Weekend recap~ continued.

I'm reminded that I haven't finished my weekend update about the lake house vacation by the rash that's suddenly covering my body. I'm not even sure if the weekend has anything to do with the rash but I figure my skin is rebelling against all of the sun I cast upon it. I have a gorgeous tan...covered by tiny little bumps. Yuck. Last time I had this was four years ago when I came home from Florida. I changed my detergent, quit using all soaps and lotions and when that didn't work I sought medical attention. The doctor had no explanation and sent me away with a tube of something I quit using after three days because it didn't seem to work. After about three weeks the rash disappeared without incident. One day I suddenly realized "The rash is gone! When did that happen?" I'm not prone to bad reactions to anything. I'm not allergic to anything at all...that I know of. Except for the occasional time when I declare that I'm allergic to carbs or chocolate when I'm trying to break myself from having them. I'm stumped. I can only say that lots of sun is the one thing both occurrences have in common.

Speaking of sun, I've had my fill of sun this summer but I knew that eventually I would reach the point where I was motivated and driven to find a new job. Some days I wake up feeling low and wishing I would get an email, a call, a letter, anything positive pertaining to employment. Other days I wake up and think "To Hell with it!" and just pledge to enjoy the day no matter what obstacles stand in my way! Last week was a little bit of both. Being jobless means being broke the majority of the time and being broke SUCKS! That motivated me to focus on improving my job-seeking approach. I rewrote my cover letter and tweaked my resume to get it up to date with my volunteer work and such. Having accomplished these small tasks made me feel better! I've spent every morning this week applying online, researching the Social Work license exam, checking universities for options to build on my education, programs that would pay for me to go to school to learn new skills and so on. Obviously having a degree is not a fool proof way to guarantee someone will hire me.

At least three people have advised me to get the hell out of Michigan if I want to find a job. Not in such an abrupt way but that's how I feel when I think about it! For YEARS I whined, complained and plotted how I would get out of Detroit. I always had this fantasy that my life would be great if only I moved out of the state of Michigan. Now, I'm content with my life in Detroit. I'm pretty sure when and why it happened and I've come to realize that my life here is pretty damn good. Great. Right? One problem. I don't have a job. It's not for lack of trying! It's out of my control.

Instead of getting bummed as more bills roll in I let it all go this past weekend. Andrea asked me to go with her to a birthday party one of her friends was throwing at his "cottage" on the lake. I'm going to skip the boring details I easily lose myself in and say that I had THE BEST TIME I'VE HAD ALL SUMMER! I laughed from the minute I walked into that house on Saturday until I parted ways with Andrea after the drive home on Sunday. We only drove 2 hours south west and it was as if we were in another time and place. The weather was beautiful. The water was warm. The spirits were flowing. The laughs never stopped. I felt like I was 22 again. I had never met any of these people before but within 24 hours it felt like I had known them a lifetime. I'll close this out by sharing some revealing photographs. I'm so happy only a handful of you even know this blog exists. :)

The majority of gang coming and going over the weekend.

Me, and Andrea with our roomie, Corey. He's our new "bestie". OMG!

Ghetto S'mores!

The house was awesome but I swear it was haunted!

I'm not a boater but I want to own a Pontoon. It's like a freaking floating livingroom! I love it!

Provided us with a few moments of entertainment!Someone must've been thinking dirty thoughts.
I wouldn't go on the Jet Ski but I did get into the water because Jason begged me (threatened me) and it was his birthday!

The Week in Review.

Tina warned me to "start blogging before someone thinks you fell off the wagon into another birthday cake!" Thanks. ;)

Geeze. At least someone is paying attention.

The past week has been very busy! Today is my day of recovery. First thing this morning I had to tend to my duty as a Job Seeker. Now that I've got that taken care of I can do the fun online things that I love! I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Last week started out when I woke up with a desperate need to find employment. I haven't felt like this in a few weeks. Maybe I was sinking into a bit of a funk? It was probably a post-sugar-high from all of the damn cake I ate the week surrounding my Birthday? Probably. Well, I have sworn off cake until my next Birthday. I assure you that I can't stomach the mere thought of cake in any way, shape or form. So done with cake! After a few days of "making myself useful to those in need" (Yes, that's in code to elude the people paying my bills)I was ready for some rest and relaxation. My friends Lottie and John were here from Savannah so I was surely going to make time to see them. The original plan was for me to drive back down with them and visit Savannah but after careful evaluation of my finances I decided that wasn't a very good plan. Instead, I'll be going down there in a few weeks but I'll save that for another time. Lottie called and told me they were going to the Detroit Yacht Club to hang out on their friend's boat. I love Belle Isle and I've been to the awesome DYC before so I was totally down for that! We met up and had a good time catching up and being silly. Lottie rocked it out Old School and I was the picture of class with my Better Made chips and Bud Light.


Later we left John on the boat with the boys and headed downtown for some Girl Time. Me, Lottie and Jane went to Cliff Bells for some drinks. We wanted the bartender to take our picture but she was really busy so we posed for a few self-portraits. It took a few (or six) attempts to get a decent picture.





I'm still not sure any of them are "decent" enough to meet all of our approvals!

Moving forward. On Thursday I headed out to Ann Arbor to meet up with Tina and Leslie. The three of us have recently lost jobs at our last place of employment. I didn't mention how much that place sucked, did I? Well, now you get an idea. We've been getting together in different groups since our demise at said agency for awhile. I can honestly say that this last batch of co-workers were my favorite and we formed friendships that I'm happy have outlasted being employed together in a sort of "forced camaraderie". Since we are all currently seeking employment we decided that we should take advantage of our good fortune of being part of the FUNEMPLOYED in Michigan and spend some time in the sun. We started with a healthy feast. The best part of this was that we were all able to pool our resources of things we already had in the pantry and come up with a pretty good lunch! Of course, Tina had a veggie sausage. We used our Girl Scout skills and no gas grill was used in the creating of this fine cuisine! Two points for the Social Workers that know how to use some charcoal briquettes and a lighter!!


After we ate we cleaned up and headed to the pool. I didn't get any pictures of us in the pool because that would be mortifying (plus, phones and water don't mix!) The sky looked nice from my chaise lounge though!

It was fun. We tried to educate two grown men (that admitted to us that they didn't know how to swim) on floating and treading water. Baby steps, gentlemen! You have to learn to float before you can swim...I know it's really "sink before you swim" but we didn't want to tell them that! After we got a little crispy (and the kids showed up and took over our peaceful space) we headed back inside. The rest of the night was spent watching movies and playing games. We played Scrabble and I watched Tina play Guitar Hero. That "game" is very intimidating! I also got to see Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. VERY cute movie! We also watched The Mothman Prophecies. Not scurry(sic) at all. Psychologically thrilling, yes. I liked it! I know Tina would have loooooved for me to watch Lord of the Rings but I have limits, people! Love you, Tina! ;) I also made my first attempt at Origami. Tina used to sit at work meetings and fold up some pretty awesome creations! She can make flowers and birds and stars out of all the notes I would pass her during these extremely boring meetings! I tried to make stars but they came out looking like spit balls. Tina did give me a Booty of stars which I used to fill a glass and add to my decor.

OK, so HERE is what you've been waiting for...in between all of this eating and lounging we walked TWO whole miles. I'm out of breath just thinking about it! I kid. We took a stroll to World Market and Whole Foods just to get out of the apartment. That's the extent of my exercise for the week. I'll admit, I suck and blow at the same time. I'll make up for it right now though. I'm going to help Diana with her gardening! Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE gardening! I was born with a green thumb. I'll get into that when I get home tonight. I will also tell you all about the FABULOUS time I had with Andrea and gang at the Kraft Lake House on Saturday and Sunday! OMG, good times! Gotta run.

The Bones in Cleveland!

Over the past weekend Jane and I went to Cleveland to see the best band on Earth! I've been a fan of Bonerama for at least the past six years. They are from New Orleans. The main men, Mark and Craig used to play in Harry Connick Jr's Big Band and that's how we got to know them and eventually I was hooked to the Bone! They've become more than just a band I love. I would consider them friends. Even as the band changes and old guys go and new ones hit the stage one thing is certain, these musicians are some of the coolest and sweetest men I know! They're so talented I'm still in awe of them every time I see them! You got to do the Bone!

On the Ohio Turnpike keeping my eyes on the road!


Rocking our socks off!!
Bert, Greg, Craig, Mark, Nori and Joe. I've been informed that they picked Joe up at a rest stop. heh heh.


The next few pictures were taken on the Blackberry. Nice!

The ladies love Mark Mullins!


Smashing on the drums, Mr. Eric Bolivar!

The Slacker.

I've been slacking! Drinking = slacking. That's all there is to it! Yesterday we drove to Cleveland, OH to see the Bonerama! I just LOVE them. I can't help myself. I have to have priorities, right? After I take a little nap and eat something I'm heading outside. I can't remember the last thing I ate. I guess that's both good and bad? Just be aware that I have not given up. Later.

Where have you been?

November 12, 2008

Quote of the Day
"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." – Carlos Castaneda

I started this one off with a Quote of the Day from SparkPeople. I read these every day and only occasionally does one really stand out. This one did. It makes sense, doesn't it? Yes, it does.

I have been MIA for soooo long that I almost decided to ditch the Blog. Then I decided that it's a good outlet for me and I'm going to keep ot going! I'll start from where I left off because a lot of exciting things have happen since then which is mostly the reason I've been too busy to find the energy to blog! :) I'll give you some photos that will give you a clue as to what's coming really soon!

Addisyn!

Me and my Bro!


The new President Elect!!

Award Winning trips to Atlanta,GA!

Monday Motivation!

I didn't forget this week!

June 22, 2008

Quote of the Day
"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted."
– Bertrand Russell

This quote makes me think of something I saw this weekend that amazed me!! I'll quickly explain that my friend Irv lives in St. Louis and was telling me how the waters of the Mississippi have crested and are now level with the steps at the bottom of the Arch! That Mother Nature amazes me! So much beauty and so much power to destroy! The following is a photo we took on the foot of the River with a statue of Lewis and Clark in October of last year. The next photo is a picture taken this weekend of that same statue completely submerged under the waters of the Mississippi! Truly amazing!!


Here's one of us walking on that very road with the stop sign almost submerged under water!!

I also went to New York this weekend to hang with some of my friends and see our favorite band!! Unfortunately, I relied on them to do all of the photography and have yet to receive any of the photos! Come on people...I'm waaaaiting! I'll post some of those as soon as I get them on my hot little computer! :)

Toronto, Ontario.

I crammed a lot of stuff into this weekend! Now I'm paying for it because I'm sick! It was a fun, productive weekend though and I wouldn't trade it for anything. here are some pictures of me and Erica and a few freinds from New Orleans. Good times. Makes me want to go back NOW!

Mark, me, Neal, Erica and Jerry out on the town!

Erica and I

Me and the Fam.

Me and Erica AGAIN!

Emily and Erica before we went out on our walk! Getting my exercise in even on vacation!

UUugh!

Since my post has somehow mysteriously disappeared I will copy Stacey and give you the highlights bullet style with lots of exclamation marks!!!

*Today I bought new Capri's and a top (on sale) in sizes smaller than I have worn in DECADES! I will be sure to get some pictures this weekend to add to the "Before and After" Gallery!
*Tomorrow I'm going to see The Color Purple!!
*This weekend I'm going to Toronto and excited to see my family and friends, especially my dear friend Erica!!
*This week I'm catching up on work related matters and it feels good!
*Today I finally got Jen Lancaster's new book Such a Pretty Fat and I can't wait to read it and laugh my stupid head off! Thanks for sending it to me, Lisa!! :D

Back to the grind!

Hello! Sorry I missed Motivational Monday. I was sitting in an airport or on a plane for half the morning yesterday! I had an absolutely wonderful time in St. Louis! It's always nice to be able to leave reality behind and enjoy the company of friends that aren't a part of my daily life! I wish a lot of my "long distance" friends were closer. Although technology has made us instantly available to one another it's the physical contact that I miss. How often have I wished a friend were just a car ride away? How often have I wished I could phone a friend and ask what they're doing tonight and if they want to get together without having to get on a plane or plan weeks in advance to get together? I have such dear friends all over the world and I would embrace the opportunity to be closer to them! That's why I'm always traveling!! I have so many opportunities to revisit familiar places and see my dearest friends that I'd be crazy not to! This weekend was just another opportunity to do that. Not to mention that it's dirt cheap to fly to St. Louis and back!! If only it were so inexpensive to fly to West Palm Beach, New Orleans, New York, Toronto and about a dozen other cities more often...but I digress. I had an awesome weekend. Now I'm still in "recovery" mode. Again I have to remind myself that I'm getting too old to party like a rock star on these weekend excursions! :/ Keep your heads up though, people! I may be headed to your neck of the woods soon! Still waiting to drop the next 8 pounds so I can make my reservations for that flight to West Palm and show off my new and improved bikini bottom! As drained as I was yesterday I did make it to the gym!! The thought of sitting on the beach is a real motivator!!

Since I'm on the topic of travel, here are some photos of my favorite places and the faces I miss so much!!

Toronto, ON 2007

St. Louis, MO 2007

New Orleans, LA 2006

Nashville, TN 2007

West Palm Beach, FL 2008

New York, NY 2007

Leaving on a jet plane.

In 9 hours I'll be boarding a plane for St. Louis, Missouri. Why am I still awake? Because I procrastinate. That's why. I decided I wanted to wear a particular shirt which I conveniently found in the bottom of the laundry basket just waiting to be washed. Oh well...not like I was going to bed any time soon anyway. I'm preparing myself for late nights and lots of fun. Who needs sleep? As one of my favorite sayings go: Sleep when you're dead.


Louis and Clark Discover the west but nobody mentioned that dog!


St. Louis has managed to successfully blend the old with the new.


Strolling under the Arch.