Steady As She Goes...in 2009

Okay. So yes I know it's like halfway through January, but lots of people/books/movies always are preaching that it's never too late to change and turn things around so I'm gonna go with that. I've thought about it the past couple of weeks, and have finally decided on resolutions that I really think aren't that far fetched, and who knows - there might be a remote possibility that I might be able to achieve these things I'm laying out for myself. Here Goes Nothing:

1. To completely STOP shopping at malls. Yes, those who know me will probably think I've either lost my marbles or have been abducted and replaced by some blogging poseur psychopath - but this is me talking. I live in an area of the country where there's not so very much...room...for creativity as far as fashion goes. It also happens to be the same part of the country that has the highest unemployment rate as well as having lots of negative light cast on it from all over the media in terms of economy and how the area government is run (which is true but unfortunate). This is not a time for me to be spending spending spending on mall impulse purchases that I won't wear/use in about a year, and things are far to dire for my money to just be sitting lamely in my closet. With the increasing availability of original and much more beautiful things via the internet at discounted prices, there is no reason I should be buying unoriginal pieces from the mall at retail price. Even sales at the mall have become such a huge waste of time, and you have to buy them then and there. In the past couple of years, things like sample sales and vintage buys have been steadily increasing via the web, and I fully expect to take advantage of these things. And anyways, some of my favorite designers aren't even carried at places like Saks and Neimans. So bye bye mall. Maybe next year.
2. Keep a continual workout schedule, and maintain a healthy diet so I can drop the extra 12 lbs that I've been toting around with me for the better part of 2 years. I know there are some of you that want to stab me for always talking about this, but there it is. I am by no means fat, but I just am not happy with how my body now responds to my aging metabolism. Plus I eat like a crackhead. I starve myself one day, then binge the next. No good. So that I stop annoying people by talking about it all the time, I'm going to get on this lovehandled horse and ride it till I get into a groove of maintaining myself in a healthy way. But I will not give up chocolate - how's that for a challenge?
   
3. Find a new job...elsewhere...by summer. I've been here for 2 years now and the time has come for me to move on. I have to grow, and I've hit my ceiling of growth here most definitely. Enough said.
4. Pay off debt. Loans. Credit Card (I'm down to one!!) - Enough said. I can do it.
5. Be a little more daring. Last year, when faced with doing something like going out or being productive I would shrink into my apartment and hide. I wore a t-shirt every day, to every occasion. I slept too much. You know that feeling when you step outside of your box, get no sleep, take chances and overall feel a little bit wired? Well, I want that. Instead of sleeping 10 hours a day on the weekends, I'm going to go venture out. Even if it's just a trip to the bookstore or sitting at a park, I'm going to do it (thank God gas is cheaper now). I'm going to bury my t-shirts behind my oven and only take them out when it really is a slouchy occasion. I'm going to wear more interesting things. So if you see me walking around with a necklace on my head or my pants pulled up to my temples, it's only because I'm on a stepping stone to get to the more daring side of me. I apologize now for any future whackiness that might upset you, but I gotta do what I gotta do.
6. Do a crossword puzzle every week. I heard that this fights off the onset of any kind of dementia and just basically keeps your mind sharp. I want that. My ex-boyfriend's grandpa is 88 years old and does this every week, and he's sharp as a nail. Those of you that know me know that my greatest fear is to die whacked out of my mind and alone. I can't predict the not dying alone, but I definitely try to stave off the nuttiness with a crossword puzzle or two.
7. Get things done within a week of promising to do them. This is good because how many times have people said that they are going to to do something, only to put it off for days then weeks then surprise! it's 2010 and all those things you never did are just jumping off points for depression.
8. Take more pictures. I received my very first ever camera for christmas this year, and I intend to use it every opportunity I get. I'm not letting that thing go to waste. 

That's about it, as far as my realistic goals for this year are concerned. If I am able to accomplish that short list of things, I might be able to tackle my crazier goals like oh, say, learning to speak French or actually being cool again. Who knows? One day.

My Animalia Equivalents

For lack of inspiration on what to post about (since i promised certain readers i would blog today), i'm feeling the funny pictures will help get my brain warmed up. 

Here are some interesting animals depicting the day ins and day outs of my life:

This is me on most saturday nights, when i'm broke but just really need to get drunk:

I really like Rock Band, I just really get into the guitar part:

This is me when my friend told me she was pregnant:

I am into espionage, and I am a master of many disguises:

Can you see me?

How about now?

no, didn't think so.

I never did learn how to juggle, although I practice regularly sometimes on my days off. I can only do it with one object though:(

When I was in high school, I used to have to drive my friends around alot since I was one of the few kids in my group of friends that had a decent car. I didn't mind though, it was my pleasure:

I'm a pretty pathetic person to date - when i was in college and on the rebound from my first boyfriend, i used to give hot guys that i liked my number and sit around waiting for them to call:

Since then, i have become a little more confident and crafty in the ways of love. And who needs to date anyways when you can just stalk hot guys on Facebook while you're at work?

I'm not that hard to please, and living the single life has its perks. For example, when i'm not trying to post attractive pictures of myself on Facebook for people to admire and envy, I can let go of the facade at home and just let it all hang out!:

Don't get me wrong, I love meeting new people and going on dates, or just plain going out. But most people forget what it's like to be single when they've been in loving relationships for years and years. It's not all bouncy cleavage and steamy sex in the back of a club, or even mature conversations about your portfolio over endless glasses of vintage reds. Usually for me, it's just trying to figure out how you ended up at P.F. Changs listening to some guy drone on and on about how he wishes he could re-live his college glory days while you try not to look spaced out:

However, every so often I do meet that special someone. And when I do, you can be sure that the charm is turned up to 11:

But I digress. My dates are few and far between. Most of my days are filled with trucking my ass back and forth from downtown detroit, just trying to make ends meet and pay the bills. It is not all glamourous, let me tell you. Why, one time i was pulled over by the cops and through a case of mistaken identity had to wait for 45 minutes while they searched my vehicle and accused me of doing a drive by over on the west side!: 

Of course, they realized their mistake and let me go with apologies. But from thenceforth I was much more careful, and learned not to panic so much:

Additionally, I have made some resolutions for 2009 that will hopefully get my life back on track. Some are small steps that will progress towards a better future, and some are steps to help me maintain a healthy image of myself. Lately, my boochie cousins and I have been making attempts to get into better shape by going to workout class twice a week, which is fantastic because it lets us socialize with each other while we do something fun. It's helped me get a better attitude about getting out of my apartment, and overall created a more jovial mood:

Cousin Trina and I also have been trying to better improve how we photograph. She is getting married in the early summer and so we are taking this time to experiment with wearing makeup at ALL TIMES, that way we get more comfortable with looking good when taking pictures, so we don't end up looking gnarly in the wedding photos:

At the end of the day, I can feel calm and relaxed knowing that even though I'm not yet where I want to be in life, I'm well on my way. This feeling of peace and stillness is liberating, and I can happily say that it's helped me get a better good night's sleep.

Of course, there are those few nights where I do still have to take an ambien....

Goodnight!