An opinion please...

Please ignore for a moment that this is a teeny picture and I totally edited her hair to make it brown instead of blonde...

I have been debating a new haircut.  That being said, I could be easily convinced to go for the just-a-trim-because-I'm-growing-it-out route.  But I think that this may be a cute option.  My adoring husband won't vote, because he says it should be 'whatever I want'.  But I'm just a big ol' girl when it comes to these things and I need some honest opinions (and no, this is not shameless comment pandering!).

I'll take my Lincoln Towncar now please.

I have officially joined the league of old lady drivers everywhere.  

Let me preface the explanation with a few facts...

I love my car.

The Sentra usually gets anywhere from 28-32 mpg.

Today on a road trip from Hoover to Mobile (and back again) I got an impressive 36 miles per gallon!

Wanna know how I did it?

I drove the speed limit.

Wild, isn't it?

I usually max out around 78-80 mph while on the interstate.  I never drive over 80 (intentionally).  So pulling back to 70 mph was not a drastic cut-back.  But because I did cut back I made it from 60 miles South of Montgomery to my apartment on a quarter of a tank!

Crazy, huh?

Do I wear the orange hat with the green scarf or the blue beret with the gold broach?

Our trip to London is quickly approaching and I must admit my biggest concern (now that the flight and B&B is booked) is what to wear! The last time I traveled over seas it was to Italy and Greece, and lets face it, I had no hopes of fitting in there! Too pale and too low fashion. Everywhere we went it was 'American? I can help you!' Not Canadian, Australian or even British... American. I'm not saying that I'm not 'proud to be an American', but there is something to be said for submersing yourself in a culture and... not sticking out like a sore thumb! Now finally I'm going to a place that pale skin and frizzy hair isn't too abnormal. Finally!

The travel book that Luke picked out suggests bringing all types of clothing (year round). This way, you may dress for the temperature and not be perceived as a rude American, by complaining about it being too hot or too cold. I get it. That's a great idea. But I have this little thing that I like to call 'over-packers disease'. Once I get started I can't stop! Some where deep down I think that I am part boyscout or something. I can't stand not 'being prepared'. I have to have a sweater in summer and short-sleeves in winter. I'll definitely need my dressy jeans and my casual jeans... my skinny pants and my I-had-one-too-pints-at-that-last-pub pants... But where does it end? I also have to take into consideration that I have to get through security/customs twice (each way). Fortunately I don't have a wardrobe entirely comprised of liquids and gels, but still... my blow dryer looks like a weapon! Speaking of which I need to get an outlet converter or else I really will be aiming a deadly weapon at my head...

I really want to go shopping for new things. I want to get a new hair cut. But then again I want to save my money for the trip! What is a girl to do? I may have one idea...

Quotable Quotes

I just picked up a copy of Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.  After the dedication and before the prologue there are a couple of quotes, one of which I just love.  It got me thinking.  What are some of your favorite quotes?

Here's the one that I read:

"You don't need to leave your room,

Remain sitting at your table and listen.

Don't even listen, simply wait.

Don't even wait.

Be quite still and solitary.

The world will freely offer itself to you.

To be unmasked, it has no choice.

It will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

-Franz Kafka

10 things... that bring me joy!

So in order to follow up that miserable pity party I have decided to make my own twist on my recent 'tag' of "ten things you may or may not know about me".

1. I am amazingly blessed to have married the love of my life.  He is loving, caring, forgiving and most importantly in recent months... tolerant.  I'll be the first to admit that I have had basket-case tendencies in the past few months.  He has managed to put up with discussions about my job, our future, where we'll live, and, in general 'our paths'.  What can I say,  I've been slightly obsessed.

2. Our families.  I have been very fortunate to find that my mother and sister are two of the best friends I've ever had.  We're silly together.  We shop together.  We can ever share a few margaritas and bitch together.  And besides, they're family... they have to put up with me.  And not to brag, but I think I may have the best in-laws that the world has ever known.  E is hilarious, loquacious, and admirable.  Truly a great friend and ally. H is sweet, caring and overall just a good guy.  He makes me feel that I am really his daughter.  And T, well, its fun having a kid brother.

3. Our fantastically fat Kitten (pictured above in his newly acquired Montgomery Biscuits souvenir helmet).  We have had many self-proclaimed 'not cat people' people tell us how awesome he is... and he is.  Mr. Sullivan is fluffy, fat and fabulous.  He is much more like a dog than any cat I've ever met.  He greets me at the door, begs for food and even lets me pet his belly.  By far, my favorite thing that he does is nuzzling my arm and falling asleep in my lap.  Second to that is his 'flop' (nuzzling my feet and then collapsing to the floor... I can't do the cuteness justice).

4. Our trip to England.  I am so excited to share a little piece of Europe with my beau.  As long as my vacation days work out, we will be leaving in mid May and have just under a week to see all we can see of London (and because we are dorks... Cardiff).  Luke has been to London before, but he was a teenager... so no pubs... so he hasn't really been to London.  I've been to Italy and Greece.  But it will be nice to go a country that speaks our native language, sort of.  

5. Our friends.  We certainly don't see our friends nearly as often as we would like, but they are a source of joy in my life none the less.  We were blessed to have some concurrent vacation time and were able to go to Montgomery for the Biscuits opener.  Although it makes me very sad to think of all the fun we miss out on while being in Birmingham, the time that we do have is amazing.  When we returned home today we met up with Cassie and Jacob for a rainy day cookout which was filling to say the least.

6. Spring.

7. Cleaning.  I love bathing in a clean shower and crawling into a made bed.

8. The sound the Kirby makes through the WiiMote when I select him as my character for serious ass kickin' on SSBB.

9. Reading blogs.  It's like non-creepy voyeurism. 

10. A good book.  Come to think of it... I go back to work on Tuesday... I'm going to be in need of a good distraction... any suggestions?

In conclusion I would like to apologize for my previous pity party.  I have so much joy in my life sometimes it is too easy to pin-point the things that aren't perfect and forget about all the blessings.  I have so many things to be thankful for and one of them, dear reader, is you!

Did you miss me...

*note picture added as ironic side-note... I actually meant this... sad isn't it?

Probably not, but I'm back anyways...

You know how you feel when you run into an old friend that you haven't seen in years?  You used to be really close, but you just drifted apart.  Of course, you're excited to see them, but when they ask how you've been and what has been happening in your life, you just don't know how to sum up years worth of experiences so you just say...'not much'.  That's how I feel as I sit here typing.  It seems that all at once, everything and nothing at all has happened.  Work is work.  I could complain more, but I don't want to risk sounding like a broken record.  I am still in need of change and at risk of becoming stagnant.  I would look for new work, but it seems pointless.  I know too many people looking and not finding.  Besides I would be immediately fired if I was caught submitting my resume anywhere.  I make great money now. yeah.  I find myself starting to hate the green stuff.  I move to B'ham for this job/the promotion it promised and now I find myself not even wanting it anymore.  If I stick it out they may even move me to the great city of Philadelphia... awesome.  It is absolutely DUMB to give up my wages for a job that I am good at... on the verge of being the best at... but I feel my heart pulling me down another path.  Unfortunately all the things that I want seem to be ironically attached to money and if I leave this job for the sake of happiness/sanity those things will completely vanish as possibilities.  Sometimes I just want to crawl back into the womb.