OK I am on week 3 of looking for Christmas......I love looking at the tree. I like seeing the house lit up. I listen to the Christmas music on the radio. But I am still searching for the feeling.......
I hope that I will find it somewhere......maybe it will hit when I least expect it. Maybe Santa will leave me some little surpise.....I hope he does. Last year was special because my Mom was here. We were lucky to have her with us. Jenn took out the angels Mom made us last year. They are beautiful. It is so special to have them sitting on the front table watching over us.
Jenn says I am making her crazy because I am not making gift suggestions.......there is not a lot I want that can be put in a box under the tree. The things I want are not material......they are more emotional or spiritual. The feelings of Christmas....the magic.....the belief that anything is possible....am I expecting too much?? Believe......believe in what??? I believe there are still things that happen at Christmas that are unexplainable......
I will keep searching......I know the magic is out there somewhere.....
Sunday, December 4, 2011
How Can It Be Sunday Night Again???
It seems like every time I turn around the week-end is over. How can those 2 days go so fast? Well this week-end I did work Saturday so that might explain why Sunday got here so fast. When I work Saturday then Sunday is like one big blur add to it the holidays and well you get the picture......
I have to say this year we are more on track than other years. The tree is up and decorated. The outside of the house is decorated too. Any gift we have bought has been wrapped (thank you Jenn). Next weekend is baking. We have to figure out quantities and which cookies to make. We will be making some of the old reliables and trying some new ones too.
I might even be able writing a Christmas card or two this week.......maybe......last year I never sent a card.
Well here I am ready to face a new week.....clothes ready check......lunch made check.....gas in the car check......well rested and ready to go.......not so much....
I have to say this year we are more on track than other years. The tree is up and decorated. The outside of the house is decorated too. Any gift we have bought has been wrapped (thank you Jenn). Next weekend is baking. We have to figure out quantities and which cookies to make. We will be making some of the old reliables and trying some new ones too.
I might even be able writing a Christmas card or two this week.......maybe......last year I never sent a card.
Well here I am ready to face a new week.....clothes ready check......lunch made check.....gas in the car check......well rested and ready to go.......not so much....
Monday, November 28, 2011
The I-Phone vs. The Blackberry
I am technologically challenged......up until 2 years ago my cell phone looked like something out of the dark ages. I never sent texts or pictures to anyone. Now, I text all the time (not while driving of course) and do send photo's. During the summer Jenn encouraged me to take the next step......I got an I-phone. Just a few months later I can say "I love my I-Phone". I love the app's, I love being able to search out info while I am away from home and all the other bells and whistles that come with the phone. When I started my new job in August, they gave me a Blackberry. I can access my office e-mails on it. That is as much as I can do on it.....
To think the girl who could barely handle a cell phone now has an I-Phone and a Blackberry in her pocketbook is scary.
The Blackberry goes off each time I get an e-mail. When I am off from work and I hear it vibrate.....in my head I think.....should I read it or ignore it? My solution was to plug it in to recharge in the kitchen so I don't hear it all the time. Just during the time I have been sitting hear writing these blog entries it has vibrated several times. I will probably breakdown and log onto my work laptop to see what is out there in my e-mails. This would probably be a good idea since that would save me time in the morning when I return to work. I would have to spend the first 2-3 hours of my day looking at e-mails.
Another stress reducer......uh no....there it goes again.....
To think the girl who could barely handle a cell phone now has an I-Phone and a Blackberry in her pocketbook is scary.
The Blackberry goes off each time I get an e-mail. When I am off from work and I hear it vibrate.....in my head I think.....should I read it or ignore it? My solution was to plug it in to recharge in the kitchen so I don't hear it all the time. Just during the time I have been sitting hear writing these blog entries it has vibrated several times. I will probably breakdown and log onto my work laptop to see what is out there in my e-mails. This would probably be a good idea since that would save me time in the morning when I return to work. I would have to spend the first 2-3 hours of my day looking at e-mails.
Another stress reducer......uh no....there it goes again.....
Back to the gym......finally
Between the craziness of this time of year and being so busy at work.....my time at the gym has suffered. The good news is......I felt guilty about not being there. Never felt bad about not exercising before.....hey that is progress.
Today, I did get back to the gym. I jogged in the pool for about 45 minutes and did 1000 kicks hanging on the side of the pool. How do I know I did 1000 kicks......I counted each and every one of them. It felt good to work out again. And while I was doing my 45 minute jog, I was planning for the next year. I create stress for myself all the time. I have to be here at this time, I have to get this done before I can do something else, the office will collapse between the time I leave the office, hit the gym and get home (where I can log back into the office on my laptop). How important do I think I am? I can leave work at 5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, go to the gym and log back on my laptop around 7:30 to see if I have missed anything earth shattering.....
In order to have less stress in my life for the month of December, I will get to the gym as often as I can. I will not make myself crazy about it if something comes up and I cannot go. January 2nd I can get back into my regular routine. 4-5 times a week at the gym for an hour each time. I will work out with my trainer 1-2 times a week. If I only meet with her once during the week then I will get on the elliptical at least once a week and then get in the pool 2 times a week.
I will watch what I eat through the new year. I am no saint but I will be very aware of what I put in my mouth. I would still like to be down on the scale January 1st and am keeping that goal in the forefront.
There are times when I have left stress and guilt overwhelm me.....not any more.....at least I am going try not to let it consume me......life is too short and I would prefer to enjoy as much of it as I can.......
See I have taken the first step in the stress relief plan......I already have some of my New Year resolutions figure out......
Today, I did get back to the gym. I jogged in the pool for about 45 minutes and did 1000 kicks hanging on the side of the pool. How do I know I did 1000 kicks......I counted each and every one of them. It felt good to work out again. And while I was doing my 45 minute jog, I was planning for the next year. I create stress for myself all the time. I have to be here at this time, I have to get this done before I can do something else, the office will collapse between the time I leave the office, hit the gym and get home (where I can log back into the office on my laptop). How important do I think I am? I can leave work at 5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, go to the gym and log back on my laptop around 7:30 to see if I have missed anything earth shattering.....
In order to have less stress in my life for the month of December, I will get to the gym as often as I can. I will not make myself crazy about it if something comes up and I cannot go. January 2nd I can get back into my regular routine. 4-5 times a week at the gym for an hour each time. I will work out with my trainer 1-2 times a week. If I only meet with her once during the week then I will get on the elliptical at least once a week and then get in the pool 2 times a week.
I will watch what I eat through the new year. I am no saint but I will be very aware of what I put in my mouth. I would still like to be down on the scale January 1st and am keeping that goal in the forefront.
There are times when I have left stress and guilt overwhelm me.....not any more.....at least I am going try not to let it consume me......life is too short and I would prefer to enjoy as much of it as I can.......
See I have taken the first step in the stress relief plan......I already have some of my New Year resolutions figure out......
Decorating for the holiday
My mission was to go back to work on the 29th and all the decorating would be done both inside and out. I always forget what a job it can be to put up the tree, the inside decorations and the outside decorations.
We started on Saturday with the tree. I pulled the tree out of the storage box (I know, I know I do not have a real tree)at 11AM. Due to a series of events, we did not finish the bulk of the inside decorating until 11PM. First, we sorted through what we had......did I still need 2 tree stands for a live tree....no. How many candle holders do I need.....not 10 different kinds. What buildings do I want under the tree. Why do I have ton of tree needles on the floor from an artificial tree??? Time to sweep the floor. All that I have left to do inside is switching out the plate rack, decorate the small tree for the front window and get the ornaments on the big tree. One thing we did that made me happy was the tree topper. Last year, it never made it on the tree. This year we attached it to the top of the tree before we put the top of the tree in place. It is nice to see the star in the place it belongs. So we are in really decent shape as far as the inside goes. Less than another 30 minutes and we should be good.
Sunday, we decorated the outside of the house. Between Jenn and I it didn't take too long. We only have to hang out the Christmas flag and attach the big candy canes to the shutters and we are done outside.
I will be going back to work with just about all the decorating complete.
Next....on to the cookie baking and writing the cards. OK there are no short cuts to the cookies.......but can I just send e-mails and texts for holiday wishes?????
Everyone please keep your phones turned on or you might not get a Merry Christmas wish from me......
We started on Saturday with the tree. I pulled the tree out of the storage box (I know, I know I do not have a real tree)at 11AM. Due to a series of events, we did not finish the bulk of the inside decorating until 11PM. First, we sorted through what we had......did I still need 2 tree stands for a live tree....no. How many candle holders do I need.....not 10 different kinds. What buildings do I want under the tree. Why do I have ton of tree needles on the floor from an artificial tree??? Time to sweep the floor. All that I have left to do inside is switching out the plate rack, decorate the small tree for the front window and get the ornaments on the big tree. One thing we did that made me happy was the tree topper. Last year, it never made it on the tree. This year we attached it to the top of the tree before we put the top of the tree in place. It is nice to see the star in the place it belongs. So we are in really decent shape as far as the inside goes. Less than another 30 minutes and we should be good.
Sunday, we decorated the outside of the house. Between Jenn and I it didn't take too long. We only have to hang out the Christmas flag and attach the big candy canes to the shutters and we are done outside.
I will be going back to work with just about all the decorating complete.
Next....on to the cookie baking and writing the cards. OK there are no short cuts to the cookies.......but can I just send e-mails and texts for holiday wishes?????
Everyone please keep your phones turned on or you might not get a Merry Christmas wish from me......
Black Friday
In order to get up and out early I knew I would need a nap. So at 7:45PM Thanksgiving night I took a nap until about 10:00. Then I went to bed at 11:00 and got up at 4:00. Showered, makeup and hair done. We were out of the house by 4:30AM.....yes AM. This year we used a different strategy......not that we planned it that way but it worked and will be the way we shop they day after Thanksgiving from now on.
Rule #1: Divide your store flyer's into 2 piles- 1 pile is I have no interest at all and the other is I need to take a second look at this one.
Rule #2: Look carefully through the these need a second look pile. Do you really need it or are you just getting caught up the the pre-holiday shopping craze.
Rule #3: We didn't look for any big ticket items.
Rule #4: Since we were following rule number 3 we didn't have to be there when the store opened we showed up 1/2 hour after a store opened. The crowds were already gone and we didn't fight crowds.
We were done by 10:30. The presents were wrapped by noon and we were able to relax. Now it is cyber Monday......yes I will be shopping again but at least I can get to rest and not have to rush to get from one place to the next. Next big shopping day will be December 26th.....yes I go to the after Christmas sales too!!!
Rule #1: Divide your store flyer's into 2 piles- 1 pile is I have no interest at all and the other is I need to take a second look at this one.
Rule #2: Look carefully through the these need a second look pile. Do you really need it or are you just getting caught up the the pre-holiday shopping craze.
Rule #3: We didn't look for any big ticket items.
Rule #4: Since we were following rule number 3 we didn't have to be there when the store opened we showed up 1/2 hour after a store opened. The crowds were already gone and we didn't fight crowds.
We were done by 10:30. The presents were wrapped by noon and we were able to relax. Now it is cyber Monday......yes I will be shopping again but at least I can get to rest and not have to rush to get from one place to the next. Next big shopping day will be December 26th.....yes I go to the after Christmas sales too!!!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
What Do You Mean The Macy's Parade Is Not For Me???
I was born on Thanksgiving. I weighed 10 pounds 4 ounces (no it is not true that Weight Watchers sent a lecturer to see me in the nursery!!!). As my Mom says, I had dark hair that stood straight up (I had hair issues even then) and a bright red birthmark on my forehead between my eyes. Since I was born in the middle of the night in a Catholic Hospital in the 1950's the nuns who ran the show told my dad he could come back and see me for the first time the next day during visiting hours. It was probably a good thing.....I bet I looked a little better in daylight.
I loved the years my birthday fell on Thanksgiving. I always thought the Macy's Parade was to celebrate me......talk about being stuck on myself!!!! It was fun to have the family together for those Thanksgiving birthdays. I hated those long spans when leap year meant my birthday went from the day before Thanksgiving to the day after Thanksgiving.
So here I am just a few days from another Thanksgiving birthday. The birthmark has faded over the years (it used to get brighter red when I would get mad) but I can still see it some times when I put on my makeup, the hair no longer stands straight up (now I battle to make it look fuller which as you all know is a story in itself) and the weight......oh the weight......now I would be happy to lose my birth weight by the New Year.
Well, say what you want.......I know when they say at 9:00 Thursday morning "Let's have a parade!!"....it is really for me.....
I loved the years my birthday fell on Thanksgiving. I always thought the Macy's Parade was to celebrate me......talk about being stuck on myself!!!! It was fun to have the family together for those Thanksgiving birthdays. I hated those long spans when leap year meant my birthday went from the day before Thanksgiving to the day after Thanksgiving.
So here I am just a few days from another Thanksgiving birthday. The birthmark has faded over the years (it used to get brighter red when I would get mad) but I can still see it some times when I put on my makeup, the hair no longer stands straight up (now I battle to make it look fuller which as you all know is a story in itself) and the weight......oh the weight......now I would be happy to lose my birth weight by the New Year.
Well, say what you want.......I know when they say at 9:00 Thursday morning "Let's have a parade!!"....it is really for me.....
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