Tender Thoughts

I finally was able to have a weekend where nothing was set in stone. I didn't have to really be anywhere. Well, I did have to be at the gym at 8am on Saturday, but I be working on my fitness so that's a MUST! Plus, I pay my trainer so gotta go, gotta go!

After getting an oil change and coming home after working out, I put the cell phone on 'silent all' and enjoyed my lazy afternoon of reading email, Facebook, cleaning, and finishing up watching (reading) Volver. Y'all, movies with subtitles make my head HURT! Penelope Cruz is the title character in Volver and it has English subtitles since the movie is in Spanish. I speak a smidgeon of Spanish, but not enough to translate the movie on my own. Between reading the English translations and trying to actually watch the movie, I got dizzy. Happens all the time. So, I fell asleep. I finished the movie last night and despite the subtitles, it's a great movie. Penelope was nominated for an Oscar for her role in it.

Later that evening, I went out for dinner with friends to Marrakesh, a Morroccan themed restaurant. We shared large plates of food and the entertainment was a belly dancer who gyrated herself all across the dining room.



Sunday I went to church and two of my friends came along with me. They thoroughly enjoyed service and are looking to come back. One has even said that she is coming back next Sunday because she feels that my church is a good fit for her. So happy! Clap! Clap! Afterwards, we all went to brunch at one of my fave brunch spots. Whitlow's on Wilson. Cheap and good! Hey..that's the best, right?

Friday was my company's annual cookout and look what I won! A 4 piece luggage set!!! I have so much luggage now. LOL! I have a green set that I bought almost two years ago, but one piece broke and now I have my new set.



I have a very busy week ahead of me and weekend! This past weekend was exactly what I needed to refresh and prepare.

Had a doc appointment this morning to go over blood work. Grade A-. Go me! My LDL cholesterol (bad type) is on the high end of normal...still in the normal range, but on the higher end. Doc wants that to go down. BP was elevated, but that's because I keep forgetting to pick up my prescription from the pharmacist. Getting it today from the pharmacy. Was down 4 lbs! Yay! All else was super - thyroid levels, glucose levels (not even border line diabetic!), etc. This darn BP is coming down, though!

Bad news is that my fantastic doc is relocating to a new office in the area. I see her in an office in Maryland which is 15 miles from my place in DC. She's moving to a new practice in VA which is about 20-25 miles from me. I'm weighing whether I should follow her or check out one of the references she gave me. One of the referred physicians was my doc's mentor while she was in her internal medicine residency. I hate switching doctors because you have to update the new physician on your medical history and then get all your files transferred over. Ugh....

I know it's 4th of July weekend and all, but why do I just want to SLEEP?? I just want to stay in the house all weekend long and watch TV and movies. However, I do want to see my girls, En Vogue, perform so I know I will at least drag my butt up to Baltimore on Saturday evening. I see myself renigging on seeing Teena Marie tomorrow night. We'll see.

I love the statement my pastor made last night about marriage. It takes a STRONG person to be married. Some of us ain't strong enough yet. Even the ones who are currently married.

I'm learning how to be friends and that's it.

I want to buy one of those one use grills for this weekend so I can grill some veggies and meats. I love me some pork loin.

How much should I charge to tutor?

I'm wearing cute sandals today.

I'm realizing that I need 8-9 hours of sleep each night. I'm 38 years old and 6-7 ain't cuttin' it.

When I think the other side is greener and fresher, the truth is revealed.

I need to read The Four Agreements again. I'm starting to take stuff personal and I shouldn't.

Fight major battles, but leave trivial situations alone. Hey...it's not affecting my bottom line.

Be patient with your heart. Don't give it too easily to someone who's not deserving. I'm speaking to myself as well.

I don't like Beyonce's video to Ego. I do like her video and song Halo. Beautiful!

I haven't been to the movies since I was home for Mother's Day and saw Obsessed. I'm overdue for a show.

I need to post more often to this here blog. :-)

Earlier this month I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in DC. Several of my girlfriends have been affected by breast cancer and I walked and raised over $800 in honor of them! Yay! Thanks to you all who donated/volunteered/participated in any way!

After the race was over, folks were handing out goodies and such. I stumbled upon FUZE. Finally, a flavored water beverage that is not high in calories and sugar. You have to drink the Slenderize versions, though. I'm drinking the Tropical Punch flavor now and it helps mix things up when I'm bored of drinking regular water which I do often. I'm not a soda drinker and on occasion I'll have alcohol. Although, I haven't had any alcohol in about three weeks! Go me!

So, let me know if you try the FUZE beverages and what your take is on them. I likey! A LOT! Hey...Wal-Mart has them on sale 2 for $2. Ask me how I know. Tee-hee!

My day actually started at 2am. That's when I went to bed thinking that I would be ok with waking up at 5am for a morning workout at the gym at 7am. NOT! When I go to bed late and have to get up early, it's not a pretty thing. My stomach acts up like crazy and my head hurts. I guess this is due to lack of sleep, huh? When the alarm went off, I immediately texted my trainer and said I couldn't do it. Could he fit me in after work. He texted me later today and said that he tried, but couldn't find a time. It's cool because it's my fault that I didn't take myself to bed at a reasonable hour. I'm going to go to Jazzercise to make up for missing my session this morning.

Even though I brought my lunch to work, I opted to head out with a couple of coworkers for Indian food. I didn't do horrible in my eating choices, but I also didn't win the prize for healthy eating either. Lunch was buffet style and I did choose lots of vegetables. Cabbage, spinach, eggplant, and tomato and cucumber slices. However, I'm pretty sure the cabbage, spinach, and eggplant had all sorts of oils and butters in them. They definitely weren't STEAMED! I also had the biryani rice, curry chicken, tandoori chicken, and some other kind of shrimp and chicken in a sauce. All this means that it will be a light, light dinner tonight. Turkey cutlets are in the oven as I type and I will saute some spinach to go along with them.

After lunch as I parked in the parking lot at work, I realized that my driver's side car window stopped working. It wouldn't go up and then it went all the way down and wouldn't come up again. Sigh. My coworkers had to help me pull it up and then we had to ghetto-fy my car and put a plastic bag over the opening so it wouldn't rain on my seats. I found a window company to assess the damage and left work early to meet the guy. The regulator (I learn something new every day) to the motor is broken and has to be replaced. At least he was able to close my window all the way and secure it without having to use plastic. I'll get it fixed tomorrow.

I'm never home around this time and it feels good. I wasn't in traffic long and I'm able to cook my dinner at a decent hour instead of 9 or 10 at night. Tomorrow has to be better.

Forgot to add that a boiled egg exploded in my microwave this morning. Yeah, a mess. Won't do that again.

I cohosted an AWESOME baby shower for a good friend on Saturday. She's also a soror! Love this girl! Can't wait til the baby girl is here! She and her husband will make GREAT parents!

The children at church did a wonderful job at service yesterday. I always like Children's Day because when I first visited my church before joining, it was the Sunday that the kids were in charge.

I want some more of these dresses from the Gap. Comfy and they double as night shirts in addition to a casual day time and lounging dress.

Aunt Flo arrived. Ugh...I was wiped out after church and took TWO naps on my couch yesterday. I know...TMI. However, this is a joyous occasion. No, not because I thought I was pregnant! LOL! But because I don't get a regular cycle. This Provera that I'm on caused my friend to come. Awww...I thought I missed her, but I really don't. I'm glad there was no cramping, though. Just a rundown, tired feeling.

A friend of mine recently got engaged. Smile. She better go DESTINATION WEDDING all the way! I need a good vacation for next year.

Boneless pork loin chops are the BOMB. A little sea salt, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley, stick them in the oven on 325 for about 30 - 40 minutes and there you go! Some yummy goodness!

I went to church last Tuesday for Bible Study. Saw that the parking lot was empty and was thinking that a lot of people weren't coming because of the weather. Decided to call the church office before I got out of my car to see what was up. Sure enough, service was cancelled for last week. If I had gone to church last Sunday, I would have known. Now that my Tuesday evenings are free again, I'm going to devote them to Bible Study. Haven't been in over a year. I used to enjoy going.

I think I can do this low carb 14 day challenge thing that Monnie has going on. So far, so good for today. I will eat more carbs on the three days that I work out with my trainer. On the days that I work out on my own, I will take it easy on the carbs since I'm only doing moderate aerobic exercise like 30 min on the elliptical and then 30 on the treadmill. Or when I go to Jazzercise for an hour.

I want to wear dresses every day this summer. Easy breezy.

I need to get my eyebrows threaded.

There are two reality shows I want to watch this summer. Dance Your A$$ Off because a girl from college will be participating. Mara is her name. Check her out! The other show is She's Got The Look on TVLand. Saw the preview show last week and I'll think I'll be tuning in. I'm rooting for the 72 year old beauty!

I'm on Season 5 of Nip/Tuck!

My bedroom is still in disarray. At least the suitcase isn't on the floor anymore. One task accomplished. Several more to go.

My carpet needs cleaning. I will NOT be using the last cleaning service. Cost too dang much!

I'm out! Ciao!

I was speaking with my youngest sister today and inquired about my niece coming to visit later this summer. My sister said no because she doesn't want her to fly. ???

Detoxing/Cleansing is good for you even if you eat healthy all the time.

I'm missing a friend while they are away.

I will never be on a man hunt. Yes, I will go to places or do things where I can meet people of the opposite sex, but I will never pound the pavement looking for men. I can make myself available, but it's up to them to do the rest. Been there, done that. Gotta let a man be a man. Men know what they want and they will go after it. If I'm what they want, they'll come. If not, they won't.

Yep, I keep an active social schedule. And??

I live for my downtime, though. Today was beautiful. Brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday and then back home by 3pm.

I missed church again today. Why does the sermon always seem extra good on the Sundays that I miss? Everyone is always saying, "Girl, you MISSED it! Church was some kind of good!"

I love being a kid some days. Pottery painting was FUN yesterday with the girls!

Nip/Tuck is the BEST!

I called all my immediate family in the span of 10 minutes and no one answered except for my brother. Then my youngest sister calls when I'm on the phone with him.

My cousin who is graduating from high school on Thursday has a registry at Target. Complete with the basic dorm essentials, but upgraded with a flat screen TV, iPod, and a digital camera. She's getting a comforter set from me.

The Kennedy Center Rooftop Terrace has a spectacular view of DC and VA.

I want it to rain. I get good sleep when it rains at night.

Things are looking up for some friends.

A friend lost her father to cancer.

Divorce is hard I hear. Maybe I'd rather be single if I had the choice to never be married or be married and divorced. I chose married and divorced before because I want the chance to experience marriage; however, I'm not so sure about that now. A friend told me about her divorce and said it felt like someone died and she was grieving the death. She wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I'm looking forward to my 20th high school reunion this summer!

I'm looking forward to summer in DC! I moved here in July 1999 and it's been on and poppin' ever since! DC ROCKS!

TVOne is starting up their Unsung series next Sunday with the story of Minnie Riperton. Shalamar, Florence Ballard, and Melba Moore will also be spotlighted in upcoming shows. Can't wait!

I need a beach vacay. This will happen soon.

Bedtime for Bonzo. Nighty nite!

If you are single and want to get married stay in shape.

Yep, this was a FB 'friend's' status. He's 5'7, works out Monday through Thursday, owns a nice single family home in the suburbs with the car to match. His list of friends on FB is 90% women, but he complains that women are picky and that's why he's not coupled up. Says that he doesn't have a woman because he's too short. Women like tall men. There were over 40 comments regarding his status quote.

C'est la vie. According to him, I guess I'll be single the rest of my living years. I be working on my fitness (Fergalicous, 2006) but I guess it's not quick enough for some. In order to get my bod right and tight, don't be mad when I forego some happy hours from time to time. If not, I'll be an old maid. According to my FB 'friend'. LOL!