If you know me, you know I don't want to talk about anything serious. I want to (try to) entertain and I want to be entertained. Because life is too short to not roll like that. I was gonna blog about meatloaf today but I've reach my breaking point on this war that's going on between the people who are trying to protect their right to bear arms and the people who want stricter gun control.
Before we go on, if you DO know me, you know I ain't about to drop some facts and percentages and shit like that on you. I'm not a fucking statistician. I'm a girl with a heart that hurts over this and I am here to talk about my feelings and opinions ONLY.
My back story with regard to this issue is that I don't really like guns. But ironically, I work in the public safety field (and though many of the four of you who might read this know me in real life and know what I do, I choose to not mix my job with this public area so that's all I can say), so not only have I been around guns but I am friends with many people who very much want their 2nd Amendment rights protected.
And I get it. I do. I'm not about to go try and find numbers about accidents in the home involving guns vs. people who protect themselves with them (see part about not being a statistician). And I know people who hunt and I totally respect their right to do it. I would never own a gun, and I would never hunt, but I TOTALLY respect the right of people who do.
I also do not know what the answer is as far as getting the guns out of the hands of bad guys. Like, at all. I know that if something is illegal, or hard to get, it doesn't mean people won't get it. Period.
I need to apologize right now because this post is going to be all over the damn place. I haven't even finished one cup of coffee, and I'm purposefully trying to write this fast because it's not fun and I want to get it over with.
Recently, obviously, the reason this conversation has been all over the place and is getting heated is because of what happened in Newtown. People in favor of gun control are even more so now because they just had their hearts broken because what happened was beyond horrific. The kind of thing that makes your brain a sad, swirling, terrible place because it is so unbelievable that something like this could have happened. But it did happen. And we could also go into a discussion about mental health but I'm just talking about guns so I'm not going to do that.
The point is that people who already had strong opinions now have even STRONGER ones, fueled by this sadness and heartbreak. Fueled by a desire that no parent should be scared to send their child off to school. They don't want that any other parent of a Kindergartener sends their child to school and finds out that their child was killed at school that day.
Obviously, no one wants that to happen to anyone.
The people who do not want stricter gun control don't want kids to killed. Obviously. But here is the first of my two problems with some of the people who are getting mad that people are calling for stricter gun control.
It's not the message. It's the way you're spreading the message.
Spread your message from a place of compassion and understanding WHY these people are getting worked up about gun control.
The tragedy in Newtown happened like, a minute ago. It's not some way off thing in history. And it happened to those poor people in that town, and it happened to ALL OF US, collectively. All of us wept that day, all of us had our hearts broken, all of us hugged our kids tighter that day, it affected ALL OF US.
The last straw for me was that there are people who are trying to prove that the massacre in Newtown did not happen. If this is the first you're hearing of that, then, like me, you're probably like, WHAT THE FUCK?
Let me get this straight... there are people who are trying to drum up evidence that on that day, all of those people, all of those children, really did not get killed?
Really?
Someone, maybe the government, in an effort to get the country on board with stricter gun control laws, concocted a massacre. And not at a mall, or an office building. At a school, primarily in a classroom full of Kindergarten children.
SERIOUSLY?
Okay, I know that most people who want to keep their guns and feel like people are trying to infringe upon their rights would also think this is utterly ridiculous. But it just reminded me of the tone of the conversation I've been seeing.
Look. I'm always saying something about Republicans and Democrats, because I'm a Democrat, but I know a bunch of Republicans, and maybe even love some of them. This part is really important, so everyone fucking listen:
WE ALL WANT THE SAME SHIT. WE JUST DON'T AGREE ON HOW TO GET IT.
NO ONE wants innocent children to get killed.
NO ONE wants crazy people or bad guys to have guns.
See? We agree on something.
So can we PLEASE act like caring, compassionate human beings with each other and figure out how the fuck to do this?
I don't know the answer. I just know that we should always try to be nice to each other.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
A Shortportant One
Yes, short, and important. Two things my blog posts almost never are.
If you can only pick one thing at which to be good, make it loving people.
It occurred to me last night that I'm not really good at much of anything. I like to sing to and I like to write, but plenty of people are way better at it than I am. I try to do the best I can do at my job (and so far I do well enough that they keep paying me to return, knock wood), but I'm not the best at it and may never be. I can't sew on a fucking button. I mean, I could if I absolutely had to, but it probably would not stay on my pants the entire day. And my house is probably always going to be a mess. And I'm more than likely always going to be a little bit fat (which would be better than being a lot fat like right now).
I am, however, really fucking super great at loving my kid. As she was cuddled up to me last night and I was reading to her because yes, reading to her is still awesome even though she can read, I thought, THIS is where it's at. THIS is the thing of which I'm most proud, that my kid never for a single second EVER doubts how much I love her.
Damn it all to heck, I just put on eye makeup and I'm tearing up like a little crybaby.
Everything we do, especially with our kids but this should go for everyone and everything, we should try to do it with COMPASSION. I'm talking about kids and parenting here, mainly, but you can figure out how to apply this even if you don't have kids and never want to have any of those and if you don't, hey, I get it, because it's a hard job and kids are not for everyone. For. Real. But even if they do stuff that is wrong or bad, we can correct them with love and compassion. It's like, I don't like what you did, but I still love YOU. You're going to have to get your timeout or get grounded or get your phone taken away, but let's TALK about this. And here's why this is bad and so help me, don't you ever do that again!
But I still LOVE you.
If you kick the bucket tomorrow, I GUARANTEE the thing of which you will be the most proud of is not that you are the best at your job or the smartest or the prettiest in your class or that you always win at backgammon or whatever. You will be the proudest of the fact that people you love knew you loved them because you were always telling them and showing them.
Especially your kids. They're not accessories. We're growing human beings. Literally. Like, what a big deal that is.
I know I'm lucky. My kid can be a pain and a diva and dramatic and emotional and unreasonable. But mostly she is sweet and good and full of joy and the light of my life. So loving her is a piece of cake. I know this. But still, for some reason I just felt like I wanted to say today that
the thing you should want to be the best at is loving. Especially your kids.
P. S. Sorry, I thought this was gonna be shorter, I really did!!
If you can only pick one thing at which to be good, make it loving people.
It occurred to me last night that I'm not really good at much of anything. I like to sing to and I like to write, but plenty of people are way better at it than I am. I try to do the best I can do at my job (and so far I do well enough that they keep paying me to return, knock wood), but I'm not the best at it and may never be. I can't sew on a fucking button. I mean, I could if I absolutely had to, but it probably would not stay on my pants the entire day. And my house is probably always going to be a mess. And I'm more than likely always going to be a little bit fat (which would be better than being a lot fat like right now).
I am, however, really fucking super great at loving my kid. As she was cuddled up to me last night and I was reading to her because yes, reading to her is still awesome even though she can read, I thought, THIS is where it's at. THIS is the thing of which I'm most proud, that my kid never for a single second EVER doubts how much I love her.
Damn it all to heck, I just put on eye makeup and I'm tearing up like a little crybaby.
Everything we do, especially with our kids but this should go for everyone and everything, we should try to do it with COMPASSION. I'm talking about kids and parenting here, mainly, but you can figure out how to apply this even if you don't have kids and never want to have any of those and if you don't, hey, I get it, because it's a hard job and kids are not for everyone. For. Real. But even if they do stuff that is wrong or bad, we can correct them with love and compassion. It's like, I don't like what you did, but I still love YOU. You're going to have to get your timeout or get grounded or get your phone taken away, but let's TALK about this. And here's why this is bad and so help me, don't you ever do that again!
But I still LOVE you.
If you kick the bucket tomorrow, I GUARANTEE the thing of which you will be the most proud of is not that you are the best at your job or the smartest or the prettiest in your class or that you always win at backgammon or whatever. You will be the proudest of the fact that people you love knew you loved them because you were always telling them and showing them.
Especially your kids. They're not accessories. We're growing human beings. Literally. Like, what a big deal that is.
I know I'm lucky. My kid can be a pain and a diva and dramatic and emotional and unreasonable. But mostly she is sweet and good and full of joy and the light of my life. So loving her is a piece of cake. I know this. But still, for some reason I just felt like I wanted to say today that
the thing you should want to be the best at is loving. Especially your kids.
P. S. Sorry, I thought this was gonna be shorter, I really did!!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Currently...
Oh, how I love a blog post title that contains an ellipsis! Yes, because I'm a nerd.
And how I love being able to steal be inspired by this post from my girl Tami (and she was inspired by Gina). So big thanks to those ladies because I needed to write something and this made me want to do that so YAY!
Loving: My kid, as usual. And that she got off to school even though she'd been awake since like 5:30 or so blowing her nose. My poor little snotty boo boo. But she's always just so awesome and a constant source of joy. I love a bunch of other stuff. Like my friends who keep me sane, my mother who REALLY keeps me sane, and I just love LOVE in general. Like, get some of that if you can, for real. It's kind of a big deal.
My wackadoodle doo representin' her Grandma's team
Watching: At the moment, amazingly, nothing. But then computer time doesn't usually include TV for me. But I imagine when I get off my butt and onto the treadmill I will probably finish this week's Top Chef. I so badly want to hang out with Stefan and drink and just listen to him tell stories. He amuses me so.
Oh, and soon I want to go to the movies and watch Silver Linings Playbook. Have any of you seen it?
Love. Him. photo credit Stefan's at L.A. Farm's Facebook page
Reading: Not enough. About one billion things open on my Kindle. I guess I was last reading Pride and Prejudice, though I've read it many times. Buddhism for Dummies is always in my bathroom. Penny Marshall's book is open on the Kindle. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters. A YA sort of book, think Harry Potter-ish except the kids in the book are the products of relationships Greek gods had with mortals. Entertaining. Also reading several books with the kid including Wreck-It Ralph from the Disney Junior Novelization series (well-done and they read like the movies).
Anticipating: Well, this is going to sound weird since in the Bay Area lately it's been like five degrees below zero (or like 38 degrees, as it is currently but to one as thin-skinned as I am weather-ararily it might as well be 5 below), but I am so looking forward to summer. I started thinking about that when I noticed the days getting longer, like when I get off work and it's not dark like it was just a little bit ago. I can't wait until it's summer and the kid and I have days off together and the weather is warm and we head to the beach. Cannot. Wait.
Listening To: Regina Spektor on Spotify. The one I play over and over again is "Firewood." Much thanks to my teenage niece who would post about her on Facebook, as that's how I got turned on to her. Okay, the one playing right now is "All the Rowboats."
Planning: Geez. I don't know. Planning to plan more. A few social things if I can work out who will watch my kid. Planning to get back on my good eating plan tomorrow since I've been HORRIBLE at it recently on account of being all dramatic and emotional and being mad at people I love and junk and that makes me want to stuff my face which is stupid but it's true. Planning to exercise today since I think my energy is back after my double blood donation the other day. I think I'm also planning to clean some areas of my house I never bother with and to that end I already took a bunch of stuff off this one shelf in my office. We'll see how that goes.
Yep. A ton of plans. Sheesh.
Working On: Oh man, I rambled on about stuff I'm planning to do that I could have maybe put here. Let's see. Working on being calmer. Counting my blessings or the agnostic version of those. Being healthier. Like, the stuff from my New Year's post, that sort of thing. But maybe my number one thing today is just chilling. And not being lazy, but just BREATHING. And not WORRYING about stuff THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. Working on not filling in spaces of silence in conversations with bad stuff. I'd be cooking with gas if I could do that.
Wishing: That either my house was not the horrible mess that it is or that like I said in my Facebook status, I had a maid. Not even kidding. Dreading tackling it which is probably one of the reasons I'm writing, yet another stalling tactic! Hey, at least laundry's going. Though it's probably ready for the dryer...
What about you? What are you currently…?
Monday, December 31, 2012
I Miss Dick Clark and I Need to Figure Out My Ryan Seacrest Problem
I know, I'm posting two days in a row, but do not get your collective apocalyptic panties in a bunch, I swear to you the world is NOT ending.
I just need to work out this problem and I need your help. This is a two-fold problem. So put on your thinking caps.
The back story is I have been a fan of ringing in the New Year with Dick Clark for as long as I can remember. I don't really recall when I started staying up until midnight on December 31st, but I know when I was like 17 or 18 or something I was, and I remember one time when I was like 19 and I was SO SICK and I watched Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve at my boyfriend's house who stayed with me even though we were invited to a party, which was really sweet because he could have told me to go f$%k myself and be sick at home so he could go to the party.
Anyway, when I say I watched the show, I don't mean like, the whole show. Because I would hardly ever watch anything other than the last 10 or 15 minutes before midnight, when stuff started getting exciting. That's the part I'm talking about. If I was at home, or if I was at a party at my house or someone else's house I would be like okay, it's time to put the TV on to channel 7 so we can do our countdown with Dick Clark, and no, it did not matter that he had really done this countdown 3 hours prior. Not one bit.
There were several years after I had my kid where I did not care one bit about being awake for the start of the new year. You parents know how it is, when you have a kid you sleep when you are able and you don't mind saying "happy new year" at like, 9 pm and pretending it's cool to celebrate on east coast time.
So then Dick Clark had a stroke, which was very sad, so they brought in Ryan Seacrest to be the host and pretty much just propped Dick up in the studio as decoration which again was super sad, but at least he was there. And now, obviously, since he died, there will be no Dick this year.
Just. Ryan. Seacrest.
I don't like him. Usually when I don't like people, be they a celebrity or a real person, I usually feel pretty justified in my dislike. But I find myself questioning my intense dislike of Ryan Seacrest.
I watched like, one part of one season of American Idol, and not really even on purpose, it was just when I used to get off at 9 and I would go pick up my baby from my mom's house she would have it on and one thing lead to another and I actually just paid attention a little bit that season. And I'm pretty sure it was then that I decided he was a weasel and I couldn't stand him but I'm really not sure why.
I have wondered if it's because he's kind of a little guy but damn, I married and made a baby with a little guy once so I don't think that's it.
I'm talking to my brother last night about new year's and I was like I hate that damn Ryan Seacrest and he was like well, I don't really like him but I admire his hustle, which makes sense, since my brother is a successful businessman, that he would appreciate the fact that Ryan Seacrest is EVERYWHERE and has made like eighty gajillion dollars because he is EVERYWHERE. Then I said to my brother, the thing is, of ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the people in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, why does it have to be Ryan Seacrest who takes over the show? Why do I have to choose to go to some other channel or ring in the new year with this guy? I said there are like tons of people who would be a better choice. And he's like, who? And I'm like ummmmmmmmm... I'll get back to you on that.
Okay, so this is where you people come in and I'm sorry that as usual I had to ramble for 8 billion years to get to the point. I want to know who would be better than Ryan Seacrest to host Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (or anything else that Seacrest does) and also, help me understand if thinking he is a weasel is justified.
I want to be justified in my dislike of this guy. That may not happen. But it might, with your help.
I will throw out a few names of people with whom I would like to ring in the new year on my TV who are NOT Ryan Seacrest (so obviously they need to be famous but not famous ENOUGH that they would be like are you crazy, why would I host that show when I am over here being a famous movie star).
Guys who host late night shows would be good, because hey're used to staying up late, right?
Jimmy Fallon
Conan O'Brien
Craig Ferguson
I love David Letterman but I don't see it and I don't like Jay Leno, so no thanks.
Wayne Brady
Neil Patrick Harris
Aisha Tyler
Ellen DeGeneres
TOM BERGERON!
Okay, seriously, I could go on and on. But I think I would like to start a campaign to make the new host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve be Tom Bergeron.
I know this will never happen because Ryan is all in with the production company, he might have sold his soul to the Devil and this is all part of the deal, and yadda, yadda, yadda.
Sigh. So what will I watch tonight if I happen to be up at midnight? I'm not even sure yet. What are you guys doing? Do you like to stay home? Go out and get your party on? I love the idea of parties but I hate the idea of driving anywhere plus I have my kid so staying home and chilling is my plan.
Whatever you do, have fun and be safe, yo.
I just need to work out this problem and I need your help. This is a two-fold problem. So put on your thinking caps.
The back story is I have been a fan of ringing in the New Year with Dick Clark for as long as I can remember. I don't really recall when I started staying up until midnight on December 31st, but I know when I was like 17 or 18 or something I was, and I remember one time when I was like 19 and I was SO SICK and I watched Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve at my boyfriend's house who stayed with me even though we were invited to a party, which was really sweet because he could have told me to go f$%k myself and be sick at home so he could go to the party.
Anyway, when I say I watched the show, I don't mean like, the whole show. Because I would hardly ever watch anything other than the last 10 or 15 minutes before midnight, when stuff started getting exciting. That's the part I'm talking about. If I was at home, or if I was at a party at my house or someone else's house I would be like okay, it's time to put the TV on to channel 7 so we can do our countdown with Dick Clark, and no, it did not matter that he had really done this countdown 3 hours prior. Not one bit.
The man, new year's-ararily
photo credit abcnews.go.com
There were several years after I had my kid where I did not care one bit about being awake for the start of the new year. You parents know how it is, when you have a kid you sleep when you are able and you don't mind saying "happy new year" at like, 9 pm and pretending it's cool to celebrate on east coast time.
So then Dick Clark had a stroke, which was very sad, so they brought in Ryan Seacrest to be the host and pretty much just propped Dick up in the studio as decoration which again was super sad, but at least he was there. And now, obviously, since he died, there will be no Dick this year.
Just. Ryan. Seacrest.
I don't like him. Usually when I don't like people, be they a celebrity or a real person, I usually feel pretty justified in my dislike. But I find myself questioning my intense dislike of Ryan Seacrest.
I watched like, one part of one season of American Idol, and not really even on purpose, it was just when I used to get off at 9 and I would go pick up my baby from my mom's house she would have it on and one thing lead to another and I actually just paid attention a little bit that season. And I'm pretty sure it was then that I decided he was a weasel and I couldn't stand him but I'm really not sure why.
I have wondered if it's because he's kind of a little guy but damn, I married and made a baby with a little guy once so I don't think that's it.
I'm talking to my brother last night about new year's and I was like I hate that damn Ryan Seacrest and he was like well, I don't really like him but I admire his hustle, which makes sense, since my brother is a successful businessman, that he would appreciate the fact that Ryan Seacrest is EVERYWHERE and has made like eighty gajillion dollars because he is EVERYWHERE. Then I said to my brother, the thing is, of ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the people in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, why does it have to be Ryan Seacrest who takes over the show? Why do I have to choose to go to some other channel or ring in the new year with this guy? I said there are like tons of people who would be a better choice. And he's like, who? And I'm like ummmmmmmmm... I'll get back to you on that.
Okay, so this is where you people come in and I'm sorry that as usual I had to ramble for 8 billion years to get to the point. I want to know who would be better than Ryan Seacrest to host Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (or anything else that Seacrest does) and also, help me understand if thinking he is a weasel is justified.
I want to be justified in my dislike of this guy. That may not happen. But it might, with your help.
But seriously, does this face not look hella punchable?
photo credit cinemablend.com
Guys who host late night shows would be good, because hey're used to staying up late, right?
Jimmy Fallon
Conan O'Brien
Craig Ferguson
I love David Letterman but I don't see it and I don't like Jay Leno, so no thanks.
Wayne Brady
Neil Patrick Harris
Aisha Tyler
Ellen DeGeneres
TOM BERGERON!
Okay, seriously, I could go on and on. But I think I would like to start a campaign to make the new host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve be Tom Bergeron.
I know this will never happen because Ryan is all in with the production company, he might have sold his soul to the Devil and this is all part of the deal, and yadda, yadda, yadda.
Sigh. So what will I watch tonight if I happen to be up at midnight? I'm not even sure yet. What are you guys doing? Do you like to stay home? Go out and get your party on? I love the idea of parties but I hate the idea of driving anywhere plus I have my kid so staying home and chilling is my plan.
Whatever you do, have fun and be safe, yo.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Some Stuff I'm Fixin' to Try to Do in 2013: The For Realz This Time Edition
I'm not going to call anything I plan to do a New Year's resolution because then I'll biff it for sure. I just refuse to say that I RESOLVE to do x, y, and z, because I'll be setting myself up to fail a little bit, at least.
So I'm going to TRY to do this stuff. Because maybe some of it I try to do already but I might make a renewed effort because yes, it is a brand spanking new year and that seems as good a time as any to let old acquaintance with bad habits be forgot and days of auld lang syne and all of that, my dear.
Plus I need to do a post because I haven't since like December 5th. So let's just start with...
1. Blog more.
I need to stop being so damn lazy and just like, sit down and do it instead of hoping a muse will strike and force my fingers to the keyboard because that just about never happens.
2. Eat better.
As soon as I type something like that I want to go look at what I wrote LAST YEAR but that will make me feel like an asshole. Well, if you know me or read any of my recent posts you know it hasn't been a banner year for me. So I'm not gonna beat myself up too badly for what didn't happen in 2012. So yes, I need to eat more vegetables. Those are like, things that come out the ground, apparently, and sometimes they're green or orange or white. The green ones are the ones I especially need. Also fruit. I can goes days on end without ingesting anything that remotely resembles fruit. And then less fat. Like, I don't know, make a jar of mayonnaise last a lot longer than it has been in my fridge. Less cheese. Fewer processed things like turkey hot dogs. Dang, I really love turkey hot dogs. More stuff like chicken and veggies and junk.
If ever I read a magazine and there's a celebrity talking about how they stay in shape they are forever eating grilled chicken and veggies. Grilled chicken and veggies. And I like grilled chicken and veggies but I want it between two pieces of bread with mayonnaise and they never mention that part in the article. So I am gonna try to eat more grilled chicken and veggies, hold the bread and mayo.
I'm sort of in a groove, especially with strength training, so I want to stay in that groove and keep up my cardio and not let myself go several days at a time without. So yes, that.
4. Watch less TV.
No, I'm kidding. I probably won't watch less TV because I love it.
5. Get my kid to eat more veggies. I mean, get my kid to eat veggies.
So this will go with number 2. Like, seriously. I have done a horrible job as a mom on this front. I don't even want to get into it because it'll get me all bummed and I'll never get this post finished. So just trust me on this one, I'm gonna try to be all like "normal mom" where we "fix dinner" and "sit down at the table" and "eat together." Like that. Because it's not really like that now for a variety of reasons so this one is HUGE. I'm all over it. For realz. I have told all of you this so now I must stick to this one. I love my kid more than anything in the whole world and I need to nourish her properly. Word.
6. Not be a stupid dummy when it comes to money.
I used to work at a newspaper in the circulation department back in the day, and I will never forget when this one lady called her paper carrier a "stupid dummy." And she did this in the office in person and I have no clue how I managed to keep a straight face because it was one of the best things I ever heard and I am forever in her debt since I love to use that phrase, and that was like 20 years ago.
Anyway, when it comes to money I am a stupid, stupid, stupid, dummy. This is another one where if I go into it I'm gonna put my head down on the desk and cry and then where will that get me? Exactly nowhere. I am 42 years old. But I have the money management skills of a young 10 year old who blows all their lawn mowing money on candy and Slurpees. When I had a paper route back in the day my money literally went to playing Pole Position and eating candy at 7-11. I shit you not. So I'm still like that. Except I'm a grown-up and a single mom who thankfully has a mother who has bailed me out of trouble like one too many times. As I've told her, I will need no inheritance should she ever leave this earth since I am getting it as I go.
Long story long, if I don't fix this one I am an asshole. Period, the end.
7. Drink less beer.
See what I said about TV.
KIDDING!!
I don't know, we'll see. As it is maybe a couple of times each week I want one AFTER my workout because a) it's delicious and b) there was that Spanish study or something about beer being good for hydration after exercise but c) mostly it's delicious. So we'll see about that one. I'm on the fence. And then there are the MANY I might have when I'm with my girlfriends and... oh man. This non-resolution is making me sad. NEXT.
8. Be nicer. And more patient.
If I can pull of this one it will be a miracle.
Look, I'm not a terrible person. Some people think I'm a pretty good one. So I mean I need to be nicer to people who don't necessarily deserve me to be nice to them. Because that will make ME feel better. Like way better. Because it takes so much more energy to be NOT nice than to be nice. Like seriously. So I will work on this one.
9. Worry less about stuff I can't change or that hasn't happened yet.
If anyone has advice on how to actually do this one I am all ears. But I'll throw it on the list for grins.
10. Do more stuff around my house, like deal with boxes that have been in my garage for 3.5 years.
Maybe if I start watching Hoarders I will get this situation tackled. My house is only just ever "sorta" clean. I have too much stuff. Way too much stuff. The only way to deal with that is to sort the stuff and get rid of some of the stuff. Wish me luck.
If you guys don't have any resolutions or things you want to work on, that's awesome, because that means you're rockin' it like you want to already. If you are able, be nicer and laugh more. Because we can never get enough of that sort of thing.
But if you DO have some ideas about what's gonna happen in 2013 for YOU, I'd love to hear them!
So I'm going to TRY to do this stuff. Because maybe some of it I try to do already but I might make a renewed effort because yes, it is a brand spanking new year and that seems as good a time as any to let old acquaintance with bad habits be forgot and days of auld lang syne and all of that, my dear.
Plus I need to do a post because I haven't since like December 5th. So let's just start with...
1. Blog more.
I need to stop being so damn lazy and just like, sit down and do it instead of hoping a muse will strike and force my fingers to the keyboard because that just about never happens.
2. Eat better.
As soon as I type something like that I want to go look at what I wrote LAST YEAR but that will make me feel like an asshole. Well, if you know me or read any of my recent posts you know it hasn't been a banner year for me. So I'm not gonna beat myself up too badly for what didn't happen in 2012. So yes, I need to eat more vegetables. Those are like, things that come out the ground, apparently, and sometimes they're green or orange or white. The green ones are the ones I especially need. Also fruit. I can goes days on end without ingesting anything that remotely resembles fruit. And then less fat. Like, I don't know, make a jar of mayonnaise last a lot longer than it has been in my fridge. Less cheese. Fewer processed things like turkey hot dogs. Dang, I really love turkey hot dogs. More stuff like chicken and veggies and junk.
If ever I read a magazine and there's a celebrity talking about how they stay in shape they are forever eating grilled chicken and veggies. Grilled chicken and veggies. And I like grilled chicken and veggies but I want it between two pieces of bread with mayonnaise and they never mention that part in the article. So I am gonna try to eat more grilled chicken and veggies, hold the bread and mayo.
Note to self: vegetables look like this
3. Keep up the exercise.I'm sort of in a groove, especially with strength training, so I want to stay in that groove and keep up my cardio and not let myself go several days at a time without. So yes, that.
4. Watch less TV.
No, I'm kidding. I probably won't watch less TV because I love it.
5. Get my kid to eat more veggies. I mean, get my kid to eat veggies.
So this will go with number 2. Like, seriously. I have done a horrible job as a mom on this front. I don't even want to get into it because it'll get me all bummed and I'll never get this post finished. So just trust me on this one, I'm gonna try to be all like "normal mom" where we "fix dinner" and "sit down at the table" and "eat together." Like that. Because it's not really like that now for a variety of reasons so this one is HUGE. I'm all over it. For realz. I have told all of you this so now I must stick to this one. I love my kid more than anything in the whole world and I need to nourish her properly. Word.
6. Not be a stupid dummy when it comes to money.
I used to work at a newspaper in the circulation department back in the day, and I will never forget when this one lady called her paper carrier a "stupid dummy." And she did this in the office in person and I have no clue how I managed to keep a straight face because it was one of the best things I ever heard and I am forever in her debt since I love to use that phrase, and that was like 20 years ago.
Anyway, when it comes to money I am a stupid, stupid, stupid, dummy. This is another one where if I go into it I'm gonna put my head down on the desk and cry and then where will that get me? Exactly nowhere. I am 42 years old. But I have the money management skills of a young 10 year old who blows all their lawn mowing money on candy and Slurpees. When I had a paper route back in the day my money literally went to playing Pole Position and eating candy at 7-11. I shit you not. So I'm still like that. Except I'm a grown-up and a single mom who thankfully has a mother who has bailed me out of trouble like one too many times. As I've told her, I will need no inheritance should she ever leave this earth since I am getting it as I go.
Long story long, if I don't fix this one I am an asshole. Period, the end.
7. Drink less beer.
See what I said about TV.
KIDDING!!
I don't know, we'll see. As it is maybe a couple of times each week I want one AFTER my workout because a) it's delicious and b) there was that Spanish study or something about beer being good for hydration after exercise but c) mostly it's delicious. So we'll see about that one. I'm on the fence. And then there are the MANY I might have when I'm with my girlfriends and... oh man. This non-resolution is making me sad. NEXT.
Me, not drinking less beer
8. Be nicer. And more patient.
If I can pull of this one it will be a miracle.
Look, I'm not a terrible person. Some people think I'm a pretty good one. So I mean I need to be nicer to people who don't necessarily deserve me to be nice to them. Because that will make ME feel better. Like way better. Because it takes so much more energy to be NOT nice than to be nice. Like seriously. So I will work on this one.
My girlfriend made that for me, isn't it cool?
If anyone has advice on how to actually do this one I am all ears. But I'll throw it on the list for grins.
10. Do more stuff around my house, like deal with boxes that have been in my garage for 3.5 years.
Maybe if I start watching Hoarders I will get this situation tackled. My house is only just ever "sorta" clean. I have too much stuff. Way too much stuff. The only way to deal with that is to sort the stuff and get rid of some of the stuff. Wish me luck.
If you guys don't have any resolutions or things you want to work on, that's awesome, because that means you're rockin' it like you want to already. If you are able, be nicer and laugh more. Because we can never get enough of that sort of thing.
But if you DO have some ideas about what's gonna happen in 2013 for YOU, I'd love to hear them!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A Few Times When I Like, Totally Made The Right Decision
So, as has happened before, several times, actually, my buddy Tams over at Teacher Goes Back to School has yet again inspired me to write some stuff down. She was inspired by Amy (and I dig her blog), and also by Holly, and I'm new to Holly and super thankful she inspired Tams. So Tams could inspire me. See, it's a big ol' circle of inspiration and perhaps I will inspire some of you. It's CRAZY how that stuff works.
What we're talking about here are the best decisions we've made as grown-ups. First of all, I'm not really a fan of making decisions and never have been, I don't think. I think it's sort of weird to be a control freak (which I am) but also someone who doesn't enjoy making decisions (and I'm also that). So it's kind of a miracle I ever made any decisions, like, ever, frankly. Plus I really needed to write something since I've been so flipping lazy so sure, let me kind of shout about some of the things I've managed to get right and write something down at the same time.
1. Getting knocked up.
I seriously at one time wasn't sure I wanted to have a kid. Which makes sense, there are a lot of grown-ups who feel that way. You know, you're sitting around with your man and you're all like, "This is so great. It's just me and you and we don't have any stupid diapers to change and we can come and go as we please and wow, this is just so awesome." And there is totally truth to that. But holy heck. The thing in this life of which I'm surest is that I was supposed to be Kayla's mom. On the very hardest days with her it has never occurred to be that I wish I could go back and change it. She is the light of my life, the beginning and the end, the main deal. Everything else I have is just icing on a Kayla cake, pretty much.
2. Taking that job at the movie theater.
Does this count as a grown-up decision? Crap, probably not. I was 17. But had I not taken that job and had instead taken the first job offered, the one at the cookie place I would not be here now. I was supposed to meet the folks I met at that place (mainly my ex-husband). Super important part of my journey.
3. Moving out of my folks' house when I did/living alone.
Oh my gosh. I am so glad I had the chance to live on my own before I shacked up with my ex. Living alone makes you realize that you can live alone. This one is a little bit huge for women who sometimes don't think the can live alone so they stick around in situations that are not conducive to their well-being because they think they need a dude around. Nope, not so much. Well, at least not for me. I am woman, hear me roar, and watch me take out my own garbage. Granted, I have the bestest cutest roommate in the world who is almost seven, but still. I'm kinda set in my ways now about not living with a guy, for better or worse, but that's just the way it is.
4. Leaving my ex.
Seriously. I planned on being married forever and ever. I truly did. But leaving that marriage was the second best decision I ever made as an adult.
Look. It's like this. There is the person you think you are within the confines of a relationship with someone with whom you should not be in a relationship to begin with. And then there is the you who has that relationship under her belt, and who is eleven years older, and a heckuva lot wiser. I like that "you" way better than the other one.
5. Wookin' pa nook on the Internet.
Yes, I really just said that.
After my marriage ended I knew I did not want a boyfriend but I also managed to like, hmmm, how to put it... sort of hit my stride as a woman. Just, use your imagination. So no, I do not have this really long belt with a bunch of notches in it. It's not like that. But I knew I was not gonna meet anyone in the "normal" way, like, "Hey, I have this friend and I think you might like him," nor did I think the dude I wanted to spend any time with was gonna show up on a bar stool next to me. Though yes, that sort of thing totally can and does happen, I just didn't think it would for me. And as it turns out I have made a friend I even hope to have for like, the duration (I mean who knows how those things go, right?). But the end of the story is that I'm very happy. And had I never poked around on the Internet I would not be saying that. So I'm super thankful I listened to my friends who said, "Why the heck not?"
6. I applied to work where I work.
Thanks to my mom, because I never thought I would want to be in this line of work, and here I am having found my career. Crazytown.
7. I went to college. A bunch of it.
Did I wind up working in the field in which I almost earned a master's degree? I did not. I am glad I am able to say I have a bachelor's degree? I am. Do I think having to use your brain like that and do a lot of work is a super character building sort of experience? For shizzle.
8. I never lived more than 30 miles away from my family and friends.
I need those people. I love that I'm 12 minutes away from my mom and 10 from my brother and sister-in-law and that I have friends sprinkled all around me. These people lift me up, they boost my spirits, and I get to hug on them in person a lot. I'm so lucky.
What about you guys? I know you've made some awesome decisions and I'd love to hear about them.
What we're talking about here are the best decisions we've made as grown-ups. First of all, I'm not really a fan of making decisions and never have been, I don't think. I think it's sort of weird to be a control freak (which I am) but also someone who doesn't enjoy making decisions (and I'm also that). So it's kind of a miracle I ever made any decisions, like, ever, frankly. Plus I really needed to write something since I've been so flipping lazy so sure, let me kind of shout about some of the things I've managed to get right and write something down at the same time.
1. Getting knocked up.
I seriously at one time wasn't sure I wanted to have a kid. Which makes sense, there are a lot of grown-ups who feel that way. You know, you're sitting around with your man and you're all like, "This is so great. It's just me and you and we don't have any stupid diapers to change and we can come and go as we please and wow, this is just so awesome." And there is totally truth to that. But holy heck. The thing in this life of which I'm surest is that I was supposed to be Kayla's mom. On the very hardest days with her it has never occurred to be that I wish I could go back and change it. She is the light of my life, the beginning and the end, the main deal. Everything else I have is just icing on a Kayla cake, pretty much.
2. Taking that job at the movie theater.
Does this count as a grown-up decision? Crap, probably not. I was 17. But had I not taken that job and had instead taken the first job offered, the one at the cookie place I would not be here now. I was supposed to meet the folks I met at that place (mainly my ex-husband). Super important part of my journey.
3. Moving out of my folks' house when I did/living alone.
Oh my gosh. I am so glad I had the chance to live on my own before I shacked up with my ex. Living alone makes you realize that you can live alone. This one is a little bit huge for women who sometimes don't think the can live alone so they stick around in situations that are not conducive to their well-being because they think they need a dude around. Nope, not so much. Well, at least not for me. I am woman, hear me roar, and watch me take out my own garbage. Granted, I have the bestest cutest roommate in the world who is almost seven, but still. I'm kinda set in my ways now about not living with a guy, for better or worse, but that's just the way it is.
4. Leaving my ex.
Seriously. I planned on being married forever and ever. I truly did. But leaving that marriage was the second best decision I ever made as an adult.
Look. It's like this. There is the person you think you are within the confines of a relationship with someone with whom you should not be in a relationship to begin with. And then there is the you who has that relationship under her belt, and who is eleven years older, and a heckuva lot wiser. I like that "you" way better than the other one.
5. Wookin' pa nook on the Internet.
Yes, I really just said that.
After my marriage ended I knew I did not want a boyfriend but I also managed to like, hmmm, how to put it... sort of hit my stride as a woman. Just, use your imagination. So no, I do not have this really long belt with a bunch of notches in it. It's not like that. But I knew I was not gonna meet anyone in the "normal" way, like, "Hey, I have this friend and I think you might like him," nor did I think the dude I wanted to spend any time with was gonna show up on a bar stool next to me. Though yes, that sort of thing totally can and does happen, I just didn't think it would for me. And as it turns out I have made a friend I even hope to have for like, the duration (I mean who knows how those things go, right?). But the end of the story is that I'm very happy. And had I never poked around on the Internet I would not be saying that. So I'm super thankful I listened to my friends who said, "Why the heck not?"
6. I applied to work where I work.
Thanks to my mom, because I never thought I would want to be in this line of work, and here I am having found my career. Crazytown.
7. I went to college. A bunch of it.
Did I wind up working in the field in which I almost earned a master's degree? I did not. I am glad I am able to say I have a bachelor's degree? I am. Do I think having to use your brain like that and do a lot of work is a super character building sort of experience? For shizzle.
8. I never lived more than 30 miles away from my family and friends.
I need those people. I love that I'm 12 minutes away from my mom and 10 from my brother and sister-in-law and that I have friends sprinkled all around me. These people lift me up, they boost my spirits, and I get to hug on them in person a lot. I'm so lucky.
What about you guys? I know you've made some awesome decisions and I'd love to hear about them.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
(Random) Thanksgiving Day Thoughts
Random thoughts from my brain as I drink coffee and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and listen to the kid talk about what's happening in the world of Club Penguin. And no, I don't understand a single thing she is saying but I listen and do my darnedest to appear interested. I just love being in the same room with her so whatever she is saying is fine by me.
Just heard my heater kick on; turned it on earlier because it was cold as heck in here but now we're fine and I am so lazy to get up and walk all the way across the house (I mean, we're talking like 30 feet away [and also I am a horrible judger of distances and I really did just try to picture laying myself out over and over and tried to estimate how many of me it would be to get over to the heater]) and turn it off. Okay, cool it's off I think. See, sometimes if you're lazy and you just hang out long enough, stuff takes care of itself.
"This is like, the BIGGEST shop here. Everything here costs a lot of gems." Kayla, regarding Animal Jam. No, I do not care. But she is still cute, especially in her Hello Kitty jammies.
I wish I had a ring like this lady from Today show who is one of the hosts of the parade. You know, the kind that goes all the way up to your knuckle. I heart big rings.
I liked Matt Lauer better when he had hair. And before I heard stuff about his marriage and about him not helping to save Ann Curry's job. Am I mixing things up?
Oh, how I love love love Matthew Broderick!! And a Gershwin tune, you kidding me? How about you?
"SANTA'S ON HIS WAY!" Kayla, after they said Santa was still to come. Earlier when she heard he was gonna be there she was like, "Shouldn't this be the Christmas parade then?" You can't get anything past that kid. She also wanted to know why it was called the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade so we have already discussed sponsorship and advertising today.
I just went to check my email and on Yahoo I have it set that the only "news" I see when I go to my mail is entertainment news because when it comes to real news, I leave it to all of you to tell me what's going on in the world. Anyway, it said something about an ex-Price is Right model getting 8.5 meeeeeeeelion dollars in damages and I wonder if this is the one who just won like almost $777,000 the other day so now I'll have to go check that out.
Blake Shelton's gonna have a Christmas special? Yes, I will watch that because he is really super cute. I can't help it and I'm sorry to say this but Reba McEntire's face bugs me. I like her okay, it's her face.
Coffee... made it a wee bit strong this morning. Soon my fingers will be too shaky to type.
I'm doing that thing where I count backward from the time our movie starts today (going to take the kid to see Rise of the Guardians)... if I have to work out, get her ready, get myself ready, chop some broccoli and cauliflower, just how much time does that leave me to mess about on the computer? Math. It makes my brain hurt.
I am a Giancarlo Esposito fan. I like his face and his voice and I loved him the show Bakersfield P.D. which I think only my mom and I watched. They just talked to him at the parade because he is on a show on NBC I haven't watched yet called Revolution. Maybe I would check it out except for the fact that I only watch 87 billion other shows right now.
Hey, there's John O'Hurghley talking about hosting the dog show! I like dog shows AND I still think he shoulda won the first season of Dancing With the Stars. Dude got robbed. Well, it's just that people vote for that Kelly Monaco on account of her being on a soap and all.
The heater just kicked on again. Sheesh.
So the kid is listening to Chippette (the girl Chipmunks, she loves them) version of Rihanna's song, "Disturbia." She loves that song and always makes us do it on Just Dance 4. She loves other Rihanna songs and I don't like that anytime I think of Rihanna I think of that whole Chris Brown thing and it makes me glad that my kid is so young and innocent and it makes me wonder for how long I can keep her that way. In terms of not knowing about icky stuff in the world, you know? Double sheesh.
Carly Rae Jepsen is gonna be on the parade show later? I can't help it. I love that dang "Call Me Maybe" song.
Last night I sang some karaoke and the shelf thingy where it is was HECKA dusty. I need to do some dusting today. Or tomorrow. Yes, I know, it does sound really fun.
I love that Matthew Perry show, Go On. It is really super adorable and funny. I love that guy. I sure did want to marry Chandler Bing one day.
SANTA!!!!!
Geoffrey Zakarian in the parade! He is so cute.
Kermit! That whole thing about the Elmo guy breaks my heart. Like, if someone made up stuff and basically sort of ruined that guy... or if it really happened (but I tend to believe the former). Like, seriously. So sad. That sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me thing sounds like a bunch of bullcrap right about now, right?
Carly Rae Jepsen is on... and NOT singing my song. What the deuce? I get it, you want people to know that you have more than one song but I was actually sorta stalling so I could hear that dang song and well, also because I am really lazy and don't want to move.
Okay, I can't stall anymore. I need to get the exercise done and get us ready for the movies and I am SO looking forward to smelling wonderful Thanksgiving smells later and seeing my family because I love them so.
I hope you guys all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Any random thoughts you'd like to share with me? How was your coffee? Did you like the parade? What are you doing today? What's YOUR favorite thing about this holiday?
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