Extreme Makeover

I was thinking about this article that I once read about those big changes we make. They seem like a sudden decision. You wake up one day and just do it. But, in reality, it's never really like that. What actually happens are a bunch of little steps that lead up to the end result, not that one big step we imagine we take. Reading this, I realized how true it was. Every major change I've made in my life went pretty much the same way. I'm fond of my major changes.

Anyway, the article-- I really wish I remember where I read this-- said that, at first, we churn the idea over in our heads for a while. This stage can last anywhere from weeks to months to years. It's back there, rolling around in your mind. Then comes the half-assed attempts at whatever you're thinking of doing. Call it a dress rehearsal. You're meant to fail a few times. Just to get the feel. Then there's that period where you're anti-whatever it is you want to do. It's from the failure. You're just not going to do it. Nope, no one can convince you that this is a good idea. Nuh uh. Then, the final step is the doing. I might be missing steps, but that's the gist of it. And that's exactly how I go about doing major things, like quitting smoking.

I quit smoking 5 months ago. Actually, today is my anniversary. Yay me! I'd been smoking since I was 18. To be specific, I started a month before my 19th birthday. I quit while I was pregnant. At one point, I stayed quit for at least 13 months before going back. My excuses? Stress, around other smokers, etc. Reasons I'm staying quit now? Sadly enough, my main reason is money. They cost to damn much. Over $5 a pack and up to $6 or so a pack. Also, I never want to have to quit again. That was a nightmare. I hated everyone and everything. I was so sick. Blech. But I followed those exact steps listed up above to quit. I'm determined that this is the last time I quit. Now, I need to lose the pudge. I've got this 10 lbs that just won't budge. It's uncomfortable. I'm not worried about it, though. I know I can get it off.

I'm heading into this fixer-upper mode. I've been slacking big time lately. Well, not really. I've been running around, but I've been neglecting the house. I want to remedy that now. I have to finish up the downstairs. I completely dropped that a while back and need to pick it up. I'm even washing curtains. I'm all gung-ho an' shit. I think I've finally escaped my funk and I'm getting into my slightly hyper stage to make up for my sluggish behavior. All I know is this; I'm gonna be a busy girl.

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Aww:
Lonely old Italian pensioner gets adopted. I think that's the cutest thing. I'm losing my edge.