What she deserves...

My mother is redecorating her kitchen. You would think by her telling of how horrible/time-consuming/taxing this has been that we had taken over a small country. It's almost over and it's taken about 6 weeks. It's taken this long because she was born without the part of her brain that makes decisions.

She has no idea how to narrow her choices to three and then pick from those. That's where I come in. I'm not sure that she's loving anything that "we've" picked out lately, but it was necessary that I help her. She would still be wallowing in her own wondering if I didn't.

I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday we went back to the tile store for the second day in a row. I took her on a preemptive strike the day before just so it wouldn't take so long yesterday. They'll be laying the tile next Tuesday and it will be finished. Thank you, Lord.

My point is that she deserves to have a lovely kitchen and she will have it. I'm happy for her. I just wish she knew how to love what she's getting instead of seeing the negatives. During this past six weeks, people have lost limbs, children, loved ones, homes to fires and yet, she thinks she's had it rough. She can't see the glory of it all.

Her eyes just cannot see.

Putting Somebody First....Who will it be?

I know we've all heard it, but I'm going to go Oprah on you. Mainly because I need to hear it.

Put yourselves first. A healthy you is the best way to take care of everyone else.

Make time for...

Exercise...even if it's just 15 minutes and I'm gonna get my hair all sweaty.
Friends....laughter, serious discussions to solve the world's problems, etc.
Quiet time alone
Shopping
Parents...even though they drive us nuts. They won't always be here to do so.
Planning meals and healthy snacks.
Alcohol....I've made lots of time for this lately.
Artistic endeavors. We all need it. Even if it's coloring with the kids.

I'm the world's worst at putting myself last. I'm going to change that. Me first.

ME. ME. ME!

The Athlete Inside Me...

Well, there is one. It's just hard to see past the fat.

I remember how it *felt* to run back when I was in shape. It was wonderful. Free. Easy. And now, it's just hard. My soul wants to run, but my body's holding me back. Well, my body and my mind. My mind because I'm not controlling what I eat.

I joined the YMCA ( a gift from my mother) around the first of November. I must say that I'm doing remarkably well. I actually jogged a bit yesterday despite my fat ass. Some days I walk for 30 minutes, some days I feel like going for an hour. I'm forcing myself. I have the time. I have no excuses. I have the clothes. And finally, I'm doing it. I guess I should be proud, but I don't want to look this way. I don't want to be hindered by all of this junk in my trunk.

And yet, I eat the junk that places more junk in my trunk. I need to be locked in a fat farm for a year...if not longer. Do they still wire people's mouths shut? That might be the answer. No. Probably not. I'd just run down to Sonic and get a Gingerbread shake. That would slide right through.

Will it be easier after the holidays? Yes. Will it be easy? No. What would make this easy? Does it have to be for me to do it? Why can't I know it's going to be hard and do it anyway? Why, why, why? Perhaps the Nike people are right.

Just call me Julie, the blog thief.

Star (because I don't know how to do bold in a blog!) all those that you ever were guilty of doing. When you are done, add one thing that is true about yourself to the end, then post the list to your blog.

* I’ve run away from home. (Took my stuffed monkey to the end of the driveway.)
I listen to political music.
I collect comic books.
I shut others out when I’m sad.
I open up to others easily.
* I am keeping a secret from the world. (I know some good ones)
* I watch the news.
I own over 5 rap CDs.
* I own an iPod. (And I’m damn proud of it)
I own something from Hot Topic.
* I love Disney movies.
* I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
* I don’t kill bugs.
I have “x”s in my screen name.
I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a real conversation.
I love Spam.
* I bake well.
* I would wear pajamas to school/work.
I own something from Abercrombie.
* I have a job.
* I love Martha Stewart. (I think she’s even better for the prison experience!)
* I am in love with someone.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
* I am self conscious.
* I like to laugh. (I LOVE to laugh)
I smoke a pack a day.
I loved Go Ask Alice.
I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
I can’t swallow pills.
* I quit smoking. (I was 12 and it wasn’t so bad.)
* I have many scars.
* I’ve been out of this country.
* I believe in ghosts.
* I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
* I am really ticklish.
* I love chocolate.
I bite my nails.
* I am comfortable with being me.
* I play computer games/video games when I’m bored.
* Gotten lost in the city.
* Saw a shooting star.
* I have had 2 serious surgical procedures. (OK, maybe it just felt serious at the time)
* I have kissed a stranger.
* Hugged a stranger.
* Been in a fist fight with the same sex. (Although, bed rugby is much more fun!)
Been arrested.
* Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
* Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
* Made out in an elevator.
Sworn at my parents.
Kicked a guy where it hurts.
Been skydiving.
Been bungee jumping.
* Broken a bone. (Toes count, right?)
* Played spin the bottle.
Gotten stitches.
* Bitten someone.
Been to Niagara Falls.
* Gotten the chicken pox.
* Crashed into a car.
Been to Asia.
* Ridden in a taxi.
* Shoplifted.
* Been fired.
* Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
* Had a crush on a teacher/coach. (He let me try his Gin & Tonic in a plane over Paris….I think he kinda liked me, too.)
Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
* Been to Europe.
* Slept with a co-worker.
Been married.
Gotten divorced.
Saw someone dying.
* Driven over 400 miles in one day.
Been to Canada.
* Been on a plane.
* Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show. (I can’t count the times!)
* Thrown up in a bar. (I crawled to the bathroom…thinking I was going to throw up)
* Eaten Sushi.
Been snowboarding.
* Been skiing.
* Been ice skating.
Met someone in person from the internet.
* Been to a car show.
* Gone to college.
* Done hard drugs.
* Taken painkillers.
Met a celebrity.
* I like playing practical jokes.
Seen all nine seasons of the X-Files.
Once swore Disco would never die.
* Seen a ghost.
* Attended a professional sporting event.
* Attended a live rock concert.
* Stayed up all night.
* Lied about my name. (If you meet a Julie or Gwen that looks just like me, well….it’s me)
* Thrown something at a spouse. (Still regret missing her with my 3” stacked heel)
* After a night out, have gone straight to work without going home. (Over & over & over)
* Flirted with someone just to make them feel better about themselves.