Reflection January 1, 2011

I will think I will label 2010 as “The year of uncertainty”

There are only about 3 hours left of this year. This crazy crazy year. So many ups and downs and ins and outs for me. I think my new years resolution this time last year was simply to make it, to survive another year and I am proud to say for probably the first time in my life that as I look back on 2010 I see that I exceeded my resolution. This year was definitely one of growth and change, nothing was certain for the whole year but somehow I made it out on the other side in one piece. 

When I look at the person I am right now compared to who I was at at the beginning of this year I am I see someone is who is finally starting to find her way. Sure I laugh a little less then I used to, I am more careful to trust but I sure know how to feel, I know how to love, and I have faith that things are as they should be. I was so challenged this year in so many ways but I surprised even myself over and over with the things I did. I jumped in with both feet to everything I was doing and I love the adventure my life has become. 

I learned to stop waiting for something to happen or someone to come along and make my life complete and I realized that my life and the people in it at this moment is complete. I learned to enjoy and nurture the relationships I have. I let go of relationships that didn’t need to be there and I think I finally (maybe) learned that I don’t need to make everyone happy and (surprise!) not everyone has to like me or be my friend. O, but the people who are in my life that I just love so much, I am so humbled that God would give them to me. My mom, my dad, my brother bear and his wonderful wifey, and all my fantastic friends, gosh I love em so much it hurts. 

So with all that being said, I have just a few goals for this coming year. I have the whole working out thing down, I don’t really care enough to eat healthier, and I have never been much of a saver so I will stay away from those sorts of goals. This year I will: 

• RUN: outside. I will enjoy the beauty around me and I will run hard and push myself.
• LAUGH: like I did before. Because I think laughing is better than not laughing. It does something to the heart.
• LOVE: because I also think loving is better than not loving. 
• READ: more books and less useless information from the worldwide web
• WRITE: in a journal or on here, documenting my life…my adventure

And one more “goal,” or I think I will call just call it a maybe…

MAYBE…this year its my time to fall in love. Every year I think maybe its time but this year has really taught me that all things happen perfectly in God’s timing. When my heart is ready it will happen and it will be lovely. 

2011 will be the year I run, I laugh, I love , I read, I write, and maybe, just maybe I will fall.

Cheers.

Ten Terrific Things on Tuesday November 10, 2010

1. I am currently curled up in my bed, sipping a starbies, watching the office, and blogging. I like right now.

2.  I had dinner with some old co-workers last week and one of the girls I was with is moving to Oregan, tomorrow actually I think. She is just up and moving, kind of starting over. She doesn’t have many friends up there and has no idea where she is going to leave. I am kind of envious of her, what an adventure!

3. I love these shoes. They are completely impractical and would make me like 12 feet tall but alas I would like to have them in my closet.4.  I leave for the Dominican Republic in a week and a half. I am super duper excited! I have already set out the clothes I want to bring and made a packing list. I can’t wait!

5. I watched the whole first season of LA Ink on Netflix and I kinda wish I was cool enough to be all tatted up. I want a tattoo but I am mostly just scared of the pain. It is crazy amazing what some people are able to create with a tatto gun needle thing.

6. I have been running a lot lately and I think I kind of love it. I get in the zone and with the right music I feel like could run for miles. I feel like it also gives me good results. I am a lean, mean, running machine!

7. I finally pressed 7 instead of 9. I feel a little bit more free.

8.  I was stopped at a light the other day and I saw a grown up pull up beind a young kid as they were getting of the freeway. They both got out of the car and the started fighting. The older man was yelling and throwing punches at this young kid. All I could think was how huge of an idiot that man was. I don’t care what that kid did to you, there is no excuse for you to act that way, how about we have a little maturity.

9. Since it gets dark at like 4:00 now I am ready for bed by like 7. mmmmm, I love sleep.

10. The Office makes me laugh out loud. I love it.

Til next time.

I am from… November 1, 2010

I saw this on a blog a while back and decided to give it a try myself. This is where I am from:

I am from lemon-scented Pine-Sol, from Cheez-Its and jelly sandwiches- hold the peanut butter.

I am from the house on the hill, oddly shaped rooms, and beautiful music.

I am from the eucalyptus leaf, the birds of paradise, and the towering palm trees.

I am from a competative spirit and a love for adventure, from the Dutchers and the Joys, from tall men and sassy ladies.

I am from abundant intelligence and a lack of common sense, from an unhibited strength to conquer anything with integrity. 

From “does your face hurt?” and “we love you always, no matter what.”

I am from relentless, essential, child-like faith. From jumping into grace with both feet and never looking back.

I am from the coast, from breathtaking skies, sunkissed shoulders, sand castles, and freckled noses.

From a world-traveler with a thousand stories and zero tolerance for anything but your best, from a woman whos greatest delight was sitting in her chair at the dining table watching her “kids” open Christmas presents, and a grandfather I never knew who made my mother feel like the most special girl in the entire world.

I am from cigarette smoke and grandma’s cabin up north, from unconditional love and tear stained pillows, from heartache and laughter, from great loss and greater victory. A girl can hardly ask to be from more than that.

10 things October 27, 2010

I am a people watcher through and through. I could sit on a bench and watch people all day long. I like to make up stories about people although I admit most of the time I probably judge the book by its cover. I sometimes wonder what people’s secrets are. Like if the guy at the gym with muscles bigger than my face secretly like to knit with his grandma on Friday nights or the girl in all pink with the puppy in her purse is secretly a ninja. It’s weird to me that everyone in this whole world has a different story, a different life.

So, for this edition of Ten on Tuesday I will share 10 things about myself that strangers may or may not find surprising about me (that is if I can think of 10 things). Here goes:

1. I am good at video games. This may have something to do with the fact that I am insanely competative and a very sore loser so I just have to be good at video games but I also grew up with a brother who played Nintendo constantly so I was well trained.

2. I was in show choir all four years of Highschool, like the kind of choir on Glee except way less talented but equally as nerdy.

3. I have been playing the piano since I was 7 and playing in an empty house, singing at the top of my lungs is one of my favortie pasttimes.

4. I graduated college with honors. woot woot. 

5. Besides getting married and having a little family, one of my major goals in life is to travel to 100 countries, I have been to 12 (13 after the D.R. next month) I got my work cut out for me but it will happen. I love to travel, I love adventure.

6. I don’t have many fears, except creepy crawlies and car accidents. O and earthquakes.

7. I am an introvert.

8. I’m a wuss when it comes to getting shots. I once passed out after getting a tetanus shot as I walking out of the doctor’s office, talk about embarassing.

9. My first car was a 1999 royal blue Ford Taurus which I lovingly referred to as my “spaceship.” I can’t say I was too bummed when that thing kicked the bucket.

10. I have 11 toes.

Okay, that last one was a lie, I do have one really really long toe so that kinda counts.

Happy almost hump day!

The best weekend. October 26, 2010

I had one of my most favorite weekends I can remember this past weekend. Here is the rundown:

Friday: Spent the day with my favorite little guy, this is Mr. Mitchell.

I have the privilege of being his nanny three days a week and I have to say I have just fallen in love with this sweet little guy. He cracks me up! He loves to dance, looooooves Sesame Street, and his parents are pretty great people. I am so lucky!

Friday night one of my oldest and best friends Eric came over and we played a lovely game of Farkle (look it up and play, you will love it!) with Jobie and Tom Tom.

Saturday: Spent a loooooong overdue with my two best friends from highschool, who both happen to be Pregnant (!), they are three weeks apart and it is the cuuutest thing.

    We talked, we ate, we shopped, we ate, we laughed, and we ate some more (having preggo friends is fabulous!).

I have known these ladies for ten years, through so many ups and downs, first kisses, school dances, family troubles, and now babies! We have so many silly memories that I will cherish forever and spending time with them on Saturday was so good for my heart. I laughed so hard and really felt like myself again for the first time in a long time. I can’t wait for their babies to come along so I can just smother them with love and kisses!

Sunday: spent the morning at chuch which is always great. One of my first graders told me I look like Barbie so she of course got to be line leader for the day

In the afternoon my pal Val and I headed to the beach to watch our other friend Courtney (Lil C) dominate in a beach volleyball tournament. I thought it was going to be freezing but it was seriously the most beautiful day down there. A light breeze and the sun was shining. Huntington Beach is full of crazies though, an old man told Val and I to head over to “tower 2″ to audition for playboy and drink margaritas. I mean, really?!

It’s weekends like these that I really just how lucky I am. Through all the hard stuff, all the stupid stuff, I have those few friends that will always just be there, no matter what. What else is there really? I don’t know how I got so lucky, I definitely don’t deserve it, but Lord knows I am not letting these friends of mine go, not for anything.

10 on Tuesday October 20, 2010

1. Well I made it two days with FB, without it I have no idea what most of my friends, and even my parents are up to. It’s a neccessary evil I suppose.

2. I like the rain, it reminds of Christmas.

3.  I went to my mom’s house a couple weeks ago to go through some old boxes of my stuff and I found this:

I know you are thinking what is so special about an old rag? Well how dare you! This old rag has been around since I came home from the hospital. I carried my “blankie” everywhere with me when I was little, like everywhere. To the beach, to the park, even when I first went to college I kept it under my pillow. Somewhere along the road I decided it was time to put blankie away but when I found I couldn’t help but be a little excited. It now is back where it belongs, on my bed under my pillow and I may or may not have snuggled with it last night. It’s crazy how a piece of fabric brings back so many memories.

4. My mom is passing through the OC tomorrow and we are gonna have lunch. My family rarely ever comes into my world so I’m excited.

5. I go to the Dominican Republic in about a month for a very special wedding for this girl:

I can’t wait to get out of this country and have an adventure. I am sooo looking forward to playing on the beach and having now worries for an entire week! yipppeeeee!

6. I believe I have officially decided to apply for grad school and hopefully start next fall. I am excited, nervous, and unsure but ready to take a next step and looking forward to sitting in class and studying and all that stuff. Is it nerdy that I miss all that? Now if someone would give me 20 grand to pay for it that would be fantastic.

7. I got a new cover for my phone. I got one that is totally covered in rhinestones. I don’t know why I did such a thing. I feel like the only girls with rhinestone cell phones are girls that wear heels to the grocery store and leave their hair down when they workout at the gym.

8. My two best friends from highschool are both pregnant, they are three weeks apart and it is just the cutest thing ever. We are going to have lunch on Saturday and I am so so excited to see them both. We don’t get to see eachother much but when we do it is just like old times. I grew up with these ladies and they are so special to me.

9. This picture makes me LOL:

10. I have some pretty great friends, I am so thankful for them. They make me laugh, they stand up for me, they love me unconditionally, they make my life fun and I’m grateful for that.

Til next time….. Ciao!

Hiatus. October 19, 2010

It makes me cringe when I think about the amount of time on a little website called facebook, maybe you have heard of it. On a whim yesterday I decided to deactivate my account and see how long I could last without it. Like everyone else who has a facebook I spend way to much time looking at pictures of people I hardly know, “facebook stalking” if you will. It has been 48 hours since the deed was done and I must say it is quite freeing to not think it terms of status updates. I told myself I wouldn’t reactivate my account until I got a good start on my grad school application. We’ll see how long that lasts!

Ten on Tuesday (again) September 8, 2010

Another week has gone by, here are 10 things on my mind at this very moment:

1. In my first grade Sunday school last this past Sunday I had this conversation with one of my kids:

Kid: “Are you married?”                  

Me: “No.”

Kid: “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Me: “No.”

Kid: “Hmmmm, strange.”

I can’t help but feel like this child was judging me! I of course did not let it get to me at all…I most certainly did not go out and by myself an new pair of shoes that I can’t afford to cheer myself up. I would never!

2. I love my momma. We spent Labor Day at the beach and before she left she fixed my broken dresser. I love that no matter how old I get she will always take care of me.

3. I strongly believe that the world would be a better place if all weekends were three day weekends.

4. I started the scrapbook I mentioned last Tuesday and have gotten very far with it, I have completed the first page. It says “Semester at Sea: Summer 2007.” At one page per week it should only take me about 3 years to finish.

5. I like that a lot of radio stations have no commericals during driving home hours. It make me happy.

6. I hit 100,000 miles in my car last week. I have had my Sally for almost 6 years and am so thankful to have a car that is a trooper. I drive a lot and I am hoping she lasts another 100,000 miles!

7. Tomorrow I have 8,000 meetings. I love my job but I get so tired by the end of days like that.

8. I started watching Friday Night Lights on Netflix and now I can’t stop. It’s about a highschool in a small town in Texas and I just looove it.

9.  I need to go to bed but I am sitting here trying to think of something interesting to write.

10. Mr. Internet I love sleep more than you, so Good Night!

Ten on Tuesday September 1, 2010

Ten thoughts of mine on this final day of August:

1. I have been trying to stop biting my nails for about 5 years (since a random old man told me it was extremely unattractive, rude) and I think I have finally come to a place where it might be a possibility. I do okay until something stressful happens and before I know it I chew away. It really is a disgusting habit.

2. I nanny the sweetest, funniest little guy. Sometimes I feel like I get paid to giggle and play. Not too shabby.

3. I have decided to finally take the time to scrapbook all of my pictures from Semester at Sea. It was 3 years ago, it is about time! I am going to take my time and make it perfect, just call me crafty Catie!

4. Often when I am at the gym on the treadmill I push myself to run faster and longer than the person next to me, mostly because I feel like I am winning. I think I have issues.

5. I have not been grocery shopping in probably a month. Currently in my part of the pantry I have: 4 boxes of cake mix, cookies, 2 boxes of rice a roni, and some coffee. I miss the days of not having to worry about things like buying food. It is just such a hassle! If I am going to shopping I prefer to buy shoes over food that just goes bad!

6. I wish I could read mind sometimes. Like a superpower I could turn on and off at my leisure. I think it would save a lot of time and energy, especially with those of the opposite sex. I hate guessing games!

7. I am flabergasted that tomorrow is September. Where the H did this year go?!

8. I have had JP (my little fish) for almost 4 months. I must say I am also flabergasted that he has lived this long. I have to admit that I sometimes forget to feed him and I don’t clean out his tank as often as I should but he is a trooper! Goodness, I hope I don’t forget to feed or clean my children whenever it is I have them. This is good practice I guess!

9. I have been taking pre-natal vitamins for the past week because the lady who cuts my hair said they will make my hair grow faster. Maybe I will be Rapunzel by the end of the year and my prince will come climbing up my hair. Who make up these fairy tales?!

10. When I get a full time, steady job I am going to buy myself a piano. Playing every couple of weeks when I go to my momma’s just is not enough. I would by no means call myself a good pianist but playing makes me so happy and just takes me to different time and place. I have no idea how I would get it into my apartment but where there is a will there is a way!

Inspired. August 29, 2010

My lovely roommate/BFFFA (Best Friend Forever & Always) has inspired me to blog again because she now has a blog (midnightidea.blogspot.com). I am not nearly as clever or funny as she in my writing abilities but I will try.

So, what have I been up to lately you ask? Well, for starters I decided today was a good day to reorganize my closet. My tops are now organized my sleeve length and color; my shoes by heel height, and my purses by the amount I use them. Whilst this may seem a dull way to spend a Saturday to some, I feel accomplished.

In other news, I bought this CD today:

I have been listening to it all day, turns out Mumford & Sons produce good organizing music; I have also decided that I should probably learn to play the banjo.

So there is a peek into my very ordinary day. Going to see Eat, Pray, Love this evening with my good friend E and maybe to buy a banjo while I am out.