Random thoughts right now

There's a possibility of a wintry mix in a couple of days. My weather people do not need to taunt me. I love snow. I want snow.

I accomplished a small feat this weekend: I made a yellow cake from scratch. Doesn't sound that big? Oh but it is. I LOVE to bake. Love, love, love it. And I make everything from scratch. Except for yellow cakes. Everybody knows when a birthday cake is what's needed, you get a box. A cake from a box is ALWAYS the way to go. Always moist and delightful. But, I wanted to prove to myself I could make one. So I made one. And I made a cream cheese pound cake. Two yummy birthday cakes for Patrick's 26th. AND? Both turned out great. I was so excited.

I want to write for a magazine. I want to write a novel. I want to write for the rest of my life. I want to be an accomplished writer. I want people to know who I am.

New Year

It really is hard to believe it's now 2008. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a stellar year.

In '07 I really got to do some things I've been wanting to do. I honed my skills in the kitchen big time. I became a better, more diverse cook. I increased my love for baking (and my repertoire!). I think overall I started eating a bit healthier.

I continued exercising and running, thought not to the extent that I would like.

Perhaps most exciting for me, I really really dove back into reading. I've always considered myself a reader, but I'd definitely strayed from regular reading, and I was missing it. I read some great stuff: The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird, We the Living. I've regained my thirst for books.

This year, there are several things I'd like to see happen. But whenever you start playing the planning game, life has a funny way of changing course. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what life holds in store.

Music is my escape

Music really is my escape. It's my therapy. Better than any stiff stranger in a chair in a stuffy office. Better than junk food. Better than a long drive to nowhere. Better than your advice.

I can get lost in it, I can fall into it, I can forget myself, I can remember myself. I can go somewhere new, I can return somewhere old. I can experience anew, I can revisit the past.

I link music to my mood. I attach it to memories, to times, to people, to places. I can conjur up feelings of a specific moment with the notes of a specific song. It's like nothing else.

Right now I'm listening to Paramore. I'm loving it. It's more powerful than a drug.

Christmas lessons learned

I still love Christmas with all my heart, nearly as much as when I was a kid.

I can do Christmas affordably after all. Not everybody needs a present.

Baking is quickly becoming one of my favorite pasttimes. And I can make a mean pound cake.

Presents with meaning can be so much better than big presents or expensive presents. A new journal is one of my favorites.

The feeling of giving, as cliched as I know it sounds, truly surmounts that of getting. Knowing you gave a gift someone appreciates is priceless.

Shopping at the last minute is a bad idea.

The only place open on Christmas Day is CVS. If you need more than a half gallon of milk, some aspirin and a gift bag, don't count on it.

Despite my persistant fear of seafood, I can be brave and try crab dip. Go me.

I LOVE newly discovered sweet potato casserole. Like, really really love it. A lot.

The life

This week I had my first ever massage, facial and mani-pedi combo. And let me just say, wow... UNbelievable. Best experience ever. Seriously. It was wonderful. And now my toes are a festive shade of red!

I can't believe it's the Christmas weekend. I can't believe the year is drawing to a close. I can't believe 2007 has come and gone and passed us by. It really seems like just yesterday that Patrick and friends and I were standing with glasses of champagne in hand downtown ringing in the new year. I hope I took in the year like I should have. I hope I accomplished all I should have. I think it was a good year. It wasn't one of those pivotal, earth-shattering, life-altering years like 2005 was for me. But it had its fair share of goings on. I joined my church and became more active. I held a part-time job for about half the year. I got to see my best friend since childhood marry a wonderful man. I got to see another terrific friend get engaged. I had many, many great days, nights, weekends, trips, get-togethers with friends throughout the year. I went on job interviews. All in all, not too shabby.

As for Christmas, it's already been wonderful. I can't wait to spend the next few days with Patrick and family and friends. Feliz navidad!

Stuff

Four performances of the Passion Play down over the span of the weekend. Very exciting. Exciting to have participated. Exciting to sing beautiful songs. Exciting so many people attended. Exciting it went well. Exciting to be DONE.

I fall in love with Drew's Blues cafe every time I eat there. The ambience is just so cool, so casual, so nifty. And the food? Delectable.

This weekend was great. It doesn't get much better than spending time with the ones you love. Cheesy, I know, but whatever.

I'm so excited about my new project at work I can hardly stand it. Pressure is on. I hope I can deliver.

I could seriously sit in my living room with the Christmas tree lights on and Christmas carols playing for hours and be happy. Or driving around looking at lights. Or basically doing anything Christmas-y.

I can make a yummy chicken, cheesy, nacho dish. Seriously. You should try it.

Also, why does it not feel like winter right now? I mean, come on, I walk outside in short sleeves and I'm WARM. What gives? It's December. Feel like December already.

I'm reading a great book right now. Not much beats the satisfaction of good reading.

Love/hate

Things I love about this weekend:
-Mel's sister Kate coming into town.
-Attending the Singing Christmas Tree at First Baptist. Seriously, it doesn't get much better than an hour and a half of beautiful songs and a message of grace.
-Putting up the Christmas tree.
-Purchasing blueberry cobbler-flavored coffee creamer. Mmm...
-Getting my silver bracelet cleaned and fixed...FOR FREE.
-And last but certainly not least, hearing Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer for the first time this season. Ha!


Things I do NOT love about this weekend:
-Crappy service at one of my favorite restaurants in town. Dude, I waited tables for years; it's not that hard to put a smile on your face and TRY to act like you give a damn about your tables' needs.
-Paying bills.
-Missing Samuel's first birthday. He's basically like a nephew to me. What a crappy almost-aunt I am.
-Washing sweaters by hand. Yuck.
-Not seeing the significant other as much as I'd like.
-And did I mention paying bills? Bills suck.