Ten on Tuesday

1. I'm really tired. Usually, my alarm goes off at 6:30, and I tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen at around 7. This morning, I was up by 5:15, out the door by 6 a.m., so I could make it on time to ...
2. My mammogram. You'll be happy to know, my boobs are photogenic and "normal." And here's the honest truth: It's uncomfortable, but it doesn't cause grave pain, like some would have you believe. It's a necessary evil, but well worth going through each year. Not unlike ...
3. The dreaded Pap smear and annual physical. Had that today, too. Even had the doc check out all my moles and make sure there wasn't anything questionable going on. Got my flu shot (yes, it's late in the season, but Dr. K says it's still active, so now might be the smartest time to get it) and had her look at my ankle. Which hurts because ...
4. I over-extended the tendon that runs along the top of my foot. I can't go to the gym until I'm 100 percent pain free. This does not make me happy. If I can't shake my groove thing, I worry my butt will expand.
5. Dad made turkey and stuffing last Sunday, just because. So incredibly delicious. I could live on my father's stuffing.
6. He also took me to lunch today, since my doc and mammo appointments were in his neck of the woods. There's very little in the world I enjoy more than eggs and hash browns at noon.
7. I'm still looking for a car.
8. I don't think it's wise to be passive-aggressive and immature on Facebook. Maybe one or the other, but not both.
9. Olives in martinis are classic, but lately I've discovered the simple pleasure of a lemon twist. Oh, gin, you delight me.
10. My dad used to sing "Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, and I'll show you a house full of shit." It still makes me laugh, and ya know, he's got a point. If the buffalo roam in the house, you get what you get.

Ten on Tuesday

1. It feels good to re-establish the routine. Last night was the first time I took a Strike! class at the gym in a long time. It is probably the toughest cardio workout in my repertoire, and last night I burned 681 calories during the one-hour class. I call it Ninja School, because it's kickboxing with weighted bars and weighted gloves; by the time the hour is over, I feel totally ninja. It's a great feeling to be able to complete the hour, and last night my instructor checked my heartrate monitor to see how many calories I'd burned. Then came the best part: she told me that in order to burn that many calories, I must have great muscle tone. It may be under several layers of other stuff, but I've got muscle, baby!
2. A can of WD-40 would be a worthy investment. There is a crew in the office today building cubicles. Every time they bring a load of equipment in or out, they use these carts that sqeal like Flipper on crack. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
3. I now officially hate car shopping. I had narrowed down my choice. I had done so much research my hair was starting to hurt. And then I called my mechanic, who advised me against the car I really want. Unless I can buy new - which I can't - he said no. I have to listen to him ... and now I'm back to the drawing board. I'm worn down and I'd settle for a roller skate at this point.
4. I find Meryl Streep undeniably charming. I didn't like her for the longest time, but as she's begun to take herself less seriously, I've gravitated toward her a bit. Hers was the only acceptance speech I saw on the Golden Globes (because I don't do award shows but I was flipping channels,) and I loved it. Humble and grateful; that's class.
5. I look really cute today. I was in a really good mood on the way to work, but with the way my day's going - computer crashing, construction noises and assorted other BS - I've gone from zero to cranky in less than 60 seconds. Stay beyond an arm's length if you know what's good for you.
6. Sushi. I want some.
7. Last weekend, I drove up to Lake Geneva. I didn't go for karaoke this time, and it was an incredibly relaxing and wonderful visit. I got my hair cut (it's all wild and curly now) and spent a lot of time just catching up with Amber. I miss that girl, and her critters, when I can't get up to visit as often as I'd like. Hopefully it won't be as long between visits now.
8. I don't like grocery shopping. I used to, but lately it just seems to be a huge time-suck. See, toldja; I'm cranky.
9. I'd really like to go back to school. Before too long, I'm going to have to move forward and just do it.
10. I had plans for this weekend, and they got cancelled. I'm a little excited to have nothing to do, except I'll be continuing the Never-Ending Automobile Search. Wish me luck!

The most depressing day of the year?

With apologies to Bex and Matt who celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary today, when I saw that headline on MSN I just about broke a rib laughing. January 18, the most depressing day of the year.

It also happens to be the ex-husband's birthday. I think he's 40 today, though I'm not exactly sure. I'm also pretty sure he looks a lot older than that.

Anyhoo, I'm not sure if MSN took that into account when they christened today the most depressing, but I certainly enjoy the irony. Because while it may be a depressing day, I'm not really depressed at all. I have an amazing life and amazing friends and a future that, frankly, has a lot more going for it than it ever did before.

So here's to you, Chris. Happy birthday. Thanks for setting me free.

Ten on ... Thursday

Oops.

I was home sick on Tuesday, so no blogging got done. My apologies for the delay!

1. I am loving "United State of Pop 2009," D.J. Earworm's mashup of Billboard's Top 25 pop songs of 2009. Yes, all 25 songs. Check it out; I think it's genius.
2. Curried carrot soup. This year, I want to continue experimenting with new flavors and treating myself kindly when it comes to food. That means delicious and nutritious. So far this year, I've made that soup, chicken with poblano cream sauce, sea salt brownies, roasted garlic cauliflower and my personal favorite, black bean tortilla pie. More to come, for sure!
3. Wanna participate in a twist on a book club? A friend and I have challenged each other to read two plays a month in 2010. Each month, we'll blog about our impressions, book-club style, and invite others to join in the online discussion. Interested? I'll keep you posted.
4. If money were no object, I would have a pair of boots for every day in the month. At least February.
5. I've been a little bit down lately, because I felt so crappy all of December, then started to feel better, and BAM, over the weekend caught another cold. I haven't made it to the gym yet this week, but my workout gear is in the car and I'm headed there after work. I love the way I feel after a good workout, and I miss it horribly when I'm not able to make it. Hopefully, tonight will be the start of my return to the routine.
6. The search for a car continues. I've decided not to make four-wheel-drive a necessity, and it has opened a lot of possibilities. It's the first time in a long time that I've chosen a car without having to please anyone else with my decision, and I'll be honest ... I kinda like it.
7. I am up to date with all my bills. All of them. Today is payday, and I still had money in my wallet. I'm not perfect by any means, but I am doing a much better job of knowing where my money is, and where it's going. It's a good feeling.
8. I think I'm going to paint my apartment this spring. Mike and Rae helped me think through colors when they were in for an overnight in November, and Shakespeare shared her opinions a few weeks back. So all of you who have offered to lend a paintbrush-laden hand? You're about to be called up.
9. After two years of focusing on my health, I still don't drink enough water.
10. I've been at my job for three years. I still like it, most of the time. One of my favorite co-workers is leaving; tomorrow is his last day. It's the first time someone has left our team, and I miss him already. He's a fantastic Web designer, with a knack for thinking of new ways to "wow" people with my words. There are far too few people like David in the corporate jungle, and I wish him only the best.

Ten on Tuesday

I'm publishing a day late, but only because my Internet connection at home is kinda wonky these days. It counts as 10 on Tuesday, because I wrote it last night. So there.

1. I washed my slippers over the weekend. They are these awesome "foot duvets" from Restoration Hardware, a gift from my sister Jenn a few years ago, and they're machine washable. Filled with down, they are the warmest things my feet have ever known. How was I to know that there were tiny holes in the bottoms, through which oodles of down would sneak out during the dry cycle? Yeah, there are fluffy feathers all over everything else in that load of wash.
2. Tonight was my first night back to the workout routine since I came down with Ebola, or bronchitis, on December 4. I'd gone a few times, but was so miserable that finally a few weeks ago I decided to call it quits until I was feeling better. So tonight I did an hour of strength training followed by an hour of cardio, and it was a lot of work ... but it felt effing fantastic!
3. My New Year's Eve was amazing, thanks for asking. Years ago, I worked with a performing company that did a show ever New Year, and that ended when I returned to school in 1994. But this year marked my return, as I participated in the New Year's Eve Party at the Geneva Underground Playhouse. I sang one song, forgot my words halfway through, saved it with my sparkling sense of humor and that of a dear friend who was willing to through himself on my grenade. It was the perfect way to usher in a new year - surrounded by friends old and new, all of whom were ready to celebrate a clean slate.
4. On New Year's Day, I ate my weight in fondue. Which is un-good, because from the time I got sick in early December, I've put on some poundage. It's hell to get sick during the holidays! But we had a blast, a bunch of friends who gathered at Eric and Millie's house to celebrate Eric's December 31 birthday. Nothing says "I love you" like melted cheese. And nothing means more than sharing a friend's birthday for the first time ever, even though you've known each other for almost 20 years.
5. My performance evaluation is coming up at work. I hate evals. I'd rather systematically peel off my skin than sit in a closed room and discuss my performance over the past year. Just sayin'.
6. I'm in desperate need of a good moisturizer that doesn't give me a rash. The winter cold does a number on my skin, and right now my neck and throat are covered with the remains of an itchy, disgusting outbreak, the result of a new moisturizer I tried. Anybody have any recommendations for something gentle but uber-emollient?
7. It's cold. Not getting much above 20 around these parts all week. I'm not complaining - it's Chicagoland in winter, ya know - but I got so chilled tonight that I had to get into a hot bath so I didn't climb into the oven. So yeah, that's cold.
8. I'm happy. Like, really happy. As in, happier than I think I ever was when I was part of a couple. It's funny, because someone insists on sending me photographs every now and then of the ex and his latest wife, thinking they'll make me feel good. And yeah, it's nice to see that the latest installment is ... how can I say this politely? ... not like me. But I think what's most telling is the fact that I have never seen a picture of the two of them in which either one of them looks even remotely happy. Photos of me, on the other hand? I'm either smiling the genuine, toothy, big-head grin, laughing, or making a face at the camera. My life isn't perfect, but it's happy.
9. I've been asked several times over the past few weeks for the secrets of my weightloss success, which cracks me up because I'm still 70 pounds from my goal. But here's the straight poop, the ground-breaking secret no one else will tell you. To lose weight, you only have to do two things: Eat less and move more. That's it. So, put down the butter and take a walk. Make healthy choices (in life, not your grocer's freezer) and you'll get there. I promise.
10. Speaking of healthy choices, maybe it's a reflection of how much unhealthy food I've eaten in the past month, but I'm craving vegetables. If I were you, I wouldn't stand between me and cauliflower.