J.C, Dinah, Luther and Busta'

I've had a rather interesting week of driving.  I keep thinking I'm going to get use to the early morning rush hour craziness but it still bothers the heck out of me.  Not enough to regret my job, but enough to seriously consider the perks of public transportation.  But there are some good things that have come out of all of this.  I have passengers that I'll bet few can say they have.  In the passenger's seat there's always good ole J.C. aka Jesus.  Pulling up the rear today were Dinah Washington, Luther Vandross and Busta' Rhymes.

This morning I left 4 minutes later than usual thanks to poor planning and a kick-my-butt workout.  You'd think this wouldn't make a difference but it does.  Merging into 10 mph traffic is what you get when you hit the freeway 4 minutes late. It sucks.  A lot.  Don't even get me started on how much I dislike driving while it's still dark out while wearing glasses.  The glare....oh the glare!  I really need to remember I have contacts.    Once I finally got into the slow moving lane, I realized my body was tense and my shoulders were aching.  Right away, I slid in a mix CD to try to relax.  It didn't take me long to start singing along to Dinah Washington's 'Relax'.  Get it?  I added that hoping it would remind me to do just that.  My body started to unwind and I even began to enjoy myself a little.  I was cool for a little while.

I was cool and then the heat was on me like...like...I don't know what but it was there.  Up the exit lane came this speeding little silver BMW.  Because it was moving at a good pace and the exit lane had run out, I kept moving at my regular pace.  That little piece of pretentious metal cut me off by mere inches.  Inches!  Of course I had to call on my old buddy Jesus.  Well, after I had a few choice words for the Cut-Me-Off -Car. I think I heard J.C. 'tsk' me but I'm confident I'm forgiven for the rainbow of words.  I soon got over some of my anger and crooned with Luther Vandross singing about some good love.  When I was finally able to get off the dreaded highway, I joined in with Busta's Rhymes for some Pass the Courvoisier (the clean one).  I had to laugh a little at the fact that I imagined all of my passengers singing to this song.  I know it's probably wrong to imagine Jesus rapping but my Jesus is down y'all. 

I made it to work on time and had a pretty good day.  Now I can lay it down and do it all again tomorrow.  As much as I complain, I do realize without these moments, I wouldn't have a heck of a lot to say in my blogs now would I?  Lol.  I sure hope someone enjoys them.  Off to bed to think about the looming holiday also known as Daylight Savings Time.  I do believe this is the first year I've actually looked forward to it.
Have a good one!

Quote of the Day:  "Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." ~Ellen DeGeneres

Pleasant Mornings

A perfect Saturday morning would be getting up early on my own time.  No alarms, no dog whiney's, no urgent bladder moments.  I could get dressed in long pants, my favorite Tee, broken in shoes, and a comfy hoodie and hit the trail for a good morning walk/jog.  Oh yeah, with my trusty husband at my side.  We would do our six miles, come home, cleanup, maybe go out for breakfast and spend the rest of the day chilling and watching movies while snuggling on the sofa with the fur babies.

Yes, that would be great.  Of course that's not how my morning played out but the reality version wasn't half bad if you look at it from another angle. Maybe squinting on some parts and definitely stretching the blessings on others.  Thanks to a marathon reading of  'Water for Elephants', I got to bed at about 2am.  Sofie had to go and whined for a half hour before she did that annoying screeching let-me-out drama bit.  Instead of throwing on workout clothes, I pulled on okay-smelling yoga pants from the floor, slipped on fleece-lined moccasins, pulled on a fleece jacket over my granny gown and let the dogs drag me out into the crisp cold.  I was chilly and mighty nice.  Because they had to wait past 7:30, the pups didn't waste any time doing their business and we were back inside in no time.  I was still sleepy so I told them to go back to bed.  Surprisingly they did.  I pulled off my getup and got back in bed.

I slept another hour or so until my mind could no longer tell my body to stay put.  I lay there making a list in my head of all the things I wanted to get done today.  When that happens, no more sleep can be had so I rose and officially started my morning.  I put crescent rolls in the oven and the kettle of water on the stove.  Before long, the place smelled of freshly baked bread and the kettle was whistling.  I poured myself a cup of tea, buttered a roll and sat down to watch some HGTV.   I forgot to mention the husband is still suffering from a treacherous cold so is still in bed.  The cold is just a cold but he's a guy and claims its the worst cold in the history of colds.  So, I snuggle under the throw with a dog on either side. 

So it was no perfect morning but rather pleasant.  Trying to get in the habit of locating the blessings in my sometimes crazy life, I have selected just a few that made this morning worthwhile.

1.)  Crisp fall air is wonderful after a super crazy hot summer.  It's like a long exhale. Nice.
2.)  Even though I didn't get up on my own time, it was still nice to not wake until light poked around the shades on the window.
3.)  I can't tell you how much a teakettle whistle on a cold morning excites me.  It's a tea-fan thing. Strange, I know.
4.)   Freshly baked anything, on a cold morning, with good tea.  Oh yeah...
5.)  Comfy PJ's (gown), thick socks, fleece throw, swallowing sofa, and a warm dog for either side makes for a pretty good relaxing moment.

I'll take this morning any day.  If things continue this well, maybe I'll get in a workout later and scrounge up a friend or two to have lunch with (leaving the ill Baby home of course).  I'll just go where the day takes me.  Have an awesome weekend!

Quote of the Day:  “October is a fine and dangerous season in America . . . a wonderful time to begin anything at all.”  ~Thomas Merton Quotes

Some Kind of Wonderful

I had a good day.  I got system access and finally felt like I was pulling my weight around the office.  Everyone was buzzing about the threat of cooler weather.  This prompted pumpkin latte flavored coffee scents in one corner and french vanilla coffee in the other corner.  The warm cinnamon rolls waiting on the empty desk just made it all the more sweet.  Definitely a sugar and caffeine buzz worthy environment was going on.

To top it off  there was quite a conversation in the break room today.  It had a lot to do with some woman wearing a fat suit on TV.  I've tried to remember as much as I can.  It went something like this:

Co-worker 1:  'One of the Housewives are going to be wearing a fat suit.'

Co-worker 2:  'Why?'

Co-worker 1: 'To stop bullying or bring awareness to being fat or something.'

Co-worker 2: 'Huh....'

Me (sarcastically): 'Well thank goodness!  Finally someone that's going to really show what it is to be fat for a few hours and then take it off and then tell the world how mean people are.  Finally, the world will understand!'

Co-worker 1 and 2:  (laughter) 

Co-worker 2: "I've been overweight for at least 20 years.  I even know why.  No, I wasn't molested.  I wasn't unloved by my parents.  I wasn't picked on in school.  I was even a cheerleader at 195lbs believe it or not.  This at a time when thin was totally in.  My parents taught me how to respect myself but we all loved to eat.  Everything was a celebration with food.  Good grades? Food.  Graduation? Food.  Birthday? More food.  I loved it.  Still do."

Co-worker 1:  "When these people go years with a regular job that barely makes ends meet, kids that need this and that, figure out how to prepare a nutritionally balanced meal on a budget with little or no time, then tell me how unfair being overweight is. Not to mention the aches and pains that go with being overweight.  Ain't no fat-suit going to give them that.  Try working 6 months and losing 50 lbs (the hard way), getting an injury because that buff personal trainer didn't believe them when they said they couldn't do it.  Not being able to afford to have it properly looked after and the only advice given was to 'rest'.  Try doing that and gaining two-thirds of it back after a couple of months of no activity. "

Co-worker 2 and me:  (silence)

The conversation went on like this for a while.  There were some really good points made.  One woman admitted that she had never had a weight problem and would never claim she knew how it was to be fat.  Another corrected her saying fat was insulting and that she preferred 'overweight'.  This brought on a whole knew conversation.  I'd say this was one of the more stimulating break room/water cooler conversations I've heard in a while.

It was definitely a better day and I walked away from work feeling like a real adult.  I actually got some work in, had good conversation, and drove home with the windows down welcoming the cooler weather. I even crooned to some Barry White, Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross.  Needless to say, I was happy to see my hubby when I got home...even if he was stuffy, sneezy, feverish and whiny.  I hugged him, made him tea and made him get in bed.  I took the dogs on a walk as the skies finally started to gray and temperatures dropped.  I was just as excited by the change as they were.  We went to the empty field behind the warehouse near us and ran and played a while.  What a day!  Can you tell I'm really loving my life right now?  It's some kind of wonder....yes it is!

I hope you found some joy in your day.

Quote of the Day:  "I say, if your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life." ~Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes






 

And I Smile

It's been an OK kind of day.  You know the days where it would have been awesomely spectacular if that one, itty bitty 'THING' didn't claw it's way ahead of the good crowd?  It made it's way to the front of my mind and yelled and shouted and made a bit to-do about nothing.  It was just ridiculous doubt (I call it Ricky D) that I created out of a five minute blunder.  Well, Ricky D collided with Perfection Me and there was a rumble.  It lasted all of 30 minutes before Optimism broke it up.   Took some doing but Ricky D went back to his corner and Perfection Me back to hers.  I just love it when Optimism is the referee in those matches.  Everyone comes out feeling much better.

Well, my optimism made me feel like alright.  When I'm feeling the tug o war between those other two, I have to really work at filling that space with something else.  Why not some feel good moments?  So, on my drive home today, I got to thinking about the things that made me smile this week.  I'm sure you are dying to know what they are so I will just tell you.

1.)  Sofie's crinkle 'mean' face when she's stalking a bug and Baxter's 'I'm confused' head tilt as he's watching her and trying to figure out what she's doing.

2.)  My husband's terrible attempt at telling a joke.  It almost always gets lost in translation.

3.)  A good friend of mine has twins; a boy and a girl.  She regularly posts pics of them on Facebook.  They are the most darling kids I've ever seen.  (That's saying something considering I'm not always taken with little ones.)  I have yet to meet them in person but I have to plan that trip.  I have to got see if they are really that cute or if she just has an amazing talent for capturing that 'something' in her photographs.  Anyway, I see those pics and I always smile.  Still so happy for her!

4.)  I did a DVD workout before work today and was smiling from ear to ear after realizing I finished a full 50 minutes without stopping.  Hells yeah!

5.)  Getting a text from a friend (in the middle of the workday) that reveals a very amusing fact about an old friend, a pole, single dollar bills.....

6.)  Getting out of my car, smelling wonderful aromas in the air, opening my front door and realizing that aroma is the result of my husband cooking dinner for us. 

So I'm smiling and will keep on smiling.  What made you smile today?

Quote of the Day:  "What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable." ~Joseph Addison

Tackling Terrible Traffic Tempers

I started the new job yesterday.  Don't ask how I like it yet because I haven't actually done any real work yet. Well, if you include filling out new hire paperwork, I did tons.  I can say I like the fact that there is a gym (with classes), a track and a cafeteria with an awesome salad and fruit bar.

Anyway, the new commute takes me roughly 35 minutes.  Not much of a commute to some but considering my last commute was a mere five minutes, the morning drive seems like an eternity.  In those thirty-five minute of driving yesterday, I was tense, stressed, and so annoyed that once I got to work, I was exhausted. 

Last night I vowed to made today different.  I woke up early and stocked my bag full of new and upbeat music.  I decided that if I have to sit in stop and go traffic for a half hour, I was going to find someway to enjoy it.  The traffic was even worse this morning than it was yesterday if that's even possible.  I tried to document this madness but there was a motorcycle cop in the lane next to me and I didn't want him to mistake snapping pics for texting. 

By the time I hit the freeway, I was singing at the top of my lungs.  Heck, I think I even mastered Busta Rhyme's rap from 'Look At Me Now.'  Lol.  Well...maybe not but I put in words that rhymed.  The point is that I reached my destination less stressed than I was yesterday.  I'm going to consider this my Mad Morning Meditation. 

Quote for the Day:  “There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.” ~Josh Groban

Creepy Kids

I like kids.  I really do.  I just want to make sure you know this before you read on.  Got it?  OK. So, I was in the library and came to a stopping point to read the summary on a book.  While I'm standing there, a book slides out and falls to the floor.  I look at it and pick it up and put it back. I continue reading.  Another book slides and falls.  Hm....?  I leave it and read on but by now I'm distracted and still thinking about the books.  I'm distracted because I'm a little weirded out.  Now, I don't watch scary movies because I am the biggest chicken around.  Not because the movies themselves are THAT scary but because I have a larger imagination than those writers can ever think of.  Therefore, what's not in the movies happens in my head and scares the crap out of me. So, the fact that these books keep mysteriously falling off the shelf had me thinking all sorts of October-like things.  Ghosts?  I shutter to think of them!  Again, I'm a chicken.  Keep that in mind while you continue to read.

I finally decide to move to another row.  A third book slides and falls.  This time it's directly in front of me.  At this point, I get a chill.  No, it didn't suddenly get cold there. I was just sort of freaked out.  I decide that was all I could take.  I went to put the book back in it's place and there is a face there.  A kid.  OK?  I decided to ignore the kid.  But the little freakish face kept appearing in every gap.  Finally I had to tell myself to calm down.  The only way I was going to get over this was to speak to the kid. I looked back down (it was a lower shelf gap) and she was gone. I turned to leave and discover she's just standing there at the end of the aisle staring at me.  She looks to be about 8 or 9 years old.  Then she finally speaks.  She says, 'Am I freaking you out?'  I immediately say, 'Hell yeah!'.  She giggles and runs away. 

I lost interest in finding a book and went in search of my husband with that kid still on my mind.  As I was searching, she came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I yelled an expletive (luckily at a whisper) and turned around to see her and another girl. She introduced herself at Journey and her sister who I can't quite remember.  They said that I was the only one that indulged in their little game.  She actually said 'indulge'.  She also asked if I was really scared.  I 'indulged' and told her yes, they were freakishly, creepy kids.  They seemed pleased, and said it was nice to meet me and ran off.

Yes, I like kids.  Kids seem to like me.  But I've since learned that some kids freak me the hell out!

WBE 11th Annual International Fair

Last night the husband and I participated in the Community International Fair held at the Elementary School.  It was our first time so we didn't know what to expect.  It was quite awesome!  I was pleasantly surprised.  The community was so supportive that the turnout was huge.  So many different countries were represented and the children were blowing my mind with their knowledge.  They had a 'passport' in hand to be stamped for each booth they viewed.  Surprisingly some of the kids were telling the parents where the countries were on the map. Ours label showed Ivory Coast but on the map it showed Cote d'Ivoire.  A lot of parents were searching for Ivory Coast but the kids quickly let them know the map labels it in French.  I was so tickled.

My husband did most of the talking and let me tell you, he was a freakin' superstar.  He surprises me with something new each day.  He was so passionate out making sure everyone learned something about it when they stopped.  And so many people commented to me about it.  If they learned nothing else, they learned that Cote d'Ivoire was the leading producer of cocoa.  At one point he left me alone to go and give his music to the people in charge.  Well, this had me nervous because I didn't have the knowledge he did.  What really surprised me was when people would come up and say, 'Your husband's dancing was awesome!'  I had no idea he was somewhere dancing.  Again, he surprises me.

I was so impressed with every booth.  Some to note were the Japanese Dragons and their Sushi Bar, India and their impressive Henna tattoo artists, Italy and their pizza dough tossing, England and the fabulous hot tea, and Mexico with the great food.  As I said, I was impressed by them all. 

We look forward to doing it again next year. These are just a few photos from last night. Enjoy!

Cameroon guy and my husband (Cote d'Ivoire) soccer debate.

Can't get this pic to flip. But the tea was awesome!





My hubby doing his thing!

India was very popular. The girls all loved the henna.

South Africa was very informative.

No, I didn't try the shrimp chips.