My wedding anniversary - reflections

Today would have been my wedding anniversary. Although the marriage didn't work out, this date is firmly in my head forever.

It was a week before my undergraduate convocation. That month of June was crazy. I got married, graduated, and moved to a different province.

If I could do things differently, I would have taken my time getting married. I knew him for nearly three years at this point. I needed to know him better. It was a long-distance relationship, so I didn't pick up on some of his quirks that were red flags.

I suppose that's what happens when you are young and in love. You overlook red flags. You then spend time trying to muster the strength and finances to get out of the relationship.

I look back and I've learned a lot from my marriage. No regrets.

Looking back through external drive files

I have spent a good hour looking at files on an old external hard drive. It's interesting looking back at a snapshot of my life.

I looked at files from 2007. There were photos that I had taken. Music that I was listening to. A resume that was developing. It was cool looking at me back then and how much I have grown since then.

Things seemed so simple then. I wasn't heartbroken. Then again, there was so much drama at work that perhaps things weren't as simple on the surface.

Life is definitely mine to discover. I wouldn't change a thing from my past.

Reflective and relaxed

I'm stateside. All is well.

Being on vacation has made me extremely reflective. Being on a plane makes me think about my current and past friendships and relationships. Songs lyrics make me nostalgic, happy, sad, and more. It has been therapeutic.

On a good note, I am eating well and experiencing new places to eat yummy food. It has been great so far.

Achy body, stronger heart, and reflection

I am still achy. It helped that I worked from home on Wednesday. I got to take it easier than if I were at work.

It has taken a while for me to realize that all the stress at work and in my life has finally hit me. I truly need to take it easy.

Yesterday marked my ex-husband's birthday. I didn't feel anything. I suppose that being in such an unhealthy relationship has made me numb. I hope that he is okay in heaven.

I do feel differently about my recent breakup. I loved my guy. I didn't feel the same way about my ex-hubby. I fell out of love with him, but stayed with him until I had the strength to leave.

It's good to know that time has healed me with my ex-hubby. Here's hoping that I am at that same peace of mind with my guy soon.

Farewell lunch for interns and reflections

Friday was the last day at work for my two interns. I organized a farewell lunch for them. We spent roughly three hours at the chosen restaurant and I was a bit late getting back to the office for an over-the-phone interview. My manager left half an hour early to start the interview, so it all worked out.

The food at the restaurant was amazing. All eight of us in attendance were happy with our meals. Getting the bill took a while, but it was nice to spend some decent time with the interns.

They are the sweetest folks that I have worked with. Both wanted hugs from me before they left the building. Both had a mini speech for me, thanking me for helping them and for showing them the ropes. This internship was the first for one of them, and she started tearing up in appreciation for what I have done for her.

I will miss them. I am glad that they both felt so positive about their experience with the company. They worked so hard and did a wonderful job. It gives me great hope that they will do just fine in school and in the workforce. They are great women with lots of potential.

They have taught me a lot, too. That it's perfectly fine to embrace Starbucks runs and taking a break because you have earned it. And, music bonds everyone. My musical tastes are varied. Both interns have slightly different music tastes. Yet, they both match mine.

Good people do well. These interns have proven it. I have and continue to, too.

Preparing for vacation, memories, and a sore bottom

The week has been hectic and full of drama at work. Away from work, all is well. I am packing for my vacation that starts on Friday.

I am returning to a city that I used to call home. I haven't been back for nearly five years. I injured my back when I last visited. I saw my ex-husband for the last time then, too.

I miss the city. Even though I had some bad experiences being married to the ex-husband, I still have friends who are there, and places that I want to revisit and explore.

I will be flying into an airport that has been completely revamped. Perhaps it's a sign that I am embracing various changes in my life. I still have that excitement to see new places and things.

So, if I do have a chance to write, I will while I am on vacation. I deserve some time away from work, but we'll see how busy I get as a tourist.

My guy returns home late in the morning on Thursday. It'll be nice to hug and kiss him, have a lunch date with him, and end up with a sore backside afterwards.

My post on Chross's site, voting early, and photos

It is always a pleasant surprise when one of my posts ends up on Chross's Spankings of the Week page. This time makes it number four! My post-analysis of how sore my backside was after my last spanking made it and I am truly flattered!

On Saturday, I voted early for the municipal elections. I tend to vote early because voting day always lands on a weekday and I don't like rushing over to the polling station after work, lining up, and trying to figure out who I want to vote for. 

I have worked at all three levels of governmental elections in my life. By far, the municipal elections are the most enjoyable to be a part of. In my city, the results are automatically tabulated by computer. You  can even vote online. I like lining up and having a ballot to make my candidate selections. 

Next month, I am travelling to Turkey. My passport expires in April, so I need to renew it. It helps to have a passport that is valid for at least six months. I got my passport photo taken today at Costco. I look so different now than I did 4.5 years ago. I definitely like how I look now.

Then, I looked at my photo on my Costco membership card, which was taken thirteen years ago. It is not a flattering picture of me. I looked like a convict and my membership level wasn't quite right, either. As a result, I got that photo retaken. 

It was a productive day. Too bad the passport office isn't open on the weekend. Otherwise, I would have submitted my application by now!

A sweet review of the girl with the naughty name's blog (that is, my blog)

It seems like a long time. Then again, this year is blowing by too quickly for my liking.

Back in June, I participated in my first blogging challenge. Each day, you choose a topic to write about and your topic goes through each letter of the alphabet. I knew that it would be difficult for me to accomplish, considering that I had a major deadline that month at work and that I haven't blogged that regularly in years.

Although I thought that I would be going through a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and nervous breakdowns, I survived. I felt good that I had accomplished something important. I also managed to find a number of blogs that I love following.

I wish that I could read a blog from start until finish. I was lucky to have found Han's blog. He has a good mix of post topics. Variety is good. I appreciate his hand at writing poetry and quoting poems from some of my favourite poets, such as Ogden Nash. He also posts intriguing photos that end up being etched in my memory for quite some time. I admire that he participates in far more blog challenges that I have.

We found each other's blogs through this challenge in June. I was flattered one day, a few weeks back, when he left me a message, saying that he was striving to read every post that I have written.

I used to do that with this blog. I have been told that I have a good memory. I am also a reflective person, so reading and reminiscing aren't unusual tasks for me.

I haven't read my older blog posts for a while. It is mainly because this blog can be divided into two distinct sections:

• My life as a married woman, which crumbled and I finally managed to end my marriage after years of knowing that it had a number of issues that could not be resolved.
• My life these days with my guy.

A few days ago, Han left me a message, stating that he wanted to write a post on his blog about mine. Reviews are both exciting and frightening to me. It's nice that someone loves reading every post that you write and comments regularly. On the other hand, it's the I-don't-know-what-he-is-going-to-say and I-may-not-enjoy-blogging-if-the-comments-are-negative feelings that I had. He reassured me by letting me read his draft. He also wanted to make sure that I was okay with the content.

His insight gave me insight on my life, which is refreshing. I could tear people to shreds. I have been through a bunch of negative experiences. I could let them all out on this blog, but it's just not me.

I am a writer by trade. This blog is an outlet for me. I don't talk about my love for spanking to anyone but those who are close to me, so I do just that on my blog. I am connected to people in the blogosphere who share the same passion as I do. These days, I am spanked more than dishing spankings out. It is an ongoing, exciting journey for me. I want to share these experiences, which has not changed since I started my blog.

And, yes, it took one reader who was upset that I wasn't customizing my blog post for his liking that made me review all comments here prior to publishing them. As much as I love readers following along, I do blog for myself first. It's just sweeter when readers enjoy what I blog about, too.

So, thanks again to Han for taking the time to read practically all my blog posts by now. Thanks to you, my readers, for your support. 

I am approaching 500 posts. Han made the observation that I have been blogging on and off for nine years. Wow! There are some rather large periods of my being away -- mainly from my divorce, from back surgery, and from my master's degree. Each blog post is a snapshot of a moment in my life, similar to taking a photo. I wouldn't delete any of these snapshots, whether good or nasty.

Perhaps I should go back and read my blog posts and see how far I have come.

Thanks,

Cutiebootie (a.k.a. the girl with the naughty name)