It May Be The Shortest One, But It Always Feels Like The Longest One

The month of February is usually always so gloomy and even though it is the shortest month of the year the usual cold, wet, dreary days seem to make it feel like the longest month of the year!

Today was different though...it was in the high 40's & sunny today!  Shocking I know...

However, my internal clock seems to be set for the dreary, cold, wet days of February, because  this week I've been unable to get out of bed.  Monday the munchkin & I stayed home for the day.  Then Tuesday I shut my alarm off and almost bounced my monthly car insurance withdrawal and again today I overslept again.  Hell, I was in the bed by 9pm last night so I have no clue why I couldn't seem to get my ass out of bed this morning.

I keep hoping some day I will get my shit together, but this month is going to be a serious challenge!  Maybe my girl Legally Fabulous will help motivate me...

It Is A Party Weekend!

This weekend was scheduled to be quite the party weekend.  Friday night was Chica's birthday party at a local bar & bowling ally.  I was so honored to be invited and put it in my calendar.  Last night was our 1st Quarter Team Party at the Big Guy (a/k/a the boss)'s house.

I had hoped that this weekend would be so eventful, especially since it is a 3 day holiday weekend.  This always leads me to develop some big plans of all the things I'm going to do and accomplish!  This list usually ends up much longer than time allows to accomplish.

But...Thursday night I could barely keep my eyes open while driving home during the start of a little snow storm from seeing my guy.  I'm sure the fact that I had been up since 3:30am had something to do with that.  Combine that continued tiredness and the fact that the snow storm was still going when the munchkin and I arrived home after Karate Friday night I opted out of attending Chica's Bar Birthday Party.  I felt bad, but by Friday night I'm exhausted y'all!!

Our team party was set to start at 3:00pm Saturday afternoon.  Of course I was an hour and a half late.  Opps!  As usual, I did not want to go, but had a great time once I was there and stayed over 2 hours longer than I had planned.  Yes, every time these plans and events come up I'm all like "I'm not doing this; this is the last one; etc." but in the end I am usually glad I have attended.

It may have been the alcohol I consumed at the party, but while it was still snowing (yes, the same little snow storm that had been going since Thursday night!) I saw a Kroger's and decided to do 98% of my grocery shopping at 10:30pm on my way home from the team party!  I do not know whether it was the hauling of the cases of Diet Coke or vegetables, but by the time I had everything hauled in my lower back was killing me...I blame this on the alcohol too.

After the necessaries were put in the refrigerator, I watched a little TV and then hauled myself to bed early this morning just so I could wake up 5 hours later unable to go back to sleep, which seems to be a pattern here of late, but that is a story for another post!

It Is Almost That Time Again

Twice a year it comes around...February and July. Yes, people I'm talking about taking the Bar. It is a horrible time. There is no reason behind who will pass and who will not. There is no "you should have studied more" either, because that doesn't have shit to do with it. It is a gamble...some win and some lose. Regardless...this Tuesday, Wednesday, and for some even Thursday people all over the country will be sitting down to take the Bar. I wish you all luck!!! Kick ass and make that test your bitch!

And remember...in just a few days it will be all over and God willing you won't be doing this again come February, but if you are...so be it! You will make it through one way or another.

Good luck to all my law school, twitter, & blog peeps with the bar!!!

We Will Call Him Bubba

While I was off studying for the bar at the beginning of the year my office hired a friend of mine from law school who graduated a semester before me and passed the bar last year. I was a little shocked because he did not seem the type of guy who would want to work where I worked. He is a nice guy, but never came off as a hard worker while we were in law school. When the two of us realized that he was going to be working there he was much more excited about the prospect of us working together.

Bubba started mid-March and started off on the wrong foot from day one. Of course for the first 3.5 months he worked there I was still a paralegal there, but now we are equals as attorneys and are even assigned to the same team.

Our office is always under the watchful eyes of our General Counsel and the powers that be in our company, but in the last 2 months we have been under the gun thanks to some bad press, so to speak. I've always been cautious about how I perform in my job, because I know how the politics work there and now that I'm an attorney there with the extra attention the office has received I'm even more aware of what I need to do and have became even more neurotic about my files.

As anyone knows, especially anyone who works in the legal field, defaults are huge and pretty damn scary. So the fact that Bubba has received about 5 in the last 4 months is just mind blowing to me! And the more things he misses or blows makes me even more on edge. So needless to say when I didn't go to lunch with him, other members of our team and others from the office yesterday because I had too much work to do sounded like a smart decision to me, because I had no desire to bring work home to do this weekend.

While I was talking to Bubba before he left for lunch I mentioned that if not for the munchkin I would probably be a workaholic. So needless to say I was shocked when Bubba told me I needed to not be so uptight about work and inquired if I had any hobbies!! Um, dude...maybe you need to get more uptight about work!

Maybe I shouldn't have been offended by his comment and question, but I was! Maybe I'm going about this whole being a new attorney thing wrong, but where we practice it is a small legal community and since I don't plan on being at my office forever I want a strong reputation out there.

And by the way Bubba, I do have a hobby, along with a kid, and a home to run.

Freedom Day Set For July 17th, So People Get A Grip!

As so many people know, tomorrow is Casey Anthony's day to leave jail and be free. Regardless of how you feel about what you think happened or didn't happen can we make one solemn promise? Let's not get stupid!!!

All of the idiots making death threats to her, her family, and defense team need to get a grip. If you think she did it, what makes you any better by threatening to kill her, her family, and her defense team??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! If anything, it makes you worse. How does that sit with your God.

And after reading articles about my friend Legally Fabulous' professor being attacked twice while working this case has made me lose faith in people while this case makes my faith in the justice system even stronger...

We All Deal With Stress Differently

It has definitely been one hell of a long week and it is almost over.

I did find out today that I'm not the only one feeling the stress at work, because after this morning's seminar and having lunch alone (Dani had to cancel due to work...boo-hiss!) I went to the office and within being there a half an hour I received an email from one of the other paralegals expressing that she was so stressed that she went downstairs to buy chocolate and almost busted out in tears in the elevator. Within minutes after getting that email the other paralegal barged into my office and started hitting her head up against a file, literally. Gosh and I thought I was stressed. I guess I can count my blessings because I'm not on the verge of tears or beating myself with a file, yet. Of course I could shank a few people so maybe I express my stress in a much different manner and would rather someone else feel my frustration rather than myself...

Another First In Being A Real Grown-Up.

Tonight was a first for me, attending a fundraiser honoring two Judges. It was nice, but relatively boring since the only people I knew there were the folks I attended with and one other person from school. I knew a few of the Judges that were in the crowd, but since I don't have much experience in that field I don't know them well enough to chit-chat. Even though it had the makings of being a boring evening I was still glad I went and I hope that in the future I get to attend more of these things. Of course it would have been nice to be able to say, "I'm an attorney at [x, y, z]." Maybe next time I will!

Thanks to Prof. Arrogance for giving us the tickets and to my LSBFF for being there so we could suffer together. But next time let's eat...I was starving by the time I got home and my left over sour cream noodle bake just didn't cut it!

It Was An Honor, Thank You For Including Me

Today I had the pleasure of being a spectator and photographer for my LSBFF's swearing in ceremony. I was so proud of all that she has accomplished and could totally relate to every emotion she was going through. It was a beautiful ceremony & I was totally honored to be there and to be a part of it.

Congratulations LSBFF!!! I'm so proud of you. Love you girl!

It Is Official

Today has been an exciting day!! First I woke up really early this morning to catch some of The Royal Wedding. Did you watch? I thought it was beautiful and romantic and definitely at the level of a storybook fairy tail. I just adore both Duke & Duchess William & Kate! Even though I was up before the crack of dawn I was still a little late to work. Opps. I place the blame on the Royal Family. Ha!

For the first time this week I actually got a little work done today, but 20 minutes before I was scheduled to leave the big boss man came by and told me to leave so I could get ready for my swearing in. He didn't have to tell me twice. I closed up shop, called my boss and told her that her boss' boss told me I could go, and hit the road.

I got home and discovered my son was in a horrible mood and considered canceling my ceremony, but luckily he shaped up by the time we entered the courtroom. And within minutes with only one slip up I was officially sworn into the State Bar!! I was so nervous and very happy that it was finally done! So now it is official...I'm a real attorney! And through it all I was reminded of how great a life I really do have! I'm surrounded by the most loving and wonderful friends and families and am so grateful for each and everyone of them even if they do drive me crazy from time to time.

After the ceremony I definitely had a few drinks and by the time I got back in the car and looked in the mirror I realized that my eye makeup was practically half-way down my face. This is usually a sign that I've had a few drinks. Apparently the alcohol makes my mascara and eyeliner runny!! Now I'm home, exhausted and doing laundry. How quickly everything goes back to normal.

Experiencing A Fog Delay

I know you have heard this before, because I know I've said it many times here. I need to get my life together.

I went back to work this past week and it was brutal. The place is in turmoil, which is actually pretty normal. Everyone is angry and since I've been unexplainably irritable and pissy since the bar I really fit in. I received some unexpected news that it appears that work has apparently filled all of the recently vacant attorney spots and none have been reserved for me. It felt like I was caught in a horrible practical joke. I would recommend anyone coming off the stress we all just faced not to return to work the Monday following the bar to work a full week. Go back Wednesday for a short week. Trust me. You will thank me for this advice one day.

Sunday night I tweeted that I was going to attempt to quit smoking Monday. I have not succeeded in this goal, but I've certainly cut down loads, which is a huge thing for me. I may have been more successful if I was just dealing with my return to work this week, but that was not the case. Wednesday night I learned that a dear old friend of mine passed this week, which has been a huge emotional stressor in my life. In addition to this loss, Thursday my fears were confirmed that my work had screwed me by hiring 4 new attorneys without holding one back two months to wait for my bar results. We've actually had 5 attorneys either leave or are in the midst of leaving the end of March, so I had a glimmer of hope when originally it was known that they hired 3 new attorneys but Thursday we were informed they had hired 4 and that all positions were filled. Maybe they are holding one back and not letting anyone know, including me, but there is also a chance that they are not filling that last vacancy. Needless to say this has not helped my anger problem that I've had for over a week now and it has not helped my apparent post-bar blues. Nor has it helped me quit smoking this week...

Add to this rolling ball of crap I like to call my life the fact that mother nature arrived on time this month. Go figure. So not only am I having uncontrollable bouts of anger and depression add a basket full of emotions with a side of flowing tears and it has just been a ball over here.

This all leads to the fact that I have to get my life together. So regardless if I passed or failed the bar, I can't just keep going through each day in this continued fog state with an emotional laden basket full of anger, depression, and tears. In order to do this I need to take baby steps. My initial baby steps are: doing laundry, picking up the house, going grocery shopping for healthy choices, and taking the munchkin to the movies.

A Runny Day Brings Happiness Later

I wasn't sure how this morning was going to go...A couple days this week I felt like I had lost, but then yesterday with basically eating out the whole darn day I was nervous. Plus yesterday and this morning I was feeling like I had totally gained.

I tried to do my best while I was at lunch with my LSBFF, which I loved every single minute of and which was crazy delicious. While there I feel like I tempted the healthy living Gods by selecting the lunch buffet. I know, what was I thinking?!? But I did good! I think I did very good.

My first trip through I had a plate of salad and instead of eating my dressing I wore most of it. Thank you runny ranch dressing! My second trip through I had some mixed veggies, which were pretty yummy, a delicious pork mini-burrito, some chicken stir-fry, which wasn't so yummy, and some catfish beignets, which were to die for!! I skipped the dirty rice and the meatloaf, which I found was an odd addition to the buffet. The pork mini-burrito and the catfish beignets were so yummy I totally could have went for another plate piled high, but I didn't. I called it done and shockingly by the time we left I was perfectly content with my selections and was in that range of perfectly full, not stuffed.

After getting a chance to chat with my LSBFF over the yummy food I left there and drove out to see my honey. This is where my day got crazy!! By the end of the night or I really should say the middle of our visit we realized that my new black shirt was "bleeding" all over. At first we just thought maybe I was uber cold since my hands had a purple tint to them. It was very cold out, but we were inside, a poorly heated room, but purple hands?! Then all of a sudden I realized that my guy's white shirt was now dirty. Um yeah...it was dirty from being under my arm. My black shirt was just letting its colors run wherever it wanted. His shirt, my new white tank top underneath. It didn't seem to matter. Thank god we were on some nasty brown ol' state owned chairs. I felt horrible. This would be the second shirt of his that he left with my marks on. The first was my makeup left on the shoulder of his red shirt when we said bye a few weeks back. So not only do I apparently not know how to apply my makeup at the age of 34...I can't pick out clothes and keep them from leaving their mark all over.

I guess between my salad dressing and my shirt it was just sort of a runny kind of day!

At the end of our five hours together I left and was starting to feel a little hungry, but more importantly I knew I had to get some serious water in me on my way home or else I was going to get home at 10:30pm and still have over 32 ozs to drink. So in only the second time since my healthy lifestyle re-kicked itself off back on January 3rd I ate fast food. I ran through a McDonald's drive thru and picked up a cheeseburger and 2 bottles of water.

So this morning when I woke feeling like my PJ's were tighter than the last time I wore them I was definitely nervous getting on the scale. Today's stats are...

Starting weight (7/8/09): 363lbs

Current weight: 315lbs

This week's results: -3.8lbs

Total weight lost: -48lbs

I can't believe it!! I couldn't! I just stood and stared at the number! The lowest I've been in a really, really long time! And well ahead of my goal, according to SparkPeople.com! So, since I have restarted my healthy lifestyle and been hitting the gym I have lost a total of 8.6lbs. I find this amazing. So I have now lost all of the weight I gained over the holidays plus another 1.6lbs. Yay me!! I guess hard work does really pay off!

Now I just need to incorporate that into the other areas of my life.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 16

Just getting started: 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18

Needs attention: 10, 11, 15

Bright Eyed & Bushy Tail

Okay...this doesn't really describe me, but I am still amazed at myself and it is barely 9am!

Between yesterday where I got tons of stuff done (Just look below!!) and this morning when I actually woke up at 5:40am without an alarm and continued to accomplish stuff today I feel like I can claim to be bright eyed & bushy tail...or is it tailed?! I'm not sure which it is, but it feels like it is an old saying from my childhood, so I'm going with it!

I studied more yesterday than I have in a single day in a while. Yes, even I was shocked too! Then I hit the gym, increasing my time on the treadmill to 30 minutes, and then on to my treat! Yes...week #3 in my journey deserved a treat. Plus my salon had BOGO 50% off and I have bonus bucks that had to be used for the month of January! Work with me here people. I had my schedule all set...stop studying at 11:45am, make my way to the gym, workout for 30 minutes, hit the bank (ATM) and the post office, and arrive for my 1pm mani & pedi. Figured I'd be home by 2:30pm-ish.

Ready, set, go....and I was off! Everything seemed to be falling into place until I realized I hit the treadmill at 12:10pm instead of 12:00 and somehow I didn't get done with the gym until 12:50pm. Please don't ask where the other 20 minutes went, because I have no clue! Then I attempted to hit the bank, quickly, only to find 7 other cars in line for the ATM, so I drove by and headed straight to my appointment. I was back on schedule walking in right at 1pm. This is where it really went downhill. Finally at 1:40pm I was taken back for my pampering and since I had waited so long I was treated to a couple extras, which were nice, but not a part of my tight schedule, which now included the bank & post office post pampering...

Around 4:30pm I finally made my way back home. Shockingly another planning that didn't go the way it was suppose to... Of course this lead me to not finish #3 on my list, which should be taken care of today (I just need a couple more things...) and you may wonder what the hold up is for #17...well, that one I'm laying on my LSBFF who is apparently MIA from her email this week, but I will wait on both of them and maybe by tomorrow I will be able to add another "Nothing!!" to my To-Do List Tally!

Consider it done: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18

Just getting started: 3, 17, 19, 20

Needs attention: Nothing!!

Law School Graduate Here...& It's Official!!

Thursday I got an email right before I left for the gym from my LSBFF to tell me that our grades were finally posted. Of course it only took 44 days... And I passed! Like totally passed. So it became official Thursday. I actually graduated from law school, officially. :) I was so happy that I could have cried or screamed or both.

I went on to the gym that afternoon (after skipping Wednesday...um, hello we had 6 inches of snow that day and no, it doesn't matter that I had drove the day before in the midst of that little snow storm to the gym) and when I walked in the owner asked me how I was and upon hearing my "I'm wonderful today" he told me that obviously something more than just getting to the gym to workout was going on with me. So I exclaimed that I had just officially graduated from law school. In my moment of glee I forgot to ask him how he was so after my workout was done I made sure to pop in and tell him to have a great day in place of my failure to ask how he was!

The munchkin was super busy that night so we decided to celebrate with a dinner out today. Before I went to dinner I did my weekly weigh-in...Today's Stats:

Starting weight (7/8/09): 363lbs

Current weight: 318.8lbs

This week's results: -.8lbs

Total weight lost: -44.2lbs

I can't say that I'm happy with these results, but I also can't say I'm not happy. I lost, which is a huge thing all by itself. I was really hoping to get another big number this week, but that didn't happen. I had a few slip-ups, but nothing huge this week. But I guess I didn't eat the right things to get my calories in so that very well may have held me back in my weight loss endeavors this week. I'm sure skipping the gym Wednesday didn't help either, but I did workout Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. Oh well...I guess I just have to tighten it up this week. That's all. Hey...a loss is a loss!

Of course I likely undid that loss at dinner today. Between the sampler platter of poppers, onion rings, cheese sticks, mini-tacos, and wings added to my yummy, juicy, delicious cheeseburger and curly fries undid that loss today. But since that and a small brownie is all I consumed today I think I may be okay next week! I didn't make the gym or get any studying done today, but I sure did have a nice day regardless.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13

Just getting started: 3, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Needs attention: 6, 9, 10

A Hump-Day Hodge-Podge

The first hump-day of the new year. Woo-hoo...

Last night like a fool I stayed up way too late. Finally getting into bed at 3:30am and set my alarm for 6:30am. I had the craziest dream that someone in my family was a serial killer and was murdering people right in left in the house if he was alone for more than 30 seconds. Of course we lived in some huge mansion with several "wings" and all my mother was talking about was how I hadn't vacuumed like my father does. I found this hysterical, because my father doesn't vacuum and no one in my family lives in a huge mansion or even close to it! I swear the stairway was wider across inside this house than the actual width of my home... In response to her complaining I yelled at her that I thought it would be more beneficial to find the psychopath relative before he found another victim then the one piece of fuzz she found on the carpet... I woke up once from the dream and fell back asleep and went right back for round #2. By then the cops were on their way and in the end I had to hold my mother back from trying to prevent psychopath relative from turning himself in, which he wanted to do...apparently he was tired of killing family members in our home. Of course my mother turned this on me telling me I must make a horrible criminal defense attorney since I just let him walk right out into the arms of the waiting police with the blood literally still on his hands. I was thinking that was better then to keep chasing him in the house to see who he murdered in our family next. No, I have no idea what this dream was about or why I couldn't seem to escape it. And no...I had not taken any Nyquil last night either...

I got up at 7, which wasn't half bad between the little amount of time I was actually in the bed and the little amount of sleep I got with a psychopath relative running around in my dreams killing my loved ones. I knew I would be dragging pretty much all day. I was amazed that I did as much Bar studying as I did this morning, especially for the lack of sleep I got! And I made it to the gym again today. Two days in a row! Now that is amazing all by itself! It would be more amazing if I had gotten more studying done this afternoon or this evening, but I'm trying to pace myself. Ha!

Of course I pulled something in my upper back at the gym. Of course it had nothing to do with actually working out... It happened while I was putting my stuff in the little cube while talking on my cell with my friend Faye. When it happened it took my breathe away and it is still sore. Hopefully a little BioFreeze tonight on it will help it work its way out, because my plan is to head back to the gym tomorrow and do weights again. Since I had just done weights yesterday my plan was just to do some time on the treadmill. I had originally thought I would kick it up a notch today to 30 mins, but I stuck with my 20 mins, because I was so late in getting to the gym this afternoon. Of course I stopped to Sonics afterwards to pick up my jumbo Diet Coke since I had consumed all 64 ozs of my water. It was really great since it was during their happy hour & it was 1/2 price. Sonics still rocks!! The only downside to this whole liquid equation is the amount of times I'm running to the bathroom. Apparently my bladder is the size of a golf ball and it apparently is no match for the 108ozs of fluids I'm sucking down in about 12 hours.

For the most part it was a pretty great day today. Well, minus the back muscle thing. Oh yeah and the munchkin's apparent recent development of alzheimer's. He has "forgotten" his homework packet at school every night this week. I'm about to come unglued on his ass. WTF dude?! So I'm hoping my threat that if he forgets it tomorrow night and doesn't have it finished in time we will not be going to Monster Jam Saturday night. It is all on him. Of course I'm a bit irritated that his babysitter, who picks him up from school everyday & knows that he has forgotten it every night this week & that it is an issue, didn't think to ask him before they left the school this afternoon. Then she tells me I should take something away from him for forgetting it and claiming it isn't his fault for forgetting it. Seriously? You couldn't ask him before you left the school today & resolve this issue? Come on, a little help here...trying to concentrate on studying for the Bar over here!

Oh yeah...and even though we took our finals way back on November 30th our grades still aren't posted. Again I ask, WTF Dude?! All I need to know is if I passed, because I now only need 1 credit out of the possible 4 I took to graduate, because I know I received the 3 from my Externship.

I cannot seem to warm up today. I don't know, maybe it is the 108 ozs of ice cold fluids running through my body or maybe it is because it is in the low 20's and I refuse to turn the heat up any higher than 69 degrees in the house. I want to boil a bucket full of water and just submerge myself in it.

Last, but not least on this hump day...none of my garbage or recycling was picked up. I guess it would have been too much trouble for the over-paid trash man to get out of his truck and put the cans where the machine arm could reach out and pick it up. I called and complained and I bet when I get up in the morning the trash and the recycling will still be full, sitting out on my street. I so need one of them there union jobs....

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33

Just getting started: 34, 35

Needs attention: 10, 26

It Has Been A Rough Day Here

It actually started after midnight last night. I couldn't sleep very well last night so I got up to print out the map to my first day of BarBri. And this is when the bottom started to fall out...my computer screen was black. Nothing was happening. The key board lit up, the little tell tale light showed it was on and you could hear the hum, but the screen was darker than night. I hoped that I had just ran into a moment of insanity and forgot how to turn my computer on correctly. So I shut it off and went back to bed. I finally fell asleep, but it was an up and down sort of night...

I got up this morning, showered, got dressed and then tried to turn my computer on again. All the while hoping and praying that it would work. But alas...nothing had changed. Same thing...one very black screen. I knew what this meant...a trip to the Apple store this afternoon was now on my list of things to do.

I made my way to BarBri, almost late, of course. I suffered through the almost 6 hours and was able to chat with my LSBFF and from there I headed to the craziest mall ever!! What mall has to have the local PD directing traffic two days after Christmas?!? Seriously?!? I made my way to the Apple Store and finally made my way to a technician who informed me that the central nervous system or something akin to it was toast and it would take a minimum of 7 days to fix it. WHAT?!? 7 days??? How the hell am I suppose to be without a computer for 7 days while I'm in the midst of BarBri?!? So after some window shopping waiting to talk to my aunt we decided that I had to have a computer, so I went back into the Apple Store and bought a new computer.

It really is a bitter sweet purchase. I have the computer I wanted, but this just wasn't the time to blow that kind of money on my credit card. Regardless I'm plugged back in and up and running. However, I didn't get much else done today with this entire snafu. Oh wait...mother nature made her appearance this morning too. Guess that was one thing I accomplished today too...my bad. ;)

Consider it done: 1, 7, 13, 25, 26, 27

Just getting started: 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 24

Needs attention: 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35

Flabbergasted

I am flabbergasted. I'm just in complete and total shock still... This post will certify that I am a judgmental bitch, but I've always known this so here goes...

Scenario #1) My bro & his family...

After seeing my guy tonight and finishing my Christmas shopping I picked up today's mail. In it was our Christmas card from the bro's family. I opened it up and was shocked when I saw wedding pictures from their fake wedding back in June. WTF?!?

Um...hello?! Let it go already. First of all you've been sending Christmas cards out for 3 years as a married couple, have been legally married for over a year and your fake wedding was over 6 months ago. Can you say tacky?!?

Scenario #2) My friend Faye...

I've spoken of her before and some of the situations that I've witnessed from her. A little over a week ago she BBM'd me to tell me how her car was repo'd and how she had closed her door to her boyfriend because he had cussed at her 5 y.o. daughter while screaming at her. So when she told me tonight that she was going to the boyfriend's dad's house for Christmas day while her two kids spent it with her ex-in-laws I assumed that their dad was going to be in town for the day. Needless to say I was flabbergasted when she revealed that she didn't know whether her ex-husband (the kids' dad) was going to be in town or not. Double--WTF?!?

Um...hello, again?!? You are letting your kids go to their grandparents for Christmas day without you?! And possibly without their dad too? Any other day of the year...okay. But Christmas Day?!? WTF?

All I could think when she told me this was all of the parents who cannot spend the day with their kids either due to a custody arrangement/agreement or for some other reason...always not by choice...and who would do anything to spend Christmas Day with their kids. And here she is choosing to go be with the boyfriend who she was ready to be totally done with 8 days ago instead of her kids.

I'm sorry...I don't get it. I spend hours in agony over the hours and days I have to sacrifice with my son to work, go to school, and now to study for the bar. I question whether I'm making good choices when it comes to my son, but I would never give the next two days up with my munchkin for anything. I sure as hell wouldn't have voluntarily done it to spend time with a penis who yelled the "f" word at my child eight days prior....

So yes...I am a judgmental bitch. I think my bro & s.i.l. are tacky beyond words and I think my friend is making parenting decisions that qualify as bad mothering....... Don't get me wrong. I am not perfect and I make bad choices all the time, but seriously people!! WTF?!?

Consider it done: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 20, 25, 31, 33, 36, 40

Just getting started: 2, 12, 13, 18, 19, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42

Needs attention: 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 35, 39

This Wasn't Suppose To Go Down Like This

I would like to assure everyone that I am still alive.

I've accomplished nothing in the last 7 days other than finishing my externship, finishing work, starting my leave of absence, and being sick. It all started Monday night after dinner with my friends. On my way home I couldn't stop coughing. I had hoped that it was just my sinuses and my lack of my allergy pill, but I knew. Each mile I drove home, getting closer to home, I knew... And I knew it wasn't going to be pretty either...

This week of all weeks was not the time to get sick. The only other time that it could have been a worse week to get sick is the week I take The Bar. So I guess now is better than then. Even with my horribly nasty head cold I had to push through and show up every single day so I could finish my externship and finish my time at work before my leave started today. So I spent this week going in as needed, working late, coming home, eating chicken noodle soup, taking a shot of nyquil and sleeping. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less...

If you thought I had a lot to do last week, you would probably cry (like I want to) if you saw the pile of stuff and the long list I have that needs to be accomplished this week...especially when I was hoping to just have the necessary things to do, live & study! Opps...

My Friday To-Do List:

1. Start studying for the bar

2. Set up my study schedule/calendar

3. Drop off my final time sheet at my Externship

4. Pick up my book of 9's & 10's at school

5. Write out my shopping list

6. Go shopping

7. Plan Christmas Eve & Christmas Dinner

8. Pick up the house

9. Go & see my guy

10. Do laundry

11. Write my Externship paper

12. Write out my bills

13. Balance my checkbook

14. Drop off my dry cleaning

15. Pick up my dry cleaning

16. Get my allergy shot

17. File my papers

18. Go through my papers that have piled up for a few weeks now

19. Write my guy

20. Update my December budget

21. Write my "bitch" letter about some issues at my guy's facility

22. Work on my guy's next PB hearing letter

23. Write a follow-up letter about my guy's classes

24. Make some calls on my guy's behalf

25. Pick up the munchkin's pictures

26. Workout

27. Finish cleaning out our drawers and closets

28. Catch up on my emails

29. Catch up on my blog reading

30. Catch up on my TIVO backlog

31. Get my car looked at for the squealing sound it is making

32. Finish my thank you notes

33. Finish Christmas shopping

34. Write out our Christmas cards

35. Update my calendar

36. Get over my cold with some serious sleep

37. Get re-motivated

38. Get re-focused for next week

39. Re-commit to my healthy living

40. Plan out my week

41. Get organized

42. Definitely get my shit together!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

I want to wish everyone a Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving!!

There is so much for me to be thankful for today...

My Munchkin...He is the light of my life! I love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone in my life! I am so proud of him and am so happy to see the little man he is set to become! I am thankful he came in to my life over 8 years ago and am thankful that I get to be his mommy!

My Man...my soulmate, the love of my life. I am so thankful that after knowing him for over 10 years that I am able to love him more today than I did yesterday. I am thankful that he is finally becoming the man I always knew he could. I am thankful that something so horribly tragic could bring him and I back into one another's lives and that each and every day he does something to help continue to improve his life and in turn our life together so one day we may be a family again. I am so proud of him for the changes he makes every day. I am thankful that he decided almost 3 years ago the changes he needed to make in his life in order to one day come home and be a real man, husband, father, and someone that others can respect as much as I have grown to respect in these last few years.

My aunt...I am thankful for all she does to allow me to do what I need to do to get through school, work, and to be me. I am eternally thankful that she is able to give me, my munchkin and my man so much of her time and her support. I am thankful to have such a wonderful aunt.

My family...without them I wouldn't be who I am today, so I am thankful for them even in the crazy times. I am thankful that I get to spend today with some of my family to remind me how fortunate I really am.

My LSBFF...I am thankful that over 4 years ago we met and eventually became fast friends and LSBFFs. She is my rock for school and life. She is always available for me and I am thankful for that. I am thankful that she won't BS me and when I'm being a total unreasonable bitch she will tell me how jacked up I really am.

My friends...I am thankful that I have them in my life...all of them. Even the annoying ones. ;) I am thankful that they make me laugh, think and are in my life today.

Prof. Arrogance...I am thankful I got past the first impression I had of him, because I thought he was a total asshole. I am thankful he has taught me so much and made me believe in myself more and more every day.

School...I am thankful that it is almost over! hehehehehehe

Work...I am thankful I have a job regardless of how annoying it is so much of the time. I am more than thankful that my bosses believe in me and allow me to do my "thang" so I can be successful beyond the 4 walls of my office!

My health...I am thankful for being as healthy as I am, because regardless of the blood checks, the need to lose weight and everything else I have going on with my healthy I am still very healthy and I am thankful for that.

My life...I am thankful for the life I lead every day regardless if it is a great day or a bad day...I still have my life and the ability to do what I want to do with it.

You...I am thankful for every single person who may read this. I may not know you, but I consider each and everyone of you a friend. I am thankful for all the people that this blog has brought into my life.

I hope each and every one of you are thankful for all that you have and all of the things in your life. I am not just thankful for the good in my life, but the bad too, because I learn from all of it...

Thank you & Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!!

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Just getting started: 5, 8, 9, 10, 17, 20, 25, 39, 40

Needs attention: 21, 23, 26

Friday & Saturday Came A Little Early This Week

Yesterday totally felt like a Friday with a twist. I took this week off work, but continued to do my Externship to work towards the hours I need to complete it. So I went to court in the morning, did my "thang" there and then I met my LSBFF for lunch. It was yummy and fun!! I just wish I had more time to spend at lunch. Oh well...next time! We celebrated her birthday! Yay her... :)

From there I went to see my guy for my weekly visit. We made it a little early this week due to the holiday, plus so I could use the rest of the week to study for my two finals Monday night. Well, that studying thing hasn't really happened yet...

Since yesterday I kept thinking it was Friday I apparently forgot that today wasn't Saturday and ended up accomplishing nothing. Or at the most, very little. But I do have a little happy news to spread...the skank (a/k/a my bro's wife) will not be at the family Thanksgiving tomorrow, so I am thankful for that. I'd hate to have to knock her out at a family dinner.

I've also been uber exhausted today. I'm not really sure why though. It could be that both Sunday and Monday night I didn't sleep worth a crap. After being up for 4 hours today all I wanted to do was take a nap. I didn't. Then almost 3 hours ago I wanted to go to bed for the night. I haven't.

My original plan was to do nothing other than study for these 5 days, but so far all I've done is eat and all I've wanted to do is sleep...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Just getting started: 5, 8, 9, 10, 17, 20, 25, 39, 40

Needs attention: 21, 23, 26, 30

Happy Birthday To My LSBFF!!!!!!!!

First and foremost, I have to give a shout out today to my LSBFF! She turned 30 today!! Happy Birthday LSBFF!! I hope you had a wonderful birthday & got everything you wished for plus some, because you deserve everything! I wouldn't be where I am today had I not met you 4 years ago. Love ya girl!!!

Switching gears & following with tradition, I too am a few days late, but I was tagged back on hump day by 2berrys over at Starting my life at 35... I don't remember how I found her blog or when, but I just adore her! I'm so proud of all that 2berrys has accomplished in the last several months!

2berrys laid out four questions for me to answer, so here goes...

1. What is the biggest change you've made in your life that you never thought you'd really be able to do?

OM...I have no clue! I guess I would have to say Law School while working full time and being a single mom. I would love to say 'lose weight' or 'quit smoking' but since I haven't really accomplished either of those things I'll have to rely on completing law school. Yes, I haven't completed it yet, but I'm awfully damn close! ;)

2. What's your one guilty pleasure you cannot live without?

Time alone! If I don't get time in my house at some point during the week all alone to myself I feel like I might snap. I don't care if it is only a few hours...I just have to have some time to myself. It keeps me sane!

3. What is your dream vacation? Money is not an issue. Time off of work is not an issue. Where do you go? Why?

Hawaii!! I've always wanted to go to Hawaii and often dream of going there. It was sort of a toss up between Hawaii and Italy, but with the cold weather having set in around here as of late the beautiful beaches of Hawaii call to me...

4. If you could pack up your things and move anywhere and you'd be provided with a job, house, etc. where would you live?

Dallas! I've always had a thing for Texas. I visited back in my late teens with some friends and I loved everything about it. And seriously who wouldn't want to live somewhere that it is a one name town?! You don't even have to follow up Dallas with the qualifier of what state it is in! Again this was a toss up, because I would also love to live in Hawaii or Arizona. With Hawaii...who wouldn't want to live in paradise everyday? Arizona has always been at the top of my list, but with the current turmoil I'll stick to Texas for today.

Alright folks...there you have it! I'm sure you were all dying to know this info...now you may resume your normal activities! LOL Swing on by Starting my life at 35 and tell 2berrys 'Hi!'

Oh wait...you are probably wondering who I'm tagging, so here you go:

Dani over at Riddle Me This,

Blaez over at These Are The Days of One Gemini, and

Jenny over at Surviving Law School as a Single Mom.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 22, 29

Just getting started: 5, 20

Needs attention: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40