Sometimes you have to make a promise to others

Sometimes you have to make a promise to others in order to keep one to yourself.

Case in point - I want an iPhone. Really badly. But, I have decided to buy one once our credit card debt is paid off. At first, I thought of just caving. People set goals all the time and don't achieve them. Why not me too?
But then I made a point to mention it to a few people when they asked why I didn't have one (my husband has a work provided iPhone). I responded "I'll get one when we no longer have credit card debt." Bold. At least it felt that way.

Now that promise is out there in the world. The words have been spoken. It has become truth.

Last weekend we went shopping. My very generous husband mentioned that we would be near the Apple store and could easily get me the phone. Oh. I thought about it. For at least a day and a half.

And it broke my heart to say "no."

I made a promise. To myself. And to others. I'm going to try my hardest to keep it.

I do not have a poker face

Eric and I have recently discovered the sport (ahem...gambling) of poker. This game has been around longer than I have been alive, but it feels very new and fresh to us. Suddenly we notice all the phrases used in casual conversation that originated from the game and have been recording the World Series of Poker on one of those sports channels. We've learned some of the lingo and watched the biggest poker brats videos on youtube.

Even though we are playing online with fake money, we cannot contain our anxieties or excitement. When one of us has a good chance to win a large pot (notice the lingo), there is lots of yelling and jumping around. Sadly, neither of us has a poker face.

There is a possibility that a friend of ours is going to host a poker event and we've been (pre) invited. At first it seemed like a great idea, but now I'm starting to waiver. I don't think that saying "this is so nerve wracking that I'm going to throw up" is allowed during such events. Or squealing.

I'm not sure how you go about practicing a poker face. Do you tell obvious lies with a straight face - "I had so much fun visiting the moon this weekend."? Do you share exciting news as if it weren't important - "I got a promotion. Isn't that terrible?"

Either way, we have a long way to go.

settled...finally

We've lived in our little town two and half years. But so often I still feel like a newbie when others rattle off streets and landmarks. Recently a girlfriend needed some directions in town and a place for lunch - suddenly I was a wealth of resources. Overnight, I became a confident resident.

I know all the librarians and the women at my salon. The shop guys at the corner finally know me by my first name. All of my in town trips no longer require a GPS.

I love feeling settled.

pretty things

I own pretty things. They sit on my shelves, in my drawers, and hidden away. Last fall I bought an inexpensive pearl necklace. It feels fancy, whimsical, and daring. So I never wore it.

Then we were watching Sarah's House (HTGV - can you hear the Canadian accent I'm faking?) and she was wearing my exact necklace. And she was wearing jeans.

So now I'm determined to wear it once a month, even if I feel silly. Of course, every time I wear it, I get compliments. But feeling brave enough in the morning to put it on is still the struggle. Maybe tomorrow...

how not to take a compliment

I was with a lady friend the other day and she asked "Have I ever told you how much I love your hair?"

I of course responded with "Oh....I hate my hair."

At what age do we learn to take compliments?

the first of its kind

My first gray hair didn't last very long. Naturally, playing with it led to its falling out. I always said that when this day would come, I'd accept it. But now its here and I'm noticing all of my husband's stray grays. I wonder if they are contagious...

a quote to take to heart

To be interested in the changing of seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. --George Santayana, Reason and Art