My interpretation of a cat...

It's a good thing I'm going to work tomorrow. I haven't accomplished a darn thing all weekend long. I have been completely unmotivated, tired, an all-around lazy bum. It's shameful, really. I hope it's not going to be a habit. I feel like I've been sleeping my weekends away for weeks now. That has to stop. I have way too much to accomplish to be sleeping all weekend long. I'm hoping that with Jeff at school (reducing my need to wonder and worry about where he is and what he's doing) and work getting busy with the end of the fiscal year coming up (allowing me to be productive and to keep the days moving quickly), that my sleep patterns will level off. I'm also recommitting to taking my Reliv twice a day. That should help. And I have to make myself walk everyday. Only good things can come from that. In fact, I should go walking right now. I should get off my butt and walk for at least two miles. But I'm already in my PJ's. Actually, I'm still in my PJ's from last night. But it seems silly to change clothes now, so late in the day...right? See, that's what I'm talking about. With little to no effort (because that's about the speed I'm moving this weekend), I quickly rationalized with myself to take the lazy way out. Really...shameful! As if I needed another reason to NOT go walking, I'm afraid that increasing my endorphin levels will only prove to keep me awake tonight. And I definitely want to get a good night's sleep. In fact, I'm already negotiating when to take my Melatonin. I'll walk tomorrow. After I work. Work, then walking. I'll be productive all day tomorrow. : )

48 Hours

Jeff called me today. Several times apparently. I slept much of the day and missed the two messages he left on my cell phone and the one message he left on my answering machine. I haven't checked my voicemail at work yet, but it's possible he left a message there too.

When he was here, I NEVER heard from him. He's been gone all of 48 hours and I already have three messages from him. Go figure! At any rate, I returned his call.

First, he wanted to tell me that he's LOVING college. I was so glad to hear that. His roommates are cool. He and Gage have stocked the fridge and should be good on food for weeks. (uh-huh, yeah right...lol) They've met so many kids and he says that everyone in their lodge is so cool. I'm thrilled that he's settling in so well.

Let's hope the same is true once he actually starts classes.

Second, he asked for money. I knew it would happen. And I was kind of betting with myself how long it would be before he asked. Now I know...about 48 hours. I asked him if this was going to be a regular occurrence. He promised it would just be the first week. I just had to smile.

He mentioned that they went to a fraternity party. Great, his first fraternity party. He was really impressed with a lot of the guys he met there and the networking they do. So, he's considering pledging. Pi Kappa Alpha, I think. But don't hold me to that. It's not a fraternity house; these kids still live in the dorms. So, it's more like a club that meets weekly, helps each other out in and out of school, and does good things for the campus and the community. Jeff was really stoked about it. The best part to me? He has to maintain a specific GPA in order to be a member of the fraternity. I like that!

He said he's going to call me again Monday night to let me know how his first day of classes went. Monday and Wednesday are LONG days for him. Four classes, the first one starting at 8am; the last one ending at 7:15pm. Tuesday, he has NOTHING. Thursday, he only has his Chem lab all afternoon. Friday, he only has an hour and 15 minutes of Chemistry.

I have to say, I always enjoyed school. But of all the classes that I took, I liked my science classes the least...outside of my computer classes. Biology was okay, I guess. But I struggled with Chem I; I practically failed Chem II. I haven't taken a natural sciences class since my junior year in high school. Jeff, on the other hand, has Chemistry four out of five days a week for his first semester of college. Yuck! Better him than me, that's all I have to say!

HOME ALONE!

So, I dropped Jeff off at college today. Okay, I didn't just drop him off. We drove an hour and a half, moved everything from the car to the dorm room, unpacked him and made his bed, purchased more than $500 worth of books, and went to dinner.

THEN I LEFT HIM THERE!

He gave me a hug. I held him awhile. But no tears.

Really, we were both ready for this transition. And it's not like this is the first time he's been away from me. He's been traveling back and forth between my home and his father's home for 17 years. In fact, he lived with his dad for two years during his sophomore and junior years in high school. I totally had a meltdown when he left then. But this time, not so much.

Not at all, actually.

Quote of the Day

While explaining the no-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, the Grove Lodge 2nd floor CA (community assistant), a student named Doug said:

"If you get caught with drugs, the result of your disciplinary hearing is that you WILL get kicked off campus. So, don't bring them here."

I immediately responded...loud enough for everyone to hear... "Don't DO them at all!"

I'm pretty sure his message wasn't, "Leave your drugs off campus." And I felt compelled to make that point out loud.

Credits

Speaking of things I don't really understand...

Why does the entertainment industry insist on listing everyone even remotely involved in the making of a movie or television program, even a sportscast, at the end of the show? Is there any other industry that does anything like that? I can't think of any. The rest of us don't really feel the need to do that.

For instance...and I could choose something ordinary that the average person does as an example. But instead, just to drive my point home, I'm going to choose something amazing...like brain surgery.

So, there you are, lying on a gurney in Recovery, slowly making your way to consciousness, when you're presented with a list of all the people who should be given credit for your surgery.

Hmmm, would they be listed in order of appearance or by the importance of their role (aka, the size of their paycheck)? Either way. Don't worry, they'll all be listed.

The surgeon (or surgeons, depending on the seriousness of your problem), the anesthesiologist, the nurses (scrub, surgical, etc.). The person who admitted you and probably even the person who will release you...and they haven't even done their job yet. The person who washed and folded those really warm blankets, the person who mopped the floors, the person who sterilized the surgical instruments. Oh, all those people down the hall that are preparing the meals, not only for you, but for the hospital staff that's operating on you. And we can't forget the people in the front office who hired everyone else, even the people who selected, purchased, and provided the scrubs. Heck, they might even give you a list of the music that was played during your surgery.

But that doesn't happen. You'll get a list of charges. It might even be itemized. It'll probably reference a name or two. But nothing like what they do in Hollywood.

Now, let's compare the services provided.
The surgeons might possibly have saved a life. Hollywood likely didn't.
The surgical staff combined was probably educated for a couple dozen years or more. Hollywood likely wasn't.
In exchange for 'the credits', the hospital staff does receive a paycheck. Then again, so do all those Hollywood types.
Several of those performing medical procedures have to have certifications and degrees. Not nearly as many (if any) can say the same thing on the entertainment side.

The only thing that I think Hollywood has over the surgical staff is that their product will be seen by a heck of a lot more people. One movie, millions of people. Maybe that's why they get paid so well. Maybe that's why they deserve for their names to be displayed (sometimes twice) for every playing of every movie or television show they ever took part in.

But much like the whole hairspray thing, I just don't get it.

Hairspray

I got my hair cut again on Saturday. Shorter even than my short haircut just a few short weeks ago. Short, short, short. And I like it!

I got it washed and conditioned, trimmed and textured, dried and styled. She finished off the whole event by giving me what felt like a helmet of hairspray.

Do people still use hairspray? I couldn't tell you the last time I even owned a can of hairspray. Granted, I may be a bad example. I mean, I know I'm not much of a fashion plate. I rarely put more time into styling my hair than it takes to wash it. But still, the average woman...does she use hairspray anymore?

I'll bet they do for weddings and proms and pageants. But that's only half a dozen days in an entire woman's life. (Thank God!)

I like to run my fingers through my hair way too much to warrant putting hairspray on it (or is it "in it"? ...whatever). Saturday, I'd go to run my fingers through my hair and they literally got tangled up in my very short hair. How can that be? I'll tell you how...HAIRSPRAY!

My hair was much too short to go too far astray. Yet apparently this young stylist felt it necessary to glue my hair in place. I just don't get it. I couldn't wait to get home and finally wash it.

Today, my hair looks very much like it did Saturday morning. Only today, absolutely no trace of hairspray!

Happiness is...

- wrapping yourself in a warm blanket right out of the dryer
- a full tank of gas
- finding a $20 bill you thought you'd already spent
- no flashing red light on your phone (voicemail)
- hearing your favorite song on the radio on the way to work
- getting a hug from your child...because he needed it
- a hard day's work
- a good night's sleep
- reading a great book
- hearing your children laugh
- laughing so hard that you cry
- sleeping in
- your cat curling up in your lap
- seeing an old friend
- someone holding the elevator for you when you're running late
- no line at the girls' bathroom
- a good hair day
- a bowl of ice cream

- air-conditioning

- a new pair of shoes...ON SALE!

- fitting into your skinny jeans

- snow days

- a nice, long, hot bath

- the smell of burning leaves

- driving with the windows down

A little of this, a little of that

I haven't been sleeping well this week. That is not unusual for me. But by the end of the week, like today, I really start to feel the ramifications of sleep-deprivation. All day long I have imagined curling up in my bed. Unfortunately for me, as soon as I leave the office, I'll be blissfully anticipating bedtime. That's not a good thing when I have a 17 mile commute ahead me. So, once I force my eyes open for the duration of the trip home, my plan is to mow the ditch side of my house (the pain in the butt that I've put off the last two nights). Then I'll cool off with some Linus time, make myself pasta for dinner, and have a glass of wine. Wine ALWAYS puts me to sleep. Begs the question, why don't I simply drink a glass of wine EVERY night? Hmmm, good question. Perhaps I should do just that. Tonight, I intend to sleep VERY well...for at least eight hours.

I got a new PC at work yesterday. The excitement of getting a brand-new computer system that's shiny and fast is always tempered by the frustrating process of transitioning from the old to the new. You have to pull all of the data off the old machine and get it to the correct place on the new machine. You have to ensure the new machine has all the programs that you need to do your job. If not, you have to make arrangements to get those installed. You have to be able to connect to every online application and database that you used to connect to. You have to recreate your short-cuts and favorites and all those configuration settings that make it more convenient to do your job. Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Long story, short...it took me nearly all day just to get access to my email! But after a bit of frustration, I think I'm up and running now.

Okay, so I drank my Reliv shakes religiously the first week. And I was feeling pretty good. This week, I haven't had the first one. Why not? Uhhh, I really don't have a good answer for that one. I'll work on it. I also have been really slacking on my walking lately. But last night and the night before, I got in pretty good cardio workouts just mowing the lawn. I don't have much more to mow tonight in order to finish, but it will be a bit of a workout. That's three days in a row of physical exertion. That's so much better than the three days prior.

I am now half way through Deuteronomy. I'm nearly done reading the Pentateuch. WooHoo! Slowly making my way through the Old Testament.

OH! And I ran over a snake while I was mowing last night. He (I'm assuming it was male by the look on his face) was only about 12-15" long, skinny, and black with red markings. At first I thought it was just another stick that fell from one of the trees during the last bit of wind. But when he jumped up as I ran over his back end, I had to jump back. I was freaked out a little bit. But I didn't let that stop me from mowing. I think the mower did a bit of damage to him...though not enough to kill the thing. But I kept an eye on him as I finished up the back yard.


I just re-read this post. I used the word BIT often. Do I always do that?

Don't limit yourself.

Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve. -- Mary Kay Ash

What would this world be like if we all dreamed big? What would this world be like if we all acted on those dreams? Could you imagine. We'd be living on the moon and driving flying cars.

Let's take this down a notch or two. Think of one dream you have. Just one. You want to lose 25 pounds or you want to write a book. You want to be debt-free or run a marathon. Now take that dream and (if it's not already big enough), biggie-size it. So, now you're losing 75 pounds or writing a whole series of books. You're debt-free, have a huge savings, AND your dream home or you're running four marathons a year.

What would you need to do to make that dream happen? Not the first one...we'll call that the intermediary one...but the BIG one. If you made it your #1 goal and put energy into it every day, do you think you could meet that goal?

Your mind believes what you tell it. If you keep saying, "I have a horrible memory." Guess what. You're helping to make it more and more true with every utterance. Tell yourself that you have a GREAT memory. If you keep telling yourself that you'll never lose that last ten pounds, you're right! You won't. You will believe that you can't do it and so you never will. Change your talk and you change your beliefs. Change your beliefs and you'll see results.

Train your mind to speak positively. And then repeat those encouraging words often. Write them down if you have to. Post them where you can see them. Just keep telling yourself that you are taking positive steps towards your goal and you won't stop until you reach your dream.

"I walk three miles every day. I look forward to it all day long. I love to walk and hate it when I miss an opportunity to get some exercise and fresh air. I can see and feel the benefits to my body. In no time, I'll be a size 10 again!"

It's happening again...

So much to talk about, can't choose a topic.
I could write half a dozen posts with appropriate titles on each one. Or I could just write one post with a fairly generic title.
I chose the latter.
Speaking of, do you know when you use 'latter' and when to use 'former'? Those English Grammar rules always came pretty easily to me. I can't remember exactly when I learned this one, but it's another one of those things I never forgot. So, here's the rule... When listing two different choices like THIS and THAT, THAT is the latter and THIS is the former. The Latter is always the Last one listed. The Former is always the First one listed. See what I did there? Latter - Last. Former - First. My grammar teachers would be so proud of me for remembering that...and correctly using it.
Have you ever heard of Reliv? I never had until my cousin Amy called me last week. I ended up attending an information session about it at her home last Thursday. Honestly, it didn't matter to me what the 'professionals' said to me during that session. I was ready to commit to trying it based solely on Amy's sales pitch. Reliv is a nutritional supplement, combining a wide range of powerful nutrients in precise arrangements, allowing them to strengthen one another and provide greater health benefits than they would individually.
I don't want to get into the details of Amy's health, but when she described to me all the improvements she was feeling just after a few weeks of taking these supplements, I was amazed. She knows that I have aches and pains, that I don't sleep well and that I'm tired all the time, and that I want (and need!) to lose weight. What she probably didn't know was that I don't eat all that well and I don't take very good care of myself. Anyway, she asked me to try these products. So, I am. And I'm looking forward to realizing some of the same benefits that Amy has. It's only been a few days, but I'll keep you posted.
I paid the balance owed for my cruise in February. WooHoo! Six months away! Between work and MK, football and Christmas shopping, I'm sure the time will fly!
My son just called me. He left my house at 11pm Monday to hang with the guys at the high school. To the best of my knowledge, he hasn't been home since then. He didn't say anything Monday night about not coming home. The only thing I got from him Tuesday was a text message around 6pm about being in W'ton with friends (I don't know which friends). He finished the message by saying he'd call back later. Again, he gave me no indication that he wasn't coming home. Nor did he call back later. Well, not until 20 HOURS later. When he called (just after 2pm), he said he just woke up. I didn't ask him where he was. Probably should have.
We just had this discussion a few weeks ago when he was gone for more than a day, about how he owes me the consideration of a phone call when he's going to be gone so long (or not come home at all) just so I don't worry. Apparently he doesn't remember that conversation or doesn't care if I worry about him. But get this! The only reason he called me this afternoon was to ask me if I cared if he spent a few days in Evansville with friends. (I don't know which friends.) I was shocked that he even asked! But I told him I still wanted to know where he'd been the last 48 hours and why he didn't think to call and tell me he wasn't coming home. His only argument was that he sent a text message...to which I replied...and he ignored. I told him that I was done caring where he went. What I WANTED to say was, "Please, GO! And don't worry about coming back. I'm changing the locks." But I wimped out. And he just crawls in through a window anyway.
I wonder how long he really plans to be gone. I wonder if he remembers that he has two doctor's appointments Friday. I wonder if I'm obligated to remind him. Hmmm, I don't even know how I'd get in touch with him to do that reminding anyway. Well, that answers that question.