Workout Warning

Remember last summer when I used to post how many laps I swam each day? Remember how annoying it was? Yeah, I'm thinking I'm gonna start doing that again. I've been working out like a mad person lately. No idea how long I'll keep it up but for now, it's great stress relief and well, it's good for you and the clothes fit better and all that. But my point? There may be some "laps swam" posts made here in the near future. Just saying. For some reason, I feel justified when I post it for the world to see? Actually, I was just thinking, it was about this time, last year (Thursday will be the one year anniversary) that I got the final call about "the job." That sort of put a damper on the whole swimming laps thing because after twelve hour shifts of dealing with the world's problems, swimming laps was not usually high on my list of priorities. Looking back, I'm really glad that whole thing didn't work out...but that's a story for another time!

For the record, there was no swimming today. I've had a million different people pulling me in a million different directions today it seems and I've been kind of sick and all that good stuff, but the Gabs and I did go for a walk in the woods tonight...in the dark...and I'm about to go do some weight lifting. So there. That wasn't too painful was it?

Doing the right thing - President Reagan

Quote of the Day: "There are no easy answers but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan

This one really stood out for me today. I don't think there's a famous Reagan quote I don't like, but I've been thinking and reading a lot about strength and courage and doing the right thing no matter what you have to sacrifice...and of course, my #1 fave president says it beautifully.

I have a lot to do today that I didn't know I was going to be doing until late last night, so I thought I'd just throw up a quick quote and wish everyone a good Sunday!

Dreams

Quote of the Day: “Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there.” - Otomo No Yakamochi

A couple of years ago, I worked part-time in a little restaurant that some friends of the GC owned (you may remember "job number two" if you've been with me that long) to make a little extra money. Anyway, it was a very small place and on Saturdays, it was just him and me in charge from 6:00 AM until noon. To make a long story short, we were looking at quotes one Saturday and ran across this one. Immediately, we both loved it because it was a lot more realistic than some of the other quotes of a similar nature.

Anyway, last night, after my friend Roxy and I did our first podcast for BlogTalkRadio (more info on that to come), my head hit the pillow and I didn't wake up until about 10:00 AM when my mom so rudely called to see if I wanted anything at the store. I proceeded to mumble something not so polite and fall back asleep for a couple more hours. At some point during all that sleep, I had a dream that was just way too good and way too realistic. Of course, I woke up and realized that it was just that - a dream. I know that happens to everyone, over and over again, but it reminded me of that quote...and maybe that I forgot to put a quote of the day up yesterday.

So that's it. All that explanation to tell you I had a very good dream last night! Now I'm off to do some things. Will be updating more later, hopefully! Got lots of writing planned for tonight, but right now, the pool is calling me!

The Dining Room

So it's not really a dining room...so much as it is a "dining area" in the large room that is my living room/kitchen, but seven weeks later, I finally got my dining room table set up. (It's missing a chair because I'm using it for something else at the moment and it had a glass vase on it but I figured it looked pathetic sitting there, empty.) Anyway, when I get the whole room done, I'll post better pictures. I was just proud of myself for putting that thing together...even if it's sort of wobbly. I think I was supposed to use a wrench or something. Oh well. I'm thinking of painting the chairs black - they actually go with another dining room table I have. We'll see.

The Highlight of My Week

I've got a lot of real mailing I'm going to have to do in the next few weeks, so I decided it's time to order some new address labels. I did a quick Google search for the online store I used to order from and was totally devastated to find that the lady who ran it was no longer in business because she decided to spend more time with her kids! So, I did some searching and I ended up on eBay. Lots of labels to choose from there and I usually go with something patriotic (shocking I know), but I saw these (see picture above) and thought they were absolutely adorable without being too cutesy for me. So, I ordered a few sheets at $1.00 a sheet with a few extra bucks for shipping and they arrived a few days ago. They are very cute, professionally done, and just overall good quality. If you need some cute, personalized address labels, note cards, invitations, etc...check out J and S Graphics. Very pleased!

Old Hickory

Quote of the Day: "Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go on." - Andrew Jackson

I picked this quote for two reasons:

1. Andrew Jackson is one of my favorite presidents. Obviously, I have issues with some of his stances (see: slavery), but I like his rebellious spirit and his inclination toward protecting individual liberty.

2. It's very true. Whether you're talking about politics, war, or simple life crap, there is always a time when you just have to quit thinking and analyzing and just do (or quit doing) whatever it is. I know that's something I need to work on and perhaps why I've missed out on some great opportunities in my lifetime.

And on that note, today, I have an honorary Quote of the Day from my friend Candice's blog: "Ever come to the realization that you realized too late that you wanted something you didn't know you wanted when you had the chance to have it?" If you can identify with that, you should most certainly read on: Randomly Candice: Not gonna lie, today kinda sucked. I couldn't have written it better, myself! Story of my life! And then read her other stuff - it's good!

Margaret Mitchell

Quote of the Day: “I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken - and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” - Margaret Mitchell

A near-perfect day

You ever have a day that's really very simple but it's also really just a great day? Those are really my favorite kinds of days...

Last night, I put in a call to the GC (who was in Florida) to see if he wanted to do something today when the family got back from vacation. There are very few people in the world who I can just be myself around - he's probably pretty close to the top of that list and that's just the kind of mood I was in. Funny, we didn't get along for many years...thinking back to the day I was babysitting him and his little brother and he locked us out of the house. But then again, I remember when he was about five - ironically, we were in Florida - I'd gone shopping and bought a bunch of clothes and no one in the entire family was interested in seeing what I got but him. I guess I should have seen it coming.


Anyway, after a quick trip out to pick up some cleaning supplies, father's day cards for my father and grandfather, and to take advantage of Publix's buy three get one free deal on Diet Coke, the GC came over and we headed out to the big state park on the other side of the county. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it'd be, so went along the main nature trail (usually we go off the beaten path a little) and walked to the remnants of an old mill that was burned when Atlanta burned during the war. Took a few pictures, sat on a bench and watched the water for a while, tried and failed miserably not to sweat and turned around to come back. Gabby managed to get off her leash at the edge of the trail but headed straight for the car. I guess she'd had enough nature and history.

After that park, we headed to another one, a new one in the county north of here that I visited last weekend, but we didn't stay too long. Someone was getting married there and it just felt a little weird being there. We decided we might die of heat exhaustion if we didn't find any cherry icees (or maybe I will make up any excuse to have a cherry icee) and proceeded to drive around three counties, stopping in at least ten different gas stations. While we didn't find any icees (Well, we did, but come on, who wants blue raspberry when there is cherry to be had?), we did have a fun drive, some nice conversation, and listened to some great music.

And of course, I finished the day with a swim. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a good, simple day with good company, a good time, a little history, nature, and exercise thrown in...all good, only missing a good cherry icee.

We also decided that for the rest of the summer - gas prices and time permitting - we're going to try to do something like that once a week but maybe venture out more - lots of great parks, interesting historical sites, beautiful places etc. in Georgia and the surrounding states, why not take advantage?

So, expect lots of pictures! Speaking of...here are a few from our trip yesterday:

This is just a picture of the river - down further, it's a lot prettier with the rapids and such, but I got tired of taking pictures at that point!
There are some really pretty little water run offs that I'm sure were part of the mill but that are absolutely gorgeous. I'm not sure I can describe it well and some of my pictures actually didn't come out so great, so this is the best I got.
Your obligatory Gabby swimming in something picture...
What's left of the old mill...it's actually really pretty brick with ivy growing all over it. You can't really see it because the sun is so bright but the rock and wood door structure is gorgeous! Then again, I'm a sucker for rock anything used in architecture!

Iran

Quote of the Day: "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." -Abraham Lincoln

P.S. My friend Pat has a great post: On Arrogance, Liberals, and Iran. Go read it!

Quote of the Day: Margie DeMerell

"There will be storms, child there will be storms. And with each tempest, you will seem to stand alone against cruel winds, but with time, the rage and fury shall subside. And when the sky clears, you will find yourself clinging to someone you would have never known but for storms." - Margie DeMerell

Not much to say. A friend, who I guess knew I liked quotes, sent me this a month or two ago and I thought it was good.

Song of the Day: A Pirate Looks at 40...

Back in the day, when I first discovered Jimmy Buffett, I never liked this song, but now, some 15 years later, it's one of my favorites! Very relatable!

One day, you'll understand...

Quote of the Day: [A Christian's Love] is in itself generous and disinterested, springing from no view of advantage to himself, from no regard to profit or praise; no, nor even the pleasure of loving. This is the daughter, not the parent, of his affection. By experience he knows that social love, if it means the love of our neighbour, is absolutely different from self-love, even of the most allowable kind-just as different as the objects at which they point. And yet it is sure that, if they are under due regulations, each will give additional force to the other till they mix together never to be divided. - John Wesley (Letters: "To Dr. Conyers Middleton")

When I was young and my grandmother died, one of her good friends gave me a book. I can honestly say I had zero interest in it. At that time in my life, I'm sure it ended up unopened on a bookshelf with other little books and gifts I'd received from my grandmother's friends because that was just the way it was. I was ungrateful and didn't really get it as most of are when we are young. But one thing I do remember is when I saw that particular friend and thanked her for the book. She smiled her "grandmother's friend" smile but she stopped suddenly and I remember wondering if she knew that I'd just stuffed it on a shelf with other gifts and tried to think of something else to say to indicate I'd at least opened to the first page. Before I could speak, she said to me, "I know you probably don't know why I gave you that book, but one day, you'll understand." I smiled, thanked her again, and she walked away, never to mention the book again, but her words haunted my mind, "One day, you'll understand."

Throughout my teenage years, I saw the book only because I had a strange affinity for rearranging my bedroom. As I grew up and began moving in and out of various homes of my own, I saw the book only when I packed and unpacked. Even so, every time I saw the book, I heard the lady say, "One day, you'll understand."


Fast forward to last night. I was very worried about some things, some friends, and just looking for a little peace for myself. For some reason, that book popped into my head. I had no idea what was in it, but I went on a rampage through some yet to be unpacked boxes, looking for it. I found it, spent a good deal of time reading through it and I can honestly say, I think I finally understand.

No need to tell what the book is but it has a lot of quotes in it that I'm sure I'll use here from time to time. And picture of the hyndrangea bush from my aunt's yard...the Gabs and I went for a walk around "the compound" last night and well, I can't resist pretty flowers!

Frog on a dead bird...

I'm all tapped out tonight, so I thought I'd bring you "When Frogs Attack, Part 3." This is about a week and a half old, but imagine my surprise when I saw a dead bird floating in the pool and there, sitting on top of it, was a creepy little frog. A creepy evil little frog.

One Day You Will

Song of the Day: "One Day You Will" by Lady Antebellum. I just randomly heard this song today and I really liked the lyrics and am really starting to like this group. Anyway, great little inspirational song...I know I have some friends who are going through some things right now...listen, I promise it'll make you feel better!

Quote of the Day: Albert Schweitzer

Quote of the Day: "In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." - Albert Schweitzer

As I've noted, I've been trying to get back into posting a daily quote. Back in the day, I used to give each quote some commentary or say why it was meaningful. That was a lot easier when I merely quoted Reagan or Limbaugh or Thomas Jefferson. Lately, I've been into these touchy-feely quotes (see: two or three days worth of lines from Winnie the Pooh books) and while, I guess I'll admit I write a lot of songs, poetry, and stories that are what I would deem "girly," I don't usually share them with anyone. Anyway, I actually found today's quote when I was looking for something else; it really struck me and I knew I had to use it. At first, I posted it and let it stand alone but I felt that it was too important to go without a little more.

I think it's very rare to know someone who can truly live up to that description, who "rekindles the inner spirit." Someone who makes you feel things that you didn't know you were capable of feeling for other people. Someone to whom you are willing to give the whole world just to make them happy. Someone who strengthens or helps you rediscover your faith. Someone who makes you feel so good about yourself even on your worst days. Someone with whom you can be honest and let your guard down, and trust that they will be okay with that and do the same with you. Someone whose faults you accept as much as their best qualities and given the opportunity, you would never ever even considering changing one thing about them. Someone who you tell your deepest secrets to. Someone with whom you want to share good times, bad times, and times when there is nothing else left to do other than just be.

The funny thing about that person is that you really can't plan or predict when or where you'll find them. You can't wait for the perfect circumstances and situations. They may just sneak up on you one day when you think you have your life all figured out or they may very well be someone you already know and never gave a chance. Maybe the way they enter your life, no matter how small or grand, scares you so much in a way you've never been scared before and you have no idea how to handle it. Maybe it just takes you a while to realize you're no longer in total control of the way you feel. Or maybe you search for a million reasons why not before you finally realize your reasons are so superficial and there is nothing more to do than take a deep breath, let the person inside your heart, and hope for the best.

I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and there could be many reasons why that person enters your life. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out exactly why and sometimes the road to get there may be horrible and wonderful all at once. But even when the going is rough, as the quote says, above all, you must be thankful you had the opportunity to know someone in your lifetime who can simply turn your world upside down and make you realize anything is possible and that your life will truly never be the same.

Day at the Park

Because I have absolutely nothing better I could be doing, I decided to take the Gabs up to a park in the county north of here. I saw it a few weeks ago when I had to drive up that way for something else and thought it looked like a nice place and it was. Lots of open walking trails, lakes, and places to have picnics, but I think I prefer the two wooded parks I go to in my own county. Plus, it was very family-oriented, which is great, don't get me wrong, but when you're the only non-couple or family there, you feel a bit out of place! We managed to find a fairly private place to walk and as usual, Gabby headed straight for the water. She seemed to really like the place so maybe we'll go back sometime...if gas doesn't keep going up. I paid $2.50 for that stuff today!! When do we get to start complaining about "Barack Obama's oil prices?"

Palin Vs. Letterman and a few not so good men

I'm a little late weighing in on this but what can I say, life gets in the way of blogging sometimes. Here are my thoughts: Full disclosure - I do not like David Letterman. In the war of late night programming (when I actually used to watch it anyway), I was all about Jay Leno. I've never really thought Letterman was all that funny and on top of it, there's just something about him I don't like. I usually consider myself a good judge of people and there are some that just bother me for reasons I can't explain. That said, everyone on the planet knows I adore Sarah Palin, so yes, obviously my opinion is biased. But I think there are three ways to look at this "situation." You have the "freedom of speech" aspect, you have the "double standard" aspect, and something that hasn't been covered a lot, I think we have the "what does this teach us about ourselves" aspect.

I think what David Letterman said about Palin's daughter(s) was very tacky, disgusting, perverted and in poor taste but I think he had every right to say it...you know, free speech and all of that. I don't think it means we need to make a law that you can't make crude jokes about someone's underage children, but I also think that any person with half a brain, comedian or not, would have sense enough not to go there and realize that it is in very poor taste. While I think Letterman had the right to say it, I think he can't complain about the consequences, whatever they may be. Everyone from his network to his viewers have the right to respond whatever way they see fit.

One thing that does bother me, however, is that I'm pretty sure Letterman would more than likely not make those jokes about Sasha or Malia Obama (not that I would ever want him to). There seems to be a double standard for what can and can't be said about a politician's family, depending on what side of aisle that politician votes on. Even President Obama said during the 2008 election, "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits." The media applauded him. When Sarah Palin says a politician's children should be off limits as she has many times, she's laughed at and told it's her fault for bringing them in the public eye.

My friend Roxy and I were discussing it last night and she brought up a very valid point on her blog: Where have all the real men gone? Matt Lauer interviewed Palin this week and had the audacity to stand up for Letterman, to tell Palin her reaction was out of line. I was watching Shepard Smith on Fox News yesterday and he even implied that somehow, Palin was out of line to be offended at the joke. As far I know, Smith doesn't have children, but Lauer does. Would his reaction be the same if a disgusting joke was made about his own children?

I think that says a lot about a man's character - the way in which he reacts to something like that. I don't care if the man is single, has no kids, hates kids, etc. If a man can't understand what is wrong with making very public jokes about raping a 14 year old girl (or any girl for that matter) and can't understand why that girl's parents are rightfully disgusted, then there is quite obviously something wrong with that man. I would never want to be involved with anyone like that, myself. Call me a little old-fashioned, but as I've said on this very blog before, the ideal man is strong and masculine but also knows not to use those traits to take advantage of anyone weaker than he is. I'll take that a step further and say he should also be willing to defend those who are weaker than he is and I applaud every man who has spoken out against Letterman's tasteless jokes this week. Shepard Smith, Matt Lauer and any other man who defended him are really the disgusting ones.

Watch the video below to see the segment of Lauer's interview with Palin where he brings up the Letterman story:

When frogs attack Part 2

I'm pretty sure this thing just tried to kill me. I stepped outside my door to get something out of my car and it just goes hopping right by my feet like he's not scared of me one bit. Then it procedes to just sit there while I stare at it, each of us waiting for the other to make the first move. He didn't act right away so I screamed, took a running leap over him to get to my car, and when I returned to my door, not only was he still there, he was even closer to the door. I won't go into the rest of the details. Let's just say I got my exercise for the day. THE THING WAS HUGE!! It's going to be a long summer.

In case you're keeping count, Frogs 2, Sarah 0. Damn frogs.

P.S. Wonder if I could have a talk with federal gov about having frogs outsourced to Bermuda or Palau

Songbird

Song of the Day "Songbird" - Fleetwood Mac. Because news and politics were just too much today, I popped in my "The Dance" DVD and at the end, Christine McVie does this song solo, just her and the piano. It's very simple but to me with the amazing lyrics, it's just the sweetest thing ever!

Piglet & Pooh

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."

This is why I don't cook Part 3,473

Remember this? This is what happens when I cook...

Apparently my cooking sucks as much in the little house in the wood as it did in the cute historic downtown home. Ooops.

Learning what really matters in life...

"You can't help respecting anybody who can spell Tuesday, even if he doesn't spell it right, but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.” - Winnie the Pooh.

What can I say? Winnie the Pooh is pretty smart for a fictional bear. I've been wanting to use that quote for a while but I could never think of a good time. I really can't say why I'm using it now, but it has multiple meanings and it's all good.

Take it Easy

Quote of the Day: "We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again." - The Eagles

Ok, not super profound but one of my favorite songs and one of my favorite lines from a song. I see it like this: you can't sit around, afraid to take chances. Whatever happens - losing or winning - at least you tried because more than likely, you'll never have the chance again. Not sure if that's what Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey had in mind when they wrote the song, but that's how I see it.

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a great weekend! I've done anything but take it easy. It was nice to be productive and nice to get some much needed work done. I've done laundry, dishes, decorated and set up my bathroom, got some stuff done for work, wrote some fiction stuff, put some things on eBay, boxed up some stuff for Good Will and/or a future garage sale my mom keeps saying she's going to have, hung some pictures, worked out, almost finished the book I've been reading since oh, about February, went grocery shopping. I'm sure there is more I am not thinking of.

Oh yeah, I bathed the dog but that wasn't by choice. I got up at 7:00 AM and decided I'd let Gabby out for a few minutes while I checked my email and then we could both go back to bed. That'd guarantee me a few more hours of sleep, right? Ha. I guess I was half-asleep because I let Gabby in and didn't notice that my normally brown and white dog was now a nice dark shade of black. It wasn't until after I'd been laying down for a few minutes and realized I'd left something in the living room that I noticed my newly black dog laying in my no longer white chair. I wanted to kill her. I picked her up and dumped in the bathtub and proceeded to scrub God knows what off of her fur and then we both went back to bed smelling like Gerber Baby Body Wash and slept until 11:15 AM. Haven't slept that late in a while. So that's pretty much how my weekend has gone. Looking forward to an even more productive week so I can relax some next weekend!

And of course, song of the day: "Take It Easy" by The Eagles

Why I shouldn't live in the woods...

So, I was getting ready to hang this rack on the wall beside my front door and this is what I end up face to face with. I can't tell if it's dead or alive but I will not be taking any chances. There will be no more leaving the door open while Gabby's outside! I've put out an APB for every man I know within a five mile radius and am sitting far far away from it so as not to catch any horrible frog diseases while I await my dad's arrival.

UPDATE: Frog is gone. He was dead and had been so for quite some time. My dad wishes I'd get married.

Bathroom complete...almost

I can't believe I'm posting these pictures on my blog, and I certainly can't believe I'm going into this much detail but...

So, since I moved into the new house, I've been kind of slacking in the unpacking/decorating/cleaning department. And while I have a million other things I could have spent the morning doing, I decided I'd take on the room that needed the least work. Keep in mind, it's a rental house and I can't exactly afford to run out and buy a bunch of new stuff. Anyway, my goal along with a number of other personal projects is to have the house totally decorated and fixed up by the end of the summer, if not before! I don't know how long I'll be here, but I figured it'd be nice to at least make the place feel lived in. Anyway, aside from the curtains and the fact that I have no towels hanging on the rack, my bathroom is probably as decorated as it's gonna get! Enjoy.

I tried to do a panoramic view but these uploaded backwards! The main thing I did was put stuff on my LARGE wooden sink/vanity. There is a lot of wood and rock in my house which is pretty neat - gives it a mountain cabin/lodge kind of feel, I guess. So, what are you seeing? On the left corner, bottle. I collect bottles - I prefer old ones but will go with just about anything. As far as color goes, I mostly have blue since it's my favorite color but I had a few pink and purple ones - not my favorite colors at all, too girly, but they go in the bathroom. Next is my Aveda stuff. I just think the green bottles are pretty and they looked good sitting out. Then the toothbrush holder I bought next to a big candle holder I got for $5 and a little framed picture of baby Gabby. I actually wanted to put an old picture of my Great-Great Aunt Opal but I couldn't get it to fit in the frame and didn't want to cut it up! Gabby may or may not stay - I have a few other framed pictures of her and I think having too many framed pictures of your dog in your house is just sort of weird...

Nothing to see here but the inside of the bathroom door and half of the wooden wall, curtainless window, and my clothes hamper!
I just hung that picture with some "Hercules clips." While I was hanging it, all I could think was two things: 1) My mother is going to see this and yell at me for hanging it too high (she does that for some weird reason) and 2) There goes my security deposit. I won't tell you how many holes are in the wall behind that picture.

When you walk in...you can't really see my shower curtain that well, but it's a tannish color with green, purple, and burgundy flowers and leaves on it. Kind of girly but I got a really good deal and it's pretty. Unfortunately, I got paint on it but you can't really see it.

This concludes the tour of my bathroom, tune in next week for the kitchen?? Hmmm...

D-Day

Quote of the Day: "You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely....The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Grrrrr

Quote of the Day: "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's been one hell of a day that not only cost me time and a TON of money but has me thinking about a lot of things. I could easily dwell on it, but I've decided the above quote is my new personal mantra. You know... "tomorrow is another day" without being totally cliche!

So anyway, it's been bugging me that I haven't updated a lot lately, but I have come to the decision that no matter what, I am going to put a quote of the day on this blog on a daily basis like I used to. Starting now!