The great is starting (I think)

Way back last summer when Firecracker (now Maple) and I used to go to Cubs games, we'd meet a lot of fun people. One of these people was a guy I called the Tall Southern Gentleman (TSG).

You may remember that TSG and I were in touch until late August when his best friend and said friend's wife were involved in a terrible car accident. The wife died and TSG was hit very hard as she was like a sister to him. He fell out of touch.

Fast forward to November.

Upon returning from Australia, I decided to drop him a line. He had warned that he'd be out of contact 'for quite some time,' but since I didn't know him very well, his definition of 'quite some time' might be different from mine.

I received a nice, polite email in return, saying that he thought about me quite a bit when the Cubs went to the playoffs (alas, his Detroit Tigers crashed and burned). Nothing about coming to Chicago to take me to dinner (which is where we left it in August). Hmmnn??

A few weeks and a few emails went by and it became more and more apparent that he was only returning my emails with no new input from him.

So, in light of my new mantra, I decided to call him on it. Fish or cut bait, right?

I waited until after the holiday craziness died down and then sent an email explaining my new mantra and how I expect great things for not only me, but also for people I know. And, essentially, is he IN or is he OUT?

A few short hours later, I had my answer.

"I am in."

Expect great in '08!

That's my mantra for this new year.

Expect great.

It's a big leap for me, right? I know it is, but I think it's time.

I HAVE to start thinking great things or else great things won't happen.

And they WILL happen. This year.

But where to start with all this expected greatness?

Here are some ideas:

• Smile more. (Tried it the other night at a nice restaurant and not one, not two, but THREE guys wanted to buy me a drink!)
  
• Be open to more new things and new people.
• Keep my mouth shut more (yep, a challenge, I know).
• Take more chances.
• Do volunteer work (already signed up for two January events).
• Get rid of excess crap in my home (by the truckload people!).
• Create opportunities for more physical exercise (dancing, maybe?)
• All the little annoyances??? Just let them go!
• Learn to meditate (Jada?? a little help here please?)
• Find a job I LIKE! (spoke to career counselors already).
• Clean house in my relationships (If I lose contact with someone, there's probably a good reason for it. If they want to contact me, they probably know where to find me.)
  

And if 2009 rolls around and I haven't done all of these things (not just once, but regularly), it will still be okay.

Every little bit helps.

A new loo!!!

I'm sure I have photos somewhere of my old bathroom, but I can't find them (and I'm not going to stress over it like I used to!) so you'll just have to trust me when I say my new loo is INFINITELY prettier!!!

Okay, picture this: tiny gun-metal gray floor tiles, a commercial toilet (no tank, just a metal flushing handle), a plastic sink with a peeling wood vanity cabinet that rocked if you leaned against it, an old tub with a rusty drain and blue stick-on fish on the tub floor, and the cheapest round-bulb vanity light fixture with one stubborn bulb that always blew out immediately.

Got a good picture in your mind? Okay, now I have this!


For those of you with really good eyes, yes, these photos are ones I've taken on my many travels. I've used the theme 'water.' Seemed appropriate for the setting, doncha think?



The towels are navy blue, not black. I splurged and bought some terribly luxurious Egyptian cotton towels. Seriously, I don't think I could stand up with the weight of these towels when they are wet! Fabulous!




And, yes folks, the vanity countertop is black granite! No more plastic fake marble shit for me. I'm pretty pleased, if I must say so myself.