About me

The easiest way to begin explaining myself is to consider the roles I play in the lives of the people around me. So I've listed the roles, along with a description of how I see myself in those roles. All these roles I play provide inspiration for my blog topics!

Mother	Single parent
Daughter	Caregiver
Professional	Staff-level in higher education
Graduate student	Ph.D.; not ABD!
Consultant	Entrepreneur, Organization Development
Friend/Peer	Recently moved; feebly trying to maintain relationships and make new ones
Family member	Cousin, Niece, Aunty
Renter	Considering condo ownership
Wanna-be	5K Runner, camper, swimmer, singer
SINGLE!!	SINGLE!!

 

Stuff I Want to Enhance My Life

Along with my goals for the upcoming year, I also keep track of "the stuff" I want/buy. I do this as a way of making sure "the stuff" is essential; I have been known to buy things I don't need, want or even like. The items on this list have to pass my litmus test. If it isn't career advancing, money enhancing, spiritually enlightening, esteem inviting, or nutritiously exciting than I probably don't need it.

Item #1 Landrollers - Cesar Millan, the male Latino version of Oprah to dogs and their owners, uses these when he skates with his pack. I "heart" him! Apparently word on the street is these skates are easier to use than inline skates, glide over uneven terrain better, and have better maneuverability. They cost more too. So how do they pass my SIWEML test? Here's why:

• Career Advancing - No, my job does not involve skating, but it does require me to be healthy. I view any exercise as career advancing because if I'm too out of breath, tired or really ill, my career is one step closer to praying to the porcelain gods. I need to lose about 30 pounds of fat and gain about 10 to 15 lbs. of muscle. Skating will add variety to my exercise routines.

• Money Enhancing - At practically $200 a pair, ummm, not real sure how the landrollers advance this goal. But, since I'm cutting back on other expenses over the next few weeks, it should even out. yeah, I'll go with that for now.

• Spiritually Enlightening - If you've ever read Cesar's books, you'll already understand how this works. For those of you that haven't read or aren't dog lovers, this will be harder for you to comprehend, so maybe skip ahead. My puppy, Rockey Rockstar, has been the best thing that happened to me this year. He was on a list of "things I want before I'm 40". I never had an opportunity to have a dog until now. Spending time walking Rockey, watching him figure out his space in this world has been a sheer delight. Mother Nature is a powerful, beautiful thing. When I'm outdoors, I feel free from all man-made and self-made anxieties. I feel peaceful and happy. I think rollerblading together will be an experience Rockey and I both will enjoy.
  
  
• Esteem Inviting - Esteem. I love that word. Too bad people don't use it anymore. I love the scene in Sense and Sensibility when Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood says of Edward Ferrars played by Hugh Grant, "I greatly esteem him." Some dictionary defines esteem as, to regard with respect, to have a high opinion of. How will Landrollers invite esteem in my life? I predict I will feel better about myself physically and emotionally as I bond with nature, my dog and myself. I will have quiet peaceful time to reflect on what and who matters most to me in my life.

• Nutritiously Exciting - umm, nah. I'll stick with the esteem and career stuff I just mentioned.

So there it is. Maybe this is just a way to convince myself it's ok to spend $200 on a pair of roller skates. I wouldn't doubt it. A good friend of mine says she can talk herself in and out of all kinds of things when she puts her mind to it. So can I. Time will tell.

Days of the week, Part 1

I have decided to rename the days of the week. I just can't bear to face one more Monday. Mondays suck, by nature they just suck. The sound of the word is dull, flat and monotone. You literally have to turn your mouth into an inverted U to pronounce the word...muhun-daye.

So what was once known as Monday, is now called Prepday. Prepday. Say it 3 times. What do you think? Non-emotive, simple, short and descriptive. What do you spend most of your time doing on a Monday? If you're like me, you spend a good deal of time planning the week, distributing information for future meetings, think about the next 4 days of the work week. You're preparing for the week, hence Prepday.

I thought about calling it Planday, Planningday, Setday, Beginday, and a few others not worth mentioning. But Prepday won. Again, with the simple and short. I also think Prepday is a neutral word to pronounce; I don't feel any particular feeling or sense when I purse my lips together to say "pruh-ep". And when I hear "Prepday" spoken by someone, I don't feel pressured or bored like I do when I hear "Monday".

So the day of the moon will now be officially (in my world) be forever known as Prepday. Any objections?

Teenagers: Humans or UFOs?

My 14 year old HEARTS Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is her fav. Not for the romance, it's the language that appeals to her. I find this odd, considering this child has Amelia Bedelia beat by a longshot. When she was 5, she was doing something she wasn't supposed to. Her dad told her, "You do that one more time, hear?" Which we grown ups know means, DON'T do it again. Bless her sweet heart, she did it again. Why? Because he told her to.

She hates dirty dish water, especially if there's food in the sink. BUT she rarely scrapes her dishes...which is why there's food in the sink. Thankfully she brushes her teeth religiously (of course she has braces) BUT, she never puts the cap back on the toothpaste...probably because she's always brushing her teeth. She'll spend as much time and money as she can coiffing her hair, but showers...hmmm iffy. She burps like an overweight teamster. Her shedded hair prevents your feet from ever actually touching the floor. Her room smells like perfume and food and dirt and the closet looks like it has acid reflux, but the smile she gives me when she tells me she loves me makes up for all the teenage funk bombs a million times over!

Does this wallet make me look fat?

Wholla peeps,

As I type, I'm looking at the skinniest wallet I ever did have. It's amazing what happens when you o-r-g-a-n-i-z-e. Why carry around all those store discount cards when one of your un-goals is to stop spending without a budget. Basically in my brain that means friends don't let friends spend without a plan. Don't need the cards if I'm not going to the store. So, right now, all I have in my wallet is my driver's license, insurance card, work ID, handy-dandy library card (proof this girl's on a budget AND she loves books), flex account card, debit card, medical & dental (got kids, must carry 24/7) cards, tip card, and gas card (Marc's gives 10 cents off per gallon at Speedway).

About the only additional thing I could purge would be the tip card. I used to wait tables, so somehow this means I MUST be accurate when tipping. Folks, I hope you all know to tip in hard cold CASH...neva eva charge a tip. It takes a few days for the charge/debit to run through, which means the service worker waits on the payment to come through. It seems ironic that the person I pay to do a job quickly has to wait to be paid for doing the job. So use cash...aren't we here to make life easier for each other?

So, what's in your wallet?

Ugly voices

Rachael Ray - Calm down! It's just a meal!

Suze Orman - Smart as heck, but oh, the sound of nails on a chalkboard!

Dubya - do I hafta 'splain?

The sassy chick from 227...Jackee Harry

Charlie Brown - he sounds like he wants his ass kicked!

Victor from Young and the Restless - Is that an accent? Where's he from?

People I don't know who call me at home and don't identify themselves - I hate talking on the phone!

What's wrong with me?

I'm gonna tag this entry, 'reasons why I'm going to hell' cuz nothing good can come from this. I don't know how or why these thoughts come to me, but they just do. Right outta nowhere. Like Merlin Mann's List of 5s. I'm not ready to commit to a numbered list like he does, cuz what happens if I have more or less? I'll feel too pressured..don't need that. K. So...

• Why does Marlee Matlin have such big ears?

• Why don't Hollywood stars have to have talent anymore? When did it become optional?

• Is drooling a bad thing? I mean, is there a cure?

• I really hate minivan drivers. I'm supposed to stop just cuz ur late? You all suck. So what you ran out of hamburger helper and junior is late to his playdate. Hang up and drive.
  

• My ex-husband used to fix bikes. Does that mean I can get a job fixing bikes too?