The World Inside My Head - Kimberly's Life Thoughts & Adventures

Why hello there...

2011-04-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know. That's all I'm going to say. However, a lot has gone on in my head these past few months...

I'm sure you've all seen either commercials for or advertisements of "Cuties." Nope, it's not some new product. It's a box of tangerines. Or clementines. Whatever. A box of oranges that a company has RENAMED "Cuties" to appeal to children. You can't just RENAME a fruit. It's an orange (or tangerine or clementine). That's what it is. That would be like if I started referring to bananas as "Yellowsticks" b/c I like the way that sounds. They're bananas. And oranges. And frogs. And anything else that already. has. a name.

Kris pointed this out to me the other day, and I realized I've done this my whole life. When I eat french fries, I poke around at each of them until I find the "perfect" one. Apparently, it looks like I'm just sitting there touching each one (I guess he thought I had some sort of weird OCD behavior or something...) until I find one to eat, but I'm just trying to find the "best" one. Now, what constitutes the "best" one is beyond me. Sometimes I like the crunchy ones, sometimes the soft ones, always the salty ones... But I like to eat my french fries in order of preference.

I love my mother. Words can't explain. Of course I have 28 years of memories with her (good LORD I'm old), but this one in particular stands out to me. 2 years ago, after I got out of the hospital, I had to wear a colostomy bag (filtered my kidney b/c it wasn't working) for an additional 2 weeks or so. Gross, I know. Another gross thing...showering was impossible, b/c it couldn't get wet, so I had to improvise. My wonderful mother would tape plastic bags around the site of the bag's tube so it wouldn't get wet, and I'd be able to take a bath in a small amount of water. Now, here's where the great Mom memory comes in. She would wash my hair for me every day in the sink. I know it seems so silly, but it was such a special time for us. We'd talk and joke around and she'd take time out of her day, every day, to sit and wash my hair. It was so lovely...I love having my hair washed. It reminded me of when I was a baby (yes, I remember being in the womb, people) and she'd wash my hair in the bath. I'll never forget that.

Another Mom memory? That time in the hospital with my colostomy bag...she drew a face on it so it was like my little friend that was attached to my lower back. Hilarious.

The other night at Supper Club, my friends and I all went around and laughed about the "annoying traits" of our significant others, all in good fun of course. Kris and I did not participate in said discussion at them time, although I've come to find out that it's probably b/c Kris has too many about me to name :) I discovered one last night though, that makes me chuckle, b/c I've always done this, and I can see how it's annoying. I've always been a milk drinker. Ever since I can remember, my mom kept a glass of milk in the fridge for me to drink whenever I feel like it. Therefore, I still carry this habit along with me. And I've carried it to Kris's apartment. I've always had this feeling that me having a full of half full glass of milk in the fridge at all times bugs the bejesus out of him, but he's never said anything, so I've just continued to do it (sorry, honey). Until last night. I was at the grocery store and he called me with a new "standing household rule." No more milk in a cup in the fridge. Sounds like someone spilled someone's glass of milk... It was so cute the way he said it, and he didn't get mad at me at all, so I agreed to the new rule. Now, I only pour a small glass of milk every time and make sure I drink it all. We'll probably go through more cups this way, but at least my annoying habit won't bug him anymore :)

2010 Re-cap

2011-01-03T13:49:00.000-05:00

Last year around this time, I posted my list of 50 New Year's "resolutions" for 2010. I thought it'd be cool to re-post the list and see how I did in keeping them all year.

1. Make cake pops This did not happen, but I have been quite the little culinary student lately - my boyfriend has been very patient with me in the kitchen and has taught me so much. Maybe we'll make cake pops in 2011...

2. Give up fast food, candy and (here's the big one) alcohol for Lent (February 17-April 3) Yup, did this. Didn't cheat once, and plan to do it all over again for Lent this year.

3. Meet my new neighbors (and start playing Bunco!) I had a party in May and met a few of them, but never really got involved with the Bunco group.

4. Call my grandmothers more often I do call / visit / send cards as often as I can, but there's always room for inmprovement in this department. Call your grandmother today.

5. Win something I was able to walk away from the NYE balloon drop the other night with 2 dollar bills, and some free drink tickets - does that count?!

6. Meet a celeb This actually just happened. Wednesday night, 12/29, Kris and I were at Via Lounge, a club in Buckhead, and met and hung out with Ben Curtis, the "Dell Dude." Nice guy...drank white wine all night.

7. Blog more often Eh, this waxes and wanes.

8. Clip coupons Kris and I are pros at this. Look at me...pros.

9. Attend a wine tasting Not an actual wine tasting, but I usually taste wine every night :)

10. Be insanely organized Nothing new to report here. Could always improve in this area. I did, however, re-organize a cabinet at Kris's last night, and felt a great sense of accomplishment in doing so.

11. Go greener We talk about using the "green" (fabric, re-usable) bags at Kroger, b/c Kris and I go every day...but we've yet to do it. Maybe this year...

12. Stop letting traffic fluster me Ha.

13. Donate blood, b/c I forgot to in 2009 I gave some of of B+ blood to the American Red Cross in either September or October. Go me.

14. Get a new wallet Nope, and I still need one. So does Kristopher, considering how his entire wallet took a swim in the washing machine and dryer yesterday...

15. Not have kidney stones / problems Fail. Stupid kidneys. Better than 2009 though!

16. Re-do my iPod I did indeed! It helps when your boyfriend is a dj and all you do is listen to music.

17. Don't buy things unless I actually need them Ha.

18. Take a bath in my new garden tub Yes, but only like 2. The water gets cold before it fills all the way up! It is good for shaving my legs though.

19. Cook using my cookbooks See #1.

20. Stop picking my lip Ha, and yet this has made my 2011 Resolutions list.

21. Add more of my own personal touches to my new home Not yet, as I've learned that this calls for money, which I don't have much to spare.

22. Stop hitting the snooze button so much This has actually gotten worse. I cannot stop doing it! Except for this morning actually. I didn't snooze at all! Weird.

23. Get real sun this summer at the pool (and not just at the tanning bed) Jenny and I layed out a bit at her pool on Fridays over the summer, and Diana and I enjoyed many pool days as well, so I had quite the nice real tan going on for awhile.

24. Improve my golf game I hit balls once this year. Once. I think I shall sell my clubs...

25. Focus on quality rather than quantity Always ongoing :)

26. Make a pizza from scratch (or, just plain make anything from scratch!) Again, see #1. And, Kris and I make things from scratch all the time! Last night? Meatballs! I rolled meatballs with my hands!

27. Get the ball rolling with the patent for my invention (like I'm gonna tell you what that is yet!) Not even close. But someday.

28. Be charming enough to be sent flowers :) Nope, no flowers :(

29. Re-read all of the Twilight books...again What do you think?! :)

30. Host a BBQ (hmmmm, need a grill for this...) Did both - got a grill (which is now broken...) and hosted a summer BBQ.

31. Go somewhere via airplane Sadly, no.

32. Roll my own sushi No, but I sure do eat it from restaurants a lot!

33. Continue to get 8+ hours of sleep each night before work What is 8 hours of sleep? I really need to work on this one.

34. Be a better daughter / sister / friend / employee Can always improve upon this one.

35. Keep a plant alive Um, haven't really tried, but I do maintain my own lawn!

36. Give foods I hate another chance We all know my weird thing with onions. Well, Kris likes and puts onions in everything, so b/c of him, I give them chances.

36. Get my headaches / migraines checked out No, but they weren't really that bad or unmanageable in 2010.

37. Visit my friend Courtney in Alabama more often Was terrible at this one - didn't go once :(

38. Mow my own grass / take care of my own yard without any help See # 35!

39. Be on Jeopardy I didn't make the cut for 2010, but I am most def going to audition again at the end of the month!

40. Teach Peanut new tricks Nothing "new" per se, but she has been perfecting her best trick, sleeping, quite a bit lately :)

41. Learn how to do the manual transmission / "drift" feature on Mario Kart Not in the least, but Kris and I have beaten the crap out of every Donkey Kong game (via Wii) in only the past month.

42. Visit a museum Unfortch no.

43. Quit saying "I'm sorry" so much I'm pretty sure this is never going to change.

44. Check my voicemails before calling people back I have 16 voicemails on my phone right now from people wishing me Happy Birthday 2 days ago...maybe I'll check them.

45. Grow a tough skin Still working on this one.

46. Eat at Hal's (er, make a boy take me to dinner there) Ate there with a couple friends back in August (my friend Ryan and his girlfriend for Ryan's birthday). I paid for myself. Boom.

47. Take a class of some sort...preferably with my friends We tried to do Sips & Strokes recently, but it's hard to get everyone's schedules to cooperate.

48. Really give some thought to writing my book Not really, but I will.

49. Stop picking hangnails Yup, again something that's probably never going to change.

50. Keep up with my gym / diet regimen Very much so...until I met Kris :) I call the extra 5 pounds "love chub." Back to the gym and HealtheTrim I go!

Letter to My Boyfriend

2010-12-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Boyfriend,

I'm sorry I cry all the time. I know it's annoying, but it's who I am. I'll try not to do it as much.

Thank you for your patience with me in the kitchen. I've never been a cook, but I'm trying. For you :)

I think you're beautiful and you still make my heart flutter.

I try really hard to be quiet in the mornings and not wake you up, even though I'm sure I'm loud and you want to kill me.

The notes you write me make. my. day. I save them all.

I love the way you smell.

You've turned me into a cat person, which I never thought I'd be, and I'm actually really content with this.

Thank you for always driving us places. Your truck is cooler than my car anyways.

2 words: dj voice.

I think it's cute how we have started talking alike and adopting each other's sayings.

My friends adore you.

I adore you.

I enjoy waking up in the mornings and seeing your middle-of-the-night FB posting. It makes me laugh.

Thank you for putting up with me. I say it all the time, but I'm a pill and a handful, and you're a godsend for being able to handle me...and do it well.

July 24 was the best day of my life.

You're my best friend.

Love,
Me

Someone texted me the other day and told me to update my blog

2010-11-10T11:32:00.000-05:00

You're welcome.

I really look up to my bosses. All of them, for many reasons, but I'm going to cite 2 examples.

One of my bosses gets sales calls constantly. All. The. Time. All on his voicemail. Rather than ignore the messages and avoid the calls, he literally returns every single call (or, has me return them, but that's irrelevant...), even if he's not interested or wants nothing to do with the person. He has me call and thank the individual or company for their communication, apologize for not getting back sooner, and say that at this point in time, we're just not interested. It may seem like such a simple, pointless effort, and it really takes no time at all, but I truly think it speaks volumes about my boss's character and how he does business. I'm sure these salespeople would have no idea if my boss returned their call / email or didn't return it, but just the fact that he has me do that for every single one of them is really, really neat. I love the fact that he cares more about the person-to-person contact and relationship-building within a business environment than he does about his "valuable, billable time" or anything else that a powerful partner of a firm may otherwise think. How cool.

We send important packages of information to clients all the time. One of my bosses (a different one) in particular will, within every package, include a handwritten note along with the other information we're sending. Not a typed note, not a Post-It, a handwritten note on our company letterhead, just thanking the client for their business, and maybe a quick 1-2 line personal, candid sentence. That's it. So simple, yet speaks so much about that person-to-person contact, business relationship-building that I was talking about earlier. Very inspiring.

I feel very lucky to work for everyone for whom I work, and at such a great company, but these two individuals and circumstances in particular really solidify my feelings. I may hate to get up in the morning, and my hour-long commute sure does blow, but I'm blessed to have my job...and a great one at that.

Happy Wednesday :)

I wish I was a man

2010-09-13T15:27:00.000-04:00

Seriously. My life would be so. much. easier.

Getting ready would take 5 minutes rather than 1 hour.

I wouldn't cry at the drop of a hat.

I wouldn't be so emotional.

I wouldn't constantly over analyze or think something's wrong when it's not.

Basically, I wouldn't care as much. Which could be a good thing.

I would know how to take care of my car when something's wrong with it.

I would probably make more money. And, subsequently, not spend as much.

I wouldn't have to get my nails or hair done.

One word - pregnancy.

Another word - childbirth.

I probably wouldn't be scared of spiders.

I wouldn't count calories.

Using nasty bar bathroom would be so much easier and more sanitary.

I'd be taken more seriously.

I'd have better hair than I do now.

Maybe my ACL would still be intact.

My excessive drinking would be more socially acceptable.

Groomsmen have it WAY easier than bridesmaids.

3 more words - shaving my legs.

Back to the whole "I probably wouldn't care as much" thing...I would most likely have 0.00% stress in my life.

No makeup.

My excessive sweating wouldn't be so frowned upon if I was a guy.

I'd probably be more of a heartbreaker than my usual heartbroken.

Wouldn't have to lug around a 10 pound purse every day.

Bras aren't the most comfortable thing in the world to wear...

Living alone or being scared of getting attacked or raped wouldn't be so scary or an issue.

Society doesn't put as much pressure on men as they do women about getting married or having kids.

I'd be more athletic.

All that said, I can't help but think of this song while typing this post. Guess I should embrace the fact that I am, in fact, a girl...

100th Post

2010-08-09T12:59:00.002-04:00

So, I kinda think this is a big deal. 100 posts is a lot, right? I guess I should signify this milestone in some way. In the true blogging style of one Kimberly Cox, I guess I'll make this entry have 100 bulletpoints. Here we go:

I have come up with the cheapest and greatest alarm system ever for my home. I don't turn on the air during the day when I'm at work. When I get home at night, it's a cool 96 degrees in my house. I no longer fear someone waiting in my dark house to kill me, b/c there's no way someone could hang out in that heat for longer than 3 minutes. I'm giving ADT a run for their money.
I hate checking my voicemail. Don't leave me messages. I have caller ID...
I've been wearing the same perfume since high school. Bonus points if you can name it.
I hate when my neighbors on either side of me mow their lawns, b/c that means I have to then mow mine. Thanks, guys.
The Panama Canal blows my mind.
I just finished reading the late summer issue of Jezebel magazine, and realize I need to make more money.
Is it dumb of me to want an iPad if I have a BlackBerry? I don't know if I can justify this indulgence.
I'm a huge fan of frozen food. Lean Pockets should be a food group of their own.
Speaking of Lean Pockets - they taste exactly like Hot Pockets. Why would you eat a Hot Pocket over a Lean Pocket? The people who make Lean Pockets must be the same people who make Diet Dr. Pepper taste more like regular Dr. Pepper.
I wish I knew who my "actual" grandparents were. My dad was adopted. Apparently, my grandfather was some big-wig at Lockheed back in the 50's and my grandmother was his Polynesian secretary. Scandal, much?
It's very possible to get lost on YouTube and forget what you originally logged-on to see.
There is nothing I don't Google. Nothing.
If you held a gun to my head and asked me to differentiate Widespread Panic and Phish, well, I'd be dead.
I don't know if this is b/c it's summertime or what, but lately I've been having cravings for corn and blueberries constantly. It's so weird.
In 7th grade, our Social Studies teacher asked if any of us had been out of the country before, specifically around the Caribbean. I raised my hand with a real whopper - I told her and the class how I went to Cuba the summer before. She let me go on and on, talking about how I'd been to Cuba. It wasn't until years later that I learned you just can't go to Cuba. I still feel like a rahtard.
I am a wealth of contradictions - I hate Oreos, but I love Cookies and Cream ice cream, I hate onions but I love onion rings, I hate sweating but I refuse to turn on my air...
My 27th year has been the best year of my life so far. Some call it a "quarter life crisis." I call it a "quarter life celebration."
I could have missed so much more class in high school than I did. I could have studied less. At the time I thought it was sooo important. Yeah, it did help me get into the best university EVER (shameless Dawg plug), but did I really have to be such a school nerd?
I am obsessed with naming animals food names. Some other names in contention before I selected Peanut for my dog? Biscuit, Cheddar, Butter, Chicken. For real. I had a dog named Cookies in college, but she ran away before I got too attached.
Speaking of Cookies, I caught one of my roommates in college kicking Cookies once. I'm sorry, but only I am allowed to kick my dog, not you.
Fave food categories? #1 Mexican by a landslide. #2 Sushi (Japanese). #3 Italian. #4 Fast (food). #5 Southern.
I put salt on ev-ree-thing. Even though I know my kidneys can't really process it, I still do it. Have you tasted salt? It's delicious. I put salt on my Lean Pocket today.
I wanted to change my name to Angel in 6th grade. I even tried signing my school papers "Angel." I'm so embarrassed.
It scares me how hot Zac Efron is. I don't understand how being that good-looking is even possible. Him, and Robert Pattinson.
Whenever I'm at the doctor / hospital, and they ask me what my pain level is (on a scale from 1-10), I always say either 8, 9 or 10. I usually just say 10, b/c they seem to take you more seriously when they think you're in a lot of pain.
I can wrap a gift like nobody's business. This is just a recent thing though. Maybe last Christmas my mom sat me down and was like, "Ok, pay attention, b/c I'm going to teach you how to wrap a perfect present." She did, and now I rival her skills. Sorry, Mom.
Back to #16 and my contradictions - I hate cooked salmon, but LOVE raw salmon. My last name should be Lox. God, that was dumb...
Oh, and in regards to raw food, I eat my steak very, very rare. I like it cold and bloody. If you overcook steak, you've ruined it.
I'm sure bartenders hate me when I order them, but I could drink mojitos constantly. They taste like my lip gloss.
I'm obsessed with my lip gloss.
Every girl needs a gay friend. I'm lucky - I have 2.
I would really like to write a book one day. I think people would read it.
So, I'm currently watching "The Next Food Network Star" and each of the contestants all have a culinary point of view. Which, of course, gets me thinking about my culinary POV, if I should have one. I might have to come back to this one, but I feel like it would have something to do with salt. Or sandwiches. Or sauce. Or cheese. I'm a fat kid.
Uh, also, on this show right now, each of the contestants have to cook this week with their least favorite ingredient. This one guy HATES RANCH DRESSING. What? Communist.
So, we all know that I abbreviate sentences and phrases. I do this mostly b/c I think it's awesome, but I also think it gives me an outlet to be able to say certain things to certain people that I may otherwise be unable to say, for whatever reason. Maybe I'm too scared to actually say things sometimes (what, me, speechless???) so this is how I get around it...
I wear as many clothes as possible when I work out. The more you sweat = the more calories you burn. It's simple.
Omg, #33..."Cooking with a Fat Kid." That's my culinary POV!
I hold grudges like nobody's business. I'm pretty sure this has to do with my elephant memory. Those with good memories are huge grudge-holders.
Just b/c I sit next to the printer at work, doesn't mean I know if your document printed or why it didn't print...
I can't just read a book over time. Pretty much every book I read is done in once sitting. Every single one of the Twilight books, I read in one sitting. Last night? Up until 2am starting and finishing a book.
So, a few posts back, I said I wasn't going to text and drive once the new law was passed. Ha.
I actually enjoy the feeling of extreme hunger, like when my stomach is eating itself. It's refreshing.
I also enjoy being so full I get sleepy. It's comforting.
I am really good at telling when people I know are pregnant. Like, before they announce it. It's a gift. I know all the signs.
Holy COW, I'm not even halfway done with this list...
I still remember who gave me chicken pox in 5th grade. I'm still bitter.
I can be a tad ghetto. It's fun for me, probably b/c I'm the whitest white girl ever.
It's fun to curse around my mom. She freaks out every time I do it, and that makes me laugh.
Give me a crossword puzzle, and I'm the happiest girl alive. [loser]
They say that people who get skin problems / cancer from being out in the sun comes, for the most part, from when you were little and out in the sun, when your skin was so delicate. This is how I justify going to the tanning bed now.
M. Night Shyamalan is my fave filmmaker and screenwriter. I love how he uses color in his filmmaking. Sixth Sense, red. The Village, yellow. The Happening, green. I absolutely love Signs, and predicted the ending of The Village less than halfway through the movie. I'm also sure that I'm prob his only fan.
I wish I was a coffee drinker sometimes. I feel like that b/c I'm not, I miss out on certain things or am not as cool. I've probably been inside a Starbucks maybe 5 times in my life.
When it comes to boys, I can get "the ick" very, very easily. Rather than labeling myself as being too picky, I like to consider it just knowing exactly. what. I. want.
I love playing video games. Don't know if I'm "Gamer" status, but I could play Wii or PlayStation for days...
This whole list really, REALLY makes me sound like the world's biggest loser. I'm ok with that. Maybe.
I think Tenacious D's "Drive-Thru" skit is the funniest thing on the planet. If you haven't heard it, well, prepare to pee yourself.
In order for me to actually skydive, I think I'd actually have to be pushed out of the plane.
Sometimes I miss being blonde.
It's weird to think that I lived in the same dorm my Freshman year at UGA that my dad lived in, his Freshman year at UGA. New dorms, eh?
Cereal is underrated. I think I'm going to get back on a cereal kick. Special K, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Kix, plain Cheerios...yes, please.
I only drink whole milk. That said, I really think I could do a Gallon Challenge.
Why does the majority of this list have to do with food?
I really get uncomfortable when a group of people sing "Happy Birthday" to someone. No one ever starts on key, so when you get to the high notes in the middle of the song, it sounds terrible and awkward and some people even stop singing during that portion. Every month, my firm does a birthday party with cake and ice cream for those who have birthdays that month, and I always wait like 5 minutes to go in the room b/c I hate when we sing. I was even late to my own birthday celebration at work b/c of this. Ugh, it's so awkward!
In high school, I would put those air fresheners in my car that smell like cologne so my car would smell like boys. Drakkar Noir was my fave. I wonder if they still have those, b/c I want to do that again. I've been rockin' the fruit smell for quite some time now.
I have ZERO recollection of when my mom was pregnant with my sister. Granted, I was 6-7, but I have a great memory and can remember a lot of things. So, I think that I've psychologically blocked this from my mind for some reason. I remember the exact moment when my mom told me she was having a baby - literally, every detail. I remember coming up with a name for my new sister. I remember helping my dad paint and get her nursery together. But I do not remember my mom's pregnant belly at all.
I've never worked in the food industry or in retail. I worked as a greeter at a car wash throughout high school and college. I was a lifeguard. I was the HR Director at a pool management company. I've now been an administrative assistant for the past 3 1/2 years (well, 4 1/2 if you count my stint at UGA as a student worker in an office on campus).
I'm running out of things to write about...
Why isn't it possible for babies to remember being in the womb?
Seeing pictures of the animals affected by the Gulf oil spill make me cry. Seriously.
It makes me nervous when I find out people I know read my blog. I know it's out there for all to see and I published the link on my FB page, but I just don't really think about anyone (other than my dear mother) actually reading it.
A coworker of mine got a texting-while-driving ticket today. Damn. I was hoping I'd be the first one.
I miss organized pool games. Sharks and Minnows, Categories, Line Tag, Alligator. Those were the days.
I put chips on my sandwiches. It makes for a delicious crunch.
My sister just celebrated her one-year "birthday." Words cannot express how proud I am of her :')
Omg, 25 more.
I try and write with Sharpies whenever I can. I like a lot of ink.
If Brendan Fraser and Jessica Alba can be actors, so can I.
Whenever someone asks me to do something for them, I always say, "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime..." I really do.
The reason I wear my hair up in such a high bun / updo is b/c I think my head is misshapen. Regular ponytails look weird on me.
Zaxby's had the best ice.
I saw a decaf Five Hour Energy last night at a gas station. Please explain that to me.
I think I overuse exclamation points!
I love swimming, always have, but don't anymore b/c it has given me and continues to give me man shoulders. I already have man hands, so I'm trying to retain at least some of my feminine qualities.
I cannot stop buying, no matter how much I have, stuff from Bath and Body Works.
Santa still comes to my mom's house. I'm 27.
I despise cooked carrots.
I have an irrational fear of bagel slicers. The blade looks so sharp and guillotine-like and I'm terrified I'm going to lose a finger.
I'm tanorexic.
Sometimes I think my dog looks like a human. Specifically an old man.
I think I'm literally addicted to chapstick.
I sit Indian-style 90% of the time. I also prefer sitting on the floor. I'm like a kid...
I want my own auto-tune.
I feel naked without perfume.
I don't ever want to leave Georgia.
I can't remember the last time I wore pantyhose. Tights, yes. Pantyhose, no.
My firm is up for "Best Place to Work" in Atlanta for the 3rd year in a row. We've won the past 2 years, and no business has ever one 3 times in a row. Three-peat.
I'm always hungover on my actual birthday.
As addicted as I am to technology, I would be nothing without my paper planner.
I like a little ice in my white wine sometimes, what of it?
This took me 2 weeks to complete. Whew.

Musings

2010-07-21T12:02:00.000-04:00

I feel like all fire stations should be red.

I don't understand why no one can locate and / or capture Osama bin Laden. Of ALL of the people and countries looking for him, you'd think that he'd been found by now. It blows my mind.

Can someone please figure out what exactly (and I mean exactly, not just what it could be) a hangover is, how NOT to get them and how to make them go away? I don't know what it is, but every single time I drink, I get a hangover. Read, a raging hangover. Oh, that's it...it's because I'M OLD. Editor's note: how not to get them cannot be dependent on me not drinking, b/c that's not an option. Alcohol is much cheaper than therapy.

My tanning bed makes appointments for "The Beast" tanning bed. It's the most powerful bed and there's just one of them in the salon, so I make an appointment so I don't have to wait. Every day, I call and make an appointment for that evening. Last night I called at 7 and said I'd be there in 15 minutes. I pull into the parking lot at 7:13 and my phone starts ringing before I get out of the car - it's the tanning bed. I don't answer (duh) and walk in asking, "Did you just call me?" The teenage girl behind the counter pointed at a man (ha) waiting behind me saying he wanted to tan in The Beast and they were just wondering if I was going to be there on time. I look at my watch-less wrist (ya know, for effect?) and said, "Well, it's a good thing I'm here exactly when I said I'd be..." Ass.

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving being single and my life right now, but I miss certain things about being in a relationship. I miss calling someone to tell them I've arrived safely somewhere. I miss someone missing me or worrying about me. I miss all those stupid little things. Again, alcohol is cheaper than therapy, which is why I'm pretty much drunk all the time...

I'm allergic to penicillin. Do you know what that's like? It blows. Instead of taking one pill and you're cured, you have to take 10 doses of 3 different types of pills. It's also fun when you tell a healthcare provider about this allergy and they sigh and look at you and say, "Oh, you're allergic to penicillin..." Thanks, doc. It's easy on me, too.

I have faint memories of my parents taking me to bars when I was younger. That explains a lot.

Men, way to my heart? Southern accent. Fauxhawk. Tattoos (this is a new fascination of mine). Cologne. Big arms. Tan. Ok w/ my love for all things vampire.

A day doesn't go by that I don't quote The Hangover. Or Friends. Or Seinfeld. I'm pretty original.

There is no excuse for spelling someone's name wrong on their Facebook page. IT'S RIGHT THERE. Spelled correctly for you.

Remember The Babysitter's Club? And The Sweet Valley Twins? And The Boxcar Children? And Beverly Cleary? And Judy Blume? Now that was some good readin'.

What does picketing really accomplish?

I really struggle morally with the whole tipping thing at non-sit-down restaurants. Like, when you're paying for your meal at the counter and the receipt prints out and it gives a space for the tip, I get all nervous and hot and anxious and truly don't know what to do. I mean, they're doing the same thing that, say, a McDonald's or Chick-fil-A employee does - handing you your food. And, McD's and CFA don't pressure you by including a tip line on your receipt. I'm fine when it comes to tipping at a sit-down restaurant, b/c they do a lot for you - refill your drink, bring you your food as you're waiting at your table, obtain other things for you, etc. But at places where you just order your food and they hand it to you right there...that's where I struggle. To solve this dilemma, I usually just tip, b/c I feel bad. But, should I? I shouldn't feel forced to tip. But I do...so I tip.

I have a problem when grown adults use the terms "little girls room" or "little boys room" when referencing the bathroom to other adults. "Bathroom" or "restroom" is just fine. You're not 5.

Dear lord I hope that the capability of seeing who views your FB profile never comes to fruition. That would kill about 97% of my FB activity...

Day of Blogging Silence for Baby Cohen

2010-07-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

Buckhead(ache)

2010-06-16T14:54:00.000-04:00

2010 is the year of the shot. Energy drink-infused libations are so two thousand and LATE, and Buckhead bars are not shying away from two ounce portions of thrown-back drinks.

Step into an Irby Avenue dive bar and you’ll see four foot tall drink towers, reminiscent of old school Slushie machines, that quickly dispense Purples (or Reds, or Blues…) as fast as the tipsy blondes can scream out an order. At around $5 a pop – which is a little steep for a colorful, sugary shot that comes in a plastic cup – they taste more like Kool-Aid than vodka, and will most likely contribute to that bus-on-the-forehead feeling the next day.

Worth it? The young professionals seem to think so. Nowadays, the 29 year olds are acting more like 19 year olds, drinking the way they did in Athens or Statesboro. Going out on a “school night” doesn’t matter anymore and Buckhead bars make it easy by opening six or seven days a week and offering drink specials that are appealing to those trying to act ten years their junior.

Don’t act your age – buy your new friends a round of shots, or seven, and deal with that hangover the next day at your desk. You’ll impress your peers, obtain fruit juice stained tongues and may or may not regret it in the morning. All the cool kids are doing it…

MVP

2010-06-15T10:32:00.001-04:00

I wish this meant Most Valuable Player. In my case, it stands for Mitral Valve Prolapse, a heart problem from which I suffer. Thanks, Mom.

It's not really a big deal. In fact, the only time I really think about it is when I'm in the hospital, or about to have surgery - that's when the doctors freak out. And, if you know me at all, you know that I spend a lot of time in the hospital and in surgery, so this comes into play more often than not.

Basically, between my heart problem, malfunctioning kidneys, torn ACL and meniscus, and all of the other ailments that...er...ail me, I'm a walking disaster. Sometimes I think I have a brain tumor too. Oh, and my feet cramp up a lot.

Call the coffin maker.

All factors that are probably why I may or may not be a little crazy

2010-06-14T18:35:00.000-04:00

My parents used to tell me that if I snuck downstairs on Christmas Eve and saw Santa Claus, he'd throw pepper in my eyes. My mother denies this, but she said it.

My mom keeps tomatoes on the kitchen window sill. I was probably 4 when this happened. I took a tomato off the sill and took a bite out of it and put it back. When ~~the wrath of Satan rained down upon me~~ my parents approached me about the incident, I told them that our cocker spaniel must have done it. I was 4.

Once, I spilled a cup of milk on the carpet, but caught it halfway and only 1/2 actually spilled out. My mom was so mad at me when she saw this occur that she grabbed the cup and poured the rest of it out on the carpet, screaming "Why didn't you just spill the whole cup?"

We all know how much my baby blanket means to me - at 27 years old, I still sleep with it every night. When I got in trouble when I was younger, my parents would punish me by putting my baby blanket on top of the refrigerator, where I could see it but not get to it. Pure torture.

My grandfather used to tell me stories. You know the ones - "...I used to walk barefoot to school...in the snow...up hill...both ways." He was also known for telling me one about how he encounted a bear on said walk, and fought the bear by reaching into its mouth with his bare hand and pulling his tail from the inside, subsequently turning the bear inside-out and defeating it. My parents backed up this story.

They thought I was a boy until I was born. My name for the first 3 days of my life, for all intents and purposes, was Justin Thomas. I had a vagina and my name was Justin. When the birth certificate people threatened my parents with C&U punishment 3 days later, I was given the name Kimberly Anne. More fitting, I think. I also had to wear boy clothes for the first 6 months of my life. There are pictures of me in plaid. I looked like a newborn lumberjack.

Recycling was all the rage when I was in elementary school. Murdock got an aluminum can crusher that they made to look like a monster who would "eat cans" to promote this new fad, and our teachers asked all of us to start collecting cans to bring in to "feed to the Recycling Monster." The big day arrived. My parents gave me one can. I'm sure it was a Tab can. I stood in line, with the rest of my peers with their garbage bags full of cans, with my one Tab can. I was mortified.

When my little sister was born, I was seven. I'm pretty sure I ~~hated~~ loved her. My mom asked me once to go check on Kelsey - I believe she was in her crib napping. The baby, not my mother. I took a marker and drew a giant check mark on Kelsey's head. I think I also may have pressed down on her newborn soft spot while doing so, but that's debatable.

I got kicked out of the After School Program, for various [cough, bullshit, cough] reasons, I'm sure, 6 times during my elementary school tenure. Actually, I think it may have been during one school year, but I digress... The limit to getting kicked out before you're permanently removed from the program is 7 times. I prefer to toe the line.

Confessions

2010-06-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

I am addicted to my BlackBerry. Read: I cannot ever put it down.

I've rocked the same running shoes for going-on 5 years now, yet I work out constantly. I know, I know...I need new ones.

I'm terrified of being along, yet living alone is the greatest thing to ever happen to me.

When I don't know something, I Google it. Then I pretend to have known it all along.

I actually bat my eyelashes when I flirt. It works.

I always take home leftovers. My eyes are usually bigger than my stomach.

Once a week, I coat my feet in lotion, put on huge socks and go to bed. Because of this, I have amazing feet.

I text and drive. But not after July 1st I won't.

I cannot tie a pretty bow to save my life.

The first thing I look at when I see a guy is his left ring finger. Then I look at his face.

I talk to inanimate objects. Mostly when I'm mad at them.

I cannot work out without my iPod. If it dies in the middle of a workout, that's it. Workout's over.

I don't cook. I can, but I don't.

I always answer unknown numbers. It's like a little surprise every time you answer.

When elevators make weird sounds or movements, I have a little mini-heart attack.

I may or may not be a little bit crazy. But, what girl isn't?

"It's not what you know, it's who you know" has been a huge life-mantra lately.

Wal-Mart has grown on me - only b/c their prices are so flippin low!

I actually dread going to get my nails done. I can think of so many other ways to better spend my time.

I suffered a pain med addiction when I went through all my kidney stuff. Not cool.

My voice changes octaves depending on with whom I'm speaking. We call this the "babysitter voice."

It's infuriating to me when people misuse "you're" and "your." Prob my biggest pet peeve on earth.

May the Hat-Eating Begin...

2010-06-10T12:54:00.001-04:00

Well, my mother now has a BlackBerry. I think she got it solely based upon my last post. We're BBM friends. A pig also just flew by my window...

I also don't like it when...

2010-05-21T12:38:00.000-04:00

...people don't have either a BlackBerry or iPhone.

C'mon, it's 2010.

I just think it's so odd when someone pulls out a regular cell phone.

I was on the phone with a girlfriend this morning, and I was telling her I was texting with someone last night (this is actually a funny story, and I'll tell it in a minute). She asks me, "Why weren't you BBM'ing with him? Does he not have a BlackBerry?" I told her that, thankfully, he does have one, we just haven't exchanged PIN's yet. She told me that when I first said that we were texting, she just assumed he must have an iPhone, because it's UNHEARD of to have a regular cell phone (ie: a non-BBM'ing phone) these days! We then laughed at how grateful we are that he, and most everyone else we know, has a non-flip, PDA-type cell phone.

I think that regular cell phones should be obsolete by this point.

Well, except for my grandmother's. If she gets an iPhone or something, I'll eat my hat.

Ok, funny story. In regards to the above-mentioned texting from last night - I replied to a text at 11:18pm. I received a reply to my text at 11:21pm...which I read at 7am today. I was so tired last night, that I fell asleep in a matter of 3 minutes.

That's awesome.

It Freaks Me Out When...

2010-05-20T16:23:00.000-04:00

...you see radio DJ's for the first time and their faces (that you always imagined they'd have) don't go with their voices.

...ever I see a cop, even if I'm not doing anything wrong.

...I consume food that's even one day past its expiration. I feel as if I'm teetering dangerously on the edge of becoming violently ill.

...an ex's number pops up on caller-id or I get a text from one. I usually experience a mini heart attack, wondering what it is that they want.

...I'm in the tanning bed and I turn the fan on. It's positioned at my feet, and I get this irrational fear that glass or metal shards are going to be propelled up and forcefully blown into my body.

...my phone freezes and I have to do a battery-pull and it takes a few minutes for my BlackBerry to reboot. What if I miss some urgent form of communication (phone call, text, BBM, email or Facebook notification) in those 5 minutes it's out of commission?!

...my house phone rings. If someone wants to call me, and it's someone to whom I'm close enough to want to talk to them, they know to call me on my cell phone.

...a restaurant gets lower than a 90 on their health inspection report. There's no excuse for that.

...I have to put my hands or feet into something that's been in my garage or outside for an extended period of time. I'm terrified there's a spider waiting for me to do so and then it will inject its poison into me. I just can't do it.

...my dog "hears" something in the middle of the night. Dogs have great hearing, right? What is she hearing that I'm not?

...my kidneys ache for a split second. Flash back to last year, and I get really, really scared.

...my mom doesn't answer her phone when I call her.

Annnnd, this is weird

2010-05-13T12:50:00.001-04:00

I, apparently, have a thing for Irish boys.

Within the past year, I have had some form of relationship or another (for all intents and purposes, this varies from casually "talking to" to a full-blown relationship) with, get this, 4 different Irish boys. Whoa. Is that some blarney or what?!

(sorry, couldn't help myself)

Literally, the last 4 guys I had "relationships" with have been way Irish. Not straight-off-the-boat, with-an-accent Irish, but all have Irish names, and are proud of their Irish heritage.

Hmmmm, maybe the Irish aren't so lucky after all... :)

Addendum to 'Dear Beautiful Man Who Works on My Floor,'

2010-05-11T14:28:00.001-04:00

I guess my gay-dar is WAY off.

You're still hot though...and I'm glad we're friends.

~~Love~~ Thanks,

Kimberly

The name of my blog

2010-05-07T12:56:00.001-04:00

In case anyone was wondering the story behind the name of this awesome blog...

"World Inside My Head"

On the road to safe

I kinda tripped along the way

It just seemed like a nasty hassle

The path was greener on the one less traveled

That's where I remained

People so high they think

I can't hear the whispers

I can see it falling off their face

Their trying to shoot down my plane of grace

It seems like it's already hard enough

But the paint on me is beginning to dry

And it's not what I wanted to be

The weight on me

Is hanging on to a weary angel

So tell me what it is about me

Where did everybody go without me

So, I like to fantasize

And watch the sunrise like it's a big surprise

Life moves and I stopped to taste it

I drank it up till it left me wasted

But my rains have bled

A softer red

Oh you should see the world inside my head

You can shackle me away

And try to wrap around my dreamer

I feel better when I paint my days

With purple seas

And left-out grays

Strange is just a different point of view

But the paint on me is starting to dry

And it's not what I wanted to be

The weight on me

Is holding onto a weary angel

I feel better when I paint my days

With purple seas

And left-out grays

Strange is just a different point of view

But the paint on me is beginning to dry

And it's not what I want it to be

So wait on me

Wait on me

You should see...

And that, that right there, is why Sister Hazel will always be my favorite band.

3 random thoughts

2010-05-06T12:24:00.001-04:00

Since I'm terrible at logging on and actually blogging, lately I've been typing in things to the MemoPad area of my Blackberry that I eventually want to blog about. I'd kinda forgotten about it (for shame!) since I've been so busy recently, so here are 3 things I've been meaning to discuss with you:

1. For some reason, I hate when restaurants serve sandwiches using regular white, Sunbeam bread. I feel like that if I'm going to pay for someone to make and serve me a sandwich outside of my own home, it should be on "fancy" bread. And by fancy, I'm not just talking about pumpernickel or some sort of French baguette from Europe - I'm referring to any sort of bread that's not regular old soft, white Sunbeam bread. Sunbeam is my #1 bread of choice for a sammy in my house, or when my Mom makes one for me (she makes the best sandwiches...), just not at a public eatery. Yeah, I'm weird.

2. If an opportunity presented itself that forced me to have to use a fire extinguisher, I'm pretty sure that I would have no idea how to use it. I'd love to practice at some point, but apparently you can get arrested and go to jail for using one without proper cause... That said, if there's ever a fire and I'm around, things are gonna burn.

3. Has anyone heard of Boston Market's new campaign, "Get it Saucy?" Basically, you have the chance to put any kind of sauce on anything that you order. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was the genius behind that whole operation. Sauce is my middle name.

Serendipity

2010-04-06T09:31:00.002-04:00

This is a pretty cool story. I wish it were true serendipity - b/c that's my dream.

I have an ex with whom I'm still super close. He's one of my best friends, and I'm glad we were able to get past that whole "awkward ex phase." Granted, we only dated for 2 months, over 8 years ago, but still...breaking up and exes usually blow, so I'm happy he's still a part of my life.

We've always had this inside joke about the word "swimmingly." The first time I used that word around him, he tried to tell me that it wasn't a real world, until I proved to him that it was. Ever since, we always joke about it and I still make fun of him for not knowing it was a word.

We hung out this weekend and I told him how I was in the car the other day listening to the radio, and the DJ used the word "swimmingly" and I immeditaely thought of him.

He goes, "Kim, I heard that too, and thought of you."

What are the odds? We happen to both be in the car on the exact same day...at the exact same time...listening to the exact same radio station...and thought of each other at the exact same moment...and then we tell each other about it.

How cool. It'd be even cooler if this actually meant something - b/c then we'd have to get married.

Too bad he's only my friend.

Oh, and one more thing...

2010-04-02T16:13:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but whenever I see ants, I immediately think they're on me.

And no matter how far away I keep myself from the ants, I am convinced they've found my legs and are crawling up me.

Case in point? I saw some ants yesterday while waiting for the ATM at the bank. It was too nice a day to use the drive-thru, so I went to the walk-up one. I saw some ants, being all ant-er-ific, climbing up a pole. I was about 3 feet from the ant party. And, from the second I returned to my car until my commute home ended, I had ants on me. Not really, but that's what it felt like.

Come to think of it, I swear I have ants on me right now. Is there a name for these feelings? Some sort of vertigo, perhaps?

Ugh, I so wish I had a magnifying glass right now...

Dear Beautiful Man Who Works on My Floor,

2010-04-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

You've spoken to me twice now. Albeit, it's just been a polite "hello" or "how are you today," but I think it's time you ask me my name. Or at least tell me yours.

I think we could have a great future together. And most definitely have beautiful babies together.

I cannot wait for our next hallway rendezvous. And by rendezvous, I mean staring at you from afar...trying to act like I'm not staring at you from afar.

You should most definitely come find me at happy hour tonight.

Love,

Kimberly

April Fools Day?

2010-04-01T11:54:00.000-04:00

My dad just called me at work and was like, “I just wanted to let you know, I’m joining the Army.”

I go, “Dad, you’re 55 years old. Why?”

He goes, “I’m going to be a recruiter.”

(silence on my part)

He goes, “April Fools!”

I go, “I’m too busy with work to even realize it’s April Fools Day, Dad…”

It's time for a drink.

Things That I Love

2010-03-31T15:33:00.004-04:00

This needs no introduction.

This is my version of Cheers. If you need to find me on a weekend night, check here first.

BBM - the reason why I'm going to get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

I have the greatest bed known to man. Trust me, it is as comfortable as it looks.

This cd hasn't left my cd player since January.

How can anyone actually watch commercials anymore?

Have you tried this liquor yet? 2 parts St. Germain, 2 parts white wine, 1 part club soda, serve over ice = the best drink you'll ever taste.

This combo seems so weird - apples and cheese - but it's delish!

My passion. As of last night, I was nominated (and gladly accepted) for a leadership role within the League - for the 2010-2011 year, you're looking at the new Membership Recruitment Events Coordinator! I can't help but have the theme song to The Jefferson's in my head... Alright, who wants to join JLA?!

I guess I am THAT girl

2010-03-12T11:44:00.000-05:00

So, I always finish off my gym workout with a 20 minute trip to the sauna.

Let me set the scene for you. It's almost 200 degrees in there. Being someone who, at any given moment in time, constantly sweats, I get pretty perspire-y in there. Read: I'm a dripping wet mess.

I also don't just sit in the sauna, how you're supposed to. I do a full-out ab workout, along with some other excercises. So, the sweating increases by tenfold.

After my bikram-like workout, I get out and stand under this one air vent and cool down for a minute and towel off. B/c I just had a pretty intense workout, after a regular workout, I'm pretty out of breath and red and sweaty. I guess I'm breathing pretty hard (I'm jamming out to Young Jeezy on my iPod, I'm sure, so I can't really tell), b/c this woman runs up to me and screams, "My goodness, are you ok?"

It takes a split second for me to realize that she thinks I'm probably having a heart attack, and I have to laugh at myself. I point to the sauna, and tell her I just worked out in there, and she looks at me like I'm crazy and leaves the locker room.

Basically, I'm the sweaty, red kid who breathes hard who everyone always thinks is going to die any second.

Awesome.

Observations

2010-03-10T11:26:00.001-05:00

I am becoming my mother. I received a sachet of potpourri at a wedding shower a few months ago, and put it in one of my clothing drawers last night. I have officially hit old age.

There is no greater sense of accomplishment than when you pass someone going soincrediblyslowit'sunbelieveable in front of you and get in front of them and then see the line of cars that continues to build up behind them.

My friends and I have voice twins. We ~~think~~ know we sound exactly like the artist singing the song. Jewel, Nick Carter, Mimi Marquez (from Rent, duh), Sheryl Crow, Ke$ha, Rihanna... Doppelgangers of the music industry.

Here's a money saving tip I've adopted recently: At home, it's almost a contest with myself to see how little toilet paper I can use. I've gotten it down to a science - 2 sheets. That's right. B/c it's just me in the house, I go thru like one roll in a month. That said, whenever I'm not at home, I "treat myself" to using a lot of toilet paper in other bathrooms. It's a nice bonus. [Was that too much?...]

I've now started thinking in status updates. A thought doesn't pass thru my head or a song doesn't come on the radio where I don't think, "I need to put this up as a status."

How is it possible to hate someone so much, yet miss them so much at the same time? Daily struggle for me.

4 words: white sorority girl dance. My best friend's hubs came up with this one, so I cannot take the credit. It's pure genius. Take any song...turn every single lyric into a dance move / hand motion. You know you've done it. And now that I've pointed it out to you, you'll do it more. You should see me in my car - it's like a game of charades is going on.

Can someone please make 95.5 The Beat stop doing the Carmen Call. Does ANYONE actually enjoy that segment? That said, go ahead and have the Booty Call bit jump the shark too. I know I can always change the station, but I digress.

Again with the money saving and my house - I keep my thermostat at 58 in the winter. Maybe that's why no one comes to visit me.

Here are things that blow my mind:
1. Outer space. How does it just keep going?
2. Airports. The person who schedules flights HAS to have the most difficult job on the planet. Hands down.
3. The internet. This needs no explanation.

Why does having to get gas always come at the most inconvenient time? When was the last time you said to yourself, "Oh, I have nothing to do today...maybe I'll go get some gas?"

Taste Test

2010-02-19T15:10:00.000-05:00

When my friends, who shall remain nameless in this post as they may kill me for the embarrassment factor, and I were younger, we loved to play Taste Test. The rules are simple: one player is blindfolded while the other player(s) select a food item from the fridge / freezer / pantry and the blindfolded player must taste the food and guess what it is. I cannot possibly express all the good times we had playing that game - we've tried all kinds of "things" over the years and have laughed until we peed our pants. We've played so many times in the past, and I miss playing that game with my friends.

Ah, the good ole days, when times were simpler...

We last did this a few months ago.

40 Days and 40 Nights

2010-02-17T08:45:00.006-05:00

* I wrote this post last night, as I was enjoying my "Last Supper" of fast food before Lent started today. I'm glad that I didn't write it this morning, where the thought of these foods would tempt me to cheating during my 40 days and 40 nights without any of these glorious treats!

Here we go again!! Lent starts tomorrow, and although I'm not Catholic, I still give up vices during the Lenten season. This year is fast food and candy. I swear, I could eat fast food at every meal, and don't even get me started on how much candy we have around our office. This is going to be hard, but isn't that the point of it all?!

On my way home from work tonight, I stopped at the KFC / Taco Bell combo by my house and picked up my Last Supper - a cheesy bean and rice burrito (my all-time fave), triple layer nachos (which I didn't end up finishing, but they're only $0.89...) and the new KFC wrapwich, which I've been dying to try (not all that great - I mean, I ate it and it was good, but wasn't phenomenal). I'm now sitting on my couch in a food coma oblivion, watching the Olympics. On that note, why is curling a sport?!

Here's a picture of the amazingness that just ensued:

Anyways, I got to thinking earlier today about where I wanted to stop tonight to get my Last Supper, and it took me forever to decide. I love fast food so much and wanted my final meal before Lent begins to be just perfect. I wanted to create a list (I'm a big list person) of my favorite fast food choices. I have a feeling this list is about to be lonnnnnng:

Cheesy bean and rice burrito - Taco Bell
McChicken sandwich with cheese - McDonald's
French fries - McDonald's
Kickin' chicken sandwich with cheese - Zaxby's
Crinkle fries - Zaxby's
Spicy wrap with spicy sauce - Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A sauce - you know where :)
Big Mac snack wrap - McDonald's
Whopper - Burger King
Chicken sandwich with cheese - Chick-fil-A
Black jack taco (which is no more) - Taco Bell
Triple layer nachos - Taco Bell
Angus burger - McDonald's

Wow. I must like cheese...

And now, my list of favorite candy:

Take 5
Mr. Goodbar
Reese's Pieces
Crispy mint M&M's (try them)
Bite-sized Snickers (b/c the normal-sized ones are too much for me)
Krackle
Butterfinger
Twix
Peanut M&M's
Skittles (preferably Tropical, but I won't complain)
Starburst

Actually, I prefer the bite-sized portions of pretty much all candy. It's weird, b/c I could sit and eat 5 bite-sized Snickers in one sitting, but you'll never see me eating an entire Snickers bar.

Hmmm, now I want some candy...

Well, now that I've gotten that out of my system, I welcome you, Lent! I made it last year without any incidents of faltering, so I know I can do it again. Maybe it's the religious aspect of it all, but this is the only time I'm really able to maintain willpower and not succumb to weakness. I seriously have zero willpower any other time regarding anything else I ever try and give up, so I guess I do so well during Lent b/c I feel like God will be mad at me if I cheat. New thought: maybe Lent should last 365 days, rather than just 40.

Good bye drive-thrus and sweets - see you on April 4!

Well, that settles it...

2010-01-29T13:01:00.006-05:00

I'm codependent.

Not that this is any huge surprise to me (or you), b/c I've been calling myself a very "dependent person" for quite some time now. And, for the most part, I've been ok with that. Until recently. Lots of life changes have transpired in the past few weeks, and it's been pointed out to me by several different people how codependent I seem. So, I borrowed the book, Codependent No More by Melody Beattie from a friend of mine this week to try and grasp a better understanding of this disease-slash-way-of-life that has been affecting me for, well, as long as I can remember. I'm only on page 36 and already want to change my life.

The author defines codependency as a person who has let another person's behavior affect him or her, and who is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior. She goes on to say that the recovery from this affliction lies not in the other person, no matter how much we believe it does, but lies within ourselves - in the ways we have let other people's behavior affect us and in the ways we try to affect them. Words like "obsessing," "low self-worth bordering on self-hatred" and "self-repression" are used quite a bit, which are all terms I find that describe me pretty accurately.

Reading this book has prompted me to think back to when I believe this "illness" began. To my dismay, I've think I've pinpointed the birth of my codependency. My first real memories of exhibiting this type of behavior hover around when I first started dating, at the age of 14. Way too young, looking back at it. But, delving even further into my childhood, I think the reason I started dating boys so early was b/c of the relationship (or lack thereof) with my father. I know I'm getting all Freud-like, but there is a lot of truth in his theories. Because my dad was never around as I was growing up, needing a father figure in my life, I'm sure I developed subconscious resentment toward him and the fact that he wasn't truly a father; therefore I cleaved to the men who eventually became a part of my life, depending on them for the things I didn't get from my dad. Whew - that's a hefty thought process! So, when males would enter my life, I guess I had this underlying desire or need to please them, even if that meant putting them before me. When they would be happy and I felt like I had something to do with it, I would be happy. However, when I felt like I had something to do with them being unhappy, I would take the blame for that, even if it truly didn't have anything to do with me. Looking lightheartedly at the last 13 years of my adult life, I've had one hell of a time!!

I wish I could say that I only exhibited this codependency during my early adulthood - sadly, here I am, at 27 years old, still feeling like I am responsible for other peoples' moods or happiness, still taking the blame or burden when something goes wrong and it's not my fault, still wanting to make everyone happy and wanting to please everyone.

When I look at all of my failed relationships, I see a pattern. They've all ended (obviously), and seemingly all b/c of the same reasons. I am not necessarily the pattern, b/c I'm getting to the point where I realize that I cannot control how people feel or hold myself responsible for those feelings, but I am the pattern in that unless I do something about those lines of though, my relationships will continue to not flourish. In my most recent failed relationship, I asked him what I could do differently in my next relationship, b/c it's very evident that the problem in each of those said failed relationships has been me (author's note: see previous sentence for additional clarification on this thought). In a soft voice, he tells me it's not me, it's him, but I know better. I know that line. We've all heard it. But I call shenanigans on that god-forsaken line; it's never them, it's always you (yet again, not saying it's me, per se...). However, I find the positive in this failed relationship and all of the others. Not only do I find enough information and supporting evidence to write a self-help novel on the subject matter at hand, I discover that these relationships ended for a reason and I can only grow and improve myself and who I am b/c of them.

This is no pity blog entry. I'm not trying to win any ex-boyfriend back nor am I trying to gain favor from my adoring public (I'm pretty funny, huh?). I'm not here to say, "Woe is me - b/c I suck at life, I've driven away everyone who's ever meant anything to me." However, I am here to admit that I carry around the coat of codependency, and unless I realize it (check!) and do something about it (working on that as we speak), I'll continue down the path of losing the people I love and the people who love me due to my own insecurities and lack of confidence in myself. I need to get to the point where I not only understand that I'm not the one responsible, but start acting that way.

I must add that my codependency doesn't just exist in my love life. It runs rampant in my family life and with my girl friends too. I've had to deal with a family member with a chemical dependency for the past 3 years, and that's been a harrowing ordeal. I see my codependency in that situation, as well as when I try and be the best friend I can be in my groups of friends. I say "yes" when I mean "no" and I get walked all over from particular people. I don't stand up for myself when I should, and usually feel like I'm the cause of problems or that people are mad at me. See, it's everywhere!

The friend who gave me this life-altering book told me a lot of interesting things. They stared me in the face and told me to stop caring so much. At first, I was flabbergasted! "How can I go from caring all the time about everyone, to not caring at all?" Even during this serious, deep conversation we're having, they're as a cool as a cucumber. They proceed to tell me to be more like a guy - think like a guy, care like a guy. Translated from guy language to Kimberly-language, I gather many things from this conversation:

1. I need to love myself
2. I need to be more selfish
3. I need to stop caring for others more than I care for myself
4. If something happens, it's for a reason, and stop always thinking it's my fault
5. I need to set goals for myself (other than my usual "get married and have children")

(There are many more revelations I had, but 5's enough for now)

B/c I've lived a life chock-full of codependency for the last, oh, 13 years, I think it's time I do something about it. I've been hurt more times than I'd like to remember, and I'm done with being hurt. I've taken the blame for things that have nothing to do with me. I'm sick of being anxious and worried all the time, and want to get back to beinging truly, blissfully happy, without a single care in the world. I really think these gray hairs I've developed recently have a LOT to do with this little codependency problem I'm experiencing...

So, I'm pretty proud of myself for understanding that I'm at the point at which I am, and also understanding that I can't continue to live like this. I don't need to always accept the blame or go on with my life thinking "it's all b/c of me." I've reached step #1 (of many?!) and can only see further from here.

Codependency No More, here I come!

Cookie 2.0

2010-01-18T07:47:00.002-05:00

I'm sick of cookies. I'm done with cookies. I never want a cookie ever again.

Boom.

Cookie

2010-01-12T08:15:00.002-05:00

If you give someone a cookie every day for, say, 2 years, they eventually learn that they're going to get a cookie every day. For awhile, it's a fun, exciting surprise to get a cookie every day, but over time, the cookie gets to be expected. Now let's say, all of a sudden, you take that person's cookie away. So, every day for 2 years, they're given a cookie, and then out of no where...no more cookie. That person's going to assume that they've done something wrong to not deserve that cookie anymore, even when it has nothing to do with them. So when asked why that person's not getting a cookie anymore, the original cookie-giver explains, "I only have one cookie to give away, and I can't break it in half or share it right now, and I have to give it to someone else..." How can you argue with that? As much as that person may want the cookie they used to get every day, and how hard it may be to comprehend that they're not getting a cookie anymore, that person does understand. That person doesn't need an entire cookie to themselves, and it's ok that it's being given to someone who really needs it right now. And slowly, little by little, that person gets to see the cookie, and smell the cookie, and know that the cookie is there...though it may be out of reach at this point in time. And maybe, just maybe, the cookie-giver will one day get to a point where they can share the cookie...break the cookie in half.

For now, though, that person cares enough about the cookie, and the cookie-giver and the new cookie-getter to be ok with this arrangement. Besides, that person's lucky enough to have tasted the cookie and know how amazing it is; amazing enough that she'd rather have been given the cookie and had the cookie taken away, than never to have had the cookie at all.

My 2010 Resolutions

2010-01-05T14:16:00.010-05:00

I place light emphasis on the word "resolutions" up there, b/c I'm not one for them (ie: I break them), so maybe we can call this list "Cool New Things to Do in 2010." Besides, I'm about to list 50 items, and if anyone can keep 50 resolutions, well, I'll eat my hat.

1. Make cake pops

2. Give up fast food, candy and (here's the big one) alcohol for Lent (February 17-April 3)

3. Meet my new neighbors (and start playing Bunco!)

4. Call my grandmothers more often

5. Win something

6. Meet a celeb

7. Blog more often

8. Clip coupons

9. Attend a wine tasting

10. Be insanely organized

11. Go greener

12. Stop letting traffic fluster me

13. Donate blood, b/c I forgot to in 2009

14. Get a new wallet

15. Not have kidney stones / problems

16. Re-do my iPod

17. Don't buy things unless I actually need them

18. Take a bath in my new garden tub

19. Cook using my cookbooks

20. Stop picking my lip

21. Add more of my own personal touches to my new home

22. Stop hitting the snooze button so much

23. Get real sun this summer at the pool (and not just at the tanning bed)

24. Improve my golf game

25. Focus on quality rather than quantity

26. Make a pizza from scratch (or, just plain make anything from scratch!)

27. Get the ball rolling with the patent for my invention (like I'm gonna tell you what that is yet!)

28. Be charming enough to be sent flowers :)

29. Re-read all of the Twilight books...again

30. Host a BBQ (hmmmm, need a grill for this...)

31. Go somewhere via airplane

32. Roll my own sushi

33. Continue to get 8+ hours of sleep each night before work

34. Be a better daughter / sister / friend / employee

35. Keep a plant alive

36. Give foods I hate another chance

36. Get my headaches / migraines checked out

37. Visit my friend Courtney in Alabama more often

38. Mow my own grass / take care of my own yard without any help

39. Be on Jeopardy

40. Teach Peanut new tricks

41. Learn how to do the manual transmission / "drift" feature on Mario Kart

42. Visit a museum

43. Quit saying "I'm sorry" so much

44. Check my voicemails before calling people back

45. Grow a tough skin

46. Eat at Hal's (er, make a boy take me to dinner there)

47. Take a class of some sort...preferably with my friends

48. Really give some thought to writing my book

49. Stop picking hangnails

50. Keep up with my gym / diet regimen

Be sure to check back in at the start of 2011 and we'll see how I did this year :)

Journalings

2009-11-30T17:18:00.002-05:00

Soooo, today at work we had a seminar on Emotional Intelligence (from the book, "The ability to use your emotions in a positive and constructive way in relationships with others). I've really been looking forward to this, and got a TON out of it, and we're only halfway through! Can't wait for tomorrow.

During the seminar, I re-realized a lot about myself. I've never not known these things, they were just put right in front of my face again, and I've decided that I need to make some teeny tiny little adjustments to my Emotional Intelligence skills.

There are 5 Emotional Intelligence skills: Self-Awareness, Social Skills, Optimism, Emotional Control and Flexibility. We covered Self-Awareness today, and I feel very confident in that area. I am know who I am, how I am, my strengths, my flaws, and am very comfortable with that. Not that I'm not constantly learning new things and ways to be, but I feel very aware of who I am as an individual.

The area in which I need some work is, you guessed it, Emotional Control. I am a huge offender of allowing my emotions dictate how I act and feel and my relationships with those around me. Huge! I am especially guilty of letting the smallest things affect me and control my mood. I dwell on the smallest things, and my mind's constantly racing regarding negative thoughts - why something happened, how I messed something up, how I'm going to deal with a pending issue, etc. We had to look at a list of "feelings" and I realized the one "feeling" I have at all times (seriously, it never goes away) is feeling anxious. I'm never not anxious / nervous about something. I brought this up to the meeting's facilitator, and she told me my homework tonight is to "journal about what in my life is making me feel this way." And what a better way to do so than to air my dirty laundry via the worldwide web, eh?!

This is way vague, but the biggest stressor in my life is my personal / home life. Sure, work stresses me out at times, but I am blessed with a career that I can leave my job and the stresses that it brings at work. I've worked jobs in the past that I had to "bring home with me," and I never want to have that stress in my life ever again. I'm lucky. It's just everything else that gets me. Am I loved by those around me? Am I being a good daughter? Am I financially stable? Is my sister going to be ok? Why is my dad such a deadbeat? Am I ever going to be truly, blissfully happy? Do I have to go to the gym? Are my grandmothers going to be around for a long time? Are my friends mad at me? Do I love myself? Am I appreciated? Can I make time for everyone? Can I make time for me? Do I make people proud? Do I make people laugh? Do I make people happy? Am I in good health? Why can't I just forgive and forget? Why can't I just not care so much? Am I going to be alone forever?

Common theme, much? People-pleaser, dependent on others' opinions of me, much?! Wow. Now I know why I had to do that little exercise. It really puts into perspective the things that worry and affect you, and hopefully will allow me to tackle some of those thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and the people in it and where I am today and who I am today and the road that's gotten me here. I am a happy person (although it may not seem that way after reading this Negative Nelson post...) and feel truly blessed for so much and in so many ways. So, why do I lay awake at night with my mind at full-speed stressing about things that may or not be in my control? Why do I always have that weird pit-of-my-stomach thing going on? What am I dreading? What am I scared of? And, most importantly, why?

Hmmm, let's hope that after tomorrow's session I'll have all the answers and will be completely cured :)

"I think, therefore I am."

Random Blog Taggings

2009-11-04T15:45:00.003-05:00

Ok, so here are some random blog taggings to which I have subjected myself. Guess I'm pretty bored today...

1). What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was 16 years old and a Junior in high school. I spent all my time with my boyfriend Ian and my girl friends, the same girls in my life today! I consider myself very lucky to still have the same BFF's today as I did 10 years ago. That means, we'll be friends FOR LIFE!

2). What 5 things are on your to-do list for today:
-Finish work...boo.
-Victoria's Secret for a lingerie shower this weekend.
-Williams and Sonoma for a wedding gift.
-Dinner with my friend Missy.
-Finally unpack after my recent travels.

3). Snacks you enjoy: Olives (all kinds), chips, pickles, cheese, the occasional bite-sized candy bar (can you tell I'm a salt-tooth rather than a sweet-tooth?!)

4). Places You've Lived: Marietta, GA; Athens, GA; HHI, SC - and that's it!

5). What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
-Retire (seriously)
-Pay off all my and my mother's debt
-Build my dream home(s)
-Hire an entourage (personal chef, trainer, shopper, assistant, etc.)
-Go on some serious beach vaycays with all of my friends

6.) 5 things you're obsessed with:
-Edward Cullen
-Sleeping
-TV
-Food from restaurants
-My BlackBerry
-Facebook (ok, that was 6 things, but I don't care)

7.) Answer these in 1-word responses.
-Where is your cell phone? Desk
-Your hair? Bun
-Your mother? Saint
-Your father? Hmph
-Your favorite food? Salt
-Your dream last night? Vivid
-Your favorite drink? Mojito
-Your dream/goal? Happy
-What room are you in? Office
-Your hobby? Reading
-Your fear? Loneliness
-Where do you want to be in 6 years? Married
-Where were you last night? Home
-Something you aren’t? Simple
-Muffins? Strawberry
-Wish list item? Camera
-Where did you grow up? Marietta
-Last thing you did? Facebook
-What are you wearing? Clothes
-Your TV? Home
-Your pets? Peanut
-Your friends? Love
-Your life? Unexpected
-Your mood? Anxious
-Missing someone? Very
-Vehicle? Jellybean
-Something you’re not wearing? Hat
-Your favorite store? Target
-Your favorite color? Cerulean
-When was the last time you laughed? Today
-Last time you cried? Yesterday
-Your best friend? All
-One place that I go over and over? Target
-One person who emails me regularly? Holly
-Favorite place to eat? Restaurant

Soundtrack of My Life

2009-09-28T12:53:00.003-04:00

I had this idea MONTHS ago (see #12), but since the Bert Show did this last week, I was reminded of my original idea!!

Here are songs I would put on the "iPod of My Life" and why:

When I started driving: I have 2 for this one. My best friend Jenny got her license first, and that very day, she came and picked me up in her sister's car and we just cruised around Marietta listening to "What it's Like" by Everlast. We thought we were soooo cool. My second song is when I actually got my license 3 months later and was driving my mom's big red Expedition around town. I constantly had "Rosa Parks" by Outkast on repeat and honestly thought I was so cool, yet again. That vehicle had some extreme bass...

My first love: I met my first boyfriend Ian in the summer of '98 at the beach. I tell you, it was love at first sight, and we inseparable from that point until we broke up for good in '01. I remember the moment I knew I loved him, when he took me out on a date while at the beach that week, and put on "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith in the car. We were holding hands and he could hardly keep his eyes on the road b/c we were just staring into each others eyes... Wow, I'm embarrassed just writing that! Anyways, it was a sweet moment for a 15 year old, and I'll never forget that song or that moment.

My first heartbreak: Ok, this is sad. So why am I laughing?! I dated this boy off and on for maybe 6 months in '01, and looking back, it wasn't love, even though I thought it was at the time. Just infatuation, I guess. His name was Brian, and I'm going to leave it at that :) Anyways, we "broke up" over the summer for awhile (if you can even call it that). I remember being at the beach with my family and listening to "It's Been Awhile" by Staind, crumpled up in a ball on the bedroom floor of the condo just wailing about my heartbreak. I'd been much more heartbroken before, but I specifically remember that feeling and song, and honestly though it was the end of the world. I was so naive...

*Side note: Typing this has made me think about a bunch of past boyfriends / significant boys in my life, and all of their names listed together kinda freak me out:

Peyton
Ian
Brian
Jason
Ryan
Shawn

There are a few names over time that don't fit the pattern, but what's up with all the N's?!?! Freaky...

First album I ever owned: I'm going to cheat a little on this one. The first cd I ever owned was 10,000 Maniacs, and it was a gift from a childhood friend of mine. I had never heard of them and subsequently, never once listened to it. So, that being said, the first song I remember absolutely loving off the first cd I ever bought for myself was "Refried Dreams" by Tim McGraw. I was 11. I'm sorry, but 15 years later, I still love that song!

Reminds me of my parents: Even though my parents are divorced, I still hear "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers and think of them. Specifically, one night in our living room. My dad used to come home from work on Fridays, always in a good mood, and play music on our stereo and my parents (and I) would dance. This is a nice memory that I'm glad I have.

Car accident: I hate that I have this memory, but "Bye, Bye" by Jo Dee Messina was playing when I got into my first car accident, and now every single time I hear that song, I remember the exact moment the car rolled down the hill. It's such a good song, too, and it still freaks me out to listen to it.

Song that makes me feel like a stripper: Ok, I have 3 for this one. I don't care, it's my blog and I can do what I want! There's the typical "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard (which I think is everyone's song for this category). Funnily enough, that song also reminds me of my freshman year at UGA when we always hung out at this "freshman" bar called Uptown Lounge. I think they just lured us young girls in with that song, b/c every time I hear it, I think of Uptown (and being a stripper, LOL). There's also "I Wanna Be Bad" by Willa Ford (such a one-hit wonder, bless her heart) and "You Can Leave Your Hat On" by Joe Cocker.

When I want to blow off steam: I feel like this song is so random for this category, but whenever I hear it, it makes me bounce around and really releases my stress / tension / unhappiness. "All the Small Things" by Blink-182. So random, right?! You should see me in my car when this song comes on - volume on full blast and I pretty much scream the lyrics. Ah, so good!

First day of school: Ok, so I don't think this was my actual first day of school, b/c I remember that day clearly (seriously, I have the memory of an elephant), but I distinctly remember "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys playing while in the carpool line at Murdock Elementary when I was in Kindergarten. I remember being so excited that I got to hear the song, so I could run inside and tell all my friends, b/c that song was all the rage back then. Seriously...I was 5.

Reminds me of my best friends: Don't even have to rack my brain for this one. "All For You" by Sister Hazel. They are my all-time favorite band, and that will never change, and I love how the band and all of their music means so much to me and my best friends. This song is like a religious experience for us every time we hear it while together, and we make a point of playing it at each other's weddings and being in this circle scream-singing it to each other. So awesome. Hmmm, scream-singing...I think I just invented a new concept.

Song I absolutely hate: "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Ting's. And I'm not even going to spend time discussing why I hate it. It's just a terrible, stupid song. Period.

Reminds me of high school: This is so random, and I have no idea why I have such a strong memory of this song and how much it reminds me of high school. "Back That Ass Up" by Juvenile is such a random song to sum up my high school experience, but for some reason it does. More specifically, cramming 7 of my best friends in my 2-door Cavalier and driving around Marietta trying to find something to do on a weekend night, just blaring this song and singing every word. I still smile and laugh, remembering such fun rides in the Cavvie.

Reminds me of college: Ok, so I pretty much discovered Corey Smith. I've been rockin' out to his original music long before anyone had ever heard of him. He's a country / Southern rock singer-songwriter out of Athens, GA (where I went to college) and writes a lot of his stuff about that amazing place. When I hear "Every Dawg," I don't necessarily think of my college experience as a whole, or relate specific memories to the song. The song's about UGA football and it makes me teary every time I hear it b/c I have our school colors running through my veins and have so much pride for my alma mater and our incredible football program. I feel lucky to have gone to such a great school, and this song always invokes those strong emotions.

Sums up my life: My senior year in high school, I took Psychology, and we all had to find a song that we felt described ourselves. You would think that after 8 years, it would have changed, but I still hear this song and think of how it really is about me. "That's Who I Am" by Jessica Andrews fits me to a T. Still, to this day. Guess I haven't really changed that much at all.

So, I just got to thinking about how much better this post would be if I actually had clips of these songs, but I'm not that blog savvy. Hopefully, you get the idea! Soooo, what are the songs on YOUR life playlist?!

QotD

2009-09-22T13:08:00.002-04:00

That's Quote of the Day for the layman.

"The only people you need in your life are the ones who prove they need you in theirs."

Boom.

I can think of like 10 people's foreheads on which I'd tattoo this...

There's really no need for this post...

2009-09-21T10:49:00.009-04:00

But I guess I'm having a tough day and need to "write it out."

I randomly follow this blog on a pretty regular basis and, although I have no idea who she is, I feel like she has gotten me through some pretty rough times in my life. Recently, she posted this entry and it made me cry. Keep in mind that this isn't the first time I've read her stuff and cried or laughed or felt like we were one in the same person. Another reason why I love the internet - I have found this random person who I would otherwise not know in a million, billion years and can totally relate to her and her life in so many ways. It's almost been therapeutic. So, based on her 300th post blog entry, I'll do the same as she did. Reintroduce myself to my 2 readers (if I even have that many...). Like I said, no real reason for this, I'm just feeling, ummmm, reflective.

I am Kimberly, first baby born at Northside Hospital in 1983. My only claim to fame. Apparently I was a handful growing up, and my mom jokes that's why she waited 7 years to have another baby - guess that's how long it took her to recover from me. And, being completely comfortable with who I am and all of my flaws, I am still exactly the same. I'm overly dramatic, I whine a little too much, need constant companionship and am a little to much for people to handle sometimes. I talk way too much, gossip more than I should and wear my heart on my sleeve. But, at least I'm not in denial!

This is a picture of me and my first pool. Apparently, I wouldn't play in the awesome baby pool my mom got for me and would spend half a day filling it up and letting the water warm in the sun...all I would do was want to get in a bucket of water. Again, I'm not surprised. Please excuse the awesome quality of this picture - it was the early 80's, people!

I live in Marietta, GA with my mom and younger sister. My parents have been divorced for like 10 years and I barely have a relationship with my father. My mom pretty much raised me on her own, b/c my dad was either traveling for work or golfing. Hence the amazing relationship I have with her now - we were all we had. She told me this story the other day that made me cry (weird). When I was one, I fell down the stairs. Bad. My mom was alone with me, as my father was out of town. At that time, cell phones didn't exist and my mom had no idea how to get ahold of him. She couldn't take me to the doctor until the morning, and she was up all night with me. Rocking me and crying and, this is the killer, just praying I wouldn't die. I was all she had. (Btw, I'm crying right now and can't see my computer screen. Thank goodness for spell check). I ended up being fine (I know, I know...that's debatable), but can't imagine having to go through that...alone. I've been in and out of hospitals for the past few years for one reason or another, and again my mom told me there were times where she was worried I was going to die. I know it's out of my control, but I hate having made her feel that way.

Ok, holy tangent. So, the 3 of us live together in an awesome house in an awesome town with an awesome dog. My beagle/miniature pinscher, Peanut. Look how cute we all are!

My mom is a retired elementary school principal who now teaches education classes at 3 different Georgia colleges. Retired, eh? My sister is 19 and we're working on our relationship. The girl was my. best. friend. until she got into a lot of trouble and turned her back on my mom and I countless times. I love her with all of my heart, that goes without saying, but it sure is hard to repair a burned bridge...

Can you tell where I went to school? I spent the greatest 4 years of my life in Athens, GA with the greatest friends in the whole world. I feel so blessed to have such a solid group of girl friends. They are my support system. Here is my other family.

Well, I had to get to this part eventually. I used to have a boyfriend, and he was my everything. I mean, seriously, you can just see the love in this picture.

That sounds so gay, but it's true. Like, literally, my heart beat for him. I guess that's a big issue with me - I put others before me (always have, guess I always will) and usually end up getting hurt one way or another. Well, as per usual in my life, he hurt me. And, I really do have all the respect in the world for the man, and still love him with every fiber of my being and don't have a bad thing to say about him. But he broke my heart. 5 days after I was released from the hospital after the kidney failure ordeal (well, maybe I am mad about that aspect, jerk) he came over and gave me some lines about "not being able to give himself to me 100% anymore." Of course there was the usual "I always have and always will love you" and "it's not you, it's me" and "you were the only one I've ever loved" and "maybe one day we can be together again" and blah blah blah. Whatever. I still don't know his true reasons. And yes, we're still friends, but it's just....I dunno. The whole thing still boils my blood and gives me anxiety...4 months later. It's just still so hard for me to come to grips with b/c I gave the man 2 years of my life and loved him and cared for him every second of our time together. I still do, for crying out loud. The thing that really, really gets to me is how a lot of our disagreements (we really never actually fought...he's never been mad at me, not once) were about how he felt that I never fully gave myself to him or trusted him, and he would get frustrated with me holding back and being afraid. Hmmm, I wonder why I would hold back or be afraid of getting hurt? Look what happened. I know I should get over it, but I just can't. I'm sure I will when I'm ready, but for now, I just can't yet.

So, for the past 4 months I've been trying to get my life back together. I have good days and bad days, but overall, it's just so hard. I have always been very sure and confident with who I am and what I do and how I live my life, so one would think I would be ok. Which really makes me question all of the things I was so sure of before. I still don't even know where to start with getting on with my life. It's like, maybe I really don't know myself like I always thought I did. Any suggestions?

So, this is me trying to get by. Don't get me wrong, I think I have one heck of a life and have done one heck of a job so far. I have such a great family and groups of friends who I would truly be lost without. I'm loved by so many people and consider myself so blessed to have all of those things. I have a wonderful job that I'm good at and love coming to every day. I get to do everything I want and have a great time doing it. I'm healthy (for the most part, kidneys and ACL) and am pretty happy. But (there's always a 'but'), I feel like something's missing. Whether that's a father figure, Ryan, a flawless relationship with my sister, or something else, I have no idea. And I'm hoping to use this time to spend time with myself and fall back in love with myself again - back when I was truly happy. I've been hurt before and got through that, so I know I can do it again, I just need to try and enjoy the time it takes to do so rather than only yearn for what it'll be like to be happy. As cliche as this sounds, I need to let go and let God.

Ok, enough negative energy! I'm a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and absolutely adore it. I've really gotten involved within the League in my first year, and am hoping to one day take on a leadership role, possibly being on the Board. I've got a ton of time left (League member for LIFE, baby!) but it's really something in which I am interested and can't wait to continue my tenure within the League. I strongly encourage every woman to become involved in her state/town's League. Such a rewarding experience! I've also made some incredible friends, so there's another plus right there :)

I am a true nerd at heart. I love crossword puzzles and trivia and reading. I love educational documentaries on tv and have a secret affinity for museums. I am fascinated by maps, and when I picture places in my head, it's always in an aerial/map form. Thank you, God, for the Google Map app on my BlackBerry.

Speaking of my BlackBerry, I am addicted to technology. My BB is my life, and even more than that, Facebook. I get anxious if I can't check FB or don't know where my BB is. I don't know what I'd do without BBM...I hate regular texting now! I just joined Twitter and am having a ball with it. I only have like 4 followers, but I do it to follow celebs. I find it fascinating to know what they're doing and hear what they have to say and see them interact with each other!

*(I feel like that above paragraph could be unreadable to some people who may not be as tech lovvy - get it, play on tech savvy?! - as me. BB, BBM and FB?! Gosh, I love abbrevs.)

I guess if I had to sum up myself (what, you don't think this post was in summation?!) in 3 words, they would be:

1. Compassionate

2. Entertaining

3. Dependent

Wow, ok, that was really hard. I feel like I need more words! That honestly took me like 15 minutes to come up with only 3 words. Well, whatever, this is my blog, so I'll further explain my 3 words with some more words.

1. I put my entire heart into everything I do and everyone in my life. I don't think I'm halfhearted when it comes to absolutely anything. This is where my emotional nature fits in. Sometimes I think I care too much. I also love how this adjective contains the word "passion." For that is something I do not lack.

2. People who know me say I'm always "on." I love making people laugh and feel blessed that it comes naturally to me. I am a drama queen and feel the need to express those dramatic feelings to everyone around me. I'm sure a lot of this comes at my expense, but I love knowing that I am an entertaining individual.

3. I'm ok with being dependent on others. It may seem like being dependent has a negative connotation, but I'm very accepting of the fact that I lean on others and other aspects to get by. Would I like to be more independent, sure? But I'm perfectly ok with how I am. I cleave onto my family and friends to get by. I love the feeling of being protected (especially by men, which seems to be my one big weakness) and loved, and almost thrive on it. But, I need to tread lightly with this one, b/c my happiness cannot be solely dependent on how others view and treat me.

If you know me, would agree with my 3 words? I think I nailed it...

I gotta say, this hours-long writing session has been very relaxing for me. I honestly feel better than I did 3 hours ago. Welllll, a little :) Thank you, random internet "friend" for your inspiration!

Wow, 5 months must be some sort of record

2009-09-16T12:38:00.003-04:00

I'm surprised Blogger hasn't deleted my account due to inactivity. I guess I'm more or less picking this back up again b/c my mom pesters me about blogging constantly - and since she's my only reader... :)

I'm not feeling very paragraph-y today, so here's a look into the last 5 months of my life, in bulleted form:

-Went into kidney failure shortly after last blog post. Spent a month in the hospital.

-The love of my life and I broke up (hence why he's not making an appearance on my profile anymore). This has been devastating and I still haven't begun to pick up the pieces... (Sigh)

-Had an incredible summer with my family and friends, all of whom have been so supportive of me during the "divorce." Been to the beach, the lake and have reacquainted myself with some little things I like to call singledom, alcohol and Buckhead. It's been incredible. I truly have the best friends and family anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for not giving up on me.

-Been in bridesmaid mode recently. Which I love, but I can't help but think of the cliched phrase, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." I used to laugh at that, but now realize it's become the theme of my life. I'm just plain going to a wedding in November, and can't wait to just show up, eat, drink and dance.

-Things are better at home. That's all I'm going to elaborate, b/c every time I get my hopes up, things get bad again. End of sentence.

-I still love my job. Things are great at work (which I feel very lucky to be able to say during this economy) and we're actually up for Best Place to Work in Atlanta for the 2nd year in a row!!! How cool?!

Alright, guess I'm not in the blogging mood today, but there ya go, Mom! I'll be better from here on out, I promise :)

Silent Communication

2009-03-30T10:52:00.002-04:00

My sister and I share a bathroom. We also share the charger for our electric toothbrushes b/c she lost her charger. The sharing has gone over very well these past couple months, b/c every time I take my toothbrush off the charger to use, I replace it with hers so she can get a fresh charge. The next time I'm in the bathroom to brush my teeth, I notice that she has replaced hers on the charger with mine, so that mine can get a fresh charge. It's been an amazingly simple yet very effective way of sharing the charger, and also lets us know that we are both thinking of each other. I think it's very sweet. Things haven't been too good at home with her lately, and there are days we argue and don't speak, but we've still kept up with the toothbrush regimen, despite us not talking. It almost makes me not be mad at her for that 1/2 second when I see that she's replaced her toothbrush with mine, and I hope I make her feel that same way.

I'm pretty sure this makes me weird

2009-03-25T07:20:00.002-04:00

I have recently discovered, although I've done this for awhile now, that I have this "thing" with paper clips. I have two containers for my paper clips on my desk - one full of the normal sized ones, and one full of the large ones. I am very particular about which ones I use, and I use paper clips a lot...it's tax season! I will do whatever I can to not have to use/give away my paper clips, even though I have a TON at my disposal. Whenever I receive documents from someone that contain paper clips, I get really excited. It's like I can add them to my collection! What's really bad is whenever I find paper clips - on the floor, on a random counter, anywhere. I get so excited! Now, it's not like my office has a shortage on paper clips. I can get them whenever I want, so I don't understand why I'm so stingy when it comes to giving them away or why I get such a thrill when I obtain more of them.

Wow...after going back and reading this I've realized exactly how odd this is. I almost deleted this post, but since I've been slacking in the blog-department lately, I figure I'll allow you all to glimpse even further into the strangeness that is me. Hope you've enjoyed this!

What does THIS mean?!

2009-03-02T17:25:00.003-05:00

My church, like every church, I'm sure, has an Ash Wednesday tradition. At the beginning of service, you get this piece of flash paper on which to write all of your sins. After receiving Communion, you are to take your sins and throw them into a pot of fire to "rid yourself of them." The flash paper is supposed to burn up, and, BAM, you're sin free. Sinful me walks up to the fire pot in silence, Cross of Ashes freshly drawn on my forehead, and I throw my sin paper into the flames, waiting for it to disintegrate. What are the odds that my paper, which is made to catch fire within 5 feet of flames, floats gingerly to the bottom of the pot without catching fire and burning away my sins?! Now, of course I can't cause a scene during the silent, meditative service, or reach my hand into the pot o'flames to retrieve my scroll of sins... This would only happen to me. Everyone else's sin papers caught fire immediately, some with a huge puff of smoke, and instantly burn away into the night. Not mine...I'm still full of sin, even after a sin-relinquishing church service before God and everybody.

I promise I'm a good kid. Please let me into Heaven...

Weirdness...threefold

2009-02-24T13:19:00.002-05:00

So, the strangest things happened to me yesterday. And it came in 3's, which doubly scares me. Check this out:

1. I had a dream yesterday morning before I woke up that I was almost shot in the face. It was terrifying. A gun was held to my head and I thought I was going to die. Then I woke up.

2. I went to Dialogue in the Dark yesterday. Incredible experience. You're led around in the dark by a blind tour guide and have to figure our where you are and experience life without sight. At the end of the tour, we got to ask our guide questions. I asked how he went blind. When he was 19, he was shot in the face and subsequently lost his eyesight. Flashback to my dream 12 hours before...

3. After I got home from Dialogue, I watched an episode of Nip/Tuck. The first scene of the show took place in one of those restaurants where it's completely dark and you have to enjoy your food without sight.

Uhhh, yesterday was a little creepy.

Facebook's Random Things

2009-02-03T13:46:00.004-05:00

Ok, so Facebookers...I know you've all seen the recent influx of "Random Thing" Notes popping up on your Newsfeeds, and although I was a participant of this cult craze, I feel the need to re-do my list on my blog. I feel that I didn't take the proper time and energy the first time around, and know I can do a better job this time. Not that I don't like those facts, per se, I guess I just wanted to add some more! I also don't know how much I have to say yet, so my list may or may not be shorter or longer than the standard 16 or 25 facts. Here we go...BOOM! Roasted! (Office fans? Anyone?)

1. I've had kidney problems my whole life. I even passed a kidney stone in the comfort of my own home. Keep in mind when I just used the word 'comfort,' up there, I meant worst pain I've ever felt in my life. Point being, I didn't go to the hospital...b/c I'm a beast. Or, b/c I was in the month between switching health insurance, so I wasn't really covered, but whatever. I still deserve brownie points. I'm also scared that b/c of my "bad" kidneys, I may end up like Shelby Eatenton Latcherie one day, but we won't talk about that. I always keep a supply of cranberry pills on my person.

2. I am slightly (read: extremely) obsessed with Facebook. I check it incessantly. I don't call it stalking, more like keeping my ear to the ground. I consider myself the pipeline.

3. I have no desire to go to Bonnaroo, or any other outside festival. Nor have I ever wanted to. That just screams dirty, sweaty, nastiness. I like showering (and pretty much doing everything I do) inside, thankyouverymuch.

4. I do enjoy a good round of gossip. I'm not going to sit up on my high horse and say I don't do it, b/c we all know I live in the South and I am a female. You should see our men's eyes roll when my girlfriends and I get going... Please refer to #2 for the source of 95% of our topics.

5. There is nothing better in the world than a scalp/head massage. Ya know the last 5 minutes of a regular massage, when they massage your head? That is my favorite part of the entire 60 minutes. I wonder if I would be able to get a full session of that?

6. I was just complaining to a coworker about this very thing, so I think it's apropos to blog it. Every day of my life is like the scene from Office Space when Peter shocks himself on the door handle at work. I'm constantly on the prowl for a drill to remove said electricity-ridden door handle.

7. My 18 year old sister got in trouble the other day and I came up with her punishment. She had to stand in a room for 2 hours. She couldn't sit, lean, lay down, talk, or do anything other than just stand there for 120 minutes and think about what she had done. She said it's the worst punishment she's ever received, and let's just say that she's no angel, so I feel quite confident that my measure of discipline worked. Seriously, try standing in one place, doing nothing, for 2 hours. Best idea ever, if I do say so myself.

8. I do not resemble anyone famous. Everyone in my department does, and they all have pictures outside their offices displaying their celebrity doppelgangers, sans me. Yay for being unique and all, but I wish I had a picture up too!

9. I am going 42 days strong without fast food! 'Nuff said.

10. I get car sick very easily. I can read one sentence on a piece of paper and immediately get nauseous. For the reader in me, this does not make for good long car trips.

11. I usually don't wear any makeup to work. I wonder if anyone really notices...

12. Whenever I listen to my iPod, I feel as if my life is a movie with a soundtrack. I find myself doing things in time with the music. Hmmm, note to self...good blog post idea: list of songs for life soundtrack.

13. I remember in college we used to make fun of a friend's older sister for being "old." She's 4 years older. We used to laugh at how she would talk about good recipes and books and not go out 6 nights a week. Nowadays, I live for good recipes, books and I stay in every night!

14. I get anxiety when my cell phone's not within reach. Like it's going to blow up with calls and texts when I don't have it on me... Whenever I don't have it with me, and then go out of my way (turn the car around, frantically search for it, etc.) to get it back, there are no missed calls or texts.

15. When I become a mom, I want Kate's haircut from Jon & Kate Plus 8. She has a cool "mom cut."

16. I get very upset if I can't take my daily weekend nap on Saturday and Sunday. I build my weekends around those naps.

17. If I ever leave the house without putting on perfume or body spray, I feel naked. I forgot perfume when I was getting ready at Ryan's the other morning, and went as far as to spray room spray in the air and walk through it. I know, I know...

18. My dreams are so realistic. I remember every dream I have every night, and subsequently over analyze them the next day. This does NOT help with the Edward Cullen dreams that haunt me every night.

19. Voicemail and phone systems are activated by tones, we all know this. It's not the pressing of a key that triggers an action, it's the sound that key makes when pressed that triggers an action. That being said, I think my voice resembles that of a touchtone. I cannot tell you how many times I've been leaving voicemails for people and get cut off by the message, "If you are satisfied with your message, press one..." I guess the sound of my voice triggers the voicemail system to think a key has been pressed during the message! I have to re-record messages for people all the time, making sure to change the sound of my voice to avoid a re-re-record. It's annoying, but I guess my voice is annoying too?! Good grief.

I know I have more, but it's time for me to leave work, and I cannot miss out on that!!! More later, I'm sure.

Last night

2009-01-09T12:49:00.004-05:00

As of yesterday, I am the proud owner of a genuine Snuggie. That's right, an actual Snuggie. Back ordered, my foot. My mom found one for me at the ASOTV store in the mall. So last night I got to envelope myself in the warmth of my brand new monk-like cloak, all the while able to move my arms about freely while staying toasty under the fleece. Jealous, you all must be. I also got the complimentary book light along with my Snuggie, so reading in the dark will no longer be a problem for me.

Equipped with my new blanket, I 'snuggied' up to watch Jeopardy, as I do every evening. Halfway through the show, I noticed something. Not only do I call out the answers (questions?!) to every question (answer?!), I scream them out. Literally. I scream. Like Alex Trebek is upstairs in my house and I'm making sure he can hear me and my responses. It's hilarious. And I do have to say that I give those contestants a run for their money :)

After Jeopardy I watched Sling Blade, and I had forgotten how good that movie is. I also forgot that Billy Bob Thornton wrote and directed (as well as starred in) it. Actually makes me forgive his "performance" in Bad Santa.

It was a nice evening.

PS,

2009-01-07T16:47:00.002-05:00

Why does Blogger reformat my posts? I swear I don't put in all those extra/inconsistent spaces...

New year, new blog entry

2009-01-07T14:36:00.004-05:00

Pardon the cliche, but 2009 is here and in full force! I thought that once the holidays were over, I'd have a little bit of a reprieve, but my social and work calendar is as full as ever. It's also (cue the Twilight Zone music) Tax Season. Joy.

I thought I'd start blogging again, as I am a slacker and it's been almost 2 months. I wish Blogger had a widget I could install inside my head that would just auto-blog my thoughts as they appear. That could also be bad, so Google, please ignore that request.

For starters, I am super pumped about Climb Atlanta 2009, and charity fundraiser that benefits the American Lung Association of Georgia. On April 18 I will be huffing it up the 50 flights of stairs (that's 1,150 steps...1,149 more than I am used to!) of 191 Peachtree Tower in downtown Atlanta, all for the purpose of collecting donations and support for an amazing organization. I have already started collecting donations, and if you'd like to sponsor my climb, you may do so by clicking here:

Kimberly's Climb Atlanta 2009 Fundraising Page

I have also started training for the trek. I was terribly sick last week, and won't be starting back at the gym until next week - my mom says my body is still recovering. However, I'm getting antsy and have started doing the stairs here at work. Yesterday, I did 6 flights and today I did 12. I hope to slowly do more and more flights each week, but I think this is a great start! I have never been so excited about something before, and feel honored to be a part of such a great cause!

Junior League will be picking back up again soon with parties and fundraisers. Last year was a lot of required work, but now that I've fulfilled my Provisional duties, I can focus on the fun stuff! I don't know how much more Nearly New volunteering I could handle...and let's not even talk about the 25 hours I have to complete in 2009. I'll procrastinate on that one for a bit :) I am especially excited about the Tour of Kitchens in March. My mom, my boyfriend's Mom and I will be doing this together, and can't wait. A chance to see the Atlanta elite's fancy kitchens while enjoying food and wine?! Sign me up.

Ah. I guess I should put up some resolutions for the new year, huh? At least that way I can be held accountable...

No fast food for 30 days - part of my detox regimen, and I'm already on Day 15!. I will also try and continue this throughout the year. It's great, b/c I did this in the Fall, and it changed my life. I used to be a fast food freak, and once I gave it up for 30 days, I didn't crave it at all like I used to. Now, I dabble in it every once in awhile, but it's nice to do a little detoxing.

Don't curse so much - I am a lady! I'm no sailor by any means, but I think it would be great to be like my friend Katie. I don't think the girl's cursed since 10th grade. Now that's true strength!

Strengthen my faith in God. Times have been tough lately, and I know I couldn't keep getting through it all without prayer and my faith. I just joined a bible study at my church, and it's led by my minister, who's awesome, btw, so I'm excited to get involved in that. My mom and I have also started having dinner at church every Wednesday night, which not only gets us to church, but also sets a little time aside for us as our schedules pick back up again.

Keep the drinking to a minimum. This coincides with the no fast food thing, and also the Climb Atlanta thing. I guess I'm just trying to be as healthy as I can (for as long as I can!) and keep up with the working out and eating right and all that jazz. It feels good to feel good, ya know?!

Don't sweat the small stuff. I'm trying to be generic here, as this encompasses many areas of my life. Mainly my habit for worrying about things I cannot control, and letting others get the best of me. Ryan says I've been doing well with this lately, and I feel that way too. I've spent too much of my life stressing out on stuff about which I don't need to stress. Whether it be at work or at home, I'm going to focus on me and my happiness!

I think I'll stop there. It's the long lists of resolutions that never seem to be kept, so 5-fold works for me.

I imagined this post being much longer, but the day has slipped away from me, and I need to bust out of work (right, Mom?!). I'm sure I'll blog again tomorrow - interweb, how I've missed you!

Some people!!!!

2008-11-24T15:22:00.004-05:00

The following scenario happened yesterday and it was so outrageous to me, that I felt like I was in an episode of Seinfeld or something:

My friend Mitch and I went to Wal-Mart b/c I had to pick up a prescription. I was standing at the pharmacy counter, patiently waiting, when a man walked up and asked (with a slight attitude) the pharmacist where the iodine was located. My mind shot back to another trip to Wal-Mart a week before when I myself had trouble locating the iodine. The pharmacist gave him a quick answer ("the aisle with the band aids"), but I knew the iodine was tricky to find in that aisle. I smiled up at the man and said, "I actually bought some last week, would you like me to show you where it is?" He stood there for a second, looking perplexed that I could say such a thing! He finally answered, "NO!" and huffed off to find it himself. What the...??? Who just turns down help??? Mitch was standing right there, and couldn't believe it either. Never in my life... I turned around to some people behind me in line, and they were laughing out of disbelief, and we all, including the pharmacists, pondered why someone would be so rude to someone offering to help. And it wasn't just that he turned down my gracious offer to get out of line and help him, it was the fact that he was rude about it. As my mother always says, it's not what you say, it's how you say it.

Reason #467 why I hate Wal-Mart.

Bettering Myself

2008-11-18T14:57:00.004-05:00

How does one change after 25 years of doing the same thing?

I have always been a very dependent person. From birth until now, I feel that I am constantly dependent on others. My mom tells me how I was her "lap baby." I hardly wanted to play toys by myself or keep myself busy, all I wanted to do was sit in her lap and read (er, have her read to me!). This information is not surprising to me. Although I don't spend my evenings in my mother's lap - I would crush her! - I have a bond with her that gives me comfort. I cannot explain it, but it's there, and I truly don't know what I would ever do without her.

My parents divorced when I was in high school, and subsequently I don't have that strong of a bond with my father. Granted, the relationship with my mom only got better, but my dad and I grew far, far apart. For all you Freuds out there, this may explain why I have always "latched on" to other boys in my life. Searching for a father figure, perhaps, who knows? When I "fell in love" at 15 (HA!), I was convinced that he was it. Of course, he wasn't, and when things ended, I was devastated and felt like my life couldn't possibly go on without him. Well, life did go on - I'm still alive and kicking! The next time(s) I "fell in love", it was the same story. (*Disclaimer: I use the term "fell in love" quite loosely. Sometimes it was love, sometimes not, but it was ALWAYS a BIG deal to me. Ask my mother or my girl friends...) I would latch on and throw my entire heart and soul into the relationship and always get my heart broken. It even happens with girl friends...I give and give and give and give, and barely take the time to take, and I can still end up getting hurt. I am so dependent on others and so focused on making those around me happy, that I don't take the time to look out for myself and what's best for me. How does one break that habit after 25 years?

I am currently in the best relationship in which I have ever been. I have finally met my counterpoint. We are so different that we balance each other out, and it is absolutely perfect. I could go on for days about how great he is, but you get the idea :) For once, I have a man in my life who wants me to focus on me. He knows me up and down, inside and out, and tries (and succeeds) every day to help me make me a better person. Even though he's this amazing man, and has never been mad at me (not once, I tell you!), I still feel compelled to always focus on him and that his happiness supersedes mine. He tells me all the time to not worry about him so much, and to concentrate on me, so why can't I let it go? Trust me, I don't want to be like this forever, but b/c I've been this way for so long, I'm not sure how to get past it.

Lately, I've tried to take more time to myself. I don't always have to say yes to people and plans. I don't always go out on the weekends, and the best nights, in my opinion, consist of some me-time, with my TiVo and a good book...ok, ok, and Wii Tetris too. In the past 4 months I've concentrated on my health and working out, have lost 30 pounds and am truly happy with my body and how I feel. Hell, I even bought myself a Christmas present today (not kidding, the gift card reads, "To: Kimberly From: Kimberly")...I'm really trying to devote myself to me. But there's a lot going on in my life that makes it hard for me to keep it together sometimes. It gets hard and I want to throw my energy into others to take my mind off things, b/c it makes me happy to see others happy. I think a key to being independent is trust. Now, being dependent calls for trust, but a different kind. The trust in which I have such a hard time believing comes from just knowing that everything is ok, that people love me, that I'm not going to get hurt.

I know it's unfair to displace my past "hurts" on those in my life, but I can't help it! I have been hurt so many times, that I forget about the ones who have never and would never hurt me. For that, I am sorry, and am going to do something about it. Here's to me and my new leaf. Get ready for some turning over, leaf!

My pre-New Year's resolution is multi-fold:

-my happiness can be found within myself, not in others
-quit worrying that something is wrong - b/c it's not!
-I don't need to please everyone
-I don't have to be perfect
-keep taking me-time
-I don't need to change who I am, just keep improving who I am

Those are all steps to becoming more independent, right? I know I have it in me, but here's where that other side of trust comes in. I just have to keep on believing that, and things will fall into place. I hope :)

Thank you, cyber-world, for being a great ear to which I can always vent.

Some things

2008-11-12T09:07:00.002-05:00

So, I got my smart teeth pulled last week. And my dentist did the FUNNIEST thing... I wasn't completely under, I just got local anaesthetic. I could feel him pulling the teeth out, no pain, just pressure, and he talked to me the entire time. When he stopped jerking around one tooth, he told me he loosened that tooth and would come back to it in a second. He went to the other tooth and "loosened" that one. He then said, "I'll give you time to rest and I'll come back and take them out, now that they're loose." I looked over and saw my teeth on a tray next to me. That joker! It's so funny to me, b/c I have memories of my dad pulling out my baby teeth for me when I was little, and he would do the same thing. He'd have it pulled out before I even knew it, then make a big production about pulling it out (when it was already done)! I guess that's a little dental trick that not just dentists use. Anyways, I love my dentist and that just made me love him even more...trying to pull a fast one on me! Crazy guy...

I use this body wash called Clean On Me. It never fails that every time I'm in the shower and pick up the bottle to use it, I instantly get the 80's classic "Take On Me" in my head. Seriously, every morning. And it stays in my head all morning. You know how it is to have a song stuck in your head... Annnnnd, now it's in your head, isn't it? So sorry :)

I rode to work this morning with curlers in my hair. I got some strange looks, but I wonder how many other women do this? I really don't think it's that weird. Why would I sit at home an extra hour to let my curlers set and then drive to work when I could just drive to work and let them set at the same time?? No brainer!!!

A person in my building was robbed and had their car stolen yesterday morning in the parking garage here at work. Buckhead is NO LONGER safe, in my eyes. I jumped out of my car this morning and ran (no joke) from the deck into the building. And, I've decided that when I leave work when it's dark I'm going to get a security escort to my car. This is crap. I shouldn't have to do this kind of stuff. Again, where is our society going?

Peanut was honored this month in East Cobber magazine for being Pet of the Month. I may be a teeny bit partial, but I looked through the other pets that were featured, and she is definitely the cutest and coolest pet out of all of them...hands down!

Last night at Junior League, we all wrote down something for which we are thankful. Along with my family, friends and Ryan, I listed Tin Lizzy's. Those who know Tin Lizzy's will most certainly agree that is a place for which to give thanks :)

An email went out yesterday from the property management company in charge of my building. In said email was the phrase, "the holidays are vastly approaching..." Vastly approaching? Seriously, please explain to me what vastly approaching means.

Sad...up there when I typed "explain," I typo'd and it came out "expalin." Ex-Palin. Makes me sad again about the election results :(

I'm back!

2008-11-06T17:57:00.003-05:00

It's been a crazy week. I know you can all imagine.

I've come to realize that my usual blog entries are random thoughts that pop inside my head. I rarely have a theme or a lengthy, organized-by-paragraph blog post. I guess when I came up with the name of my blog, I really knew what I was talking about, huh?! It really is the world inside my head...

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow. I'm scared. I have the worst luck when it comes to recovering from illness/injury, and can just feel myself already getting dry sockets. I hope the painkillers are worth it.

I recently discovered another pet peeve of mine. I've always had this pet peeve, but it has finally made its way into my head as something I need to realize that bugs the pants off me. I cannot STAND when I can hear 2 tvs at once. This happens at home all the time. I'll be downstairs watching tv, and my mom will have the kitchen tv on and I can hear it while I'm trying to watch my "stories." It drives me bananas. I also do not like when someone has the tv and radio on at once and you can hear them both. Ryan does this all the time and I don't know how someone functions with 2 different mediums of entertainment happening simultaneously.

This is all I'm going to say about the outcome of the election. Overall, I am not happy. At all. I do realize that the election results are a huge milestone for American history, and am happy for those I see around me who are so happy, but I did not vote for my candidate of choice solely based on how happy he would make certain people or how groundbreaking and monumental this would be for my country. I voted based on political platform and how the candidate would make our country a better place to live - not necessarily one that will end up in history books. I think it's great that we've gotten to a point that race doesn't matter like it used to and an African American can become President, but that's not what the election was all about. Those are not reasons to vote for someone who is supposed to run our nation for the next 4 years. Votes should have been cast based on foreign policy, healthcare, economic reform, taxes...all things that will cause our country to flourish and thrive. Please understand that this is just my opinion, just as you have yours, and I understand that neither are right or wrong. I was on the phone with a friend the morning of the results and we ended our conversation saying "although we are not happy now, we only hope we will be proven wrong and our country will only get better from this point." He is our President now, and I am an American and will always support my President. I just hope he changes my mind.

I know I've probably blogged about my favorite restaurant, Tin Lizzy's, before. I just cannot express enough how obsessed with this place I am. It's incredible. Everything about it. They should hire me to do commercials for them. I joked today after an amazing lunch there that I'm changing my religion to TinLizzian.

I hope all my friends and family are ready to get cookbooks this year for Christmas. B/c I'm in Junior League, I always have access to our cookbooks and get great deals - besides, they're awesome books, and you'll thank me later.

This goes without saying, but I was embarrassed by Georgia's loss last weekend to Florida. I despise Florida, now more than ever. This loss would probably be the catalyst for my all-day hangover on Sunday...

Alright, off to finish up work (yes, I'm still here and it's dark outside...) and get ready for the loss of 2 dear friends tomorrow morning - Wis and Dom. RIP, good friends. :)

"Kimberly, you want to change the world"

2008-10-27T16:32:00.002-04:00

This is what my mom told me this weekend. I couldn't agree more.

Ever since I joined Junior League, I have been really involved with philanthropy throughout the community. I am helping chair my firm's philanthropic mission at work, and have gotten even more involved these past few months with JLA. Over the past couple weeks, I've taught foster children about healthy eating habits, toured Grady Hospital's ER, newborn special care unit and teen clinic, visited the Center for the Visually Impaired and the Genesis Homeless Shelter, and volunteered many hours at the Nearly New Shop. I have jam-packed my weeks and weekends full of this type of stuff, and while I should be exhausted and stressed out, I couldn't be happier. The feeling I get when volunteering my time, working and helping others and simply learning about what I difference I can make in our community is indescribable. I can't tell you how many times I've cried secretively behind my sunglasses or shirtsleeves when I do these things. I am touched by so many people, and the efforts of my peers who are right there with me, doing everything they can to help out too.

My mom and grandmother told me that they weren't really keen on me volunteering at Grady. It's too far away, and not in the best part of town. Grady also doesn't have the best reputation either, but after walking through the "preemie baby room" this weekend and seeing all of the teeny tiny babies and how much help they need, I, right then and there, with tears streaming down my face, decided that is what I want to do as my JLA Placement for 2009. It breaks my heart to see these little babies, some without parents and some with ones who cannot support them, be so frail and dependent on the nurses and volunteers. They need help feeding, changing teeny tiny diapers and just singing to the little incubated babies. I cannot wait to officially sign up and help out as much as I can.

It may seem like I am partial to the babies, and trust me, if I could sign up for every Placement offered, I would. Like my mom said, I truly want to change the world...

ILTA

2008-10-24T09:29:00.002-04:00

Ok, so the title of this post stands for "I love to abbreviate." It makes life so much easier. Whether it be shortening words a little (ie: "I obvs watched the new ep of The Office last night.") or completely cutting them down to simply letters (ie: LYMI or ILY or SYITM or AYFKM - major props if you know all of those sayings!). My mom, Ryan, friends and I communicate that way all the time. It makes talking so much more fun! And cryptic. There are some folks who hate it (I won't name any names, Katie Allocca and Nick Faucett...), especially when we use The Voice.

More on The Voice at a later date :)

In conclusion, IHELMB and HAGW!

PS: Spell Check really loved this post...

one thing...

2008-10-23T16:38:00.002-04:00

This will be my only political post. I think I've done a pretty good job about keeping my views off of this blog, as to not offend any of my (two) readers.

I cannot stand political apathy. Vote, people!!!

That is all.

who is this guy?!

2008-10-23T15:12:00.004-04:00

So, this is a story about an ex boyfriend who shall remain nameless. I'm sure you can all guess who it is, but I want to (somewhat) protect his identity, bless his heart.

I planned this great couples away weekend to Chattanooga. Wow, Chattanooga, I know. Anyways, I booked the hotel, planned out our days there, made reservations at a nice restaurant, the whole nine yards. He did nothing but go on the trip with me. I digress... Anyways, we show up for our dinner reservations, and he decides that, get this, the place was "too nice" and didn't want to eat there. So, we walk to another restaurant, many blocks away. Mind you, I'm all dressed up in heels and it's wintertime. So, we get to the next restaurant and after looking at the menu at the hostess stand, he decides that there's "nothing for him to eat that he likes." So, once again, we leave to restaurant to try and find another place that suits HIS needs. Guess where we finally end up? TGI Fridays. No joke. I also paid for dinner (and the hotel, and gas for the car ride there, and I drove...)

Wow, I miss that relationship...

Since I missed the 50th post milestone...

2008-10-22T17:20:00.003-04:00

I will milestone-it-up with an even more special 51st post!

51 Random Thoughts

1. I like Nickelback. I can't help it. I know most people hate them (sorry, Court) but I am strangely drawn to Chad Kroeger's voice - despite his unfortunate looks, bless his heart. I'll even go as far as to say that I love Nickelback...please don't shun me from society.

2. What happened to the television show Close to Home? I loved it!!! Bring it back...

3. I wish there was a Roly Poly around me. I haven't eaten there in AGES and miss it!

4. I can't just immediately wake up when my alarm goes off. I ALWAYS snooze.

5. I've already made my Christmas list. It's October.

6. I floss my teeth in the shower. It saves time and I feel as if I'm doing a better job.

7. I hate my arms.

8. Since it's gotten cold outside, my mom and I have yet to turn on the heat. It's a steady 60 degrees in our house and we love it.

9. I eat non-breakfast items for breakfast. Peas, refried beans, corn, tuna, fish tacos, potatoes...I don't like to feel restricted by the time of day when it comes to enjoying foods I love.

10. I always have a black rubberband around my right wrist.

11. I sleep on my back.

12. Santa Claus still comes to my house.

13. I was born with my feet turned completely out (think reverse pigeon-toed)...that's why my turnout was always so perfect in ballet.

14. I am a very good golfer.

15. I am so over thong underwear.

16. I cannot workout without sitting in the sauna afterwards.

17. I have to switch deodorant every time I run out. My body gets used to the kind I most recently used and I have to buy a new kind so it will continue to be effective.

18. My favorite word is pumpkin.

19. I used to experience what I like to call "the Thanksgiving curse." Every November from 2004-2006 (ok, so only 3 years, but still!) I would end up in the hospital for something. You can imagine my relief last year when I was ER-free! Let's cross our fingers for this year...

20. I am starting to get gray hairs.

21. I only sit on one place on the couch.

22. When I eat Skittles (or, anything else super sweet like that) I like to put a bunch of them in my mouth at once and chew them all up really hard and fast. Ok, I know that sounds so weird, but try it. It makes all the juices and sweetness rush to your senses and I like that feeling.

23. Five Guys has the best burgers and Cajun fries...hands down.

24. I fly the UGA flags on my car every game week Thursday-Sunday. It's amazing the amount of friends I have on the streets. I give everyone the standard fist pump...we're all in this together. Go Dawgs!

25. I'm not a good high heel wearer. I think it's b/c of my weak ankles (my feet at birth, perhaps?) and I just am never comfortable in them.

26. Also b/c of the weak ankles, I am not a good ice skater or roller skater. My ankles start to hurt just a few laps in and I have to take many breaks.

27. We put up 2 Christmas trees at my house every year.

28. Everyone in my department has a celebrity look-alike...except for me. I seriously don't look like anyone famous.

29. I set goals for myself when it comes to playing Spider Solitaire. "You can do start doing this new task only once you beat a game." "You can go to the bathroom only once you beat this game." It's sad.

30. I feel like all public stairwells smell like urine.

31. I couldn't survive without tv.

32. I think I'm getting too old for concerts.

33. Peanut has broken out her winter wardrobe...she looks adorable in sweaters.

34. I am 1/4 Polynesian.

35. Flying terrifies me.

36. I don't drink coffee.

37. One of my grandmothers is still holding down the fort in Athens. That's my girl!

38. Whenever I volunteer or work with underprivileged kids/people, I always cry.

39. Ostriches really freak me out...they look like dinosaurs.

40. I don't really like Chinese food.

41. Don't bug me with work-related stuff right when I walk in the door in the morning. Let me get situated first!

42. Water gets in my ears very easily...does that mean my ear holes are extraordinarily large?

43. I haven't been to a museum in a really long time, but am longing to go!!! (any suggestions?)

44. B/c of my dear mother, I am now psychotic about not ending sentences with prepositions. It's gotten really bad.

45. I am excited about getting my wisdom teeth out in a few weeks b/c of the painkillers and how I'm going to lose weight. (please take that statement with a grain of salt...)

46. I no longer attempt to answer the house phone. It's never for me. Even if I'm right by it and it's ringing, I still won't answer it. That's why we have voicemail, duh!

47. Ok, 5 more.................The worst pain ever is getting my eyebrows done. I cry every time.

48. I am terrified of getting breast cancer. It runs in my family.

49. B/c I have to bill all my hours, I have begun to think in terms of those billable hours. 45 minutes? Not anymore...try 0.8 hours.

50. While in college, I threw up in 11 different buildings across campus. Thank you, downtown Athens bars!

51. I used to despise red wine, now it's all I drink.

Wow, I can't believe I just did all that!!!! Happy 51st, everyone :)

"It smells like Halloween!"

2008-10-21T12:44:00.003-04:00

The title of my post is from the new movie "Sex Drive." I'm embarrassed to say I actually went and saw a movie with that name, but it was hilarious. Probably one of the best dates Ryan and I have ever been on. I think we laughed harder during the car ride home, quoting the movie, than in the actual movie itself. Seriously, he almost wrecked the car. In short, see the movie.

Before that said movie, while buying tickets, I am mad at myself for not doing something. If I have ever wanted to go back in time more, it would be to last Friday night in the movie ticket line. Behind us, by about 4-5 people, was a breast cancer survivor. I know enough about breast cancer and overcoming it to be able to recognize a survivor. Honest to goodness, I wanted to hug her. Anyways, after walking away from the ticket counter, I realized I should have done something, said something, anything to her. Anonymously bought her movie ticket (she was alone)...anything. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I absolutely hate myself for not remembering this during the 5 minutes I spent in line. I'm sure it was for the best, as I might have embarrassed her (or myself) in doing so, but breast cancer has affected my life so much (friends, family, loved ones affected) that I now feel compelled to have just said hello or smiled at her. I didn't. I should have.

Ok, to a lighter subject... I finally am done with my LA Fitness trainer. Whew! I no longer have to go to the Perimeter location, I can go to the brand new facility a mile from my house. I went last week and it's BOMB! Brand new everything, 2 stories, flat screen tvs, pool, wood lockers in the locker room (nice), everything is clean and it's not crowded (yet). I hope no one else gets the memo on this new location b/c I like how I have yet to wait for a machine or fight for space in the sauna.

I made my Christmas list this week and now see how old I really am. The majority of the list contains items from, get this, The Container Store. I know what you're thinking..."Easy, Grandma, ask for some cool stuff!" But honestly, a trip to The Container Store gets me excited. Can you spell organizational heaven?! I've always wanted to say to an employee of that place, "Excuse me, do you have any...containers?" LOL, I'm sure I'd get a nice smile at that line...

I recently just re-realized (b/c of the emerging cold weather) an odd eccentricity of mine. I absolutely cannot stand when I have on long sleeves and they get caught in the sleeve of a jacket I have on top of those sleeves. When I go to put on a jacket when I have on long sleeves, I have to hold the openings of the long sleeves in my hands as I put on the jacket and then fidget around until all feels secure and comfortable within the jacket. Watch me put a jacket on sometime...it's funny.

I have never been as into a tv show than I am into True Blood on HBO. It's become somewhat of an addiction, and my friend Courtney and I actually wish we were in the show. Not actors in the show, but actually in the plot of the show. I never knew how hot vampires could really be.

I'm going to be 26 soon. That is scary...

I have come to terms with probably my biggest vice...gossiping. However, I don't refer to it as gossiping. I'm sorry, I live in the South, and what we do here is not gossip, just simply keep ourselves and others informed of what's going on in others' lives. That's all. Besides, just end every piece of information with "bless his/her heart," and it's definitely not considered gossip. I think people in my life appreciate all I have to share with them...I am just doing my part in Southern society to keep the waters of information flowing freely. You're welcome.

Finally, when asked what Ryan and I were going to be for Halloween by my favorite Alabama-dweller:

Ryan - an overworked golf instructor with a 9 year old son
Kimberly - a stressed out administrative assistant with way too many balls in the air

Court, don't you wish we could all dress up in our Halloween best?! :)

does this make me a fat kid?

2008-10-10T11:59:00.003-04:00

Anytime I hear the words "piece," "pieces" or "peace" (or any other derivative for the word, for that matter), all I think about is Reeses Pieces. Never fails.

That's all for today :)

Don't we clean up well?! :)

2008-10-07T11:12:00.001-04:00

Before the Junior League of Atlanta Black & White Charity Ball. It was like Prom all over again...only this time, with alcohol!!!

And...

2008-09-30T12:18:00.005-04:00

Here's the article I mentioned in a previous post:

(Click on it to read the whole thing)

A few things - I am in the background of the picture, I started the "separated at birth" photos, and that's my quote at the end of the article!!! Pretty neat, huh?

Ketchup :)

2008-09-30T09:17:00.013-04:00

So, yeah, haven't blogged in a while. I'VE BEEN BUSY!!! Here are some recent goings-on!

-I hate staying at Ryan's b/c I wake up to this on my car every morning:

Gross...must be Thanksgiving in bird world.

-I played golf last week and made par on a few holes. I'm really good. My new goal is to practice for like the next year (with my sexy golf instructor's help, of course) and then play in a tournament. Just call me Annika.

-This gas crisis SUCKS. Here's the mess I sat in for an hour last Tuesday:

And here's how I entertained myself for the hour I waited in that mess:

Luckily I lasted with 3/4 of a tank until last night, when I topped off again. Well, if by topping off you mean $30... I hope this is all over soon. I am sick of spending all my time and money on gas for my car!

-Ryan and I got invited to work a charity golf tournament at Callaway Gardens again this year. Please check out The Invitational for the First Tee. It's such an amazing organization and I am so lucky to be a part of it. I also can't wait to spend 5 days at Callaway with my best friend :)

-So, a bee was in my car when I was driving the other day. It was no ordinary bee though. It was some steroid-y, hybrid bee I have never even seen before. I had to pull off the road and kill it before it killed me. Here's proof of its existence:

I mean, SERIOUSLY?! Look at that thing. It was 2 inches long, not kidding. And that weird dragon tail in the first picture. HOW IT'S GIVING ME A DEATH STARE WITH ITS HUGE BEADY EYES AND FLICKING ME OFF in the second picture!!! Another time where I'm so glad I had my camera in my car...no one would believe me that this hybrid bee exists without photographic evidence.

-My best friend is pregnant with her first baby...a girl! We all couldn't be more thrilled, and can't wait to become "aunts." I knew about this pretty much the day it happened ;) and it's so great to not have to be so secretive anymore. I wanted to tell everyone the day I found out, but I'm a good friend, so I "told" the only acceptable way - in a secretive blog entry. I mentioned "Ciao, bella" as a reference to "Crumb Baby" (the size of the baby at that point). Aren't I sneaky?! Little did I realize that the baby would end up being a girl - bella, get it?! I predicted the future!!! Court and Bill, I am so happy for you guys!!!

-My commute to work is back roads. I travel down Lake Forrest, a very hilly, one-lane road. That being said, when someone gets in front of you, and they're going slow, you have no choice but to stay behind them until they (praise the Lord) turn at one of the stop signs. You can imagine my excitement when this was in front of me the other day:

I was going 10 miles an hour when this picture was taken. That being said, you can also imagine my (actual) excitement when this finally occurred:

I peed in my pants a little.

Hmmm, I think that's a good enough catch-up. Things are great. Work is great, friends are great, Ryan and I are great, Peanut is great. I couldn't be happier!!! Oh, going to Auburn Saturday night just to go to my favorite bar ever - Supper Club. Howev, I think I'm more excited about Pita Pit the next day... ATTENTION PITA PIT FRANCHISEES: please bring a Pit Pit to Atlanta!

Best Place to Work in Atlanta 2008

2008-09-26T09:30:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in like a month. Trust me, good posts coming. Just been so busy at work. Speaking of work...

Just moments ago, the Atlanta Business Chronicle awarded my firm, AGH, with a huge honor. We were voted Atlanta's Best Place to Work in 2008. I mean, seriously?! How cool is that?!?! I couldn't help but to brag.

See, I'm not lying when I say how amazing my job is!!!

a small rant

2008-09-05T10:20:00.003-04:00

I cannot STAND the Olive Garden commercials. Never in my life have I seen such cheese when trying to advertise a product. Well, maybe from an infomercial... But, c'mon, this is Olive Garden! A pretty big company. I know they do well, I know they must have tons of money coming in to pay these so-called ad execs to market their brand, and I KNOW they can come up with something better than what I see every day on tv. I mean, I'm embarrassed when I see some of these actors and what comes out of their mouths. It makes me not want to eat there, despite my love for breadsticks and alfredo sauce...

Anyone else out there fell my pain?!

I'm Famous!

2008-09-03T11:21:00.003-04:00

Check out my cameo in Sin City's own Vegas Magazine!

We're the ones on the middle right. Got to meet my idol Perez Hilton that night. I'm also next to a Kardashian. It was a successful evening.

Motivational Thought of the Day

2008-08-27T11:42:00.002-04:00

I receive my church, Mt. Bethel UMC, bulletin via email every week, and the message from one of the ministers really hit home this week:

The Best Worst Times of My Life
I know the title doesn't appear to make much sense. I get a lot of that when I say things, but this time I hope you will understand what I am saying when I am finished. Jesus often said things like this; the least will be the greatest, the poor will be rich, losing your life will save it. They are opposites, what we call a paradox. They are things that seem to be contradictory, but in reality communicate a greater truth about the Kingdom of God.
One of those truths I keep running into the longer I live the Christian life, is that out of the worst times of my life, God often creates the best things in my life. I have discovered that when I walk through trials and heartache while still depending on God, I come out in a better place on the other side. It doesn't mean I like it. It doesn't mean I even understand what God is up to, but I have found time after time that He will make the very most of every hard time.
Some of you may be going through one of those "worst times" right now. Some of you may still be recovering from a bad time or chapter in your life. Some of you may be about to go through a rough time and you don't even know it yet. (I hope not, but you never know.) I'm not trying to be negative, in fact, God's message is just the opposite. No matter how bad times get, God has good in mind. He always has a plan and a purpose that can bring the best growth in our lives out of the worst times of our lives.

As I've released to the blogging universe, these past few weeks of my life have been quite rough on me. It was so nice to open an email today with such a simple and poignant message that gives me a much needed morale boost. I try to keep a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude...thanks Momma) about things like this, but it's also a big help to know that I've got someone even bigger than me pulling for me. I will get through this, and be an even better person b/c of it.

my new life quote :)

2008-08-26T13:28:00.003-04:00

I stole this quote by Marilyn Monroe off an old friend's Facebook profile, b/c I feel as if it describes me perfectly:

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

I mean, wow.

nevermind...

2008-08-21T11:00:00.002-04:00

I GOT A WII FIT!!!! They pulled one off the truck this morning and my mom called at the perfect time and it's MINE!!!!! The most backordered video game in history, and I have one. If you need me from here on out, I'll be on my balance board :)

HELP!

2008-08-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

I must have a Wii Fit. Someone help me find one!!!!

Life's simple pleasures

2008-08-20T12:14:00.003-04:00

One thing I love to do more than anything is to eat in a restaurant by myself. Don't get me wrong, I love the good company and conversation with friends/family during a meal out, but I get so much joy out of sitting at a little table for one in a good restaurant, enjoying delicious food while reading a great book.

Today, I enjoyed the ever-so-popular Wicked while dining at Chow Baby. All-you-can-eat, make-your-own stir fry for $7.99? Not having to wait in the ferocious line (b/c I got there before it opened) and being able to just relish in the food, my book and myself for an hour was such a simple little treat.

A month ago, I was an hour and a half early for my flight to Orlando from Harstfield-Jackson, and was hungry. I found a Chili's and sat there with my iPod and newest edition of Real Simple magazine (you HAVE to get a subscription to this) and had dinner. Again, such a simple little gift to myself.

I spend all day talking to (er, catering to?!) and dealing with people, so it's so nice to be able to take a break from all of that and enjoy some alone time. If you haven't eaten alone, you must try it. Even better with some good reading material. I can't wipe the smile off my face. No real reason, just simply happy right now.

just some things

2008-08-19T14:50:00.002-04:00

1. "I quit the gym!" Well, not exactly (great Friends episode, btw). I quit my trainer - does that even make sense? My company pays for my LA Fitness membership, so that's all fine and good and I can continue going when it's convenient for me. Even if I only go once a week, it's not like I'm wasting money b/c I'm not paying for it. Now, as for my training sessions. Last December, I signed up for 12 sessions/month with a trainer for $300 a month. I'm not saying I've hated it, b/c it's been awesome and I'm really happy w/ all I've accomplished and learned. But, it's time to be over. I'm done. I'm trying to pay of my car, and would love to have that $300 in my account each month to help with that. I just joined the Junior League of Atlanta and it's a HUGE time and money commitment, and I just can't get my time and money's worth with my trainer anymore. I'm just over it. I have like 30 sessions left, and then I'm done. Let me tell you what a huge relief this is. Now, I can go to the gym (or not) whenever I so choose, and not feel pressured. Ahhh. Great feeling.

2. Ate at Home on Sunday night with my wonderful mother. This is Top Chef's Richard Blais' new restaurant in Buckhead. Blais, I give it 5 stars!! Amazing food, sir. And, getting drunk off 2 glasses of really good Pinot really make for an interesting early dinner with one's mother on a work night. HIGHLY recommend this place.

3. Watched "No Country for Old Men" and "Dan in Real Life" on Sunday. Two completely different yet completely great movies. Yay for free OnDemand movies!

4. I've got a table w/ 5 of my bests this coming Saturday night at Chastain for the Sister Hazel concert. We're doing dinner, drinks, decorated table...the whole nine years, so it will be A LOT different than college Sister Hazel concerts at the Georgia Theatre. I will never forget those Tuesday night shows, complete with nasty Theatre beer, fist-pumping, Ken Block boob-autographing, sneaking onto tour buses, drunk texting to ex- (current?) boys and cancelling class for ourselves 3 songs into the set...maybe we'll reenact those memories this weekend ;)

5. Today at work I spent 5 straight hours doing one thing. I had to put together 120 marketing folders, each 50 different pages inside. It was HELLACIOUS.

6. My social calendar is filling up mighty fast now that I'm in Junior League. If you want to see me from now until December, contact me STAT!

7. I have no idea when this will air, but can't remember the last time I was this excited for a RW/RR Challenge. It's called "The Island" and they drop everyone off on this deserted island and it's a survival-of-the-fittest type theme this time around. The previews look so intense.

8. Only 2 more 1/2 day Fridays left until next summer. I'm literally crying.

9. I think my 3 weeks of hell have finally relented. Good thing, b/c I'd just about had it with this crap luck lately. Talk about a terrible 21 days...

10. Love my new Voyager phone. Probably the best thing to come out of my 3 week stint in the River Styx. They're calling this phone the "iPhone killer." I know you're jealous.

Armageddon? Apocalypse? Or just a bad week...?

2008-08-14T11:12:00.003-04:00

My faith in our world is dwindling. Lately it seems as if things just keep getting worse and worse around here, and it's truly breaking my heart. I don't know if it's this economic recession, the end of the world, or, as Alexander would put it, a "terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad" point in our lives, but something has to change. Or else I'm going to lose it.

Identities have been changed to protect the innocent:

Two friends went floating down the river in North Georgia a few weekends back. Not wanting to lose their car keys during the adventure, they hatched a plan to put the keys in a plastic bag and bury the bag. Problem solved! They'd come back from their trip a few hours later, unearth the hidden keys and get back in the car. Not exactly. When they returned to their secret burial spot, someone had dug up the keys, and all that was left was a hole in the ground. The keys were found on top of their car, and every valuable within said car had been stolen. Money, paychecks, wallets, you name it. Big deal, those things can all be replaced. Scary part of the story: someone was watching the friends discuss what to do with the keys, knew which car was theirs, watched them bury the keys and then used those keys to steal everything from the car. Can you even imagine?

A friend was walking from another friend's house to her car on a rainy night about 9pm in Buckhead. It was a residential area, and the girl felt safe. Within sight of her car, a man held a gun to her head and tried to rob her. Thankfully, she had nothing of value on her person and the guy ran off into the night. Probably a young guy just wanting a quick grab-and-go with no intention to harm, but still...a gun was involved.

A happily married couple lives in a small Southern town where "there is no crime." 2 cans of gas were stolen out of their garage. The husband was away on business and the wife was home alone. Someone broke into their home and stole gas, b/c they couldn't afford to buy their own.

A man is visiting a friend's apartment complex. While waiting in his car to be buzzed in, a robber approaches the driver's side and holds a shotgun to the man's head, stating he's going to kill him. That's right, a shotgun. He survives, but only after the robber takes everything he has in the car.

On a girl's first trip alone to Atlanta to visit family, she's held up at gun point in a parking garage in Buckhead and her purse was stolen. Again, all replaceable items, but a gun was still involved.

A new mom's wallet was stolen out of her car which was parked in her garage. The wallet was hidden in the newborn's diaper bag.

A man's brand new Garmin navigation system is stolen out of his locked car, which is parked in the driveway, 5 feet from the front door, in a gated country club in Roswell. Another man's locked car, in that same driveway, was robbed of $300 cash that same evening.

A teacher's cell phone was stolen out of her purse, which was inside her desk, by one of her students. The child was no more than 10 years old.

I know every single person in each of those stories. They're all true. They've all happened within the past year...mostly within the past few weeks. My heart breaks for each individual involved. Don't get me wrong, when I stated above that my faith in this world is dwindling, I still have faith in one thing. I know God wouldn't give us anything we all can't handle, and these are things that only make us stronger. That doesn't mean it's easy, but it is nice to have faith in something in this havoc-run world.

Am I the only one noticing these things?!

Sudoku

2008-07-28T14:19:00.002-04:00

To the lady sitting next to me on the plane "solving a Sudoku puzzle:"

The entire premise of the game is to not repeat numbers in each row and column. I don't do Sudoku puzzles and even I know that. It was hilarious for me to see you turn around to your husband behind you and proudly announce how great you were for "solving the puzzle." Made my day.

"Welcome to Teeeer-get!"

2008-07-24T14:13:00.002-04:00

Any SNL fans out there??? No? Ok...

Anyways, 2 stories from my 5 minute experience in Target last night:

1. Standing up at the front of the store, an older woman actually asked me, "Where are the checkout lines?" As I politely pointed to the registers not 10 feet away from us, so many thoughts swirled around in my head. I don't care if this is your first time in that particular Target, a Target store in general, or, heck, ANY SORT OF STORE THAT SELLS ANYTHING, the checkout lines are always in the front of the store. Always. Another thought: could she not see the lines of people waiting to pay for their items...could she not hear the constant beeping of the cash registers...did she fail to notice the huge poles jutting out with illuminated checkout lane numbers on them??? WE WERE TEN FEET AWAY...if that!!!! I was flabbergasted.

2. My purpose of last night's Target trip was for 3 oz. travel bottles for my trip to Orlando today. We all know that for carry-on purposes, all travel bottles must be 3 oz or less. These are federal regulations. Can someone please explain to me why every travel bottle was 4 oz.??? Does no plastic travel container manufacturer know these stipulations??? Don't you think that's the most asinine thing you've ever heard?!?!

Here's your sign...

Random Twitterings

2008-07-21T18:15:00.004-04:00

-This week in Atlanta is Downtown Restaurant Week. Of the 3 days I'm able to participate, I'm going out to dinner twice. Never been more excited. Tonight is with my family, Ryan and Ryan's mom. Tomorrow is with some girl friends.

-My mother, after much reluctancy, let my sister back on our cell phone plan. In a matter of ONE MONTH, the heathen has proceeded to go over our minutes, talking to one person (please note not total calls, just to one person) for almost 43 hours. That's about how much I work in one week. 525 calls to be exact. That's 35 calls a day...every day...to one person. How does one justify that? I hope the demon has fun paying those overage charges.

-I'm headed to Orlando on Thursday. Going to have a final hurrah at the Magic Kingdom/MGM/Epcot/Animal Kingdom before my "friend" Pluto moves home. I tell Ryan I may have an affair with Mickey Mouse and never return...he thinks I'm kidding. Have you ever gone to Disney World as an adult? It's even more fun than when you were younger. Case in point: they serve alcohol at Epcot.

-I got a raise at work last week. 'Nuff said.

-Mamma Mia was amazing. Can't wait for Dark Knight. Waiting to see it in IMAX (whenever tickets get around to not being sold out...) w/ my man. Any movie that brings in over $150 million in its first weekend must be worth seeing.

-Saw Corey Smith on Saturday night at Chastain. We were fourth row and didn't even realize that until we got there! He put on a great show for 6500 people (that's right, he sold out Chastain) and was really, really good. I've been following him for about 4 years, and have really seen him transform from an unknown artist playing an acoustic set at the Marietta Wild Wing Cafe for 20 people, to someone who sells out venues like Chastain Park. He caters to a more wide-range audience now (as anyone trying to make it in the music biz would), but his vocals, lyrics and overall musical talent have not changed one bit. As much as it makes me mad that everyone and their grandmother knows who he is and he's not so secretive and special to me anymore, I'm happy for him and his success.

Makes you think

2008-07-08T09:22:00.003-04:00

Last night during the terrible storm that swept through my neighborhood, a house not more than 200 yards from my own burned to the ground.

It was terrifying...almost like a scene from a movie. When I pulled into my neighborhood, you could barely see through all of the smoke that hung thick in the air, I was weaving in and out of fire trucks and news vans, and bits of embers and ash were falling from the sky. My neighbors were all outside huddled in groups, whispering quietly and watching a family's home slowly disappear beneath flames caused by a massive lightning strike. No one was hurt, and the fire was contained to the one house, but as I stood there in the dark watching those life-altering flames dance in the sky, my heart absolutely broke in two. My heart broke for everyone that was going to be affected by this disaster; where will they sleep tonight...what will they do tomorrow...how will their lives ever be the same?

I passed the house on the way to work this morning, and the scene was eerie. I saw a charred skeleton where a home used to be, smoke still drifting out of the ashes. I started crying right then and there, thinking that could have been my house, a friend's house, another family member's house... It made me think about how lucky I am to have a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, and most importantly, a home to go home to. My heart goes out to that family. Please say a prayer today for these people. And also say a prayer of thanks for all that you have. It only takes a second for things to change.

2 things...

2008-07-03T09:50:00.004-04:00

1. If you haven't recently, please go check your ice maker. When filling a cooler this morning, I got the opportunity to see the disgusting mess that was our ice maker and about died! I am embarrassed to say we've been consuming ice that came out of that thing. Good thing I have the best mother in the world that is cleaning it out as we speak. It's amazing to me how something as supposedly sanitary as an ice maker (I mean, it's only filled with purified water, for Pete's sake) can get that dirty. Word to the wise, check monthly. Funny story, actually. In college, the ice maker in our apartment always dispensed funny-tasting ice. We just shrugged it off as the terrible Athens-Clarke County water system, and enjoyed odd ice for an entire year. On move out day when cleaning out the freezer, we discovered the culprit behind the ice...stop reading now if you're squeamish. Someone (probably at one of our ~~chill~~ wild parties) put one of those glow sticks in the ice maker at some point and it leaked into the ice maker, therefore causing us to consume "flavorful" ice for the next 10 months. I would have rather never known the real reason...

2. I'm wearing a skirt today I haven't worn in probably 2 years. I found a dollar in the pocket. It's going to be a good day.

That's all...Happy 4th!

What to do while sitting in Atlanta traffic

2008-06-26T13:30:00.006-04:00

This is why I'm glad I always have my camera with me:

I captured this grown woman blowing bubbles out of her SUV with a bubble gun this morning. She created a shower of bubbles on all surrounding vehicles (good thing mine hasn't been washed recently!) and definitely caused some amusement to those around her. There were no kids in the car with her, so I'm unsure of her motives, but it was hilarious to witness and really started my day off with a pop (wow, terrible pun...my apologies)!

Jumping Into a New Life

2008-06-25T11:49:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, Jenn Hobby from the Bert Show went skydiving. On the plane before her jump, she "left behind" a list of things about her life she was ready to change. She actually wrote these things down, and upon her decent back to earth, ripped those past feelings of regret and disappointment to shreds and let them all go. Talk about symbolism. When she touched down, she was a "new person" and has since begun a "new life." Although I am completely happy with my life and all that's in it, there are some things I'd like to let go in order to better myself and my life:

*the need to constantly please everyone

*not having faith in myself in all that I do

*my desire to have to be perfect

*chewing on my lip

*my fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar

*being too hard on myself

I'm sure there are more (a LOT more), but I think that list is good for now. They say the smaller and simpler the to-do list, the easier it is to tackle. I think I'll tackle these 6 things for now, and once I've got those under my belt, I'll start with the others.

Ready, set, JUMP...

Freshman year, is that you?

2008-06-24T16:02:00.002-04:00

There's a new air freshener in the bathroom at work. It smells like an Alabama Slammer. Honestly. Makes me recollect on those fine shot-taking days of college yore.

Wow, I sure blog about the bathroom a lot.... What can I say? I'm constantly drinking water.

From Across the Pond

2008-06-19T14:20:00.002-04:00

This is the best snack or meal (just double the recipe) EVER! Got this from an old college roommate...her dad was from the UK and this is a British treat.

Can of corn

Can of tuna

Mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together and enjoy! Hardest recipe ever, right?! ;) Seriously, try it. Soooo good.

a little OCD never killed anyone, right?!

2008-06-17T17:56:00.002-04:00

I'm somewhat fanatical about something. Well, I'm a lot fanatical about a lot of things, but this is something that drives me C-R-A-Z-Y.

I have TiVo. Definite top 5 invention on earth. Thank goodness for this gadget, b/c I am hardly ever home during primetime, so I miss all my favorite television shows. I love catching up at night and on the weekends when I have some free time, and it makes watching multiple back-to-back episodes more fulfilling. Recently, however, I have noticed a flaw in my TiVo viewing. I get seriously stressed out when there are more than 2 pages of TiVo programs saved at one time. For example, I was in Vegas for 4 days, and missed all that tv, so the programs waited patiently on my TiVo for me to return to watch them. Upon my arrival back home, and ready to watch some tv, I saw how many shows had built up in those 4 days (I'd say about 20 or so) and started sweating. Last night, while attempting to catch up, I found myself fast-forwarding thru shows just to get thru them, sometimes even skipping the majority of the program. Watching The Bachelorette, I skipped right to the end, just to see who didn't get the rose! Same thing with The Next Food Network Star...I watched the challenges, sometimes on the lowest fast-forward speed, and then quickly fast-forwarded thru the judges' deliberations, finally stopping the remote just in time to see the culmination of the show and who got kicked off. I mean seriously, who does that?!

It's such a conundrum, as the whole premise of TiVo is to give you more time to catch your favorite shows if you miss them, and to take that area of stress out of one's life. I find it doing exactly the opposite, as I'm constantly stressing on how I can get thru as many shows as possible to clear out more space on my TiVo's memory. That's another thing...I've got 120 hours of memory. You do the math!

My proposed solution...NETWORK TELEVISION: PLEASE STOP AIRING SO MUCH GOOD TV!!! If I'm not tempted by the amazing stuff that's on tv, I won't TiVo it and therefore won't stress about watching it all.

Does that make me psycho?! :)

Scream IV

2008-06-10T13:57:00.002-04:00

So, in our bathroom at the office there are 5 stalls, each with an automatic flushing toilet. Today, I was alone in the bathroom, when the toilet in the stall one away from me FLUSHES. I immediately jerk my head down to see if I was just crazy and there was someone actually in the bathroom. NO FEET!

Now, the thing is with these toilets, is they're pretty difficult to flush. I mean, you really have to be sitting on the toilet and then get up and leave the stall for the sensor to trigger the flush mechanism. That being said, I'm convinced the murderer from the Scream movies was standing on the toilet in his scary costume just waiting for me to get close so he could cut out my liver or decapitate me.

It was terrifying. I've never washed my hands and bolted out of a restroom so fast in my life. I'm debating on calling building security...

Great Day!

2008-06-09T16:47:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the posting lapse. I had a bad encounter, blog-wise, a couple weeks back and have been blog-hesitant ever since. I'm back!

Thus far today, I've consumed 136 oz. of water. I'm assuming it's this scorching heat and the fact that my building's air has been on the fritz all day. B/c of this major water consumption, I've peed 8 times at work today. EIGHT!

I love today...June 9, 2008! Ciao, bella!

Fifty Fun Facts...about ME!

2008-05-22T12:56:00.012-04:00

I'm currently eating zero carbs to prepare for Vegas and Luci's wedding...it SUCKS

I like the way Peanut smells...like tortilla chips

I can't stand that brushing noise...brushing teeth, a grill brush, brushing anything...it's like nails on a chalkboard to my ears

I still have my baby blanket, and still sleep with it every night

I cannot stand apathy

I can't watch regular tv b/c I am so used to TiVo (I hate commercials)

I'm claustrophobic

I'm bad about wearing my seatbelt, but yell at my mom when she doesn't

I have a small addiction to my cell phone and texting

I was supposed to be a boy, Justin Thomas...I also wore blue clothes for the first year of my life

I always snooze my alarm

At any given point in time, I'm sweating

I am the best bargain shopper...come to Kroger with me sometime

Raw carrots...love them. Cooked carrots...hate them.

I read by the sentence, not word-by-word

I'm what some people may call a little bit of a whiner

I pick at my lip...it's just something I do

Without my acrylic nails, I feel that I have man hands ("She has man hands!")

I have this strange obsession w/ Hugh Laurie (Dr. House)

I can't get thru the night w/out getting up at least once to pee

I beat most of the contestants on Jeopardy while playing along at home

I cannot stand actual human nails (finger or toe); I see long ones and get nauseous

I am obsessed w/ reading other peoples' blogs

I cannot even stand the smell of tequila...not even in margaritas

I'm afraid of flying (even though I do it all the time)

I have callouses on my hands from lifting weights - seriously!

I cannot sleep w/out chapstick on

I hate camping

I do great cartoon voices

I have a pretty small extended family...reunions would be pointless

I don't drink coffee

You should see my backstroke...

I think my head is misshapen (note the high bun I always wear to counteract the misshapen-ness)

I am turning into my mother...and love it!

I love cruises

I have anxiety

I always pay off my credit card

I don't get really sick very often, but when I do, HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT!

I am a germ-a-phobic

Public speaking does not make me nervous in the least bit

I pace when I'm on the phone at home

I get very star-struck when meeting celebs

I prefer bars over clubs

I've ridden an elephant

I also have this strange obsession w/ Johnny Cash

I still have in my bellybutton ring

My first memory was having my diaper changed

I put cheese on almost everything

Same with salt

I like Facebook better than MySpace...hands down

ugh

2008-05-20T12:06:00.003-04:00

Gah, I hope someone is reading this who knows how bad the intersection of Roswell Rd. and Piedmont Rd. is so you'll at least understand where I'm coming from.

Every morning, I take Lake Forrest to get to work. It runs parallel to Roswell Rd. going into Buckhead and is a great alternative to the traffic-y Roswell Rd. Lake Forrest eventually runs into Roswell Rd., and I must take a right onto Roswell and then get into the left lane to turn onto Piedmont so I can get to work. Well, the rest of the world has to do this maneuver as well, leading to a MONSTROSITY of cars everywhere. I patiently wait 12 minutes to make a right turn (you heard me, a right turn), and get onto Roswell Rd. in the correct turning lane. The light finally turns green, and I notice there is a big Chevy trying to get from the right lane into the left turning lane. It is too late for me to let him in front of me, as I'm ahead of him, so he tries to get in behind me....and BAM! Slams his front bumper into my back one. I mean, the last time I checked, I don't drive an invisible car, so I don't know how he didn't see my silver SUV sitting right there with no room for him to get in the lane! I guess he just thought that b/c he drives a big vehicle, he could just Monster Truck right over my car and get into the lane in which he needed to be. So, we're unable to get our cars out of the road, and when the light turns red again, we get out of our cars and inspect the damage. Despite the loud noise it made when he hit me, there was absolutely no damage to his or my car...thankfully! I saw no need to call the police, but I did get his information (Josh, you better have given me your real name and number...). Let me tell you, even though it wasn't a bad accident at all, my hands were shaking so badly, I could hardly input his contact info into my phone. I was able to get a "J" in there, and had to update the "osh" when I got to work and calmed down.

Car accidents (big or small) are terrible, and it had been a long time since I'd been in one (2002). It is not a great way to start off one's morning...

a guilty pleasure

2008-05-14T14:06:00.002-04:00

Ya know those cookies they serve on Air Tran flights...the Biscoff gourmet cookies? Well, hold the phone, b/c I found them at KROGER!!!! I love flying Air Tran simply b/c of these cookies, and now I don't have to suffer through cramped seating and scary turbulence to enjoy them! I am completely at peace with the world right now, sitting here at my desk, snacking on this sweet, cinnamon-y goodness.

True Fat Kid Moment...

2008-05-09T09:46:00.002-04:00

I told my best friend Courtney this yesterday, and she told me I should blog about it. So, here goes:

I'm eating tuna fish and corn with mayo for lunch today, and saw that I spilled a dollop of mayo on my desk. I wiped it up with my finger and licked my finger (not wanting to waste any mayo, duh!) and I realized IT WASN'T MAYONNAISE...it was actually a dollop of hand lotion I put on before lunch. I just ate hand lotion. Swallowed it and everything. Awesome...

Seriously, who am I?!

Fire and Ice (Cream)

2008-05-08T14:10:00.002-04:00

So, my building just had a fire drill. The 6 flights down wasn't so bad, but the 6 flights back up was a different story...AND I WORK OUT!!! I have a newfound respect for stairs. Anyways, my property management company rocks, b/c they provided us with those awesome chocolate eclair crunchy ice cream bar things when we were sweltering outside, so it was all worth it! Happy Thursday!

Drinko de Mayo

2008-05-05T13:59:00.003-04:00

It's so hard to be at work today when it's:

1. Cinco de Mayo
2. Gorgeous outside

I crave to be outside sipping on some cold beers right about now. Ugh. Happy "Anniversary" to me and Ryan though! Today marks the day where we started to like each other one year ago :)

Commercials

2008-05-02T15:00:00.015-04:00

I've been rather busy today at work. Pretty much been working hardcore since 8am, so I think I'll take a little break and play some "commercials:"

-The Fickle Pickle is a really, really cool restaurant. Most restaurants in downtown Roswell, GA are really neat, but this one takes the ~~cake~~ pickle! The food is delicious, especially the desserts, and on Thursday nights they have live music outside, so you can sit outside and enjoy good food and good tunes. It's a really family-friendly place too, and has this welcoming atmosphere. I was there picking up some cookies to go last night, and wanted to stay so badly for dinner outside. I encourage you all to go if you haven't already.

-Overstock.com is an amazing website. This is where I get a lot of the gifts I get for people - ok, my secret's out! Everything is brand new (still in packaging, straight from the manufacturer) and at HUGE discount. This place has everything you can think of...electronics, bedding, art, clothing, books, jewelry, furniture...you name it! I've probably ordered 10 things there in my lifetime, and have never had a bad experience. It's not too late for Mother's Day, and Father's Day is right around the corner as well.

-I have never had fish tacos that I don't like. Anywhere I go that serves fish tacos, I order them, and love them. Whoever invented fish tacos...THANK YOU!

-The ATM's at Bank of America. Depositing checks is so deliciously easy. No envelope is needed; just insert the check and the machine reads the amount of the check automatically and you're done. It's a science I don't think I'll ever understand, and absolutely love that I am a part of it.

-The spicy sauce from Chick-fil-A. Zax sauce. Honey BBQ sauce from CFA. Any type of buffalo sauce. White sauce from Japanese restaurants. See a pattern?

-Banfield Pet Hospital at PetSmart. This is Peanut's vet. They are amazing, and I have Peanut on a 'Wellness Plan.' It's kinda like insurance for pets. Her checkups, meds, shots, pretty much everything is covered by the $16.95/month fee. It's an incredible program, and I encourage all who have pets to check it out! The doctors and nurses there are all really nice and knowledgeable too.

-My Mecca...Target.

-Reeses Pieces. Something about that combination of chocolate and peanut butter makes me crazy. You should see Ryan and I tear into some RP's.

-All things Wii. Period.

-Any bar that serves Mojitos. It's hard to find them, especially not around a 'tropical' place, so Atlanta bars that do serve them...thank you! I'm a great tipper :)

Lonely, I'm so lonely...

2008-04-29T11:33:00.002-04:00

Ryan was absent from Luci and Mike's Couples Shower this weekend, and while everyone else got a great pic of them and their other half, I was left with this:

If he hadn't have been living his dream playing Pinehurst, maybe I'd be mad at him for leaving me! :)

Apples

2008-04-25T12:34:00.002-04:00

"Women are like apples on trees - the best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones, because they are afraid of falling or getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree."

~I am so lucky that Ryan came along, climbed to the very top, and picked me!

Kramer?

2008-04-10T16:29:00.002-04:00

There's a Seinfeld episode where Kramer tries sleeping for just 6 minutes each hour. He believes it will make him more productive and allow him to get the rest he needs while still getting things done. It backfired. Can you see any parallel here:

I'm trying this new diet. I invented it myself. Instead of eating a small meal every 3 hours, I'm eating a tiny meal every one hour. This morning at 8:30, I had a 1 oz. portion of cheese. At 9:30 I ate 2 egg whites. One hour later I had one turkey dog. Next, I at 2 more egg whites. An hour after that, another 1 oz. of cheese. I kinda skipped a little, and at 2:30, I ate some cucumbers and tomatoes. I feel great, am not hungry, and have only consumed about 450 calories today. Tonight after my workout I plan on eating 8 oz. of boiled shrimp...160 calories. Usually, after my 30 minutes of cardio, 30 minutes of strength training and 15 minutes in the sauna, I burn 900 calories, so that puts me expending more calories than I'm taking in!! I'm just trying this out before I leave for Vegas next Tuesday (b/c I'm going to eat while I'm there, duh!), but once I get back, it's Once-an-Hour Eating 3000 to get ready for Vegas in June and Luciana's wedding.

I'll keep y'all updated...and hopefully it won't be like one of Cosmo Kramer's hair-brained schemes!

So hurt

2008-04-09T13:13:00.002-04:00

I just watched the terrible footage of the teenage girl, Victoria Lindsay, who was severely beaten by 6 of her peers. I cried while watching it (no real surprise there), even though I do not know the individuals involved. My heart breaks for Victoria and her family, and I am outraged at the girls who attacked her. I am even more outraged at these girls' parents, who are defending their children. The attack was videotaped by the attackers; their intentions were to post the video online to embarrass the victim. How one can defend their child who is seen on camera harassing and beating another young girl is beyond me. As much as I hate that the victim and her family are being exploited by the video being made public, I think it is imperative that people watch it so they can be aware that children are capable of terrible, terrible things. I am so sad that this kind of thing took place, and only hope people will take away something positive from this nightmare. It makes me sick to think that we live in a society where people think this kind of behavior is acceptable and condoned. I hope these girls are all tried as adults and spend the rest of their lives in prison where they belong. I also thank God this was not my sister...

I am addicted to crack...

2008-04-08T14:57:00.002-04:00

...in Wii form, that is.

Ryan and I purchased Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Saturday, Wii's newest installment of Nintendo's ever-popular character fighting game. And let me tell you...we didn't leave my house for almost 2 days. Our weekend was spent on my mom's amazing pillow top, microfiber sectional sofa, playing this highly addictive game. We ate on the couch, controllers rarely leaving our hands, and even slept on the couch, only to wake up the next morning and continue the battle. Every day I yearn to get home from work and pick back up where I left off the night before. It's absolutely amazing. My thumbs have gained callouses and are continually sore, but it's all worth it.

Mario Kart for Wii comes out in like 20 days...I can hardly contain myself. Thank you, Nintendo, thank you.

Oh, how I love thee...

2008-03-27T17:29:00.004-04:00

I truly have the greatest people in my life. I am so blessed to have such a solid base and support system. I'm sure none of them read my blog, but in case they do, I decided to write out just one reason why I love each person in my life. There's not enough computer space in this entire world for me to list out every reason, so just the one will have to do!

-My mother. Back when she was a principal, she was hilarious. When it came to reprimanding children, she used the old reliable form of punishment...discipline by sarcasm. The few times I got to witness this glorious event, I almost peed myself. She was so sarcastic and funny and I'd be there trying not to laugh when she was being serious. She's a very funny person, I think I get my hilarity from her.

-MariClaire. I love her parents' house. I always feel so cozy and at home there, and they always have the best food! Her family's awesome too.

-Ryan. He never, ever loses his cool or gets mad at me. And sometimes I am just blatantly mean to him for no reason. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a wonderful man, but I am so happy he's in my life. Seriously, y'all, he never gets upset with me. Not even close.

-Jenny. She is the other half of our alter-ego duo, Kenny and Jim. K & J have a blast together. She really gets my humor too.

-Peanut. I like when she is napping or trying to sleep or something, and I'm awake and making noises or moving, and she inhales really deeply and lets out the biggest "would you just SHUT UP?!" sigh you've ever heard. I like annoying her sometimes just to make her do that. It's adorable.

-My grandmother. They say old people get "old" and start slipping into senility. Not my Nanny. She even runs around the house and gets on the roof to clean the gutters!

-My sister. She does things for me. Like, if I'm comfortable and don't feel like getting up to get something, she will always, no matter what, drop what she's doing and get it for me. It's pretty cool. Kinda like she's my servant or something

-Courtney. We've known each other for over 20 years. That's pretty cool in itself. Anyone that can be my friend for over 20 years deserves some sort of recognition.

-Jenny's boyfriend Mitch. Honestly the nicest guy I've ever met. And he treats Jenny well, which is most important.

-Courtney's husband Bill. Love the Southern accent...and how he still tries to party with those who are 10 years his junior

-Luciana. I love to hear her speak Spanish. It makes her twice as beautiful as she already is.

-Tracy. Even though she's not an MD, she's just about got her doctorate in PT, which to me is pretty much the same thing. Five words for you: free medical advice for life!!!

-My aunt. She has created this lucrative antiquing/eBay-ing business in her retirement and does a damn good job at running it. We may laugh at her basement full of "inventory," but I'm pretty proud of her for taking something she likes doing and turns it into a profitable venture. Go AP!

-Ryan's mom. I cannot wait to be able to call her my mother-in-law one day. She really is the coolest person I've ever met, and I love her cooking too!

-Luciana's fiance Mike. He always sounds like he knows what he's talking about, even if he doesn't. If he told me the sky was actualy green, and had a good-sounding reason for that, I'd believe him.

-Katie. She doesn't cuss. And as much as we make fun of her for it, I have a lot of respect for her. It must take a lot of self-discipline...that which I do not have.

-David Caselli. Is one of the most talented photographers I know. He also taught me that thumbs don't look good in pictures. "Photographers don't like thumbs, Kimmie."

-AGH. This is my company. And I know I'm cheating a little and grouping everyone into one, but I work with 50+ people, so cut me some slack. My co-workers are like family to me, and I still find myself pinching my arm to make sure I'm not in a dream when I'm at work. The coolest part is, when people here ask you how you're doing, they really mean it.

-Ryan's dad. Is in a band. 'Nuff said.

Oh gah, I hope I haven't left anyone out... Whatever, if you're in my life, you know who you are and how much you mean to me!!!

Ben Franklin?!

2008-03-22T11:03:00.004-04:00

That's what I like to call myself. I consider myself an inventor of sorts, but not how you may think. My friends and I use the phrase "I invented that!" to describe how we introduced society (or so we think) to a particular person/place/thing and inevitably made it popular. I thought I'd take some time to list out a few things that I, and those in my life as well, have "invented:"

-Corey Smith, a Southern Rock singer/song-writer who made his start outside of Athens, penning tunes about drinking, UGA football and the South. I listened to Corey before he made it big, playing his songs for my friends while they asked, "Who is this guy?" I remember when I'd see his acoustic set in a bar for free, and now I'm finding myself unable to get tickets to his sold-out shows. All I have to say about this one is "you're welcome!"

-Maroon 5. I cannot take sole credit for this one. My best friend MariClaire actually sprouted the lightbulb on this one. I remember trying to Google them and search for their songs on BearShare back in '02, but to no avail. MC saw them open for an opener at a Train concert 6 years ago, and "invented" them to me. We only had their homemade cd that was handed out at that concert to prove to our friends that they existed, and used to see them play twice a year in Athens. Now, their tickets run at least $50 and I'm sure they have no idea where Athens is on the map. Although I'm proud of them for their success, I remember the days where I would sing "Harder to Breathe" and no one would be able to sing along...

-The Nissan Murano. When I bought this car in February '05, you never saw them on the road. In fact, when we were at the dealer that day and the salesman suggested one, I had never heard of the car! I bought my 'jellybean' and introduced her to society, and now they're everywhere! Has anyone seen the '09 yet? It will be mine before long.

-Three Olive Vodka. Thanks to Ryan's cousin Catie in Pittsburgh, I am quite the bartending hit at parties now. With this delicious flavored vodka and different assortments of pineapple, grapefruit and orange juices, I mix up crazy concoctions named for that particular time of year. Elf Magic (Christmas), Cupid's Delight (Valentine's) or Shamrock Surprise (St. Pat's) are just some of the libations I have up my sleeve!

-My best friend Tracy claims she invented the "double clap." She says it goes with every musical beat, and she's right, except that of course it goes with every beat....it's universal rhythm!!! Just take any song ever, and clap along with it, doing 2 short claps, pause, then another short clap. It's the funniest thing. She'll be clapping along with a song, and be like, "I invented this back in high school!" That is just one of the many reasons why I love that girl.

-Going out for St. Patty's day last weekend, I had the great idea of bringing along some green food coloring to dye our drinks and food green, to celebrate the holiday even more. Upon seeing our green drinks, other patrons of the restaurant started requesting these green drinks, enough so that the bartenders had to borrow our food coloring until the requests piled up so much, they had to run out and buy their own! Green tongues and lips were quite prominent at Rio Grande that night, and it was all b/c of our group and our love for that Irish holiday!

-Freshman year at UGA, my broke friends and I used to steal food from our amazing dining halls. A few chicken fingers in a ziplock bag every now and then never hurt anyone. At pizza night at Snelling one evening, I had the genius idea to bring a trash bag in my purse to be sure to smuggle a few extra slices back to the dorms to consume later that night, after returning from the bars I'm sure. Upon my last trip to the counter, I asked the cafeteria worker for "the rest of that plate," which was honestly 6 pieces. He looked at me like I was crazy, and piled my tray high. At the table, my friends created an impenetrable circle around me so I could slyly slip the pizza into the trash bag and into my purse. The plan went off without a hitch, and we ran off into the night with our freshly "borrowed" slices, so excited about the midnight snack we'd all have later. After a night of downtown, we couldn't get home quick enough, the idea of latenight pizza stuck in our minds. To our dismay, however, the pizza was inedible when we got back to the dorms. Maybe if I hadn't have used the vanilla-scented trash bags my mom bought for me to make the room smell pleasant, the pizza would have tasted like pizza rather than cookies and tomato sauce. Worst invention ever. And my friends still tease me about it to this day.

-Speaking of food, and being teased by my friends, I am also the queen of leftovers. My best friend Jenny's boyfriend Mitch can agree with me here...sometimes I'll order a lot of food with the idea I'm going to take the majority of the food home as leftovers in mind. Rarely do you see me not walk out of a dining establishment without a doggie bag. That said, whenever out with friends, and we're boxing up my leftovers and taking care of the check, those said friends start with the teasing. "Here, Kim, I have a crumb left. Want to put it in your box?" "Kim, be sure to take home the parsley garnish and sugar packets...you don't want to be wasteful!" I've learned to ignore these teasings, as the joke's on them when I'm diving into my leftovers later that night and they're all stuck hungry with nothing to eat! Also, I think I could start a collection of the little sauce bowls I've "accidently" taken home from restaurants.

There's a ton more things I have on my resume of inventions, and I'm sure I'll add to this list. My mind is always creating...

"What you do at work today?"

2008-03-19T10:12:00.002-04:00

Aside from the usual formatting financial statements and processing tax returns, I got a haircut at work this morning. After complaining about my split ends and being in that annoying "in between" stage of growing out my hair, a co-worker (and also someone I consider a friend) told me she could help me out. We grabbed a new pair of scissors and a brush, and went to the salon, er, bathroom. 3 minutes later, I have a fresh trim to hold me over until I head to the real salon. Thanks, Michelle!

A Scrapbook of Sorts

2008-03-18T14:01:00.020-04:00

Here's a few pictures of some of my "life adventures:"

This is my lifeblood. I don't know where I'd be without these girls.

This was the first night that we realized we kinda, sorta, maybe liked each other more than friends. It was a great night. Cinco de Mayo '07

I took my sister as my date to a wedding in Charleston last May. It was the coolest...I drank and she drove!

Singing to our bride the song that was written for us, "All For You." Sister Hazel is a religious experience for me.

Yes, that vacation was as amazing as this picture looks.

My best friends at the annual DMB concert. Note the huge beers. We bought and drank them 4 at a time... That concert is never bad.

The coolest dog ever. She wears people-clothes. She sleeps under the covers. She gets a major 'tude sometimes.

Our annual Christmas pic. My idea for the UGA theme. I know, I'm a genius.

Just doing a little skiing in PA. And for me, by skiing, I mean drinking in the lodge all day...

Greatest St. Pat's ever. Greatest couples pic ever.

2008 really has proven to be a great year so far. Not that 2007 was any worse! Looking at all of these really makes me thankful for all I have.

One more thing...

2008-03-18T11:54:00.001-04:00

My Wii came back over the weekend too!! Ryan wanted a rematch on Mario Kart, but I'll just let you ask him how he fared. Two words: Battle Mode.

What a great turn of events lately!

I Love Nissan...today, at least

2008-03-18T11:48:00.003-04:00

Annnnd, they replaced my catalytic converter for free!!! Short post (as I'm so busy at work), but I couldn't be happier, and wanted to post about it. I'm sure I'll have more to say later ;)

Everyone say a fond farewell to the rental Sentra I have to give back today. Ryan and I had a great time tooling around in that roller skate all weekend...