Update time

OK, so a quick update as to what has been going on in my life since the last time I posted....

*Had a birthday - Happy #26 to me!!!
*Bought a new car for my birthday - 2004 Toyota Matrix - no pictures yet Em....sorry
*Started dating a new guy
*Stopped dating new guy
*Made a 98 and then a 100 on two papers in my writing class
*Made a 100 on all my journals for one class - the only grade I have so far in that class...
*Love my communications class -think I am making an A
*Possibly thinking about majoring in communications and minoring in psychology...field in Public Relations...we'll see
*Planned a trip to go see Em in late May/beginning of June - so very excited about this
*Dyed my hair - it's almost natural
*Got a raise
*Went on a major shopping spree at my birthday - BUT - I was an awesome bargain shopper - spent $110 - saved $430!!!!!!
*Went to Alabama for a long weekend to see my brother for the first time at his new school - not really new anymore since this is his second year
*Hope picked out her wedding dress
*Hope picked out our bridesmaid dresses
*Went to a plastic surgeon to have a consultation about having breast reduction...
*Decided to give myself one year to lose some more weight before I have the surgery.

WOW - I can't think of anything else new, but I'm sure I'm forgetting something....I'll try to update again soon...maybe...

Not Dead

I am still alive, breathing, sort of functioning here - I have just sunken into the dimension where the only thing that exists in my life is working my 40 hour plus job, then going to school three nights a week - the other 4 nights are spent doing homework or catching up on sleep missed during the week. I no longer have a "social life" - my friends think I have dropped off the planet, it's not a pretty picture. HOWEVER, I am getting an education, that's what I keep telling myself. It's OK, that I never have hardly a second for fun stuff or that my dog hates me - I'm getting my degree - very slowly, but I am going to get that sucker if it kills me.

I wanted to be the Swedish Chef...

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

It's right!!

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty. At work and school, you do best when you're researching. When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often. In friendship, you are considerate and compromising. Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking. You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

So many thoughts.....

I have realized that going back to school is going to be good for me in more ways than one. I know I have only been in class for a week, but in this week with the reading and assignments I have had to do, I have learned a lot about myself. I have decided these next 4 months is going to be a time of self-realization. In reading for my class tonight, there were several "activities" we had to complete. One of these was to list the ways we say unhealthy things to ourselves (the whispering self as my book says) or negative self talk. Here is my list:

1) I'm fat - but I am working on it
2) I'm not good at math (one had to relate to ourselves as a student and this is just true)
3) I attract losers. More like I am a loser magnet - it must be attached to my back. Thinking of having it surgically removed.

Then we also had to list 10 positive things about ourselves. I hate doing things like this because I always feel like I am being conceited. We were allowed to ask others, so I did, and there was also an email circulating today (I'll write about once I get all responses back) that helped me with some of my descriptions.

1) Good sense of humor
2) Caring
3) Positive
4) Friendly
5) Fun-Loving
6) Loyal
7) Trust worthy
8) Dependable
9) Helpful
10) Self - sacrificing (this is good but I have a tendency to make this bad by giving too much of myself....)

The most interesting thing I read about though was the physical reactions to stress. I was reading and start thinking....WOW, I don't remember the last time I had to go to the doctor......hmmmmmmm, maybe there is a connection between me being in and out of the doctor's office for 3 1/2 years and my relationship with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (no not Voldemort). Mom had always said she thought the constant stress I was under during that time was taking a toll on my physical health, but I never thought about it.....Until it wasn't there. I don't have someone making me feel constantly like I am worthless, the most unattractive person in the world, never will succeed at anything, stupid..the list goes on. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN MY LIFE WHO TREATS ME LIKE THIS ANYMORE!! Words cannot describe to you the revelation this has been, it has been a lengthy process, but definitely worth it.

Pictures......

OK, pictures are going to have to wait since dial up internet service is evil. And I am so excited cause I just looked at my comments from my Disney announcement post and see that Ragged visited my blog!!! I feel very special and am going to step up the blogging. I love reading Ragged's blog - got connected to her through Emily's blog.....maybe I will add her link...when I get to my much faster work computer.

Dude, where's my blog? :)

Ha, ha, ha - I know it's cheesy, but Emily said something today that made me think of it. Sorry it has been so long (the two people who read my blog). WOW - a lot as happened since the last time I have posted....went to Disney (otherwise known as the vacation from hell), Christmas, New Year's, started school, got A LOT more responsibilities at work, joined the choir at church....the list goes on. Disney itself was absolutely wonderful. I still love it as much as I did when I was a kid. The "atmosphere" of our trip, almost caused me to have a nervous breakdown. Christmas was wonderful. I love Christmas. Spending time with my family makes me so happy - we have such a good time together. Santa visited (I was good this year - see) and I got a new pair of boots I have been wanting, a new bible and a bunch of other stuff. Katie got me a pair of those gaucho pants. I have wanted a pair of these pants for so long but have been so scared to get them because...well, I'm a big girl and have only seen them on skinny girls. But I really do like them a lot - having problems finding the right shirt. New Year's was a lot of fun too. It was the first New Year's in probably 4 years I haven't had anything to drink - and it was great. I had such a good time. I drove down to SC and spent time with my cousins(Gretchen is the other person besides Emily that reads this...) & aunt & uncle. Then New Year's Day went to church with them...saw TOMMY BOWDEN at church. Spent the rest of the day with the family at Ma's. School - well, school is going to be fun - I think. It's only the first week so if I renig on this statement - no one is allowed to hold it against me. I actually like all of my professors, there is going to be a LOT of writing involved for me, so please pray that I keep my sanity. I am going to "try" to keep my blog current...especially since the writing will help me with my classes. I haven't had to just write for fun/educational purposes in FOREVER. I thought my hand was going to fall off Monday night, giving my Expository writing professor a writing sample. That's sad. Very, very sad. But my life revolves around a computer now. I need to start handwriting letters. But then who would I email???? HA HA HA HA. OK, this is it for now - I think. I hope this was a quick enough update........

My "Power Color"....it's close to pink

Your Power Color Is Magenta

At Your Highest: You energize yourself and push others to suceed. At Your Lowest: You feel frustrated and totally overwhelmed. In Love: You are suprised by who you attract. You're a love magnet. How You're Attractive: Open and free spirited, people want to explore the world with you. Your Eternal Question: "What is my next source of inspiration?"

What's Your Power Color?

Merry Christmas to me.......

So I have had the most wonderful day ever. Mom called me earlier and asked me if I was sitting down...I said yes & asked if she was pregnant :) She said no - go cross yourself throw salt over your shoulder, all that good stuff. Anyways - so she says what are you doing next week, I'm like - working. She asks me if I would want to go to.................DISNEYWORLD for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lady from the church has asked me to go with her to Disney World to help with her kids. She is paying for all my meals, tickets, everything. I am so very excited, I have almost thrown up a few times today :) I love Disney World, haven't been since I was 13. Plus it is CHRISTMAS, which makes me even more incredibly happpy because it will be the first time I have been to Disney World at Christmas time. And I love Christmas too. I'm just so excited I can barely stand myself!!!

Personality Tests

This really must be who I am because I have taken one of these "personality tests" before (I think it was at oneishy.com?) and it said the same thing about me. I consider it to be a fairly good description of my personality......

You Have a Choleric Temperament

You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things.Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life.You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation. You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon.Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall.You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others. At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults.Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion.A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior.

What Temperment Are You?

Celebrity Look A Like ????

OK, so I finally did the celebrity look a like on Emily's blog. It was quite fun. Here are my results.....I selected all genders - it's quite funny

Hilary Duff 65%
Barbara Stanwyck 59%
Penelope Cruz 57%
John Lennon 51% (WHAT????)
Kate Winslet 48% (Gretchen has always told me I look like her...so she is 48% correct)
Paris Hilton 41% ??????
Rock Hudson 41% - going to have to take this one as a compliment considering he was pretty good looking

http://www.myheritage.com/FP/Company/tryFaceRecognition.php?s=1&u=g0&lang=EN

Hopeless?

Is it silly of me to wish, dream, hope, pray for that one true love who will come riding in on his white horse and sweep me off my feet? Tab & I were watching one of my all time favorite Christmas movies the other day (White Christmas) and for some reason it made me start thinking about this. I grew up watching old classical movies where everything always ends up happy and perfect and everyone ends up breaking out in a song and dance routine. I know that isn't how real life is, but wouldn't it be nice to find someone who wouldn't mind breaking out in a song and dance routine every now & then?? ;) (j/k?) Yes, I know the guys I have dated in the past probably wouldn't lead anyone who knows me to think that I actually want to be happy, but really.....I do!!!! I just seem to pick the wrong guys - they seem OK at first, but then there's this other side. And not just other sides like everyone has....but other sides that has you wondering (well everyone but me usually) what the Hell is she thinking??????!?!?!?!?! I am just a hopeless romantic who will no longer settle for just OK when it comes to a relationship. There I did it, WOW, feel much better. Now back to watching...The Triangle on Sci Fi and of course one of the many scarfs I am working on for Christmas

My flower......

You are a Carnation:
You are friendly, energetic, cheerful, and bubbly.
You love being around people. Outgoing and
talkative, you rarely meet a stranger. Others
feel at ease around you because of your playful
nature.
Symbolism: In Victorian times carnations were given
to show fascination with another. They also
symbolize friendship and whimsicalness.

Which Flower are You?
brought to you by

My cross dressing dog

So, Lucy(my precious - yet not very girly- dog) went to the groomers last week (which she usually does) - however this visit was a little different. My mom & Katie took her and decided to get the "Top Dog" package added. This means they paint her nails (I had always wanted to do this), put holiday smelling cologne on her (she did smell like cookie), and she got special holiday bandana. They called and told me they had done it - which of course I got very excited about. SO Katie goes to pick her up and brings her by work so I can see her. My dog looked like a transvestite with her red toenails. She never, ever needs to have her nails painted again - it just doesn't look right. Katie also said it made her look like she had just torn into some kind of animal. It's cute on some dogs, but not on Lucy, it's actually quite funny looking. So we will stick to the t-shirts and sweaters she has.....and NEVER get her nails painted again.

The most Wonderful time of the year (other than my birthday)

So it's getting that time of year.........Thanksgiving is over and here it comes!!! Thanksgiving weekend was great - got to spend time with my family, us "granddaughters" did a fabulous job (if I do say so myself) preparing Thanksgiving dinner for everyone, spoke to Brad on the phone - all the way in Iraq, saw Walk The Line, saw Harry Potter, did some shopping, watched A LOT of Christmas movies, finished up a knitting project, put up the Christmas tree....WOW, it didn't seem like much until I typed it out. Here are (of course) some pictures from Thanksgiving - you seriously didn't think I would leave out pictures......

Mary & Linda with Madelyn











Linda & Katie










Family around the table - I'm on the phone with Brad :) (my cousin in Iraq - he called and we all got to talk to him)









Chloe & Brett












Ma (and Gretchen's lovely centerpiece)

Keep your fingers & toes crossed

I have been 19 hours without a cigarette. I am really trying hard this time. Mom was very pleased when I told her I was going to quit. I didn't even realize until this morning but today is Great American Smokeout Day - I think it's a sign :)

Back to School.......

So I did it....I went and registered for classes this morning at the prestigious institution AB Tech (it really is a pretty good school). Anyway, I think I may need to go have my head examined because I signed up for three classes, working 40 hours a week and trying to get to the gym three times a week....It's going to be rough. I will be in class Monday, Tuesday & Thursday night (notice I left Wednesday night open for Lost...j/k I would have taken a Wednesday class if needed) I am taking English, Success & Study Skills (required for every student at AB Tech to graduate) and Interpersonal Communication (it was either that or Public Speaking - also a requirement for every student to graduate). So it is official - well it will be official once I pay my tuition - I am a student again. It's going to take forever just to get my college transfer degree......but I'm going to do it :)

Happy News!!!

My very good friend Hope just got engaged two weekends ago. I think I am as excited about the wedding as she is. I am going to be a bridesmaid!! Here is a picture of her LOVELY ring

More fall pictures

This one is right outside Candor. Home sweet home :)















View off the back porch















Little Miss Lucy playing in the leaves




















Tree I pass every morning on my way in - I love it. Notice the color.....



















View from our front yard :)

Fall Colors

I went driving around today around the house to take some pictures of the leaves changing. I am so lucky to live in an area this beautiful. All these pictures were taken either at my house or within 2 miles of the house. I hope you enjoy the beautiful colors!!