Keeping up with the Joneses

Random Educational Tidbit:  Ever wonder where the phrase "Keeping up with the Joneses" came from?  Apparently it all started with a 1913 comic strip from the NY Times... (at least according to wiki)

Anywhoo, I've never really been one to worry about keeping up with the joneses.  Admittedly I have some nice stuff and I do continue to buy nice stuff, but mostly because I like the nice stuff.  I'm the type to oooh and ahhh over the softness of leather, the brighty cheer colors of a fabric, and the lovely details of a polka dot or some other print.  But I must add that in an effort to be a true tight wad and less materialistic, I've started to be more creative with my love of nice stuff.  For instance, I've been shopping at goodwill more often and am going to learn to sew.  After all, you might be surprised to know that a lot of my favorite outfits usually cost less in total than say... my purse, lol.

But... I have found one area of life that I never realized I worry about what the darn Joneses are doing... a career.  I've always foolishly had the thought that life will be great once all this schooling is over and I can begin my "real" life.  Then came the hiccup of medical school, but I don't want to dwell too much on that again...  The time is quickly approaching that my old class is getting ready to graduate from medical school and I'm starting (or started until this revelation) to see them as the Joneses.  I then begin to panic and start down that old familiar path of... well, life will be great once I get this nursing education stuff going...

But... And here's the PSA you've been waiting for...  Life is great now.  I have much to be grateful for.  My "real" life is the present and what I make of it.  Now, I've got to get off my butt and make something of what's left of the day.  (Although, in my defense, I'd already powered washed the half of the deck we didn't get to last night, had breakfast and did a little vacuuming this morning before I sat down and started wasting time/procrastinating on the web.)

A Not So Normal Day in the Life of Me

So I have what I call "sick" spells.  I get lightheaded, sometimes dizzy, nauseous,  my face gets flushed and I just over all feel yuck.  I've had my thyroid checkout and ruled out MS so other than the vasovagal response stuff, no one really knows what's wrong with me.  As a result, I get to endure various random testing, the current one being a 24hr EEG.

Me attempting to look "normal."  I put a hat on and a shirt on top of my wires.

So, (and yes I started two paragraphs with the word "so" despite knowing that it's against the rules) I thought I'd share the joyous experience with you lovely folks.  I have ridiculous amounts of goo in my hair.  I'm attached to what feels like eight million wires (reminds me of the movie Avatar).  I have a panic button.  It's actually a button to push in case I have an "episode."  I have to carry the little machine attached to all those wires.  And my head has a stocking-ish thing on it wrapped in a bandage.  Fun times.  See the fun times pictured here. Haha.

Me with my bandaged stocking head

Me showing off my machine/purse....

I know... you're jealous of all the fun times had by me.  Yup, this is what my life is currently like...

Focus on the Good and Avoid Perfection

www.reverendfun.com

I wanted to write a post today and struggled to come up with what exactly it is I wanted to share with the world...

Until... After rereading the Love & Marriage chapter of The Happiness Project it dawned on me.  Throughout the books, she lists her own commandments, which are basically things to keep achieving toward throughout the project, very much like your own tailored version of the ten commandments.

Anyway, I came upon my first one...  Focus on the Good and Avoid Perfection.  I believe this is an important one during this month in my happiness project and maybe that's why it came to me.

For example, one of the big muffin's household jobs is to take out the trash.  (Not because this is a "man's" job, but because I despise dealing with the trash.)  Applying my first commandment (randomly, that previous phrase makes me think about having to apply certain rules to prove a proof in HS geometry), I need to remember that while the trash isn't always emptied when it's full (which I refuse to do), this version of perfection isn't important.  Perhaps I should NOT focus on the full trash and remember all the cool little things big muffin does for me... like... buying orange creamsicle lollipops when he's out by himself because he remembers me spending time in the checkout line searching like small child for orange creamsicle because it's soo listed on the sign... lol...  Hopefully you get the point of all that gibberish.

Besides, perfection tends to plague me.  Yes, I was one of those students that aimed to make as many A's as possible, not to please my parents, but because I love the gold stars.  :)  And yes, I'm that person who looks at a perfectly good cupcake and thinks, ehh, it really could use a lot more work...  If I weren't so thrifty (or as big muffin calls me, a cheap @$$), I'd have a huge pile of reject cupcakes, cookies, etc.

Anyhow, that's my first commandment and something to focus on for the month and for for-ev-er.... (Suppose to sound that one out like on the movie Sandlot...)

Now on to some other random things I wanted to share:

- My good friend and Godsister Rochelle has decided to blog too!  Yay! She's the most levelheaded, wise and honestly good person I know so I'm sure she'll have lots of good stuff to share.
Simply Grateful - http://lucerochelle.blogspot.com

- I had a request from my SIL for an email whenever I post.  I added a spot so that she, and anyone else, can receive an email every time I update/post on the site.

- Finally one more random bit, my parents are getting Iphones today!  I find this both very exciting and a little hilarious.  I know they'll both love it, but it's just a little funny to me to picture either one of them with such a gadgety gadget.  Going over there later to help get it all set up later.  Wish me luck! lol

What I thought most while typing this:  I can't help but wonder if I make sense to people...
Something silly I saw yesterday while out and about that excited me:  I saw a 11 year old girl (I'm guessing at her age) with a Kindle!  I was so excited for her and felt kinda stupid about being excited. lol  I would have loved having a Kindle when I was younger and I definitely love it now.
Crazy thing we did this week:  Seriously considered buy a $33,000 house to renovate.

My Very Own Happiness Project

The Happiness Project

I'm back and only two days later.  I can't usually get to writing posts that quickly, not because I'm infinitely busy, but more because I'm infinitely lazy, but here I am and I'm pumped about it.  (Maybe I'm here because I'm procrastinating, but at least I'm getting something done...)  So, here goes...


The Happiness Project was one of the first books I read on my kindle and I loved it.  So, I emailed the author, got her resolutions charts, then started my own happiness project.  Then I got derailed, then I started over, then I got derailed again...

So, I started again and completely anew at the onset of Lent.  Given Lent is a season for change, I felt it appropriate, sort of like the Catholic's New Year.  (Although, technically the liturgical season starts over at Easter, but Lent makes a good time for new resolutions...  I think you get what I'm saying...)  It went great for the first week, then I got a little distracted again, but this time, I have kept plugging along despite the hiccup.  This is a small victory itself as I usually get frustrated with myself and just drop whatever it is I'm doing.

Anyway, with only 2 days left in March, I've pseudo-successfully made it through the first month.  And for those of you who haven't read this (you should because it's amazing!), here's the quick and dirty on what exactly it is I'm doing.

March was dedicated to Energy and Health.  So, I had eight resolutions to fulfill on a daily basis.  Sounds a bit overbearing, but it's really not.  Here were my eight...
- Early to bed, Early to Rise: Apparently my circadian rhythms are jacked, so this is one I'm still working on.
- Healthy meals and snacks M-F
- Something active every day
- Outside Time:  Because sometimes I give myself cabin fever whilst working at home...
- Evening Tidy Up:  Because I feel better when things around me aren't as they say... a hot mess...
- Out and About:  Because I hate running errands, so I need to force myself to get out and about...
- Nagging Task:  Because accomplishing a nagging task, truly is energizing.
- Organize & Declutter: I still need to work on this one more so, but I did clean out my closets and get rid of stuff Jeremi and I either don't fit into or don't wear.  It's pretty liberating as silly as that sounds...

I faired pretty well.  The plan is to tackle a new subject/area of need every month while also keeping up with the old stuff.  The more I write about it, the more motivated I'm finding myself, so maybe this is time well spent after all.

So, what's up for April you ask?  (or maybe you don't ask, but I'm telling anyway)...
Love & Marriage.  Not that my marriage is on the rocks, Jeremi and I get along surprisingly well nearly all the time.  I felt like getting my energy and health back (both mentally and physically) should be my first priority.   The close second was to shower love and attention on beloved hubby since he's been my listening ear and shoulder to cry on throughout this whole medical school/career soul searching ordeal.  It's been an emotional roller coaster ride for 2 years now, and he deserves some, as they say, mad props!

FYI- The Urban dictionary definition of mad props: Used when someone does something that is appreciated or respected. It as an alternative to thank you.

I am making my Love & Marriage resolutions tomorrow.  BTW, while Jeremi knows about my happiness project, he doesn't know what's in store for April, so it'll be fun to see his reactions. :)

That's all for now folks.  I'll try to continually keep you updated on my happiness project.  Also, I highly suggest buying this book!  It's amazing!  The caption below the pictured book links to the author's site and lists where you can buy it...

The Year of AHAs!

I'm beginning to think this might be the year of AHAs!  Perhaps all this soul searching is finally getting me somewhere, and quite frankly, it's bout freakin' time!

- I'm really excited about the nursing school prospect.  I've already applied to a school and depending on how my previous credits transfer, I may even be able to start this fall (with some required summer courses), but that's the overly optimistic version.  Either way, I feel like nursing seems right.  It will allow me to be in a clinical setting, hopefully eventually down the road as an np, and will also allow me to work a decent paying job while I'm seeking out all this education.  Hoorah for an answer to the career soul searching! (Also, I have to add that hoorah is technically misspelled and that the first correction offered is hookah.)

- I might finally have a sensible diagnosis for all this health stuff I've been dealing with.  At first we thought thyroid problems, as was pointed out to me by the physician running my patient care class in medical school.  That's not it.  Then I freaked out and thought I had MS, especially since my mom has it, but that's not it.  Then there was a thought that it could be narcolepsy and it's probably not that either.  Went to the neurologist today, and he mentioned both a vasovagal response and delayed sleep phase syndrome.  I wikipedia-ed it (and yes, I know it's not considered a "real" source but it does give a great overview) and it makes so much sense!  DSPS explains my inability to fall asleep at a "normal" hour, to wake at a "normal" hour, which would explain the endless fatigue and a vasovagal response sounds dead on with my "sick" spells.  Very pumped about a possibly correct diagnosis!  Treatment for this, coupled with a possible dairy allergy could be the answer.  Say it with me... Ahhhhhaaaaa...

- Also, I'm really excited about moving to Roanoke.  I think, and I feel the need to say it again, think, Roanoke will be a great place for us to live.  If we live in the right neighborhood (the neighborhood I've been scoping houses out in), I'll be able to walk to school, take Caesar to the dog park, and maybe even walk to other necessary amenities.  Plus, if we get a scooter like we've been talking about, I could scooter to and fro.  Yes, I said to and fro.  The new river is still close by for canoeing adventures.  Roanoke is definitely bigger than Princeton, offering "indulgences" such as shopping at places other than Walmart, and a Fresh Market, and other shops I love that people who don't live in tiny Princeton forget about.  Plus, the area likes to focus on supporting local shops, restaurants and other establishments, which I'm completely into!

One last thing...  I read this book called The Happiness Project a while back.  It really made an impact on me and I've attempted to start my own happiness project a couple of times, and have since started it up again and more seriously committed to it!  Perhaps it's the cause of the aha moments, perhaps not, either way I think it's a great way to begin to change your life in lots of little ways.

I guess that's all for now on the aha moments!  Hopefully more will come and quickly because I'm terribly impatient...

What I'm reading: 20 Something Manifesto, The Healing of America (pick up where I left off)
What I've been listening to lately: Pandora station made from At Last by Etta James (it rocks!)
Favorite New Song: I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked by Ida Maria
What I'm baking next: good question, maybe a new kind of cookie
Looking forward to: seeing Michael Buble in concert again! 
What I thought most while typing this:  Is this a cohesive (not all over the place) post? Or does it just sound like I'm spewing as many words as possible as quickly as possible?  Haha
Random aside:  I constantly have all these random thoughts that I keep meaning to turn into blog posts...  

25 Things You Maybe Don't Know About Me

I wanted to post something light-hearted for you (who ever few left it is that still read this) since it seems I'm always griping about something.  So, here's my attempt at something light and fluffy like angel food cake... in contrast to the death by chocolate I usually provide.  (Does that even make sense to anyone?)

I always secretly want to answer those ridiculous questionnaires that people either post on facebook or on email forwards, but I never do.  One, because I'm too lazy to take the time out to do the darn thing, and two, because of my weird privacy issues.

What are my weird privacy issues?  Good question.  I suppose it just kinda freaks me out that you can post a status on facebook and everyone knows what you're up to and where you're at, even people half way across the world.  It seems ridiculous and unnecessary, but at the same time, I like to read those statuses as much as the next person...  Plus, what ever happened to good ol' fashioned communication, not via the net (I say as I type this blog...)  For instance, I was out to dinner a few weeks back and I began to tell others about this stupid little thing I did, but I was interrupted with the response of...  Oh, I saw your facebook status on that...  That's what the world is coming to...

Anyhow (stepping down from the soapbox), on to my 25 things...

Oh, one more thing, I tend to be frank and very honest.  I felt I should warn you.

1.  I have the US Weekly app on my phone and I hate to admit that I love it.  I find it acceptable to stalk the celebrities despite my uncomfortableness with facebook.  I know I'm such a hypocrite. (Also, I stole the 25 things idea from US Weekly who does it with celebrities... yes, I'm looking to feel famous.)
2.  I like to sleep in my underwear.  Maybe that's TMI, but seriously, who needs PJs.
3.  I always say, if I were skinny and fit, I'd walk around half naked nearly all the time.  That's probably why God made me so that I love food so much I'll never really be skinny.
4.  I don't think I'm funny, not really at all.  I don't really think of myself as smart either.
5.  I hate the question: What type of music do you like?  Mostly because I like a good variety and have music ADD.
6.  I really do have ADD.
7.  I hate coats, socks and shoes so I try to buy the most stylish or ridiculous ones I can find in an effort to make myself wear them.
8.  I regularly run into things, whether I have my glasses/contacts in or whether or not the lights are on.
9.  I'm an indulgent cheapo.  I love nice stuff, but I try to pinch pennies on the everyday things.  Does that make me balanced? Haha, probably in all the wrong ways...
10.  I secretly worry entirely too much about things like having an emergency cash fund, getting a retirement fund set up, etc...
11.  I don't really know what my favorite color is.  It use to be yellow, but now I've come to just love them all.
12.  I love cheese!  But I think I have a dairy allergy so I'm trying not to eat too much.  It's been hard!
13.  My dog, Caesar, is my first real pet.  I wasn't really allowed to have pets, so I had fish and a turtle.  And I wasn't very good with fish. :(
14.  I only have one printed picture from our wedding; that one picture is one someone gave us.
15.  I have a Kindle that I absolutely love.  It even sleeps under my pillow in case I have trouble sleeping.
16.  I've been have sleep issues lately. :(
17.  I usually find most conversations really boring.  Probably cause my mind moves to fast and has already moved on.
18.  I hate talking on the phone.
19.  I love magazines despite how bad they are for the environment, but reading a magazine online or on a kindle isn't the same.
20.  I secretly wish I could have red haired babies, but genetics just won't allow it.
21.  I've been trying to learn to play the violin for about 9 years now.
22.  On my list of things to do in my life are: visit NYC during Christmastime, see a ballet and a broadway show.
23.  I love museums, especially reading all the little signs.
24.  I love patterns: stripes, polka dots, geometric, you name it...
25.  Some of my favorite meals are down home southern foods: meatloaf, anything with gravy, pot roast, mashed potatoes...

Well, that's about it.  Hope you weren't bored to tears.

Huge Thanks to You!

This is actually a banking ad and a clever one at that, but I figured an appropriate one for the big sister figure in my life who shall remain nameless because I'm never sure if it's a good idea to just throw out people's names on the internet.  (Maybe they'll have weird privacy issues like me or maybe not, but ya never know.)


Anyway, after a little phone tag, had a great conversation with R who suggested I looking become a nurse practitioner.  I've never really considered this, mostly because I never wanted to be a nurse, but there's a big difference between a np and an rn. 


Very enlightening!  So, I've done a little researching, I'm greatly considering it and really excited about the idea!  I think it'll be a great fit for me in terms of allowing me to find a way to save the world around me, make good money in an effort to pay off my student loans, and allow me to have a life.  


So, I'm having yet another AHA! moment in my life and I love it!  So thanks a ton to you big sister! :) 


And in other news, we'll be moving soon!  Jeremi's waiting for the official job offer, but we're both very much looking forward to moving.  I'm so very ready to move out of Princeton and am looking forward to all that the Roanoke area has to offer.  So... Double Yay for today!


What I'm reading: Sheet Music, Also still looking for another guilty pleasure read
What I've been listening to lately: New CDs by Amos Lee and Adele
Favorite New Song: Better Man by James Morrison
What I'm baking next: Cheesecake cupcakes I'm naming the Markie
Looking forward to: the possibility of nursing school 
Crazy thing I/We did this week: Shot Jeremi's Golfball cannon! :)
What I thought most while typing this:  I never know where commas truly go.  I deleted and added some as I thought was correct, but I'm pretty sure they're all wrong.