Hooping Queen.

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I had dinner with girlfriends this evening.  Some of my favorite girls nights are with the A-Team (mother and daughter pair).  Love these people.

Anyway, A1 is one of my best friends,  A2, her daughter,  who just turned 6, is so much fun.  I did not have the opportunity to go to her birthday party (darth vader theme, is she cool or what?!?), but I did have the opportunity to give her an unwrapped gift – a hoola hoop.  I had recently given one of these gems to another little friend of mine, it was so much fun, I had to get another one. I’m glad I did.

A2 is apparently a hoola hoop queen. Her mother did not know, but we both learned today, with much delight, that the kids are hooping.   I have to tell you, there is so much joy in watching a little kid hoola hoop their little heart out.  This got me thinking about Hoola Hooping…..  and here is what I found on the www:

  • Hoola is actually spelled Hula.  I have been alive for 39 years, known about the hula hoop for 30+ years, and never thought it was spelled any other way than hoola.  Crazy.  For history on the Hula Hoop, check out wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hula_hoop.
  • There is an entire subculture of people dedicated to hooping. You can join one of the many communities here: http://www.hooping.org/ .  Join and find hooping friends in your area …
  • Forget Hooters girls, how ’bout a Hoola Girl??  Check this out:

I am going this weekend to get myself a hula hoop and start hooping! Great exersize that puts a smile on your face AND gives you a great body?!?    Sign me up!!!!

I Scream for Ice Cream.

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Yum yum… nothing is better in the summer time than a cup o’ ice cream.  I dont usually keep it in the house because, of course, I’ll eat it.  This is contradictory to my weight loss goals, so thus, no ice cream in the house.

However,  I did buy some ice cream, just had a scoop (small one!) .. and it was delicious.   Ice cream is so good, one of life’s simple pleasures.  I’d love to have an ice cream maker and make it myself. I hear its easy and SO MUCH FUN.

My childhood favorite was Mint ‘n Chip from Baskin Robbins.  My “new” favorite is Jamoca Almond Fudge, new being 10 years now….  If I have to buy it in the store, I prefer vanilla or cookies ‘n cream…  

Ok, I have to go to bed, I’m exhausted. Work has been too much for me lately…. I need a vacation…. or maybe a bit more ice cream.  😉

So Far So Good with Weight Loss.

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Hello all.

I know its been forever, there are so many things going on that I’m not writing about!  I will do better this month.

Good news – I’m officially down 7 pounds.  My middle has widdled(not all the way), my legs look stronger, and more importantly, I am almost ready for my beach body unveiling (which begins August 23rd).    I’d love to lose another 5 pounds before I reveal my body to the world, but for now, I’m satisfied. Ideally I’ll lose another 15, and be at my high school-college weight. 

Its interesting, because I know 7 pounds is not that big of a deal, but I am happy when I get on the scale and I see that its adjusting downward… and I feel much more confident.  Now, I just need to stand up taller and straigher… 

The beach body vacation is scheduled for the week of August 23rd. My mom and I have rented a condo, and we are going to sit by the pool, cook dinners, go shopping, get pedicures, etc..  Just relax and do nothing.  Its been a long time since either of us have done nothing, so this will be very theraputic for us. 

For those of you who have wished me luck on my NYR, thank you.   I hope you are all gaining on your goals and are feeling good about your progress.

Mouse in Hiding.

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So last Monday was a tough one.  I had an 8am call, a 9am in the office meeting, and a 7am step-over-the-gift from the cats morning…  I thought almost stepping on a cleaned-up dead mouse was bad.. but that isn’t even close to what I’m experiencing now.

The mouse I mention in my last blog?  No, not the one the cats brought to me as a gift, the other one they brought around, alive, and chased around the house.  I never received the gift….  but after a few days, I know where it is.  It is dead, under the washer or dryer, rotting.  It’s been hot at home lately (I live in No. CA), so the smell has been horrific.  I do not have the strength to move the washer or dryer by myself (believe me I have tried).  The cats dont seem to notice… its killing me.

I’m going to have a friend over tomorrow to help me move the washer and dryer, find that dead, rotting mouse body, and toss it out.  I’ll be so relieved when “it” is gone.

Not Just Your Regular Monday.

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Today was a tough Monday.  I have a lot to do at work, and 2 fewer days to get it done in – I’m taking vacation this week to visit family in Utah.   Knowing I had a lot to do, I went to bed early on Sunday evening.  And I never would have expected the Monday that I had.

First,  the cats were up very early this morning.  They were running around, chasing something.  I wanted to sleep so I put my eye pillow on and ear plugs in my ears….  and when I woke up at 7am, this is what I almost killed myeslf to NOT smash into the carpet.  Yes, you see correctly, a dead mouse. Apparently its been licked clean and was delivered at the foot of my bed with pride. 

It’s obvious it was  a great gift if soley based on the efforts of the two furry creatures that brought such a treasure to me.  The cats were exhausted from all their efforts.. here they are, sleeping. They did not stir once while I was getting ready for work.  Not at all.  They usually get up, get a bite to eat, then like to say good-bye to me.  Nope, not this morning.  It was as if they were saying “take your present, now keep it down”.

I went off to work without so much as a kiss, a lick, a look.  😦   Work was work, I’m learing a lot.  Its starting too feel not so overwhelming.  But like I’ve stated numerous times, there is a lot of work.  I end up working a bit late and eating a bag of chips for dinner.  I got home, fed the cats, got into my jammies, and started working again.

Spider In the HallwayIts been about 30 minutes, and the cats have just come into the house with another ‘prize’.  Alive.  They are/were chasing it around the house…  the poor thing has hidden itself somewhere safely and they are stalking it…. waiting for it to feel safe enough to come out, then WHAM!  In addition to this nonsense, the spiders are coming out (Spring/Summer in CA). To your left is what I found in the hallway, on my way to bed.  Yes, that is a QUARTER under the spider.  The thing is enormous.  I do not believe in killing anything, so the damn thing is still in the hall.  I’ve closed the bedroom door…. fingers crossed that it stays where it is now and doesn’t travel any closer to me…

So with a day like today, I’m going to hit the sack, and wish for a better, less active, furry day.  I need to get a good nights sleep – I have a LOT of work to do/finish up tomorrow!!

The Cat Cave.

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So, I’ve been far too busy with work AND most recently with alergies/sinuses.  All very unpleasant to talk about, so I’ve spent the last few weeks alone (because I’m not that intersting company these days).

Given this, I’ve enjoyed my “cave”. My cave is my entire home (since I don’t have to share).   We all know about this, the cave, the spot, the one place we can call our own, that we can be ourselves in.  Prior to my divorce, it was the guest room (otherwise known as the “red couch room”).  Now I have the whole house to myself.  🙂

The cats have also had the run of the house, but even though they are allowed in every room, I think they also want a place place they call home.  Its under a rose bush in the backyard.  They love hanging out there – it gives them privacy but also views of the “goings on” in the neighborhood.  

I noticed the cats love for this spot, as did a friend of mine.  Before his departure, he made sure that the cats would have room to rest in their “cat cave”…   I didn’t realize how nice it is FOR ME for the cats to have this space.. a place to call their own, a place I find them on a daily basis.  Attached is a picture of Zoey enjoying the shade of the roses on a warm summer day.

Work has been especially tough lately, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of how lucky I am that a) there is a safe spot for the cats to call their own, and b) that I have friend that made it all happen without me asking.  What a treasure.

Work Is Tough Work.

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God, I’m exhausted.  I’ve been thinking 5 full days a week for 4 full weeks.  I cannot believe that I actually signed up for this.  But I did, so I’m going to stick it out.  Here are the things I love:

  • The People. They are awesome. I’ve still not met a not-nice or politically motivated person. Everyone seems sincerely interested in the best interest of the company.
  • The Supporting Technology.  The new company has the best supporting software… for example, they use WebEx and not LiveMeeting. I cannot tell you how much easier this makes remote meetings.  From creating a meeting, joining a meeting, giving and taking presenter mode, and most of all, performance.  It truly is remarkable how much easier this makes my job.
  • Internal Systems.  Wow, what a difference. They use Fidelity for 401k, SalesForce.com for managing opportunities (customers, prospects, etc)… honestly, this makes taking care of business, personal and business so much easier.

These are just the little things that make a huge difference in my day to day life.  And it matters to me because I want to spend my time making money, not doing house-keeping…

I’m exhausted and I’m heading to bed soon.   Tonight is the first night that I’ve not worked… .I’m having a cocktail and watching recorded TV shows from the last 4 weeks (who doesn’t love 30 Rock, the Office, and Family Guy?).  I’m heading to bed in a few minutes…. exhausted but smiling.  And tomorrow I KNOW I have a full day of work… I have meetings until 5pm.. who would have thunk that this Paula would work a full Friday???

A Perfect Evening.

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So, I’m sitting outside, enjoying a beautiful sunset on my patio. I have a small patio off my dining room that has a small table, two chairs, and a few plants that a friend helped me plant.  The cats are sharing a chair, keeping each other warm  and happy.  I’m in the other chair, typing away, having a cocktail, and enjoying a gorgeous evening outside.

I live on a busy corner but traffic had died down. I’m having a cocktail to smooth out the tough (but not really that tough, more draining) day of trying to understand the ins-and-outs of a new software application.  My mind is spent in the sense that I could not have an intelligent conversation right now about anything, but not too spent to talk to my favorite folks.

My birthday is in a few days, and just like New Years, I take this event as an opportunity to learn more about myself, reshape my life,  direct it down a new path.  I turn 39….   and it feels good.  No, I’m not where I thought I would be, but where I have landed is pretty darn good.  Tonight, it is on a beautiful patio with a job I like, my darling furry feline babies kissing each other, a cocktail in hand,  a smile on my face, and a GREAT bed to fall into.  

So, tonight I toast myself, my little ladies, and my friends – for making my new life as great as it is.

If she were “your own”.

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Really?  Does a person that says this really feel that love  would feel differently if I had bore a child, delivered one out of my loin?  That because I didn’t haven’t physically given birth I’m truly unable to love a kid completely and unconditionally??

I just arrived home after an evening out with friends and friends of friends.  At my age, its common to get the “you don’t have kids?”..”wow, you are really missing out on something.” comments.   However, tonight was the night that it just pissed me off.    So, last night, when talking with a wife of a good friend of one of my best friends, I lost it.  My response was not what the wife or I expected. 

Honesly, I just fundamentally do not understand it –  why do people think “carrying and delivering” is a measure of love, and why in the world, would they think they are superior because they’ve done both (this assumes they love their kid)… It just doesn’t make any sense. So those folks who adopt kids dont know true love?   Its very flawed to think that the love for a child, the aspiration for a better life  for the kid, the US, the world CANNO be at the same depth as someone who physically delivers a kid.  I call bullshit. 

Shame on society and/or people who feel they are superior because they have ‘had’ kids.  IMO, just because they have had sex and produced offspring and are quite possibly only temporarily together (divorce rate is 50%+ these days),  they feel more deserviing of credit than the rest of us. 

SO tonight was the last night I just nodded  my head and look like I’m agreeing with the statement.  Its bullshit and I’m going to call you on it.  If you want to approach  me with the “you dont know…..” story, I’m going to give you an earfull.  It will start with a “You are dillusional”…. “pull your head out of your ass”…  “so love for a child is measured on child birth? … what about all those folks that adopt?”  

There is something to be said for those of us who who love kids that are already on this planet like one of our own.

So, while the rest of you explain to me why the love I feel for my neice is “different” because I didn’t give birth to her, I’m booking my ticket home to see “my kid”, her family, and visit the place I call home.

It’s Just You?.

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“It’s Just You?

This is the question I get from everyone who comes over to my house. The  house I rent.  I absolutely love the house I live in – Its a gorgeous, 1800 sq ft, 3bdr-1bath Craftsman home in the Barrio.  I am, for all intensive purposes, the whitest person you will meet. Not only do I have zero color,  I do NOT speak Spanish (as hard as I might try, its no good… someday I will share a couple of stories on my attempts….).   I am not the norm in the neighborhood, I already ‘stick out’ if you will.  So, its not odd that I get a question or two about where  I live, how I live, etc, its the reaction I recieved this evening that I found particularly interesting.

So, this evening was a girls get-together. I’m lucky that I have such great girlfriends in my life, and we meet on a fairly regular basis, about once every 3 months.  There are always 6-8 of us, and of course, we all love to catch up with the “goings-on” in each others’ lives.  Honestly, I’m so lucky to know ladies like these…

Anyway, I get home this evening and a car is blocking my driveway.  Not in a 6 -12 inches past the curb, but literally, a car (White older model Toyota Celica) in the full length of my driveway.  Tonight was the night I lost it, pushed to the end, where my patience with humanity ended (for the time being).   I called the police to have the car towed (which I don’t like to do – IMO public servants are here for emergency purposes, not for domestice disturbances/disputes).  Now, since I live in the barrio, I often let it ride… let it slide… don’t make a big deal about it because I do not want to be ‘tagged’, wake up with grafiti on my fence, or worse yet, be tagged for a criminal act (rape, burglury, etc.).

SIDENOTE: Zoey just came in with weeds, slugs, and grass all over her.  She has obviously had a good time rolling about the yard this evening.

SIDENOTE 2:  Tow-truck is here. I can see the flashing lights and hear the engine working to back up to get a good position…  oohhh, I can hear the tow truck guy talking to the cop, they are friends… yeah for me, someone is looking out for me. Two strangers, yes, but better than nobody!

Back to the point of this story. I call the police because I’ve reached the breaking point -I cannot pull into my driveway.. and I pay a lot of money to live in the house  IN the Barrio.  Cop shows up almost immediately…  and asks me, no less than 3 times… “Its just you?  Just you? Are you sure its just you?”..  I say yes, I rent the house, no family in the basement… yes, my driveway…  yes, i called.. no, there is no family members in the basement..”.. on and on.  I bring this up because he has got to be the 100th person to ask me, “It’s just you?”…   My first response for quite some time  was, “well, me and the cats”, but that didn’t work well.  Answering with a simple “Yes” is the best choice… .

Why is it so strange that a single woman with two cats live in a house (vs. a condo) by herself?  Yes, the house has more space than I need, but its not like I had much choice. I would love to rent a 2bdr, 1ba home… they just are few and far between.  And I’m glad I have a 3bdr – I have an office (which I use as paper storage mostly) and a guest room for all the friends and family that come and stay with me.  I love when people visit me, so I do love having the space for them to feel comfortable, spread out in.

Now that I’m reading my own post, I realize that I’ve not really made a point here (and the tow truck is still outside so I think I’m really just trying to look busy).  I guess if I have to make a point, my point is, Single people have rights too, and sometimes those rights include living in a house that may appear like a lot of space, but that is o.k..  It is just me.  And the cats.  And we deserve to live fabulously.