Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Rain

1. What do you typically like to do on a rainy day? Stay dry! Especially my feet. Having to endure soggy socks and shoes is just soooo icky.

2. Tell us about the last time you did something you later regretted, that you can share with us. Last night I dozed off on the sofa and then had a terrible time trying to get back to sleep.

3. I recently got an email from a lover from a very long time ago. I was asked "Have all your dreams come true?" If it were you and it was from someone you remember fondly, how would you answer the question? I'd say, "No, but I'm pretty happy. How about you?"

4. If you had a job interview and was asked, "If you were an animal, what kind would you be (other than human?)" How would you answer that question. I'd be a cat. I'm independent and don't require much supervision.

5. Do you think it is a good idea to share with a new lover stories of your past lovers? At times. More than once I have wanted a new lover to understand that he's unfortunately paying for the sins of a predecessor. I hope he understands it and is willing to support me as I try to work through my issues.

6. When do you think it is permissible or even important to lie? To save someone's feelings. Especially upon receiving a gift.

7. What was the last thing you did that you never thought you would? I bought a new bathing suit.

8. What is one important lesson that you learned from your mother? That pets are members of the family to be treated with love and respect.

9. What is one important lesson that you learned from your father? American history is fascinating and fun.

The Friday Five

Taboo Edition

1. Who’s making a positive difference in your life?
Taboo words: friends, family, husband/wife/spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend.
The first-place Chicago Cubs! I'm always happier on game days, and I'm ecstatic on successful game days. (Tonight we're in Florida.)

2. Where would you like to be right now?
Taboo words: home, bed, anywhere but here.
In the stylist's chair. Once the haircut is out of the way, my weekend is all mine!

3. What’s the first thing you’d do with a $5,000 (or your local equivalent) gift?
Taboo words: save, debt, vacation, payments, invest.
A Border's gift card for my niece. She sold off many of her DVDs in order to pay for culinary camp. It was a very responsible, mature thing for her to do. But she hasn't even begun her junior year of high school yet and I wish life didn't require her to be so responsible and mature.

4. What super-power would you really like to have?
Taboo words: invisibility, x-ray vision, flying, strength, transform.
Either see the future or read minds. I'll make my final choice when the time comes.

5. What’s your favorite sound?
Taboo words: laughter, music, ocean, wind, ____’s voice.
A cat's purr.

To play along, click here.

Happy Positive Day!

I was encouraged to participate in this special holiday by my Queen, Mimi, who discovered it here. I think it's a wonderful idea, and the perfect prelude to kicking off the August Happiness Challenge, which begins here on This Gal's blog for the third year in a row tomorrow.

So I'm "accentuating the positive"
by reminding msyelf
how I start each and every day.
For my morning routine really is all good.

First, I pet a cat. One of my trio is always in bed beside me. I don't know how they work out amongst themselves whose turn it is, but they do. It's wonderful to wake up and stroke the soft fur of a little soul who loves me no matter what, and to remember that I did a good thing by saving his/her life, since all three of cats are shelter rescues. I am rewarded by that "good thing" I did with this acceptance and affection each and every morning.

Then I take a shower. The whole world always looks better when viewed from under freshly shampooed hair. And there's my shower radio. I always have it turned to the oldies station and I love to sing along. I am amazed by how I can't remember where I left my keys last night, but I have such happy, detailed memories of where I was the first time I heard, "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got" by the Four Tops. (An after school/before dinner run to Jack in the Box with Joanne from down the block.)

If you want to celebrate Positive Day, too, click here
for the whole story and the very simple instructions.

A show of faith

I ordered this swim ensemble from the Sundance Catalog this morning. All the pieces were on sale! While I prefer the floral top I'm not sure how it will fit so I ordered the solid, more structured top, too. (In pistachio.)

This is a very big deal for me. I can't remember the last time I wore a swimsuit. I have a drawer full of them at home, but I have so outgrown them I feel like they're mocking me. I'd like to add swimming to my aerobic exercise and besides, it would be wonderful to actually dive from the warm sun to the cool water during that week between Christmas and New Year's when I'm in Key West.

I have lost 3 lbs. this month, making it 10 since I decided to watch my diet more closely and push the exercise regimen more. I promised myself 10 more by year end (and Key West). It's not an ambitous goal, especially, in that I'm halfway there 5 full months to go. However those 5 months include birthdays, parties, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I don't want to set myself up to fail.

So for less than $100 I have invested in my future, my health, and my body. A tangible expression of what I want to achieve. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I did it again ...

I fell asleep on the sofa during the Colbert Report (sorry, Stephen; it's not you, it's me). FOUR HOURS AGO! Now I am awake. I hate it when this happens.

I know I should go to bed, but my big tub of guts, Joey, is snuggled up beside me making curly paws and it doesn't seem fair to disturb him.