I deleted my Twitter account (GASP!). Face it, it wasn’t really my cup of tea (…even though I used it for over a year – ha!). I think it brought out the bad in me and I didn’t like it. I think it was a good decision. Maybe I’ll make a new account again, but maybe not. For now, I’m good with the one social networking site I started with. End of an era (OK, not really but still…).
Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
This is what happens
21
Aug
..when REB gets bored. Poor Gryff.
I like how sped Hank looks. I like how Gryff ripped his eye to make him look even more that way (o_O;
My favorites are special.
64 Years Ago
15
Aug
Today is a special day for Indians every where.
64 years ago, India gained its independence from British rule. August 15, 1947 is a day that Indians every where always remember and every year on August 15, the day is commemorated and celebrated. It is celebrated similar to how Americans do up July 4. It’s a day full of fun, raising the flag over the Red Fort in Delhi, parades and fireworks! It’s a day to remember that it’s finally free and can rule for itself.
India’s a very young country and even though I can’t be home with my relatives, I know we’re all celebrating together today.
Happy birthday India!!
In memory
14
Aug
I went to Huntsville today and my first stop was the University of Alabama-Huntsville for this building.
Six months ago our close family friend was shot and killed in this building, the Department of Biological Sciences, where he was the head of the department. The shooting took his life and the life of three other professors. I don’t know why I wanted to go there. I waffled over the idea all week (you can ask JP). I kept thinking how silly it would be to drive all the way there to look at a photo in memory and see the building where it happened.
But a part of me knew I had to go just to pay my respects. I wanted to visit his wife and daughters, but when I called them earlier this week, I learned they’ve moved. I don’t blame them. I probably would too if something like this happened to me. What still gets to me is how she sounded on the phone.
I knew this couple from when I was 7 or 8 years old when we lived in the U.P. and he and my dad taught on campus at Michigan Tech. I remember all the parents throwing parties and this couple always asked my sister and I attend to even though we were kids. They loved kids and wanted kids of their own. I remember when they had their daughter and she was just 1 when we left Michigan and moved down to the south. They were both so bubbly and happy and so kind. When I spoke to her a few days ago, it was all different. I knew it would be, but hearing her voice… She just sounded broken and it sounded like every ounce of life had left her. It was hard to talk to her, I won’t lie.
It was hard being at the campus today. If you’ve never been there, it’s a beautiful campus. In front of this building is a huge reflecting pool with a fountain and it’s just gorgeous. There’s a little parking area where you can park your car and look at the reflecting pool.
I parked there, stared at the building and started to cry.
I couldn’t even go into the building. I mean, I didn’t think I’d be able to; I’m sure the security at that campus has gone way up since the shooting. But even being there, and knowing it happened less than a year ago, is just sad. The whole thing is sad and it hit my family in a way as if one of our own family members had passed.
It isn’t fair, and it’s never fair when something tragic like this happens. I’ll never be able to know what his wife and daughters, and the other victims’ family’s are feeling (obviously), but I do know that it’s a great loss and that department has lost a great professor as well as three others. At least I was able to pay some kind of tribute. He’ll be missed, but he’ll be remembered forever.
Six Months
09
Aug
One of my friend’s mom made a tweet about how today is 8/9/10. Very cool (I love cool, number dates like this).
But for me personally, today is kind of special. Six months ago today, REB asked me to marry him. I know, I know, it’s kind of lame to try to make a “big thing” about it, but the people who really know me, know how great it is. Before him, I had some of the worst relationships ever (if you can even call them that :P). Before him, I didn’t know what it was like to really feel like you could love someone so much. Before him, I wasn’t this mushy about stuff.
All I know is that next year we’re getting married and I can’t wait. He makes everything better in my life and I know it’ll only get better from here. I’m a sucker for silly milestones, and I never used to be. But with him, I can’t help it. He brings out the cheesy-lovey-dovey side of me and I love it.
Green and White
07
Aug
I had the day off work yesterday, and so did my coworker and friend JP. Her and I had decided, during our flight home last Sunday, that we’d make a trip up to our alma mater to spend a day there. We stuck to our word and ventured out to Michigan State University – home. :)
I love that school. I didn’t grow up loving it since I moved around so much as a kid. So I never had the “I was destined to go there” attitude, but I knew I wanted to go there not only for their Journalism school, but because I knew how beautiful and wonderful that campus was.
It’s still just as beautiful. We did all the things we loved to do there when we were there for school. We ate at our favorite sushi place, Omi, had super strong Long Island Iced Teas from Peanut Barrel, bought some more t-shirts (I haven’t bought MSU t-shirts since my freshman year there, so they were looking kinda dingy and hole-y) and walked around campus. I had so much fun going back to the library, the stadium, Beaumont Tower, the chapel, walking along the Red Cedar River, going to the botanical garden and remembering all the fun times I had there.
Those memories can’t be touched either. That school will always have a special place in my heart. I’ll forever bleed green and white <3 :)
OMFG
04
Aug
I got the coolest surprise today! REB had something delivered in the mail from Olivia Munn and I immediately called him asking what it was. He told me to open it and it was two autographed magazines! Various celebrities took part in My Mag and had a magazine made just for them and then mailed them out to their fans, signed. Olivia jumped on board and said she’d send signed magazines, and REB did this for me! He also got an autographed magazine when she was on Maxim for himself.
I adore Olivia Munn. Not a lot of people like her. Even she knows that people don’t like her. People have their issues with her saying she tries too hard to be awkward or whatever, but I completely disagree. She’s a nerd at heart, loves video games, loves her fans and the Olivia Munn Fan Group (OMFG), full supporter of E.B.B.G.A.S.F., is gorgeous and loves pie. What’s not to love? A lot of people think I’m weird and awkward, but that’s who I am, too! If you don’t like it, you can leave, kthx.
I could go on and on about how awesome she is, but it speaks for itself. She’s cool and I find it refreshing to know that there’s another nerd out there not afraid to be the way she is.
What I do know is that REB is the absolute best. He knows how incredibly nerdy I am about some things, just like Olivia, and I just love that he gets how nerdy I am. Hell, I get how nerdy he is. I got him an autographed photo of his two favorite characters from Battlestar. We are nerds at heart and in love. It’s a perfect fit.
What about it?
23
Jun
Tonight we made Boca burgers, baked potato wedges and corn on the cob.
REB made fun of the way I eat corn on the cob.
I can’t eat a whole corn cob. I’ve never been able to. So I only eat half.
But really, the reason I only eat half is because it’s easier for me to start eating it the way I eat it.
What you are about to see may be disturbing, annoying, lame or what ever else you might think.
“Haters gonna hate” but this is how I eat it.
Yes. I take off every single kernel and eat it individually.
I’ve been eating corn on the cob like this since I was 9 years old.
I’m not kidding.
But there is a reason why I do this. Really. Honest!
If I eat my corn this way, I get a perfectly clean corn on the cob, which is important because it makes my world at peace.
The entire cob is square-like, perfectly clean and the only pieces left are the ones that didn’t cook properly. No guts on it, no stringy mess left on the cob, nothing. Yes, I realize it will be thrown out into a compost pile or the garbage, but it still makes my world come to peace if eaten this way.
I realize I’m OCD about certain things.
I should probably seek therapy.
Happy returns!
21
May
It was a traumatizing night last night. I had worked a 12-hour shift straight and didn’t take a break once, so when I left, I was pretty tired, cranky and ready to sleep for the next three days. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case, but I was willing to take any sleep I could get. When I got back to my room, the unthinkable had happened.
Something had been taken from my hotel room.
I never thought I’d be a person who would have something taken from their hotel room. A place that is basically my home for up to two weeks at a time at least once a month. It’s unheard of if you ask me. But it happened.
And what was taken? Happy the Hippo – my travel companion that has come with me on almost every work trip I’ve taken in the past 3 1/2 years.
I don’t pack my suitcase for work without two things: REB’s Batman shirt and Happy the Hippo. Yes, I’m still 5, I need a stuffed animal to feel comfort when I’m away from the dog and pre-hubs. Those two keep me comfortable at night when I’m home, but when I’m away, I need replacements. It’s just a little piece of home I can take with me when I’m gone for half the month almost every month. Wait, why am I explaining myself? I shouldn’t need to! Bottom line, not seeing Happy in the room put me in an even worse mood and in a panic.
I called the front desk and they told me they’d notify housekeeping immediately and call me as soon as they knew anything. Yeesh, you’d think I lost my kid or something. But no, I lost something more important than that ;-)
I hadn’t heard anything all day and the hotel assured me that when he did turn up, they’d mail him to me free of charge, if he -sob- didn’t turn up before I left.
Well of course they would! He deserves a first class ticket, extra care and a watchful eye as he crosses the border into the States
….
HOWEVER!
Happy returns!!! I found him outside my hotel room. I re-enacted the whole thing so you all could see how happy the reunion was:
So I came out of the elevator and started walking towards my room when…what’s this?? What is that purple speck in front of my door.
It can’t be…
Is that…is that Happy?? Oh my gosh! It is!! He’s back! Happy’s back!!! -tears of happiness-
Yup. That is most definitely him. Someone put him outside my door. But who..? Oh, I’ll worry about that in a minute.
It may not seem like it, but he’s really jumping for joy on the inside. He’s just as glad to be reunited with me as I am with him. Really. You all haven’t known him as long as I’ve know him…
I’m not letting him out of my sight. True, he isn’t like Mr. Bear, but he’s just as important. I called the front desk and they told me they hadn’t put him by my door, but maybe someone in housekeeping dropped him back there. Although, the woman at the front desk said they would have put him back on my bed or something. The logistics are unimportant of course, he’s back and that’s all that matters.
Yup. Me ‘n’ Happy are glad to be back together. I’m glad he won’t be left in the crap land of Canada while I’m back home. After all, he and I have a trip to Wisconsin and Chicago in two weeks… ;-)
Jumpin’ on the health wagon…again
18
May
I had an epiphany yesterday when I was walking back to my hotel from the paper.
I saw my reflection in a store window and stopped. I probably looked like a fool, but I couldn’t believe it. My butt stuck out so far it was disgusting. It was beyond disgusting. It didn’t feel right and didn’t make me feel right, either.
I’ve had problems with weight for as long as I can remember. I hit puberty and went from girls size to woman’s size 12. I’m not kidding. Having hips, a chest and a butt suck, let me tell you. Having ones that seem to grow faster than you’d like, sucks more.
TMI? Oh well. Get used it.
I’ve also had problems losing weight. I hate working out. I absolutely HATE it. I am not one of those people who feels rejuvenated, refreshed or “amazing” after a work out. I still feel miserable because I’m sweaty, feel gross and ache from the work out. For me, anyone who says working out make them feel good, makes me want to slap them. True story.
I’ve tried diets.
I’ve tried Weight Watchers. Twice. Sure, it helps, but I hate eating healthy too, did I forget to mention that? Yeah, I’m stubborn as all hell, but I hate it. I don’t like keeping track of what I eat and how much and considering “if I eat this, then I can’t eat anything else all day.” No thanks, not for me.
I tried Nutrisystem for a few weeks. Yeah, that sucks. Eating a pre-processed meal and snacking on celery all day long isn’t my cup of tea.
I tried the green tea thing where it suppresses your hunger so you don’t want to eat more. Yeah, that didn’t work for me. It only made me cranky and then I’d gorge myself and eat more. Plus, I drink my tea with milk and sugar. In India, we call that CHAI.
Sorry. I’m being a smart ass. I’m getting angry again and need to stop and take a breath.
The fact of the matter is, I need to work out and eat better. I have to.
I NEED TO DO THIS. I HAVE TO DO THIS. I CAN DO IT. I WILL DO IT.
If I don’t do something active, then I feel guilty for eating and I hate feeling guilty for eating. I love food. It’s amazing. Most of what I cook is amazing. And some of it is horrible for my heart and health, but still tastes amazing.
I need to recognize portion control. Yeah that’s the biggie. I’m not a person who can snack on carrots and be happy. Give me chips and cookies. That sounds much better. But then my body grows in an unhealthy, unattractive way.
I want to look good for my future husband. I know he loves me. He tells me all the time how beautiful I am and how much loves me. Well, it’s all sweet and everything, but I don’t feel attractive or sexy or anything. I appreciate the compliments and it makes me feel like a million dollars, but I’d like to look better for him. He says he likes my curves. I don’t intend on losing them, but I’d like to get them under control. That’s a fact.
I HAVE TO WORK OUT. I NEED TO WORK OUT. I HAVE TO DO THIS. I CAN DO IT.
(maybe if I keep repeating this, it’ll sink in…)
I told him he has to make me work out. Because I hate it and won’t ever do it. So he has to tell me to do it. That might seem bad, but it has to be done. I need to be told. I need to be shown pictures of clogged arteries and other gross anatomical things that can happen as a result of poor lifestyle choices. Otherwise, it won’t get through to my head that what I’m doing isn’t right, or healthy.
Everyone tells me to pick an activity and make sure I don’t get bored with it. OK. I don’t like DOING a lot of things outdoors. I like walking and hiking and sometimes running, sure, but there isn’t a whole lot of places to go hiking in the non-mountainous region of southeast Michigan. We go on super long walks with the dog, but we aren’t really briskly walking; I guess I could try that…and try jogging or running while doing it. And, at least we go to parks that have trails and hills and terrain so it does something for our legs.
I just need to do things that make my life healthier. I’m happy, sure, but I sure could be healthier. And I need to make that happen. I need all your help, too. I definitely can’t do this alone. I need you all to ask me “did you work out today?” I’m being serious. I need to hear that. I need to, or it won’t get done. I know when I go see my doctor next week, he’ll tell me I need to lose weight. I’m aware of it. So I need to make the effort and actually STICK. TO. IT. (Everyone’s heard me say that before, too). I live about a mile away from work, so I think I should start walking to and from work (when it’s not raining, of course). That, I think will help too. Any little thing I can do for myself, will be good.
I just need your help and support.
I HAVE TO DO THIS. I NEED TO DO THIS. I CAN DO IT. I WILL DO IT.
Hopefully this time, that mantra sticks and stays.
