Happy 2022 … wait what it’s already March ?!

                                      

If 2020 was a literal blur and 2021 and was kinda blur the first 3 months of 2022 have been just nonexistent for me hence my first posting of the year coming in March. Between working getting insanely stupid in January to Golden finally getting Covid (with her job it wasn’t when it was if and if finally caught up with her) and the stress of losing my grandma on my fraking birthday, working non stop on a proposal in the middle of burring my grandmother, and then Golden getting pneumonia in February and work continuing to blow up hard for me, plus two new employees to train and get up to speed it’s just been a hot minute since I could breathe. 

This past weekend my bestie took me to Auburn for some much needed R&R … we got to watch Gymnastics, and Softball and even squeezed in some Tom Holland via Uncharted and ate some great food. Got to hang with the nephew and his better half which was a lot of fun and it was just a great relaxing weekend. I didn't realize how much I needed it until we were on our way home and I realized for the first time in MONTHS I was fully relaxed. 

Today is Mardi Gras so I’m off of work, I took yesterday off too but ended up working about half a day. I have a submittal due on Friday so they are hopefully reviewing the “final draft” now and the work I ended up doing on Monday will make Wednesday a little easier ….. I’m also waiting on a subconsultant to get back with me …. One that I’ve not communicated with but my Project Manager has. I hate that. Make the connection then let me and their marketing person get together and handle the rest. Sigh …… I am trying to treat my vacation (PTO) time with the respect they deserve. I have neglected it far too long. So today, I spent my time preparing for my next trip. DRAGON CON !!!!!! I have secured the hotel, I have secured the membership, Golden is making her plans and guys ….. I have a Care Bear suit. I’m gonna be Tenderheart!!! I had Birthday monies in my pocket and a drink in my hand when I purchased it but damn if it's not cute. :D If I have the courage to wear it in the Atlanta August heat that is. Stay tuned for that. 

Since it’s Mardi Gras you know what that means. It’s nearly time for Lent. 4 ways to observe Lent are below if you are looking for ways to participate. I know Lent isn’t only about giving up things it can also be about adding things to the plate but to me erasing something for 40 days is easier than adding as no two days are ever the same. This year's Lent is gonna be hard yall …. Not only am I giving up social media … which frankly I’m looking forward to at the moment, but I’m also giving up Caffeine. No soda’s, no tea, just water and juice moving forward for the next 40 days. Lord help the people I live, work, and are around on the daily.

 

Why do I post my lent plans here …. It’s to keep me in check. I feel that my body is begging for me to do something, literally anything to get myself back in check. I recently did  a health care screening for my work (something about our health care BS) and well let’s just say I’ve never seen numbers so far off. Like it was all so far off I’ve thought about making a visit to my regular GP to just see what’s up. My BP is always high … always … even when I’m taking my medication as prescribed but this time it was like off the charts did it 4 times to make sure high. That’s not good. My weight has been a constant journey since I stopped playing sports and well it’s weird I don’t “feel” huge but lord knows that scale sure felt it. DAMN…. So I am reaching the point where it’s now or never and starting is always the hardest part. I know you are supposed to look at inches not weight but damn I still can’t get over that number. So I’m going to spend the next 40 days trying to retain my body to not crave the crap that I eat and drink. It’s not that I eat badly, hell most of the time I’m not even finishing the meal in front of me but I do like soda, I do like chips, I like to “snack” I just need to make better choices and that’s going to start with me and with Lent. I feel like if I can do it for 40 days … maybe I can make it last.

 As always you guys hold the world together while I am away and for the love of GOD someone please check on Golden every once in a while for me! 

Wish me luck!

 Marcy

Wait … it’s Lent again?!

It's a random Tuesday and I am at home. That means it's Mardi Gras which means Lent starts tomorrow. Wait … what.... it’s Lent again ?! I'm not mentally prepared for Lent. Really like how in the world did that happen so fast. It feels like just yesterday I was logging back into all my social media accounts after last years Lent. While giving up social media is usually the way I go this year I have decided to do something different. Instead of giving up things I’m going to adopt things. Not like a puppy or a kid, but I’m going to do things that I don’t normally do instead of giving up things I like to do. I mean I can't give back a puppy or a kid in April .... That's not how that works ... right?! Like Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.) and Soda, or sweet tea. Tho I will admit my social media breaks these last few years have been nice and in the run up to an election year it would make sense to do so again. Maybe I should re think this ................... Mostly I don’t wanna give up social media this year cause … well I don’t want to. Also, I have some things coming up that will make Social Media necessary and fun. 

My boss and I are going to the SERC conference as part of SMPS down in Tampa. Last year when I went they had these Social Media challenges that I couldn’t participate in and I really wanted to. Also my older nephew tried out for something pretty awesome the other day at his school and the announcement of if he’s in or not will be on social media. My other nephew will be spending the weekend with us in a few weeks and I like to cause Jealousy with his brother on how much fun we are having. The Sussex family returns for what might be their last official engagements and say what you will about that couple I love and miss them. So I want to soak it all up while I can. I 100% get where they are coming from and am kind of proud of them for putting themselves first. Tho it does kind of crack me up that the Spare .... the what 6th in line for the throne .... has caused a meltdown in Buckingham Palace cause he wants to step back. He never said I don't want to be a Royal he said I don't want to be a SR Royal. There's tons of Royals around them that aren't SR royals but get to enjoy the perks. I wish the rest of the world would let them move on, and that includes the Royal family, media and their so called fans. My Auburn Gymnastics team has several really huge meets coming up in the lead up to the SEC Championships in late March with the regional championships in early April. So I just don’t feel like all that is stuff I want to skip. I’m also hoping there will be some more fun things that I am not aware of yet that might hit my radar. I like happy surprises.

So this year here’s my plan of what I’m going to do instead of give up. 

• My mom and I are starting a workout program where we use our exercise equipment at least once a day together. It’s kind of a fun bonding thing. We started out wanting to do it once a day for a week, I’m going to extend it through Lent, I haven’t told her yet but hopefully she will be on board. 

• I’m going to set my phone for an alarm to go off twice a day I get up, leave my desk, walk around the building and come back to said desk on the 10th floor. I might even take the stairs a few times. I might not, I mean it’s 10 floors people, then again … how will you know. My job is one of those where I get to the office sit in my chair, log on to my PC and only get up to use the restroom, go to the printer or if a coworker calls and asks me to come help them with something. That's not healthy. 

• I’m going to write actual letters. I had meant to send out Christmas cards this year and it just didn’t happen. I gathered all the things several times to sit down and do it then never did. So, then I thought it would be kind of cool to just randomly send these people letters during the year so during lent I’m going to make some of those happen. I’m thinking at least a letter ever other week during Lent. 

This Lent I’m hoping to make about experiences not about giving things up. What are you giving up or adding to your lives for Lent this year?!

Marcy
@beaslma

Lent - 2019 Social Media Break for Lent

It’s Lent people. 

Well ok not yet, but starting Ash Wednesday, Lent will be in full effect and I'll be back at work so I'm posting this today on my day off for Mardi Gras. You guys I actually went to a parade this year … it was fun ….. the weather wasn't so great but the floats were fun …. 

Now I don’t consider myself a wholly religious person. Yes I go to church, yes I participate in various events (vacation bible school, Easter egg hunts, anything really dealing with the kiddos etc.) but this is a practice I've really gotten into for the last several years cause it allows me to shift my focus from me to the world around me. What is Lent you might be asking me . . . well not me cause I’m not there but likely the person you are with... I'll answer since that person seems preoccupied to do so ….. rude....  

Well according to dictionary.com it’s …. 

According to Wikipedia it’s ….

Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian Calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and self-denial. In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's journey into the desert for 40 days. Many Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God.

However, Lent isn't only about "giving up" things you could ADD prayer to your day, ADD reading the bible, Add Meditation about what your spiritual journey means to you. I also found this list of things you can "give up" that can have a positive impact on your life and those around you …. enjoy.

Golden used to do a 40-acts Lent event ….. a British movement that uses the 40 days of Lent to focus on the religious principle of giving to others from a Christian perspective. 40 days of giving back, doing good, and living generously. 

Basically it’s 40 random acts of kindness while expecting nothing in return. That by the way is the very definition of a Golden but with extra profanity and diet coke thrown in for flavor. I don’t know if Golden still does the 40acts but I’m sure she does something similar if not. She’s the most giving person that I know and I know like enough people to count them without having to use my toes too. 

As I have done the last few years, 2018, 2017, I’m shutting down my social media for 40 days to regroup, live in the moment, and step away from the negativity that social media has become. Granted it’s not as “BAD” as it has been for me lately cause after my first year doing this, I got rid of a good chunk of negativity on my feeds. As I have said before I’m a huge believer in a block button, in the unfollow button and in the hide button. I think sometimes people have views that don’t align with yours and that’s ok but I don’t need to see it.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to shut down views that don’t align with mine. However what most on social media users fail to realize is that a CONVERSATION about different views is good, heck one of us might even learn something from that conversation. ATTACKING one another for your different views however is NOT. People are stupid brave behind a keyboard and it’s insane. I’ll never understand it. You know what I do when I see a post I don’t like, I keep scrolling. If it’s a post that’s just really unnecessarily awful or attacking I might report them to Twitter and block said person, but I don’t give it more thought than that. I especially block and report when I see someone pretending to be someone else. That’s just wrong on so many levels. Don’t try and contact me like you are Bryan White when I know the REAL Bryan White and you aint him! Trust me I've been to the man's house, I've played with his boys, he's awesome people and that guy aint him. Just saying. That’s oddly specific but a thing that happens more often than you’d guess. PS if the blue check aint there, it’s not him. Same could be said for nearly every other “celebrity” on earth but back to the task at hand.

This post is about Lent not the breakdown of social media and ways to make it better. Maybe that’s a post for another day. For Lent I have also decided to give up SODA in addition to Social Media this year. No I didn’t suddenly move North, let me explain. For those that know me …. Coke is my downfall. I LOVE a good COLD Coca Cola, a fresh coke is like my crack cocaine, a Cherry Pepsi is my meth. Last year I gave up Coke/Pepsi but allowed myself to drink “Sprite” so I’d still have that carbonated drink in my life. However, this year …. SODA in general is out. Nothing but water, sweet tea or juice for me for the next 40 days. Lord help the people I work with. 

So I’ll see you guys on the other side, cause as you know I get real involved with this blog when I can’t do much of anything else during Lent. It’s not social media if you aren’t interacting with people so hit me up in the comments and let's use this forum as it was intended ….  

Are you guys giving anything up or adding anything to your life during this Lent season?!

Marcy (@beaslma)

Lent - SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK

 

 LENT: Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14^th ) and ends 6 weeks later before Easter Sunday (March 31^st). The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sings, almsgiving, and self denial. In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s journey into the desert for 40 days. Many use that “extra time” to read daily devotionals, pray, and meditate in order to draw themselves closer to God.

So last year for lent I gave up social media. I was kind of sick of my timeline filled with BS that was stressing me out. I was pondering giving it up all together but decided instead of a lent break. I have to say …. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Since coming back from that break this thing that was supposed to be used to be social with people I’d never know without it has become that for me again. I’ve had conversations with people, I’ve done more than just share and RT everything in sight. I’ve read more articles instead of blindly sharing them. It was a nice reminder of what these sites, FB, Twitter, Instagram etc., were created for.

It’s funny to me cause last year I did it to alleviate some anxiety in my life to step away from the negativity that had taken over my social media timeline and this year … it’s more about just stepping away. When I logged back into all the sites last April I also did a cleanse of my timeline, followers, friends and now my social media is a place I enjoy going to. This is truly a sacrifice because I use Social Media to keep up with people, like Golden, my favorite musicians, sports figures, sporting events, my family etc., so it’s going to be harder this year than last year I think. I mean the Olympics are on, my Auburn Gymnastic team is poised to have a fantastic month, I’m going to see Eric Erdman play a show Wed.,  and I won’t be able to talk about it.  

However, I’m also reminded of the lessons I learned from my Social Media break last year, how I posted, what I shared, the positive energy and negativity that I put out there on my own TL for others to deal with that kind of thing. It made me a better person both in the digital world and in real life as this break also allowed me to be fully engaged in the everyday world I was living in. Let’s  not forget that it was on that Social Media break that by happenstance I found Ed Sheeran’s music and my ears have been happier for it. I wonder who will hit my radar when I’m allowed to really see that radar this year?! I also refocused my energy on this blog during my social media break which reawakened my creative side to an extent.

So my point to you all is this …. When I turned off all my notifications last year my phone immediately went silent to the point I thought it might have died. It was not uncommon for my phone to go off several times an hour, it was a distraction and those 40 days with no notifications made me not miss it or want to check my various feeds. When I relogged into everything after the break I was very selective on whose notifications were turned back on, and whom I decide I didn't miss enough to have those constant notifications. That has made my social media life way more enjoyable and far more social. 

 

I’ll see you guys in March … until then be safe, take care of yourselves, and if you don’t mind ….do me one favor … check in on Golden every once in a while for me :D She's planning to do another 40-acts this year and frankly that's what I'll miss the most about this break, she's the most giving person I know and  the world needs more people like her. 

 

Thanks,

Marcy (@beaslma)

Death to all the flies

I am on the most wanted list, that is if Flies have a most wanted list. I literally just killed over 20 flies in my house. I feel like that one fly that I let get away went back to wherever the flies gather and had to tell the other flies that … well Steve, Brandon, Stephanie, Jack and all the others didn’t make it back. Then like one angry fly dad hollered at the Lord of the Flies …. Insert your laugh here … What did we gain by sending them in there like that … what were you thinking? Then the fly that got away, whom I’ve decided is named Jeffery, not Jeff but Jeffery, pulled out his cell phone (flies have cell phones) and said I got the giants picture and shows it to the crowd. I look a lot scarier when seen by 55 eyes (I imagine there’s a group of at least 11 that can clearly see Jeffery’s cell phone) all of whom are starring at the phone in horror, I mean Jeffery didn't even get my good side, assuming I have one. I will never get the sound of all the moving and buzzing as the flies died out of my head. It was like they were yelling or maybe yelling to one another to stay clear. I did at least give them a proper burial, I shoved them into a plastic cup and tossed them into the trash. I just know they are down there coming up with a revenge plan, as long as they don’t team up with the roaches I think I can take them, tho it may require a trip to the store for more bug spray.

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I’m off from work today, down here in the south our young and young at heart gather on Fat Tuesday to celebrate Mardi Gras. It's supposed to be a day of excessiveness. Hence the name. Maybe my excessiveness centered on Flies ... who knows. The aforementioned excessiveness includes food, drink, revelry, and I'm sure good things too like laughter, hugs, family time etc., My boss, who is from New Orleans, has been celebrating Mardi Gras since last Friday when he left the office, granted he’s been going “home” every weekend all month but it got in full swing last week, both here and there and we won't get into the argument who started Mardi Gras cause honestly I don't care.  I have several friends in Mardi Gras organizations that are celebrating the day. While I like to look at all the pretty floats, I myself am using it to chill.

I slept until 8 (instead of my alarm getting me up at 5:30), had breakfast, played on my computer a bit, and well of course murdered a bunch of flies, now I’m killing some time in front of my computer screen again. I know that technically my self-imposed Social Media ban doesn’t start until tomorrow but I kind of started on Sunday for me. When I killed off all my notifications my phone stopped vibrating nearly immediately. It was not uncommon for my phone to go off several times throughout the day as a tweet would come in or a FB message would hit me. Not getting the notifications has made me not want to check my different feeds.  It’s also surprised me what I’ve done instead. I have played games on my phone (nothing new really because I play a lot of games on my phone) but I’ve also READ more news articles than I have in the recent past. Most of the time I skim an article hit share and move on to the next article. I find myself reading more of the article and paying more attention to what I’m reading. There are several things that I have thought this is interesting I should share it then realized I couldn’t. However, I’ve also realized I’m not the only person to read that article and I’m not responsible for making sure the rest of the world reads it. That was kind of freeing. I realized that if I was interested in it, likely my friends were too and the odds are we all found the article … I think this break might cut down on my “shares” or RTs which I’m sure my followers for lack of a better word will enjoy.

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That’s not to say this self-imposed Social Media ban hasn’t been tough. There were several times I wanted to reach for my phone and send out a tweet or post of Facebook but then didn’t. Yesterday I tried to go to lunch, I say try because I went to 4 different fast food places none of which were very fast and none of which seemed to care if Marcy ate lunch. These were named restaurants who all had about 5 or 6 cars in line that were not moving. Normally I’d send a tweet tagging said restaurants in them wondering what was going on. Then I finally ended up at a place got lunch and proceeded back to my desk in record time. Upon reflection, it hit me that I didn’t even think about sending a positive tweet about my lunch experience at the place where I walked in and out very quickly getting my lunch in record time but was nearly obsessive about sending the negative ones to the places that didn’t seem interested in my lunch needs at all, much less my timeline allotted for lunch dictated by my employer. That too has taught me about what I post and how I post. Most people like to be told they are doing a good job, most people would be infuriated to be blasted for something out of their control. Maybe these places were having problems inside the store, maybe the car in front of me rolled up with an order of like 35 burgers for an office. Maybe they were short staffed due to illness …. Whatever the reason they don’t need me and my negativity in their face by telling the home base what a screw up they are on this particular day.

So my point is that I’ve only been doing this since Sunday (today is Tuesday) and I’m already reducing the negative energy on the net, so this should be a good experiment for me, and it’s teaching me a little bit about what I post and how as I am thinking more about posting not just reacting.

Then again you will have to deal with ramble posts from me until April, so maybe it’s not a win for everyone.

Have a great Mardi Gras everyone … stay safe!

Laissez les bons temps rouler AKA --- Let the good times roll! :D

PS Prayers to the Gulf Shores High SchoolMarching Band who didn’t get to start or complete their parade today when a guy plowed through the band in his car. I pray for them and I pray for the man who did this and I really pray it was a horrific accident, nothing more. People are scary out there.

Marcy