Day 311 - MMOM

1. Are you excited for the holidays or are you dreading them?
I don't think I ever dread the holidays. I see them as a time of hope and a time to rekindle a child-like magic that should have never left us in the first place.



2. Do you hit the snooze button or get right up?
At times I have hit the snooze button for over an hour...I'm so bad!



3. Do you still have your tonsils?
Yep! This gal still has all her original parts.



4. What was the last piece of candy that you ate?
Laffy Taffy... I think.




5. Do you shop at thrift stores?
Not as of late, but I have in the past. Have to admit, I'm really too lazy to sort through the racks to find that special treasure!

Day 310 - Daylight Savings

I enjoyed sleeping in an extra hour today, but I did not enjoy the fact that the movie theaters did not update their movie times via their websites, causing me to drive to two different theaters, and pay for unused parking. Despite the cross-town movie chase down, I enjoyed the extra time in the car chatting with my friend. Because she felt bad for the "inconvenience", my friend paid for my movie ticket which was unnecessary, but much appreciated.

I felt blessed this weekend with multiple invites and being treated to 2 movies and an awesome dessert by friends. It seems like Daylight Savings Time equated to Lynn Saving Money weekend as well! I must say, I felt abundantly blessed and appreciative to have these people around me to hang out with, and took the time to thank them and more so, be thankful for them!

Day 309 - Ad-Lib

I spontaneously accepted a dinner invite with people I've never been out with, and only know through a working relationship. I was nervous, but figured "How else do you make new friends?". We went to a small restaurant that they had been raving about, and it did not disappoint! Ad-Lib was amazing! While the space and menu were small, the atmosphere and palette choices were phenomenally crafted. Dinner choices, which are constantly changing, included choices of lobster, steak, and pork chops with seasonal side dishes. I chose the pork chop with a side of cabbage, apples, brussel sprouts and potatoes. The dish was beautiful in it's colorful presentation of browns, purples, greens and yellow and even more delectable. Desert was a lightly, lemon flavored cheesecake.

Following dinner, not quite wanting to go home, we decided on an impromptu movie night to see Tower Heist. I recently declined an invite to see it, so while I went with the popular decision of the group, I was dreading sitting through it. So glad I didn't wimp out and decide to go home, because I loved the movie and now, highly recommend it!

I guess sometimes, like the name of the restaurant, ya just have to Ad-Lib and go with the flow. I had an amazing night out with two new friends, enjoyed a fabulous dinner, a great movie and can't wait to do it again! I found myself thankful for just having said yes to a night out, and more thankful for the opportunity and invite.

What do you sometimes find it hard to say yes to?

Day 308 - CPR

Despite my manager's disapproval, I volunteered at work to be one of my floor's emergency contacts. What that means for me is that I will be CPR trained (or in my case re certified), and will be responsible for "taking care" of the people on my floor in cases of emergencies such as fires and tornadoes. I am not quite sure why there was an aversion for others to volunteer for this role, as I see it as an opportunity to learn something new, and potentially help others. Someone else pointed out that it would be a great addition to my resume, and while that was not a motive in volunteering for the role, I'll be happy to add it!

Day 307 - Talk

Today I did a lot of talking about my problems to the people, well, who pretty much caused them. It wasn't easy, but I pushed past the feeling of vulnerability and did it. I am not one to linger on bad feelings, I want them talked about, dealt with, and moved past. Hopefully I'm on the road to recovery!

Day 306 - Thanks

Check out my newly created page and thanks challenge!

Day 305 - Skydeck

I really love my city. I can't say it enough, but the rich history and beautiful, underappreciated architecture intrigue me on a constant basis. I never take my city or the things it has to offer for granted. Today's sunny weather was a prime invitiation to go visit the Sears Skydeck (okay, it's technically called Willis Tower, but a true city girl would never admit that) and tackle my fear of heights by stepping out on the recently added Skydeck Ledge. The Skydeck Ledge is a series of 4 retractable glass window boxes that hang out over the side of the building. These "window boxes" are clear glass, making the experience quite awe-inspiring.

North-easterly view from the 103rd floor...

Western view through one of the sky-deck ledges.



Northern city view from the ledge...



The first baby step out onto the ledge...



About half an hour later, I finally got both feet out onto the ledge and enjoyed the view.