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March 31, 2004
Cherry Blossoms
I LOVE the Cherry Blossoms! Those lovely pink and white puffs just make me so happy. I wonder if I was a gardner in a past life...or maybe just Japanese!
I always say that fall is my favorite season...but this is a pretty great time of year as well. I find it so exciting to see how the landscape changes on a daily basis. Near my office (in D.C.) there is a brownstone that has been converted into a law office. The building has a little front yard, enclosed with a short, iron fence. The little patch of land is filled with the first signs of spring -- daffodils, jonquils, crocuses, tulips and the like. Each morning that little garden is changed from the night before. It almost makes me want to plant something. In fact, I can usually tell when I have caught the Spring bug when I have an urge to plant a vegetable garden. That urge last all of a day, just long enough for me to remember I don't like getting my hands dirty. :) So, instead I visit farmers markets and enjoy the spoils of other hard work.
I must say the changing seasons is also making exercise more pleasant. Not because I am going outside that much more, but being able to arrive home in the daylight, make dragging myself to the gym a little easier somehow. This is a very good thing.
Quote of the Day:
"April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory out of desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in a forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers."
-T. S. Eliot,
March 29, 2004
So much going on!
OK, let's start with Saturday. Mi Mama, Aunt E and I went to my grandpa's house to paint his kitchen. This is a part of an ongoing project on my Mi Mama's part to beautify my grandfather's home. Let's start by saying they live like pigs. Seriously. I can't even begin to tell you how filthy the kitchen floor was. ICKY ICK! With all the effort Mom has put in, cleaning, painting, clearing out the clutter and rearranging furniture, the place looks a million times better. The problem? They don't keep it up. Note I didn't sayd can't keep it up, but won't. Instead of maintaining their house on a regular basis (mopping the floor ONCE A MONTH would do a world of good here!) they nit pick at the work we do for them. Honestly, if I didn't think the end result was doing them good, I would have given up by now. Anyway, I spent most of Saturday cleaning and painting.
Sunday was much better.
Now...here come the fun part! der_flounder and I have been house shopping because he has been planning on buying a home this spring. 2 weeks ago we found out that a good family friend of mine was planning on selling their townhouse in Germantown and moving to the Harrisburg, PA area. A little lightbulb in my head went DING! Flounder grew up around Harrisburg, perhaps he could help them with their search, and Haha! wouldn't it be funny if he bought their house. Well believe it or not, that may be exactly what happens. The wheels are still in motion, but last night we sat down and seriously talked with them about the possiblity. SO it is all very exciting! A lot of details were ironed out last night and now we are on to the fun financing part. We expect to know for sure one way or another before the end of the week and I am totally on pins and needles!
Quote of the Day:
"Adversity is the first path to truth."
-George Gordon Byron, Don Juan
March 26, 2004
4:00 am
I woke up at 4:00 last night (or this morning if you prefer) feeling icky and couldn't get back to sleep. I tried laying in bed, sleepless for a bit then decided to move to the couch. There I picked up the new health food cookbook I just bought. It takes classic, favorite foods, and gives them a move healthy twist. Anyway, I started reading the nutritional information in the introduction and what did I realize? I treat my body like shit. I eat crap (dinner last night was Wendy's at 10:00!) and I don't take care of myself! I don't want to have diabetes at 40 or heart disease at 45. The truth is, I know what I have to do to take care of myself, I just don't want to do those things. I want to be a lump that eats Doritos.
Hear at work, I am feeling aggervated by the house hunting process, bored with my work and overwhelmed by the little things. I have a short to do list of items (both personal and work related) that I need to handle and am avoiding. Why, Why WHY? I drive myself crazy with this behavior. Ugh. So yeah, I am hating life just now. Hating it.
Lord, I hope I shake this mood. Now that I have shown my true crazy colors, I will sign off.
Quote of the Day:
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein
March 24, 2004
Not bad for a Tuesday
I started my day with a mug of Orange Blossom White Tea. Yum Yum Yummers! It is so lovely and delicate -- if expensive. I think next I will try the Honeysuckle White Tea.
At lunch Mi Mama and I went for our walk and it was the best one yet. my calves are still a bit tender, but my shins are much happier now. Whoo Hoo! Tack on to the lack of pain, the beautiful weather and the flowering trees in the neighborhood, and all is well. :)
I have realized here in the office, I have been putting off some long term and rather tedious projects. It's about time I get on that I think. I will go make a list.
Quote of the Day:
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
-Michelangelo
March 23, 2004
Home again, Home again, jigity jig!
I am back! Back home and back at work.
Good stuff:
1) The Storybook Family are wonderful people (even if I was reaching my limit of "wonderful" after 4 days in a van...).
2)
3) Destin FL is a great vacation town with gorgous beachs and amazing clear green water. This was especially great for a ocean lover like myself.
4) I made it through 9 straight days with my darling
5) I returned to work to find nothing had blown up in my absence. Whoo Hoo!
6) It is March in DC, but I have a healthy Florida Glow. :)
7) Before leaving for FL, I got a folding keyboard for my Palm. What a great little thing! Just today I have started using my Palm as my check register. I love that the program Money @ Hand does all the calculations for me!
Less Good Stuff:
1) By day 8 of our trip I had pretty much hit my togetherness limit. Spending over a week on my very best behavior is quite tiring! I fear I might have been a bit snippy. Eek!
2) I returned to discover that the police have decided to move forward on their case against my very innocent brother. There will be a hearing on April 8th and we expect they will charge him. All prayers will be very much appreciated.
3) MOUNTAIN OF LAUNDRY! How is it that despite all the load of laundry we did in Florida, I have a pile of dirty clothes? It is just so very wrong.
4) I am so jealous of
What of this week you ask? Well last night was spend dying my hair (another lovely shade of brown), unpacking, going to the grocery store, reading my new Oprah mag and watching my P&P DVD snuggled into my own bed. Tonight
Quote of the Day:
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
March 11, 2004
6 Beautiful Months
I am happy to say that
I have had 2 craptastic days. tough, long stressful work days. I need a vacation! Oh, wait -- LOOK! I am going on vacation next week! Thank GOD! Boy oh boy do I need it.
I wish I had something pithy and interesting to tell you, but let's face it. I'm spent.
Quote of the Day:
"Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty."
-Henri Frédéric Amiel, The Private Journal of Henri Frédéric Amiel
March 10, 2004
Temple
Thanks to 
cerisefleur for pointing out the flaws in my thinking (2 posts ago). I am going to try to put myself in the "my body is a temple" frame of mind as aposed to the "I just want to be thin" mindset.
In other news, it was snowing on my way into the office this morning. Just a little bit but still. Come on people. I have said it before and I will say it again -- March is the cruelest month.
Quote of the Day:
"As I was going up the stair
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd stay away."
-Hughes Mearns, The Psychoed
March 9, 2004
The good news
As Schindler's List is being released on DVD I am reminded of those differences that so often pull us apart and the strenghts that hold us together. Here is an example of both I think.
Hundreds help remove anti-Semitic graffiti
Posted by La at 1:48 PM | Comments (0)Motivation
My Mom always said I would lose weight when I wanted it bad enough.
An interesting idea.
There have been many times when I have said "I am not going to
<insert milestone or event here> fat." Graduate HS, Go to Hawaii,
spend 8 hours in a plane, Go to the beach, Start a new job...the list
goes on and on. Now I have new ones, I am not going to --
Get Married, Move in with my BF, Travel to Europe, Get pregnant
-- Fat.
So if these motivators don't get me going, what will? This is one of those
situaitons where wishing doe not make it so -- oh right, I guess that is
every situation.
I started out the year proclaiming that I would not attempt anymore drastic
life changes because they never stick. Thus far the NON-drastic changes
haven't been sticking either. I have started exercising more, so of course
I get shin splints and thus far only managed to get to the gym once a week.
I am drinking more water, but only in fits and starts. I am not eatting anymore
veggies than I used to. OK, now I guess I am just whining. I know I can get
big results from little changes...if I can only make them stick. That's the tough
part.
Quote of the Day:
"He conquers who endures."
-Persius
March 8, 2004
Where is Flounder's wallet?
Unfortunately, I the poor kid's wallet is in my purse. I am at work. As you can imagine, this is no good, no good at all. On the upside? I get to see my Baby in the middle of the day! Whoot.
This has actually been a tough 24 hours for the Storybook Children. Not only is
On that Note, a big thanks to Jords, not only for multipule meals this weekend, but for bestowing me with gifts from market. :) Goodie, goodie, goodie! :)
This week is going to be one of those geteverythingtogetherandtimeuploseendscosyourgoingonvacation weeks. Also Thursday marks 6 months with Flounder. Life is good.
Quote of the Day:
"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."
-Buddha
March 5, 2004
Friday
The good news is I am feeling better today. I have a positive attitude and am looking forward to the weekend. I realize of course that is is not yet 10:00 but thus far all seems to be well. Tomorrow I am doing my taxes with mi Mama (No Whammies! No Whammies!) and
Also, only one more week before vacation. Anyone have some good beach reading recommendations? I am interested.
Now for a bit of irreverance this Friday. I offer you SpamHaiku!
http://www.spamhaiku.com/spamhaiku/site/index.html
A sample:
Open the can Dad
What the hell do you call that?
Oh, so it's dinner?
Another:
Spam, wobbling like
the loose flesh of Grandma's chin,
quivers on my plate.
Now for the quote of the day:
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
T. S. Eliot
March 4, 2004
I don't multi-task well. It
I don't multi-task well. It just isn't how my mind works. What happens when I have to multi-task? I make mistakes. I over look little things -- which everyone does now and then, but being learning diabled and am specially prone to do. I miss stuff.
I just made one of those heart wrenching mistakes. One of those things that won't cost anyone business or money, but instead leave people disappointed and irrate. So of course I free like crap. Compound this with the rain, PMS and unhappy shin muscels and I am just a Bundle of Sunshine. Yessiree!
Quote of the Day:
"'He means well' is useless unless he does well."
-Plautus
March 3, 2004
Garrrr! Shin Splints!
I hate shin splints. I hate them like noneother. Sooo Painful. It's what I get for trying to be healthy. Walking with mom is painful. It must be pounding on the pavement and trying to walk too fast. The bright spot? At least the the ellyprical (wrong spelling again) machine doesn't hurt.
So now what? I slow down, and do really strange stretches.
Damn it.
Quote of the Day:
"Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished."
-Og Mandino
March 2, 2004
Amazing
And Amazing Story of a Mother using her Instincts
Posted by La at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)Looking forward
I spent a lot of time yesterday investigating my personal finances, running numbers and looking at budgets. I believe I actually have a scenario that will allow me to start going back to college part time, and wipe out my debt at the simultaniously. I am very excited. Hurrah!
In other news: not only did Mama and I walk at lunch yesterday, but
Tonight? Dusting and vacuuming my bedroom. Whoot!
Quote of the Day:
"The soul that is within me no man can degrade."
Frederick Douglas
March 1, 2004
Spring Tease
This weekend was SO BEAUTIFUL! It has been topping out in the 60's the last few days and lucky for us, it looks like we will have another week of this amazing weather. Hurrah! Just in time to help Mama and I jump start our new walking program. Starting today, we will walk 20-30 minutes at lunch everyday we can (shooting for at least 4 days a week). This will be a great addition to my trips to the gym. Thus far I have only managed to go once a week for the last two weeks. I have a trip scheduled for tonight. Keep your fingers crossed!
Quote of the Day:
"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
-Carl W. Buechner
