Restored!

Finally, tonight, my computer is restored and I have internet access from it.  Of course, when I went to look for my wireless password, it was no where to be found... even though I've been very strict about keeping it in the exact same place for the last 3 years.  My teddy bear must have eaten it.  sheesh.
Anyway, back up and running!

DNA of Procrastination

What is the DNA of procrastination?  I feel as though if I could figure out the chemical imbalance that causes me to procrastinate some things and not others, I could defeat procrastination itself.  It's not directly proportional to the importance, convenience, or joy received when the task is completed.  For example, I've had a new hard drive for my laptop sitting in my living room for at least 3 weeks and I'm just now getting it replaced and running again.  It has been greatly inconvenient to not have my computer working for the last 6 weeks or so, but for some reason, I just couldn't get myself to complete that particular task.  (For the record, it only took about 10 minutes of hands-on time and now I'm just waiting for it to format.)
I suppose if I could "crack" procrastination, I'd be a rich woman.  Well, one more thing off my list!  Now, if only I could get my bike to the shop.

Tonight's Elephant Adventure

Every year, I want to see the elephant parade. And, every year, the elephants elude me. You see, each spring, the circus comes to town and the elephants get off the train and walk across town to the Verizon Center. It seems like either the parade is during the day or I hear about it the day after or the elephants are joined by a storm of cats and dogs or something. But, not this year! This year, I heard about it a few hours before the parade. So, I donned my running shoes on this gorgeous evening and headed down to capture my picture to prove I saw the pachyderms. But, when I got down near the beginning of the parade route, I realized that the elephants beat me there. So, I kept running. And, the elephants kept being a few blocks ahead of me. And, I kept running. And those elephants kept truckin'! After a 3-mile run, I did finally catch them.... as they were filing into the Verizon Center. I didn't even get a decent picture!

As Colleen suggested, perhaps the tradition is that I always "almost" get to see the elephants.

Excavating Hyla

Tonight, I went to a friend's birthday dinner and somewhat to my own surprise, had a great time. I've felt awkward at social events for a long time. But, tonight was great. To some extent, I was the life of the party and it felt good. I felt like I was back... the former version of me that has been hiding under awkward, sad, shell-shocked, and disappointed me. It felt so good to realize that I was the quick-witted, charming, self-confident version of me that I'd been missing for so long. And, it was good to just walk into a place without having to wipe my eyes, talk myself up, and take many deep breaths just to be able to face the room.

So, thank you. Thanks, Kim for having a birthday. Thanks, Raul for putting together the party. And, thanks to all the guys and girls sitting around me tonight who laughed at my jokes, riffed with me, and made my night fun.

I'm getting there... bit by bit... God is healing me, renewing the luster on my personality, and excavating my true soul.

Lone Friday Night

Do your emotions ever catch you by surprise? I spent this whole week tearing through work, keeping up with my school schedule and attempting to squeeze being a good friend in around the edges. I finally left work tonight at a decent time for the first time in a long time. I was so looking forward to spending the evening in my own apartment for once. So, you can imagine my surprise when I found myself welling up with tears halfway through dinner prep.

And, then all of a sudden, I realized that I was lonely. I finally allowed myself to be alone for the first time in about a week and had to face the fact that I am lonely. Of course, I'm not alone. I have incredible friends and a network of colleagues and family that would never allow me to say that. But, at the end of the day, I come home to my household.... and it's just me. I love living alone... I really do. Yet, I find myself wishing that I knew someone else would be coming home later.

But, for now, I need to find the green grass on this side of the fence. So, off to do finance and forget about it for a while!

Something I love

The way sailboats look when the setting sun is shining on them

Haboob!

What an awesome new word! Haboob! Who doesn't want to say "Haboob"? Apparently, it's a dust storm that occurs in the desert. Haboob! Haboob!