I'm Not Weird, I'm Quirky!

I was recently on a Friends kick.  I set it to record on TBS and Nick At Nite (by the way, the fact that shows from the 90's are airing on Nick At Night is just a little sad), and all of a sudden I had over 40 episodes waiting for me on the DVR.

Well, a few weeks ago, I was watching an old episode where Monica (Courtney Cox) and Richard (Tom Selleck) were talking about their quirks.  Monica, of course, had a million, while Richard struggled to think of any and in the end just made something up to make Monica feel better.

This got me thinking about my little idiosyncrasies - the things that make me, me.  You're never aware of them until someone or something makes you self conscious, and now, all I can think about is how many bizarre, borderline OCD "quirks" I have.

For example:

-When in a restaurant, I always put my glass back on the exact same spot on the little napkin, so that there is only one glass ring.

-I like to have the loose end of the toilet paper come up and over the top, rather than from underneath (when I saw that someone had replaced a roll at work "backwards", it took every ounce of self control I had to not flip it around).

-Sometimes when people are talking, I think about how fast I could type out our conversation.

-I tend to move my lips along to whatever song is in my head.

-I could care less about making the bed in the morning, but I have to straighten the sheets before climbing in at night.

-I like to eat M&Ms in even numbers.  Also, if I grab a handful, I want to have the same number of each color, so I'll eat the extra ones first.

-I freak out if Ben has his foot or leg on top of the covers when we go to bed.

-I have to have all the doors closed in a room in order to go to sleep.

I'm sure I could go on with my list of crazies, but I won't bore you. 

I'll just say once again that I'm not weird...I'm quirky!!!

Thanksgiving Thursday

Today, when my mom half jokingly suggested that we go around the table to say what we're thankful for, she got shut down. 

We all laughed and went about the business of consuming about 10,000 calories in less than an hour.

But, her suggestion got me thinking...what am I truly thankful for today?  Yes, there are the obvious things - health, family, jobs...blah, blah, blah...but today of all days, what stands out?

1.)  I'm thankful that we didn't have to travel further than down the street for Thanksgiving

2.)  I'm thankful that I have a husband who actually likes to cook (especially today, the mother of all cooking holidays, this is a biggie)

3.)  I'm thankful that despite my extreme lack of domestic or culinary skills, I was allowed to make the mashed potatoes (exciting for me, because it's pretty hard to screw up mashed potatoes!)

4.)  I'm thankful that we began a new family tradition of movie watching and evening grazing after Thanksgiving dinner

5.)  I'm thankful that, at least for this year, we could be together as a family

6.)  I'm thankful that I wasn't stupid enough to eat 4 pieces of pecan pie (unlike Ben)

7.)  I'm thankful (a little) that with all this extra junk in the trunk, those extra 10,000 calories won't make that much difference

8.)  I'm thankful that I had some stretchy pants to come home to

9.)  I'm thankful that going shopping tomorrow is not in the cards for me (whew)

10.)  I'm thankful for a simple, fairly low key day with my family.

Pre-Holiday Plan

I'm boycotting my weigh-in this week (again).  In fact, I'll probably be boycotting my scale through January!

I've decided that evil little elves live in the scale and mess with the numbers just to see my reaction each week. 

I'm sure I put on a pretty good show - stripping down to my underwear, carefully stepping onto the scale silently praying that I've lost weight, my eyes slowly bugging out of my head as I focus my eyes on the number shining up at me, doing rapid mental calculations about what I've eaten since my last weigh in (I'm sure I look something like a monkey attempting math).

I've had enough...the show is over!  You're cut off, you little bastards!

I refuse to give up!

I'm still working out...I'm still trying to make good choices...I'm still drinking a ton of water every day...

While my clothes still fit the same, I have noticed that my knee-high boots are fitting a little looser.  I used to work a little harder to get them zipped...whereas now I zip them and then deal with them slouching down a bit during the day. 

Progress?  Sure...I'll pretend that my legs are a teeny bit skinnier (rather than the more likely scenario that my boots have just stretched out a bit). 

I realize that heading into the holidays is the worst time to attempt to lose weight.  Figure if I struggle so much during the rest of the year, I don't have a prayer. 

However...I'm going to maintain.  I'm not going to try to maintain...I'm just going to do it!  I'll keep working out...keep drinking water...and keep (sort of) making good food choices.

Fingers crossed that I can do this!!!!

Family

I'm a freak.

I love that we live close to my family.

I look forward to getting to see them during the week!

Tonight we had dinner together at my parents' house.  We laughed, we joked, we busted each other's chops, we discussed serious things, we discussed not-so-serious things...and I loved every minute of it!

I know I didn't always feel this way.  Maybe it's because I've lived away from home most of my adult life...maybe it's because of all the health issues we've dealt with...maybe I'm just reaching an age that makes me appreciate what I have. 

Whatever the case - I'm thankful for my family!

The Simple Things

You know those days when all you want to do is go home, get into comfy clothes, sit on the couch and eat some comfort food while watching mindless tv?

That was my day today. 

It was a good day at work - seriously, no complaints.  I just felt wiped out.  I kept daydreaming about how nice it would be to curl up under a blanket and sift through the numerous tv shows that we have waiting for us on the DVR.

Thankfully, tonight, I got my wish. 

I came home, walked the dog, slipped into something more comfortable (enter workout pants and a hoodie), and waited patiently for my darling husband to arrive with pizza!

So, here we sit, pizza eaten, shows watched, comfy clothes still comfy...enjoying a nice leisurely evening at home.

It's just what I needed, so I'm thankful!

An Ego Boost

There are few occasions that make you feel like a million bucks. 

Getting praised by your boss at work. 

Wearing a new outfit that you feel amazing in. 

Best of all - getting a great haircut!

A few years ago, I grew out my hair and donated it to Locks of Love.  I was happy to do it, I didn't mind the months and months of not having to pay for haircuts, and I was super happy to finally cut my hair!

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, I decided that I'd like to donate hair again, but this time, in her name.

Today, a journey a year and a half in the making has come to an end.

Before.....

After.....

I was a little nervous about the grand cutting of the hair this time around.  I was worried that it wouldn't look good, that Ben wouldn't like it, or that it would be shorter than I wanted.

Fortunately, as soon as she started trimming the edges after lopping off over 10 inches of hair, I started smiling and haven't been able to stop!

Today, I'm thankful for the great feeling of getting a haircut, being happy with it, and receiving compliments from wonderful friends that make you truly feel like a million bucks!

Thanks friends!!!!