Bring on Spring

I'm tired of Mother Nature being a tease. It was 70 degrees a few days ago, now it's like 25. STOP MESSING WITH MY MIND!





The good news is, I can bundle up and hide my fat rolls a little while longer. Maybe if I can step up my workouts and tone down my snacking, I'll be presentable by Easter.





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This past weekend, Jackson experienced its first "V-Day," and the Vagina Monologues was presented for the first time here with a wonderful cast that included many good friends of mine. I stayed in the background, serving food and wine, and enjoying the play twice in a row. I'm so happy I got to be a part of this performance, and I'm already looking forward to next year, where we undoubtedly will see if we can push the envelope just a little bit further...

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On the money making/saving front, I am doing pretty well so far. I have only gone to the grocery store maybe 3 times in the last two weeks, and only one of those trips was a "big" trip. I have received some help from family members, which I did not ask for, but surely do appreciate. And I am still planning to sell my gold, I just can't seem to remember to go down to the jewelry store. I better do it soon, before they decide something else is worth more money. I'm also still saving cans and have a rather nice pile going near my trash. Now I just need to find somewhere that will pay me for my tin.

Last night after the Vagina Monologues, I was invited as an "honorary cast member" to the cast party. It was at the home of one of the other cast members, and her home was AMAZING. Awesome, open living area, totally made for entertaining, and an even more impressive back yard complete with fire pit and goldfish pond. I was totally jealous, of course, but also very inspired. The owner told me she bought the house herself years ago and put nearly every penny she made into making it what it is today. She had only recently remarried. So even if I am dirt poor right now, I still feel like it's possible for me to have a nice home one day too, if I really want it and work for it hard enough. I'm tucking that away as a non-immediate goal, but a goal nonetheless.

I'm actually into the Oscars this year, so I'm going to stop here and go back to watching that little gold man hop into the hands of various and sundry celebrities.

VDAY - get yer tickets, donate here

As previously mentioned, I am helping with Jackson's first production of the "Vagina Monologues," to benefit the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Women's Fund. The event is Feb. 20-21. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, you better hurry up, because we already know it's going to sell out. Click below to donate, and go to www.jfptickets.com to get your tickets.

Sorry I'm Late

Yeah, I've been really really busy. January is gone in a flash, yet I'm still having trouble remembering to write "09" on checks and whatnot.

I'm half-assedly watching the Super Bowl right now. It's pretty obvious who's going to win, I think. And John Madden's questionable choice of adjectives to describe plays really cracks me up.

Earlier today, I went to the annual "Soup-er Bowl," which is a benefit for the Salvation Army. It was my first time to attend, but I am sure it won't be my last, especially if Steve's Downtown Deli will be there again next year. Oh my Lord, their Senegalese Peanut Chicken soup was the best soup I have ever tasted. And I'm not one for sweeping generalizations, but I really could eat that soup every day for the rest of my life.

Some friends and I have made a weekly "soup night" tradition, where one of us makes soup and the rest of us bring side items/booze. We've had some mighty tasty soups, and I thought I knew all there was to know about soup, but I was so wrong. I may have to try and recreate this peanut-chicken deliciousness for a future event.

What else... my sweet little niece turned 2 yesterday and we had a big party for her. She is so cute, has so much personality -- I can't wait until she is a little older and she can talk better so we can really have fun. Right now I just try to interpret most of what she is saying. She is going through a possessive phase right now -- everything is "my cake," "my toy," even "my Andi," which I agree, I do belong to her. I've never been big on kids, but that little girl has definitely stolen my cold little heart.

I am working with a group of lovely women on Jackson's very first VDay this year - please click on that link and find Jackson so you can get more info and donate or buy tickets. Yes, we are doing the "Vagina Monologues," and I am really interested to see how Jackson's businesses and citizens in general react to that. It's such a scary word, that va-jay-jay word. I am limited in my ability to garner sponsorships because I work for a fundraising organization during the day, but I will do what I can after hours. It is going for a good cause - The Women's Fund and the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence will split the proceeds and make sure the money goes to help victims of domestic violence. I'm really excited about this program finally coming to Jacktown, and I hope that we can add it to the list of cool things that go on in this city each year.

Gotta go do my American duty and drink more beer whilst watching football, but before I go, here are a couple of links to some new favorite websites:

Food Network Humor

Make Your Own Short Animated Movie

Design Your Own Warning Sign