Blogtastic Monday

A couple of weeks of blogging down, and I’m still at it [pats self on back].
I’ve browsed a few other blogs—looking to get the lay of the land—and I’ve come to the conclusion that there are a few genres of blogs that truly get under my skin:

Keep in mind that these are merely observations and opinions…

Today's Promise Message

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

                                                                                                    - Douglas H. Everett

Today's Thought

Pretension almost always overdoes the original, and hence exposes itself.

                                                                                                   -Hosea Ballou

A World of Thanks (Part Two)

It's exactly 11:49pm. Which means by the time I get done writing this, it will most likely be
Thanksgiving!

I'm running on fumes, so gotta keep part two a lot shorter than one...
Again, in no particular order:

More things I'm thankful for:

• My family (both immediate and extended)...hopefully I will be able to spend some time with a few that I haven't seen in years tomorrow
• My upcoming family. In particular, my soon-to-be niece, who is due in the next two weeks
• My job (First one I've loved since I moved back)
• My vehicle (It isn't flashy, but it's paid for and has NO major mechanical malfunctions)
• My Finances (I'm not retiring nor pulling an Eat, Pray, Love anytime soon, but I can't remember the last time it ran negative, either)
• Black Friday (although I wish fewer people appreciated this thrifty, albeit chaotic, day--it'd be easier for me!)
• The innate gifts of articulation, preparedness, level-headedness, wit (and humility, evidently, tsk tsk)
• What has been deemed "the most comfortable couch in the world" by many people, without prompt
• My completely wonderful boyfriend (and his amazing family)
• The Internet (silly, yes, but it keeps me connected to friends across the globe sooo easily!)
• The laptop aforementioned boyfriend bought me for my bday AND my legit Internet access
• FB and, more specifically, its "block" feature (see Internet for further clarification)
• The digital camera. No more printing and throwing away pics with your thumb in the viewfinder. I just wish they were more readily available when Kiera was a baby
• The most fun and loyal friends a girl could ask for
• 70+ degree temps in Memphis this week (this shall pass in less than a day)
• Votivo candles
• Lemondrop martinis
• The Melting Pot
• Diet Coke
• Taco Bell
• Michael Buble and music in general
• Chocolate
• The cave, complete with super plush king-size bed
• My beautiful Christmas decor, which shall be put up on Saturday (!!!)
• Gossip Girl
• Coach
• The view of T's metal roof, as I drive over the hill to his house
• Each and every day Hellcats does not air
• Love
• Forgiveness
• Inner-peace
• Strength
• Mexican food
• Charitable kindness (yes, I give and you should too!)
• The Southaven Police Dept
• Organ doners
• The final Twilight book and movie (note the word "final")
• And, lastly, my being made the "rolls, plates and soda" girl at tomorrow's gatherings ;) (It's not that I can't cook, but my family loves me and understands the limitations of my time).

It's official, Happy Thanksgiving.
May you and yours be blessed throughout the holiday season and thereafter.

xoxo
Bonnie

Maxine Knows Best

A World of Thanks (Part One)

It’s Thanksgiving Week!

Yes, we get two days off of work. Yes, there’ll be turkey and dressing aplenty. And yes, we will participate in the madness otherwise known as Black Friday.

But I, for one, also plan on taking time to denote the “Thanks” in Thanksgiving by showcasing a couple of the things I am most grateful for in a series of blogs (and in no particular order). We won’t hit everything, of course, but then we probably never could.

To begin, I’m soooo thankful for:

• My amazing kiddo. I don’t know another family where mom and daughter thoroughly enjoy one another’s company the way we do. We have the same sense of humor and she is so sharp and witty—it’s like having an adult companion that you can still make do chores. (We’re sooo Gilmore Girlesque.)
  Aside from this, she is a great kid. I don’t have to check her phone, call her friends’ houses to ensure she’s there or otherwise worry about her being sneaky. Her grades and conduct are always good, and she’s never in trouble. I know there are people who will say, “My Mom didn’t know what I was doing at her age either,” but trust me…I am watching. And there is not a single alarm going off. This kid is stellar. And yes, I do take a little credit for this. After all, I did mold her singlehandedly.
• The good health of the people I love. I have recently befriended a woman who is in Stage 3 of terminal cancer, and she is one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. When I’m thinking about complaining about my achy knee or a headache, I just stop, gain a little perspective and shut my trap. If she can remain positive while undergoing bone marrow biopsies and chemotherapy, certainly I can endure a headache! And, in honor of my friend and in her name, I will be donating blood on Thanksgiving Day. I’ll already be full of aforementioned turkey and dressing, which only minimizes the chance that I’ll pass out! It’s a win-win situation!
•  Desert. That woman mentioned above ^, we had lunch last week. And she said, “I’m getting dessert.” And I thought, “Girl, you had better get dessert. You so deserve dessert.” This also inspires me to burn the good candles (Votivo), wear my sexy underwear (Victoria’s Secret) and enjoy my own dessert (counting calories is for wimps!). The perfect day for those things is today—when better to enjoy than at the peak of your health and good fortune?
• Jason’s Deli. Well, while I was writing about my being grateful for desert, Jason’s Deli stopped by with a pumpkin coffee cake. It’s huge, and it looks delicious, so Thank You, Jason’s Deli!!!. :)

(++)

Blogging

In general, I'd say I'm pretty technologically savvy.
However, this blogspot has me feeling completely lost.
I felt the same way when I created my FB account, and now I can navigate through it with no problems.
I know it's just going to take some time (which is limited right now) and some patience (which is limited always), and I'll get it under my belt.

Now if I can just help my friends figure out how to "follow" me!
It's late...that'll be a task for another day. :)

Happy Blogging, Y'all!

Dove Promises

I have a coworker who puts Dove chocolates on my desk daily. Anyone who knows me knows I have an insatiable sweet tooth, and Dove chocolates are delish. Mmmmm.

I do love my daily chocolate fix. But I also love my "Dove Promises," those cute,  insightful sayings on the inside of the wrapper. Last week I opened one that said, "Remember your first everything." The timing of this particular "promise" couldn't have been more profound, as I had reunited with both my childhood best friend and 1st boyfriend via Facebook just days earlier. Purely coincidental.

Today's "promise" read:
Don't think about it too much.

The timing of this is not at all of consequence, as I am always over-analyzing everything.
I play scenarios out in my head, considering every possible outcome and how to combat even the most dire of these. Some would say it's a compulsion, but I consider it preparedness. Whether it be a vacation mishap, an unexpected financial strain or a relationship gone awry, I know, without doubt, I will prevail.
Thanks for the head's up, Dove, but I rather like being a step ahead of the game!

Not-so-Patiently Waiting

The radio stations have begun playing Christmas music. My favorite stores have winter wonderlands on display. Botanical Gardens has opened  its gingerbread village, and I began buying Christmas gifts months ago. But I refuse--absolutely refuse--to accept Christmas this early in the year.

Yes, I feel behind the curve (many of my friends have already given in). Yes, I am eager (soooo eager!). Yes, I am extremely excited to open my maaaany boxes of Christmas decor (those boxes feel like gifts in themselves as I rarely remember what I own).

But I am practicing the art of patience. Beautiful, albeit limited, patience.
[Sigh]

Ten days. A mere ten days. :)

[!!!]

I have determined that the broiler feature in the oven is clearly meant for someone with a greater attention span than my own.

Nashvegas + Garth = :D

Yes: Three times in 24 hours.
Great start, right?
Eventually this blogging bit will be habit...just gotta stay with it.

I had amazing things waiting for me in the mailbox today: Garth Brooks tickets.

Okay, they weren't a surprise or anything. I paid for 'em. I knew they were on the way. Still, getting that unmarked white envelope in the mailbox always puts a smile on my face.

This smile is only intensified by the fact that it's Garth.
Garth!

And it's close. And inexpensive. And the seats are good. And did I mention that 100% of the proceeds go to the victims of the Nashville floods?
Ironically, the last (and one and only other) time I saw Garth, it was in Los Angeles, and 100% of those profits benefitted the victims of the San Diego wildfires.

As I told a friend on FB:
I move. Disaster follows. Then Garth.
Coincidence? Doubtful.

Now I'm not saying Baby Jesus is creating disasters simply so I may have the opportunity to see Garth.
That would be silly.
What I am saying is that perhaps Garth is chosing which disasters to support based on their proximities to me. [smirk.]

Seven shows on Christmas week and not a dime in profits, now that's the Christmas spirit.
Someone get this man a Humanitarian Award. And my phone number. I need some backstage passes.

Monday's Thought for the Day

Great Minds Discuss Ideas
Average Minds Discuss Events
Small Minds Discuss People.

Off the Wagon

So yes, I've fallen off the wagon. Metaphorically speaking, of course. No, this isn't some AA intervention; you'll find no colored tags here: I'm talking about the blog wagon.

More than a year ago, I was determined to stay up-to-date with the quirky, interesting, and humerous happenings of my crazy, beautiful life, and man was that short lived! In fact, I had forgotten I had a blog page altogether until a friend mentioned running across it.

"Me?" I said. "Are you sure?"
Evidently.

So here I am again. One job, one boyfriend, one year later. Same amazing life, different decade. Okay, yes it's only a year, but technically a different decade. And the fact that I cannot even remember having written that last blog only makes the phrase "different decade" seem more appropriate. So let's give this yet another try: no promises, no expectations, just the opportunity to hear and be heard.

On that note...I have a follower. Yes, an actual follower.
It's the beginning of my fan club. My virtual fan club. Yippeee!

Truth be told, it's rather random to have a follower when I've not posted to the blog, nor have I attempted to search for and/or connect with anyone on the forum. But still, nonetheless, I have a follower. So much better to be a leader than a follower, in my opinion.

Hello: Mr(s) Follower.

Please stand in front of the class and introduce yourself.
We're all friends here. Well, mostly all of us.

More soon...
(++) As my friend James T. would write.