TGIF

Let's begin by talking about my love for three very important things: Great friends, white wine, and T Pain. I heart T Pain. Really, can't help it. Always have. Another very important love in my life: Friday nights. Combine all four, you have a very happy, no longer moping, Classy. With a few of my closest friends here in the city, we celebrated Friday night and my return from vacation. Four bottles of wine and a touch of Jack Daniels later... 3:00am came way too soon! We had a blast showing off our rapping skills, dancing skills, and leaving skills as we wandered off, just the girls, to get a little philosophical conversation flowing poolside during the early hours of the morning. I'm sure you can imagine. It was hilarious. 

In any case, since I live seemingly looking forward to the next weekend, as Sunday night rolls to an end, I wanted to reminisce on my Friday, while sharing my love for T Pain and gearing up for Monday... looking forward to next Friday. Hope everyone starts the week off right! Love to all!

Debbie Downer

So as a forewarning, this is quite the opposite from my last post. I've gone from excitement to depression in what seems like no time at all, but in actuality it's been five days, right? Okay, so I'm not really depressed, but it's been quite the "Debbie Downer" day. I'm so over my job. And that's an understatement, really. I know that I should be happy to have any type of job in this, our fabulous economic crisis, but really, I'm dying here. Even worse, I feel like I am shorting myself of true fulfillment in "settling" every weekday from 8-5p. 

I had a great weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed my 'vacation' back home and my long weekend out of work. I enjoyed time with Roxie and the rest of the SATC ladies. Not enough quality time, as Roxie stated, but any time is better than none at all. I knew I had problems however, when I was literally feeling sick on my drive back to the city last night dreading work this morning. 

I love my kids, really I do. It's the rest of the bullshit that goes along with the work I do that I hate so much. The women in my center seem to grow crazier every day. Because I'm young, educated, and cute (and modest), it almost seems that they put more pressure on me to get my work done. And God forbid it doesn't get done when they ask, even if we have meetings during our planning periods all week, we're still supposed to be on the ball. No excuses. I'm over it. They seriously don't pay me enough to deal with it. Another issue I seem to battle inside of my own head is that in my current job, I'm not exactly using either degree that I paid quite a bit of money to obtain. Now, while I might not care if I didn't find interest in either of my degrees, I do. Very much so. I feel like I'm cheating myself. I also feel like I need to be back in school earning a higher degree. I find myself jealous of friends still in school continuing to learn the material I so love. I'd just like to be using it. Buh. 

It's just been a bad day. Happy Monday indeed. Unfortunately for you, my bad days show up right along with my good days here. Just a lot on my mind tonight and my two extra strength tylonol hasn't made any of it go away yet... sigh...

All My Friends Say...

Oh Luke Bryan. I do love that song. I love even more weekends home with my girls. I recognize that I use pictures of the SATC ladies often, but if you'll notice it's always in reference to these fabulous hometown women in my life. It was so wonderful to be around, be lazy, and be out with them this weekend. Nothing too exciting aside from a giant shoe clearance and a night downtown with all of us able to be together again. Three new pairs of heels and a slight blip in the diet plan later, it was a pretty fantastic weekend indeed. 

It's amazing how some friendships stay exactly the same even when the individuals are changing and evolving in their own rights. The four of us, I think, have changed and grown so entirely in the past few years. Even from Christmas to this past weekend. Is that possible? Maybe it's just the individual goals and priorities that we've changed for ourselves, both individually and together. The dinner conversations were hilarious. Still a lot of the same, but definitely more of the diet, fitness, working out, let's be healthy mentality going on over our chips and salsa... and maybe a margarita or two... It's so nice to all be trying together though. You know when you're the only friend dieting or maybe it's another one in the group and it's all they can talk about? You know it's a big deal if you're the one working so hard, but to the rest of the group you just can't shut up? It wasn't like that at all with us this weekend. We were all so excited and so motivated. I think we all helped one another. Just like we usually do. Anyway, a very positive weekend. Put me back in the place I needed to be. It had just been too long without them. 

Monday sucked. That's nothing unusual. But we're pretty much at Wednesday now, so another weekend is right around the corner, right? Right. 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

First, note: This might come off as Carrie Bradshaw-esque. If that's the case, you've been warned. Second, also note: This is a follow up of Island Girl's last post, just so you understand where I'm coming from.

As you probably now know all too well, since the beginning of this new year, I've been on what one could refer to lightly as a 'health kick'. One could also refer to it not so lightly as 'super dieting, calorie watching, ass kicking, gym going, point counting, obsessively dreaming of change' kick. For many reasons, some previously stated, some not, this has been my life since January 1, 2009. Since that date, I've lost almost 15 pounds. In a healthy way. I'm working really hard to come up with the results I want to see in the mirror.

Now, after reading Island Girl's latest post on my break yesterday at work, I've not been able to get her thoughts out of my head. Mainly because I share so many of her fears, concerns and frustrations. While I have been on this 'kick' for a much shorter time span than she, I am already beginning to see where things could get out of hand for me.

This past week was a little frustrating. The weekend wasn't exactly diet friendly as it was a holiday weekend and when "Roll Call Wednesday" came around for OSB, once again, it was another week with not much change. In my head I understand that 13-15 pounds is quite a bit of weight to have lost by pure hard work and accountability in under 2 months. In the mirror, I'm already fearing that I've hit that plateau and it's going to stop falling off of me after this being the second week without much loss to account for. While I see that my stomach is getting flatter and my face is slimming down, I caught myself on Tuesday being disgusted with my 'curves'-- some might enjoy, I'd like to get rid of at least some of it-- and pinching the skin on my back thinking why hasn't this gone away too? Okay, now before I'm accused of the onsets of an eating disorder, please note that I love food far too much for that to ever occur. I will take full responsibilty, however, for a self-image disorder. That I've owned all my life. I've just been pretty good about keeping it to myself most of the time. But this is where Island Girl and her 'nutritionist' made me think...

Is she for real? This nutritionist, not I.G. Does she honestly believe that people in our 'age bracket' have overcome whatever image issues they previously had and are just 'settled' with however they look currently? This concept absolutely baffles me! Seriously? And for her to say that without laughing. Moreso, for this to be her reasoning to explain away voiced frustrations of a client? In the infamous words of Lewis Black, "And I am confused!"

But in retrospect, as I've contemplated it for a couple of days now, it brings about a larger issue. Will we ever be good enough for ourselves? Not for anyone else. Not for popular culture or the new fashion trends that we may love or hate. Not for the cute guy at the bar. But for the mirror. Because when it comes down to it, that's all we have. It's me and my reflection. If I can't be confident in that, what do I have? Don't get me wrong and take me for some shallow human being who only believes that beauty is only skin deep, but seriously, if you can't look in the mirror and be proud of that person, physically, emotionally, spiritually, whatever... What do you have? Everyone else's opinions? Can't be good for all around character building. At least not in my world. ha. Maybe a little deep for a Friday night, but here I am. Just a whole lot of questions and none with true answers I suppose. Can't say it's the first time I've asked them, but maybe the first time I've felt them necessary to outwardly impose.

Some nutritionist, huh? I.G. I feel for you, but I feel more for her. She is seriously disillusioned with both the world around her and more specifically her career. Keep pushing. You rock.

Happy 'healthy' weekending!

Why Do Mondays Come So Quickly?

Nothing so exciting to report from the weekend. I suppose I had enough excitement last weekend to last me for a while. Saturday was far too busy to be considered a Saturday. I sat at the doctor's office for two hours on Saturday morning waiting for them to tell me that I didn't in fact have an ear infection, it was just sinuses and I needed a Z-pac and a decongestant. Thanks for that. I could've told you that when I was giving you my name and insurance card. I was, however, more than thrilled for my left ear to finally pop after two days and my hearing to be fully restored. I swear, these children will be the death of me. And tomorrow, guess what... Monday again! The beginning of another week. Two weeks ago: Pink Eye; Last week: Near Ear Infection/Terrible Sinus Cold; This week: stay tuned! 

I know, I know, I should be thankful that I have a job. And I am. I really do enjoy my work. But after a while, as with any job, I firmly believe that everyone wishes for just a short period of paid unemployment. I'm just saying, it'd be nice. I couldn't do it all of the time, I'd get bored. But vacations are nice. Paid vacations even nicer. 

Next weekend's events: Mr. Super Athlete's 19th birthday--even though his id would say it's his 24th? Not the point. Parents are returning to the city to celebrate. In other words, Classy gets free stuff! Hooray for S.A's day of birth! There's already a nice dinner planned for Friday night, I'm sure I can get the madre out shopping on Saturday, and Daddy always leaves extra cash when he leaves his little girl. Therefore, I'm working, working out, and counting the days until another weekend arrives. Is that the way everyone else lives? Weekend to weekend? Unless you work on the weekends, I can't help but assume it is. Oh, the days back in college when every day's work was about 2 hours of class, 2 hours of napping and a party at least twice a week to attend.... sigh. 

"Looks like someone's got a case of the Mondays...." Office Space

Drama Queen

Boy, am I blushing. Slight overreaction to Tuesday's events. My apologies for the ranting. Turns out, I was only deducted one point on my evaluation and it had nothing to do with the fact that I was late or that I had thoughts of child bowling. So we're square there. No worries.

This Classy Drama Queen does in fact have Pink Eye, however. Well, did... Still do I guess, but it's much better thanks to fabulous perscription eye drops. Bodelou, thank you for the sweet advice, but I had already paid $25 for mine. Thankfully enough, they worked quickly. So I'm okay with spending the money. Let's be real, I can't have pink eye balls for the pictures to be taken this weekend. So, although more than I wanted to pay for drops that supposedly cure my ails, it's okay. Bonus, today's payday. So once again, no worries.

The real excitement now lies within the next three days! My fabulous Island girl is headed to the city tomorrow afternoon! Hooray! I've worked out extra hard this week so I can enjoy all of the indulgences I'm most certain we'll find for ourselves. Good food, good music, good cocktails. Preferably quite a few of them. And lots of laughing. That pretty much sums up my favorite relationships in life. Including my friendship with I.G.

I've got some cleaning left to do around the apartment before tomorrow afternoon arrives. Cough. Still putting away Christmas. Cough... But other than that, I'm so ready for a relaxing and enjoyable weekend after this long week of infection, stress, and work. I hope everyone else enjoys their weekend! Happy Almost Friday from your once-in-a-while-a-little-too-dramatic Classy!

Take a Breather

I had so many blogging friends enjoy Christina's "Superbitch" that I thought I would do a mid-week breather for all to enjoy. It's a little more country than pop, but the same kick-ass angry girl music you know I so enjoy. And so, I hope you enjoy.

Here's a clip of Kelly Pickler's CMA performance, "Best Days of Your Life."

Note: My love of Kelly Pickler extends to "Red High Heels" and now this. Even if you're not a fan or perhaps know nothing of her, watch anyway. It will make you smile. Two days until the weekend!

Have No Fear, The Weekend is Here!

As you could probably tell, the week started off a little less than par. Monday was a rough dayfilled with emotional inner-turmoil, children refusing to listen or follow directions, slight conflict with Mr. Perfect, and the beginnings of this sickness that has slowly conquered my body. However, as the week went on, my mood grew more positive. Yesterday was exciting and today is my day off therefore, you know Classy is a happy girl. Why was yesterday exciting you may be wondering? Well, it was the 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. If you have read anything about me, you are aware that I love all kinds of music from T Pain to Jimmy Buffett, Destiny's Child to John Mayer, Christina Aguilera to Sugarland. And so, CMA day was quite exciting as AMA day will be next week. However, as the CMAs are held in Music City, Little Miss Classy was quite star struck just knowing how many celebrities whom I admire and sing along with daily were so close to home. It was quite a day. My morning drive to work began such excitement with just talk (via my favorite radio duo) of all of the fame less than ten miles away from me, a surprise visit from dear ol' Dad at work as he was passing through town continued the excitement, and the majority of my favorites winning last night concluded such a terrific Wednesday!

Recap if you're interested at all: 

1) Male vocalist of the year- Brad Paisley (for the 2nd year in a row)

2) Female vocalist of the year- Carrie Underwood (for the 3rd year in a row)

3) Song of the Year- Sugarland's "Stay"

4) Vocal Group of the Year- Rascal Flatts

5) Vocal Duo of the Year- Sugarland

6) Album of the Year- George Strait

7) New Artist of the Year- Lady Antebellum

8) Entertainer of the Year- Kenny Chesney (for the 4th year in a row)

...Those are the big ones I believe. Minus the leather pants that so many chose to perform in and a select other "what was she thinking?" moments, I'd say the fashion watch was pretty exciting as well. Don't worry, you'll get a recap of the AMA's next week as well. I'm a sucker for awards shows. I can't help myself. 

Anyway, today is my day off for the week. Another bit of good news/bad news is the change in schedule I'm preparing for beginning on the 24th of November. We're returning to 8 hour work days as opposed to ten. Bright side: No more 7:30-5:30 work days. I like the sound of 8:15-5:15. (Especially since there is a half hour of mandatory break and a half hour of overtime pay every day) Dark side: No more off days. However, if I'm not so exhausted working ten hours every day, I might not be so ready for an off day by the end of a long week. We'll see how it works out. I believe I'm okay with this at this point in time. 

Aside from my sickness, it hasn't been a bad week. I'm very much looking forward to my Friday and Saturday nights. The weekend is always the best part of any week. I hope all of you enjoy yours as well! If anything terribly exciting happens, you'll be the first to know... 

Come Monday

It will be the week of my alma mater's Homecoming festivities. Beginning on Friday, my road trip ensues with my favorite Island girl, traveling northeast a few hundred miles back to a place I both love and hate, miss and dread. 

Perhaps a little difficult to explain if you are unaware of my track record with these people. I've briefly posted about college history a couple of months ago after a wedding weekend gone wrong, but I'll update you. I absolutely loved college. Loved the place, the people, the professors, what I studied, all of it. I loved it. And I miss it. Almost all of it. A select few sorority sisters could accidentally miss this whole weekend and I'd be okay with it. Not going to happen, but if it did, I wouldn't cry. 

You know those kind of girls.. the ones that accuse you of something that actually has nothing to do with them, first of all, and can't let it go even though, once again, it never even had anything to do with them. Not only can they not let go of it because it's been over a year since drama went down, they can't let go of it even though I've graduated and moved far away. Yeah, be with me on this. Ridiculous. That would be the part I hate and dread. Drama. I've moved away from it and I don't miss it at all. 

Anyway, aside from them, I am more than happy to be headed back. I'm looking so forward to seeing my sisters, my friends, those I've missed terribly, including Rico, and spending a great weekend with them. Having my Island girl and a few adult beverages with me to keep me sane and stable. It should be another interesting chapter of college living. Going back as an alumni. I don't know how I'll handle it, but I'm excited about it nonetheless. The great thing about moving away is that people are always excited to see you when you come back to visit. Especially when you purposefully look like a million dollars. They don't have to know you've been thinking about the perfect thing to wear to such an event for weeks now... Just call me "Super Star." You know me, fond of attention. The good kinds anyway. 

Here's hoping for all of the good attention, very little drama and very few bitches, and  another well spent, relaxing weekend to remember in a place I'll always hold close to my heart. 

Does Length Matter?

During previously mentioned whirlwind weekend, Roxie and I managed to escape for about an hour to both get hair cuts. It was a spur of the moment decision, but one we both had been meaning to make for quite some time now. It was just a trim, since it had been a while since my last cut and style, but I always am so conflicted when it comes to my hair.

I've had my hair both very long and what I consider very short, but in all actuality, not tremendously short. Now, I'm somewhere in between. My hair is complex. It's very fine without the body I would like it to have and without the ability to hold curl for very long at all without the use of an entire bottle of hairspray. I just wish I could get it to do something. Anything really. And I can't ever make up my mind whether or not I want it once again, short or long. Take a look with me if you will...

This haircut is so cute. Mine at the moment, while similar, is a little longer and doesn't fall so fantastically across my face. This is close to what I've been trying to maintain for a little over a year now. Every now and again, a little longer, but never shorter than this. Her face is more oval than mine, therefore, this length looks great. I have to be careful that mine doesn't get too short for fear of my face looking too round.

Okay, so we know that I'm quite the fan of Carrie. Also, I love her hair. Moreso, I would love for my hair to look as her's. Then again, I don't have a stylist to do mine every morning, nor does mine or will mine ever have such volume. But I do love having long hair. It does something for guys too, let me tell you. Granted, if you've read my blog for any length of time you know I'll never tell you to do something because it does something for guys, but they do love the long hair. Everytime I talk about cutting mine off, no matter the length, I'm told not to.. for whatever reason.

Thus, the dilemma continues. Being one of the most indecisive people I know, I'm sure it will always be a struggle to know what I want my hair to look like for the next however long. Not the deepest I've ever written, but I'm tired of being depressing on here and I can guess you're probably tired of it too. So, thoughts? Long, short, why do we care so much? Whatev. Let me know.

Love, Laughter, and the Pursuit of New Fashion

Well contradicting my last post entirely... I've decided and made known to those living around me that all I want for my birthday, all I really want, is a party. I want a night out of fun with all of my new city friends with a few old ones thrown into the mix. And flowers. I want flowers. But mainly I want a party to celebrate your's truly.

With this decision however, comes the task of finding new clothing to wear to such an event. I've already started talking it up, in true Classy style, so I have to now find something fantastic to wear out for the festivities taking place. What does this mean? SHOPPING!

You guessed it! And this is the way I've laid it out for myself... I'm in a new city away from the majority of my friends for the first time on a birthday. I'm also in a new job where I'm making more money than I've ever made on previous birthdays. I'm also celebrating downtown with a group of people and Mr. Perfect. This means... "it's my birthday present to me! I'm so happy!" Splurging every now and again for yourself can't be too terrible for you. Right? Right.

I'll let you know how it goes. I've gone round one with no success.. Nothing catchy enough. But never fear, I will not give up. I suppose that round two of this mission will take place this weekend in between scheduled nothingness. I'm looking foward to it. I believe Diva and maybe even Ditzy might be joining me at least on Saturday. It will be the first time that dear Ditzy has come out this way... could be interesting. Could be painful. We'll see.

Don't worry Roxie, I'll be missing you. Plenty.

Am I the Only One?

Probably not is the answer to that question. But I'm just throwing it out there.. I feel like I've fallen into a hole. A hole of no return. A hole known to most as adulthood. Please get me back out, it's dark and scary... It's not been a good day. Typical Wednesday, they're usually not very good. It's just the getting through them that keeps me going. Just getting to Thursday, because then it's practically Friday and I'm one girl who worships Fridays. Why am I not a fan of Wednesdays you may ask? Well Wednesdays are my co-teacher's days off. This means they stick me with a "sub-type" who either knows how I handle my class or doesn't...it's hit or miss. One I love dearly, unfortunately, he's not with me today. So, my kids have been insane, not listening to anything anyone has to say to them. Now, this is to be expected on occasion. They're young. But this Wednesday also marks day 12 I've been stuck with this head cold turned sinus infection turned death. And I'm pretty much miserable. So bear with me... 

Back to this tragic hole. Can I please go back to 21 again? You may laugh and say, it really wasn't that long ago...but in my life at its present state, 21 seems ages ago. I feel like I live from weekend to weekend. Soaking up whatever I can and then it's back to the grind Monday morning.

I love my job. I really do. But work is work. Truth be told, none of us want to do it. Ever. It interferes with me taking off and seeing my favorite people whenever I so desire. It interferes with me being lazy and not getting of the couch for hours on end, watching re-run marathons of America's Next Top Model or Law & Order. It interferes with my shopping sprees and expenditures on items or clothing I don't really need, but were just too cute to pass up. Okay, maybe that last one is a good thing, because let's face it, I'm already broke.. but that's not the point. The point is this: Is this what my life is destined to be for 60+ more years?

Work, weekend, work, weekend, work.....

How depressing.

Just a bad day I suppose. A "case of the Mondays" on a Wednesday afternoon. I just miss my friends I guess.. Ready for everything to feel normal again and I'm afraid it's never going to.. How do you return to normal if you're not sure what normal is supposed to be now?

God help me. I sound like Dr. Phil. ha.

I suppose I should be counting my blessings. It could always be worse. After all, I could be the parent of one of these hellions...

Not. Even. Funny.

Relatively Good Weekend Had By All

Well, the weekend went smoothly as predicted. 

Friday night was a blast. Old friends, new city, adult beverages. Perfection. Started with a delicious dinner at an Italian joint downtown, followed by site seeing on our walk to the bars, followed by toasting to good memories. It was a good night. 

Saturday morning began with my pain in the ass class on how to take care of my children... Six hours later (not an exaggeration), I was registered, grumbling, and speeding to my friends who had been watching football all day. Relaxed for a short while, was entertained by both said friends and football, then continued on into the evening in search of festivities to partake in. My college friend (we'll call her: K) and I went shopping at first to find cute clothing to wear for another night of bar hopping, however, by the end of this particular shopping experience, we were buying ice cream, Sister Act 1 & 2, and new pajama pants. Yes, we're lame... and perfectly at peace with that. You have to take into account how much trouble it is to go out at night people. I mean, I enjoy every second of it, but it takes time and effort that we simply didn't want to give...

Therefore, ice cream and Whoopi Goldberg. This was my Saturday night. And I loved it. 

Sunday was uneventful. Saw the parents as they passed through town, laid around, did some last minute video training (yes, it never ends), and went to see Tropic Thunder (side note: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! It was absolutely and painfully terrible, however that's just one girl's opinion.. then again you are reading something based entirely on my opinions as they pertain to my very existence).  

Anyway! Aside from being told to shut up by a 3 year old this afternoon, Monday wasn't too bad either. Hope everyone else survived it. 

One day closer to Friday...