And I'm Proud to be an American!

...I feel like I should stand and salute or something. ha. Happy First Day of Office to our new Mr. President! Happy Wednesday to the rest of us.. What a day yesterday was, huh? Now, it's not like me to talk politics. Don't for a minute think I plan on starting here either, but I must say what an extravagant event, Tuesday January 20, 2009 was. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch most of the day's events as I was at work. I was, however, able to catch his speech and pass it for a history lesson. My kids don't even know what the word history means, but hey, I had to watch. I was glad I did, too. I was moved. It was very powerful, I thought. No matter who you voted for, you had to feel proud in those few moment that our nation had potential to make up for some of the downfalls or flaws thoughout recent years. No matter who is at fault for them. Today however, if I were President Obama... I would be thinking, "What the hell did I get myself into?" Then again, that's why I wasn't the one running. On the way to work this morning, my favorite radio morning show shared his schedule for this, his first day... Let's just say, I'd want to go back to last night's parties. But let's cross our fingers, maybe there's a politician out there that can truly make change for the better of society. I'm praying.

I'm also praying that I can make it through the end of this week. My schedule is so thrown off! Not that it should be. It's not like I get to celebrate national holidays like MLK Day like the rest of you. I was at work... with only five children. Tell me why we couldn't have had a three day weekend like everyone else? Exactly. There is no good reason. But whatever, I'm not the boss... Unfortunately.

The upside to being at work all week, through holidays and more sickness, is that my co-teacher and I have been brainstorming. We've asked for the funds and special treatment as the "golden children" of our workplace and of course, got what we wanted. Our classroom is getting a makeover this weekend! It's very exciting. It will require us to come in and do a little extra work ourselves, but hey, it's what we do. Anything for the kids, right? Well, almost. We'll be envied by everyone else, and really, that's what I go for in my everyday life...

Kidding... Mostly.

Anyway, another refresher for my refreshing new attitude I'm going with lately. I'm not going to bore you with my workout/diet/healthy living rountines anymore, because as you've seen, I have another blog for that now, but I can't express to you how much it has helped my mindset. I am so much more positive, more energized... generally, just happier than I was before my gym membership processed. I love it. I'm on my second liter of water for the day and am actually looking forward to returning this evening for my cardio routine. I hope everyone else is having a good week. If not, we're half way to the weekend... head up!

Joining Forces!

Roxie and I are joining forces for our respective missions of "Lookin' Fine in '09!" We tried something new with a Word Press site, but please come see us! It's just our way of holding one another accountable while being so far apart along with recording goals and achievements, along with struggles and failures. Hopefully a lot more of the former... for your viewing pleasures! 

Get with us here! Happy Fitness! 

Out with the Old, In with the New

As the new year vastly approaches, I'm taking the time to re-evaluate my circumstances. My view points. My way of thinking and living. We discussed my New Year's Resolutions in like October, so I won't bore you with a sequel of such. You already know about my mission, so I won't continue to bore you with that either. Over my Christmas holiday, I had a lot of time to spend with both friends and family back home. It was, for the most part, very enjoyable. It gave me time to think and breathe again. It was a very Merry Christmas.

While, today, I'm back at work and yesterday, I was dreading Monday's evil return, I feel like I'm in a zone, if you will. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to jump start the 2009 year full of energy and ready to take on every resolution, goal, and mission. I'll fill you in on why....

One reason, I'm ready to feel good. I'm ready to continue this positive outlook on life. Out with the sad, in with the happy. Christmas day, I went over to my aunt's house with the rest of my 30 member family mourning the first Christmas without my Nana who passed the first of October. Usually, the Christmas tree would have at least 100 presents under it because my Nana was a shopping queen, especially at Christmas time. One year, I believe I counted 181. In any case, this year, there was one for each person. We drew names and traded gifts. I received some generic Bath and Body works gift set. It was nice and I didn't complain, but it was on the more depressing side of the holiday's events thus far. Then my aunt's bright idea for distributing all 300+ pieces of her jewelry came to light. They were all bagged in goodie bags piece by piece, sorted by what they were: necklace, pendent, bracelet, pin, etc. Then numbers were drawn. All 12 of the women/girls in the room chose a number from a basket and that was the order in which we got to choose the jewelry. Is anyone else seeing something wrong here? Because I did.

Of course I was number 12.

Now, one could very wrongly mistake my disgust for this whole process for jealousy or greed in that I was the last grandchild to be able to draw. I'll have you know, however, I was very upset about this operation long before we drew the numbers. Numbers 1-3 and 6 were not even blood members of my family. 1 and 2 were the baby and "baby momma" of my younger cousin and number 6 had been "adopted" into my family a couple of years back in order to escape a bad home herself. Now, while I have no qualms with any of these young girls, I have been the woman's granddaughter for 23 years. 23. years. Number 6 chose a strand of my grandmother's pearls. Also note, it is unknown if they were real or fake. I'm sure that my aunt went through from the beginning and took the real, but in any case, I was not a fan. I was so angry by the time I left. All of my cousins were laying it all out on the ground, bartering for trade with other pieces, laughing at some of it. Granted some of it was atrocious and I laughed later at some that I had gotten. The whole scene just made me really sad. In my opinion, it was too soon. It was too soon to hand it all out and it could've been handled in a much better fashion. But some things you just have to let go of I suppose...

Which brings me to where I am now. Letting go. However difficult it was to keep my mouth shut, I managed. However difficult it was to come back to work today, knowing my brother, still in college, can stay home for another two weeks on vacation, I managed. It's high time I did a little growing up. However painful. I'm counting my blessings and ready to toast to the new year.

New year, new way of thinking, and my new car. Get excited.

Early New Year's Resolutions?

In complete agreement with Island Girl's post of Christmas coming far too early if you're out and about in the shopping world... which I usually am... I am skipping past Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and making my New Year's Resolutions. Yes, I said it. Today. 

I've been on a roll lately. The positive energy is flowing. And I like it. So this is the deal...

1) Stay positive. 

2) Continue on this new diet routine. 

3) Find a gym. Get to work. 

4) Continue to decorate this apartment so it feels more like home. 

5) Stay positive.

6) Figure out when I'm going back to school.

7) Figure out what I'm going back to school for. 

8) New car!

9) Travel more... visit my far away friends. I need them. 

10) Stay positive. 

So, there you have it. My list of 10. I'm just trying to get back on my game... I'm ready to move forward and embrace the future while still cherishing my past. I know it's possible. We're coping with transition here. I feel like I'm becoming more accustomed. It doesn't get easier, but I feel that I'm getting stronger. Happy New Year! 

Have you thought of any resolutions? Feel free to share.