Walking With Nora

Following Tabitha’s lead it’s time for me to stop slacking and write a proper post. About Me (duh). Specifically, what’s new and what’s up with me:

* Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Two of my best friends brought me good news this week. One is moving in with her boyfriend this weekend which is a great next step for them. The other one called to say that she and her husband are taking a walk down Baby Lane. I literally did happy dances for both friends when I found out.

* I’m hooked on phonics. I have a book glued to my hand as much as possible. I’ve started taking one to work for the rare occasions I enjoy a “real” lunch hour, leave one stashed in my purse and have at least four ready-to-read books at Irish’s and a large pile at my parents.

* Follow your Feet. (Can anyone name what movie that line is from?) I haven’t posted a lot lately. The biggest reason is stress some of which is from work, some of which I bring upon myself. When I feel like that I don’t want to overshare or be a debbie downer, not to mention my creative juices are totally sucked out of me by the end of the day. Over the last few weeks I’ve been acutely aware of the fact that I can indeed control my stress and anxiety levels so I’m taking it one day at a time. I don’t make myself feel bad if a project takes longer than I thought or if something unexpected takes place. I make my daily to-do list in the morning, rather than the night before. The result: I’m sleeping better, planning less, thinking more positively and breathing easier. I’m just reminding myself to put one foot in front of the other and taking it one step/day at a time.

* Fall. It’s coming. Leaves are changing from green to yellow, orange and red. The mornings are crisp, car windows are fogged up and evenings call for sweatshirts and jeans. Jack is extra cuddly. Irish and I are making grand plans for the next few months (trip to Chicago, visit my best friend & her husband for a fall winery weekend, MU Homecoming and more). The social calendar is pleasantly filling up and I’ll be taking a look at my graduate school options too.

* Slim Gym. So my body, which is normally pretty cooperative, decided to get one whopper of a strep throat/sinus infection combo (which is 90% of the way gone now) and has killed my exercising efforts for the last two weeks. Starting next week I’m reorganizing my health & fitness goals. Irish and I are challenging each other, in the most friendliest of ways, to each give up one thing we know we enjoy a bit too much/too often. I’m going to the gym four days a week again and if I have time for more? Great. If not? I won’t make myself feel bad about it. I’m contemplating starting Bikram Yoga to help with the relaxation of the mind and body. I’m a bit behind on my 5k training as a result but I’m still going to give it a go in October especially because this particular 5k benefits the school one of my favorite kids that I used to watch. Above all, I’m going to remember to take it nice and slow. Change won’t happen over night, but attitudes can.

* Twenty Faux Birthday. My birthday is in less than three weeks.  I’ll be 26 on the 29th. I kind of want to hold onto to 25 because it’s been one hell of a year for me. I’m not really sure how I feel about this birthday; I have no big plans other than having a mini-party at my parents house with Wii games, beer and delicious dinner cooked by Darling. 26. Weird.

And no, I didn’t forget what today is. I just know that even eight years later I still can’t do what/how I felt (feel) justice in a post but suffice to say:

Before I gave up my apartment I lived a mere two miles from my office. Two miles. No highways required to get from Point A to Point B.

Since moving home: It’s about 25 miles door-to-door. Doesn’t seem super terrible does it? Ah, but MoDOT decided two years ago to close our main highway, the artery of StL as it runs East/West right down the middle of the City & County for extensive construction. It is still closed. Because of this the other innerbelts, highways and outer roads are jampacked everyday from 7am-9am with the exception of holidays.

When I sit in traffic because people are rubbernecking or staring into the sun rather than wearing sunglasses or just being stupid drivers in my mind I’m doing this:

(via)

or this:

(via)

I’m not really a road-rage kind of person but after I’ve been sitting in traffic all morning, no breakfast, still tired, and also ready to get to work and get it done, traffic + bad drivers + slow drivers = annoying. So I’ve been experimenting with routes.

Route #1: Involves three highways, lots of weird drivers, bottlenecking for no reason and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 70 minutes. Downside: Waste of time, waste of gas, very bad for my sanity.

Route # 2: Little traffic. One side road, two highways. Total time about 25-30 minutes. Downside: I have to leave by 6:55 am and get to work by 7:20-7:30ish which is incredibly early for a night owl like me.

Route # 3: One Outer Road and one highway. Total travel time varies but getting to the outer road is kind of a pain in the butt not to mention more bottlenecking.

Route #2 is the forerunner, assuming I can get my rear-end out of bed early enough to get on the road. The benefits of living at home far outweigh the commute I have to endure. Until StL adapts better public transporation that involves StL County as much as the city, this will be me from time to time:

(via)

What about you? Any road rage stories? Commute gripes or loves?

Over Labor Day Weekend

… it is unnecessary to shout out that everything in your former college town is NEW! since you have been gone for five years and clearly almost everything is NEW! Constantly shouting about what is NEW! will prompt your brother and Irish to give you strange looks

… that although there are many NEW! things some things remain true about a college town: the guys wear too much cologne, the girls too little clothing and the temptation to buy more than one thing at the bookstore is overwhelming

… you will walk away with several shirts and a pair of fleece sweatpants even if that wasn’t your intent

… that I am getting a bit old as I had to call it a night by 12am

… falling into the old college frame of mind is relatively easy; watching pointless TV shows, lazing around and just being is a lot more fun than I remember it being

… steroids + antibiotics are a kick-ass mix. Yours truly managed to get strep throat and a sinus infection within one week of each other so I’ve been on a Vitamin C plus lots of rest. Fortunately no hair is growing on my chest.

… it rains on the one weekend you’d rather it not: no pool days for this gal

… cooking is over-rated.

… an extra Sunday is the perfect day to perfect your Wii Wakeboarding Skills

… Rainy days are the best time to curl up with the Japanese book you’re reading for the challenge and get through the more prose-y parts. Still have a l-o-n-g way to go.

What did you learn this past weekend?

Thanks to the chic & lovely Fab Brunette, I’ve received the “Over the Top” Award:

The Rules? Use only one word to answer the following questions (which works well today since I’m not feeling particularly wordy).

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk

2. Your hair? Ponytail

3. Your mother? Inspiring

4. Your father? Italian

5. Your favorite food? Mexican

6. Your dream last night? Eerie

7. Your favorite drink? Water

8. Your dream/goal? Successful

9. What room are you in? Office

10. Your hobby? Writing

11. Your fear? Heights

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Smiling

13. Where were you last night? Pub

14. Something that you aren’t? Afraid

15. Muffins? Corn

16. Wish list item? Beach

17. Where did you grow up? US

18. Last thing you did? Coughed

19. What are you wearing? Professional

20. Your TV?  Off

21. Your pets? Jack!

22. Friends? Close

23. Your life? Hectic

24. Your mood? Content

25. Missing someone? BFF

26. Vehicle? Honda

27. Something you’re not wearing? Jeans

28. Your favorite store? Banana

29. Your favorite color? Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? Morning

31. Last time you cried? Weekend

32. Your best friend? Darling

33. One place that I go to over and over? Work

34. One person who emails me regularly? Boss

35. Favorite place to eat? Outside

Anyone who reads my blog automatically qualifies for the Over the Top Award and of course, feel free to borrow/steal this meme if you aren’t feeling particularly wordy yourself.

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Also, if you haven’t heard already, Lacey Bean is hosting a Crafty Swap! Check out her blog explaining the who/what/where/when/why of the Swap and sign-up today. It’s definitely going to be a lot of fun.

I heard this song on the radio a few weeks ago and fell in love.
In my head, I’m dancing around to this tune on the beach, barefoot and just really rocking out.

Then earlier this week, I heard the song in Weeds Season 5, Episode One for a Flash Mob Scene and shouted to Irish that “I FREAKIN’ LOVE THIS SONG,” and made us watch the scene over and over over.

What’s your slice of happy today?

21 years ago today I was about to turn five and my brother was about to enter this world.

I don’t remember much about the anticipation of having a younger brother but I do remember…

…. the day I came home from kindergarten to find out my parents were at the hospital waiting for my brother to enter this world.

…. sobbing uncontrollably when visiting hours were over because I didn’t want to leave my mom at the hospital. My dad bought me a doughnut at Krispy Kreme to try to make me feel better.

…. receiving a button that said “I’m a Big Sister,” which I still have to this day. I sported it on my mini-jean jacket that I had back in the late 80s.

…. getting in trouble for watching my little brother sleep because he just fell asleep.

…. how for two years of my brother’s life he’d greet me at the door after school, drag me to the TV with his bottle hanging out of his mouth, to watch the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan. Everyday, without fail. We wore the tape out.

…. the “scary” faces he would make with my dad when all his front teeth came out.

…. the incessant amoutn of costumes he’d create/find/make out of his toys. Pirate and Ninja were the most common.

…. sticking up for him when my friends didn’t want to be nice to him. I usually unfriended people who weren’t nice to my brother.

…. New Year’s Eves spent baby-sitting him, eating pizza, watching Grease, Guys & Dolls and other musicals.

…. the year he went to Boy Scout camp for the first time. And when he was part of the Order of the Arrow ceremony.

…. his orchestra concerts, plays and Pit Orchestra performances.

…. his high school graduation. Senior Prom. First girlfriend. First break-up.

…. late night chats about how silly girls can be after break-ups, college life, dorm life, and how inconsiderate roommates can be.

….watching him grow up to be a fine, handsome, strong, independent-thinking young man.

…. that even though we have had our fights, days of silence and distance between us, we’ve been there for each other through thick and thin.

Happy Birthday, little brother!

(His goofy graduation face, three years ago)