Get in Shape Girl

SO. Today I had an appointment with a personal trainer at the gym. While dreading this in MANY ways, I was also hoping that it would provide motivation to get myself back in shape.

After talking with the trainer, and learning the unGodly amount of weight I need to lose, we headed to the training room. And seriously, 10 minutes in I hear a POP! and have instant, AMAZING pain in my right calf.

The trainer tried to help me stretch it out-- which hurt worse. After helping me back to the office he went next door to a physiotherapy office to ask for advice. They weren't sure without seeing me, so he came back and helped me walk (here walk is a strong word... perhaps hobble would be more descriptive) next door. They physio felt my leg and had me flex my foot (which hurts the MOST, btw). He thinks it is probably a stage 2 tear in the calf muscle.

(sigh)

Only me. Honestly, I think I will just stay chunky. It's much less painful.

Not really sure how I will get around at school tomorrow. I had Hubby bring up the crutches... thinking that may be my only option.

(insert a string of expletives here)

You Asked For It!

Well, since Mary INSISTS that I post MORE pictures of the World's CUTEST Baby.... I will oblige!

Here is your daily dose--

I certainly needed a smile today myself. It was 10 years ago that I lost my mother. I can't believe it! A whole decade! It seems to really hit me harder this year, I think because of Maddie. My mom would have been NUTS over her! I hate, more than anything, that my mom never got the chance to be a grandmother-- especially to this sweet baby girl! The only solace I have is that I know Maddie has a very special guardian angel watching her always.

It is one of my main goals to make sure that Maddie knows all about her grandmother, and what a terrific person she was. I can't wait until she is old enough to enjoy all the crazy tales of my mother. For now, I rest assured that she would have been very proud of me, and of Maddie!

This is My Life...

One of our spelling words this week is "insects"

One answer on today's practice test-- "incests"


(sigh)

---
Background: I have been grading last week's reading quiz. We read a story called The Silent Lobby about a group of black people that went to DC to lobby b/c their votes had not been counted in the recent election. This takes place during the Civil Rights Movement, so of course, they had to do various things in order to even be allowed to vote. In this case, the people had to pass a literacy test, pay a poll tax, and interpret the state constitution.



Question #3: What 3 things did the narrator's dad have to do in order to vote?

Answer: He had to write, read, and poot the constintushin in his own words.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

Had a FANTASTIC time last night at dinner with some former co-workers. This is the first time we have gotten the WHOLE group together in years! Man I miss these people! It was great to reminisce and laugh about the past. It was also cool that they have now ALL met Miss Priss-- she was GREAT at the restaurant, and got MANY compliments.

My Bucket List

I never saw the movie... nor have I actually taken time to WRITE my list out... but I did finally do something I have WANTED to do for awhile now-- I enrolled in a cake decorating class.

Hubby's mom sent me $$ for my b-day-- and this is how I chose to spend it. A good friend of mine is going with me-- which makes it that much more fun. Tonight was our first class and I LOVED IT! We didn't do much-- but just seeing what all we will be learning is SO exciting!

I love to bake-- I find it relaxing-- especially when I can do it uninterrupted. (Not that that happens much now-- not so much baby's fault as much as hubby asking me questions or trying to get me to do something else right that minute).

My mom taught be some cake decorating basics... and I have always loved it. Mom made my cakes growing up-- And I want to be able to share that special skill with Maddie as she grows.

I would LOVE to be able to just bake all the time... I know NOTHING about running a bakery-- and it today's shaky economy I know a business venture like that would be risky at best... but perhaps that will be another item on my Bucket List.

34-- The Year of the Purge

Another year, another candle... And man-- What a year it has been!! I think I might FINALLY be a real adult! HAHAHAHAHHA...

In the past year I have conquered the frustrating world of US Immigration, survived one of the worst school years of my career, made it through 8 mo. of pregnancy on my own, given birth to the most beautiful girl in the world, refinanced my mortgage, cleared all debt, and have now filed my first claim on my homeowner's insurance...

Every year on my birthday I make a plan for the upcoming year-- the way people do on New Year's. This birthday "Yearlong Theme" then ties in with any resolutions I make 2 months later... A few years ago I decided to stop being afraid of everything-- to live fearlessly... This was the year I got engaged and married-- after a crazy, wild 2 years of transatlantic communication. Last year I vowed to take better care of myself. This worked out well as I was constantly at various Drs during the pregnancy. I certainly overcame many of my medical fears during the past year!

This year is going to be about organization. Pardon my french, but I have GOT to get my shit together! When I moved to the house I am in now, I had to go through and purge a LOT! However, I was still very emotional about my mom's passing and all of her belongings... So I really brought a BUNCH of stuff I don't need, will never use, and don't really even know what it is. I have purged a lot during the last 7 years of being here... but I still have TOO MUCH STUFF! And in addition to that-- the stuff I have is NOT well organized.

(**Note: I am NOT a hoarder-- please no one recommend me for the show on A&E**)
;-)

NOW you add on all the baby paraphenelia-- oy! Plus Hubby, of course, brought stuff with him. (Luckily it wasn't a LOT as he was moving across the Atlantic... but still...)

I've always had a lot of STUFF... My bedroom growing up was super cluttered-- but it was my prized possessions! Being surrounded by these treasures made me feel safe and secure. (This is probably why I clung to my mom's things for so long...) But now I feel suffocated by these things... Drowning.

I'm not saying I want to get rid of EVERYTHING... But the purge will continue-- and with greater intensity this time!

Pet Peeve of the Day

People that pronounce "Tennessee" as though it ended with an "ay"

i.e. TennessAY

SNORT!

I cannot stop laughing! My friend Pete posted this on his FB page-- a spoof of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart video... Any child of the 80s is familiar with this over-the-top, slightly creepy video... a true classic!




---
On the baby front-- Miss Priss refused to turn-- so now we are scheduled for a C-section on July 6th-- a week from tomorrow!! I can honestly say I am BEYOND ready for her to be here-- and OUT of my aching body!  Between achy back, hips, etc... and the HEAT and HUMIDITY (I'm sorry-- it's ridiculous to be 80 degrees at 9am!)

Hubby is, of course, upset that England is out of the World Cup... personally I am kind of glad there are no more "life-altering" matches we HAVE to available to watch. I mean, he will watch the rest of the matches, but if one is missed-- it isn't a tragedy. I'm soccered out! Glad this only rolls around once every 4 yrs.  I'm ready for some good ol' AMERICAN football!

I have one of my last Dr appts today... hopefully the BP will be down and this will not turn into a 4hr event... as it USUALLY does! oof!

Donde Esta??

Yes, yes... I have been MIA for awhile... but I have good excuses!

BEST excuse is that hubby is FINALLY here! YAY! Almost 10 mo. of the immigration process about did me in-- but I survived! It has been SO nice to have him here to help. And he has been quite busy-- though never fear-- he's had plenty of time to keep up with World Cup! (Too bad England has been rubbish! -- even my MIL says so!)

with the brothers after England's draw with the US

We have also been busy finishing up the nursery-- I saved the shelves project for him! And he has done an EXCELLENT job painting and hanging the shelves-- I am SO happy to have them up and ready--

Another biggie has been getting, putting together, and installing the travel system. This has resulted in some "colorful" language and hilarious quotes-- "Do not take anymore pictures because I am really not happy!" (I was, of course, photoing the whole event)... "You need a f-ing mechanical engineering degree to put this together!"  "What the hell *is* this?!"   "Look! Little hubcaps!" "How do stupid people do this?"

Again, Daddy has done a great job!

Next up: the baby!! Miss Priss is still breech-- they are going to try to turn her on Monday, so we shall see. I am ready for her to be here-- well OUT of me anyway... It is HOT (mid to upper 90s most days), humid, and I am really uncomfortable. I was positive my feet/ ankles would split open last night. Everyone tells me how great I look-- but WOOF! I am NOT feeling it!

And I just snorted at an email I received-- something from The Bump, or What to Expect... "36 Weeks: Take advantage of that energy surge!"  Who the hell are they kidding? What energy surge? Where? It took EVERYTHING I had to drag my swollen self out of bed today-- and even then I did it more out of guilt than anything.

Miss Priss is moving-- which is good-- though it makes me nauseous sometimes... And I don't think she is moving to the head down position-- just dancing-- or re-enacting moments from the World Cup. Oof!

So that's where I've been. I hope to be more "with it"-- we'll see!

Quote of the Day and Other News...

I was purusing through some blogs and sites today and came across this quote--

Patience may be a virtue, but I really don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand the wait.

I say, "AMEN!"
 
Things on the immigration front are moving more now, and really we are down to the final step... but I just want it DONE! And I want it done NOW! Is that too much to ask?
 
One thing I don't have to wait any longer for is the end of the school year. There is still one week left-- but yours truly will NOT be participating in the end of year madness. (Trust me, NO TEARS here!)
 
Last week I went to the Dr. and my BP was still high, so I have been placed on a modified bed rest. You won't hear me complaining! Lord knows I needed some rest!
 
All I need now is a good book to read!

I've Been Out of Control & Missing in Action...

Sorry to have been MIA all week on here... It's been a doozie!

I admit, I like to have control of most situations. Sure, there are times when I can go with the flow and just see what happens, but for the most part I don't like the out of control feeling. It's like riding the tea-cup ride at Disney World... I feel like at any moment I will be slung off into the universe.

Maybe that is why this whole immigration thing is so frustrating and uncomfortable. I have NO control over any aspect of it now. I have done my part, filled out stacks of paperwork, written several checks, copied and mailed all important documents and "evidence." Right now we are waiting on, perhaps RELYING on is a better phrase, Matt's Dr. to send a report to the embassy Dr. All the Embassy Dr. wants is 3 details-- it's really NOT hard. But for some reason, this is over the other Dr.'s head. Really?! You went to school for how long? People's lives rest in your hands daily, and yet you can't seem to get one simple letter written correctly? Furthermore, it's not like he writes it anyway, the secretary does. All he has to do is get her the info. Hell, I can write the stupid thing and get it to the Dr. in London (FROM THE US, no less) faster than this guy seems able to.

Needless to say, Matt will not give me the Dr.'s # so that I may call and, ahem, explain the urgency of the situation a little clearer. Apparently Matt is concerned that I will offend the man. PSHAW! I love that Americans have a reputation for abrasiveness... Whatever, we get things done! No stopping for a cup of tea for us!

School has been another out of control issue. This has been a challenging year. I am constantly shocked and saddened by some of the issues that  kids in elementary school face. I think back to those years-- fun, carefree... I certainly wasn't worried about taking care of younger siblings, or my parents! I was not neglected-- I had food, clean clothes, I was bathed... My parents cared about my education, made sure I did my work, instilled in me the VALUE of a good education. So what has happened?

If I spoke to adults, or acted the way some students today act... even now in my 30's-- my dad would STILL yank me up. And for some it is a game-- they know there are no consequences at home, and consequences they care anything about at school. Take my recess? Fine. Suspend me? Even better! I'll play video games all day! Kids like this go out of their way to drive teachers crazy for fun! And they win EVERYDAY!

Not only are my nerves frazzled, my blood pressure high, and my head throbbing... but now I feel like a failure because I can't get control over an 11 yr old! The thing is, NO ONE can... No teacher they have ever had... not their parents... no one! So what happens to these kids. If they act like this, and are this apathetic at 11... think what they will be like in high school... when they are 20... 30...

Here are some interesting recent articles from England:

Beaten boy was 'leading light of class trouble'

and the follow up:

Teacher Cleared Of Attempting To Murder Pupil

Now, I am not saying teachers should beat down unruly students. But teachers are human beings- and I am glad, for once, that a jury listened to the teacher. And what about the students' behavior? It will probably go unpunished (aside from a cracked skull)... but maybe other students will think twice before tormenting a teacher.

Thursday was one of the worst days. I had been out Wednesday... Two of my darlings had been in trouble with the sub-- so they were sent to other rooms for the day. That's how our "inschool suspension" works. Thursday, same two in trouble again. It's not always THESE two... but there is never a day that at least one of about 5 don't stir something up. I have not had one uninterupted day. And the school system wonders why test scores go down? It's not all books and learning-- there has to be some discipline-- and that discipline has to start, and carry on AT HOME. 

Teachers get blamed for everything-- if a child has low grades, it's our fault-- never mind the kid probably had no food at home for breakfast, is coming in dirty clothes, with dirty hair, face, and hands... Chances are the kid got themself (and sometimes siblings AND parents) up that morning... No one makes them follow directions at home, so why should they at school? Kids that see nothing but anger and fighting at home-- that is the norm-- so why not yell and fight everyone at school? "Multiplication? Who needs that? My daddy says that's a waste of time!"

OK, soapbox over... It's just that is what we are dealing with day after day... then we are told we can lose our jobs if scores don't go up. Parents come in and complain about ME if their child isn't doing their work. Well, newsflash: I have my OWN life. I cannot possibly go home with every student and sit with them until they do their work each night. I give my class LOTS of time IN CLASS... if they CHOOSE to use their time poorly-- well, that my friends is a life lesson. I'm a teacher, not Superwoman.

So on top of THAT stress on Thursday, my Dr.'s office calls to inform me that I have failed the 2nd glucose test. This was the 3 hr long one where blood was drawn 4 times. (I was technically poked 5 times if you could the last one when she couldn't get a vein in one arm). Great. Gestational Diabetes. And yes, I am aware that this is quite common. But it is ONE MORE thing, on top of all the other crap I am dealing with. Add this worry to all my worries about immigration, school, family, stuff at home, etc...

And did I mention I LOVE bread and all things carbs? I am already miserable. All I want this AM is some cereal... Nope, sorry... No can do... I can have an egg. Ever mention I really do NOT like eggs at all? I don't like the smell, the taste. the texture. Oh well.

I will go now, and fix an egg for breakfast, before I get too whiney...

Just a LITTLE longer...

Matt had his interview yesterday AM at the US Embassy in London. He said, while it was intense, the consular officer he spoke with was very nice. She didn't ask a lot of questions-- when we got married, how we maintain the marriage across the pond-- he explained we use skype and talk via webcams into (for him) the wee hours of the AM-- he said, "Can't you see the bags under my eyes?" She thought this was funny...



They did not issue his visa today, because the Dr. he saw in London (the one he had to see for the embassy) has no signed off on his medical. She is the Dr. that detected a murmur. He has since been to a cardiologist-- who has told him he has a leak in a valve in one of his arteries. This will require surgery for repair (NOT replacement). The cardiologist sent all of this to the Dr in London, but she still didn't sign it--

In the meantime, I contacted my insurance people, and explained the whole thing. They checked, and because he has coverage in the UK, then he WILL be covered here. They will not consider it pre-existing, and there will be no lapse in coverage. I had them write me a letter to this effect. Matt has the letter and the email from my insurance lady. He took those, plus a letter from my Dr. saying he really needs to be here for the baby. The embassy made copies and have instructed him to take the letters to this Dr. in London. Once she signs the medical (and they feel she has no reason not too, since he WILL have insurance coverage) and gets it to the embassy, they will then call Matt. They will give him a courrier number-- he is to courrier his passport to the embassy, they will then courrier it back with the visa.


I asked how long this will take-- hopefully no more than a week. When I spoke with him the first time, Matt was running down the street in London trying to get back to the Dr's office to talk to her.


She said what she needs is a report from his cardiologist detailing exactly what is wrong, what needs to be done, and a timeline (ie can he wait 6 months, a year, 2 yrs, etc...) She said she has to make sure he is ABLE to come over here. Why she didn't explain this to him LAST week when they spoke, I have no idea. Matt thinks he may have misunderstood her-- anyway-- he is trying to call his cardiologist now so he can set up a time to see him Monday. The Dr had already scheduled a procedure for Wednesday-- to go in with a camera and look closer at the heart, so he may wait till after that to send his report to the Dr. in London-- we'll see.


At any rate, we are still hoping that within the next 2 weeks Matt will be ready to step on a plane! He said he feels like a weight has been lifted. :)


SO... there we are. Not the BEST news, but certainly not BAD news. He said he feels he can go ahead and sort all his stuff, and start packing. This week will also give the airports over there a chance to decongest from all the people stranded by the volcano in Iceland.

Thanks for all the prayers, positive thoughts, and encouragement... this has been BEYOND stressful, but will hopefully be over soon!
 

The Waiting Game...

Well, the day is finally here (almost...)

After 10 months of filling out paperwork, answering questions, and WAITING-- Matt has his immigration interview tomorrow. This has been, quite possibly, THE most stressful thing I have ever been through. There are so many things wrong with the immigration process, I don't even know where to start. Nor do I have the answers. I realize immigration is one of the next big political issues to be addressed, and oh how I hope they are able to make some GOOD and LOGICAL changes so no one has to go through what we have.

I don't want to say I have an "appreciation" of illegal immigrants-- but I will say I have a new UNDERSTANDING.

If things don't go well tomorrow, I honestly don't know what I will do. My gut reaction would be to pack up and head to the UK... but at 6 monnths pregnant, that is hardly an option.

My feelings and emotions this week have been up and down. Like Matt, I don't want to get my hopes up-- seems like everytime we do, we hit an obstacle. At the same time, I have a positive feeling-- I have tried desperately to stay positive. It's not been easy-- that's for damn sure! But HOW could they NOT let him come? Surely the people at the embassy have a heart...

(SIGH)

OK... I'm off to try to occupy my time...

Please send good thoughts and positive vibes across the pond! His interview is at 9:30 (UK Time)... no idea how long it will take... letting the waiting game continue...

Spring Cleaning!

In keeping with my theme that Spring is for renewal... I have changed up the blog backround and layout... Thought we could use a splash of color!

And in keeping with my entry title... I hope to get some cleaning done around the house today-- just as soon as I recover from the HUGE, carb-loaded IHOP breakfast I had this AM.   :)

I've had a great weekend-- which I needed desperately! Looking forward to a SHORT week at school, and another FUN weekend coming up!

Do-Over!

So I am thinking of reviving ye ol' blog... some buddies at school have become bloggers and I feel re-inspired. Plus, I have SO much going through my mind at the present time, another outlet for my thoughts is welcoming!

(more on all THAT later)

So yes, I think we will give this another go... I created this blog originally when I had applied to teach school in England. I used it to communicate with other "ex-pat" teachers, etc. Now that is no longer my goal, so the aim of the blog has shifted... but hey, flexibility is a lifeskill!

OK, I will work on organizing my thoughts-- as much as possible. I look forward to getting back into this!

:)

Delayed

Wow. I haven't written anything in a REALLY long time. I guess I've been busy... and not really in the mood to write. Ah well... I now have time, and nothing else really to do. That's right, I am ONCE AGAIN delayed in an airport! mcWOOF!

I am heading to LA to help Jess with the kiddos... and discuss girly wedding details-- which Jess has been planning I swear for 10 yrs @ least! :)Anyhoo... apparently there is bad weather in TX-- my flight goes through Houston-- and everything has been grounded. My uncle (a pilot) was apparently stuck for a few hrs in TX also... The plane is here (that's good), and all the connections out of TX are also delayed (also good- I should make mine)... but now I will be getting to LA around midnightish-1am... instead of 10:30pm... oy!

What am I looking fwd to? (Besides Jess, Thom, Henry, Mae, and hopefully seeing Leigh)-- In -n- Out Burger, Trader Joe's, and some CA sunshine! WOOHOO!

Thank God for laptops, wireless cards, and cell phones-- that's all I can say! I am not really in the mood to read, tho I do have 2 books with me that I am working on. And I would head down to the bar @ Ruby Tuesdays-- but there is an UBER obnoxious man on my flight... and he is already drunk... and LOUD... and RUDE... and he's BACK at the bar-- so I will just stay here where it is quiet (in his absence).

(Let me interject a THANKS to Justy and Matt for their IMs and texts to entertain me during this troubling time...)

Um, let's see... we finished TCAPs today-- YAY! 5 weeks left of school! I can't believe it! This has been such an AWESOME class...I really hate to see them go. I really lucked out this year, fo sho!June will rock-- going to see Matt around the 15th for a couple of weeks... then he will be coming back with me... he will then have the honor of meeting the Wilson Clan @ Mamaw's 90th (pray for him!)... and hopefully more of the other side of the fam as well.

School will be starting back end of July/ beginning of August... oy! 2009 is shaping up to be an incredible year... full of LOVE <3,>

OK, so what news does everyone else have? Come on! I need something to occupy my time... Tell me some stories!

Book Worm

Read So Far in 2009:

1. James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Yes, this is a school selection)
2. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (audiobook)
3. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
4. The Treasures of Weatherby by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (school)
5. Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
7. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader
8. Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast


Currently I'm reading:

The Anglo-Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall (STILL!)
Betrayed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Yes, some of these are at school... I keep getting into other books and neglecting The Anglo-Files... Thanks to Jana for giving me the House of Night Series... Wasn't sure I would like them @ first-- but it grew on me for sure!

This Site Cracks Me Up...

http://www.fmylife.com/

Today, I came home to find that my room had been ransacked. My mom comes out of no where and says that we need to have a talk. I freaked out thinking it was all the empty alcohol bottles under my bed. My mom holds up the birth control and says "I always knew you were a whore." FML

Today, I decided to be a good driver and not run through the yellow light. As soon as I stopped my car another came and rear-ended me. The guy told me to go in the parking lot so we can exchange information. So I drove into the parking lot, I turned my head and watched him drive away. FML

Today, my roommate and I finally got fed up with this increasingly, horrible stench that has been in our apartment for a few days now. Leaving it for our other roommates to handle, we selfishly left to get yogurtland. Moments later, we both expressed that we haven't seen our cat in a while. FML

Today, my dad woke me up at 6 told me to take a shower and drove me to school only to say "just kidding, happy snowday!" FML

Peaceful Patience

Waiting in the Weeds
The Eagles

It's comin' on the end of August
Another summer's promise almost gone
And though I heard some wise man say
That every dog will have his day
He never mentioned that these dog days get so long

I don't know when I realized the dream was over
Well, there was no particular hour, no given day
You know, it didn't go down in flame
There was no final scene, no frozen frame
I just watched it slowly fade away

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for my time to come around again and
Hope is floating on the breeze
Carrying my soul high up above the ground and
I've been keepin' to myself
Knowin' that the seasons are slowly changing you
And though you're with somebody else
He'll never love you like I do

I've been biding time with the crows and sparrows
While peacocks prance and strut upon the stage
If finding love is just a dance
Proximity and chance
You will excuse me if I skip the masquerade

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the dust to settle down along the
Back roads running through the fields
Lying on the outskirts of this lonesome town
And I imagine sunlight in your hair
You're at the county fair

You're holding hands and laughing
And now the Ferris wheel has stopped
You're swinging on the top
Suspended there with him

And he's the darling of the chic
The flavor of the week is melting
Down your pretty summer dress
Baby, what a mess you're making

I've been stumbling through some dark places
Now I'm following the plow
I know I've fallen out of your good graces
It's alright now

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the summer rain to fall upon the
Wild birds scattering the seeds
Answering the calling of the tide's eternal tune
The phases of the moon
The chambers of the heart
The egg and dart
A small gray spider spinning in the dark
In spite of all the times the web is torn apart

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the time to come around again and
Hope is floating on the breeze
Carrying my soul high up above the ground and
I've been keepin’ to myself
Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing you
And though you're with somebody else
He'll never love you like I do

Source

Video

(Thanks to Leigh for turning me onto this song)

Book Club: He's Just Not That Into You

How is it that I always forget how much I love to read? I mean, I guess I get busy... or don't MAKE time to read like I should. Usually I only read on vacation-- on one of my transcontinental or transatlantic flights... And I always think, "I should read more!"

As a kid I was rarely in trouble. Pretty much the only thing my mom got on to me about was reading past bedtime. I was the kid with the flashlights under the covers... or waiting silently till I hear my mom's bedroom door close before I turned the lamp back on.

Sunday my friend Leigh and I each bought a copy of He's Just Not That Into You to read before going to see the movie Friday night. As a rule I try to steer clear of "self-help" type books. The crazy aunts thought they were REALLY funny a couple of Christmases ago when they gave me one of Dr. Phil's books on dating and finding love. WOOF! But I found HJNTIY hilarious! And, as Leigh said, I'm pretty sure now that NO guy has EVER been into me.

You might think this would be depressing, and in some ways I guess it is. But reading the stories and examples in this book mirrored so many of my own experiences, and I guess reading it in this context made me realize how RIDICULOUS I have been in the past.

Yes, it is hard as hell to be a single thirtysomething... Hell, that's why they made a TV show about it years ago-- and that is why it was so popular! People relate! Will it suck to be single forever-- yeah, I guess. Would it be the end of the world? No... Though, I am not fond of the word "Spinster"-- so lets refrain from using that one, ok?

I liked the way this book was written-- it was an easy, fast read. The authors wrote like they were talking to you. They used real words, real examples, and real (gasp!) expletives. While Greg was upbeat, encouraging, and truthful, Liz was the voice we (women) all hear most in our head. The "Yeah, but what if..." voice.

I am certainly no dating expert-- as we all know. But I like what was said in the book. I hope to incorporate some of the advice. While reading it I was reminded of my New Year's resolution (To Be Fearless)... and I, as previously stated, have noticed that as I have gotten older, being single is getting easier. Yes I have moments of insanity-- pretty sure Justy can attest to one Sunday evening... but for the most part I am ok.

Do I think Prince Charming is out there? Well, I dunno about a PRINCE, but there's someone for me. In the meantime, I will take Greg's advice and not "waste the pretty."