Alright, so I'm a liar. I never finished my review of the 98 Degrees Christmas concert, and here it is, a million days later, and I've left you hanging. Well, to offer you some reprieve, here is how far I got before I never finished:
I haven't had a chance to write about the 98 Degrees Christmas Concert. It was at the Palace, so I expected a nice, sophisticated, intimate concert. Um, nope. People were all sorts of crazy - Christmas garb, big wrapping bows on their heads, Christmas footie pajamas, ugly sweaters, tinsel, big posters and signs...it was definitely a boy band atmosphere.
The guys looked awesome and started the concert wearing slacks and these cool velvet blazers. Tres chic. (Sorry, I don't know how to make the French accent mark on a computer.) They opened with some pop Christmas cover songs, and segued to "Because of You." Um, we LOST. OUR. MINDS. Seriously, lost it. Like, I forgot I was at the Palace for a second.
Blah blah they sing more...they went to "O Holy Night," and that was AWESOME, but the loud drunk people behind us would not shut up. It was so dang annoying. Listen, I'm no saint, and I've had a few nights of too many libations, but why would you pay all that money for a concert just to get drunk and ruin the experience?
Anyway...the guys did their typical boy band stuff. They stepped in rhythm, swirling and twirling around their microphones, pointing to the big spenders in the front row, and danced in synchronicity. I think mom said it was "deliberately corny," which was perfectly accurate. They didn't take themselves too seriously, and it was FANTASTIC.
Does that help? I actually did take notes on my phone during the entire concert, in an effort to remember everything worth noting so I could indulge you with vibrant imagery and make you wish you had been there. I will say that the next time I go to a concert at the Palace, I will either pay the big bucks to sit in the front row, or spend as little as possible to get a seat in the balcony, just so I can see everything that's going on.
Alright, kids, how was your holiday season, aka Christmas? Mine was pretty good, other than that demonic spawn known as Flu type A having inhabited my body for nearly 3 weeks. Well, I didn't KNOW it was the flu until I went to Immediate Care on the 26th. It probably wasn't the flu the whole time. But maybe. Who knows. I never had a fever, aches, or chills. Ever. But, the point is I'm like, 87% better today. I can't wait to get back to running and stuff...I have a schedule to keep, you know. I paid that hefty race fee, so I need to stay on top of this thing called training.
I guess it's only appropriate that I throw in a few words about 2018 and reflection and yadda yadda. You know what? 2017 was awesome for some of you, and it was not-so-awesome for some of you. I think there was a good mix of good and bad for us, but it's always nice to have the feeling of impending hope from something new coming up.
I hate the term "resolution," because it has such a connotation of constraint. You already know when you set your New Year's Resolutions that you will break them, and you're just playing a game with yourself. It's really an exhausting waste of time. I'm a fan of being in the present. January 1st does not have to mean that you have to begin something unrealistically new for yourself, just for the sake of it being January 1st. Today is December 29th. If you decide you want to swap your candy addiction for fruit, then walk to your kitchen, and all of your hiding places, throw out your candy, and go to the store to buy fruit. Walmart is open 24 hours. So is Kroger. So is Meijer. If you want to start journaling, go right now and find an empty notebook (you know you have 100 of them), and start journaling. Or go to a free blogging site and sign up for a free blank blog. If you need a topic, go to Pinterest and search "topics for journaling." You'll get about 1,000 to pick from, I swear. If you want to learn how to work out, then set your alarm for 8:00 tomorrow morning, because it's a Saturday, and go somewhere to learn how to workout. Phone a friend. It's much more fun with a friend.
If you want to start doing something, then start doing it when you decide you want to start doing it. Don't wait for the excuse of putting up a new calendar. I read a great quote a few weeks ago that said something like this: You don't need motivation, you need discipline. Motivation is just the wanting. Discipline is the doing. Need help figuring out how to start whatever it is you want to start? CALL ME. Message me. Text me. I don't care. I'll help you.
2018 will be here in just over 48 hours. You don't have to flip your life upside down for it. Just never stop trying to be better.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Wrapped Up
Well, I just submitted my last assignments for my first quarter of my Masters Degree program. It feels awesome to be done for a few weeks! Okay...on to more important things.
I can't even begin to talk about all the crappy things going on in our world. Fires are destroying California, it's snowing in the deep south, people are shooting each other all over the place, people are touching people they have no business touching and acting like they have a right to do so, corruption is rampant...goodness, does it ever stop? I'm afraid not. But I can explore those things another time.
I started to include my review of the 98 Degrees Christmas concert, but it was getting too long to share with my thoughts for this post, so it will be published separately, probably tomorrow.
The Christmas Spirit continues to fall upon me. I'm sending letters and cards and spending all kinds of money, and trying to make sure I spend time with everyone I can.
Also, another big announcement: I'm probably crazy, but I have decided to run the Derby Mini Marathon in April. AAAAAAAAHHHHHH what am I thinking?! Several people have faith in me, but I'm working on building that faith in myself. I've had a case of the sicklies the past few days, so my training has been thrown off, but I have extra weeks built in, so I am crossing my fingers I can progress in time. I have something like 20 weeks left. So, cross your fingers and toes for me!
OKAY:
WE. NEED. TO. TALK. ABOUT. THE. WALKING. DEAD.
So stop reading if you're not caught. And if you're a fan and you're not caught up by now, then you're not a fan and shame on you.
.
.
.
.
.
COOOOOOORAALLL!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Okay, so, my first thought was "OMG WHAT THE HECK?" Then, I started thinking about the show, and reasons and patterns and rationales and WHY and death histories and montages and flashbacks and stories and WHYYYY. My thought shifted to "Maybe it's not a walker bite." Because we didn't see jack squat happen! Like, he tugs at Negan's heart strings for a minute, darts, runs around and almost gets exploded on, then shows up with a walker bite? Um, I refuse to accept this, AMC.
Then on Talking Dead, Chris Hardwick was all sentimental about Coooral, and I thought he got teary-eyed for a second. The executive producer of the show was all emotional, too. Then I read some stuff on Twitter, and read Chandler's interview on the AMC blog, and I got all emotional right along with them all!!!!!! I even Tweeted Chandler, AMC, and Chris Hardwick: "Please tell me this is a big joke and it's not a walker bite." They have yet to reply. Whatevs. I'm an inquiring mind. I need to know.
But, seriously....COOOORAL?????? Why couldn't it be Carol? Or Michonne? Or Ezekiel? Or FREAKING GREGORY? Gregory has outlived Carl. What a crock-o-poo.
I can't even begin to talk about all the crappy things going on in our world. Fires are destroying California, it's snowing in the deep south, people are shooting each other all over the place, people are touching people they have no business touching and acting like they have a right to do so, corruption is rampant...goodness, does it ever stop? I'm afraid not. But I can explore those things another time.
I started to include my review of the 98 Degrees Christmas concert, but it was getting too long to share with my thoughts for this post, so it will be published separately, probably tomorrow.
The Christmas Spirit continues to fall upon me. I'm sending letters and cards and spending all kinds of money, and trying to make sure I spend time with everyone I can.
Also, another big announcement: I'm probably crazy, but I have decided to run the Derby Mini Marathon in April. AAAAAAAAHHHHHH what am I thinking?! Several people have faith in me, but I'm working on building that faith in myself. I've had a case of the sicklies the past few days, so my training has been thrown off, but I have extra weeks built in, so I am crossing my fingers I can progress in time. I have something like 20 weeks left. So, cross your fingers and toes for me!
OKAY:
WE. NEED. TO. TALK. ABOUT. THE. WALKING. DEAD.
So stop reading if you're not caught. And if you're a fan and you're not caught up by now, then you're not a fan and shame on you.
.
.
.
.
.
COOOOOOORAALLL!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Okay, so, my first thought was "OMG WHAT THE HECK?" Then, I started thinking about the show, and reasons and patterns and rationales and WHY and death histories and montages and flashbacks and stories and WHYYYY. My thought shifted to "Maybe it's not a walker bite." Because we didn't see jack squat happen! Like, he tugs at Negan's heart strings for a minute, darts, runs around and almost gets exploded on, then shows up with a walker bite? Um, I refuse to accept this, AMC.
Then on Talking Dead, Chris Hardwick was all sentimental about Coooral, and I thought he got teary-eyed for a second. The executive producer of the show was all emotional, too. Then I read some stuff on Twitter, and read Chandler's interview on the AMC blog, and I got all emotional right along with them all!!!!!! I even Tweeted Chandler, AMC, and Chris Hardwick: "Please tell me this is a big joke and it's not a walker bite." They have yet to reply. Whatevs. I'm an inquiring mind. I need to know.
But, seriously....COOOORAL?????? Why couldn't it be Carol? Or Michonne? Or Ezekiel? Or FREAKING GREGORY? Gregory has outlived Carl. What a crock-o-poo.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Christmas Hodge Podge
I'm a little short on snark tonight. My Christmas spirit is coming back slowly, but surely. While the
stresses of life have not eased up on me, my ability to cope and
redirect have been refined, and I'm able to find space in my heart for the joy of
the season.
While I was finishing my homework tonight, I've been watching the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas - really just to kill time until "The Walking Dead" comes on (hey, priorities, people!) The part where he goes on his tangent about the presents really kind of hit me. A lot of people say that Christmas has become this materialistic holiday, where people only care about the presents. I think that's only true to a degree. I think people do get caught up in the gifts, but for the feeling of giving, not so much for the item itself. Sure, we give ourselves a set of standards that we feel we should live up to in terms of gift awesomeness, but really, the gift itself doesn't matter if it's heartfelt.
I have been contemplating the idea of a little Christmas party, because I just love the idea of gathering and eating and laughing and all sorts of fun stuff. I'd love to have all of you together to play Dirty Santa or White Elephant, eat some awesome food, and dance or play games, or whatever. I also thought of a fun cookie exchange. My problem is it's already December 3rd. Is there still even time to put something together?
Nonetheless, my tree is only half-decorated, and I don't even have a stocking for myself. The Stuart Christmas card has not been designed, and I'm way behind on my gift list. Christmas movies on tv are fewer and farther between than they were when I was a kid, and I'm upset that Netflix doesn't have a holiday category with classic holiday films anymore (unless I'm blind and missed it.) I got through Halloween and realized I hadn't watched Hocus Pocus once during October. Shame. I also saw it playing on tv today - come on, Disney. It's December. This mixing up holidays is giving me anxiety.
I'm not to a point where I can listen to 106.9 24/7, because even Christmas songs get recycled too much, but if I'm in someone else's car or hear it on someone else's radio, I don't make them change it. I don't have any hot chocolate or peppermint candy canes in the house, but that will change asap.
Let's have a great holiday season. Live, love, laugh, and GIVE. And most importantly, continue the living, and the loving, and the laughing, and the giving all year. People need things during the other 11 months of the year, too.
While I was finishing my homework tonight, I've been watching the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas - really just to kill time until "The Walking Dead" comes on (hey, priorities, people!) The part where he goes on his tangent about the presents really kind of hit me. A lot of people say that Christmas has become this materialistic holiday, where people only care about the presents. I think that's only true to a degree. I think people do get caught up in the gifts, but for the feeling of giving, not so much for the item itself. Sure, we give ourselves a set of standards that we feel we should live up to in terms of gift awesomeness, but really, the gift itself doesn't matter if it's heartfelt.
I have been contemplating the idea of a little Christmas party, because I just love the idea of gathering and eating and laughing and all sorts of fun stuff. I'd love to have all of you together to play Dirty Santa or White Elephant, eat some awesome food, and dance or play games, or whatever. I also thought of a fun cookie exchange. My problem is it's already December 3rd. Is there still even time to put something together?
Nonetheless, my tree is only half-decorated, and I don't even have a stocking for myself. The Stuart Christmas card has not been designed, and I'm way behind on my gift list. Christmas movies on tv are fewer and farther between than they were when I was a kid, and I'm upset that Netflix doesn't have a holiday category with classic holiday films anymore (unless I'm blind and missed it.) I got through Halloween and realized I hadn't watched Hocus Pocus once during October. Shame. I also saw it playing on tv today - come on, Disney. It's December. This mixing up holidays is giving me anxiety.
I'm not to a point where I can listen to 106.9 24/7, because even Christmas songs get recycled too much, but if I'm in someone else's car or hear it on someone else's radio, I don't make them change it. I don't have any hot chocolate or peppermint candy canes in the house, but that will change asap.
Let's have a great holiday season. Live, love, laugh, and GIVE. And most importantly, continue the living, and the loving, and the laughing, and the giving all year. People need things during the other 11 months of the year, too.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Hey, Look - Two in a Row
Wow, this is some kind of record, isn't it? Two in a row! That's worth a toast, but I'm already so dang tired that just taking a whiff of that beautiful Pop's Reserve would knock me out. That reminds me - I still owe my brother money.
I had a weird day at work, and I gave myself a paper cut with foil cooking dinner (only me), and my dogs' schedule is so messed up and they won't.stop.whining. I went for a run after work with my neighbor friend, and we ran a trail through McNeely Lake and back up the hills to the road and I'm basically dead now. I drank a bottle of Coke earlier (judge me, I dare you!) Then it was grad school homework, which I will just have to pick back up tomorrow night, because my brain is at capacity.
Moving on...if you haven't seen last night's episode of The Walking Dead, then STOP READING. I usually don't give warnings, so consider this as me being fair.
Okay...I need to talk about a few things. First of all, SNOOZEFEST. Gosh, can't we get some more action up in here? Blah blah blah, Carl feeds weird hyper stranger that we thought he already did weeks ago...Aaron misses his dead boyfriend - got it....Michonne and Rosita are trying to get their already-injured selves killed...Maggie gets the MVP award for the night, because Gregory SUCKS....Daryl is his normal awesome hot self....and so LET'S TALK ABOUT EZEKIEL AND CAROL.
Ezekiel is still pouting over the unjustified loss of his beloved Shiva. Seriously - if you think her death wasn't stupid and in vain, then you need to re-evaluate your life. That beautifully constructed CGI tiger was way stronger and way more agile than those stupid radioactive creek walkers. She deserved a better death, and while I actually cried at this one, and it gave me all the feels like when Andy and Red find each other again at the end of Shawshank Redemption, it was still dumb and unwarranted. We never even learned her purpose, for cryin' out loud. Died protecting her king? Ehhhhhhh sure. Whatever. But, I digress...
Ezekiel is pouting in the corner, finally realizing that he needs to drop the façade and be himself. Jerry is blocking the door for him, not even letting the Prodigal Carol inside. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED THE WHOLE TIME. Like, how much more dramatic can you be, Ezekiel? What are you, 5? Did someone take away your toy and you're hiding in plain sight now, throwing a fit and really wanting attention but pretending you don't? Then Mother Carol comes and coddles you and you still have your lip stuck out and huff and puff as she walks away. Suck it up, buttercup.
In other news, I read on Twitter today that Morgan is officially the crossover character into Fear the Walking Dead. I have not watched FTWD since Season 1, so I'm out of the loop here - but WHY MORGAN? I actually like the guy, now that he got his head on straight. Why couldn't it be Carol? Forrealz, though.
In honor of Motivational Monday, I leave you with this Demotivational poster from despair.com. I feel as though it sums up the utter failure of the Kingdom's crew in fighting the Saviors.
I had a weird day at work, and I gave myself a paper cut with foil cooking dinner (only me), and my dogs' schedule is so messed up and they won't.stop.whining. I went for a run after work with my neighbor friend, and we ran a trail through McNeely Lake and back up the hills to the road and I'm basically dead now. I drank a bottle of Coke earlier (judge me, I dare you!) Then it was grad school homework, which I will just have to pick back up tomorrow night, because my brain is at capacity.
Moving on...if you haven't seen last night's episode of The Walking Dead, then STOP READING. I usually don't give warnings, so consider this as me being fair.
Okay...I need to talk about a few things. First of all, SNOOZEFEST. Gosh, can't we get some more action up in here? Blah blah blah, Carl feeds weird hyper stranger that we thought he already did weeks ago...Aaron misses his dead boyfriend - got it....Michonne and Rosita are trying to get their already-injured selves killed...Maggie gets the MVP award for the night, because Gregory SUCKS....Daryl is his normal awesome hot self....and so LET'S TALK ABOUT EZEKIEL AND CAROL.
Ezekiel is still pouting over the unjustified loss of his beloved Shiva. Seriously - if you think her death wasn't stupid and in vain, then you need to re-evaluate your life. That beautifully constructed CGI tiger was way stronger and way more agile than those stupid radioactive creek walkers. She deserved a better death, and while I actually cried at this one, and it gave me all the feels like when Andy and Red find each other again at the end of Shawshank Redemption, it was still dumb and unwarranted. We never even learned her purpose, for cryin' out loud. Died protecting her king? Ehhhhhhh sure. Whatever. But, I digress...
Ezekiel is pouting in the corner, finally realizing that he needs to drop the façade and be himself. Jerry is blocking the door for him, not even letting the Prodigal Carol inside. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED THE WHOLE TIME. Like, how much more dramatic can you be, Ezekiel? What are you, 5? Did someone take away your toy and you're hiding in plain sight now, throwing a fit and really wanting attention but pretending you don't? Then Mother Carol comes and coddles you and you still have your lip stuck out and huff and puff as she walks away. Suck it up, buttercup.
In other news, I read on Twitter today that Morgan is officially the crossover character into Fear the Walking Dead. I have not watched FTWD since Season 1, so I'm out of the loop here - but WHY MORGAN? I actually like the guy, now that he got his head on straight. Why couldn't it be Carol? Forrealz, though.
In honor of Motivational Monday, I leave you with this Demotivational poster from despair.com. I feel as though it sums up the utter failure of the Kingdom's crew in fighting the Saviors.
And now I have to go watch my champion, Roman Reigns, beat the crap out of some loser who wants to challenge him.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Catching Up is What I Do
Well, here I am again, trying to blog and pour my guts out and all that jazz. The less I write, the more I miss it, yet I find myself in this vicious cycle of wanting to write about everything and nothing all at the same time. When I opened my dashboard, and saw that my last post was from January 2016, I almost shit a brick. Nearly two years have gone by without a peep. What's funny is that so much life has happened in the dash between January 2016 - present. I'm just terrible at follow-through, so let's raise a glass and toast my effort here, shall we?
Over those course of these last two years, I think I have finally, maybe started to get myself figured out. I've been on this quest to find myself for a while, and I've come upon crossroad after crossroad, trees in the road, cliffs, U-turns...you name it. I'm 36 now, and while I never thought it would take this long for me to get it straight, I think I'm good now. At least, I hope I am.
Here's what I know:
I'm a 30-something who's married to a 40-something, and we live in a little apartment with our two furry children.
I'm a grad school student who works full time.
I love to watch TV. Like, a lot. Probably way too much. But you know what? There are worse things to love. I will be writing some about the shows I watch.
I am addicted to budgeting. This does not mean I don't spend money...it simply means I am always aware of where every penny is going. Until I forget to pay the cable bill like I did this month. Oops.
Facebook's new option to comment with GIFs is probably one of my most favorite things. I have so much fun with that crap.
I'm a runner now. Shoot, I never in a million years thought I'd say that. My brother and I ran the Hungry Turkey 5k on Thanksgiving - yes, 72 hours ago. I ran it in 44:32. Well, with intervals. But hey, I got a delicious cinnamon roll and a fugly hoodie to show for it. Like, uugggllly. As in, "I can't believe I paid $30 for this race to get such an ugly hoodie."
I'm a soccer fan now. I never thought in 2 million years I'd say that. Louisville City FC is like, the greatest thing since sliced bread. And mayo in a jar. And white fudge Oreos. THEY'RE CHAMPS, Y'ALL!!
I love my friends. I'm not always the best there is, but I'm grateful for the ones who keep coming back around.
I still cook - a lot. As a matter of fact, I've basically dropped all these food lifestyles I've tried and gone back to good ole caloric moderation with as much fresh/Non-GMO stuff as possible. Anything else is way too stressful. For example, at the store today, I bought my favorite Special K cereal and Fairlife 2% milk. I haven't had milk in foreevveerrrr. But you know what? A bowl of cereal is FINE. Seriously, it is.
I'm still a flute girl. Even teaching it now.
I still suck at birthdays. Christmas is still not my favorite holiday, but it's not my least-favorite anymore. I'm kind of in a little bit of the spirit this year.
Well, you're probably tired of reading this now. My dogs are whining for their dinner, I need to finish watching the Patriots dominate the Dolphins, and I need to get my vegetable soup in the Instant Pot so I have something to eat because, you know, moderation...
Here's what you can expect: me trying to keep up with my thoughts. One of these days, I want to write a book about God knows what, but I need somewhere to write whatever is on my mind at whatever time is comes up, because I can't remember jack squat on my own. I'll ramble, I'll vent, I'll review some TV stuff, I'll share whatever I can share, including spoilers. Don't worry, I'll warn you first.
Peace out, homeskillets. (Wow, that's as nostalgic as these crushed velvet outfits and chokers coming back in style!)
Over those course of these last two years, I think I have finally, maybe started to get myself figured out. I've been on this quest to find myself for a while, and I've come upon crossroad after crossroad, trees in the road, cliffs, U-turns...you name it. I'm 36 now, and while I never thought it would take this long for me to get it straight, I think I'm good now. At least, I hope I am.
Here's what I know:
I'm a 30-something who's married to a 40-something, and we live in a little apartment with our two furry children.
I'm a grad school student who works full time.
I love to watch TV. Like, a lot. Probably way too much. But you know what? There are worse things to love. I will be writing some about the shows I watch.
I am addicted to budgeting. This does not mean I don't spend money...it simply means I am always aware of where every penny is going. Until I forget to pay the cable bill like I did this month. Oops.
Facebook's new option to comment with GIFs is probably one of my most favorite things. I have so much fun with that crap.
I'm a runner now. Shoot, I never in a million years thought I'd say that. My brother and I ran the Hungry Turkey 5k on Thanksgiving - yes, 72 hours ago. I ran it in 44:32. Well, with intervals. But hey, I got a delicious cinnamon roll and a fugly hoodie to show for it. Like, uugggllly. As in, "I can't believe I paid $30 for this race to get such an ugly hoodie."
I'm a soccer fan now. I never thought in 2 million years I'd say that. Louisville City FC is like, the greatest thing since sliced bread. And mayo in a jar. And white fudge Oreos. THEY'RE CHAMPS, Y'ALL!!
I love my friends. I'm not always the best there is, but I'm grateful for the ones who keep coming back around.
I still cook - a lot. As a matter of fact, I've basically dropped all these food lifestyles I've tried and gone back to good ole caloric moderation with as much fresh/Non-GMO stuff as possible. Anything else is way too stressful. For example, at the store today, I bought my favorite Special K cereal and Fairlife 2% milk. I haven't had milk in foreevveerrrr. But you know what? A bowl of cereal is FINE. Seriously, it is.
I'm still a flute girl. Even teaching it now.
I still suck at birthdays. Christmas is still not my favorite holiday, but it's not my least-favorite anymore. I'm kind of in a little bit of the spirit this year.
Well, you're probably tired of reading this now. My dogs are whining for their dinner, I need to finish watching the Patriots dominate the Dolphins, and I need to get my vegetable soup in the Instant Pot so I have something to eat because, you know, moderation...
Here's what you can expect: me trying to keep up with my thoughts. One of these days, I want to write a book about God knows what, but I need somewhere to write whatever is on my mind at whatever time is comes up, because I can't remember jack squat on my own. I'll ramble, I'll vent, I'll review some TV stuff, I'll share whatever I can share, including spoilers. Don't worry, I'll warn you first.
Peace out, homeskillets. (Wow, that's as nostalgic as these crushed velvet outfits and chokers coming back in style!)
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