Late to the party...

Something About Kellie... (http://somethingaboutkellie.blogspot.com/) and Justawallflower (http://justawallflower83.blogspot.com/) were so sweet to nominate me for this award. I didn't want either one to think the gesture had gone unrecognized or unappreciated by me. That isn't the case at all. I think it's just been awhile, and I'm old and rusty. Sorry to be late... I'll try to play by the rules from here on out:

Seven things you may not know (or may not want to know!) about me-

1) The official answer to "do you play the piano?" is a resounding NO. However, I studied for many years, and I enjoy playing as an outlet. My parents bought me a piano for my birthday last week, and my husband and children are ready to kill me, but it has been such a stress reliever to play again. One thing those years of study ingrained in me is when I don't get something right, keep doing it. Over and over again, then sllightly different, and then over again- until it is perfect. It's helped me in every aspect of my life.

2) My husband and I are fluent in French and speak to each other frequently en Francais. Well, him mostly. When I'm not worried about sounding like an idiot, I will speak. I can read and understand almost everything, though. We want to run away to the South of France, and we have plans to do just that.

3) I am agnostic. I have difficulty with religion in general. However, I do believe in spirituality and in the power of goodness.

4) In college, I was at the top of my graduating class, and also the class president the year we graduated. I was voted "most likely to stop for a diet coke on the way to a code". (I've upgraded to diet pepsi...)

5) I hated nursing school (although I kept that knowledge to myself), and when I grduated I initially didn't even look for a RN position , but instead I tooka job at Ann Taylor. I couldn't afford to keep that job ( I spent more than I made), so ended up conceding and getting a real nursing job after a few months. My nursing career has been fabulous since. There are so many different things to do within the field, and it's allowed me to help make a comfortable life for family.

6) I was a party girl during high school, and still have a wild side. However, the one thing I would never do is cheat on my spouse. I've been cheated on, and really think it's lame. If you are going to do something, have the decency to be honest with everyone. I think it's really bad karma.

7) It takes me forever to get ready in the morning- I get up two hours before we leave. I don't know what takes that long (and some of it is helping my six year old get ready), but I seem to have only one speed in the early morning... "slow". Or it's my OCD, which is probably the real reason. On weekends, I refuse to do the whole make-up and hair routine. I love doing girly stuff, but sometimes it's just exhausting...


Check out these blogs (these are in order of who last commented on my blog... reciprocity is important to me)-


http://www.fatscapadesofaredheadedchick.com/
http://rollercoasterdieting.blogspot.com/
http://thequeenbeeslapbandlife.blogspot.com/
http://wishingandhopingandprayingforaband.blogspot.com/
http://turnitdownfrom11.blogspot.com/
http://lindasbandwidth.blogspot.com/
http://graces-fat-chance.blogspot.com/
http://www.jenisgonnaloseit.com/
http://doesthisdonutmakemybuttlookbig.blogspot.com/

IF YOU ARE READING THIS... I NOMINATE YOU FOR THE STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD!

I was able to make it up to my husband...

This time last year, I used my band to keep my eating in check when we went to all the buffets. This year, my band is so tight I couldn't eat at all. Good thing there were lots of liquid calories around... for now, I'm just skipping that and the possible implications, because I've got bigger worries.

But, happy news... I was able to make it up to my husband about meeting his favorite band without him last year. We were checking in at our hotel yesterday (we stay where we know the performers are staying)... and off of the elevator walks the lead singer with his wife. I turned my husband towards them and said, "look... there's Geoff Tate and his wife... I know because I've met him before...".

Mr. W was too embarrassed to go up and talk with them. I was able to talk with the wife a little bit at the concert, though. I'd had a few cocktails by that time, and didn't care if Mr. W thought I was being forward or whatever. I still don't know her name, that's pretty rude of me, however I've decided to just call her "Susan", because it seemed to fit. The whole concert experience was very cool (for me, anyway).

On second thought, maybe I didn't really make anything up to him. ;)

POP!

I'm a jerk... just getting to personal computer stuff... and noticed all the sweet birthday wishes that were sent by such awesome BOOBs! I feel so loved, thank you. And happy birthday to Karin and Jacquie!!!

My birthday was good. Well, actually I worked and had a huge presentation that went really well. Actually, my boss called me "brilliant"- which I think is about the best birthday present ever. Well, that and my husband is taking me away for the weekend- we're going to see his favorite group- Queensryche. Last year, I got to meet the entire band while he was going to get the car... he was devestated. I'll try to make it up to him. ;)

Weight... steady! 170. I've noticed that for the first time in my life- I'm the same size on top and bottom. That's because of my tummy tuck... my body is proportionate. Well, except my butt is bigger than when I used to be a size 12, but so are my boobs... so I'm a happy girl.

POP? Pelvic organ prolapse. I'm probably going to have surgery next week. Oddly, it's not a uterine prolapse. Definitely bladder. They couldn't see any bowel prolapse on CT, but let me tell you... there's something going on with it. Very painful at times. Everything has good blood flow but I think because I was lying flat for the scan, the bowel stuff didn't show up. Prepare for more gross surgery pictures... I love those...

I'm exhausted, but im a good way. Can't wait to read some blogs and then go to bed. If there are any strange comments from me, I apologize in advance because I'm about to take my Ambien. Bon nuit.

Nothing but the truth

*Weight is up to 175... and I have an overwhelming compulsion to be honest here. Every year at Christmas, we order a case of Utz crab (old bay seasoning) potatoe chips. It used to be, you could only get them in a grab bag size. Now, you can only get them in the family bag size. Do you need it spelled out any more than that? Put.the.pieces.together.

*Working. Lots. No blogging. Did well with food during the week. With this fill, I get hungry after awhile, but then am way too restricted to do any sort of starving feeding frenzy. I dunno. I really don't know.

* Went to a Met production of Puccini today. "Golden Girl of the West"- interesting, an American western sung as an Italian opera. Only Puccini could get away with it. Opera always gets me hot & bothered... it's very sexy. We were in the back row, and there were about four other people in the theatre. Next time I need to remember to wear something other than skinny jeans.

* So, we went home and had an amazing evening. I am living a real love affair. I feel so lucky. We're technically married (drive through in Vegas), but it's better than that. Working on ten years of being together, and we still find new things. I am ruined for life. Il est mon reason d'etre.

* I've been drinking Lime Rickey's since Friday after work. I use Sprite Zero for the base, so it saves one third of the calories. I use equal parts grape sour dekyper, lime tequila/liquor, and the lemon/lime diet soda. Extreme yumminess that you don't expect anything from... but then it delivers.

*Maybe some changes at work coming up. I passed up my first opportunity, not sure if I can do the same this time around.

* My oldest son called to say he doesn't think things are going to work out between himself and his "girlfriend". And that he's been talking to his old girlfriend down here. I stayed cool. I did.

*No news on the bio dad thing. And I can say in all honesty, it's fine. If I want to pursue, I can. I have the luxury of feeling complete... I don't know how or why... but I'm ok. This would be a "nice" to know, not "need" to know.

*I've been reading blogs like mad, but not commenting so much. I love reading what you have to say. Everyone elses life seems so much more exciting than mine. So keep blogging or I'll have not life at all. And it will be all your fault. Go post NOW!

Live, Love, Laugh

Did I choose my phrase for the year because it's painted on every cutesy two x four, in every corner "bow"tique, in Utah? No. I chose it despite that. These words kept coming back to me, and it's probably some craftsy and ribbony subliminal message, but I decided to go with it anyway. And if I end up with a placquard or two with the saying on it by the end of the year, well... you'll know they were giving them away.

The first word that actually came to me was "laugh", however this group of words better defines what my vision for this year is. At a particularly low point in my life, I remember being in a mall cafe, and overhearing a group of women laughing... the sound was so foreign to me, that it stopped me in my tracks. I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed like that, and wondered if I would ever have moments in my life that were that joyous. Much time has passed since then, and I'm at a point in my life where I have found happiness. I'm comfortable in my own skin, I'm in a marriage that I wish for every woman, and I'm at a good place professionally. Now, it's my time to laugh...

But in order to laugh, I need to live. Really live. I've said it before, but I need to remind myself- that I don't ever want to be defined by what I do- I don't ever want my profession to be my life. Having direction is important because people rarely stumble into happiness. However, I've seen people take their chosen direction as a one way road, and by doing so lose more than they gain. I have a theory that people who have passion for what they do, especially outside of work, are ultimately the most successful. Bet you can guess where this is headed...

But in order to live, I need to love. The past two years, I've focused on myself, which was absolutely necessary. Is it possible to help others if you can't help yourself? Is it possible to love others if you can't love yourself? For me the answer would be no, not fully anyway. And now I'm in a much better place physically and emotionally, and have the ability to meaningfully focus on the people around me. A life well lived is about the people we love, not the things we do or have. A great life to me is one filled with moments of true emotion shared with these people.

Yesterday, New Years Day, after partying most of the night and not getting to bed until five in the morning- I was at work because of an end of year deadline. This extra project was thrown at me only a few days before Christmas- and meeting the challenge would take extraordinary lengths. So, there I am during my holiday weekend, working diligently on a Saturday afternoon. I had been there for about an hour, when I noticied I had a text message. It was from my sister... asking if I could I go to a movie with her that evening?

Leave work to go play? Live, love laugh? Live, love, laugh...

I wrapped things up, deadline unmet- and went to have fun with my sister. And we laughed... like the memories I have of those women from a lifetime ago. And we cried... she and her husband had just found out that he will not have a job in about three weeks. And we lived... sharing everything in our lives and making memories to cherish for a lifetime. But mostly we loved... because sharing anything is only worthwhile if it's done out of love. It was the perfect first day of this New Year.