That feeling you get when you really, really, really want something....

I remember when I was a little girl going into a store called Wilson's at Christmas with my Dad. They had this huge display of toys and it was AMAZING!! Every possible toy a kid could want. Every toy that was being advertised on TV. It was all there. But the one toy that caught my eye was the most beautiful walking doll. She had long straight brunette hair and wore a blue dress with flowers on it. She was about three feet tall and if you held her hand she would actually walk next to you. I wanted that doll more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. I dragged my Dad over to her to show him and made sure he knew how much it would mean to me to get that doll. But we weren't there to buy toys that day so, sadly, I went home without her. Still, I thought of her every day and wished secretly that Santa would somehow know how much I wanted her. Imagine my surprise when Christmas morning came and there she was under our tree!

Now, I am having much the same feelings about something else. A dog. I want a dog so badly it's become almost an obsession. I spend at least an hour each night looking at adoptable dogs on line and wishing and hoping that one day soon I will be able to have one. The thing is, right now, I live in an apartment that doesn't allow dogs. I'm not real picky about the kind of dog I get either. I know I will adopt one from a rescue or a shelter, never buy one from a breeder or pet store. I like them big or small, hairy or smooth. Doesn't really matter to me! Dogs have such great personalities that I'm sure whatever it looks like, it will be great!

I just really, really want a dog. I want it soon! I wish someone would surprise me with a dog!

An early birthday present from a wonderful man...

This week was rough for me.  For reasons I won't go into here my immune system is low and I'm warding off anemia with iron supplements. The result of all this is I tend to get any and all coughs, colds or sniffles that I come into contact with. This week I was doing my best to fend off a heinous head cold. My ear was hurting and I was coughing a lot. My brain was in a stuffy fog and try as I might I finally succumbed and ended up staying home from work on Thursday.

Around midday I was trying yet again to get some sleep when I heard Alex come home from work. This is very unusual. I laid there for a while wondering what the heck he was doing. He was putzing around in the living room. I finally got up and this is what I saw.

Yep! That is a brand new iMac! He looks at me and says, "Happy Early Birthday!" Now, my birthday isn't until December so this was really early. And the iMac? Holy moly! I was speechless! This is the most beautiful computer I've ever used let alone owned! It's sleek, sexy and quiet. Makes absolutely no noise at all. I love this thing so much.

But more than that I love the wonderful man that is so thoughtful and full of surprises! I never in a million years would have guessed this was something he'd do. He's the best part of my life and I want the whole world to know it. I am lucky to have him. I'm keeping him!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not what you'd call an overly romantic type of person though I will admit I get a little  mushy at times. Mostly at watching Lifetime movies or Hallmark commercials. My husband isn't overly romantic either. We just aren't that way! In fact, last year we both forgot our anniversary and it was okay because we tell each other we love one another multiple times during each day. So, you see, singling out one day of the year just seems silly in light of the bigger picture of how much we truly care for each other.

Today, however, he blew my mind. I was at work and this is his usual day off. I was at my desk when Judy, our receptionist, came in and dropped a huge box of flowers off on my desk. Alex had sent me the most beautiful tulips and a box of candy! I was flabbergasted! Really. He's done this once before and it's such a great feeling to get such a nice surprise!

Funny thing is, that delivery started an avalanche of deliveries to our office. My office mate Tracy received an enormous bouquet from her fiance shortly after. Next my good friend Jamey received a huge bouquet at her desk. Pretty soon several more people were getting flowers delivered at work. All in all, it made us feel very special and very loved. I know it's just a token but there is something about getting a gift delivered when you never expected it to make you feel like a queen.

I love my husband and knowing he feels the same is the best feeling in the world. Tonight I'm taking him out to dinner. He gets to choose where. I think I already know that he's going to choose our usual place. It's not fancy. Not a place that you'd think someone would want to go on Valentine's Day but it's "our" place and he loves it there so that's where we'll be. It's a place we go all the time and the wait staff know us very well. It's comforting. Our local neighborhood place. A perfect place to celebrate this very usual love we have that I know will last a lifetime.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Incredible shrinking ME!

A few weeks ago I wrote about a group of us at work who were going to start Weight Watchers. Well, with a false start here and there we finally managed to get enough people together to do it. We officially started last week with our first weigh in on July 1. That's right...we, in our infinite wisdom, started a life changing weight loss program three days before one of the biggest eating holidays in the US. Sheesh!

Because of that I wasn't too excited to go in to the meeting today and weigh in. I mean, I ate my weight in bratwursts and beer over the weekend. Throw in some brownies, mac and cheese, potato salad and a couple of hot dogs and you pretty much see how "off course" I was for the weekend. Now, I do admit that I have done A LOT of swimming this week. I mean, what with the heat and humidity being close to what I can only imagine hell is like, swimming was the ONLY way to cool down. Even my AC was lethargic and just not cutting it.

Anyway, I went to the meeting expecting the worst and vowing to do better this week and, lo and behold...I lost weight! And not just a pound or two either. As I stepped on the scale, avoiding eye contact with the Weight Watcher's leader and making apologies for what I thought was to come...imagine my surprise when she said, "You've lost 9 pounds!!" NINE FREAKIN' POUNDS!! In one week. Without even trying all that hard.

Hokey smoke...this stuff really works. If I can keep this up it will be...oh, just a few years, before I look like Heidi Klum. Hahahah!!

Anywho, I am proud of myself today. So yes, I will accept your praise now. :D