"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
A lot of people have asked me why I chose to start my new diet over the holidays...
Because I'm a masochist?
I guess I just figured I could keep making excuses all year long but if I just jumped off the cliff to see if I could fly, I'd try harder. I'm weird - I like to overcome adversity up front and hope for smooth sailing afterward...
Oh, but this week was TOUGH, my friends. I gave myself permission to indulge but I have to admit I got carried away at times. And last night, I was SICK. It all caught up with me. I was curled up on the couch at 2am, clutching my stomach and begging for relief (actually, I'm being melodramatic, I was on the phone with my friend and bitched to her about it, basically).
But anyway, despite my gluttonous ways, I had a really nice Christmas. I spent my fourth or fifth (cause we can't remember when I started going) annual Christmas Eve with Jaime's family -- always my favorite Christmas activity. They're a huge, happy, loving family and it always fills me with warmth to spend holidays with them.
Christmas day was a breakfast-food, cider and eggnog, Nintendo Wii, Christmas movie filled experience with a few friends. We attempted to conquer Super Mario Brothers over a five and a half hour period and gorged ourselves whilst watching "Christmas Vacation" and the "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Christmas special.
Last night, I had a really nice dinner who come to town every year for the holidays. I always have so much fun with them and it's always bitter-sweet cause I never know when we'll all get together again... There was an abundance of food and then playtime with their dogs and a tremendous amount of laughter over the silliest things.
Alas, I have to return to work tomorrow. {Sigh} I love vacation time. Just two days of work before it starts over, thankfully. I can do it... I can pull through...
I hope everyone had a safe, happy, healthy-food filled holiday. I say "healthy food" because if you had the stomach ache I had last night, you have my deepest sympathies, my friend. Although I guess we all suffer for joy... It was the stomach ache of a happy, well-lived and loved, long weekend. I can make peace with that.
I may be a Grinch when it comes to December's holiday insanity but I happen to LOVE Thanksgiving.
Primarily, I love it because of my mom, who always outdoes herself, even when she claims to just be "keeping it low-pro" (like this year).
One of the nicest things about moving out of my parents house is how nice it feels to go BACK there. Not always, mind you, but when I am feeling my worst, all I want is mommy... and for someone ELSE to do my laundry (although typically, I always want someone else to do it).
At Thanksgiving, the house feels especially warm. I love the sights and smells of the day - all the flowers and food put out. It's marvelous.
After my parents' house, I most always end up at Gigi and Dan's because after my mom, no one holds a candle to Gigi's Thanksgiving spread. And homegirl makes it all from SCRATCH. I assure you, it's remarkable. It's delicious. And if nothing else, it's ALL ABOUT THIS DELECTABLE ITEM:
THAT would be RICOTTA QUICHE, my friends, and IT. IS. DELICIOUS. I happen to know it's already made and Gigi lives close enough that I am tempted to drive over there right now and get me some... but decorum is keeping me well-behaved for now.
Oh I can taste it now.
And as I embark and a bold, new diet plan (more on that coming soon, I swear), this will be a perfectly fabulous way to say good-bye to food-I-should-not-eat-because-I-can't-stop...
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Some truly amazing friends, family and co-workers (some of whom ARE friends now); employment; a roof over my head and a landlord that finally intervened with the crap new neighbors; books, music and a renewed love of sketching; among other things I think of frequently.
I feel my brother deserves a special,specific shout-out. He's been a trooper for me this year. And that goes for my best friends, Casey and Jaime, for their continued support and positive attitudes. Even though I don't see them often enough, I always know they are there for me.
And lastly, my gift to you, I am thankful for this song by Michael Buble because every time I hear it, I can't help but smile and do a little dance of joy, even if I'm sitting down.
This morning's coffee date was futile. This is partially because I am a pussy and partially because he is. I throw my hands in the air in surrender. It's entirely possible I will be engaged soon and not even know about it.
I apologize for the vague-ness of that little vent however I am too tired and/or too lazy to really elborate and am happy to enlighten anyone via the ol' IM. Co-workers inquire within.
I can't remember the last time I slept in. The last time I had nothing to do, when I could NOT set the alarm, and irresponsibly sleep til noon. I can't even remember the last time I woke up early but got to take an irresponsible nap later in the day.
I. Am. Exhausted.
Last night, at my grandmother's house for Hanukah, I fell asleep after dinner, in a very strange position on the living room sofa. I came home and fought to stay awake, thinking I'd go to another party or to see my cousin who just got into town but no such luck- the bed beckoned me like donuts beckon cops (I am too tired for truly creative metaphors).
This afternoon: horrible. Came home from coffee date and faded in and out of consciousness for two hours, finally waking up for good, feeling more tired than ever and remarkably like I'd been hit by a bus (I look to Jaime for verification of how this actually feels).
December is so family filled and moreso for me with my mom, father and brother all having their birthdays in a two-week period so I was happy to have a friend come by for a little bit and I paid a vist to a friend earlier today for a few minutes so thankfully, I feel like less of a social leper. Of course now, after the ill-advised choice of iced tea with dinner, I am wide awake and considering some sleep-inducing options... It's odd to feel exhausted and wide awake at once. But I am mastering this.
Happy first-night, everyone. I leave you with this prime example of why Hannah should never take my photo without warning:
I am thankful that my roommate is out of town because now I can spend the weekend having major no-pants-time. Show up unannounced at your own risk.
I am thankful for Law & Order. Another holiday means another marathon. God bless Dick Wolfe.
I am tremendously thankful for my friends whom have overwhelmed me with invitations to join them for Thanksgiving. Sadly, even I have my eating limits however, I will try-try-try to hit up everyone.
I am thankful for my Arbonne face mask. My skin is silky smooth. You know you wanna touch it.
I am thankful for the rain. There is a new season upon us. (Los Angeles collectively attempts to recover from the shock.)
I am thankful for my Swiffer duster. Seriously, this thing is the shit. I am a dusting FOOL.
Oh no, I sense a new addcition coming on... the TRAVEL CHANNEL.
Already a big fan of its cousins, FOOD, BIOGRAPHY and DISCOVERY, Travel Channel is a new, delightful escapist channel I think I will be spending some quality time with. It is home to some Anthony Bourdain, after all, whom I love.
So today I caught an hour-long special about unique, "extreme" Halloween activities. Some of them really amused me and some of them scared me just on the television (I would be one of those idiots who died of fright at The House of Shock). Have you heard of these things?
The House of Shock! YIKES. This place looked like insanity and gore run amock. OH. MY. GOD. Was that someone EATING someone in the morgue? Was that a woman being attacked I saw in the crematoreum? While every fiber of my being knows its fake, I'm sick to my stomach just thinking about some of the horrible things they portray in this place. They said the cops have tried to shut them down before. This did not shock me.
Apparently, every year in Key Largo, they hold an underwater pumpkin carving contest. Don't ask me how that works. And if that's not hard enough to believe, they also light them with candles at the end under the water.
I don't know how I'd never heard of Fright House before. I know a lot of you love Vegas and I know a lot of you love to be scared. So I suspect someone I know has been to this. Fill me in. I am dying to hear about it cause it looks like an absolute BLAST.
And also a blast -- this coffin racing deal they showed in Colorado. Sound creepy and odd? It totally is; which is probably whi it appeals to me. LOL. But they have this parade every year -- floats made from coffins and converted hearses. Then they wrap it up with a coffin RACE. That's right, people convert coffins into little racecars (think soapbox racing but stranger and cooler) and RACE down the road.
In the meantime, my costume is coming together and it might even be UNslutty enough to wear to the office this year (last year's was, too). Lookit me bein' all responsible n' shit.