Where did you travel this year? What was your favorite part? If you didn’t get to travel, where do you want to go next year?
We had a pretty good travel year. In June, we celebrated Blair's graduation from Baylor by taking a family trip to Las Vegas. I love going to Vegas and I wish we could afford to go more often!
In a few days we are taking a trip to Orlando to go to Disney World and Universal with Jess and Terry. I am so excited to see the parks all decked out in Christmas decor. I am just as excited to go on a vacation with two of my dearest friends and celebrate not only our anniversaries, but their upcoming addition to their family!
I'm not sure if I can talk Ted into it, but if we can pay off the Florida trip in a timely manner, I would love to go to Hawaii or maybe even London next year.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
WEverb11 # 3 - Learn
What lesson did you learn in 2011 from “The School of Life” rather than a classroom?
You can't always get what you want. You have to have patience and trust that what you want will eventually happen.
You can't always get what you want. You have to have patience and trust that what you want will eventually happen.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
WEverb11 #2: Listen
What song did you listen to in 2011 to completely change your mood?
Think about ways you can you add more music to your life in 2012.
This is a tough question! I don't think I can pick one song, so I think I'm gonna pick a few:
When I wanted to rock out and get silly I loved LMFAO's new one "Sexy and I Know It" I dare you to listen to it and not get the giggles. It is fantastic to dance to in the car!
When I wanted to reflect, I loved to hear Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts". It isn't a new song, but one of our radio stations decided to play it at the beginning of the year. It reminds of me of a few people in my past and sometimes it is a good thing to reflect on why they are exactly that - in my past.
When I wanted to pretend to be ghetto-fabulous, there was nothing better than Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" (Even though I feel dirty about it. He is gross, no doubt about it, but damn can that boy put together a good collaboration and throw down an awesome beat)
When I wanted to think about my dear Ted, I was happy to hear the new Christina Perri song from the Twilight album "Thousand Years". Can we say cheesetastic?
For 2012 I want to get back to classical music. I'm listening to KUHA more, and I really want to make an effort to study the pieces the orchestra is performing. I really miss learning about music history and the interesting stories behind composers and their masterpieces.
This is a tough question! I don't think I can pick one song, so I think I'm gonna pick a few:
When I wanted to rock out and get silly I loved LMFAO's new one "Sexy and I Know It" I dare you to listen to it and not get the giggles. It is fantastic to dance to in the car!
When I wanted to reflect, I loved to hear Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts". It isn't a new song, but one of our radio stations decided to play it at the beginning of the year. It reminds of me of a few people in my past and sometimes it is a good thing to reflect on why they are exactly that - in my past.
When I wanted to pretend to be ghetto-fabulous, there was nothing better than Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" (Even though I feel dirty about it. He is gross, no doubt about it, but damn can that boy put together a good collaboration and throw down an awesome beat)
When I wanted to think about my dear Ted, I was happy to hear the new Christina Perri song from the Twilight album "Thousand Years". Can we say cheesetastic?
For 2012 I want to get back to classical music. I'm listening to KUHA more, and I really want to make an effort to study the pieces the orchestra is performing. I really miss learning about music history and the interesting stories behind composers and their masterpieces.
WEverb11 #1: Choose One Word
So I stumbled upon this idea through several of the blogs I have in my blogger dashboard, and I really like it. It is called WEverb11 and they give you prompt for every day in December to reflect on the year that is 2011 and you can utilize all the prompts or pick what you want. Here's more info on WEverb11 if you want to know more:
| Choose one word. Choose one word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why. Imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you? I must say my word is Stagnate. I hate that it is a negative word, I really, I really do. I began the year with such hopeful intention. There are certain things that I had hoped to achieve by now - in my personal life and in my professional life. I can't help but wonder where (and why) I stalled. Sure, some things I obviously have no control over and despite my best efforts have just not happened for me. For us. And that lack of development has been devastating in a way that really surprises me. Some things I had partial control of and I just didn't follow through. I thought I'd have mustered the willpower to finally finish my thesis, and here I am, basically in the same exact place I stopped in the last two thesis efforts. I did make some stride with my career, but after the past few weeks I wonder if there will honestly be more momentum to come. Again - I'm stagnate. One year from today I want my word to be Satisfied. Not happy...satisfied. I think I have many moments of happiness, but I really want 2012 to be about satisfying things that I put off for so long that I think about constantly. |
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Survey Time Excellent!
Let's take a survey so I don't say things I shouldn't, shall we?
If you woke up as the opposite sex, whats the first thing you would do?
Scratch my balls and pee standing up
Are you addicted to anything?
TV...I luuurrrvveee my TV
What do you see in a guy/girl?
I love a sense of humor and a guy who can be a bit of a nerd - basically all of Ted's qualities
Has an animal ever attacked you?
Yes! When I was a kid my neighbor's dog knocked me down and tried to bite me :(
When was the last time someone made you laugh really hard?
Jess this morning when she dubbed herself the hungry grinch. I may have snorted a little :)
Do you find piercings/tattoos attractive?
I don't like piercings. I could be ok with a tattoo or two
What's the weirdest thing you've ever licked?
hmmm I can't think of anything weird :(
When you wake up, what's the first thought that runs through your head?
"shit...already?"
Do you actually believe Alaska is covered in snow?
Parts of it probably
Are you ever purposely irritating?
No...maybe I need to be sometimes...
Would you ever play strip poker?
With Ted I would
If you could make someone disappear, who would it be?
So many options!!
Look behind you, what do you see?
My gorgeous curtains from Anthropologie.
What's your fav thing about the opposite sex?
Ted's smile :)
What's the most important thing to you?
1. Ted 2. Family (mostly immediate) 3. Friends 4. Career
What would you be doing right now if you were kicked off your computer?
Laundry and watching Revenge
How do you spend your weekends?
With Ted, Blair or my S'port girls. Or at work.
Who do you want to be with right now?
I want to continue to hang out with Ted and Sly. Or hang out with the S'port girls
Are you fun to hang with?
Yes I am fun to hang out with. At least certain people still think so.
What country would you love to visit?
Japan
What's on your mind right now?
avoiding the drama llamas
When was the last time you went to a good party?
Blair's birthday outing was kinda like a good party
Fav song?
Spiderwebs - No Doubt
Can you lick your elbow?
Nope...isn't that impossible?
If you jumped out your bedroom window right now, how injured would you be?
not very...my bedroom is downstairs
What would you do if your bf/gf cheated on you with your best friend?
I'd cut off his balls. J/k...or am I?
Do you like anyone you can't have?
no...I guess this is a survey for high school kids?
Do you dance even without music?
sometimes
Does anyone tease you cause of your name?
Kids made fun of my last name...which was a bit of a stretch...
What song is stuck in your head right now?
None
What's your darkest secret?
I don't really have one
What do you think is at the end of the rainbow?
Your mom
If a blind guy/girl started hitting on you, what would you do?
Somehow mention the wedding ring he obviously can't see on my finger
What was the last concert you want to?
I worked a Houston Symphony concert last weekend and then last month went to see Maroon 5
Do you speak your mind?
I do but apparently that's a bad thing for some people
Can you handle the truth?
Yep. Can you?
What would you do if someone random on the street came up to you and started hitting on you?
Yep...High School kid quiz
Ever been caught naked?
Nope
Ever been in a fight?
Like a physical one? Not that I remember
If so did you win?
n/a
Have you ever cheated on your bf/gf?
Nope
Done anything illegal lately?
Not really
Name the most stupidest thing you've ever done?
Oh so many choices. Trust people I shouldn't
Would you talk to someone you don't know on the internet?
not anymore
Ever been in trouble for something you didn't do?
Oh I'm sure
Ever done anything stupid towards a cop?
Hell No
Have you lied to your parents about where you've been or going?
Oh who hasn't once upon a time
Ever had a prank turn out wrong?
Nah
Would you send money to a starving family in another country?
Sure
Are you hungry?
For ice cream!
If you could speak another language, what would it be?
Spanish would be useful
One word to describe yourself?
Fantastic
To describe your friends?
Amazing
What's the last present you've received?
Blair brought me some prints from Ikea yesterday
What would you rather have as a name?
I like my name
Any siblings?
Blair - the best person in the world
Are you a sporty kind of person or do you like to lay around and do nothing but watch tv or sit at the computer?
Totally lazy, but I'm starting to run
Could you outrun a bus?
Nope
You and your friends are bored. What do you do?
Chat or play a board game
What's your middle name?
Frances
What's your fav website?
I love Tom and Lorenzo's blog
Single or Taken?
Very Taken
Good or Bad kisser?
I guess I'm a good kisser?
What would you do if the world were coming to an end?
Eat an amazing meal and snuggle with Ted and Sly
Biggest regret ever?
Too many to list
If you woke up as the opposite sex, whats the first thing you would do?
Scratch my balls and pee standing up
Are you addicted to anything?
TV...I luuurrrvveee my TV
What do you see in a guy/girl?
I love a sense of humor and a guy who can be a bit of a nerd - basically all of Ted's qualities
Has an animal ever attacked you?
Yes! When I was a kid my neighbor's dog knocked me down and tried to bite me :(
When was the last time someone made you laugh really hard?
Jess this morning when she dubbed herself the hungry grinch. I may have snorted a little :)
Do you find piercings/tattoos attractive?
I don't like piercings. I could be ok with a tattoo or two
What's the weirdest thing you've ever licked?
hmmm I can't think of anything weird :(
When you wake up, what's the first thought that runs through your head?
"shit...already?"
Do you actually believe Alaska is covered in snow?
Parts of it probably
Are you ever purposely irritating?
No...maybe I need to be sometimes...
Would you ever play strip poker?
With Ted I would
If you could make someone disappear, who would it be?
So many options!!
Look behind you, what do you see?
My gorgeous curtains from Anthropologie.
What's your fav thing about the opposite sex?
Ted's smile :)
What's the most important thing to you?
1. Ted 2. Family (mostly immediate) 3. Friends 4. Career
What would you be doing right now if you were kicked off your computer?
Laundry and watching Revenge
How do you spend your weekends?
With Ted, Blair or my S'port girls. Or at work.
Who do you want to be with right now?
I want to continue to hang out with Ted and Sly. Or hang out with the S'port girls
Are you fun to hang with?
Yes I am fun to hang out with. At least certain people still think so.
What country would you love to visit?
Japan
What's on your mind right now?
avoiding the drama llamas
When was the last time you went to a good party?
Blair's birthday outing was kinda like a good party
Fav song?
Spiderwebs - No Doubt
Can you lick your elbow?
Nope...isn't that impossible?
If you jumped out your bedroom window right now, how injured would you be?
not very...my bedroom is downstairs
What would you do if your bf/gf cheated on you with your best friend?
I'd cut off his balls. J/k...or am I?
Do you like anyone you can't have?
no...I guess this is a survey for high school kids?
Do you dance even without music?
sometimes
Does anyone tease you cause of your name?
Kids made fun of my last name...which was a bit of a stretch...
What song is stuck in your head right now?
None
What's your darkest secret?
I don't really have one
What do you think is at the end of the rainbow?
Your mom
If a blind guy/girl started hitting on you, what would you do?
Somehow mention the wedding ring he obviously can't see on my finger
What was the last concert you want to?
I worked a Houston Symphony concert last weekend and then last month went to see Maroon 5
Do you speak your mind?
I do but apparently that's a bad thing for some people
Can you handle the truth?
Yep. Can you?
What would you do if someone random on the street came up to you and started hitting on you?
Yep...High School kid quiz
Ever been caught naked?
Nope
Ever been in a fight?
Like a physical one? Not that I remember
If so did you win?
n/a
Have you ever cheated on your bf/gf?
Nope
Done anything illegal lately?
Not really
Name the most stupidest thing you've ever done?
Oh so many choices. Trust people I shouldn't
Would you talk to someone you don't know on the internet?
not anymore
Ever been in trouble for something you didn't do?
Oh I'm sure
Ever done anything stupid towards a cop?
Hell No
Have you lied to your parents about where you've been or going?
Oh who hasn't once upon a time
Ever had a prank turn out wrong?
Nah
Would you send money to a starving family in another country?
Sure
Are you hungry?
For ice cream!
If you could speak another language, what would it be?
Spanish would be useful
One word to describe yourself?
Fantastic
To describe your friends?
Amazing
What's the last present you've received?
Blair brought me some prints from Ikea yesterday
What would you rather have as a name?
I like my name
Any siblings?
Blair - the best person in the world
Are you a sporty kind of person or do you like to lay around and do nothing but watch tv or sit at the computer?
Totally lazy, but I'm starting to run
Could you outrun a bus?
Nope
You and your friends are bored. What do you do?
Chat or play a board game
What's your middle name?
Frances
What's your fav website?
I love Tom and Lorenzo's blog
Single or Taken?
Very Taken
Good or Bad kisser?
I guess I'm a good kisser?
What would you do if the world were coming to an end?
Eat an amazing meal and snuggle with Ted and Sly
Biggest regret ever?
Too many to list
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Theme of the Week: Anger
So I'm angry this week. Yes...I know things could be worse. No...I don't want you to tell me that. I'm venting. If you feel the need to tell me not to dwell on it or to be positive, keep it to yourself, ok?
So in less than a week's time, Ted and I got in 3 different car accidents. Yep, you read that right, 3. The first was Tuesday morning. Ted left for work, and about ten minutes later my cell phone rings. His car had hydroplaned off the road and into the worst possible ditch - one with a concrete side walk/bridge thing. Basically, his car ran off the road and got hung up on this piece of concrete. Luckily, he's ok. His car is not, and it looks like we are going to be out a few grand in order to fix it. A part of me feels stupid because we bumped his car down to liability only a few months ago, but after talking to a few people I think we would have been screwed even if we had full coverage cause we think they would have totaled the car after looking at its past accident history. So either way, we would be out thousands of dollars.
After Ted called me I was really distraught and distracted. I think that's the normal reaction to news like this. As I'm backing out of the driveway, I don't realize just how close I am to our neighbor's truck and back into it. A part of me wants to blame them - don't park your big ass truck in the street...I knew this was going to happen eventually. But alas I guess I shouldn't have driven while upset...oh wait I had to go get my husband out of a ditch. Luckily, I didn't do any damage to their truck but my car (you know, that new one we bought 4 months ago?) has a dent in the back. Our neighbor didn't seem to care, so no reporting to insurance was done.
Things were looking up Friday and Saturday. I spent most of the time with Blair for her birthday. It was a nice distraction that didn't last long enough. Ted broke the news to me this morning that while he was out getting lunch in my car Saturday afternoon, a woman decided to slam on her brakes and stop in the middle of road without warning and he rear-ended her. So I have a nice big dent in the front to match the back...again, in the car we bought 4 freaking months ago. Ted said the woman completely knew it was her fault and didn't want to trade information; Ted was fine with that because he knew it didn't matter that she was in the wrong - the insurance would have blamed him.
So Ted has been working nights while we have one vehicle; this means we see each other for maybe 4 and a half hours each day. You don't realize how difficult it is to work in a town that has no public transportation whatsoever and only have one car. Makes me not want to work and be a lazy welfare recipient or person who just cheats the system and doesn't contribute. I'm finding I'm becoming more and more jaded with each passing day. I work damn hard and I did everything right on paper - I worked hard in school and I graduated and got a job and contribute to society and pay my bills on time. Yet times like this make me feel like I did it all wrong. I just want to breathe, you know? Like, why do we keep experiencing these freaking hurdles? Seriously, we want to experience life and we can't do that if we continue to run into these random problems.
But, I guess that's life? I know, we have our health and it could be way worse. Believe me, the fact does not escape my mind that Ted could have been seriously injured on Tuesday. If you think for a second I take that for granted you are mistaken. I think I'm even more upset because I'm someone who cannot take her mind away from the scary things that can happen to people in life and I have played out a million horrible scenarios in my head over the past week. I can't stop thinking about it and it has compounded the negative aspects of this week.
There are several other things in my life right now that I'm really angry about, but I'm not ready to put those things out here in the blogosphere yet. I just know I'm tired of being angry and I'm working on changing my emotional state as best I can. Again, I don't want anyone to tell me to be positive. Telling me to do it honestly just pisses me off more. I'm tired of people discounting what I feel every single day. Do you think I enjoy being this angry and frustrated? I don't wake up in the morning and say, hey I think I'm gonna be angry today....it is really the opposite - I wake up trying to feel happy with every ounce of my being; instead I just wake up and the emotion hits me like a tidal wave. It is just there.
So, if you have words of encouragement, I'd really rather not hear them right now. Instead, I'd love to hear what good things you have going right now. I'd like to celebrate others now if I can.
So in less than a week's time, Ted and I got in 3 different car accidents. Yep, you read that right, 3. The first was Tuesday morning. Ted left for work, and about ten minutes later my cell phone rings. His car had hydroplaned off the road and into the worst possible ditch - one with a concrete side walk/bridge thing. Basically, his car ran off the road and got hung up on this piece of concrete. Luckily, he's ok. His car is not, and it looks like we are going to be out a few grand in order to fix it. A part of me feels stupid because we bumped his car down to liability only a few months ago, but after talking to a few people I think we would have been screwed even if we had full coverage cause we think they would have totaled the car after looking at its past accident history. So either way, we would be out thousands of dollars.
After Ted called me I was really distraught and distracted. I think that's the normal reaction to news like this. As I'm backing out of the driveway, I don't realize just how close I am to our neighbor's truck and back into it. A part of me wants to blame them - don't park your big ass truck in the street...I knew this was going to happen eventually. But alas I guess I shouldn't have driven while upset...oh wait I had to go get my husband out of a ditch. Luckily, I didn't do any damage to their truck but my car (you know, that new one we bought 4 months ago?) has a dent in the back. Our neighbor didn't seem to care, so no reporting to insurance was done.
Things were looking up Friday and Saturday. I spent most of the time with Blair for her birthday. It was a nice distraction that didn't last long enough. Ted broke the news to me this morning that while he was out getting lunch in my car Saturday afternoon, a woman decided to slam on her brakes and stop in the middle of road without warning and he rear-ended her. So I have a nice big dent in the front to match the back...again, in the car we bought 4 freaking months ago. Ted said the woman completely knew it was her fault and didn't want to trade information; Ted was fine with that because he knew it didn't matter that she was in the wrong - the insurance would have blamed him.
So Ted has been working nights while we have one vehicle; this means we see each other for maybe 4 and a half hours each day. You don't realize how difficult it is to work in a town that has no public transportation whatsoever and only have one car. Makes me not want to work and be a lazy welfare recipient or person who just cheats the system and doesn't contribute. I'm finding I'm becoming more and more jaded with each passing day. I work damn hard and I did everything right on paper - I worked hard in school and I graduated and got a job and contribute to society and pay my bills on time. Yet times like this make me feel like I did it all wrong. I just want to breathe, you know? Like, why do we keep experiencing these freaking hurdles? Seriously, we want to experience life and we can't do that if we continue to run into these random problems.
But, I guess that's life? I know, we have our health and it could be way worse. Believe me, the fact does not escape my mind that Ted could have been seriously injured on Tuesday. If you think for a second I take that for granted you are mistaken. I think I'm even more upset because I'm someone who cannot take her mind away from the scary things that can happen to people in life and I have played out a million horrible scenarios in my head over the past week. I can't stop thinking about it and it has compounded the negative aspects of this week.
There are several other things in my life right now that I'm really angry about, but I'm not ready to put those things out here in the blogosphere yet. I just know I'm tired of being angry and I'm working on changing my emotional state as best I can. Again, I don't want anyone to tell me to be positive. Telling me to do it honestly just pisses me off more. I'm tired of people discounting what I feel every single day. Do you think I enjoy being this angry and frustrated? I don't wake up in the morning and say, hey I think I'm gonna be angry today....it is really the opposite - I wake up trying to feel happy with every ounce of my being; instead I just wake up and the emotion hits me like a tidal wave. It is just there.
So, if you have words of encouragement, I'd really rather not hear them right now. Instead, I'd love to hear what good things you have going right now. I'd like to celebrate others now if I can.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Another 101 in 1,001 Progress Report
Hi Everyone! I decided to do a 101 in 1,001 progress report today.
I crossed something else off my list:
45. Get a promotion
I *finally* got my title change this summer. I'm officially the Operations Assistant on paper. I'm glad to be recognized for the work I've done for the past two and a half years. It feels good to be very appreciated by your boss and other people in your department.
I haven't completed any other tasks, but I'm making progress. I helped to throw Sarah a baby shower last month. I'm going to a play with Blair on Wednesday. I'm literally trimming the fat - I started the Couch to 5k program (C25K) a few weeks ago. I'll admit, it wasn't on the original list, but I replaced the Jillian Michaels goal with C25K because I think I would have injured myself doing her 30 Day Shred DVD without someone who knows what the hell they are doing watching me.
The biggest progress development is my thesis. That's right, it has taken me 3 years to find the motivation to write that damn paper. I have been so satisfied with my job and busy with life that I just have not wanted to focus on it. Fine...I *may* have created some of the distractions...buying a house...getting a dog...to avoid it. But I finally have a topic that I enjoy and actually know a thing or two about. My past two topics were things that made sense on paper but I really didn't enjoy researching at all. My goal is to really hit it hard over the next two months and defend no later than January. Realistic? Probably not, but I'm going to convince myself it is. I'd enjoy Disney so much more if that stupid thing was either done or 95% done. In fact, I just wrote my first draft of a thesis statement, and one of my colleagues (who does not sugarcoat anything) told me it was a good start and that everything made sense to her. Success!
I want to dress up for Halloween this year, but we don't have a party to go to. Should I wait til next year to fulfill this goal?
I crossed something else off my list:
I *finally* got my title change this summer. I'm officially the Operations Assistant on paper. I'm glad to be recognized for the work I've done for the past two and a half years. It feels good to be very appreciated by your boss and other people in your department.
I haven't completed any other tasks, but I'm making progress. I helped to throw Sarah a baby shower last month. I'm going to a play with Blair on Wednesday. I'm literally trimming the fat - I started the Couch to 5k program (C25K) a few weeks ago. I'll admit, it wasn't on the original list, but I replaced the Jillian Michaels goal with C25K because I think I would have injured myself doing her 30 Day Shred DVD without someone who knows what the hell they are doing watching me.
The biggest progress development is my thesis. That's right, it has taken me 3 years to find the motivation to write that damn paper. I have been so satisfied with my job and busy with life that I just have not wanted to focus on it. Fine...I *may* have created some of the distractions...buying a house...getting a dog...to avoid it. But I finally have a topic that I enjoy and actually know a thing or two about. My past two topics were things that made sense on paper but I really didn't enjoy researching at all. My goal is to really hit it hard over the next two months and defend no later than January. Realistic? Probably not, but I'm going to convince myself it is. I'd enjoy Disney so much more if that stupid thing was either done or 95% done. In fact, I just wrote my first draft of a thesis statement, and one of my colleagues (who does not sugarcoat anything) told me it was a good start and that everything made sense to her. Success!
I want to dress up for Halloween this year, but we don't have a party to go to. Should I wait til next year to fulfill this goal?
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