Need a laugh today? Check out the Totally Looks Alike website.

Here’s one look-alike to get you started:

see more Celeb Look-A-Likes
 

I know, I know - if any readers are even still checking this blog, you’ve all wondered if I dropped off of the face of the planet. I’m still here, just very much pulled in many directions with working full time and trying to fulfill my own unrealistic expectations of domestic divaness (ha ha). Needless to say, the house is not all I’d like it to be and Brad is still trying to convince me that on my schedule of working 40+ hours a week and trying to exercise at the Y at least 3 days a week (usually more but this week is down the tubes so far) that there is no way I will achieve what I want to as far as homekeeping. I know he’s right, I just don’t want to admit my own limitations I guess. After all, I bring home the bacon, so why don’t I have the energy to fry it up in the pan?

But despite my absence, life has continued, here and where you are as well, I’m sure. Sarah was recently pinned for National Honor Society. I was so proud to walk across that stage with her and place that well-deserved pin on her lapel. Sometimes I’m jealous that I wasn’t as smart as my kids are. Silly, I know. But for example, the other day Sarah emailed Brad a file she’d created. It was an entire PowerPoint presentation requesting to borrow money for an upcoming DECA trip this weekend. It was very well thought out and executed. Of course, she won her dad over and he dipped into his poker funds to give her the money.

Ashley has been on Yearbook staff this year at her school and has really enjoyed it. I’ve been impressed with how she has stepped up as a co-editor and really given the class and the yearbook project her dedication, time and leadership. They “put the thing to bed” a week or two ago and though she’s enjoyed the work, she’s glad it’s over.

Our family has been busy getting healthy since January 1st. Brad has lost a bunch of weight already. You can check out his progress here. I’ve lost around 12 pounds and only have about 7-9 pounds to go before I’m where I’d really like to stay weight-wise. We have not been dieting, we’ve simply been eating healthy and exercising, along with tracking what we eat. Some days I’d really like to chuck the whole plan and dive into junk food again, but the way I look motivates me to keep at it.

So what’s up in your world? I’ve been able to keep up a little better with blog reading, sneaking a moment or two here and there at work on my iPhone. I’m hoping to fit an occasional blog post into my week.

Have a great day!! I’ll post more later about what’s going on around here.

Do you Twitter? Do you even know what Twitter is? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

We are a Twittering family. We “follow” each other, so that when one of us Twitters, we’ll all get the update and know where we are and what we are doing. With two full-time working parents and two full-time busy teen girls, it’s a valuable tool that updates everyone at once.

I even follow one of my close online friends. She’s someone I’ve never met but have known for so long that I want to feel included in her daily life, even if it’s just through Twitter.

But one thing I don’t understand, and quite frankly it creeps me out just the tiniest bit, is why total strangers would want to follow one another on Twitter and find out the daily goings-on in a random person’s life. I know we are a country of voyeurs, whether you want to admit it or not. But it’s not just that factor that leaves me scratching my head, it’s also the fact that you are increasing how many text messages you get, or how much time you spend checking a site for updates. I just don’t get it. But such is life…there are a lot of things I don’t get. And that’s okay.

That’s it for now, I’ve got to go Twitter.

If you’ve known me long enough you’ve seen these types of posts before. I tend to be a cyclical person, like most of us humans are. I tend to go long periods of time thinking I’m okay and then, BAM!, I hit a wall and realize I was faking it all along and that the same issue has come back again, and again and again. I admit freely that I will never reach perfection as long as I’m on earth. I think, in some ways, God allows us to be imperfect so that we will need Him in our lives. Well, based on my own self, I need Him a lot!

I have been reminded this week, by my own internal voice, that I am no closer to conquering some of my issues than I was 5 years ago. I’m still a complainer. If I don’t complain on the outside, you can be sure I’m complaining on the inside. My level of gratitude for what God has given me, and my husband has worked hard to provide has gotten worse instead of better. While entire families are homeless right here in my city and around the world, I complain about where I live not being good enough for me. While I complain about exercising and how much I hate it, disabled, paralyzed people just dream of moving a limb one tiny fraction of an inch. While I belly-ache about having to restrict my diet, a mother in Africa, or even right here in my neighborhood, is wondering if she will have anything to feed her children just once today. Oh look how I have become - spoiled, ungrateful, entitled.

And then there is the gossiping side of me. I’ve realized this week that my tongue, and the brain that powers it, is a dangerous weapon. It’s not that I’ve gotten in trouble for something, but I’ve realized this week that I simply have no control over my tongue and that needs to change. There is a real problem with gossip where I work, and I realize that I’ve fallen right in with everyone else. Ask me and I’m likely to tell you. Let’s just say, no one would ever have to torture me to get information. I hate that about myself. I can change it, especially if I think before I speak, am quick to listen and slow to speak.

The good news is, I am capable of change. If I can lose 9 pounds in a month I can control my tongue and change my attitude. God will have to help me. But I will also have to become more aware of my actions, thoughts and words with even more diligence.

Why am I telling this stuff to the world? Because it’s a form of confession. I’ve prayed about it already, but I also know that many of you, my blogging friends, will hold me accountable. I’ve let people down because of my attitude, God, Brad, the girls - but mostly myself.

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh God, my strength and redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

This is a fun little quiz I found thanks to Alison at BrocanteHome. It’s pretty amazing how accurately it pins my personality. No wonder I’ve always felt an drawn to Norma Jean!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz…

You Are a Marilyn!

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas! We did. Brad and I took all week off (meaning we only lost 3 days of work since both our places of employment were closed Thursday and Friday). We drove up to visit Brad’s family, because his brother’s family was up visiting from Texas. He taught us how to make Tamales from scratch. They were DELICIOUS!! It was a good time of fellowship and family fun as well.

On Tuesday we came back home and settled back in to our own routine. We all got new Christmas jammies to wear on Christmas Eve and then opened gifts on Christmas morning. I got some wonderful gifts including two homemade necklaces from Ashley (one is milk and cookies the other is a pot of hot cocoa pouring cocoa into a mug), some personalized hot pink Sharpies from Sarah (they say Property of Karla Neese and have hearts on them - too cute!) and then a fabulously generous gift card to Sephora from Brad. Makeup heaven here I come!! The girls got gifts they’d been wanting and Brad got a new car yesterday. We got him a Hyundai Santa Fe, and boy is it nice!! We didn’t trade any vehicles in, because over the Christmas holiday Sarah went and passed her written driving test and is now the proud owner of an Oklahoma Learner’s Permit. She didn’t miss a single question on the test. Even though she won’t be driving until June, this being the end of the year and the end of a month, we took a chance on getting a good deal. We did our homework, visited several dealerships, drove several prospective vehicles and ended up getting a great deal on the vehicle we got. Even though the new car is Brad’s, I am moving up in the world too, as now I get to drive the Honda Odyssey that is only 5 years old (the Accord that will become Sarah’s is almost 10 years old but still runs like a gem). Thankfully, we just paid off the van so we still only have one car payment.

Tomorrow it’s back to work and back to the routines of life, hopefully one that can be easily improved with a few healthy changes. I had my cholesterol levels retested the week before last and sadly my levels have gotten worse instead of better. I had been on a statin drug for almost 2 months but went off of it at my doctor’s suggestion due to tremendous joint pain and muscle twitching that I developed as a side effect. It stopped about a week after I stopped the medication. In addition to lowering my cholesterol, three out of the four of us in our family need to lose weight and get healthier anyway. I’m reading a few books and we are trying to make the transition as healthily as possible, but I know it will be a hard battle to fight for all of us.

Well, I’ve only a few minutes here. I need to get ready for bed and get myself ready for tomorrow. I hope you are all doing well. For those of you who’d like to chat with me via Yahoo, AIM or MSN Messenger, please email me and let me know your chat name. I just figured out how to get chat features on my iPhone, so I’m hoping to keep better contact with people on occasion rather than letting months go by between conversations.

Much love!

I miss you - my blogging friends. I miss reading your blogs, chatting with you on IM, emailing nonsense back and forth and feeling your presence in my life.

I miss you - my daily blogging duties. Some days I miss writing every day. I miss Five Friday Favorites and tidbits about things in my life. Yet at the same time, it feels good to be rid of that “duty” of writing every day.

I miss you - my long hair. Why did I ever feel the need to cut you off and throw you away? I shouldn’t have been so daring and rebellious. I should have stuck to my new hairstyle and been happy, rather than being antsy and willing to shed you in a moment of beauty-inspired weakness.

I miss you - teacups and teapots and all things lovely. I haven’t taken the time lately to sit and just sip a pot of tea.

With work taking so much of my time, attention and energy, I’ve neglected so many areas of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I really like my job. I don’t have any intentions of quitting, but getting used to being back in the real workforce has taken me longer to get used to than I expected. Priorities are having to be re-defined. Leisure is at a premium these days.

Thank you all for being so kind and understanding. I’ll try to pop in more often and will try and start adding some blog reading to my time regularly. I’ll also be re-growing my hair out because I really do miss it being long.

Hope things are going well for you all! Until next time…

I am Autumn. 

I am brisk, cool mornings, pleasant days and chilly nights.

I am scented with the smells of wood and leaves, pumpkins and spice, soup and cornbread.

I am clothed in warm colors and the mist of early morning fog is my veil.

I am a beacon, a symbol, a sign that nature’s winter respite is near.

I am calm; telling everyone to slow down, huddle in close together, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

I am football and turkey and families gathering to give thanks.

I am awe-inspiring and beautiful.

I am but one sign of God’s handiwork.

I am Autumn.

**This morning as I drove to work and saw the edges of leaves turning yellow and saw the mist hanging over one of the tall buildings near work, I was reminded at how much I love Autumn. Actually, Autumn is our family’s favorite season. It is the season that brings memories of romance for Brad and I. It causes Sarah to get much too giddy at the idea of sweaters and soup and football and all things comforting and warm. 

Today is National One-Hit Wonder Day. I thought I’d share my favorite one-hit wonder. The video is “great” and I suppose there is a two-fold reason why I like this song so much. First, I won a bet concerning who sings this song. Years ago Brad and I were listening to the song and I said I thought Devo sang it. He thought I was wrong. I won. That doesn’t happen very often.

Second, Devo is just so odd that you can’t help but like them. It’s a silliness that is just infectious I suppose. So without further ado, enjoy my favorite one-hit wonder!

I paid a visit to my doctor’s office yesterday for a follow-up appointment to go over the results of my heart scan and discuss a possible treatment plan for my high cholesterol levels.

My heart scan came back as zero. At first I wasn’t sure if that meant I simply don’t have a heart anymore or what (just kidding). The doctor said a zero is the best you can have. He said that the heart scans are 90% accurate most of the time but there are a rare few people who have plaque build-up that hasn’t calcified yet. He didn’t think that was the case with me, so that’s good. 

Because my LDL (lousy) and C-Reactive Protein numbers are high and my HDL (good) are too low, he is putting me on cholesterol medicine. I’m starting out with the generic version of the statin drug Pravachol. The doctor was very good about going over potential health risks and side effects. I’ll go back in December to get my cholesterol re-tested and when I do, they’ll also check my liver enzymes to ensure that no damage is being done to my liver from the medication. The doctor acted like this would not necessarily be a long term thing, but just something to bring my levels down to a healthy range and then try to maintain them with a healthier lifestyle.

He did say one of the side effects could be memory loss. I told him that my memory is so faulty these days that I’m not sure I would notice a difference at all.

So that’s the update. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me and sent encouraging words my way. I appreciate you beyond words.