So, I've been thinking...

Every time I hear someone say "so, I've been thinking", or it comes out of my mouth, it still reminds me of my college boyfriend breaking up with me; but that's another story for another time. I recently heard a really great quote: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

The last week has been tough (maybe due more to the fact that daylights saving took an hour of my sleep) mostly due to the economy. I have been trying really hard to think of ways or changes to our current lives that could make a difference down the road. And during this day and age, that concept is even harder to come by. So I am left with a few ideas and a ton of questions. There are fewer and fewer opportunities, but there are still needs out there.

I guess that doesn't help to be vague, but when you have lots of swirl in your head, you tend to try and wrap your arms around it and hang tight until something seems falls into place. I guess I need to keep pondering about my leap of faith. It might be a good idea on paper - but in real life, it scares the crap out of me. Off to do more research.

What to do, what to do

I have been thinking a lot about doing the 1001 list where you make a list of what you'd like to achieve in the next so many days/years. I haven't started one yet, but I did find this fun little survey so here it is:

100 Things You Should Do in Your Life: (according to the internet and a blog I found)

1. Started my own blog - Yes, ta-da!
2. Slept under the stars - No
3. Played in a band - No, but I tried to start one in college. Bad idea.
4. Visited Hawaii - Not yet :)
5. Watched a meteor shower - Yes (college credit baby!)
6. Given more than I can afford to charity - No
7. Been to Disneyland/World - Yes
8. Climbed a mountain - Yes, a few of them actually.
9. Held a praying mantis - No
10. Sung a solo - No, unless the shower or the car counts
11. Bungee jumped - No thanks, not ever planning on it
12. Visited Paris - No, but maybe one day
13. Watched lightning at sea - No
14. Taught myself an art from scratch - Yes
15. Adopted a child - No
16. Had food poisoning - Yes
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - Yes, in high school
18. Grown my own vegetables - Yes, little cherry tomatoes
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - No
20. Slept on an overnight train - No, but that does sounds like fun
21. Had a pillow fight - Yes
22. Hitchhiked - No (not a good plan for this day and age)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - Yep, mental health days rock!
24. Built a snow fort - No, can't really do that in the south due to lack of snow
25. Held a lamb - No
26. Gone skinny dipping - Yes
27. Run a Marathon - No, but a lifetime wish to run that far
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - No
29. Seen a total eclipse - Yes, as a kid
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - Yes
31. Hit a home run - No, I wasn't the best in sports as a kid
32. Been on a cruise - Yes, the cruise to no-where overnight, puked the whole time
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - No
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors - Yes
35. Seen an Amish community - Yes, close to the wineries in NC
36. Taught myself a new language - Yes, but only know a little spanish
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - Yes, as long as there is money in my pocket, then I am doing okay
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - No
39. Gone rock climbing - No, but would like to
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - No
41. Sung karaoke - Yes, in St. Lucia on our honeymoon
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - No
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - No
44. Visited Africa - No
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - Yes - but it wasn't a great night
46. Been transported in an ambulance - Yes, in high school and college
47. Had my portrait painted - No, unless you count a street vendor
48. Gone deep sea fishing - No, again no boat rides for me
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - No
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower - No
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - Yes, in St. Lucia and Israel
52. Kissed in the rain - Yes
53. Played in the mud - Yes
54. Gone to a drive-in - Movie no, restaurant yes
55. Been in a movie - No, but on a TV show
56. Visited the Great Wall of China - No
57. Started a business - No
58. Taken a martial arts class - No
59. Visited Russia - No
60. Served at a soup kitchen - No
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - Yes, and also ate a lot of them too!
62. Gone whale watching - No
63. Got flowers for no reason - Yes
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - No
65. Gone sky diving - No, another never
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - No, but went to the memorials in Israel and Washington, DC
67. Bounced a check - No
68. Flown in a helicopter - No
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Yes, but I am not sure where he might be now
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - No
71. Eaten caviar - Yes - gross.
72. Pieced a quilt - No
73. Stood in Times Square - Yes, a few times - I heart NYC
74. Toured the Everglades - No
75. Been fired from a job - No - but I learned when to walk away from the bad ones
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - No
77. Broken a bone - Yes, arm
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - Yes
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - No
80. Published a book - No, but thinking about writing one
81. Visited the Vatican - No
82. Bought a brand new car - Yes, but not by my choice
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Yes, in high school
84. Had my picture in the newspaper - Yes, in elementary school for raising the school flag.
85. Read the entire Bible - No
86. Visited the White House - No
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - No
88. Had chickenpox - Yes, thanks to my brother
89. Saved someone’s life - No
90. Sat on a jury - No
91. Met someone famous - Yes, James Brown
92. Joined a book club - Yes
93. Lost a loved one - Yes
94. Had a baby - Not yet ;)
95. Seen the Alamo in person - No
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - No
97. Been involved in a law suit - No
98. Owned a cell phone - Yes
99. Been stung by a bee - Yes
100. Ridden an elephant- No

You Pick

Here's a poll on what is the worst sound to ever wake up to:
(a) An alarm clock beeping at the crack of dawn
(b) A puking dog who manages to hit the curtains and his bed with his vomit
or (c) A snoring spouse who should be called a lumberjack due to the logs he was sawing in his sleep right in your ear.

Welcome to my week and the many things that make me think that strong coffee was created for mornings such as these scenarios mentioned above. I just wonder what life will be like if we decided to throw a kid into the mix. Pray for me.

The Ring (and I don't mean the movie)

Most people who get engaged have a fabulous story on how they picked out a ring. This morning, I remembered how my brother went about picking one out for my sister-in-law. When I turned seventeen, I made a pilgrimage back to the homeland of sand and camels to see my grandmothers, aunts and cousins - plus a few family friends. Flying isn't my forte, but I survived a puke-filled flight of 14 hours to arrive in the place that I lived for the first 5.5 years of my life. Before this journey ever started, my brother asked me to accept a very important task; to find his future wife a ring. He handed me a wad of a money that only a 24-year old could come up with on a college TA salary, and sent me on my way.

There I was, on a plane by myself for the first time ever flying to another country with only one suitcase (stuffed like an olive with what I thought were my most awesomest outfits - it was the 90s so you can use your imagination), a backpack (which held the cash) and my snow-white teddy bear (I needed a companion for this trip). Once I landed, kissed the ground and made my way through customs, I enjoyed my time looking for a ring that would be presented to my future family member.

I hate to admit it, but the trip was a bust. My aunt and I spent time going all over town looking for the right ring. To tell the the truth, years later, I am glad my brother picked out the ring he wanted to present. I remember getting my ring and all the memories that are tied to the diamond and silver band. I will never forget the moment and how it felt to know the man I would eventually call my husband would pick out something so special and from his heart (well, that and the store that sold it to him). And when my sister-in-law pulled out her engagement band, this past year, (which was replaced on their 10-year anniversary with another band and bigger diamonds), you could see the love she still held on to the little piece of jewelry given to her years ago. I knew then it meant more to her than anything I could have ever picked out.

Maybe it's just me

Growing up, I didn't learn a lot from my mother. She wasn't fancy, but very practical. Every Friday night, before we headed out the house to services at Temple, she got all dressed up, put on her finest jewelry, dabbed on some perfume and colored up her face. I thought this was so magical for the sake that a majority of the time, she only put lotion on to keep her face wrinkle-free from the sun.

Due to this one week night transformation, I didn't learn that some woman wear make-up everyday, including just to run out to the grocery store. I didn't learn to stand up straight and walk in high-heeled shoes without looking like a Clydesdale on a beer commercials. I thought that everyone believed in this sort of behavior; I was wrong.

In the last couple of years, beside being called natural due to my chapstick only make-up, I have made subtle changes to try and fit back into the girly-society. When shopping for shoes, I reach for kitten or wedged heels for my corporate world career; walking in anything else makes me fall over as soon as I take my first steps or my feet rebel with a blister. If I can get myself out of bed at a decent hour in the morning, I remember to at least give mascara, eye shadow and even eyeliner a run for its money. I have been known to even splurge on concealer to cover up my puffy black circles under my eyes. I can clean up nicely.

The best way to sum up my new way of thinking came from a friend's ubber southern mother; always step out of the house like you are ready to bump into your ex-boyfriends/husbands, ex-girlfriend or ex-wife - dressed your best and have a face full of makeup. I don't always follow this rule, but for the most part, it speaks volumes.

Just thinking

Life isn't always the way you plan it to be/go. During this time when my generation deals with an economy that leaves something to be desired, I find that looking for happiness in the smallest places helps get one through the day. I got a "thought of the day" email and it reminds me that life isn't always about fate, sometimes we have to take it into our own hands and make something out of it. So even when you feel like you can't keep going - think about this:

“Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself. “ -Dara Henderson Writer

What else would I do on a Saturday?

A friend/co-worker who I happened to meet in my prior postion, is getting married this year. Being a veteran, she asked me for help or suggestions. This made me laugh on the inside, while feeling a bit of pride that the anti-bride that I was, would be asked to assist. I pulled up all my saved Internet wedding sites (this gal doesn't scrapbook); from invites, to local bridal shops to reception ideas. She grinned from ear to ear and gobbled up all the information. And before I knew it, I was sitting in a bridal shop, helping pick out her wedding gown.

If you back track to my dress shopping experience, it brings up memories of a boring, pain in the you know what and also down-right costly adventure. I ended up running into a place at the mall, picked up what could be a bridesmaid dress and called it a day. But to have a part in her wedding plans, was a nice excuse to see what I missed out on.

I will say it was like playing dress up, but without me getting sweaty hopping into and out of huge ball gowns. I loved it! And the scary part of it all, so did she; even found two gowns - one modern and one elegant yet classy. The other fun part of the day was watching all the other brides pick out their dresses. We got to see all walks of life and I mean all kinds of brides prance behind close doors, put on the dress of their dreams and then come out to model it in front of family and well strangers like me.

Overall, I'd rate last Saturday as a 8 out of 10 stars in amusement. Even in a crappy economy, at least one industry will never fail nor go belly up. To the brides.