Apologies...

I'm on vacation blogosphere.  Sorry for my absence and I so should've announced this sooner but I'm vacaying for a week and so my posts will be scarce.  There are a lot of little things going on and so I'll have plenty to mention next week.....promise....

I can't promise whether I will or will not post until then but lets just be preemptive and say......

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Please be safe and sound and thank you for the comments and feedback in '08.   You are all helping me to piece together the person I'm becoming.

Merry ???? Christmas PT. 2

I like to break things up a bit.....

So the night didn't end with the dancing.  We realized that we've been couped up in an emotionally draining madhouse all day and we now had even more to celebrate so we headed to a local irish bar.

Yes...on Jesus' Bday....Don't judge me!

Ok, so at the bar the boyfriends play pool, sis & I play darts we are drinking it up.  Enter the pitchers of beer....(sigh).

By that time my podmate and her fiancee 'Phi' arrived on the scene and debauchery was in full effect.

Did I mention the pitcher of beer?

Ok....so the boyfriends engage in their 'chimneying' (blacks)...Did I mention the pitcher of beer?

So lets recount.....

At house #1 we dranks a carrot juice (not v8, but a special mom concoction that rivals any eggnog-esque drink you've ever had...ever) it had a bit of rum in it.  White Rum...ok yes....I'm Jamaican.

Then the boys bought a handle of crown at House #2.  They collectively finished more than half of it.

At house #2 everyone had at least one glass of rum punch.  More rum than punch and it was made with JB

Sigh

At the bar the boys continued with their love of all things crown & coke and then...the 2 pitchers of beer.

Ok....

So.....someone(present company excluded) went home with less in their stomach than what they arrived with.  To be specific, that which was in their stomach is prob still on the sidewalk.

Thanks bestie for being the DD and getting everyone home safely!  Thanks Podmate and PHI for making the night special :)

It was an 'interesting' first Christmas with the boyfriends.  They didn't seem too thrown by the whole ordeal and at the end of the day we realized and remembered that nothing is guaranteed.  So we should cherish what/who we have EVERY DAY.

And at the end of the day my b.cakes left me with this tidbit: "I enjoyed our last first Christmas."  I guess cakes wasn't thrown at all and we'll do it again next year :)

Merry ???? Christmas

My family seems a bit Cosby-ish.  Our get togethers are always warm and family-esque.  We laugh and enjoy each other's company.  Often times we gather around some photos and its just really a scene out of a TV Land special.

Until yesterday......Yesterday was the first time in my 25 +1 yrs on this earth that there was DRAMA at the family gathering....well lets pare down the 'drama' and just say it was an 'interesting' Christmas Day.

Here we go....opened the presents with my immediate family and the boyfriends(mine and my sisters) were present..o'shea & b.cakes....it was a glorious time with loads of laughter (pics to come in a later post).

Then we made our usual trek out to Grandma's to open presents again with the extended family.  When we got there Grandpa was missing.  It was odd initially, but we figured he just ran to Walgreens and would be right back.

O'shea and b.cakes made a run to the liquor store for some crown & coke and we settled in nicely.  So....a hour later we decided to eat even though Gramps was still out.  While eating , the story surrounding his 'disappearance' came out.  Apparently he and grams had a bit of a tif and he left in a huff.

Sidebar: My entire family operates much like I do...we get upset...we disappear....we reappear...and everything is fine.

So the day progresses and the sun sets on the boy's (cousins, brothers, boyfriends) football game in the back yard.  As it gets later the air starts to change and now everyone is getting worried because Gramps still hasn't returned.  He isn't picking up his cell, he isn't at anyone else's house, he didn't go in to work....He couldn't be located.....

Minutes turn to hours and now he's been gone for over 6 hours on Christmas Day.  The tree is in the corner still bursting with gifts.  The holiday spirit is precariously suspended in the room, discomfort and anxiety abounds.

Pause

This is the first Christmas with our family for o'shea & b.cakes   

Continue

So finally the decision is made to call the police and file a missing person's report.  Grams starts to dig through papers in her room to find his tag information, paperwork is being filled out, anxiety is peaking. 

Uncle takes one car and is circling Royal Palm trying to spot gramp's truck, cousins are out in their cars checking parks and strip mall parking lots, uncles and boyfriends are sipping on drinks to steady their nerves.

As auntie finishes the call with the police to get the official search party started, gramps pulls up.

The family takes one look at his truck and at him, everyone realizes that he's ok and that's when the emotions started to flow.

Uncle peeled out of the driveway with such anger that I'm sure he'll need new tires.  Sister & cousins were overcome with tears and emotions.  Grams locked her door and sat in her room.  Mom cornered gramps and forced him to realize the emotional rollercoaster he put everyone through.

It was as though someone had uncorked the bottled emotions and poured them out.

Pause

Did I mention this was the FIRST Christmas that the boyfriends spent with us? (Welcome to the family).

A hour later the emotions simmered.  Gramps apologized to everyone and then sat down all 6 grandchildren and hugged and apologized to them.  He realized his selfishness and wanted to just be forgiven and to move on.  Note by grandchildren I mean the 6 of us (ages 18-26) and my bestie who's (27ish).

Ok so...we opened the presents, cranked up the ska, reggae, calypso, r&b jams on the record player...yep i said record....and danced the night away.....

Bestie said it best: "I wasn't ready for where the night was going...."

Finally

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Rushing to slow down

All week I've been going at a whirlwind pace.  Why?  To get ready for vacation.  I am so guilty of this level of insanity.  Yet, I can't break it.  I cram 2 weeks of work into one week...to get ready for a week of vacation goodness.  By the time I get to the week I'm broke-down, busted and disgusted!

It's ridiculous!

Today especially.  I've been everywhere and back and now I can't even enjoy my hair appointment because I'm going through a mental checklist of things that I need to do by 6pm.

Oh yea...and I have 2 church services to make it to & through today.

*Whew!* 

I'm breathing!  Happy Merry Christmas Eve I'll have much calmer posts over the next week :)

Morning Musing

Is it Thursday yet?

I Love Him...No For Real...Love

I can't stand to hear a group of women talking badly about ALL MEN.  Here's the thing, there are definitely some terrible men in this world and there are just as many terrible women.  

But there are some really great guys and I've been blessed to have met quite a few of them. 

However, lets be honest.  I'm not here to complete an ode to the entire male species.  My focus is on one in particular.  I don't pause enough to say thank you or to tell him how much he's appreciated.  

He's mine, he's amazing and I love him.  Enough Said :)

BTW, Happy Eve of Christmas Eve!

Seriously?

Here we go.....

Friday

Message: "your prescription needs to be refilled"

Dani(dialing pharmacy): Hi, I just wanted to follow up on the message that you left.

Pharmacist: Yes, we called & faxed your drs. office and got no response, so we can't fill your prescription.

Dani: Ok, thanks

Dani (dials drs office & leaves message for triage nurse)

Later that day.....

Dani (dialing pharmacy): Hi, I was just calling to check on my prescription 

Pharmacist: No one has called or answered our calls

Monday

Dani (dialing drs. office): Hi, I was calling to check on my prescription status

Drs Office: We faxed it in on Friday and called and spoke to someone to verify receipt

Dani: (sigh)

Drs. Office: Let me call back to speak to someone

Dani: Ok, Thanks

Moments Later.....

Drs. Office: They said they've had your prescription since Friday and its ready for pickup

Dani: (silence)

Drs. Office: (nervous laugh) Sorry about the back and forth have a Happy Holiday

Dani: (sigh) Thanks you too

Dani(dialing pharmacy): Hi I'm calling to verify whether or not my...

Pharmacist(cuts me off mid sentence): Name?, DOB?

Dani: (sigh) dani, 00/00/00

Pharmacist: It's ready

Dani: So there was no hold up with the prescription?

Pharmacist: It's ready

Email Corporate Office? 

check, double check

Something fun for you to read at this point it doesn't surprise me.

Morning Musing...Posted In The Afternoon

Vanity is a full time job.  Why can't I put that on my resume and why isn't there a health insurance plan?

Just wondering.....

Wrapped and Ready

Gifts are wrapped...under the tree....hmmm...I'm useless at work today and will continue to be that way until 2009....sales are gone from the weekend in a last attempt for retailers to make some money....sooo hmmmm....is it Thursday yet? 'Cuz' I'm ready :) 

Morning Musing

Come and share my house, my home, and all I own. 

I'd love to give to you. 

Aren't you tired of going along this lonely road? 

It takes its toll on you. 

Give me your emotion, your heart's devotion. 

Give anything you like. 

And I'll give understanding. Life's so demanding. 

I'm all you need to get by.

Equally appropriate....

Disappointment

I have a hard time processing disappointment.  To be specific, I have hard time processing disappointment when it deals with the significant other and/or close friends.  In turn, I take any disappointment that might stem from me/my behavior seriously.  

I suppose ultimately this issue with disappointment is my own fault.  I have a trifecta of flaws that creates the perfect storm: high expectation, overactive imagination, and stubbornness.

This is how it plays out.....

I tend to plan entire conversations, outings, activities, days, nights well before they actually happen.  From that point in the planning process I allow my mind to work out all possible responses, sentiments, actions stemming from the plan.  Any deviation from that which I've already thought out yields a 'tude.

It's bratty.  I know.

Morning Musing

When I'm crying

You're my handkerchief

It feels like I'm dying

You raise me up with just one kiss

Baby you're the star

When I'm lost

that guides my way

At time when I'm losing my mind

You make everything OK

That's why I, I love you

Couldn't say it better myself.....

Shout out!

I'm so proud of my sister! Congrats on her successful completion of semester 1 of grad school!!!!!!!!!!!

Aisle Runner...The Metaphor

So yesterday I spent the evening with my bestie watching her painstaking and slightly masochistic, pre-wedding aisle runner craft project.  Apparently before I had gotten there the stencil, paint, and prayer project had taken an unpleasant turn and she had to scrap one aisle runner and start on a new one.

I watched the process and have been thinking about it all morning.  I guess the task really just seemed like one big metaphor for the process that goes into a successful relationship.

It took research, sometimes painstakingly calculated motions, and she had to be able to improvise when things didn't go according to plan.  It took the kind of effort and attention to details that successful couples talk about when they credit the successes and sometimes failures that goes into their relationships.

When she was finished, while she recognized that it wasn't a perfect piece she could realize the potential that was in the project. (Personally i think it's smashing...take a look).

Someone close to my heart will always be remembered for his quote: "I'm not a human being, I'm a human becoming."

Any undertaking can't be judged and/or defined by the final product.  The 'meat' is in the process.

I guess the point is....Lets make sure that we are enjoying the different 'projects' that we have going on in our lives.

Should've Known Better!

My tale begins & Ends here....

Meeting at the office @ 10am. 

Please get there @ 9am.

Very simple email.

I enjoy simple.

Welcome it.

Appreciate it.

Understand it.

Blazer?Check!

(complete with the pushed up sleeves since that's kinda sassy right now--oh don't think you need to call Stacey and Clinton-- to be specific: dark denim jeans, black tank, black blazer with the sleeves slightly pushed up for that office chic look).

On Time?

Check!

I get out the door at 8:30am.  I'm kinda getting hungry, but I'm a woman on a mission so I keep going.  The drive to the office takes 30 minutes regardless of traffic, route, etc.  Thirty minutes.

@ 8:50 I realize there is a Starbucks coming up.  My tummy is rumbling.

...hmmm...I could make it to the office on time...OR...I could make it to the office 15 minutes late but I'll be better equipped to actually work.

Two Lights left.....what to do....

Ugh! One Light....Clock ticking....

Damn!

Decisions, Decisions

Decision made.

I get to the office at 9:10am.  Get to the door.

The hole with the wires...that is where the card swipe used to be.  

The dead bolt is locked.

So I'm here in the stairwell, putting my stuff on the ledge, making a phone call.....

Dani: Hello Boss

Boss: Hi

Dani: I can't get in the office

Boss: Where's the secretary

Dani: She's off today

Boss: Ok, give me five minutes and I'll be in the office, but umm is there any particular reason why you want to come in today?

Dani: Because we have a meeting at 10

Boss: (Pause)....no we have a meeting on Thursday

Dani: The email said Tuesday

Boss: My Fault, I'm sorry

Dani: (Sigh) See you thursday

I'm in the bed.

When you stop looking...

I've been trying to suggest the 'perfect' Dani gift.  I did a pretty mediocre job of giving my nearest and dearest a pretty basic overview of some of the items that I'd like and I took their lists into account as well.  This morning I stumbled on the perfect Dani gift.  A week too late.  God willing I'll have a Bday in '09 so for those of you paying attention.......

Christ In Christmas

Is it just me or does it seem like it's cool to say 'Christmas' again?  I've noticed commercials and major retailers have less of the 'Happy Holiday' vibe and more of the 'Merry Christmas.'  No complaints on my end.  I'm glad to see the change.

Busy!

Press Conferences, Remains Found In Orlando, Blagojevich, Auto Bailout, Sen. Daschle .....I HATE GOING TO WORK AND ACTUALLY DOING WORK....FOR THE ENTIRE 8 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok I'm done.  More breaking news is happening.

Tattoo

Ok so...this year has been insane (to say the least) and I've decided to mark the year and my own personal growth with a tattoo.  I'm thinking inner ankle.... left foot region.  I'd love some feedback...

Translation: “From small beginnings come great things” (literally, "The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step") 

رِحْلِة الأَلْف مِيل تَبْدَأ بِخَطْوَة

Big Girl Pill

I don't talk about money or more specifically my personal finances.  My mom usually hid purchases from my dad (in the trunk) and while she would often ask me if I was saving I could usually get her off my back by answering a very generic and unconvincing "sure."

That was the extent of financial training.  She taught be how to balance a checkbook and do comparison shopping, but in the grand scheme of things I've never seen her use a credit card and don't really know what that side of her financial world entails.

Today (thanks Ana), I took a big step and really pulled out all of my debt, lines of credit etc. and got on the phone to lower payments, close accounts etc.  It's time that I get myself together.  I want, very badly, to be able to position myself to move and do bigger and better things.

(sigh) Here we go....

Treadmill Bound

Sneakers? 

Check.

Sweats? 

Check.

Water Bottle?

Check.

Gym Pass?

Check.

Towel?

Check.

iPod?

Check.

Disdain for working out?

Double Check.

To the gym I go!  Good Morning :)

Grey's and the Grey Area(s)

I love Grey's....I'm a faithful supporter of the show (thanks Brew).  I've been addicted for the past few seasons and if you call me on Thursday night you will be chatting with my voicemail.

With that being said....How in the hell did they come up with this plot line with Denny and Izzy?

Umm...He's dead....they have sex...she's imagining him....HUH??? Ok so sidenote: I love Denny...I welcome any chance to look at him, but the plot is so WEIRD.

And how in the world can you justify sex with a dead man that you are imagining but the lesbian couple was written out because the story line didn't flow?  

Ok I didn't like Erica Hahn, but at least their relationship made sense.

(Sigh) I'm done.

DC Bound (Continued)

Since I'm not going to the gym I guess I should work on the assignment that sweets gave me yesterday.  He wants me to narrow down everything/everyone I really want to see while I'm back in D.C.  It'll be a short trip, but hopefully it'll be tons of fun :)  He's never been to D.C. so I'm trying to think of the must-sees for him as well.  Let's start with the obvious.  I need to lay eyes on all of my LB's!!!! In terms of places....

1. Campus...The REAL HU

2. Of course the place that started the end of my metabolism.

3. Georgetown

4. H&M (Because West Palm is sorely missing one)

5. The mall/downtown

6. Adams Morgan

What am I missing? Suggestions?

30 minutes on the dream treadmill.....

I don't have it in me.  Even though my quarter-life crisis was the reveal of my metabolism's abandonment.  I really just can't seem to move my body out of the bed to go to the gym this morning.  I've been on a really good run.  I go every day and although I see no difference on the scale, I am toning up.  Hmm...unfortunately the muscle tone in my legs is making them bigger and so my pants still aren't fitting the way I need them to.  But I'm TRYING!

 

Woke up at 4:50am as usual to start work (from the bed). Check.  

Posted a few articles. Check.

Called in to job 2, via email, like I do every Tuesday. Check.

Took my obligatory, on-again/off-again 20 minute nap between 5:30am-6:20am. Check.

Looked at my sneakers by the bed. Check.

Go to the gym....hmm....

Back to sleep for another 20 minute nap.(sigh) Check.

I guess my back & side meat and I will be together a little bit longer than I'd like.  We'll try again tomorrow.

D.C. Bound

The mere mention of Reagan National Airport makes me sooooo happy.  I vividly remember the excitement every time I landed because it meant that I was back 'home.'  For that matter I remember taking off from Reagan and watching the birds walk across the iced over Potomac and landing in South Florida where white booty shorts and gold flip-flops greeted me.

I can distinctly remember a wrap that would be perfect in D.C. and would fall and frizz in the tunnel extension that connected my Spirit, Airtran, U.S. Air (when it was cheap!) plane to the physical airport (what are those things called?)

Anywho...the countdown begins because Dani and Shayne will be in D.C. in just over a month.  I'm sooooo very, very, very excited!

I'm a Bag Lady

Girl Meets Boy

Girl Likes Boy

Girl Likes spending time with Boy

Boy Likes spending time with Girl

Girl Lives in House A

Boy Lives in House B

Boy and Girl move past the going out all the time phase

Boy and Girl instead like to lounge at house A and/or house B

Boy and Girl realize its too early to consolidate locations, but too late to live the "I'll see you on the weekend" plan....oh yea...we work weekends too!

**Enter the bags**

I'm effectively a nomad of sorts.  I bounce between house A & B with the scary precision.  Wake up in the AM and I pack my work bag for job #1, gym bag, work bag for job #2, and an overnight bag.  Come back to my house the next day to unload and repack etc.  Shoes live in my trunk, toiletries in my purse....

One of my besties calls me "the moon princess."  I can't even argue....

I am in a constant state of planning for all of the "what ifs" that could occur within a 24 hour period.  Every few days I completely unload my car, do laundry, assess what's living in each bag, make changes and repack.

I'm so tired...and I constantly ask myself if its worth it.  But on the days when he isn't here and/or I'm not there I realize it totally is...

Gotta go... time to pack!

Home Improvement

Yesterday we painted. Well if you are looking at the picture and more importantly the face of the sig. other, you'll see that he painted and I assisted/made faces at the computer. 

While painting I thought about the resurgence of home improvement projects. With the economy not looking so pretty and more real estate than buyers, people are fixing up what they have as best as possible. Or if you're like me I just watch HGTV and decorate in my mind. But home improvement can mean other things besides breaking out paint and fixtures.

Watching the painting process I realized it made me think of the steps that went into the project.

1. Gather supplies

2. Clean the area

3. Get to work

4. Remain focused and expeditious

5. Clean up post project

6. Survey & enjoy your work

Hmm...Applicable in all facets of your life I suppose.  I however will apply this specifically developing my own 'home'

1. Gather Supplies

Philippians 1:6 
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

John 6:35 (New International Version)
“Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

2. Clean the area

Acts 13:37-39 (New International Version)

38"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Acts 2:38 (New International Version)

 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. Get to work &  4. Remain focused and expeditious

Titus 3:7-9 (New International Version)

7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Romans 5:3-4 (English Standard Version)

3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

2 Corinthians 5

20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

5.  Clean up post project

Romans 12:3-4 (New International Version)

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

6. Survey & enjoy your work

2 Corinthians 4 (NIV)
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 5
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 

Chocolate Drink Vs. Milkshakes

I am a milkshake girl...to be specific I'm a "5 scoops of chocolate, one scoop of coffee and brownie mix-in" @ Coldstone's type of girl (Life changing!)

I don't understand chocolate drinks...

I can eat chocolate
Drink chocolate milk
Cherish chocolate milkshakes
Warm up to hot chocolate

But a chocolate drink? What is that? It's an odd hybrid and so close to being right...yet...not so much.

When I have a shake made correctly its a pause moment. There is a rush of good feelings, the yumminess can not be disputed. Even a mediocre shake blows a chocolate drink out of the water.

Godiva dabbles in chocolate drinks...Dani dabbles in milkshakes.

Today's diatribe is a microcosm of what's going on in my life right now.

After years of subscribing to 'chocolate drinks,' I've stumbled on a custom milkshake that makes me wonder what exactly I was 'drinking' previously.

I heart shakes :)

Apologies...

My last post literally has been a work-in-progress for 2 weeks. It was short in nature but I find that there is often an internal battle on how much should be posted in the blogosphere. Whew! now that I've gotten that 'Selfish' thing out of my system I can proceed with my normal flow of posts. I'm sorry for being so absent!