BLESSED

I just posted pictures of

some of the most

influential people

in my life

...to my sidebar.

It made me realize...

How Blessed I Am!

Sookie Update

(POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT)

I wanted to discuss where I am on the Sookie Stackhouse novels because it has been a while since I have done so...and well, I like talking about things that I am enthralled in.

I am on book #4, which I started 2 days ago and I am already halfway done. You might be asking yourself, "what keeps ones interest in these books?" I have to say that there are several things. I for one, love to live vicariously through fictional characters so I am enjoying my own personal involvement with this plot. Oh gosh, that makes me sound like such a dork. I can live with that, considering my real life is not very competitive with my fictional life. Until that day comes...

It's the suspense--these are mysteries. There are times you feel on edge because you don't know what's going to happen next or you are simply engaged in your own mental investigation of the outcome. How is Sookie still alive? She has made me feel like I could take on great adversity if I was faced with it...and I haven't drank vamp blood to give me the extra umph. Sookie is a regular girl...yet not so regular to the point of quirky and I think a lot of us women have felt that way at some time. We all feel like we are less than par but we desire to be desired so we can relate to her character. When you feel the kinship with a character you then begin to wish what happens to her will happen to you (not in a real literal sense). Yes, I want to get beat up by a pack of werewolves if it means I get the company of 3 hot men: Eric, Bill, and Alcide.

Now to the romance. She is broken hearted right now. We have all been there...we feel her pain. We are angry at Bill, how could he leave her after telling her he loves her for so long??? Men. I love how he adored her and how protective he was of her. I know that there were reasons for what he did but a part of me still wants them to heal and get back together. If for no other reason--they always have the make up sex to look forward to. Dear Bill, please do what it takes to redeem yourself. Prove that at least one man has the potential to rise above the rest. Thanks.

Alcide is strikingly hot to me and I adore how he randomly kisses her when they know they aren't good for each other right now. Gosh, how I have been in that place before one time too many so I want to scream at her to turn and run because I know the outcome. Another part of me wants them to get past what's keeping them from working towards something (okay so they both have a past relationship on the mind and that's not healthy but still). There will always be that "what if?" They seem perfect for each other--being were is better for her than vamp.

And then there is Eric...oh Eric. Hot and sexy and powerful Eric. I was super creeped out by him at first by now there is something very alluring to me. I don't like that the first time Sookie relinquishes her will to have sex with him is when he isn't himself at all. It's not the real Eric so I don't know how I feel about this. I don't know that I trust him for her to be in a relationship but he is fun...and I like fun so where is the harm in that?

I wonder what the next few chapters of my life look like? I wish I could read ahead and get a little glimse. I want to know if I am making the right decisions or if I am getting myself into a deeper plot. Would I do anything different today if I knew how I would end up? Will romance in a novel always be better than romance in real life? If so, would I even care about having romance in real life when I can live through fictional characters and be just as happy? Inquiring minds want to know.

Quote of the Day

This is one of my favorites that I found on one of my favorite quote sites: www.thinkexist.com. I love quotes!

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

~Maria Robinson

Vaca Lessons Learned

I am home from my all expense paid "vacation" and there are several things I learned:

1. NEVER go to Orlando during spring break again.
2. Be sure to nap at some point during a 14+ hour car ride.
3. When you check the weather prior to departure and it indicates colder weather--don't second guess it and pack appropriately.
4. When the only reason you are there is to babysit and you are given a day or two off, make the most of it no matter how tired and sick you feel.
5. Realize you are not in your early twenties anymore so you CANNOT go 24 hours without sleeping.
6. Never bring a child under the age of 5 on a Disney parks vacation.
7. Use sunscreen even on cold days (you'd think I would have learned this from my last spring break Florida vaca).
8. Go out of your way to meet a hot Floridian man.
9. Go to the beach even though the water is too cold to get in.
10. The coach outlet is simply bliss!

All in all I really had a great time and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to go. I love traveling! Next week I will be visiting my BFF Beth in Indiana. March is the month of traveling!

~The Exhausted Traveler

FLORIDA *sigh*

I admit that 9 times out of 10 I take the cynic's side to just about everything. Today, I am claiming momentary reformation. The optimist from within me goes through a constant battle to arise--daily, weekly, annually, bi-annually etc etc etc.

Everyone wants to believe that their own desire is worthy of mention but more than that everyone's secret hope is that their desire will come to fruition. We are afraid it won't happen if we talk about it. I have recently come in combat with this concept.

This is the part where some of my readers will roll their eyes (they'll get over it). The inner diva in me has been longing to go to the beach for some time now--well ever since winter commenced. When I say longing, I am referring to a compelling need really. I am in the middle of my final semester of school and 1. my stress level is high and 2. the realization that I will have to face the real working world is nigh and 3. I. deserve. the. beach!

I used to be a nanny [insert rolls of laughter here]. I was with this family for several years and developed a great relationship with them--they are like family to me. They have planned a family vacation to Orlando, Florida for next week and in a recent conversation the mother jokingly told me it would be great if I could come. My dead-serious-no-joking reply: "I have nothing holding me here, if you are serious I will do what it takes to make that happen."

Good news is: she was serious. I could have shed a tear. My all expense paid vacation will be upon me in 5 days! Moments like these I like to refer to as, "a God thing." When everything works out more perfectly than I ever could have arranged it myself, I know without a shadow of a doubt that there are greater forces at work. Thank you, Jesus!

Good eats!!!

I wanted to make sure to mention my rave restaurant review of the week...well actually I went 2 weeks ago. Do you like Greek? If so--or maybe you have never even tried Greek--you will absolutely adore Momo's near the Loop in U-city! My first time going here was probably over 6 years ago. I used to go with a group of friends after church on Sundays back in the day.

Everything about this place has charm. Try it for yourself someday! You MUST save room for dessert because the chocolate phyllo is TO DIE FOR!!!!

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/28/321560/restaurant/St-Louis/University-City/Momos-St-Louis