The Obsession

Ok. I had a fairly laid back weekend which is nice every once in and while. And when I have random free time to just sit and aimlessly watch TV which of the 70 or so stations do I choose.?

The Food Network.

It is truly an obsession the cooking shows, the challenges, the shows about eating. I love them all. And of course now I have the cooking bug. I just need and want to cook. I've also been going through my cookbooks and constantly perusing foodnetwork.com. Thank goodness soon I will have people to cook for. I'm forcing the BF to come to the house just so I have a mouth to feed, but between July 4th and a belated Father's Day dinner I might be able to calm my obsession.


But by the end of the weekend of feeding only myself "gourmet" creations I felt a little like Diane Lane's character in Under the Tuscan Sun. When she is having that break down and just wants someone to cook for (Minus the gorgeous Italian Villa).

Tonight

Going with the siblings tonight.... Jealous?

The Problem

I'm having a little fight with Mother Nature right now and I can tell you she is going to kick my tush. The thermometer seems to be stuck on the 90s no matter what time of a day. Which isn't normally a huge issue for me because I spend the majority of my life in doors, not really by choice... it's called a job. But I need to be outside... running... A lot. The Peachtree Road Race is in exactly 12 days. My running stamina is currently quite low and the heat index quite high hence the problem. My roommate, A, runs early in the morning and late at night (over acheiver). I on the other hand have a small window if I don't work out within the first hour or so of being him its safe to say it's not happening. So Mother Nature, I'm asking for a small break... just for the next 12 days then you go back to showing us your wrath for the creation of the Hummer.

Promise

Oh and I promise I'll make my picture smaller tomorrow. I'm not THAT self-absorbed.

The New Approach

Alright, I think I'm ready to get "back in the game" (10 Things I Hate About You fans?).

It's been a long time and I want a different approach. Sooner rather than later I will be going through a lot of changes and despite my lack of womanly curves I don't mean physically.

But I feel fairly certain that even though it will not be easy these changes will help transition my blog from negative nancyville to a more positive, fun space. As blogging, twitter, facebook magazine, etc. become less a part of my 9 to 5 I will actually able to enjoy them.

To prove I'm finding a happier place. Ash sent these to me today. Check out the pics from Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland. I wasn't a huge fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but there is no questioning it is visually stunning.


More Pics to look at!

So for the three people who read my blog. Look forward to new stories from my changing life.

The Pressure

Update, update, update my sister demands.... I spend all day at work talking about "Social Media" what it means, how do we utilize it, wait what is Twitter...NO MORE.

Work has taken all the fun out of "Social Media" for me. The phrase alone has taken on a level of pain. My agency is on Facebook, Twitter, I create blogs for my clients. Some might say... awesome you get to do that at work?!? That's what I thought at first too, but when you have to categorize, calculate and critique every aspect of Facebook it loses its fun.

So sorry Emma Jean, I will try and update. My computer at home has become an enemy, a daily reminder of my 9 to 5 sitting in front of one of it's brethren all day long.

But, I won't let it win. I will get back to enjoying this space for it's original purpose. Right now I'm Figuring Out how to enjoy it again. Stay Tuned.

The Solution

OK I get it now. The BF is a few years older and graduated a decent time ago so when we first started dating I found some things he did to be a little...odd. He traveled a fair amount, which isn't bad of course, but he and his friends would talk about and plan their trips way in advance. My philosophy was live in the moment, I can't tell you want I'm wearing tomorrow none the less plan a trip that won't happen for 6 months.

Then I joined the ever thrilling working world and realized two important things about these advancedly planned trips: Limited Time Off and the always elusive Light at the End of the Tunnel.

First, I get 3 days vacation meaning, including the 5 days I get around the holidays I am alloted a whopping 1.5 weeks off out of 52 each year. Therefore every precious day off has to be planned judiciosuly. So, yes I understand why we plan months in advance because coordinating schedules (particularly when only half the group works a tradtional 9 to 5) can get a bit hairy.

Second and ever more important, if you remember my last post I was mourning the loss of holidays, breaks and summers and wondering how does one survive when there is no end in sight. Now I get it, you scrimp and save your precious days off and count down the days until you finally use them creating your own faint light at the end of that long, long tunnel.

So this is not a complaint (ok maybe a little 1.5 out of 52 is a little harsh) more so, it is admission that I was wrong for teasing the BF about his meticulously detailed trips.

Oh and thank you sweet friends of mine for being born, because the other survival mechanism I am applying to this newly realized struggle is the extreme joy I get in planning other people's birthdays. I love nothing more than shoving everything a person enjoys most in life into a 24 to 48 hour period. Party planning, such fun.