an open apology

I am engulfed with introversion as of late. Not introversion in the shyness sense of the word, but more so in the vein of needing lots of home time to recharge. This is not due to depression or "winter funk". On the contrary, I am feeling wonderful and wondrous and I adore brisk cold weather and snow.

So why the apology? The apology is for my friends, near and far. I have been scarce on the social scene. I have had little to no small gatherings or visits. Plus, I have never really been one to pick up the phone.



This homebody behavior feels necessary right now. I am recharging. I need to refocus on the next steps of my life and continue working on my health improvement. I have been unplugging for most of the days lately (hence the lack of serious online time).

On the flip side, I need to start reconnecting with the people I love and adore while continuing to recharge. So how do I do this? Balance. As I am finding balance within myself, I am learning how to apply that same balance externally. To begin, my first step: an open apology to the Universe (and the Web, which are certainly not synonymous). Next step: phone calls, letters, visits.

Some of you may even receive one of these great handmade note cards I received as a thank you gift from the lovely, creative Nina Beana:(These are fantastic and are inspiring me to put pen to paper. Nice, right?)

So, I am sorry, dear friends. Please be patient with me (and honest with any upset you may have towards me) and allow me to reconnect with you. This will take some time since I have a large list of people I want back in my life in one capacity or another. I have been blessed throughout my life to have had the opportunity to meet and connect with so many wonderful people. My hopes along the way in this process, is to rebuild old friendships, strengthen current ones and perhaps make some new ones along the way.

Wow, I like an adrenaline rush as much as the next but I do not know about this one:

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

what inauguration?

Hey, did you hear Obama is getting inaugurated today? How can you not, it's on every news channel! Now don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that Bush is out in a few hours and curious to see if change is in the air, but is there not other things happening in the world? Have you noticed in recent years that more and more the news will fixate on one single news story (and sometimes an un-newsworthy story) and beat it to a pulp? The "Miracle on the Hudson", the Casey Anthony story, the inauguration, what Michelle Obama is wearing and (my ultimate favorite) a SNOW STORM IN WINTER (god forbid)!!!!

Yes, some of these are valid stories indeed, but how many times can you hear the same information over and over, verbatim? (and, Long Islanders, I'm not just talking News12).

Not only does the media spin things so fast you can get dizzy, but they distract you from the real important topics by repeating fluff. (Who cares that women everywhere went out and bought the Sarah Palin glasses?!??!) People distract themselves enough from reality with American Idol and MySpace. We do not need the media doing it for us.

mlk day doings

Today, my office is closed and Groovy's at work, so I am taking the opportunity to be productive. This has already included editing and posting the last eight days of 365 photos on flickr. I have not had much desire to be online lately, hence the backlog of self photos. I am now formulating my "Operation Apartment Clean" (or OAC) project for today. (Hey, the news always adds flashy names to each story. Why can't I???)

OAC must be done. OAC will end victoriously. OAC will get accomplished much sooner if I get off the dang computer.

OAC Twin Powers, Activate!

Shape of A VACUUM!

Form of A SPONGE!

i try

142.365 you are healed
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

I try to use my powers for good, but sometimes it's just for entertainment.

one pint lighter

144.365 i gave blood today
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

So I lost 3.8 pounds this week. I wonder how much of that is the loss of a pint of blood the day before.

Guess I'll never know!

just in time

Today, I am able to donate whole blood again! Just in time to help with the blood shortage happening in New York. I am thinking about "recruiting" others to come donate with me on my next donation date and offer to drive everyone of my friends who say yes. For those of you non-local friends and readers, how about finding your local blood center or drive and give today?

yes yes

The daily yoga practice continues and I am on day 13 of diet. Though I am staying exactly at my daily points, I am unhappy with the amount of processed foods I am consuming. As this 30 Day Points Challenge continues, I am also working on decreasing the processed foods. More specifically, I want to rely less on frozen meals for my weekday work lunches each week. Yes, they help me track and keep within my points, but I know I feel better when I am not consuming such foods. And, yes, I know that only means a maximum of five such meals a week. And, YES, I know I consume a lot of fresh veggies and fruits daily. I just want to eat as healthfully as possible and this convenience food is not cutting it. Plus, my favorite local (to work) health food store has not been carrying my favorite vegan sandwiches anymore and the ones they have now do not have nutritional labels. I am thinking of reincorporating some of the raw meal lunches I have made before to get away from the "frozens". Of course that means I need to hijack the full size food processor from my mom again. (Oooo! Something to put on my birthday wish list!!)

Regardless of this personal dilemma, I am feeling wonderful and have already lost some weight I weigh on Sundays so I do not know how much I have gone down this week, but I am already down 5.2 as of last week.

Woo Hoo!