Wear your Heels, Ladies...

I'm currently at Panera Bread. Working ten minutes past my lunch. I really should get back to work.

Back to stressing over people's finances. 

But I decided not to. As the responsible adult that I am, I am taking At least another 15 minutes. WOW. I am one daring individual. Improving, improving.

Anyway, In my last post, I talked about NYC. 

But what I didn't really talk about was "standing out in NYC."

And I really should, becuase it's so important and pretty darn cool. 

Being in the midst of millions of people, standing out is virtually impossible, right?

Think Again.

As I endured yet another jam packed day of workshop training, I decided to take a small break. So I walked out into the building's lobby. And two of my fellow tortured co-workers walked right out with me.

I overheard the following conversation: (Pay close attention ladies.)

Guy 1: " She is the type of girl you take to meet your parents. She's definitely not the girl you take to a bar. She's the girl you marry as soon as possible. Tell me, are ALL girls where you're from like her? Becuase I have seriously got to go."

Guy 2: "Uh ( a bit uncomfortable)... I don't know, I think so." (Co-worker stuttering)

Now, my point here, single ladies, is that you need to realize you are the girl that deserves to be shown off and respected. 

You deserve to be singled out. You MUST stand out. 

You are awesome and beautiful and so worth while.You are classy and funny and so darn adorable. The way you laugh without caring who's watching. The way you speak from the heart with out fear. The way you dress for yourself and also dress down. On days when you want to walk out with your old, ugly sweater. And still strut with confidence. The way your faith makes you calming and refreshing in a world thirsty for modesty and something real. 

Yep, he will be one LUCKY guy... 

Me, Manhattan, and Expensive Room Service

Work Life took me to Manhattan this past week. I saw glamour and lights and unstoppable dreams. There was a gimpse of anticipation in the air that you know many had breathed in before. Many who were now probably a step ahead of where they thought they would one day be.

Maybe they drive Ferraris and Maseratis and live in the middle of Manhattan, taking in the best of what NYC could offer. Maybe they acheived the promotion of their lifetime and gained full access to the best of NYC night life, where the world does not sleep. 

Maybe. A million maybes.

But the moment my airplane landed and I arrived at the hotel, I closed the door of my room and cried. In the middle of Manhattan. In the largest city in the country. The 25 year old me, cried and hugged her pillow. Because I wanted home. I wanted to feel safe and protected, as I always do. 

But these moments are meant to teach us something. That as independant and sufficient as we may be, the thirst we have inside for being close to God, does not cease. 

No matter where you are. Regardless of who is watching.

And I was relieved. That I felt that yearning to pray. To be alone. Just me, God, and my NYC hotel room. 

And I also learned that as stressed as one could be, very expensive room service actually does help relieve some of the pain. Thank you Jesus, and thank you Current Employer, for paying for my expensive dinner. 

A Robber and his Sneakers

It's really a great thing to sit with yourself and meditate on the ongoings of the day...

That is, if there's any time.

And believe me, all I wanted to do this past Tuesday was hit STOP on my life's virtual remote control and write a blog.

I witnessed a robbery at work!

I was interviewed by an FBI agent, who witnessed how terribly Ann I. Dee handles stress, which is by making a complete idiot of herself. I said the robber was wearing red. Somewhere. Not sure where. But I was absolutely certain I saw red.

Mr. Handsome FBI then asked: "What shoes was he wearing?" To which I replied:

"Oh, I'm not sure but he had to have been wearing sneakers. It's what would've gone with his outfit. You know, hoodie, jeans... sneakers."

Somebody should have shot me. But God does have mercy on us, pathetic creatures...

And for the sake of my reputation as a smart individual, I will stop right here.

My point is that living life on fast forward is not what will get us to a better tomorrow. To a better you. What we need is to live this moment. And every moment, as if it were our last. Learn from mistakes you make. And for the good of the Federal Bureau of Investigation: PLease, pLease, pleasE, pay attention to the small details and get them in order. You never know what's coming just around the corner.

The Hookie, Her Dishwasher, and the Missing Instructions...

First off, I'd like to begin by saying that I'm pretty committed to my job.

Until today, that is...

Today, I just needed some Hookie time. Some ME time. Desperately. So I emailed my boss and said I wasn't going in. 

I did what I knew I had to: I drove to my nearest Apple store. And bought myself an iPad. Somehow, I know this is my way of committing more to what's important...

My sanity. Blogging is like therapy for me. Seriously, no joke. 

After making the great staff at Apple wonder how in God's green earth I own an iPhone, MacBook, and now an iPad... and still not know that the "silver box" is called a track pad... smh

ANYWAY.. I digress. 

I got home and decided to COOK. Ladies and gentlemen, it's been more time than i'd like to admit since I decided to make an actual meal. Sad but kinda true. So I drove right to it and made some Mexican steak and rice. Which btw, was pretty darn good. 

And to make my perfect day of accomplishments even more perfect, I turned on the never-been-used dishwasher to be more productive with my time. 

Uh... yeah. That didn't go so well. In between checking the rice and making sure I didn't eat all the steak before it was actually done, I had to also empty the pot I placed below the dishwasher to stop the soapy water from invading all of my kitchen floor. 

I learned that although the cycle of everyday life is necessary to survival, taking a break from that cycle of life can be even more necessary. I'm not ready to schedule these in my calendar just yet, but I am now a more relaxed individual. And my co-workers will thank me. And I thank God for days like these. 

Where I can be careless, carefree, mess up the dishwasher, make impossibly perfect rice, and get to type on my brand new iPad keyboard. Some days are perfect the way they are. Enjoy life today. Breathe. And for God's sake... don't plan ahead of this very moment. Just enjoy...

The Half Hour Car Wash...

So I'm sitting in a car wash waiting area, awaiting the emergence of a new, shiny vehicle which will replace the mud plastered blue thing that made it's grand, trauma-inflicting entrance a few seconds ago.

There's an art to everything. Even negotiating discounts at car washes. I spent a good five minutes discussing with the human car washer why I really needed to pay a discounted price. I'm ashamed to say, I got it. Ashamed because I'm sure I paid half of what I should've. My car hasn't visited the Amazon rain forest or anything remotely close in severity, but I'm almost sure it has remnants of jungle residue.

Seriously. I could count with my ten fingers how many times I've actually washed it since its purchase three years ago.  And what I mean by "I" is the automatic car wash machine that turns on after I insert my three dollar bills...

And I'm thinking: "if only I could get a car wash for my soul." Like a soul-scrubbing interior one. I wouldn't even try to get a discount. Really. Pinky promise...

I'd just pay full price like a good citizen of the United States of America. Honest.

Anyway, I pray that God cleans me everyday. Rids me of embarrassing moments, where I don't see my errors and  point out someone else's.

That's He reminds me  that I have to take the good and take the bad and  just stay silent. Not negotiate for a better life.

Not always want to change my life into a perfect Version of what it should be like. But get messy and cry and breathe and enjoy every moment of bad or ugly. And simply grow and learn to love truly and wholly. And decide to forgive fully and without expecting anything in return.

Yes, let's please...

Me Again...

It's me again.

Yes me. The weird 25 year old woman who is sitting in front of a water fountain keeping herself company.

Yes, I'm sitting in the blazing hot sun, hoping to get a tan. I'm aiming my legs in the direction of the sun's rays, believing I will return to the office a new woman. Well Atleast a woman with a new skin tone.

Yes, that's me.

I'm reflecting and soaking in. I'm basking in my own thoughts of past and present memories.

I'm remembering the time that a nice, young man at work called me within four minutes of leaving my office. He asked me out for drinks or dinner, as he fumbled with words.

My legs are now burning... Good cause. Good cause.

The self assured individual that he was... Was nervous as he attempted to get a positive response from the girl he had just met. And to be quite honest, I think I was even thinking of him as I received the call, smiling.

Yes, that's me thinking. Thinking so much I just went back to my tanning station to retrieve my forgotten umbrella. But hey, I remembered.

So back to my story...

I'm not sure how I turned the guy down. I can't remember. But what I do remember is that I knew I'd never forget that particular, daring go-getter of a man. He knew what he wanted and knew he couldn't miss his chance. So he took a plunge. Very admirable.

So regardless of whether or not I got my tan from sitting here sweating. I know that every moment of thought and reflection is worth while. Because some moments are worth remembering.

Remember the right ones. Don't let go of those moments. Be daring enough to dream. Because one day, that dream will become a reality. And that realty will be the ultimate reward you have been saving yourself for.

Kamikaze.... Who?

I was really busy at work today… Keep that in mind throughout this blog post

After making a ton of phone calls at work to clients who did not answer, I was pretty much just flat out tired and bored, which is so not like me… on most days, anyway

So I did what I knew I had to do:

I googled “Top 100 funny quotes” just to wake myself up and get a hint of the me that had walked into the office with a cheery smile and a good ole’ cup of Joe aka Life Source glued to my hand.

(And to all those who don’t know this about me: Google is to me what a compass is to a sailor: Imperatively Absolutely Undoubtedly NECESSARY)

Like panting for my next breathe, I pulled up Internet Explorer and said to myself: Laughter, that’s what I need right about now…

So I read a few quotes, before bursting into good laughter in intervals.

Anyway, I came across one that made me laugh… And since it is common of me to disclose embarrassing information about myself. Here goes: I had absolutely no idea what the quote was talking about.

“The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.”

(I laughed then thought, “Wait, why not?”)

So, I googled once more. Thank you, google.

As it turns out, these were pilots who were in my own words… Terrorist Pilots. It’s like saying a terrorist was to visit the hospital to get all his necessary vaccinations… a day before blowing himself up. Wouldn’t want to leave this earth unvaccinated, you know.

Enough sarcasm for today. So these pilots decided to put on their handy dandy helmets before willingly crashing into enemy aircrafts.

This quote really got me thinking about all those things we do and really shouldn’t. Like locking the door every morning on your way out to work, when you know the electronic door knob is broken. Like holding a grudge when you know you’ve made the same exact mistake once or twice yourself. Like buttering the bake sheet where you will place your already-heavily buttered biscuits.

Just unnecessary and plain dumb... Let's save us some much needed time today, dear friends... :) 

Until next time...