Turning Over a New Leaf

Living Room

So, I've been on hyper-drive for the last couple of weeks, and I'm finally getting a chance to slow down. Finally! And boy, I have to say…I'm in a great place to slow down. All of my things are unpacked, and Charley and I can finally relax on the couch. That's not to say it was easy to get to this point… Yesterday, in particular, was a day for the books. It's a long one, so make sure you've got a drink in hand for this!

Charley's Bedroom

Friday evening, I found myself packing up the last of my things (or what I THOUGHT was the last of my things), and I had a hard time getting to sleep. I knew yesterday would be a long day, but I was so anxious and excited that even though I went to bed around 9, I didn't fall asleep until after 11:30. Anyway, when my alarm went off at 5 a.m. yesterday, I braced myself for the day ahead. I got Charley up, and we went to the store to pick up donuts, drinks, and other snacks for our helpers. I wasn't certain how many people I'd have helping with the move, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared with plenty of sustenance for everybody. Charley was pretty excited, and naturally, it took 3 times as long as it should have for us to get in and out of the store. Once we finally made our exit, we raced home, because one of my friends one of my friends was coming to my house at 6:45 to take me to pick up the U-Haul. She dropped me off, and took Charley back to my house, to wait for the others, while I picked up the truck.

Charley's Play Room

Of course, there were already 6 people in line at U-Haul by 7:15, and only one employee behind the desk. I felt bad for him, because he was doing the best he could. It just seemed to take FOREVER. Anyway, when it was finally my turn, I filled out the paperwork, hopped in the truck, and drove back to my house to start loading. I was already about 30 minutes behind schedule, but I wasn't terribly worried about it. When I got back to my place, none of my helpers had arrived, and I was starting to get nervous. But before I knew it, there were 6 people at my door, ready to help. I felt very blessed. We had the truck loaded in about an hour, and we headed to my new place.

Charley's Bedroom

When we got to the new house, we started unloading pretty quickly. Before I knew it, I looked around and realized that there were more than 15 people bringing furniture, clothes, toys, etc. into the house. I had friends hanging pictures on the wall, building storage units, setting up my internet, and unpacking Charley's room. Charley was running around with 2-6 children at any given time, having the time of her life, and discovering all the "new" toys that had been in boxes for so long. I found myself wondering how I got so lucky. All of these people who have entered my life in the last couple of years (for the most part) were so willing to pitch in and help Charley and I get settled! It was amazing, and they did such a great job. By 1:00, we were done unloading, and I found myself about 80% unpacked! Way further along than I'd expected, that's for sure! One of my co-workers left me with a beautiful plant as a housewarming gift, before she headed out. Keep this in mind, because it'll come back into play later...

Anyway, the U-Haul was due back at the rental location by 2, so one of my friends who was heading that direction offered to drive it back for me. But when he got in and tried to start the engine, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. Several people tried, before I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to call for roadside assistance. I thanked everybody, sent them on their ways, and waited for the U-Haul to be dealt with. When the guy finally showed up, he looked at the key, looked at the vehicle, and asked me, "Did you pick this up in Brooklyn Park?" I shook my head. "I got it in St. Paul," I told him. "This key doesn't even go to this vehicle," he stated, "Which is why it won't start. I'm not sure how it started before, but I'll cut you a new key, and you can return the truck."  So, shortly later, I loaded up Charley, and headed back to drop of the U-Haul. It was quite an ordeal.

Kitchen

By this time, it was nearly 3:30, and I still had to get my new TV, before heading to my friend's 30th birthday party at 7, in St. Louis Park. It had been raining buckets, but slowed down for awhile, so I thought I'd be fine to get the TV and get to the party with plenty of time to spare.  I'd already showered and done my make-up, so all I really had to do was get dressed, so I stopped home, changed clothes, and headed to Target. When I went into Target, it was dry outside. When I walked out, I found myself in a torrential downpour. Between the store and my car, I got completely soaked. It looked like I'd taken a shower in my clothes. But I still had plenty of time to get myself together, and look presentable at the party. So I raced home, threw my clothes in the dryer, and tried to get myself together. By this time, Charley had completely passed out from the excitement of the day. "My babysitter's going to have a heck of an easy night!" I thought to myself. I texted my friend to make sure it wasn't still pouring in SLP, and waited for my friend to come watch Charley. Well, it wasn't pouring buckets in SLP, but it was between St. Paul and Hugo, and my friend couldn't make it out to babysit. I was disappointed, because the party was for one of my closest friends, and the one who always hosts parties for everybody else. But unfortunately, no sitter…no party. That's the life of a single mom! So, I ended up staying in.

Master Bedroom

This morning, I woke up and instantly realized I'd left that beautiful plant that I'd received as a gift outside during the terrible rain. I opened up the front door, and crossed my fingers that it wouldn't be flooded and drowned. This was mostly a concern, because historically, I have a markedly black thumb. From the time I left a plant in my car (and came back to find my car fogged up, and the plant completely shriveled) to the time I watered my friend's plants while she was gone, but found out she thought I'd forgotten, because they were mostly dead when she got back… I just seem to be bad with plants. To my surprise, the plant looked great. To me, I looked at it as a sign…a sign that I'm turning over a new leaf. New home, new beginnings… leaving the past where it belongs, and moving forward in life. Finally, feeling settled. And I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life who have helped me get to this point. On that note, have a wonderful week!

Making Connections

So, the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Charley and I have been to the zoo twice, the school four or five times, the gym, the park, the splash pad…not to mention COUNTLESS furniture stores… Let's just say we've been pretty busy. I talked to my landlord last week, and he let me know I can move in this Thursday. It's a few days ahead of schedule, but I am SO ready to make the move. I know I've talked about a fresh start before, but it's felt like I've been stuck the last couple of weeks, halfway packed but ready for my new beginning!

With that said, the last couple of weeks might have been busy, but they've been really great, for the most part! There've been a few hiccups, due to my self-proclaimed ditziness, but all-in-all, I've gotten a lot done. I've been spending more time in the gym, and it just reminds me how much I LOVE coaching. The gym is really where I feel most at home. Funny story about the gym, actually… The other day I had just finished up a series of private lessons and was walking toward the door, when I saw a man from a distance who looked very familiar to me. He asked one of my co-workers if Lindsey Kaplan was in. I overheard him say my name, and realized he must've known me a long time ago, because he referred to me using my maiden name. Sure enough, as I walked closer, I realized that it was a guy I graduated from high school with. He wanted to get his daughter back in gymnastics, and knew (via FB) that I work at Kenwood, so he brought her in. I evaluated his daughter's skill level (and she is ADORABLE, I might add), and he signed her up for classes. It was really cool, actually. I haven't seen this man since high school, and even then, I never knew him terribly well.  But it was clear that he's really developed into a great guy, and a wonderful father. How cool is that?  I mean, I know I've changed a lot in the last few years, and I expect that everyone I knew in high school has changed, too. But it's rare that I actually see anybody from high school, outside of my close friends. It was kind of a fun experience for me!

So, I mentioned that Charley and I have been furniture shopping like crazy. Seriously, I think I've tested 20+ couches. I'm so picky… I know exactly what I want, but if I'm being responsible and realistic, what I WANT is probably out of my price range. Anyway, Charley and I have been in and out of furniture stores, and she's been quite a trooper… I mean, for a three-year-old, I'm impressed at how easily she can amuse herself in Ashely Furniture. Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and made a purchase, because the idea of moving into my new place and being couchless for even one more day makes me shudder. So, I will officially have a couch again on Thursday. Woohoo! It's pretty cute, too. Score for me! Basically, the couch purchase means that the last major thing I have to purchase is a new TV. I'll decorate over time, but once I get the TV, I should have everything I need to make my new house a home.

Today was kind of a special day. It was my mom's retirement party, and we got to see some old friends.  It was great to celebrate my mom, who is one of the hardest working women on the face of the earth. Both of my parents are driven, and hardworking, but I know I get many of my workhorse qualities from my mom. Anyway, I also got a chance to visit with some family friends I've known all my life. Incidentally, they live in Lindstrom and Shafer, MN, both small towns fairly close to my new place. These particular family friends are really more like aunts and uncles to me. We went up to the cabin with them every summer when I was a kid, and I genuinely looked forward to catching up with them, today. It was so funny to sit with these people who knew me when I was Charley's age, drink wine, and get lost in conversation about work, life, friends, dating…it was like I was just chatting with my girlfriends. At one point I mentioned that my aunt is coming in town in August, just to visit, and spend some time with Charley to give me a break, and the stipulations around her visit. My aunt insists that I go out at least two of the nights that she's in town. "I won't have to worry about getting back at a reasonable hour, if she's staying at my house," I said. "If at all…" one of the women said. I cracked up. It was just so fun to have such a relaxed conversation with people who I consider to be extended family! Plus, they were very sweet, offering to babysit Charley anytime, because they'd be nearby. "You need to get out and have fun yourself, Linds," one of them said, "Being a mom 24-7 without a break is enough to drive you crazy!" She's so right. And wonderful. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with them in the next few months.

So, it's been a busy, but exciting few weeks. I have a feeling that this upcoming week will be a whirlwind, and I'm totally okay with that. I can't wait until a week from today, when I'm sitting on my new couch, in my new house, contemplating my new beginning. With that….have a great night!

A Plethora of Flakiness…

Generally, I think most people would say I'm a fairly intelligent and articulate person. When it comes to the things that I know, and things that I do, I tend to make good decisions. I don't jump into things without gathering all of the information, and I think things through before I do them. I'm structured, reasonably organized, and I like to plan things in advance. However, it seems to me, that when I'm overwhelmed with TOO many things, I become a complete flake. Like a SERIOUS flake! It's one of those personality traits that I have grown to recognize in myself, and when I notice signs of flakiness, I realize that I need to SLOW DOWN and get more sleep. This last week has been a doozy…It was the last week of school, Charley's last week of preschool, I'm trying to organize things for the move, and sell my business (yes, I'm sad to say GO! Gymnastics is seeking new ownership…right idea, but came along at the wrong time for me). Anyway, all of these things are very positive, and allowing me to move forward in my life. But they all hit at the same time. Which in turn, left me a little bit (a lot…I should've said a lot) overwhelmed. Anyway, the things that I do when I'm a flake can be relatively humorous. So, I thought I'd make a list of the things I've done in the last week that demonstrate my current lack of brainpower. I legitimately laugh at myself during these times, and I hope I give you a laugh as well. Here we go…

1. I scheduled tests two hours apart in two different locations. I've already beaten this story to death, but it did happen last week…and served as the starting point for the flakiness.

2. I lost my keys. Okay, this is actually a pretty funny story. The other day, one of my friends picked me up for breakfast. I never checked for my keys, because I'm used to driving all the time, so I just assumed I had them. When I got back to my place, I realized that I didn't have my keys. I figured they must've fallen out on my walk to the car, so I checked the yard, sidewalk, etc…No luck. I scrolled through my phone to find the phone number to the restaurant, who, sure enough, didn't have a working number. Typical. So, I borrowed my friend's car and drove to the restaurant to find my keys, which I was CERTAIN must've fallen out of my purse when I took out my wallet to pay. Again, no luck. "Crap!" I thought, "Where could my keys be?" So, I returned to my car, annoyed.  I'd thrown something in my car earlier in the morning, so I figured it was just my luck. Clearly, I must've locked my keys in my car, right? So I called a locksmith, who came and opened my car. And $145 later, revealed that my keys were indeed NOT in my car. Awesome. I'd looked everywhere, and the keys were nowhere to be found. I had one last idea, but I knew the chance of my keys actually turning up was slim to none. I had nothing to lose, though, so I gave it a shot. You see, my friend and I had intended to go to one restaurant, but got to the door and realized the wait would be too long, so we got back in the car and went somewhere else. Well, I called the restaurant and asked if anybody had turned in any keys. "Volkswagen keys?" the hostess asked. "Yes!" I squealed into the phone. "Well a man found them on the ground outside, and brought them in…but he wasn't sure if they belonged to a patron of ours, so he put them back on the ground where he found them, "she stated. My heart sunk. "I'm sending the busboy out to check for them. I'll call you back in 5 minutes," she told me. I kept my fingers crossed. Sure enough, I got a phone call shortly thereafter confirming that they DID indeed have my keys. So, it was back in my friend's car, and back to the FIRST restaurant, and finally, I had my keys back. It's a good thing, too, because I had an awful lot of road tripping over the weekend.

3. I mentioned to one of my friends that I was trying to sell my desk, and I needed to sell my couch. He told me that I should have started that process a long time ago, because those things take awhile to sell on Craigslist. The desk has been on Craigslist for a couple of weeks, with no luck, but the couch, I'd held off on.  I got a little paranoid. My couch wasn't really built for my new place, and I didn't want to be stuck lugging it along with me. So, I put it on Craigslist, too. It sold. In an hour. Which means that Charley and I are officially couch less until we move. Ha! Total ditz.

4. I started packing big time. Which is great, because it will alleviate the work I have to do in the days just prior to our big move. But I started to pack up the kitchen, including ALL of my cooking utensils (thank goodness I didn't get into the eating utensils drawer). Basically, this just means that I won't be cooking for the next 3 weeks.

5. On my drive with Charley today, we were at a little rest stop in Iowa. I was paying for my coffee and a treat for Charley. As I reached to put my change back in my purse, I completely knocked my coffee over and it spilled everywhere. The cashier was so nice about it, but it was so embarrassing! One of those moments, where you just have to laugh at yourself. So I did!

Those little mishaps are just the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks will be full of similar moments. With that said, if I come off like a complete idiot at any given time between now and the time I move, forgive me. I will be back to normal after I move and get settled in.

On that note, have a fantastic week!

P.S. It's come to my attention that I forgot one of my best moments of the week! I was in the Ikea area, the other day, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to pick up a new storage unit for Charley's room. It was fairly large, and I knew it would be a challenge to get it into my car…particularly because I was doing it by myself! Lucky for me, Charley wasn't with me, so I was able to move her carseat out of the way. Anyway, I was fiddling with the seats, trying to get the unit in the car, when I thought I should probably just put the back seats down, and push it through the trunk. Little did I know, I had never removed Bruce, the creepy life-sized doll that's tormented my family for years, from my trunk. I had put the doll in there, with the intention of pranking my older sister when she was in town. Well, that, my friends, is what they call karma. And karma's a bitch.  I jumped back as I opened the trunk, and promptly closed it, convinced that it would be better for me to fiddle around with the seats in the front of the car than have people walk by, wondering why I had a child in my trunk. It took some maneuvering, but I pulled it off. Ha!

You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!

Ok, I haven't posted two days in a row in a long time, but the events of the morning will likely provide you with a good laugh. Let me set the stage here, a little bit…

It all started a few weeks ago, when I got a notification that my teaching license is due to expire at the end of June. Now, I just became licensed in Minnesota in November, but I was issued a temporary license, which would give me time to complete the MN state licensure tests. This whole ordeal was frustrating from the beginning, because I took equivalent tests when I lived in NV, at a cost of something like $90 each. And there were 6 tests. Naturally, there is no reciprocity, so I have to take nearly identical assessments, all over again. Anyway, I registered to take the tests today, because I knew Charley's childcare was covered, and I wanted to ensure there is time for the paperwork to process before the license expires. Last night, Charley was crabby and tired, because we'd spent the whole afternoon at the gym. In fact, she was beyond tired. She was overtired. Which meant, it was harder for her to get to sleep, because she was so cranky. When she finally did fall asleep, around 9, I got to work studying for the 4 exams I'd registered to take this morning, starting at 8:00. That lasted for about 20 minutes, before I decided it was more important for me to finish writing a student evaluation and sub lessons for the day. Originally, I'd planned to start all of this around 7, because that tends to be Charley's bedtime when she hasn't napped. But no luck! So, I got off task (typical), and went to bed around 11, knowing I had to be up at 5:30 to get Charley to daycare in Forest Lake and be in Brooklyn Park for a test at 8:00. This is where it gets fun.

I got up on-time, and got myself dressed. I threw on some yoga pants and a hoodie, knowing I wouldn't be going into the school today, let Oscar out, got Charley dressed, and headed out the door. When I got Charley in the car, she determined that she wanted to wear different shoes. Normally, I wouldn't give her an option, but she was so tired from getting up early, that I decided to run in and get the shoes. As I walked into the living room, I realized that Oscar had peed on the floor…and he had literally been let out 5 minutes prior! I was so mad. I grabbed an old towel, cleaned up the mess, grabbed Charley's shoes, and ran back to the car. I dropped her off at school, and made it to Brooklyn Park with plenty of time to spare. Phew. Or so I thought. As I walked up to the counter to present my ID, the testing administrator looked at me and said, "I have you down for 10:15." I stood there thinking, "I hope I'm at the right place. I couldn't have been THAT flaky..."  I reached into my bag to grab my phone, and show him the 8:00 testing confirmation, but was told in no uncertain terms that my phone had to stay away. He clicked around on his computer for a minute before saying, "You are registered for an 8:00 appointment. In St. Paul. So…. Run? And I'll see you back here at 10:15!" At this point it was five minutes until 8, and the St. Paul location was 30 minutes away. I called the testing site, told them I was on my way, and prayed that traffic wouldn't be too brutal. Well, it was rush hour. But I made it to the testing site by 8:30…30 minutes late! But they let me take my first two tests. By the time I was done with the first test, my ADD had kicked in, and I found myself reading the same questions over and over again, like an idiot. After an hour, I'd finished both tests, and thank goodness, I PASSED. Phew. For real.

But my morning wasn't over. From there, I had to drive BACK to Brooklyn Park for my 10:15 tests, and it was already 9:55 as I was leaving the testing facility. I had my game face on, and made it to Brooklyn Park by 10:20, and got started on my second set of tests. At this point, I was tired, and my morning caffeine fix had started to wear off. I was only about halfway through the first tests, when I started getting antsy, and SO sick of reading on a computer screen. It was funny, because I noticed myself doing some of the things my students do, when they're testing…crossing and uncrossing my legs, sitting on one leg, changing positions…I'm sure I was amusing to watch. Anyway, 100 questions later, I had FINALLY finished 4 exams, in 2 different locations and passed them all. What a relief. After that, I went straight home to eat some lunch, before going back to Forest Lake to get Charley. And you know what? I think I am going to take a nap. Ha!

So, to sum up…since 6:30 this morning, I've been from Minneapolis, to Forest Lake, to Brooklyn Park, to St. Paul, back to Brooklyn Park, and now back to Minneapolis. I felt like a ping-pong ball! I'm exhausted. And it's not even one o'clock! Not the way I planned to start my week….but at the end of the day, it's okay because I've gotten the testing done. Woohoo! Have a great week!

How Did We Get on This Topic?

Okay, so the last few weeks at school have been a little bit wild. In all honesty, this last week was not nearly as bad as the previous week, which was a relief. Until Friday, of course. The last Friday of the school year is always a little bit out of control, and last week was no exception. I found that I didn't have my normal patience for a couple of my students, mostly because they were refusing to work, and pouting because they didn't get the privileges the other students were earning. As I tell my kiddos regularly, "I don't speak whine," and I was just tired of putting in more effort than they were to get their work done. I don't think it's fair for me to give 100%, while they are giving 20%, so I simply told them that I was only going to work as hard as they did. Fortunately, for the most part, they turned it around and got their work completed, but it took all day, and A LOT of reminders to get back to work.

Now, I probably wasn't my regular patient self on Friday, partially because I'd had one of my girlfriends over on Thursday night, and she didn't leave until 12:15. She and I have done this many times before. She comes over, with the intention of staying for an hour or so, and before we know it, 3+ hours have passed, and we both know we'll be miserable the next day. Well, she left at 12:15, and I had to wake up at 5:30, so let's just say I was suffering from a noticeable lack of sleep! It was totally worth it, though. We had one of the funniest conversations. I'm not really sure how, but somehow we got on the topic of kids and giving birth. She'd heard a birthing story from a friend of hers, who happens to be an OB-GYN herself, this girl scared the crap out of my friend. Basically, this woman was given pain meds, but not the epidural, because her labor had gone too quickly, and the meds did nothing for her except make her loopy. That made me laugh, because I know EXACTLY what she meant by that. I remember being in the hospital, on pain meds, prior to my epidural, and having no shame. Literally no shame. I was screaming, saying random nonsense that I don't remember… And I didn't give a crap that there were other people around at all. Which is SO not me. Anyway, my friend's instant response was, "I'm never having children. Ever." Ha! As we continued our discussion, she mentioned that if she DID have kids, she wouldn't let her boyfriend in the room while she delivered. When she told him that, he got all offended, but she insisted that she didn't want him to see all of the gross aspects of labor and delivery. She'd rather have him in the waiting room with all of the other men, holding bubblegum cigars, pretending it's the 50s, than have him see her pushing out a baby! Ha! I totally get that. I never got to the pushing point, because I ended up having a C-section…but I'm not sure I would've wanted ANYBODY around to see that.

So, as our night continued, of course the topic of men came up. She said something that really clicked with me. She read somewhere that the number one thing women look for in relationships is to feel wanted, to feel desired. When women don't feel wanted, they begin to check out. I think that's true. Honestly, I think everybody wants to feel wanted. For me, however, it's very important to get that feeling from the right person. A while back, I dated a guy who was very attentive and he tried hard to make me feel wanted. But he was over-the-top. He brought flowers every time he saw me, and while that was thoughtful, it began to feel insincere, particularly when he said, "I just like bringing you flowers. I don't expect anything in return." Hmmmm. If you didn't expect anything, you probably wouldn't have said that. I love sweet gestures, but I think they mean more to me when they're totally unexpected, and genuinely come from the heart. An occasional compliment is definitely something I need from a man, but I honestly PREFER those comments to be occasional. When they're constant, they don't mean as much. Anyway, as we talked further, I mentioned that another one of our friends wants to set me up with someone. "He would treat you like a princess," she said, "He would put you on a pedestal, and totally worship you." Here's the thing…I don't want to be worshipped. I don't want to be treated like a queen. I feel like being put in that kind of light (on a pedestal) gives me more control than I want in a relationship. I don't want to run the show. I simply want to be treated like an equal. Is that weird? I'm just not the princess type, I guess. I do appreciate the thought, though!

Last night, I met up with some girlfriends and their boyfriends for dinner and drinks. Or should I say A drink. I should never consume alcohol. I barely made it halfway through my margarita, before passing it off to my friend's fiancee, because it was making me sick. Boy, did we have a good time, though. It's always nice to have a night out with my friends! Even though I ended up at home by 10:00 (I was tired, and that margarita was REALLY strong), I was definitely glad I'd gone out and had some fun!

This morning, I went into the gym for a few minutes to open up for the day's birthday parties and private lessons. Generally I have a private right away, but today, I'd rescheduled that for later, so I just went in and chatted with a couple of my co-workers for a few minutes. They asked about my new house, and I explained that I hadn't moved yet. Immediately, they were like, "Let us know if you need help moving anything!" How nice is that? As I was leaving the gym, another one of my coaching friends had texted me, so I called her. She also thought I'd already moved, and when she heard I hadn't, she had the exact same response. "When are you moving? Do you need help? Let me know when, and I can help you move!" I know that a long time ago I mentioned how my coaching friends are really like family, but I haven't really been in the gym lately, so sometimes I forget that I have that support system. They're SUCH good people. And I'm lucky… I know they offer because they genuinely want to help me. So, it looks like I've got a moving crew started! Now I just need a move-in date. According to my paperwork, that date is July 1 (ONE MONTH!!!), but in the off-chance that I can get in before that, I'll jump at the opportunity! It's an upward move for me, and I'm really looking forward to it. Life is moving forward in full swing, right now, and I can't wait to see where it's leading me! Have a great week!

A Well-Deserved Long Weekend!

Whoa, this week was a doozy! The long weekend couldn't have come soon enough! As the school year is winding down, the kids have more and more field trips and special activities. While these are fun for the students, they also create disruptions in the school day, which can be particularly difficult for the students I work with, who benefit from routine. If they have to miss out on an activity for one reason or another, it generally hits them hard, and they have difficulty expressing how they feel, so it comes out in anger. I was lucky and didn't have any huge meltdowns from my kiddos, but I seemed to be putting out little fires all week long. While that is one of my favorite parts of my job, I didn't anticipate putting out QUITE so many fires this week!

Outside of school, I've found that Charley is going through a phase that has come along a little bit too early for my liking. Charley is generally in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. This week, I think she was up until at least 9:00, with the exception of last night. Yes, that's right, on SATURDAY she was in bed at like 7:45, but during the week, when I have to be up at 5:30, she was wide awake until 10. Typical. Anyway, I think the change in her sleep pattern is due to a couple of things. First of all,  Charley is supposed to go visit her dad and grandparents in a couple of weeks. She has done it once before, and did just fine. This time around, we've been talking about it quite a bit, so she is prepared. However, she has been having a hard time lately, when it comes to her dad. She's in school now, and very aware of the other kids' families, and notices that many of the kids are dropped off or picked up by their dads. In turn, she's been asking a lot of questions, such as, "Can my dad come to our house?" and "Is my dad in our family?" It's heartbreaking. My response is always something like, "Yes, your dad can come to our house if he comes in town," or, "Your dad is in your family, but not in mine. He loves you, because you're his daughter." I think the hardest is when she suggests that I get married to her daddy. It's happened several times, and each time, I have to explain that her dad and I will not be getting married, but we both love her. Now, my relationship with Charley's dad has never been perfect, particularly since our separation and divorce. However, it is my firm belief that the things that went wrong in my marriage are things that Charley should never know. I want her to have a healthy relationship with her father and his family, so it's a goal of mine to impart as much positivity as possible when she asks about them. She is so observant and perceptive, that she's picked up on how our family is different from others, and it happened earlier than I'd expected. I'm muddling through, and hoping I'm telling her the right things! I'm pretty good at talking about these types of issues with my students, but they're 10. She's 3. She doesn't have the emotional maturity to comprehend or verbalize how she's feeling. It's certainly been a challenge for me the last couple of weeks, that's for sure!

Okay, enough of the pity party. I think another reason Charley's bedtime routine has been upset lately has to do with the fact that we were BUSY every night last week! I finally got my long-awaited tax return, and I'd been telling my family that once I got the money in the bank, I would go get myself some new glasses. To make a long story short, my glasses got broken (in half...monocle style...classy!) several months ago, and since my vision has never been that bad, I've just been doing without. Well, in the last two months or so, I've found myself squinting more and more, and finally gave in and went to the eye doctor. By the time it was all said and done, I'd spent a small fortune on new glasses and prescription sunglasses (BEST purchase ever), and spent much of my Monday evening out of the house. On Tuesday, we had some neighbors over for awhile, which was great, but somewhat out of Charley's routine, so she was up late again. The rest of the week is kind of mush in my brain, because the kids at the school wiped me out so drastically, all of the days blend together. What I DO know, though, is that our routine was disrupted, and Charley responded by staying up hours past her bedtime, which meant the time I usually have to myself to get things done around the house, was nonexistent. Nice.

With the craziness of the week, I was so excited for the weekend! Saturday, I ran some errands while my mom watched Charley for a couple of hours. Even just a few hours to myself on a weekend is always appreciated! When we got home, we made some dinner, chatted with the neighbors, who were outside gardening, and went to bed early. It was great. I went to bed with the intention of sleeping in, because I knew I wouldn't have to work today, because the gym was closed. Sleep in? That was wishful thinking. Around 5:00 a.m. I awoke, to my phone ringing. "Why the $#%^ is my mom calling me at 5:00 on her birthday?" I thought to myself. Sure enough, it was an unfortunate accidental dial, but nonetheless I was wide awake at 5. By the time I got myself back into a sleepy zone, Charley had decided it was time to get up. At 6. Awesome. We had a great day, though! We met up with a friend of mine and her kids at the Como Zoo, and had a wonderful time. Charley didn't stop talking about her new friends, the buffalo, polar bear, and giraffes, until she fell asleep! It was nice to get out of the house and do something fun on such a nice day. After the zoo, we went to my mom's for her birthday dinner, which was nice. Charley got to play with one of her cousins, and we all had a chance to celebrate with my mom. It was a nice way to spend a pre-Memorial Day Sunday!

So, my goal for tonight is to sleep past 6:00 tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that I can subconsciously communicate with Charley that JUST because the sun comes up, it doesn't mean it's time to get out of bed! Have a safe Memorial Day, and a great week!

Girls Nights...Two in a Row!

Whoa, what a weekend! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about having a night to myself,  and packing it full of activities? Well, this weekend was the same way. Packed from beginning to end...but it was amazing!

On Friday afternoon, Charley and I went shopping with two of my girlfriends. We grabbed dinner, and shopped around the mall a little bit. Charley needed an outfit for my mom's upcoming retirement party, so we looked for that, and I did a little bit of window shopping for myself. Now that I know the space I'll be moving to, I've been keeping my eye out for FURNITURE, as opposed to things for myself. Anyway, we got home late (well, late for Charley), and she went to bed right away. I was hoping she'd be so tired she would be inspired to sleep in on Saturday morning. No such luck. She was up bright and early, at 6:00, and ready to start the day. I'm generally a morning person, but 6 a.m. on a Saturday should be too early for anyone, right? We had kind of a lazy morning, and didn't even make it in to gymnastics. It was one of those days where you know you have lots of time before something starts, and so you move slowly...and then you realize that your leisurely morning lead you to suddenly be running behind! So, we skipped the gym, and I took Charley to my mom's house, where she would be spending the day and night. I went immediately to Ikea, where I met up with a friend of mine to browse, and get some ideas for my new place. She's moving soon, too, but to a very different style of apartment, so we were definitely searching for different things. I got some ideas, particularly for toy storage. I don't know about anybody else, but I swear, Charley's toys have completely taken over my current place! It's out of control. So, I picked up some storage bins, and found myself genuinely excited to bring them home, and start sorting through her things!

I didn't go straight home, after Ikea, though. As I mentioned in my last post, I had booked a massage for Saturday. When I went to check in, and said I'd never had a massage before, I got looks of downright pity from the receptionists. "Oh, you HAVE to get massages," they said, "Make it your me time." Well, I figured I would have the massage and go from there. I was early for my appointment, so I went into the Tranquility Room (basically a replica of the waiting room, but with soft music and hot tea), and waited to be called back. As I sat there, 6 other people came through the door, waiting for their appointments. As the massage therapists started coming out to get their 2:00 appointments, I was certain I'd be the first one called....or the second...or MAYBE the third. Nope! Sure enough, I was the last one called back, because my therapist was running a few minutes late. I kept telling myself, "This is your relaxing time. Don't get irritated by something little." So, when I finally got called back, I was more than  little bit excited. I got to the room, got under the blanket, and explained that I wasn't really experiencing any pain, but I just wanted a relaxation massage, with medium pressure. Well, if I received medium pressure, I have NO idea what deep pressure could feel like. 90% of the experience was incredible. I was relaxed, and felt great. The masseuse kept concentrating on a couple of ridiculous knots in my back, and while she was working on my left shoulder, she kept asking me if a certain area was painful. "Not on a daily basis," I replied, "But I can definitely feel it right now!" She kept working on it, and said, "Hmmm....I think you should get that checked out. It feels like you have a tendon...but there's not supposed to be a tendon there. In my 15 years doing this, I've never felt anything like it!" Ha! Typical. One of those things that could only happen to me...Or my friend Kellie.... Anyway, the massage was great, I left feeling relaxed, and I'm ridiculously sore today, so I guess it was probably effective.

After the massage, I finally made it home to start sorting through Charley's toys. I am pretty sure my dog was silently cursing me, as I dumped toys all over the floor, and started sorting them into the appropriate bins. He was not amused. But I got started sorting, both in Charley's room and the living room (which was probably the least efficient organization method ever), and at some point, I ended up cleaning under the bathroom sink. I'm still not quite sure how that transition took place, but nonetheless, it did! Once I started in the bathroom, I ended up cleaning it from top to bottom, throwing out old makeup and lotions, sorting all of my things into appropriate categories (hey, I was on a roll, I figured I'd go with it), and scrubbing the tub and the sink. Meanwhile, I still had toys and bins out all over the floor in both the living room and Charley's room. I made a conscious decision to clean Charley's room first, and move into the living room later. Then, I realized I hadn't checked my phone in awhile. I'd missed 5 text messages, and realized that I was supposed to be across town for dinner with a girlfriend in 45 minutes. So, I gave up on the task at hand (realizing I'd be up until 1 a.m. finishing my various projects), threw on some clothes, glanced in the mirror and accepted that I looked like a mess, and raced out the door.

Dinner was awesome. I met up with my friend Lindsay, and we chatted for hours with a glass of wine by the fire at Tavern on France. Lindsay is one of my oldest friends, and she's one of those women that I can go weeks if not months without talking to, and when we finally DO catch up, our friendship is still exactly the same. We both have a lot going on right now, so it's been hard to get together. It seems like whenever I'm available, she's working, or busy, and vice versa. But I'm so glad we made it work last night. She asked me about my life, my upcoming move, and of course, Charley. She's the child of a single mother (who's totally amazing, by the way), and she said some really nice things to me, mostly about me making time for myself. Looking back, this was one of my New Year's resolutions, and I haven't done it very well. It's just that, with Charley in school all day, I feel guilty sometimes, asking for people to babysit on the weekend. And at the same time, I don't want to put anybody out. "You HAVE to do it, Linds," she said, "You have to take care of YOU, and make time for yourself sometimes. And Ryan and I will babysit." Ha! It was a generous offer, and I know I'll take her up on it. She made it very clear that I wouldn't be putting them out at all, and I know she's right. She's not the only one of my high school girlfriends who has made that offer, and I really need to start taking advantage of that every once in awhile.

Anyway, Lindsay is recently engaged, so I was asking all kinds of questions about the wedding. It was really nice to hear her plans, and get an idea of her vision for the wedding. She and her fiancee are so well-suited for each other, and I honestly enjoy watching them interact. He met us out last night, and he just blends so smoothly into the conversation. He's a genuinely nice person, and watching the two of them together...how well they complement each other...it's inspiring. They make each other happy. Really happy. Each one of them seems to put the others' needs in front of their own, and it works. THEY work. And I'm so happy for them!

Alright, that was a LOT of rambling for the night. I'm exhausted. I hope everybody had a great weekend!

It's All Coming Together...

It's been a very busy and exciting week for me, and I haven't really had a chance to sit down and write about it. In my most recent blog, I talked about how much my life has changed in the last year, and how much I've changed, as a result. For the most part, I would like to think I've changed for the better. And it seems like the universe has finally aligned, to help me out! I'll fill you in on the last week, and get to the excitement that has come my way!

Over the weekend, I worked quite a bit. I judged team tryouts at the gym on Saturday, which was such an interesting experience. I've never actually had girls try out for a team before. It was a bit overwhelming, because 30 girls signed up, but 63 actually SHOWED up to try out for the team, and there were a limited number of spots. It was fun to see so many kids who were interested in becoming competitive in gymnastics. It's definitely my favorite hobby....And I love watching girls with some drive trying their hardest to do well! Just before tryouts, one of my regular private lessons texted me to see if I was available that day. I explained that the gym wasn't available due to tryouts, but that I could take her daughter on Sunday morning. Her response was, "But that's Mother's Day! Your day to be celebrated as a mommy!" She would've been happy to bring her daughter, but wanted ME to take a day off. That was so sweet! I appreciated her thoughtfulness. My Saturday evening didn't quite go as planned. I had been planning a night without Charley, but my mom had to cancel, so we ended up snuggling up on the couch watching The Little Mermaid. It was kind of a nice way to spend the night!

On Mother's Day, I woke up to several "Happy Mom's Day," text messages that got me off to a great start. Charley and I went to the gym, where I coached 2 private lessons, then Char and I played for awhile. That play time was probably one of the best Mother's Day gifts I could've gotten. We just got to have FUN together. After the gym, we met up with my family for brunch, which was wonderful. After gorging myself on a strawberry waffle, Charley and I had to race out of the restaurant, because we had somewhere to be...a town house we were looking at! And I had a good feeling about it. I know that a few weeks back, I wrote about a house that I absolutely adored. It felt like home. Well, I wrote an email to the landlord and told him I absolutely loved the town home, but couldn't commit to a May 15 move-in date. His tenant had mentioned that he owned several properties, so I asked him to contact me if he had anything becoming available in June or July. Sure enough, he responded and let me know that he had a unit available July 1st, in the same community...even the same floor plan as the original house. It wasn't even listed yet, so I had no competition. I was optimistic about it, and couldn't wait to check it out.

It was so interesting pulling up to the town home. The first home in the area that I'd looked at was home to a family. This particular unit was home to a single dad and his son. It was so funny to see the difference between a home decorated by a woman, and a home decorated by a single man. In the first house, there was art on the wall, family pictures everywhere, and it was very homey. In the house I viewed Sunday, there was a couch and a TV downstairs, a couch and a TV in the loft, minimal cooking utensils in the kitchen, and a bed and TV in both upstairs bedrooms. It just highlighted a major difference between men and women! Now, I certainly preferred the decor in the first home, but the lack of decor in the second home made it easier to visualize how I could decorate it for Charley and me. How we could make it OUR home. I fell in love with it, and put in an application on the spot. I was very honest with the landlord, and told him my finances haven't been perfect in the years since my divorce, but things have started to turn around for me in that area, after a long period of financial difficulty. He told me he understood, and basically told me that as long as my references checked out, the place would be mine as of July 1st.

So, all week I'd been anticipating a phone call from him. That phone call came today. Now, like I said, he made it clear on Sunday, that pending my reference check, I'd be able to move in at the beginning of July. But there was still that degree of nervousness, not knowing if it would fall through at the last minute. When I listened to the voicemail, he told me that he'd love to offer me the town home, and wanted to set up a time to fill out the paperwork. I was ECSTATIC. I'm pretty sure I was smiling all day (until, of course, one of my students decided to cop an attitude....I was, 'Serious Lindsey,' at that point... HA!). Anyway, when I called him to set up the time to sign the paperwork, I told him how excited I was. He surprised me with his response. He said, "Well, you know, I called your references. People like you Lindsey. They really do. That's about the best thing a landlord can ask for in a tenant." I was caught off guard, because I wasn't expecting the compliment. I mean, my references weren't the personal references I usually rely on for character evaluations. They were the principal at my school, the owner at the gym, and my current landlord. I've always had great interactions with all three of these references, but there was something about the way the statement was made that gave me a very warm-fuzzy feeling. Yeah, I know, I'm a dork...but it was nice! And I got the place, so I'll be forever grateful to those who helped make it possible!

Ok, so that's essentially why I'm so excited about things going on in my life today. This weekend, my mom offered to watch Charley on Saturday, until first thing Sunday morning, so I've already planned an Ikea date with a friend, and booked myself a massage...Funny story about that massage... It was actually a Christmas gift from a couple of my friends. When I told one of my friends that a couple had given me a massage for Christmas, her response was, "Together?!" It was one of those things that you say...then you hear it how it must've been heard...then rephrase it. Ha! Well, a couple didn't GIVE me a massage....they purchased a gift card for me to receive one. So I'm finally taking advantage, and I'm looking forward to relaxing. Sorry, that was totally off-topic. Anyway,  after that, my plan is to start boxing up Charley's toys. I have to do it while she's gone, otherwise she will be so mad at me! In the last week, she's developed a liking for repeating phrases like, "Ugh, that's SO ANNOYING." I've got my hands full. Good thing she's cute!

I'll leave you with a quote tonight. I came across this on FB the other day. "It's not what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you that matters. Count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles." I'm counting my blessings. I've had a LOT happen to me...a lot of negative things happen to me. But I'm still counting my blessings, because I have a lot to be thankful for right now. On that note, goodnight!

Baby Steps or Giant Leaps?

So, tonight Charley and I went out to dinner with an old friend of mine. This particular friend is one I've known since grade school, but we didn't really become close until I moved back to MN from Las Vegas. She's very sweet and supportive, and she is one of Charley's biggest fans, so naturally Charley adores her, too! Anyway, as we spoke tonight, she mentioned that she'd  glanced at several of my old blog posts a little while back, and she can't believe how drastically my life (and my blog) have changed, in such a short time. "I was reading about your online dating stories, and you're just not in that 'date around' place at all anymore. It feels like all that was so long ago!" she stated.  She's absolutely right.
I'm no longer interested in meeting dozens of people, and going out on lots of dates. I can't think of anything that sounds more exhausting and deplorable. At this point, I recognize that I've grown up. I'm ready to settle down. And as much as I'd like to forget some of my dating trials and tribulations of the last year and a half, I also need to acknowledge that even the worst moments served a purpose.

This all comes up, because my conversation with my friend prompted me to glance back at some of my first blog posts. I can't believe how many things I'd forgotten about writing down (some are slightly embarrassing)...and experiencing! It's like a running joke in my family that my sisters and I remember everything. EVERYTHING. Down to specific statements someone else made 15 years ago. Positive or negative, we remember it all. Don't try to tell my sister Kelsey you didn't say something, because she will not only be able to tell you word-for-word what you said, but she will also tell you what you were wearing, who else was there, etc...My memory is good, but hers is ridiculous. So it surprised me to look back at some of my posts, and see that there were SO many things that have happened in the past year that I didn't remember. I take that to mean they weren't as important, because I tend to remember the important things. So, I guess it's kind of nice for my own sake to keep this blog. It kind of gives me a chance to chronicle my life, and the opportunity to compare my past and present states of mind. It is funny, too, because I was at a very different point in my life, and that is evident in my writing. I guess I would like to call the initial phase of my blog my transitional phase. Now, I've moved into much more of a settled mode. What brought that on? A desire for self-improvement. I've always been a 'fixer' and tried to make things better or easier for everybody else in my life. But when I actually re-examined MYSELF and looked for how I could make my life more fulfilling, I came across a quote that seemed fitting: 

"Your life will improve only when you take small chances, and the first and most difficult chance you can take is to be honest with yourself." 

Several months ago, when I was attempting to run GO! Gymnastics as a full-time job, I was struggling. I found myself so concerned about making ends meet, that I couldn't focus. I couldn't get anything done or be productive, because I was overwhelmed. When I was honest with myself, and determined that I needed to start looking for full-time jobs, suddenly, I felt the pieces fall into place. I took a risk, and applied for a teaching job...My first time in a face-to-face, special education setting since 2007 (although I guess many would say my classroom of misfits at Lynch could qualify as special education... Ha!). It was a chance. And a chance I'm so glad I decided to take. It's not just that I wanted the job at the school... I NEEDED it. I craved the structure, daily routine, and consistent paycheck. It was the right job, at the right time, and I feel fortunate to have a job that I love.

Now, with all of that said, since I started teaching in the classroom again, I feel like my life has come together. At this point, I have a few loose ends, but for the most part, I feel like I'm on the right track. I didn't get into the house Charley and I loved (I just couldn't commit to a May 15th move in date), but there's another home in the same community that's available July 1, so I have the potential of moving at that point. I can't wait to move, and get settled in a new home. I take that back... I LOATHE the whole moving process...but I can't wait to get settled in.  I'm looking forward to living outside of the cities a bit, and getting more involved in my community. With that said, part of me hopes a home in my desired community becomes available early to mid-June, because I'm anxious to make the move! Sorry, sidetracked a little....I was saying, I feel like my life is on the right track. I'm becoming more assertive, and standing up for things, where I might have backed down in the past. I'm finding that I actually ENJOY simple things like walking around the block with Charley when it's nice out. Charley continues to be well-adjusted and hilarious, so I guess I'm doing alright in the parenting department. My life is far from perfect, but after looking back and reading about my last year, it's clear to me that all of the steps I've made toward self-improvement, no matter how insignificant they might have been individually, have translated into giant leaps in terms of where I am in life right now. I'm glad I've started to take chances. With no risk, there's no reward. So, I will continue to take small chances, and see where they lead me. So far, so good! Goodnight!

Honesty and May Day Fun

I walked around Lake Calhoun yesterday, and I found myself in a very reflective, positive mood. I turned up my music, walked quickly, and enjoyed the weather. I wasn't surprised by the number of people, because it was a beautiful day. But it seems there were even more people there than usual, because the Cystic Fibrosis was going on. I found myself to be an unintentional participant in the fundraiser. Whoopsies! But even through all of the people and the hustle and bustle, I enjoyed doing something by myself, FOR myself. Walking. It was great, and it gave me an opportunity to think.

Today, I feel the need to write about honesty. This isn't my typical kind of post. I think the whole concept of honesty comes to mind at this time of year, because it was about two years ago that my life changed because of dishonesty, and I had the opportunity to start over. I'm a very honest person. I have told my share of white lies, particularly to Charley (she thinks every meat is chicken, matzo balls can pass for potatoes, and sausage is the same thing as pepperoni). However, when it comes down to the real issues, I'm honest. I've actually gotten BETTER at being honest in the last year or so. Not that I lied, before, but sometimes I'd hold back a little bit, simply to avoid an argument or hurt feelings. In working with my students, though, I've come to admire their honesty, and....dare I say....started to be more upfront, myself!

Now, don't get me wrong. There are times when their honesty can be downright rude. Like the time a student told me he thought I was little when I started working at the school, but now I seem like I'm normal sized. Hmmm.... So essentially, he told me I'd put on weight. He's right! But I was like, "Thanks a lot you little *#@%," Ha! Many times, their honesty is amusing. Such as the time last week, when a student told me he didn't like the project we're working on.  I'm having one of my writing groups re-write the words to Frozen's "Let it Go," to teach about long division. When I spoke with one of my students about it, he said, "You see, Ms. P, the boys don't really like this assignment."
"Why not?" I questioned.
"Well, the thing is, we don't really like to think that much. You like to think. But we don't. We'd rather just relax."
His reasoning was almost as hilarious as the delivery of the statement. He was totally polite, calm, and serious. It was as though his thought process was totally rational, and he was convinced that I would understand his point of view. It was hilarious! So, I politely and calmly stated, "Well, my friend, you don't come to school to relax. You can do that at home. You come to school to think. So get busy thinking, because you're not talking your way out of this one!" He gave me a defeated grin, and waved at me as I walked out of the room. I love my students!

I have grown to appreciate how honest kids can be. For better or for worse, they'll tell you how they feel. It's funny, because I feel like my students are far more open and honest with me than I would EVER have been with a teacher. If a teacher got a haircut that didn't look good, I'd still make a comment, and confirm that it looked great! If I had a crush on a boy in my class, the last person I would tell about it was my teacher! But my students tell me if my hair looks "poofy" and come to me if they have trouble with whoever they're "going out" with. But boy, are these kids honest, and often blunt. Do they bend the truth, if they think they'll get in trouble? Of course they do. They're kids. But if they're mad, for one reason or another, they have no issue letting it out!

Now, I decided to post about honesty today, for a reason. I think we, as adults, can learn a lot from kids when it comes to upfront, honest communication. It takes skill to be honest, and tactful at the same time, but it's something I'm working on. When I say that I'm working on it, I'm not implying that I have been dishonest. If anything, the only person I was really dishonest with in the past was myself. But I also hold back quite a bit, in order to avoid confrontation or uncomfortable situations. I did that in past relationships, and I generally found myself frustrated and annoyed...or very uncomfortable. Like the guy who asked me every time I saw him... "So...do you have any concerns about us, so far?" Ummmm.... the fact that he asked me EVERY time I saw him if I had concerns was a concern for me...Duh! But I'd just be like, "Nope, I'm good." I didn't want to deal with the discussion that was to follow, so I avoided it like the plague. In fact, I've avoided the, "What are we?" conversation several times. Danced around it like crazy, because it was so awkward, and I knew that once we had the conversation, I'd have to admit that I didn't really see things moving forward. That happened with 2 different guys...and I just let things taper off with them. Mostly because I wasn't secure enough to just come out and say, "You're a great guy, but you're not the one for me." That's an area where honesty is key, and I have gotten SO much better about it. I still have a hard time communicating what I want and need (my students certainly have NO difficulty in that area), but the last time I knew a guy wasn't right for me, I came right out and told him.  I swear, these kids are teaching me something!

Alright, before I wrap up here, I thought I'd share a project I did with my students this week. Thursday was May Day, and while that doesn't mean much to most people, it means a lot to me. As a child, my mom would help my sisters and I put together May baskets to deliver to our neighbors. We filled them with flowers and candy, placed them on the neighbors' doorsteps, rang the doorbell, and sprinted away, so we wouldn't get caught. Of course, all the neighbors knew it was us, because we became known for this little act of kindness, but we loved doing it. The whole purpose was to do something nice for someone else, with absolutely no expectation of receiving anything in return. The reward was in knowing that we made someone's day. Well, I decided to carry on this tradition at the school. The door to the classroom stayed shut most of the day, as the students worked busily, putting candy in baggies, and creating May baskets for all of the teachers in the school.   They placed them in the teachers' mailboxes, with little notes that said something like, "Dear Ms. P,
Happy May Day.
From,
????"
The major part of the lesson for the kids was that it's nice to do something for someone else, just for the purpose of being kind. They were really excited to do that. I can only recall one student asking why he didn't get candy, too, which is impressive. The others seemed content to bag the candy, and make their teachers' day a little bit brighter. With that said, they were successful. It's definitely a tradition I will continue in future years.

Totally random side note... I've had several people add me on Google+ recently. I've got my e-mail through Google, clearly this blog is through Google, and it seems that Google+ is the next step for me... It's confusing to me, though. I'm not even sure how or when I signed up for it, but I clearly recall a year ago, when I pulled it up for the first time and saw EVERY picture from my phone uploaded on the site. I'm not sure the world needed to see 40 Charley selfies... I quickly figured out how to fix that, but for some reason Google+ overwhelms me a bit. Anybody have experience with it, and have any tips for me? How does it compare to FB? With the option to add everybody, will it add everyone I've ever sent an e-mail to?That could be awkward... Ha! I'm just curious :)  Alright, no more rambling. Have a great week!