Flower and Leaf

Here's a sampling of my amateur photography...

Yuppyville

I'm getting a bit too close to being a yuppie than I'm comfortable with. I recently got an iPod nano to listen to music while I'm riding my Ninja. I also decided that I need to get my body condition into better shape, so I researched and found a gym that I love. When I go to the gym, I take my iPod, just like EVERYONE else! As I was walking back to my car today, I just had a hard time accepting what a yuppie I've become.

Let me tell you about this gym...it rocks. It's got like a hundred weight machines and another hundred cardio machines. It's got 4 raquetball courts, basketball court, various exercise classes (I took the Pilates class last Monday, and I'm STILL sore), really nice and clean locker rooms with a sauna inside each locker room, heated indoor pool, hot tub, and more! I love it. Even though I'm not in good shape, I still feel comfortable there because people keep to themselves, so I don't feel pressure, and there are a lot of average people that go.

All in all, I'm having fun. I hope y'all are, too.

Happy Birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WHISKEY GIRL!!!

Today is my sister's birthday!! I love her!!!!

Okay, here are the pictures as requested. 3 sections and 2 other sections are the same size, so that the shelves can be moved around among them. I also ordered extra poles so I can convert more sections into hanging because this closet was pretty much designed with just me in mind.

Progress has been made.

Well, I've finished painting my closet. I chose Slate blue. It's really pretty. It's a tad darker than I imagined, but with white trim, ceiling, and shelving, I don't think it'll be a problem. It'll also look good with the brushed nickel hardware I chose to match the faucets in the bathroom. As far as the boxes go, I got 11 of th 13 up by myself. The last two are these long vertical panels that have to be carried up one at a time. For the moment, I'm just bringing one up with me everytime I go up the stairs. I only have 5 more trips to make! I'm looking forward to having all this done.

UPDATE: I've finished!!! Woohoo!!! I started putting all my clothes back in my closet, and I feel as though I have a brand new room!

Kids are so funny...

This past weekend we had a birthday party for one of my two nieces. The family hanged around their house until their bedtime. I was sittin' on the couch next to my 3-year-old niece, sippin' my sweet tea, when she pipes up and says so matter-of-fact, "Aunt Joy, how many times do I have to tell you not to drink while you're wearing your hair!?!" We all cracked up.

I love her; she's such a silly goose!

one step at a time

It's happening one step at a time. I've hit a second wind on decorating my home. I bought and hung a new light. I converted a chandelier into a swag lamp. That was fun, I felt like an electrician. I even installed the switch!

I finally decided on the design for the shelving in my closet and ordered it. I used www.easyclosets.com. I like this company; they're very helpful when you call, and it's cheaper than hiring a closet design company. Last night and this morning I ripped out the old wire shelves, and this evening I just finished spackling all the holes left. Now I have to choose a color to paint the walls before installing the new shelves. Actually, I welcome the delay because the shelves were delivered in 13 boxes, and a few of those are 70+ lbs AND those have to go up to the THIRD FLOOR!! yikes!

My Valentine was...

ME! I know, I know...so cheesy for a single gal. I've never had a real Valentine before, so this year, I bought myself flowers, the ones you see above.

I gave Valentine's cards to my mom and to my dad & stepmom. I received a homemade card from my dad. He's a good daddy!

P.S. Take note of the dog in the background...don't he look comfy?

hiya!

I'm surprised I remember the password to the Dashboard!

I have been so busy! If I'm not working my butt off to meet 13 deadlines in one week, then I'm babysittin'. And in the rare occasion I'm not doing either one of those, I'm entertaining guests at both my house and Mom's.

And to throw in some more fun, Titan got wicked sick. But I think he's seein' the end of it. I had to stay home all day yesterday so I could rush him out the door when the occasion called...and it did...many times.

Well, I'll be in this mode for another couple months, then I'll come up for some air and go up to help where I can with Nate and Who's move to the great state of Tennessee.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

What does this mean?

You scored as Republican. <'Imunimaginative's Deviantart Page'> Anarchism 83% Republican 83% Fascism 42% Socialist 33% Green 33% Nazi 25% Democrat 0% Communism 0% What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In? created with QuizFarm.com

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Momma! I love you!

Do I love this?

OH! yes. I do. I now have cable internet again. I've been living with dialup for over a year now since I returned from Colombia. But now all is right with the world again! Have a good day, you guys, 'cause I know I am!

Record Highs

Today we're supposed to reach record highs in the Atlanta area. Thus far the record is from like 1918, I think, at 77 degrees. Today we're supposed to reach about 80. Too bad I don't have time to go ride my bike today.

Wow.

This has been a very long month. We have had houseguests since October 1, and the last one just left today! This is why I've not been online much to chat or post. But at last, life will be returning to some level of normalcy soon.

So I've now officially been blogging for a year. Wow, think about it. It's been 10 months since I returned home from Colombia. It hardly seems possible. Yes, I still credit that "Y'all were right". Though, I still hold to the truth that if I hadn't gone to Colombia, I'd still be questioning "what if" like I had been doing ever since I was 16 years old. It took me almost a decade to get that idiocy out of my head. And now I feel robbed of those 9 years. I don't believe I have learned much from the experiences of my various trips south of the border, but the one thing I learned was that I wish I had never gotten that craziness in my head from the beginning. But all the wishing in eternity wouldn't get me anywhere, so I move on.

Nate finally got to see Little Red. And my helmet came in on Saturday. It's sweet. Everybody's first reaction to seeing me drive up on my bike is "I didn't recognize you!" It's probably because I finally found a way to make myself sexy enough to be notice. (No, I'm not cutting myself down, but merely recognizing that sometimes a girl has to work at it.) Along those lines, how come is it that I get more attention from guys when I look nasty, like super nasty. Rememer when mechanic dude asked me out? Yeah, that day, I was wearing clothes that not only had I worn the day before, but ALSO slept in! Hair was pulled up and gross, and no makeup. But it seems when I put effort into looking nice, guys seem to ignore me. Maybe it's when I'm not looking good that I'm more self-conscience, and therefore take notice when someone notices me. I dunno.

Right now I'm a happy girl though. I got a quiet house, full tummy, and a dog lying on his bed in front of a fire, albeit a gas fire, but nonetheless, a fire (less effort, just a flip of a switch). Speaking of Titan, this dog is SO spoiled! I'm taking him up to TN for Jeb's birthday, and I am bringing his kennel and bed for him to sleep in Nate's parents' garage, but being that it's starting to get cold at night, I'm bringing an electric space heater to put next to his bed. See?! He's spoiled. But I only do this because he has NO FUR! The dog is bald on his undercarriage. He starts shivering if it drops below 45 degrees. I feel sorry for him. I've raised him indoors, so it's not fair to him to suddenly stick him outside for a cold night. Yeah, I spoil him, but I don't have a boyfriend or anyone else to distract me, so he gets my attention.

Ok, I've gotten a decent start on catch-up, so I'm quitting for now...bye!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is MY birthday! I turn 26 today. I'm officially in my "upper 20s". I think I deserve a treat, too.

Happy Birthday!!

Today is Titan's 3rd Birthday!! WooHoo!! He deserves a treat!

It's FALL!!!

It's official! It's now Fall! This makes me very, very happy. I love Fall. It's by far my mostest favoritest season of all. Last year I only got to see the very last three days of Fall. That's it! Only 1, 2,...3 days! So it's been 2 years since I've been able to see the change of color in the trees, and watch the leaves fall, and see new wardrobes coming out. Have I mentioned that I like Fall?

long time, no post

Well, it has been a while, hasn't it? I apologize. Kinda goes to show there ain't much accountability over the internet.

Updates. Work has been busy. This is our season for revising/writing books. My mom/boss is an author, and she revises her books once every year or so. That means now we're revising 3 books and writing a 4th one. Deadlines are passing like crazy. Author Firsts are just now getting going good, and Author Seconds are already creeping up on us.

I've been spending a lot of time with my nieces. I get to go up and babysit them at least once a week. It is the highlight of my workweek. I love being an aunt. It has to be one of the best positions in a family. I get to spoil them with gifts, I love to buy clothes for them, help out with their daily routines when I happen to be there, like meals, baths and bedtime, and when they get fussy, just pass 'em back to Mom or Dad. And I've learned that if Mom and Dad aren't around, they aren't nearly as fussy, and we get to have a good time all day long.

I've not been on my bike nearly as much as I'd like. I get out about once a week. Yesterday was the first time I used it to actually go somewhere specific. I met up with a girlfriend for a movie and dinner, we went to Macaroni Grill and then to see Must Love Dogs. It was fun. What I didn't account for was that I'd be driving back at night, and I only had a shaded visor. I really need to get a new helmet, one with various visors and that matches the bike. I feel like a dork riding around in nonmatching attire. I also want a tailbag. I've found a couple bags online that I like. But I'm still at a loss for what kind of helmet to get at a decent price.

Well, that's all I've got for now. I'll come up with something more later when I find the time again.

The wave.

So all you riders out there, I need some help.

Now, I know that there's this rule about wavin' to other riders. Now what are the conditions of this rule? I know that there's no prejudice about the type of bike rider you're waving to. Do you wave to the guy stopped at a red light in the other direction? Someone who passes you? [Yes, people still pass me, remember I'm a newbie.] Do you vary your wave based on the type of bike rider you're waving to? I've noticed other riders waving at me, they never lift their hand above their elbow. Is that standard? expected? Is it odd if I do a Queen Mother wave to them? hehe.

Tell me, what are the rules?