Kizz recently posted about blogging naked.

I thought that would get your attention. I think I do too, to an extent. There are several topics that I don’t talk about here. Or that i didn’t talk about over at The Circus…because I knew my audience. And this isn’t the forum for certain things that belong to me. But for the most part, you get all of me. You get my naked blog, full frontal exposure to my life…

In that vein, I’d like to tell you a secret.

I’ve been online dating for the entire month of January. I signed up at eHarmony when they had their Talk Free Weekend over that four day break the first of the month. I charged the one month fee to the credit card with the teensiest bit of credit left on it and thought What The Hell.

I was so determined that this year, this fresh start would be my year to Try New Things, that I just jumped in with both feet. I also, thanks to Abbylicious in NYC, looked into OKCupid dot com which is free…

I have a date tomorrow night. With a man from the eHarm site. I will let you know how this goes…it’ll be my first date, but I’ve been emailing with several other guys. One in particular I feel a strong connection with. Be it romantic, or perhaps I’ve found a new member of the tribe, I don’t know. And I don’t care, particularly. I’m remaining open and honest and just kind of freewheeling about this journey…

I confessed all to my girlfriends last night, to Chris and Cindy at breakfast yesterday. I’ve kept this close to me for the month because I needed to work through my own personal stigma about internet dating. I think I’ve done that, and then Kizz got all Chuck Norris Brave and posted hers and I thought, well…you jump, I jump.

At the very least, I am gleening material. HAND OVER FIST I’m getting material. For the next Stand Up? For the writing project? for something. And that is never a bad day. I’ll share some of that along the way here…Oh boy. Another plus is thru one of these sites I was “matched” with a guy from high school. Not my grade, several years older than me. We’re facebook friends, and sometimes comment on each others pages, but that’s it. We got matched and I sent him an email saying hi, and how was his luck on this site and we’ve been emailing ever since. Long, hysterical, full blown confessional emails. I will tell you now, that for certain, I have made a new friend and that is a success story in itself.

Weekend Recap: COLTS WIN COLTS WIN COLTS WIN COLTS WIN!!! We’re going to the Superbowl BABY!!!!!!

Rehearsal was a clusterfucktrainwreck on Sunday. It was our first day off book. The issues that I was concerned about earlier? Seem to have lessened and perhaps some bonding has begun. But my scene partner, my “husband” man. He’s got himself so mired down in the negative, self fullfilling prophecy that it’s just miserable to watch. I’m very aware that everyone works at their own pace. That it’s a process and a journey and we’ll get there…it’s a little trying though.

I have a ton of stuff to do and I didn’t sleep well last night so I’m lagging behind. I just wanted to write today, and tell you that there’s new Ridiculous things happening. That it’s a lot of fun. If you’re thinking about trying this? I say do it. Just jump in. And look at it just for what it is. A filtering system, flushing out this one and that one and perhaps landing on one that is just right…we’ll see, yes?

That’s it for naked blogging. I’m putting pants on now.

Yesterday was a good day. I couldn’t have packed anymore into it had I tried…so when I got home and got my comfy clothes on I reflected on the day. What a blessing to be healthy, to be ABLE to have a day like that. I then promptly took myself to the bed so I could rise and shine again for a 6am bootcamp class at the gym.

Well, the two black boys have taken to sleeping at the foot of my bed. Looks like one big hairball. They keep my feet warm, and I keep a blanket over my quilt so their hair and firtch doesn’t dirty it up. Anyhoo, I’d been asleep for a little over an hour when I hear this horking and yakking sound from one of the beasts. This is usually the precursor to some projectile emissions from one of them, so I jump up, almost trip myself tangled in the covers, reach for my lamp, and it won’t come on. I’m still asleep so I stumble to the wall switch and try that. Nuthin. I then notice the alarm clock is off, the hall light? I have no power.

Yesterday in The Plains, we experienced spring like storms. Just some crazy rain, perhaps some hail farther south, it was nuts. But not nearly bad enough to lose power? Yup. So I get my trusty blackberry use that light to dig in my purse for my little flashlight and get online and it’s not just me. My neighbor a street over had posted he was out of power too. I called the electric company and reported and outage and then tried to sleep. I was warm enough. There luckily, had NOT been any projectile bits and the cats were still snuggled up on my feet. But my brain was going batshit. I was worried. This hasn’t ever happened before and OH MY GOD WHAT IF…well I tossed and turned for a few hours then VOILA. Lights camera action! I got up and turned off the lights I’d inadvertently turned on in my search and went back to bed clutching the flashlight…only to toss and turn for the rest of the night. Come 5am when it was time to get up and get ready for the gym?

snooze button was my bitch.

SOOOOoooooo…I’ll get to that class next week. I will hit the gym after work. It will be ok. I am working lines with my scene partner tonight, so hopefully I can fit it all in. I worked lines pretty hard yesterday and made some headway. We have to be offbook on the first scenes by Sunday. I think I’ll have it down. Choppy, but whatever.

Ok. I need more coffee and am going to start this day. You start your’s too and I’ll meet you back here later!

We’ve got TWO on the table today kids! TWO! I knew they were both brilliant in their own right but when we got together for a cookout at the Ringo-Hawk homestead this past summer and Cindy taught Ringo how to grill a marinated portobello mushroom…well. The admiration society became one member stronger that day!

Ladies and gentlemen, today is my beloved Cindy and Scotty Ringo’s birthday. God gave us not one, but two specific cases of fabulous on this day. Let’s get together and give them a big fat WHAT WHAT!!!!! There are good things in store for these two this year. I can’t tell you what they are…What I can tell you is that each one graces my life to a degree that is unmentionable.

They make me laugh. Laugh so hard that I snort and sometimes toot simultaneously. They give love without boundaries. They teach me what a real relationship looks like. Hawk and Ringo, Cindy and Chris. I can tell you that, while it hasn’t been an easy road, these couples personify family. They are the model that I have in my head…the girl with her chubby cheeks pressed against the store front pointing, I WANT THAT! I WANT THAT! When I meet someone, or like someone, these are the ones that I want approval from.

I hope that you have people like this in your life. I feel bumbly and stumbly trying to express how much I love them…so I will just say it.

Cindy…my sweet sweet girl. I love you. I am sooooo blessed that you and I have become sisters. You teach me daily about being better, about dreaming bigger, and loving harder. You lead by example and I am better…each day I am on this earth is better because you are in my life. I am so thankful to your crazyass SALmon eating Mama for birthing you. Happy Birthday, sugar!

and Mr Scotty Ringo…you my brother are the guy. The one who is the standard by which all others are measured. Your ready laugh, your generous heart, your love for your family…we’ve been told all of our lives that men like you exist. It’s reassuring to know that it’s not just an urban legend. You make me happy just by walking into the room. Thank you for your friendship, and your guidance. Thank you for your love and your laugh. My life is just better with you in it. Happy Birthday my dear brother. Cheers!

I did get a lot accomplished this weekend. That always makes me feel good…I worked a wedding on Saturday night and it was kind of a dud but I walked away with $$ I didn’t walk in with so that’s always a win. Got to see Gert for a minute. Girl looks GOOOOOOD! She’s got just a few weeks left and its starting to wear her down. Hopefully the end being in sight is enough to fuel her thru…

Breakfast with Chris and Cindy always starts my day with a smile. I got some more Whole Foods goodies from Cindy’s trip to Tulsa, and the three of us started planning a mini-break to St.Louis to visit the farmer’s gardens, Trader Joes, H&M…lot’s to do there and it’s not a bad drive. about 8 hours or less…

Rehearsals are back in and I have to say…I know it’s early and the cast hasn’t really bonded yet. It’s a small cast, just the 4 of us really, and there’s some sort of personality competition going on with one of the actors. I don’t know if he’s just trying to find his space, or if he really is that much of a conceited jackass, or perhaps he’s going all “method” and staying reserved and aloof…seriously?  I’m going to choose the first and believe that all will shake out and the fun will begin soon…

I got this house really worked over and another two bags of stuff to go to Goodwill. Bless it and Let It Go…

The weather this week here? Perfect mental health pick-me-up. We’re socked in with fog at the moment, but it’s going to the 60’s and some sunshine this week. HUZZUAH!!! COME ON SPRING!

I’m working plans for a garden in my head…and excited about the possibilities that will bring. Bonusmom has graciously offered her help which I will SCOOP UP!

Did you see the beef recall? Seriously. I’m not buying commerical beef anymore. If ever. It’s just NASTY. and if you think I’m being a reactionary and over the top then YOU go watch Food, Inc and then peruse the information out there and make your own mind up. I dare you to.

I tried some meat crumbles in my mexican cassarole this weekend and it was SO GOOD! I also bought the same brand’s breaded chicken patties and made a sandwich out of it and LOVED IT! I am excited about the new foods out there, and yes it’s more expensive but hey. I’m working that out…and nothing I’m eating has been recalled this week due to bacteria.

Ok. Time to finish the coffee and hit the showers. It’s a brand new week! And even though I set my alarm for PM instead of AM and missed my gym time…it’s going to be a GREAT DAY!!!

We’ve all ready my memories of the best MLK day ever…I seem to repeat myself yearly, so I will just link to the story this year. A shout out to Skillet, way out there in Las Vegas. He’s moved from the Love show to the Elvis show and I mean business when I say I WANNA GO FOR A VISIT!!! Brother of mine…I love you. I miss you. You’re on my list for 2010…true story.

It is a holiday today. Are you off work? Do you get a three day weekend? I hope whatever your day holds that you remember, just for a moment, the man behind the day. A Day of Service…that’s what our President has called this.  I like it. So today, I’m digging thru the closets again, and taking more stuff to the Goodwill. I’m also going to let you in on what our salon is doing to help Haiti.

For sometime now, we’ve been working in conjunction with Water Is Life. We have a collection box at the check out counter, we’ve all participated in meetings and some of us have actually tested the straws. It’s really quite amazing, this invention. And for $10.00 one straw can give clean drinking water for a year. Ten Dollars. Right? Are you shaking your head? No? Then you didn’t click on the link and look at the website. I implore you. Do that now. Even if you’ve already donated, become aware of what is going on out there, educate yourself about this company. Go. Please.

This is what we’re doing. And another reason why I’m proud of the company that I work for.

A day of service.

:HELP HAITI: A WATER IS LIFE Filter will provide 3 liters of clean water every day for 1 year Only a $10 donation! See the letter by Ken Surritte, Founder of Water Is Life, below: Click here to donate today to HELP HAITI

and in a COMPLETLY other note…how’s about THIS GUY? I love it.

Pants On The Ground

In the midst of a tragedy the likes of Haiti, it’s easy to be thankful. And by easy, I mean we have constant reminders coming from the 24 hour news cycle, there is never a moment when it’s not in front of us. Have you donated? You can give 10 dollars  to the Red Cross by texting HAITI to  the number 90999. So far, over 5.1 million dollars have been donated.

I’m thankful that we live in a giving world. I’m thankful that we live in a world where texting can help. I like that.

One year ago today, Captain Sully landed the plane on the Hudson River. What a beautiful anniversary. I’m thankful for that.

I’ve had a full week, rehearsals, new foods, getting back to the gym, all accomplishments that make me happy and excited for more. Tonight is ReatRoaf night, and I am giddy for the food, but more so for the company!

I’m thankful that Kizz has taken a leap…

Gert is 7 weeks away from being a Big C Chef, and getting her too too tootsie back across the Red River. SO THANKFUL!!!

So today…there is much to be thankful for. The big stuff, (5 million dollars in donation!) and the wee small stuff (consistantly doing at least 30 -40 minutes of cardio this week) and the in between stuff, too.

Happy Friday Ya’ll!