Vacation

I don't know about you, but preparing for vacation is absolutely stressful. It is so difficult in fact, that you sometimes wonder if it is all worth it. I am headed down to Florida next Thursday and won't return for nearly two weeks. Everything really started piling up on me over the past few days. Media Plans that I thought were nearly finalized, now have to be changed. And, business has started to pick up in some areas--that is a great thing, but kind of throws a wrench into the timeline I had put together for myself.

Today was a pretty productive day, despite the computer issues and multiple meetings. But, there is still so much to do. In the past, I've had the tendency to work while on vacation. I'm really hoping it won't come to that this time because I want to finally relax and enjoy the company of my family. My nephew will enter this world next Wednesday. His arrival is the main reason for my trip--so I can help my sister with her 14 month-old while she adjusts to the new baby.

I'm excited to spend time with my niece (and of course my other niece and nephew) as the last time I visited was last May under not so great circumstances...my 18 year-old brother's memorial service. In all honesty, the more I think about the fact that he won't be there the harder this trip is going to be at first. He won't be there to greet me when I get there. He won't come walking in the front door at my mother's, my sisters', or any one's house. It is all very strange and sad.

I Suck At Yoga

I've been taking a yoga class once a week since late January. Today I realized that I really suck at it. Breathing is such a key component of yoga and I forget to breathe at all while we are going through the poses. (If I recall I think I had this same problem back when I would use the Nautilus equipment at 24 hour fitness.) How exactly does a person forget to BREATHE of all things?

And, to make matters even worse, the same lack of coordination I've always had for aerobics and dance routines also applies to sun salutations. I put the wrong foot forward, or behind me each time. Kind of reminds me of when I was little and my mom and dad would tell me to look at something on the left and I'd look to the right. I definitely know the difference between my left and my right, so I'm not really certain how this happens.

I've always thought that I had a good sense of balance. I was able to walk across the balance beam in junior high phys ed. But, I cannot do a tree pose to save my life. Tonight we were supposed to hold that pose for five breaths and I could barely make it to two, and I wobbled the whole time. Needless to say, I'm in need of a lot more practice.

Watching Chuck and Larry

Chuck and Larry is not just a funny movie with Adam Sandler and Kevin James, but it is the namesake of our two male cats. They are a beautiful boys--flame point Siamese--creme colored coats with reddish markings and bright blue eyes. They are brothers from the same litter and are extremely close, but have very distinct personalities.

Lover Larry is very affectionate and always commands attention...especially in the middle of the night when he thinks no one else is watching. We have also nicknamed Larry the bean counter, because he monitors the cat food in each dish. He's like a little sheep herder, making certain that none of the other cats eat more than their fair share. We joke around about the fact that he probably know s the exact number of kernels in each dish...hence the bean counter.

Chuckles has a larger-sized head and round eyes that just make him appear to be a wise old soul. He's probably the one that most closely resembles any undomesticated cat; he's very proud and thinks he is the Alpha of the entire house. He even resides over our pit bull. Quite a funny sight.

Watching Chuck and Larry brings a smile to my face because they are so funny. They are quite the little wrestlers and make sure they fit a bout in every morning while I am getting ready for work. I swear they look up just to make sure I am watching. So, sometimes I even give them a little more than just a glance and actually ask who is winning. As I write this they are gearing up for another match near the scratching post. I should probably pay attention to my kids before it's time to turn in.

Discipline Your Kid Already

I've been completely annoyed by other people's bratty kids over the past two days. Last night we made the mistake of taking in a movie at a theater that we know draws in more kids than others in town on a Friday night. They ruined it by constantly texting one another throughout the ENTIRE movie. You know how bright your cell phone's display is in a dark room...times that by five. It was so distracting. What could have been so important that it couldn't wait until after the movie? Not to mention, I do recall the theater specifically asks patrons to be courteous with their cell phones. Using it in the middle of a movie is far from a courtesy.

To make matters worse, when you try to leave they stand in a big circle right in front of the door. Doesn't common sense tell you that stepping to the side might be the right thing to do? That maybe others need to get by you? No. So many teenagers these days are just plain rude and disrespectful. And, there is no one to blame but their parents for letting then get away with being downright obnoxious. Where is the discipline?

Case in point. Today when I was out shopping once again there were kids running around the clothing racks (it seems to happen every time these days). And, there was a mother that allowed her kid to throw a temper tantrum while she proceeded to shop. Well, mom, just because you are able to tune out your child's screams doesn't mean the rest of us can do that. More importantly, why should be have to?

Don't get me wrong. I am not a kid hater. In fact, I love children and plan on having one or two in the near future. What I cannot stand is the bad behavior and the fact that parents just let them get away with anything because it just seems easier.

Sometimes I Really Hate Men

Or, should I say little boys since more often than not they are so juvenile. I am really curious as to why men are so damn whiny. Did their mothers molly-coddle them too much? Are they just so used to having their mothers do everything for them that they think someone else is going to pick up where their mothers left off? Perhaps they can get away with that in the short-term, but long-term that seriously isn't going to fly.

Having to pick up after someone else gets really old. This isn't the 1950s when women stayed home all day, cleaned house and prepared dinner. The last thing I want to do after a long day at work is to stop off at the grocery store on the way home, cook dinner, do the litter, start a load of laundry and then clean up the kitchen. I don't even have kids and sometimes it is just too much. Why is it that women are so good at multi-tasking and men cannot even walk 10 feet to the kitchen, bend down and put a dish in the dishwasher while they are watching TV?

Naturally, this can upset a person. So, it came as no surprise that I became unhinged tonight when I once again got no help picking up after dinner, cleaning the kitty litter, or anything. And to add fuel to the fire, the response I got was that maybe "I should eat some food". Are you kidding me!? In his mind there has to be some other reason why I am upset. And, since I've been making a point to watch what I eat since I started a 'diet' on Monday, I MUST be hungry and it has to be the reason why I am so crabby. No. I am not hungry. In fact, I am now eating four times a day, when before I would always skip breakfast, sometimes skip lunch, and only eat dinner.

So, fellas. I am pretty certain that when a woman tells you what you've done, or not done to tick her off, that IS what she is mad about. You cannot grasp for straws and try to come up with an excuse. No, she doesn't have her period. No, something bad didn't' happen at work that day. And, no, she isn't hungry.

No Artichoke Dip For You

I was actually looking forward to his being home early tonight so we could spend some time together--especially since I haven't really seen him all week. So, imagine my surprise when the night ends up being nothing but one big argument...about the fact that I didn't buy him artichoke dip when I was at Costco. Unbelievable.

What a waste. I would have preferred to spend yet another night alone rather than watch a grown man pout, yes pout like a baby, because there is no artichoke dip in the fridge. And apparently it goes beyond that because "I never buy him anything that he wants." That's funny. All of his staples are still there. Now that I think about it, some of them (like his strawberry yogurt) have gone unopened and recently expired. So, it comes down to the fact that he really doesn't know what he wants. Or, maybe he just wants what he doesn't have.

Ha. If he only knew that I had a fair portion of the tasty dip when I was at my friend's jewelry party on Saturday. And, you know what? It was fabulous!