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So, I’ve been sitting at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen for the last hour trying to tell myself that a Klondike Bar is not worth the 250 calories packed into its new, thicker shell. I don’t know when I became a calorie counter, but for whatever reason, I’m doing it now and it’s like the cruelest, self-inflicted torture ever. Do you think if I wasn’t counting calories, I’d be noshing after this delectable little delight…NO! Not in the least. I’ve never even had a Klondike Bar. So, I’m sitting here, chewing on about 4 pieces of Stride and thinking seriously about gnawing on the corner of my monitor all because the guy who breaks the sound barrier when he breathes offered me a STUPID KLONDIKE BAR! Whew! Excuse my outburst. It had to happen. Anyway, I’m slowly backing away from the ledge and my thoughts are returning to the things I should be accomplishing today and not the chocolate-ly, ice creamy deliciousness. I can almost feel sanity creeping its way back into my brain. Ahhhhh, yes, sanity.
I’ve been thinking I need to start knitting again. I haven’t done it in so long; mostly because I never really learned how to stop. All of my projects have needles in the bottom of them just waiting to be finished; longing for finality. I’ve been inspired by the recent baby boom – or at least, pregnancy boom in my department. There are four, yes four women expecting babies within the walls of my department and since I hate shopping off of registries (they’re so restrictive…if I want to get your baby a superhero cape, I’m going to get it whether it’s on your stupid registry or not). I apologize for my belligerence. This Klondike Bar has me all tetchy. Anyway, I love giving hand made gifts. They mean something. I put time, energy and moderately hard work into creating something and I want to share that with someone. Three of the four women are having females, so I’d love to make little blankets with matching booties, and caps. Like my own little personalized layette for the babies. For the boy, a little baby cape…every kid should have a cape. Heck, every adult should have a cape. Anyway, I could knit these pieces up if I just knew how to stop. I’m going to learn. It’s going to happen.
Alright, I’ve weened myself away from the idea that a Klondike Bar is going to change my life and I should probably do something that involves working hard for the money. So, with that I’ll leave you with my lists for the day.
Five things I’m grateful for –
1. My new water bottle
2. My job
3. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
4. Klondike Bars
5. This beautiful summer we’re having in Colorado
Top five desserts of all time (not including Klondike Bars) –
1. Warm, Chocolate Chip Cookie Hand Pies
2. Special K Bars
3. Red Velvet Cake with Almond Flavored Cream Cheese Icing
4. Sharon’s Lemon Bars
5. Irish Brambrack
It looks more and more like I’ll be transforming into a lady of leisure in the near future. I’ve decided to leave my second job. My last day will be next Tuesday. There are several reasons for my departure; all of which I’ll share with you in a moment. Anyway, this will be the first time in several years that I have not held down more than one job. I’ve worked 60+ hours a week for what seems like forever. I’m happy to be able to spend my evenings at home doing the things I love to do which have been neglected for some time now. I can cook every day if I want. I can read and write and knit and crochet and bake and watch really crappy television and study and reconnect with old friends and make plans and take up a new hobby….OOOOOOOO, the possibilities are limitless. YES! I feel free…like William Wallace free. Like O.J. Simpson free (well O.J. of old, at least). Like Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast free. Knitting…I’ll knit for hours if I want. You know why? I won’t have anything else to do. That’s why (I almost added a “suckas” at the end there, but I think my Grandma reads this).
Needless to say, I’m more than excited. There are a couple reasons behind my decision to leave. First and foremost is because, I wasn’t happy. I was always tired, stressed, disappointed, etc. My attitude for the day revolved around whether or not I had to work in the evening. Most of my unhappiness stemmed from a very unfortunate incident in which somebody assumed my beliefs and took off with it. Imagining up fantasies of me being some awful, gay-bashing bigot, which of course, for those of you who know me or share my beliefs, know that the absolute opposite is true. What I’ve learned from this is when you know what’s right, when you know the truth and when you’ve been trusted with these things, you have to be ready, willing and able to look opposition right in the eye and say, “I love you.” That’s why I can sleep at night. Anyway, the other reason was because, although for a very long time, I felt like Heavenly Father had plopped me in the middle of a bunch of tree-hugging, fairy-worshiping, aura-reading, tarot card-believing, nut jobs (I mean that in the nicest possible way) for a reason, my time is done. I’ve done what I was supposed to do – whatever that was. Oh yeah, and there was the whole, I was going to have to start working Sundays. And selling face cream on Sundays in no way constitutes the Lord’s work. So, here I am standing for what I believe in and I’m almost a little proud of myself…I don’t know that I’ve ever really done that before, at least since I’ve stood for what I know is right and not just what I thought was right (there’s a definite difference).
So, here’s to FREEDOM (pretend I just yelled that in my best Scottish accent a la William Wallace, because I totally did in my head as I typed it).
Five things I’m grateful for –
1. FREEDOM
2. 42 year old knitting needles
3. Knowing what’s right
4. Sylvia & Alexia
5. Peace of mind (not the Origins product, but the state of being)
Top five memories of Origins –
1. Sylvia refusing my hugfest…a pretty amazing chase ensued
2. Alexia and I rapping it up old school style. Whatever happened to Salt ‘N’ Peppa?
3. Learning Southern hymns. “Ain’t it a Shame to Kiss the Boys on Sunday?” Never heard it? I suggest you look it up.
4. Meeting the Escoe family. What an amazing group of people. They have truly changed my life.
5. Seeing in Alexia what I always wanted to see in myself.
I was recently looking through one of my old notebooks that I filled up with opening story lines, quotes, advice, etc. I guess you could call it a journal, minus the typical narrative that goes along with journaling. Anyhow, I stumbled upon this little gem that I received from my seventh grade health studies teacher, who by the way, was the worst health studies teacher ever…mostly because he taught us more about television sitcoms then he taught us about the health benefits of celery and the dangers of herpes; although he did have excellent taste in both television and film. Either way, he gave me this piece of advice on September 10, 1994 : If you want to do something, just do it. Even though it sounds like a Nike ad, it’s super true. I’ve sat around so much wondering what to do with my life…why don’t I just do it (do I have to pay Nike every time I say that?)? Now, I have no idea what IT is, but that’s all worked out in the details, right?
Anyway, I love looking through my old notebooks. They muster up feelings of nostalgia and…well, really its just nostalgia. Seventh grade was weird. I don’t necessarily want to remember all of the feelings associated with it. I made the A team in volleyball, ran a wicked fast mile and wore stretch pants…YIKES, I know! Ugh, they had the little stirrups on them too. Double YIKES! So, I guess this will be my unofficial endorsement of journaling for my posterity’s sake. I’ll make an official endorsement at a later date…you know, when I’m better at journaling and when I’m qualified to officially endorse things.
Five things I’m grateful for –
1. Funny movies
2. Time spent with those I love
3. Red Rocks
4. Summer in Colorado
5. Sure Things
Top five concerts I’ve attended -
1. Prince – Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE
3. The Killers – Red Rocks, Denver, CO
4. Widespread Panic – Red Rocks, Denver, CO
5. The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Sokol Auditorium, Omaha, NE** Honorable Mention : Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Sokol Underground, Omaha, NE
So, I’ve been sitting at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen for the last hour trying to tell myself that a Klondike Bar is not worth the 250 calories packed into its new, thicker shell. I don’t know when I became a calorie counter, but for whatever reason, I’m doing it now and it’s like the cruelest, self-inflicted torture ever. Do you think if I wasn’t counting calories, I’d be noshing after this delectable little delight…NO! Not in the least. I’ve never even had a Klondike Bar. So, I’m sitting here, chewing on about 4 pieces of Stride and thinking seriously about gnawing on the corner of my monitor all because the guy who breaks the sound barrier when he breathes offered me a STUPID KLONDIKE BAR! Whew! Excuse my outburst. It had to happen. Anyway, I’m slowly backing away from the ledge and my thoughts are returning to the things I should be accomplishing today and not the chocolate-ly, ice creamy deliciousness. I can almost feel sanity creeping its way back into my brain. Ahhhhh, yes, sanity. 
