I MOVED MY BLOG

It can now be found at:

http://thetateway.com

Fill-In-The-Blank

Dear Santa,

This Christmas I decided to go a different route and ask for ______________ instead of the usual ____________.

Based on my actions this year, I think you know _______________.

I look forward to seeing ___________ under the tree ____________.

Forever ________,
Me

As You Leave Me

So I decieded to start a photo blog. There's only one picture posted so far, but I'll post more soon. I hope you enjoy: As You Leave Me

Oh the smell...that Thanksgiving and Christmas cheer

It's that time of year again. The Holidays are upon us. The time of the year when people lose their minds. Yes, I said it. The Holidays make people crazy. With the last minute shopping trips, stressing over what color tinsel to put on the Christmas tree, and spending money on all kinds of crazy (beyond normal, everyday crazy) instead of paying bills.

Okay, so I understand. I love this time of year, especially when it means I can burn my Apple Cinnamon and Cranberry Delight/Everlasting Pine candles all day long. I love the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I hear Christmas music the day after Halloween (I'm not judging! I started listening to Christmas music last week.). But, folks we can not forget our priorities. Family. I'll say it one more time: Family. The whole point of the Holiday Season is to share that time with the people you love. You cook delicious meals so the people in your life can gather and enjoy each other's company.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what you are truly thankful for. It goes back to giving thanks for a successful fall harvest. Let yourself be thankful for your harvest.

Christmas is a time of year to celebrate our faith (in whatever form that may be) and to refocus on what we believe in. I was raised Roman Catholic and my favorite mass to go to was Midnight Mass (Christmas Eve). The church was lit by candle light and it was magical. I listened to every word, sang every song, socked everything in, and listened. Really listened. So many times, we forget that Christmas is not just about gifts. It is in short (and in my opinion) about celebrating family, winter, making it through another year, and faith - in ourselves, our family, our future, and our God. Sure, I give gifts and enjoy receiving them. But I don't knock other people over to get the last Teddy Ruxpin (oh, Teddy, how I wanted one of you to call my own). And I don't complain about the gifts I get (sure, I may re-gift, but that's different...).

So please, do not get bogged down in the craziness of The Holiday Season, no matter what you celebrate . We have enough crazies out there, we don't need anymore.

Oh, and for a great holiday gift idea, take a look at this. Or this (All kinds of great ideas through out).

There's something beyond those trees...

Every so often (okay, maybe more like everyday) I ask myself if it is okay for me to be single. I'm 27 (not so bad) with a child (the best thing I've ever made) and living the high life in the greatest state capital on Earth (okay, maybe Indianapolis is a little better and the "high life" is a GREAT exaggeration). But, when I'm laying in my bed at night I miss having.

Having someone who snores louder than me. Having someone who wears socks to bed. Having someone who gets up earlier than me, leaving me the entire bed and the smell of his pillow. I miss it. Plus it's always nice to have someone to have an intelligent, thought driven, thought provoking conversion with, while I'm on the cusp of sleep (hey, it can happen!). I really miss the companionship that a relationship brings.

But, I have the tendency to jump into relationships and settle, because I hate being alone. It has taken me 5 years to figure out that I am NEVER alone. I have my family and my friends. And I have my faith. And my faith tells me that the universe has a plan for me. The "fear of being alone" is a smokescreen for a lot of crap. I have to look past it everyday. I have to dig deeper everyday.

So, yes. It is okay for me to be single. It is better than okay to be single with a fantastic 3-year old who still asks me for hugs and kisses (and more hugs and kisses) before he falls asleep. I don't completely give up on the idea of being in a relationship, getting married, and having more kids.

I'm just waiting, not anxiously, but waiting none-the-less.

Is it that hard

I have a lot of things that annoy me. If you know me, you know that generally I am a laid back, no fuss kind of girl (at least that's what I like to think). But, big things, little things, tall things, short things, things of all kind annoy me. My BIGGEST annoyance is BEING LATE. Let me say it again. BEING LATE annoys me to no end. Saying you'll be at my house in 30 minutes and you show up 3 hours later is just not okay. Having no explanation to why you were late, is also not okay. And me telling you that being 2 1/2 hours late is a bad thing is REALLY NOT OKAY.

Question: Is it that hard to be on time?
Follow-up: Really how hard is it to call with an ETA?
Follow up to the follow-up: Why not call and say you are running late?

Okay, no one is on time 100% of the time. But can we at least aim for being on time more than 10% of the time? Please. I only have so much patience.

I will not rhyme over tracks

Life is interesting. Things/situations/people change. I change. But life is about change, right? It's about the journey, not the destination, right? I guess I've been spending too much time in the car (I mean minivan...grrrr) pondering life and listening to Talib Kweli. But, I want my journey to stand out. I want to leave my imprint on the world. I want to be different than that other 4'11'' gal down the street.

Like Saul Williams says...I will not rhyme over tracks, folks on the chain gang used to do that way back.

Don't be afraid to do your own.
Do You.
Be You.
Change You.