Wednesday Ramblings and Fun with Some ECards

I had really great intentions of doing my vacation re-cap dureing the week but I wanted to spend some more time on it so it will be sometime this weekend. I have to confess that coming back to work and trying to get back to the grind has drained me a bit {read: I started watching The Bridges of Madison County when I got home from the gym tonight and ran out of time}.  It's always good to get back to the normal routine after vacation but it seems extra hectic with the holidays upon us.   

A few things for this week so far: 

- There was a certain amount of disbelief when I came back to work with an email from TDH that he sent to me on Saturday night...that he hoped I was enjoying NYC and some other crap about the game.  I've been glaring at it in my inbox all week.  It's doubtful I will respond.  It doesn't even come close to an acceptable apology.  Not even close. 

- I am determined to make my master Christmas list and complete all shopping except for small stocking stuffer items by Sunday.  

And seriously I'm not trying to be a Grinch this year but I haven't put any decorations out and I don't think I will.  Ok -- I take that back.  I unpacked my holiday wine glasses.  Those are out and currently in heavy rotation.  I just feel like the holidays are super hard for single people {maybe that's just me}.  It's not that my family isn't close by and that I don't get to see them -- I do and we have Christmas practically all of December -- but it's not the same.   

- In honor of my love for hot chocolate I have signed up for the Atlanta Hot Chocolate 15k {9 mi} for January 13th.  This leaves me a little less than 6 weeks out with not much running since the half  marathon in October so it may not be a stellar performance but I think I can easily handle the distance.  

What are y'all up to this week? What are you tired of? Anyone done with their shopping? Training for any races? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Hey, It's OK...

I know lots of bloggers do their ode to Glamour magazine and make their own "Hey, It's OK..." list.  I'm also here to tell you that I'm not too good to make my own, and frankly, I could use some "Hey, It's OK..." reinforcement in my life right now. 

Hey, it's

...to miss him.

...to not make up the bed before you leave for work in the morning. 

...to have deep conversations with the dog. 

...to buy pretty things because it makes you feel just a little bit better about life.

...to want to tell someone to spare you the "You'll find someone/He's out there" conversation. 

...to want to tell the New Girl that once upon a time he thought I was perfect, too. 

...to de-friend people on Facebook.

...to cry about it. 

...to wash your hair twice a week.

...to love Instagram like everyone else. 

...to be angry sometimes. 

...to skip a work out.

...to read Fifty Shades of Grey -- it doesn't diminish your intelligence or appreciation for proper, well-written novels. 

...to come home and do nothing after work every once in a while. 

...to not want to talk about it. 

...to go a little over 3000 miles before that next oil change...just a little though.

...to want to travel back in time to those undergrad years some days. 

...to miss him some more. 

The Nature of Being Single

It’s a jungle out there ladies (and gents)--and I am here to say that just like you I am not exempt from the laws of nature, the rules of attraction and even plain old Darwinism (Only. The. Strong. Survive.).  I think a lot of us forget we are literally just pawns in a big chess game where Mother Nature and molecules that make up hormones and other body stuff are playing really dominant roles.  Example: I can’t just sit here and eat all the Trader Joe’s peanut butter pretzels that my heart desires.  Why? Because if I want to “survive” (so-to-speak) and actually beg find someone to like me I need to be fit for myself and fit for a healthy, meaningful relationship with Mr. Right.  But, the older I get, the less simple choosing a mate becomes.  I have more requirements.  I know that I can live just fine on my own. And, for the things I can’t do -- a simple maintenance man for hire will do.  Unfortunately for the Single Gal breed there’s a bit more to it  all for us rather than for these mammals/fishies/birds/whatever.  

Here are some examples of animals that mate for life (apparently monogomy isn’t only for the birds). 

French Angel Fish

 

Some sort of cute-ish owly thing...

Beavers

Whatever species of Parrot this is.

These males basically have two requirements: 1.  To literally bring home “the bacon” and  2. Continue the family name by reproducing.  


It all seems so simple for these other creatures.  Mating.  Attract the other with the following: pretty feathers; bigger feet; prettiest scales; etc. Whatever gets them going, it seems fairly fundamental to me.  Granted, if you’re a Single Gal in one of these relationships and you make the wrong choice in nature it could mean certain death.  Eeek.  Maybe the pressure of society to “find someone” isn’t as bad as I thought?  There is certainly a lot of competition but we human Single Gals seem to be at a disadvantage.  I mean sure, we shop and dress a certain way, fix our hair, get waxed and wear make up along with all that other stuff to attract mates just like our penguin and french angel fish friends. But, we have feelings.  It’s not strictly nature.  It’s like a tornado of psychology, misinterpretation, miscommunication, fear, and the need to survive should it not work out again (Darwin, again my friends).
Yeah these guys look cute and they seriously are said to mate for life...but, French angel fish don’t get a haircut that might go unnoticed by their partner. Penguins don’t have to call each other and say, “How was your day, dear?”.  Swans don’t have to pay bills together.  Beavers don’t get pissed off because one asked the other to take the trash out two days ago and it still isn’t done.  So what's a Single Gal to do? Or any gal for that matter?

~the single gal~