Today's weather was amazing. 60 degree weather at the start of January? That's unheard of, unless you live in Southern California, Las Vegas, South Florida, you get the idea. There were a few things that I loved about today and they all took the simplest form - one with probiotics! :0)
Today I tried Greek yogurt for the first time. Barbara, our budget analyst, brought in Greek yogurt for everyone today. I've been doing my best to try new things lately so I gave it a shot. This yogurt is pretty thick! YET TASTY! It was peach flavored. MMMMM, MMMM good! I love how it has 14 grams of protein in it and 0% fat at only 140 calories. You can't beat that with a stick! I went to Trader Joe's to pick up their brand of the yogurt and can't wait to have some tomorrow.
My love for anything from the golden age of television makes my day. Catch this clip - It's truly a classic moment on TV.
A friend from high school bought a bracelet from my shop and received it today. She was so happy with it that she took a picture of herself wearing it. That was pretty awesome - considering it was unsolicited.
Since my housemate is away for the weekend I get to have my house to myself. I am loving having the fortress of solitude back!
I LOVE the Erykah Badu CD - Baduism - takes me back to the year I graduated
college. I listened to it after I listened to India.Arie (see yesterday's blog entry). I remember the first time I ever saw her she performed on BET's Video Soul. I bought her CD soon after and I have been a fan ever since. Baduism is in My Top 25
Favorite Albums of all time.
This morning I had a thought. Why do people waste energy retaliating, being mean, etc? Because someone has done you wrong doesn't mean you have to crush them - or am I just Mr. Nice Guy? I live by the concept of turning the other cheek. If that doesn't always do the trick, then I turn my back on the offenders and walk away. I hate expending energy on things that are fundamentally not important. An eye for an eye is not my M.O. I'm not a religious person. I don't know Bible verses as well as I know 80s Top 40 music. What I do know is that the law of the universe is, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". I know that living by the idea of "Treat people the way you would like to be treated". I don't think it gets much simpler than that.
I also had other thoughts such as - I need to just chill and not care so much. Why? Simply stated, everything happens for a reason. With or without my direct influence or expectations. So living in those serendipitous moments is what makes life exciting.
Now, although I've said all of that, it doesn't make it any easier to live like that. hahaha
Today I FINALLY received my Oprah's Lifeclass journal. It's a nice little journal. I thought it might have questions to answer in it but it didn't. Oh well, I'm glad I finally received it!
I'm glad that I got quite a bit done today at work. The big event is just around the corner and I hope to have everything settled by the end of next week.
Receiving not one but two compliments on how I chose to wear my jeans today made me smile. All I did was cuff them up about 3 inches because I bought them too long. Who knew I was being a fashionista?
Being able to process specific situations in my life today felt good. To allow myself a little peace of mind made me feel better. We all have a choice. Reminds me of one of my favorite songs by India.Arie. Okay, so maybe my Chi is still a little out of whack hahaha Certainly not blue - maybe aquamarine? Teal?
It's a relatively quite night tonight, which is quite nice. As I was browsing through India.Arie videos on YouTube, I remembered that I loved her cover of Don Henley's, "The Heart of the Matter" and the theme of the song is all about forgiveness - which is kind of what I was referring to at the start of the blog. This guy does a great cover of the song - Gavin Beach. I love listening to new talent, on YouTube no less!! Here's another great cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" by him. And I LOVE Tracy Chapman!
I think tomorrow will be an India.Arie day.
Her Love and Relationships, Vol. 1 album is one of my favorites because it is well-written and has a great theme that is created by the tracklisting. There's not one song on the album that I don't like and it's very uplifting, positive, and reflective.
I've noticed something about my blogs. They are becoming more and more narrative in nature. I guess that's a good thing. I always have a story to tell. Our lives are full of short stories that make up a huge book based on ourselves. Lots of reoccurring themes. I think providing a narrative helps you, the reader, really feel what I've experienced and maybe reflect on a similar experience you may have had.
I love a good laugh and certainly had one by watching, "Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls". I do understand that it's only a matter of time before there's one called, "Shit Black Men Say to White Girls" or any other variation. It's all in fun though (and based in some truths). It most definitely cracks me up.
Ooh, this Load Potato Soup by Progesso = tasty, great, delicious, scrumdiliumptious! I have a new soup to love!
My friend, Dian got us tickets to see comedian Sheryl Underwood at the DC Impov. I'm excited to see her. She is TOO FUNNY. I love her!
Speaking of Sheryl Underwood, I have never been mentioned so many times by a celebrity on Twitter. @sherylunderwood was blowing up my Twitter account and I loved every minute of it!
I do love that Michelle Bachmann has suspended her bid for President of the United States. One of the smartest choices she's made. Michelle Bachmann, this one is for you: Mommy Doesn't Need Fixing.
I eased back into work with no complications. It was cery quiet in the office but I'm sure that will change tomorrow. More people will be back and then it will all start to begin again.
Tonight I had a conversation with VG on religion and beliefs. Very nice conversation. Nice to hear his views and I'm glad I enlightened him on black Latter-Day Saints and one of their most famous members, Gladys Knight. The sound of silence indicated shock and I found that pretty funny. By the way, I am not Mormon - just inquisitive. I can't even say I'm a religious person. That's a whole other discussion for another blog. hahaha At any rate, I'm hear to talk about the five things I loved about today and here it goes!
I read this line today from a blog that I loved and thought was perfect, "Implement the No Complaining Rule. Remember that complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone around you feels sick." How true is that??? I have said for the last few years that I can't stand when people choose to complain about things. It could be a complaint about the simplest thing like it's raining. Um, it's raining because that's what the planet does - it's own thing and you're not the boss of it! While we might not like it - it's not worth complaining about because we can't personally change it. Even if we could change things that we complain about, why complain? Just change it and move on. You can read the rest of the tips here.
While I was in the grocery store I saw a shorter, older woman who was eying an item on the top shelf. Since I was right there I offered her some help if she needed it. She said yes and told me what she wanted and I got the two cans down for her. The look on her face, full of gratitude made me feel really good that I was able to help her (and that my parents raised me with manners and kindness). Now THIS does remind me of the Mormon friends and acquaintances I have. They are some of the most wholesome, nicest people! This gesture of mine was very Mormon-esque hahahaha
There was a discussion about The Abominable from the famous holiday stop-action children's program, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". I always thought he was ONLY referred to as The Abominable and the other person referred to him as The Bumble. I was like, "The Bumble? He's not called that." She and I were going to figure this out so I headed over to YouTube to find a clip. We found the clip but ONLY after having seen this one The Abominable. I cracked up laughing. I loved that!
I made a delicious, quick and easy turkey chili tonight. I was skeptical about the recipe but it really turned out well. I love ANY meal that takes me about 30 minutes to make.
Oooh - Target had a 70% Off Christmas items and I got a travel humidifier and a comfort massage cushion for $5.99 each. I LOVE A BARGAIN!
If you read yesterday's post about feeling blue - then I'm happy to report that I am feeling better. My Chi must have been off. The Chi is still working itself out but I'm definitely not in that space in my head that I was yesterday.What a difference a day makes.
This new game show on NBC, called "Who's Still Standing" has me cracking up. I like the way they drop the loser in the well.
I went to the gym today and ran 3.66 miles and did a lot of reflection and that's a good thing. It was a double whammy of goodness to love. It got me to really relax about some things and stop trippin'. I tend to get to a point of over thinking. I have to remember to let go and let flow. Woosah!
I love that TV One has grown into their own as a network for black television. I love the show "Unsung" and am thrilled that they have a new program starting called, "Find Our Missing". Find Our Missing, a new, hour long docu-drama series for TV One, will
put names and faces to people of color – young and old- who have
disappeared without a trace.
Strolling down memory lane again with two friends from high school - one in particular, I've known since kindergarten. Facebook is the great connector!
I made my first terrarium with the moss that I ordered. I'm excited to take it to work and place it in my tidied up office tomorrow. The moss really adds something to the look of it.
Today's entry presents one of those times when it's difficult to make my list of positive things that happened today. There are two distinct causes for this - 1. I never really got out of bed today aside for grabbing food to eat and to use the bathroom. 2. Things just seem a little off for me. The latter seems that way due to a disturbance in "the force". hahaha Actually a disruption in the typical routines I've been having. Am I sliding into a funk? If so, how will this funk affect me and my postings?
I can't tell you exactly what feels off - I just sense it. I can feel something brewing. Maybe a fully rested me will wake up on the second day of January and this feeling doesn't exist anymore. And if it does, I will coexist with it until it passes.
At any rate - I'm going to make my best attempt at a list tonight then crawl into bed (again) and wait to drift off to sleep.
Laying in bed all day felt pretty good. I loved the warmth of the sheets and the comforter covering me. It felt comforting and well, I guess that's why those special blankets are called comforters? hahaha
I love that I have leftovers in the refrigerator because I didn't really have to do much thinking with regards to what I would eat. Just heat and serve. It was one of those days I ate everything while sitting in bed. You'd think I was hungover or sick and I was neither.
This is totally random but I was looking at my feet today and thought, "I have some nice looking feet!" Now, this thought really did make me feel good for a couple of minutes in an otherwise "feeling blue" type of day.
Since it was a "blue" kind of day I watched an old black and white movie by Abbott and Costello. After watching it I wanted to watch anything with Bette Davis in it. I love her presence on film. Too bad I couldn't find a film on cable with her in it and I don't own anything by her - maybe it's time that I do.
There are so many little things that are floating through my mind to place into this last slot - they all seem so insignificant but I honestly know that nothing in the world is insignificant. There's a sense of connectedness among everything in the world. The fact that I breathe has an effect somewhere on the planet. It's days like this (and some days that are less blue and more magenta) that cause me to get all philosophical. I love being philosophical and thinking of things like how my breathing adds to the breeze someone may feel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Just like my low energy/mood may affect someone else and bring them down. I am responsible for the energy I bring into the world each day. I watched a documentary by Tom Shadyac called "I Am" that talked about this. It was very intriguing.
Wow - this was a "deep" blog entry. WHEW!
My apologies for the low energy today.
Okay - as Scarlett O'Hara said so famously, "Afterall, tomorrow is another day."
Well, it's official. 2012 has arrived. It wasn't with much fanfare this year - just with some good friends at home. Sometimes that's all that's needed. A few drinks - Myra made a special drink that was tasty but I shutter to think of how many calories are in it considering it is made with coconut milk :0/ Overall it was a fun night - no kiss at midnight but some great laughs. The 5 of us who gathered for the occasion were definitely 5 things to love about today as well as these other 5.
Myra made some delicious Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wings. Mmmm.. I
loved them. The secret was a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. How about
that???
This morning I didn't feel like going to the gym, let alone run for
30 minutes. I had told myself that since I was tired I would only do the
elliptical. Then while driving to the gym I told myself I would run for
10 minutes and then do the elliptical. Well, Once I was on the
treadmill I just kept going and did the full 30 minutes! I love how I
exceeded my expectation - I even increased my speed!
I turned on the Wii video game system for the first time in a long
time. It was awesome to play the Karaoke Revolution game again.
A good laugh was had by Herb and I when we realized that when he was
making his brie cheese croissant appetizer he left the paper on the
cheese! When we took it out of the oven it looked so good! When we cut
into it it still looked good. When we took a bite - we knew something
just wasn't right. We laughed so hard!
I love that I have been able to consistently post an entry on this
blog for what is now the 111th time. Here's to 365 posting of positive
things that make life worth loving.
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