Christmas...finally!

This will be the first Christmas I have celebrated in about 12 years. I've been in retail so long that I just grew to hate this time of year and stopped celebrating all-together. With my daughter here this year and my sister having just moved close by, we decided, why not? So this morning we are finally going out to get a tree, and because we have not celebrated in so long, we have no decorations, so we'll have to start from scratch. I am really happy to have my family with me this year, it makes a big difference. I'll see if I can get some pictures of the tree up, once we finish.

I'm Netflixing This

I have always had a deep interest in religious history. I've considered getting a degree in it because I love it so much. I haven't had much time over the past couple years to do any reading, but recently my interest has been peaked again. I was at dooce.com sometime last week, and I saw an ad off to the left for a movie, The God Who Wasn't There. I've added it to my netflix queue and am eagerly awaiting it. Maybe once my daughter gets into U.C. Berkeley, I'll take some classes there too. ;)

Feeling Better

SO I actually ended up going out for my birthday. Aaron convinced me that I should get out and see a movie (even though that is inside still) I had lunch at Applebee's, fish-n-chips, then we went to Ikea, where Aaron bought me a little table for my laptop that I can use while sitting in my chair. After food and shopping, we went to see Narnia. Then I came home and got to work on homework that I forgot was due today.

The network connection between my laptop and the main computer keeps going out. I think something is screwed up on my end of the connection (what's new, haha). It's going to drive me crazy.

It's back to work tomorrow (do I have to?) and then on Monday my daughter will be here for Christmas.

Right now all I can think about is how great it would be if I didn't ever have to go back to work again. I wish I lived in a world where the perfect job for me would just happen. Ah, but no such luck. I'm 36 years old now and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. If only I could make a decent living knitting scarves and playing web designer. I wish I had time to devote to playing with web sites again. I'd love to get started in making templates for my blog. I don't have the time or energy at the moment. In fact I should be in bed right now, it's almost 2 am.

Birthday blahs

Well, today is my birthday. I had a little to drink last night and slept in a little late today; I'm feeling slightly hung-over.
I don't know what I want to do today. Aaron wants to take me to the city. The logical part of me says I need to stay home on this last day off before my class ends and finish my paper.

Frustration

I really wish I would get in here more often to update. I am so stressed out and tired and just feel like giving up on everything. Work sucks to the point that I am leaving everyday crying from frustration. I don't know what to do or where to go. I'm going to spend the afternoon before work getting school work done and then updating my resume and getting it out there asap. I so wanted to put in my two weeks today. In fact I want to everyday, but the only thing stopping me is that I have bills to pay and no savings. This job is slowly killing me and I just can't take it anymore. I'm way too smart to be wasting my time in retail, it's not worth the health problems it's putting me through and, again, it's frustrating. There's got to be an easier way.

Introverts

This is today's theme: Introverts

I am running into articles on introverts all over the place today. I am an introvert, and it makes my life crazy. Check out This article. Jonathan Rauch explains very well what it's like to be an introvert in an extrovert world.

I ran into this today as well:
The Introvert Advantage

I think I'll be picking that up soon. :)

About that not driving thing...

So, things at work are not great. I don't want to join the group of people who have been fired for blogging about work so I can't say much; I'll leave it at work sucks right now, and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. What is keeping me from moving on to bigger and better things? I don't drive. This weekend I got a big push in the direction of I have to start driving or my life will suck forever! So, I have an appointment today to get my permit (yet again). Hopefully this time I can get through my fear and just do it.

Better and Better

Things have been getting better. I've started getting my apartment cleaned out. We have so much stuff and no room for anything; it's just created a constant mess. The messiness creates an atmosphere of frustration and anxiety, which in turn makes me tired and cranky and depressed. So I've spent the past week going through things and getting rid of things. I threw out 6 bags of trash, most of it shredded paper, and got about 5 or 6 boxes cleared out of the bedroom. We still have a long way to go, but it's a start. I am feeling lighter today and less frenetic. I'm trying to decide on a posting schedule that I can stick to so I am updating more often. Also, I'm trying to decide if I should just focus on one or two topics here. My passions are video games and the internet and I am really getting into knitting. I am a 30 something year old female who loves video games and knits; are there that many of us out there? I have no clue.
Tonight I'll be eating pizza and watching the new Star Wars DVD that was just released. I'm not overwhelmingly excited about Star Wars, but I get to spend time with Aaron. :)

Good times

I had a really nice day yesterday. Usually I have to walk to work, it takes 20 minutes, and I usually suffer from a panic attack along the way. I don't live in a horrible neighborhood, but there are enough wierdos out there to keep me on my toes. So, by the time I get to work I am exhausted. Yesterday I had my fiance drop me off on his way to work, so I got to work a couple hours early, but I was relaxed and calm and felt good. Did I forget to mention that I don't drive? Yes, I am a thirty something woman who lives in an urban area and doesn't drive. Why anyone would want to drive here is beyond me. There is a constant stream of debris at the intersection of my apartment complex, from all those crazy drivers running into eachother. Anyway, my day at work started out calm and relaxed, and remained that way for the rest of the day. I was afraid to breath a sigh of relief for fear that the craziness would commence the minute I did, but no craziness ever commenced.

I'm hoping today will be a quiet day as well, even though I have to walk to work today.

I started reading Spook by Mary Roach today. I read Stiff last year; great book. Stiff helped me decide what I wanted done with me when I finally go; that would be to let the person who has to deal with me do what they want. :) Spook looks equally as interesting. So far I'm just into the first chapter on reincarnation, but have had more than a few laughs.
Well, off to do homework, and getting ready for an exciting walk to work.

P.S. I turned comments back on. :)

Google

In case you don't notice, I just added a Google search box and Google Adsense to the side of my blog.

The past couple of days have not been so bad, though I don't know if I can really judge what a good day, or bad day, really is anymore. Yesterday was crazy day from hell at work, but I didn't feel like it was a bad day; just, another day. I don't really drink (maybe 2 or three times a year), yesterday I went straight to Chevy's and had a margarita.
I've got to start knitting again. I plan on making lots of scarves, for family and friends, this winter, so I need to get started.
My new class started. I think I will like this one a lot better. I get to write lots of papers, and do lots of research, which I enjoy so much more than crunching numbers. I have started playing Neverwinter Nights again as well, and am very much looking forward to Neverwinter Nights 2. Weeeeee! Okay, got things to do and must be off....

Time for change

All this stress and burn-out I have been experiencing can only mean one thing....change is needed. When I think about doing something else, like making money some other way, I feel excited and hopeful. I really want, no need, to do something different, I'm just not sure what. So far today I've gone over a few different things I can do right now to get started doing something different, and I feel like I may be on the right track. Also, right now I need to be working on my final for class, which is due today. I need to do a lot of research to see if I can get started doing what I want, right now. Making a living while having time for family and friends, and myself, is what we all want and right now I really need it.

I Need To Post!!!

For weeks now, everytime I sit down at the computer I think to myself "I need to post to my blog", and every single time I also think to myself "there is nothing worth posting about". I have been in a terrible funk and just can't seem to climb out of it. I've had some really great things happen this year, I should be happy, but I'm not; I'm miserable right now. More than anything I just want to take some time away from everything to just be by myself. I could just be feeling the stress of school. I only have one more year and then I am done, but I've done it for two years straight now, no breaks, and I am burned out.

What's a mental breakdown like?

Well, let me tell you...

The past couple weeks have been rough. I got that promotion, which is great, but I took a major step outside my comfort zone, being that I suffer from horrible panic attacks and social anxiety. Now I am out of my cave and working with...gasp...the general public. It has been a trying time learning new skills and testing my strength. My daughter is still here. I love her to pieces, but she is definitely a teenager and has tested me to the point of exasperation. Now, as we have finally found our peace with eachother, she will be leaving in two weeks. Add to this SCHOOL, and the daily grind and seeing family you miss with every fiber in your being and you have a recipe for total meltdown, or two days where you start crying for no reason and can't stop, while having to work and yadayada. After 9 months smoke free I started smoking again, and I am totally back to where I left off...half a pack a day. The last couple days have been pretty good, since I started smoking! UGH! Well, I have to get ready for work now. I don't know when I will get a free moment to post again, so I'll be back when I can.

I'm still alive

I have had absolutely no personal time this month, hence no blog posts, until right now. I've been spending lots of time with my daughter, going through my new job hell at work, and I am exhausted! School starts up again for me the week after next. I'm feeling really tired and rather depressed right now, I just want to sleep all the time.

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Where did my vacation go?! I actually need one now. Actually we had a lot of fun showing my daughter the Bay Area. It has been crazy busy though. We have been out doing something almost everyday and the day we didn't go out I was sick, and still am. I have not had sleep in three nights due to coughing, and nothing is helping it. Now it's back to the regular schedule of work. My class ended on Monday and I am taking a month off so I don't have to be busy the whole time my daughter is here. It will be nice to have the free time before and after work. I have to get ready to go to work now. I'll try to post some pics soon; I know I keep saying that, I just haven't had time to go through them yet.

I seriously need to take pictures!

Sorry I haven't posted since Sunday. I have been running all over the Bay Area, shopping, and watchings movies. I saw Batman Begins yesterday; awesome!I kept waiting for Batman to break out the chainsaw though, I still am traumatized from American Psycho, lol. My daughter and I are having fun and bonding. We had a very hot, European guy play with our nails yesterday, so I just had to buy the nail stuff. She gave me a great hand massage and manicure last night. I now have beautiful nails. :) I still have a week before I go back to work, and when I do go back I go back as a manager; I'm scared, but excited at the same time.
This is my final week of class, I have a paper to write, a final to finish and I'm editing and turning in the final paper for the team. Lots to do; I'm glad I took off work this week :) Gotta go get some of that homework done. Hopefully I'll have some photos soon.

She's here!

My baby is here! We are watching movies and eating pizza......

One more day!

Just one more day till I pick up my daughter. I'm really excited!!!
I haven't gotten much done so far. I have half a paper written, got the bathroom straightened up (oh...gotta make a space for her in there!), got some laundry done, and vacuuming. Today I have to get my papers finished and do dishes.

Was just thinking about the fact that I haven't updated (nor posted anything about) my website, Rhowan's Fantasy Castle
I've had that one up for about 6 years and haven't updated it in awhile. I miss the free time to play with that stuff, I miss making the graphics and chatting with my friends in the groups I was/am in. The website needs a serious update though.

The weather today is crappy. It looks like it is going to rain. Makes me want to make some more coffee and play Final Fantasy X
I'm currently playing FFX, again. I keep getting close to the end and realizing I missed stuff. It's a long, involved game, very fun!
I guess I should be getting back to my paper. 700 words about an article on workplace compensation, blah!

Vacation

My vacation has begun. I have about a week and a half and then I go back to work as a manager. :) I'm excited, and scared.
Sunday I pick up my daughter. Yay!!! :)
That means I have two days to write two papers, a portion of a team paper, and clean my entire apartment by myself. Weeeeeeeee!

A Great Day!

The visit was fabulous! It was short, I did well. and managed to impress. As soon as I got home I went to sleep. I got up this evening and just vegged for awhile.
I always do this to myself; I stress and stress, and fret, and fret, and then everything turns out great.
My vacation starts the day after tomorrow. I have Friday and Saturday to get the house clean, and homework done, then Sunday I pick up my daughter. I need some serious down time.

Sleep

OMG! I need sleep! It's 3:30 am! I finally got to bed at 11:30 last night, and of course I tossed and turned for the next 4 hours. Now I have to get ready to go to work; I have to be there by 6 am. My manager says we are going home once the visit is over. If I make it through today, I'll post about it at some point.

I finished The Secret Life of Bees last night (hence the staying up till 11:30 when I should have been sleeping). What an awesome book!

Tomorrow is the Big Day

So the big visit I am stressing over is tomorrow. Yesterday I found out that I get to give a presentation to the visitors. I've been flipping out ever since. I did my best last night to de-stress; I played FFX for about an hour then took a nice, hot bath and read The Secret Life of Bees. The book was too good, and I stayed up later than I should have. I spent the whole night going over in my head the process of how the presentation should go. Basically I just have to show them how I do my job to their new standards, and my school has been training me on how to regurgitate information I've just learned like a seasoned professional, so I shouldn't have too much trouble showing them how I do my job to their new standards. I think my nervousness is related to the fact of who they are and how many of them there will be; it's supposed to be a large group; also to the fact that there is one day left till the visit and my department is a mess.

The Secret Life of Bees, by the way, is a great book. I couldn't put it down. I just started it last night and I'm halfway through it.

An Ikea Afternoon

ikeastuff


I spent the day saturday putting together a horrible 5 year career plan for class. Then yesterday it was back to work. I went in early so I could leave at a decent hour so Aaron and I could go to Ikea. We had dinner first; then off we went to shop till we dropped. Actually I just picked up a few essentials; like a couple lamps, a cover for the futon mattress, a dish drainer, a blanket, and a cute little outdoor rug for the balcony. Later we'll go back to get the patio set. :)
Just a couple days left till the madness at work is over. Got to get ready for it right now....

The List

Here is a list of the craziness in my life right now. Not that I am stressed out or anything, lol.

1. I'm getting promoted (it's an awesome thing, but stressful nonetheless).

2. My store has had three visits in the past month, and is now getting ready for a visit from the top guys.

3. I have ten million changes to make in my department before the visit and have only 3 days left.

4. While trying to complete one of them yesterday our store almost caught on fire (not because of what I was doing, it just happened at the same time). We had to evacuate the store and clean-up the store, and our sales were killed because we weren't able to open back up, and I was unable to complete my task.

5. Today at work there is a bookfair and booksigning; we have a visit in three days and a million things to do!!!!

6. I have school work to complete while all of this is going on.

7. I have to work tomorrow! (I don't usually work on Sundays, I have school work due).

8. My daughter is staying the summer with me and will be here in a week; I have not had time to prepare things for her, or me.....


I am exhuasted! Today I have a five year career plan to turn in to school. I have it started at least. Thank God I have a vacation coming in one week.

Walking is good

Just back from a nice walk this morning. Muscles are tingly and I'm ready for a shower; this wasn't a leisure walk, lol. Off to shower and get ready for another day on the job...

i'm freaking out

i can't go into detail, but there is too much going on in my life all at once and it's starting to feel overwhelming. if i can get through the next two weeks, all will hopefully work out. i realized the full extent of it all last night and suddenly panicked. even my kitty can tell i'm stressing; he has taken over my lap and i can only type with one hand. i guess i should be working on my 5 year career plan for class....

Quick note before work

I just wanted to post a quick update before I get ready for work. I am so sore from the 3 hour walk on Sunday. Then yesterday, after dinner, Aaron said "want to go for a walk around the complex?" and I said "sure, sounds good!" I am now in pain!!! My legs hurt so bad. Which means I will have to do it again tonight. It's all good though. Maybe some of this darn weight will come off. I'd love to be able to fit onto the closet full of clothes I have. Right now I have two pairs of pants and a few shirts that fit, and I have a huge wardrobe. But, I know...I quit smoking, blah, blah, blah.....Okay, done being vain ;) Off to work I go.....

Butterflies are free (and so are sunburns)!

Had an awesome day today! Had worked on team paper for class this morning; I did finish my other paper yesterday, and I think I did a good job. Anyway, Aaron and I headed off to the park after we finished the things we had to do this morning. Butterflies are everywhere. I tried really hard to get photos of the groups, but I'm just not fast enough. With a little patience I was able to get a few pictures of a couple individual butterflies (See below). I think we spent about 3 hours or so there and then headed off to the grocery store. We made rootbeer floats when we got home, yum! I got a little sunburned at the park (forgot my hat, ouch).Had a nice active, fun day overall. :)

butterfly


butterfly


butterfly


butterfly


butterfly


butterfly


water rippling


beach at the park

Another day (can't come up with clever title)

I love Aaron. He is the coolest guy ever! He got me out of bed this morning and made me go for a walk with him. It is such a nice day out, the walk first thing in the morning was really nice, and I got some much needed exercise. He says we will do it again tomorrow. I had a migraine yesterday so today I feel like a train wreck. I want to sleep so badly, but I have that paper due today. I've only got an outline for it so far. I can toss together a paper pretty quickly, but I am feeling overly self-conscious as my last paper didn't receive high marks. So, I will torture myself all day trying to put together a perfect paper.

Tomorrow we'll be hitting the park, and I'll be working on another paper.
Just two more weeks until my daughter is here for the summer!!! (I'm sooo excited!!!)

Just a quick note...

before I head to bed. Got the new fridge today. It really is new. We thought it would be one they just took from another apartment, but nope, it is actually brand spankin new. :)

I survived the overnighters at work and actually felt productive. Got to work from home today on a project for my department.

Aaron took me shopping to get clothes that fit (I also snuck in a little shopping at Newport News tonight online *shhh*). I've been trying to squeeze myself into my jeans everyday, and it just wasn't working anymore :(; I almost called in fat to work on Monday (no kidding). I think I have the smoking thing conquered, so now I need to work on eating better and moving around more. It's hard to find the energy to move around more when you are on your feet all day to begin with. I'll probably never be a size 8 again, not as long as I don't smoke, but if I can at least be a fit size 10 or 12, I'll be content.

I'm freaking out about the weekend. I am behind in class and have a papers due both Saturday and Sunday! *pulling hair out* Got to get to sleeeeeep..........

Time Flies

Is it Wednesday already?! I was just jolted out of sleep at 1:30 pm by a knock at the door, and the bell ringing. It was maintenance wanting to look at our fridge that hasn't been working. We have been having to throw out food before it's expiration date. I told him that in a still half asleep babble, and showed him my mushy fruit popsicles. He recommends a new fridge, and will be back later today with it. *Big Smile*. Poor guy must of thought I was a freak. I didn't have my coordination going or anything, I don't think I even made any sense when I spoke. I'm still not quite awake. The over-nighter at work went okay. We didn't get as much done as we had hoped, but it's always that way. I'm doing another tonight and then Thursday I get to do the big project at home.

Bad Chi

Figured I should at least post something since I haven't posted since Friday morning. I had another nightmare last night, that makes 3 this week. I almost never have nightmares; it's been a very long time. All three were about being stalked or watched by someone who intended to kill me. I guess it's time to get out the dream dictionary. I cut down on the caffeine yesterday and today I woke up with a nice headache. My shoulders and neck have also been sore for the past week.
Today we have to get our apartment spic and span and pretty. Ants have taken over the bathroom, our fridge isn't keeping things cold and the bathroom sink is clogged. Bad chi everywhere!

Always Look On the Bright Side of Life

What a crazy day yesterday! Why are people so afraid of change? And why are older people especially afraid of change? I know that is a blanket statement, but I haven't yet run into any older person that hasn't fought change, any kind of change, with a very cranky attitude. And why do I always end up working with these people? I guess I must have something to learn from it; I wish I would learn it already! Most of my morning yesterday I had to deal with cranky old people, the rest of the day wasn't so bad. Got invited to the lake this weekend. If I can get my paper for class finished I just may go. Aaron and I took off to our park again yesterday after I got off work (pics below). After an hour I thought I was going to die; I am so out of shape. We had fun, and then went out to eat. When we got home, my daughter called (I always love to hear from her! *hugs*) Just 3 more weeks until she is here spending the summer with me! Anyway, we watched Monty Python's Life of Brian afterwards. Aaron had never seen it. After that it was off to bed. Now it's almost 7 am and I have to get ready for work or I'll be late. .........

Soooo tired!


Lots of trees


Eeeewwwwww


Ferry


Beach 1


Beach 2


Aaron on the beach


Pond


Point Pinole Plaque


Parking Lot

Monday in the Park

Here are the pics as promised. I am sooooooooo tired! We had a great time yesterday. We were only in the park for about an hour. This is "our" park. We go here a lot. I have someone sitting right behind me which makes it hard to write....need food. Now that we have seen Star Wars 3 We are watching the old movies again...interesting new perspective.

Point Pinole


Blurry Bug


OMG

Must go on starvation diet immediately.....why did I quit smoking?????!!!!!!
Aaron


Orange Flowers

Uber busy

It's about 6 in the morning, my toast just popped up, coffee is brewing...I'm uber busy this morning. The craziness once again commences. I start class again today; once I post this I'll be there (online school is pretty cool, lol, I can rhyme at 6 in the morning). Anyway, I had a great weekend; got sunburned yesterday. I'll post pictures and recap this evening after work; yes, I work today too...okay toast is getting cold........

Fun Day Off

I finally finished the scarf I started last winter. I had so many things going on and had lost my tapestry needle, so I just never got around to getting it completed. All I needed to do was get the fringe on. This is my very first scarf with fringe. I have one more niece to knit a scarf for (it's halfway complete) and they will be nice and warm next winter ;)

Scarf for niece


My first real day off yesterday was nice. Got to talk with my daughter for a good long time. I also got to talk with my best friend for a good long time; she had a blast in Disneyland recently, I was very happy for her because she had never gone before. I can't wait to go again. Her and I are going to take our daughters together. :) That should be a blast. I also got some Sims time in yesterday; I haven't played the Sims (2) in awhile. I really should do some cleaning today.

Why did I start a blog?

I was thinking about this at 6 this morning. I was thinking, "geez, everything I have posted so far is utterly boring, why did I start this?" Well, I had to remind myself that I didn't start the blog to be a fabulous writer or to make my life look overly interesting; I just want to keep my friends and family up-to-date. I am really difficult to get a hold of, and if they can check this out occasionally, then they can see what I have been up to or how I am feeling at the moment. I should get in here more often and post more substantially. I guess I am just getting used to this format still. I will keep going, and learn, and hopefully get better at posting.

On a very happy note...we had a great visit at work today. One of the "Big Guys" came for a visit and was very pleased with our store. He was so pleased that he scheduled his own boss to come for a visit next month. Will the madness never end? We have had 3 visits in one month and now another. We are all so tired, but the good thing is that we are getting the support from the higher-ups that we need. Also, I may be getting promoted soon. Keeping my fingers crossed. I haven't gotten an official offer, but I have the blessing of my boss's boss. My department still needs to set in motion some new changes and I need to find a replacement. I am very pleased, and excited about the coming changes.

My three day weekend is starting a little early (like right now). Hopefully I won't get too bored. I am so used to "going" all the time that three whole days off with no work or school is a little scary.

My boring life

So, I knit an MP3 cozy last night. I needed something fast and easy to do that I could actually finish. I am not great at sewing pieces together yet, but this will work (see pics below). Class ended on Monday (Thank God!). My next class starts on Tuesday; Human Resources, should be more interesting than economics. I have tons of things to say about work, but must figure out how to say it cleverly without giving out personal information. Maybe I'll start an anonymous blog so I can do that, hmmm.....I'm up for a promotion, but that means leaving the safety of my cave ( I work in a big warehouse type room with no windows.) I'm really excited about the fact that I have a 3 day weekend this weekend; no work and no school! That hasn't happened for me in about a year. I never get time off from both, it's always one or the other. I must actually go get ready to leave for work so I should stop typing now.

mp3 cozy


mp3 cozy

Saturday Ham

Saturday Ham
Here's my kitty Mitch hamming it up for the camera. He knows he's special :) Having a crazy day trying to work on my final for Econ and putting together a PowerPoint presentation for class. I'm surrounded by a mess so horrid that I should be running around and cleaning and scrubbing, but I can't seem to find the energy. Yesterday all my boss and I could talk about was having just one cigarette (she quit years ago). If I smoke again, I'll be thin again, I won't be so tired all the time, but then again I'll be hacking all the time and coughing up really gross stuff all the time and getting bronchitis all the time, and smelling all the time. Today is my 7 month anniversary of having quit.

Cell Phones Are Nice When They Work

Just got home. Everything worked out...Aaron only had to look frustrated for a brief time and the sales person, Justin, did everything he could. He got the phones charging again, and even gave us new chargers. So we have phones again and don't have to suffer without a way to communicate. We went out to dinner and got a couple movies to watch. I'm gettin on my jammies, grabbing my blankie and lemonade and watching a movie. :)

Tiredness

Twas a long day. I was prepared to write a paper for class, that I thought was due tonight but actually isn't. At least that is one last thing that I have to do. Tomorrow will be hell. I have phone calls to make and have to go to the Cingular store with two cell phones plus chargers because nothing is working, nor charging. Not being able to use our cell phones has been killing us. It makes life difficult. How did we ever live without them?! I'm sure I'll be in tomorrow night to post about how it went at the Cingular store. I just hope they are nice about it and give us new phones, Aaron's phone has been replaced twice in the past two weeks, and with all the switching of batteries and what not between the phones to see what was wrong, my phone has now been screwed up. I am going to spend the rest of the night tonight relaxing , listening to podcasts, and knitting. Maybe I should post some picks of my knitting. I just learned last August and was knitting like crazy after I quit smoking in October, but haven't spent much time on it lately. I still can't do more than knit scarves, so I need to find a pattern to learn something new with. I need to get back to it because I am dealing with stress by eating cause I can't smoke, which is making me fat, grrrrr.

Okay...

Well, I have gotten my pic posted to my profile, found a nice pink template, and got some links posted. I have econ homework due tonight (I do school online) so I should stop playing with my blog and get started on the homework. My fiance also recently got me interested in listening to podcasts so I will be distracted by that as well tonight....ugh.

Hello

This is my very first blog. I have had my own web site @ rhowan.com for many years, but have never tried anything like this. My fiance recently started to get into blogging and got me hooked reading them. So today I decided to give it a go. An online diary might be a good outlet for me. I use Frontpage and CuteFTP for my domain, so I will hopefully pick up this blogspot interface quickly. I hope to make it look a lot nicer and more "me".