Yes, I drink Diet Coke, No I'm not on a diet

Recently I took the kids out for lunch at Cici's Pizza. School is out for summer, and occasionally we get to go out for an extra activity. We went in, payed for our lunch, received our cups, and promptly got in line for pizza. They have such a variety to pick from, and I tend to load my plate with many types. I usually want to try the different ones they have out, and sometimes I will even place an order for a specific one. On this day, I chose a couple of slices to start with, and then placed my order for their rustic style pizza. It is one of my favorites because of the thin crust and the sicilian spices they use. It is quite tasty. I then proceeded to get my drink so that I would not have to get up again too quickly after finding a place to sit. With my plate piled high ( I also had stopped by the salad bar and added this to my plate as well), I made my way to the drink station. I got my ice, and then placed my cup below my favorite drink: Diet Coke. As I pushed the cup under the fountain to fill it up, It made this loud annoying racket, drawing attention from those at the tables closest. And there I stood, slowly filling my cup with my Diet Coke, plate piled high with pepperoni pizza (it was only 2 slices), some salad, a couple of bread sticks, and Here I was getting a Diet Coke. As if this attempt to drink something with the word "diet" in it, would counteract the fact that the food choice was loaded with so many things that were not so healthy. Talk about a contradiction, lol. And with those around me staring too. Ok, they really weren't staring, but I felt like the noise the machine was making made those around me take notice and it could have made them question my "diet". As if they really had an interest in the matter. I could almost hear them saying: "geez, look at her....not a good diet plan she has.....does she really think drinking the diet drink will help her lose if she eats all that....could her plate be any fuller" And although I realize they really aren't paying me any attention, I suddenly wanted to look at those around me and yell: "Yes, I drink Diet Coke, and no, I'm not on a diet".

The Life of a Single Woman: Pros and Cons

Though, technically I haven't made it to "single" status, I have been living single since last September. And as I go through each day, fight the fierce battles this new life has to offer, I find myself giggling about some of these battles, and crying a little about the other battles. Hence, the reason for this blog. The pros vs. cons of being a single woman. The following is my list in no particular order.

Pros:
1. I make many decisions on a daily basis...they are MY decisions. And though sometimes I could use a sounding block for my ideas, I am empowered by the fact that I get to make the ultimate decisions. For example: we have a new puppy...I decided we would get this puppy, I didn't have to call home to check and see if I could bring him home..I just said "yes, I would like this puppy to come live with me" and now I have a puppy.

2. Control of the remote! lol! Our T.V. stays on the kids channels for the majority of time, but when the kids go to bed, I can watch whatever I want to. Hallmark channel, cooking channel, Lifetime, TLC, just to mention a few. I can also watch a full show without having to "flip" though commercials. The History channel will rarely be on at my house, and though sometimes I find the Discovery Channel interesting, it isn't my first choice....hmmm, and I get to decide...lol

3. Going to bed when I want to. I am a late night person. I like to stay up til I'm falling asleep. I enjoy the fact that no one is telling me when I need to come to bed. I am a grown-up, and if I decide to stay up late, then I understand the consequences and will only blame myself..again, my choice...lol

4. Getting all the alone time I want is sometimes nice. I can read a book, watch T.V., facebook, or just sit on the couch to relax. No need to worry about anyone seeing me with no make-up on, or trying to impress. I can sit in my sweats, and do absolutely nothing. I can fix a drink, or eat a snack, and no one asks me to share. And if I choose to eat the last swiss cake roll, no one is gonna look at me and say "hey, I was gonna eat that" or, "can I have one" cause there is no one there to complain.


Cons:

1. Scary sounds in the house at night. I do not like having to check out the late night sounds. I am a big chicken. My imagination tends to run away with me. I usually go looking around with a look in my eye that is supposed to show no fear, but it is probably more of a "deer in the headlights" look.

2. Wasps or hornets nests. This is not my expertise. I do not prefer to be chased by these flying insects while aiming a can that may or may not spray in the direction necessary to kill on contact. Besides, if the killing on contact is while they are in the process of stinging me, then what is the point? I did learn from a friend, that it is best to spray at night when they are sleeping? Of course, I can't really see where I am spraying at night, so I gave it a good dousing (the spray was dripping from the corner of the garage, but at least I knew for sure they were coated well).

3. Sick kids in the middle of the night. This is by far one of my least favorite single woman jobs. What used to be a team effort of clean-up, now falls to single me. It was a lot easier when one of us took the sick kid to clean up and comfort, while the other changed the sheets on the bed. Now it is the running back and forth between bathroom and bedroom: "Are you alright?" while the child pukes in the toilet, to trying to find the extra sheets, and stuff the yuckies into the wash while barely touching them. It is certainly a task that can be handled by one, but it is much nicer when someone pitches in.

4. The time of night after the kids are in bed are lonely. Sure, I can call a friend, or text, or get on the computer and chat, but there are times when it would be nice to have someone rub my head while we watched T.V. Or maybe fighting playfully over what to watch in the evenings could be enjoyable. And then, there are the times when you don't have to say anything at all, but just sitting together, having a late night snack, or holding hands. I don't like to be alone ALL the time, but when you are single, you do get a LOT of alone time.

So there you have it. A small list of the pros and cons of being a single woman. Good points made on both sides, and I hope to continue adding to these lists as time goes by. Feel free to comment if you have more to add, as it can be as long of a list as it needs to be, because it is mine, and I get to choose...lol.

Life...Unconditional

Where do I even start? Life has a funny way of catching us by surprise. It's like one day you're going along, living life, just keeping up with the day to day, when WHAM BAM! Life smacks us in the face! We then begin to question why. Why did this happen? What did I do to deserve this? What happens next? and one of the most familiar....WHY did God ALLOW this to happen to me? Many times we ask these questions, because we don't think we deserve for things to happen to us...but why not?

What did we do that should keep us from the trials of life?

The answer is nothing...absolutely nothing should keep us from these many trials we will face in a lifetime.

The old saying that comes to mind is this: we were never promised a rose garden in life. We live day to day expecting everything to go our way. We want that perfect job, that perfect family, with the perfect spouse, and the perfect kids....WHAM BAM....REALITY!!!!! There is no such thing as a perfect human. Were you ready for that smack? Most people probably weren't.

I got caught up in that lie, myself. And life smacked me in the face!!!! Big time!!!!

And though I could really get caught up in the pity party ( I do at times) , I can also realize that even in these storms, God is there. He is with us during all of our trials of life. And though sometimes we are allowed to hurt.....He doesn't let go. He is big enough to handle it all. We, again ,are given the opportunity to choose....to choose to let go and let God. I know...another saying, but with a tremendous amount of truth.

I am thankful that although life throws us many hurdles, I can always count on God's unconditional love.

He is with you....Mandisa

There’s a time to live and a time to die
There’s a time to laugh and a time to cry
There’s a time for war and a time for peace
There’s a hand to hold in the worst of these
In the worst of these
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can’t even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn’t kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby’s gone
And your house is still, and your heart’s a stone
Cryin’ God, what’d You do that for
He is with you
There’s a time for yes and a time for no
There’s a time to be angry and a time to let it go
There is a time to run and a time to face it
There is love to see you through all of this
Through all of this
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don’t know you anymore
He is with you in the I.C.U
When the doctors don’t know what to do
And it scares you to the core, he is with you
We may weep for a time
But joy will come in the morning
The morning light!!!
He is with you when your kids are grown
When there’s too much space and you feel alone
And you’re worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes, He is with you when you’ve given up
On ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
HE is with you
When nothing else is left
And you take your final breath
HE is with you
HE is with you