Monday, November 23, 2009

Home Sweet Home

I always knew I didn't feel like our apartment was home. It's nice enough. I like the two bathrooms. And the kitchen's not so bad. But I'm just not at home there. It's a little too small, Ben has no place to garden, I'm a 1/2 hour away from any viable shopping center... and the list goes on.

I have had visions of hope for moving. I first thought Ben and I might buy a home here. But then we decided that we shouldn't. Even if we're here for 2 more years, it just doesn't make enough monetary sense to us at this point. And then, for a brief couple days I thought maybe we'd move from Ohio altogether. Nope. We're here. Probably for a couple more years.

Are you seriously telling me I have to stay couped up in this little apartment for two more years!?!? Of course I don't! So, I'm lobbying for a move. Ben's a sucker for a lawn. And double bonus (in the only way this could possibly be seen as a bonus) -- we have another mouse. GROSS! And who wants to stay in a mousy apartment? I mean, really.

I can just taste victory. I'm already doing the happy dance in the living room of our new rented single family unit in my mind.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

A bright morning with a brooding glow

Today I woke up to good news -- my hair looks soft and luxuriously silky. Sweet. These days are rare for me and are days to be treasured.

Despite my good fortune, I still find myself riddled with angst. And here I am, sitting in my office, feeling it fester. As I think it over, I realize my angst could be caused by many things. In the police line-up of fester-causing offenders, I eye the many likely suspects --

Suspect #1 -- my mother ever-so-gingerly asked me on the phone yesterday if I was planning on starting a family. I DO mean every so gingerly. She's often ginger about sensitive topics. But it makes me think that this is something I should be anticipating and planning somehow. I realize she has some expectation in this regard. Yipes.

Suspect #2 -- I keep brooding over the fact that my friend has a treadmill she wants to give away and I, who would be delighted to take it off her hands and have dreamed of having a treadmill at home for years, have nowhere to put it in our little apartment. For the love.

Suspect #3 -- Ben's final estimate for completing his car (which we have been much anticipating) finally came in and is going to make us part with a big chunk of our savings if we want to finish the car (which we do). I hate parting with money. Especially for cars. If I have to spend it, I'd rather spend it on a fabulous vacation.

Suspect #4 -- the many things that battle for my free time -- more school (I just found out my employer, a university, has an MBA program for part-timers. Who wouldn't want a free MBA degree?). Getting back into community theater -- that would make me more happy than more school, probably. But it wouldn't make me as marketable. But then there is YW and then I wouldn't have enough time for that. Or I could take cooking classes. I could also benefit from working out more or... I feel like I should know by now what would make me most happy. I feel as though I have some right, at my fabulously mature 30 years, to do what would most make me happy. Right? But it's harder than it sounds.

Suspect #5 -- I miss the dress business. Terribly. How fabulous that project was. I would really like to be spending my free time on that. And I can't yet. The truth is hard sometimes.

Suspect #6 -- I haven't traveled somewhere cool since my honeymoon and I think that's too long.

The desire to live life to its fullest and cram it as full as possible seem to be synonymous for me. And when I'm not, or confused about how, I get the ensuing angst. What am I going to do? I'm going to get to work. I had a day off yesterday and I think it threw me off. Back to the grind I love/hate. I'll work on shaking down and interrogating these suspects later.

My one solace -- at least I'm taking the time to learn Spanish during my commute. The dream of my 3 month sabbatical in South America honing mi espanol is not dead. Even if it's not realistic. :)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Back on NBC....bringing it home!

So, several of my friends have accused me of sleeping with Brian Williams (I don't) or selling my body for this kind of PR (I didn't...but I would) and alas, we were back on NBC.

The video is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#33610789

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Results Are In for Crest Advanced Seal White Strips

A few weeks ago I decided to indulge myself and, especially since I had a coupon, purchased a packet of Crest Advanced Seal White Strips. Ah, good old vanity. I have done teeth whitening once before. However, I wasn't sure last time how well they worked. All I knew is that they made my teeth incredibly sensitive. I hate that.

BUT, I like white teeth. So, I decided this time to do my due diligence and take "BEFORE" and "AFTER" photos. Crest Advanced Seal White Strips take 14 days. For those of you who don't know, that is an ENTIRE HALF OF A MONTH. I rarely commit to anything for that long. As I suspected, and though I tried to fight it, I just couldn't do the strips for 14 consecutive days. It probably took me a good 3 1/2 weeks to actually finish all 14 days worth of strips. I don't know how that may have affected my results. In any case here they are:


BEFORE



AFTER



Not bad, eh? I'll consider myself satisfied. So, there you go -- an unbiased review of Crest Advanced Seal White Strips. Now, what I don't know is if they are any better than the white strips that were 15 bucks cheaper right next to them on the store counter. Perhaps I'll look into that in another 6 months or so. I don't know. I really HATE the process of whitening my teeth. What I sacrifice in the name of beauty!

Side note: I have meant to post these results for a week or so, but I do find it a bit tragic that I am upstaging Jefe's really cool post (see below) so soon. You all should totally check out the video. I did. And as I am clearly a sucker for a good cause, I am now providing food for a cute orphan in Afghanistan every month. So, what I'm really trying to say is,"Watch at your own risk." Congrats on the organization's recognition, Jefita. That is just really cool.:)