My friend checked out a class with me! We took one called,"Yoga Chill and Meditation" which was just what we needed for her first time and me getting back into it. I went to the studio I emailed last week and the sweet owner gave me an extra free week of classes and we got that generous offer for my friend today, too. Wow! I already love the vibe of this studio, but love it even more after tonight's class. The teacher was curvy and I think that represents more women's bodies. She also led a fantastic balanced class, played soothing music, gave us a mini-scalp massage, and even sang for us afterwards. What a totally wonderful and healing class experience!! Dropping my friend off, we stumbled upon an Indian restaurant I've been dying to try, so we went in for some garlic naan, fish pakora, and chai. The day couldn't have ended any better!

My cousin's husband is a raging ass. We went out to a restaurant and the waiter had a noticeable accent, his accent wasn't really thick and we could still understand him. Well, cousin's husband decides to make fun of his accent when the waiter walked away. He went on about how the guy didn't speak proper English (which he did). I got sick of it and said "Hey, his accent just means that he speaks at least two languages. How many do you speak, asshole?" He stuttered and said he only spoke English and I pointed out that I lived in other countries and had a little trouble with learning languages (French and Italian) but came across kind people who helped me as I was becoming more and more fluent. I

Tomorrow is my 45th bday. I'm home from work today sick. :( Dd has plans to take me out to a fancy restaurant tomorrow. I just want to stay home. Don't want her to feel bad though. It's been planned for a week.

Lol, the Squatty Potty posts reminded me of some things. When I was a flight attendant, on flights out of Asia and India, it was not uncommon to go into the lavatory and see footprints on the toilet seat! Yes, people actually put their feet on the seat and squatted. My friend told me about one place (somewhere in Japan, I think? I can't remember) where the "toilets" were like horse troughs that you had to squat over. Also, one time we were at a nice restaurant in Milan, and when I went to the ladies' room, there was a hole in the tiled floor with a toilet seat over it. So strange! It wasn't easy squatting in 4" stilettos after having a few glasses of wine, lol.

Tomorrow is my last day of my 30 day no drinking challenge (and if you're on day 18,985, congrats!). My skin broke out, I actually gained weight, and didn't end up sleeping any better, but that's OK! what I really learned is that even during a tough time I don't need it to cope. I'm really proud of myself and will definitely be cutting down from this day forward (I did save an estimate of $75 too - between what I would have bought for myself for home and at restaurants).

My Aunt and Uncle moved to California several years ago, and got an apartment on a cliff overlooking the ocean. I have a fear of heights that makes that apartment so scary for me! I visited a couple times, but I finally told them I just can't do it anymore. They were really offended, and every time I see them (usually meeting at a restaurant less than a mile from their house), they have to ask AGAIN why I just won't come to their place, it would be so much more convenient, we could have a longer visit, on and on. Guess who's apartment is on the news because it is about to fall into the ocean? Yup, you got it! Or rather, they got it - a condemned notice just showed up on their door. I am literally shaking thinking about the few times I was over there. I really hope their new place is MILES from any cliff.

I'm just happy right now. It's DD's B-day, she's 17 today. We have always let the kids pick dinner on their birthday and she wants pizza and salad from a local restaurant. So I don't have to cook! We got her a set of books for a gift that she will LOVE. And yesterday she was moved to first chair in band. And DS20 finally got his new job! It's just a damn good day.

The 'procreate as she desires' wack job sounds like my second cousin. She was 17 when she got knocked up by then- boyfriend du jour. Had baby, lived at home with her mom and dad and talked a good game about finishing school. Got knocked up at 20 by a bus boy at a restaurant she worked out. Kept that baby. Still living at home with mom and dad who paid for most everything. Got knocked up at 22 and 24 by current boyfriend.....who drifts from job to job, says he'll marry her but who knows when....they now live with HIS parents who are poor themselves. His parents are on disability and he sponges and mooches off them when he has no work. She's not working at all now, she's a "full time mommy" who never finished her education and has never kept a job over a year. The kids always look raggedy and out of control. Do I judge? Hell yeah I do. Great way to introduce children into the world, welcome to poverty kids. But she's planning on having more kids because she (her words) "love babies so mu

Conversation with my (NOW) ex-boyfriend. who wanted to hang out and go to dinner. Me: What time are you going to meet me? Him: seven or eight. Me: No, which time. Him: Seven or eight! Me: So, I am to be there at 7pm and if you choose to come at 8 I have to wait an hour? Him: Well, we will just play it by ear. Me: Nah, that shit is stupid. Meet me at 7. Later on, I go to the restaurant at 7,text him around 7:30, no answer.Around 7:45 I order my meal to go and leave. Around 8 he calls me and asks me where I am at. At home, watching Netflix eating my steak and mac with a lovely glass of red wine. He says he's hungry so I tell him to order a meal and go home. He tries to berate me and I just say have a nice life and hang up. I don't need his ass or his inconsiderate ways. Now he is texting me, apologizing and wanting to come to my house. Sorry, not going to happen. I don't need to be treated like that any longer.

Thanks, frangi, for the viewpoint re my dad, stepmom and entertaining large groups and you're right. They are older and she has the right to invite who she wants. I invited them out to their favorite restaurant, my treat, to exchange gifts. Next year I'm doing something at my apartment. I appreciate hearing other pov's, it really gives perspective. Peace, guys and happy 2016!