I’ve Doubled My Numbers! September 12, 2009
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.Tags: cruise, London, Paris, vacation
add a comment
Thursday Merrie and I were talking about her upcoming trip to Istanbul and the conversation got me excited (again) about the Mediterranean cruise I’m hoping to take this summer. I browsed through my copy of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die to find out if all our scheduled stops make the list; they do!
While I was flipping through the book, I realized I haven’t updated my original list. Here are my additions thanks to the London/Paris trip:
9. Windsor Castle [Windsor, England]
10. The Cotswolds [Gloucestershire, England]
11. London, England
12. Oxford University [Oxfordshire, England]
13. Bath, England
14. Stratford-upon-Avon [Warwickshire, England]
15. Warwick Castle [Warwick, England]
16. Stonehenge [Wiltshire, England]
17. Paris, France
18. Chateau de Versailles [Versailles, France]
ABC’s Cajun Style July 27, 2009
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.Tags: Cajun, crafts, cross stitch
add a comment
I finally started a new cross stitch project. It has been almost 2 years since I’ve done any sort of craft; I am NOT a crafty person by nature but grew up watching every woman in my family cross stitch and it was a rite of passage I felt I had to complete as a teenager. Anyway, from time to time I am struck by the urge to “create” something so I rummage through my stack of pattern books until I find a project that fits my mood. This is the picture I’ve settled on:
Cajun Alphabet
The Changing Face of Friendship January 4, 2009
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.Tags: best friends, connections, HC, hope, loss, sorrow
add a comment
2008 brought many changes in my life including a complete upheaval in my world of friends. I lost two of the friendships that meant the most to me and am still struggling to deal with the void of those losses. H was the first friend I made in Houston, and we saw each other through a roller coaster of experiences. In March our relationship reached an impasse and we went our separate ways. While she is no longer a part of my life, I think of her often and miss her terribly. Just a few months after the fallout with H I lost the best friend I have ever had. B was not only my boyfriend but in friend terms he was my other half; I can’t think of a way to describe our friendship that would even scratch the surface of how deep a connection we shared. We ended our romantic relationship in September 2007 but maintained an incredibly close friendship through August of 2008. Honestly I can’t even think about him without having to fight back tears. It’s not a boyfriend that I miss; I let go of that part of our relationship long ago. It’s the deep connection we had as friends that I long for. Learning to live without that relationship as been one off the toughest challenges of my adult life.
Life is often a thing of balance and I found the same is true with relationships. The loss of old friends was countered with the addition of new ones. SF is co-worker who has become an amazing friend. We have cried together and laughed together as we both face some tough challenges that have been thrown in our paths. She has taught me so much with her strength, compassion, and resilience. I feel blessed to have her in my professional and personal life. SH started out as a romantic interest but the 1,000 miles between us quickly killed that possibility. Surprisingly we have grown close as friends, and he is the person I turn to when I need a guy’s perspective. He is brutally honest, gives great advice, and even helped my respec my hunter on WoW 
. I am lucky to have him as a voice of reason I can count on. LH came into my life only as “M’s girlfriend” but she and I have built a friendship that is our own. I am amazed at the depth of her compassion for others. She has taken me under her wing and introduced me to a great group of people through HoustonConnect. At a time when I long for new social connections, L has helped me make new friends and I am looking forward to more HC get-togethers and more time spent with her an M.
2008 was a challenging year for friendship but as I reflect I think I definitely came out on top, and I am looking to sharing great times with my new friends in 2009 
Come Hell or High Water January 2, 2009
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.Tags: budget, London, resolutions, walking
1 comment so far
I absolutely suck at keeping New Year’s Resolutions. I think my record for the longest I’ve managed to stay on track is….3 weeks. Not this year. I am committed to stick to my 2009 resolutions and have created specific plans to help stay focused.
1. Live by a budget. This will allow me to pay off more of my credit card debt and save money for the family’s trip to London. I have already calculated my budget for January and plan to spend 2 nights a week updating my checkbook and making sure I am within my given limits.
2. Live a more healthy lifestyle. I plan to change my eating habits; FitWatch is going to be the main tool I use to help with this. I also plan to exercise on a regular and schedule-driven basis. I hope the Wii Fit and my training schedule for the Avon Walk will help with this goal.
That’s it. Two resolutions. I don’t want to overdo things. Sure I have other specific goals I’d like to accomplish, but many of them fall into those 2 broad categories. I’m also hoping that if I stick to these 2 resolutions some of the other things I *wish* for in 2009 will fall in line and happen in the right and natural time.
‘Cause I Can’t Come Up With My Own November 17, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Questions from Curious Kitty-Cat via The Daily Meme
1) What book has most touched your soul?
There are so many books that have impacted in me in different ways; I’m having a tough time making a final choice. We Need to Talk About Kevin was an incerdibly powerful read. The shame I felt for having “negative” parent thoughts lifted from my shoulders, and I accepted my parenting past. I believe it made me appreciate S in a new way, and I trust my “mommy” instinct more.
2) How do you think being a teenager today is different from when you were a teenager?
There are no more secrets in today’s society. What I didn’t learn, experience, or discover until I was in college is now common in high school (or, God help us, middle school!). Thanks internet, YouTube, and Google for putting it all out on the table.
On the flip side, I am amazed at what S and my students can do with a computer. I was in the minority in high school (we had a computer at home AND a dot-matrix printer) but these days the average American household has at least one PC or laptop.
3) If you found out for sure there was no afterlife at all, would you change how you live your life?
Nope
4) What is the biggest regret of your life so far?
I missed too much of S’s life when she was between the ages of 4 and 5. My focus was me and my “romantic” life, and I neglected her too often. She formed a bond with Aunt M that I am sometime jealous of, but I know it is 100% my fault.
5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. Public Domain Photo
Rocky and Bullwinkle…I swear that’s the first thing I thought
All Things Fall October 6, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
I had the urge to write today but couldn’t think of anything I was really itching to say. I took the easy way out — did a Google search for “daily meme” and found the following:
Fall Time
1. Have you ever fallen for someone who turned out to be nothing like they seemed? Isn’t this the story of my adult dating life?!?! *pause for a trip down memory lane* Yeah, pretty much every guy I have dated since college graduation has turned out to be vastly different from my first impression. Do you think the problem is me?
2. When was the last time you had an embarrassing fall? And did you injure yourself? I can’t remember any specific incident but I’d bet grocery money for the week that my last “trip” was at school in front of my students. I probably wasn’t hurt but I’m sure they laughed and I in turn was embarrassed and ticked off.
3. Do you enjoy the music of Fall Out Boy? Ummmm…I’m sure I’ve heard their music but I can’t recall any ot the song titles at this moment. I am much too lazy to reserach and listen to a song.
4. For you,what is the best part of the fall season? Fall? What is that? Is that what we call the 3 weeks in November when I can open my windows in the evening and enjoy low humidity and a cool breeze?
5. Have you ever had a falling out with someone over something that was completely insignificant? If so,what was it over? Do you honestly expect me to remember all the stupid times I have argued with a friend or loved one over something ridiculous? My feeble brain can’t possibly hold all that data. I do remember getting pissed at my boss (Office Max) because he had me declare a box of pens defective so he could use have them for personal use. I threw a stapler at him. Yes, I have learned to manage my anger since over the past 10 years!
I’m Thinking This Isn’t Safe September 12, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.add a comment
I spoke to a girl in the manager’s office at 9:00 and she has no idea if they can get in touch with the contractors in order to have this and other materials removed from the property today. Loose pipes, boards, orange cones, and other such “stuff” are littered throughout the complex. When Ike’s winds roll through here many of these items WILL become airborne. Yeah, I’m not a happy camper at this moment!
Pretty Pictures August 26, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.add a comment
Stole this from MerrieB
The Rules:
- Type your answer to the questions into flickr search
- Using only the first page, pick an image
- Copy and paste each of the urls in the Mosaic Maker
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to do when you grow up?
10. Who/ what do you love most in life?
11. Choose one word that describes you?
12. What is your Flickr name?
The Answers:
An Unwelcome Guest April 16, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.add a comment
The bandit is back…damn him!!
Over the weekend I heard strange noises from the attic and wondered if the critters had found a way back into the house…they have.
As I was watching the Red Wings game I heard wierd metallic noises coming from the laundry room. I ran to investigate and got there just in time to see him. A raccoon was climbing down from the attic via the water heater piping. I sprung into action — grabbed both cats (useless animals were just sitting there looking at the ‘coon), slammed the laundry room door, and yelled for backup (my daugher). We pounded on the door then grabbed a flashlight and headed out the front door. The laundry room has 2 doors, one to the outside and, opposite it, one to the house. The back door has a window so we were able to shine the flashlight into the room and search for the little bugger…he was gone. I raced back to the front door, ran to the laundry room and, while the coast was clear, grabbed the litter box then sealed the room shut.
I foolishly assumed the excitement was over…WRONG! About an hour later I noticed my cats acting strangely so I followed them to the kitchen. That’s when I heard him…he was apparantly back in the laundry room and this time he sounded pissed. I could hear him bouncing off the door, the washer, and scratching the walls. I made sure the door was firmly latched then pounded on it in the hopes of getting him to retreat back to the attic. Finally I heard him scampering overheard and knew he was out of the house.
Needless to say I won’t get much sleep tonight. I’m thinking of bringing my daughter and the cats into my bedroom and locking us all in for the night…yes, I tend to over-react!
Spring Break March 19, 2008
Posted by reddlissa in Uncategorized.add a comment
Woo hoo! I am finallyenjoying my spring break. It’s 1:26 and I am still in my pj’s. I have been playing WoW since 10:30 and my plan is to play until about midnight
This is my only “free” day during the break so I am doing this lazy thing the best I can!
