It's Spring, Baby!

And how did we celebrate? With lots of snow, of course. How else do you celebrate spring?

So, this past weekend, M & I made an appearance in a party in K-ville. Let's just leave it at we were so entertaining (and not really because we meant to be) that we now have an open invitation to all parties there. Hmmm.

It's raining today, but that's to be expected with spring. As you can tell if you have read any other posts, I've had a hard winter, but things are better. For one, I've forced myself to exercise like crazy. I've walked, I've zumbaed, I've yogaed. I'm exahusted, but then I'm feeling pretty good.

I talked to the doctor the other day about my love of tanning. She told me that Americans are freakily scared of the sun mostly because of the media. She actually encouraged me to tan for no more than 4 minutes 1 or 2 times a week. She also told me that I needed to get some sun without sunscreen. She said that we are wrecking our bones trying to keep the sun away from us; however, most people are so frightened by the media that they worry more about the risk of sun cancer than anything else. Hmmm.

Parties again this weekend. I hope I get standing invitations. I know I'm rambling, but that's just what I do. Anyway, I do need to head off to work.

Between the Ides and St Pat's

It's the 16th of March? How did that happen? I've actually thought of posting several times, but this is the first time I have gotten around to doing anything. Truthfully, I'm back in a funk so it's not as if I have had anything worth saying to say.

For example, the other day M remarked that you only get a finite amount of springs. So true. I suppose that should make me feel more grateful for the time I have, but it's hard to feel grateful sometimes - especially when you have a hard time thinking of something to be grateful for. Yes, I am sure there's something, but today it's hard.

Here's a true story from my life: today I saw someone I have known for 16+ years who didn't recognize me. She works for someone who used to work for me. Wow, how quickly they forget. It made me a little sad. And that's what I'll focus on for the rest of the day. I'll either cry or want to cry all day. I won't be grateful for the nice new computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse that I got at work today. I won't be happy that my boss invited me to represent the organization at a fundraising dinner this weekend. I won't feel good about the many comments I received about how good I look today. Nope, I'm going to be all upset because some crazy woman didn't recognize me. (I'm not even going to look on the bright side of "maybe I just look that much better.") Nope, I'll wallow in this all day, I'm sure.

Why am I like that? Why can't I be happy with the few (and granted they are very few) good things that happen to me? I don't know. I wish I did - and I wish I knew how to be happy (or at least content) with what I have. I wish I knew how to be grateful. I wish I knew how to enjoy life.

Oh, well, as I think about the fact that I have only so many springs, maybe I'll enjoy this one a little more.

It's March!

Wow! How did March get here so fast? Very soon, 1/4 of 2010 will be done. Have I done all those things I'd intended? Nope. I don't know that I have done any of them. I guess I need to get busy.

I have actually thought of posting several times recently, but I just haven't had anything particularly inspiring - or even all that interesting - to post. Things are good. The sun is out. The weather's warm. The tanning booth is still heaven.

Yesterday I bought some skinny jeans so shopping is even good. There's nothing to complain about. On the other hand, there's nothing to be really, really excited about.

Given the year I just lived through, I'm okay with that.

Maybe I Don't Hate Everything

I managed to make it to the tanning booth. I like that term better because I really prefer the stand up, which is more of a booth than a bed. It is like four minutes in heaven. I can't tell you how it improved my mood! It turned a nothing day around.

Dinner group was great. I loved meeting new people and hanging out with old friends. I'm glad to be involved. We just had the best time. I love it.

Yesterday one of the students brought me some lotion because he said that the lotion I had (a gift) smelled like ass - charming. Anyway, he brought me some mandarin lime energy lotion from Bath and Body. I little dab under the nostrils has awakened me - and given me a bit of energy. I'm loving it!

Did I mention my employer is treating us to our choice of body wraps, massages, or facials today? I'm getting a hot stone massage. I can't wait. Only 4 more hours! HAPPY!

I need to get busy ready the news and surfing the net.

I Hate Everything

Do you know that George Strait song, "I Hate Everything"? That's how I feel today. I'm pissed off at the world, and I hate everything.

I know why. I have not had time to tan in 3 days. I must find time to tan today or it's gonna get UGLY. Okay, it's already UGLY, it's just going to get uglier.

I'm really trying not to hurt or maim someone, but I still have several hours to get through before I can leave.

Of course, I'm not sure my dinner companions tonight will enjoy me. I have a dinner party to attend. It's a dinner club, and the theme is Italian tonight. It's my job to bring an appetizer, and because I have such a great imagination, I'm bringing bruschetta. How creative is that?

Last night I attended a great party. We ate, drank wine, and played with shoes, jewelry and handbags. I managed to snag a great pair of black high heeled sandels -- HOT -- and a new handbag in a lovely lime green. (I was assured that this is the color for the spring.)

Speaking of spring, I CAN'T WAIT. When will it get here? VERY, VERY SOON, I hope. I am tireder of winter this year than I can remember being. Someone asked me recently if this winter were colder than other winters. I can't remember. I try very hard to forget winter. That usually works for me.

That's all for now. I'm going to try to think happy thoughts and make it through the next few hours.

Something Like the Sun

I'm now addicted to tanning. I swear. It's my new favorite thing. I literally count the minutes until I can tan again. I love it, love it, love it. Now, I don't actually get tan. I don't have enough of the Spanish & French blood to tan the way I'd like, but I do manage not to burn, unlike my mother would have done.

Yes, it seems my dad's great-great-great-great grandfather, Juan, came from Toledo in central Spain in the 1790s. He landed in New Orleans, and changed his name to John. Who knows why since the French owned Louisiana then. The Americans wouldn't get it for about 20 more years, so you'd think he'd have gone with Jean. Anyway, he married a French woman. And it's to Juan & his bride that I owe what little tanning ability I have.

M, the one with Mexican & Indian blood and the ability to get very tan, says that I least I bronze. And for that I am grateful - even as I am jealous of his tanning ability. It's true. It could be worse. I could be like my northern European mother and just burn.

I don't really visit the tanning bed for the tanning - I say that because tanning is really next to impossible for me, and saying this makes it seem like I don't care that bronzing is the best I can do. I visit because it's as close as I can get to the sun these days. It's warm and bright. I close my eyes and remember what it feels like to be at the beach. I can almost hear the waves pounding the shore. I love the warmth. I almost weep when my 4 minutes are up.

Soon, I hope, the sun will return and with it warm weather. I can't wait to get outdoors again. I love the heat. Until then I'll have to make do with trips to the tanning bed and the memory of what summer feels like.

My New Favorite Quote

I do love a good quote. I have thousands that I really, really like, but my new favorite is from Marilyn Monroe. Yep, she had several good ones including:

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

My new favorite, however, is below. I just love it because it's how I feel these days.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they are right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."--Marilyn Monroe