Monday, December 31, 2007

Arrivederci 2007!! Benvenuto 2008!!

Normally New Year's Eve is a quiet time of reflection for me. But today was filled with much driving and shopping for me. I got up early and got ready to drive to my mom's. This is about an hour drive depending on traffic and weather and number of stops. I had to get to my mom's early so we could then get into her SUV and drive to Boardman (about another 45 miles). We had to shop for the Baby Shower that we are throwing for Amber in a couple weekends. We were successful in finding lots of cute decorations and party stuff. It only took hours but it was done!

Got back to my mom's unloaded her car and then got back in my car to head back to Pittsburgh for my quiet evening at home.

Tonight has been even quieter than usual as I am exhausted from all the running around during my break. I really just want to crawl into bed and go to sleep.

But the big question...To make or not to make a resolution...that is NOT my question! I stopped making the stupid things quite some time ago. I do not need to add any more pressure or stress to my life. I do however make it my goal to add more healthy things to my life. However, before I get to setting those I want to take a look back at some of the things that I have learned this last year.


Things I have learned in 2007:
  1. When your car gets frozen shut and the streets are iced over you get to work from home. And nobody questions you!
  2. It is quite acceptable to wear a hat, a hood, gloves, coat, two scarves (one outside and one inside the coat) and multiple layers of clothing to stay warm.
  3. PA Car inspections are a rip off. But family who can fix the troubles is a huge help! (thanks!)
  4. Physical therapy helps heal when done properly. Falling down wet steps still sucks!
  5. Doing taxes for multiple states SUCKS! And doing my taxes late did not kill me.
  6. Small changes over time = big results and big rewards.
  7. Breaking a crown can be an experience that makes you a celebrity in your dentist office.
    I heart my dentist and his staff!! Oh, and, fixing a crown takes a whole summer if you want to get it right! And YAY!!! IT is finally right!!! Oh, swallowing a gold crown will not hurt you! It does make a good drinking story though.
  8. Playing softball rocks!!!
  9. Spending time with my sisters rocks! I am even willing to sleep on couches and floors to make this happen. It sucks but I will still do it if I get to see them! I will even stand outside in a torrential thunderstorm with an umbrella over the grill to make sure dinner is perfect! Not that the umbrella helped keep me dry in any way!
  10. When you arrive to a date and your date is already wasted at the bar...RUN the other way VERY FAST!!!
  11. Making new girlfriends has been WAY more fun than dating silly men!
  12. There are a LOT of bridges in Pittsburgh and I think I can hit them all trying to drive from point A to point B. Just ask Sophia or Andy they were my willing passengers on grand adventures!
  13. Hitting rock bottom does not kill you. Bruise you, sure. In the end you get back up and figure out how the fuck you are going to get out and move forward. It will be okay.
  14. There is good Mexican food, good Sushi and good Italian food in Pittsburgh!
  15. You can maintain friendships across the miles. It just takes a little attention and patience.
  16. I am happy.
  17. Taking the bus is good for me, good for the planet and good for my car! A minor inconvenience that will have huge benefits.
  18. I am a good person and people really do like me. :-)
  19. Losing weight is NOT a race; it is NOT a demand to be met; it is NOT anyone else's journey but mine. I am handling it slowly, steadily and in my own way. I am happy with how far I have come and I can see where I am going. Finally!
  20. Ask and ye shall receive...just be sure you know what you want before you ask!
  21. There are messages from the universe all over the place if you are courageous enough to look.
  22. I am loved. I am cherished. I am missed. I am really loved. I am respected. And I know it!
  23. Meditation works. Meditation rocks. Meditation will become a bigger and more regular part of my life.
  24. Laying on wet grass or a rocky driveway and being very still is the best way to watch a meteor shower.
  25. There are places where you can't buy alcohol on Sunday but you CAN buy a gun! This is of course after you have had a good breakfast and hot coffee.



Saturday, December 29, 2007

Less of Me

Normally, people would not be excited about getting on a scale after the holidays. I was not excited but I was not fearful or guilt ridden this time. Today was the last weigh in of 2007 for me and the me that is sitting here today is different than the me I was at the start of the year. For that I am grateful and hopeful.

The last week has been c-r-a-z-y but somehow I was able to find balance and make it work for me as I am down 2 lbs. from last week. For the month of December I am down 7.4 lbs. Woo Hoo!!! I made it through the holidays and bucked the norms!!!

To be at this point at the end of 2007 is absolutely exciting for me. For the very first time I am consistently working towards my goals. I am not in a hurry and I am not going very fast but I am moving forward! I am looking forward to 2008 and I am so excited to not be dreading the new year as I am lighter than I was a year ago! Next year I will be even lighter, that much I can guarantee!

I plan to spend the next couple days reflecting on how far I have come and making some plans for more forward progress and more weight loss. Stay tuned for more from me...

Friday, December 21, 2007

Christmas Craziness...

I am going to need a vacation from my Christmas vacation! :-(

I have been baking like crazy. I got packages in the mail this week.
I got cards into the mail sometime ago. I have packages wrapped.
I baked some more snowballs last night...still have powdered sugar
all over the kitchen!

I still have some baking to do...not sure when I will be able to get it
done. I am wrapping up grades at work. I have some minor items to
finish and then I am off starting at 12 Noon. Atleast, I am still
hoping to get out of here at noon today!

Then the fun really starts...

Friday afternoon I drive to Wellsville. I need to pick up one last gift
on my way to Ohio. Then I will probably help with things at my
mom's for the day. Friday night we are going to drive to
Gettysburg. We will be meeting up with Barbie and Kyle on
Saturday since they are not coming in for the holiday. We return to
Ohio Saturday night. I return to my home in Pittsburgh at some
point on Sunday to feed the cat. Then head back to Ohio bright
and early Monday morning to get things in order for the big family
get together for Christmas Eve. Then do the big family get together
and then clean up and then...and then...YIKES!!!

Please make it stop!

Why do things have to get so hectic and crazy? I pray for peace and
for calm over the next few days. I pray that Christmas is quiet and
no one is grumpy!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Friday, December 14, 2007

10 Random Facts about Nicole

This was done on Myspace back in November. My good friend Dana requested that I do this on there. I was re-reading it and thought it might be something fun to put on my new blog.

So in the spirit of full disclosure I am putting out a list of 10 random facts or habits or quirks or goals or whatever. Drum roll, please...

In the words of Lexi Grey...
"Maybe now you can hate me a little less."
(I live for Thursday nights and Grey's!!!)


1. I am neurotic about knowing details, plans, everything and anything that puts me at ease. It is ironic that lately people keep coming into my life who are trying to teach me to go with the flow, relax and don't plan, just be. Ugh! I am trying, really I am but I am me and I am a bit neurotic. I do try to hide it but sometimes I do not succeed.



2. I am addicted to pickles. Seriously. I don't remember the last time I went to the grocery store and did not buy some. I eat them all the time. They need to be crisp and crunchy. I do not think I could live without them. I believe that this is due to the fact that when I was in the womb my mom ate pickles, lots and lots of them.



3. I miss Los Angeles. I miss the 405. I miss good and easily accessible wine. I miss driving up the coast on a hooky day to get fresh lobster and sit in the sun next to PCH and the ocean. I miss sitting at the Vintage Tea Leaf or Elixir with Julie for hours talking about life and love and the lack/possibility in both! I miss watching football in the football room at Heidi's house. The football room rocked!! Almost as hard as Heidi...who I miss terribly.



4. I love living in Pittsburgh. Really, really love it. I have reduced my stress level hugely. I have made some amazing new friends. I am near my family. I am going to be an aunt. I enjoy the time I spend with my family immensely. They are really amazing people! And at times they drive me nuts. Ah, family! Dating here is not easy but nothing worth having ever is!!! And my apartment finally feels like home!



5. I thrive when I have creativity in my life. Museums are a lovely way to spend a day. Painting is a joyous adventure. Writing is a passion. Making jewelry is a new found love. Scrapbooking is fun. Anything that I can play with and make something from is an amazing thing for me in my life.



6. I hate looking weak or incapable to anyone ever. Ever! Looking like a failure haunts me. I want people to like me. Always!



7. I want to write and publish a book or three. I will write and publish a book or three. I have so much to say and I will do this one day very soon.



8. I want to go to Italy. I want to go for a month minimum to paint, write, drink wine, eat and enjoy all the wonders of Italy. I want to get married in Italy. I want a quaint ceremony at sunset in the countryside of Tuscany.



9. I enjoy baking and am really good at it. I enjoy cooking and am good at that too. But I don't do either very much since I live alone. I am excited about the holidays coming since I have been started getting threats of blackmail for Christmas cookies. No threats! Please!!! I am looking forward to cookie day with the coolest kids around-- Clay, Taylor and Joey, oh and Amber! A kitchen full of warm sugar cookies, icing and kids. What more can one ask for at Christmas?



10. I would kill for a full body deep tissue massage with hot stones or a Dharma pedicure at the Paint Shop.



Welcome to my craziness....stay as long as you would like!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Sushi and Shopping

Last night I met Cindy (yay for girlfriends) at the Waterfront for Sushi!!! Yum! I am so grateful to have found good sushi in Pittsburgh and of course a great friend who eats sushi!

Our weather has been weird, last week we had snow and this week we had a record high temp on Tuesday of 67! Yesterday we were supposed to get freezing rain so when we got to the Waterfront and the sky was clear we were happy that we might actually get to enjoy the shopping area and walking around after dinner.

Cindy and I must annoy the servers at Yokoso but we don't care and we tip well! We got there and just wanted to relax a bit but the server was there every two seconds. We did finally order and then settled in on recapping life. When we were finished with dinner we realized that we could go walk around the shopping area and just have fun. Gotta love the 39 cent store! Lots of cards and stuff for everyday & the holidays! Then of course it was time to play in Bath & Body Works. Girls and smelly bath products what a nice place to just explore. We both found some nice sleepy time spray for your linens and boy did I sleep well last night! We wandered into this game and calendar shop and I proceeded to knock over a display. This would have been funny and expected if I had been drinking and acting stupid but I was sober! The guy working there thought it was funny and since we were buying stuff he did not mind. Not to mention it was like we had the Waterfront all for ourselves last night! There was no one there! Yay for shopping with no crowd!

We wrapped up our shopping and headed off to our homes with plans to get together after Christmas.

I can not believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away! My how time flies!

More soon!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Gratitude for Saturday

Today I am grateful to have plans to get to see my baby sister!!!




Today I am grateful for relaxing at home with a nice glass of wine.




Today I am grateful for finding a new girl to make my hair pretty. :-)


Oh, and, I am grateful that USC is going to be playing
in the Rose Bowl (again!) on New Year's Day.
Fight On!




Today I am grateful for fuzzy, warm, red slipper socks!!!



Friday, December 7, 2007

Attitude of Gratitude

Today I am grateful for new friends as they have added so much goodness and joy to my life.

Today I am grateful for old friends as they have continued to hold me up and support me with their love and kindness.

Today I am grateful for being at a good place in my life and knowing it!

Today I am grateful for remembering that I had wool socks.

Today I am grateful for being.

Thank You.

Namaste.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Brrr...It's Cold


Mostly Cloudy
12°F
Feels Like
12°F

And Now I know why I did not want to get out of bed this morning!


Wednesday, December 5, 2007

It's Official...It's Here!

Winter has arrived!!!

The view when I walked out the front door.

Walking down my street to hopefully get another bus.
Mine came early!
What bus comes early on the first big snow day!?!?!
Ugh.

The snow was nice from my office window! :-)

I am home for the night and heating the oven to bake some cookies.

Yum.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

It's Beginng to look alot like Christmas

Look at what I have accomplished this weekend. :-)


Merry Christmas Everyone!

Oh, and, I am holding out for a white Christmas this year! :-)

I will post pics if it happens!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Oh Sweet Victory

Ah, the smell of Roses!!!

USC 24 - UCLA 7!!!!!!

Trojans clinch Rose Bowl berth


Hector Aguilar and USC mascot Traveler VII wait in
the Coliseum tunnel before the start of the game Saturday.
(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
December 1, 2007


Today ended up being a really good day!!