In response

I try to remain as apathetic as possible to much of the political agendas thrown around via Facebook statuses. This time, though, I cannot just sit here: I must respond to a certain quote being replicated on dozens of status on my news feed.

Here is the original quote, followed by my response.  The response uses a lot of the same language as the original.  I do not mean to infringe another person's intellectual property. Instead I wish to mirror what is being said to people who are passionate about civil rights, but have forgotten about the most infringed upon right of all.  

"I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, “My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood. It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you "disagree' with your candidate on these issues." - Pulitzer and Tony winning playwright, Doug Wright.

I wish my moderate Democrat friends would simply be honest.  They’re voting for Obama for a number of reasons, perhaps one being gay rights.  Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a clear voice, and say, “My beliefs of what is a fundamental civil right outweighs your belief of who is entitled to these rights and it is okay to take away any and all rights from those who have no voices at all.  It is okay to kill people, your own children, as long as they have not yet had their umbilical cord cut away from their mother.  The rights of the presently speaking are more important than those who have not yet had the chance to form or voice their own opinions, dignity does not matter for those less than 9 months old, and the very personhood of the unborn can be ignored.  Healthcare should, in fact, cover murder.”  You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating eugenics and a lack of respect for life. You don’t get to walk away clean because you say that you “disagree” with your candidate on these issues.

If we are going to focus on issues to vote upon, and if that issue happens to be civil rights, it can absolutely NOT be ignored that the biggest civil rights issue is killing children before they even have the chance to form their own opinion.  Why is one person's civil right more important than anothers?

Found Meditation

Sometimes thoughts cross my mind that I just have to write down because they feel like a small epiphany.  Organizing a notebook this afternoon and I found this scribble:

"Sometimes you hear people say 'You have 2 ears and 1 mouth: Listen as much as you speak.'  Typically they're referring to listening to others.

It is necessary, though, to listen to your own heart, your own reactions to what someone is saying, before you speak.  Listen for guidance from the Holy Spirit before speaking."

A quip for the day...

Danielle

Our Healer

Below you will find the "script" for my talk in Chapel yesterday. They say you only write about what you know...this week, I must say, I preached what I myself needed to hear. 

     Will I be able to handle that? What if someone is better at it than I am? This is going to be so hard! What’s the use? Should I even try to overcome this? 
It never fails that when we’re facing a problem or even an upcoming event in our lives, a little voice creeps into our head, questioning whether we really are capable; wondering if we’ll really be able to do what we’ve set out to do and wrapping ourselves in doubt. Many times even in areas of our lives where there aren’t any huge problems, fears, doubts and anxieties find a way of becoming present right along with feelings of excitement, gratitude, or success. 
Throughout Mark’s gospel we hear about Jesus’ ministry of healing. As I read a passage from Mark 1:29-39, think about the ways in which you may need healing in your own life. 

“And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. 
When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. 
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.” 

     This passage speaks of Jesus healing those people who come to him. In context of the book of Mark, this passage is preceded and followed by other stories of miraculous healings by our Lord. Jesus cures a demoniac, calling the unclean spirit out of a man in the passage prior to the one I read and cures both a leper and a paralytic in the verses following the passage. It concludes by telling us that he “drove out demons” throughout the whole of Galilee. Mark’s Gospel, although the shortest of the gospels, vividly tells us many details about Jesus’ public ministry. It proclaims the good news that Jesus himself is the son of God who was sent to rescue humanity by serving and eventually sacrificing his life for us. Although perhaps a burden at times, He took great joy in serving his people. 
     In verses 29-39, we heardthat people began bringing all who were ill to Jesus after the sun had set. Then, Jesus was up “very early before dawn” and went out to a deserted place to pray. While we don’t know how far Jesus’ deserted place was from Capernaum, it’s obvious that he was seeking to have time alone with His holy father. We find, however, that Simon and the other disciples seek out Jesus in this deserted place and tell him that “Everyone is looking for you.” What this means is that even though he had been up very late healing people, the people of Galilee are up very early the next morning, already eager to have an encounter with Jesus, so much so that they find his disciples and insist on them finding him and bringing him back. These people recognized that they needed healing and had the full expectation that Jesus was the man who could take care of them. 
     Are we eager in bringing our own concerns to the Lord? Do we expect that he will heal us of our anxieties? The Galileans give us such a good example for being eager about the Word of God and having expectant faith. Mother in laws sick? Go to Jesus! Friend has a demon? Find Jesus! Dealing with leprosy? Where’s Jesus? In our lives, these “demons” and “leprosy” may look a little bit like anxiety over midterms, an unhealthy relationship in our life, financial burdens, and other personal concerns. 
     When thinking about how to break the fever of the problems in your life, what do you do first? I know that I wish I could say I eagerly seek out God’s word and expect that whatever concern I bring to Him, he will control. Truly, though, I’m not sure I’ve fully allowed that to happen in every area of my life. Even the demons have faith in Jesus and are pulled out of the ones they’re possessing because, as it says in verse 34, “he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.” The demons themselves know and believe in Jesus! How much more should we as Christians have faith in Jesus? If Jesus is willing to help his followers in all that they ask, traveling for days, preaching and driving out demons through the whole of Galilee, why wouldn’t He do the same for us? We need to allow Him to be our Healer, bring any and all troubles to Him with the full expectation that He’s got it from here. 
     How would your life be different if you treated Jesus as your Healer in all things, whether that be preparing for your next speech, getting ready for your next big game, dealing with a “demon” that helps you forget your problems, such as alcohol, or having a difficult conversation with a friend? As Christians, we expect that our prayers will be answered, even if the answer is “No.” 
     Now, I say all of this knowing that often I find myself believing that my problems are too small for God, that I only need to step up and deal with them, be strong, quit being such a worrier... When I was in college, this belief was challenged when I read a reflection on 1st Corinthians 1:29-30 which says “so that no human being might boast before God… ‘Whoever boast, should boast in the Lord.’” Paul uses this expression to remind us that we cannot claim to be autonomous, we are not, and never will be, saved by our own resources. This is so easy to forget because of the way we are encouraged to live. We’ve grown up in a society that tells us to always do our best, get ahead any way we can, and fend for ourselves. We’ve been taught that independence is to be strived for at all costs, that you need to be good at something to do it at all. While it is worth it to be reminded that we cannot take credit for the good in our lives, it is so important that we remember that we also cannot keep our doubts and anxieties to ourselves. Looking internally for solutions and relief will push us only further into our problems—we’re not supposed to deal with them alone. Instead, we must expectantly bring them to our Healer, to the One who knows our hearts, to the one who sacrificed his life for our salvation. 
     Right now I’d like you to take a moment and pretend that Jesus himself is sitting here in front of you. Imagine the expression on his face, his eagerness to hear from you and his yearning to serve his people, his willingness to listen. Now picture yourself physically placing your fears and doubts and anxieties into his lap, giving them fully to Him, expecting that He’s got them from here. You are welcome to place as many of these as you want, forever, right there in His lap. Carefully revel in how it feels to place each doubt and anxiety there, in the place where they belong. Expect that they will be taken care of, because He’s got it from here. Now picture yourself laying your head in Jesus’ lap, putting yourself in a place where he can heal you, where he can cure your sickness, drive out the demons of your life. It is here that we, as Christians, are free to dwell. We, just like the Galileans, are welcome and called to eagerly and expectantly find that place often, within all of the various pockets of our lives. 
  
Thanks for reading,
Danielle  

Done deal.

Yes, it's been eons since I've logged into my blog to update on the project I finished about a month ago (you can read about the project's process in my previous post)...I've been busy being social and enjoying summer (and, let's be real: basking in laziness.) 


But, here it is, the final look at our painted dresser.  An upcoming project on the list is decorating our bedroom. Right now there is a total of one decoration in the entire room. Unbelievable. Why do I prefer all of my lovely decor sitting in boxes in our office? We may never know.

Of the two photos, this is most definitely the truer color for the wall and the dresser.

My favorite part is the stenciling because it's so understated, like the dresser has a secret.

Oh! And here's a little peek at the wedding gift my husband and I made for his sister and her hubby! My hubs made this from wood in the old Millwork District that is currently being converted into loft apartments.  This wood is old and beautiful with tons of character and it was really fun to work with! He did all the hard stuff while I flitted in and out, holding random tools and boards and things--at least until it was finished structurally.  Then I was the sanding and staining and varnishing queen. 

Good thing this was a gift, what an awkward place for a table.

We're hoping there will be "more where that came from" and we'll be starting up a few more projects soon!  There's really something about working with your hands that is just good for the soul.  Maybe it's being able to tangibly see a project progress steadily: the work I put in comes out in a thing, looking fabulous, sometimes where nothing but a pile of wood (or beads, or yarn, or paper) stood before.  It has been quite refreshing to remember how much I like that feeling of tangible progress. Onward to the next crafty DIY adventure!

In Joy,

Danielle

And two became one.

Per the title, you may think I am romantically reflecting upon my marriage to a man who loves me more than I deserve and treats me like royalty.
While this is true, what I'm actually referencing are the DIY dressers we finished about a month ago.  Not as romantic, but just as exciting, especially because for the first 2 1/2 months of living in our home, we lived out of suitcases, laundry baskets, and backpacks in our bedroom.  In case you're wondering, this wasn't barrels of fun.  The only fabulous part of it was once we actually finished the dresser, it felt like we went shopping in our own closets: found SO many things we had forgotten we even owned.


So we started with two dressers that looked like this:

We saw them on Craigslist and drove about 30 minutes to a man's garage, packed with items he had bought at farm sales.  Once we got them in the car and home, we decided it might be nice to stack them on top of each other, so that they stood about 5 feet tall.

We bought two cans of paint in the same color, but one was matte/flat and one was satin.  This was a trick I had frequently wandered upon in pinterest, and thought it might be really nice to have an understated pattern.  So, I ventured out again to buy a stencil and found a Martha Stewart set that had quite a few choices at Michaels.  I also went to Hobby Lobby and came home with two types of knobs, because I really wanted to give the illusion that the top two drawers were "lighter" than the bottom four.  While I didn't get a close-up of what I put on the top two, the textured, circular pulls wer my choice for the bottom drawers:

The first thing we did was sand both of the dressers. Unfortunately at this point in our lives we did not own a sander that you plug into the wall, and had to do it by hand.  No big thang... (except for our fingers cramping up every now and then.)

First came a little bit of latex primer, we used Sherwin-Williams.

Then we started on the color (my favorite part!!)  We used the Dutch Boy color "Preserves" (F-13-1), but when mixed up at Lowe's, we actually ended up with Sherwin-Williams paint--it came out fabulously!  For the dressers (not the drawers) we used the flat paint as the base, and for the drawers, we used the satin paint.  Here's the Hubs working hard at painting, and also at becoming a ghost.

After painting everything and letting it dry overnight, the really fun part was upon us: stenciling.  We chose a stencil that mimics the pattern on our bedspread.  Stenciling definitely took longer and was much more finicky (does anyone except me and your grandma use that word anymore?) than we anticipated.  Between drawers, I tried to wash a little bit of the extra paint off of the stencil and accidentally bent it.  You know what that means?  Paint began slipping under the slightly bent stencil and I had to (very carefully) touch-up/free-hand many sections of the pattern after removing the stencil.  greeeaaaaat. It was definitely a challenge.

We used the flat paint to fill in the stencil, going over the already dry satin drawers.  This means that most of our drawer became matte-looking, but the design itself was glossy. 

At this point, you may "oooh-aah."

After everything had dried, I went through and sanded some of the edges, to finish it off will a bit of an antiqued look.  Oh, and of course we added those cute little knobs.  On the very bottom of the dresser, we added some trim that we had bought.  We had primed and painted this separate of the dresser itself, but really wanted to cover up those ugly feet the dresser came with.  For the top one, we simply unscrewed them and tossed them aside until we find a better use for them. Maybe on some project some day they won't look so out of place.  In order to attach the trim to the dresser, we used wood glue..super easy!

Upside-down dresser with a little trim-flair on it's base.

The final piece was attaching the two short dresses to make one grand dresser. The Hubs simply stacked them and used two brackets with nails on the backside of the dresser to make sure they stayed sturdy. Easy, peasy (for him...he's good at this stuff and I'm learning slowly.)

We finished this project within a week, working on it for a few hours every other night.  Not a huge undertaking, but a HUGE improvement to the state of our bedroom.  We love, love, LOVE it in our room, especially during the day when sun floods in through the large windows onto this lovely piece.  

Ready for the unfortunate part? I have no pictures of how awesome this looks in our bedroom.  SO...stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

Love,

Danielle

Walking on glass...

Well, I shattered a beer glass on Sunday and a wine glass today...what shall I shatter tomorrow?


In other news, here are a few things heard in the Kubo' household lately that cracked me up:


D--You are secretly witty.
B--I wish I was less PC in public.


After having a debate over mere semantics regarding something ridiculous:
B--I just wanted to make you work for it.
D--I wonder how many people know how much of an instigator you are...
B--Kari knows.


D--In yoga today I totally rocked the crow.
B--There are crows and dogs in yoga, what about a cat or a frog?
D--Ya, there's a cat and a frog pose.  And a dolphin too.
B--What about a squirrel? *brings hands up to face as if eating an acorn, darts eyes around*
D--Nope, no squirrel...




My ridiculous husband is seriously entertaining.

Bliss is...becoming the best version of yourself.

Today I was able to live out the kind of person I intend to be.  I will list some of the traits I would like to think I have, and how I exuded them today.


1) Spend quality, low-tech time with the people I love.
          My husband and I constantly reflect on the fact that we simply enjoy being around each other, and try to be productive while spending time together as often as possible.  We rarely watch movies or tv, because instead we enjoy making meals together, playing cards, taking a walk.  We appreciate activities that a) get us up and moving; and b) allow us to talk about anything and everything.  So, today, we worked for a few hours stenciling and painting our latest DIY project: our bedroom dresser.


2) Cook homemade meals.
          Today I made lasagna from (almost) scratch.  (The almost is because I did, in fact, use a jar of spaghetti sauce.  I do not carry the trait of sticking to strictly homemade everything, though, so this was just fine, as far as my day was concerned!)  


3) Plan ahead.
          I actually made one 8x8 pan of lasagna for us to eat this evening, and one 8x8 pan that is in the freezer for some other evening this week or next week.  Although planning ahead is something I do in many of the compartments of my life, food is not one of them.  Consistently it is 6pm on a weeknight and Brandon and I look at each other, stomachs a'rumbling, and have no idea what to make.  Many times we haven't even gone grocery shopping within the last two weeks, and so have no options except macaroni and cheese or a quesadilla...not quite the healthiest alternatives.  Today, though, I have helped solve that problem in the near future. 


4) Keep my home clean.
            Lately my lack of time at home means my lack of a neat place to live.  Today, though, I swept the entire main level, vacuumed the stairs, and vacuumed upstairs, as well as washed a rug.  Now, as if that wasn't enough, I also, for the very first time *drum roll, please* cleaned the kitchen as I cooked lasagna.  Including the dishes.  You must know that washing dishes by hand is my absolute least favorite chore at home.  I told my mom it's because of how dry my hands get.  She suggests wearing gloves....genius, I know! Until that time when I have gloves in my kitchen, washing dishes by hand remains my unwanted chore--yet I overcame it today! Yay for a clean kitchen!


5) Keep in touch with loved ones.
          While floundering around my kitchen in preparation for lasagna, I called my momma and we got to talk for about 40 minutes.  Chatting with her, about everything and nothing, is so refreshing to me and can instantly bring me back to reality when I'm feeling out of touch.  I so appreciate how often she listens to me babble on and on, and also how wise her advice is.


It's important to look for days like today. Days when you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be, appreciating the journey towards joy.

--Danielle

A Helpful Reminder

This evening I was reminded why I do what I do.


Lately I've been feeling a bit of bitterness bubbling up inside of me over a few issues that are truly "systems" issues.  That is, dealing with processes that would be very uncomplicated if they weren't covered in campus politics and red tape all over the place.  It seemed like every part of my job lately was laden with hiccups, and I was beginning to feel bogged down.


Tonight, however, reminded me that it's all worth it.  Students who are willing to take on leadership roles without pay, who are willing to cut their summers short, who are excited about the prospect of dynamically affecting campus and mentoring people they don't even know yet.  Students with motivation, leadership capabilities, compassion, and senses of humor.  A reminder that the work I do is not for naught. Truly.


During the seasons of life when we feel overwhelmed or burdened, it's helpful to take a breath and catch a glimpse of the beauty within the storm.  It's always there.


Finding those small treasures of bliss,
Danielle

Alleluia!

Happy Easter, He is risen!

This Holy Week has been reflective and moving for me, and I am so grateful for the awe, wonder, and humility which has been placed on my heart.  Jesus as my Savior is the only thing I can boast in, although a sinner in every sense of the word, I am on a path to holiness because He wills it.  Our Lord is the one who gives me the abilities and talents I possess and I must think, act, speak, and pray for the goodness of His glory on earth.

Alleluia, Alleluia!  

During lent my husband I were driving home from his parents farm and I felt moved to sing Hallelujah by Bethany Dillon.  He reminded me that per Catholic tradition, I shouldn't say Hallelujah during lent.  This made me frustrated, because I was just praising God!  Really, though, that's what Lent is all about, isn't it?  A time for us to remember what Jesus sacrificed for us, a time where you recognize the uncomfortable parts of being a Christian, and reflect on why it is so worthy to bask in frustration and sacrifice for the good of becoming closer to God.

Being able to sing Hallelujah on this blessed Easter day allows me to truly feel God's joy and saving grace throughout my entire being.

In joy,

Danielle

Why I love my job.

Although I worked 9-5 and then kept working all the way until 11pm.

Even though I was gone from Thursday to Sunday with students at NACA.

I didn't actually get home on Monday until 9pm.

And I love my job.

Today part of my job was being present at a fundraiser where 6 excited students held an event that was attended by at least 60 students and raised over $300.

Today part of my job was laying out 5,000 prize-filled eggs on the football field and letting 375 students run and grab as many as they could when the lights went out.

Today part of my job was preparing for a program that could change the way students think about themselves and the world they live in (for the better!).

Today part of my job was being stalked by a student in a bunny suit.

Today part of my job was seeing the look on student's faces when they know the event they put tons of work into was worth it; that it was a job well done.

Bliss is doing what you love and loving what you do.  It is working 13 hour days, and living for the 13 second moments when students are proud of themselves and hopeful for our future.

fail.

So I found out about this really cool idea for April called BEDA: Blog Every Day (in) April.  I thought to myself, "What a great way to make myself commit to blogging.  I love writing and continue to wish for outlets.  I will triumphantly join the BEDA movement!"  


Now, as you may have noticed, today happens to be Tuesday, April 3rd, and here I am. Writing my first blog of the month.  And probably only my 3rd blog of the year.
Fail, indeed.


But today is exciting and hopeful nonetheless.  April 3rd marks 7 months of marriage for me and the hubs. Today marks one month since we moved into our house.  It is also the first time I've gone grocery shopping since we moved into the house.  Let me tell you...that makes for very creative meals.


I'm excited at the prospect of blogging daily about my journey towards joy. I've been noticing lately  that bliss can be uncomfortable and beautiful at the same time, and look forward to contemplating this in the near future.

Productivity on a Tuesday

Being productive is seriously one of the best feelings in the world, yet it's also so hard to be motivated enough to attain it.  Since we moved into our house on March 3rd, I have found a whole new level of motivation to get things done at home that I hadn't experienced in quite a while!

Last night I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get my gift-buying for the April month out of the way.  Three printed registries, 25 minutes at the check-out register, and 7 beautifully purple-wrapped gifts later, I am ready to give beautiful gifts to some of the loveliest women I know...and their grooms, of course.  

After bridal shopping extravaganza, I headed next door to DressBarn...where not one of the seven dresses I tried on fit.  The woes of being tall.

At home the hubby had bought wood to start our (his...? my list of...?) woodworking projects.  It's from a nearby area that used to be factories and is being renovated to be the Millwork District.  It's old and thick  and has tons of character...perfect for a "farmhouse" kitchen table and bench he's planning for.  Upon getting home I loaded a rice cake with natural peanut butter for dinner, poured a glass of red wine, and set my mind to getting a few small organization projects completed.

Formal dresses moved to empty closet: check.

Shoes arranged on rack in closet by color and style: check. 

Old shoes moved to attic: check.

Spring jackets moved to kitchen closet: check.

2 1/2 loads of laundry: check. (I had to dry the last load overnight...)

Dishwasher loaded and run: check.

Once Upon a Time episode from Sunday: CHECK!  (Warning, tangent ahead: This show is seriously so good...thank you brilliant writers for developing an incredible plot based on stories we're all familiar with and making the show scandel-less!  Three cheers for good ol' clean television.)

Ahh...So glad that I was able to accomplish so much as I look towards being out of town for work all weekend.

Lovin' life, 

Danielle

Why I love Sundays.

There is something indescribable about Sundays.

Maybe it's because it starts with church. 
Honestly, this morning was a doozy until I went to church.  "Accidentally" falling back asleep after the alarm went off, making me in more of a rush than I'd prefer.  Letting myself believe the myth that there was just nothing in my closet at all to wear...completely false reality.  Dropping the mascara wand on either my face or the alarm clock or the mirror or my pants not once, or twice, but a whopping three times...  Having to change my outfit and looking at the clock that read 9:23 and realizing the 9:30 mass we were planning to go to that takes 15 minutes to get to was probably not going to happen.

"Now, wait," you think, "I thought I was going to read about why you love Sundays?"

Ya, getting to that...

I flat out told my husband as he entered our room, fully dressed, in a jacket, ready to walk out the door at 9:15--"This morning sucks."  Immediately, being the wonderful and patient man he is, Brandon starts searching on his phone for masses in the area that start at 10 so that I don't have to feel so rushed.  Seriously, who deserves a husband this great?

Mass was definitely the avenue which completely changed my day around; as receiving the body, soul, spirit and divinity of Jesus should, of course.  The sermon and music were helpful, too.

Sundays are incredible because somehow they feel more relaxing than Saturdays.  Today, after the revitalization of church, we felt no obligations of time or energy.  We knew we wanted to rent The Help because I had just finished reading it on Friday.  We ended up dedicating much driving time going from RedBox to RedBox finding this particular movie (did I mention my husband in patient?)  At Hy-Vee, we found ourselves buying a "celebratory" dinner to make this evening, including a great bottle of chianti, in gratitude that our offer on a house was accepted.  We also bought frozen loaves of bread. (because this girl has never, ever even attempted making bread, so we figured this was a good place to start!)

Sunday means that we can make coffee without a time schedule, watch a movie (a great one, in fact!) in the middle of the day, and cook dinner together.  Sunday means that the house can be picked up, and snooping around pinterest doesn't bring me guilt.  Sunday means "Once Upon a Time" is on and I can squeal and gasp at the tv for an entire hour.

Thank you, Sunday, for bringing so much joy to this cold apartment of ours.

Getting in gear.

The awkward moment when you get "told" by your chiropractor:


Setting: Middle of December, about 3 and 1/2 months since our wedding
Me: My hips have been really bothering me lately...
Dr. C: Are you still doing yoga? When's the last time you worked out?
Me: Well...I haven't actually gone to yoga in a while, and I haven't been to the gym in about 6 months...
Dr. C: I know you were really busy with the new job and getting married...but c'mon. It's been 4 months; the honeymoon period is over and it's time to get it gear and focus.


Whoops. Nothing like being blunt...


Now, I could take this personally and get offended and stomp away complaining that I got called fat and lazy.  But I really don't think he meant it like that.  He's absolutely right: I need focus.  It's so easy to justify week after week that I'm just "too busy" and I want to spend time with my hubs and read the 4 books I'm in the middle of and clean my apartment and get enough sleep, but I'm not really being nice to my body in the meantime.


So as of January 1st I officially spent money to join the gym on campus for 6 months. Translation: I can either officially get my butt on an elliptical OR officially waste lots of money.


New year, fresh start, better focus?
To these I say: "Yes, please!"