The Real Thing, Part 1 & 2

It doesn't taking knowing me very long to know that my favourite actor of all time is the one and only Michael J. Fox. I have loved him since the days of yesteryear when "Family Ties" was the #2 rated TV show in the country (#1 being "The Cosby Show"). I watched Alex P. Keaton -- the embodiment of damn near everything I am against and yet I adored him and I adored Michael J. Fox. I used to see all of his movie as soon as they came out. I had 63 pictures of him on my bedroom walls circa 1986 and when I ran out of pictures, I used to take pictures of the TV so I'd have more pictures. I was a 13 year old girl with a very serious crush.

A few weeks ago, I found out that reruns of "Family Ties" was on FamNet channel so I started taping them. I knew I was getting close and today -- after a few less than fabulous days -- FINALLY - my 2 favourite episodes were on. For those of you who aren't in the know -- these 2 episodes are when Alex meets Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan) and falls in love. When I was 12, this was the HEIGHT of romance. And it's funny -- I'm watching these episodes now and I still remember the dialogue, I still remember what they characters wore - it is all so familiar. I must have watched these 2 episodes over and over again until the VCR tape wore out and then I'd tape them again and again.

It is nice that some things -- even 23 years later can still bring such a huge smile to my face and a big tear to my eye.

It's the final countdown...

I feel like hell.

I have a low grade cold which in and of itself isn’t killing me. It’s the cold – coupled with a lack of sleep and I just feel like I am punch drunk tired. I was literally weaving walking into the office this morning. If someone saw me, they would have thought I was hitting the bottle before 8 am. Not good.

I am coming up on my birthday and I am feeling very conflicted about it. I really love my birthday and love the trappings of it (except having happy birthday sung to me, I hate that – always have) but I do love the day.

I also really love my life right now – I like my job, I have a fantabulous boyfriend, I have great friends and am doing a bunch of things I love and yet I can’t help but look at where I thought I’d be by 36. I try not to focus on that but some days are harder than others. I think I thought that by 36 I’d feel like a grownup and I most certainly DO NOT. Then again, I’m not sure what would make me feel like one – perhaps nothing and that’s why everyone says they don’t feel like a grownup. I know I’m not alone in this one.

So as we mark down the days until the 16th, I shall work on focusing on all that I do have and all that I have achieved as none of it is anything to sneeze at.

And I just made myself sneeze – I’m such a rock star.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun...

Are we having fun in here? I have been writing and editing a blog post over the last few days so I decided to just start over and blab for a bit before I go upstairs and finish the laundry and pack.

Why pack you ask? I'm going to Baltimore tomorrow with my sweetheart for his niece's 1st birthday. I am bringing the camera so this will be the first real test run of it. I tried to take some pictures last weekend of Holly's daughter but it was a bust. Well, not really as the pictures are cute but they didn't capture what I was trying to for my photography class. Speaking of which -- I am loving my class! We're also going to stop at a winery or 2 on our way there and/or back as March is Barrels on the Brandywine and we have our passports and glasses ready! Now we just have to go taste wine. YAY!

I also declared this morning that I am sick of feeling like crap. I'm sick of eating junk, I'm sick of being tired all of the time and I'm sick of being out of shape. So I got rid of a bunch of junk in the house tonight - I ate really well today and I contacted wonder trainer Jen to help me put together a program and I registered for a 5K. I haven't done one since October so it will be...ummm...interesting but 5Ks keep me honest and I do enjoy them so back to them I shall go! It is starting to warm up here so I'm going to get up early tomorrow morning and hit Ridley Creek Park and walk the 4.3 mile loop. And then not be able to walk for the balance of the weekend. HA! It will be good for me and will feel good to be back out in the world. I am just so ready for this winter to be over. It does feel good to do things that are good for me. I just have to remind myself of that when I am tempted to do things that aren't good for me.

In other news, I booked plan tickets to go to Florida in May. Three of my best girlfriends are flying own to visit the 5th of us. I am excited! We haven't gotten together like this in a long time and it will be nice. 2 of my friends are expecting babies this summer so it will be a nice last horrah before they are back in new born mode. And maybe I can get a little sun in my face too.

And on that note - I shall go prep for the weekend so that I can get up early and hit Ridley Creek.

Hail Mary Full of....snow?

When I was a little kid and the weather folks would call for a big snow storm, I was sit in my room and make the sign of the cross over and over again really fast chanting "please let it snow God, please let it snow." I always thought if my dad had found out that I was doing the sign of the cross, he'd get pissed but I couldn't help it. I wanted snow days, dag-nab-it!

So here I find myself on the verge of what may or may not be a snow day almost wanting to do it again. It was supposed to start around 6 and now it is almost 8:30 and there is nothing yet. So I wonder if it will really happen. We haven't had any real snow this year so it would be nice.

But nothing.

I made up a meal for dinner tonight. I like making up stuff and tonight's turned out good.

3 cloves of garlic
1 chopped onion
olive oil
turkey sausage
1/2 red wine
1 can (28 oz) organic fire roasted tomatoes
1 can mushrooms (I have always preferred canned mushrooms - don't know why)
1.5 tsp Italian herbs
salt
pepper
chopped basil (6 or 7 leaves)
Organic Penne

It turned out really yummy! And there was plenty for leftovers tomorrow. I meant to add capers but I forgot -- I'll add them when I warm it up tomorrow for lunch or dinner (depending on if I am home or not.)

I have been trying to shop at Whole Foods more and pick up Organic items when possible. I do wish that eating better didn't cost more - that is a frustrating part of the process but it is worth it in the big picture.

I spent some time today stimulating the economy. I am in the market for some new shoes and I have a big challenge finding shoes as I am a "rare" size. I'm an 11 and it totally sucks. I went to the outlets outside of Pottstown and went to about 8 stores and didn't really find what I wanted. I did get 1 pair but I am still in the market for a brown pair. Buying shoes shouldn't be so challenging. I did pick up a few other things that I have been wanting so that was good too.

And I tried to complete my first photography class assignment and I botched it up. I am not really sure what I did wrong except perhaps my subject was too far from me. I'll try it again tomorrow if I can find a time and place to do it. Hopefully tomorrow will be a snow day and I can wander around and take some pictures....yay!

Tweet, tweet, tweet...and no, I don't mean Twitter!

What’s that? What’s that sound? What do I hear today? Oh yes…BIRDS! Winter is giving us a small reprieve in Philadelphia today and making us think that Spring is coming. It’s not, it’s a big lie. I know this. Punxsutawney Phil told us on February 2nd that we had 6 more weeks of winter which puts us firmly at my birthday and since we’re not there yet, I know it isn’t Spring. But it sure smells like it today. I actually left a few windows open at my house today – I hope the cats aren’t freezing to death but I just wanted to air things out a bit, let some new light and life into my home. According to my phone it is 60 out and I imagine it will get a smidge warmer too. YAY!

I’m going to do some Spring Cleaning tonight because that’s the kind of rock star Friday night I’m having. First I’ll do an IT call at my mom’s and then I’ll go home, make some dinner and CLEAN. I love having a clean house but I hate doing the cleaning but it will feel good to have it done and things put away and spruced up so I don’t have to think about it for a little bit. Normally I have a date on Friday nights but my sweetheart has a work obligation so I’m left to fend for myself. And given that the vast majority of my friends are all married with kids and not driven to party like crazy people – I’ll be left to my own cleaning devices tonight. Strangely I am really looking forward to it. I might even watch re-runs of “Sex And The City” while I do it.

Now THAT’S living!

Do other people have “their people”? What I mean by their people is Lori. I have Lori. Lori is the woman who works at the Wawa that I stop at every morning on my way to work. Unless her line is super long, I always wait in her line. Her line does tend to be the longest because I don’t think I’m the only one who claims Lori as their own. She is so damn pleasant and sweet. Every day. Even when she isn’t in a good mood, she is. All she knows of me is that I am nice and I went to Utah and Germany and I drink Diet Coke in the morning. All I know of her is that she’s donated her hair to Locks of Love and she is very religious but I have no idea what religion she is – she just mentions church a lot. But every morning that I get to start by visiting Lori is a better morning than the one’s I don’t.

Think she’d be weirded out if I invited her for coffee or something?

Let's Get It Started...In Here...

Because I am sure that the universe is waiting with baited breath to know my thoughts and feelings on every blessed thing on the planet...I'm entering blogger world.

Seriously though, I am less than 3 weeks away from turning 36 and I'm feeling a bit of an itch to start doing some more things that are good for me and good for the world so here I be - creating a place in the Intarwebs for me to keep track of that and perhaps share some of what I'm up to.

I started a photography class this week I am so very excited about it! I have never been much of an artist but I feel like I have a bit of an artist's soul somewhere in me. One of the few ways that I have been able to express that soul has been through photography but sadly I haven't picked up anything more than a point and shoot camera in damn near 20 years (ok, probably 18 but who's counting?) so I have a camera back in my hands and it feels good. Now I need a nice day so I can go out and take some pictures! The fun thing about this new fangled technology is that I don't have to drop cash and take time to see the results of my pictures . I fully intend to share the fruits of my labour with you.

I love cooking. I love eating too (more than I should!) but I love cooking and I love to try new recipes. My natural inclination is not to gravitate towards traditionally "good for you" foods so I like to find ways to make my favourite things in a more healthy way. How I wish apples called to me more than Devil Dogs but alas and alack -- I have to find ways to make things that are good for me that I want to eat. In that spirit, my mom and I are going to join a CSA this year. Once we're all accepted to the one I picked, I'll certainly share the bounty (har!) but I am hoping it will inspire me to not only cook more but to eat better and eat better things for me.

I love travelling. In that department, I was blessed to spend a month in Germany last summer and a month in Utah. Both were fantastic experiences. I would love to do a big trip this year but I am not sure it is in the cards so I shall focus on some small trips. If nothing else I want to get to Nova Scotia this summer as I didn't get there last year and my family has a home there. And I need to go to Ireland. Need. Not want. Need.

I have a goal to complete 2 1/2 marathons this year which means I need to get off my duff and prepare and sign up and stuff. Perhaps this blog will help me be accountable.

Other than that -- I think we'll have random musings around here. Please comment, please join in and welcome.