So it took you a year and a half to make a new post, huh?

This. Is. Sad.

So it's now the morn of New Year's Eve (2011) and I stumble upon my blog for the first time since I last posted in June of 2009...what on God's green earth have I been doing since then?!

Needless to say, I did NOT lose any more weight. I more than likely found every pound I lost and I'm sure they brought along a couple of friends. Don't get it twisted...I still look good. Lol. (Vain, much?!) While I'm no longer a member of Curves, I still want to keep up with the change in my eating habits.

In other news, I'm a LAW SCHOOL student!! Woohoo!! Finished my first semester and it is a LOT of work. I still haven't gotten rid of this procrastination disease, but I'm gonna work through it. Keep me in your prayers.

The "love of my life" is now an ex and a pretty good friend. I can NOT believe I was willing to compromise soooo much of who I am and still expecting to be happy. Fail! Ladies and gentleman, just because he's a good man that doesn't mean he's YOUR man. In my case, he has a LOT of growing up to do!

Almost as soon as ex boo was out of my love life, entering stage right is new boo! I don't wanna rush anything with him but this is kind of a long time coming. I've known him for years but circumstances kept us from having an opportunity to date. He's a REAL man and a great friend...but his ex scared the crap out of him when it comes to dating. :/

So now he's subconsciously sabotaging our "dating" out of fear that I could end up being just like his scum of the earth ex-girlfriend...*sigh*

What's a girl to do...nothing?! Easier said than done. I'm trying. Failing. But trying, nonetheless.

Anyway, I'm moving forward. I'm trying to fill my plate with law school but my ADD keeps me so distracted, it's almost pointless. Again, keep me in your prayers.

Happy New Year!!!

So You Worked Out For A Week, huh?

So this is the end of week one. This week I lost 3 pounds! Woohoo!!

It wasn't that hard either. But I can guarantee that it wasn't the workout that made me lose it, it was the food!

When I started Curves they offered me a free 30-day Curves Complete trial which includes a meal tracker with meal suggestions for each day. I couldn't always do the suggestions (hardly ever) so I just substituted what I had in its place and stayed close to the suggested serving size.

My cousin started and attended each workout with me but did not follow the Curves Complete meal plan. Today she found out she gained close to 5 pounds. I feel bad for her, but I'm pretty sure she's ready to get on board now.

Just so you know, I'm not at the gym everyday. I go 3 times a week, monday, wednesday, and friday. This friday we couldn't go so we went today, saturday. Also, the workouts are only 30 minutes each day so it's not like I'm on some type of "Biggest Loser" workout plan. I didn't do any extra exercise on my own, although I did want to but just didn't make the time. So again, I stress that it is not only about the exercise, it's about the food.

Anyway, this is not gonna turn into a weight loss blog...I hope. :)

Starting Weight: a lot
Current Weight: 3 pounds less than a lot. :)

So You Wanna Lose Weight, huh?

So this is the beginning of my weight loss journey.

For as long as I can remember, I've been a big girl. I didn't know until I got to high school just HOW big I was. I wasn't the fancy of my male counterparts' eyes and I justified it by saying I wasn't interested in them either. So I kept growing/going.

This justification is still with me. I went to college and met all kinds of men who loved every pound I owned. So I reasoned that I looked good at my weight and didn't need to lose any of it.

All while this was going on, my mother and two of my cousins were having the gastric bypass surgery; my mother was battling diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, high blood pressure, and a plethora of other diseases; my aunt died from complications with diabetes before her 60th birthday; my grandmother had several strokes, a heart murmur, and diabetes before she died from a heart condition at 58; my father was having heart surgery; my father's mother died from diabetes....and I was concerned about how good I looked.

Thankfully, I have not developed any of these diseases or symptoms...yet. I'm praying that by jumping on the bandwagon now, I will increase my years and reverse the damage I've already done.

I've realized that no matter what size I am, there will always be a man wanting to love me. But if I don't change now, he'll bury me sooner than later.


How I'm Losing The Weight: Curves Complete
Starting Weight:.....IDK if I'm ready for that yet...just know it's a lot for right now.

So You Think You're Mature, huh?

It is suggested that students mature while in college. However, maturity is essentially the ability to identify and, most importantly, avoid potential, what I call, “what-was-I-thinking” moments. Of course, it is inevitable that all human beings will look back on an event of his/her life with discomfort and uncertainty. While it is necessary, simply recognizing one’s past faults is not sufficient in one’s maturation process. The ability to foresee the outcome or otherwise evaluate the risk of a personal decision denotes an advanced level of maturity.

While in 3rd grade, though only briefly, I managed to earn several school detentions for my “disruptiveness.” I had a tendency to finish my class work quickly and have enough time to help my fellow students correct some of their errors before the time allotted to that subject was complete. Apparently, my “help” was not well received and on several occasions resulted in a chalked “Arneatha” across the top of the blackboard. The teacher says “disruptive”; I say “helpful”. Tomato; Tomato.

After my name on the board received its second mark, I was given a notice of detention to take home to my mother for her signature. I was well aware of the consequences of receiving another disciplinary notice from school. Simply put, it was imperative that I avoid notifying my mother. I was faced with a dilemma; how do I get my mother’s signature? I concluded that I could not simply forge the signature because I was sure that they would have several copies of my mother’s signature (from previous detention slips) with which to compare my failed attempt at forgery. No, it would have to be her unique and intricate autograph.

If ever there was a light bulb protruding from my cranium, I am confident that it was as bright as the North Star once I stumbled upon my foolproof master plan. I decided that I would cut and paste her signature from some other document to my detention notice. In addition to the protruding light bulb, I imagine there was a victorious laugh of some sort upon finding this idea. As I carefully cut my mother’s signature from a permission slip, that I scanned and copied so as not to inhibit me from attending the outing, I can remember slowly tracing the tall “J” so as not to leave too much empty space. I even folded the signature to be able to cut the white space in the loops of the cursive “J” and “q” for blending purposes (I was quite thorough in my execution).

It goes without question that, although I attempted to be as thorough and meticulous in my sculpting, I still managed to overlook something. The detention slip was printed on green paper and my signature was printed on white paper. Ignorant to this fact (and the overall ridiculousness of this plan), I turned my deceptive art project in to my teacher. With no immediate response I was sure that my plan had worked (this is probably where another victorious laugh occurred). The day continued uninterrupted and I immediately logged this entry as 1-Arneatha, 0-teacher as I prepared to leave school.

Just as I was leaving the classroom, my teacher handed me an envelope and instructed to me to give it to my mother. Since I had already claimed victory, I accepted the envelope expecting it to be another permission slip or possibly my grades but either way, it was most likely harmless. As I handed my mother the envelope, she stopped me with frustration and confusion on her face. She opened the envelope and unveiled my masterpiece. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the three-dimensional signature sitting atop a healthy puddle of Elmer’s glue. She could not contain her amusement and instead burst out in laughter. I felt my protruding light bulb retreat and the victory in my voice fade as I watched the blood rush to my mother’s face as she bounced at the hilarity of the detention slip.

At eight, I produced one of my favorite “what-was-I-thinking” moments. Now at twenty-one, I will not claim to have ceased production of failed attempts and poor decisions. I am sure that when I am forty-one I will examine the previous twenty years to find several more. What will remain constant is that, by taking the time to acknowledge those moments, I reduce my chances of repeating them.

So You Know The 80/20 Rule, huh?

So a friend of mine on Facebook posted a note regarding the 80/20 rule most commonly recognized as a part of Tyler Perry’s AWESOME movie, Why Did I Get Married.

The note was pretty much a verbatim recital of the scene in the film where the rule is explained. While reading the note, I couldn’t help but stop at the first line: “In most relationships you will only get 80% of what you want.”

Doesn’t that sound HORRIBLE?! Why? Who decided that 80% was all that we deserve? But more importantly, what is keeping us from achieving 100%?

I know the answer.

Communication.

As a woman who understands the hard work it takes to make a marriage or relationship work, I couldn’t imagine not giving my future husband 100%.

Let’s be clear, your “wants” are not synthetic. I’m not talking about a man’s desire for blondes and double D’s. I’m talking about personality, flexibility, consideration, strength, and so on.

So how do I know what my husband wants in order to give it to him? He has to tell me.

That is the hardest thing for both men and women to grasp.

For women, rather than tell the individual what you want, you assume that your desires either mimic every “normal” woman and therefore should be pre-programmed or are not as complicated as they really are (probably because you haven’t take the time to consider what you REALLY want) and should be easily learned. In both cases you are wrong.

For men, you either assume that you won’t get what you want anyway so you decide not to ask at all or you truly believe your desires are skin deep and commit to finding women who offer 100% of those “preferences.” In both cases you are wrong.

Now, let’s consider that this very necessary conversation does occur. However, one or both parties is unable to support the other’s wishes…then what?.........Move on.

It may sound like “quitting” to you but I have to argue that we as humans are like clay. We can mold and change ourselves at our own whim (and sometimes the whim of others). I remember I used to change my handwriting almost every school year. I still change my signature often. If you can change habits like those, the ones you do without thinking, I’m prettying sure you can change your personality or your actions if you TRULY want to.

If they don’t make an effort (we always give A’s for effort), move on because that lets you know the other person does not WANT to. If this is a person you’re considering spending the rest of your life with, how can you expect them to grow with you and they won’t even grow FOR you?
I’m a firm believer that you CAN have your cake and eat it too…I still wanna know the idiot who came up with that…he should be slapped. WTF is cake for if not to eat!!

Anyway, I said all of this to say that you don’t have to settle for 80%. Encourage the 80 to increase him/herself to 100. If you have to compromise meet somewhere around 95. However, I will say that you will have a MUCH easier time getting to 100 from 80 as opposed to 20…20 has a LONG LONG way to go. ;)

BTW, MERRY CHRISTMAS, everybody!!

So You're a Punk For Sappy Videos, huh?

I know I should be doing work so this will be short. I simply want you to watch this clip and try not to tear up…I failed.

It’s just so heartwarming and sad at the same time.

I mean…*looks to the ceiling and tucks in lips*…it’s just so beautiful. That little girl loved her daddy, you know. *grabs tissue* She even started crying because she was so happy. *dots the inner corner of my eye with the tissue, holding it there*…I just…*irregular breathing pattern begins*……I mean I……*balling like a SERIOUS punk*……I didn’t have a daddy!!!…*cut to commercial*…

So You Don't Believe In God, huh?

Let’s put it out in the open: I’m a Christian.

However, nothing that I have written in analysis of Atheism is from a “Christian” perspective. Instead, I’m using my critical thinking, English, “Googling” and reasoning skills to make my case. So while this is my opinion, it’s not supported by “beliefs” only…I know some of ya’ll like to jump to conclusions.

So after reading this article at CNN I was a little frustrated with the faulty argument supplied in support of the anti-religion display found in Seattle, Washington. First, however, I had to address the common misrepresentation of the components of Atheism.

Atheism is the rejection of theism. It’s incorrect for people to use the word “Atheist” as an adjective to describe someone’s actions. An “Atheist” is a noun. You ARE an Atheist. Another thing, there’s a difference between being an Atheist and being “anti-religion.” Atheism is who you are, “anti-religion” is what some Atheists do.

I say this to say that the display seen in Seattle which included the statements, “there are no gods, no devil, no angels, no heaven or hell…” is not an effort to promote the ideas of Atheism, as some would try to make you believe. It is the public practice of anti-religious activities. These activities are aimed at Christians, not other Atheists. Its purpose is to disrupt the beliefs of the religious and therefore it’s immoral and malicious.

You can be an Atheist without contesting the beliefs of Theists. That is what I think most people (including many Atheists) don’t understand. It amazes me that so many Atheists define their status by religion, or the lack thereof. If you “are” something, it is not because of what you “are not.” To clarify, you are not a fisherman, because you are not a carpenter. You just ARE a fisherman.

In place of that rude sign, if I were an Atheist, I’d post pro-Atheism statements as opposed to simple anti-Christianity declarations. Example:

“This Holiday Season, I believe in ME!” or

“I, and I alone, control my destiny…shouldn’t you have control of yours?”

With these statements you are more effective in provoking discourse (the alleged goal of the previous sign according to the article) and even interest in the sponsoring organization. My mother always said you catch more bees with honey.

Now, please don’t be the one to result to the “well they do it too” argument…we’re not 9 year olds! You can not justify an action by its popularity or frequency. I’m not upholding Christians. In fact, I have not mentioned Christians for that reason. I have not “failed” to mention the actions of Christians in promoting “anti-Atheist” ideas…that just wasn’t the topic!

Article: http://tinyurl.com/6foqhv