Tonight I did some writing. Sometimes I write to get out some of my stress. Sometimes I write to inspire myself & others. Writing can take you away from the dramas & stress of everyday life. Some people write in their journals & diaries about their journey's through life. Writing is a basic step that we learn in school to be able to become literate human beings. We write love notes to our sweethearts. When loved ones are going through hard times, having birthdays, or have new additions to their families, we send cards with words written with love. I am thankful for writing as a way to express how you feel to those you love; as a way to reach out to your fellow man.
Sit down one evening & write down what you want to accomplish, what kind of realistic goals you can set for yourself. Write a letter to your grandmother or your mom. People rarely write physical letters anymore these days. Someone that you love will truly appreciate a gesture like that. You can even just write down some inspirational quotes for yourself!
Tonight I caught up on my favorite TV drama, Desperate Housewives. I have been watching the Housewives since their first season in 2004. This year will be their last season. I will miss my weekly indulgence of drama from Wisteria Lane. Drama is filled throughout our own lives, day by day. Drama can be good or bad. It certainly keeps us on our feet. It isn't always fun to deal with the drama in your own life, but watching it on TV in others lives is quite appealing to most people. I'm thankful for drama (especially from Housewives!), it keeps our lives interesting. One way or another, drama will find you. Its best to deal with it as it comes & appreciate the roads taken along the way & the lessons learned from it.
There's no need to go seeking drama in your life. It will find you. The best you can do is to deal with it & do your best to stay positive. Also, go for a little indulgence & find a sitcom or TV show that has a thick plot line of drama. Instead of seeking drama in your own life, you can enjoy watching it on TV from a distance.
Today I went for a walk with Connor. Jessica has been working some long hours at work, so Uncle Joshua volunteered to take this guy for a walk. We went for a walk around her neighborhood... which has a quaint little park by a lake nearby. While out for our walk, we stopped there for a bit. He behaved very well. It was such a beautiful day out. The temperature wasn't too high, there was a cool breeze blowing, and there was a sweet honeysuckle scent in the air. I sat on the bench in the park for a bit & read my book while he ran around. I took off my flip-flops & ran around with him in the grass for a bit, too. I am thankful to be able to have a relaxing walk. Connor, in all his sweet, lovable, cuteness, kept it fun for me!
If you have some free time one afternoon, go for a walk. Soak up the sunshine & relax. Let all of life's drama go & find some serenity. If you have a pup, take him/her and enjoy each other's company. Find some peace & serenity in a beautiful, sunny afternoon walk!
Today when I got home this is what I found as I went into my bedroom. My kitty like to play hide & seek. Hide & Seek was one of my favorite activities to play when I was little. I was much better than Duchess, however. Most of us grew up playing various activities & games. I loved Kickball during recess. Freeze-Tag was always fun to play. I used to go roller-skating occasionally on weekends. I'm thankful for all these playful activities I used to play & some that I still do. Many of these games make us nostalgic, reminding us of our childhood...
Don't ever forget the days of recess playing tag, kickball, or hopscotch. Those times are meant to be remembered with joy & happiness. Its nice to look back on times when things seemed so much easier & simple. If you have a free night, you should look up a roller-skate rink & go! Do something different... out of the normality of your everyday life. Remind yourself of how fun & playful life can be!
This morning I had decided to make some grits & eggs. while the coffee was brewing, I was cookin' my food. I just randomly decided I wanted to add a little color to my morning. I put some green food color to make Dr. Seuss proud with my green eggs. Then I added blue color to my grits. Color is a beautiful thing that we are given in this world to make life so bright & uplifting. Colors can also be dark & menacing. I'm thankful for a world of color. If you merely look around yourself on a daily basis, you'll see a world filled with colors of every aspect. Let the colors inspire you & fill your life with joy, happiness & peace.
I'll be honest, I do enjoy wearing black. However, I also enjoy bright fun colors as well. The colors above are my two favorite colors. I've always enjoyed earth tones. Green is my favorite, followed & complimented well by blue. Be sure to open your eyes to appreciate all of the color in your life. Let the colors of the world uplift & inspire you in your daily lives!
Jessica came over with Conner, her pup, to have dinner. After dinner, the 3 of us went to Celebration to go for a walk. First, we decided to make a stop to get some ice cream. Jess treated me to the ice cream... how sweet! She had the mint chocolate chip & I had peanut butter chocolate. As we went to get seats by the lake, Conner picked up something in his mouth. I went to take it out & realized...(prepare yourself for nastiness)... it was dried poop. Blech!!! I freaked out & Jessica laughed. We went & claimed seats by the lake, then I quickly found a public bathroom to wash my hands repeatedly. Afterwards, we finished our ice cream.. (which got all over us), and hand soap was needed yet again. Needless to say, tonight I am thankful for hand soap. When life gets a little messy, hand soap is there to clean things up.
Be sure to always have some hand soap at home. Life is a big, fun, delightful mess. You never know when things will get... well... shitty. They certainly got shitty for me tonight! Luckily even when I got home, I had my hand soap handy for an extra wash to be safe. Wash up friends & keep clean!
Going on a date can be fun, stressful, delightful or tedious. Some people enjoy dating... others loathe the monotony of it. For moi, dating is mostly a fun adventure that one must take in finding the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with. When I was young, I imagined dating to be something so whimsically magical. It still can be that way, but as you get older it becomes a bit more realistic. I am thankful for dating... being treated to dinner can make someone feel so special. Spending the evening learning about the person you're with should be fun & lighthearted. Dates can also happen between people who have been together forever. The candid joy of dating shouldn't be lost, no matter how long the flame of love has been there.
Go out on a date. Treat someone you care about to an evening filled with magic & bliss. If you are being treated to one, soak in all the whimsical joy that comes with the evening. If you are married, take your spouse out for an evening to show them how much they still matter to you. You can even take yourself on a date! Treat yourself to a good dinner. Go see a movie & remind yourself how beautiful you really are. There isn't even the need for another to enjoy & remind yourself of how terrific you really are.
Tonight I rented a movie. It's nice to have the convenience of renting a movie if you don't want to purchase the movie. This one in particular I wanted to watch, but I didn't want to pay alot for, since I knew it wasn't going to be some great blockbuster... which is why I waited & only paid a dollar for it. I spent an evening having some leftovers from last night & enjoyed a movie. I am thankful for being able to rent movies. Even little conveniences like these are something we should never take for granted.
Stop by your local movie store, if it still exists... or pick up a movie from the Redbox. Have a nice evening with a friend, lover or by yourself. Pop in a movie & enjoy an evening with your movie!
This evening I decided I wanted to cook something for dinner. I have had far too much take-out lately. I generally am not someone who likes to follow recipes. I find inspiration from recipes... but I rarely stick to them. I always change them up and make them my own. This evening I made a meatloaf. I didn't have any recipe to follow than what I remembered was some of the main ingredients in a meatloaf. I made mine with ground beef & spicy sausage. I diced some bell peppers & added that. I threw in a package of shredded cheese. I used a package of onion soup mix to add some flavor. I also added other spices here & there with some bread crumbs. The glaze I made by melting some butter & brown sugar, then adding ketchup and stirring it all together. I glazed the meatloaf & wallah! Yum. I also had red potatoes, asparagus, & a glass of wine with this.
Branch out sometime with food. Throw some things together & see what you can come up with. You learn & find new things you enjoy. I thinks its great. Its like being a mad scientist... but in a kitchen! Enjoy the humor & have fun with whatever you decide to create!
Sleep is a very important part of the human life. Without it we become sick & ill. Our bodies need rest from all of the stress we put on it on a daily basis. I also believe our minds & hearts need rest, too. I am thankful for sleep. I love sleeping. A good nights rest is the first step in having a good day ahead of you. Poor sleep can result in moods swings & can effect your life in a negative way. When we sleep we can dream about anything our imagination can think of. We all have our different sleeping habits, too. I prefer two pillows, with a third to hold on to. If facing the bed, I like the left side of the bed. If I've been working alot of hours, I reward myself with a little extra sleep on my days off.
Be sure to get plenty of sleep whenever you can! I know life doesn't always make that an easy to do. However, your body & soul can only take so much... so be sure to sleep & let your yourself become collected once again. Refresh your mind, body & soul with a good night's sleep!
Tonight I did some cleaning in the kitchen & in my bedroom. Cleaning can be a tedious task... it can also be quite relaxing. I enjoy cleaning most things, with the exception of dishes. I loathe doing dishes; I have since I was little. Anywho, cleaning is something we must do to maintain a clean living space. We clean our homes, our workplaces, ourselves & our souls. All of these tasks are important to maintain stability in your life. I always feel much better after finishing up the last touches on cleaning my bedroom. A hot shower can feel so great after a rough day. Cleaning your body from all the stress of the day. I am still cleaning & patching up the scars left from my ex. I am thankful for cleaning. It allows me to find serenity at my own pace. My heart is being swiffered by friends, lemon pledged by God, and febreezed with love.
Sometimes we do need lazy days. Don't let them become an everyday occurrence, though. Otherwise, you'll find yourself with a huge mess to clean up. Step up & take the initiative to clean up your home, your life, your heart. Whatever it takes to do so, do it. Put yourself first for a change & find some peace while cleaning up life's messes.
Tonight I went to a get-together for St. Patty's Day. Lots of fun, indeed. My friend, Brandon, made some themed cupcakes for the day. They were delish! Who doesn't love a cupcake!? Its cake, but bite-sized! I am thankful for these delicious little treats... even more so since Brandon made them from scratch.
Make some cupcakes for your friends one day. Just cause. Its nice to treat the people you care about to something nice. They will be thankful, no doubt, for a sweet little cupcake!
Florida always has the prettiest skies. Our skies are beautiful even when they are gray! In our beautiful skies are these clouds. Clouds are a wonder of the world. They are these god given props to make the scenery of the world that much more gorgeous! I am thankful for clouds. They are where we picture heaven to be. We make shapes out of them with our imagination. They are quite calming & altogether inspirational.
Don't ever forget to pause from your daily business to just look up for a moment. Enjoy the beauty that is given to us by god each & every day.
At first glance, you might not think that horror is my favorite movie genre. However, over the years, I have begun to really enjoy horror. Horror is beautiful in its own way. Life isn't always rainbows, lollipops & unicorns. Evil things exist. Its better to accept that fact. Horror can be realistic, or it can be fictional. Personally, I think its quite possible that things exist in this world beyond that from which we can fathom... like a vampire. I'd like to believe a vampire exists as much as I'd like to believe a unicorn exists. I am thankful for horror, for it gives us another broader world of imagination. Without it, we wouldn't get that first shriek in seeing Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees.
Every emotion in life is worth experiencing. Being scared or frightened can be fun. Look within sometime and embrace your darker side. Watch a scary movie with a friend if you need. Enjoy the fun in all the gore & suspense of a horror film!
Today I finally finished my previous book. Next on my list is "The Help", which is pictured above. Books take us into the lives of another, to worlds beyond our own & give us hope that romances still exist. I am thankful for books for many reasons. They give you something to do to pass the time. They help you learn & grow. Children are told stories of swashbuckling pirates & whimsical princesses. These stories let our imaginations run wild & give us the ability to dream.
No matter what kind of book you fancy, you should enjoy a good read from time to time. Learn from the books you read. If you're having a stressful day, open up a good book & have a glass of wine to relax yourself!
Lips are what we use to vocalize ourselves. They are beautiful, sweet & even erotic. Personally, lips are my favorite feature on a person that I'm interested in. Lips, like the person they belong to, come in many shapes, sizes & colors. If you are kissing a pair of lips, especially from one you love, you grow attached to them & remember the feel of those lips on yours. There is alot of comfort in a kiss... even more so if you are being kissed with passion. A kiss can also be comforting from a loved one, as a grandmother. I am thankful I can express love through a kiss.
If you love someone, whether they be your family or a lover. You can show alot of love through a simple kiss. Give your mother or grandmother a kiss on the cheek before you leave next time. They'll cherish it til next time. Kiss your lover like its the last time every time. Life throws curve balls... be sure to embrace every moment!
My sister, Jenni, came down to Florida for a few days with a friend. Yesterday, she came to see me at work... which made me a very happy brother. After I finished work, we went & got dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in the area. After that we went to a local bar to have a drink & shoot some pool. I am so very thankful for my sister. She is always there for me. We can talk once a week or once a year, but I always know without a doubt how much she loves me. She is finishing up her college degree at the moment & I am very proud of her. She is a beautiful person, inside & out.
Family will always be a part of your life, whether its in the past, present, or future. Always let them know how much they mean to you. Jenni is my only sibling. Be sure to always be there for your siblings & I'm sure they will always be there for you. There is a bond between brothers & sisters that can never be broken. Don't ever take that gift for granted. Cherish them forever & always! I love you, Jenni!
Today I went to my stylist & got a new haircut. It similar to the way I've had it for a while, just cleaned up a bit & shortened for the summer. It feels fantastic to have all the bulk gone on the sides & back! So much lighter for those hot summer days. I am thankful for a new haircut, for they always seem to make you feel better about yourself. Today was an overall gloomy day here in Florida, but this new haircut sure brightened up my day!
Go out and treat yourself to a new do! Get a dye job, have a cut or trim or whatever suits you. Look at yourself in that mirror & remind yourself how beautiful you are. Be sure to flaunt that new hairstyle with pride, for there is no shame in being content with yourself.
Today I had a glass of wine with lunch. I typically drink whites, however, I do enjoy reds if complimented with the right meal. I love trying & tasting new wines. I always say if you get drunk from wine, you're much classier. Some may argue the accuracy of this statement... but I will continue to live by it! Haha! Wine is a great beverage to loosen up the mood when on a date, or to share amongst friends while enjoying an evening together. I am thankful for wine because it always seems to quench my thirst, no matter what the mood I'm in.
Go ahead & pour yourself a glass of wine. Go to a wine tasting or venture off to a winery to discover what your palette craves. There are many different types of wine, so go out & explore to find yours. Savor the taste, and bask in the glory of your life!
Today I received some flowers! My favorite flowers are Tulips. Every flower has some type of meaning or symbolism. Many vary from person to person. I like the tulip for various reasons as well. For me, they represent something new or fresh. The yellow tulip is said to be representative of cheerfulness. I see it as a new beginning, the start of a new chapter in the story of my life. This chapter, beginning quite cheerfully, to be honest. The red tulip is said to represent a perfect love; true adoration from the person you are receiving them from. I surely hope I will get some red tulips someday if that's the case! I thankful for tulips... they bring happiness, love, joy & beauty into this world & into my life.
Its the season for tulips. Buy some tulips for someone you love... even if that person is yourself! There's no shame in buying yourself flowers! You deserve it & you deserve the joy & beauty brought on from a tulip, for you are beautiful. Don't ever forget your self-worth!
Tonight I came home to my poor kitty stuck in a grocery bag. I felt bad for Duchess, but found myself laughing hysterically. On top of it, I got her out of the bag & went upstairs to my bedroom. After coming back downstairs, I found her in the bag yet again! She is cute as a button, but isn't the brightest one. I love my girl, none the less. I am thankful for funny accidents like this. They happen randomly in life & often surprise us, resulting in a good laugh.
Be thankful for the laughter brought on by an accident, even if it takes a while to laugh at it. There is beauty in almost everything in life. Even the sadness, the mistakes. It just depends on your outlook. Savor every moment & when a funny accident surprises you, embrace it! They may not come often, but these moments happen to remind us to not take life to seriously.
Tonight I went to the Central Florida Fair with Jessica. I haven't been to a Fair or carnival since high school! We went and kind of played it by ear as we were there. After some deliberation (and Jessica's superb calculating skills) we decided to by some tickets. Our first stop there was the corn dog stand! Yum, yum, yum!!! We eventually ventured over to get some fried Oreos... which is probably one of the worst things you can ever eat, but is so good! We also had some corn on the cob, hot dogs & cheeseburgers! We went on a few rides, including the Ferris Wheel, which is a must for the Fair! We finished up the evening with some root beer floats! I am thankful for the fair for many reasons. It gives you some delicious fried food, fun rides, and always feels a bit nostalgic.
If the Fair comes in town or a town nearby, be sure to make a trip out! Its not too expensive. It's a fun way to spend an evening with friends having fun & enjoying food!
This evening Jessica & I went to Pulse to support one of her friends in a talent show. Jessica is my go-to girl for a bar or club. I know she's (almost) always up for a good time. Plus, she keeps a level head & I prefer doing a club with a girl, in any aspect you can imagine. I am not a big club/bar person, however, I do like to have a night out occasionally to dance & have a few drinks. There are a few things you can expect to see or experience while at a club, all varying on the location & type of club you go to. One thing is certain... if you go with an open mind, with a good friend & plan on having a good time, you will!
I realize that the club isn't for everyone. I used to loathe going to the club. However, I told myself I need to try new things & branch out. I enjoy going with a friend.. (I always have a blast with Jessica!!!). If you feel up to it, go out to a club & go dancing with a friend. If you're feeling a little more reserved, you can take baby steps & try going to a bar. Don't hold yourself back. You deserve a good night & we only live once!
Tonight I went to the movies with a really nice guy named Brandon. We went to see the new Tyler Perry movie, Good Deeds. The movie was decent, but very predictable. Anywho, whenever I go to the theatre I have to have a big cup of soda! I usually drink water 90% of the time, but I have exceptions & drink soda at the movies & sometimes at dinner or with some alcohol. I am thankful for soda, or pop, or soda-pop! However you say it, its relevant. My favorite is root beer, then almost any fruit flavored soda. Bubbly goodness!
If you are up for it, have a glass of soda. I prefer to avoid soda at home, because its an easy way to cut back on sugars. You can have a glass at the movies with a bag of popcorn! The perfect combo! Treat yourself sometime to the soda of your choice!
Tonight in between my Sunday evening TV lineup, I went to McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake! I have been getting milkshakes since I was a little boy. My great-grandmother, whom I called Memaw, used to take me to McDonald's when I was a toddler to get chocolate milkshakes. My favorite milkshake is the cookies & cream milkshake! This year was my first time having a Shamrock Shake. I am thankful for milkshakes. They are so delightful & are a real comfort food for me.
Get a milkshake one day from your restaurant of choice, or you can even make one yourself! We all deserve a little treat sometimes, so go ahead & treat yourself!
I have a playlist on my iPod entitled "Workout Mix". Its a wide variety of music ranging from musicals, to pop, to heavy metal. One of the songs that is on the playlist is "Ever Ever After" from the Enchanted soundtrack. For the past few months I haven't been in much of a fairy tale or happily ever after kind of mood, and would always press "skip" when that song came on. However, today it began playing & I just listened and continued with my jog. I found myself smiling ear to ear. I am so thankful for that unexpected smile. As corny as this may seem, I seemed to notice more "ever ever after" moments today. I passed a newlywed couple holding hands, a cute little infant in a tutu, and an elderly couple enjoy a glass of wine on the Boardwalk. I also thought of a very special individual I've been spending more time with over the past week. All of these things seemed to add to my smile. We have so many of these simple things to be thankful for, if we just open our eyes.
I have had a rough couple of days, yet, throughout it all I found some positivity. When you find clarity in your life, welcome it with open arms & let your smile shine through. Smile more. When a smile sneaks up on you, keep it going by noticing all the love, joy, and beauty around you everyday!
I had a pretty awful day at work today. I really wanted a glass of wine & I didn't want to have to go to through alot of trouble to buy a bottle. I decided to just get a cheap bottle of Zinfandel at 7-Eleven. I brought my sad little bottle of White Zinfandel to the counter & the clerk was this portly, Russian woman with a snaggle-tooth. I am not saying this to be mean, just merely describing her as she appeared. That said, this woman was incredibly funny & so nice. She was asking about why I was looking for a drink tonight. Then proceeded to tell me someone so handsome shouldn't be so upset... lol. After those kind words she asked me if I was a model & said I had great hair! This sweet little woman made my day. It didn't take much effort on her part. I wish I had my phone with me when I was in there, so I could have taken a photo of her. I am so thankful for the kindness from this stranger. This just shows how a few kinds words or a simple smile can turn someones day around.
You never know what a person is dealing with internally. With that said, try your best to be a genuinely kind human being. Saying a few kind words & simply smiling at someone in passing can go a long way. We should always strive to be kind to others, even when its difficult. Have no doubt that the kindness will be returned to you someday, somehow.
Today after work I went jogging with my friends, Genie & Erin. I usually go jogging everyday on my lunch. I began jogging to loose some weight, however, it has become such stress relief for me. Plus I get plenty of vitamin D! We had such a fun time with each other. Its always nice to have friends with you to give you inspiration to keep going. Its also nice to have friends that have patience if you need to stop for a moment to catch your breath. We went jogging from Disney's Hollywood Studios to the Boardwalk Resort. I am thankful for jogging. It keeps me healthy, gives me inspiration, and helps me relieve stress!
Go for a jog one day. You can always go at whatever pace suits you best. There's no right or wrong way to do it, as long as you are enjoying yourself. You'll feel good about yourself after, too!
I work & live in a place that I often see the Muppets. These guy have brought joy into the lives of so many people throughout the years. I grew up watching the Muppets & with their recent release, am still growing watching the Muppets. I am thankful for these guys. They bring delight into the world. Whether you're swooning with romance with Miss Piggy, laughing along with Fozzie Bear, or merely appreciating the beauty in a rainbow with Kermit... you're bound to smile. The Muppets teach us to never give up our dreams, to not take ourselves to seriously, and throughout it all, don't forget to laugh!
Spend an evening to watch a Muppet movie, or if you are busy, just listen to a Muppet song for a moment... it'll lift you're spirits, guaranteed! Sing along & live a little! No matter what life throws at you, don't forget life's a happy song!
Today I was in the truck & couldn't seem to find the right CD to listen to fit my mood. So by default, I turned on the radio. Luckily, there was a delightful 80's tune on the station I frequent. I am thankful for radio. It connects us the the world through news, music, and talk shows. These days most people just turn on the iPod and put it on shuffle. I am guilty of this myself. However, its nice sometimes to just let someone else choose my music for me. Sometimes you come across new inspiration.
If you have a car, or even and old radio at home... flip the switch & turn that baby on! Scan around and try listening to some new tunes. Savor the music of the past on another. Whatever you decide to listen to... enjoy yourself!
