I’m 33 today. I am making a new playlist on my iPod titled “Happy” (original, eh?). This will be pick-me-up songs. Not that I need it right now – it’s for future use. I have found a great version of “So Long, Farewell” (yes, from ‘The Sound of Music’) as recorded by The Vandals. Look it up on iTunes or something – it’s great.

Reflections

My life is good. In so many ways. I feel blessed, lucky and all of the above. I have most everything a gal could want (non-material) and it’s a nice feeling. Days like this remind me of how very lucky and special I am and I need to remember this feeling on the days that I forget that piece of information. My world is filled with the loveliest people you could ever hope to know.

I was talking to a friend the other day, pondering this stage of my life at 33 and wondering what I had to show for it (just wondering – not having a pity party). They responded, “There aren’t any secret formulas to what a person wants to do in life that we suddenly just find. Maybe you’re already doing what it is you want to do and where you want to be. If you’re making new friends at work, and enjoying the job and the city, you’re way ahead of many people — maybe most people.” Whether that’s true or not in relation to other people, it sounded so matter-of-fact and positive, like I’m on the right track whether I know it or not.

That being said, thank you to all the amazing friends I have out there. I wouldn’t be where I am today without your love, support and couches. 🙂

It’s been that long since I posted? I suck! To make things short and sweet: enjoying DC, got a new job in Reston (VA), LOVE it, learning new stuff everyday, went home to AL for Christmas, loved seeing everyone – makes me miss them more, went to New York City for New Year’s Eve – that rocked the house in a major way, Jeff is coming to visit in a little over a week, and then it’s my birthday. That was quick, hey?

Note to reader: I saw the biggest sun today. It was so big and beautiful rising this morning that I contemplated going the opposite way on the parkway (away from work) just to look at it longer. I hope you have a day like that soon. Check out the sun on your way to work next week!

Here’s your song o’ the day. I heard it the other day on the way home and it made me so happy and sad. Happy to know that I have friends like this; sad that I’m not near them right now – I certainly need ’em! 🙂

True Colors
by Cyndi Lauper

You with the sad eyes
Don’t be discouraged
Oh I realize
It’s hard to take courage

In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow

Show me a smile then
Don’t be unhappy,
Can’t remember when
I last saw you laughing

If this world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there

And I’ll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid
to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow

I started my new job a few weeks ago and have been MIA ever since. This could be because I commute for an hour and a half, work 9 hours and then commute another hour and a half home. Not fun. The job itself is not what I signed up for either and I’m quite unthrilled at the prospect of staying there much longer. Don’t get me wrong, I usually try to tough it out for a good long while or give it a few chances. That’s not working here. I fear I may have picked the wrong job and now I must remedy that. I’ll keep you posted.

In other news, Thanksgiving was apparently last week and I completely missed it. Seems I was working or something. Kidding! I did have a quiet Thanksgiving and stayed in all day. This past weekend, Ashley’s bestest bud and another friend came to visit from Alabama. We had a great time with them going around the historic, haunted mill town of Occoquan, then to Ikea and then off to Georgetown for some more shopping and yummy dining at Mie N Yu.

I’m hoping to get home for Christmas, so let’s get together!

That’s about it for now, but I will leave you with 3 words that changed my life back in the day:

“Couple Skate only!”

but I lit the pilot light tonight on the furnace! Ok, so I know that’s really mundane and the norm for some folks, but not this chickie who is scared of most everything. While I’m a wiz with a gas oven pilot light, I’m a little terrified of a big, huge furnace and have never had to do it. But, I read the instructions (I’m one of those people), called a few people for moral support, held my breath and said my last prayer (just in case). And guess what? It was nothing! All that worry for no reason. Well, 5 minutes of worry, but still…5 minutes I’ll never get back. 🙂 And it’s warmer already in here. It’s been quite cold and getting down to 40 at night and we’ve just been freezing. You’ll be glad to know we’re not rocket scientists or anything.

Bring on the cold, DC!

I was watching The Today Show this morning and they had a correspondent in Scranton, NJ for the ‘Office’ convention. The NBC show ‘The Office’ is set in Scranton and the town was holding a convention in its honor. They had some of the actors from the show there and I had no idea that Creed was one of the original members of the band The Grass Roots (and plays himself on the show). They sang “Midnight Confessions,” “Sooner or Later” and others. Actually, I knew a lot more of their songs than I realized. Scary, huh? You can hear some of their tunes here. How many do you recognize?