Oops, He Did It AGAIN!

Yes he did.  He did the whole, paper at the last minute thing.  It was a bit earlier than last week, but it's still midnight and I'm sitting here ready to crash.  Today was a rough day - lots of forced deadlines and cranky people.

(The other thing that makes me crazy is my dear, sweet husband talking to me while I'm trying to write this post! :)  Love you HB, but let me focus now please!)  I have a sleeping dog next to me on the love seat and I'm a bit cold from the ceiling fan...and we won't even talk about the butter cream icing on my t-shirt.  (Guess you know what I did tonight huh?) 

I'm a wreck...what a long and crazy week.   I feel like this week was blurry and I'm tired of losing weeks like that.  I guess this is just a 'pass the time' kind of period in my life.  I get up and go through the motions of the day and really don't have anything wonderful happen that makes it stand out for me.  So, the week just flows by and life moves on.  Yawn.   I follow the structure I created and think I'm good because I did everything on my mental checklist.

I wonder what would happen if I updated my mental checklist and mixed things up.  I need to find new things to think about, worry about and dream about.  The current list is just boring me.  Any ideas?  Maybe I could dream about having twins instead of just one baby - maybe I could dream about being tall and blond.  Nah.  Too predictable.  :o)    Maybe I need to start looking for ways just turn off my damn brain and chill.  (Of course my brain WON'T take time off when I want it to.) 

In reality, I think I'm just avoiding things and focusing on nothing so I don't get caught up in more worrying. I'm so tired of worrying.  Is that the bane of the female existence?  Are we all doomed to think about things that will just stress us out in the long run?  I've been so focused on 'Living in the Moment' that I've stopped revelling in the moment.   

So that's my mission  - to have more fun, find more joy and play.  I want to live it UP in the moment - not just skate through and call it a day!  It's going to be a gorgeous weekend here in NC, so I think I'll start living my full life today.

I'm not sure what that means yet, but I know it will be bigger, better and have more meaning. Maybe it means more Slurpees and less V8 Juice...so, to use a cliche, life is short.  I've spent way too many of my adult years just biding my time...now is my time to really live life and have FUN!  I think I want to learn how to be audacious!   Look out world....

Happy Saturday Ya'll!

Binging on Slurpees

What does summer mean to you?  To me, summer is a time to head to the Cape, eat ice cream and enjoy fresh produce.  I love fresh strawberries and blueberries - our fridge has a quart and pint respectively of each right now.  One of the local farmer's markets in town sees me every Friday at a minimum - sometimes I'm there more than once a week.  We've gone through at least 20 ears of corn, 8 quarts of strawberries and 6 pints of blueberries since May and there's only 2 of us.  Impressive and yet indulgent isn't it?

Needless to say, the foods of summer make me happy!  I love a good cookout - burgers, hotdogs, potato salad, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake - one of my favorite menus.  If I have room in the freezer and that's a big IF (that's another story), I'll make homemade ice cream; it's one of my favorite things.  In fact,  were having a cookout this weekend at my parents' home for Father's Day - see menu above!  Culinary school be damned.  The comfort foods of summer rule. 

Remember back when you were a kid and the Good Humor man drove through the neighborhood?  I still love that man.  We have a version of that here in town that rolls through the 'hood once in a while.  B and I are usually standing out there with whatever kids are around.  We'll never grow up. 

I love summer things like going to baseball games, getting an ice cream on a hot day and going for a walk with the bubbies at 8:30 at night and feeling like it's only 6.   Mind you, the heat down here in NC is brutal.  I'm an air conditioning girl once June hits, pretty much around the clock.  I layer up like it's fall because I freeze at work and then shed layers when I hit the car at the end of the day.   It's just a way of life here.  That's exactly why we head north for our summer vacations.  It's much cooler on the Cape and therefore more fun to play outside.

Traditionally when we're at the Cape we go for ice cream every night at the Sundae School - just awesome homemade ice cream.  When we're home we go out for ice cream every once in while, but not often.  There just aren't many ice cream places nearby.  There's something to be said about going to an ice cream parlor, picking out your flavor and then eating it before it melts.  It's not quite the same when you're home is it?

Not sure what we're doing for the 4th, but I have high hopes that we will have our own 7-11 by then!  We don't have them in Charlotte right now, but all of our Shell station convenience stores are converting to 7-11s!! WOOHOO!  (Sorry Chevron)  I'm really excited about the option of a Slurpee now and again.  I haven't had one for years - I know it's not ice cream, but they sure do taste good on a really hot day!

Maybe that's what we'll do over the 4th weekend - binge on Slurpees!  I'd love to go see some fireworks, drink my Slurpee and get a brain freeze, and just pretend I'm a kid again.   I need to go see some stars and be outside for a while too - my country girl roots are screaming at me right now. 

Here's to Slurpees, the Good Humor man, stars and fireworks.  We all need to focus on the simple things a bit more and just enjoy being.  In the meantime, I'll watch for progress on our 7-11 and keep an ear out for the Good Humor man.

Happy Friday Ya'll!

Think Happy Thoughts!

Every night I sit and stare at a blank space to ready start a new post and then I just start typing.  Tonight I stared more than usual.  There are hundreds of unorganized thoughts running through my mind right now.  So much so, that I've decided to turn off my brain and just focus on the things that bring a smile to my face today.  I thought I'd list a few things that make me happy and hope that as Gandhi says, that those thoughts will become my destiny!

1. Ted Hawkins - his voice can sooth what ails you.  I was introduced to his music the year he died sadly, but I'm still a huge fan.  I could listen to him sing the phone book.  One of my favorites is called Big Things.  He wrote most of his music and was a street performer for years until he hit the 'big time', sort, of in Europe.  Here's a link to one of my favorites on YouTube :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pO8GlpvzyE  I highly recommend his Next Hundred Years CD.

2.  Murphy (my parent's new poochie, aka my little brother) got a new haircut today.  Since my parents did a DNA test on him - yes they did - and found out he was a Japanese Poodle (long story) they decided to get his hair cut in a poodle cut.  I won't humiliate him by showing the full cut, although he did look super cute.  I've included my favorite part, his feet.  They gave him a really close cut on his paws and not his legs, thereby giving him a leg warmer effect.  He has hooves now! :)  Very cute.

3.  I had heard about the chocolate restaurant/bar at the Ritz in Charlotte.  So today, I did a bit more research and now I think it will be come my favorite place in Uptown!    Bar Cocoa, here I come!!! 

4. Cape Cod  - specifically Chatham and the Lighthouse Beach!  I love beach roses...this is the beach where sharks are each summer.  It's directly across the street from the Chatham Lighthouse and one of my favorite spots on the Cape.

5. Queen Elizabeth - She's just an amazing, graceful lady.  

I wish I could have created a boondoggle to go to the UK for work for her Diamond Jubilee!  Her family and country loves her...that says enough.

6.  And finally, a brain dump...Cake Boss and Rizzoli & Isles are back on, my hydrangeas are blooming and it's been raining nicely outside.  I have great friends and family - who are both supportive and patient.  Team McGowan - need I say more.  I have good health insurance and orange creamsicles in the freezer.  Dominos still makes a great gluten free pizza (Sorry Anna) and my friend Missy is having another baby boy!  (I can't wait to meet Sawyer's little brother!) Terry comes tomorrow, all Dropkick Murphys music and all music in general depending on the mood.  Lastly, that I have the ability to not fix everything.  Sometimes, you just gotta let it ride....

Here's my view as I type - does it get better than this???  B and a Bubbie..down for the night.

Sweet dreams ya'll.

On Being More Audrey-like

Doing things for other people.  Everyone has a different vision in their mind when you say, help others.  Some go right to the simple things like opening a door for someone with their arms full or letting someone out of a difficult intersection in front of you during rush hour.  Others go to the more time intensive things like working in a food kitchen or building a house for Habitat. 

I think either way you look at it, you should just do it.  Small, medium or large - doing something nice for someone else is a gift to them and a balm to your soul.  I bring this topic up today because it's on the top of my mind.  There are days when I am in an Eeyore or sad zone where I'm wondering 'how did I get here and how do I get out of it?' Then there are days when my heart is so full I almost feel guilty.   What I have learned is when I am having those 'un-good' days (I hate using the term bad) and I do something for someone else, I feel better.  I stop focusing on myself and what's eating at me and realize, it ain't that bad.  Not really in the big picture.

It's a good thing to quote Martha and it's a lesson I learned from my Mom.  When I was younger and down in the dumps, she'd always tell me to 'go do something for someone else, you'll feel better.'  When you're a teenager, and self-centered and full of drama, you think, 'Yeah right.  What have they done for me?'   Now that I'm older and have seen Karma do her thang, I realize that while 'they' might not have done anything for me directly, the world has taken care of me. I've been lucky, blessed, whatever you want to call it. 

Sometimes doing something you think is so simple, can make someones whole day.  So, to whoever reads this post, I'm going to task you with this, every day next week, do something for someone else that they didn't expect.  It doesn't have to be big - could be something silly like clean out someone else's coffee cup when you're doing yours or pick up their work off the printer and take it to them.  One of my favorites is to buy the next person in line a cup of coffee.  Starbucks sends out free coffee cards to frequent buyers (like me); instead of using them for yourself, give it to the cashier and buy the next person's cup!  Think of how much fun it would be to go up to the cashier and find out your grande foo foo frappachino is on the house!  If you're out walking the dogs early, pick up your neighbor's paper from the sidewalk and lay it on their font porch - call someone you know has had a rough time of it lately and just listen, it will help them or maybe send them a card in the mail (imagine that- snail mail!) 

Per Audrey Hepburn:  "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others."  I just love her.  Gorgeous, talented and a heart bigger than she was.  I wish I could be just like her when I grow up.  But let's face it, we're not all Audreys.  I'm a pretty selfish person - I love doing things for other people, but I do it because it feels good.  Call me silly, but I like to feel good; I sleep better when I do for others!  I like to keep Karma happy with me too;  regardless of your motivator, have fun doing fun things for other people this week!  Give people!!!  Smile and do good things!  It feels good to help others -so I guess that means Mom was right after all!  Like there was ever a doubt right Mom?! :)  

Let me know how it goes - drop a me comment and let us know what you did - all ideas are appreciated!! 

Tigger, Eeyore & the Damn Glass

For some reason, I was dreading today.  I didn't sleep well last night, but did have a great workout this morning. So, I put on my war face and headed towards work ready to attack the day.  Some days I have to make a VERY conscious effort to be in a happy mood....I know you've been there too.  

Ever heard of the Tigger and Eeyore syndrome?  Eeyore is chronically pessimistic, always gloomy and depressing and has a low self-esteem along with an even lower expectation of life in general.  

On the other hand, Tigger has a bubbly and "bouncing" personality. When life gets him down, he strives to find the silver lining. And when he does, he "bounces for joy" while counting his blessings.

Honestly, I think we have all have natural inclinations as part of our core personality.  Therefore, I think you can be a bit of both Tigger and Eeyore.  The whole 'glass half full or empty' thing also flummoxes me - it changes for me all the time.  There are also some days where I just see the damn glass and have no earthly idea whether it's full or empty, nor could I care!  Today was an 'Eeyore, can't even see the damn glass' kind of day, so I'm really trying to add a bit of Tigger to it. So far Eeyore is winning out...but I'm still trying.

Obviously, things are really stressful here at work, what with all of the WAITING and all.  So here I am, trying to Live in the Moment, and be cheerful dammit.  One of my favorite quotes is as follows:

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”   -  Mahatma Gandhi



I actually have this quote printed out and on the wall behind my computer monitor.  I try to live this daily...sometimes it's only weekly, but I do think about it regularly.  ( Does anyone else think it's funny that I've mentioned Tigger, Eeyore and Gandhi in the same post? :o) )  Sometimes it helps, some days it doesn't.

In order to keep my thoughts positive, I've tried to appreciate a few small things that have happened to me today -



 I had to run to the dr at lunch today

and get back in time for a meeting at 11:45AM.

 - I made it!



I got my Five Year Anniversary

certificate for my job today...  (Ironic isn't it?)

AND, last but not least, I was able to eat at an IT Lunch and Learn for the first time in a long time due to my super friend who ordered me a Gluten Free pizza from Domino's!  I got busted on for having my own personal pizza, but it sure was nice to eat with the team for a change -  thanks Jennifer!  (And no, I wasn't thanking myself, she's a Jennifer too.)

I guess the overall message o' the day is this, being 'up' isn't always easy, but it matters.  Everyone around you is affected by your mood.  So even though we're allowed to have our bad days, try not to spread it around and take it out on your bike/workout instead!  If you're feeling a bit 'Eeyore-ish', try convert it to a toned down Tigger and eventually you will get through it.  Stop worrying about the glass being half full etc...and if you can't?  You can always pitch the damn glass and go buy a new one!  Happy Thursday ya'll!





Towels and China and Flowers, Oh My!

You know those towels you have in the bathroom that are 'for guests only'? Then, when the guests come, they don't use them because they don't want to mess them up?   Towels should NOT get dusty!  Come on, you know what I'm talking about!    How about only using your good china for special occasions or those special wine glasses that you 'save' for celebrations? 

My favorite is when women buy a pair of shoes that they just love and have to have, and then don't wear them because you don't want to 'ruin them.' I could go on and on - I'm fascinated by the concept that people want to save things for a later time to make them seem more special. 

I grew up in a beautiful home that had a living room filled with furniture that we weren't allowed to sit on.  (Sorry Mom).  The dog wasn't allowed in the room either, so it wasn't just us. It's a long standing family joke that you just didn't sit in my parent's living room unless you were asked.  We took pictures there for our wedding - obviously we rated that day - I would hazard a guess that we(I) sat in that living room about once/twice a year.  The room meant a lot to my Mom and in her defense, I wouldn't want 3 dirty kids and a dog running through there either...but that was then.  In my parents current home, you can sit where you want! Yay!

In fact, when we bought our little yellow house, I specifically chose a house without a living room!  I didn't want to clean a room that we never used.  We definitely lounge in our house, feet up, afghans out, comfort rules.  I use most of my good 'every day' china, but must confess, I have my grandmother's china and family silver and don't use it. (I have to work on that.)

I learned early in my life, that you never know what tomorrow will bring - so I love to use the special stuff when I feel like it.  I carry my 'good' purse every day, use the Wedgewood & Waterford for a cook-out and buy myself flowers at Trader Joe's.  I enjoy those things and dammit, why not treat myself once in a while?

Tiffany Weave
Hexagonal vase

Don't get me wrong, I don't spend our money on lots of frivolous things but, we do use our 'special stuff;'  we appreciate it and enjoy it daily - not just on special occasions.  One of my favorite things is a vase B bought me from Tiffany's.  (Gasp.)  Yes, Tiffany's.  I so love it there. (but that's another story.)  What can I say, I'm a sucker for a basket weave and ok, so it's a little frivolous, but it called to me!

Bottom line folks, enjoy your life!  If you like flowers, buy some $5 daisies or pick some for yourself.  Use those towels with the monograms!  Wear the jewelry or shoes you've been saving and enjoy them.  Dress for yourself - wear those new boots to the grocery store and stop saving things for later. 

This living in the moment concept doesn't apply to just 'things' either!  Take the time to enjoy life and take a walk outside.  Go to the theater or listen to music you like - read a book you've wanted to read and take time for yourself.  Go play! You'll be all the better for it.

I know I've driven some of you crazy with this, but I have to share a song I've been listening to lately by Jason Mraz - here are some of the lyrics to a new song of his - Living in the Moment:

If this life is one act
Why do we lay all these traps?
We put them right in our path
When we just wanna be free

I will not waste my days
Making up all kinds of ways
To worry about all the things
That will not happen to me

So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
Living our life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home
Living in the moment

I've really been affected by this song for some reason and I think it fits what I'm trying to say here - Later is here - Make some memories!  Make it fun, laugh, appreciate life and don't worry about the mess or dirtying those towels - that's what they're there for...