spirit of lists...here is a list of the top ten observations I have made over the last month or so.

10. I have WAY more willpower than I ever thought that I did. I am finishing up a weight loss detox. It was NOT easy...but SO worth it. 25 lbs gone...and looking forward to doing it again in January.
9.Morals and ethics are NOT a prerequisite for being an adult....end of point.

8. I can ONLY keep my car OR my closet clean...not both at the same time...you choose.

7. Math is one of those things you acquire a taste for as you get older...like beets...or turnips.

6. Singing has become my safety net...I can sing any of my emotions now...and look forward to my lessons every week.

5. Having something to look forward to makes the mundane of day to day living okay. We are taking a trip to NYC in November, just three days, but three shows and lots of regrouping time.

4. Starbucks is STILL the perfect beginning...middle...or end to a day..reward...and comfort food.

3. I may not know what I want to be when I grow up...but I enjoy being an adult. I look at the kids in my classes...watch them make excuses for not turning in their work....or for getting a failing grade....and know I was not meant to go to college right out of high school. I am getting so much more out of my classes now....except the intro to college class...I still think it is ridiculous that I have to take this class. I do NOT want to go to social events..learn how to make new friends....email professors...or figure out how to budget my time...thank you very much!

2. There are no substitutes for having class or being a good person.

1. My friends...both near and far.... are there no matter what happens.....and that is all I need.


I promise I will TRY to update this blog more..... I hope I still have a reader or two;)

Lead Poisoning...and Being Old!

Not sure what Kate will die of first....shock of me posting another blog...or lead poisoning.....

A person's Golden or Grand Birthday, more commonly referred to as the "Star Birthday" occurs when they turn the age of their birth day.

This year is my Golden Birthday...I am turning 27 on the 27th. Know what? IT IS FREAKING ME OUT! Before anyone attacks me...I realize 27 is NOT old...But it is scary! When I was younger I had all of these grand ideas of what I would be and what I would have done by this point in my life..... I have done very little on that list..... Again..I know..."plenty of time" "enjoy what you have"....blah blah blah!

Let me enjoy the next 15 days of my mental breakdown...

The luck of the Irish!

I can NOT believe it has been so long since I last posted, I'm not sure anyone even checks this blog any longer!

So much has changed over the last eight months...

Most importantly...I have a new job. In this crazy economy you hear all of the horror stories...my experience was quite the opposite. I was laid off on December 1, December 3 I was employed by a health & wellness center as the Office/Marketing manager. It is such an amazing environment...no stress...a job where the office is actually helping people to live a healthier life. Who thinks that getting laid off is the best thing that could happen to them? ME!

I took an overnight trip to Washington DC this past weekend, on the way home last night I turned the radio off, and drove in silence. This gave me six solid hours of thinking time! Something that I have been way too busy to do lately. With St. Patrick's Day upon us, I think I would reflect on some of the things I thought about, and why I am so lucky!!

I have always said that I am not a "lucky" person...I never win raffles or the lottery... but I think that luck is just in how you look at it!

I speed...a lot...almost every time I am in the car.... I have never ::knocking on wood:: gotten a ticket! THAT is lucky!

I have amazing friends who know who I am. Who know what it looks like when I have a terrible day...and also what a great day is. They stand by me no matter what. One of which I have known for 11 years now...she is the reason that I went to DC...it was such an amazing day...this is how she put it...." There are only so many days in a persons' life that they can classify as 'perfect". It usually has nothing to do with the location...the weather.....it's the people and the time you share." Yesterday was one of those "perfect" days for each of us! Having these people...makes me lucky!

My Mother is pretty gosh darn great! I know a lot of people who have terrible relationships with their parents...mine is wonderful!! Having her makes me lucky.

I participate in theater...schooling...Toastmasters...I volunteer....and am involved in a myriad of other activities.... I feel pretty well rounded....this makes me lucky.

I am in a stable relationship...and have been for almost six years...we rarely fight...we trust and love each other...everything a relationship is supposed to be...this makes me lucky too!

So many people focus on the negative things going on around them...I thought I would share the good today.....I also promise to blog more!

I lied....

Okay -- So I didn't blog the next day. Luckily Kate was so busy she forgot to yell at me!

Last night we went to see Jersey Boys. I was skeptical, it sounded a little like Mama Mia, but people assured me it actually had a story line, and after all it DID win the Tony.

Since we had to get some last minute tickets, I ended up sitting away from my group, no big deal since you aren't supposed to talk during shows anyway.

The show starts and right away the crazy ass old people all around me start singing and dancing. YES DANCING. I did not pay money to hear a revival of Jersey Boys done at the old folk's home! By the end of the show there was a woman who was SOBBING in front of me because it was just that moving.

Okay....here's the thing.... I love being swept away by theater, BUT....the public services announcement is this: MUSICALS ARE NOT CONCERTS...YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR OWN LIVING ROOM.... YOU WERE NOT CAST IN THE SHOW! SHUT UP!


I feel better now!

Because otherwise Kate is going to keep bragging...

It has been FAR too long since I have posted..... this will just be a place holder... I PROMISE I will post something tomorrow!!!

Do you have a minute?

It's been awhile..Kate keeps telling me to blog..... I can explain.

I am BUSY!
I have two jobs
I have rehearsals
I have voice lessons
I have a surge of work at my main job
I have a relationship and friendships that occasionally need attention

I kind of feel like I am swimming in one of those endless pools that shoots water at you...so you swim and swim and swim... and the only thing that happens...is you get tired!! Why can't I have a pretty infinity pool with a floating lounge chair and martini?

I am a pioneer....

...of modern cooking!!

Some of you know that a few weeks ago I blew the oven up! The heating element decided that it no longer wanted to serve it's purpose in life.
Fast forward to last night... I had decided to make Chicken Tortilla soup I had finished the chicken...was starting the soup...when in a grand burst of over zealous flames....the stove top stopped working. Out of propane!

It only took eight years.....

I finished the soup in the microwave!

It's been forever....

I know...I know.... I'm certain that people have even stopped checking this blog...since it has been so long since I have posted. Maybe people actually use RSS!

I have a great excuse for not writing...really... My life has been consumed for the last five months....with war! I've said over an over again that war is hell, especially when looking in the mirror, but war has been the best thing for me!

I wasn't even going to audition, what was the point, right? After going through the audition process, and getting a larger role than I had even wanted, I was brought into the NCP family. Not going to lie, at the beginning of rehearsals, I wanted to quit! The other girls all knew each other, they all bonded in other shows, and they didn't need a new girl. My only saving grace was Jennifer, the other new girl! We would go to Starbucks and talk; we would call each other before rehearsals just to make sure neither of us had to go through it alone! Then something changed, something just clicked. I am certain it was the night I stayed late to help with the set. Marci, Greg, Brenton, Kelly, and Doug...we were there until 2am painting, hanging the ceiling, laying burlap. (itchy..itchy..itchy!!) We sang, we laughed, and we were exhausted! I felt like I belonged. I realized it wasn't us vs. them...

The show came together....we got amazing reviews....we got standing ovations every night....we touched people!

It all really hit last night, I should have been getting ready to go on stage, I should have been smearing battle scars across my face, I should have been having a hair quicky. I should have been surrounded by amazing people. I wasn't. The last five months have been a movie...thanks to friends for life....the next fifty will be our sequel.

Well girls, the shooting has just begun!

It is like Santa came...again!!

I will miss the knife fights and chases around our cars... I will miss the cops calling me crazy when I tell them there are men living in the trees...I will miss the crazy cat lady most of all!


Good-bye crack house...hello Starbucks!

I know what I want to be when I grow up!!

A British rocker chick!! That's right! I came to this conclusion on my way to the Toastmasters' Officer training this morning. (I am club president after all) and it is a good thing I did. I was sitting with my club, which is pretty amazing, when the person in charge came up to me. She asked me to give a small opening speech, the prayer, and pledge. Why not? I have about ten minutes to prepare,MORE than enough time!

I get up there, and talk about being a British rock star! How Toastmasters allows me that little piece of fame. I get the chance to be up in front of people, they applaud for everything, and I get to do something I love! I told the audience to dig down and find their own inner-rocker. I believe the phrase "rock on" was used at some point.

I got lots of feedback
I was called delightful.. I was asked to speak at an open house...I was asked to mentor a club! I also had some guy come up and stare at me..then call me madam president..he was kind of creepy....


What an amazing morning, and all because I am becoming a rocker!

Running the world isn't all it is cracked up to be...

Good morning exhausted!

My week has consisted of my first KNOW lunch as Hospitality chair....first Toastmasters' meeting as Club President.... several rehearsals...and a couple of extremely late nights out.... not to mention the crazy busyness that I am buried under at work. I still have to schedule the Hospice volunteers....a couple more rehearsals...a Toastmasters' training day....plus working out.


It is all worth it! I am meeting some amazing friends..they are the kind of people that I want in my life. I feel like I am actually contributing to the world around me.

Now, if I could just figure out how to add about 8 more hours to the day!

Have a great week everyone!

All you have to do is dream......

I did not get much sleep this weekend due to INSANE dreams...


Friday night:
I am watching the dream happen..but the girl in the dream looks like me. She is having an affair with her English teacher. She goes to his house...knocks on the door..but the teacher's friend opens the door...she says.. "I remember you from my other dream" Oddly enough..I remember him from another dream......they go to an outing together..where they run into the teacher's daughter. She tells him that he can't date her unless they always wear matching clothing!


Saturday night:
Theresa and I lived in an apartment above a theater...and were getting ready to go down to see a show. As we open the door...there is a little boy who looks to be about 6 or 7....he says he is 10...and needs a new mommy...we take him to dinner...which consists of an ice cream sundae....after he is done..he stands up...says... I lied, I don't think you would make a good mommy....and walks out.

Sunday night:
I was shopping in a large city....this strange man keeps following me..wherever I go..... I will be in a store and he will be staring at me through a rack of clothing... he was hiding behind a stack of boxes at Starbucks.....he ended up being my waiter at lunch...... I finally woke up as he was chasing me down the street....



I didn't eat anything late these nights.. I'm not stressed... I think I am just going slowly insane!!

What happens when you stick carrots in your eyes....

(Keratitis)

When the cornea is damaged, such as after a foreign object has penetrated the tissue, bacteria or fungi can pass into the cornea, causing a deep infection and inflammation. This condition may cause severe pain, reduce visual clarity, produce a corneal discharge, and perhaps erode the cornea.

As a general rule, the deeper the corneal infection, the more severe the symptoms and complications. It should be noted that microbial infections, although relatively infrequent, are the most serious complication of contact lens wear.

Minor corneal infections are commonly treated with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal eye drops. If the problem is more severe, a person may receive more intensive antibiotic treatment to eliminate the infection and may need to take steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation. Frequent visits to an eye care professional may be necessary for several months to eliminate the problem.

Angels don't wear leather boots....

I always get excited for the New Year. There are so many possibilities and adventures to be had.

So far 2008 has included:

A cracked windshield
A stomach flu
A $700 dental bill
Red eyes
No calls from the lawyer


It IS only the third day, right? I am going to take the advice of Kate, and keep my glass half full! Tomorrow is another day.

A woman who can sell worms... is a force to be reckoned with!

There are times in my life that I feel like the three year old at Thanksgiving who gets pushed to the kids table, even though I see that the kitchen is on fire. I need to work at being more assertive, and confident in what I feel and how I portray it. I am looking forward to a few days at the holiday to regroup and remind myself that I am wonderful. Hello resolution!

There is a reason I hate breakfast food...

One of our clients sent us a basket for Christmas, it has pancake batter, syrup, coffee, and jam. We thought it would be an amazing idea to make pancakes for the office this morning! This was only a good idea because I had less than 3 hours of sleep last night getting ready for our holiday party. Joanna, Kate, and I set up to make the worlds best breakfast for the group. Milk...check.... Eggs....check...butter..check....pan..check...pancakes that look like scrambled eggs and stick to the pan... CHECK! What a mess..but..not going to lie..kind of tasty!

Who needs sleep?

Long weekends are so nice!
Long nights are not so nice!

Went to bed about 11:30 last night only to wake up at 2 am. Did you know it is possible to sneeze in your sleep and wake yourself up? I didn't either. I tossed and turned for about two hours....thinking of the play....everything I have to get done this week before leaving for Chicago on Sunday....thought about Christmas shopping..having to go to the dentist because I chipped a tooth... I even tried to bore myself back to sleep thinking about what cleaning I need to get done. No luck! I got out of bed to watch some Dawson's Creek.... Arrived at work about 6:40...and now.. I'm tired...and have some virus thing...

Happy Monday. =)

Will it fan?

So....our office has this amazing game... WILL IT FAN?

We throw things like post its....silly string...and water bottles at our industrial strength fan....it explodes and we laugh..... watch the video...its all fun and games.. until someone...well me... gets smacked in the face with a water bottle traveling at 5 million miles per hour. Next time I'll duck!

Fuck that noise...part two

I am SO glad I am back from vacation....

the first part was amazing....

then I spent a week in a bad country and western song....complete with spending several hours stranded on the side of the road with a broken car...which I have had for less than a year....and JUST put $400 into the week before we left....

I have never been so happy to get home.....

New York State of Mind......

I am sitting in a fabulous B&B in south western New York......A fire going in the fireplace.....digesting the most AMAZING French food I have ever had.... celebrating Theresa's birthday..... Tomorrow we are going hiking to see some waterfalls at a near by state park....Monday we are going shopping...and heading to Columbus...from there we are going to Tennessee to see family.....

This vacation has had an amazing start.... it can only get better.....


Happy Birthday Theresa!!!

Oh, everyone send a few good thoughts our way..... I hope I will be able to explain why later this week....