Move Over Oprah.

I've been noticing lately that I need to started thinking more positively.
Instead of complaining constantly about the things I don't have or can't do or... well, you get catch my drift... I've decided to take a daily note of my
5 favorite things about the day.
While I can't promise I'll do this every day (obviously I'm doing good to keep up on my normal posting lately), I will definitely do this as often as I can.

Today?

(One.)

Waking up today to the sound of the cool morning breeze *swishing* across the pool


I house/dog sat for a friend last night. Though I really hate how she has decorated this would-be beautiful four thousand square foot home, it has its charm and breezy comfort. Not to mention a 62" TV, pool table, and brand new sleep number bed which I tried out last night. Oh, and her three adorable beagles: Bailey, Betsy, and Buttons (aka Goober - Pictured below).



(Two.)

Filling up for $18

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's not, but I am hanging on tight to my every penny.
And if I can get away with only paying $1.69 at the pump instead of $4.05, well I'd say that's something to be thankful for.


(Three.)

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Detoxifying Face Wash

This stuff is AMAZING.
I just tried it for the first time today, and not only does it deep clean and wash off clean, it gives you a "burst" of freshness that feels like you just walked into a minty fresh snow storm.
You know those summer days when its so hot out and you come in and stick your face in the freezer?
Yeah. Like that.


(Four.)

Coming home to comfy PJ's, a Dirty Martini, and lighting candles

I look forward to this ritual all day if I know I don't have any errands to run or laundry to do in the evening.


(Five.)

Knowing my randomness is appreciated by other people in this world who are just as bored and random as I am.

'Nuff said.

Coffee.

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
-T.H. Thompson

I am no saint. People get under my skin just as much as the next person. I have a T-shirt that reads, "Partnership for an Idiot Free America". I know, classy. I grumble (still smiling) at the slow checker at Farmer's Market, and I white-knuckle it through traffic every morning. The point to this blog is that lately I have found myself getting a bit snippy with my fellow earthlings. In return, I have recently had some get snippy right back, and some uncalled for. This is life.. I understand this, and am under no illusions that there will likely ever be world peace. I think, though, what I'm trying to say is basically just what T.H. Thompson said up there: We're all victims of Life's diseases - We cannot control the actions of others, only those of ourselves. In turn, we must take responsibility for what comes into our thoughts, out of our mouths, and of our actions.

John Maddox, an 83 year old, retired man lives 2 doors down from me. He wears his black glasses, smokes cigars, wears a tie to church every Sunday... and I suppose would probably be living in some distinguished, quiet area of Florida by now if it wasn't for Carol wanting to be near the family. At 6:45 every morning, John walks out to his porch to take the paper in and walk the dogs. Just about this time, Carol (who he's been married to for over 40 years), opens the door to yell to her husband that he's left the coffee pot out and the back door open. Usually at this point I'm rushing to my car, fumbling with my keys, running back to the front door to lock it, and stammering back to my car again, trying my hardest not to get my heels stuck in the lawn or spill my coffee. Every morning, without fail, John will shout over to me, "You wouldn't have to rush if you'd get up earlier!" followed by, "How about you come over tomorrow morning for a hardy breakfast and some REAL coffee? We're nice company, sugar".... I smile politely and throw in a small courteous chuckle as I hop furiously into my car and peel out of my driveway.
Over the last year this has gradually gone from cute to cringe-worthy as I am invited into a new conversation every morning that I, in my mind, have no need or time for. I've tried everything to dodge this occurrence, but to no avail. I always seem to go over the same statement in my head each time I drive off - Of course, these old retirees have nothing else to do all day but prune their gardens, watch Wheel of Fortune, and pick on me when I'm obviously trying to get to work.
Last week as I stumbled out to my car, I quickly noticed the silence radiating from the Maddox residence. It struck me as odd that the morning routine had been forfeited, but I shrugged it off thinking, "Thank God, I guess they decided to sleep in today", and hurried on my way. After a few days of this I started to wonder about my overly-friendly neighbors.
Carol Ann Maddox died at 3:30am four days prior from complications of breast cancer.
She left behind 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 dogs, and John, the love of her life and morning coffee buddy for over 40 years.

All this time, this old couple wasn't trying to damper my morning at all. In fact, they wanted me to do just the opposite: Stop and smell the coffee. They were soaking up as much of life as they could in the midst of the troubles that very well could have taken them over at any moment.

That guy that cut you off on the freeway this morning is hoping he won't be laid off from work today.
The girl that didn't smile back at the grocery store is dreading going home to fighting parents.

This morning, I knocked on John's door, with sugar in one hand and a mug in the other.

I think you'll find that if you stop to look around, it's not all about you.

Raindrops on Roses

And whiskers on kittens.

Sometimes I wish I could actually just think of my favorite things, and all of my problems would be solved. But then I suppose mine would be more like, "Dirty Martinis and Man With Strong Italian Accent". Fairy tales, Jeanies in Bottles, Mr. Clean... even that damn Easy Button at Staples - all just empty promises reminding us that we are pretty much going to have to do it all on our own, whether or not we have the time, money, or patience.

It's been a long week already. It started with a trip to the ER; 6 hours later I came home with a cough, head cold, and chest cold. (Note to self: bring antibacterial next time at hospital.) Since then, various strange things have happened, whether it be in relationships, at work, or otherwise. I wouldn't say it's necessarily been the week from Hell or anything; Though, I will say it has been one of the strangest weeks ever. Full moon? Anyhow, aside from all the strangeness, it seems like all of my life's little annoying responsibilities have been clammed up for a century and decided to throw up all over me these last three days.

I went to the DMV to have my license renewed. I've had tons of compliments on my old DL picture. I told the lady I just wanted the same picture (I was in gym clothes, glasses and hair up and messy this day). She says to me, "Uh, Ma'am, we can't do that. We'll need you to take a new picture". Panic... followed by an overwhelming urge to bitch-slap the lady behind the counter.... followed by more panic - I took the picture. Why, again, are those women so bitchy? I'm no premadonna...I just would very much like it if I didn't look like a 12 yr old boy in my DL photo. Is this so much to ask? I digress.

On a lighter note, I finally gave in and purchased a new pillowtop bed. The bed I had previously was, oh... about 15 years old. Bye bye cardboard, hello lusciously cozy. That was the best night of sleep I've had in years (and I'm an Advil PM advocate). All thanks to a new bed. Whodathunkit? A bed - being the missing piece to my puzzle of restful sleep. Shocking.

As I sit here hacking my brains up to the beat of Jingle Bells, I'm forced to ask myself why I'm up out of my unbelieveably soft and comfy bed, writing this post. I must have needed to spew some thoughts out that were just sitting there on my brain taunting me. Who can rest like that? I certainly can't.

What are those thoughts, you ask?

First, if anyone has been following the Caylee Marie Anthony (photo left courtesy of CNN.com) case, you probably will agree that it's terrible and frustrating. For those of you that have been under a rock and aren't familiar with the story: Caylee Marie was a 2 yr old toddler that was killed this past summer. Yes, I believe Casey Anthony (Caylee's mother) killed her poor little girl. Who doesn't at this point? I have been following this story almost every day on CNN/HNN since the whole thing began, and am still befuddled and angry, as I'm sure a lot of people are. Who would wait a MONTH to report their child missing, meanwhile going out to party almost every night, lie about everything she tells the police (who at the time were trying their hardest to find her child)? She had the nerve to ducttape her little head and place a heartshaped sticker over it, and dispose of the body in a trashbag. Today I saw a post on Yahoo Answers asking "What would you do if you had 10 minutes alone with Casey Anthony?" I don't even want to know what I would do. I can't stop thinking about this little girl and what she probably had to go through. A life should never have to end before it even begins, especially at the hands of your own mother. I pray that justice is brought to this whole thing on behalf of a little girl that can't speak for herself anymore.

Second thought: Chocolate. I have recently been thinking about it when I wake up, during the day, and before I go to bed at night. Where to find some, where to hide it at work, what fast food place has some, and what goes good with it. I thought maybe it was a phase and would eventually pass, but now I think I have a real problem. Feel free to post some suggestions on how to remedy crippling chocolate cravings.

Have a good evening, lovelies. :-)

P.S. Do you Tweet? Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/megapixel

Oh really?

So I struggled for a while with wanting to blog, but never really knowing what to blog about.

Screw that.

My posts will be about anything and everything I feel suits my daily functions and makes me happy (or not). I am a random human being. I'm here one second and gone the next, and I'm simply complicated. I'm just not a judgmental person, so why be scared about what other people will think or say about what I have to think or say?

Bet you're dying to follow me already, eh?
I digress.


I guess you could say I'm coming into my own at the age of 24 - learning my likes and dislikes... and this is coming in the form of... you guessed it... decorating??
I have no clue what has come over me, but I have contracted some sort of decorating disease that has gone cancerous and spread to all areas of my life.

My life? Let's enter into this YAWN of a subject, shall we?
Yes, I'm currently single. We'll just nip that in the butt right off the bat.
Yes, I'm completely and totally bummed about the upcoming event that I'll (not) be celebrating this weekend. Singles Awareness Day. -- Okay, maybe not that bummed. I am liking the "single life" right now, I guess. I've not much to complain about.
No, I am not going to constantly blog about whyyyy no man wants me or how I can never seem to find a guy that doesn't lie, cheat, crap on me, etc etc. This is also a yawn.
Although, I will say I have a very open mind, and if Mr. Fabulous wants to grace my door, then by-all-means. Come on in. There's wine in the fridge :-)

Wine. Oh how I love you.

Anyhow, back to the conceited portion of this broadcast.

I'm going to sum it up.
Anyone who knows me will tell you I have an unnatural addiction to avocados.
Make me laugh, and you've got me wrapped around your finger.
I'm quite sarcastic sometimes, but never offensive.
I work too much, play when I can, love when it rains, buy interesting things for way more than they're worth, love to sing, and can kick your ass at a game of poker.
Okay, everything but that last part. I suck at most games actually. I still lose Checkers to the computer.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure my house is haunted.

I work at a bank for the time being, which I must say is WAY better than retail. (I feel for all of you retail suckers having to put up with idiots every day...get out while you can.) No, I did not go to college like a good girl after I graduated HS. I'm one of those people that takes forever to make a big decision, and I find that what you want to do with the rest of your life... is a very big decision, wouldn't you say? But, after taking a few college classes here and there for the past few years, it finally jumped out at me and slapped me in the face.
So, this year I will be pursuing a degree to become a Sonographer (you know, looking at gray, distorted images all day of what will soon be tiny bundles of joy). On the side, I'll be continuing my absolute love of photography (you can see some of my stuff here).

For now, I suppose I'll just be redecorating everything, lol.

'Til next time...