There's a New Colby on the Scene

Colby was our intern at work this summer, and she's such a sweetheart. She's all of 19 years old, gorgeous, and has this amazing voice. Seriously, I just know the sky is the limit for this girl.
Sure, you haven't heard of her, but you will one day. So here is your chance to get a sneak peak. You can log on to her website by clicking on "The Amazingly Gifted Colby Bell" to the right under Say What?!?


Do yourself a favor, log on, listen to her song and then you can say "I was listening to her before she won her first Grammy."

'Tis the Season

My office has adopted a family for Christmas. I've done this the last few years at work, and it's so great. I just had so much fun shopping for our little family. It's a mom, a 5 year old girl, and a 2 year old little boy. Of course going in, I was thinking "cute clothes and toys - what fun!" But now that we've learned more about our family, it's become so much more. We found out that our family lives in an apartment and they sleep on the floors. They sleep on the floors as in they have no beds. It breaks my heart. And yet, this has given me the most joy this holiday season. I love shopping for friends and family, don't get me wrong. I love finding that perfect little gift that will make someone happy. But, this is shopping with a purpose. This is giving in the true spirit of the season. I love how our little office has banded together to get beds for the family, bedding, clothes, toys, a set of dishes, etc. It's all made me realize just how lucky I am to have such a great group of co-workers, a fantastic family, a loving husband, and a good job. I'm not one to get all hokey but it's really just inspired me. In fact, it's something I should be doing more of - good for others, that is. So, I'm going to get into volunteering again. It's something I did while I lived in RDU and loved it, so I need to get involved in CLT too. I'm thinking I'll do domestic violence and rape crisis work again, but we'll see. Maybe I should switch it up - but either way, I need to get involved and give back. Otherwise it's just so easy to get caught up in my own drama and self-pity when truly my life is good. I need to appreciate what I have, and give back throughout the year - not just Christmas.

Attack of the Bleh

So, I've been in a real funk lately. I think the time change and weather are really getting me down. I'm just so bleh all the time. I just want to sleep, eat, watch America's Next Top Model, and then sleep some more. I'm sure it's just my old friend SAD* creeping up, but it feels so much more bleh-y this year.

I hear you thinking "why is she complaining. everyone goes through this. just shut up already Ms. Whiny McWhinesalot," but really the bleh is taking control. Let me share some examples...I still have not unpacked from Thanksgiving (which was great fun by the way) so my clothes, shoes, etc. are just all over the floor, dresser, and bathroom. Speaking of bathrooms, they are filthy - heck, the whole house is filthy - and it bothers me, but I'm just too bleh to do anything about it. We need to go grocery shopping, but I just don't care. Instead, I choose to eat random mixes of crap and get fat. Seriously, I ate popcorn with 1/4 of a bag of shredded cheddar cheese poured over it for dinner last night. Odd, but filling. I need to regain focus on my kick-butt and lose weight program, but instead I just eat and sleep. So, I'm slowly but surely packing on the winter weight. Winter weight that I know is coming, and that I know I need to avoid, and that I know is making me more bleh but it's like a freight train I can't stop. Oh, and let's not even talk about work and how I need to really focus there because December, she's a bitch who's ready to fight and she's calling my name, but I'm all bleh, money who needs it.

And now I'm too bleh to try and wrap this up and make it sound less whiny and pathetic. So, there you go. I'm off to sleep for 10 hours, maybe that will help. Probably not.

*SAD is "seasonal affective disorder" for those of you not in the know.

Year One, Down...50 more to go!

I had a great anniversary weekend, even though we're officially celebrating in mid-December with a trip to Biltmore in Asheville at a little B&B. So, this weekend was just supposed to be low-key, which was great. I got a new wedding band on Friday - finally! And I love it! I also got a cute little band of diamonds and emeralds for an anniversary gift! Saturday I was feeling sick so I took some benadryl, which of course knocked me out for a few hours. When I got up J told me to stay upstairs while he made dinner. So, when I came back down, the dining room is lit with candles, fresh flowers are on the table, and there's the smell of ravioli and veggies cooking. Of course with dinner, he uncorks some champagne to celebrate. I should have guessed, he loves champagne and uses every chance to buy it! :) When we were finished with dinner, I was sent upstairs once more so he could clear the table and set out dessert. It was so cute and sweet - when I came back down there was a slice of cake for each of us with a little 1 candle in them. You know, the candles you get for kids' birthdays. It was so adorable! Of course, the cats being curious as ever jumped on the table while we weren't looking and Lucy almost burned her tail. She is so stupid sometimes - who sniffs burning candles? My cat!

Sweet Nothings

J: Hey, guess what. I never paid for your wedding band.

Me: Hunh?

J: Yeah, apparently they never charged me for it. I've checked all my records, and there's no sign of a payment for it.

Me: How the hell does that happen?

J: I guess they misplaced the paperwork and never realized it.

Me: We are so going to get me a new wedding band this weekend.

J: I figured you'd say that. I'm already posting yours on eBay.

Happy almost 1st Anniversary!

Pretty in Purple

If you know anyone that would like a beautiful, custom-designed holiday wreath...let me know. My friend, Angie, creates beautiful pieces to meet any budget.

When the World Ends

An email from my sister:

just wanted to let you know what children today can, or should i say CANNOT "be exposed to." our science teachers showed the students "An Inconvenient Truth" and have been discussing global warming, etc. There is a talk radio station that is now attacking our school....and most recently they have given out our principal's home phone number on the air and encouraged parents to call her and let her know how outraged they are that we're showing political movies....how sad-even adults are so ignorant!

It is sad. I don't know why people are so afraid of knowledge! I mean, the whole reason we go to school is to learn. Learning means hearing all points of view - not just one, but many. I know there is some debate about the truthiness of An Inconvenient Truth, but that would be a great way to start a good science discussion in class. I think it's a great way to get teenagers thinking beyond themselves and their spheres of the world. And when did saving the environment become a bad thing? Shouldn't we want to figure out how to preserve this earth we've been given?

Why do environmentalists have to be LEFT and why is the RIGHT so scared of knowledge?

On A Teacher's Salary

I'm so excited! My sister got a NEW car - finally! The child agonized over this decision for months, as if it were the only car she would ever buy in her entire life. And after complaining that she would only buy an SUV "because she needs the space dammit!" - she actually purchased a...VOLVO S40.

And I must admit, I'm jealous. This is my dream car. I was literally looking at this exact car in the Fall of 2005. But then I realized that I don't make enough money yet to be a Volvo person. And yet, the teacher does? What's up with that!

i'm so happy for you panda bear!

Naming

Why does naming your blog create such anxiety? Is it just me? I was so stressed trying to think of something clever and yet effortless. So, the nerd that I am decided to borrow from a book. I am obsessed with anything related to Henry VIII. I'm not so much interested in the King himself, but instead the craziness of that period which saw 8 Queens of England. My favorite has always been Anne Boleyn...for many reasons. But chiefly, her personal motto:

That's how it's going to be, however much people may grumble.

I think it was very appropriate for her reign, as people did grumble - all the way until her beheading. I admire her "kiss my ass" attitude. And so, a name for a blog.

Someone ate my blog!

I'm back! After a year of posting, I go to post on my blog and find it "temporarily disabled." So after many months of trying to contact the hosting site, I find out that they did not renew their contract and all of the blogs on the site were closed without warning. No email to say "Hey, come archive your posts and move them!" Nothing. I guess that's what I get for going with an "indie" blog hosting site! The internet ate my blog. So now I'm starting all over on blogger, which sucks. So happy first day back to me!