So, I thought a lot about what Not-Mr-Right had to say... and I know it's the same advice that I get from most of my friends, the same advice that I give most of my friends... so here are some of the things that I've decided to do... it feels like New Year's resolutions almost, which kind of makes sense since Saturday is the start of the Celtic year... I'm just tired of not being who I want to be, who I think I really am.

First, I'm going to add 2 days of weight-lifting a week to the dance class and pilates/yoga class that I'm taking now. I'm also seriously considering a treadmill for the sunroom. I could watch TV and run right here at home while I cook dinner or even after dinner if I want, weather would be no excuse. My weight is hovering around 200 lbs and I AM NOT GOING THERE. I started tracking my food on caloriecount.com again so I can see what I am taking in every day and watch my weight graph. I am not a fat lump. I deserve to treat myself better than that.

Second, I'm going to find an opportunity to volunteer at an OB ward. I started researching this weekend, but I was feeling too crappy to actually call. (I went to bed before 9 on Thursday and was either in bed or on the couch until this morning). For a long time, I've thought that I would like to go volunteer at a women's clinic in Africa or another underprivledged part of the world, or become a mid-wife but time & money have made that impractical. So, I decided that I could do some good right here at home and decide if this is something that I really want to dedicate that much time, money, and effort to.

Third, I WILL sign up for a spring class at community college, a general ed credit- as soon as the schedule is out. I might even sign up for the intro to massage class during the 2 week winter break session. It's a pre-req for all the other massage classes. I finally feel the need to get a degree.

Fourth, I need to get better informed about political issues and world events again. I subscribed to The Economist. (Sierra, do you believe that?) I'm trying to spend more on-line time reading news and less goofing off!

Fifth, I will stop spending so damn much time playing on FB and spend some time every week reading for pleasure, even if it's just a magazine and/or writing. I also subscribed to Self a few weeks ago (okay, mostly for the free gym bag).

I'm also intending to make time to go to more things in DC, spend more time at the museums, check out some of the events, restaurants, etc. I took my mom & sis to the American Indian museum when they were here. I want to learn how to snowboard this winter too. {giggle} And I'm still seriously considering buying a bike in the spring- after I pay off my car in March! Bikes are a lot cheaper so I'd just have to make sure that the extra insurance doesn't push the bike payment over what the car payment is.

Some other things that I have going on... I finally ordered wide-calf knee high leather boots from Zappos. They're not perfect but they're pretty cool for now. :) I bought a pair of nice lambskin red (burgundy really) short boots too. :)

My women's group has essentially formed an informal coven. We are getting together about once a week now and it is fabulous. We're planning trips for every sabbat through June. We're performing a Yule service on the Eastern shore. Then, off to a wolf sanctuary in PA for Imbolc, 4Quarters in PA for Ostara, back to Moutain Mysteries in VA for Beltane, and Salem for Summer solstice. Wow! Actually, this weekend coming up, I will be with them every day (at Dia De Los Muertos on Friday night, Halloween party at someone's house on Saturday, and witch flicks at my place on Sunday). And next weekend is Full Moon on Friday, and a day to put togehter Books of Shadows on Sunday. And a bachlorette party for one of the ladies in my office on Saturday. :)

Speaking of women at work, there is a low spot. An aquaintance of mine, who is very close to a couple of my gf's at work, was widowed over the weekend. Her husband, 30, finally lost his battle with cancer. It's very sad.

One more happy thing- I've found 2 interesting looking grown-up men on the free dating site where I still have a profile. One is a pagan who lives on the Eastern shore. I think I'm going to suggest getting together if he doesn't. I don't want to spend a lot of time chatting on-line and have it go nowhere. The other is an agnostic who works in Annapolis. This one asked to meet after work. We'll see how that goes.

And a guy that I was stationed with in Oz contacted me via FB recently... we were chatting the other night about my split from Hermit and he apologized. During the infamous sexual harrasment investigation against Hermit, about the same time that I had asked for a divorce, this guy sent me a short little email at work saying that he had had an absolutely amazing hot dream about me (and no other detail). He apologized for the bad timing. But I told him that it had been good. It reminded me that someone was interested in me, found me attractive. We have been chatting a little naughty and he promised to send me the dream- along with installments with the embellishments that he's added through the years. :D Part of me feels like I should be skeeved out, but I am pretty turned on and almost empowered by how much he wants me. I guess sometimes a woman just needs to be reminded that someone thinks she's hot. He travels back to the US sometimes and we're hoping to get together to play it out....

I'm really excited about going out to CA too! I wish I could stay longer because I don't know what it is that I really want to do! Sierra, I think I'm going to let you be tour guide- just let me know what type of stuff that I should pack!