Santa Bear

Extreme close up

After he gave in and let the hat alone

My Secret Snowflake (a.k.a. Secret Santa) gave me a Santa Hat for Harley. He's not too fond of it.

Just in case you missed it...

Or want to watch it over and over and over again...

Moving

I've decided it's time to move. Soonish. It's been nice here. I've been treated well. But the time has come to move on. Soonish.

I have a new address - I purchased it today. The Captain Cartwheel name shall stay, but I will no longer be using blogger. It's going to take some time to build my new site, but I hope to have a little more freedom and creative license in my posting. I will also have a photo gallery which is exciting.

No worries, I'll keep you posted. I promise to leave a forwarding address.

Tattoo Consideration

I've been contemplating the Ironman tattoo (M-dot). I hadn't really considered getting one after IMoo, until I kept seeing them pass me by. And I did see many of them pass me during my 15 plus hours out there. Since then the concept began to settle into my brain.

After much pondering I think I have decided that the M-dot isn't really for me. Nope, as odd as it sounds, I don't think it means enough to me to be tattooed onto my body. Odd right? The symbol for the best day of my life and it doesn't mean enough? This from the same girl that wanted a Pirate flag tattoo?

Yep, it's true. I've decided that if I want to get a tattoo to symbolize my trek to IM, I want it to also encompass my life journey over the last couple of years. Therefore, should I brave the needles, pain, and itching discomfort of a tattoo again, it will say NPA.

NPA - No Pansy Asses. Yep. That's the one I would want.

Strength. Passion. NPA.
Indeed.

Listen to me

I have this issue. I won't call it a problem because I don't identify it as so - at least all the time. I don't always listen to me. Really the issue lies in that I do listen to me, but I seem to have more than one me at any given time.

Say what?

Example #1:
My main caloric intake today consisted of chocolate chip cookies, and two brownies. Granted I also had a decent lunch of chicken, green beans and garlic mashed potatoes (leftovers from last night's meal, which I made!). Yet by the time I got to my lunch I had already consumed many cookies - possibly edging up to 6 -before noon!

Thought process:
Me #1 - Man do I heart cookies. Especially Mitchell Family Cookies. Just two more. Honest.
Me #2 - I love cookies but recognize if I start eating them early in the morning I have a very difficult time pacing myself - and end up eating the better part of two dozen. Therefore I need to eat my apple and carrots before busting out the cookies.
Me #3 - I'm lifting at lunch and going to yoga tonight, I can totally eat cookies now (9 a.m.)

Which me did I listen to? Technically all of them - depending on the moment in which I rationalized.

Example #2:
I skipped out on climbing tonight because I really wanted to go to Ted's yoga class. (Note - Ted is the BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR EVER and I wake up at 5:15 am on Thursday's to go to his class. He is literally the coolest instructor. ) I get home from work and it's cold, I've been eating cookies all day and I feel lazy.

Me #1 - I don't want to go to Yoga. I want to sit in the comfort of my home and eat more cookies - maybe even watch a movie with a side of more cookies.
Me # 2 - If I go to Yoga I need to ruin my car's impression of an Igloo.
Me # 3 - I should probably start my car anyway...so maybe going to Yoga is a good idea!
Me #4 knew I would be annoyed with myself if I listened to Me #1 and rationalized by doing a yoga video in my living room.
Me #4 quickly realized a video was a lame attempt at recreating the magic of Ted's class and worked with Me #3 to get me out the door and on my way to Yoga.

These internal battles are fought on a regular basis. Me's are always competing for attention, attempting to make counter-arguments to other valid arguments. I used to worry about this - the seemingly multi personality disorder - but I've come to realize its more about me being complex than me have a Cindy Lou or Bobby Jean hiding inside me telling me to bite the heads off chickens. And it's good to be complex.

Each day I work towards a balance. Today my balance included Ted's class and a load of cookies (I ate three more while writing this post). Oh, and my apple and half of the carrots are still sitting at work waiting to be eaten. Oops.

Hopefully tomorrow's balance will include less cookies. But damn they're good.

Question

In a world where timing is everything, what happens to the timeless?

The Questionnaire

I've been thinking. I think there should be a questionnaire filled out after every random hook-up or non-relationship-potential partner. I've pondered this on and off over the years. Why you ask? Because I believe in learning.

How do you know how the other person felt about the experience? Was it good? Mediocre? Mediocre with potential? Bad, but if drunkenness was involved it would have been way better? Horrible b/c drunkenness is involved?

I'm just saying, talking is great, but heaven forbid two people actually openly talk about the experience. I'm a fan of learning. And to learn people need feedback. That's all I'm saying.

So, with this in mind, I have decided to create a questionnaire.

*Disclaimer* I used to work in a sexual health clinic and have heard many stories, often way more than I ever wanted to know - even in a nosy mood. Basically what I'm saying is this is not necessarily drawn from personal experience. Some might even be thrown in for shock factor...b/c who wouldn't love a questionnaire asking crazy stuff after having the most utilitarian encounter?! Can you imagine? (i.e. "WAIT just a MINUTE! You would have done that?! Dang, dude!") Just saying...I think you get my point.

Without further ado:

The Questionnaire

Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire. Your honest feedback is greatly
appreciated. If necessary please attach a separate piece of paper (kind of like in
college when the professor expected a full essay and only gave 3 spaces to write.)

1. Name: ___________________ (yes, I realize you told me already, but please fill it in anyway.)
   
   
2. Current status: Single Dating Married It's complicated
   
   
3. Did you have a nice time? Y N Unsure
   
   
4. Do you remember what happened last night? Y N Everything is a little fuzzy
   
   
5. Was the foreplay good? Y N Foreplay? What foreplay?
   
   
6. What, if anything, could have been improved upon during foreplay? _________________________________________________________________
   
   
7. Will you be seeking treatment for that rug burn? Y N WHAT!?
   
   
8. Did you find the bed comfortable? Y N Can we go back to the rug burn question?!
   
   
9. Did you realize you had The Clap before coming over? Y N Shit! Is that what that is?
   
   
10. Are you offended by the Exit Only policy? Y N I plead the fifth
    
    
11. Would you be interested in hooking up again? Y N If alcohol is involved
    
    
12. Would you consider achieving Phuck Buddy Status? Y N Depends, is there alcohol?
    
    
13. Would you be interested in a relationship? Y N Run away!!!
    
    
    
    Other comments: ______________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________________
    
    
    Thank you for your feedback, rest assured it will be put towards improving future encounters.