Closing of half the year

Tomorrow is July 1st, meaning today is the final day of June. It is also the final day of the 6th month, giving us 6 whole months of 2010 left. 181 days down, 184 days left. About halfway. In my years I have come to realize that the second half of the year goes significantly faster than the first half, meaning I don’t have much time left to celebrate the glory that is 2010.

In the first six months of this year I have received my certification for massage, performed in 2 plays (currently rehearsing for my third), paid off $7000 of my debt, taken three massage classes and am currently studying online in my marketing class. I have paid off my Greece trip (except airfare) and I have lost two inches around my waist. No weight loss, but inches lost. I consistently worked a 40+ hour week and kept myself out of trouble….for the most part. 2010 has been a wonderful year so far, as I continue to push myself to be better and do better. I am proud of what I have done and the path that I am on to do more.

As my good friend Jess says- I am being proactive and I am working toward something.

Here are what my 2010 New Years Resolutions are and let’s see if I have kept to them.

- No fast food.
o I have stuck to this. I have not been to a drive through or eaten food from any fast food chain. I have eaten crap- don’t get me wrong. But no McD’s, Taco Bell, Del Taco, Burger King, etc. This is a resolution I am so happy I did and I am so proud that I have stuck to. I feel good and I now know that it is possible to live without fast food. For those people out there who say “I could never” listen to this- YES YOU CAN! There are thousands of options that don’t include genetically modified food that comes from a freezer. You can do it!
- Watch a new movie every week
o I have kind of done this. I get Netflix every month and unlimited watching on the computer. I also go to the library and get movies to watch at home. Add all that in and I have watched a new movie every week. Some better than others and some I wish I hadn’t wasted the 45 minutes on. Because that’s what a movie gets from me. You have 45 minutes to interest me. If I feel compelled to turn the movie off, I will. Usually I don’t but having this “rule” allows me to not feel bad when a movie is just horrible!
- Hit the gym 5 times a week.
o I have done this as well as I can. The resolution should have been “Work out 5 times a week” because I have done that. When I did the boot camp, I didn’t go to the gym, but I did work out. Doing The Follies I don’t go to the gym but I do work out, including a 30 min stretch and warm up before every show. So giving those parameters, I have kept this resolution.
- One letter mailed every week
o I have not kept up with this one. I don’t think I have even written more than 10 letters this whole six months. And I don’t like that about myself. I want to be more interactive with the people in my life. On the one hand, I am because facebook allows me to keep up with so many people at all hours of the day. On the other hand, that’s not a hand written letter to someone, giving them my full attention. I can do better.

The resolutions are going strong and I will continue with them. I will not eat fast food, continue to watch movies weekly, continue to work out 5x a week and I will write one letter a week and mail it out.

Here are the goals I wrote down for 2010

- Pay off entire debt
- Repay myself for Massage School costs
- Book a ship dancing or singing
- Apply for MFA (Nov)
- Book continuous shows
- Edit movie reel
- Get new headshots
- Record MTones Christmas album
- Record own Christmas album
- Apply for a Grammy
- Write lounge act for Vegas/cabaret
- Get down to 145lbs
- Get a dog and start training for agility trials

Those are great goals. And some of them I have attained. I have booked continuous shows since the first of the year, I am working my ass off to pay down my debt and get down to 145 lbs. I am going to keep these goals because I believe they are all still attainable. And I am going to add a few more now that I see where I am in the year.

- Raise $3000 through ALM for American Heart Association during the Long Beach 1/2 Marathon in October (www.actinglikemarathoners.webs.com)
- Finish Greece marathon in under 5:15
- Blog five times a week on both my blogs
- Get an A in my summer marketing class and an A average in my 4 classes this fall
- Take the GMAT and score above a 600
- Apply to schools for MBA/MFA program
- De-clutter house and maintain better organization/cleanliness
- Return to vegan diet
- Move to new apartment
- Get a new day job that makes me happy
- Open a savings account for Daniel, Jonathan and Emily- depositing $10/month each

I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished so far in 2010. I am proud of the person I am and the relationships I have. I am working hard to be a better entertainer, a better daughter, a better sister, a better aunt, a better friend and a better human on this earth. I am on a path and I know it’s a good one. This is a good life I have for myself. And it can only get better.

Almost a wasted day

Today at work I sat. And sat. And then sat some more. However, sprinkled in with all the sitting I did get some things done.

- I read rescue stories on PetFinder and dreamed of when I get a dog.
- I took the quiz for Chapter 1 in my marketing and promotions class. I love this class. It's all about how companies build their marketing to promote their product. More and more I'm realizing that this is something I would like to do and will actually be good at.
- I submitted my resume to six jobs I feel I would be good at. I don't have any marketing or public relations experience, but I'm certain I could succeed in the field.
- I looked at cabins to rent for a week in August up at Big Bear.
- I pulled more information on Grad schools and MBAs. More and more I am leaning towards Chapman which offers an international MBA where I'd study in Prague for 6mos. (more on that later)
- I watched three episodes of 'Southern Belles of Louisville'. Good times. And I wondered how they got their make up so flawless and their hair so straight.

So not totally a wasted day. Plus there was cake!

New baby time!

My nephew was born Friday here in Sacramento. He is perfect. When my sister had baby#1 I was worried about losing her to the kid. To being a mom. To her own family. Then I met him and fell so madly in love I couldn't stand it. He was amazing and added so much to my life. I know that this new boy will do the same.
I am so proud of my sister for bringing in a healthy, happy boy to this world. She's healthy and other than the soreness she's doing fine.
I love my sister so much. She's given me another glorious nephew an I could not be happier for our family.

Small Comparisons

Today I watched three different sitcoms on hulu.com.
One friend walked along the streets of Paris and drank french wine.
Today I took a nap in my car during my lunch.
Another friend painted the womens center at her church in Dominica.
Today I read about becoming a flight attendant in an effort to dream about a new life.
One friend auditioned for a national tour.
Today I ate cold refried beans and salsa because they were free.
Another friend spent the day on her boat.
Today I sat at a desk for 9 hours, got into a tiff with a coworker over nothing of consequence and made five pots of coffee.
I have a friend who is in Italy for two weeks on vacation.

I'm going to get out of this job. I'm going to live a more exciting life. I'm going to make something of myself.

Today I get to go to the theater and sing and dance in one of the best shows on the circuit right now. No one else has had the day I have had. And, all things considered, it was a good one.

2 days to baby time!

My sister is pregnant with baby #2 and she's due to deliver this Friday. I have been unable to do anything but think about her for days now. Nephew #2!!! I can barely stand it!
My sister is one of the most amazing women in the world, second only to my mother. The fact that she's going to be the mother of two makes my heart sing. Those are two lucky boys.
I live Cristin so very much. My heart breaks a little at the fact that my dad isn't physically here. I know he's watching from heaven and as been holding her hand every step of the way. But his presence is missed even more when amazing things like this happen. I know she misses him.
Baby #2!!! Pictures will be posted later in the week.
The world is about to get so much better.