slow month

I'm allowed to have a bad month right? I mean if it were January I could see where it would be bad. But the fact that i have had 8 solid months of workout's, I figure I could use a break. Well, that's what I'm telling myself anyways.
The good news is that I truly am the only one to blame. I had many opportunities to go to the gym, but I just didn't. The first of the month didn't start off strong since I was out of town, and I only had one good week this month. All of the other times, I got home from work and decided I was going to hang out at home and watch TV and eat cookie dough.
But I will give credit where credit is deserved. I did get 12 workouts in, which was the original resolution. The other good news, I have a new month to start tomorrow, and the goal is to go back to the average of 20.

not easy

my last break up was "easy". seeing Aaron wasn't an option. three months prior to our break up he moved from Denver to Minneapolis. so once we were broken up we didn't see each other again because we didn't have the option to. although that was really hard, it made things less heartbreaking in the long run. because there was no back and forth.
right now there is a lot of back and forth with P. we've seen each other a handful of times over the past month. this is not how i pictured it, and this whole experience has been a lot harder than i thought it would be. all of the same problems are still there, but the good things are still there too. and when i want to text him, call him, see him all i remember are the good things. the fact that i can't be the "strong one" to have the end be the end makes me so full of emotion and frustration. each time when we say good bye i think that is the last time. needless to say there is a lot going on. and i felt i should provide an "update". we last saw each other yesterday. as of right now i feel no urges to see him again. i have a couple of very busy weekends planned for the beginning of October, which i'm hoping will be a good distraction.

it's great to be EIGHT!

Aidan, December 2008

Today is Aidan's eighth birthday! I remember this day because his birth became such a blessing only 2 weeks after a very sad day in American history. His little presence brought smiles and hope 8 years ago today. Aidan is my second cousin. He is a joy. He has one of the biggest smiles a little boy can have. He loves his older brother, turtles, and TV. For a small little boy he likes to sleep ALL over the bed and loves to walk around telling you stories! I miss him much, and am looking forward to seeing him soon!

Happy 8th Birthday Aidan!!!

stop signs

I do believe back about 13/14 years ago when I took driver's education, that the rule when it came to Stop signs was who ever stops first, gets to go first. Is that right? Because I'm having doubts. I'm pretty sure that's the rule when it comes to 4 way stops. But what about 2 way stops. Let me tell you what happened today, ...hopefully this will make sense.

Leaving the park in ride (where I get the bus) there is a 2 way stop. There is a stop sign North and South. The only traffic coming from the East are the buses, traffic coming from the West is the way in/out of the parking lot. Today I arrived at the South stop sign first, then someone arrived at the North stop sign, while a bus was heading West to leave the parking lot. We waited for the bus to go through, then I did my left turn. I figure I had the right of way because I was there first. Is that right? Because at that point the car at the North stop sign (who is turning Right, heading West, the same way as me) throws his hands in the air, like he had the right of way. Then I find myself saying out loud "i was there first, i go first." and while i'm driving home, i'm thinking about it. did he have the right of way because he was turning Right, and I was turning Left? before long i was seriously doubting myself.

but then i thought there can't be different rules for Stop signs and the ways people are turning. that regardless it is always who gets there first, gets to drive off first. right? i am right, right? please someone back me up!!! if i'm wrong, please tell me that too.

~something I love~

Bettie

Sandee

Shoes.

I don't really consider myself a girlie girl. But I love shoes. I often question it? I think when I walk through a department store or go into any shoe store I often can't help but look, and find at least 1 pair (usually 5) that I think, "I can't live without these." I wonder why that is? I recently became more interested in "business" type shoes when I got my new job last year. I can't really where high heals, but stacked short heals, I can do. I also really like casual shoes. Specifically Nike's and Puma's. Thankfully with my workout schedule I have reason for a good pair of workout shoes.
Last weekend I went to the mall for Clinique's gift with purchase, and I walked through Dillard's and fell in love with the pairs above. I immediately thought these would be perfect to work. Needless to say, I had strong will power (no money) and didn't try them on and didn't buy them. So I figure, what's the next best thing? Blog about them.

I love shoes.

pictures of pictures

Here are some gorgeous pictures of my beautiful God daughter Katherine. Her mother (my cousin) sent me these pictures, and I just got them in the mail, and I had to share them. I don't have a scanner, so I took pictures of the pictures. They are too cute not to let my internet family see them! I'm proud to say that her dress was purchased by me from Janie and Jack. I miss her much. She's 2 and 1/2 and her brother Josh is probably 4months in these pictures.

The Places I've Been: CA

Michelle and I San Fransisco ~ January 2008
Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time

If I think about it really hard, going to California is probably one of my earliest memories. I was 4 or 5 maybe, and my parents took me to Disneyland. I don't remember the Disneyland part, but I do remember going to a house where my parents had some family friends. I couldn't tell you much except for that. I remember they had a son in a wheelchair, and I felt bad for him. But I remember him being really funny.
My second trip to California was March 1998. My last spring break of my high school years. I went with 2 girlfriends. My friend Michelle's Dad lives near L.A. We spent time at Universal Studios, and Six Flags. Plus girl shopping, trying on those sneaker type shoes that had 3inch platforms. ...those were the Spice Girl days. It was a super fun trip, with super happy memories.
The most recent time I was in California was January 2008 for my 28th birthday. I went to go visit my friend Michelle (a different Michelle as mentioned above) who was on a travel assignment. On this trip I got to see Northern California. We spent two nights in Calistoga (near Napa Valley) and one night in San Francisco. This trip was amazing. Spent with one of my closest friends. I took my first (and last) mud bath, did some wine tasting, danced my whole birthday night, ended by some late night pizza! (just a summary)

the host

Book Review
the host by Stephenie Meyer

I didn't really like this book. i was hoping for a twilight like experience, but this book definitely doesn't have the same appeal. i know a lot of people that told themselves before reading the twilight saga "i won't like this book, i'm not into vampires etc..." Well i was definitely one of those people. then i got on the band wagon, and i am now a huge fan of the twilight saga! (can't wait until 11.20.09!) i first read information on the host at Stephenie Meyer's website. it said it was an adult science fiction. the "adult" appealed to me, but the "science" did not. but i gave it a shot, thinking the host would grab me just as quickly as twilight did. not so much. i didn't really get into the host until about 100 pages is (the book is 600+ pages). on top of that, the book is confusing. Stephenie has an amazing imagination and the things she thinks of in this book is amazing. And i feel bad because i feel like she pictures exactly what's going on in this book perfectly in her head but for me it just didn't transfer onto paper.
The book is about multiple planets taking over earth. The aliens of these planets are "souls". These souls take over human bodies. One soul called Wanderer takes over Melanie's body. Inside of this body, Melanie is still very much alive, but it is Wanderer who has control of her body. Melanie fills Wanderer's head with all of her human memories and emotions. Including love. Melanie coaxes Wanderer to the middle of Arizona where Melanie has her last memories of her love Jared. Upon her arrival in AZ she learns of a whole human clan hidden deep in caves. She eventually becomes accepted by these enemies, and "Wanda" finds herself having feelings for Ian. ...While Melanie still yearns for Jared. And so we have the classic impossible love triangle that Stephenie likes to create. the book for me did carry on a bit, and the ending was horrible. unfortunately i think Meyer needs to stick with Bella and Edward.

my guilty pleasure

Mtv.
Seriously.

I have yet to watch the entire Video Music Awards, but tonight I did watch the first 30 minutes, that were uninterrupted.
Let me first say that I've been watching Mtv since I was young. Probably middle school, when my parents first got cable. My parents never really watched what I watched on TV and Mtv was soon on my dial all the time. I remember every Friday Daisy Fuentes did the top 20 videos of the week. That was the official kick off to my weekend. It was a full 60 minutes of videos.
Moving on, that opening number literally put me to tears. Granted Madonna didn't write what she said, but what she said was so powerful. She put Michael Jackson's life into many well put words.
Then the dancing. Oh dear, the dancing. It is no secret that I love dancing. But those dancers, dancing with MJ in the background. Wow.
Then Janet Jackson. I love Janet Jackson. She was my first concert. And to this day I love her. If I could dance with anyone, it would be her.
When "Scream" first came out, I watched the video over and over. The part at the end where they dance together, I taught myself that exact sequence. When she came out and did just that with Michael on the big screen, I cried. Tears rolling down my face. To me it was beautiful.

do the pink thing

I'm super happy to announce that I'm registered for Race for the Cure 5k again this year! Last year I did the walk for the first time, all by myself. This year I'm going to try my hardest to jog more than walk, as well as enjoy the event this time with my mom! ...that's right, my mom will be joining me this year, and I'm so excited!!! Today we got out T-shirts, and I even got us matching pants to wear! ...we'll be so cute. She is really looking forward to it, and I am too. It has been a long time since we've been able to have a good amount of mother/daughter time together, and the weekend that she is here we'll have a lot of time to spend together.
I'm on a good roll of making this an annual event, and I know it'll be so much fun. I just got done reading about what I wrote last year when I registered. And I was so nervous about getting up in time. That's so funny to me now.
Like last year I'm raising money to help find a cure. If you would like to donate please visit my page here. If you would like to see my pictures from last years race click here.

Southern Belle

So this Labor Day weekend I was a southern belle. Ok, so not really, but I was "down South". I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit my friend Brisa and her brand new family. Her daughter Ilianna is 2 and a half months old and so cute. The first night I got to bond with Ilianna while her parents enjoyed a preseason football game. The trip was a lot of fun, and much needed.

the city

hanging out being cute

Our first full day Brisa, Ilianna, and I walked around the Botanic Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus. It was beautiful.

Brisa and I

Pretty flowers

That night we went to a local strip mall that had a band playing. We set out some lawn chairs and enjoyed the summer air.

Cute family: Brisa, Richard, and Ilianna

The next day we walked around Freedom Park. It was beautiful, and enjoyable. There were so many cute kids running around and playing.

All smiles and giggles!

Brisa and I had our own ladies night with a night out in Charlotte. We went downtown (which the locals call 'uptown') and ate at a "soul food" diner. I had salmon cakes! Yum. Afterwords we went to a wine bar for some drinks and dessert.

Brisa & I

The three ladies!

The trip was very low key and fabulous. Brisa and I got to catch up and just talk about life and events. The weather was absolutely perfect. No humidity and no rain. Just great company and conversation!

The Places I've Been: AZ

via

My first time to Arizona was to the Grand Canyon back in my Elementary School days. I think I was probably in 3rd or 4th grade. I have this picture of me in blue stripped short overalls with one of buckles undone sitting on an edge of the Grand Canyon striking a pose! ...very 80's! It was one of the few family vacations I took as a little girl. I still remember the views, the amazing breath taking views.
My second time to Arizona was to Flagstaff in High School, summer of '96 I believe. I went there with the school drill team for a week long camp. It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed dancing with all of my cheer friends, and flirting with the one guy instructor at the camp. ...everyone had a crush on him. I remember it being very very hot, and bonding with all of the girls. During this trip we also made a stop at the Grand Canyon.