I'm baaaack!

Back from Houston, where I had a great time with Di and her family. The Baby is adorable! More pics up as I get them uploaded (and, of course, trip recap)

Vacay day!

All right folks--I am headed off to the wild wild west of Texas. Cannot wait to see Di, Matt, and the Adorable Baby Suze.

Flight leaves around 11. Blogging will be non-existent or very, very light (and only if I can steal the PC from Matt, who is a twitter-holic like me).

Four years--"how rare and precious we all are"

So, today is my four year anniversary. Wow.

In the last year, I've re-entered the musical theater universe, had my first theatrical review (for Parade--see sidebar), been to the Outer Banks, met new cousins, made new friends, learned a lot, read a lot. It's been a good year.

So, since it's been four years, I feel qualified to give y'all a little advice.

It's really not new advice, but I think we should all hear it again from time to time.

Really enjoy your life. Every single day of it. Even when you have to go to work and deal with intractable issues, and you'd much rather be drinking a mai tai on Maui. You are alive. You get another day to be with the people you love and to experience a life that goes way, way too fast.

Sure we all have bad days. But don't make it a habit, OK? Do the things you love. Set goals and met them. Do things you think are just way out there. You love to draw, but you're terrible? So what? Do it anyway. Take classes and get better. Sing in the shower. Swing on swing sets. Do the things that make you happy.

Pray. Go to church. Get in touch with God, if you're not. I don't care where you go, but go. "The Lord has done great things for us/ we are filled with joy." If your eyes are open to a gorgeous rose, a pretty sunset, the happy face of a baby, life is a lot better. Trust me. Beauty is everywhere. We just have to be looking for it.

Wear colors that make you happy. Eat chocolate, or whatever you really, really like, every once in awhile. Bake some bread. Travel! Go places you want to go, even if it's just somewhere in your state that you've never seen.

Spend time with your family. In the end, they're the only ones that are sort of guaranteed to be sticking around.

Read Jane. Yes, it will make you happy (and I had to put that in.).

Celebrate every single birthday you have. This is very important. Getting older is not a bad thing. It's a great thing. Look at all you have done! I have this CHristmas memories book I got a few years ago. In it, it has places for parties, presents, decorations, etc., for each year. But it also has a page of "What happened this year". I write down everything--big national events, things like who got married and who was born, shows I was in, great movies I saw....and it helps me remember all the great times I have. Keeping a journal is another great way to do this.

Spend time with your friends. Remember that no one on their deathbed said, "Wow, I wish I would've worked more!" Smile. Say "Good morning" to your co-workers. Say thank you to waiters at restaurants. Hold the door open for others. Splash through a fountain barefoot.

Really, though, just enjoy the ride. It's over way too soon.

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. VII

I.

It's been a pretty slow blogging week, but I have been busy reading, packing and going to the gym. The gym is getting better--I actually enjoy going. How weird is that?

II.

My four year anniversary is tomorrow. For links to the other anniversaries, see sidebar. I will, of course, have more on this tomorrow.

III.

At the actual time of my call (around 9:00 pm EST), I may not actually be here (as in, my apartment, near Widget the MacBook). I may still be on my first date with a new guy.

IV.

Do men ever realize how much work the first date entails? Right now I am filling up my bathtub in order to have very clean hair, very clean and smooth skin, and a facial-ed face. I probably will not paint my nails, but I will file and buff them so they at least look presentable, and not the normal wreck they are. And that's just the prelims! Then there's clothes--what the heck do I wear?--, jewelry (if any), and then make-up application, which must be perfect. Then you have the perfume question--perfume? Eau de toilette? Bath and Body Works body splash? It's 90 degrees here. Probably thinking body splash.

V.

We're going to dinner. So then there's the "what do I drink? Will Diet Coke make me look like a kid? Do I order wine? What if he orders wine? Who pays for the meal?"

VI.

Arranged marriages are looking pretty good right now. Not scary arranged marriages, but arranged marriages like in Sleeping Beauty.

VII.

So that's my night. Preparing for a date, the date, and then the post-date.

Have a good weekend, y'all.

Today's very funny Pearls

OK you have to click on it to get the whole thing, because my browser hates me...

BXVI

His new encyclical over here.

More thoughts to be posted later. After I've, you know, read the thing.

The Simple Woman's Daybook--July 6, 2009

For July 6, 2009:

Outside my window...
Blue sky with a few clouds, in the low eighties. A very nice day.

I am thinking...
That I had a good gym workout today!

I am thankful for...
My family and my body (that it does what I want it to do, anyway)

From the kitchen...
I made shortbread last night. Yum.

To live the liturgy:

Magnificat, rosary

I am wearing...

Green Life is Good Creamy tee with a daisy applique; jeans

I am creating...
Added more chapters to L&A yesterday; will continue today

I am going to breathe deeply ...
And enjoy summer!

Bringing beauty to my home ...
Cleaning

I am going...

To listen to another Sacraments lecture tonight

I am reading...

Master and Commander; Mansfield Park; Mrs. Dalloway

I am hoping...
For a good week before vacation!

I am hearing...
an iPod mix CD

One of my favorite things...
my movie collection

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Classes in general--gearing up for my Sacraments midterm

W: Gym class w/ Mel

Sat: 4 year anniversary! Dentist/SAI Swim 'n Swell/Dinner w/ family

A picture thought I am sharing:

A photography from Luciano Photography that is over my bedroom desk. Inspiration to get to Paris. :)

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