It's okay Thursday!

I'm linking up with Neely at http://www.chroniclesofneely.com/and Amber at http://www.brunchwithamber.com/ for It's Okay Thursday! :)


It's okay...

...to say no. I've started and it feels great! :)

...to spend your whole summer off doing what you want...and not necessarily what you should.

...to want more blog followers, but know you need to be patient.

...to want to start running! (I ran a little today...maybe 1/4 of a mile, but it's a start!)

...to always put your sweats on as soon as you come home from work.

...to sometimes like your cats more than people.

...to still not feel like a grown up in your early thirties.

...to watch Christmas movies in August.

...to not be able to function in the morning without coffee (mmmm...coffee...)

Facts about me Friday (Er, Saturday)...link up with Raids of Orange :)

Sorry I'm a little late to the game...just by a day :).
Raids of Orange is such a fun blog, and Kaitlin Jean is just so sweet...how could I not link up!
Without further ado, my five facts:
1. I'm a singer/songwriter.  Well, at least I used to be.  I played guitar and sang in bars and coffee houses for years! It was so much fun and I miss it terribly.  I even recorded a CD! I do still sing in my car, the shower, and pretty much all over my house, so now I just need some time and some ideas.
2. I LOVE Cleveland.  I know I've mentioned this before, but it needs to be said.  There's so much to do, nice places to stay, and of course THE MELT is there.  And the A Christmas Story House. :)
3. I am a sitcom junkie.  I heart sitcoms.  A few of my favorites are 30 Rock, Cougar Town, The Middle, Friends Seinfeld, and Everybody Loves Raymond.  Yes, I know some are no longer on the air, but you can still watch them all the time!
4. I am a shopper.  I could shop 24 hours a day if allowed (and if I had unlimited funds).  Shopping online is way too much fun.  I'm pretty good about just looking, but I have a few "back to school" items I'd like.  Has anyone tried TOMS shoes?  I've got a pair picked out, but I've yet to make the purchase.
5. I have two middle names and two last names.  I'm not posting them here :), but you get the idea.  I get a lot of stares from people when they check out my license.  My mom gave me two middle names, and when I got married I wanted to keep my maiden name.  Luckily, none of my names are excessively long!

Well ,there you have it!  Thanks for hosting this, Kaitlin Jean!

Happy Saturday!

<3 Gretchen

Tattoos

I have nine tattoos.  I kind of wanted to be a rock star, but so far, that's been put on the back burner.   I've been itching to get a few more (I swear, it's something about the ink...:).  There are some quotes I want, and I'd really like a bird.
The thing is, they need to be somewhere no entirely visible in my teacher clothes.
I have one on my stomach (a symbol for strength and power...or soup, who really knows?), a small star on my rib, two small stars on my back, a moon between my shoulder blades (it's Celtic), a sun (it's a "tramp stamp," but trust me, it was NOT called that when I got it!!!), a symbol for happiness to the left of that, and Leo zodiac signs...one on my foot and one on the inside of my left arm.
I love them all :).
I got my first when I was 16. I was attempting to rebel...so of course my parents took me.  They didn't want me going to some tattoo place by myself, and they pretty much knew I'd go anyway. It was impossible to rebel! :)  I got mine before it was "cool" or a fad, but I suppose that doesn't matter now. :)
These are the ones I'm thinking about now:

“It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously.”

Oscar Wilde

I'm not sure exactly where this would go, but somewhere on my back.

I also want a bird or birds. I've seen some pretty neat ones. I don't want swallows or anything...I want tiny, nondescript birds...probably on my back as well.  I saw a really cool one on the top of the shoulder...but I'm not sure I could do that as it might show, even in work clothes.

  I've seen some cool ones on tumblr.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/bird-tattoos?before=1296504328

I did try to post the picture, but that almost ended with my throwing my computer out the nearest window...I can't do that! I need my computer :).  It kept saying that firefox was not responding.  I think I swore at firefox a few times, that saucy minx.

Do you have/want any tattoos?  

Oh, Monday.

Happy Monday, Bloggy World!

• This weekend we went to my friend's sister's wedding (I had to really think about how to word that).  It was fun.  It was raining right up until the ceremony, but then it stopped and cleared up for most of the day.  They had a movie theme that I think I'll be using when I plan prom this year.
• Yup, I get to plan prom...and next year, graduation!
• I'm a little nervous.
• I'm still looking for a play for the fall. I thought I had my mind made up, but I really REALLY want it to be super, slap-stick funny.  I have a stack of seven scripts sitting next to me.  This is serious, people.
• I believe I have the musical picked out, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. :)
• I haven't been working out as much...I still work out most days, but not for more than 45 minutes.  I'm sure that's really helping the weight loss. Ha.
• I'm on the hunt for some new work clothes!  I got an awesome dress from Target for the wedding (I needed something that wouldn't make me melt in the sweltering heat and humidity)...and now apparently it's on sale online, but they don't have my size. 
• I've been trying to post the link and of course, my technological knowledge has failed me. 
• It's called the Mossimo Women's Draped Double Layer Tank Dress.  It's awesome, and comfortable. Trust me. I want one in every color.
• Have you ever felt invisible?  That's how I felt yesterday and today.  It's not a great feeling. I hope it passes soon.
• I think I need to learn to meditate to deal with my stress.  I've tried yoga and I should probably give it another chance...I just wasn't a huge fan. I felt like it stressed me out more! :)
• I'd like to start running, but every time I try I feel like I should be running more than I am physically capable of doing.  Any tips for starting out?  I get so frustrated that I quit too soon, I think.  It seems like a great way to relieve stress and stay in shape!
• I would also like a running partner.  Hmmm. B's not a big fan o' the running, and I can give him a pass considering he walks about ten miles a day for work. :)
• I tried to work in my room today, but it was too hot. I made it 90 minutes and did get some stuff done in my storage area/closet. Yay!  I don't think I can get too much done yet anyway, because I don't think my floor is ready.  I do want to get in and start rewriting my letters to send home. I have some ideas floating around in my head that I probably should get on paper soon.

How was your weekend?  What fun things did you get done today?