Yes, one of shoelace bows is missing.

Let me tell you a little bit about Data’s shoe fetish.

One time, Steven bought an expensive pair of shoes at the Kenneth Cole store downtown. Over $200 expensive. He only wore them on days he had to look “dressy” at work. I don’t know if they were very comfortable or not, but they sure looked nice on him.

Data didn’t think they looked so nice. He chewed them up during the night. Maybe Data just has expensive taste? That was the end of those shoes, anyway.

Steven learned his lesson - he shouldn’t leave his shoes out overnight. Now, he takes his shoes upstairs every night, to protect them.

Whenever Steven forgets his shoes downstairs, Data is drawn to them. Steven often unties the laces in the morning to find out he now has 2 extra, loose, pieces of shoelace. Or little bit marks around his shoes. Or toys in them. I always leave mine downstairs, because Data seems to leave them alone (probably because they stink so much).

Well, not anymore. After one year of living here, he finally pulled the shoelace trick on me, only this time, he left me with one bow on each shoe, instead of killing both. How nice.

He hasn’t attacked any of our house guests’ shoes yet, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Every week it’s something different - bagels, croissants, yogurt, huge fruit platters, quiche (someone brought two huge quiches today!), donuts, etc.

Normal people can go to the presentation, listen to it, wait patiently to grab one thing to eat at their desk, and call it a day. Not me. I have the unique capability to eat and eat and eat, whether or not it tastes good, until I get too lazy to get up anymore.

So since I have been trying to eat healthy lately, I’ve been attending the presentations, but not eating ANYTHING AT ALL (with the small, occasional exception of a few bites of fresh fruit). Even though the quiche smells amazing, the croissants look incredibly soft and flaky, and they brought that yummy strawberry cream cheese… I am mentally saying “no.”

And that is because I don’t know moderation. Only restriction and indulgence.

I’ve never learned moderation. Even when I’ve been at my healthiest, I’ve still been extremely careful about what I eat. I’ve flirted with moderation a bit - counting out how many chips is a serving, only eating one piece of chocolate. Yeah, it feels good to have that control, but it is not something that comes natural.

I’ve always been an “all-or-nothing” person when it comes to eating. So that is why I will write here that I am eating healthy, but then when we go out together, I’ll stuff my face. That’s because I’d rather eat what I want at a restaurant then eat something “healthy” that isn’t what I really wanted… and probably doesn’t even taste that good! And after I eat all of that yummy restaurant food, I will get back on my healthy eating plan.

I know I should be able to eat half a croissant, or half of a veggie burger, or whatever, and moderate it. But I can’t. I’m really trying to work on it so I can be a more normal person though.

On the side: I constantly feel like I am repeating myself here. Constantly. Ha. I think half of that feeling is true – I AM repeating myself. But I think the other half is that I am so familiar with the thoughts I am sharing with you, I only FEEL like I am repeating myself. So, if I really am repeating topics… sorry!

What would a blogging anniversary be if I didn’t talk about blogging?

One of my favorite parts about blogging is the comments (duh). I am amazed at the amount of feedback I get… and always amazed that it is never quite what I expect!

I don’t know about you, but when I write a post, I have an idea in my head of who will respond, how many responses I will get, what people will say… blah blah blah.

I’m never right! And for some reason, it really surprise me, every time.

This is coming off pretty lame, but what I’m trying to say is, that I love the diverse amount of feedback I get, and all the cool bloggers I meet. So thanks for coming by (even if you don’t say anything).

Here’s to another year.

At the beginning of each week, I have to repeat little mantras in my head: Smile, Don’t swear so much, Don’t say that out loud, Be nice, DON’T GOSSIP, Don’t judge people… I have to actually, mentally remind myself not to do these things.

And the thing is, I FEEL like I’m a really happy person. I like my work, I love my husband and family, I get to do a lot of fun activities… so, why why why do I have all these sarcastic, mean thoughts in my head?

I’m not sure how to get rid of them, but I am going to TRY not to say them out loud. Because I am embarrassing myself, and probably Steven as well.

And maybe this is just a human characteristic, but it’s one I don’t want.

Then, for the next few days, I am in quite a bit of pain whenever I get up out of a chair, or sometimes even when I am just walking around. The pain never really goes away completely, because we go bowling almost every three days.

Everyone keeps telling me I need to stretch out before I play. Fine. I’ll stretch out. BUT HOW to I stretch out my hip area?! (No perverted suggestions – you know I’m talking to you!)

I imagine that if I got rid some of the extra weight I am carrying around it wouldn’t hurt so much. But what am I supposed to do in the meantime?

And I think I am trying to do that with today’s topic, but I really think it makes me sounds like a… jerk. Oh well. Maybe you can relate to the topic.

So, here’s a truth about me: I don’t trust other people’s judgment in movies AT ALL (except Steven - because he knows what I like and don’t like). If someone tells me a movie is good, I really won’t believe them. I’ll ask them questions about WHAT they liked about it, but I won’t believe it is good until I see it for myself.

We all have different tastes. And when someone recommends a movie to you, they are just trying to be nice. I understand that, because I DO IT TOO. I am such a hypocrite. I often find myself telling people, “I watched whatever movie this weekend and I really think you would like it.” I am even guilty of sending people DVDs in the mail because I think they will like them (so dad, what did you think of Idiocracy?).

And I really hate feeling disappointed when I see a movie, and don’t like it. Especially when it is something A LOT of people have told me they liked (and even critics liked), and I was actually starting to look forward to seeing it - like Wanted. I felt bored in the theater, and that a lot of it was predictable. I didn’t find the action that exciting, or the story even that interesting. I did love seeing the scenes in Chicago… but I wouldn’t see it again. Or recommend it to anyone else.

But who cares, right? I’m sure some people would never want to see the movies I am looking forward to this summer. Again, it’s all personal taste. But it’s also something we feel compelled to share with each other for some reason.

For at least three-quarters of the past year, I haven’t really cared about my body. I ate whatever I wanted and put on weight. I just didn’t care. Even when I saw pictures of myself looking awful and unhealthy. Even when Steven tried to help me. I just didn’t have the right attitude. I wasn’t ready to take care of myself.

Then, a few weeks ago, I started eating healthy again, or at least making healthier choices (unfortunately not on the 4th of July weekend, or this weekend, but… I was at least conscious). I’m not exercising again yet, but I can see this all headed that way.

What worries me, is that I have NO IDEA what made me want to change. NO IDEA AT ALL. I gave myself the permission to be healthy, but why?

So while I am trying to take care of myself now, I know that it could all change again.

I just wish I could figure myself out. Because the physical weight is more than physical. It’s beginning to weigh down on me mentally as well.

We went to our first Cubs game today…

The nerve wracking 9th inning

The Cubs lost, but we still had fun!

On our way to the ballpark, while we were still in the Loop, a woman stopped me on the street to ask how to get to the Cubs game. Long story short, I told her how we were getting to the game, but that I wasn’t sure if that was the right way to go.

A man shows up at her side and says, “Maybe if you didn’t get your education at Iowa State University, you would know where you’re going.”

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

I look at this guy, and it is my boss from when I worked at ISU for the Environmental Health & Safety Department! His wife saw people wearing Cubs shirts (us) and stopped to ask for directions, even though he didn’t want to. What are the odds of that encounter? He lives in Ames and I haven’t seen him since May ‘07 (we’ve only been in contact through email).

We rode to the game together, and I gave him my business card and asked that we meet again before he leaves town (he’s in for a conference). I hope we get together again!

In other news: When my sister was packing her car for the drive home, she found a package addressed to me behind the bushes at our home! WTF? It arrived on Wednesday, and I didn’t even know it was there. I wasn’t expecting anything. To my surprise, it was an early birthday present from Gina! A cute little vase (that looks like a milk jar) with two gray kittehs that says “Friends”! I feel so awful that I didn’t know it was there. THANKS GINA!!! I can’t wait to use it. (I don’t mean to look demented in this photo, but like I said, it’s been a long weekend!)

Of course, I lean over to the side of the boat, and my mom says, “Are you thinking about going skydiving?”

“Maybe someday, mom,” I answer.

“Well, I don’t think you should,” she is obviously worried. “Sometimes the parachute doesn’t open.”

Sure mom…

Kyle, Christina, Kim and Steven

Our parachutes opened!

I wasn’t scared/anxious until I was actually kneeling next to the open door in the airplane, ready to jump out. For a split second, I thought “What the hell am I doing all the way up here?!” But then I jumped, and loved it!

Using the “flair” application on Facebook made me think of this. It seems like the flair can actually be used to say a lot about yourself!

Kim’s Facebook flair

But what if you had to limit it to only one pin? I think mine would have something to do with my love and compassion for animals. Maybe this “I Love Animals” Pin? I think that says a lot about me, or at least gives people an idea of whether or not they’d like me!