Goals, 2008 Edition – Final Review! November 28, 2008

It’s almost time to finalize my goals for 2009. Let’s review for the LAST time my goals (and what I didn’t accomplish) from 2008. All updates are now in blue.

1. Take Tashar to Disneyland for his birthday (I’m x-ing this, we’ll wait until he turns 5)
2. Call people! (been kind good at this.) I TOTALLY SUCK AT THIS…lol. Still suck at this! Yeah, I’m going to give this another year to settle in.
   
3. Figure out what I want in a relationship and go for it! (been doing that since Jan. 1st…lol…at least I know what I want now; just gotta let life happen – remember I’m OUT of the game!) I still have no idea what I want, but I’ve added to the list of things I know I DON’T want. That list is getting pretty deep. I know now! Can you hear my happiness. 2009 is going to be interesting. I’m changing the game…lol Happy to report I still know what I want and I’m PERFECTLY happy. So this is DONE!
   
4. Meet my sales goal (getting there). Not a goal anymore, switched jobs.
5. Work my way out of debt. WORKING ON IT! AWESOMENESS – will have one credit card paid off next week! I’m making good progress. This will be a goal until I’m debt free! But I’m hacking away at it all!
   
6. Map out what it takes to become: a teacher, professional photographer, professional writer. HAVEN’T EVEN HAD TIME TO DO THIS. Yeah, haven’t done this; but I am working on a few projects that will let me work on things I love for a living (at at least I hope so)! I will focus actually getting paid to write; an awesome goal for 2009.
   
7. Meditate every day for at least 5 minutes. Got off to a good start; I use the time between laying in the bed and falling asleep. I stopped doing this; I need to start up again. Ummm….yeah I totally forgot about this AGAIN.
   
8. Exercise: Jan – 2 days a week; Feb – 3 days a week, March – 4 days a week;the balance of the year 5 days a week (working on it….really I am…lol). SURE, I stopped working on this, but I started again yesterday – I can’t fit into my clothes! I’ve worked out a total of 5 times in the span of a month. BAD DIANNA! I’ve been trying. I need to make myself work out. I have to! HA! Working out is in the back of my mind; and it’s staying there. I have to join a gym or enroll in classes.  I work from home now, so I really have no excuse!
   
9. Take another dance class. Still have time! I’m “making” my friend Owen take Salsa with me, but I haven’t found a class yet. Yeah, no such luck. OWEN! Find us a class. Didn’t happen. And I don’t feel so bad about that.
   
10. Learn conversational Spanish. No progress….yet. Not yet, maybe next year? lol Unless I’m going to Mexico, I’m not really going to do this.  Someone plan a Mexico trip!
    
11. Learn conversational French. Checked out books from the library. Will check them out again, soon. Yeah, I’m helping my son with his French. That counts. Thoes books never made it back to my house. I did eat the best crepe ever about a month ago, I think that counts.
    
12. Take a copy editing class. Not yet. Maybe Bethro can teach me. Per Bethro, I’m amazing and don’t need this skill. Just kidding; but I am amazing!
    
13. Get published again. Haven’t even tried. The creative writing part of my brain is broken! One of my friends really inspired me today to get back to my writing. Plus I have no job so I have plenty of time to write. I guess that is the silver lining.  Still working on; this will be a 2009 goal.
    
14. Start working on my non-fiction masterpiece. Any ideas, anyone? Non-fiction scares me. I actually started. I have 3 pages so far. I still have 3 pages…..
    
15. Enter a photo contest. ummmm……nope. Not yet. NOPE Crossing off the list. My heart is in writing.
    
16. Travel to: SoCal in April (happening in 2 weeks) CHECK ; NYC in May (still gotta buy that plane ticket) CHECK ; NC and TX, one in June, the other in July MISSED THOSE TRIPS, SoCal in August to see the new baby NOT YET, that will happen next month. Haven’t seen my niece yet; i was sick for like 6 weeks. I’ll be happy to see her during the holiday. Going to NC on Dec 12th! YAY! And will see the little cutie pie around Christmas.
    

Today is… November 27, 2008

One this day in 1953 Eugene O’Neill died at the age of 65.

O’Neill is one of my favorite playwrights and wrote two of my favorite plays: A Long Day’s Journey Into Night and The Hairy Ape. They both made me think beyond my world and into the greater and gritty world of pain, rejection, addiction, and dysfunction.

Thank you, Mr. O’Neill. You made me see that writing from “the gut” can lead to many beautifully crafted works.

Me cook? Sure, why not.

Here are a few truths about Dianna:

-she loves shoes (see this post)

-she loves purses (see this post)

-she doesn’t like to cook (see the post you’re currently reading)

-she enjoys taking care of people

The last two truths have been getting in the way of each other. As I get into older age (the big 30 is around the corner) I find myself wanting to cook as a means of taking care of the people in my life.  But I don’t like to cook. It’s a long and sorted story as to why, but I would rather clean my house than cook. Clean toilets than cook. Hand wash dishes than cook. But something inside of me is saying, “Dianna, cook!” I hear it everyday now.  Little voice go away. Please!

I always get the question, “How do you feed your son if you don’t cook?”  And my answer always is, “I cook for him but not myself.” He’s 4 and really easy to cook for.  Me on the other hand, I’m not so easy to cook for.  I’m rather picky. I don’t really like chicken. I don’t like turkey (unless it’s smoked or ground).  And I try to avoid gluten and dairy.  It’s just easier to pick something up at Trader Joe’s.

But, over the past month I’ve had the desire to cook.  I made a casserole out of left overs in the fridge. It was really good (and I’m not the only one who ate it!).  I made the mac and cheese casserole tonight for our Thanksgiving dinner. And I’m making brownies (from scratch) and maybe fudge (for the first time) tomorrow. Maybe it’s the holidays or maybe it’s my desire to not starve that’s driving me to cook. I’m not sure.  But if my friends keep letting me use them as guinea pigs, I’ll keep cooking.

Give me a year…

But my kitchen will NEVER look like that.

Another birthday gift I want…

Please and thank you!

You may purchase it in Old Tree Berry for me here.

Because Star Trek (and Sylar) rules! November 25, 2008

Please don’t ask me that again

I have this thing about random guys asking me what my thanksgiving plans are. I don’t know you and you don’t know me.  I don’t care about what you’re doing for Thanksgiving.  I only care about what I’m doing; making someone’s pets take embarrassing pictures (well I can’t take credit for this):

So please observe the following rules:

Rule #1: If I wanted to talk to you while we were dancing I would have said something to you first.

Rule #2: Don’t ask me the same question 5 times.  I’m sorry you’re drunk and can’t remember what happened 2 seconds ago.

Rule #3: Stop telling me your mom’s birthday is the day after mine. It’s getting creepy.

Rule #4: If I don’t answer my cell phone after five calls, don’t leave me a message. Just STOP CALLING ME! I gave you my number so I could walk away without you insulting me. Not because I liked you.

Funny Post!

I know when you (yes, you!) come over to The Tate Way you’re looking for the funny. It’s the hallmark around these parts; it’s how I got started.  Well hold onto your pants, I’m about to give you some good old fashion “I was at a club and this idiot said this to me”.

On Saturday night I was out with my awesomely awesome bff TKG and her sister (and sister’s friends). We were having a great time listening to the DJ and dancing amongst ourselves.  Then it happened: a random dude in ugly shoes, an ill-fitting outfit, and a BAD hat starts circling around us.  Hello Mr. Ugly Shoes, we DO NOT WANT want what you’re selling. Do. Not. Want.

I managed to hide for awhile as he danced his way around the crowd and eyed innocent women.  Then he grabbed my hand. I looked at him a little confused (surely you don’t know me, why are you touching me) wondering what he was going to say. All he wanted was to dance, or so I thought.

As we are dancing I see him staring at me (note: I look at the ceiling or floor when I dance) every time I look in his general direction.  Here’s the conversation that ensues:

Me: “What?”

Him: “What??”

Me: “You were looking at me”

Him: “I wasn’t looking at you. You were looking at me.”

Me: “I looked up and you were looking at me (STUPID!).”

Him: “Oh, I wanted to say you look nice.”

Me: “Thanks.”

Dancing contiunes. Well I’m kind of just standing there doing the two step and looking at TKG; begging for help with my eyes. So what I’m doing isn’t technically dancing. Then I see a guy ask TKG to dance and she says no.

Him: “See a Black woman don’t even want to dance with a Black man.”

Me: “So you’re saying that she’s not dancing with him because he’s black.”

Him: “Yes. If we were in Atlanta or Miami that would have never had happened.”

Me: “So if this were Atlanta or Miami she wouldn’t have said no?”

Him: “That’s not the point.”

Me: “What do you mean that’s not the point? You said she wouldn’t dance with him becasue he was Black.”

(Then the madness really takes over)

Him: “Ya’ll California women think ya’ll special. Ya’ll ain’t special. Most of ya’ll can’t even cook a good meal.”

That’s the part where I walked away. Granted, I don’t cook that often, but dude don’t be stupid and insult me and expect me to keep dancing with you.  You remind me of K-Ci (see photo below) and not in a good way.

“The funny” is brought to you courtesy of: Some people are just THAT stupid & I’m doing YOU a favor.

I want these November 20, 2008

So, my birthday is only 78 days away! And I’ve found the PERFECT birthday gift.

I’m starting a “buy Dianna awesome shoes for her birthday” fund.  Donations are greatly appreciated! Or you may go directly to the Steve Madden website by clicking here to purchase them for me. I’d love you forever!

Lemme give this a try November 12, 2008

I want to write a music review.  When, who knows. But I will start with John Legend’s new album Evolver.

I’m going to take a crash course in music reviewing and should have a post up in about a week!

And, P.S. I want John Legend tickets for an early birthday present.  He’ll be at the Paramount Theater on Jan. 12th! Tell your friends and neighbors I make a fantastic date.

It’s that new job smell

It’s in the air; been hanging around since Monday.

So I started my new job this past Monday! It has been all kinds of awesome for one very important reason:

I GET TO WORK FROM HOME!

But working from home has rules. Like don’t take naps in the middle of the day and apparently this stuff:

All in all, it’s been a good week. Now all I need is that shiny new pay check.