hello my blog readers! (ok...ok...I'll call a spade a spade)...
Hello my imaginary friends!
I am back safe and sound from LA,  tired as I have EVER been in my
entire life, but safe and sound.
And for clarification I mean Hollywood, not Louisiana.
I think I need a good recap from my little excursion.  It all began on
a rainy Thursday afternoon at the Augusta Regional Airport.  We
boarded our plane on time but then got stuck sitting on the runway for
over an hour waiting for clearance because of weather which really
pissed of the angry soldier sitting beside me.  He was a loud yankee
soldier with a chip on his shoulder and some beat up aviators which he
kept taking on and off and in an out of one of his hidden cargo
pockets of his army suit.  As if being stuck on a plane with no air,
with a dead ipod, having to pee, stressing I was going to miss my
connector was not bad enough, I had to listen to him dog out the south
and the "podunk" town he was flying out of.  He yelled at the
stewardess about his bag being in the aisle, and him having to keep
his seatbelt buckled "I just don't get what the big deal is.." The
nice gentlemen sitting caddycorner to me layed his new york times in
his lap and gently told the man she was only making sure there was an
exit path if there was an emergency. "I don't need no exit path. I'm
in the army, I'll use my elbow to knock out this window." he said
poiting as if the man had no idea where the window was.  The new york
times man and I caught eachother's eye and rolled them at eachother at
the same time.  "Well y'all" the stewardess said over the loudspeaker
"i'm sorry for the delay, but this is just an act of God, we can't do
anything about it, but I will be coming by with beverages." "Just like
the damn south" the army guy shouted out "everything's is an act of
God" The new york times man wrinkled his paper loudly and I just
looked away out the window and we both breathed heavy sighs. "Beverage
for you?" the stewardess asked the new york times man.  "Do you have
mixed drinks?" he asked "OOHH me too!" I said.
So we touched down in Charlotte exactly 20 minutes before my flight
was scheduled to take off. Not board, but take off.  Long story short,
I made my coneccting flight by 1 minute, I felt the breeze of the
airplane door closing as I squeezed down the aisle. I nestled myself
in my seat behing a family with five children under six and a teen boy
that reeked of onions.  I then proceeded to sit through the worse 6
hours of turbulance ever experienced by mankind.  All I can really say
is holy turbulance, batman.  I kissed the ground when I landed at LAX.
I then spent the next two days in LA in the rain, BOO! Right after I
got there Matt took me to his favorite restaurany where we ate the
best sushi I have ever had and drank beers I had never tasted.  The
next day I visited the Chinese theatre, saw all of the famous
celebrity footprints including Carey Grant and Marilyn Monroe. I
stomped on Jay Leno's star and yelled TEAM CONAN! After that my friend
Matt and I decided perhaps we should do more inside activities since
it was cold and rainy so we went to the wax museum and the ripley's
museum and the guiness book museum.  We laughed at all of the
randomness and made fun of the bad renditions of Jim Carey and Jackie
Chan and the impressive Johnny Depp and Samuel L. Jackson. WE drove
down Rodeo drive and ate at In and out burger (shout out to Paris and
Britney...you were right!  It is AMAZING!) We then went to Universal
Studios and decided it was too cold to walk around so we went to see
Avatar in 3D/Imax.  Um... AMAZING! Seriously, so good.  I can't wait
to see it again. I can't think of a more perfect place to see a movie
that is completely changing the industry than in LA.  Seriously, think
back to the scene in Singing in the Rain when they are introducing
"talking movies" as opposed to silent films and everyone is amazed.
That is the best example I can give of how much this movie has changed
everything that we know about movies up to this point.  It is so
amazing what we can do with technology!
That night we went to Matt's local watering hole and sat and the bar.
We ordered some food and we chatting about how I liked LA.  The
conversation went something like this: Matt: "Do you think you could
ever live anywhere except for Augusta?" Me: "Um, I think I could move
out of Augusta, but I don't think the big city is really for me, maybe
somewhere like Charleston." Matt: "Where's Charleston?" Me:"South
Carolina. Next time you come to visit we are going there, it is
amazing, such history!" About that time our food came, but somehow I
ended up without silverware.  I leaned over to the folks beside me and
tapped on the shoulder saying "Excuse me, I am so sorry to bother you,
but may I borrow one of these" I asked laying my hand on a silverware
roll-up. The guy in the middle of the group leaned over to me, and
said "You may certainly have it, but you asked way too nicely. You
aren't from here, where are you from."  Matt and I laughed and I said
"no, I'm not I'm from Augusta, GA." Now way!" my new friend shouted.
"I'm Chris.  I live in Charleston, SC." he said sticking out a hand
for me to shake. Matt and I both watched our jaws hit the table.  I
leaned over and closed his mouth like in a looney toons cartoon. "You
would find the one person in the bar from the south." He said. I
laughed and said "Yep, I sure would." So me, matt, my new friend chris
and his two cousins hung out the entire night.  We swapped stories and
restaurant suggestions.  His cousin told me that one day he would be
wearing the green jacket. I made him sign and coaster and dedicate it
to me.  We laughed until we cried, then they bought all of our drinks.
After they left Matt and I gathered our stuff and began our walk home.
He pretty much stared at me until we got to his house when he said
"all of that because you asked him for his silverware." "Yes sir," I
said and smiled.
So the next day we got up and it was actually sunny! Hooray!! We went
and had breakfast and went by the bookstore because I knew I had to
have a page turner to make it through the horrendous flight I was
facing the next day (during which I somehow picked up a vogue
magazine completely written in italian).
Then we spent the next hour driving around
trying to get a good shot of the Hollywood sign. I never did get a
really quality shot, but on the plus side we did see Sylvester Stalone
drive right by us.
After that we headed over Santa Monica which is where the wedding we
were attending was to be held.  We walked all around the city, through the
shops where I splurged on a beautiful pair of Tiffany & Co. sunglasses and
ate at a sweet little outside cafe.  We walked down the Santa Monica pier,
which my heel kept getting stuck in every 5 steps so it took us forever to walk
down to the end! Once we finally managed to walk to the end point we sat on
a bench and silently admired the beach and were lulled by the waves
crashing against the supporting beams.  The only noise heard from us for the
next 20 minutes was the occasional sigh...
After our relaxing time on the peir we headed back to the bustling
downtown part
of Santa Monica where there are street performers and muscians singing and
dancing.  Literally everyone in LA is an aspiring entertainer or
actor...it's insane!
But my favorite one of all was a man with an old school organ grinder
and a monkey,
and for $1 the monkey would shake your hand.  Me, being the small
child that I am
at heart, was more excited to shake this little monkey's hand, who btw
was dressed
like a cowboy, than anything else the entire trip!
Matt and I then ventured back to our hotel and we got ready for the wedding
we were attending. The wedding was lovely.  The cake, the placecards, the table
setting, the food, the dress, the ceremony... It was all beautiful!
It was a traditional
Jewish ceremony which I was entralled by since I have never attended one.
I loved every minute of my time in California with Matt, but I have have to
admit...Dorothy was really on to something because "there is no place
like home!"

Thought provoking

I was reading an article about Maya Angelou. In her interview she said something that was so heartbreaking to me that I don't think I can ever forget it. She said that as a seven year old girl growing up in Georgia she experienced a terrible tradgedy, she was raped. She returned home and told her family who turned the criminal into the police. The man spent one night in jail and was released. The next day, after his release the police came to her house and knocked on the door to tell tell both she and her family that he had been killed. After that Maya, a 7 year old girl, was so stunned and upset by the news that she did not speak for years admitting later that this was because she beleived that just her words could kill someone.

 
My hairdryer died this morning and my hair looks like i belong in "pretty in pink" seriously...its bad. 
 
realizations I came to this morning:
i hate waking up late, but can't seem to roll my self out of bed early
I need more to go coffee mugs. 
I love morning foods/liquids: milk, coffee, OJ, eggs, french toast. mmm...
My dog is the cutest right when I am about to walk out the door.  She looks at me with the "please don't leave me mommy, can I come?" look and I have to reach down and pet her one more time.
Mornings are better when you won a tennis match the night before. 
I love having painted nails and toes.   
Wet hair on a morning in the 30s helps the body require less coffee..
I wish I had seat warmers.
I actually enjoy riding to work in silence.
I am pretty excited about dogsitting these four very random dogs that I am taking care of this week. They have so much personality~ blog/pictures to follow.
I miss my friends sooooo much even though it has only been one weekend since I have seen them. 
I want sushi for dinner.
Excessive cursing is very unattractive. I will refrain unless I am stressing something such as my hair looks like sh*t. Seriously, it really does...

It was getting way too solemn around my office. Everyone was taking eveything way too seriously, I couldnt handle it. So I took my sugar free oreo cookie (my adults inner child cookie... Responsible, yet delicious) crunched it up and stuck it to the front of my chompers. I walked into the conference room and smiled asking my boss and co worker if I had anything in my teeth. We then proceeded to laugh until we almost wet our pants. I then subsequently apologized to my boss  for tricking her into hiring a four year old. What can I say... My stomach hurts from laughing and I still have milks favorite cookie stuck between my canines, but everyone in my office is lightened up.

C

A little catching up for me to do today-
#1- Do Not see the movie Leap Year. Even at the dollar theatre or on
netflix.  unless you are really bored or planning a trip to Ireland
and would like to see the landscape.  That was all it was good for, even when prefaced with a couples of pitchers of beer with my girls.
#2- fabulous lingerie= a new confident you.  I went to a fancy little
lingerie shop in surrey center (shout out to a Soft Touch) and got
fitted for new brazzieres.  Listen girls-  if you have never been
fitted for lingerie go do it-  it will change your life.  So my
"undergarment consultant" as i have deemed my new friend, hooked me
up.  I ended up with 4 sets, an everyday, a satin pj set and a couple
of boy shorts.  These things fit me that like they we were made for
me.  Seriously. Another shout out to belgium. Yall know how to fit a
womans body.
#3- the laughing cow light creamy swiss cubes are delicious.
Seriously delicious and they are 5 for 35 (calories). I didn't even
know I liked swiss cheese until I ate these, but spread it on a
triscuit and you've got yourself a guilt free snack.
#4- I am leaving for LA on thursday. I can't wait to see the city,
but mostly my friend Matt. I'll check out whats happening with the
kardashians and report back asap.
love you,
C

Have you seen Heidi montag recently? She apparently has an
"obsession with plastic surgery" give it up girl... The double d's
and Michael Jackson nose aren't working for ya...

No store sunday

Let me tell you a lesson I learned this weekend...  So, I am a SWF and proud of it. Usually it does not bother me in the slightest; I wash my car alone, I go to the coffeeshop alone, I even browse williams sonoma cookbook section alone.  I truly enjoy doing these things by myself, no one tells me to hurry up, or come along, or drags me to the nearest Bass Pro Shop. While I am shopping for whatever my whims may lead me to I don't feel lonely, I feel content.  Well....NEVER go grocery shopping on a sunday afternoon...this will all change. 

So this past sunday afternoon I went to the grocery store for my grandparents to replace the usual wal-mart trip that Papa hasn't felt up to lately.  So me and my mile long grandpa list head to the grocery sto' in my tennis clothes.  As soon as I get out of the car I realize this was a bad idea. Every person walking into the store is wearing their sunday best, so now I am the heathen girl who didn't attend sunday service and is there by her lonesome. I hold my head high, grab myself a cart and take off towards produce.  Mark my words, from produce through frozen foods I did not see a one person shopping alone.  I have never felt more lonely EVER.  As I rounded the last of the aisles, Pepto Maxx teetering atop the mound of groceries I have collected for Nana and Papa in the hope that I do not have to return the next week, the feelings come seeping up, a deep lonely sadness.  The last straw was when the couple, complete with tie and red peacoat, had a moment of butt slapping eachother in the checkout.   "Why?"  my heart said, "why haven't I found that?"  I shake my head and send those thoughts back to my heart and out of my head. I complete my transaction, push my cart, bum wheel and all, and fill the back of my jeep with the contents.  I drive to Nana and Papas and begin unloading; As soon as the last kroger sack hits the kitchen table the tears start.  The hot burning questioning tears of lonliness, the kind of tears that I have not had in many many moons.  My nana just hugged me and told me that the plan that God has in store for me is not on the same timeline that I see. I heard her, and I know that, but I cannot make my heart listen. So I let the tears flow, I let them flow for me and for anyone else that may feel the same way.  I let them flow for hurt and anger and fears that I have.  I let the tears heal, I let the tears serve their purpose. 
I know this isn't the usual blog that I write, but this is real.  This is what lifetime movies are made of my friend,  "Lonely girl cries grocery store tears."  Watch out ladies- script is on its way.  In the meantime I am avoiding the sunday grocery store crowd like the bubonic plague.  I am going on friday night with the rest of the single folks buying steaks and beer to grill out with their friends.   Forget you church crowd, have fun shopping on no wine sunday. 
much love and a few stupid tears,
Ceciliawho.

if you were an animal what kind would you be and why?

As you well know if you have read any part of this blog (not that I think anyone does but...) you know that I am random. So I had a couple thoughts today. #1- if you were an animal what would you be? #2-I really want to go to the zoo.

I thought of a few for me, but they didn't stick... penguin? nah...I don't like the cold or swimming particularly, and their little house always smells like poo. Flamingo? nope- they are pretty from far away, but then you get up close and they are a horrendous shade of pink, smell kinda fishy and are only as stable as the one leg they have to stand one. Definitely not me. I gave up on myself, but started placing an animal with the characteristics of my friends...
Reb- The Elephant. always in the know, content with life, great memory, always at the front of the zoo, always has the best shows (events) and has a great memory and likes peanuts.
Jack- laughing hyena. Why you ask? because they are eternally happy, have a mischievous spirit, and are cute as they can be. Just the kind of animal you would figure to talk you into shotgunning a beer and going skinny dippin' in the ocean. Plus I can guarantee jack likes this animal because the beginning of the word reminds her of the word hymen.
val- the giraffe. just the kind of animal that would go straight for chanel if it escaped from the zoo. plus she's got all the height in the group.
LA- peacock. She is beautiful and has no idea because she doesn't see what others see, her lovely feathers behind her. She has the most lovely of dimeanors and is one of the only animals allowed to walk amongst the humans in the zoo. And let's face facts, this sista loves to 'shake her tail feather.'
mandi- an otter. It is tiny and friendly and entertaining and has no natural predators. It has a fun interactive show that everyone stops by to watch...(aka thetightropewalk.blogspot.com)
jennB- a parrot. a chatty little bird that makes friends easily, and can keep ya entertained for hours on end. Plus this little birdie knows how to accessorize and use color to their advantage.
annie pants- a zebra. cuz its a fancy horse. bam.

So Lately I have been trying to be a good girl and eat less crap and eat more veggies and fruit.  I decided not to go with a "new years resolution" because then I end up blowing it totally, feeling guilty for not following through, and end up throwing my food conscience to the alligators.  We all know how this story ends, no thinner than I started and completely unmotivated.  So I simply decided that I would eat healthier (after the holidays of course) because no self-respecting southerner would overlook sweet potato pie and nana's stuffing. 
Let me tell you about a tiny friend of mine, thetightropewalk.blogspot.com.  She literally weighs 95 lbs. soaking wet.  She is so stinking tiny and precious; I could just put her in my pocket and take her places with me.  She also has willpower like I have never seen. The girl only eats carbs and sugar ONE TIME A MONTH.  Are you kidding me?  Yeah...I do that too, once a year...it's called Lent.  
So until the day that I can be strong like that I will have to settle on finding recipes that are more low-cal but satisfy my cravings and substituting my burgers for salads.  
Amazingly enough, butter queen Paula Deen taught me this one yesterday and I tried it out.  I have to admit...It it is not entirely terrible and it satisified my tastebuds that were dying for a dessert.
Sugar free Magical Peanut butter cookies:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup splenda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
mix well.
roll into balls on wax paper covered cookie sheet
make fork crosses on tops (dip fork in splenda to prevent sticking)
bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
 
try em' out.  I think your thighs might thank me.
peanut butter smooches!
CK  

I went to the store to get groceries for dinner. I went with the intention of having fish, but salmon was more expensive than steak. It looks like happy Wednesday to me with a fancy steak dinner. Catch ya later guys, gonna go tackle my t-bone. As Paula Deen would say "Love and best dishes from my kitchen to yours."
muah!
C

At my office there is a little candy jar that our staff has come to know and love. It is a quaint little box with a distinctive characteristic. It is shaped like a church, steeple and all. The church doesn't always have sweet treats in it, (who could keep it full of chocolate with 6 women around all the time?)

I do have to admit that it makes for a happy day when someone brings in their extra Christmas candy and our secretary sends out a collective email telling us that "there's chocolate in the church." Personally I can't help but snicker at the irony of someone sending a reply all email stating "Thank God" in response. May everyone have chocolate in their church and enjoy the New Year!
love and chocolate,
Ceciliawho.

anchors aweigh.

So today my mind is somewhere else, somewhere even more south than Augusta, GA. My mind is in "Jack"son'ville, FL. I abbreviate the town as such because my friend "jack" as I call her, or Jacque as everyone else does, and her dog Jackson live there. How appropriate that they would live there, in their own namesake, but they didn't always.
Let me begin this story at the beginning, always a good place to start. Jack and I went to college together and after graduation lived together for about 3 years, then she met Chris. They had a whirlwind romance, they met, they fell in love, they married, all within 12 months. She came home after her first date with a big smile on her face. "Tell me about it!" I said. "Oh he is such a sweetie, he is handsome, he opened my car door, he brought me flowers and tells me I'm beautiful.." "AWW! He is a keeper." I gushed. "There is only one thing" Jack said with a raised eyebrow. "What's that?" I asked. "He has decided to join the navy...he wants to Surf." Jack said. "Surf? Are you sure? Why doesn't he just move to California?" I inquired. "I don't know. He said he really likes the lifestyle and believes in the mission." "Jack- are you sure he said Surf?" "Yep" she said sighing a little. "Ok then..." I said puzzled.
Their second date came and went and she walks back in the house, plops on the couch beside me, pours herself a double tequila shot, looks at me and says... "Yeah...I asked him why he didn't just move to CA....he explained to me that he wants to SERVE." We had a good laugh and the next thing I knew he was sending me a text message asking if he could hide the ring in my room so she couldn't find it. Now they have been married and living in Jacksonville for almost a year and a half. My, My, how time flies...
But today is one of those days that isn't as fun and spontaneous and finding your soulmate and moving to a warm sunny beach. It is the day that every wife and loved one of a military officer dreads. The day they ship out. Jack and her pup will be left behind not knowing where their beloved is or if he is safe and secure. How often do we take for granted the fact that we can pick up a phone and call our loved ones; hear their voices, if only for a moment, to ease our minds of worry. My heart goes out to Jack and all the loved ones of our military.
God Bless you Chris, and may he keep you safe. Thank you for your service to our country, we are indebted to you. I hope that you know how much we admire you and your bravery. I hope during your deployment and travels you get some time to surf.
God Bless you Jack, and may he keep you strong. You must never feel lonely, your friends are always here.