1. all the rain this afternoon & evening meant i could turn off my a/c for the first time in almost a month.
2. July issue of Redbook!
3. was *finally* able to catch up with Giuseppina for a chat!
4. a thank you note in the mail from Alison that made me laugh. and bonus: photos of her girls inside!
5. being able to find the silver lining in the Sox loss last night. ;-)
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my submission for Photo Hunt 2.
A View from Above
the reverse waterfall fountain outside Journey Into Imagination at Epcot as seen from the Monorail.
A Macro Shot
Laughter
Relaxation
one of the most relaxing places i have ever been.
A Celebration
bridal shower.
A Sunset
Sun/Lens Flare
A Bridge
A Shadow
A Garden
hydroponic garden in Living with the Land at Epcot.
A Park
the icon everyone associates with Magic Kingdom Theme Park. if i say i'm going to a park, there is a very good chance this is where i'm heading.
A Street Scene
Signage
A Summer Activity
take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd...
A Summer Treat
Earth
Spaceship Earth, Epcot
Air/Wind
wind-whipped around Test Track, Epcot.
Fire
the fire i put out five days a week.
Water
Something Vintage (pre-1980)
this Easter egg candle was my Dad's from before i was even born & is a very special piece of my Spring home decorations.
Something Made of Glass
glass pyramids housing Journey Into Imagination, Epcot.
Something Made of Wood
Tom Sawyer's Island, Magic Kingdom
Something that Floats
Something Railroad Related
the Roy O Disney steam train at Magic Kingdom pulling into the Frontierland Station.
Something Round
Summer and Autumn "balloons" as part of the "Four Seasons" decorative detail theming in the Land Pavilion, Epcot.
1. one work day down, three more to go.
2. tried a new recipe that was a success. even if i did trash my kitchen while i made it.
3. having a nice clean kitchen again.
4. the catch JayBay made to end the game against the Orioles. strong defense is my absolute favorite part of baseball.
5. the way my face feels after it is freshly washed.
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1. having a good conversation on the phone with my Dad after trying to catch up to him for the past week.
2. my shoulders finally stopped hurting!
3. i managed to find a couple of cute shirts on sale for an unbeatable price. which is good because i really needed a couple more.
4. quiet Sunday evenings.
5. the weekend may have flown by but i'm staring down the barrel of a 4-day work week, leading to a 3-day weekend.
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1. Where’s a good place to watch people?
one of the best places to people-watch is at Disney. you just never know who or what you're going to see. (i'll be diplomatic and leave it at that...) one of the best places in Disney to people-watch is upstairs in the Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. there is a little "wing" that juts out over the walkway of people passing through from Liberty Square to Fantasyland, and you can sit there, out of sight of the crowds & just observe from one of the windows while you have some lunch.
2. Pancakes or waffles?
waffles. i like the way pancakes taste but they sit in my stomach like a brick.
3. Do you generally think before you act or act before you think?
unless i am particularly fired up, i tend to think before i act--or at least i try to. i think being a quiet person keeps me from being impulsive & acting without giving it some thought...though some might claim i over-think at times. double-edged sword, i suppose.
4. What is something you currently hate?
much as i love the people i am going to see & the fun we're going to have, i am currently hating all this traveling i've done recently. it wears me out & leaves me craving some quiet time at home.
5. What would you like two of today?
extra weekend days.
6. If you had to name the one thing about your life right now that you would NOT change, what would it be?
the people who are a part of it.
7. If you had to eat in only one restaurant for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
oh wow... ummmm... Macaroni Grill maybe? NO! Biergarten at Epcot! all i can eat of what feels like eating at my Gram's house again in a way!
8. If you had to name the one most important ingredient of human beauty, what would it be?
being genuine.
9. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
my groceries.
10. What is/was your paternal grandmother's name?
Mildred.
11. And your maternal grandmother's name?
Juliette.
12. What did you watch on tv last night?
do you even really need to ask? the Red Sox game.
13. Who were your last 3 texts from?
Daniel, Troy & Daniel.
14. What is your favorite movie whose title begins with the letter B?
Beauty & the Beast.
15. Name five staples on your grocery list besides milk, bread, and eggs:
yogurt. granola bars. tomatoes. cranberry juice. frozen broccoli.
16. What was the last thing you ate?
a glass of cranberry juice & a granola bar.
17. What was the last pill you took?
a couple of Advil for my shoulders.
18. What did you do on Thursday?
i went to work. then i came home, made dinner, ate it, and watched the Sox game. pretty much the same thing i do most weeknights from April through September.
19. Who would you'd be surprised to wake up and find in your bed?
pretty much anyone, considering there was no one there when i went to bed.
20. Four things on my calendar:
Sox game at Fenway (July 9). Alison's wedding (July 11). meeting Lil Foot's Mommy (July 12)! seeing the Sox play in Tampa (September 2 & 3).
1. going out for dinner & a movie.
2. fresh highlights. there's just something about freshly highlighted hair that is good for the soul.
3. as i was driving home from my hair appointment, they sky was dark with storm clouds. at one point, it was clear that it had recently rained. the sky was still filled with grey clouds but i caught sight of one tiny patch of blue sky with puffy clouds reflected in puddle on the road. it was almost like a natural reminder of the existence of hope illustrated by nature.
4. an unplanned two-hour nap that ended up being completely refreshing.
5. watching the Red Sox spin together a 1-0 victory for Tim Wakefield.
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1. a five-day forecast that has highs of 89-90 and lows of 77-78. what a welcome relief!
2. a hot shower made my shoulders feel a little better.
3. we had a retirement luncheon for one of our sales reps. it was nice to take a long lunch that was uninterrupted by the telephone. and there was cake. mmmmm...cake.
4. a co-worker brought his six-month-old daughter in to visit us today. which means i got a baby fix. if only she weren't so darn cute! ;-)
5. my heart is full.
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i have no idea what on earth i did, but around 7pm last night, my shoulders started to feel tight. i rolled them a bit & tried to stretch them out but nothing doing. as the evening progressed, it started to hurt if i turned my head too quickly or when i tried to push from a reclined position to sitting up. i tried taking some Advil at that point, but nothing seemed to help. by the time i went to bed, it hurt just to move.
it wasn't in my neck at all, or in my back either--turning my head or twisting my back only hurt specifically in my shoulder area. just a wicked feeling of tightness, right along my shoulder blades. the place where i typically carry my tension, but i haven't been stressed at all lately. and it wasn't giving me a headache or traveling up into my neck or anything, as typically happens when my stress level manifests itself as pain my shoulders. strange.
i finally got myself into bed, at which point began the dilemma of how to get comfortable enough to sleep. my usual pillow arrangement--laying on my side with my arm under the pillow--was *not* a good option. flat on the bed didn't work. propped up hurt. and to make matters worse, every time i moved in an attempt to find a position that would lend itself to sleep, *that* hurt too.
i must have finally managed to get into a semi-comfortable position, because the next thing i knew, i was waking up an hour after i'd last seen the time. i had woken myself up by moving in my sleep. which i proceeded to do all.night.long. thankfully, i was able to fall asleep again almost instantly each time--it seemed to be just the actual moving that would wake me for a moment, but as soon as i stopped moving, it stopped hurting & i was able to sleep right away again. which is good. at least i didn't wake up this morning feeling tired.
when i got up this morning, they were still sore. not quite as bad as last night since i am able to at least move without wincing. a hot shower seemed to help a bit, but the effects are starting to wear off now. i guess i will try some Advil again & hope it works this time.
i still have no clue what caused it but i will tell you this: you have no idea how many quick movements you make or how many times you turn your head & upper body while you drive...until it hurts & you feel every single one of them.
1. the work day went smoothly.
2. John Smoltz made his debut for the Red Sox. the Sox didn't win the game, but other than a rough first inning, i thought Smoltzie looked pretty darn good for someone who hadn't pitched in a major league game in a year. i am very excited about the possibility of things to come!
3. getting used to my new phone & discovering some new features that i really like! now if i can only remember that some of the "function shortcuts" have swapped buttons...
4. my quiet nature that allows me to listen well.
5. realizing how far i've come over the last three years & feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment...and gratefulness for those who have surrounded me with their support when i needed it most.
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1. my new phone arrived! which is good because i am not sure how much longer my old one was going to hang on.
2. an overcast morning. the heat & humidity are so much easier to handle when you don't have the sun beating down on you. it's also so nice not to have to squint so early in the day.
3. chocolate cake. birthdays at work are a good thing.
4. i am really truly genuinely happy. i am so lucky & i know it.
5. "And I Thought I Loved You Then," by Brad Paisley. i'm going to need to get this song.
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1. familiarity.
2. making my friends laugh.
3. speaking of laughter. while watching the Sox-Nationals game, they did a Famous Presidents race. people dressed in costumes of George Washington, Abe Lincoln & i don't even know who else, with these huge heads, which made me laugh til the laughter was silent & there were tears streaming down my face.
4. and speaking of the Sox-Nationals game. two thumbs up for the Nationals announcers. i completely enjoyed their broadcast of the game. entertaining. well-called. and they aren't *so* "homer-ish" (i do expect the home announcers to root for their team but not to the exclusion of acknowledging a great effort by the visiting teams) that they can't praise the opponent for a great play.
5. *and* speaking of great plays. i am loving Nick Green and not just because he isn't Julio Lugo. it's been fantastic to watch him emerge as a short stop & blossom under the opportunity to play every day. the more experience he gets by starting every day, the more times i catch him making plays that drop my jaw. like last night's diving catch, tag of the runner, tumble-spin, and bullet to Youk for the double play.
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1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries ice cream by Blue Bell.
2. knowing that if i can just make it through this week, the next two work weeks will be short ones! four days next week, and three the week after!
3. taking the opportunity to watch other teams i don't normally see when the Sox have an off day.
4. the little air conditioner that could keeping me cool while the weather is steamy.
5. my couch which is perfect for a good post-work snooze.
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i am a homebody.
don't get me wrong. i like to go out for an occasional dinner or to see a movie. i enjoy spending a day at WDW or an evening at a baseball game. i like to travel from time to time.
but mostly? i like to be at home. i don't mind eating a home-cooked meal most nights. i am just as happy watching the Sox game as i am doing anything else. and when there isn't one on, i can mess around online, read a book, flip through a magazine. even doing housework doesn't bother me--after all, it's not like i leave a path of destruction in my wake!
i don't get "the itch" where i really *need* to get out of the house that often. i rarely find myself bored or stir crazy. it fascinates me how many people are constantly on the go, to the point that it seems they are *never* home, because i am so not like that. i much prefer a lot of down time with other plans sprinkled in than the reverse. it actually makes me tired & irritable if i don't get enough time to recharge between plans, events, trips, things that take me away from home. i can tell when i haven't had enough time at home, because i feel tense, overwhelmed & just plain burned out.
my home is my sanctuary. my refuge. my place to relax & be at peace. i'll take my calm, laid back life (though i am sure some would find it dull) over running myself ragged any day.
1. i got up & outside fairly early this morning in search of a photo for the Photo Hunt i joined. while i was out on my mission, i walked past a flowering bush that smelled *so* good. i have no idea what it is, but i stood there breathing in the sweet scent, heavy on the moisture-laden morning air.
2. also during my early morning venture, i passed by an older gentleman who lives in my complex, out for his morning stroll. he tipped his cap & simply said, "ma'am" as our paths crossed. now, i know that women are supposed to get all freaked out when they go from being "miss" to being "ma'am" and that we're supposed to get all up-in-arms in this pro-female world if men hold doors or pull out chairs for us, but i'm a traditionalist at heart and i never mind a little good old-fashioned manners & chivalry. so when this elderly man, who very obviously grew up in the deep south & has that "southern charm" just as deeply ingrained in him, it really just made me smile.
3. waking up from an impromptu nap just in time to see Nick Green hit a walk-off home run for the Sox.
4. finding some cute little Summer decorations in the Target $1 spot this morning. score for cheap fun decorations!
those little pails are adorable & the sparkly wooden stars are perfect for Summer decorating! i have another one tucked in between my candle holders on the other corner of my cabinet. i have so few Summer decorations that i've been very excited to find even a couple of new additions!
5. discovering that the new Autumn scents are listed on the Yankee Candle site. i *know* it's only the first day of Summer, but Autumn is my favorite time of year & i am almost drooling over scents like "Autumn Fruit," "Farmer's Market," "Lakeside Birch," "Macintosh Spice," "Moonlight Harvest" and "Vanilla Pumpkin."
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1. What is your favorite physical characteristic in the opposite sex?
it would have to be their smile. it's not something i can give a specific description of but more the feeling it sparks. it's what i call "the slow burn smile."
2. What is the first TV show you remember watching as a child?
Sesame Street. i distinctly remember watching it, my Gram's house, as a very small child. my dad would always ask me what the letters & number of the day were when he got home from work.
3. What is your favorite quotable line from a movie?
my favorite movie quote is: "Have fun, that's what your twenties are for. Your thirties are for learning the lessons and your forties? Are for paying for the drinks." (Carrie Bradshaw in the S&TC movie) but the one i actually use most often in actual conversation? probably "So let it be written, so let it be done." (from the Charlton Heston classic, "The Ten Commandments")
4. What is your favorite kind of sandwich?
oh man... so many yummy options! i love ham & cheese with mustard. or grilled cheese. or a BLT on toast. or a tomato sandwich with just the right amount of mayo. i tend to eat a lot of sandwiches this time of year too.
5. How old were you when you got your first kiss?
15, i think? heh. clearly it wasn't that memorable.
6. I don't understand:
how anyone could ever intentionally harm a child.
7. Your opinion about love at first sight:
i think it's rare but i believe it is possible because you can never underestimate love.
8. How does it make you feel when you hear people argue?
very awkward & uncomfortable.
9. Have you ever fallen for someone who turned out to be nothing like they seemed?
hooo-boy. let's just say a resounding "hell yes" and move along, mm-kay?
10. Do you mind sharing the food that is on your plate with someone?
it depends on who the someone in question is. i would make a few exceptions, but by & large, i take my food seriously & you enter the plate region at your own risk. ;-)
11. Somewhere, somebody is asking him- or herself whatever happened to you. Who is it?
thanks to Facebook, i would say that the people i would normally list don't have to wonder. but now i'm curious who i'm *not* thinking of!
12. How did your car get that little scratch/dent?
someone at work backed up into it with one of the golf carts. right after announcing that he knew how to drive it. he did come in & own up to it, though, to his credit. karmic retribution? a month later someone bumped his truck with a forklift. and he couldn't lose his cool over it because i didn't freak out about his little incident. heh.
13. Would you rather get up early or sleep in?
i'm not much of a "sleep in" kinda girl. in fact, my idea of sleeping in would probably be considered getting up early by most people. if i'm in bed much past 7am, i either got to bed very late or i'm not feeling well.
14. Last person to leave you a comment?
that would be Giuseppina!
15. Who out of your friends has the next birthday coming up?
i have some family birthdays coming up in the next week or so and then again in August, but the next friend birthday would be Alison on September 14.
16. What is your favorite Disney movie?
Sleeping Beauty.
17. In what position do you sleep?
usually on my side (either one, doesn't matter) but sometimes on my back.
18. How long does it take you to get out of bed in the morning?
about ten minutes. i like to wake up slowly & stretch & gently ease into my day.
19. What do you have for a ring tone?
"Sweet Caroline," by Neil Diamond. which poses a dilemma for me when someone calls. because i end up singing along & not wanting to answer.
20. What scent is the air freshener in your bathroom?
it's called "Clean Linen," just a clean fresh scent.
1. light crowds at Disney World today.
2. a Dole Whip--the perfect refreshing treat on a hot day.
3. getting a seat in the top row for Soarin'.
4. a nice cool shower after being outside in the Florida heat.
5. the standing ovation the Fenway crowd gave old friend Derek Lowe tonight when he came back to pitch for the first time on a visiting team.
Visit Grace in Small Things
K did a couple of posts on her blog where she had some other bloggers ask her five questions. the basic idea is to answer the questions posed to you & then offer to ask five questions of any of your own readers who put in a request via comment. it's a fun way to share a few tidbits about yourself that you might not have already covered on your own--and in K's case, this came as a bit of a challenge since she's been reading almost as long as i've been blogging, in addition to chatting via email!
1. If you could break any law for 1 day without consequences what would it be?
oh wow... i am *so* not a rule-breaker! hmmmm... i think maybe i would have to kidnap Mike Lowell for the day. ;-)
2. What is your favorite place in the world and why?
i bet this will come as a shock, because you're probably expecting me to say something like "Disney World" or "Fenway Park," but my favorite place in the world is my home. it is my refuge. no matter how wonderful my day is, i always look forward to coming home at the end of it & being in my own comfortable, peaceful space.
3. If you could spend one day with someone BESIDES YOUR GRANDMA (because I am certain that would be your answer), past or present, who would it be?
well, since i already kidnapped Mike Lowell for a day... (and yes, you know me *way* too well by eliminating Gram!) i think i would like to spend the day with my Gram's mother. i would love to hear some of the stories she could share about my Gram as a little girl, as well as her own experiences as a woman of that generation & in that time. i am fascinated by history and also by my personal family history and there is something to be said for hearing the stories that make up who we are before we were even here.
4. What was high school like for you? Were you geek, jock, loner, burn out or other?
oh boy. LOL! i was *such* a nerd. i loved my English & history classes--i even took Advanced Vocab as an elective! i hated anything to do with math or science, though, with a passion. i was really active in the music department (played flute & piccolo in concert and marching band, sang in concert choir, and was stage manager in the drama club). i was super quiet; after going to a small Lutheran school through eighth grade (my graduating class was 16 kids!), i was a little shell-shocked when i arrived in a public high school where there were more kids in my homeroom than in my entire class the previous year! i'm pretty sure i said about a dozen words my first three years combined, though i did finally start to warm up a bit by senior year. much like now, my circle of friends was small--quality over quantity!--but i could get along with almost anyone. if i had any "enemies," i was blissfully unaware.
5. If you had $100 that you had to spend within 1 hour, what would you buy - and it can't be baseball tickets, because I said so and I make the rules - right now anyway.
i would hop online & get myself a Jon Lester jersey. (what?? you said no *tickets*. i complied!) and that's only because i wouldn't be able to make it into a Disney park within the set time limit. ;-)
1. free shipping & fast delivery for my new phone to replace my broken one (at the hinge). if it weren't Friday, i would have had it next-day. Monday will do though. i hope.
2. cool air, if only in the early morning.
3. sunglasses.
4. face cream with built-in SPF30.
5. the start of the weekend.
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