And...here we go!
1. He was a sweet little dog.
2. Candy Corn is what I look forward to most this time of year.
3. My best friend Joyce is celebrating her birthday on Sunday.
4. I'm going crazy without a job to be honest with you.
5. Appearances can be very deceiving - just look at me.
6. The last person I gave a hug to was my friend and partner-in-crime, Angela.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to it cooling off, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the gym and Sunday, I want to treat Joyce to brunch for her birthday!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
48 years ago today, a young United States Marine married his beautiful sweetheart in a church in Marrero, Louisiana.
Her dress was antebellum style; he wore his dress blues. When they exited the church, they walked beneath the crossed swords of Marines.
I wasn't there, but I've seen the pictures all my life.
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. May your lives together continue to be happy and fruitful for many years to come!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Her dress was antebellum style; he wore his dress blues. When they exited the church, they walked beneath the crossed swords of Marines.
I wasn't there, but I've seen the pictures all my life.
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. May your lives together continue to be happy and fruitful for many years to come!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday Fill-Ins
And...here we go!
1. I remember, I remember the scent of Violets candies in Granny's purse.
2. Dear Christian and Nicholas I want you to know how proud I am of both of you.
3. Is that my butt!!???
4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of going to one of the cupcake bakeries.
5. I'm saving a hug just for you!
6. If I made a birthday list an eligible man to marry would definitely be on it!!!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing after my workout, tomorrow my plans include going to the Farmer's Market and Sunday, I want to visit my friend Marie!
Until Next Time,
Kel
1. I remember, I remember the scent of Violets candies in Granny's purse.
2. Dear Christian and Nicholas I want you to know how proud I am of both of you.
3. Is that my butt!!???
4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of going to one of the cupcake bakeries.
5. I'm saving a hug just for you!
6. If I made a birthday list an eligible man to marry would definitely be on it!!!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing after my workout, tomorrow my plans include going to the Farmer's Market and Sunday, I want to visit my friend Marie!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Day 97: Has it Really Been that Long?
When I was working, like most people, there were days when I hated my job. I would moan that I wish I didn't have to work and would joke about winning the lottery and living a leisurely life.
Yeah. That was then.
The reality is that I don't like staying home. I thought I would. But, after 97 days in exile from the working world, I realize that I really really really hate staying home all.the.time!
Oh, yeah, I could be cleaning my house. Or I could be scrapping or altering some treasures. Or reading a book. Or getting caught up on my Netflix queue. But where's the fun in that? And let me tell you, it's all way easy to ignore while I spend hours online reading job descriptions and watching reruns of Desperate Housewives and Will & Grace each day.
I have been searching for a job all this time. I'm now listed with two agencies who both specialize in IT positions in law firms. Maybe something will come from that. But I'm most excited about my new venture to get me out of the house: I'm volunteering at the gym!
Yes, the lovely ladies that own the gym I belong to have a 'volunteer' program where you work there a couple of hours at a time and get gym credit in return. I like that 'cause I use a lot of the services at the gym (like waxing!) and my time here can now be used in exchange for those services. Beside that, it makes me come to the gym and I have to work out while I'm here, right? And, it's helping me to sharpen my people skills: I can't be Connie Complainer when I'm sitting here greeting people!
So, even thoough this 'exile' seems to be never ending, right now, I'm in a good place!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Yeah. That was then.
The reality is that I don't like staying home. I thought I would. But, after 97 days in exile from the working world, I realize that I really really really hate staying home all.the.time!
Oh, yeah, I could be cleaning my house. Or I could be scrapping or altering some treasures. Or reading a book. Or getting caught up on my Netflix queue. But where's the fun in that? And let me tell you, it's all way easy to ignore while I spend hours online reading job descriptions and watching reruns of Desperate Housewives and Will & Grace each day.
I have been searching for a job all this time. I'm now listed with two agencies who both specialize in IT positions in law firms. Maybe something will come from that. But I'm most excited about my new venture to get me out of the house: I'm volunteering at the gym!
Yes, the lovely ladies that own the gym I belong to have a 'volunteer' program where you work there a couple of hours at a time and get gym credit in return. I like that 'cause I use a lot of the services at the gym (like waxing!) and my time here can now be used in exchange for those services. Beside that, it makes me come to the gym and I have to work out while I'm here, right? And, it's helping me to sharpen my people skills: I can't be Connie Complainer when I'm sitting here greeting people!
So, even thoough this 'exile' seems to be never ending, right now, I'm in a good place!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Judging Others.....
I try not to judge people. Really. I don't like when people judge me by just looking at me or my actions. But sometimes, you just can't help yourself, especially when the person is so obnoxious that you just can't look away and not judge them.
Let me start with this: I love Chinese food (or just about any food - looking at me, you'd know that's a given) and there's one little restaurant near my house that I go to for take out. They serve from a steam table and have a selection of about a dozen entrees, some appetizers, chicken salad and wonton soup. You pick the size of each item - the scoop is about 8 ounces, then there's the pint, the quart and the gallon containers. When I order, I get scoops of several items and on a good day, can make that last for 2 meals, especially if I order a pork bun or some pot stickers.
So, last night I decided it was time for Chinese for dinner. I got in line (there's always a line) and turned and smiled politely to the guy who got in line behind me when he arrived. I didn't think too much of it. But, as I was going down the steam table picking my food, the guy behind me (let's call him Fred, just 'cause it's easier than saying 'the guy behind me' over and over) started picking out his items. He didn't just talk to the woman behind the counter dishing out the food -- Fred announced his choices and the reasons he was ordering that dish in the loudest voice he could muster; and with each announcement, he looked around at the people in line as if he were defending himself and his choices. "Give me a pint of white rice, because it's better for you than fried rice." "Okay, I'll take a quart of tofu and green beans because my doctor told me to give up red meat." "Give me a quart of sweet and sour pork, 'cause that's not red meat." "A quart of chicken salad because I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday."
Now, Fred wasn't a small man by any stretch (and as you know, I'm not Twiggy) but I couldn't help but comment to myself with each item he ordered: Dude, if you were told to give up red meat and you've got a doctor's appointment in two days, should you really be eating Chinese food today?????????????? Or at all? And when did you give up red meat? Eating tofu 2 days before your appointment isn't really going to help you out if you were told to give up the beef say, 3 months ago. Okay, I'll give you the white rice v. fried rice argument. But guess what? Everybody in that line already knew that!!! Fred, I hope you're buying all that food for your family of seven and you're not going home to sit in front of the TV and consume it all yourself....
I've been thinking about the scenario for about 24 hours now and the more I thought about it, the more I feel bad for judging Fred. I'm sure people in that line were judging me for buying Chinese food for dinner and were probably all wondering why I wasn't eating salad for dinner instead. Like I said, I try not to judge because I truly believe what I put in my body is none of your beeswax, just like what you put in yours is none of mine. And I probably wouldn't have given Fred a second look or thought if he had just ordered his food using his inside voice; it just seemed he wanted everyone to be aware of what he was doing and why he was doing it.
Now that I sit here and write this out, I'm just feeling sorry for Fred. Obviously he has some body issues and feels the need to justify what he's doing/buying/eating when there's a crowd. I understand what that's like - been there, done that.
The difference between me and Fred? I've finally made peace with this body of mine and I don't really care what other people, especially strangers, think or how they're judging me.
I hope that soon Fred will find some peace with his body.
Until Next Time,
Kel
Let me start with this: I love Chinese food (or just about any food - looking at me, you'd know that's a given) and there's one little restaurant near my house that I go to for take out. They serve from a steam table and have a selection of about a dozen entrees, some appetizers, chicken salad and wonton soup. You pick the size of each item - the scoop is about 8 ounces, then there's the pint, the quart and the gallon containers. When I order, I get scoops of several items and on a good day, can make that last for 2 meals, especially if I order a pork bun or some pot stickers.
So, last night I decided it was time for Chinese for dinner. I got in line (there's always a line) and turned and smiled politely to the guy who got in line behind me when he arrived. I didn't think too much of it. But, as I was going down the steam table picking my food, the guy behind me (let's call him Fred, just 'cause it's easier than saying 'the guy behind me' over and over) started picking out his items. He didn't just talk to the woman behind the counter dishing out the food -- Fred announced his choices and the reasons he was ordering that dish in the loudest voice he could muster; and with each announcement, he looked around at the people in line as if he were defending himself and his choices. "Give me a pint of white rice, because it's better for you than fried rice." "Okay, I'll take a quart of tofu and green beans because my doctor told me to give up red meat." "Give me a quart of sweet and sour pork, 'cause that's not red meat." "A quart of chicken salad because I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday."
Now, Fred wasn't a small man by any stretch (and as you know, I'm not Twiggy) but I couldn't help but comment to myself with each item he ordered: Dude, if you were told to give up red meat and you've got a doctor's appointment in two days, should you really be eating Chinese food today?????????????? Or at all? And when did you give up red meat? Eating tofu 2 days before your appointment isn't really going to help you out if you were told to give up the beef say, 3 months ago. Okay, I'll give you the white rice v. fried rice argument. But guess what? Everybody in that line already knew that!!! Fred, I hope you're buying all that food for your family of seven and you're not going home to sit in front of the TV and consume it all yourself....
I've been thinking about the scenario for about 24 hours now and the more I thought about it, the more I feel bad for judging Fred. I'm sure people in that line were judging me for buying Chinese food for dinner and were probably all wondering why I wasn't eating salad for dinner instead. Like I said, I try not to judge because I truly believe what I put in my body is none of your beeswax, just like what you put in yours is none of mine. And I probably wouldn't have given Fred a second look or thought if he had just ordered his food using his inside voice; it just seemed he wanted everyone to be aware of what he was doing and why he was doing it.
Now that I sit here and write this out, I'm just feeling sorry for Fred. Obviously he has some body issues and feels the need to justify what he's doing/buying/eating when there's a crowd. I understand what that's like - been there, done that.
The difference between me and Fred? I've finally made peace with this body of mine and I don't really care what other people, especially strangers, think or how they're judging me.
I hope that soon Fred will find some peace with his body.
Until Next Time,
Kel
Saturday, August 15, 2009
You Know It's Time to Get Back to the Gym When...
Okay, I admit it. It's been 8 weeks and 2 days since I last stepped foot into the gym. How crazy is that? I mean, we're talking going from spending almost an hour a day, six days a week there to nothing. Nada. Zippo.
And for the last two weeks, my body has been giving me some not-so-subtle hints about being a giant slug. I've tried ignoring it, but with my body being the size that it is, it's kinda hard to ignore.
It hasn't been just my body that made me realize that I need to get back to a regular exercise routine. Oh, no. There was the point last week when a friend pointed out to me that the last time she saw me (pre-unemployment), I seemed happy, had lots of energy and was looking healthy. The day we were together - not so much. She said I looked like the miserable, out of shape person I was a year ago when I started my exercise journey...
I haven't spoken to her in a week. It's not easy to hear the truth from your friends.
That same day, I came home to find a message from one of the owners of the gym I belong to. They've noticed that I haven't been in for a while and just wanted to check on me to make sure everything's okay and is there anything they can do for me and please give them a call or come into the gym for a workout soon because I was working out regularly for so long....
Took me a couple of days to stop the bleeding from that one, too.
But they were both right. I had more energy when I worked out. I was a much more pleasant person when I exercised regularly. I handled adversity much better and released stress by spending that "me" time at the gym. I just needed to get over myself and leave the pity party and jump up onto that danged dreadmill and do it!!!!
So, this morning, I hauled my sorry carcass out of bed and put on my workout clothes and shoes and got into the car before I had time to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Aero thought I was nuts (and he's probably right). I was on a mission: get to the gym and get on the treadmill. Period. No excuses. Ignore the panic attack. Just do it.
And I did. I managed 30 minutes on the treadmill - not bad for not exercising in such a long time. Of course, the knee still isnt' right and that slowed me down a bit, but I did it. And Stephanie, the owner of the gym who called me, was there cheering me on as I took those first few steps back into my life.
That's it. The pity party is officially over. That treadmill and me are going to become really good friends. And Mr. Elliptical? Yeah, your turn will come Monday.
I need an ice pack. And the phone. I need to call my friend and thank her for being so brutally honest with me.
Until Next Time,
Kel
And for the last two weeks, my body has been giving me some not-so-subtle hints about being a giant slug. I've tried ignoring it, but with my body being the size that it is, it's kinda hard to ignore.
It hasn't been just my body that made me realize that I need to get back to a regular exercise routine. Oh, no. There was the point last week when a friend pointed out to me that the last time she saw me (pre-unemployment), I seemed happy, had lots of energy and was looking healthy. The day we were together - not so much. She said I looked like the miserable, out of shape person I was a year ago when I started my exercise journey...
I haven't spoken to her in a week. It's not easy to hear the truth from your friends.
That same day, I came home to find a message from one of the owners of the gym I belong to. They've noticed that I haven't been in for a while and just wanted to check on me to make sure everything's okay and is there anything they can do for me and please give them a call or come into the gym for a workout soon because I was working out regularly for so long....
Took me a couple of days to stop the bleeding from that one, too.
But they were both right. I had more energy when I worked out. I was a much more pleasant person when I exercised regularly. I handled adversity much better and released stress by spending that "me" time at the gym. I just needed to get over myself and leave the pity party and jump up onto that danged dreadmill and do it!!!!
So, this morning, I hauled my sorry carcass out of bed and put on my workout clothes and shoes and got into the car before I had time to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Aero thought I was nuts (and he's probably right). I was on a mission: get to the gym and get on the treadmill. Period. No excuses. Ignore the panic attack. Just do it.
And I did. I managed 30 minutes on the treadmill - not bad for not exercising in such a long time. Of course, the knee still isnt' right and that slowed me down a bit, but I did it. And Stephanie, the owner of the gym who called me, was there cheering me on as I took those first few steps back into my life.
That's it. The pity party is officially over. That treadmill and me are going to become really good friends. And Mr. Elliptical? Yeah, your turn will come Monday.
I need an ice pack. And the phone. I need to call my friend and thank her for being so brutally honest with me.
Until Next Time,
Kel
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday Fill-Ins
Well, I forgot last Friday...
And...here we go!
1. When will I get a job (or even an interiew!)?
2. "Saving Grace" was the last good book I read or movie I saw or tv show I watched.
3. Everything has its beauty but a cute dog wagging his tail at you is the best.
4. Popcorn and frozen yogurt is what I had for dinner.
5. I'd like your husband to come over and help me hang some shelves.
6. Marrero with my family is where I want to be right now.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing some cards I started, tomorrow my plans include going to the farmer's market and Sunday, I want to go to a movie!
Until Next Time,
Kel
And...here we go!
1. When will I get a job (or even an interiew!)?
2. "Saving Grace" was the last good book I read or movie I saw or tv show I watched.
3. Everything has its beauty but a cute dog wagging his tail at you is the best.
4. Popcorn and frozen yogurt is what I had for dinner.
5. I'd like your husband to come over and help me hang some shelves.
6. Marrero with my family is where I want to be right now.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing some cards I started, tomorrow my plans include going to the farmer's market and Sunday, I want to go to a movie!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Congratulations Christian!!!
Well, the day has finally arrived. One that I'm sure my dear sister Jamie and her husband Clif have both been looking forward to and anticipating with some amount of dread.
My 16-year-old godson Christian got his learner's permit today!
He's now taking that first big step toward his adult life and let me tell you, I'm proud of him, even though I'm just a little sad. We all grow up, and he's doing it so well. But I still think of him as that cute little red-headed boy that could steal my heart with his smile. Come to think of it, he's still that little boy to me, only a lot taller and with a deep voice.
It's really a big week for him - first his permit, and tomorrow, the first day of his junior year of high school. Ooof. That's hard to take all in one week. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to feel.
So, Christian, my favoite red-headed boy, good luck in your two big ventures for this year. And remember - no cell phone or texting while you're driving -- even if it's me!!!!!!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
My 16-year-old godson Christian got his learner's permit today!
He's now taking that first big step toward his adult life and let me tell you, I'm proud of him, even though I'm just a little sad. We all grow up, and he's doing it so well. But I still think of him as that cute little red-headed boy that could steal my heart with his smile. Come to think of it, he's still that little boy to me, only a lot taller and with a deep voice.
It's really a big week for him - first his permit, and tomorrow, the first day of his junior year of high school. Ooof. That's hard to take all in one week. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to feel.
So, Christian, my favoite red-headed boy, good luck in your two big ventures for this year. And remember - no cell phone or texting while you're driving -- even if it's me!!!!!!!
Until Next Time,
Kel
Monday, August 3, 2009
Happy Birthday Mom!!
She's smart.
She's got style.
She taught me everything I know - and then some.
She's my Mom, and today's her birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday, Mom - I hope you have a wonderful day today and live to see many, many more birthdays in the future!
Until Next Time,
Kel
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