calories calories...

Okay, I have to publish this because this is ridiculous. First off, I LOVE Starbucks cookies...I admit--I love them all, but especially enjoy a chocolate chip cookie now and again...had one yesterday as a matter of fact. Now, for the sad news: One (ONE) chocolate chip cookie from Starbucks has 420 calories! AHHH! This is craziness. I realize many of you (as in all 3 of my readers of this blog...Hi Kris! :-)) may not care, but for all of the naive Starbucks cookie eaters, I feel it is my duty to get this word out. I must thank SELF magazine for this tidbit of information. What a useful read.

Another day another dollar...

So, here we are again. A lovely Friday morning—this week has gone by slowly and it seems to be getting worse. I’m not sure why that is, but it’s frustrating. I have SO much to get done (homework mostly) and I feel like I’m not getting much accomplished and that is REALLY frustrating. I’ve put a request in at the library for the book “Getting Things Done” which I’ve heard is a great read, so maybe that will give me some tricks to get more things done.

Also, I think I’m a little down lately because I feel like I’m doing a lot of waiting around for stuff, and heaven knows I am not patient… um, ever. I like stuff to be here yesterday! Sadly, a lot of this is out of my hands. For example, I’m cleaning up my credit report so it will be where it needs to be when my townhome is complete (yay!), but it’s a lot of writing letters and nonsense. In other words, it takes good old fashion time, and I feel like I’m going crazy waiting!

Apparently God and the Universe are trying to teach me a lesson, but that does not make it any easier. On top of this, I’m “in the meantime” with relationships in my life and that is not fun either. My former beau and I have gradually been moving our relationship from a dating relationship to more of a friendship. He doesn’t want marriage or kids so we know we’re going to end up as friends anyway…might as well start it early. That certainly does not make it easy. In all honesty, we still act like a couple and it’s hard to get out of that mindset…I still love him in many ways…although that love is evolving. Talk about complicated. That makes me sad because I feel like I’m losing him in a way and no new boyfriend on the horizon. Again, I believe in divine timing, but I suppose I need to trust a bit more.

At least I have my lovely family of Aria and Bo-Bo—yes, they’re pets, but they’re fabulous in times like this and get me out of myself. All good things. I definitely am hopeful for Mr. Wonderful to show up but I don’t think I’m ready for him right now anyhow. It would be nice to have someone to kiss on a regular basis, alas, I will just have to wait. C’est la vie.

Weekend Gatherings-

So, I had a pretty decent weekend. I admit, I slept most of Saturday, but my body really seemed to need it. With work and school I get a bit stressed and by the time the weekend rolls around I am just exhausted! So it was nice to get some extra sleep time in.

Anyway, on Sunday my brother Patrick and his wife Lyndsey + 2 adorable children (theirs, obviously) picked me up and we headed to Dave's (our brother) house. Dave has his lovely wife of 16 years and 4 children, too. It was great to see everyone! Even though we only live 30 minutes apart it seems tough to get everyone together.

I also brought Bo-Bo (aka Beau)...my 6 month old puppy in hopes that he could get a bit more socialized. Well, Dave's dog (a 9-month-old Mini Schnauzer, Koda) did NOT get along well with little Bo-Bo---although it seemed more like Beau was attacking him...yes, well, he was. *Sigh*. This is so frustrating! I just want him to get along with all other dogs, but looks like I might have to call in a professional trainer to help me with that. Oh well. At least we tried. Although, Koda made sure to mark every single tree and bush to let Beau know who was the owner AND proceeded to mark the wall inside. Well, Andrea (Dave's wife) freaked, understandably...

It was fun, though and I think everyone had a really great time...I wish we were a closer family in general, but I don't see that ever really happening. Oh well.

Blah.

The Answer!

I stumbled across this website when I was perusing one of my many magazines (I must get close to 10 delivered to me every month...I love it). It's a website for a company called "Scientific Match" that like many of the companies such as E-Harmony and Chemistry.com, offers personality matching to help you find your mate, but unlike these companies, adds a scientific "twist". They take samples of your DNA (they send you a kit and you take swabs from the inside of your cheeks (in you mouth, duh). And then these swabs are analyzed to find certain information about your DNA, particularly your immune system...and then they match you others of the opposite sex who would be a good match according to your DNA, cool huh? And, it's actually backed by science. Some of the studies they refer you to are ones I'm familiar with from school. Here's the catch, though, it's not cheap. Try $1000! And that is the SALE price. Normally it is $2000! But you have a lifetime membership, which I guess is supposed to make you feel better about blowing that much cash, but hey, what would you pay to find your soul mate?

Anyway, at least, if I get really desperate, I have options....do you think they take payment plans?? tee-hee.

Art

As most people know, I take public transportation to get around Denver, and luckily it's not too bad around here to do so. I had a doctor's appt to get some blood drawn today to see if I had a gluten allergy. After I had my blood taken for testing I walked back to the bus stop to wait for the next bus to my office area. As I was sitting and chilling out to my I-Pod a nice black guy sat next to me and started asking me questions. I answered his inquiries about if I was a student, etc. and then he flipped through a book of sketches ( I couldn't see them clearly as he did this) and mentioned he is studying art at the same school as myself. Again, nothing weird here to set off red flags.

FInally, the bus arrives and I get on. As we get close to his stop he gets my attention (again, I'm listening to my I-pod so I was in my own little world). He asks me if I would like a piece of his artwork. Ummm....ok. I smiled. Awkwardly, I'm sure. I mean, how do you answer that? He tears out a piece of a charcoal filled page from his sketch book. I fold it in half and smile at the person next to me...again, awkwardly. Not to be rude, I wait until he gets off the bus to put it in my bag, and just laughed inside. I scanned in the picture so you can understand why I was laughing. This is a classic. The picture is above. Umm...what the ? Not that I could do much better, but I don't think he is really an Art major.

I seem to attract very interesting people.....

Bad kitty mama

I love my pets! I've only had Bo-bo for about a month, but I've had my sweet cat, Aria, for over a year. Both are darling and have very different personalities. Aria has this funny habit of meeting me at the door and many times will scurry out into the hallway of my apartment complex. Usually she runs back in or I get her to run back in by essentially shoo-ing her back into my apartment.

Well, today, I came inside after grocery shopping and quickly shut the door behind me without thinking. I proceeded to put away my newly-bought food items and then pulled out some treats I purchased for Aria. I started shaking the bag and calling her name. Just the sound of shaking treats in the bag will get her to run to me, but nothing was happening. I kept calling her name when there was a sudden knock on the door. I answered it and it was neighbor asking, "Is this cat yours?" I looked down the hall and a VERY freaked out Aria (she had what my friend refers to as "fat tail" when her tail is all puffed up from fear usually) and as soon as she saw my open door came running at full speed into the apartment and immediately under my bed. I felt horrible!! I didn't even realize she was missing yet. My neighbor said she was outside her apartment crying and whining. Poor thing. I felt like such a lousy owner.

This has taught me two things:

1. To double check that all animals are safely in my home after I open the door before closing it behind me.

2. To put name tags on Aria. I have her microchipped and since she is an indoor only cat I thought that was enough (and she manages to ALWAYS pull off collars that I attempt to put on her) but it looks like it's a good idea to have a collar with I.D. on her just in case....I love her way too much to lose her.

So...that's my story.

Gym Time-

I feel lucky that I have a gym that is just across the plaza from my office building. Not only that, it is one of the best, if not THE best gym in Denver. It's the gym of the Ritz-Carlton so that should say something. On top of all this, the Denver Nuggets now frequent my gym and practice on our basketball court...right in the view of all cardio machines. Nice. But I digress-

So, I've been going to the gym pretty regularly but have taken it "up a notch" this past month and am finally starting to see results. Although I realize if I kicked my diet into shape (I don't eat that bad, but do have a sweet tooth) my results would be fantastic! Anyway, there is this trainer, Nate, who I can not stop gawking at. It's ridiculous. And he happens to always be in the gym when I am (go figure...being that he is a trainer and all...lol). I have some contacts at the gym, heck, most of the front desk staff knows me by first name, so I think I will have to investigate as to his "status"...although I don't know why I'm bothering. Ever since I got my braces on I've felt a bit awkward. Well, I guess if he's worth my time he wouldn't care anyway. Let me tell you, though, this guy is lovely. *sigh*

Okay, for kicks and giggles...here is a silly gym prank video.

CLICK HERE!

Beau aka Bo-Bo

So, I haven't posted in a bit and thought I would give an update on my puppy, Beau, although now he is more commonly called "Bo-Bo" and seems to fit it well.

He is walking on walks better, finally doing his business outside consistently (although we have a bit to work on as far as using puppy pads inside...if I move it at all he goes where it used to be...very frustrating).

We still have some issues...he just doesn't like new people coming into my apartment (not that I have all these people coming over, but you know what I mean). So, I was told to socialize him which is why I have taken him to "doggie daycare" twice this week. It seems to be helping already--he is adjusting to it well although they say he doesn't really seem to know what's going on, but I think if I take him once a week consistently he'll eventually start to play with the other dogs.

I have to say, getting Bo-Bo was one of the best ideas I've had yet. He is a great little snuggler and has a fun personality. I'm hopeful that as he gets used to his new home he'll be more confident and everyone will start to love him as much as I do. Of course, I adore my cat, Aria, but there is enough room in my heart (and home) for the two lovely creatures. I'm finally getting how joyful and therapeutic owning and caring for an animal can be.