This-N-That

I've missed blogging.

As we all know, my computer has went to tech heaven, but I was lucky enough to get a loaner computer from a friend...wee hoo! I feel so disconnected from the world when I don't have Internet access at my fingertips. And quite frankly, Face Book misses me. My new (pink) Dell will be here in a few weeks!

Today was the first time that I went on a bike ride in a loooong time. Not because it's been winter or anything, but because I'm very unmotivated to do any sort of physical activity - hence lack of exercise. I hate sweating and I hate working out because my face always becomes 10 shades of red. I have always been that person who needs a little workout buddy to motivate me. I miss being around my brother because he was the reason that I looked forward to working out. Making fake fart noises and all! Anyway, I was lucky enough to get to hang out with Elizabeth and Tunde today and venture out for an 8 mile ride with 3 small children in tow... it was perfect for me because it made me not be the slowest person on the trail :) My arse hurts tonight.

This is always a bit of a special month for me because it marks the month of my baptism when I was 25. I look forward to lighting my baptism candle every year, but I realized that it's somewhere in Iowa. I ransacked my closet trying to find it and finally gave up. Sigh. It's not like I was worshipping my candle or anything, but watching the flame flicker and reflecting back on the years in which I have been able to call upon Christ is a nice meditation time for me, I suppose.

Some sad news on the home front... my cousins' grandma passed away on Friday and these are the times where I really miss being home. This woman has been as much a part of my life as long as I can remember - just being at several family dinners and get togethers, birthday parties, seeing them at the fair, parades, etc. I'm definitely one of those people who needs closure and it's tough not being able to see my family during this difficult time. All I want to do is hug them and tell them how very much I love them. So here are your cyber hugs and my I love you's... she was always well kept, smiling and had a great laugh - I know she'll be missed. As Bob's final prayer to 'be lifted' was spoken - we know that God hears our prayers.

As the season of Lent approaches, I think I have figured out what I need (not so much want) to give up this year, and that is TV. I'm going to limit myself to one hour a night and hope that I can manage my time a little more wisely. I find myself in a constant daze staring at the little black box and not really hearing what's being said when a show is on, but just kind of letting my mind roam. It feels like mush. I'm finding books that I want to read or taking friends' suggestions on other books that they have read. I want to become more intimate with my relationship with God and I know I can't do it sitting on the couch in a mind numbing altered mode. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for me to expand on a few things outside of my little bubble and I'm excited for what lies ahead...

So I bought this perfume that I have a love/hate relationship with right now. My friend wears it and it smells phenomenal on her, but it's all weird on me. Darn my pheromones! So I have taken a poll by asking opinions at work and so far it's 50/50. Some days I love it and other days I think it smells like powder. I dunno. I usually LOVE what I wear, but this one has me stumped. Today I like it.

Dipna introduced me to a new frozen yogurt place called NuYo. I love it because they have self serving soft MINT frozen yogurt. I love mint. (Yes dad, I can see you making that face and sticking your tongue out while you gag and point your finger down your throat!) Anyway, we went there after lunch the other day and I had chopped Andes mints to sprinkle on top with some tiny chocolate chips and a little squirt of dark Ghiradelli chocolate sauce. Heaven. Good thing I had a salad for lunch... I can't wait to go back and do it all over again. However, they did have peanut butter yogurt, too..hmm... do you think the peanut butter outbreak applies to frozen yogurt though?

I have to lead our small group Tuesday night at church and I'm getting nervie. I don't quite know what I'm going to talk about yet, but I haven't had to speak in front of a group since hosting the Alpha course a few years ago. I think I'm just intimidated because it's a new set of women. Not that they're going to flog me or anything, but I don't know personalities and some are more quiet than others. I just hope that it will be a solid group effort and they won't ask me too tough of questions! I guess I could always take a Twix with me - you know that commercial where the woman asks her husband if the dress makes her look fat and he shoves it in his mouth so he can't answer? That's me.

'Stay Classy, San Diego'