SONG OF THE WEEK
Good Charlotte-Hold On

Reframe.
This is going to be my goal for the month. I realize that there's a more than likely chance that what I'm intending is not achievable in just a month, but I've got to start somewhere. I can at least say this: I'm going to work hard on it this month.
I want to start from scratch. Reframe my whole way of thinking; my whole way of living. I no longer will settle for a negative. antagonistic, pessimistic, depressed, hopeless life
I want to replace bad thoughts with good thoughts.
I want to replace bad memories with good memories.
I want to replace bad days with good days.
This will take some work for me, but I believe in myself. I'm expecting a miracle and I will get it.

I live an impatient life.
This is not a new development, but I've been deep in thought about it lately.
I'm not one of those super busy people who is constantly running around in circles, picking up the kids, going grocery shopping, cleaning the house, making dinner...
My life is pretty routine. I wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep. On my days off, I like to sleep in a bit, but I usually don't have big plans of how I'm going to make my day super productive. I typically do whatever I feel like doing. That may or may not be anything productive or useful.
I think my sense of urgency is more of an internal thing. I want everything now and I don't want to wait around.
If I find something I want at the store, I don't waste time shopping around. What? I could get a better deal somewhere else? Not important.
Picture this. I get a brilliant idea. Maybe its something creative, maybe I want to make something, maybe its nothing brilliant at all. Do I wait until the next time I go to the store? No. I drop everything I'm doing, (usually not much), and take a trip down to the store.
What's that you say? It's 11:30 at night? Does that stop me? I think not.
Long term goals are hard for me. Four years of college? Who has time for that?
Thinking about the future? What about now?
I guess I'm just weird.

MORE FUN WITH PHOTOSHOP
So iPod commercial worthy...if I do say so myself.

I'm feeling a little blue today and I'm not sure why. I've been doing really good for awhile, which is sadly unusual for me. But I'm not complaining. More ups than downs is rather nice. I think I'll keep it up.
But the downs were bound to catch up with me sooner or later.
I really get irritated when I feel sad for no good reason. But I just do. I just get sad sometimes. I'm working on it though.
I think deep down, I have an idea as to why I'm feeling this way, but there's a 94.6% chance that it's irrational thinking, so I don't want to voice it aloud. It might make it seem more real that way and I really don't want it to.
Then I would just be reaffirming my negative, guilty, selfish thinking. I've been working hard to do away with that.
I need to push away all my sad, wallowing, misunderstood, self-pitying nonsense that I've believed for far too long.
I'm being positive! I'm being confident! I am the creator of my life!
I feel cheered up already.
I've been taking a Photoshop class and I'm having fun playing with all the different things I've learned. I think that might become my new emergency, make-me-happy, feel-good activity.

Instant Karma- 8,879 ways to give yourself and others good fortune right now.
Sounds good to me.
Here's a shout out to Courtney and Bert for hooking me up with such a cool wedding shower door prize.
So here's some good fortune for right now.

*On a gloomy day, put sunny yellow napkins on the table
*Believe that the best is yet to be
*Put something extra in someone's piggy bank
*Surrender/Trust
*If you wish to secure peace for yourself, start by championing it for others
*Do not take life's experiences too seriously
*Enter a contest-you may win!
*Make creativity a way of life
*Try not to do everything at once
*Get new underwear and socks on a regular basis
*Support your alma mater
*Stop holding your breath and begin breathing from your diaphragm
*Experience the fact that you are alive, a presence in the here and now
*Give someone a back rub
*Only love dispels hate
*Take the focus off yourself
*Life is positive; only your thinking is negative
*Put yourself in someone else's shoes
*Do not expect praise or reward
*Make two casseroles and bring one to a friend
*Work to music
*Improve your posture
*Fill out the "How was your service?" card
*Refuse to tell a lie, even a small one
*When you get home, kick off your shoes
*Smile at the person in the car next to you
*When you accept yourself just as you are, then you can change
*Get someone a welcome back present
*Use sunscreen
*Believe inner peace is possible

Here's just a few of my 8,879 bits of wisdom.
Ask me for more and I'll hook you up.

SONG OF THE WEEK
The Fray-How to Save a Life

Once upon a time in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat, contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond.

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said, "Elegant lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.
One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so."

That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled to herself:
I DON'T FREAKING THINK SO!

Happy 18th birthday to my baby brother!! One year clean and sober!!
Tay-Tay, I'm so proud of you. I love your guts and you are my favorite.
I tried to get this posted on Sunday, the actual day of celebration, but I was sadly thwarted in all attempts. (Stupid computer.)
Is anyone else having problems with Blogger? I am. I'm having picture uploading trauma for some strange reason and it's driving me nuts!.
I love my little bro and he knows it! He's my bestest friend and I can't imagine life without him.
I'm so proud of everything you've done. You're my favorite little cadet and I'll love you forever!
Remember the old days when I used to make you dress up in Mom's clothes and put curlers in your hair? We used to play "video games" on Dad's old computer monitors in the basement. And when Dad used to make us pick up the apricots from the backyard and he'd squish them in our hands? Gross!
I'm so glad you'll always be my baby brother.

We had quite the shindig at our house on Sunday. Almost the whole family showed up and we celebrated with Hawaiian haystacks and yummy Costco cake.
Taylor is way excited about his Shrek playdoh from Aunt Bert.
Yummy food.
Cousins
Cousins
And more Cousins
Stressed and somehow, still smiling.