Lately...

Let me just say that the beach in off season is amazing.  It's quiet, relaxing, and peaceful.  There are very few people, very few cars, no crowds...it's perfect really.  I went to the beach this weekend by myself.  I've been many times before, but never by myself.  I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a weekend getaway all alone, but I was pleasantly surprised!

I left late Friday night, slept in on Saturday, had lunch at my favorite restaurant, went to the fish market, then to buy a few more groceries, then headed to the outlet mall for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) and some new workout pants from Nike!  Saturday night, I cooked the shrimp I had bought earlier that day.  C'etait tres delicieuse! 

On a typical Saturday in the Fall, I would normally spend my day watching SEC football.  It's one of my favorite things to do.  Since I was not at home like usual, I decided to skip the all day football routine and only watch Gameday in the morning and the Arkansas/South Carolina game in the evening.  I'm a huge Arkansas fan, so missing a televised game is really not an option.  The game went well...at least from my perspective! 

After dinner and the game, I put on some extra layers, grabbed a pillow, some blankets, and my iPod and went out to the deck to look at the stars.  Lu (my dog) laid right there with me in the lounge chair and I ended up falling asleep.  Eventually, I woke up as I drifted closer and closer to hypothermia...seriously though, it was cold! 

The mini vacation went by so fast, but it was still nice to get away.  I even met my cousin Jessica at the movies on Sunday to see Due Date.  It was hilarious!  Definitely a must see in my book...laughter is good for the soul!  So here I am again back in the grind of things - new work week and a new trimester of school.  Joy, joy!

It's tha First of tha Month...

So today is the 1st day of the month and what better day to start writing?  I always like things to be nice, neat, and even - I start diets on Mondays or at the beginning of the month, I like the volume on the television to be on an even number, I like to get out of bed on a 0 or 5 (7:15, 7:20, 7:25), so it makes perfect sense in my crazy mind to start my blog today!  In fact, it's even better because today is a Monday AND the 1st!  Now that I have officially made myself sound like a total and complete freak, let's get to the good stuff. 

For the most part, this blog will probably be about me and my utterly normal, boring, uneventful life.  I doubt very many will read it, but I know it will be a good way for me to express myself...therapeutic to some degree.  Over the past few months, my life has completely changed.  I am getting ready to go back to school to pursue a nursing degree, my marriage has crumbled, and I have a renewed relationship with God which has been wonderful to say the least.  If you would have asked me earlier this year where I thought I would be, this would have been no where on the radar.  Nonetheless, I am happy, optimistic, and looking forward to what's in store for me in the future. 

Despite the bad, life is good.  I've never been one to muddle - I keep my head up and press on.  My happiness has never been wrapped up in a person, in money, or in possessions.  One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ecclesiastes.  It talks about precisely that - so many things that we as society deem to be important are meaningless.  Each day I try to be less materialistic, less superficial, less worried about what others may say or think about me.  It's not always easy, but it's a process and a journey that I'm glad to be a part of.  So, since it's a new month and all, here's to new beginnings, new experiences, new lessons, new friendships, new persepctive...a new me (still the same to some degree, but more refined)!