Her company is called Polka Dot Coaching and she had a word of inspiration today that I just had to share:
Thank you for your encouragement, Nailah. I'm definitely taking this to heart.
Last night I made Kevin a fabulous veggie lasagna and he brought home a delicious cab and we had some great quality time with one another.
One of our favorite things to do when we have the time is to watch The Bachelorette or The Bachelor.
There are so many personalities in the pursuit of love (an emotional setting in the first place), vying for the attention of one man or woman. So basically, one man or woman is dating 20 or so people and a couple people are eliminated each week. Craziness.
This season there has been some controversy around a girl who has been mean to the other girls in the house and the bachelor has really fallen for her.
Alright, it's important to note, that many of the people on this show are single for a reason. Awful character flaws and an awful judge of people's character. The "wrong person" for them may be picked in the end because of this.
In the past, people have undoubtably picked the "bad boy" or the "bad girl" in hopes of finding forever love. Goodness, like that ever works.
Anyhoo, the mean girl in this season has seemed to let her guard down and be really vulnerable with him.
She is a model and he is a nerd. He has really taken to her.
The other girl is a sweetheart that everyone likes and is very compatible for him. He sees a future with her too.
Does one take the good bet or does one take a risk?
The thing is picking either of them is a risk. Relationship is work, no matter who he chooses. He needs to pick who he is willing to put that work in for.
I get far too into this show. I think because it shows a lot about human nature and affirms my decision to be with Kevin forever. There are so many coocoos out there, I feel so blessed to have found a keeper.
There is someone out there for everyone. People just can't settle or they will find themselves in a really tough spot.
Xoxo,
Gracie
This morning Kevin and I woke up around 7am and went out for a bike ride down a trail Kevin found the other day.
The trail took us to the lake and there were even more trails around the lake. So beautiful. The lake was sparkling. It was hard to keep my eyes focused on the trail.
I think I'm going to need to sell my bike for one with a bit more suspension. Every time I rode over a branch any bigger than a stick... Ouch.
But, I felt so much more comfortable on the bike this ride. It's nice to get back into the swing of things.
I still need to conquer some fears... Steeper hills, over rocks, around corners. I'm sure the more practice I get, the more comfortable I'll be. Kevin is great at pushing me and encouraging me when things look scary. He is also just a fun guy to hang out with.
Anyhoo, off to Walnut Hill. I made an eggplant rolatini for Kevin's mom's birthday. Recipe to come!
xoxo
Gracie
Last night we celebrated our friend Dan Stine's birthday with a surprise party at The Ginger Man in Sono (the hip way to say South Norwalk).
It was nice to see people. It's funny, once you get into a work schedule, it seems like a day since you've seen people and it could be a month or 2!
Time flies. Friendships change. Many for the better.
I feel like you know who your real friends are when you pretty much pick up where you left off... Sharing stories of great times past while making some new memories to boot.
The Ginger Man was a great time and a great place to have a birthday shindig.
Although, someone needs to inform their dj. Enjoying 90s and 00s music is ironic and irony can only be fun for a hot minute. Switch up the tunes!
In other news, one of my best friends Amanda Mckinney is getting married to her wonderful southern gentlemen boyfriend.
Amanda is one of my closest friends from college and lived with us this summer while she did an internship in the city. Her bf flew up from NC nearly every other wknd to see her and we just adore him. He's funny and outgoing, and so kind. Especially to Amanda.
It's a friend's hope that your closest friends find someone who will love and protect them and I'm so confident he will be that to my Amanda Joyce.
Such an exciting time.
I just love love!
Gracie
Kevin had an early meeting today, so I decided to go to work early. I forgot my key at home and I'm locked out.
I'm tired. Working on my masters and working has seriously worn me out. I have fresh bags under my eyes and new wrinkles.
I feel like it has been worth it, despite the exhaustion.
My brain thinks differently. I ask more questions than I ever used to and seem to see the bigger picture now.
I can't wait for May to come. I'll be a new woman.
K and I watched a movie last night, "The Ides of March".
It's with Ryan Gosling (Kevin's celebrity doppelganger) and is about a 30 yr old trying to make it in politics.
The movie centers around one ethical dilemma after another and brings out the fact that one immoral action can be a slippery slope into making other immoral decisions.
Something I've learned at the publishing house that I work for is the value of integrity.
My boss always says, in this digital age, one immoral trip up can go global before you know it.
Something the movie does well is show the instant value that making an immoral decision can bring and also the toll it takes on the individual from that day on.
People are inspired by truth and integrity.
The question remains at the end of the movie, "What should one do when faced with an ethical dilemma?"
The question obviously goes unanswered, but is an interesting to think about.
Kevin and I got mountain bikes.
We are convinced that we are going to get really into it.
We rode our bikes a bit this afternoon and I got so flustered.
I know it's been a while, but it's going to take me a couple tries to get back into the swing of things.
I was so wobbly and unsure of my balance. "It's like riding a bike" has a whole new meaning to me now.
The lake isn't too far from our house. My hope is that by the time summer comes I can make it to the lake, go for a swim, and ride back.
My boss always says that your brain can't handle willpower on a bunch of things at once. If you are focusing on accomplishing one thing and another thing at the same time, it tends to not work out too well.
I feel that way right now. My master's thesis and work are taking up so much of my time, I don't have the willpower to do much of anything else. When May comes, I'll be a free woman and maybe start some projects I've been postponing.
We shall see!
In my sophomore year in college Sean Hannity came to speak at one of our convos.
A number of students from the debate team (because we were the nerds of the school) were asked to form a line at the end of his talk to ask a couple minutes of questions.
The convo services have 10,000 students in an arena and is broadcasted on national tv.
I was the next to ask a question. A huge roar errupted. My friends from my dorm and their friends cheered for me, whistled and made a huge ruckus.
Sean Hannity turns to me and says, in front of the whole school, "You must be the most popular girl at Liberty!"
I went into shock, blushed, and all I could think to say was, "Haha, anyway..." And went on to ask my pretentious question about embryo stem cell research.
I still blush to this day when I think about it. Why could I not come up with something witty to say?
Oh memories...