Working Woman...

Tomorrow, as you all must know, is Halloween. This is a fairly big holiday in my family. We pretty much go all out. We normally get together the night before, carve pumpkins, have dinner, roast the pumpkin seeds...and watch the cat (or dog) enjoy the nastiness of the pumpkin insides. It's fun. It has long been a tradition of ours. And tonight, I'm not there. I'm not enjoying the creative carving ideas because I'm at work, just as I'll be at work tomorrow.
Not only will I be working for the first time ever Halloween evening..but I won't be completely dressed up either. It's a first for me. I've asked my co-workers to dress up...to have the holiday spirit. I was quickly shot down by, something to the extent of..Natasia, Halloween is one of those times you reflect and honestly ask yourself, am I an essential or non-essential employee. If you're dressing up, you're non essential. Non essential? Why I aught to not show up..and see just how non-essential I really am!!! Ha ha. Really, don't worry ya'll, I'll be there. I'll be there...well here...in costume, although not full costume. I think a simple witch hat will do.

I also missed out on some candy, cookie, cupcake making fun today with the girlie's at home. I've been wanting to make some cupcakes for awhile now. So, I'm going to try to get up super early and make some. I'll also be staying up late this evening carving my own pumpkin. I hope it turns out well. I'll post some pictures of all my happenings later. HApPy HaLloWeEn!

Did That Really Just Happen?

You hit the "send" button, and continue on with your other tasks. Then it hits you. "Wait...did that really just happen? Did I really just do what I think I did?" And then you spend the next few minutes trying to convince yourself you didn't. You couldn't have! You're not that scatterbrained...right?
But then your worst fear is confirmed. You sent that embarrassing and/or damaging email to the WRONG person. Oops.
It happens frequently. I've been both the recipient and the sender in different instances. Some more damaging than others.
Trust me when I say...misdirected errant text messages and emails can cause quite the confusion and if sent at work can put much more at stake than just embarrassment.
I once received a text Does ur wife know? Recently, I sent a confidential email, while sent to the right person was also sent from a place easily accessible to others.
Let's hear your stories. You're welcome to post anonymously.

Miss Right...

Mr. and Mrs. right-are just that, right for one another.
Some recent factors have played out in my life that have shed some light on the way men think. I'd like to share.
We all have different goals, ambitions, perceptions and desires when it comes to finding a mate. In other words, we each have an agenda. Whether tangible or not,(and it's okay to admit) we have a list of items/qualities we'd like to find in someone. On this list may be certain things that are non-negotiable while others may be a bit less significant. We deem these lists sensible, because we need a partner who facilitates our every desire, right?
Truth be told ladies, we're not the only ones with a list. Mr. Right has constructed a file of his own. And Mr Right, is probably doing a lot more checking off of his own list than we are ours. Face it, men can have Miss Right right in front of them, and give them a kick to the curb if one item doesn't match up. Something as insignificant as "she can't play bass" or "she can't decide where to eat", both of which are actual statements men have relayed to me in the last few days, can actually be the deciding factors in ending a relationship.
The point- having an agenda is not a bad thing. We are human, that's what we do. We find someone with whom we have commonalities. The problem is the substance of that agenda. Is it achievable? Too often they are not. We need to be willing to negotiate our agenda. Conferring with one another and deciding which things you can cut some slack on and be more relaxed about will actually do both Mr. and Miss Right some good. It shows they are willing to communicate. It shows they care about one another enough to let some things slide so that others can grow stronger. Adapting to each other shows that you trust one another. These are things you should be willing to do in order to be potential mates.
Rather than sticking to your dating "resume" try being a bit more flexible, while still not compromising your morals. Be honest with yourself and ask how attainable you are making yourself and then share this article with the Mr Rights out there and hope they do the same.
Good Luck!

Review

Sunday was my sister-in-law's birthday. My dad made omelets for a bunch of us. He makes the worlds best omelets..according to me. They were delicious. Since we did the early morning thing, I decided to hang out at my parents house for most of the day, along with my older brother. We decided to watch a movie in our parents new home theatre room, which by the way is amazing. My dad chose "The United States of Leland". I thought is was a great movie and would recommend it to any of you who like a good thought provoking movie.

After stabbing an autistic boy, the sixteen year old troubled and pessimist Leland P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling) is sent to a juvenile detention. His teacher and aspirant writer Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) gets close and tries to understand him, first with intention of writing a book, and later becoming his friend. Leland slowly discloses his sad vision of world.

I think the movie may change the way some people look at the community and world that surrounds them. The movie depicts real life problems without extreme stereotyping. One part in particular that stuck out to me was a scene where Pearl, after having done something wrong, says "I'm only human".
Leland in turn says "Isn't it funny how people only say that after they've done something wrong? No one ever says that after they rescue someone from a burning building."
In the movie, Leland simply observes the world as it is. Another quote to get all you thinking.
Leland: "And that's when I figured out that tears couldn't make somebody who was dead alive again. There's another thing about tears, they can't make somebody that doesn't love you anymore love you again. It's the same with prayers. I wonder how much of their lives people waste crying and praying to God. If you ask me, the devil makes more sense than God does. I can see why people would want him around. It's good to have somebody to blame for all the bad stuff they do. Maybe God's there because people get scared of all the bad stuff they do. They figure that God and the Devil are always playing this game of tug-of-war with them, and they never know which side they're gonna wind up on. I guess that tug-of-war idea explains how sometimes, even when people try and do something good, it still turns out bad."

Friendly Recommendation

So, I was reading a friends post today and ran across something that stuck out. It's something I've been thinking about the last few days. She says,

"Never make someone a priority in your life when you are only an option in theirs....
It's like, at what point does "loving your neighbor" and "being a good friend" turn into "being a doormat," or "being too available," or "being an option?".

I've been asking for advice from people I trust who are brutally honest with me. Over and over again, I'm told that I let people walk all over me.

Really? I do? I had no idea. In my mind I think I'm pretty good at standing up for myself and sometimes I feel I come across rude when I'm stepped on. But, maybe they think that way because of the fact I'm too forgiving...if that's really a fault. I guess it can be. At what point do I stop forgiving someone who repeatedly hurts me?

A close friend said to me the other day, "You should surround yourself with people who make you a priority". She explained that too often I make myself available for those who don't do the same for me. "You're always there to fill anothers void, but who is there to fill yours?"

I guess hearing this from several different trustworthy friends, has somewhat made an impact on the way I've been thinking and making recent decisions. But how do I change a value that's been ingrained in me? It's just the type of person I am. I guess what I really need to do is make the distinction as written above.

Beautiful Mistake

You've been too scared to tell me what you're thinking.
You're not ready for this, we've both known it for awhile.
We don't want to accept it, but why stay and have regrets.
It's hard falling asleep alone, but do we want to wake up together?
Let's be honest this time.
If we both agree, why does it hurt so much?
I feel as if I'm losing my best friend.
I hope you are happy, and completely lonely.
I can't tell if this is the end or just a beautiful mistake.
Did we just give up the best thing we've ever had?

I Shall Believe

Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe
I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe

Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it's true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key

Never again
would I turn away from you
I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe