Well, as I mentioned earlier, I was introduced to someone by a coworker. He is super nice, and not too hard on the eyes either. There are some complications though.
Complication #1 - He is divorced. This isn't really a big deal, except that it wasn't amicable, and there is no guarantee that she is o.k. with him dating. I certainly don't want to make life difficult for him, which she has the power to do, all because of Complication #2.
Complication #2 - They were blessed with 4 kids while they were married. That is some heavy baggage, and none that I want to take on right now. Plus, 3 of the 4 are girls, and I am not sure how they would feel about their daddy dating. I have a feeling that could be a very sensitive subject.
At this point, we have decided to be just friends. We plan to hang out and get to know each other, which is great. I really enjoy his company, and we get along really well. All I am hoping for is a great friend out of the deal, and with the place that I am at in my life, that is really all I need right now.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
It's Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all! I hope everyone's day was as great as mine. It was pretty relaxed, and not very stressful at all. Much different than usual.
We started the day with a trip to church for mass, which was beautiful and crowded. The whole family attended, including Sister B's boyfriend. It was really nice to have everyone together.
After that, we headed to Grommie's for lunch and presents with her. All of the aunts and uncles were there, and we all had a good visit, and good food. Instead of the typical Christmas dinner, we had ribeyes and baked potates. I think we were all thankful for a change in the menu. Then we had all of the usual desserts and sweet stuff, although I avoided most of them like the plague.
We returned home late in the evening. After unwinding a little and getting comfortable, we decided it was time to see what Santa had brought for all of us. We got all kinds of good stuff! It was a really great holiday, and being surrounded by family and no stress made it even better, in my opinion.
Oh, I also got a couple of texts on Christmas from a special someone. Very unexpected, but nice. More to come about him.
We started the day with a trip to church for mass, which was beautiful and crowded. The whole family attended, including Sister B's boyfriend. It was really nice to have everyone together.
After that, we headed to Grommie's for lunch and presents with her. All of the aunts and uncles were there, and we all had a good visit, and good food. Instead of the typical Christmas dinner, we had ribeyes and baked potates. I think we were all thankful for a change in the menu. Then we had all of the usual desserts and sweet stuff, although I avoided most of them like the plague.
We returned home late in the evening. After unwinding a little and getting comfortable, we decided it was time to see what Santa had brought for all of us. We got all kinds of good stuff! It was a really great holiday, and being surrounded by family and no stress made it even better, in my opinion.
Oh, I also got a couple of texts on Christmas from a special someone. Very unexpected, but nice. More to come about him.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas Eve!
Well, it wasn't quite Christmas yet, but when there are several families to visit, it gets spread across days.
Our Christmas eve was a little different this year than it has been in the past. Instead of a party that ran late into the night at my grandpa's, we met early and got G-momma out of the nursing home for a little while. She really enjoyed being at home, even if it was just a short time.
After she was deposited back in her bed for the evening, we cleaned up my grandpa's house and relocated our half of the party. None of us were ready to call it a night yet, so my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandpa packed up and headed for our house. We broke out the dominoes and got a game of 42 going. My cousins brought Apples to Apples and got some people in on that action. It was really nice to have the evening to focus on family and enjoying each other's company.
I also got a surprise text from someone special. I got introduced to a person by a coworker, and he is a really great person. We started texting right before Christmas, but I didn't expect to hear from him on Christmas eve. More about him in the future. ;)
Our Christmas eve was a little different this year than it has been in the past. Instead of a party that ran late into the night at my grandpa's, we met early and got G-momma out of the nursing home for a little while. She really enjoyed being at home, even if it was just a short time.
After she was deposited back in her bed for the evening, we cleaned up my grandpa's house and relocated our half of the party. None of us were ready to call it a night yet, so my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandpa packed up and headed for our house. We broke out the dominoes and got a game of 42 going. My cousins brought Apples to Apples and got some people in on that action. It was really nice to have the evening to focus on family and enjoying each other's company.
I also got a surprise text from someone special. I got introduced to a person by a coworker, and he is a really great person. We started texting right before Christmas, but I didn't expect to hear from him on Christmas eve. More about him in the future. ;)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
An Early Christmas Dinner
I work in the environmental department at a large company in a neighboring town. One thing I learned quickly when I went to work there two years ago was that we eat. Give us any excuse, and we will plan quite a meal. Even monthly birthday parties are reason enough to have a huge homemade cake, courtesy of Cake Lady J. She makes some amazing cakes, too!
Today, we had the great occassion of Christmas dinner. Everyone brought amazing foods, and we all gathered together for some great fellowship. We enjoyed smoked turkey, ham, homemade dressing, sweet potato casserole, homemade gravy, and the list goes on and on. I provided green bean casserole, and got some really nice compliments.
I can't leave out the dessert table though. Cake Lady J made her famous red velvet cake with heavenly icing. We also had pies, and a blueberry thing, and a chocolate layered pie thing. It was all SO great!
I work with an awesome group of people. We said grace before anyone ate, and we all shared some great stories and experiences. I can't imagine working with a greater group of people! Even the GMO and his right-hand lady joined us. It was really a great start to the Christmas holiday for me. It may have been just what I needed to get me past this funk I have been in lately.
Today, we had the great occassion of Christmas dinner. Everyone brought amazing foods, and we all gathered together for some great fellowship. We enjoyed smoked turkey, ham, homemade dressing, sweet potato casserole, homemade gravy, and the list goes on and on. I provided green bean casserole, and got some really nice compliments.
I can't leave out the dessert table though. Cake Lady J made her famous red velvet cake with heavenly icing. We also had pies, and a blueberry thing, and a chocolate layered pie thing. It was all SO great!
I work with an awesome group of people. We said grace before anyone ate, and we all shared some great stories and experiences. I can't imagine working with a greater group of people! Even the GMO and his right-hand lady joined us. It was really a great start to the Christmas holiday for me. It may have been just what I needed to get me past this funk I have been in lately.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Well, my 1001 days (officially) started on December 1. I have updated my list, since I kicked off with a trip to Vegas. There is a picture for proof (our hotel, New York, New York), but I will post about the whole trip soon.
Travel & Adventure
1.Skydive.
2.Visit Europe.
3.Visit Australia.
4.Visit Tennessee or Colorado for a music festival.
5.Get a passport.
6.See the turning of the leaves in Connecticut or Vermont – somewhere with fall foliage.
7.Go skiing at least once.
8.Spend a weekend in NYC.
9.Spend a weekend in Las Vegas. We just got back from a 4-day trip. It was AMAZING! Exactly what I needed.
10.Take a train ride.
11.Go to the East Coast.
12.Take a North East city tour; Boston, Philly, DC etc.
13.Go ice skating at least once.
14.Visit an amusement park (0/3).
15.Go to the zoo at least once.
16.Visit 5 museums (0/5).
17.Do a Plantation Tour and stay at one of the (hopefully haunted) plantations.
18.Go to Branson, MO.
19.Go to the Renaissance Festival in costume.
For Me
20.Buy a new camera. Got one for Christmas, courtesy of little sis B.
21.Move into my own place.
22.Find at least one personal moment of happiness every day for 1001 days (6/1001).
23.Go on a picnic.
24.Have a spa day.
25.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) rainy days in bed (0/2).
26.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) sunny days outside (0/2).
27.Create a recipe book.
28.Organize and update my address book.
29.Get a pedicure once a month (0/33).
30.Save all my change during the 1001 days and buy myself something special after the list is complete.
31.Pick flowers.
32.Watch 26 movies you’ve never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet. Keep track of all of them.
33.Go to an IMAX movie.
34.Watch AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies (0/100).
35.Buy an SUV.
36.Get a facial.
37.Completely color a coloring book.
38.Don’t bite my nails for 60 days (0/60).
39.Buy a teapot and master the art of making tea.
For the Better Good
40.Plant a garden.
41.Volunteer at an animal shelter.
42.Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
43.Donate 250,000 grains of rice through freerice.com (2220/250,000).
44.Help 10 strangers (1/10).
45.Adopt a soldier with Soldiers’ Angels.
46.Tip 100% to an exceptional server.
47.Donate clothes every 6 months (0/5).
48.Reduce my energy consumption by replacing bulbs and using shut off powerstrips.
49.Plan meals for a week (0/10).
Health & Fitness
50.Buy a bicycle.
51.Take a vitamin every day for 30 days (0/30).
52.No fast food for 30 days (0/30).
53.Exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks (0/24).
54.Stop eating past 8:30pm for 3 weeks (0/21).
55.Try yoga.
56.Get a massage once a month (0/33).
57.Try a body cleanse.
Personal Growth
58.Organize my digital photo albums and back up my external hard drive.
59.Complete a 1,000 piece puzzle.
60.Say “yes” when I’d rather say “no” 10 times (0/10).
61.Pray daily for a month.
62.Say “no” when I want to say “no” 5 times (0/5).
63.Take a cooking & baking class.
64.Go to a shooting range.
65.Learn how to say “thank you” in 10 different languages (0/10).
66.Go to sleep no later than 10:30pm for one straight work week (0/5).
67.Go to bed no later than 9:30 to read once a week for 10 weeks. (0/10).
68.Get in touch with someone that I have lost touch with.
69.Participate in a 26 Things Challenge.
70.Complete a half marathon.
71.Complete a full marathon.
72.Try a new recipe every month (0/33).
73.Complete the “100 novels everyone should read list” (15/100).
74.Read 30 books that are not on the “should read” list (0/30).
75.Complete 5 sh1ft.org projects (0/5).
76.Eat food from home for a month, with one cheat meal per week.
77.Complete the 5,000 question survey on livejournal.com
78.Make a map to document all the places I travel.
79.Go without TV for a week.
80.Learn to crochet.
81.Laugh daily (5/1001).
Friends & Family
82.Spend more time with my family in general (stress-free time that is).
83.Take more family photos, and organize them all.
84.Book a girl-only vacation.
Finances/Business
85.Pay off all of my credit card debt.
86.Pay off all of my student loan.
87.Start an “under the mattress” savings account.
88.Build up six months of savings.
89.Have a garage sale to clear out the clutter.
Seasonal
90.Each fall go pumpkin picking (0/2).
91.Visit a haunted house for Halloween (0/2).
92.Every summer go tubing.
93.Each winter have the Christmas tree up before December 1.
94.Each spring spend an entire afternoon at the beach (0/3).
95.Each spring plant flowers (0/3).
96.Each summer go swimming at least twice (0/3).
For the List
97.Create a blog about list progress and life.
98.Write in the blog weekly (1/136).
99.Have a drink to celebrate day 1001!
100.Donate $5 to the Caring Bridge for every goal not met.
101.Donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every goal met.
Monday, November 16, 2009
101 in 1001
I am sure many of you have heard of this project. I checked it out a couple of months ago, but didn't think that it would fit in my life at that time. Now, I think I could benefit from the overall goal setting that this requires.
The website, www.dayzeroproject.com, is now accepting more listmakers. I have included that information on the project below, along with my list. Hopefully it will be inspirational to someone.
About The Project
Welcome to Day Zero, the home of the 1001 Day Project. A unique challenge that inspires you to set and achieve your personal goals in life.
The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.
Travel & Adventure
1.Skydive.
2.Visit Europe.
3.Visit Australia.
4.Visit Tennessee or Colorado for a music festival.
5.Get a passport.
6.See the turning of the leaves in Connecticut or Vermont – somewhere with fall foliage.
7.Go skiing at least once.
8.Spend a weekend in NYC.
9.Spend a weekend in Las Vegas.
10.Take a train ride.
11.Go to the East Coast.
12.Take a North East city tour; Boston, Philly, DC etc.
13.Go ice skating at least once.
14.Visit an amusement park (0/3).
15.Go to the zoo at least once.
16.Visit 5 museums (0/5).
17.Do a Plantation Tour and stay at one of the (hopefully haunted) plantations.
18.Go to Branson, MO.
19.Go to the Renaissance Festival in costume.
For Me
20.Buy a new camera.
21.Move into my own place.
22.Find at least one personal moment of happiness every day for 1001 days (0/1001).
23.Go on a picnic.
24.Have a spa day.
25.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) rainy days in bed (0/2).
26.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) sunny days outside (0/2).
27.Create a recipe book.
28.Organize and update my address book.
29.Get a pedicure once a month (0/33).
30.Save all my change during the 1001 days and buy myself something special after the list is complete.
31.Pick flowers.
32.Watch 26 movies you’ve never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet. Keep track of all of them.
33.Go to an IMAX movie.
34.Watch AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies (0/100).
35.Buy an SUV.
36.Get a facial.
37.Completely color a coloring book.
38.Don’t bite my nails for 60 days (0/60).
39.Buy a teapot and master the art of making tea.
For the Better Good
40.Plant a garden.
41.Volunteer at an animal shelter.
42.Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
43.Donate 250,000 grains of rice through freerice.com (2220/250,000).
44.Help 10 strangers (0/10).
45.Adopt a soldier with Soldiers’ Angels.
46.Tip 100% to an exceptional server.
47.Donate clothes every 6 months (0/5).
48.Reduce my energy consumption by replacing bulbs and using shut off powerstrips.
49.Plan meals for a week (0/10).
Health & Fitness
50.Buy a bicycle.
51.Take a vitamin every day for 30 days (0/30).
52.No fast food for 30 days (0/30).
53.Exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks (0/24).
54.Stop eating past 8:30pm for 3 weeks (0/21).
55.Try yoga.
56.Get a massage once a month (0/33).
57.Try a body cleanse.
Personal Growth
58.Organize my digital photo albums and back up my external hard drive.
59.Complete a 1,000 piece puzzle.
60.Say “yes” when I’d rather say “no” 10 times (0/10).
61.Pray daily for a month.
62.Say “no” when I want to say “no” 5 times (0/5).
63.Take a cooking & baking class.
64.Go to a shooting range.
65.Learn how to say “thank you” in 10 different languages (0/10).
66.Go to sleep no later than 10:30pm for one straight work week (0/5).
67.Go to bed no later than 9:30 to read once a week for 10 weeks. (0/10).
68.Get in touch with someone that I have lost touch with.
69.Participate in a 26 Things Challenge.
70.Complete a half marathon.
71.Complete a full marathon.
72.Try a new recipe every month (0/33).
73.Complete the “100 novels everyone should read list” (15/100).
74.Read 30 books that are not on the “should read” list (0/30).
75.Complete 5 sh1ft.org projects (0/5).
76.Eat food from home for a month, with one cheat meal per week.
77.Complete the 5,000 question survey on livejournal.com
78.Make a map to document all the places I travel.
79.Go without TV for a week.
80.Learn to crochet.
81.Laugh daily (0/1001).
Friends & Family
82.Spend more time with my family in general (stress-free time that is).
83.Take more family photos, and organize them all.
84.Book a girl-only vacation.
Finances/Business
85.Pay off all of my credit card debt.
86.Pay off all of my student loan.
87.Start an “under the mattress” savings account.
88.Build up six months of savings.
89.Have a garage sale to clear out the clutter.
Seasonal
90.Each fall go pumpkin picking (0/2).
91.Visit a haunted house for Halloween (0/2).
92.Every summer go tubing.
93.Each winter have the Christmas tree up before December 1.
94.Each spring spend an entire afternoon at the beach (0/3).
95.Each spring plant flowers (0/3).
96.Each summer go swimming at least twice (0/3).
For the List
97.Create a blog about list progress and life.
98.Write in the blog weekly (0/136).
99.Have a drink to celebrate day 1001!
100.Donate $5 to the Caring Bridge for every goal not met.
101.Donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every goal met.
The website, www.dayzeroproject.com, is now accepting more listmakers. I have included that information on the project below, along with my list. Hopefully it will be inspirational to someone.
About The Project
Welcome to Day Zero, the home of the 1001 Day Project. A unique challenge that inspires you to set and achieve your personal goals in life.
The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.
Travel & Adventure
1.Skydive.
2.Visit Europe.
3.Visit Australia.
4.Visit Tennessee or Colorado for a music festival.
5.Get a passport.
6.See the turning of the leaves in Connecticut or Vermont – somewhere with fall foliage.
7.Go skiing at least once.
8.Spend a weekend in NYC.
9.Spend a weekend in Las Vegas.
10.Take a train ride.
11.Go to the East Coast.
12.Take a North East city tour; Boston, Philly, DC etc.
13.Go ice skating at least once.
14.Visit an amusement park (0/3).
15.Go to the zoo at least once.
16.Visit 5 museums (0/5).
17.Do a Plantation Tour and stay at one of the (hopefully haunted) plantations.
18.Go to Branson, MO.
19.Go to the Renaissance Festival in costume.
For Me
20.Buy a new camera.
21.Move into my own place.
22.Find at least one personal moment of happiness every day for 1001 days (0/1001).
23.Go on a picnic.
24.Have a spa day.
25.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) rainy days in bed (0/2).
26.Spend 2 entire (non-consecutive) sunny days outside (0/2).
27.Create a recipe book.
28.Organize and update my address book.
29.Get a pedicure once a month (0/33).
30.Save all my change during the 1001 days and buy myself something special after the list is complete.
31.Pick flowers.
32.Watch 26 movies you’ve never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet. Keep track of all of them.
33.Go to an IMAX movie.
34.Watch AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies (0/100).
35.Buy an SUV.
36.Get a facial.
37.Completely color a coloring book.
38.Don’t bite my nails for 60 days (0/60).
39.Buy a teapot and master the art of making tea.
For the Better Good
40.Plant a garden.
41.Volunteer at an animal shelter.
42.Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
43.Donate 250,000 grains of rice through freerice.com (2220/250,000).
44.Help 10 strangers (0/10).
45.Adopt a soldier with Soldiers’ Angels.
46.Tip 100% to an exceptional server.
47.Donate clothes every 6 months (0/5).
48.Reduce my energy consumption by replacing bulbs and using shut off powerstrips.
49.Plan meals for a week (0/10).
Health & Fitness
50.Buy a bicycle.
51.Take a vitamin every day for 30 days (0/30).
52.No fast food for 30 days (0/30).
53.Exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks (0/24).
54.Stop eating past 8:30pm for 3 weeks (0/21).
55.Try yoga.
56.Get a massage once a month (0/33).
57.Try a body cleanse.
Personal Growth
58.Organize my digital photo albums and back up my external hard drive.
59.Complete a 1,000 piece puzzle.
60.Say “yes” when I’d rather say “no” 10 times (0/10).
61.Pray daily for a month.
62.Say “no” when I want to say “no” 5 times (0/5).
63.Take a cooking & baking class.
64.Go to a shooting range.
65.Learn how to say “thank you” in 10 different languages (0/10).
66.Go to sleep no later than 10:30pm for one straight work week (0/5).
67.Go to bed no later than 9:30 to read once a week for 10 weeks. (0/10).
68.Get in touch with someone that I have lost touch with.
69.Participate in a 26 Things Challenge.
70.Complete a half marathon.
71.Complete a full marathon.
72.Try a new recipe every month (0/33).
73.Complete the “100 novels everyone should read list” (15/100).
74.Read 30 books that are not on the “should read” list (0/30).
75.Complete 5 sh1ft.org projects (0/5).
76.Eat food from home for a month, with one cheat meal per week.
77.Complete the 5,000 question survey on livejournal.com
78.Make a map to document all the places I travel.
79.Go without TV for a week.
80.Learn to crochet.
81.Laugh daily (0/1001).
Friends & Family
82.Spend more time with my family in general (stress-free time that is).
83.Take more family photos, and organize them all.
84.Book a girl-only vacation.
Finances/Business
85.Pay off all of my credit card debt.
86.Pay off all of my student loan.
87.Start an “under the mattress” savings account.
88.Build up six months of savings.
89.Have a garage sale to clear out the clutter.
Seasonal
90.Each fall go pumpkin picking (0/2).
91.Visit a haunted house for Halloween (0/2).
92.Every summer go tubing.
93.Each winter have the Christmas tree up before December 1.
94.Each spring spend an entire afternoon at the beach (0/3).
95.Each spring plant flowers (0/3).
96.Each summer go swimming at least twice (0/3).
For the List
97.Create a blog about list progress and life.
98.Write in the blog weekly (0/136).
99.Have a drink to celebrate day 1001!
100.Donate $5 to the Caring Bridge for every goal not met.
101.Donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every goal met.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Starting Over
In less than a month, I was supposed to walk down the aisle. In a crazy turn of events, I re-evauluated and realized that I couldn't do it. The head-over-heels can't-live-without-you feeling just wasn't there. I decided I couldn't put off the inevitable, even if it meant crushing the other person, a person who loved me beyond words. I just didn't feel the same way, and I couldn't start a marriage with these feelings, or lack of.
So last night I called it all off. He was devastated, of course, and really had no idea that I was having such serious doubts. I explained how I was feeling, he tried to change my mind, and in the end he got the ring back and I get to cancel vendors. I typed up a little notecard for our guests and put them in the mail this morning. Gifts will be packed up and sent back tomorrow.
Suprisingly, I am not as upset as I thought I would be. Don't get me wrong. I can't talk about it without crying, but I know I made the right choice for me. I am actually more concerned about the small town gossip that is going to travel like wildfire.
So last night I called it all off. He was devastated, of course, and really had no idea that I was having such serious doubts. I explained how I was feeling, he tried to change my mind, and in the end he got the ring back and I get to cancel vendors. I typed up a little notecard for our guests and put them in the mail this morning. Gifts will be packed up and sent back tomorrow.
Suprisingly, I am not as upset as I thought I would be. Don't get me wrong. I can't talk about it without crying, but I know I made the right choice for me. I am actually more concerned about the small town gossip that is going to travel like wildfire.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The First Day of the Rest of My Life
Welcome all who happen across my blog. I'm glad you made it here. I hope you like it so much that you check back in on me from time to time. I wasn't sure about starting one of these, but I created my 101 in 1001 list today, and starting a blog was on it, so here I am. I will blog about my full list once I have organized it.
There are many changes happing in my life right now. I'm sure they will come up in a later post. I feel like I am at the bottom of a hill at this point, and the only thing for me to do is start climbing. My biggest problem is that I want to climb straight up, and I am not sure that is possible. It may be a long winding road, with some hard lessons along the way, but what is life worth if there aren't any challenges along the way.
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