I could feel winter in the air tonight... it was VERY cold! I'm realllllly not ready for this just yet.. if only I could press pause on summer.

I watched the previews for Tyra, watched her first show where she talked about what it was going to be like, etc. It's totally not like that... today she had some of the past girls on America's Next Top Model, what I was saw pretty cute. Toccara met with another plus size gal, took her shopping, gave her a confidence boost, it was sweet.

Ugh, work was a disaster today. I got in trouble for not doing something I didn't know I was supposed to do, so then I went to do it and she told me I was too slow and needed to hurry up. Which would have been justified IF I was taking my time, but I was busy with customers, and cleaning up after her messes! When she left, she left me a list of tasks enough for two people, so of course I didn't finish it... I wonder how that will go. I dunno... I'm just really tired and need to sleep... nite nite!

-Aimee

Is this the new manager who did this? Maybe she's just testing you. Have a good night's sleep and tomorrow's a new day! G'night.

Sounds like managerial PMS to me.

My sister emailed me today and said my dad didn't go to her birthday celebration because he had plans. My mom passed away in 1996, and we think he has a girlfriend now, but he won't say. Kinda of weird to think about him being with another family. I'm happy for him.

I bought the Daisy Cooks cookbook, which is Spanish/Puerto Rican food. I've already bought all the ingredients to make sofrito, which is a mix of peppers, onions, tomatoes, cilantro. You use it to put in dishes or top dishes. I love Spanish food so I think this will be a great way to mix up what we eat -- lately that's been chicken, chicken and chicken.

Brother in law is getting sick again. It's a never ending story....

I haven't seen either of the Tyra shows yet, we wanted to finish watching the So You Think You Can Dance, it only has two more episodes left.

Take it easy,

That sofrito sounds good, Marge. Sounds kind of like salsa. Is it a hot or cold food?

Goodmorning, my eyes are pretty fuzzy right now... that just woken up feeling. There is a bad cold going around (Josh has it, manager has it, friend has it), everytime I feel like I'm starting to get it, I sleep for 10-11 hours and it stays away. I just need to focus on not overdoing it. I started feeling overwhelmed last night with the work situation, and I'm not ready for such a low paying job to be SO stressful. I think the only reason it's so stressful to me is because I know my best isn't good enough, and when I'm already giving everything I've got? I can't afford to give more at the expense of my personal life. I'm just babbling here again.. I need to condense these feelings and bring them up with my manager in a week or two, as things calm down. I have to give her credit, the last manager left her a HUGE HUGE mess to clean up.

Anyways!!

Kimberley - it's amazing how sleep can help with that overwhelmed feeling! I was a wreck last night, my body was overheated (sickness maybe?), I was crying, angry, headache, stuffy face (definitely sickness). And this morning I'm feeling MUCHO BETTERO! heh. This job isn't my life! Whats going on in your world these days? You were saying you are feeling a little down, it's very possible exercise might even help with that feeling. Sometimes when I just DON'T want to exercise, I'll put on a sports bra under my pj's and jump rope, do some jumping jacks, anything! While I was in Seattle I went to a company that was started in Vancouver, and bought a poster of theirs and I think it's very.. it's just a good way to live life.
http://www.lululemon.com/culture/manifesto.php

The points that stuck with me were about drinking water, and letting sweat flow from your pores once a day. Check it out!

Marge - My mom loves spanish food, and when she was in Mexico she was almost in heaven... except, and this is odd, she completely hates cilantro. I've seen her eat something with it in it, it actually makes me gag. It's crazy to me. How's New York these days? I'm craving shopping!! I'm finding some of the styles out here pretty sleezy or very man-like.. I just want something more girly with ho-ey!! I suspect I'm asking for too much... It's amazing to me, I work in a store where I just don't like their clothes. I keep thinking I should change companies just for that reason.. but I'm lazy

Alrighty, I am supposed to weigh in this morning, I've been putting it off... but now realize if I don't weigh soon, I may die of starvation! Off I go!

-Aimee

That manifesto is so cool -- thank you for that link. Yes, I do need to get some exercise in. Before I go to bed tonight, I'm going to do *something*...Be it at home, taking a walk, or going to the YMCA, I'll do it.

My mother-in-law didn't go swimming at 3pm like she normally does, so she was thinking about going tonight, anyway. We went together and had a great time - had the whole warm pool to ourselves. I swam probably 40 minutes of the hour we were in there, and kept moving even when I wasn't doing laps. Gosh it felt good! Why don't I do this regularly?

Why, indeed??

I *will* swim at least 3 times a week from now on. Period. Hold me to it, you guys.

Oh! I forgot to tell you, we got the nicest card in the mail from one of the water arthritis instructors. She said several of our classmates had brought the Advocate article in to show anyone who'd missed it, and they were proud of us. They all signed the card, even the lifeguards. What an encouragement that was!

it is like a salsa, it's a cold mix that you can chop up or make in the food processor. Sometimes Daisy sautes it in achiote oil, which is a vegetable or olive oil that she simmers annatto seeds (achiote) in, makes the oil red and flavors it (goya makes some). Or you can add it to ground pork or ground beef (then stuff peppers with it, or have it like sloppy joe). You can eat it with rice and beans, with pork chops, steak or chicken.

I've never made it before, so I'm excited to try it.

No, the job isn't your life at all. When you spend so much time doing something it is easy to get your ego hooked up with it. But I can tell you from experience that once you leave any job, a few months later, unless you had a REALLY tramatic or good experience there, you won't even think about it.

It took me a little while to get used to the taste of cilantro. Growing up in California, I don't remember the Mexican food having it. In Cal Mex it's a fairly recent addition. It has a strong smell and taste. Now it tastes fresh to me. (btw I emailed Daisy telling her how much I liked her cook book and she emailed me back, she lives not that far from me here in Brooklyn -- let's face it, Brooklyn rocks )

From what I've seen, the fall fashions are looking pretty dang feminine this year. http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/ There's something about Gwen Stefani I really like. She has that contradictory sensibility of being down to earth and sophisticated at the same time. (What's up with DK??? not much going on there!) There's my little completely non-professional or even informed 2006 fasion review!!!

Yeah, the Y has helped me lots of times, I can definitely feel the difference mentally after I go there. I'm grateful we have one here. Just remember how good it makes you feel whenever you start to feel like you might not make it there. Today the guy that looks like Morgan Freeman that works at our Y looked at me and said, Your late! I burst out laughing (he was rights, haha). (He was just kidding me.)

Well, I've got to decide if I'm going to stick with last winters coat, which is looking pretty dang big on me now, or take the glue off my wallet and buy a new one. Hmmm...... Will the suspense in my life never end??????

We're going to have to buy winter coats this year. My two were really ratty last year, but I couldn't justify buying one. Now they're both way too big on me and I can truly say I need one.

No YMCA tonight...I went to the farmer's market, but started feeling really puny after walking around for just twenty minutes or so. Last night I was laying on top of the covers with the ceiling fan on me, still hot, while Howie was beneath the sheet and coverlet. I just feel really tired tonight, and sick. Maybe if I get some good sleep, I'll bounce back for the weekend (right, Aimee?).

I went to bed last night with a sore throat, I've been doing that for a few days now... everyone around me has this nasty cold and has had it for a few weeks. Well I woke up this morning with a sore throat, and runny nose... it's progressed into a full blown cold! This getting sick stuff STINKS! I'm going to take something to clear me up and make me drowsy, and I'm going to sleep like no one has ever slept before.. and will wake up 100% healthy! Kimberley, sounds like we might be a simular boat here... but I truely believe enough sleep will cure anything!

Marge - I love how you managed to produce that website like that! I'm a GAP girl, clean lines, simple, classic, and can be sophisticated, not sk@nky! I hate how clothes are just so... revealing, low cut, glittery... etc. I'm really liking the Kenneth Cole stuff, now I just have to find a way to afford that..

You'll all be glad to hear work was completely uneventful today, I sold some clothes, hung out with my fav co-worker.. and stuffed my face with halls, coffee (for warmth), and chatted with customers. These are the days that make retail worth-while! Okay, I'm off to buy some Nyquil and tissue! Talk to you all later!

-Aimee

Kimberley - Swimming, 3 times a week!! Do you have set days? Or can it be any days? And whats your week running from? Monday - Sunday? Let's have a recap every Sunday or Monday.. cuz I'm trying to walk 3-5 times a week. Marge, you want in on this action? You can report your gym adventures!

Glad your day went better, even if you do have a cold.

No, no set days for swimming, although it'll probably be weekdays. I really was all set to go today, but there was just no way. I ended up sleeping the sleep of the dead in my recliner from about 7pm-12:30am! And I'm ready to go to bed now, even after that.

I've been watching the Hurricane Rita thread over at davesgarden.com -- our friends down in south Louisiana hammered in the hurricane and their house was groaning in the winds, something they didn't even hear with Katrina. Nothing since that post, and I'm concerned. I hope it's just that they lost power and that they're okay. They are on the "dirty" side of the hurricane, the east side where it whips toward them, back around.

I go to the gym Friday, Sunday and Tuesday mornings. I do about 1 1/2 hours. Schedules and habit save me with stuff like that.

Sorry to hear you two aren't feeling well. (Where's Jill??? Jill, where are you???) Rob says going to sleep covered in tons of blankets so you sweat all night is a sure fire cure for a cold. I've done it before and I do think it helps (drink lots of fluids too).

These hurricanes are really terrible. I watch the news stories and just can't believe that area of the states has to go through that again. Oprah yesterday said she's giving $10 million of her own money to help rebuild down there, which is fantastic.

I spent today making my Spanish dishes. Sofrito, achiote oil, yellow rice, roasted red peppers stuffed with picadillo. Was a lot of work. At least it will feed us for a few days. Hope it's good too! We had a gorgeous day here, in the 70s. Everybody is having block parties, stoop sales.

I had a really vivid dream last night that I was visiting China. Don't know if that means anything....

Every time I hear some celebrity talking about how they're giving money, I think about the Bible verse basically says "When you give, do it in secret. Don't let your right hand know what your left is doing". I think it means more when people don't go spouting how much they're donating, be it 10 bucks or 10-million. I know sometimes people publicize their donations as a challenge to rally more people to give, but with people who regularly hog the spotlight and grandstand, it really turns me off.

That said, glad she's using some of her empire to truly help others in need (not just give them new cars).

Whew, where'd that soapbox come from? I don't get up on them very often! Guess I've been so touched by our anonymous angels and how much they don't want to be identified, and I contrast that with celebs and others who brag on how much they give. It's like they have to justify their luxurious lifestyles by telling everyone how philanthropic they are, you know?

I think there is an expectation that certain Celebrities are going to give, ie, Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, so if they don't publicize it.. are people going to wonder if they really have. It's hit or miss I suppose, either people don't like you because you DON'T give to less fortunate, or you DO give because of the same reason's you listed. It's just safer for people to think they are an attention wh*re rather than a cheap, uncaring person, yah know? On that same line... the car giveaway, I saw some follow ups on it. People were giving them to others they felt needed it more, or donated their old car's, etc. Even just the financial aspect of it... if I was given a car I would have $580 extra a month for bills, better place to live.. having more fun. Those are just my two cents on it all...

I don't know how I managed it, but somehow I was able to barely sleep last night. I wish I could say this was on purpose... I just don't get how I could be SO tired and not sleep.... grr! My cold has progressed, now my eyes are watering! Yesterday everytime I blew my nose it felt like something popped in my eye and liquid came out, I was so scared it was blood!

Marge - how was the gym this morning? I was inspired to join a gym, so I called and it's 34.99/month with a two year contract. I'm sorry, I can't commit to two years of paying 34.99!! What if I move, break a leg (knock on wood), etc... yes they would take a dr's note and suspend my memebership until I was better.. but I'm 26 the Dr's notes stopped once I left high school... lol. It just shocks me how expensive it is.

I better go get ready for work.. have a great day you two!

-Aimee