I haven’t done one of these in awhile, and even though as a general rule I don’t like memes, this weekend/Monday kicked my tail and I need a break.
Friday, on the way to my brother/sister-in-law’s house, RIGHT AFTER I posted about my near-death experience(s), an irate driver intentionally tapped into our car on the freeway because Michael wasn’t going as fast as he wanted him to. He sped away & we called the cops, but HONESTLY. How many car-related incidents can happen to a girl in the course of a week before she swears off driving?
The rest of the weekend was spent lying low & continuing the work we began on our house the previous weekend. We need probably one more weekend to finish the interior and really get the yard looking good, & then I think we’ll be ready to list this baby!
Current Book(s): I am ashamed to say none right now. I started New Moon sometime before New Years, hit a brick wall about halfway through, & haven’t picked it up since. On my To-Read list are Eat, Pray, Love (to see what all the fuss is about), The Shack (as soon as Michael finishes it), & Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession by Julie Powell.
Also: they’re making Eat, Pray, Love into a movie starring Julia Roberts.
If she’s in a movie, I go see it. That’s just the way it is.
Current Playlist: Bring on the powerful indie female artists: Lori McKenna, Tracy Chapman, Patty Griffin, Missy Higgins, Brandi Carlisle, Ani DiFranco, Kris Delmhorst, etc. (Sorry about the rough quality of some of those videos [I'm weird & actually enjoy a rugged live video from time to time]; some of the songs didn’t have official videos.)
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Ice cream sandwiches. I bought a box last time I was at the grocery store – is there anything better than ice cream sandwiched between 2 cookies?! Not a day has gone by that I haven’t indulged in one. There’s something kiddish & summery about them. I like it.
Current Color: Grays with color. Purples & grays… purplish grays… greenish grays… you get the picture. I got this nail color for my birthday & am currently wearing it. While it’s not very “springy,” there’s something chic about it. I’m loving the metallic/matte finish (OPI calls it “suede”). I’m hanging onto it for a few more weeks.
Can the next place we move look exactly like this? Please?
[I am deleting the Current Fetish question for the time being, probably indefinitely. I don't have the endurance or the caffeine in my bloodstream to deal with it right now.]
Current Drink: A small coffee from McDonald’s, 2 creams, 2 sugars. The best part? They fix it for you! OK, I lied, the best part is that it’s only $1. It feels like a splurge because I’m not making it myself, but it’s a recession-friendly splurge. Win!
Current Food: Simple, easy foods. I’m in the middle of doing the 30 Day Shred every day for 30 days (completed Day 14 yesterday), & between work, exercise, & house stuff, I’m constantly looking for simple foods to make for dinner. Whether it’s adding fresh crushed garlic & sautéed mushrooms to a jar of pre-made spaghetti sauce or throwing together sloppy joes & a simple salad for dinner, easier is best for now.
Current Favorite Show: I am really loving the Marriage Ref, minus the week before last with Madonna (gag) & Larry David (double gag). Last week with Jason Alexander & Martha Stewart was hilarious! If you’re not watching it, you should be.
Current Wishlist: I asked for gift cards for my birthday so I could get a few things I’ve really been needing, which include: a new iPhone case, a laptop sleeve of some kind, & a travel (weekend) bag. Hoping to have a little money leftover for some books & maybe an outfit or two.
Current Needs: An afternoon off? It’s hard to work all week AND weekend! I need some down time.
Current Triumphs: Hello, completing 2 full weeks of the Shred! It’s not easy to work out every day, and I’m proud of myself for that kind of discipline, even if it’s only for a month.
[In case there was any confusion, that's not me.]
Current Bane(s) of my Existence: My flower beds. They’re all dried up & dead from winter. Babies, I’m coming for you this weekend! I keep thinking of cute little yellow and purple flowers. A trip to the nursery is also in order.
Current Celebrity Crush: We saw Bounty Hunter this weekend, and I think I have a crush on BOTH Jennifer Aniston (hello I would KILL for her flawless body) & Gerard Butler (goes without saying). Quite an attractive couple. I hear they’re dating now? Is it just me, or does it seem like she kind of dates everyone? I have to hand it to her though, the woman has good taste.
Current Indulgence: Online shopping. Since I have gift cards to spend, it’s fun to browse around. Not usually something I take the time to do, but it never ceases to blow my mind that pretty much anything is available via Amazon or like sites. Just type it into the search bar and something will come up, I guarantee it! (Disclaimer: I don’t promise it will be exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s still an adventure. And no fighting traffic & crowds!)
Current #1 Blessing: My husband. Last night, I was stressing out about moving & leaving the place we’ve lived & the home we’ve created for the past 2 years, & so that wonderful man said to me: “Baby, home is wherever we are together.” ::melts into a puddle:: Seriously though, it’s hard to be stressed with sound logic like that.
Current Slang or Saying: “The thing about it is” or “Here’s the thing” – prefacing anything & everything I feel I need to explain further. Corlene pointed it out to me, but you know what? I heard her say it too, several times this weekend. JOKE’S ON YOU, CANADA!
Current Outfit: That weird in-between wardrobe. Is it warm enough to wear capris? Is it too warm to wear a sweater? Will I be freezing in the morning & burning up in the afternoon, only to freeze again in evening? Oh Texas, how I love your insane unpredictability. It makes me feel as though we’re blood-related.
[Also not me.]
Current Excitement: Finishing the house & having time to do stuff on the weekends again. Also, we might be visiting 1 or 2 of the schools Michael has been accepted to very soon, so I’m all butterflies-in-my-tummy over that. It’s exciting, yet scary. Yet exciting. Yet scary. Moving on.
Current Mood: Is overwhelmed a mood? Overwhelmed with all that has to be done this week & weekend! One thing at a time, Lauren, one thing at a time.
Current Link: listography: life in lists. I love lists. No, I don’t think you understand. I spend half of my life making lists. I love crossing things off of lists. It’s so satisfying. It’s nice to have a little space online (instead of on my desk) to have them all spread out. It’s so neat & clean… and dare I say cute? Here’s mine, in case you want to see how crazy organized I am: http://listography.com/laurenfromtexas
Comments on Currently – The March Edition
From Kristina | Pretty Shiny Sparkly:
I am an online shopping ADDICT.
AND I love Gerard Butler. I call him “my man” in front of HB. He rolls his eyes.
I’m not sure about this Eat, Pray, Love fuss. I refuse to read it because everytime I try to read the first page in a bookstore or Kroger’s, I am nonplussed. Meh.
Let’s meet for coffee, chica!
From Mary:
Busy busy busy! But it sounds like all good things! Good luck with the rest of the house this weekend, and I’m really impressed you’re on Day 15 of the Shred!
From saucyredhead:
Eat, Pray, Love is my new favorite book. For fairness sake you should know that The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is my old favorite. I think the reason I loved it so much though was how I could relate to being completely heartbroken and doing anything I could to feel better without further breaking myself down. I fear people who have never been through a divorce may not understand. I still think you should give it a shot – I can’t wait to see the movie!
From Meg:
I LOVE Eat Pray Love. Perfect for my current life crisis, but I think I would have liked it anyway.
I’m rocking Sally Hansen Gray by Gray on my nails right now. I’m kind of obsessed. Might have to check out that OPI color as well.
From RootsAndRings:
There is not an ounce of me that wants to read Julie Powell’s book. But let me know about Eat, Pray, Love. I wonder about the fuss too!
You also say, “I mean…” a lot. I do too. I think it’s your fault though.
I MISS YOU!
From Emily:
I read “Eat, Pray, Love” on the beach this summer and it was a good read. I wasn’t sure about it, either, but I did ultimately enjoy it. I found a few gems in the story and wrote about them here: http://emanderson.blogspot.com/search/label/Eat. I like the crazy Vicki Cristina Barcelona attitude sometimes, as I feel I can (wish) I relate to it :) Let us know if you do read it!
From Nora:
i will warn you about Julie Powell’s new book… it’s gross and hard to read because (without spoiling it) some bad stuff happens!
And yes, Jen Aniston does seem to date everyone she does a movie with. Though to be fair, if I was in a movie with Gerard Butler I’d make sure to date him too! :)
Congrats on sticking with the 30 day shred. That’s awesome!
From mrssjohnson:
I totally have LIFE IN LISTS book- I didn’t know there was an online one, though! holla- new things!
From Taryn M. Peine:
That husband of yours is the sweetest. He’s right. Remember moving somewhere by YOURSELF? So much more terrible. So much scarier! At least wherever you go, you’ll already have your best friend built right in!
PS: I also see anything JR is in. ANYTHING.
PS#2: I finished New Moon, but only because everyone kept raving about it and I thought I just hadn’t gotten there yet. Sometimes, it’s better to let a book GO! Move on to E, P, L, but don’t give up in India. It gets super boring there :-)
From mandy:
I belong in the group of people who absolutely hated Eat, Pray, Love. I mean I would totally throw it in the fire and burn it, hate. I like Julia Roberts, but I have no desire to see the movie.
Also, very excited for you to be visiting some of the schools your husband might be heading to. It will all work out in the end and it will be an exciting adventure getting there.
From Kathleen:
I think it’s hilarious that in your listography everything for Michael and to hire someone to do is crossed off, but most of yours are still there. :) Although I know your items were super broad.
Also, how did you repair the windowsills? Ours are a complete wreck.
From Stefanie:
I LOVE lists. I’ve never heard of listography.com. I have something similar to that in a free basecamp account. I also love shopping online, it’s what I do in my free time. I like to start with a Google image search and find a picture of what i want, then search for it that way. It can be tedious though. I bought a cute duffle bag for my sister for christmas and while i was searching, I fell in love with ‘weekender bags’. They are so cute, I found some great bags on etsy.com
From Melissa Oklahoma:
I’m digging your March List!
From tillie:
love your currently list! I will say that you can get through New Moon…just pick it up and go. I promise that Eclipse & Breaking Dawn are the best ones of the series. I had a hard time getting through New Moon.
Also, Eat, Pray, Love..ugh. I read it but gave up cause it was silly. Lots of people love it though.
I’m sad you are leaving Texas but it’ll be a great new adventure for you two!
Online shopping is so bad! I wind up spending way more…heck when I get on Etsy I damage my bank account! lol
From Tabaitha:
The Shack is a really good book, but have a box of tissues with you. Way to go on kicking butt on the Shred for 2 weeks!
From Polly R:
I love the look of listography! I must make one! :) xx
From Jill:
I love making lists, and I also say “here’s the thing” ALL.THE.TIME.
From Kyla Roma:
Oh my goodness. We need to start an ice cream sandwich support group. I went through a phase last year where I couldn’t get through a day without at least one. Emphasis on the at least part.
Please know that I’m hear for you lol =)
From Kyla Roma:
hear?! Am I really that tired? lol
It’s been a long week.
From Sturgmom:
Ugh, the wardrobe thing… my legs are SO white and it feels a little early to be breaking out the self-tanner, so I feel like I still need tights with skirts and dresses, but then that means boots and is it really OK to still wear tights and boots when it’s almost April AND it gets above 70 degrees in the afternoons? Life can be so hard. ;)
Thanks for sharing your lists: 1) because that’s a cool site that I’m totally going to be using from now on and 2) because now I know how to make paperclips into hearts. You really DO learn something new everyday!
From jill:
bless you, lauren from texas, for introducing me to listography.com!!!!! my name is jill and i’m a list-a-holic. i’m in the process of compiling all of my lists into one place. yesss!!!
From Desmond Alatosse:
Heh Mr. Butler, such a man