A Case of the Tuesdays

I was going to write about something profound and thought-provoking today, but screw it - I've got a case of the Tuesdays. And no, that's not a fun thing. It's basically like Monday is repeating itself. I'm stuck in Groundhog Day. No fun at all. Annie and I talked about having a case of the Mondays yesterday, where everything just seems to go wrong from the second your alarm goes off. You're tired, busy, don't really want to be at work and daydream about laying on your sofa with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate (or glass of wine, depending on how bad your day is) watching movies - or in my case, a marathon the Food Network. I've found a new addiction and it's not good.

Anyways, you eventually get over your case of the Mondays and move on with your week. Yesterday after work I went to the grocery store and that kicked my Monday Blues out the window. I love the grocery store! It's amazing I don't weigh a thousand pounds considering how much I love food and cooking. But that's my happy place, and we all need at least one. It's the only way to pull yourself out of the pit of quicksand that is Monday. So fast forward a few hours and I've cooked a delicious dinner, cleaned my entire house, relaxed on the sofa and watched my favorite Monday night shows. I couldn't have been in a better mood. But then this morning, as I came into work, I realized that that pest of a devil that sits on your back on Mondays had climbed from the back seat of my loaner car and jumped right back on my back. It's just "one of those days." Too busy to actually get anything done, my morning is filled with annoying phone calls and requests from people to do their work. Needless to say, I'm already daydreaming about my sofa and there is no hot chocolate in sight - just a glass of wine and Giada. Hell, I'd even take Rachael Ray or Sandra Lee right now. And it's only 10am. Not a good sign.

What's funny is I'm usually a very positive person. I see that damn silver lining that people hate for me to bring up and I always try to find the bright side of everything. When I get short on patience and frustrated with the smallest things, I honestly begin to worry that I have Turrets or something because it's so unnatural for me to be angry or unnerved for more than 5 minutes. This weekend, when I was in a hurry, I screamed at an elderly couple who's car was in front of me and driving too slow in my opinion. Granted my windows were all rolled up and I was basically yelling at myself, but still. I was concerned with the way I was acting. But after thinking about this for a while I realized that everyone gets a little impatient or stressed from time to time. I bet even Mother Teresa let few curse words fly every now and then, the difference being that afterwards she probably fell to her knees and said 20 Hail Mary's and I just shrug my shoulders, but still. Even the most positive, hope-filled human beings fall apart or lose their patience from time to time. And it's okay! Actually, it's probably healthy, in my opinion. I find that it's therapeutic to express my frustrations and then go to my points of happiness in life - like my mom, my husband, my girlfriends, even this blog now. Once I connect with my points of happiness I'm able to pull my head up and realize that life isn't all that bad and I really should just suck it up and put a smile on my face. Now if the clouds would just part and let the sun shine through, I could kick my case of the Tuesdays out the door. Thanks, Michelle - I blame you. ; )

Quote of the Day: "The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." - Dorothy Parker

Tidbit for Today: Check out this story - if it doesn't make you smile and wonder in amazement, I don't know what will. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4927224/Pink-dolphin-appears-in-US-lake.html

Imagine

With the weekend finally upon us, it got me thinking about the imagination. As adults, we're taught to push our imaginations to the side and face reality. Get a job, buy a house, pay your bills, yadda, yadda, yadda, and so on and so forth. But the imagination is a powerful force and it will creep up on you. The key is to allow it access - give in and let the imagination take control. Dream a little. It'll amaze you what you come up with.

Think back to when you were a kid and the crazy stories you came up with in your head. It was so easy! I remember imagining that my measly tree house in the backyard was a palace, and a simple blanket thrown over a coffee table in our living room created a fortress that couldn't be broken into, no matter how many things my brother threw at it. A pile of bricks stacked up in the back your house somehow became a beautiful home with a fully functional kitchen and a comfortable bedroom in the back. It was amazing what my mind could come up with. I could entertain myself 24 hours a day, no problem. Mom and dad leave me home alone? Create a fantasy world upstairs. No one can come over to play today? Dream up 3 new friends. Nothing on TV tonight? Create and star in my own movie. The imagination was your home away from home when you were a child. And why, just because we're older and have more responsibilities than just color within the lines, should we let go of that? Now more than ever we need something to help us take our mind off the everyday worries that life brings. I love to take some time out of everyday - it could just be 5 minutes - and sit down and put to paper what's in my head. It could be a funny story I was thinking about or an idea I came up with. Whatever it is, I believe it's healthy to exercise our imaginations like that rather that bottle them up.

My challenge to you this weekend is to use your imagination and do something creative/fun/childish/downright crazy these next few days. Be carefree for a moment and let your imagination run wild. There's really nothing like the feeling of being a kid again - it's just a rush of joy.

Happy Friday!

Quote of the Day: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create." - Albert Einstein

Tidbit for Today: Start a journal of story ideas. These ideas could stem from dreams, experiences, family....your pool of resources is endless. This type of journaling exercises the imagination and expands your mind. Plus it's fun to look back later and see what you came up with. Pick up a nice, leather-bound journal from the Papyrus store and get a fancy pen - I feel it adds to the experience.

Old Fashioned

Another day, another thought. And today I'm thinking about the term "old fashioned." It is often used to describe someone in a negative way, and I'm not quite sure why. True, I used to call my mother old fashioned and tell her she just needs to "get with the times" (during those unfortunate teenage years) but now I find that I am in fact old fashioned - and very proud to be so. Now that I'm married I love cooking dinner every night and setting the table, doing the dishes (have to admit I've always loved that), picking up the house - making our house a home. Laugh all you want but I have many a time rushed home after work, cleaned up the kitchen, turned on just the right amount of lights to make the house welcoming and made our bed, all of this with my very high heels and pearls still on. Just this morning, I had the pleasure of making breakfast for my husband before he went off to work and I loved it. There is something very rewarding and comforting about being able to take care of your home and husband. Nowadays though, so many people see this desire as negative or demeaning to women. Because I like to cook and clean I am some how a mindless 1950's housewife who only gets excited about her new washing machine or refrigerator (note picture above.) I can't possibly be intelligent or driven, and I certainly don't have anything interesting to add to the conversation. Might as well just keep me in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. Pardon my language, but this is crap. I am a college-educated woman who works hard all day long to make my own money and I always have. I can't imagine staying home all day and being just a housewife right now - I would lose my mind. But having said this, I still embrace "old fashioned" values - only old fashioned because for some reason people have shunned them completely. I know feminism played a big role in us losing these values, and I'm all for women getting ahead - trust me I am - but there is no reason why we cannot still acknowledge the traditional roles in marriage and embrace them. Call me old fashioned all day long, but I'm proud of the way I am. I'm proud that I never lived with my husband before we got married. I'm proud that I cook dinner for us almost every night of the week (there are some nights that a nice, frozen pizza just really does the job.) I'm proud that I keep our house clean. I'm proud that I keep myself looking good for my husband. And I'm especially proud that I can do all of this and still have a job that I love and still do the things that I love doing, like writing or having dinners with my girls.

Today's entry may feel like a rant, but there was just some stuff that I had to get off my chest. To all the women out there who feel that they may be a little old fashioned, EMBRACE IT! There is something beautifully strong and feminine about being a modern working gal with old fashioned values. Or at least that's my opinion. What's yours?

Happy Thursday!

Quote of the Day: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker

Tidbit for Today: Today's tidbit is a recipe! I created it yesterday and it's DELICIOUS! I used homemade hummus thanks to my friend, Annie, but if you're not lucky enough to be friends with her, store bought would work just fine.

The Ultimate BLT

2 slices of french bread, lightly toasted

hummus

3 slices of turkey bacon, cooked and crisp

lettuce

1 small tomato, sliced

3 thin slices of brie, at room temperature

Spread hummus on each piece of your french bread. Place the lettuce on one side of the bread, top with the tomatoes, followed by the bacon and then the slices of brie. Place the other slice of bread on top and press down to hold it all in place. Enjoy!

Well, it's a Wednesday - why not start a blog. This was actually my friends' idea, though I think they only suggested I start this because they're tired of me babbling non-stop to them so they want me to have another outlet. Well here it is , in all it's glory. Not too exciting, I know, but this blog will always be a work in progress. All I wanna do is share my stories, my interests, my hopes, my fears, my desires, my loves. There is nothing particularly profound or earth-shattering about what I have to say - in fact I, the author, do not even know what I'm going to pen here. At the end of the day, all I want to do is inspire someone in some simple way, remind them of a funny story or an old friend, make someone laugh and encourage everyone to seek knowledge. Our hearts and minds should always be open; if they are, our souls will be nourished. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy this journey that I am embarking on. Happy Wednesday!

P.S. - I'm sure you've noticed my curious title for this blog. It comes from one of those stories that always makes you laugh, no matter how old or synical you are. It's a point of grace in my life (yes, Pants, that's a shout out to you) that reminds me of a good friend who has always sat with me and made me laugh, even when we've both felt forgotten.

Quote of the Day: "There is nothing that Joy and Love cannot do. Set your standard very high." - God Calling, A.J. Russell

Tidbit for Today: Go to the bookstore (DO NOT ORDER ONLINE!!! The smell and the experience of a bookstore makes it worth the trip) and pick up "God Calling" by A.J. Russell. A great daily read (similar to my blog??) that will help you reflect on your life.