The Dallas Woman's Guide to Gold-Digging With Pride

"I'm fed up with the ramen-eating artist who can't work a real job because he must think about creating.  I'm sick of the relationship-phobic professional who is great for the first month, then turns aloof and weird.  He get angry at you because you assume he's your steady Friday-night date and rebels against cuddling.  I'm disgusted with the emotional vampire, the guy who leeches on to your own reserves and demands that you validate his whole existence.  Yes, you are a great writer/lawyer/politician, and great in bed and very, very funny.  This kind of man is never generous in return, neither emotionally nor materially.  I should add that in all these involvements there is some incident of cheating [....] I'm exhausted from the relationships I've endured, so I've decided to try it Aimee's way."

I'm beginning to see why this is my cousin's favorite book. 

On The Up And Up

It's been a rough year. No where near as difficult as last year by any stretch of the imagination, but challenging all the same. However, I do feel as though I am regaining my ability to make more positive life decisions, which I was for sure lacking all of the last two years.

Positive Life Decision #1: Moving Into My Own Place. While I am completely grateful to have amazing parents who gave me a place to crash, rent-free, during a really hard transition in my life, I'm at the point where I can financially afford to live on my own and I am in desperate need of my own space. Granted, I could pay off debt quicker of I didn't have to worry about rent, but honestly, I don't feel as though I was actually making the most noticeable of dents since I tend to spend what I have. I feel as though finances or kind of like time for me: The less time I have, the wiser I spend it. Besides, I've lived on my own enough to know how to budget at this point and my rent is way below half my monthly income which it never has been before, so points for me.

Positive Life Decision #2: Being Boy/Drama Free. As much as I appreciated my time with TLGOE, I am convinced at this point that it is so much healthier for me to be single. That being said, I am actively searching for a husband. I don't want flings, I don't want rebounds, I don't want "he's nice, but..." I want a life partner. Someone who I am desperately in love with who shares all my goals and values and vision for life. Someone with whom I can start a family. No more settling. No more excuses.

Positive Life Decision #4: Joining A Gym. Besides the fact that I am regaining much coveted muscle tone and endurance, endorphins do a body good. There are so many positives to working out, and if you don't know about them, then shame on you. I am feeling better, looking better, stronger, more energized, and on my way to becoming a BAMF with the boot camp I'm in right now. Also, it keeps me busy which is a plus.

Positive Life Decision #5: Taking On A Second Job. I am working close to 70 hours per week between my full-time job (40 hours) and the new babysitting job I just picked up (25-30 hours). The joy of the sitting job is it is 4 nights a week - again, good with keeping me busy - and, I'm basically getting paid for feeding the kids and putting them to bed and then just curling up with my latest read and/or movie and/or sleeping. The kids are great: two boys, 3-years and 8-mos. And of course the extra income is fabulous.

I've entered into a very busy time of my life, but I always tend to thrive when I have a tight schedule. So, if I'm absent on the blogosphere, you can blame the crazy, but good schedule.