Commuting to a New Place

All right, blogger. I've tried, but unfortunately Wordpress is more fun.

Check out my blog at http://anniem.wordpress.com.

Going Solo

Very often, I drive myself. I like being in control. However, tonight, I gained different perspective on "flying solo".

I have happened upon this great workout class affectionately called "boot camp". On Mondays and Wednesdays, you can find me and several other women sweating like we've never sweat before. The group mainly stays the same, but on occasion we have a newcomer or observer. Tonight's observer was much different from previous ones...

There are days that I indulge myself in "woe is me" behavior. I worry--why haven't I found my special someone? will I ever know what it is like to have children of my own? will I grow old with someone? Yes, I worry about living life solo. Isn't it always interesting...

Tonight, our newcomer was a lonely woman, and I spent my commute home thinking about my interactions with her. She was lonely; very lonely. It was as though she had very little social interaction with others and was trying to expend it all in a matter of 30 minutes (and unfortunately very little made sense). She talked about her struggle to find meaning outside of her home--she found no use for volunteering or joining groups; she hated the "rules and policies" of joining some groups; other groups were too serious; she didn't like women who said volunteering was all they needed; she didn't get this whole technology thing. Yet, she struggled to find a job that she wanted and said on a few occasions that she didn't know herself.

She didn't know who she was...

She had a husband, sons--those things I want. But yet, she found herself searching for HERSELF.

It is interesting to meet the "life" you want, but the "person" you never want to be. Is the difficult road the one that leads to both? Is it possible to have both?

By no means do I truly know myself, but does it mean that I need to waitlist my desires?

Advice for Women

Yesterday on my drive into work a local morning show was discussing what men notice first about women. For the most part I agreed with what they had to say. However, the last bit of information had me puzzled.

They claim that men notice the size of a woman's purse. If the purse is big, it means that she is high maintenance. A big purse (again, according to the morning show) indicates that she is always carrying her "life" around with her.

For the record, I have a big purse and I don't carry my life around with me. I carry a book for those times I find myself sitting around waiting for others, my calendar, my wallet, my glasses (gotta have them to drive), and my phone. Does this indicate that I am high maintenance? Just curious.

Frozen Commutes

Admittedly, I have ignored my blog for the last two weeks. Part of it is due to the holidays and not having the agonizing commute everyday (oh, how nice those few days were). However, it's also due to the arctic temperatures as of late.

It is so cold that I don't hear anything on my commute but the whir of my heater and the chattering of my teeth... and they only predict more of the same.

A Cheery Final Day of the Week Commute

It's very rare that I remember to switch out the CDs in my car to mix things up, but recently it actually happened. Twenty four CDs out and twenty four new CDs in. Today, on my way to work, I popped one of those bad boys in.

My infatuation with music started with one band, and to this day I have not grown tired of any of those albums. Dave Matthews Band started the love affair, and I happily listened to it on the way to work today.

The band's songs bring back memories, put me in good moods, and have me singing out loud. So it was very fitting to listen to this album today--the last day of the week before a much needed long weekend.

Music: Dave Matthews Band, Everday

Red lights: 4

Parking spot: front row!

Teary-eyed commute

It used to be that I rarely cried. I thought people who cried at movies and books and tv shows were crazy! How could something that was so NOT personally affecting them cause tears to flow freely?

Ugh... I've become that person. I cry at Oprah, I cry at Today Show segments, I cry at the Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance, and I cry at all those sappy romantic comedies.

Yesterday, however, was the first time I cried at a radio show. A radio show! What the heck!?!

Yes, a radio show was granting Christmas wishes and I cried. A woman had written in and asked the station to give her best friend a "Christmas"--the friend is a single woman of two children who recently lost her job. No one new if they would even have a "Christmas". And Lord Almighty, if I didn't start bawling when they called the woman and gave her all of these gift cards and warm wishes for Christmas.

I've become that person...

Blah-ish Commutes

I haven't posted anything lately because there hasn't been much to post. Very little good music and conversation on the radio these past few mornings as I've driven to and from work.

How boring!

However, it did excite me this morning to drive to work while snowflakes swirled around. Yes, winter is here. It's my favorite season of all! I love the absolute quiet after a snowfall, wrapping up in sweaters and blankets and coats, the potential for late openings or cancellations, snowball fights and sledding.

How wonderful!

Songs: "Meet Me Halfway" by the Black-Eyed Peas

Redlights: 3

Shuttle rides: 1