"WTF?!?" or "The gradual loss of Aimee's mind"

OK, I don't know what is going on with my brain, but lately I can't remember anything.  Ask my fiancé, who has called me 4 times in as many weeks to yell at me for leaving the garage door open.  Ask my poor feet, which had to go without socks again during my treadmill session at the gym.  Or my chest, that insisted I settle for riding the elliptical machine instead of jogging when I once again forgot a sports bra.  Or my fiancé, never one to forget ANYTHING, for pointing out that my ring is once again sitting on the bathroom counter instead of on my finger.  I've taken to writing extensive lists of things to-do and items to remember, which helps when I don't forget to check the list.  I've also resorting to putting important items in the exact same place, when I remember, so that my forgetfulness won't cost me an extra hour of drive time going home to get my work badge, or force me to go without lunch because I've walked away from my lunch bag and my wallet.  It's ridiculous.   So, so, so not a happy little goddess today!  What's Sanskrit for "forgetful" - never mind...I'll probably forget anyway...

 

Hear me roar!

I am Ananda Devika, goddess of small appliances!  I fixed my first jammed garbage disposal last night, all by myself.  I beat the crap out of it with the handle of a plunger until it submitted to my will.  I'm in charge here, WhirlAway 291!  Me!  I decide whether or not you grind and dispose of my leftover food scraps, not you.  I feel so powerful. 

 

Snowed in...or not

Back at work after the first snow day of the year - which also happened to coincide with the Vernal Equinox.  Huh.  Go figure -  it is Nebraska.  Does every state say that about their weather?  "Don't like the weather here?  Wait 5 minutes."  I grew up with that expression, and always just assumed it was a Nebraska thing, but I'm sure it probably applies to Kansas, Iowa, etc. 

Anyway, we didn't let the threat of snowy roads hold us back - I road-tripped to Kansas City on Sunday to catch the fabulous Belly Dance Superstars on stage at the Uptown Theater.  They are amazing!  It would have even been worth being stuck along the interstate somewhere...which didn't happen.  The roads were surprisingly dry, despite the "Winter Weather Advisory" - the real snow didn't start until Monday afternoon, once we were safely back in Omaha...  The point of this story?  Take chances and do what you want!  The weather cooperated with us and we saw the best Raqs Sharqi show around. 

Alas, I am back to the grind - a snow-packed commute this morning, followed by waiting over an hour in line to get on base - totally ridiculous, btw.  I expected to get to the gate and find all the guards frozen to death and one little near-sighted guy frantically checking IDs.  That was not the case - they were just being slow.  Grrrrr.... Hopefully the rest of the day and week will be more pleasant.  This little goddess is in need of her yoga class tonight!

 

Thankful

I had my own version of a "near-death" experience yesterday.  It was announced that the DoD had made some major funding cuts and for a moment, I saw my level of income flash before my eyes.  Thankfully, most of the jobs on our contract seem to be safe for the time being, but it really made me step back and think about all the things for which I should be grateful.

I have a good job with a fairly supportive company - one that encouraged me to finish my graduate degree (by paying for it) and has stuck with me when I was unhappy in my last position. 

I have a fantastic fiancé, who is more than I ever dreamed of in one person.  With weekly roses and chocolate treats, he spoils me silly and forgives my absentmindedness.  We have a great house, an adorable dog, and a bright future.  We marry in 5 months, which will cap off the happiest 24 months of my life, so far.

I have good health.  This week one of my friends announced a possible tumor in her brain and one of Lowell's friends is about to undergo surgery to enable her to have children.  Yesterday I fussed because I didn't want to go to the gym at lunch, and then I started thinking about all the people who can't even walk, so I went anyway and ran an extra mile. 

I have some great friends - some from college, some from work, some that I know just through the joy of belly dance.  All are different - some are even a little odd - but I love them, quirks and all.

I have a wonderful family, too - we tease and fight, but we're closer than most families I know and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

As I look over this list I have just made, I see that I have many, many reasons to be grateful for my life and I know that my problems are far and few between, and none are so big that I can't conquer them.  And should I fail, I know that someone will be there for me, because I am loved, and this is why I am such a happy little goddess...

 

What I didn't learn in driver's ed

I guess I heard the air leaking from my tire when I got home yesterday; it just didn't occur to me what it was.  I heard a hissing sound, thought to myself, "Well, I don't smell gas", and went on inside.  Didn't give it another thought...until 2 hours later, when I'm returning from visiting a cousin in the hospital and I heard another horrible sound.  The sound of a flat tire.  I managed to find a relatively empty parking lot, and called my brother, who was fortunately in town (and actually sitting in my driveway waiting for me).  We were supposed to be heading to a Nada Surf concert; instead he met me in the parking lot of Wild Oats' and swapped my flat for a doughnut.  "How nice," he said, "to use this emergency roadside kit on someone else's car for a change."  Glad I could help.

I'm sure that tire changing was taught in my high school drivers' ed class.  I'm also sure that I missed that lesson thanks to my good friend Kendra and the super-cute boy that we managed to talk into sharing the practice car with us.  Oh, man, he was a hottie - Josh, I think, with the prettiest hair I've ever seen on a boy.  Alas, the class ended, he returned home (he was visiting his grandparents who lived in my town), and we never spoke again...and I still can't change a tire.

All by myself...

I can cross this one off of my New Year's Resolutions:  I finally got up the nerve to do a solo at the end-of-session hafla last night.  The girls have been bugging me for TWO YEARS, at least, and I always chicken out.  My main issue was coming up with a choreography, and this week I was able to slap together a fairly simple dance to DeVotchKa's "Death by Blonde".  The look on Magdalene's face alone when she asked for soloists was worth the plethora of butterflies swarming my insides...she always asks me, even though she knows I'll decline.  When I answered 'yes' this time, I thought her jaw had come unhinged! J  And I wasn't too bad, if I do say so myself.  ;)  I need a little work on my stage presence and confidence, but the hardest part is over now...and I'm a happy little goddess indeed.

 

My poor, poor butt

Whoever dreamed up the exercises known as squats and lunges should be doomed to performing these torturous moves in hell for all eternity.  It's been two days and I'm still so sore that it hurts to sit down.  Yes, yes, I know, this whole 'getting in shape' plan was my idea - I'm not expecting sympathy.  And I know that, eventually, I will be thankful that I put all this effort in - as I stroll down the beach in Mexico this summer and no one is laughing and pointing at my jello-y legs and dimpled read end.  "Eventually" isn't coming fast enough, however, and right now I am NOT a happy little goddess...