Why I won't be adding it to my WW Points Tracker for today

I think if you walk up AND down 3 flights of stairs to buy a Snickers bar from the vending machine, it totally cancels out the calories of consuming the Snickers bar.

Spoiled

I am trying feverishly to get everything done at work before heading out of town for a whole week for a much-needed vacation. And what am I doing instead? Writing in my oft-forgotten blog, of course! Duh!

Justin, his family, and I are going to Florida for some R&R next week. I've never taken a week-long vacation to such a relaxing place (well, I've taken week-long trips to Maine before, which my mom says completely restores her soul, but this is different because I'm a grown-up now), and I'm really looking forward to it. Before we can go, though, I have to finish up three reports, start a new therapy client, and do countless odds and ends both at home and work. Let's hope I can get them all done in time!

Yesterday, Justin informed me that our travel plans have changed. We're still leaving on Saturday and coming back the following Saturday, but our mode of transportation has changed somewhat. At first I was a little bummed, but then I stopped to think about it and I said, "Hey, lady, you're going to the beach for a whole week. Don't go complaining about how you're going to get there!" That's when I realized how quickly I've become spoiled by the luxury of traveling often and quite comfortably. I need to step back and examine all of the many blessings in my life and show the appreciation that they deserve (rather than pouting - however briefly - about things not being exactly what I had thought they would be).

Well, I suppose that is all for now. I really do need to get some work finished before the end of the day. Perhaps I will start to post more once I re-charge my battery on vacation.

Trust

So, I don't really write in this blog very much, but I have become completely addicted to other blogs. Google Reader is the devil for making so easy and convenient to waste hours on end reading about people you don't know or things you could never afford to buy. However, I think it can be amazing to hear about other people experiencing things that I also experience and exploring how they cope with them. Must be the psychologist in me...

Recently, I've read some blogs by some people who have a very strong and deep faith about trusting in the Lord and His plans for their lives. I know not everyone has that same belief system, but my faith is very important to me. Over the years, I have come to see that God DOES have a plan for me and it is WAY better than any plan I would have for myself. When I try to make plans that don't jive with God, you better believe that they don't work out. When I try to have a relationship with someone who is not right for me or try to force something before its time, no dice. I never thought I would end up in Memphis - here I am. I never thought I would STAY in Memphis after some rough patches during internship - here I am. I never thought I would TURN DOWN Emory to stay in Memphis - here I am. I never thought I would meet someone so amazing and funny and handsome and smart and kind who actually loved me back - here I am. I have no idea what the future holds - when things will happen, in what way, shape, or form. However, I have complete faith and trust that God will make the way for me to have the desires of my heart if I continue to have faith in Him.

Tracking

Lately, I've purchased several things online. One reason is that, with a real (eek!) job, I don't have lots of time to go shopping in stores. Lots of my loved ones have birthdays in November, and Christmas is right around the corner. So I've started using the Internet to be my little helper in gift purchasing.

One of the best things about this process is that you can track your packages as they make the great journey to your door. I love watching the boxes make their trek from the factory or store to Memphis, TN. For instance, JR's birthday present is supposed to arrive at my office today, but before this it spent a little time in Nashville, Missouri, and North Dakota! These websites also time-stamp each stop on the journey, so I know that at 1:37 am, some hard-working UPS people were unloading and scanning my box in Nashville. It really is neat when you get a glimpse into some other profession, such as that of UPS worker. Those folks work very hard to get your packages to you as quickly as possible, meaning that they're loading and unloading planes and trucks even while I'm cozy and asleep in my bed. I sure am grateful for that.

Looking for motivation

Back in March when Jess and I ran the ING Half-Marathon, we made a commitment to each other to run the St. Jude Half-Marathon in Memphis in December. Well, the date is fast approaching, and my running is not nearly where I'd like for it to be. I've had some speed bumps that have gotten in the way (getting sick, falling during a run), but I've really let them impact my training more than they should have. I want to be ready for the race in just a few short weeks, but I fear that my training won't be able to get me there. Any ideas for ways to increase my motivation to train harder and get the job done?

Better and better

So, as some of you know (and as I've alluded to in previous posts), I've been dating a marvelous man for a little while now. I saw a "little while" because it has been quite brief (almost 5 months). However, he is the most incredible person, and we have an amazing time. I feel like I knew we had something special going on from the first date (or at least by the second). He completely loves and appreciates me for the person I am, and I do the same for him. We have this amazing chemistry and freakishly similar backgrounds. (I mean, how many couples do you know who both had Chevrolet Celebrities as their first cars?) Indeed, we have notable differences as well, but I feel like those complement and enhance our relationship.

For a while, I kept waiting for a shoe to drop. --This can't be happening. It's too good. There's got to be some deep, dark secret lurking. He must not be telling me the whole truth.-- But time after time, I found that everything was real. He was being honest with me. All these feelings were not only built on truth, they were also mutual!

I feel so remarkably blessed to have him in my life. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that the present is terrific, the (brief) past has been amazing, and I only hope that the future gets better and better.

What was I thinking?

I have been blessed in life to have some amazing friends and family members. For some reason, though, I've dated some people who really have not been good for me and who make me feel bad about myself. Why on Earth would I do this? Now, don't get me wrong. I've dated some very nice guys (and the current fella is so wonderful and a wonderfully amazing match for me, it's quite uncanny), but I've dated some people who just weren't very nice.

Now, it would probably shock these people to death to hear me say that they weren't nice or that they treated me badly. The reason for this is that many of them are, themselves, wounded, and that is why they treated me so shabbily. You see, it goes like this. Dude dates Colby. Dude has issues about himself. Dude turns these issues around to make them about Colby and how Colby doesn't measure up. Colby feels bad because of these issues and momentarily forgets that the real problem is Dude and Dude's issues. Then, Dude and Colby break up. Dude plays pitiful victim role and Colby feels super bad. But then Colby remembers that the problems included Dude and his issues, and he made her feel bad about herself anyway. So, Colby moves on and tries to find better guy. However, Dude often tries to hold on, continuing to make Colby feel bad. This is why Colby must shake off the haters and find happiness and satisfaction in spite of these Dudes. After all, living well is the best revenge one could ever have.