Be the f'ing tree.

Work is extremely frustrating today, from the rude interruptions to the fax machine that keeps calling to the not being given the information I need to do a good job.  I could just scream right now, and I haven't even been here two hours yet.  I could rant on in detail, but I don't want to be "that ranty woman", not so often at least, so I'll just leave off with one more "work today = ARGH!"

"Be the f'ing tree."  This is my current motto.  (Credit for the phrase goes to my writers' group, one person in particular.)  You know how sometimes you keep getting the same message over and over from various unrelated sources?  Well that's what I've been hearing in one form or another everywhere for at least a month now.  "You can be the person you want to be right now.  You don't have to wait until you're in better shape or more well-read or your art portfolio is bursting at the seams.  Just figure out who you want to be and be that."  For the past week, every morning upon waking, the first thing I do is give some thought to what I imagine is the ideal me, and I commit to consciously being that person for the day.  It's been a week of less complaining, more socializing, getting more accomplished and just enjoying the moment more often.  There's still a lot I need to practice as far as being the person I want most to be goes, but already some things are coming more naturally and the whole concept is just making more and more sense.  It's a lesson I've heard from many sources over the years, and I feel pretty "DUH!" to just be really understanding it now, but better late than never!

And on the topic of self-improvement, I received a book in the mail today and added it to my "365 Less" item tally, only to realize that I need to purge a dozen more items from my life by Wednesday night in order to hit my goal for this month.  I started out ahead of the game early in the month, but did some acquiring towards the end of the month and now I have some catching up to do.  I still have a small stack of magazines I've been storing forever, so in a pinch I can toss a handful of those in the recycling bin and make my goal, but I'm going to have to start being far more pro-active from here on out.  Most of the easy-out kinds of things are gone now.  I'm going to have to commit to really cleaning out drawers and closets and cabinets for the rest of the year in order to stay on my goal.  It is both intimidating and exciting.  The thought of reclaiming storage space and using it more effectively just thrills me.  Seriously/  I can't help it.  I'm a quadruple Virgo, and a good bit of organizing satisfies me like great sex and expensive chocolate.

The weekend was very nice, but far too short.  We had a friend over for a two-day BSG marathon, some gaming and lots of slack.  It was a really wonderful time, but it made the weekend seem crazy short, like fun often does.

I ate too much this weekend too.  There was so much yummy food that portion control flew out the window.  I am remorseful.  Saturday I made ham steaks with baked apples, potato pancakes and green beans - ate one too many pancakes and could've been less generous with my serving of apples.  For breakfast on Sunday, my husband made bacon, and french toast topped with the leftover apples - had one piece too many of the bacon and the french toast, and again, was overly generous with the apples.  Lunch was leftover ham and potato pancakes.  I ate a well-portioned lunch, but then spent the whole day snacking on pretzels and easter candies.  Then for dinner we had salads and english muffin pizzas - I had two more pizza servings than I should've!  Urg.  I am both drooling and feeling stupidly fat right now just remembering.

So, that pretty much is the life of Jen these days.  There are a couple more things I wanted to jot down for posterity, but this post is a little too long already.  Tomorrow then.