TalulaZoeApple

I Gave Up Cable, Now What?

Guys I have cut the proverbial cord - the cable cord. Saving money all over the place, which feels good. Have a whole lot of free time and less mental clutter. The challenge? Harnessing all this new found energy into something productive. 

I ain't gonna lie *no Fifty Tyson* I had some withdrawals. This past Sunday was the debut of the new Real Housewives of Atlanta. YET, I did not bow, I did not bend. I held my ground and surprise, my bank account is pleased. 

I cannot believe how much time I wasted on my reality shows. All of the time I could have spent working on my book. 

Yeah, remember that?

My mind is clearer. I abhor drama in my own personal life yet I had opted to allow other people's drama into my home for entertainment's sake. Surely real life has more to offer. In 2012, I am going to find out. 

SN: I have rediscovered PBS. They need the viewership, right? Ah, Charlie Rose, how I have missed thee!

Freeing myself of cable is the gift that keeps on giving. 

It Is A New Year

I am so glad that it is here!

Happy New Year readers. I really do appreciate you. 

I have a set of new beginnings - a new job, a new place, a new hairdo. lol I am going to get my hair straightened and my ends clipped. Not to worry, this is a temporary do. I will be natural come Monday morning. 

I am loving my new place. I am like 4 miles away from my work. The place is spacious and less than what I was paying before. With gas saved from the nonexistent commute, my budget is fat! lol

I love it so much I think I just may splurge a little and decorate. 

The end of 2011 was about reorganization and planning. 2012 is about carrying that plan out.

I feel so excited when I read that friends are starting business and ventures. The people that I grew up with are living their dreams. So am I!

2012 is for the dream fulfillers. No excuses and no setbacks. I name and claim that one. 

Operation: Make It Happen

Dreams: Future teaser or false impression.

I moved to Dallas on a high note; good job, good finances, great expectations. Now it has been four years and what a roller coaster ride. Not that I expected a bed of roses or anything but I did expect a bed with some good pillows.

Maybe that is part of the problem - I'm still dreaming.

I met a friend at work. She is part of Mission: Get Out and Mingle. We both moved here to Dallas from different states - she 4 months, I four years. We both decided that we need a concrete divine intervention. A sign of sorts to let us know if we are meant to be here or go home.

I keep having dreams of my family in a big house and I am there. The unclear part of the dream is whether I am living there or visiting. The clear part, my family is together and happy. The part of me that wants to go home is the big lonely part. The part of me that wants to stay is the hopeful, little dreamer. Another part somewhere in my spirit tucked between the other two feels that if I move home, it would be a big failure.

I came to Dallas for a change, to write my book, and make a name for me. I think I started out great but financially I am not where I planned. Took too long to find a great job that would finance my future. Maybe I am still thinking in the box or still lying in bed.

 

Anyway we - me and my friend - have set a date: April 26th. Why? It is her birthday and for me it is a totally random way of asking God to step in for me. Why ask God? Because the just shall live by faith.

Either way, we have got to make it happen.

Mission: Get Out and Mingle

I have always been ahead academically and tragically remedial socially. Hey, it's a fact.

Even after last year's resolution to get out twice a month, I didn't.

Well, I have been doubling up. Last week the ballet and this week Brooklyn's Jazz Club with a friend from work. We made an oath to take Dallas by storm or go broke trying! lol

Live jazz and laughs. We even walked around and stepped into some other restaurant club and got a few honks along the way! lol

I am like more confident for some reason and I can't even tell you why. It's like the universe decided that this is my time and flipped a switched.

Watch out world! Stay tuned.

Ten Best and Worst Moments of 2010

If you are a loyal reader of this blog then you can probably guess my list. I will give it a go anyway. Got the idea from a blog friend, Sincerely.

Best Moments of 2010

10. My Audition - Conquered a fear and had a blast. Did not get the part but it felt good all the  same.

9. Bionic Lashes - Found out how accenting one small part can have an gigantic effect on confidence.

8. My Adult Crush - I confessed years ago that I was a Serial Crusher. I thought I was in recovery until cute Puerto Rican guy came into my life. It was cute while it lasted.

7. The flower in my hair. Totally related to #8.

6. Susan G. Komen 5k Walk/Run for the Cure. Did it! Awesome! Here's hoping there is a cure soon.

5. My Niece and nephew visiting me for the summer. We had a blast. Looking forward to next summer.

4.  Graduation - It was such a long time coming. My family came to visit and everything. The first time they had been to see me since my 3 years being here. Had a blast.

3. Getting a job after being laid off.

2. Not losing anyone or anything this year!

1. My sister having a bouncing baby boy after being told she could never have children.

It goes without saying that I am happy to be alive, for my family and friends and my readers. I love you guys. I am happy to know God who gives me the confidence to face any year with assurance and peace.

Worst Moments of 2010

After writing my 10 best moments, I am feeling to grateful to write a 10 worst moments. So tell me your best or worst moments of 2010.

I Have Finished the Race, I Have Kept the Faith - Susan G Komen Race for the Cure

Lord this Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Run/Walk is an allegory for my life.

The Walk

I have been training for about a month - walking for 2-3 miles 4x a week, lifting weights 3x a week. generally, losing a few pounds here and there. So the big day arrives and. . .

. . .nothing. No fanfare, no team, not even a friend to watch me cross the finish line.

But hey, I am wearing my white and pink T-shirt, I have a pink flower in my hair so I am ready to do the darn thing.

I can't find a park. I end up parking 3/4 of a mile away and walking to the event. I then have to walk around the mall to the start line.

The walk begins. . .very. . .slowly.

There are people with costumes, pets, children. Its a great environment. The sun is on the opposite side of us and the weather is divine.

 

The Last Mile. . .

 

. . .was the hardest EVER.

The sun is smack dab on our faces, my feet are starting to hurt. We round the corner and then we see it.

The Finish Line. . .

The drums are beating, the music is blaring and it's over.

Not. So. Fast.

I decide to take a short cut *insert allegorical moment** and end up up walking thru the mall. Somehow I ended up back where we turned to see the finish line the first time.

All in all, I think I walked like 6 miles instead of 3 - really.

My Life

On a happy note, when I got home, I got a call for an interview. So God shows up when He shows up. May not come when you want Him but He is always on time.

Say a prayer for me blog family.

P.S. this week I have received tweets from both Don Lemon of CNN and . . .wait for it. . .TJ HOLMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*swoons*

Catching Up - My Audition

I did not get the part but. . .

. . .I got some great feedback and some rays of hope.

Basically, both producers loved my monologue but it was my scene with the other actors that did not go as well.

I was told that I need more confidence with my body. I rocked a bit during my scene and it distracted from my words.

That's funny because that is the same weakness I identified coming into the audition.

I was not sure where to stand. I basically studied assuming we would be on a stage during the audition. We were actually in a casting room. There was really no space to "walk in." You kind of had to just had to start speaking.

It was quite the experience. I think I would like to start a few classes this summer.

Next time I will be ready.

Bionic Dresses and Other Reasons To Work Out

Some people have a certain weight they would like to attain or a certain outfit they would like to fit. I have a state of being I would like to reach.

I want to be bionic.

Not in a robotic, uncanny valley sort of way but femininely superhuman.

I used to feel bionic. I would put on a dress back when I was a size 10-11 and short circuits. lol

This dress is BIONIC! 

That is my goal when working out and eating from this day forward.

Once I am stopping traffic again with one strut down a side walk, leaping over haters in a single bound, and catching fish without hooks, I will have reached my goal.

Until then. . .

My How Time Flys When Your Single

I will NOT disclose my age but as a point of reference I saw Waiting To Exhale in high school. I remember thinking to myself, "God don't let me end up like these women - 30, single and desperate."

Fast forward to now, I am watching Let's Talk About Pep, I am thinking, "God' don't let me end up like these women - late 30s, single, and desperate." lol

Where has the time gone? Who told me that I had to reach my goals before finding love? Where did I learn to be so afraid to take a chance?

Ugh. Have I become one of THOSE women?

NOT YET.

I tell you if one more birthday passes in singledom, I am joining a convent.

It would be just my luck to take my vow of celibacy and then meet the man of my dreams while helping orphans in Haiti.

*sidenote* I am not a nun but I do feel I have taken a vow of celibacy. lol

Remember I wrote about making the wrong choice between two guys and I made the wrong choice. Well, the guy I did not choose has resurfaced. I am stuck wondering is this a sign or wishful thinking?

*sidenote #2* I am falling behind on my resolution to get out more. I did attend a networking event last week but that's not the same as being social. IMO

Proclamation: This is the year I fall in love!

Here's to Keeping Keeping Promises. . .

. . .to myself.

I made a couple of resolutions this year. Those were my main, public goals. To myself, I promised to get out more. More specifically, to go to a social event 2 times a month.

I went to a Jazz cafe for my birthday and a networking dinner for a professional group I belong to. At this dinner, I met a nice young man who had just completed his MBA. I felt confident and cute. I was flirtatious and witty, even if I must say so myself! lol

I don't know where this confidence came from but I am loving it. At the end of the dinner, the guy shook my hand and gave me his card. I gave him mine. He has not called yet but that is beside the point. The point is I got out and was sociable and . . .fearless.

Secondly, I promised the Lord, if he blessed me with a job (and He did) I would volunteer. I wanted to use the talents God has given me to give back.

Well, I have an audition coming up for a group that records reading material for the blind. I really would like to do this. Just to show how God is always working things out, I'll tell this little story.

I get to the reading center, the volunteer coordinator is giving me a tour of the facilities. I see the name of a friend's husband's friend's wife. You follow?

I helped this loose contact a couple of months ago with a clothing swap fundraiser for her playhouse. I had NO idea she was the book coordinator for the reading for the blind facility. She has worked with them for 23 years!!!

Hopefully, this is where God wants me to be.

Also, my goal is to be faithful at the house of God. I think I know what church to go to now.

Where are you on resolutions?

Stay prayerful guys.