Someone Like You

With a house full of company Saturday night Adele’s Someone Like You came on several times. Of course all of us women sang it at the top of our lungs while playing board games with our friends. A point was brought up. Almost every woman can in some way relate to these lyrics…

I hosted a Meetup for a group that I am a part of a couple of weeks ago completely based around Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages. Including myself, only three women showed up, so there we were a group of women one in the mid 20’s, one in the mid 30’s, and one in the mid 50’s with one thing in common. Or so we thought. We were all separated and learning how to cope with our failed marriages.

But by the end of the night we had realized that we had so much more in common. Not only were we learning how to cope with our failed marriages, but our stories were all so very similar. I was able to relate to a woman in her mid 50’s who was at a completely different stage in life in ways that I never thought possible. Why: Because we both felt exactly the same. We are both going through exactly the same thing. Learning how to move on with our lives, how to date again, what’s normal, how we should feel, all sorts of crazy struggles. We are learning how to be us again.

With every relationship, breakup, experience, friendship, loss, celebration that comes our way, we are all learning from it. We are beautifully ever changing beings that are all going through the same exact thing disguised as different situations.

What have I gathered from it? That I’m glad I’m so open with people. It allows me the opportunity to be there for people who may not think that it’s okay to talk to someone. They may be in the same exact spot I was a few months ago, holding everything in and hiding behind a social calendar that could wear out Martha Stewart.

When people see that I’m not perfect, and that I hurt to? It allows people to open up in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t have. And with that I realize that is the true reason that I am so easy to talk to. Because I am open and honest about where I am in life, and it makes others feel that they can be open and honest about where they are in life as well.

The decisions that change your life

Let’s be honest. We make hundreds of decisions every day.

Do I want to get out of bed when the alarm goes off?

Do I need to wash my hair today?

What do I want for breakfast?

What socks do I want to wear?

How should I do my hair today?

Do I need a jacket?

Do I give Gracie some wet food with her breakfast?

I’m just rambling off meaningless decisions that I face every day before I even walk out the door. At this point I have maybe been up an hour.

So we make hundreds of these tiny decisions every day. Decisions are a part of life. These are the easy decisions. My definition of an easy decision: minimal choices resulting in minimal consequences.

So what about the hard decisions? What tactics do you use to make those gut wrenching, life changing decisions that nobody ever actually wants to make? Do you stick with those decisions once they are made? Do you falter in your decision? Do you always go with your gut reaction? Do you create a list of positives and negatives and go with whichever list is more favorable? How often do you regret those decisions?

I have shared a lot with a few lately and I’m going to be completely honest… I think it’s hilarious how people take my decision making. I am very much a gut feeling decision maker. I’m not the brain-storming list maker. Yes… I do know that this is against my OCD tendencies but you know what? I only have a short amount of time on this earth and I’m not going to spend it agonizing over decisions (no matter how crazy they seem) or regretting ones that I have made.

I find a path and I start to head down it. If I get half way down and can’t work my way through it with a machete, then it’s time to create a new path for myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that my way is the only way. Hell, I’m not saying that my way is the right way. I am saying however that they are my decisions to be made. I very much love the people with whom I have gained their concerned. Don’t think that I’m not. I just wanted to rant a little bit about the musings of people completely non-understanding of the “erratic” or “fast” decisions I have made with my life.

I am happy, and I love my life. Can you honestly say the same?

Who are you when you’re happy?

I have noticed in my flux of consciousness lately that I am a completely different person when I am happy. When I have the weight of the world on my shoulders I am a very serious person. When I am ignorantly, blissfully happy? I use horrible childish English, drink lots of wine, and laugh, all the time, about absolutely nothing.

Can you tell the minor differences in when you are truly happy and when you are just normal and when you are just barely surviving?

What about the big differences? I find it so much easier to be nice to someone that I may not be able to stand when I am not happy.

I love listening to the Playlist for this blog. It’s so funny to see the different phases that I go through. Y’all get it at a random mix but if you actually look at the playlist, you can almost see moods based on when the songs were added. Happy ones added together, miserable ones added at a completely different time surrounded by completely miserable songs.

Thank you for making me happy.

I know it’s short, but I just needed to write for a bit.

Hope that y’all are having a fantastic week.

What is your self worth?

What is your self worth?  What are you doing to figure it out?  I am sitting here with my headphones plugged into my iPhone so that I can drown out the noise around my while I should be working to reflect on a lot of choices and decisions made recently.  Not just by me, but those around me that affect how I see myself as a person.

 

Let’s start with the menial crap.  This diet that most of you know I am on.  Somewhere when I was little between the batons, the modeling, the cheerleading, the girl scouts, the basketball team, drama, chorus, and band: it was clearly programmed into my head that I need to maintain the skinny image to find myself attractive.  Great.  The funny part about this?  Is that y’all don’t even seem to think that I have a weight issue.  Regardless of that, for some notion that someone clearly put in my head at some point, I am chewing down the last of a green apple (my breakfast) with a 1.5 liter bottle of water open in front of me.  The one that I am destined to finish before ending my day.

 

What are you self conscious about?  What made you that way?  What are you doing to rid yourself of the issue?

 

For the first time in my life I can honestly say that my self esteem is not dependent on one other person.  The problem is that it has mutated to being in the arms of a good group of oooh… 400+.  That’s right.  The life of an organizer being under the microscope is the issue causing the tension in my shoulders and the questioning of my every move.

 

The funny part about that is when people do actually question me?  They are not worth it, and most the time I want to punch them in the face.

 

Which brings me to another point I suppose.  Who the hell do some of you people think you are?  Are you really that unhappy with yourself that you take no time to dissect the correct way to talk to people?  Why are you not taking the time to make sure that your words do not cause new issues for people who; like you; are struggling to figure out who they are every day without your negativity?

 

I have said it before, and I am sure that I will say it again.  I am the queen of run on sentences.  I apologize about that.  Lately I also find myself to be this tip toeing woman so afraid to hurt or offend others that I end up living a lie to avoid the inevitable.  I am sorry about that.  I am resolving not to do so anymore.  Which will lead me to some pretty tough conversations this week.  Fun stuff.

 

But my challenge to every single one of you is two fold.  If you aren’t already completely aware, figure out what it is that makes you self conscious about yourself, and get on a plan to change it.  I know that this is not as simple for everyone as it is for me to lose 20 pounds.  But won’t it be worth it?  My second one is to not let the opinions of others affect your opinions of yourself, or your decisions in living life.  Do what makes you happy.  We’re only here for so many earth rotations.  Make each one count.

 

Have a great week.

I did not wait for the iPhone5!

If one more person asks me why I just purchased an iPhone4 instead of waiting for the iPhone5, I may scream.  Like scream right in their face.  I am okay with everyone who calls my iPhone racist for being white.  You’re just jealous because mine is sexier than yours.  But seriously people, I’ve done my research, and am even providing it for you.  Stop asking!  :D

August 17 - http://iphone5release.org/new-report-claims-apple-set-to-start-iphone-5-pre-orders-on-sept-30-launch-oct-7/

If the pre-order date is accurate and Apple does intend to start allowing pre-orders on Friday, September 30^th then it’s almost a certainty that they will hold some form of preview event in early September.

August 25 - http://iphone5release.org/ios-5-beta-hints-at-lte-support-in-iphone-5-and-ipad-3/

Although the iPhone 5 is all but confirmed to be launching sometime in September or early October, Apple has yet to even confirm the existence of the device. Nothing is known about what the next-generation iPhone handset will deliver in terms of upgraded hardware or features; whether or not LTE had even been considered by Apple was unknown until the discovery of LTE settings in iOS 5 Beta 6.

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios5/

“Get over 200 new features for iPhone with the free iOS5 Software Update.  Coming this fall.

So anyway, if you have information about what the differences are going to be between 4 & 5, go ahead and share.  If you’re waiting to upgrade for the release?  By all means, go ahead and wait.  But I’m not a very patient woman.  End of story.

A general update for my avid readers

Some of you have been doing some serious harassment of my lack of writing.  I want to say thank you for that.  I have been really busy but this is truly one of my best therapies and really something that I should continue to do.  So let’s dive in, shall we?

Let me just put it out there.  THE QC YOUNG ACTIVE PROFESSIONALS HAS 399 MEMBERS in less than 4 and a half months!  Can you tell that I am excited?  It still blows me away every day what this group has turned into, and the future that I see for it expanding before my eyes.

Huge thank you to all of you who have made it possible.  It is the biggest passion in my life and something that I am very proud (can’t you tell?) of!

Now onto this diet.  It occurred to me about two weeks ago that I am heavier than I have ever been.  Given the fact that I have literally been the same height since I was 13, being about 15 lbs. heavier than I have been in the past 11 years knocked me into a serious funk.

I am happy to report that I have already lost 3 pounds and am on the way to some amazing life style changes that will prohibit me from ever being in this mess ever again!  Yuck!

For those of you about to tell me to be quiet because I’m not fat?  You can just bite your tongue and know that my opinion of my weight matters more to me than your opinion about my weight.  So just hush.

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I may be losing my mind.  I am in this very scatter brained passionate place right now where I’m making a lot of life style changes and doing some serious closet cleaning.  Oh, speaking of closet cleaning (literally) if you wear medium tops and are interested in seeing what I’ll be taking to Goodwill next week – you should definitely let me know…  Cause I’m just gonna take some pictures.  Some of it’s cute and just not my style and some of it’s older.  *shrugs*

I’m on the lookout for a decently priced keyboard and stand right now.  I have decided that I’m going to re teach myself how to play.  This is thanks to Adele.  So, again, if you know anyone who may be looking to unload one, please let me know!

Think, think, think…

Can I tell you that I have a small group of some seriously amazing people in my life?  The people that I have spent the past… three weekends with and who I let crash in random places in my apartment?  Those people are pretty freaking amazing…  The girl that I can literally text anything to at any time of day?  She’s pretty freaking amazing…  The rest of you all rock too, but it’s just really nice to have true friends in my life!

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Wikipedia’s version of Charisma -

The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent.

Yeah, because that’s not intimidating or anything…

Slowly reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership in a continued search to use my powers for good instead of evil.

Yes, this IS a lot of randomness but YOU ALL ASKED FOR IT!

Have a GREAT weekend.  I’ll keep you updated.

One good thing about music – when it hits you, you feel no pain

Yes, I really and truly did just quote Sublime in my blog title.  It happened.  I realized yesterday (yes, it took me that long) that music is my best companion.  Don’t get me wrong, I love each and every one of my friends that I spend time with.  But when I get into a funk and want to hide in the corner?  What I need more than anything is a good song with lyrics that express exactly how I am feeling, belted out at the top of my lungs, followed by a song about how it’s going to be okay.

I love to sing.  Singing makes everything alright in my world.  I’ve shared with a few of you my instances of being unable to pick myself up off the floor… or shower floor in the past couple of weeks and singing through half of my repertoire of a particular type of music has been what has made me pick myself up and tell myself that it is going to be ok.

That’s it for now, but I think I will spend some time this weekend updating my blog playlist so that while y’all are hear reading about the mind numbing things I have to say, you can at least get a dose of what it is that I am talking about.

Watch for Facebook photos this weekend as it’s another action packed one in my little green book!

I get a little bit stronger…

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the positive support and encouragement from yesterday’s blog.  For the first time in a long time I have people in my life that I can depend on and it truly is an amazing feeling.  So y’all get a huge pat on the back.

I had slept really well two nights ago with the help of a friend and was even able to get out of the apartment and on my way to work before 8am.

Today I will not get home from work until 10:30pm and it is putting a huge storm cloud over my head.  I need to snap out of it if I hope to accomplish anything today.

I brought my husband with me last night to a kickball scrimmage.  I am a very competitive person with a bit of a temper that usually doesn’t go so well for all involved when I am playing sports.  He made it a point to compliment me after we left on how much I had calmed down in that regards.  I explained to him that I did lose my temper once but felt absolutely HORRIBLE for it as soon as I did it.  He told me that he was proud of the change that I had made.  It felt great to have someone else recognize all of the hard work that I am putting into myself.  And it even made me realize that I have in fact made some changes.

I am definitely still sad but it just dawned on me that I find myself filling up my calendar now because there are people that I want to spend time with more than the need to just not be by myself.  I love my friends.  I know that for a lot of you that doesn’t seem like some huge revelation but it truly is for me.

When I organized my previous Meetup group I didn’t do a very good job cultivating relationships.  I focused on managing the group.  I have learned that I can do both.  I can constantly put together new events and make sure that new people are creating friendships and take this group of… 15? people that I love and continue to grow relationships…  It’s one of my super powers.  Aside from the steel hands that I apparently have…

If you have no idea what I am talking about, let’s just say I was told I rode the mechanical bull for over 3 minutes today.  Alright.  Fine.  I will go get in the shower and get on with this day.  Hope you all make it a great one.  Lots of love.

Writing for me, enjoy.

So for those of you who have known me for a very long time, you know that over the course of the past 10 years, that I have not, for more than… three days (?) been single.  Therefore I envy those of you who complain about being single.  Not because of the lonely nights or feeling like you can’t find someone, but for being able to handle the lonely nights.  The lonely nights that apparently come even when you don’t want to be with someone!  THAT is how I know I am not ready for a relationship.

I have been drinking daily, spending a ridiculous amount of time with people to keep myself from going home, and just straight up losing my mind for the past couple of weeks.

Yet somehow they have been worth it.  As all of my friends know right now, recently I have created quite a few rules for myself.  No dating.  No drinking Mon-Thurs.  No more involving myself in others business when it is unwarranted.

I am a mess.  And that is okay.

It took me seven months to realize that I am clearly not over something I have been fooling myself to believe is okay.  Yes, I am referring to my marriage.  I have struggled more in the past month with my marriage than I have in the three years that I have been married.  I cry myself to sleep and even when there are other people in my apartment (aka drunken girls passed out on my couch) I still feel more alone than I ever have.

So my pledge to myself is to look forward, and learn how to deal with those all to frequent lonely nights that I have been experiencing lately.  More importantly than that, my goal is to not only be brutally honest with others about their things, but to open up to those friends that I love so dearly and truly do consider to be my best friends for life.  Lately I have been putting on a facade for those people and pretending that everything is okay and I am saying now that it is not.  I am not alright.

Through all of this, it is amazing how much love there is in my life.  I want to thank the amazing people in my life for caring for me the way you do.  For helping me regain my confidence back on a daily basis and making me feel like the rockstar organizer that I can apparently be.  It means the world to me.

I’m going to start writing more again.  I don’t know why I have been keeping it bottled up.

I’m in love with me

I will start by saying that yes, I realize it has been two weeks since my last post.  For that I am sorry :)  Now on to the good stuff…

I never thought that I could be in such a screwed up position in my life and be as completely and totally content and in love with myself as I am right now.  I have arrived at this awesome place where I truly do not give a rip what anybody has to say about me and I’m going to do what I want when I want and you are more than welcome to join me.

I am done with trying to fool myself that I am not broken.  I have gone through a lot lately and all of the people I know in my situation are just as broken as myself, if not more so.  However for the first time in my life I am doing the things that I want to do for me.  I am making amazing friends and awesome memories.  I am also learning that I am apparently a good friend and a strong woman.

I am this crazy person who laughs at her own jokes, sings at the top of her lungs, and organizes people and events with a tiny bit of flare and “spunk”.  Seriously… what’s not to love?  Have I mentioned that I make a mean chicken alfredo and know the lyrics to virtually any song that I have heard more than twice?

if you are stuck in the land of needing someone else to love you for you to be happy, I implore you, figure out what makes you who you are, and be that person.  It is such an amazing way to live your life.

My First Date – with me

Alright, so for those of you who already knew that I did this, you know I’m about a week late in getting it up.  Sue me, I have been one busy lady!

So, last Tuesday after coming back from a long weekend in NY and having a horrible day at work on Tuesday, I had to sit through class and a frustrating Board meeting and when I got out at 8:15 I had simply had enough!  I needed some me time.

I went home, got changed, grabbed my book and headed to the Arboretum to figure out what I wanted to eat.

I ended up at Chili’s (for those of you who have never been to the Chili’s at the Arboretum it has a gorgeous back patio area on the water that’s simply tranquil) book in hand and ready to relax.  I ordered myself a glass of wine and decided to be completely unhealthy by getting the appetizer sampler as my meal consisting of boneless buffalo wings, spinach & artichoke dip, and potato skins.  Like I said, completely unhealthy.

I sat there reading my book in the back of the restaurant enjoying the view of the water and got completely lost in myself.  There was no checking my phone every five minutes to see who had texted me.  I didn’t care.  I was on an amazing first date.  I was laughing at myself out loud based on my reactions to what I was reading in my novel, people watching a bit, and just enjoying my own company.

After that I headed home to enjoy a nice relaxing bubble bath.  This time I brought my laptop in but it was only to enjoy the next episode of Instant Star.  There was still no chatting with anybody.  It was so relaxing and definitely what I needed.

Anyway, I’m swamped through the end of May but I have several plans next month to get out and do stuff by myself.

Hope you all have a great week.

My May trip to NY – Family time

Alright, now that you know all about friend time, it’s time to show off my goofy family.  Saturday Dad and I packed the family into the truck and drove to Penn Yan for a visit to the windmill, pretzels, and butterfly fries.  It was great to spend some quality time with the kids who for the most part behaved.

Tyler is such a goof.  He didn’t want his picture taken but I got him anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tessa also not wanting her photo taken… I can’t win.

 

Grrrr…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now she’s smiling!

This was the best I could do.  He wouldn’t put the can down or come any closer…  Snot nose.

So Sunday we celebrated my grandfather’s 70th birthday with the Westfall’s.  I got to spend a little bit of quality time with Bobbie and see my generation growing up (they’re all like 16).  I got a phone call for a fire alarm while I was there so had to do some work, but all in all it was nice to see some family.

 

Grandpa Dick pointing at my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, not exactly in the mood for photos.

Mom, Grandpa, and I when I was a baby.  Halloween costume.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and me when I was a baby again.  Aunt Shirley had made an awesome photo collage with a lot of photos that made me bust out laughing.

 

Bobbie’s boyfriend Kyle, Bobbie, and Isaac.  Yes, there is only one girl in these pictures…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doesn’t Isaac look so happy?

 

So yeah, that’s about it.  We ended up leaving Sunday night instead of Monday morning which meant I had a nice relaxing day on Monday to do absolutely nothing!  Later ~

My May trip to NY – Chilling with the friends

Alright, I know.  It took some time.  Easy killers!  But here it is.  My first blog from my May trip to New York.  I took lots of photos so I hope you enjoy.

It wasn’t nearly as cold this time though I did not see the sun the entire time I was there.  We got in Friday night and I immediately went to dinner with Nate at Parker’s in Seneca Falls.  They have some work to do, but it was an enjoyable experience (they paid us for our wait with free drinks).

Nate making funny faces at Parker’s

Nate’s “where the hell is my food?” face.

Alright, so I am doing a separate blog for family time because there are a lot of photos and such so let’s move onto Saturday night, shall we?  Nate and I visited Connie’s for the must-have while in the area quickies…  Get your mind out of the gutter, it’s a burger!

I am starting to sense a theme with the faces?

 

Nate with the rigged pepper shaker…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deliciousness.  I know it seems silly but you just can’t find the right texture of gravy to enjoy this delicious treat down here.  That’s all there is to it.

 

 

Nate and I getting started at Dewey’s.

 

The rest of the gang finally joining us.  Lemon drops anyone?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennis was already gone by the time he got there, the photos below are proof of that.  Boo doesn’t seem very happy to be having his picture taken.  Oh well.

 

Dennis insisted that he could take a photo of Nate and I… clearly…

 

Dennis…  Oooh Dennis…

I’m not sure who took this one, but they are getting better…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Boo!  Enjoying my favorite cherry vodka and lemonade with one of my best friends!

 

So yeah…  There you have my hanging out with friends in New York.  I hope you enjoyed laughing at me.  For those of you who know the rest of the story, I’m sorry!  LOL.  For those of you who don’t?  I’ll never tell.  Happy Thursday!

Word of the Week – Round 14!

Merriam Webster yet again, this one is from Sunday.

collaborate

Definition

1: to work jointly with others

2: to cooperate with an enemy and especially an occupying force

Examples

A number of reporters collaborated on the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper series.
"In a move partly aimed at strengthening ties ahead of a potential merger, the board of directors of the Lompico Water District agreed at Wednesday's meeting to collaborate with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District to replace a water line." -- From an article by Kimberly White in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 11, 2011

What is it that you want?

I don’t think I have ever been more self centered or selfish than I have allowed myself to be lately.  And you know what?  I’m completely okay with admitting that I am being selfish right now.  In my oh so humbling opinion, quite frankly I feel like I deserve to be.

That being said, why is it that once I have what it is I thought I wanted, I want something else, or something more?  Why is it human nature to always be looking for the next best thing?  Why are we wired this way?

Religion will argue that it’s because there is something missing.  That until you have Jesus in your life that you are missing something and will continue seeking it in worldly ways.

Why is it the exact opposite for me?  Because I have Jesus I feel like I can do more than I ever thought possible.  I can tackle more, can have more…  It’s this never ending vicious cycle of always wanting the next best thing.

Anybody have any solutions?

Word of the Week – Round 13!

Merriam Webster -

factoid

DEFINITION

noun

1: an invented fact believed to be true because of its appearance in print

2: a briefly stated and usually trivial fact

EXAMPLES

Printed on the back of each baseball card in Mikey’s collection was a chart showing the player’s statistics along with one or two interesting factoids about his career.
"Here's an interesting factoid: 'Mary Poppins' is the only Broadway show that debuted in the 2006-2007 theatrical season still in performance." -- From an Orlando Sentinel blog posting by Matt Palm, April 18, 2011

What are you doing for you?

Since you all are apparently enjoying my self exploration blogs (you sick and twisted people), I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to have better blog topics.  Now don’t get me wrong, you will still get the life updates, what I did on the weekend, what movies I am enjoying…  But for some unknown reason, people are actually reading this.  So I have decided to make an impact with what I have.  My words.  Deep… I know.

So all of that being said.  I have just finished several articles about doing things for yourself and I will go so far as to say that it is necessary to date yourself!

“Nobody will think you’re somebody if you don’t think so yourself.”
African-American proverb

It has recently dawned on me that in the last… 9 years, I have spent a total of maybe 3 months (high estimate) being single.  Whenever anyone would ask me what my biggest fear was, I would always respond that it was by far being alone.  Why is that?

I think we all know that I have very recently learned that the only person who can make me happy, is me.  So why then do we spend so much time trying to make ourselves who someone else would want, as opposed to finding someone who fits us just as we are?

So here is my next challenge and I strongly encourage you all to join me on this one.  Date yourself.  Take yourself out and get to know who you are.  This is something you can do regardless of whether or not you are in a relationship, though I strongly encourage you to explain to your SO if you are in a relationship exactly what it is you are doing.  It can only make your relationships better as you learn who it is you are and what you need in a partner.

So here is my plan…

What is my idea of a perfect first date?  Once I have the answer for this I will be taking myself out on it.  Now I know what you’re thinking, I’m only setting up the next first date for failure but all I’m really doing is ensuring that I’m not settling for anything less than what I deserve.  So I will be getting all prettied up and taking myself out on whatever that first date would be.  Yes, of course I will be sharing it with you all.

Go on a weekend getaway.  I am dedicating a weekend in June to take a trip to the beach by myself.  I will eat at all of the restaurants that I choose, read books on the beach and never have to go back to the condo because somebody else is “ready to go”, I will talk to people that I otherwise wouldn’t talk to and I will have a fantastic time being out with myself.

Get to know myself.  My goal over the next few months is to build a relationship with myself by getting to know exactly who I am.  I will be taking all of the typical questions you would normally ask someone that you are getting to know in a relationship, and making sure that I know the answers to my own questions!

This is just a start for me.  I strongly encourage you to read the articles below and take the challenges I am about to face along side of me as I learn how to live fearlessly and love myself like nobody else can.

http://www.cleo.com.au/date_yourself_for_a_while.htm?page=1

http://www.moreofmetolove.com/blogs/entry/have-a-great-relationship-with-yourself/

http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/how-to-date-yourself-in-10-ways/

Love Come to Life

So I had the chance to go see the Love Come to Life tour in Gastonia last night with a good friend of mine.  I didn’t realize how much it was exactly what I needed.  I have been going through my share of “stuff” lately as you all know by now and it was totally reenergizing to be reminded that my God loves me in spite of all of that.

I bought my first cd last night in ages.  Like literally, I’m going to say it has been no less than four years since I picked up Relient K’s Four Score and VII Years CD at Kingdom Bound.  Let me start off by saying that the Christian rock band Luminous is phenomenal (the two cd’s that I picked up).  I can’t find them anywhere on google to even give you a clue so you will just have to take my word for it.

But anyway – a few truly amazing things happened for me last night, as I know they did for others as well.  For starters, I have NOT been on fire with my faith and for the Lord lately.  I have been hearing God a lot more than what is typical for me and out of fear and selfishness, I have basically been ignoring him…  A couple of weeks ago, our worship pastor announced that he would be moving to Australia at the end of the year to do ministry.  I just remember sitting there and the Lord saying to me “if you would just listen, I could use you for situations like this too.”  As exciting as that was – I refused to let go and let God.  That all changed last night.  I am going to do my best to love this city in the ways that God has blessed me with the ability to do. The really awesome part about that?  Is I really just get to continue to do what I’m doing, but instead of doing it for me – I will be doing it for Jesus.  This 5k that I’m doing this weekend, the already amazing meetup group I just started – all of those can be used to glorify Jesus and I have almost been using everything I am doing in my life right now to glorify me.  Can you say selfish?  Prideful?  Arrogant?  Flat out wrong?  Yeah, it’s okay.  I’m ready to hear it right now because God has broken me and for the first time in a long time, I am ready to be changed.

Another thing happened.  As some of you know I have been experiencing some severe symptoms over the past two weeks.  Vomiting, nausea, severe dizziness, low grade fevers…  The ultra sound results came back inconclusive and I am getting ready to schedule some serious tests that I am just NOT looking forward to.  So much so that when the nurse asked me if I wanted her to schedule my appointments, I told her that I would call back.

I know that God is great.  I know that He has the power to heal, the power to make new…  I understand and believe all that.  However what I have always struggled with is believing that God wants to heal ME, that he wants to USE ME.  Last night at the end of the concert they just had a time for open prayer and I did something that I have never been able to do.  I asked for prayer for healing.  I didn’t do it right away.  I didn’t even do it willingly.  I stayed in my awesome front row center (thanks Dusty!) chair and sang the praise and worship songs and was literally fighting with God the entire time.  “Okay!  You win!  Fine!” I got up and walked up to the stage (again, like 4 feet from my chair :) ) and explained what had been going on, and explained that I had never asked for this before and that I am the person who continues to shoulder all of my burdens even though I know they are nothing for the Lord and he wants them.  He asked me if I believed that the Lord could heal me and I said yes.  We prayed.

I don’t know what this feels like for everyone, but while he was praying my stomach got twisted and turned and pulled and I’m not going to lie – it did not feel very good.  But the fact of the matter is that by the time the prayer was finished, that pain was over and I felt amazing.  Since then, through prayer and claiming that I believe that He can heal, I have fought off what I thought were the beginnings of two dizziness spells.  Do you know what’s funny though?  I apparently should have asked for COMPLETE healing.

Since last night, I have had more fights with Satan than I have in months.  Dirty rotten…  Seriously.  I was talking to Dusty and driving back and minding my own business when all of a sudden I turned the wheel, and my broken finger that for the most part is healed?  OH MY GOSH IT HURT.  I was in so much pain and I didn’t even freaking do anything!  I didn’t bang it, I didn’t turn it wrong…  I was so mad!  Stupid Satan…

Oh!  Yeah, and he did not want us to get to the concert either!  I got on 85 N instead of S to get to Gastonia.  I was almost 100% out of gas and couldn’t get the pump to work because apparently when I had activated my new card earlier that day it didn’t actually activate…  It was the funniest, most frustrating thing ever!

Anyway…  I think that’s all I have for now.  Thanks for sticking with it.  Thanks for being awesome and making me feel awesome knowing that people actually want to read what I write.  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

<3

What makes you happy?

You could never say XYZ (fill in person’s name here) couldn’t make me happy. The person you become when you are with… no, the person you allowed yourself to turn into in your choice of being with this person is who is keeping you from being happy. Yes, I am the queen of run on sentences. I am also the queen of karaoke, getting caught dancing in the car at a red light, and royally sucking at mini golf. These are the things that make me happy.

Knowing that I am a beautiful, intelligent young woman who has her shit together (most days) is what makes me happy. It may not appear like it from your view – but again, you are not the one making me happy.

Who are you to ask me to depend on you? To accuse me of not caring when I can’t openly give you my heart because you have no idea what the value is of what you are asking for!

So let’s talk about the people you fill your life with for a bit. Do these people make you better, or do they just make you feel better? Are they doing neither? Are you of the same value to them as they are to you? Why not?

Yes, I have cut a lot of people out of my life lately. Yes, it may seem excessive, or it may seem irrational, or just completely bitchy. Here is the fact of the matter. I am a nice person. Nice people will get shit on continuously when they allow the people in their lives who are not meeting the above criteria.

Friends should be there to listen, not just to talk. Friends should be there when you are going through something, regardless of whether or not they understand or agree with it. Are you being that type of friend? Are you there for people when they need it, or do you use your friends to vent and to have someone to hang out with when you are lonely but if they are going through something – tough noogies? This is my challenge to you.

Relationships are work. All relationships. Not just your spouse or significant other. I’m challenging everyone to evaluate the relationships in their lives. Once you’re done evaluating, and you feel like you need to clean a little house? That’s okay. Those that make it through? Work on those relationships. Be the person who makes the other person better. Be the best listener and the best friend that you know how to be to those select people that make the cut, and you will have a better group of friends in those select few than you could have ever found in relationships you are not working on.

Word of the Week, Round 12!

Merriam Webster-

disseise

: to deprive especially wrongfully of seisin : to put out of possession or occupancy : dispossess

"The complainant declared that he or she had been disseised -- usually physically and sometimes even violently deprived -- of land unjustly and without judgment of a court." -- From a footnote by Janet Loengard in the 2011 book The Ties That Bind: Essays in Medieval British History in Honor of Barbara Hanawalt
"Noting that Joann did not even become aware of the property until after her husband's death - nine years after the transfer of interests - the panel concluded she 'was not therefore disseised of her one-third interest until 1997….'" -- From an article by Melissa P. Stewart, Esq., in Michigan Lawyers Weekly, October 15, 2007

Weekly Success Tip From Tim Connor

No – 483 – Inner battles.

“Fear is the mother of foresight.” Taylor

The ability to build long term successful relationships requires many skills such as:

- effective communication

- patience

- acceptance

- tolerance

- commitment

and too many more to list.

One of the critical ones, in my opinion, is the ability to be aware of how you filter information (words, non-verbal communication, emotions and feelings) from your partner, and then monitor your reactions or responses to ensure integrity of understanding. One of the things that often gets in the way of this accurate monitoring process is what I call 'inner battles' or self-conversations/stories. What do I mean by this?

It is the process of creating 'inner stories/scenarios' in your mind as a result of something your partner:

-did

-didn't do

-said

-didn't say

-you wish they would have said

-you wish they would have done

-you wish they hadn’t said

-you wish they hadn’t done

For example, your partner - for whatever reason - is preoccupied with some of their 'own emotional or mental stuff' while you are talking with them. As a result, you make the assumption that they are not interested, don't care or are not listening. As a result, you go off on an inner, silent mental tirade creating a story that may have no relevance whatsoever to what your partner was thinking or not thinking. My personal experience is that most of my inner 'stories' were less than positive and that they contributed negatively to the responses from my partner ultimately causing misunderstandings, confusion, arguments, etc.

Why did I persist in this behavior? Why did I create these negative inner scenarios that ultimately did not add a positive dynamic to the relationship? I am beginning to understand that this process could have been due to my insecurity, low self-esteem, need for approval, or a myriad of other reasons. If you never go through this inner process or fight these inner battles, I salute you. However, could your partner be guilty of this process? Is he/she holding you accountable for outcomes to thier inner stories that they are creating that you are not even aware of?

Communication in relationships is never easy for a variety of reasons. There are so many factors both internal and external that contribute to our interpretations, attitudes, reactions, beliefs – this list can get really long – The answer is the more you can share the truth openly the better chance you have of avoiding these lingering internal battles, conflict, unsatisfied expectations and disappointment.

In His service, Tim

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Tim Connor, CSP World renowned Speaker, Trainer and best selling author of over 80 titles. Box 397, Davidson, N.C. 28036 USA, 704-895-1230 (voice) tim@timconnor.com (email) - www.timconnor.com (Website)

Osama bin Laden

Those of you who know me know that I am not a political person whatsoever.  Those of you not living under a rock, know that late last night it was announced that the US Armed Forces completed a raid which resulted in the DNA confirmed death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.  He had not been living in the mountains on the Afghan border as had been speculated but was found 9.5 years after the terrorist attack of 9/11 living in a compound valued at approximately 1 million dollars.  While the compound was worth 1 million dollars, there was absolutely no internet and or telephone connections.

I am not trying to be a critic, or a skeptic or anything like that.  I will claim myself ignorant on such subjects and write as such.  I’m also not going to sit here and say that this is not cause for a celebration.  I truly believe that this will provide morale to the troops still overseas almost 10 years later, and that it shows that we do not give up.  I will try to steer away from the “what have we really accomplished?” question.

But at what cost?  The members of Al Qaeda have already declared that the death of Osama bin Laden will not affect the efforts of their Jihad.

And this is where I get stuck.  What am I willing to do for my God?  The Alpha, the Omega.  These people are willingly giving their lives over and over again and yet I sit here and fight God on the smallest tasks like reaching out and touching someone’s life in a way I couldn’t even begin to understand.  In a society where we clearly do not agree with their culture and what it is that they are doing, I honestly get sick with myself to know that they have more faith in their left pinky than I have in my entire body, heart, and soul.

Anyway, here are a few links so you can read about it if you haven’t already.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bin_laden_the_raid

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/02/obama-to-make-statment-tonight-subject-unknown/?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Exhausted

So I will start by saying that I had an absolutely amazing weekend.  Then I will get in to the fact that I can barely keep my eyes open…

Friday night at the ever favorite New Zealand Cafe I was talked into trying Octopus again.  Only this time, it wasn’t a baby, not nearly as intimidating.  However, this time, I wasn’t even able to swallow it.  It was literally like chewing on a piece of tire.  Horrible.

Then, it got brought up that I had never seen any of the Rocky movies.  Apparently this is illegal.  So Friday night turned into watching Rocky I and then going to bed early enough to get up at 9am for Saturday’s festivities.

The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase.  What a great way to spend a Saturday.  We hit the road at 10am and got there and set up just before 11.  Got to do some walking around before the races started and had an amazing day.  Regardless of the multiple applications of SPF 50, I ended up with a sunburn on my back, but not nearly as painful as the one from Myrtle Beach.

I picked two winning horses which was pretty exciting given the fact that I am anything but a gambler.  There was corn hole, beer, wine, and fun to be had by all.

The plan after that was to nap and go to dinner, but when you nap from 7pm – 11pm, your dinner options are kind of limited.  Cheeseburger, fries, and wings at Boardwalk Billy’s at 11:30 is always a good option I suppose, however unhealthy it may be.

Then we stayed up until 3:30 am watching Rocky II.  Great movie.

So I haven’t been feeling well this week, having a lot of stomach issues that actually drove me to the Dr.  So when I woke up on Sunday I felt like crap and decided to stay in bed for a while.  Which of course was thwarted when I got up and headed to spend the day on a boat with some new friends.

I couldn’t wake board because of the broken finger and the stomach issues, but it was still a great day of teasing and getting to know some great people.

Will try to blog more this week.  Make it a good one.  Can’t believe it’s May already.

Word of the Week – Round 11!

Merriam Webster, thank you.

compurgator: one who under oath vouches for the character or conduct of an accused person

Examples:

As a compurgator, you do not have to believe in the innocence of the defendant, but you do have to feel confident speaking positively about that person's character.
"To clear himself, the defendant required corroboration from a prescribed number of compurgators or 'oath-helpers,' which varied according to the nature and severity of the accusation. Neither the defendant nor his compurgators were required to present any evidence to the court." -- From Bruce L. Benson and Paul R. Zimmerman's 2010 book Handbook on the Economics of Crime

Weekly Success Tip From Tim Connor

 

I know that this says weekly, but that is because I receive them from him weekly.  This is not to say that I will be posting them on here weekly.  I will share the ones that I like with you.  If you enjoy this tip, you may find subscription in formation at the bottom of this blog.

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No – 482 – Is anger healthy or destructive or both?

“The flocks fear the wolf, the crops the storm and the trees the wind.” Virgil

There are only two basic emotions – fear and love. All other emotions are degrees of these two. Let’s look at anger as an emotion that has its roots in fear.

Anger is an emotion that people express when they are: upset, frustrated, uncertain, anxious, hurt by another person or life in general or often just confused. Many people when expressing anger are really covering the deeper emotion of fear. In a relationship, when a person is angry, we have a choice of relating to their expressed emotion of anger or we can look behind the anger and attempt to discover what the person is afraid of that is being expressed as angry behavior. Most people find it difficult to see past the anger because it is so charged with negative words, feelings, emotions or actions.

Another way to look at anger is to see either its destructive quality in relationships and life or see its positives. Let’s take a brief look at both.

Anger can be an excellent way to eliminate stress, get hidden agendas out in the open, vent feelings of discouragement, pain, grief or just old-fashioned frustration. Suppressed negative feelings or anger can have both short and long term negative effects on a person’s emotional, as well as physical health. Most stress is related to withholding a variety of negative emotions. People often believe that they will avoid hurting the other person or avoid conflict by keeping these negative feelings beneath the surface. Over the long haul however, they can contribute to any number of emotional or physical ailments. Women are better at expressing anger than men. Women live, on the average, 10 years longer than men. I wonder if there is a relationship between these two issues?

This unexpressed anger can be the result of a variety of personal emotional traits: the need for approval, the need for love, insecurity, a fear of rejection, guilt, resentment – to mention just a few. There is a flip side to this issue, however, that we must discuss, and that is the impact of angry words spoken while in this fear state of mind.

Often people will say things that sting the other person when they were only trying to release these pent-up feelings. They say things that are really a reflection of their own internal unresolved issues rather than anger directed at the other person. Generally, most men are afraid of women’s anger and will do whatever necessary to protect themselves from it. This is unfortunate because angry women are not always angry at the man – but at some internal frustration. The same holds true for men.

The real culprit here is not the cause or source of the anger, but in its delivery. One other aspect of anger, or any emotion that we need to get into the open, is that when we are angry we are actually giving power over our own emotions to someone or something else, often to someone we don’t even like.

In His service, Tim

Tim Connor, CSP World renowned Speaker, Trainer and best selling author of over 80 titles. Box 397, Davidson, N.C. 28036 USA, 704-895-1230 (voice) tim@timconnor.com (email) - www.timconnor.com (Website)

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My long weekend!

So this past weekend was Good Friday/Easter weekend and therefore I had Friday off!  So we got out of bed early and went to Childress Vineyards to enjoy lunch at the bistro, both wine tastings currently being offered, and a tour of the winery.  It was a fantastic way to spend a rainy day off!

 

Some of the Vineyards on your way in to the estate.

Just a picture of the fountain at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    In one of the private rooms where the wine is kept in the oak barrels to age.

This was really just the start of my weekend.  Friday night I went with Matt and Shelbee to Fifty-1 and enjoyed some live music and two of my favorite people…

Saturday I got to have a great afternoon lunch followed by meeting some of Matt’s friends at a birthday party followed by catching up with two of my oldest NC friends with karaoke at Jackalope’s.  Is anybody else tired yet?  Can you say busy weekend?

Then Easter Sunday was spent at church, doing laundry and enjoying some of my delicious ham, mashed potatoes, peas, green beans & my favorite brown and serve rolls…  I fell asleep before I made dessert!

Hope everybody had a fantastic weekend!

Day Fifteen: your favorite quote

"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."  Pope John Paul II (Faith and Reason)

Day Fourteen: a quote about something you love

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face.  It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.  ~Edward P. Morgan

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.  ~Author Unknown

There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who wants a book to read.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Day Thirteen: a quote about cats

First off I would like to start off by saying that I love and hate cats.  I love Fiona.  She is an adorable, selfish, only loves me when I’m sick or drunk cat.  She lies on her back and sits up with her hand between her hind legs like Al Bundy…  Who couldn’t love this cat?  I pretty much hate Jasmine.  She is an annoying motorboat who will rub herself all over you until you give her exactly what you want…  Alright, on to the quotes…

There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.  ~Tay Hohoff

A catless writer is almost inconceivable.  It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys.  ~Barbara Holland

The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it.  ~Doug Larson

Movie Review – Arthur, Two Thumbs Up!

I will be the first person to admit that I am not a fan of Russell Brand.  Correction.  I will be the first person to admit that until very very recently, I was not a fan of Russell Brand.  This movie changed all of that for me.

Jennifer Garner is as awkward and ridiculous as ever (it’s my blog, deal with it) but she is perfect for the role of psychotic rich girl after a childish man’s billions…

Helen Mirren is absolutely fantastic.  Funny, charming, loving, and ruthless all at the same time.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching her transform from this tough woman who threatens to bite Evander’s ear off to this living mother figure doing what it is she has to do help Arthur find true happiness.

Greta Gerwig and Russell Brand have absolutely amazing chemistry.

I truly don’t know if it is the fact that I walked into this movie with such low hopes that made me fall absolutely in love but I laughed, and cried, and am definitely looking forward to watching it again.  I suggest you get out there and see it.

*****

Day Twelve: a quote about friendship

New friends listen to what you say.  Old friends listen to what you don’t say. ~Unknown

Day Eleven: a quote about love

 

Word of the Week, Round 10!

This one actually comes to us from Merriam-Webster.com!  Can you believe it?  I changed it up!

primordial

\prye-MOR-dee-ul\

DEFINITION

adjective

1

a : first created or developed : primeval b : existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe) c : earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ

2

: fundamental, primary

EXAMPLES

All life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago.
"Indeed, and in spite of all our current observations, physical theories, computer models, and mathematical skill we must not forget that the primordial breath is inherently unknown to us." -- From Martin Beech's 2010 book The Large Hadron Collider

Weekend in Myrtle Beach

I have been really enjoying my quick getaway weekends lately.  I’ve done a lot the past couple months and find my weekends booked with excitement from now through Memorial Day.  This past weekend was no exception.

I took a trip to Myrtle and got a chance to enjoy some good food, great company, and some seriously cold water.  It rained a bit but that really didn’t put a damper on things at all.

Saturday after a trip to the grocery store, making breakfast and watching 300 (without falling asleep this time) we went for a long walk on the beach which was awesome until we had to turn around.  The wind was whipping behind us forcing my hair into my face making it almost impossible for me to see the entire way back!

After a nap and another movie (in which I did fall asleep…  something about The Hunt for Red October maybe?) we went to the Comedy Cabana to enjoy some live comedians and some alcohol.

 

Sunday was just as eventful with a trip to the beach, boogie boarding, sun burn, alcohol and then a trip to Broadway at the Beach which included a wine tasting and walking around novelty shops poking fun at t-shirts… and as promised, here are some photos!

  Matt and his handsomeness. Matt again (obviously) Matt’s not bigger than mine foot

Aaaand the aftermath of not enough sunscreen.

Day Ten: a well-known quote

Here’s my philosophy on this one, if I have heard it, it has to be well known.

“Small men think they are small; great men never know they are great.”

I know it’s short, but I like it, and it’s true.

Day Nine: a quote from someone you know personally

“As far as demanding those around me to be intelligent it works out most of the time.  If you are a ding dong I just don’t bother with you.  If you are a ding dong and keep hanging around eventually I will hurt your feelings.  I don’t expect others to do all of the things I do.  I just expect them to do what they say they are going to do without making excuses or being apathetic in their approach.  You can be a ding dong but find a way to contribute.  I am ok with people who contribute in a meaningful way ding dong or not.  I am not ok with ding dongs who push their stupidity on me or those I am responsible for.  This is where my evil side lives.” - NTK

Day Eight: a stupid quote

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."
- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.

"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago"
- Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice-President

Day Seven: a quote you disagree with

 

“This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing I know, that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attention.”  ~ Mary Oliver

Maybe I am reading this wrong.  And even as I sit here and read it again I suppose now that she could be referring to ones attention to their own soul.  But when read that it’s built out of attention of others, I disagree completely.  Maybe a better way to say it would have been “entirely out of ones own attention.”

Thoughts?

Day Six: a quote from a song

I think it’s pretty clear here that I’ve decided for most of these topics that one quote isn’t even close to enough so here are SEVERAL quotes from some songs that I love currently that really have nothing to do with anything except for the fact that I find them catchy.'

If you don’t like it, write your own damn blog.

And yes, I know that 90% of these lyrics can be heard on this blog.

“Tomorrow I’ll wake up, do some P90X.  Find a really nice girl, have some really nice sex.  And she’s gonna scream out this is great.” ~Bruno Mars, Lazy Song

“Yeah I'm sorry, I can't afford a Ferrari,
But that don't mean i can't get you there.
I guess he's an xbox and I'm more atari,
But the way you play your game ain't fair.
I pity the fool that falls in love with you”  ~Cee-Lo Green F*ck You

“you got designer shades,
just to hide your face and
you wear them around like
you're cooler than me.
and you never say hey,
or remember my name.
its probably cuz,
you think you're cooler than me” ~Mike Posner, Cooler Than Me

“Pretty pretty please, don’t you ever ever feel
like you’re less than f*ckin perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you’re nothing
You’re f*ckin perfect to me….

Exchange ourselves, and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that?”  ~Pink, F*ckin Perfect

Sooo…. maybe I am a bit stuck on myself lately?  :)

Day Five: a short quote

Well, that’s descriptive!…  A short quote…  Alright…  Here you go!  (That was easy)

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

And on that note, RIP Jordan Boyd Traylor, Dec 28, 2008 – the way I learned that life is entirely too short to stay mad at someone…

Have a great Wednesday.

Word of the Week, Round 9!

Carleton College…

adduce \uh-duce\ (verb)

1. To offer as an example, reason or proof in discussion or analysis

Example sentence:

Having adduced to the scientific community numerous instances of her work having been plagiarized, Jan was appalled when her claims were dismissed as petty rivalry between lab mates.

Day Four: a quote that makes you laugh

Some of these will show my… interesting sense of humor, but hopefully some others will put a smile on your face!

I have six locks on my door all in a row.  When I go out, I lock every other one.  I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.  ~Elayne Boosler

An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault.  ~William Castle

I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.  ~Fred Allen

Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.  ~Colin Sautar

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” ~Robert McCloskey

“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” ~Oscar Wilde

“Love is like a booger.  You keep picking at it until you get it, then wonder what to do with it.’  ~Unknown

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." ~Douglas Adams

Day Three: a quote from your favorite book

My favorite book to this day is still The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.  I still don’t know why.  It does not by any means fit my standard type of book be it the romance, the inspirational or the “young adult” fiction (aka Twilight, Host, Harry Potter…)  But I love it.  This one may be a bit more for the men than the ladies but a good read nonetheless…

“You see, Carter, people are two things: greedy and cruel. So we have a perfect set up here. The greed part--a kid pays a buck for a chance to win a hundred. Plus fifty boxes of chocolates. The cruel part--watching two guys hitting each other, maybe hurting each other, while they're safe in the bleachers. That's why it works, Carter, because we're all bastards. ” - Archie, pg. 241. Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War