I love productive days *Anna Karenina spoiler*

  I talked about the Michigan Technological University's all-nighter foul up with the dean of student affairs today.  She said they are going to have a Blue Key meeting this Sunday and discuss what happened and now what they are going to do about it.  I told her that Dave Sutton that I spoke to on the phone offered Honorable Mention for participation and a second place award of a $25 gift certificate.  I told the dean that we really just wanted recognition for our participation for our sponsor, the Magnusun hotel, and the University of Michigan Survival Flight Crew that were eliciting future participation in Winter Carnival from people out of the area, in Ann Arbor, MI.  Those that participated did not even get to see their hard work ice statue displayed in the publication of all the ice statue participants magazine or online.  Our next step is to go to the newspaper with the story as there was an editorial this week on how great the Blue Key leadership was for the Winter Carnival.  That is just a bunch of malarkey.  This is such a large oversight that should never have happened and should never happen again.

  I  spent hours booking plane tickets for our trip to Arizona in April.  I also booked a car, a hotel for the night before we come home and contacted the home away house that I want to use while we are there for one of the weeks.  I messaged, called and texted those that needed to know our itinerary.  I am only waiting to hear back from the home I hope to get.  I know the dates are open, I hope they contact me to work with me.  I am so excited to go.  I am looking forward to the sunshine, the family, the sights, the restaurants, the shopping, the hiking, and the fun.  I love driving around with the windows down.  I look forward to warmth and maybe some rain.  I hope to be there for my nieces' prom attendance too.  Oh so sweet.

  After my Epson Salt soak, Tony is making peanut butter cookies.  We are going to watch Dinner for Schmucks when he is done.  I am going to multi-task study, finish reading Anna Karenina and enjoy some hot tea.  The spirituality and humanity, the cause to life all came up in the last 30 pages of the book.  I'm enjoying the spiritual connecting of the dots that Levin is doing after Anna Karenina is no longer around due to her throwing herself underneath a train.  Shocking.  I loved the bits of this book that were not so much the history, but overall one of the best reading experiences I have ever had.  Wonderful to be done with it though.  Thank you, curving somewhere else tomorrow.  Hopefully, more than 5 degrees tomorrow, but not likely.

My sister

  I miss my sister SO badly these days that it hurts.  I think she's the one that can help me through tough times and then kick my butt when I need it too.  It is such a unique relationship that many can relate, but not totally understand.  The love - hate, the happy - sad, the push - pull away nature of sisters.  I want to help, but just end up being pushy or bossy instead of being a good listener.  The one person that knows things that you do not even know about yourself because they saw you grow up and change through time, yet stay the same at the same time.  In our family, we have a really hard time asking for help.  Sometimes that is the only thing that can help, but it just seems impossible to do.

  Really, what is the worst thing that can happen if you ask for help?  They say no?  Well, so what?  Then you can stay the course or just ask someone else.  A different perspective and skill set can only help sometimes, if they are willing.  I really did not appreciate the precious time I had with my sister and I think about her every day.  I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live next to each other and grill out or have dinners with each other all the time.  I missed seeing her kids grow up.  Oh, how time goes by so fast.  Faster and faster every year goes by.  Unreal.  My heart is happy to think about my sister and I hope she knows that she's great, she's good, she's wonderful.

Picacho Peak, AZ

Ballet shoes and inspiration

  I bought some black ballet slippers.  I was in ballet when I was young and did not like it.  Now, as an adult I want to give it another try for the spirit of ballet.  I just want to practice of ballet, not the on stage experience.  I am limited to my bodies function at this juncture in life and I am interested in trying something outside of the box.  I have the New York Ballet company workout book and plan to try and implement it little by little.

  I also want to try some Tai Chi, Soaring Crane Quigong and different forms of yoga.  I have varied interests at this point, but I have not tried any of it yet.  I put on the ballet slippers yesterday as a reminder and an inspiration.  I think with movement will come freedom from muscle tightness.  Stretching is the best and I used to stretch everyday.  It is time to get back to basics and be child like again.  I want to try a little of this and a little of that and see what I like.  I never know if I will like something until I actually put my best effort into it or give it a chance from a different perspective.  I was too self conscious as a child to appreciate being able to wear a leotard and tights.  To tap or dance around a studio with my hair up in a bun.  I loved the on stage outfits, but did not know what I was doing when I got out there.

  Ballet slippers are my symbol of giving a new perspective on life and exercise.  I want interesting, fun and sweat inducing.  This is yet just another chance, short of becoming a farm laborer, to have an elegant and non-dirty way of getting my heart pounding for fun and health purposes.  Cheers to the possibility of enjoyment and possibly making something old, new again.  Today is going to be a good day.

What is the best way to make a change?

  What is the best way to make a change?  Last week I went on a 20 hour drive for 80 hours of classes, homework, quizzes and exams.  There was more information than I could have imagined included in the time I allotted for learning new information.  I soaked in as much as I could pretty well, if I do say so myself.  I was on a schedule of waking 7 AM bed at 12-1 AM every day.  I even got up hungry and went to be after eating only light meals until 7-8 PM.  I had achieved my goal of getting on a schedule and making it to where I had to be prepared and on time.  I loved the accountability and responsibility to something greater than myself.

  I get home and the first thing I do is sleep in after the exhausting and long hour week I just had.  I then start eating on a different schedule.  Then I go from reasonable meals to eating later in the evening and then eating right before bed.  Eating so late I feel I cannot go to bed as it is uncomfortable to lay down with a full stomach so I stay up later and then wake the next day later.  I am shocked it only took me 3 days to totally ruin the schedule that I so valiantly adhered to last week.  What is with that?

  It takes 21 days to make a change otherwise you will not stick with it.  I need to make a "lifestyle" change to make what I want to happen happen.  How do I set my mind and will power into effect to get the job done?  Where is my will power located and why does it leave me in times of need?  Where is my mind at that I just splutter off into spiraling oblivion without a path as soon as I do not have a routine to follow?  Am I just one of those people?  Those that need an external as well as internal driving force to get the job done.  Deadlines, plans and details to keep me occupied?  My mind is racing with anxiety to pass the test I need to pass next week, but I am confident that I should do well enough not to worry about it.  What is the problem with this picture then?  The anxiety that I feel is more of an undercurrent, rather than an overall driving force.  To drive it out of my system, after years of letting it steer me, is more challenging than I thought.  I am going to have to think about this one.  Hmm... big surprise that one eh.  I will be on a schedule long enough, I guess I better enjoy the time I have now because soon my time will not be my own anymore.  Then I will say, "Ah, the good old days."  Cannot win I guess.  Oh you curve ball, go the other way this time. Time for delta or change.

Valentines Shmalentines in Lansing

 

  Well, I spent Valentines Day this year without my sweetheart.  He was about 10 hours away.  I am in Lansing taking my real estate salesperson classes that are more difficult and time consuming than I ever imagined them to be.  I am up by 7 AM, traveling, attending class, traveling, studying and bed by 11 PM.  No minute spared for anything besides eating, drinking and answering the call of nature when necessary.  I am ready to be done, but I am not ready for the tests at the end of the week.  This is the more intensive time I have spent in 1.5 years.  I cannot wait to pass the test to get my license and move on with my life in this new direction.

  Having a woman with me, going through the process at the same time and similar times in our lives is very beneficial and surprisingly comforting.  We drove down to Lansing without any music.  We just talked and talked without a break in the conversation and no car sickness on my part.  It is a rare capacity to have someone I can say this about.  I am hoping we can help each other through this process and that we both will be successful in the end.  Confidence and belief has to come within than from anyone else.  This is the biggest indicating factor for success despite preparation and a little luck.  I think we were meant to meet each other and we were meant to meet under these conditions and at this time.  I am ready to have more friends in my life.  I am so blessed to have this opportunity.  To make new friends and to try a different vocation.

  I feel the love, despite the absence of flowers, candy, wine, gifts of any kind.  I did get a heartfelt phone call and sweet nothings whispered into my ear.  I know Tony would have liked to be together, but I do not need a Hallmark holiday to know that I am loved by anybody.  I do not care if anything is waiting for me at home, just my husband is good enough for me.  Cheers to those that feel loved and give love.  I feel the love everyday, not just holidays.  Thank you curvy life.

Good times and Bad times and Snowshoeing fun with new friends

  The last few days have been some of the best times and some of the worst times.  The worst times is when I found out that we, "The Emergency Response" team at the Winter Carnival all-nighter snow statue competition got overlooked and did not even get judged.  We did not even rank as they did not see our statue.  It turns out that they put us on an on campus site on the map and did not put us off campus by the Magnusun hotel as the paperwork we turned in indicated.  The paperwork had a google map with a pin pointing to where we were going to be and it had the name of the hotel on the location too.  Needless to say all those hours in the bitter cold were for not.  Not even for our own satisfaction as we will likely never participate in this event again because of this oversight.  I spent 45 minutes outside of the Blue Key office in the Memorial Union waiting for one of their representatives to show up to their office and no one showed.  I called and left two messages and they never called me back.  I did get a hold of the secretary to the Vice President of Student Affairs.  She said they would email those involved and discuss what happened at their next meeting.  I realize those running the show are mere college students and could care a less about us and the hours we toiled over our planning and execution of our snow statue, but that is ridiculously incompetent and thoughtless to have this happen to us.  I am angry and I know they probably just had a laugh about it and checked it off on their sheet as though we were the ones that failed.

  On a lighter note, today the team went snowshoeing to the Hungarian Falls out of Tamarack, MI today.  The sun was shining, there was negligible wind and the conditions could not have been better.  We trekked in going up, down and all around, winding through the upper part of the ravine to see the views and glorious nature that lead to the falls.  The falls were vandalized, in that the natural peaks that form from the melting and then freezing into ice cycles were broken off by those of the younger generations, but that did not diminish the pleasure of seeing what remained of the falls that were frozen.  The ravine was impressive and I would not tangle with it mildly.  I stayed at the top of the ravine not to have to get myself back up.  Those that went down were safe and were able to climb back out.  I am so accident prone that I did not want to risk taking a header downwards.  Better safe than sorry at this point in my life.

  I still enjoyed myself.  The team is an easy group to hang around and they were such a great group to go with.  They liked to stop and enjoy the view while taking some pictures, but took a steady trail to the intended destination to get the job done.  We took some great group shots.  Some smiley, some silly.  That was great documentation of the group.  I definitely want to go there again in the spring or summer.  I was so hot with one set of thermals, snow pants and my big winter jacket that I was unzipped and without mittens within 20 minutes of starting the hike.  I enjoyed the fresh air and am very tired now.  I burned off all of the calories I took in the night before at the Waterfront restaurant and the Downtowner bar until 2:30 AM.  I'll sleep well tonight.  The trek out of the to of the falls was all downhill.  Very easy way back to the car, just as it should be.

  We returned to eat at Quincy's Restaurant and made it back to the hotel in time for the skiers to go down Mt. Ripley with their lit red flares and the flares that were stuck into the snow forming a hat and the word "cat" in the snow.  The fireworks followed and were fun.  There was only one smiley face and no lips or hearts, but the orange and red and multicolored ones were in strong force this year.  Also they had plenty of my favorite ones, which is the weeping willow golden fireworks.  All this from the warm hotel room, safe from the questionable drivers and cold.  Yes indeed, good times were had by all.  Thank you for curving my way again life.

Michigan Tech. University All-Nighter Snow Statue Competition

  Michigan Tech. University All-Nighter Snow Statue Competition lasts from 4 PM to 8 AM the next day.  The theme was "Thousands of Pages Unfold in the Bitter Cold" and they were not lying.  We collaborated with a doctor of the University of Michigan life flight crew, some nurses and their significant others.  We made a snow statue that had 2 books with one book open and a helicopter is flying out of it with an ambulance driving out of it.  The base book is an anatomy book.  The crew consisted of twelve people.  One couple flew in from South Carolina just to come to Michigan Tech. Winter Carnival and to participate in this all-nighter.  Crazy people did not know what they were getting into.  There were three people that delivered snow to us on site.  These people were our angels, despite some of the snow containing brown "presents" from my brother-in-law's dog, Nora.  We just tried to use the cleanest snow we could find.

  Holy mother of cold, last night and this morning was brutal with the 20-30 MPH gusts with 17 MPG sustained winds.  We were in a wind tunnel.  We started at 9 degrees and went to 2 degrees.  The windchill was -13 degrees or more.  Any exposed skin would sear with pain.  The only way I survived as long as I did was the chemical heaters in a bag called "Little Hotties."  Those things were a miracle sent from heaven!  I was still chilled to the bone despite my 70's fresh blue snow mobile outfit with all of my head covered in 4 layers of some kind.  We had to reprint and re-laminate the sign for the statue so I went home and changed into snow pants and my LL Bean jacket.  I figured out I should have been wearing that from the start.  Now I know.

  There is definitely a knack to getting the fine details in snow statue building.  I made my contribution at the end where the details were going to be defined.  I did my best until my toes started freezing.  Then I was ready to be done.  I am proud of everyone's accomplishment and do not have to participate in the future.  Without the wind and bitter cold, of course my experience would have been different, maybe more pleasant.  On the other hand, maybe then the conditions would not have then been ripe to have the statue stick together and freeze in a timely manner to finish in time with a decent product.  I am happy to say that the ambitions project came off as well as we could have expected and am excited to hear what the judges say about it.  Someone really should be there to dust off all the snow tomorrow.  I hope someone is awake and has the presence of mind to do that to put our best foot forward.  I hope we win, but the participation was enough for me.  Not many people can say they took part in something so unique.  Good people, hard workers and creativity made their ideas come to life.  We could not have had better people to team up with for this project.  I am proud and happy to be done.  Time for bed.

New Friend and Forgot to Eat Today

 
  I met a woman today that could be one of my best friends in the future.  We have great parallelism in our lives, only she has the experiences in a different role in a similar scenario that we have both been through.  We each have a different perspective to bring to our conversation because of this role difference.  From what I have been through during my life and especially the last year and a half, I am surprised and grateful to find someone who has gone through the feelings and emotions that I have gone through at a similar time in our lives.  It was crazy to listen to what she was saying and see myself thinking and saying the same things because I felt so alone and isolated when I was going through them.  It is very interesting to me to hear how she coped, or did not cope, with what was going on and at what stage she is within the process right now.  I think we were meant to meet each other.  It is too bad we did not meet sooner, but maybe it was meant to be this timing in our lives to facilitate the next chapter in our book of life and how we will influence each other along the way.  I am excited as to my job change and she too is making that same job change at the same time.  We are going to take classes and likely going to test for our license at the same time.  I welcome the opportunity to share this experience and want to take full advantage at potentially having a partner in crime.  I love collaborating and hope I am not too collaborative for her liking.  I want to get along, but I am going to be true to myself also.  That is all I would want from someone else also, so I would hope that would be good for them too.

  Talking from 10 AM to 3 PM was unexpected and surely changed my day plans for today, but I still got to go to an appointment, workout and spend dinner with my husband.  My stomach did try to remind me it was lunch time at one point by growling a couple of times, but in ignoring it I did not have a problem.  This indicates to me that my internal meal meter is off and not always needs to be fed.  So much for a schedule.  I am glad my body and my schedule can be flexible.  I am glad I can do more than I know of myself and can expect more from myself in the future.  To share the experience of becoming a real estate agent sounds fun to me.  I am excited to get started and want to hit the ground running.  I also got to pick up my Super Bowl winnings and that felt so good.  I cannot remember the last time I won something, anything, and this is a sign to me of better and more positive plus lucky opportunities coming my way.  Today was positively stimulating and interesting compared to the last 2 days where I spent over 14 hours getting my modem and wireless router to work together.  I still do not know the magic trick that finally made everything click, but we are up and running with wireless internet.  Now I only have to get the printer to print wirelessly and we are golden.  It is always something else that will come up next on my to do list and I have to acknowledge my victory of getting the wireless internet to work so I am so happy with myself for figuring it out on my own.  Cheers to the curves that you cannot see the other side of until you are right smack in the middle of it.

SUPER BOWL XLV

 
  OK, so I put some money on the game for the Steelers and Packers to strong man it out to the end.  It doesn't matter who wins, it matters what the score is at each quarter.  This is an easier and more likely way to win.  Four chances to win and I want it.  This has been an exciting game.  Lots of action.  Lots of Steelers flags and penalties.  Lots of Packers threading the needle to complete passes and get touchdowns.   SUCH an exciting game with money on it.  Steelers just scored and made it so if the clock runs out I win $50 or if Packers score ANYTHING right now and I lose this quarter.  And the verdict is.....

  I am a WINNER!  Yeah-whoooooo.  LOVE it.  This game is so much more fun with money on it.  Love the back and forth and the scoring.  Half time show of the Black Eyed Peas, so far, is lame. Neon green dancing back up arrow people.  The neon LED lights on Fergie's chest are not impressive.  They do not sound very good either.  Problems with the microphones and live feedback.  Fergie fails miserably to sing like Axel Rose.  Ack, terrible! Slash, the poor guy, did the best he could with what he had to work with, namely Fergie. Usher just showed up!!! USHER!  Oh ya, there are so many ways to love ya.  Oh, Oh, Oh, My Gosh!  Sweet Skinny Jeans that are baggy at the same time.  Hot. Awesome, with pyrotechnics.  Well, he just changed my opinion of this show.  Brings it up a few notches.  He should have headlined.  They should have had Usher headline with LL Cool J and LL wouldn't have needed a neon or sparkle glitter shirt or outfit as he could have just gone without a shirt.  They both could have for that matter.  Oh man.  Love. Where is the Love?  Red glowing back up people.  Love Will I Am's silver glitter microphone.  Fergie's glitter shoulder pads homage to football.  Synchonized running man, whaat whaat?  Here we go we gotta rock.  Party every day.  How do they control the lights on the people's suits to synchronize them properly?  Glee is going to be on new after the Super Bowl!  Whaat?

  Johnsonville Brat of Lambeau Field commercial with guy on PA is funny.  All the ladies free Brats in the booth.  Ha ha.  Second half, here we go! Already 2 penalties on the Packers who touched down the kick in the end zone and it's only not even 2 minutes in.  Packers threaded the needle again, but the receiver did not hold onto it, but it went right between his hands.  Now they called a face mask penalty on Packers, but it was actually Steelers face mask that should have been called.  Horrible Super Bowl call!  Bieber and Ozzy in the same commercial, 6G phone.  Crazy! Steelers just scored!  Mendenhall ran it in, a one man hole just for him.  Whoa.  Test baby!  HomeAway.com Ha ha.  Loud Steeler and Packer fans.  Big hit on Jordy Nelson who did not hold onto the ball.  Packers QB sacked!  The Steeler towels are a flying.  Short Packers punt.  Steelers have good field position.  Steelers only down by 4 now.  Packers have cooled off and the Steelers went from looking defeated to pepped up.  Steelers is gaining ground and the Packers thought they had it won and that is not the case.  Bastard totally boots the kick.  The Steelers kicker barely made the after the TD point their only TD of the game.  That would have given me fifty more dollars.  Ugh.  Ace Ventura bad kick.

  Eminem in 2 commercials, interesting.  I wonder how much he cost for them?  Pricey I bet.  Steelers are in possession and punted from too far away to make a kick for points.  Another flag on the Packers, personal foul.   Packers will end this quarter and I did not win this quarter.  Agh.  Packers 4th consecutive punt this quarter.  Flag again, ineligible player on Packers.  Re-punt.  Better field position for Steelers to kick but they let the time run out.  Fourth quarter baby.  Steelers fumble.  Packers recover.  The fire has burnt out from each team.  There is no more fight.  They want the game to end mercifully quick.  Packers threaded the needle again and the receiver didn't catch it again, 4 times this game.  Sacked QB this time.  Touchdown Packers! Oh my, ruins my chance for a 4th quarter win if they do not score by a kick one more time.  I want the Steelers to get points by kicking too.  Then I'm good.

  Flag on Steelers called for holding.  Wow, lots of flags. Steelers touch dowwwwwn!!  Oh man, now only if the kicker boots the extra point now. With a 2 point conversion! Oh man. No way to win the fourth quarter now.  Oh well. Bugs, a black beetle with white middle racer stripes to go black betty bam alam.  Das Auto Beetle.  Lots of stars in these commercials.  Packers sacked.  False start Packers. Packers are tramping down the field.  2nd n goal Pack.  3rd n goal.  4th n goal.  Packers kick to score 3.  Steelers 25, Packers 31.  OK Flag again.  Personal foul, half the distance to the goal Steelers take possession.  Steelers go four downs without being close to a touchdown or to kick.  Packers intercept.  Packers take a knee twice and end the game.  Final Score Packers 31 Steelers 25.  I did not win the bet for the fourth quarter.  That is ok. Stupid end to a game, but appropriate.  Glad it is over.  One hour until Glee.  Slap in the face of a new Wendy's sandwich.   Lame trophy going back to Lambeau field.  Good for them.  The theme for this Super Bowl was tattoos and beards with some long hair thrown in for good measure.

Acupuncture saves my life every time

 
  The intent of acupuncture therapy is to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering. The method by which this is accomplished, though it may seem strange and mysterious to many, has been time tested over thousands of years and continues to be validated today.
The perspective from which an acupuncturist views health and sickness hinges on concepts of "vital energy," "energetic balance" and "energetic imbalance." Just as the Western medical doctor monitors the blood flowing through blood vessels and the messages traveling via the nervous system, the acupuncturist assesses the flow and distribution of this "vital energy" within its pathways, known as "meridians and channels".

  The acupuncturist is able to influence health and sickness by stimulating certain areas along these "meridians". Traditionally these areas or "acupoints" were stimulated by fine, slender needles. Today, many additional forms of stimulation are incorporated, including herbs, electricity, magnets and lasers. Still, the aim remains the same - adjust the "vital energy" so the proper amount reaches the proper place at the proper time. This helps your body heal itself.

  Acupuncture is just one form of therapy used within the coherent system of healing known as Oriental Medicine. Oriental Medicine includes herbology, physical therapy, dietetics and special exercises (such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong), and is a complete medical system unto itself and is not another branch of modern Western medicine. Acupuncture evolved from principles and philosophies unique to Oriental thinking and Oriental Medicine, and is most effectively applied when done in accordance with those principles.

  I always feel so much better immediately after treatment.  I feel more open and relaxed.  I could not have conceptualized how acupuncture would have effected and benefited me prior to treatment.  I lucked out and got a really great practitioner locally, in this rural place.  I do not see how people go through life and not get treatment.  I am interested in my progress through time, I am only improving.  I can feel the change happening in me.  Positive, positive, positive.  Chakras, meditation and mantras can only help.  I'm not needle phobic, but the tenderness of my body really could be intolerable to a weaker person.  I am strong enough to go through what I need to come out better on the other side.  Acupuncture is not for the weak.  It can help weak people, but mostly I think those people do not seek out treatment.  I was looking for whole body treatment and this is the experience I could never have foreseen.  So pleased that I was open to the experience.  Anyone that wants more information about what an acupuncture appointment is like, please just let me know.  Off to bank into the curve today.

January: Month in Review and a dream last night

January:
Recycled all cardboard from my attic and Christmas (2 carloads of them)
Sealed some windows with plastic seal and the house is warmer than ever (why did I not know about this earlier?)
Accepted a position at State Wide Realty Agency
Organized all of my 2010 receipts for tax purposes (hours of sorting)
Went to Green Bay for a seminar in the Atrium of Lambeau field with my husband and woke up to -13 degrees before windchill factored
Attended my friend Erika's office 70's themed party
Went to church by myself for the first time in about 6 years
Scheduled and attended Smart Zone business networking meeting
Worked out at Curves 4-6 times a week

Goals for February:
Real estate classes and then test for licensure
Try Tai Chi and the Crane technique for the first time
Try Mantra Meditation for the first time
Read the Newspaper daily
Participate in the Michigan Technological University All-nighter ice sculpture competition
Read the book about Fibromyalgia and finish Worry and Anna Karenina
Send Valentines out in the mail to the friends and family on the west coast that I do not get to see often
Plan and book my AZ fiesta via hotel, car and accommodations
Take a media vacation at least 2 days this month (this includes TV, phone, internet, etc.)

  Windy day today did not get me down.  Very strange night last night.  I went to lay down in bed by 11:00 PM, but did not fall asleep until after 2 AM.  I last looked at the clock at 1:40 AM.  I have chest tightness, but it does not feel like anxiety.  It is likely caffeine related.  I have been trying to dose me little by little to gain some tolerance, but it seems that that is not working.  I tried enough to use a new buckwheat pillow last night also.  I tossed and turned, nothing was comfortable.  I had a fitful sleep.  I woke this morning dreaming.  I dreamt that I was in a bar/mall area that seemed endless with stairs and dark halls with various neon lights and smokiness that did not bother my eyes or lungs.

 
  I was walking alone and then with friends sometimes.  Nameless, faceless friends that I could feel their presence next to me, but I did not see them.  I was deep in thought and would talk out loud, but not have conversations.  I would come across some guys, two guys in particular, that kept looking at me.  One was making funny faces at me and then his friend would talk to him in his ear.  I, at first, did not recognize them.  Then, after a couple of passes, they became more familiar.  They seemed to be people I knew before.  The friend of the guy making funny faces at me came up to me and said he couldn't believe that I would show my face let alone stick around after seeing them after what I did to his friend.
  I still didn't remember what exactly happened in the past, but something was ringing a bell.  All his friends started talking to each other about how much he was hurt by me and how hard he took it.  Also, how right now he still wanted to be with me, but was mad at me.  I didn't remember all of that, but I could vaguely get that feeling that they told the truth.  I woke with the feeling that I could recall guys in my past that somehow thought that we were dating unbeknownst to me.  I know they felt slighted and I was the target of their feelings, but I was so self involved or oblivious that I did not know how they felt or that they thought we were dating.  They never "officially" asked me out on a date, we would just hang out.  I kept things casual as my heart was already taken most of the time.  Not that the guys could tell that, I guess I found that out. The guys faces of the two friends in the dream, I could see their faces and neither one of them were faces I know in real life.  They were just dreamed up.  Weird.  I'm watching Vampire Diaries and Grey's Anatomy is on next.  Sweet dreams my curve ball life.

Toe socks and more Anna Karenina

 I got toe socks as a gift 2 weeks ago.  I have not had toe socks since junior high school.  I used to dislike toe socks very much because of that feeling I would have of the thick presence between my toes.  My delicate toe skin did not like the fabric.  Now, I know the importance of keeping your toes straight as women in my family get older their toes tend to overlap with themselves through wearing improper shoes and socks.  To prevent this overlapping, toe socks are the trick!  They also have skid proof patches on the bottom for ease of walking on our hard wood floors at home.  Such a great gift, thank you Erika!

  So, what is going on today?  Sewing, sewing, sewing.  The sun is out, I am pumped I got my workout in yesterday and read some more Anna Karenina.  Anna's plight of being married but living with her lover/baby daddy is getting more ominous as she sees her lover pulling away coldly from her as Anna is not divorced yet.  Vronsky wants Anna to get divorced so he can legitimize their child and future children, as Vronsky wants an heir to his developing estate and money.  Vronsky feels society will be kinder to them both if they marry each other.  Anna finally agrees to write her husband for a divorce, but these things take time.  Months that is to go into action.  Meanwhile, Vronsky leaves on business all the time like he is a bachelor and only wants to talk of his success financially until Anna can get her divorce.  Anna still feels no love for the cute baby girl that she birthed for Vronsky.  She holds love for Seryozha her son from her marriage. Kitty is full term pregnant with Levin's child, but is passed due.  She is calm, but everyone else is concerned about her and her baby.  Kitty ran into Vronsky, her old flame, and handled herself calmly as could be expected.  Levin's jealousy was diminished when hearing of her calm demeanor in front of him.  They are all in the city of Moscow right now.  And the saga continues.

Real estate here I come

  Well, I was talking to a friend of mine and discussing my future via my career.  I said that locally there are few options that are available, let alone that I am suitable for.  He said that I have the qualities that would do well for a real estate agent.  He had a friend that is a real estate broker and would talk with him the next day.  He said he would mention my name and see what he says.  The next day I got a phone call from my friend that said his broker friend said it would be good if I gave him a call.  I called the broker and set up a time to meet to talk about my prospects.
  The meeting was casual.  A tour of the office.  An introduction to one of the agents that works there.  Sitting at the conference table talking about positive potential and what it takes to be an agent.  He recommended meeting with another broker in the office and so it went.  The next meeting felt more like an interview than the first one did.  This meeting got to the nitty gritty of the job and whether I would still be interested in it.  I asked all the questions I could think of and then some more.  He gave me a good picture of what the job is like and I was intrigued.  He said the two brokers would have a pow wow and get back to me.
  I got the call a couple of days later.  They offered me a spot at their agency.  I was so elated and excited at the possibilities of what doors this can open for me.  I cannot wait to get started!  I promptly signed up for the real estate classes down state in mid-February and then will schedule my licensure test.  Sweet.  This will give me a chance to stay with a friend down state and look at starting at what could be my calling.  I am working on what my business cards will look like and what phone I want to get to start working.  I have to get a different work vehicle and take further classes to further my cause to know as much as I can to get started.  This is the next curve in my life and I am ready to go for it.

Sunglasses and Snow storms

  So I got sick of being an old woman at my age and wanted to stop using the clip-on sunglasses.  They also gave me no side coverage, especially for driving.  The clip-ons were convenient because they were light and fit into the same sunglasses case as my glasses.  Then I went into the Vision Clinic to see what they had to offer for prescription sunglasses.  I wanted something big for good coverage and I wanted something with wide side frames for lateral protection.  I wanted black or brown with a fairly dark lens.  For all the brands that they had, there were only 4 that I was interested in.  The deciding factor was comfort of the nasal bridge of the frames and the width of the side frames.  It so happens that the ones I chose are Juicy Couture.  This brand are worn by the likes of Katherine Heigl and Usher.  I did not know this when I decided to get them.  I ordered them up and they took 2 weeks to come in.

  I love love them.  I feel famous wearing them and cannot wait to wear them in sunny places.  Snowshoeing is one thing, but the sun of Arizona is another.  I got them not polarized so I can see my LED dashboard and speedometer in my car.  I want to walk through the light with my head held high and it is a cheap price to pay for a little time living "large."  I do not splurge on much, but this was not a bad one as my insurance paid for 3/4 of the price happily.  Sweet times ahead I am sure.  Sunglasses are a must.  Cannot wait until the Arizona sun hits my skin and not my eyes.

  The snow is coming, among other things for other states.  The snow, however, is NOT coming our way this time.  This winter has been positively bearable for those that are not in love with the cold and cannot get out to enjoy a winter sport on a daily basis.  I have been indifferent to the cold and snow as it has not hindered me this year.  We have only had a little over one week that was legitimately cold (below 15 degrees as the high without wind chill) this year.  I have been able to use the low riding car the entire time without a thought of getting stuck or worrying about clearance.  That has been sweet as the car does not like the cold and has a hard time starting up when it is cold.  The car hesitates and makes you think for a split second that it is not going to start and then it kicks in and revs up.  Yesterday was the longest hesitation that I have ever experienced with the car, a couple of seconds, but it still performed like a champ once the engine fired up.  I love being able to use the more fuel efficient car during the winter or anytime really.

  Tony has been able to keep up with the snow removal and I have the proper U.P. gear to get me through even if he does not keep up.  I can live anywhere with the proper gear.  Too bad my gear is not short shorts and bikinis, but warm flannel will due for now.  Short shorts will come in April.  As I am lotion tanning and working out I prepare for the times when I will have more skin exposed than gear on. Despite longing for the sun, I earnestly wait for it as by then I know that I will have earned it.  The timing works out best and fatefully anyway.  April it is and the seminar combo with the fun better be worth taking up my time in the sun for a conference room and fluorescent lights all day long.  Thank you missing us snow storm of 18-24 inches.  Looks like I curved away from this one this time.