Bringing a Happy Spirit to New and Different Things

Happy spirit and fun!

2013 has been amazing so far.  We won the Super Bowl (still not tired of saying it).  I'm not sure I will ever get tired of saying it. And, as time goes on, when reflecting on the experience, it gets better and better.  The feeling of teamwork, togetherness, family and becoming a champion brings a smile to my face daily.

Since that time, work has been insanely busy.  Most companies have all year to run their HR programs.  Boring I know, but bare with me...most companies have HR projects annually, compensation increases, performance reviews, hiring/recruiting, organization alignment, benefits open enrollment, etc.  They have 12 months to spread these projects out.  I have just about 5.  Thanks to the Super Bowl, these projects were on hold.  I'm certainly not complaining.  But they still need to be done by July when football starts again.  So, I'm busy at work. It's great to be needed too.

Personally and probably what more of this post is supposed to be about, I've had a goal for 2013 to try new and different things.  In doing so, some of those new and different things well, didn't exactly go the way we would have wanted new and different things to go.  But in the fantabulous twists and turns of life, they make for excellent stories and have given me a few laughs along the way.

2013 New and Different Things Bloopers and Lessons:

Blooper

One Saturday afternoon, we decided to meet a friend at the Inner Harbor and do some day drinking.  It was a nice day, so we arrived early to have a drink at one of our favorite Irish establishments.  Bestie and I sit at the back bar to enjoy our Guinness, NCAA basketball and the view of the Harbor.  We are there for 10 minutes and in walks...

Per our new zombie friends, some make-up application took over 2 hours.  Talk about high maintenance!!

 



Yep, that's right...a HUGE group of zombies came in and took over our Irish pub.  They were out and about on a Zombie Pub Crawl.  I do love a good pub crawl, but zombies?  Pub crawling?  It's true.  Now you know.  And, certainly we were not out trolling for dudes, but the idea of running into some like-minded fellow bball lovers and sharing a pint wasn't totally out of the realm of possibility, or so we thought. Turns out, not so much.  

Truly and to be perfectly honest, the zombies were very friendly. They even encouraged us to join their zombie pack next year. 

Tempting...but no.

Lesson

Exes are exes for a reason. We all know that. Historically, I've been pretty good at keeping a good relationship with my exes. They are good people and just because it didn't work out for us, doesn't mean we don't care about each other. It also doesn't mean that we can't be there for each other in times of need in friendship.  Being a good friend is important.

My philosophy and practice of being nice and friendly is currently under review. Let's just say that when you remain friends with people (an ex or just a plain ole "friend") who clearly are not making good choices, it's not a good idea. Many times you can't save them and you are only bringing yourself down in trying to do so.  A friend I'll always be...an idiot, no thanks.  We all control our own happiness and control our choices.  If someone chooses to stay in a life of unhappiness, constant arguments and unhealthy craziness, I can't help them. They have to help themselves.  Last but certainly not least, this girl will never be a participant on an episode Jerry Springer. Yes, I'm saying never.

Blooper & Lesson

Many of you know, I'm somewhat of a fashionista.  I like fashion and clothes and style. I can be this way because I'm only responsible for myself and my fashionista dog. I also realize that not everyone is as fashion forward as I am. It's not a crime...or is it?  Any who, I went out last week with a swell dude.  He took me to dinner at nice restaurant.  In my fashion conscious mind, I wondered what I would wear for the days leading up to the dinner.  I decided on a casual dress and sassy peep toe heels.  I asked him (a question I'm sure every man hates as much as does this make me look fat?) what he was going to wear and he said jeans and a button down. Cool...we were on the same page...

Except that his jeans while neat and clean...were carpenter jeans. This begs the questions...do they still make those? Or are those his original circa 1998 Gap carpenter jeans? If so, how on earth has he kept them this long? Does he never shop? And, is he perhaps, an actual carpenter on the side?

We had a lovely time and enjoyed dinner and the O's game...but the jeans have not left my memory.  He didn't eat his peas one at a time, he's not a close talker and his hands are perfectly appropriate for his body. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV8pNfeAGVc  And, in talking with a friend a lunch on Tuesday, jeans can be changed - easily.  Why am I so jeans snobby???  Get over it...it's what's in the jeans that matters (and don't go there...we have gone no where near there).  Plus I'm a Buckle Black Member, if there is another outing, a stop at the mall is likely in order.

Lesson

O's Opening Day ~ The Monday before the game 100% chance of rain.  The day of the game 0% chance of rain, 65 degrees and sunny. Amazing day!
Lesson- don't trust the weather. Ever.


One of the best days of the year in Charm City.
See also: A day of photo bombs



We bring the fun and grand slams.

 

But that's not the lesson from this day...a friend and I were walking along the concourse.  A random dude stops us and starts chatting.  He wasn't wearing zombie make-up or carpenter jeans, so I gave him a chance.  We chatted a bit and he asks our names (those of you who really know me know what I said) and he asks what we are doing later. We really have no idea and we tell him such.  He asks for my phone number and for whatever random reason, I give it to him.  I don't think about him the rest of the day and never expect to hear from him again.

He texts me a few days later. I respond.  He responds.  I respond again.  He asks me to get drinks.  I say OK. I have nothing to lose. I really don't even remember what he looks like. We meet for drinks...at a place where I know people and he can't dismember me in a basement.  He admits that he really didn't remember what I looked like either.  We shared a few drinks. I told him my real name and my real job.  He did the same.  He likes sports and country music.  I like sports and country music.  He had on good jeans and he mentioned he was wearing them because he knows girls like good jeans on guys.  It's then I realize, we can be friends.  We had a fun time.  Not sure I'll ever see him again, but it was new and different and it wasn't awful.  #it'sabouttime

Lesson: you never know, you never know.

My Meeting Randoms Partner in Crime

Love

One of my dear friends is deploying for the 3rd time to Afghanistan.  He's a stud, a warrior, a ninja, an amazing friend and an all around super cool good person. His sister had a beautiful baby this week too, so now he adds best uncle ever to the list great things he is.  He will be meeting his beautiful niece next weekend and leaving soon after.  I expect to get lots of pictures!!!  I wanted to include a message of love and thank you to him in this post. We all will be anxiously awaiting his return (he's promised to take me to THB when he gets back and I'm holding him to it) and I'm hopeful he can communicate while over there.  Be safe my friend. Love you tons!!  Hurry home!! Thank you for protecting us!

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for reading about my soap opera life...I still have hopes of making it  onto GH. P.S. Anyone watching the 50th anniversary episodes, reruns and the Nurses Ball?  LOVE!

xo~

Taking Chances

“Sometimes you have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.”  I found that quote by Kobi Yamada, carved into a decorative stone at the General Store in Myrtle Beach in the summer of 2006.  At the time, I was going through some major changes in my life and the poignant words grabbed me. Those words were appropriate then and they are appropriate now.

I bought the stone but very shortly after I got home, I gave it away to someone who needed it more than me. I called my mom immediately and asked her to go back to the General Store and get me another stone because, while the words would have stuck with me even without seeing the stone daily, I wanted to see and read the words daily. They are a pleasant (and sometimes necessary) reminder that I don’t always have to have it (my life, the answers, my plan, etc.) perfectly together at all times.

On Friday I took a chance and made my very private blog, pretty public.  I had shared it with a few others prior to sharing it publically FB.  The few I shared it with were not necessarily closer to me then some of you reading this entry now.  But, when sharing something so personal, it can be harder to share such private thoughts with those closest to you. I got feedback from a few of those not so close peeps and then I shared it with a few of my closest friends. I wanted to get a few close friend’s opinions before BAM, putting it out there.  I asked everyone to give me their honest opinions.  So far all the feedback has been very awesome…so thank you very much. J

I decided to take the chance and put my blog out there for all of cyber space to see.  Not because I needed anyone’s approval, anyone’s praise or anyone to even read it.  I put it out there because it’s what I needed and wanted to do for me.  Often it’s hard for us to do things for ourselves.  Those of you who are mamas can really understand this…you rarely, if ever do things, just for you. And, if you do, it’s likely you feel guilt about doing whatever it is you did for you, even if it’s exercising, showering or eating a complete warm meal.  I felt that same completely unnecessary guilt.

I put my thoughts out there and then had this major, whoa moment.  What if it’s too public? What if people hate it? What if people roll their eyes reading it?  What if those I’m writing about don’t want to be written about?  What if I’m not being mysterious enough?  What if I have typos?  (I hate typos.) What if I say something I want to take back 5 minutes after it’s posted?  What if I accidently hurt someone’s feelings? What if, what if, what if????

After my whoa moment, I thought about who I am, why I write and my intentions for the blog. I thought about how I felt the first time I wrote…it wasn’t that I wanted to write it; it was more I had to write it.  I literally stopped everything else I was doing to write that first entry.  I thought about the public nature of this venture.  And, I thought about why I wouldn’t do it or for what reasons I would take it back.  And, you know what I came up with?? I’m writing this for me, my intentions are good...I want to share, laugh, connect, celebrate, sympathize, engage, honor, love, have fun and respect, I’m writing from my heart, I am who I am and I really don’t care who doesn’t like it. Those who don’t like it do not have to read it…hide me, delete me or ignore me. It’s ok…I’m not for everyone and that’s perfectly ok.

At the end of the day, I believe, we have to be true to who we are to truly be happy in this thing called life.  We all know, the ride is short and no day is ever promised.  Those who truly love you will support you.  We have to take the time to honor ourselves, respect our desires and enjoy the ride. Sure there are risks, potential pitfalls or worse, there could be typos.  We might make mistakes. We might receive criticism.  Not everyone will agree. We might not get back what we put in. We might not feel 100% confident in every single decision. But we could what if forever and get no where.  Being true to you isn’t always easy and it’s not always fair to everyone all the time.  It can be hard, risky and scary.

But, we still have to take chances.  Doing so may lead you right where you are supposed to go.  You might get way more out then you put in.  The risks could turn into numerous rewards.  The possibilities could be limitless.  The potential can far outweigh the what if's. And, I don't want to leave this world with a long list of, "I wish I hads" so, for me, that may mean taking the leap and building my wings on the way down. 

Happy Reading!

xo~Elizabeth