Barnes and Nobles and Starbucks

I ventured out to Barnes and Nobles tonight for the last Christmas gift I had to get this holiday season. I also had multiple Starbucks gift cards to use from my class gifts last year when no one realized I wasn't a fan of coffee! So I decided to get rid of a few bucks on one card and ordered a peppermint hot chocolate to take home with me. Boy was I surprised when the Starbucks guy said, "Sorry, we don't accept Starbucks gift cards here." WHAT?! This IS a Starbucks, right?!?! I decided to keep with the cheery, Christmas spirit and happily pay for my hot chocolate with my debit card. I figured it was more graceful than what I really wanted to tell the Starbucks worker.

After I got my cup of cocoa, I perused the book shelves of said bookstore. Of course I found myself in the "self help" section, because I think the best books one can buy are those about bettering oneself. I took four potentials back to the Starbucks table to read through while I drank my warm (and sadly, not free!) drink. One was a book about living alone and loving it, one was about Kermit the Frog's advice about life, one was about putting lipstick on and all would be right with the world (REALLY stupid book...looked through it in about 30 seconds before putting it down), and another was about that poem, "Do it anyway." The Kermit the Frog book and the "Do it Anyway" book were the only potential "keepers" in the stack. However, I did not purchase either one. I did, however, come across another book while putting the other four away and swearing I was not going to buy a book for ME, as I was at B&N only to buy the Christmas gift. Whoops. I ended up purchasing, for a mere $12.95, a book called "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35." From what I can tell from the back, it discusses the ten people I will apparently be before I'm 35 - new graduate (check), dollarless diva (check), worker bee (CHECK!), party girl (possible check?), body-conscious babe (semi-check), chameleon (?), crisis chick (?), Ms. Independence (currently? maybe?), Wirl (half woman/half girl), True You. Hmmm. Sounds good to me, I suppose. I'll let you know how the book is. And which of these "women" I currently am. And any good quotes I come across (there are a lot of quotes in the book - one reason it was the chosen book of the night!).

I also noticed something while at Barnes and Noble tonight. As I sat there sipping my hot chocolate and flipping through random books, it suddenly occurred to me that I was actually happy being alone. I didn't want anyone else there with me. I was content doing my own thing, and I actually LIKED it. I think I am finally starting to grasp how important it is for everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, to have "me" time alone. I actually found a quote in my new book to share about this!

"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one." - Eleanor Roosevelt

I also read something along those lines in my favorite blog thus far. You know, the one that inspired me to start a blog of my own. Check out Alisa's post about this topic:
http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com/2008/12/how-to-get-a-life/
Side note : Want to hear something cool? Alisa noticed a lot of "traffic" coming from my blog to hers , so she checked out my blog. She even took the time to post comments on my first entry (beginnings are usually scary)! I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't think anyone would ever read this thing, aside from a few friends and co-workers. Who would've thought?!?!

I realize I've digressed...

The one thing I would like to leave all of you with (whomever that may be!) is a challenge. Do one thing in PUBLIC alone this week. No significant others, no friends, no kids, NO ONE is allowed to go with you! This could be eating alone, going to a movie alone, shopping alone, drinking hot chocolate while reading books at a book store alone (hint, hint!), or even just going for a walk alone. It is quite liberating to be with no one but yourself. Maybe a little awkward at first, but I bet you'll enjoy it the way I learned to. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!

One last thought for the night...
I have to share Sadie's latest "Marley" moment with all of you. My parents watched Sadie on Friday while #4 and I went to his company Christmas party and stayed downtown. Well we think she ate a lamb from their nativity scene while she was over there! My mom can't find it anywhere. So I am waiting for Sadie to poop out a white lamb (or pieces of it if she chewed before swallowing, which isn't always the case with Sadie!). My mom wants me to take her to the vet for X-rays. I am debating this because 1.) no one actually SAW her eat the lamb, we're just ASSUMING that's what happened to it and 2.) I have concluded that Sadie's digestive system is made out of steel. If she hasn't died yet from all the crap she's eaten, I highly doubt a lamb will be the end of her.

I am grateful for...
1.) Panera lunches with friends that last for HOURS!
2.) A much-needed break from work.
3.) Reading alone in public (even if I did get funny looks while reading the "Kermit the Frog" book!).