Babies & Animals

I think it's so interesting how babies and animals bring people together.

I was on the elevator at my office building this morning when a young man got on carrying his infant son in the car seat contraption. The baby boy was all wrapped up for the cold weather and he was eyeing everyone around him as he sucked on his pacifier. Each of us on the elevator with the man and the baby boy, including myself, made some sort of comment about the baby. "He's so cute...," "He's all wrapped up and warm!," "Here for a doctor visit today, huh?" And I've seen this scene played out so many times before on that same elevator, as well as on the street, or in the mall.

I see the same thing happen when there are dogs, especially puppies, around. People will pass someone on the street with a dog on a leash and they can't help but pet them. I witnessed this just last week when I stopped at Starbuck's seeing a man with a large yellow Labrador where a young woman, dressed in heels and a suit for work was kneeling down in front of the dog rubbing her face in the dog's fur. It seemed an odd occurrence when I thought about it, especially since the girl at Starbuck's in the heels and the work suit kneeling down in front of the dog was ME, but at the time it seemed completely normal and even somewhat expected.

I love knowing that there are certain things-babies, dogs-that bring us all together like this and bring out the loving, warm nature in all of us.

I am really disappointed with the way a situation here at work is being handled and has been handled in the past. I am angry about the current situation and I feel like I have been treated unfairly. There's not much worse than being a hard worker who does quality work only to learn that you are being underappreciated and undercompensated. I know that this is true for me as I have done the research and have found it to be true. Next steps? Approach my boss. Won't that be fun?

Yesterday was a perfect day.

My husband and I slept late and woke up to the sound of the rain beating against our windows.

We slowly got out of bed, moved around and played with our doggies a bit.

Finally, we got dressed, had lunch, did a little shopping and went to the movies.

At the movies, we shared an Icee and a bag of popcorn.

After the movie, we got ice cream and rented two more movies to watch at home.

Once at home, we snuggled up on the couch and enjoyed a fire in the fireplace.

No worries, no stress, no interruptions.

Only the man I love and a rainy, lazy Sunday.

I am having visions of pink and blue...

I am so excited because a very good friend of mine has just annnounced to the world, or at least to those who read her wonderful blog, that she has been bitten by the Baby Bug!!

As I quickly replied to her, I was born with the baby bug. I have been playing "mom" to someone/something-dolls, stuffed animals, my dogs, neighbor kids, friends, other people's kids and my husband-for my whole life.

As my friend also mentioned, neither of us are trying to have a baby right now, but it's still so fun to think about it as a prospect down the line. The news "We're pregnant!," those nine months of a life growing inside of you and that glow mothers get, nursing and caring for your newborn, seeing your husband love something so much, teaching your toddler and watching them teach you, nurturing your child its whole life and loving them so completely and unconditionally that it hurts.

My husband was finally bitten by that Baby Bug in the last month or so, as well. I know he always wanted to have children, but lately he's been wanting to know timelines and plans and budgets like never before. He is ready.

And I put the brakes on...
Crazy, right? Well, not so crazy. I have a big year ahead of me and I feel like it's my opportunity to be completely selfish as I run and play with my pals and travel a bit. I want this to be the year I remember as one of my best before having children. Luckily, my husband is willing to wait. (Never thought I'd say THAT!)

So, maybe me and a friend or two will experience this fantastic part of life together. That thought truly fills me with much happiness and anticipation. I know we will all be great parents, different maybe, but all great.

Thanks for sharing your bug bites with us, Babsy. I especially appreciate it!!!

I start back to school tonight and I'm taking a class that is one of two "required" courses for this degree program (master of liberal arts). There's something about the word "required" that turns me off. I've never been naturally rebellious. By nature, I enjoy doing things by the book, following rules, doing what's "right" and, at times, I find it frustrating and irritating when others want to be rebellious against the rules. But in my mind, I do not see rules and doing what's "right" as authority. I see these as necessary guidelines, personal decisions to make if you will, that help things to be more efficient, run more smoothly and to keep us all safe and secure, but authority is something else altogether. I do rebel against authority-or someone/an institution telling me what to do. "Who are they to tell me that I am required to take this course?," I think to myself. I have already taken three courses in this program and done well in them and now they want me to take a writing class so they can be sure I am writing well enough to continue in their program. What kind of crap is that? It burns me up to have to take this course when I could be taking something like biomedical ethics or dream interpretations or an examination of the presidency. But I know this way of thinking is to no end...I have to do it.

So I will take the course and do my best to be positive and do a good job. Beginning at 6:30 tonight I will do what is "right" and respect my professor and the requirements that SMU has set forth for this program. Hopefully the reading will be interesting, the professor will be amusing and witty and I will be writing a blog tomorrow saying, "This class may not be so bad after all!" But right now I am rebeling against all of it in my mind and on this blog.

Yes, Mom, I actually do know how to rebel, even if it's simply through a heated blog entry. (Smiles)

My friend, Susan, falling ill with a brain aneurysm, the terrible motorcycle accident I saw on Friday night and my friends, Barbara and Shanna, running a marathon this weekend. All of these events have taught me the same thing: Life is precious, take care of yourself and those around you and live each day to the fullest.

Susan is doing much better-thank you to all of you who have sent me your promises of prayer and spoken your sorrow over her condition. I really appreciate it as does Susan and her family.

Though the motorcyclist who was struck by the suburban did not live Friday night, I prayed for him/her, those in the suburban and those who would have to hear the terrible news about a loved one lost. Hoping only that the persons involved in the accident would experience as little pain and anguish as possible as a result of the accident.

I don't have the update on the marathon that my friends ran down in Houston this past weekend, but I know the months leading up to the race were just as much of an accomplishment as the race itself
(See

Bab's blog

) and I couldn't be more proud of and happy for my two friends. They have shown me what it's like to really challenge yourself and take life by the horns. Congratulations, ladies!!

I just received shocking, sad news about a friend of mine. Her name is Susan and she was my boss for a year when I worked at Gilda's Club North Texas. Susan has suffered a brain aneurysm and is in critical condition at a hospital in Dallas. Please keep Susan and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

I Just Can't Help Myself...

Have you seen this body? Have you seen this music video for "These Boots are Made for Walkin" that actually won a People's Choice Award last night?(http://music.yahoo.com/ar-295687-videos--Jessica-Simpson Check it out!) Exactly how much work does it take to have a body like this? I know, I know...lots and lots of work many times a day with several professionals and a large amount of cash to pay for it all. I wouldn't mind working only half as hard for half of the results. I'm not saying I'm unhappy with my body as it is today, but I would not complain if I looked a little more cut and defined like this lovely lady in the photo up top. I haven't seen hotness like this, and really thought about it, since watching the models on the Sports Illustrated (SI) TV specials where they show the swimsuit issue being photographed in tropical locales with fabulously gorgeous young models like Angie Everheart, Kathy Ireland, Stephanie Seymour and Vendela.

As a teenager watching these shows, I wanted to be just like these women-sexy, exotic, adored by men, sexy (Hell, I STILL feel that way!!). All of these women have different looks and features, but each one is gorgeous.

What Jessica Simpson has is a little different. She's sexy, but she has that "girl next door" face, even with the dark eye make-up of the photo above. It's that sexy yet innocent and naive look that all of these SI models lack. It's very alluring, I think, and something she has that most others do not.

Some may think I'm a maniac for even bringing up something as superficial as physicial beauty, but there's no denying that people think about it. It's on TV, in magazines, all around us and we respond to it. All I'm saying is that the sex appeal and the hotness of these women is undeniable, we think about it and I've been thinking about it as it relates to the hotties of now.

As for Jessica Simpson, that body, especially in this movie and this video in that itty-bitty pink bikini, is greatly intriguing. She's sexy, she's hot and I am a bit envious...enough said.

YEA US!!!

I am very proud of my girlfriends. All of them are happy, healthy, intelligent, beautiful, caring and sassy-a killer recipe for young women.

It seems we have all adopted a healthier lifestyle and attitude since college, or maybe we're all growing up. I don't know. I do know that I admire my friends so much for so many things. Each one of them has so much to offer and each one offers something so very different and wonderful:

Humor. Courage. Strength. Sensitivity. Creativity. Spontaneity. Integrity.

Confidence. Generosity.

I love you guys to death!!!

Anger.

It can sting. It can cause confusion and a deaf ear. It leaves others in shambles with its power. The wrath, the annihilation, the devastation. It erupts. It abuses. It can cause sadness and disappointment.

I fell asleep very early last night and I woke-up this morning with the energy of a four-year-old! I can't wait to get on the road toward my family in Houston. So excited!!!!! Tomorrow morning Santa comes...

Back to Purple

When I was a little girl, everything had to be purple. My bedroom was decorated in various shades of purple-lavender, eggplant, royal purple-thanks to the sewing and design skills of my grandmother. In this room, which is the room I most remember and enjoy thinking about living in, I was creative, organized and energized. I was creative as I colored insatiably-and did a fine job I might add-and I wrote story after story after story, beginning my love of writing and reading. I was organized with my color-coded baskets that I used to separate every little thing in my room, from socks in my chest of drawers to crayons in the desk to toys in the closet. I so enjoyed organizing! I was energized by the purple room, filled with the feeling of being safe and secure in myself and my surroundings, therefore enjoying time alone keeping myself entertained. I would dress up in my single shoulder strap bathing suit with the purple, tropical flowers and set all my big and little stuffed animals all around me in my room to play like I was Jane of the jungle, protecting an innocent baby that had been left in the jungle all alone. In the purple room, I could be anyone, do anything and it lasted all day and into the night. I love the purple of my childhood.

As a teenager and college student I fell in love with blue and silver, the sky, the moon and the stars. My room had mystical and magical feel to express how I felt about the world around me, so much unknown. I was "too grown up" for purple and I neglected that creativity, organization and energy of my purple room for personal expression, experiences and excitment. My walls were covered in cool artwork, photos of friends and various posters, the ceiling with those stars and planets that illuminate when the room is dark and the only sound that came from my room was music, loud girlie music. I loved to dance and laugh with my girlfriends and dream and talk about boys. Boys, boys, boys... Though I reminisce at times about the blue and silver room and that time in my life, I don't miss it all that much.

The red came into my life just as I was graduating from college. Passion for life, fire for the future and deep love met with that blue and silver and the red overcame. For the first time ever, I began wearing red, wanting red in my home and celebrating the intensity of life. I loved with all my heart and soul for the first time, which was shown through my merlot red wall and decor throughout my bedroom. I began being upfront and honest with myself and the people around me and felt real. I also began writing again, something left behind in my teenage and college days, but my pages were so colored with the blue and silver that I couldn't ever finish anything. But the passion kept me positive, knowing I would fulfill that dream of completing a novel eventually. I got married and I renewed a red hot romance with my very best friend. I discovered new friendships and re-established those that were burning out through serious fun and quality time together. I was re-charged and raring to go. The red has stayed with me, though it has softened in a way, to a subtle pink, which goes really well with my re-discovered purple.

When my husband and I moved into our beautiful new home, I knew immediately what color I wanted in our bedroom...royal purple. He thought that was a bit strange at first, but with some gentle encouragment and a lot of green (his favorite color) to accent the purple, he went for it. Again, I enlisted my grandmother to make a wonderfully purple bedspread. Strangely, when I asked for the purple and picked out the fabric, my grandmother was in no way surprised at my choice after all these years. She simply got to work and had it ready for me in no time. My new purple room is so comfortable, as if I have come home. In addition to tapping back in to that creativity through my recent scrapbooking, etc. endeavor, I also began writing again. No one knows this until now, but I have finally completed a short story that I have been working on for a while. It is completely void of the blue and silver that so clouded my mind before and as soon as I'm ready, I'll allow others to read it. Coming back to purple meant, being able to fulfill my dreams, use my God-given and school-supported skills and do what is truly me-creativity, organization and energy. I feel as comfortable within myself and my surroundings now as I did in that one shoulder strap bathing suit as Jane of the jungle, organizing those color-coded baskets and writing away.

Psychologists agree that colors have distinct personalities of their own and some say color can tell us a lot about ourselves. I agree, and I have to say, I am so happy to be back to purple.

Christmas in January...yep, that's right, my husband and I will be celebrating Christmas with my Houston family-mom, Santa, grandparents, Dad, sister, niece and nephew-this weekend and I couldn't be more excited. Santa Claus made a special trip this year leaving mine and my husband's gifts at my Mom's so she could experience our gift-opening with us this coming weekend. Wasn't that nice of him?! He is such a flexible, accomodating guy.

And that brings me to my 2006 Resolutions, in no particular order...

1. Be more flexible and "go-with-the-flow."
I am a bit A.R. and like things a certain way. This year, I am going to bask in the spontaneous and imperfect, throw caution to the wind and enjoy the moment.

2. Continue to treat my body and soul as it was meant to be treated...very, very well.
Now that I have come so far in my journey toward physical and emotional wellness, I plan to keep up the momentum because it just feels too good to slow down.

3. In line with Resolution 2, I will (and have already begun) cook and prepare more meals at home.
Anyone who knows me, knows I don't cook. The occasional "Real Simple" meal is about all I've ever really done. So, in an effort to maintain my healthier eating habits and to save money, I want to crack open those cook books gathering dust on the book shelf and try out some recipes. This one will be the biggest challenge. Do you think I'm up for it?

4. Stay home more.
I am a busy body, an Aries, an Extrovert, a social butterfly who loves being around other people. Not that I have to stay away from others when I stay home or "stay in," I just need to, again, eat my meals in my home that I love and save money. Anyone and everyone is invited to join me at home, as a matter of fact your presence will be required for me to ever fulfill this particular resolution!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!

MERRY 2006!!