It's that time again.. Annual birthday goals

I don't know when or how it started, but I do know why.  Instead of New Years Resolutions on January 1st, I do "Birthday Resolutions" to renew focus and better myself.

Being just 8 days away, I think it's time to establish some new goals before the big 2-7.

1.  Train for a Marathon.

2.  Anti-wrinkle cream everyday.. I know I can't fight aging, but I can at least try. The lines on my face are beginning to be a permanent thing, not just a when-I-smile thing.

3.  Start blogging again.  I probably won't get as detailed anymore, because, well.. I have a personal life, but I would like to start writing again.  It's always fun to go back and read what I was thinking/feeling in times past.

4.  Less Facebook creeping.  This will probably be a struggle for me for a looooong time.

5.  At least 3 kind acts everyday.

6.  At least 10 kind words everyday.

7.  Be more friendly and outgoing-- saying "hi" to strangers, smiling at people I meet on the street, not being so stingy with hugs.

8.  Eat better.  No more swiss rolls and fudge brownies everyday.  :)  Although I will REALLY miss those things.

9.  Drink less coffee/drink more water.

10. Read at least 1 good book every month.  I will require some recommendations from all of you.  I just finished Tuesdays with Morrie (which was life-changing, and everything I needed to hear to get me through a little rough patch).

11.  Mind my own business.  Not in a rude or apathetic way, just in a "we're all different, we all do things differently, and maybe that's okay" kind of way.

12.  More volunteering.  I have gotten so that I equate time with money.  This is not okay for me.  My time is a gift to me, and I should share that gift with others.  So, I would like to help people that need it a lot or a little, and just give myself and my talents to community service and enrichment.

And that's all I've got for now.

So you--my dear people-- hold me accountable for my goals with encouragement and love, not judgement or pressure.  And tell me... what books have changed your life lately?

xo

Susan

Hello again, bloggers!

Hi.. It has been a while since I've had any real time to post any substantial blogs.  I still find myself with just enough for a quick update, since my boss sent us all home early because it is such a nice day :).

Well, I have a job.  Frame Factory - Ann Arbor.  It's on Washtenaw across from Arborland.  Stop by for your framing needs or decorating ideas/tips/other cool stuff!

I have a band.  Nixon Omollo and the Survivors.  I am singing backup/lead on some songs.  We have an awesome keyboard player, so I'll probably just play the morracas or tambourine or something.. lol

I think I have plans for my b-day.  :)  Mount Pleasant for CMU's homecoming weekend.  It will be good to see old friends and revisit what was my home for a year and a half..  I'll be doing a little tailgating, and just catching up! :)  We'll probably make our way to the Wayside for a quick dance.. of course I have to make it to O'Kelly's and Coco Joes!!

Speaking of tailgating and football and stuff... who was watching the Michigan/Michigan State game last week?  Was that not an amazing victory?? GO GREEN!

Pics from last weekend's shenanigans:

The lines on my face

The lines on my face are becoming, well... LINES.  Time for some preventative/proactive/reactive measures.  It's hard being broke, but fortunately, I found some of Christi's old eye cream upstairs in a bathroom drawer.  I hope she doesn't mind that I'm using it.

I was also very tempted, as I scrolled through the volunteer section of Ann Arbor's craigslist to respond to an ad for people who are interested in skincare products.  I haven't signed up for that yet (kind of hesitant because I have sensitive skin), but I did send an e-mail to FIDO (Finding Incredible Dog Owners) a dog adoption program, and am getting things in order to help them out with transport and working weekend events.  I figure since I can't adopt any dogs of my own right now, I can help some of them find good homes :).

I got a call back from MC Sports today to go in Tuesday to fill out some paperwork and talk to the GM.  I also interviewed yesterday morning at the Frame Factory (a surprisingly AMAZING store) that would be able to offer part-time work.  Hopefully I hear back from them soon too!  I am looking for any way to get my foot BACK in the door of design.

Revisited the volunteer section just now and found a link to a Detroit Urban Transformation Plans.  I think I'll shoot them an e-mail now!

Well, time to get this day in full-swing (it's been a little slow-going).

Oh.  If anyone has ideas for what I should do for my b-day, I'm open to suggestions.  And if you'll be around, I'd love to have you help me ring in another one.  It's just over a month away :).

Have a wonderful, blessed day!

Much love...

Susie Q

Silly me... I forgot my phone was in my pocket!

I wasn't even thinking about my phone being in my pocket as I balanced on the rim of our pool, pruning branches that hung out over the edge (trying to control the amount of leaves that clog the skimmer basket, and improve the amount of sunlight the pool receives).  One moment of weakness -- or loss of balance... whatever-- and... SPLASH! I fell into the pool. 

I'm an idiot.

Oh well, worse things have happened, and I got my phone all dried out and working again, so things are okay.

It might interest you to know that I sent my resume to a family seeking a french-speaking nanny.  It's full-time, in Chicago, they travel a lot (international and domestic), and need someone to care for their one (1!) preschool child while they're in the states and abroad.  DREAM JOB!!!

So, while I was at the library to update my resume/contact list, and get a new library card, I picked up a few things from the foreign language section.  I'm sure "at home, abroad french", "Learn French Now!", and "Baby's First Steps in French" -- a combination of literature and interactive media-- will help me brush up on my conversational French.  (I got the baby one to learn more children's songs and activities in case, by some stroke of luck, I get the nanny position).

Now, I'm off to learn (or re-learn, rather).

Take it easy, y'all! (I CAN say this because I do have a few southern roots...)

Susie Q

I love weddings!

It seems wedding season is here again!  The first wedding of the year being my cousin Meg's to a fine young addition to our family, Nathan Hyuck (pronounced, "hike").

Next, will be Becky and Landis's wedding at the end of October... I cannot wait to help them celebrate!  I am currently dateless for this wedding, so if anyone really likes being a wedding date, just let me know...

I don't have too much to say right now.

I interviewed today at MC Sports in Ann Arbor, and I feel really positive about that interview.  I guess I could do retail for a while. :)  Things are looking up with music too, but I'll be able to give you a better update on that arena of my life after this Friday.

Here are some of the pics from the weekend (just a select few)!  I hope you like them.

Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Susie Q

Paducah, here I come!

My Uncle Sam passed along his Martin backpacking guitar to me, and I'm so grateful for that.  It has renewed my interest in guitars and has inspired me to try to learn to play again. He has been on my mind this week, heading into the weekend because my cousin, Meg (his youngest daughter), is getting married Saturday, and his presence will be so very missed as we celebrate such a beautiful thing.  It is bittersweet.

The guitar is coming on the road with me to Kentucky, in memorium...  after all, it is a traveling instrument.

My mom showed up for a slightly unexpected (but very timely) visit a few days ago.  We got to spend some good "quality time" together, laying out on what was probably the last warm Michigan day of the season, making our way to a songwriters' open mic at Oz's Music Environment, where I got to play a few (it was taped for public access tv, but I don't ever watch that, so...), cleaning the house for yet another showing, and having a mini lesson in chord theory.  I'm so thankful to have such musical parents (and aunts and uncles).

I went to another open mic, at the Ark, last night.  This time, solely to observe.  It's weird, they have it set up where you put your name into a raffle and they only pick 16 performers for the night.  I doubt I would have gotten to play anyway, but I will do something there in the future, I'm sure.

It's funny because right when I got there, this guy that I had seen the night before was playing, and I ended up seated very close to him in the audience.  He probably thought I was rude because I didn't say hi (in fact I'm almost certain I heard him say something about it to his friends), but what people need to understand is that I may be beaming with confidence when seated in front of a mic and piano, but in reality I am very SHY.  Hard to get-to-know, but worth knowing (at least I like to think so). 

I was really irked by this, because that sort of thing used to happen to me all the time.  If a girl is shy, and people don't think she should be, she comes off seeming "stuck-up".  Oh well. 

So, on a lighter note... I'm becoming very domesticated.  I baked a big batch of cookies the other day (bad idea, since I just decided to cut back on sweets), and I canned some tomatoes and peppers with the help of my friend, Lindsay!  My Grandma McMillian would be so proud of me.

Oh, don't believe me... here's proof:

Alright, I have GOT to stop blogging so I can clean, pack and GET ON THE ROAD!  So much to do, and so little time, but I'm so excited to be going down for Meggy's wedding!!! :)  And my sisters and I are singing in the wedding, so I have a lot of practicing to do still.  I guess we will have the car ride to get things down-pat, but... you know.  You can never be too prepared when it comes to music! 

Our realtor is having an open-house this weekend, while I'm gone, so I want things spotless for that.  Still no offers, but I'm still optimistic. 

Well, for those of you who will be at the wedding, I CANNOT WAIT to see you.  For those of you that won't, I hope our paths will cross very soon!

Love and peace,

Susie Q

I wasn't ready then. I may still not be ready, but I'm more ready than I was.

So, Sarah (my good friend, neighbor, running/lake/v-ball/walking/puddle jumping/everything buddy) just made my butt get out of the house for a walk.  We hadn't walked more than half a mile when her seemingly innocent invitation for a quick stroll turned into something more like an INTERVENTION.

Ahaha.  She got me. 

No, it was good to catch up and discuss, well...  LIFE.  Sarah gave me a lot to think about and helped me work through a lot of issues.

Issues like: Why have I gained 12 lbs since I've been back from Chicago?  I haven't actually weighed myself, so it probably isn't THAT bad, but I've been eating everything (mostly tomato, turkey, mozzarella, and basil sandwhiches and "Supreme Bars"- YUM!) at odd hours.

But now, it's time to get on the road to recovery, and back on the health and fitness wagon!

Oh... "Miss Intervention" also helped me address other major issues like:  "Why did I give up facebook, but not twitter?"  and  "What should I do for my birthday?"

I'll be turning 25 in just over a month, and it seems to be the trend to set some sort of goals for oneself at any significant birthday.  So, I've decided to come up with a few and share them:

1.  First and foremost - get a job. 

Obviously.  At this point, almost any job will do.  As aforementioned (see blog #1), this is key on my path toward my present and long-term goals. 

The more I think about it, the more I realize that yesterday's interview did not go well at all.  Oh boy.

BUT today's interview at Homewatch Caregivers of Ann Arbor was a little bit better, and it seems like a good company to work with, with a strong mission and dedication to serving the community. It also seems like it would be pretty easy to get lots of hours and move around (and possibly up) within the corporation.

(I was invited back for a second interview tomorrow! YAY!)

2.  Get in the best physical shape of MY LIFE! 

This will be hard because I was in REALLY good shape in junior high and high school... Team sports and off-season conditioning, jump training and weight-lifting kind of make it hard not to be fit... BUT I will do it.

THIS means:  running at least 3 times a week (probably 4+ mile runs), lifting weights, YOGA (I'm turning into a yogini) and eating right.  THAT means: cutting out sweets, fatty foods, soda, alcohol, some of my carb intake, and eating more veggies and lean, protein-rich foods.

Helllllo muscles!

3.  Become a more active member in my community.

Since I have decided to settle down in Ann Arbor for now, I will be getting involved in local community groups and service projects.  If you know of something going on, or need help putting an event together, PLEASE let me know!

4.  Work on meeting Mr. Right (or being set up with him, since some of my friends reeeallly love playing matchmaker).

Now, I know people say that you shouldn't look for love, but can't I look for friends?  Aaaand if one of those friends happens to be a man, and we happen to hit it off, and we happen to have great chemistry, and happen to fall in love... would that be a problem?

I don't really think so...

5.  Be more patient.

This is something that I've already been working on (well, actually I've been working on all of these goals, just haven't put them in writing).  I could stand to be more patient and understanding with everyone in my life.  And, so I will try to be.

6.  Pray more.

Aaaannnd that's all i've got for meow.

I'm sure I'll come up with more, and I'll let you know when I do.

But for now, that's going to have to suffice.  I have to do some deep cleaning in my house because we have a showing tomorrow.  I really hope it sells soon!

Take care and best wishes! (so formal, I know ;-)

Always,

Susie Q