The Fabulous Life of Stefanie

Today is the first day of Lent - also known as Ash Wednesday - which is exciting for two reasons: I am just a little over a month from my baptism, and I am fully participating with the rest of the Catholic community in all things Holy! Today I am fasting - which means I'll eat two small meals not equal to one meal and then one non-meat meal. So far (and it's just past lunch time) this has been a good perspective building practice for me. At anytime that I am hungry - whether legitimate hunger or simply a craving - I can get something to eat, usually whatever it is that I am craving; I can just go, get it, and eat it. No problem. That is not the case for a whole lot of the population - whether here in Boston or across the planet in Africa, and the hunger pangs that I think I am having because my co-worker mentioned pizza are surely nothing in comparison to the immense amount of suffering that is taking place at all times in the world, or when Jesus was hung on the cross. Nails t...

I feel like I swallowed a handful of glass shards and razor blades. Seriously, my throat hurts, my ears are plugged, my sinuses burn and I am beyond tired. I wouldn't be such a whiner if this wasn't the second time in the past month that I have been contaminated with something. There are a million plausible reasons that I can use to explain this - I work in a house with 120 men whose hygiene is very questionable at times, making this a bit of a petri dish; also at work is a radiator that would make Dante's Inferno seem pleasant, and a window that blows cold, Boston air right into my face; add to this a bit of stress, the winter cold, and a raging social life, and you have one unhealthy Stefanie. I am trying to figure out remedies - I am going to start by getting back into my winter Emergen-C routine, or at least getting a vitamin C supplement and getting my lazy ass back into a hardcore gym regimen, since that seems to boost my immune system and keep me from being so tired...

Yep, the love of my life, my best friend, the most handsome man that I have ever laid eyes on asked me to marry him, and of course, I said YES! I could not possibly be any more excited. I am literally bubbling over like a glass of champagne with excitement and love for absolutely everything and everyone. First and foremost, I am so elated that I am going to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life. Growing old will be void of anything dull, boring, or not completely hilarious. We are going to have beautiful babies and live happily ever after - no wicked Stepmothers, turning into vegetables, or singing mice about it - this is my fairy tale ending. Second to that is the love and support that we have been receiving from our family, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers! Although we have been talking about getting married since we met and began our whirlwind romance, it is so exciting to shout it from the rooftops and celebrate our love with everyone. We have an amazin...

My vision of leading a stress-free life seems to be slipping farther and farther away from me this week. Not that I expected a whole lot of progress, but I feel like I haven't made any, which in turn makes me feel just plain crappy. I thrive off of productivity, sometimes I feel like I amount my own worth to how productive I am, whether it was finishing grad school or finishing a book I am reading, I just like to get things done. I am always the party/event planner in my social life, and I love creating projects at work, for myself and my clients. It creates a sense of accomplishment for me and it makes me feel good. This past week, not so much of that feeling for me. Being sick threw me out of my gym rotation that I was getting back into, and I am trying to get back but I have so much other stuff to catch up on that I put off while I was being sick on the couch. I have to pick up Matty's anniversary present tomorrow night and get to my therapist tonight, and the mornings don...

I am still sick and it sucks! I'm not completely bed-ridden sick, but more the annoying sick where I'm sniffly and stuffy and have an overall icky feeling throughout my body. I can move around and do things, but it takes all my energy just to do the easiest stuff, and I certainly can't do the stuff I really want to do (go to the gym, hunt down Matty's super secret anniversary present, breathe out my nose without sounding like a chainsaw). It sucks - boo! I needed to have a little pity party. On the bright side, I do have to say, I don't get sick nearly as much as I did when I was a smoker, and the sick germs do a much better job of staying above the neck, which is good when you were the kid/teenager/adult with chronic bronchitis. So here I am taking it easy, and hoping to feel even better for my special Mass at church tomorrow morning. Tomorrow at 11:30 I will be admitted to the Order of Catechumens in my Parish, marking my progress from Catechism classes to the nea...

After a super fun and productive day of volunteering I went to the Roadhouse and had an awesome dinner with Nina, Amy and Vanessa. Girl talk, life talk and amazing pulled pork, mac and cheese, collard greens, Allagash White and jalapeno and cheddar cornbread. Did I mention the awesome company? Then I came home, and discovered I was famous . Awesome day! And I get to lay my head down tonight knowing the 8 year nightmare is over! More about the inspiring experience at the Boy's and Girl's Club after my head de-swells from all the excitement. XoXo

And what a monumental one it is. Watching TV at the gym today I couldn't help but to be filled with sense of excitement and hope as Mr. Obama gets ready to take over the office of the President. I do not envy him, whatsoever, as he has one deep, deep hole to dig this country out of, but the impact of his election has already become obvious to me. Young people were much more active in this election than any other, and the notion that we all have a voice rang true as young and old, liberal and conservative lined up for hours to put their vote in. As the Inauguration celebrations from around the country are broadcast I see a lot of the same, and I am as excited and proud as ever to be an American today. In honor of Dr. King's dream, today is a National Day of Service , a day to unite communities and work towards a common purpose of peace and unity. I will be at the Somerville Boy's and Girl's Club hanging out with the local kids making pet toys to donate to the MSPCA. The...