Thursday Thirteen #9

Thirteen Things I Accomplished This Week

1. Finished book #3 on my Spring Reading Challenge list
2. Started book #4
3. Paid my bills for the month. (Yep and now I'm broke again!)
4. Attended my last undergraduate class ever.
5. Updated my MySpace page -- long overdue!
6. Finally downloaded and balanced my checking account information into my new financial planning software.
7. Opened a new savings/mutual fund account. (I'm saving for a super vacation treat to myself for after I pass the bar. So, it's 3 years away, but that just means I have a lot of time to save lots of money!)
8. Worked a whole lot of hours -- this week's paycheck will be a nice one!
9. Actually found time to watch 2 movies -- hell must be freezing over right now.
10. Found the time to blog about those movies in order to qualify for my free DVD this month over at FilmBloggers.com.
11. Made it through another week completely meat-free. I'm really starting to like this vegetarian thing. :)
12. My Laundry: I know that sounds odd to list as an accomplishment but hell, with so many people living in this house its a feat in and of itself to get to the washer and dryer when they are actually empty.
13. Found out I will be an Aunt for the first time in late November/early December. Ok so this really isn't my 'accomplishment' but managing to contain my excitement is.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Spring Reading Challenge - 1 Month later

Well, so far I've finished only 3 books. I'm hoping to get through the other 10 on my list before June 21, and now that I no longer have school reading obligations and I'm almost done with all my term papers, that might actually be possible.

Today, I finished the 3rd book, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Click here to read my review. Click here to see what else in on the list for this Challenge. Also, if you still want to join in the reading challenge, you can. Click here for all the details!

Happy Reading!

Earth Day 2007

Earth Day 2007
10 Easy Ways to Save the Planet

1. Plant a tree
2. Change your lightbulbs to compact flourescent energy-saving bulbs.
3. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
4. Shorten your morning shower by 1 minute.
5. Support your local farmer's markets and buy organic products.
6. RECYCLE!!
7. Find out what your ecological footprint is. Click here!
   
8. Turn off all lights when leaving a room.
9. Car pool whenever possible.
10. Get off junk mail lists. GreenDimes can get you started. They will even plant a tree for you!
    

Sweet Jesus...He's FINALLY gone!!!

Yes!!! Finally, an episode of American Idol results show where I didn't end up screaming at the television and swearing that Americans have lost their minds. Finally the voters got it right and Sanjaya is GONE!!

I can't believe Lakisha was in the bottom 3, but what counts is she's safe for another week and can blow everyone away yet again next week.

I think my top 3 faves at this point are Melinda, Lakisha, and Jordan...the girls definitely have it this year. What do you think?

When did I get this old?

So here's the deal...today is my oldest daughter's birthday. But it's not just any birthday. No, it's her 10th birthday. That's right, folks, she has officially been inducted into the realm of double digits. She is a beautiful young lady and it has been absolutely miraculous to watch her grow from a tiny little being who was completely and totally dependent on me for everything into this thriving little woman who has her own opinions, ideas, and has even developed a much more sophisticated sense of style than I could've ever dreamed of having at her age.

But beyond all the sentimental-ness of the day, I keep having to stop myself. I'm trying to figure out just when I became old enough to have a 10 YEAR OLD!!! When I look in the mirror, I don't see the mother of a 10 year old; I certainly don't feel like a mother to a 10 year old (however I imagined that would feel). I mean, my god, I'm over half way done with my legal obligation to raise her. She, if she follows in my footsteps (let's hope she doesn't), could very well be out on her own in just 8 short years! 8 years, people...that's nothing. Where did my little girl go?

Why is it...

that some exes are just so damn hard to get rid of? I'm really starting to think my most recent ex is completely psycho. I have not spoken to him in almost a month and that was not a pleasant conversation -- ending with me reiterating the fact that we have nothing to discuss and to please leave me alone. I broke up with him in mid-FEBRUARY!!! It's mid-APRIL and he is still bothering me.

Granted, he isn't physically showing up anywhere I am or anything, but the text messages and voicemails continue. The other day he created a Myspace page in order to send me messages on Myspace. I thought it would be a one time thing and my profile is set to private so its not like he can see anything on my profile so I didn't do anything about it. I did not respond to his message either. But today, two more messages showed up in my inbox from him. I have since blocked his account from sending messages to me of any kind.

I guess he tried to send me another one, because just a moment ago I got another voicemail from him telling me, "Talk to me! Come here, pick up the phone, I don't care how you do it, just talk to me". And earlier today he left a message telling me he thought at that "at this juncture" we needed to talk so I needed to pick up the phone and talk to him. When is he going to get it?!? I'm not talking to him!!! I want no more of his influence in my life!!

And at what juncture are we supposedly at? Please, someone explain this to me! We haven't had any junctures since, oh, I don't know, Valentine's Day...that was the last time I actually saw him in person. After that, it was just the process of letting go and moving on. Which I have, completely.

We share nothing anymore...no kids, no mutual friends, no property...hell we don't even like the same types of music anymore...I owe him nothing! He owes me money but I've written off that debt long ago and don't care if seeing him or talking to him means I would get it back...it's not worth the misery he would bring back in my life.

I know the only thing left for me to do is to change my number, but it isn't going to happen. He isn't going to have that kind of power over me...to inconvenience my life like that. I know he will get bored with this game eventually -- I just wish it was sooner than later.

Sorry for the gripe session, but if blogging keeps me from picking up the phone to call him and say something I'll later regret, then so-be-it.

- J.

Thursday Thirteen #8 - Better Late than Never

Thursday Thirteen #8:
13 Foods I love that I can still eat as a Vegetarian

1. Salads (obviously minus the ham and bacon I used to sprinkle on top)
2. Subway's Veggie Delite sub sandwich
3. Spinach & Feta pretzel (we have these at work and they are great, very spinachy, but I love spinach so it is great for me!)
4. Italian Strata (another favorite from our work bake case, in fact this was my dinner last night)
5. Various vegetable quiches. I love quiche...not I just have to figure out how to make it.
6. My Mac & Cheese! Basically, I'm not giving up dairy. I may at a later date, but I just love cheese too much to face that right now.
7. Watermelon -- hey, summer is coming up, ya know?
8. Reese's Pieces - My favorite candy can remain my weakness!
9. Bagels w/ cream cheese -- I love bagels for breakfast and with all the new bagel shops opening up on every corner with their speciality flavors, its good to know that I can still enjoy trying all of these out.
10. Hashbrowns with cheese and onion - yet another breakfast favorite
11. Grits - yes, I know I'm highlighting just how southern I am, but I just can't imagine life without grits!
12. Spaghetti -- Ok, so I'll need to use a meatless sauce, but I tried some the other night for the first time, and it was really good. Much fresher tasting and with the new whole wheat noodles that are on the market now, I was able to make this much healthier meal taste really good too.
13. Chocolate cake - I was watching a vegetarian show on Food Network the other day and this cook made a chocolate cake the vegan way. Everything was organic in it and she swore no one would be able to tell the difference. They actually did let people, who weren't vegetarian or vegan taste it and they couldn't tell!! I want that recipe!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants