we've been sick in the johnson household since... um... 2012. yeah. it's been a rough winter. last week peyton and i came up with a brand spankin' new cough and cold and i just about flipped over it. i'm usually the one to suck it up and just keep moving, but this cough of ours came at a time where i was so hopeful to be done with the sickies that instead it just made me angry.
and i was angry for 3 days. monday, angry. tuesday, angry. wednesday, angry (thankfully only until 5pm when a dear friend of mine lifted my spirits with her sweet smile and encouraging words. mind you, this friend of mine was in day 6 of now having 3 kids in her family, and i'd gone to her to help encourage and support her, but it's times like those when God does his little flip-flop-thingamajig and you find yourself in an unexpected, yet welcomed, situation ...)
oh, and not sure if you know this, but nobody likes an angry sicky. as it turns out, toddlers don't love 'em either. especially sick toddlers. so to say that the peanut and i weren't quite jiving is putting it lightly. for 2.5 days i was mostly convinced she was trying to do anything and everything that would or could possibly make me mad. and it was working. peyton: 46, mommy: 0. no wins--not one. i was snappy and had THE LOWEST tolerance for messes. i was tired and didn't want to clean or pick up. i lacked excitement to play games, pretend things, or watch her not eat the meals she'd asked for a mere 5 minutes before. it was a VERY challenging 3 days, physically and emotionally. and sleep? what in the world was that?! 45 minutes here and there between middle of the night cries was not sleep. she was crying--not me--although i wasn't far from it.
thankfully, i woke up thursday morning feeling refreshed, energized, and overwhelmed by the feeling of the day's newness. why that feeling couldn't have shown up tuesday, i'm not quite sure. but i was grateful for it. peyton and i started jiving a little better, and our good health was slowly creeping back.
friday afternoon came and it was DADDY TIME!! can i just tell you how excited i was about this!? i always adore, adore, adore the days and moments josh is around to be and play with peyton and i, but i was especially excited as i was still feeling left over weariness from the long week that had preceeded. so friday, saturday, and sunday, moment after moment, i witnessed a patience and calmness that had been so foriegn to me in the recent days of sickness and short tempers. with daddy, forts were built, messes were made, cleaning was enjoyable, tickles were constant, everything was a game, laughter was prevalent, and all that emanated from our home was JOY. a joy that i, mommy--the usual mrs. fix-it-all (insert pat on back here), had had such a terribly hard time producing just earlier that same week. it was DADDY JOY. :)
no, you cannot have my husband. he's mine. i picked him out of the crowd years ago and i get to keep him. peyton can share with me, but THAT'S IT. he's amazing.
monday morning came bright and early at 6:15am, but it came with a new perspective and a recent experience of how to practice real, true patience. josh had been my just-in-time, life-sized example of patience in parenting and the impact it makes on our entire family. he is my extreme to my extreme, and he evens me out so well. so neat how God had crazy Team Johnson planned from the very beginning!
it's "only" wednesday, but our whole week has been different so far, and peyton is my little, sweet pal all over again just the way it should be! it helps that i can breathe without coughing and that we're all sleeping better at night, but nonetheless, the lesson daddy taught us (okay..."me") this weekend was exactly what we (okay..."I") needed. and i'm especially thankful that in these special moments my pride doesn't get in the way of learning something new from my OH-SO-VERY-WISE husband. (alright, babe, this last plug is me looking for points... remember, i like peanut butter squished between my chocolate and any flower that doesn't stink!!! :) weeeeee!!!!)
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
3.06.2013
6.17.2011
i'm going to be a HCTTFOHTBMOLWMNLWPIOWNSMFBGDAOHWH
for two and a half months, i've had the most wonderful pleasure of caring for my baby girl. i've had the opportunity to experience life as a SAHM. for those of you that don't follow mommy blogs and websites, that stands for Stay At Home Mommy. this new language is taking time to learn, but i'll get there, i'm sure.
i go back to work in two weeks. i go from being a SAHM to being a Head-Case Trying To Figure Out How To Balance My Old Life With My New Life While Pretending I'm Okay With Not Seeing My Favorite Baby Girl During All Of Her Waking Hours. or, as a blogger may put it, a HCTTFOHTBMOLWMNLWPIOWNSMFBGDAOHWH.
no, i'm not struggling with this one bit. why do you ask?
i will say, however, i am VERY fortunate to be going back to a job that i love, a boss that appreciates me, coworkers that make the day a joy, projects that intrigue and challenge me, and clients that...well, let's just say "keep things interesting".... many moms are not so fortunate when faced with the dreadful moment of returning to the work place. with all that great stuff, though, my only question is "why can't peyton come with me?!" she'd be great! i'd put her to work--answering phones, some light filing... maybe making a schedule or a budget for me when i'm in a bind. i think people would appreciate her presence in my meetings. i mean, the coo-ing and the "talking" is getting SO CUTE. i could watch her grow up and teach her plenty of things. she could nap under my desk. heck, i do--why should i not share the space?! i could make sure she goes outside a few times a day, let her scoot around the halls of the office... but mostly, i'd be able to be her main influence, and she'd have no doubt who her mommy is.
because that's what scares me most. what if little P forgets me? if i leave when she wakes up, and get home when she goes to sleep, all i become is the occasional nighttime feeder, and that awful lady that's always changing her clothes when she's half asleep in the morning or mostly asleep at night. everyday for the past 11 weeks i've gotten to stare into this little girls eyes whenever i want and whisper to her how much mommy loves her, and how great mommy thinks she is. and she stares back with a look that says, "yay!" and a little cracked smile. gosh, i love her.
but, i have to go back to work. we knew that before we began the journey that resulted in a wonderful little miracle we call peyton. so, i will. however, there are terms:
- nana and i will both be installing webcams so i can talk to my baby from work every now and then.
- nana has promised that she and peyt will visit me at work for lunch occasionally.
- i am reserving the right to wake my sleeping child at the most unfair times so i can remind her who loves her
- peyton and josh are my first priority, no matter what, so work just better darn fit into that.
- i'm will not work on the weekends. sorry, clients--weekends are for my family.
- i WILL be taking vacations this year. YAY!
- i am reserving the right to add to my terms list whenever i please.
okay, i'm off to publish these so someone else besides me believes they are valid...
i'll be blogging more about the "great going-back-to-work dilemma". more to follow at 11.
1.31.2011
a mental breakdown or two, just in time for baby...
my, oh my... have we been on a little roller coaster or what?
i don't know if it's the ticking time bomb in my belly, the time of the year that brings with it all the leftover holidays, or the many changes looming ahead, but i must say josh and i are more thankful than ever to be tag-teaming life these days. this past week brought a culmination of events that, while individually assessed, seem like pancakes, but when taken together and under consideration of "ahhhhhhhhhhhh! there's a baby on the way, too??!! are you kidding me?!?!?!", we were knocked off our feet nice and hard. go ahead, take a moment to picture josh and i with our hands in the air running circles around the living room, heads bouncing back and forth between our arms like macaulley caulkin in home alone (1, 2, OR 3)... yup, fun stuff.
this may come as a shock to you, but i enjoy feeling like i have a certain sense of control in my life. whoa, i know, right?
i manage projects for a living. schedule, budget, process--all these those things are important to me, and somewhat define what it means to feel like i have things "under control". therefore, when i'm presented with unexpected budget busts (i.e. potentially having to spend thousands of dollars on a plumbing disaster...), unexpected schedule adjustments (i.e. not REALLY knowing when baby j will arrive...early? late? on time?), or an out-of-whack process (i.e. where do we put all this new stuff that we have absolutely no space for?!), i often begin to--what do you call it--stress out. i don't mean to, and i KNOW it's not good for baby j, but sometimes i can't help it. that being said, i had a fantastically cliche pregnant-woman-breakdown driving to a client's office last thursday, in which i was forced to speed-dial the husband, as i knew he was one of the few that could really understand what i was going through. amidst my tears and frustrations, he was able to calm me down enough so i could show up to my meeting free of blood shot eyes. (thanks, again, honey...)
josh, although not asuptight detail oriented as me, still likes to have a handle on those everyday life things. (thankfully so, too, because if not, i don't think we'd be married.) but, in knowing how stressed out i've been with work, he's taken the reigns on everything house-related...including managing the 4 different repairmen that continue to show up for our bathroom, the crazy HOA office that is entirely unresponsive, the uverse installation guy who had to reinstall his original installation, the remodeler that's throwing new ceiling lights in for us, and the folks coming to pick up craigslist items as we try to make room for baby. on top of that, he works during the day, has school at night, and tries to stay sane with the occassional visit to the rockcliming gym. oh, and his love for cuddling takes up some of his free time, as well, especially since our cuddle time lately includes a love-kick from our little one... so when he hit a wall on an unusually tough assignment sunday night and was up until 3:30am, he was not a happy camper the next day. but josh came to me that night looking for a little pep-talk from me (probably in return for his on thursday), and although there wasn't much i could do to physically (or educationally) help, i was able to just be there for him, tell him i loved him, and encourage him a little bit.
i don't know if it's the ticking time bomb in my belly, the time of the year that brings with it all the leftover holidays, or the many changes looming ahead, but i must say josh and i are more thankful than ever to be tag-teaming life these days. this past week brought a culmination of events that, while individually assessed, seem like pancakes, but when taken together and under consideration of "ahhhhhhhhhhhh! there's a baby on the way, too??!! are you kidding me?!?!?!", we were knocked off our feet nice and hard. go ahead, take a moment to picture josh and i with our hands in the air running circles around the living room, heads bouncing back and forth between our arms like macaulley caulkin in home alone (1, 2, OR 3)... yup, fun stuff.
this may come as a shock to you, but i enjoy feeling like i have a certain sense of control in my life. whoa, i know, right?
i manage projects for a living. schedule, budget, process--all these those things are important to me, and somewhat define what it means to feel like i have things "under control". therefore, when i'm presented with unexpected budget busts (i.e. potentially having to spend thousands of dollars on a plumbing disaster...), unexpected schedule adjustments (i.e. not REALLY knowing when baby j will arrive...early? late? on time?), or an out-of-whack process (i.e. where do we put all this new stuff that we have absolutely no space for?!), i often begin to--what do you call it--stress out. i don't mean to, and i KNOW it's not good for baby j, but sometimes i can't help it. that being said, i had a fantastically cliche pregnant-woman-breakdown driving to a client's office last thursday, in which i was forced to speed-dial the husband, as i knew he was one of the few that could really understand what i was going through. amidst my tears and frustrations, he was able to calm me down enough so i could show up to my meeting free of blood shot eyes. (thanks, again, honey...)
josh, although not as
thankfully some of the stressors have subsided as this week has progressed, but there's no denying that an overwhelming sense of "can this nonsense be over yet and can we just have our baby now???" has made itself known. OF COURSE baby j will make our lives more busy, our daily activities more challenging, and our ability to jump back on our feet a little more difficult, but he/she will also bring incredible joy, excitement, and fulfillment to our lives, and for that, we cannot wait! the recent curve balls thrown our way are wonderfully frustrating examples of God's little life lessons, but they are helping us prepare for the insanity we will soon experience. so with that said, we'll continue to take 'em, one by one, and do our best to knock 'em out of the park.
7.15.2010
oh my gosh, are you okay?
we bought a small portion of a cow at costco last week. last night was going to be THE NIGHT we threw that sucker on the grill, however, i was well aware we'd likely cook it, eat a tiny peice of it, refrigerate it, and find it again, covered in not-cow-but-rather-fungus-of-some-sort about 3 weeks later.
no, that has never happened before.
i called my mom and sister to see if they wanted to help us put a bigger dent in it. granted, it was 6:15 and dinner would be ready by 7, but i thought i'd throw it out there. mom picked up the phone and told me she was about to start a mentor class at church, and couldn't make it. bummer, but fully expected. all good. mom asks me how things are going, then immediately tunes out as i start to respond, only to say to the woman in the background, "oh, we're starting?--baby, i gotta go. okay? okay. bye. bye. bye." -click- "um, okay. bye, mom."
instead of cow, we cooked chicken (in corona and lime) and macaroni and cheese (homemade, whaaaaaat!). it was DE-LICOUS.
mom calls me back at 9. "sweetie? hi. are, are, are you okay?" i answer that i'm fine, and ask her why. "i was just wondering if you'd eaten." BLESS HER HEART. um, yes, i'd eaten. i know i'm only a few years out of the house, and i know i call her now more often that i ever did in college, but she seemingly thought i might have panicked SO MUCH when she hung up on me that i just COULD NOT POSSIBLY EAT DINNER THAT NIGHT, and that she should check on me. :-) uhm, no, not the case, in fact, i married a man that has made me well aware he needs to eat. often. and not even being hung up on by my mom would stop us from dinner.
she always tells me i'll forever be her baby girl. she reminds me by caring so much. even when its so funny that it's cute. (love you, momma. xoxo)
no, that has never happened before.
i called my mom and sister to see if they wanted to help us put a bigger dent in it. granted, it was 6:15 and dinner would be ready by 7, but i thought i'd throw it out there. mom picked up the phone and told me she was about to start a mentor class at church, and couldn't make it. bummer, but fully expected. all good. mom asks me how things are going, then immediately tunes out as i start to respond, only to say to the woman in the background, "oh, we're starting?--baby, i gotta go. okay? okay. bye. bye. bye." -click- "um, okay. bye, mom."
instead of cow, we cooked chicken (in corona and lime) and macaroni and cheese (homemade, whaaaaaat!). it was DE-LICOUS.
mom calls me back at 9. "sweetie? hi. are, are, are you okay?" i answer that i'm fine, and ask her why. "i was just wondering if you'd eaten." BLESS HER HEART. um, yes, i'd eaten. i know i'm only a few years out of the house, and i know i call her now more often that i ever did in college, but she seemingly thought i might have panicked SO MUCH when she hung up on me that i just COULD NOT POSSIBLY EAT DINNER THAT NIGHT, and that she should check on me. :-) uhm, no, not the case, in fact, i married a man that has made me well aware he needs to eat. often. and not even being hung up on by my mom would stop us from dinner.
she always tells me i'll forever be her baby girl. she reminds me by caring so much. even when its so funny that it's cute. (love you, momma. xoxo)
7.07.2010
camouflaged.
last october, josh and i took a week off and drove to colorado to visit our friends, kristy and jj, and their lovely kids, braylon and jaxten. since then, the two of them have been blessed with another little one--a precious girl this time--taytum faith. how old are they, you ask? well, 5 months, 19 months, and 3 years. yes, three kids under three. all at once.
i've known kristy since our early days of high school. she was that total hot surfer girl that all the boys went crazy over. don't get me wrong, she's not the girl other girls often despise--she didn't MAKE the boys go crazy--they just did. it was natural! as a matter of fact, you couldn't help but love how much she DIDN'T care that her hair was knotty and full of sand and that she hadn't showered in a day or 3, because it was funny and light hearted, and so is she. but messy hair or not, this girl is drop dead gorgeous.
some 3 years after high school, this wacky, life-loving friend of mine, kristy, stumbled upon a 6'7" basketball player. now, when i say basketball player, i mean, basketball player. yes, he walked and talked like kobe. yes, he wore gym clothes and carried a basketball under his arm all the time. and yes, he loved every minute of simply being a "basketball player". rightfully so--he was good--really good. and in the midst of his international career, he invited his girlfriend, kristy, to join him for a few weeks in italy. kristy, the biggest home-body i've ever met and the first one to get homesick on our weekend getaways to vegas, nervously accepted. a few months later, she accepted an offer to join him for a few months in mexico. the homesick issue dissipated quickly--she thought the world of this stud, and nothing else mattered.
the phone rang one day while kristy was in mexico. "UHM, HI GEEG, SO...JJ AND I JUST GOT MARRIED!!!" "oh my crapness, kristy, i talked to you 3 days ago and didn't even know you guys were engaged!!!" "yeah, i just found out last night, myself. isn't it amazing?" "why, yes, of course. wow. i mean, WOWWW. that's...great. yes, that's GREAT!!!..." i called our other close friends immediately after hanging up. "guys, this is great, right? shoot. i'm not sure. that was....FAST. hmmm. okay, we're all okay with this. he's a good guy... we can support this, for sure." when jj and kristy returned, we welcomed them, excited about their new venture, but already praying hard that she'd/they'd made a smart decision.
then they got pregnant. and sure enough, 9 months later, a baby came. imagine that!!
then they got pregnant. again. and sure enough, as if it were natural, 9 months later, another baby came... i'm seeing a trend here.
with 2 kids under 2, and a 3 year old marriage, and two young adults that were still learning new things about themselves and each other on a daily basis, kristy and jj pressed on. an international basketball career ended sometime during that time, and jj, at a fork-in-the-road-moment of his life, decided to join the army.
i don't know anyone in the army. i know i drive past camp pendelton every so often hopeful i won't accidentally get run over by a rogue humvee, but that's about as close as i've come to armed forces in my life. oh yeah, i went to an airshow at edwards air force base once. i was 10. so, i hear the news, and of course, i call up my close friends. "guys, is this okay? i mean, i'm scared for them. jj's going to have to wear green and brown camo EVERYDAY. like, is he gonna be okay with that? and you know, what if he gets deployed? can jj and kristy handle this? and the kids???" i couldn't tell kristy how nervous i was. she was in the midst of mentally preparing herself for these next few years of uncertainty, and spiritually preparing herself to support her husband in his every need as they decided to take their family down this unexplored path. but jj had made this decision with a clear head. he needed to support his family, and he wanted to do so in the most honorable way he could think of.
last july, jj and kristy moved to fountain, colorado, just outside fort carson, where jj had been stationed. 5 months ago, baby taytum turned the sola family into a five-some, and 3 months ago jj, dressed in his finest camo and boots that were bigger than his smallest child, waved goodbye to his family as he left for a 13 month deployment to iraq. can you imagine? thankfully, a beautiful little invention called skype allows jj to see his kids grow up on the other side of the computer, but it's obviously not the same. 13 months. the sola's just take it one day at a time. and time will pass. and they'll be together again soon.
i now know someone in the army. i know someone brave. i know someone selfless. i know someone honorable, someone strong. and i know someone who is and continues to grow into a strong man of God. i am beyond words when i try to describe how much he and his sacrifices impress me.
i'm equally impressed by my crazy, funny, loving, sweet friend kristy, as she gives her three kids all her love and attention day after day, and as she remains the strong and loyal rock that jj yearns to come home to.
kristy spent the early part of summer here in orange county, and just this week, started the same trek josh and i did last october to return home to colorado with her three kids. they get to see jj for 2 weeks in another 3 or 4 months, as he takes his leave.
this family has been on my mind and in my prayers for weeks now, as my heart is humbled by their story, their hard times, their good times, their strengthand faith found in the Lord, and their beautiful attitudes of gratitude. may they know we love and admire them. and when i say we, i mean more than just josh and i.
jj, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. kristy, thank you for your friendship. bray, jaxy, and tater tot, thank you for the simply joys you bring to all of us. go solafamfam!!
and how's this for old school?
i've known kristy since our early days of high school. she was that total hot surfer girl that all the boys went crazy over. don't get me wrong, she's not the girl other girls often despise--she didn't MAKE the boys go crazy--they just did. it was natural! as a matter of fact, you couldn't help but love how much she DIDN'T care that her hair was knotty and full of sand and that she hadn't showered in a day or 3, because it was funny and light hearted, and so is she. but messy hair or not, this girl is drop dead gorgeous.
some 3 years after high school, this wacky, life-loving friend of mine, kristy, stumbled upon a 6'7" basketball player. now, when i say basketball player, i mean, basketball player. yes, he walked and talked like kobe. yes, he wore gym clothes and carried a basketball under his arm all the time. and yes, he loved every minute of simply being a "basketball player". rightfully so--he was good--really good. and in the midst of his international career, he invited his girlfriend, kristy, to join him for a few weeks in italy. kristy, the biggest home-body i've ever met and the first one to get homesick on our weekend getaways to vegas, nervously accepted. a few months later, she accepted an offer to join him for a few months in mexico. the homesick issue dissipated quickly--she thought the world of this stud, and nothing else mattered.
the phone rang one day while kristy was in mexico. "UHM, HI GEEG, SO...JJ AND I JUST GOT MARRIED!!!" "oh my crapness, kristy, i talked to you 3 days ago and didn't even know you guys were engaged!!!" "yeah, i just found out last night, myself. isn't it amazing?" "why, yes, of course. wow. i mean, WOWWW. that's...great. yes, that's GREAT!!!..." i called our other close friends immediately after hanging up. "guys, this is great, right? shoot. i'm not sure. that was....FAST. hmmm. okay, we're all okay with this. he's a good guy... we can support this, for sure." when jj and kristy returned, we welcomed them, excited about their new venture, but already praying hard that she'd/they'd made a smart decision.
then they got pregnant. and sure enough, 9 months later, a baby came. imagine that!!
then they got pregnant. again. and sure enough, as if it were natural, 9 months later, another baby came... i'm seeing a trend here.
with 2 kids under 2, and a 3 year old marriage, and two young adults that were still learning new things about themselves and each other on a daily basis, kristy and jj pressed on. an international basketball career ended sometime during that time, and jj, at a fork-in-the-road-moment of his life, decided to join the army.
i don't know anyone in the army. i know i drive past camp pendelton every so often hopeful i won't accidentally get run over by a rogue humvee, but that's about as close as i've come to armed forces in my life. oh yeah, i went to an airshow at edwards air force base once. i was 10. so, i hear the news, and of course, i call up my close friends. "guys, is this okay? i mean, i'm scared for them. jj's going to have to wear green and brown camo EVERYDAY. like, is he gonna be okay with that? and you know, what if he gets deployed? can jj and kristy handle this? and the kids???" i couldn't tell kristy how nervous i was. she was in the midst of mentally preparing herself for these next few years of uncertainty, and spiritually preparing herself to support her husband in his every need as they decided to take their family down this unexplored path. but jj had made this decision with a clear head. he needed to support his family, and he wanted to do so in the most honorable way he could think of.
last july, jj and kristy moved to fountain, colorado, just outside fort carson, where jj had been stationed. 5 months ago, baby taytum turned the sola family into a five-some, and 3 months ago jj, dressed in his finest camo and boots that were bigger than his smallest child, waved goodbye to his family as he left for a 13 month deployment to iraq. can you imagine? thankfully, a beautiful little invention called skype allows jj to see his kids grow up on the other side of the computer, but it's obviously not the same. 13 months. the sola's just take it one day at a time. and time will pass. and they'll be together again soon.
i now know someone in the army. i know someone brave. i know someone selfless. i know someone honorable, someone strong. and i know someone who is and continues to grow into a strong man of God. i am beyond words when i try to describe how much he and his sacrifices impress me.
i'm equally impressed by my crazy, funny, loving, sweet friend kristy, as she gives her three kids all her love and attention day after day, and as she remains the strong and loyal rock that jj yearns to come home to.
kristy spent the early part of summer here in orange county, and just this week, started the same trek josh and i did last october to return home to colorado with her three kids. they get to see jj for 2 weeks in another 3 or 4 months, as he takes his leave.
this family has been on my mind and in my prayers for weeks now, as my heart is humbled by their story, their hard times, their good times, their strengthand faith found in the Lord, and their beautiful attitudes of gratitude. may they know we love and admire them. and when i say we, i mean more than just josh and i.
jj, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. kristy, thank you for your friendship. bray, jaxy, and tater tot, thank you for the simply joys you bring to all of us. go solafamfam!!
and how's this for old school?
6.10.2010
oh my, layover!
takeaways from my latest attempt to fly...
1) burbank airport, contrary to popular (/my) belief, is NOT the same distance from orange county as long beach airport. idoit points: 3
2) it does not take 3+ hours to get from OC to burbank. it takes 2. idiot points: 1
3) a 7 person flight does not stop the ticketing counter from boarding in zones. idiot points: 0
4) san fransisco in the summer is moody like a teenage girl. one hour, foggy, the next hour, twice as foggy, the next hour, clear. idiot points: 1
5) "redeyes" are not meant to have connections at various airports throughout the night. idiot points: 3
6) in today's economy, not every freezing cold plane has blankets onboard. idiot points: 2
7) 90 minute customer service lines CAN be followed by 60 minute customer service phone calls. idiot points: 1
8) tea does not have as much caffiene as coffee. idiot points: 1
9) there's no one to chat on the phone with at 3:35am. idiot points: 1
10) when a pilot offers to drop you back off at the gate and stay in town, rather than start your trip, there are times when it'd be smarter to take him up on his offer rather than "just see" how things turn out. idiot points: 7 (that's a biggie, i know!)
it was a rough 20 hours, and in the end, i got nowhere. that's right, nowhere. i can't say i didn't learn anything though! in some states, i'd get college credits for the amount of lessons learned in such a short period of time...
PXX2AMFCSJYY
1) burbank airport, contrary to popular (/my) belief, is NOT the same distance from orange county as long beach airport. idoit points: 3
2) it does not take 3+ hours to get from OC to burbank. it takes 2. idiot points: 1
3) a 7 person flight does not stop the ticketing counter from boarding in zones. idiot points: 0
4) san fransisco in the summer is moody like a teenage girl. one hour, foggy, the next hour, twice as foggy, the next hour, clear. idiot points: 1
5) "redeyes" are not meant to have connections at various airports throughout the night. idiot points: 3
6) in today's economy, not every freezing cold plane has blankets onboard. idiot points: 2
7) 90 minute customer service lines CAN be followed by 60 minute customer service phone calls. idiot points: 1
8) tea does not have as much caffiene as coffee. idiot points: 1
9) there's no one to chat on the phone with at 3:35am. idiot points: 1
10) when a pilot offers to drop you back off at the gate and stay in town, rather than start your trip, there are times when it'd be smarter to take him up on his offer rather than "just see" how things turn out. idiot points: 7 (that's a biggie, i know!)
it was a rough 20 hours, and in the end, i got nowhere. that's right, nowhere. i can't say i didn't learn anything though! in some states, i'd get college credits for the amount of lessons learned in such a short period of time...
PXX2AMFCSJYY
5.06.2010
a fresh papercut :-/
i have a friend--correction: HAD a friend--who at one point was VERY close. we shared our hearts, our dreams, our similarities, and our differences, heck, we even shared our wedding days with each other...
then something happened. and my reaction to that something wasn't--well, it wasn't "right" according to her. and looking back, i admit, it probably didn't qualify as the world's best reaction a friend could have. but in her mind, i'd wronged her--BIG TIME. and now? well, now, we're no longer friends.
after a truly heartfelt apology , based on what i realized she perceived as wrong on my part, we have yet to rebuild our relationship. it breaks my heart over and over.
this was a while ago. you'd think i'd be "over it" by now. but i'm not. not even close :-( and honestly, i won't be surprised if this one hangs around with me for a lifetime.
the loss of a freindship is one of the hardest, most impactful losses one can face, in my opinion. it's almost like a break-up, where you just hit rewind in your memory bank over and over, trying to figure out what went wrong; trying to figure out what you could have done differently. and everytime the memory bank's rerun comes to an end, it stings like a fresh papercut all over again.
i don't wish to be a lousy friend--not to anyone. i've specifically asked close friends of mine to tell me what i can do to be a better friend to them. and i'll continue to ask... because friends don't just come knocking on your door--they take work, and they're not worth losing over a misunderstanding. and losing a good friend can leave an everlasting hole in your hearth. not fun. not fun at all.
just sayin...
then something happened. and my reaction to that something wasn't--well, it wasn't "right" according to her. and looking back, i admit, it probably didn't qualify as the world's best reaction a friend could have. but in her mind, i'd wronged her--BIG TIME. and now? well, now, we're no longer friends.
after a truly heartfelt apology , based on what i realized she perceived as wrong on my part, we have yet to rebuild our relationship. it breaks my heart over and over.
this was a while ago. you'd think i'd be "over it" by now. but i'm not. not even close :-( and honestly, i won't be surprised if this one hangs around with me for a lifetime.
the loss of a freindship is one of the hardest, most impactful losses one can face, in my opinion. it's almost like a break-up, where you just hit rewind in your memory bank over and over, trying to figure out what went wrong; trying to figure out what you could have done differently. and everytime the memory bank's rerun comes to an end, it stings like a fresh papercut all over again.
i don't wish to be a lousy friend--not to anyone. i've specifically asked close friends of mine to tell me what i can do to be a better friend to them. and i'll continue to ask... because friends don't just come knocking on your door--they take work, and they're not worth losing over a misunderstanding. and losing a good friend can leave an everlasting hole in your hearth. not fun. not fun at all.
just sayin...
3.31.2010
to do -- ta da!
the recent warm weather and late sunsets have really proven themselves to act as a magnet to our little family of 3, when 7pm rolls around. sunset walks are coming back into the picture, and oh how i love them!
aside from allowing june to alleviate some pent up energy, our little evening walks have become yet another great enviroment for solid conversation. last night's conversation somehow shifted to a topic of our daily to do lists, and how we both work so differently.
josh seems to have a "rule of 7". his past research (of course he has researched this...) has shown him that people should focus their efforts on completing seven realistic tasks in one day. if more are completed, great, if not, no worries, you hit your lucky #7. at work, he has a "master to-do list" with mini lists of 7 that help him prioritize his daily activities.
i, on the other hand, have ONE list. this list has it all... until it's full, that is. at that point, i start another list, transferring unfinished items to the new list, adding to it, and abandoning the old list. i revisit my list at least 15 times in a day, and if things become higher priority, they get an extra touch of color as a reminder.
aside from allowing june to alleviate some pent up energy, our little evening walks have become yet another great enviroment for solid conversation. last night's conversation somehow shifted to a topic of our daily to do lists, and how we both work so differently.
josh seems to have a "rule of 7". his past research (of course he has researched this...) has shown him that people should focus their efforts on completing seven realistic tasks in one day. if more are completed, great, if not, no worries, you hit your lucky #7. at work, he has a "master to-do list" with mini lists of 7 that help him prioritize his daily activities.
i, on the other hand, have ONE list. this list has it all... until it's full, that is. at that point, i start another list, transferring unfinished items to the new list, adding to it, and abandoning the old list. i revisit my list at least 15 times in a day, and if things become higher priority, they get an extra touch of color as a reminder.
as we discussed the different ways we manage ourselves and our to-do's on a daily basis, we were reminded that, although we work really well together, we work very differently than one another. josh feels overwhelmed when faced with a long to do list, i feel comfortable that i've captured everything i need to get done on a peice of paper! if i gave my list to josh, he'd probably be so confused. if he gave his list to me, i'd feel like i was missing things.
i'm POSITIVE this plays out in our marraige. one fundamental difference we found on day 6 of marraige was this:
i'm POSITIVE this plays out in our marraige. one fundamental difference we found on day 6 of marraige was this:
josh: "i cannot clean this house until i relax!"
gigi: "i cannot relax until i clean this house!"
i won't go into how many times this has happened in the past year--i'll leave that up to your imagination... the good news, though, is that we both want the same things: a clean house and time to relax. therefore, we find ourselves working toward the same goal in two different ways.
so, as is the case with both the lists and the cleaning/relaxing styles, we continue to find ourselves wanting the same things, getting the same things done, but always bringing another approach to the table. and i LOVE it! it keeps things interesting and challenging, makes for some great debating, and keeps us focused on our goals. not to mention, in the end, we've both gotten what we wanted, because we wanted the same things to begin with.
gigi: "i cannot relax until i clean this house!"
i won't go into how many times this has happened in the past year--i'll leave that up to your imagination... the good news, though, is that we both want the same things: a clean house and time to relax. therefore, we find ourselves working toward the same goal in two different ways.
so, as is the case with both the lists and the cleaning/relaxing styles, we continue to find ourselves wanting the same things, getting the same things done, but always bringing another approach to the table. and i LOVE it! it keeps things interesting and challenging, makes for some great debating, and keeps us focused on our goals. not to mention, in the end, we've both gotten what we wanted, because we wanted the same things to begin with.
...phew!...
1.28.2010
when your mind's made up
tuesday blew like a drunk guy workin' a breathalizer. no, really, all kidding aside, i had the most horrible day i've had in a long time. the worst part was that i had no idea why my day was so difficult. it just was.
first off, i must clarify--nothing is "wrong", things aren't "bad", and my life isn't "rough". i simply woke up, showered, and began to get ready. i got in a small fight with my closet and the few exciting peices it offers, but that's not new. all of the sudden, i felt odd... different... uncomfortable... i felt like my little world was slowly turning upside down, and i was entirely not surprised when it didn't re-adjust itself until later that evening. i instantly had a disappointing perspective on everything--i didn't like what i saw in the mirror, i didn't enjoy running through my day's to-do list in my head, and i could barely appreciate the few morning exchanges my husband and i shared before work. i just wasn't having it.
i made my way into the office and felt on the verge of tears all day. every little thing i'd normally brush off was given enough credit in my mind to takeover my thoughts. ugh. what an awful feeling. ultimately, i made a decision to bail out of work a couple hours early. i had permission, of course--there was no way i was going to add my bad day by playing an unadvised day of hookie. i drove home, plopped on the couch, and submitted myself to 2 hours of predictable chick-flickness. thankfully, my dose of "confessions of a shopaholic" was just the right medicine. well, actually, i owe getting out of my slump to the desperate prayers and a self-given motivational pep-talk, but you get the jist. the movie helped. i was finally able to detach from whatever had unnerved me and essentially hit the restart button on my day. i jumped on the good-attitude train for the rest of the evening, and have felt fine ever since. :-) high fives to that!
i'm not sharing the details of my crappy day just for the mere purpose of sharing. it was quite the impactful day, seeing as how it's thursday and i'm still thinking about it. there must be a lesson in this somewhere...
since tuesday, i've found myself thinking that i hadn't had a bad day like that for a while, so it was bound to come. everyone deserves to have a bad attitude at their discretion, right??? ehhh, not so much. as i mentioned, nothing is wrong, life is good, and i'm a happy camper. i believe that each and every morning God gives me a little window of time in which i get to make a decision. i don't think the decision is between "having a good day" and "having a bad day" so much as it is between "working to have a good day" and "not working to have a good day". i'm lucky that good days often come my way, but on the occassional day in which i am blatently presented with that choice, i'm going to force myself to take an extra moment, say an extra prayer, and work a little harder to stretch a smile across my face. that morning's decision may be tested throughout the day, and i'll probably find myself working hard to fight off the little grey clouds that so badly want to cling themselves on to my smallest worry, but i must make it a priority to not allow a bad attitude to win me over. it's draining and tiring, and i definitely don't want it happening when i have no stinkin' reason for it.
bad days will come, but their reasons will come with them. and on those days i'll find the loving arms of my friends, my family, and my God to comfort me.
first off, i must clarify--nothing is "wrong", things aren't "bad", and my life isn't "rough". i simply woke up, showered, and began to get ready. i got in a small fight with my closet and the few exciting peices it offers, but that's not new. all of the sudden, i felt odd... different... uncomfortable... i felt like my little world was slowly turning upside down, and i was entirely not surprised when it didn't re-adjust itself until later that evening. i instantly had a disappointing perspective on everything--i didn't like what i saw in the mirror, i didn't enjoy running through my day's to-do list in my head, and i could barely appreciate the few morning exchanges my husband and i shared before work. i just wasn't having it.
i made my way into the office and felt on the verge of tears all day. every little thing i'd normally brush off was given enough credit in my mind to takeover my thoughts. ugh. what an awful feeling. ultimately, i made a decision to bail out of work a couple hours early. i had permission, of course--there was no way i was going to add my bad day by playing an unadvised day of hookie. i drove home, plopped on the couch, and submitted myself to 2 hours of predictable chick-flickness. thankfully, my dose of "confessions of a shopaholic" was just the right medicine. well, actually, i owe getting out of my slump to the desperate prayers and a self-given motivational pep-talk, but you get the jist. the movie helped. i was finally able to detach from whatever had unnerved me and essentially hit the restart button on my day. i jumped on the good-attitude train for the rest of the evening, and have felt fine ever since. :-) high fives to that!
i'm not sharing the details of my crappy day just for the mere purpose of sharing. it was quite the impactful day, seeing as how it's thursday and i'm still thinking about it. there must be a lesson in this somewhere...
since tuesday, i've found myself thinking that i hadn't had a bad day like that for a while, so it was bound to come. everyone deserves to have a bad attitude at their discretion, right??? ehhh, not so much. as i mentioned, nothing is wrong, life is good, and i'm a happy camper. i believe that each and every morning God gives me a little window of time in which i get to make a decision. i don't think the decision is between "having a good day" and "having a bad day" so much as it is between "working to have a good day" and "not working to have a good day". i'm lucky that good days often come my way, but on the occassional day in which i am blatently presented with that choice, i'm going to force myself to take an extra moment, say an extra prayer, and work a little harder to stretch a smile across my face. that morning's decision may be tested throughout the day, and i'll probably find myself working hard to fight off the little grey clouds that so badly want to cling themselves on to my smallest worry, but i must make it a priority to not allow a bad attitude to win me over. it's draining and tiring, and i definitely don't want it happening when i have no stinkin' reason for it.
bad days will come, but their reasons will come with them. and on those days i'll find the loving arms of my friends, my family, and my God to comfort me.
1.15.2010
i will.
one of my goals for 2010 is to start setting goals.
one of my more relevant goals for 2010 is to become less restless. allow me to explain.
in this day and age, it is SO incredibly easy to yearn for "the next big thing", to always want what's on the other side of the fence, and to keep up, if not surpass, the "jones'". you grow up wanting to get to high school, then get to college, then get to the real world. you finally get there and you want to find a great job, buy a house, meet the man/woman of your dreams, get married, have kids, get a bigger house, get a more glorified job, have more kids, etc.etc.
i look at my own life and realize that in every step of the way, i have always want to be a step ahead of myself. this, my friends, is most likely the reason for why you may consider me "prematurely old". sad, huh? now, don't get me wrong, it's important to dream, wish, and work for all these great things to happen, but what happens when your entire focus becomes wanting what you don't currently have?? well, i believe you end up losing sight of the moment in which you stand.
i want to learn, so badly, how to just savor the moment while i'm in it. imagine the excitement!
so, this year i will do the following:
- i will cherish the tens of thousands of laughs i share with the love of my life
- i will utterly enjoy every minute of marriage...without kids
- i will love the moments i get to spend with my June Bug while she's still got the energy of a puppy
- i will appreciate the heck out of the fact that my bro, sis, mom, dad, and in laws all live within 30 minutes of me. that's equal to one episode of "friends"
- i will tell my friends how much i love them
- i will enjoy my little 1100 square foot condo and my tiny balcony
- i will work my butt off to tackle the daily learning curve i'm presented with in my career
- i will learn and retain as many music facts as my husband can tell me
- i will laugh aloud at the smart-ass jokes i quietly tell myself
- i will find a way to enjoy the countless hours spent in my car
- i will enjoy the daily grind as if its a vacation from the norm
- i will stop in my footsteps every so often and just...be
- i will not always be yearning for the next great moment, but instead make each moment great
- i will be...less restless and more at peace
i'm thankful for this life full of wonderful blessings, and i won't let it to go by too fast. you just never know...
one of my more relevant goals for 2010 is to become less restless. allow me to explain.
in this day and age, it is SO incredibly easy to yearn for "the next big thing", to always want what's on the other side of the fence, and to keep up, if not surpass, the "jones'". you grow up wanting to get to high school, then get to college, then get to the real world. you finally get there and you want to find a great job, buy a house, meet the man/woman of your dreams, get married, have kids, get a bigger house, get a more glorified job, have more kids, etc.etc.
i look at my own life and realize that in every step of the way, i have always want to be a step ahead of myself. this, my friends, is most likely the reason for why you may consider me "prematurely old". sad, huh? now, don't get me wrong, it's important to dream, wish, and work for all these great things to happen, but what happens when your entire focus becomes wanting what you don't currently have?? well, i believe you end up losing sight of the moment in which you stand.
i want to learn, so badly, how to just savor the moment while i'm in it. imagine the excitement!
so, this year i will do the following:
- i will cherish the tens of thousands of laughs i share with the love of my life
- i will utterly enjoy every minute of marriage...without kids
- i will love the moments i get to spend with my June Bug while she's still got the energy of a puppy
- i will appreciate the heck out of the fact that my bro, sis, mom, dad, and in laws all live within 30 minutes of me. that's equal to one episode of "friends"
- i will tell my friends how much i love them
- i will enjoy my little 1100 square foot condo and my tiny balcony
- i will work my butt off to tackle the daily learning curve i'm presented with in my career
- i will learn and retain as many music facts as my husband can tell me
- i will laugh aloud at the smart-ass jokes i quietly tell myself
- i will find a way to enjoy the countless hours spent in my car
- i will enjoy the daily grind as if its a vacation from the norm
- i will stop in my footsteps every so often and just...be
- i will not always be yearning for the next great moment, but instead make each moment great
- i will be...less restless and more at peace
i'm thankful for this life full of wonderful blessings, and i won't let it to go by too fast. you just never know...
11.15.2009
ho-ho-ho-holidays!
ahhhh, yes, it's here. HOLIDAY SEASON! halloween came and went, and thanksgiving and christmas are right around the corner.
..........AND I AM SO EXCITED!
this year has brought many firsts... first time getting married (*disclaimer, this will ONLY happen once...!), first time sharing a room with a boyyyyyyy (ew...), first time being an aunt (YAY!), first time roadtripping across the western US (amazingggg), first time being a bridesmaid, first time cooking more than twice in one week... the list could go on. but what i've been most excited about for a few months now is knowing that josh and i get to enjoy the holiday season as husband and wife (and dog...of course) for the first time!
this is the year we get the opportunity to create our own little family traditions. whether it be a certain holiday movie on christmas eve, a crackling fire on the chilliest of nights, a sugar-cookie baking spree, the hanging of christmas lights, the decorating of a christmas tree, or even just a week of self-mandated annoying christmas carol-singing, we'll be engaging in our new traditions purposefully and intentionally--as this will be the FIRST of MANY.
i'm sure i have a few high hopes for the season, but josh and i will take some time to make sure we know what each other's expectations are, just to be sure we don't catch the other off guard with rediculous christmas desires. for example, i've daydreamed about redecorating our entire kitchen with RED placemats, GOLD table runners, and a whole new festive place setting at each seat at the dining room table, but he doesn't know it, yet. i'll probably tell him, and he'll probably(and by "probably" i mean "definitely") shoot it down, but at least i can stop the daydreaming and move on with my life! he's already dropped a few HINTS that he wants his "nightmare before christmas" collectables strategically scattered around the house during the month of december, and i've decided that's a battle i'm not going to fight this year :-) good wife, i know... (actually, i am quite the fan of the movie, and his collection IS somewhat impressive...)
when all is said and done, our holiday season will probably end up being simple and reasonable. and i'm glad. the holidays aren't about "keeping up with the jones'", they aren't about getting the best gifts, or even giving the best gifts, they aren't about who has the best decorations or whose lights shine the brightest after 10pm. the holidays are about the little, planned and unplanned, family traditions. they are about how each family chooses to spend time with each other. they are about celebrating the birth of Jesus with those you love most. they are about the little special moments spent together. this new family of ours will be busy with a year of first-time traditions this holiday season, figuring out how we best show our love to each other, and how we most gracefully praise Him, and i couldn't be more excited!
june, get your ears ready for some faux reindeer antlers! the nonsense is about to begin! :-)
..........AND I AM SO EXCITED!
this year has brought many firsts... first time getting married (*disclaimer, this will ONLY happen once...!), first time sharing a room with a boyyyyyyy (ew...), first time being an aunt (YAY!), first time roadtripping across the western US (amazingggg), first time being a bridesmaid, first time cooking more than twice in one week... the list could go on. but what i've been most excited about for a few months now is knowing that josh and i get to enjoy the holiday season as husband and wife (and dog...of course) for the first time!
this is the year we get the opportunity to create our own little family traditions. whether it be a certain holiday movie on christmas eve, a crackling fire on the chilliest of nights, a sugar-cookie baking spree, the hanging of christmas lights, the decorating of a christmas tree, or even just a week of self-mandated annoying christmas carol-singing, we'll be engaging in our new traditions purposefully and intentionally--as this will be the FIRST of MANY.
i'm sure i have a few high hopes for the season, but josh and i will take some time to make sure we know what each other's expectations are, just to be sure we don't catch the other off guard with rediculous christmas desires. for example, i've daydreamed about redecorating our entire kitchen with RED placemats, GOLD table runners, and a whole new festive place setting at each seat at the dining room table, but he doesn't know it, yet. i'll probably tell him, and he'll probably(and by "probably" i mean "definitely") shoot it down, but at least i can stop the daydreaming and move on with my life! he's already dropped a few HINTS that he wants his "nightmare before christmas" collectables strategically scattered around the house during the month of december, and i've decided that's a battle i'm not going to fight this year :-) good wife, i know... (actually, i am quite the fan of the movie, and his collection IS somewhat impressive...)
when all is said and done, our holiday season will probably end up being simple and reasonable. and i'm glad. the holidays aren't about "keeping up with the jones'", they aren't about getting the best gifts, or even giving the best gifts, they aren't about who has the best decorations or whose lights shine the brightest after 10pm. the holidays are about the little, planned and unplanned, family traditions. they are about how each family chooses to spend time with each other. they are about celebrating the birth of Jesus with those you love most. they are about the little special moments spent together. this new family of ours will be busy with a year of first-time traditions this holiday season, figuring out how we best show our love to each other, and how we most gracefully praise Him, and i couldn't be more excited!
june, get your ears ready for some faux reindeer antlers! the nonsense is about to begin! :-)
11.09.2009
lessons learned
8 months of married life and it's finally come time to start cooking at home more often, and going out to eat less often. i know, i know, it's tragic. i'll give you a moment to be sad :-(
okay, moment over.
in the past two weeks of this "cook-at-home-.........adventure.....", i've learned a few things--imagine that! saturday, i learned that i don't like dill weed. not only is that a much better nickname for an idiot than for a spice, but it just has an entirely overwhelming (not-so-great-in-large-quantities) taste. turns out josh doesn't really like it either. anyone need a jar of dill weed??? i've learned that you CAN indeed leave chicken in a crockpot for too long. it turns into chicken mush. no one likes their chicken mushy. no one. a few weeks ago i learned that parsley may be the most amazing green food i know of, after green peanut butter m&m's, of course (chimichurri sauce is a new favorite). oh, i also learned that although you can add garlic to just about anything to make it edible (in my mind), josh's taste buds don't work the same way as mine. who'd'a'thunk it?!
with these lessons learned, and others, i'm beginning to find the joy in cooking. obviously, cooking is more fun on the days the meals turn out good, but i think i could get used to this.
josh and i are planning to cook together tonight. YAY, YAY, YAY! cooking becomes 9 times as fun when it's with my guy. don't rub your eyes, you read right... NINE TIMES AS FUN! ;-) we've been blessed with a little "gem" of a kitchen. it's great cause for some incredible gymnastics. the maneuvers we pull to get around each other can often be entertainment to those watching (june). i'll duck, he'll grab the bowl, i'll stand and shut the cabinet (okay, okay, let's all be honest, i leave cabinet doors open--josh will probably be the one to shut it), he'll move his legs, i'll reach for the pan in the bottom drawer and pass it to him, i'll open the fridge, he'll grab the milk and pour it into the measuring cup i'm holding, etc. etc. it's all too much fun to be in a 4x6 space working together...........!
now...to determine who will clean..............
got any good recipes? please share!! email me :-)
bothjohnson@gmail.com
okay, moment over.
in the past two weeks of this "cook-at-home-.........adventure.....", i've learned a few things--imagine that! saturday, i learned that i don't like dill weed. not only is that a much better nickname for an idiot than for a spice, but it just has an entirely overwhelming (not-so-great-in-large-quantities) taste. turns out josh doesn't really like it either. anyone need a jar of dill weed??? i've learned that you CAN indeed leave chicken in a crockpot for too long. it turns into chicken mush. no one likes their chicken mushy. no one. a few weeks ago i learned that parsley may be the most amazing green food i know of, after green peanut butter m&m's, of course (chimichurri sauce is a new favorite). oh, i also learned that although you can add garlic to just about anything to make it edible (in my mind), josh's taste buds don't work the same way as mine. who'd'a'thunk it?!
with these lessons learned, and others, i'm beginning to find the joy in cooking. obviously, cooking is more fun on the days the meals turn out good, but i think i could get used to this.
josh and i are planning to cook together tonight. YAY, YAY, YAY! cooking becomes 9 times as fun when it's with my guy. don't rub your eyes, you read right... NINE TIMES AS FUN! ;-) we've been blessed with a little "gem" of a kitchen. it's great cause for some incredible gymnastics. the maneuvers we pull to get around each other can often be entertainment to those watching (june). i'll duck, he'll grab the bowl, i'll stand and shut the cabinet (okay, okay, let's all be honest, i leave cabinet doors open--josh will probably be the one to shut it), he'll move his legs, i'll reach for the pan in the bottom drawer and pass it to him, i'll open the fridge, he'll grab the milk and pour it into the measuring cup i'm holding, etc. etc. it's all too much fun to be in a 4x6 space working together...........!
now...to determine who will clean..............
got any good recipes? please share!! email me :-)
bothjohnson@gmail.com
9.24.2009
We should've known...
People (all too often) ask me what the hardest part about being married is. Why they want to know so badly, I’ll never know…
But, I’ve finally found it.
I knew it would come. Everyone always says, “You think marriage is so great now…oh, just you wait…” It was truly inevitable; and oh boy can marriage stink!
The hardest part about being married is… the moments we are apart. I’m not kidding, it is not easy. You get married and you think, “Wow, this is going to be great! We get to spend the rest of our lives together! You and me against the world!” Boy, were we wrong. I find myself loathing just about anything that doesn’t involve Josh and I hanging out. Morning’s stink because we have to go to work. Sunday nights just mean the end of fun weekends together. Sleep is no fun because we don’t get to hang out those 7-8 hours.
I’ve calculated this…
There are 168 hours in a week.
We sleep 56 of them.
We each work 63, at least.
I think I drive an extra 10 of those.
Josh does school work for at least 20 of them.
Not to mention we DO have friends and family we shouldn’t be ignoring…it’s just not polite!
That leaves…19 hours a week to spend together.
Does anyone else think it’s crazy that Josh and I went and got married in an effort to spend 19 hours a week together!?! Holy Molybdenum! (**New favorite phrase—doesn’t mean squat.) That’s ridiculous. That averages out to less than 3 hours a day; 2.7 to be exact. It honestly makes me mad. There are days I wish I wasn’t so "into" my husband. I wish I didn’t think he was as fun as I think he is. I wish I didn’t think he was the funniest guy I’ve ever met. I wish I didn’t melt the way I do when he wraps his arms around me. I wish I didn’t think he had the cutest, sweetest smile in all the earth. But he does. So I want to be with him…all the time.
So there it is, folks. 7 months in and marriage has shown its true colors. It can really blow. (But it doesn’t.)
But, I’ve finally found it.
I knew it would come. Everyone always says, “You think marriage is so great now…oh, just you wait…” It was truly inevitable; and oh boy can marriage stink!
The hardest part about being married is… the moments we are apart. I’m not kidding, it is not easy. You get married and you think, “Wow, this is going to be great! We get to spend the rest of our lives together! You and me against the world!” Boy, were we wrong. I find myself loathing just about anything that doesn’t involve Josh and I hanging out. Morning’s stink because we have to go to work. Sunday nights just mean the end of fun weekends together. Sleep is no fun because we don’t get to hang out those 7-8 hours.
I’ve calculated this…
There are 168 hours in a week.
We sleep 56 of them.
We each work 63, at least.
I think I drive an extra 10 of those.
Josh does school work for at least 20 of them.
Not to mention we DO have friends and family we shouldn’t be ignoring…it’s just not polite!
That leaves…19 hours a week to spend together.
Does anyone else think it’s crazy that Josh and I went and got married in an effort to spend 19 hours a week together!?! Holy Molybdenum! (**New favorite phrase—doesn’t mean squat.) That’s ridiculous. That averages out to less than 3 hours a day; 2.7 to be exact. It honestly makes me mad. There are days I wish I wasn’t so "into" my husband. I wish I didn’t think he was as fun as I think he is. I wish I didn’t think he was the funniest guy I’ve ever met. I wish I didn’t melt the way I do when he wraps his arms around me. I wish I didn’t think he had the cutest, sweetest smile in all the earth. But he does. So I want to be with him…all the time.
So there it is, folks. 7 months in and marriage has shown its true colors. It can really blow. (But it doesn’t.)
7.24.2009
Sure, why not?!
Two words have been used to describe me in the past: stubborn and hard-headed. That’s just absurd, don’t ya think?!
I am going to Comicon on Sunday. That’s how I know I am not stubborn, nor hard-headed. Attending Comicon (an annual Comic/Fantasy Convention held in San Diego) is my proof!
I’m a realist. I have no imagination. I don’t like things that don’t make perfect sense. Fantasy does not peak my interest, whatsoever. Star Wars gave me nightmares as a kid. I have walked out of a number of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter-type movies in my lifetime. I teased kids with imaginary friends in elementary school.
“So why the heck are you going, Gigi?” you may ask.
Well, because Josh asked me to. It was presented to me as “an opportunity to do some incredulous people watching” and “have a $20 day-cation”. Who says “No” to a deal like that?! Not to mention, I’ll take any opportunity to spend the day in San Diego with the hubby rather than with coworkers and clients (no offense to any of them…)
Here’s the real kicker--I’m getting excited to go. Josh has done an excellent job of bringing to light that my stubbornness is typically predicated by the fact that I haven’t given something a chance. (My parents probably told me this exact same thing 349 times over the past 25 years, but unfortunately I wasn’t listening, or I was busy saying, “I know”, and moving on. Sorry, guys. Please forgive me…) Josh is a total “techy”, and I have always given him a hard time for it. However, lately, Josh has subtly encouraged my little bit of techyness to surface. He’ll take apart a computer a put it back together, and a little part of me wants to know what all the pieces do. He once asked me to try watching an episode of LOST with him, and it turns out it’s one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen! I’m so hooked! He’s pulled his phone out to do “on-the-spot research” about 100 times now, and I’ve recently noticed myself doing it. I now somewhat find entertainment in the occasional video game; there are days I am more active on Twitter than he is; and I actually “wikihow-ed” something the other day. It’s amazing what marriage does. I’ve learned to like “techy”.
So when I say I’m excited, it’s not because I can’t wait to wear my Star Trek costume, it’s not because I’m hoping Spiderman will be stuck in the upper corner of the convention center somewhere, it’s not because I’m curious what The Hulk feels like in person, and it’s definitely not because I’m excited to see how much Harry Potter and his friends have grown in the past ten years. It’s really because I’ll be giving something a chance, and I’ll probably like it more than I think.
Being open-minded is really quite exciting!
I am going to Comicon on Sunday. That’s how I know I am not stubborn, nor hard-headed. Attending Comicon (an annual Comic/Fantasy Convention held in San Diego) is my proof!
I’m a realist. I have no imagination. I don’t like things that don’t make perfect sense. Fantasy does not peak my interest, whatsoever. Star Wars gave me nightmares as a kid. I have walked out of a number of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter-type movies in my lifetime. I teased kids with imaginary friends in elementary school.
“So why the heck are you going, Gigi?” you may ask.
Well, because Josh asked me to. It was presented to me as “an opportunity to do some incredulous people watching” and “have a $20 day-cation”. Who says “No” to a deal like that?! Not to mention, I’ll take any opportunity to spend the day in San Diego with the hubby rather than with coworkers and clients (no offense to any of them…)
Here’s the real kicker--I’m getting excited to go. Josh has done an excellent job of bringing to light that my stubbornness is typically predicated by the fact that I haven’t given something a chance. (My parents probably told me this exact same thing 349 times over the past 25 years, but unfortunately I wasn’t listening, or I was busy saying, “I know”, and moving on. Sorry, guys. Please forgive me…) Josh is a total “techy”, and I have always given him a hard time for it. However, lately, Josh has subtly encouraged my little bit of techyness to surface. He’ll take apart a computer a put it back together, and a little part of me wants to know what all the pieces do. He once asked me to try watching an episode of LOST with him, and it turns out it’s one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen! I’m so hooked! He’s pulled his phone out to do “on-the-spot research” about 100 times now, and I’ve recently noticed myself doing it. I now somewhat find entertainment in the occasional video game; there are days I am more active on Twitter than he is; and I actually “wikihow-ed” something the other day. It’s amazing what marriage does. I’ve learned to like “techy”.
So when I say I’m excited, it’s not because I can’t wait to wear my Star Trek costume, it’s not because I’m hoping Spiderman will be stuck in the upper corner of the convention center somewhere, it’s not because I’m curious what The Hulk feels like in person, and it’s definitely not because I’m excited to see how much Harry Potter and his friends have grown in the past ten years. It’s really because I’ll be giving something a chance, and I’ll probably like it more than I think.
Being open-minded is really quite exciting!
5.28.2009
Where Amazing Happens
Over the last few weeks I have watched a lot of basketball. A WHOLE lot. My favorite team is the Lakers and Gigi and I somehow got put in charge of whether they win or not depending on if we have pizza during the game. I don't know how it happened, but I am not complaining since I want the Lakers to win and I love pizza. It's really a win win for me. Anyway, the slogan for the NBA this year is, "Where Amazing Happens." Have you seen the shots that Kobe and King James have been making?!?! Truly amazing. It got me thinking the other day; Amazing happens all over the place, not just in the NBA. It happens every day, everywhere and we experience amazing with the people we share life with.
It was about the same time that thought ran through my head that I got an email from a friend of mine. He just started blogging for a website called ConversantLife.com and wanted me to check it out. The closest computer I had was my phone, but I jumped on the web and read his first post. My first thought was "Amazing just happened."
I've known this person for a number of years now; Too many to remember how many. I knew him as a high school kid my little sister hung out with. I knew him as a guy who could get me into Disneyland on occasion. I knew him as a spiritual leader for others. I knew him as a son that would make any parent proud, and most of all, I knew him as my own friend.
I watched my friend take on many things as a young adult and handle them all with great skill. He had dreams and aspirations and wasn't going to let anything stand in his way. I stood by him when he got married as his best man and knew he would do his very best in that relationship as well.
The picture frame and drawing shown below have sat in various places around my house, currently in our home office, right next to a picture of Gigi and I at a basketball game. About a year into his marriage various disagreements and personal issues prevented the two us from being as close of friends as we had once been. The frame below was the groomsman gift from him and the drawing was something he drew one day shortly after our friendship began fading. That's me on the left and he on the right. The plaque reads, "Thanks Best Man! Proverbs 27:17" For those who don't have that verse memorized, it says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
About three years ago, I ran into my friend again at my sisters birthday party and over the course of our conversation that night he filled me in on the last few years of his life. His story had a few chapters in it that I didn't expect, but I will leave it up to him to tell that story. The conversation also began to rekindle our friendship. It was also another moment amazing happened.
I say it that way because our friendship is stronger and better now than it has ever been. Even though the time we actually spend hanging out is far less than it used to be, the level of respect we have for each other is far beyond where it ever was. It is now that the verse on the plaque is most appropriate. I have learned volumes from my friend over the last couple of years and absolutely love watching all the things he does in life with such purpose.
As I said earlier, my friend has just started blogging at ConversantLife.com. It is just one thing in a long list of things that I admire about my friend. Ladies and Gentleman, let me introduce you to my friend, Jim Farmer, and let him tell you his story of how amazing happened in his life.
4.30.2009
Climbing lessons
I stumbled across this video today from a recent TED conference. It’s a talk given by Matthew Childs, an avid rock climber, guide, and marketing professional. He lays out nine life lessons he learned from rock climbing. As a climber myself I first watched the video to see what climbing taught him about climbing. Then I watched it again; this time watching to see what climbing taught him about life. It’s nothing brilliant or new; it’s actually quite simple, but it really does say a lot about climbing and about life in general.
My climbing career has gone through high’s (ranking first in the U.S. and Canada for my age group; even if it was only for one week) and low’s (two separate occasions of injuring opposite ankles to the point the Dr.’s have recommended, “Next time, break it. It’ll heal faster.”), but through it all the sport has taught me a lot about myself, life situations, and relationships.
Climbing, to me, is about solving problems. In fact, that’s what we call bouldering routes; problems. Everything you need to solve the problem is right in front of you, but it doesn’t mean that you are ready to solve it. Along with the tools that the climb provides, there are certain aspects of yourself that need to be ready in order to utilize the tools effectively.
As a newlywed, I have a whole new set of problems in front of me; to keep on with the climbing analogy. Watching Matthew’s presentation, it reminded me just how fitting the methods I use to get better at climbing are also applicable to how I get better at my marriage. Here is how I look at Matt's nine lessons in the way they apply to me:
Lesson # 1 – Don’t let go
Childs says, “You think about giving up way before your body does.” When Gigi and I were dating there were plenty of times it would have been easier to “let go” of the relationship rather than endure through whatever problem was. I have learned from climbing that the exhilaration of solving a problem I thought was bigger than I was is always much better than saying I tried, but just had to let it go.
Lesson # 2 – Hesitation is bad
I might re-phrase this to what he says later in the point, “…momentum is good.” In relationships, just like in climbing, momentum is good. Keep striving to do things that push the relationship forward. Get passionate about showing the other person how much you love them and push yourself to constantly get better at it.
Lesson # 3 – Have a plan
Before I actually attempt to solve a climbing problem, I always step back and look at the whole problem first. I look at what kind of holds are there, where my feet need to be, what parts may give me more trouble than others, and where I may land if I fall. I try to bring this aspect into my marriage as well. Whether it is a problem that Gigi and I have together, or individually, I try to take a step back and look at the problem itself; what caused it, what is the best way to deal with it now, and what do I/we need to change to prevent it from happening again.
Lesson # 4 – The move is the end
When I have taught people how to climb, I notice that everyone wants to solve the whole problem. Of course the do, that’s the idea! The problem is that when you are first starting out, it is more important to learn how to use the tools than it is to solve the problem. Once you have a firm grasp of each of the tools, the solution to the problem becomes a lot easier. Don’t get caught up in solving the problem the first time. Look at each step toward solving the problem as a smaller problem solved on the way to solving the larger problem.
Lesson # 5 – Know how to rest
A couple of years back one of my standard gym workouts included a 200 foot long traverse. There were some parts of the traverse that were a lot tougher than others, and I would need a rest to keep on going. I would find a small corner to lean into or a huge hold to pause on to give my hands and feet a small rest, to allow myself to keep going. With my relationship with Gigi, I have found that rest to be important as well. There have been times when everything going on in our lives has been overwhelming or stressful. In those times, we have found that a weekend or a couple of evenings of “our time” helps us rest, regroup, and allows us to keep going.
Lesson # 6 – Fear sucks
I remember the problem vividly. The Elevator Shaft is a problem in Bishop, CA I attempted three years ago. About 20 feet high, long dynamic moves, and a large boulder directly underneath where I would fall. I tried that problem about 10-15 times, but the fear of falling on that boulder, well, sucked. I didn’t end up solving it that day. A year later I went back, pushed through that fear and solved the problem. In my previous attempts, I was too scared of falling I didn’t realize how big my next hold was. I didn’t have much to worry about. That happens a lot in relationships. Don’t let fear stop you from making the next move.
Lesson #7 – Opposites are good
Climbing, and bouldering especially, uses a lot of opposing forces to maintain balance. Different opinions, interests, habits, aren’t always a bad thing. Gigi and I certainly have our differences, but we are learning how to use those differences to become better at solving problems that arise. We are using each others strengths to stay balanced in our relationship.
Lesson # 8 – Strength does not equal success
When I was learning about climbing I thought “the stronger you are, the better you are at climbing.” What I failed to realize is that strength is only part of what makes you a good climber. Just being strong does not mean you will get to the top. There are many aspects to climbing, as there are in relationships, in addition to strength that need to be constantly worked on before success can be had. Getting to the top based on strength alone, is not going to prepare you for reaching the top of the next problem that comes your way.
Lesson # 9 – Know when to let go
About 3 years ago I was working on a problem in the gym. The problem was harder than I normally climb, but I was doing really well on it. I was about three moves from finishing it when I heard something in my right ring finger go “SNAP!” I can actually remember seeing my finger bend just a little bit farther than I had seen it go before. It didn’t really hurt so I thought I might just ignore it and finish. Then I decided that “SNAP!” isn’t usually a good sound so I should get down and check it out. Ended up I partially tore a tendon in my finger. Had I decided to push through it, it was likely I would have torn the tendon completely and needed surgery. I have learned that there are times in a relationship when you need to let go also. Compromise is tough, but it’s better than surgery.
So in a very large analogical nutshell, climbing is a lot like relationships. I am positive that I have volumes more to learn about relationships and climbing, but I also know that I have someone climbing with me who is just as willing to learn how to get to the top as I am. Together we will make each other stronger, use our strengths to our advantage, help the other get over fears, maintain motivation, figure out the best plan forward, get through each step of the way, and learn how to let go of things that may create bigger problems.
Okay, this post REALLY makes me want to get outside and go climbing soon. Who’s with me?!
4.15.2009
the latest discovery...
i've NEVER IN MY LIFE purchased real flowers "just because". that is, until this past weekend..."just because" i'm feeling AWKWARDLY domestic lately.
i have always been a fan of ikea's fake flowers, but on saturday josh and i walked in to a trader joe's to grab some pre-made dishes (again, not typically the domestic type) and i thought to myself, "wow, wouldn't some fresh cut tulips be cute in the house?" OH MY GOSH. WHAT?! WHO AM I!? THIS IS DISGUSTING and REALLY STRANGE!! turns out my lack of an appreciation for flowers did a 180 after researching flowers for my own wedding, and later selecting a ReAlLy RaD centerpiece with orchids and succulents... (see what i mean!? this is nuts!!!) so, as i find myself "running a home" (haha, like running a business, but not), i find thoughts floating around my head about what neat kitchen gadgets i could purchase next, what the best vaccuum on the market is right now, where i can find the best deals on chicken, and what color flowers would just "pop" against the green and brown walls! oh, dear...
THE "OLD GIGI'S" FLOWERS - FAKING IT TILL WE'RE MAKING IT...
this little guy...FAKE. up for replacement soon--he sits awkwardly in the corner...
this trusty fella is fresh from ikea, 2 years ago...
THE "NEW GIGI'S" FLOWERS - A REAL LIFEFORM (drinking water, needing sun and care) IN A VASE!
one of the many BEAUTIFUL centerpieces from my wedding. this sucker is twice as big as it was on the wedding day! can you believe it hasn't died on me?! my pride and joy! (visit www.thevinesleaf.com to see Aly Loge's shop and amazing floral design!)
this weekend's impromptu purchase...
sitting in a glass vase i "just had sitting around". haha, blowin my own mind.
if you know anything about me, you'll know i'm undergoing some SERIOUS changes when this sort of thing happens. stick with me to see what's next!! this could be FUN!
i have always been a fan of ikea's fake flowers, but on saturday josh and i walked in to a trader joe's to grab some pre-made dishes (again, not typically the domestic type) and i thought to myself, "wow, wouldn't some fresh cut tulips be cute in the house?" OH MY GOSH. WHAT?! WHO AM I!? THIS IS DISGUSTING and REALLY STRANGE!! turns out my lack of an appreciation for flowers did a 180 after researching flowers for my own wedding, and later selecting a ReAlLy RaD centerpiece with orchids and succulents... (see what i mean!? this is nuts!!!) so, as i find myself "running a home" (haha, like running a business, but not), i find thoughts floating around my head about what neat kitchen gadgets i could purchase next, what the best vaccuum on the market is right now, where i can find the best deals on chicken, and what color flowers would just "pop" against the green and brown walls! oh, dear...
THE "OLD GIGI'S" FLOWERS - FAKING IT TILL WE'RE MAKING IT...
this little guy...FAKE. up for replacement soon--he sits awkwardly in the corner...
this trusty fella is fresh from ikea, 2 years ago...
THE "NEW GIGI'S" FLOWERS - A REAL LIFEFORM (drinking water, needing sun and care) IN A VASE!
one of the many BEAUTIFUL centerpieces from my wedding. this sucker is twice as big as it was on the wedding day! can you believe it hasn't died on me?! my pride and joy! (visit www.thevinesleaf.com to see Aly Loge's shop and amazing floral design!)
this weekend's impromptu purchase...
sitting in a glass vase i "just had sitting around". haha, blowin my own mind.
if you know anything about me, you'll know i'm undergoing some SERIOUS changes when this sort of thing happens. stick with me to see what's next!! this could be FUN!
12.08.2008
There's no "I" in "Team".
I know, I know, there is a "ME". Whatever, that's besides the point.
Josh and I met through a work project where we were tasked to prepare a building for 300+ people to move into it, in about a week. I remember the two of us having to hit every office and workstations with a variety of labels, signs, paperwork, and propoganda a number of times...and even with the loads of talking and flirting we did during that week, we were SOOOOO efficient! It was almost scary.
Every so often the two of us are given an..."opportunity"...to solve a problem together. This weekend that so-called problem was how to successfully move a roomful of furniture from point A to point B with only each other's help. Oh, I know what you're thinking..."Gigi, you're so strong and tough, you and Josh would be just fiiiiiinnnneee. You don't wine and complain when you get tired of moving or anything like that... He must have been so lucky to have you there to lead the process..." (I must interrupt myself here. If you don't understand my sense of humor...or my sarcastic inserts ...I will come out and just tell you, THIS IS ME BEING SARCASTIC.) I was quickly reminded of my upper-body weaknesses this weekend. BOY, am I a WIMP! Back to my original point, though, we did it. We carried, loaded, organized, tied-down, drove, untied, unloaded, carried, and placed all the furniture in decent time. First off, I love, love, love our new bedroom furniture, but working together with Josh for a few hours was so fun. He and I have similar thought processes when it comes to logistics, and its great to work off one another. I must give him EXTRA credit though, that boy can pack a truck like nobody's business. I told him I think they should have a reality TV show dedicated to how well people can do things like that. He'd win.
So, Josh, you think we'll ever have to work together when we get married??? Nahhhhhhhh, no way...... (Sarcasm, again, guys. But that's it, no more pointing it out...)
Josh and I met through a work project where we were tasked to prepare a building for 300+ people to move into it, in about a week. I remember the two of us having to hit every office and workstations with a variety of labels, signs, paperwork, and propoganda a number of times...and even with the loads of talking and flirting we did during that week, we were SOOOOO efficient! It was almost scary.
Every so often the two of us are given an..."opportunity"...to solve a problem together. This weekend that so-called problem was how to successfully move a roomful of furniture from point A to point B with only each other's help. Oh, I know what you're thinking..."Gigi, you're so strong and tough, you and Josh would be just fiiiiiinnnneee. You don't wine and complain when you get tired of moving or anything like that... He must have been so lucky to have you there to lead the process..." (I must interrupt myself here. If you don't understand my sense of humor...or my sarcastic inserts ...I will come out and just tell you, THIS IS ME BEING SARCASTIC.) I was quickly reminded of my upper-body weaknesses this weekend. BOY, am I a WIMP! Back to my original point, though, we did it. We carried, loaded, organized, tied-down, drove, untied, unloaded, carried, and placed all the furniture in decent time. First off, I love, love, love our new bedroom furniture, but working together with Josh for a few hours was so fun. He and I have similar thought processes when it comes to logistics, and its great to work off one another. I must give him EXTRA credit though, that boy can pack a truck like nobody's business. I told him I think they should have a reality TV show dedicated to how well people can do things like that. He'd win.
So, Josh, you think we'll ever have to work together when we get married??? Nahhhhhhhh, no way...... (Sarcasm, again, guys. But that's it, no more pointing it out...)
9.30.2008
the wonderful world of partially prepared meals...
josh and i have a new favorite grocery store. you have to check out fresh & easy if you haven't yet! first off, they give away more coupons than i've ever seen (after bed, bath, and beyond) so there's no excuse to not try it. anyway, (so far) josh and i haven't spent time focusing on "cooking"...we are more the type of people that will take any opportunity to rationalize going to dinner instead of cooking ("since we don't have ALL the ingredients we need for that, we'll have to go to the store first, which takes gas...especially after you turn the car on twice, once to get there and once to get back...then the onion will be so big that no matter which house it stays at, it'll end up being thrown away because it won't get eaten before it goes bad, and since we haven't seen each other in a few days, we really need to catch up over a served-hot appetizer, and we should really do our part in trying to keep the economy strong...") so, in an effort to stay away from going out to eat so much, we'll often drag one another to the grocery store and throw things in each other's carts. but fresh and easy....well, we're having a fun with that one. so much pre-seasoned/flavored fun! i'm especially fond of the seemingly fresh cookie dough that needs to just be "popped in the oven", and josh so far likes the pre-wrapped burritos that only take 3 minutes in the microwave to cook.
doesn't our eating style sound just SOOOOO tasty?! everything from (not)scratch. i'm having a dinner party soon. who's in?
doesn't our eating style sound just SOOOOO tasty?! everything from (not)scratch. i'm having a dinner party soon. who's in?
8.14.2008
Once upon a time...
If you're reading this blog, its probably because you know Josh and I, and I probably told you about our new blog. First off, this use of the word "our"...exciting...yet not truly claimable (word?) for another few months. The wedding's on February 21 and I can't wait. We've got the location, the wedding party, the food, the honeymoon, the dress, the guest list, the officiant, and the colors... now its time for the details. I'll update this with the latest and the greatest every so often, but I won't overdo it...promise. I must say one thing, though--I am thoroughly distracted by the wedding planning! Just trying to live it up, as it will only happen once :-)
Every so often I think about the past month(s) and realize...dang, I'm busy. It seems to be the running theme in my life. And you know what? I STINKIN LOVE IT! I do. I love being busy and having everything scheduled. Am I sick? You know what it means though (other than the fact that I lack spontaneity ...)? It means I get to do a lot of cool stuff! Last night, I packed in dinner with my J-bird, a trip to Walmart for some good laughs at the so-called "wedding section", and a shopping trip to the Chick's Annual Tent Sale. The night before... a solid workout, cooking and eating with Mom-n-Pop, and a casual trip to BigLots (I know, I'm a lover of the cheesy cheap stores... Josh thinks I settle for crappy things...he's right. But they sell OXO there now!!! That's stuff you find at Bed Bath and Beyond. I mean, really!? I can't pass that up for $3 a peice!) In any case, I've realized this planning this is not a bad problem to have. It may mean I'm addicted to my virtual calendar, but it let's me hang with the people I care to hang with and still get my own stuff done. Just a head's up though... I usually take about a four-day notice to hang out.
My blogs will get better. Just give me time. I had to squeeze this in unexpectedly. I hadn't blocked out any time for this one...... . . . . . . . . . . .
Every so often I think about the past month(s) and realize...dang, I'm busy. It seems to be the running theme in my life. And you know what? I STINKIN LOVE IT! I do. I love being busy and having everything scheduled. Am I sick? You know what it means though (other than the fact that I lack spontaneity ...)? It means I get to do a lot of cool stuff! Last night, I packed in dinner with my J-bird, a trip to Walmart for some good laughs at the so-called "wedding section", and a shopping trip to the Chick's Annual Tent Sale. The night before... a solid workout, cooking and eating with Mom-n-Pop, and a casual trip to BigLots (I know, I'm a lover of the cheesy cheap stores... Josh thinks I settle for crappy things...he's right. But they sell OXO there now!!! That's stuff you find at Bed Bath and Beyond. I mean, really!? I can't pass that up for $3 a peice!) In any case, I've realized this planning this is not a bad problem to have. It may mean I'm addicted to my virtual calendar, but it let's me hang with the people I care to hang with and still get my own stuff done. Just a head's up though... I usually take about a four-day notice to hang out.
My blogs will get better. Just give me time. I had to squeeze this in unexpectedly. I hadn't blocked out any time for this one...... . . . . . . . . . . .
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