merry christmas!

Better late than never, right?  I feel obligated to post some pictures from my merry day with the family.

end of an era

New Years Eve was the end for my mom and her husband's ownership of what has affectionately become known as "the restaurant." I mourn the loss of the free food, but I celebrate the return of my mom's free time.  Here are some pictures of the fun.  I was getting artsy, can you tell?

welcome 2006!

I love the holidays, really.  But seriously, I am glad they're over.  Now I can go back to just buying stuff for me!  For real, I know I am not the only person who gets a little stressed this time of year.  I was supposed to go to Hawaii for Christmas this year, then thanks to a little family drama, the trip was canceled.  It turns out, that's a good thing.  I am one of those people that believes everything happens for a reason.  I'll expand on this idea's application to that week in a later post.  Anyway.. I just want to say Happy New Year!! Make a resolution!  I'm sick of hearing people say they didn't make resolutions because they know they're going to break them.  Okay, not a good enough excuse!  Maybe you will break them, but you definitely won't succeed if you don't set a goal in the first place!

Here are my New Year's Resolutions:
1.  To lose 20 more pounds.

2.  To volunteer somewhere.

3.  To journal more.

I've always been an avid goal-setter, and when I make my mind up that I'm going to do something, I do it.... as so, I resolve.  Try it.

brain games are now over

I was just trying to save time.  I have two cell phones.  One for work, one for well, not work.  I had voicemails on both phones when I got home from the gym tonight... so I did something really stupid.  I called both voicemails on speakerphone, at the same time.  Now I have a headache.  You have to press "4" on one phone but "7" on the other to hear the messages... then deleting or saving is another nightmare.  I don't recommend it. Don't try this at home.  Take your time.

live, laugh, love

I recently got an e-mail from an old college friend.  When I wrote him back I chose to dig up some old pictures to scan and send.  It brought back some good memories.  When I was at Liberty University, I was blessed to be part of a team called Youthquest.  Youthquest was really the selling factor for me choosing to go to Liberty.  I made some incredible friends on YQ.  We would travel in these 15 passenger vans on weekends to churches in random places and do skits and sing and stuff. Our goal was to live for Christ, love people, and make them, and ourselves laugh. We had a ton of inside jokes.  I think YQ will be one of those things that all of us will carry for the rest of our lives.  Lots of funny stores.  I'll have to post them when they come to mind.  For now, here's a funny picture of me.  Everyone on my Youthquest team said I looked like my puppet.  I did. Ha! Poor puppet!

blast from the past

Today I got a phone call out of the blue.  It was my ex-boyfriend.  Not the recent one, the original.  My first love... also my first real ex-boyfriend.  We talked for about 45 minutes.  He's engaged to some medical student who I'm sure is beautiful.  But that's beside the point.  After the conversation, I was refreshed.  I think today he crossed over from the file of "ex-boyfriend" to "old friend."  You know what I'm talking about... the friends you have that you can just pick up where you left off... no matter how much time has passed.  They're the same people that know you.  Today talking to Chris helped me remember me.  Yeah, I've grown up a lot since then... so has he.  But he knows me.  It was refreshing to be able to just talk and laugh and know that he's going to get my message... without me having to explain anything, or make excuses for anything.  I am thankful for Chris.  Yeah, 4 years ago at this time, I was heartbroken.  But it's all good now and I can be thankful for things we shared like day trips to New York City and our first jobs in the real world.  And there are also the things he introduced me to that still remain part of who I am... like Starbucks' Caramel Macchiatos, Louie Giglio, and post-it notes. 

flat tire

Last night I was leaving the mall when I realized my left rear tire was flat.  In the parking lot.  In the dark.  I was alone.  All of you single people will be able to identify with me on this one.  There are certain things that just make you feel more single.  Last night, I realized flat tires are one of those things.  I had no natural person to call to come and fix my tire and rescue me.  I tried my sister.. and ended up calling my 16 year old nephew.  It turns out, their whole family came to my rescue.  My brother-in-law changed it for me today... and I bought a new tire, so now I'm back in business.  But last night, I was alone. Single.  With a flat tire.

office party

I just got home from my office Christmas party.  It was so much fun.  My dad was my date :)  It's always fun to get all dressed up and see my co-workers under stress-free conditions.  Plus, I LOVED my dress.  And I'm quite proud of how I looked in it.  Losing weight sure does help you gain confidence!  Please excuse me if I sound full of myself... I promise, I'm not.  I'm just proud of how far I have come.  Thanks to all of you who have supported me.  Here are some pics:

ww update

Sorry for slacking... my computer room isn't heated... so I haven't been here for a few days.  Here's my Weight Watchers update:  This week, I was a "Big Loser."  I lost 3 pounds!! My total weight loss is now at 22.4 lbs.  I am very proud of myself.  All I want to do is shop though, which is an unexpected side effect of losing weight.  Be warned.

i'm taking up more space

Hello all... I have an announcement: I'm taking up more space on the internet.  Shame on me.  Oh well... I realized a new way I could stay in touch with friends from college... myspace.  Check out "my space" at: 

http://www.myspace.com/downtowndanabrown