Oh the pressure.....

Next week I head north for a week long meeting.

The only thing I agonize over is the outfit portion of my trip.

What do you think?

I need a dress to wear Wednesday night.......

I have an obvious favorite of these 2 ~ but am interested to hear input.

Bike Supplies I Need

After my first ride on the new bike today - I have discovered some must have items:

• a gel seat - ouchy, my butt hurts!
• gloves - when it is 90+ degrees, you sweat and can't shift the grip gears as you climb the longest hill ever.
• sunglasses - my fashion forward "pradaesque" glasses are not meant to be worn with a helmut.
• a sweat band for my head - sweat stings your eyes when it drips down.

I rode for 2 hours! I had a blast! And I discovered that it is harder to do now then when I was a kid with streamers on my handles and a basket in the front.

My New Bike!

For months now, I have been talking about getting a bike. Finally, I took the plunge this weekend and bought one.

I can't wait till Saturday when I can take this bad boy for a spin!

I did buy a helmut too! (safety first!)

Project Ass Reduction ~ week 5,6 & 7

This sucks.

I have not been motivated at all.

What is wrong with me? Where has my mojo gone?!

Shame on me for not posting my photos and progress.....ggggrrr

I have been excercising....but not with the normal zeal. Melissa told me that for a white girl I have a booty....she maybe halfway convinced me that this booty isn't getting any smaller. So maybe that made me slack a bit. excuses, excuses. (week 5 & 6)

Vacation proved to be a week of eating disasters. I did manage to work out half of the time...but when you are eating pizza and fried chicken and consuming bottles of wine...all the excercise in the world is not going to make any reductions in your ass. (week 7)

Yesterday I felt awful about myself.

So today, I am claiming Independence from my bad attitude and bad body image.

I am getting back on track.

God knows I head into the lion's den of female judgement in 2 weeks. God help me.

I am beginning the mantra again.

Size 8, Size 8, Size 8

An Idyllic 4th

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

(The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).

I love the 4th of July. In my lifetime, I can't recall one that was a disappointment.

Nothing tends to be idyllic in our everyday lives.

I did not have the idyllic childhood, I do not lead and idyllic life. But the 4th has always been a holiday celebrated honestly and simply.

It's a holiday unlike any other....never a big lead up, so then never a disappointment.

Parades, picnics, fireworks, swimming pools, beaches, National Monuments, sparklers, family and friends. All or one or combinations have always played into our 4th celebrations.

I can't forget the great thrill of going to Mt. Vernon one 4th....that day, they had historical re-enactors. The Thomas Jefferson was so handsome, I could have listened to him pontificate in independence for days on end.

The summer nights when we caught lightning bugs in jars and twirled boxes of sparklers! Our skin sticky with Off!

Eating steamed clams, and juicy watermelon.

Watching the fireworks on the National Mall.

ahhh.....nostalgia.

Have a wonderful holiday!

What I Like About You.......

This is so silly.
But it made me laugh today....so I thought it worthy of sharing.

Some years back, during a meeting for work, we did this excercise where a paper was passed around with the title "What I Like About You.......(insert name here)"
All the meeting participants had to write something that they liked about you.

I found mine today.

Your fun and positive approach to life.
You are fun and easy to approach.
Bundle of energy, genuine, fun to work with.
You are open, warm and fun.
Very friendly
Beautiful voice! Energetic. Fun!
Joyous, bubbly and a burst of sunshine.
You are one of the most positive and fun people I have ever met!
Open, caring, funny - tons of fun!
You're funny, very friendly, warm, caring and courageous.
Eternal optimist with a fun and easy going way about you!
enthusiastic, positive, professional and focused
Love your wicked laugh. Admire your gusto. Very open and honest -

Apparently I am tons of fun and approachable! Who knew I was so positive?!
I also love the use of exclamation points that some people used. I figured they really meant it if it got an exclamation point.