Weekend Update

Bits and pieces from my weekend:

For a Friday night with no definite plan, it turned out to be a fun night. Got a call from Loveball to join her at the salon for some girl time while "Hair A" (not BCA) did her hair. Totally low key, but just what I needed for Friday night.


My 12-mile run on Saturday was decent enough. Not as easy as last week's 10, but I still managed to log the miles. For whatever reason the middle 4 miles were a struggle. I think the only reason I made it through the last 4 miles was that I knew I was almost done. Such a mental game!


Caught up a bit on season four of Rescue Me. I love how well this show is written, it's funny, interesting and sometimes gut wrenching all at the same time. Plus, it's Denis Leary. What's not to like? Season five apparenly begins soon. I was psyched to see that new episodes will be posted to hulu.com. Who needs cable when you have hulu?!


Saw Sunshine Cleaning yesterday afternoon with M. Turned out to be a little darker and more emotional than I expected. I really enjoyed it though. Good way to spend a gray afternoon. Plus, almost all of the previews before the movie were all good. Will likely spend a good amount of money and time at the movies in the near future.


Still haven't confirmed my suspicion that shadows of my past have come back to teach me another lesson. I'm determined to not repeat things I already learned (too often the hard way!) For now, I'm keeping my eyes open and trying to enjoy what is for what is.


Talked to my friend AP out on the lakeshore! Always nice to catch up with her. In fact, I had a good girlfriend weekend, quite helpful to keep me focused on what is real, what is true and what is important. I'm blessed to have such great girlfriends!


Oh, and I have one word about the new bed: luxury!

This is my brain on random

New bed feels like the amazing beds in our Helsinki hotel a few years back. It's delicious!

Work feels like work today with "who's that?" no longer working on a special project in our area.

Badly in need of a vacation somewhere amazing. I've had one day off in three months.

Just found out this morning that Neko Case will be at Meijer Gardens as part of their summer concert series. In case you're wondering, that's where I'll be on Thursday, July 16.

Met with my jewelry designer yesterday. On the verge of something very cool and very me.

When I get the feeling that people have fallen into wells (AKA: fallen off the face of the earth, not been heard from in a long time), I hope for the best and just try to keep moving. I gave up my job retrieving folks from wells. I used to think I was good at it, until I realized most who go missing don't want to be pulled above ground.

"The next time you say forever, I will punch you in your face. Just because you don't believe it, doesn't mean I didn't mean it." - The Next Time You Say Forever, Neko Case

What am I eating for lunch? And what kind of carb-stravaganza can I rustle up tonight to fuel tomorrow's 12 mile run?

I wonder if I'm on the verge of becoming the crazy cat lady? I've got the "no man" part covered. Just need to pick up a few hundred cats somewhere. Uck. I hate that I just wrote that, but that's my brain on random at this moment.

"How's it feel to want?" It kind of sucks. I strive to be content where I am, with exactly what I've got. I don't want to want anything, but I do. Sometimes so bad that it hurts.

F.

Plan to sleep a LOT this weekend on the new bed. zzzzz......

moving

They say moving is one of life's most stressful events, right up there with death and divorce.

Today in Cubeland, we're moving cubes. I spent the last couple hours packing up my work life from the last two years. It's hard to believe the amount of stuff that can accumulate in such a small space in a short amount of time. I've thrown out a bunch of stuff that I've been hanging on to for whatever reason and now the time is right to pitch it! I like that part. I like the clean slate part, I just don't like the process you have to go through to get to the clean slate. There's some lesson about life in there, I think. Something about the rewards of hard work.

Right now though, it's just a pain. All my stuff is packed, most of it is in the new cube (still in boxes) and I'm waiting for the new cube to be vacated so the computer can make the move. Did I mention I have a pounding headache?

I'm just glad it's only a Cubeland move and not a house move for me. I've been in my house for the last 8 years or so and I can't imagine moving my entire house at this point. I love my house!

weekend recap

Saturday's long run (10.3 miles) went well. I managed to get out before the temperature dropped and things got dreary. The schedule for next week is 12 miles!

Saturday's long run was the highlight of my Saturday. It literally went down hill from there. Spent the better part of Saturday mired in a poor me mindset (somewhere I rarely visit, and I'm not too keen on visiting again!). If you're keeping score at home, the window delivery might actually work! Have friend willing to loan extension ladder. Have another friend who checked the windows and says they'll come out.

In light of my bed situation, I'm literally living/sleeping in my living room! Shall I sing the praises of my couch bed? It's actually quite comfortable and I've slept on it a time or two in the past. It's like having a sleep over at my own house.

Sunday brought a more dreary spot of weather, but a better mindset for me. Got to have a bagel breakfast with M and her kids. They regaled me with stories of seeing The Lion King at the Wharton Center.

Escaped for a bit in the after noon to see Duplicity. It was good, not amazing. Worked perfectly for the afternoon escape though. Made me sort of miss my days as a secret agent. Was thinking of capers that would be fun to stage.

Book club dinner was fab as usual. Always enjoy seeing my book gals! After BC, I met another friend for coffee. We laughed and laughed, which always helps a girl feel better about life!

What was your weekend highlight?

fail

so...i'm not sure if it was the extensive gratitude list i went through in my head today while running the last 2 or so miles of my 10 mile run that turned the day against me. "oh, you have so much to be grateful for, we'll even the score a bit and see how you deal with it."

i was to take delivery on a luxurious new bed this afternoon. guys showed up when they said they would. i'm more than psyched that my dream bed is about to become a reality. the first hiccup, the slat system for the bed frame is one solid piece that won't fit up the stairs. no problem, there's a lesser quality slat system that comes in three pieces. i'll just swap the one piece for that. guys say mattress should fit, no problem, since they're a little flexible. yeah, you guessed it, no dice. turns out the only way i'll ever have a queen bed is if i can figure out a way to remove the windows upstairs. the bed will have to come up through the window. the delivery guys weren't willing to touch the windows, but said if i can figure it out, they'd get the bed inside. where the f*ck is a macgyver when you need one? 

i'm sooo bummed. 

then after running a few errands i decide it would be a good night to rent some dvds. blockbuster didn't agree with me on that one. as i'm walking in the door seeing a giant winding line, the clerks are telling people they can "put items on hold" if they want. i was like, what are the computers down? yep! i walked right back out again. 

so of course what i really want to do is just go to bed and i can't even do that properly because my old bed is in pieces in the basement. *shakes fist* so over it already! why can't i just get what i want?  

a few things

I'm wearing a sweater I may or may not have worn already this week. I don't remember, so if I did wear it, I'm hoping nobody else remembers either.

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They're rearranging cube land and for the next few days until I completely move to another cube, I can see into the IT guy across the hall's cube and vice versa. I feel like I have an audience. I'm sure he's thrilled too!

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I watched this Nova Marathon Challenge DVD from the library last night and it has me thinking about a marathon. There are seven more weeks left until my 25k and I'm thinking I could just keep training and run the whole Grand Rapids Marathon in October. Just a thought after seeing completely sedentary folks train for and finish a marathon in less than 10 months. I'm thinking it might not be out of my grasp. We'll see how I feel after the 25k.

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I can't wait for my new bed to arrive!

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My co-worker keeps talking about Sasquatch Music Festival. Every band I've been listening to recently and then some is playing. Kings! of! Leon! I want to go there! It's Memorial Day weekend. Anyone want to go with me?

******

Cannot wait for this movie to come out! It's not until October, but like someone in Cubeland just said, we get to go to the beach between now and then. At least we'll have something nice to do while we're waiting!

run like the wind

There are about seven more weeks until my 25k race! I can't believe it. Training has been going pretty well. I finally feel like I've fully bounced back and am at the level I should be after being sick at the end of February - that was like a month ago already! Wow! 

I'm always amazed when I don't want to run, but do it anyway and it turns out so well. I so did not want to run today. I'm working between two different training schedules and one offers Tuesdays as an optional short run. The other schedule counts Tuesdays as a regular (yet short) run. I had all but made up my mind to skip tonight until I started thinking about how it would probably be more painful to make up the miles tacked on to longer runs later this week than to just run them today. So that's what got me out the door. It was a great little 3 mile work out + hills. Felt energized and hungry afterward! Take that "excuse part" of my brain! 

The sleep part of my brain is winning now. Good night.

hobo

I've heard the word "hobo" popping up in conversation more and more these days. I'm guessing it's related to people's fears about our precarious economic situation. I wasn't sure of the word's roots until reading something a couple days ago - it's shorthand for Homeward Bound. Like back in the day when one might hop a train or hitchhike and say "I'm homeward bound". Apparently all it took was enough of these cats floating around and a new word is born - hobo! (I just looked up hobo on Wiki and apparently there are many differing theories about where the word came from. So draw your own conclusions!)

I just saw this today and apparently candy sales are doing well despite the economy. I can attest to that (say hello to Mike and Ike in my desk drawer!) I can safely say, however, no matter how hard up I get for some sugary satisfaction, I will not EVER grab for some Hobo Beans. They're maple flavored, people! Who in their right mind thought that would ever be okay?! Can you imagine the pitch meeting for them?

"So Hobo Beans will be baked bean flavored jelly beans. Consider it an homage to the days of yore - when people actually ate out of can warmed over a fire. They'll come in a cute tin can with an adorable dog watching its master warm food over a barrel fire. And best part ever - MAPLE is the only flavor they'll come in! I think we've got ourselves a winner. Kids will eat 'em up."

Um, no they won't. This 35 year old kid is disgusted by anything maple flavored. And anyone old enough to have actually eaten out of a can during the Great Depression, probably doesn't have any teeth left or isn't even around for this candy resurgence! I would bet they'd be glad for it!

Soul Mate

From the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, this is the most eloquent and real description of the term "soul mate" I think I've ever read. It made me cry because I know the truth of that which is written:

"He probably was (your soul mate.) Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you and then they leave. Thank God for it. Your problem is you just can't let this one go. It's over. (His) purpose was to shake you up, drive you out of that (relationship) that you needed to leave, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart so that you HAD to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master and beat it. That was his job, and he did great, but now it's over. Problem is, you can't accept that this relationship had a real short shelf life. You're like a dog at the dump, baby - you're just lickin' at an empty tin can, trying to get more nutrition out of it. And if you're not careful, that can's gonna get stuck on your snout forever and make your life miserable. So drop it."

The passage goes on from there about what can happen if we do drop it...it's beautiful!

I'm only about half way through the book and I'm loving it. I got it at the library and think I need to own my own copy. Have you ever heard the saying that books find us when we're supposed to read them? It was my turn to pick the book for my book club and this book was my pick without knowing too much about it other than the synopsis. It was SO the book for me right now. It's amazing. Yay for books and my book club, because otherwise I probably never would have read this wonderful book!

sleep and dreams

I got another good night's sleep last night, more than 7 hours of sleep. Perhaps that's why I had some strange dreams? Or just had enough sleep to be able to remember them. I love remembering my dreams, it's like visiting a whole other world without leaving the comfort of your own bed! Here's a sample from last night:

Working with a few other kids on a giant graffiti piece that covered a wall the size of a semi truck. We were working mostly with black and red. I could feel the spray back in the wind and smell the smell of the paint as it wafted by my nose.

I was part of a group that was going to take part in a police/fire department school. By luck of the draw, I was going to be in the group that went with the fire department. Good thing, since I've already done the police department school in real life!

I was whipped into a frenzy because there were going to be repairs/renovations where I was living in the dream (not my real life house). I was worried about all of my things/the furniture, which appeared to be antique. For some reason my clothes were all over the house - not strewn, but in like three different closets in different parts of the house and I was ranting about how it didn't make sense and made getting dressed a ridiculous affair each morning. Guess there was good reason for the renovation!

Image via Shawn Lovell Metalworks

Do you remember your dreams? Dream in color? Have recurring dreams? So fascinating!! Here's to another good night's sleep later and interesting dreams!

Luck o' the Irish?

Considering the fact that there are mornings I can barely get myself out the door and to work I'm not sure how all this transpired this morning:

up at 6:30 a.m. (actually awake and out of bed)

shower

make up

blow dry hair

put together healthy lunch (included boiling water for mini ravioli that I tossed with pre-made red sauce and grilled asparagus from last night)

iron pants

get dressed in said pants, white v-neck T and a festive green and white cardigan

pull in parking lot at work only mere minutes after 8:00 a.m.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact that I got an extra hour of sleep last night and that I knew we'd be having another beautiful spring day on this St. Patrick's Day. I'm feeling some good energy!

Tonight, after my run, I'm going to Graydon's Crossings with some friends. It should be quite the scene - not exactly sure I'm feeling it, but we do have a Plan B in case it's out of control.

better mouse trap?

How do you build a better mouse trap? The folks at d-Con think they've done it. I was curious and happen to have a bit of a mouse-travaganza going on at my house, so I thought I'd help them out with some field research. I set two last night, baited with creamy peanut butter. If the mice are able to foil the trap and still eat the peanut butter, as they've done one a previous trap, there's still the offside chance they'll get salmonella! I will check them tonight for the combined yield from last night and all day today.

The fact that I have to actively eradicate another species from my home is painful. I don't like it. But even more I dislike the fact that from time to time I can hear them creeping around in my walls. I haven't seen them like previous invasions. Are they afraid of me? Or just trying to keep it on the D-L? Hello, you're not doing a very good job.

I. Can. Hear. You!

Clearly, they are not familiar with the phrase "quiet as a mouse"! Amateurs!

I'm horrified to imagine how many there might be teeming around in my house.

Cathy vs. Cathy

I've seen this Saturday Night Live Weekend Update clip with Andy Samberg as comic strip character Cathy and Justin Timberlake as her husband Irving a couple times this week and laugh every time. Just want to share the laughs! Although I have a newspaper subscription, I don't read the comics, but I did know who Cathy was so it was that much more funny. I looked up some Cathy cartoons on line and there is liberal use of sweat drops, the frustration squiggle and the confident point!

hot/not

things catching my eye, or making me feel like i want to gouge my own eyes out these days:

hot: cookies of the home made oatmeal chocolate chip variety.

not: facebook. we're not friends right now. we may make up at some point, but i'm not ready yet.

hot: neko case. her song "this tornado loves you" has been going through my head all week.

not: old wounds

hot: the prospect of some extra green in this week's pay check.

not: the prospect of my entire department moving cubes.

hot: sleeping and thinking about getting a new bed.

not: talk that rihanna is back with the "man" who beat her. rihanna, don't give him permission to hit you again by going back. like oprah said, any man who hits you once will hit you again given the chance. and the only chance a guy prone to violence needs is proximity. if you're not in his life, he can't hit you.

hot: grey's anatomy. finished season two and the search is on for season three drama.

not: the weather outside today feels colder than it's been all winter. 21 with a windchill of 11! the wind means business people!

hot: pie from the grand traverse pie company. anything with a cumb topping = delicious.

weekend

it's been a slow weekend by my choice. here's what i have done:

watched almost half of season 2 of Grey's Anatomy.

lounged in pajama pants and blankies while doing so.

slept.

ran 6 miles in the rain.

sprang forward.

baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

ate some of said cookies.

listened to it rain.

ate brunch at Gaia with my friend M.

still smell like the kitchen at Gaia.

laundry.

now debating the finer points of  McDreamy and McSteamy.

will make homemade pizza for dinner.

WTF?

Is there really a difference between being daring and not knowing better? I think there is. Knowing better takes history/level of danger/risk into account. Being daring, looks at the history/danger factor and decides the risk is worth the reward and that the possibility of loss isn’t that great. In other words, you can safely utter and answer the phrase, “what do I have to lose?” If I were more daring and/or didn’t know any better these are things I might do:

Quit my job and start a business catering to high net worth individuals who have more money than time.

Ask the next man who I fancy if he’ll marry me sooner rather than later.

Find a way to get what’s mine without it being traced back to me.

Find a way to go on tour with the Kings of Leon.

Sky dive.

Eat candy all day.

Get a giant visible tattoo.

Tell more people what I really think.

Max out as many credit cards as I can get my hands on.

It's probably a good thing for all involved that I know better/am not that daring. Just saying. What would you do if you didn't know better/were more daring?

Today...

...i was almost side-swiped by a youngish-looking girl driving what appeared to be her mother in the family mini-van. i was nearly run off the road.

...ran four miles, which is a few miles short of where i should be this week in my training. darn head cold! i guess it's better that i was sick this far out and not a few weeks before the race.

...went to the library. got several books and movies on DVD, including 21 and Isaac Mizrahi's book "How to Have Style". The book is about developing your own personal style and it has several "case studies" - exactly the kind of creative project I'd love to work on!

...had extreme cravings for candy - anything gummi, mike & ike's, dark chocolate - but did not carry out desire.

...also craving diet coke today. something about the sunshine, driving around with music blaring...it would have been a perfect day to add some liquid chemicals to my system. stayed strong though. i've been dodging the diet crack now for a couple months. the fact that i'm still craving and thinking about it really underscores the fact that it's an addiction!

...bought turbo tax. just need to DO the taxes now. have to be in the mood for it. not tonight!

...just started watching 21, and can tell i'm going to want to go to Vegas to beat the house after watching.

blah to bright

I don't know about you, but I've had about three months too many of this winter or blah weather. Tonight it's actually raining! There's the ever-present chance that temperatures will dip below freezing and the rain will turn into a full on blizzard of bad weather! 

My outlook usually tends to be pretty cheery, optimistic even. I'm hoping it's the weather. I'm usually pretty content with what the day lays out before me. These last few days have me wondering when something exciting is going to happen. When am I going to win the lottery so I can pursue more creative and less lucrative endeavors? I guess I need to actually play the lottery so that I might one day win. 

First thing I'd do - book a flight somewhere warm with nothing but a bikini, flip flops and a sundress in my bag. I might bring  a tooth brush, sun screen and a few of my peeps, too. While sunning my pasty bits, I'd map out my next millionaire move. 

There would likely be more travel, charity for sure, and doing a few projects around the house. I think I'd keep my house. It's too cute to  cast off. I might get another house somewhere else just for good measure, but I'm going to hang onto Old Ben. It's been very good to me. 

See, I already feel better...changed perspective always does me a world of good. Life is pretty darn swell where I sit. The bad weather can just suck it! I will prevail! 

birthday weekend (food) recap

My birthday weekend was fabulous! I feel really lucky to have such good people in my life. Some that I've known for a super long time and some that I'm just getting to know. The well-wishes from all were lovely and made me feel amazing! YAY!

Along with great friends and family, food played a major role in my birthday weekend! What a surprise! I had Ethyopian food at Little Africa on Friday night for my birthday dinner with my mom and M. I felt so special when the owner, Lou, came out with incense for a sort of birthday greeting/blessing and the restaurant broke into "Happy Birthday". Very special. We were the last to leave the restaurant full of delicious food and having had plenty of girl talk!

Saturday, I was rescued from the snowy/icy mess in my alley by my mom, and my Marquette aunt & uncle. We managed to carve a route through the blowing snow to have dinner at Big Bob's, a perennial favorite. We had pizza and fun conversation. We came back to my place for the last of my homemade carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and a spot of tea.

Sunday. Popcorn during The Reader and random munching through the day leading up to dinner. My mom made a tasty veggie lasagna and green salad. I whipped up garlic bread with an ample amount of butter and fresh garlic. And for dessert, we had cute mini cheese cakes that mom made.

My cold is almost gone! With all the yummy food I've been indulging in and my almost restored ability to breath, there's no time like the present to get back to the running!

Oscars!

So the 81st Academy Awards have come and gone, again! The marriage of movies and fashion on a single evening in February has been a winter highlight for me for quite some time! This year's show was a little different - five past Oscar winners introducing the nominees in their category for the best actor/actress and best supporting actor/actress categories. I liked that better than the year's previous winners presenting video montages and the nominees names. It was more of a personal tribute for each nominee - and who doesn't like to hear nice things being said about them? I'd want it that way if I were up for best actress or best supporting actress!

I was pleased with most of the winners. Slumdog Millionaire was a big winner with eight awards. I actually saw and enjoyed the movie, so it was fun to see Bollywood take Hollywood by storm. I saw The Reader on Sunday, so I was also pleased that Kate Winslet won the award for best actress. I was pulling for Mickey Rourke after seeing The Wrestler on Friday and this interview he did on Charlie Rose. He just seems like an interesting guy who's been on quite a personal journey. My second choice was Sean Penn, so although I wanted Mickey to win, I was happy that it was Sean who beat him. He actually gave Mickey a cool shout out at the end of his acceptance speech. 

My dress picks. I like the 50's glamour feeling of Sarah Jessica Parker's Dior Haute Couture dress. Marisa Tomei's pearl gray Versace was beautiful, a layered orgami-like creation. Taraji P. Henson wore a deliciously textured/layered Roberto Cavalli gown that reminded me of frosting peaks.

Favorite jewels! Taraji P. Henson wore this Fred Leighton necklace that was simply stunning!

official birthday portrait

Let's call it "the Curious Case of Benjamin Button effect". Looking forward to another year of living one day at a time!

smoky topaz visits

when i'm not feeling well, this is what i really want:

• to be able to stay in my jammies all day


• to drink ginger ale (vernors)


• to drink juice


• to be in possession of soft tissues


• to have an ample amount of benadryl to knock me out at night


• to have a steady supply of interesting movies to watch while I doze on the couch


• to already have ample groceries in the house, so i don't have to go anywhere


• to feel better
  

this is how it's really going:

• cannot stay in jammies all day. technically not sick enough to warrant using paid time off. work might frown on my choice in jammies.


• drank vitamin water that i brought to work. brought two today, as one wasn't enough yesterday. oh, the thirst!


• soft tissues are plentiful. small blessings.


• benadryl is doing the trick at night, but getting "into" bed early is about a 50/50 gamble at this point.


• had to get groceries/sick supplies after work earlier this week.


• feeling slightly cloudy, less than focused, with some aches. dry cough. my voice sounds like i've been smoking 2 packs of cigs a day since i was 12.


• feeling grateful that i'm not as sick as i was this time last year. i was down for the count for a few days with a ridiculous cough.


• also grateful that i have not been kidnapped by a mexican drug cartel.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Whether you're happily synced up with the love of your life or single and looking to mingle, I thought you'd enjoy a cupcake! 

 I baked them last night. My secret family recipe chocolate cake and a new vanilla butter cream frosting I tried out for the first time. I really enjoy the whole process of baking and marvel at the results every time. Science in the kitchen that yields something pretty and delicious!

 Enjoy your day!

fun photo site

Create your own FACEinHOLE

I've been having fun at this site Faceinhole.com. What a fun idea - there are tons of photos to imbed your own face in. In honor of the coming heart-focused holiday, I thought this one was fun! You know it's just me and my imaginary boyfriend courtesy of Calvin Klien! 

thinking about

Here's what's on my mind today:

Sleep!

Hair cut. This has been on my mind for a while. I move slowly when it comes to hair changes!

Vacation(s) that would allow for minimal packing and a tan

What to do to celebrate my birthday

Garlic bread

Not running today, but will run anyway

Where I'd go if I had a scooter and it was nice out

Finishing my book club book - Secret Life of Bees. I'm really into it.

sleepy

What do you do when you can’t take a nap? If you’re me, you blog about being sleepy. I’m struggling this afternoon to stay awake. Went to sleep at a sane hour last night. Even got an extra hour of sleep this morning because instead of jumping in the car to go to work, I got to take the slipper express downstairs to my work at home zone and just log on to work today. I’ve been off diet coke for over a month and feel like I just quit yesterday. Seriously?! I did eat a small serving of Valentine Conversation Hearts – okay, that may be my culprit. I was basically mainlining sugar. Hello, way to set myself up for an instant crash. Gotta get rid of the convo hearts. And not by eating them.

It is written...

Someone very wise once said, "it is written" as a response to any worry or concern his daughter had. She just shared those same words with me. It goes so well with one of my core philosophies, "everything happens for a reason." 

Sometimes I get lost in my own thoughts on how I think a situation should play out. I've been drifting a bit for the last couple days and I am grateful tonight to have some really great ladies in my life who helped me adjust my focus ever so slightly - back on the woman I have become. This journey I'm on is my journey. Everything and everyone that crosses my path has been placed in my life for a very specific reason, even if I don't know the reason until much later in life. I'm content with that tonight. I'm at peace knowing that it is written.

Thank you! 

tonight. tomorrow.

Had a fab time tonight out with M & P. For an event that could have skidded off to ridiculously lame, we made it our own and laughed ourselves into fits. Great time and it was for a good cause. Can't go wrong with that. Only regret - that I didn't eat any of the snacks, so now I'm sooo hungry! Must forage around for a suitable late night snack.

On deck for tomorrow: running, Sunday paper, Estro-Fest brunch with my ladies, possible movie with A if she's feeling better. And whatever else the universe decides to throw my way. 

Good night blog-o-verse!

gratitude and a smile

Feeling a little "meh" this morning.

Even though I decided, upon exiting my lovely and cozy bed, that I would approach the day with gratitude and a smile, I'm still feeling a little something that won't let me shake it. I'm breathing deeply, trying to stay focused on what's right before me (work that pays the bills, yo!)and going to keep smiling on the outside until I'm smiling on the inside.

Wishing all of you a beautiful day full of goodness!

so far...

Some random bits from my day so far:

Ran four miles yesterday. My hip has started being cranky, which I am not jazzed about. Hello, Hip, we’ve got about three more months to train for Riverbank. It’s really important that you work with me, not against me. Hip. Must. Cooperate!

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My favorite song right now is called Knocked Up by Kings of Leon. Yeah, it's what you think. It’s actually sweet and Caleb Followill’s voice is s-e-x-y. I can't stop listening to these guys since seeing them last week.

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Made my first batch of green juice last night. It was better than I expected. Kale, cucumber and green apple. The kale made it slightly bitter, but the cucumber and apple evened it out. Need to watch the batch size next time, or find a friend who can and will come over and drink juice with me, as all the veggie goodness fades if you store it.

***

“Do you want to form a secret alliance?” This is one quote from the Office that we use in my office on the regular. I have one right now, but it is a secret alliance, so I can’t tell you any more. Just know that whenever I’m asked this question, the answer will always be, “Absolutely, I do!”

***

People who can play stringed instruments well intrigue me. Andrew Bird, I’m writing about you. (Click the link if you want to hear a great live show!) I played Suzuki violin when I was little just like Andrew Bird started out. I quit when I was five, because I didn’t like to play standing up. Little did I know that if I just hung in there, I would have eventually been able to play sitting down!!

***

Just found out about Stilletto Spy School. Spy school for the ladies. It’s meant to be a fun get away type deal where women can learn some new skills that might come in handy anywhere from “the boardroom to the bedroom.” Training missions in New York or Las Vegas might include military hand-to-hand combat, racing cars and speedboats, martini mixology, tango and pole dancing and precision firearms training. Sign me up, I need to brush up on my tango.

Three Dog Night

Anyone who knows me well, knows I have a thing for dogs and that I've wanted another one ever since having to put Lazarus down several years ago. Laz was the best wolf a girl could have. He was a super sweetie, but would have gone to town on anyone who threatened me. I miss that guy to this day.

Lazarus (RIP)

I'm dying to get another dog, but after Leonard (my three week dog), I just can't justify it yet. Leonard was a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix that came into my life at a rather traumatic time. I got him for all the wrong reasons and after three weeks, I realized it wasn't time for me to have a dog and that Leonard deserved a better home life than what I could give him. In one of the toughest decisions I've made, I brought him back to the Humane Society. Since then, I've seen a dog or two that resembles Leonard and choose to think it's him, living a happy life with a neighborhood family.

Leonard Vincent

My co-worker/friend N is equally, if not more, puppy/dog crazy than I am. This morning, he imparted a dog tale to the rest of us in Cubeland - there are 9 American Bulldog/Spaniel puppy siblings waiting to be adopted at the Kalamzaoo Animal Rescue. Nine puppies! And as you can see from this little one named Zezah, they're beyond cute. I'm really hoping N gets his puppy Maya, so I can live vicariously through him until the time is right for me to get one of my own! Why are they so cute??!?! 

Little Zezah

juice ahoy!

This is just a sample of the ridiculous amount (for me) of fruit and greens I bought on Friday. I pledge to eat/drink all of this and then start the whole deal over again. I've been a vegetarian for near 15 years and I know I can always up my fruit and veggie intake. Yesterday and today it was a pineapple, orange and banana concoction. Juiced the oranges, add to blender with fresh pineapple and a whole banana. Blend and enjoy! It was soo good! I'm going to attempt a green juice with kale, green apple, and cucumber. Maybe a little celery. I'll let you know how that goes.

P.S. I've been good and didn't buy the fancy pants.

fancy pants

I was inspired by one of my favorite Web sites for this post. Posting on the regular about things you might seriously buy if you weren't saving money to buy something else. Quality clothes and shoes on sale are my kryptonite, so here goes:

If I were spending money, I'd totally buy these pants from J.Crew. They're fantastic! I'd wear them to work. Dress them up. Dress them down. I just checked and thought I was off the hook because they didn't have my size. Turns out they do. Is it too much of a risk to buy fancy pants on sale with a no-return policy? 

D'oh.  Need to get off the internets and stop looking at clothes on sale. This post may not have worked as a deterrent like I was thinking it would.

Kings

Saw a great rock show last night in East Lansing. Kings of Leon know how to play the big rock. It had been a long time since I'd seen a proper rock show and these kids brought their skills. Lead singer Caleb Followill, his brothers Jared, Nathan and their cousin Matthew hail from somewhere in Tennessee. Their southern roots shine through a bit in the overall sound. Think crunchy guitars, a solid bass player /drummer synergy and there's no real way to describe Caleb Followill's voice with words. Raspy doesn't quite do it justice.

Photo via Gibson.com

Take a listen to Use Somebody and Closer. I'm hooked and want to see them play again. I don't know if they've ever played Grand Rapids. They should.

gratitude

I had two conversations today with two different friends each of them retold stories about people they work with who are chronic complainers. These people feel completely fine complaining about stuff they have no control over at jobs they have. Wow, let me type that again - they're complaining about inconsequential stuff at jobs they currently have, jobs that are helping them pay bills on the regular. There are plenty of people, 10% of Michigan's population right now, that do not even have jobs to complain about. It grates on my nerves to hear that. 

I'm extremely grateful for the job I have. If I had to listen to any whiners everyday, I'd probably be moved to say something like, "if it's so terrible here, why are you still here?" Sure we could all find things to complain about, but why? It's a waste of energy to focus on the negative or things that are beyond our control.

I choose to focus on the positive, while keeping a firm grasp of reality. Everyday isn't a parade of fabulous-ness where they're handing out stacks of money, designer handbags and lollipops. Of course bad stuff happens. Unfortunate circumstances visit everyone. I guess being able to see the silver lining in the unfortunate clouds of life is what gets me through my storms.

Color me grateful for my job, my family, my friends, my health and all the circumstances that have led me to this moment. 

For every week that flies by, I'm still surprised at how fast it went! Random mini-sodes from today:

Met with my friend C, who I've known forever. Literally. He and my younger brother D have been friends since 1st grade - they're now both 30! One of his many talents - jewelry making. He's going to build me a necklace. We talked design. Something incorporating my favorite celestial shape, perhaps a little bling. For sure a statement. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

While we were talking he brought up some of the crazy stuff he and my brother used to do. They were pretty funny back then. They still are. Anyway, he said he learned how to do dishes properly at our house. His house had a dishwasher. Ours did not and it was house rule that everyone washed their own plate. Today, he and his girlfriend are sans dishwasher. My mom will appreciate hearing that he's still practicing his dish skills. 

Made cookies tonight after work. Ginger snaps with fresh grated ginger. Will bring them into work tomorrow to share. I don't know what I'd weigh if I didn't have those kids to share my baking with. 

Nice guy in the grocery story tonight. I needed molasses for the ginger snaps. I'm in line for the quick check out and Nice Guy had a few more items than I did. He said I could go ahead of him. When I thanked him, he said, "my pleasure" with a hint of joy in his voice. While I'm waiting for the gal in front me to complete her transaction,  he was chatting with another customer in the next line and I heard him say "my pleasure" again with that same joy. It's not something I hear very often, for sure not when there are lines at the grocery store and definitely not with joy. It was inspiring! 

Oscar nominations were announced this morning. I need to see a few movies before the awards on February 22, so I can make informed guesses on who will walk away with their own golden statue. My short list to see before then: Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt and Revolutionary Road. We shall see.

And a pop culture admission, I'm intrigued by Lady GaGa. If you haven't heard "Just Dance" you've somehow evaded a song that seems to be everywhere. I'm hooked on "Poker Face" this week. It will be interesting to see how her career evolves. She went to Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, so she's got talent + a solid education, meaning she's not some manufactured "artist". Work it, girl!

It's a New Day!

Just a quick note to commemmorate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I hope and pray that all people that worked to get out the vote during his campaign and all those who voted for him will continue to work for the good of this country. Even the people that didn't work to get out the vote and didn't vote for him, I hope and pray that they, too, can get to a place where they can see we're all working toward the same goals. We all want good things like peace, prosperity, education and health care. 

Image via New York Times

Today is a new day. It's about coming together with hope in our hearts and the courage to keep working on a better tomorrow. We're all in it together!

night run, good. double take, bad.

I hadn't been planning this, but tonight I did my three mile run outside. It was about 23 degrees, which is cold, but I wasn't actually cold. Proper layering and my new wind stopper tights were keys to keeping warm. I've missed running outside. When I do 3 miles on the track at the gym, it seems like such a chore. Tonight's run outside was great, the time just flew by. Oh, streets around my house, how I've missed you! It may not become a regular thing until the weather warms up a little more, but it's definitely on the table when I don't feel like tangling with all the New Year's Resolution Gym-Joiners right after work.

Completely different subject. After my run, I cleaned up and threw on some leggings, a mini jean skirt, sweater, tall suede boots and one of my North Face jackets so I could run to the store for a few food items to get me through the week. I'm the first to admit that the skirt is short, but I totally got a second look from a woman who was definitely older than me, but not old-old. Who knows what she was really thinking, for all I know, it could have been "cute outfit," but the look on her face was more, "girl, what are you wearing?" It wasn't like I was wearing only my underwear, looked like a streetwalker or a hobo, so come on! I could have just wore the leggings and called it good, but the skirt actually covered my ass. I stand by my outfit choice, but could have done without the lady's "WTF?" double take. 

Whatever. 

Local news anchor Suzanne Geha was also at the store tonight and she didn't do a double take, so it's unlikely I'll make the 11:00 p.m. local news! 

Ask and You Shall Receive

There's such power in asking for what you want and need, even if you think there's no way you'll actually be able to get what you want. The mere act of asking is about honoring your own wants, needs and desires, listening to your own voice and being true to what it is that's going to bring you happiness, peace or contentment. 

Just asking is powerful.

It takes courage. You have to put yourself out there, risking that you will not hear what you want in return. I've been a student of a philosophy of "letting go of the outcome," with the understanding that I have absolutely no control over how someone else will react, how they will respond or whether or not they're in a space to even hear me. If it works how I want it to, I'm that much more ahead of the game. If not, there's something for me to learn or something else in the works for me. 

I've found it even works for the not so lofty stuff.

The GRAM just wrapped up a Richard Avedon exhibit. They had these fantastically-huge styrene promotional pieces hanging in the windows of the gift shop. His self portrait was one of my favorites in the whole show. I asked how I might procure one of the promo pieces. I had to wait until the end of the show for my answer, but it turned out in my favor. They sold me one of them and it's now hanging in my home office. If I had never asked, it never would have happened. I'm thinking of all the big, lofty-type things I could ask for, even if it's just putting my desire out into the universe. 

It works.  

Wholesome Lunch

It really all comes back to food. If I'm not actually eating, it seems like I'm thinking about food, blogging about it or making/baking something to eat.

At work, my fellow foodies and I usually start talking about lunch shortly after we all get into cubeland in the morning. Someone is always STARVING and it seems like forever until it will be an acceptable enough time to take a lunch.

Today, I brought in something yummy that I've been snacking on at home - I guess you could call them lettuce wraps. It's a piece of boston lettuce with a smear of hummus (made on Sunday for easy snacking all week) and a slice of fake turkey. Roll it up and send it to your starving tummy. Packed with flavor (thanks, garlic!) and it's actually good for you!

A few wraps with some crackers, sliced cucumber and a banana for later and there's my wholesome lunch! Oh, and I can't forget the XXX Vitamin Water that I've been sipping on since this morning. Must also honestly report, I'm now craving a cookie of some sort, but we're severely lacking in cookie inventory around here.

What did you have for lunch today?

favorites

It's been a while since I've done a favorites list... so here are some things that have been helping me get get through the winter:

My North Face Arctic parka. The walk from parking lot to actual office door is a long one, especially when it's 12!

The library. I finally picked up the book club book tonight. Nothing like putting it off until the last minute.

My cozy bed. It's deliciously warm with layers of blankets and the faux feather bed.

My Macbook with wi-fi, nothing like blogging from bed!

Sweating it out at the gym, while thinking about sweating it out on the road via bike or foot. I long for warmer weather and daylight that extends beyond 5:30 p.m.

My various pairs of knee-high black boots. My Hunters and my "shearlings" are getting the most use lately. Would love it if the weather would let me wear a few of the others!

Music. I've been falling asleep to the National's "Boxer", rocking out to Does it Offend You, Yeah? and Crystal Castles. And just dug out another favorite, Snow Patrol's "Eyes Open" that I couldn't stop listening to last fall.

New tires for the VW. Makes a world of difference on the sloppy roads and my heart attacks have dramatically decreased.

French toast. It's a good thing I'm running on the regular. It's dangerously close to taking over where my fried egg sandwich obsession left off.

 

I'm a Runner.

I run. 

It's something that I never really thought I'd get into, but once I trained for a couple months for my first 1/2 marathon in October and saw what I was capable of, I wanted more. 

I like having a race to train for. 

I like seeing other runners out in bad weather and having something in common with them, instead of thinking they're crazy. The first time I willingly ran in the rain, stepping off the porch into the pouring rain went against every fiber of my being. Once I was out in it, I felt something change. I accepted the rain as reality and just ran. I saw drivers safe in their dry cars and SUVs doing a double take as they drove by and it made me run a little harder, knowing I was doing something that until very recently, I too, had thought was a little crazy. 

I like how well I sleep after a good run.

I like how good food tastes and how my cravings change as I get deeper into my training schedule.

I like how strong I feel.

I like that it's not about competition with others, it's about me and what I'm capable of. Much like life. There are insights to be gained.

I signed up tonight to run my first 25k. It's May 9th. I have exactly four months to train and I'm really psyched about the next four months and seeing how this race goes. How far can I push myself? What I will be able to accomplish? I trained for two months for my 1/2 marathon, so I'm guessing I'll be in a pretty good place to do the 25k. I'm going to enjoy every step along the way.

dance dance

I've been listening to music on last.fm at work for the last few days. Tons of great music! Type in a band you're digging on and ta-da you can listen to a whole "radio station" with similar music. The Crystal Castles station makes me want to dance.

I went to a "dance club" this weekend to celebrate my friend A's birthday. Talk about a serious lack of appreciation for proper dance music. This place left me yearning for my raver days or Tuesday nights at the Reptile House where the beats were fast and the bass kicked your ass for hours and hours. I want to dance and sweat to some real music, mixed up by a real DJ, not some guy who's just adding beats to songs that are on the radio. Is that too much to ask? For now I'll have to be my own DJ and blast the neighbors out of their kitchen while I dance up my own storm.

big fish in a small sea

A friend of mine took the opportunity last night (with the addition of a few drinks) to tell me that he thinks I'm too big for GR, that I should get the hell out while I can and go live my dreams. That was the gist of  a pretty long talk, one that has me thinking. 

Asked what my dream was, I couldn't name it exactly. I've spent a solid chunk of time thinking my life was going one way, only to finally realize it was not meant to be. Letting go of that dream has put me in a place of healing, a place of introspection and a place where I'm asking the universe, "what's next?" "where?" "who?" and "how is it supposed to happen?"

Thoughts of renewal in the new year are pretty typical, but I'm actually in a place where I could actually do whatever I dare to dream. It's a scary, yet really cool place to be. Today, I don't have the answers, but I'm open to the opportunities the universe will bring me. I will say yes. I will go. I will do. I want to live the hell out of this life I've been blessed with.

Happy New Year!

As the sun rises on 2009, Happy New Year!

I'm looking forward to everything the year has in store for me. I don't necessarily believe in resolutions but am going to keep practicing a few things I've picked up along the way that make my life more rich:

• being patient, knowing that whatever happens I'll be okay
  
• being my best self everyday
  
• breathing deeply
  
• spending time with friends and family
  
• laughing and smiling as often as possible
  
• being thankful
  

Movie to See

It's been a long time since I've seen a movie - in the theater. I just watched the trailer to Slumdog Millionaire and am thinking this needs to be the next movie I see. I'm totally in the mood for the beauty of a proper Indian story complete with crime, drama and love! Looks like the soundtrack has a good mix Indian dance music and some stuff by M.I.A.  May be my plan for New Year's Day!

new beginnings

I ran outside for the first time in probably a couple months today. It had also been a couple weeks since I'd been to the gym and had done anything beside shovel snow as exercise. I'll have you know shoveling the amount of snow we've had has not been a piece of cake. It was like a part-time job there for a while.  The good news, I didn't die doing just under 4 miles like I thought I might. I've still got it in me to run a few miles.

My plan is to run in the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve. That's a four mile race around Reeds Lake. It also kicks off my training season for the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k in May. Just putting it in writing so I stick to my plan. Part of the fun of kicking up the running again is getting some new gear to make running outside more of a pleasure than a pain - since running at the gym has not been enjoyable at all. It's too easy to just stop when you want - when you're out running on the road, if you're 2 miles out, you have run the 2 miles home. At the gym, you can just stop! Looking forward to getting back into a training routine, racking up the miles with a purpose. 

# # # # #

Completely different subject: I know from experience that "more will be revealed when the time is right," but I'm soo curious to know what's going to happen next! Just need to let it unfold and enjoy the process.

Sweet Sewing Project

All the cold weather we've been having has inspired me to get creative in my fight to stay warm. I had a the idea to craft a draft dodger drape for my back hallway. Fabric requirements: had to be light color, had to have some visual interest as it's about 9' floor to ceiling, had to be heavy enough to actually somewhat contain the cold air coming from the garage, and it had to be a decent price. 

Here's what I found. I really like the texture and just the hint of color. 

Here's how the finished project looks. It was a quick sew, just a hem on each end. Used a tension shower curtain rod to hang it. Oh, and this is fun: there are stacks of pennies sewn into the bottom hem to keep it anchored on the floor. 

Since I finished it and put it up a couple hours ago, I've gone into the back hallway to see if I can tell if it's any warmer. When you put your hand on the other side of the curtain, it's definitely colder! So it must be working. Love it when I can actually make something I need! 

Stay warm!

Snow Report

This wise old Buddah is in my back yard. 

Can you see him? He is back there, just chillin' out. Literally. I feel like I should have brought him in for the season! 

syrup, it's what's for breakfast!

My niece and nephew like to have what they call "Syrup Breakfast" because, as my nephew pointed out they're, "Syrupean". They do, in fact, come from a family that loves anything you can liberally apply syrup to. I made and ate plenty of pancakes, French toast and waffles when I was younger. The fried peanut butter sandwich could also be included on the Syrup Breakfast list - although I prefer it for lunch! 

One of the best gifts I ever received was my own waffle iron. I think I was 9 or 10 years old. Most fascinating pancake experience was on a trip to a relatives with my grandparents - we stopped somewhere for breakfast and the pancakes I ordered were as big as the plate. A dinner-sized plate. That blew my young mind!

This morning, at my house, it was French toast. Whipped up my recipe with egg, half and half (I usually use milk or soy milk, but had the half & half), cinnamon and vanilla. Oh, and the bread was sesame semolina (a couple days old makes the best FT).

Things you might now know about me.

1. i secretly (not so much now) like the smell of self tanner when it's doing its "tanning" business.

2. i apparently need others to point out when men are flirting with me. or the men have to be ridiculously obvious. when it's a waiter somewhere, i just assume he's doing his job - working for a good tip.

3. i have cousins by marriage that i haven't seen in years. (long story) i wonder where they are and how they're doing. 

4. winter driving (and even thinking about the prospect of driving in a snowstorm) makes me very nervous. it's the only time i drive like an old lady. 

5. the oddest thing in my fridge is an unopened can of mango pulp. my sister in law gave it to me when they moved out of state. that was about five years ago. 

6. i sometimes have dreams that are like movies or TV shows - i'm not in them at all - just watching what's going on. i once dreamt an episode of Roseanne.

7. i rarely answer my door if someone knocks when i'm not expecting anyone.

8. i like wearing corduroys to work because they are as comfortable as jeans, but aren't.

9. rolling my eyes is one of my involuntary responses when i think someone or something is bordering on ridiculous. i've been doing it since 3rd grade, thanks Mrs. Fry for pointing that out. trying to become aware of when i do it, so i can not do it.

10. i punched a boy in 7th or 8th grade. he had been teasing me relentlessly and that fist of fury came out of nowhere. definitely not pre-meditated. his friends separated us and he left me alone after that.

Tales of a 4th Grade Private Eye

When I was in fourth grade, Mrs. Brown  (who's husband's name was Charlie, which made me crack up back then) gave us an assignment to write a letter to a business person and ask them about their work and if they'd consider visiting our classroom. In looking for a suitable business to write, I found the Fat Man International Private Detective Services. The name and cartoonish logo of a fat man tip toeing with a briefcase sold me. While the agency's principal detective was not able to come visit my class, he did send me a response. I've thought of him and his work often over the years.

More than 20 years later, I'm still intrigued by the idea of having access to information most people don't, finding people and bringing them to justice and uncovering useful information people need in order to make important decisions.  Maybe I watched too many Magnum PI episodes when I was younger!

I know real-life detective work is nothing like what they show on TV. That's not the part that intrigues me. It's about finding the truth and helping people. I've dated a few men who helped me hone my own detective skills.  I learned to keep my eyes open. Recognize patterns. And most importantly, trust my gut. I bet if I wrote back to Mr. Fat Man, he'd say intuition plays an important part in pulling a case together. Intuition is something I was born with.

You have to know where to look next, what would make sense in someone else's world, how to pick up on the unspoken and the right questions to ask. I'd say too, you've got to care about the information you're looking for. Having a knack for cars, faces, names and remembering things other people would have long forgotten probably doesn't hurt either.

I should write Mr. Fat Man and see if he needs an apprentice. I'm not in 4th grade anymore, but I'd still like to hear about his work and see what it's really all about.

Sunday Sampler

It's been a quiet weekend. Unlike last weekend though I actually left the house (stupid snow) and save for a short Saturday evening gloom streak, it's been pretty good. Here's the scoop:

Saturday met up with my friend M for some lunch at Gaia. Hadn't been there in a while. Their Build Your Own Burrito (and famous Gaia cookie) was my reward on long run Sundays when I was training for the 1/2 Marathon. Great refried black beans, sticky brown rice. I don't know their secret, but their brown rice is ALWAYS better than mine! Top both with melted cheese. Sides of sour cream, home made spicy chutney, lettuce, tomato and onion. Tuck it all into tortilla bites and you're on your way. So good and so good for you! Whole grains, beans, veggies and just enough sour cream and cheese to be a little naughty.

Worked on Christmas card project.

 

Talked to my nephew for his 8th birthday! It's ridiculous how fast those 8 years have gone! From all reports, he had quite the party. When we spoke, he sounded like a kid who had been partying all day, tired, but happy.

Today there was the weekly trip to Meijer. Ran into a friend I haven't seen in ages. He and I were in a friend's wedding together YEARS ago. He and his wife (? he didn't say they were married, but said "we" several times while we chatted) She was in another aisle, so I didn't get to meet her. We're basically neighbors. It astounds me how people can live so close to each other and NEVER see each other. Like how one of my high school crushes lived in a house one street away from me for a while. He was basically in my backyard and I never saw the kid!

Currently making dinner. French Onion Soup is simmering until the apple crisp is done baking. YUM! I can't wait!

laughter

I just need to say that I love my co-workers. They make me laugh and laugh and laugh! Just got back from lunch and it was a laugh fest all the way to lunch, during lunch and back to the office. It's not like stand up comedy funny, it's the kind of funny that happens when you spend ALOT of time with people. Go figure, I spend 40 hours a week and sometimes more with these kids. It's a good thing I like them and even better that we laugh so much when we're together! Definitely one of the best parts of my job.

Carry on.

this old house

I have a running mental list of things I'd like to do around my house. I've probably written it down and lost the list several times, so committing it to the interwebs seems to make sense as I'll always know where it is and can come back, make updates and I can scratch things off the list. Mind you, it's a bit of a "wish" list, so it may take a while, but what's the point of a wish list if you can't put down everything you want? In no particular order:

• Concrete counter tops in the kitchen. I've wanted this one for a while and completely realize that doing such an update could actually lead to an entire kitchen overhaul - installation of a garbage disposal, new sink, getting my dream industrial range (or just finally switching from electric to gas)! See how the one item snowballed?!

• Paint most of the interior of house. House was freshly painted when I signed the mortgage about 8 years ago, so it's time to update and refresh.

• Replace front door with something like this. It's very much like what I already have, but it's not 80 years old and it's insulated!

• Eventually pave the driveway. Would make a world of difference in the winter! 
  

I love my house, it was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it and today it still fits the bill, just could use a few things to make it even better! We'll see how it goes. Painting will likely happen before anything else. Always an easy place to start.

Wanting

I have a friend who used to ask, “how’s it feel to want?” whenever I’d talk about wanting something outside my reach.

Whenever I find myself consciously thinking about the things I’d like to happen in my life, energy seems to stagnate and time seems to stand still. Letting go of the when, where and who always seems to produce some sort of movement. Miracle? Maybe, or maybe it’s just the simple act of carrying on with life today, playing the cards I’m holding. rather than thinking about the one card I still need for the perfect hand that allows that next thing to happen that will lead me where I need to be.

Clearly, I’m not talking about attainable goals where I do a little work each day and then can experience the fruits of my hard work. I’m all over that. I’m talking about wanting the things that I have absolutely no control over.

Today, I’m going to do my best at being here in the moment. Let go and see what the universe really has in store for me.

Hot and Not

Hot: Buying North Face gear on eBay. How fun is it to get things in the mail that you got a good deal on?

Hot: The prospect of having nine whole days off in a row around Christmas with no definite plans! A road trip north is a distinct possibility though.

Hot: Running into an ex and not being the one who feels like you've been punched in the gut.

Not: Realizing there might be a family of living creatures in your attic. Squirrels? Racoons? Could it be the Littles?! I'm not sure and I don't want to look. I'll just wait until they come chomping through the wall.

Hot: Walking in the snow to your chosen destination rather than risking life, limb and VW by driving the roads of ice-treachery. Wish work was within walking distance!

Not: The indent left on one's calves after wearing knee socks. Totally dig socks that stay up, but leaving a mark?! Come on!

Hot: Kings of Leon. Got tickets to their January show in East Lansing! Can't wait!

Not: Current-day Christmas music. And the radio stations that play it 24/7. I prefer the old school Holiday tunes.

Hot: The collarbone-grazing length hair that a few celebs are currently sporting and that yours-truly is considering. 

Trikes for Tykes

This afternoon I had the distinct pleasure of being one of Santa's helpers. I helped build tricycles all afternoon, that will be delivered to children who are currently in foster care or group home type situations. A total of 200 bright, shiny red tricycles were built today, exactly like the kind I had when I was little enough to fit on that tiny seat and turn the peddles. 

I was happy to be included in an effort that will bring some light and happiness to children who have been in situations that were, no doubt, quite dark. Reflecting on it now, I'm sad that there are kids who are in need anywhere. Parents who aren't with their kids because they've somehow been deemed not fit to care for them. We built 200 tricycles, that's 200 kids right here in Kent county who were/are in situations that will affect them forever. There are more who won't get tricycles. There are more who aren't even in protective care. Building tricycles is a small gesture, a small stone thrown in the pond. I pray for a big ripple from that small stone. It's got me thinking. What can I do that goes beyond? How can I be part of the bigger ripple?

 

In my stylist mind

Mom-jeans are not flattering on anyone. Whatever shape you happen to be, there are flattering jeans available that do not come up to your armpits and taper at the ankles.

Another denim-related note, the Texas tuxedo (aka the jean suit ), jeans, with either a denim shirt or jacket may actually only be fashionably acceptable in Texas. I’ve never been and have no immediate plans to go, so I cannot confirm that suspicion. I can only tell you there are far better ways to wear denim. Just ask. Seriously. Tempted to pull on your favorite jeans and a jean jacket? Call me and I’ll talk you down, steer you in a more fashionable direction.

This one is completely my own revelation, but maybe it’s happened to you – whenever I have thoughts of chopping my hair to a more manageable length – I suddenly have some good hair days where the length is working. I do need a trim, but it’s like the hair knows its days might be numbered, so it starts behaving and looking extra cute.

Getting into the Spirit

I got home from my Thanksgiving adventure and was jazzed for the coming Christmas season to get underway. Since Sunday, I've done the following things to set the holiday mood:

• Put up the tree on Sunday. It takes all of three minutes. Bring up from the basement. Find proper spot. It's in the living room this year. Last year's spot in the office gained a large potted palm plant to make room for the tree in the living room. Plug tree in. Enjoy the twinkle lights!
• Listen to favorite Christmas compilation CD provided a few years back by my Marquette relatives.  It contains some of the best old-school Christmas music.
• Put up lights around front door. All the extra lights probably help protect against S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder - lack of light during winter darkness can make you sad, yo!). I like keeping these lights up well into January. The tree will probably stay up that long too. Why not? It's festive!
• Plan to buy wreath for the front door at Farmers Market on Saturday.
• Ordered photo Holiday cards. First time ever doing this. The photo and the opportunity were there in front of me, so I took the bait. Good way to commemorate a memorable event this year and share it with people.
  

What have you done to get into the holiday spirit?

Here it is!

In the last week, in two different blogs, I've come across this atrocity of language - people using "wa la" in place of the French word "voila". 

Yes, I understand that they're spelling the word how it sounds. Whether it's deliberate or not, I find it extremely ridiculous. As far as foreign words go, voila is one that's been used successfully alongside English words for years and somehow people have developed an understanding of not only what it means, but also how to pronounce it. There is no need to use "wa la" in print. There's just no excuse. 

My extreme displeasure with this lazy use of language could have something to do with the fact that I studied le Francais for six years and have an appreciation for language and the written word. Or maybe I just wanted a reason to tell you that "Je voudrais un croissant."