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/