Dancing With Myself

Ok, this post doesn't have anything to do with that obscure song, but I liked this title better than "Frustrations with myself", which is what the title of this post really is. Long explanation. Anyway, like I just mentioned, the title of this post is frustrations with myself.

Let me expound on this a little more. Sometimes I feel like I have so much self control, other times like I have not an ounce of self control in my entire body. Its an on going struggle. My biggest struggle lately - and I'm sure I'm not the only one - has been with sugar, especially chocolate. This addiction really wouldn't bother me if it didn't have certain unpleasant side effects (i.e. cravings for more sugar, feeling yucky inside, and the most obvious... ehem... weight gain.) What an embarrassing confession. One time my aunt told me that its natural for people to gain weight in the winter and then loose weight in the summer. I find that this unfortunate little cycle is what my body seems to be following. Its almost as if subconsciously my brain has a little convo with my taste buds and tummy:

Brain:" Hey, so winter is coming up and my sources tell me that its going to be a cold one. I know that Maclaine might be kind of chilly if she doesn't get some ' meat on her bones'. So feel free to let loose when all of those delicious chocolates come your way - Let it all hang out."
Tastebuds: "Can do"
Tummy: "No prob, Bob"

My tastebuds and tummy have been following these instructions to a tea.

Anyway, in all actuality, its not about gaining weight at all. I feel really comfortable with how I look but, the thing that I struggle with is just feeling like I don't have any control over my choices. That is the part that's hard. But, amidst the discouraging feelings, there is the hopeful fact that there is always tomorrow to start making good choices.

Something New

Today I found out something new about myself. I never thought I was the kind of person to become sick at the sight (or touch) of a needle. I guess I always imagined myself being a little more fearless. Well, turns out I was wrong. Dang. Today I had to get blood drawn and after the phlebologist wiggled the needle around for a minute inside my arm looking for a vein, I felt like I was going to throw up. Luckily, after five minutes to cool down, a drink of water, and the help of another technition, we got the job done. Whew! That was an adventure.

This was the comic I read to keep me occupied while they were working on me. I think I laughed out loud.

Bleach, Peanut butter and Really Good Angel Hair Pasta

Sometimes a girl just needs to spend some quality time in the grocery store. There is something about going to the grocery store, wandering the aisles, deciding whether you want Mixed Berry or Key Lime Pie Yoplait, what kind of soup (or occasionally microwave dinners) to get, and whether its worth it to buy that candy bar that keeps staring you in the face. For whatever reason, its therapeutic.

Last night I had an especially great experience at the grocery store. Lately my grocery experiences have been becoming less and less exciting as my shopping list has morphed into the same ten items. I found myself in a rut, just buying the same thing every week. So, I decided that I needed to branch out and try some new things. Let me just say that after two trips, I have fallen in love again with the grocery store. I bought some

peanut butter - This will be a test of my self control. I had to stop buying a while ago because it was becoming addicting
bleach - For some reason I feel like a real adult for buying this
cottage cheese
bagels and cream cheese - I actually bought these on my last trip. Do blueberry bagels normally have little blue spots or are they just getting old?
Smuckers raspberry jam
some DIVINE wheat angel hair pasta
a bunch of the usual things - yogurt, eggs, soup, etc
and a Twix bar.

I probably can't express how pleased I was with my shopping experience. It may seem strange, but I think I'm willing to accept that.

Sistas

I felt like my blog was getting a little impersonal. And, I was sick of searching for pictures on google images. So, here is a post dedicated to my sistas. Today we were doing the dishes together and listening to a hip hop, Alvin and the Chipmunks song. For some reason, the kitchen has recently become a place for us to "get jiggy with it", " drop it like its hot" or whatever you like to call it. Dancing in the kitchen with your sisters like nobody is watching is something I hope I never forget.



Dev, Rub - Thanks for being my sisters.

May I turn your attention to...

Please note that there is a new sidebar addition to Miss Maclaine. If you will look to the left, you will notice a section entitled "Maclaine Thinks". This little addition will be dedicated to the little quotes that I have swimming around in my head. I know, it sounds weird and I'm sure many people (I like to tell myself that "many" people read my blog) won't understand a lot of the quotes that I post. But, I have to say I'm excited to share the little things that are, as my mom calls it "tickling my little funny bone". I hope that some of them will make you giggle inside as much as they make me do!

(Note: I think that I was bred at a young age to have a love for random quotes. Ever since I could speak my parents had me recite lines from strange poems [... a roarrrrring flame..], Saturday night live, and various movies. My favorite one however was a line from The Little Mermaid - this one the parents didn't have anything to do with. I used to put my arms around the vacuum cleaner and say, " Why Eric? Run away with you?")