31 August 2011

Finding My Center

Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart. -Bhagavad Gita

I have totally lost track of how many times I have tried to write this post. I think this in version six or seven. It's just that every time I try to put this into words, I fail miserably and I come off sound liking some giant cheese ball. And believe me, if I wasn't the one writing this, I would still think I was a giant cheese ball for even writing it!

Moving on.....

The last four or five months have been kind of interesting, but not in a good way. They have not been the "wow--that's really kind of cool" interesting. They've been more of the "huh--really?!" kind of interesting. Needless to say, it's not been great.

I will admit that part of it was because of my surgery. I wasn't really expecting an almost 6 week hiatus from real life, but honestly---most of it started long before that.

I have felt completely scattered. I've been totally unable to focus on anything--reading, my photography, my painting, projects around the house. They've all become increasingly difficult because I can't focus long enough to accomplish anything. And sleep has become an elusive bedfellow choosing to show up at inappropriate times, if it even shows up at all (seriously----even when I was on some pretty heavy painkillers post surgery I was unable to sleep). Instead, I am constantly exhausted yet have a hard time sitting still. I've become super cranky and irritable and my sense of frustration goes from zero to sixty in no time at all.

Worst of all, the last few weeks I have even been struggling to focus while meditating, which has never happened before. I can usually sit in my space with my music (or sometimes in complete silence) and just let everything else go. I can usually sit and focus on my breath and refocus on myself and come out of it with a total sense of peace and tranquility (trying to explain this feeling is like trying to explain why the sky is blue ). Lately, I'm lucky if I can sit still for 10 minutes and half the time I'm thinking about everything else I could/should be doing. It has been extremely frustrating.

This past weekend, in an attempt to get myself "back on track" I decided to make myself a new set of mala beads. I just didn't feel a connection to the set I had previously been using (sounds a bit odd, I know, but it's true!) and knowing how much they had helped in the past, was really hoping they'd do the same thing again.

To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a total understatement. First, just the act of making the mala's was enough to help get me to refocus. Pouring positive energy into the project did something, almost like flipping a switch. It almost felt like it was instantaneous--one minute my mind was wandering off in a half dozen different directions and the next I was chanting mantras in my head and my plan to make one mala turned into making four (if anyone would like one, I am more than happy to pass one along to you). And it's been fantastic how quickly I've been able to refocus on my meditation and my breath. It feels almost as though I never had any issue with it to begin with. Like I'm on my way back to where I need to be. Like I'm on my way home to me.

29 August 2011

I AM Openness.

The daily affirmation I have been using while meditating.

As I breathe deeply into my body and turn my full attention to all that I see, hear, taste, and touch in this moment, I open and relax, allowing the unique intelligence and beauty of my life to flower.


-Veronica Krestow

Stick a fork in me, I'm done!!

Done seeing Dr. K that is.

Today was my 9 week, post-surgery appointment. I knew going in that this was most likely going to be my last appointment and I was mostly right.

I am happy to say he said everything looks great and was actually a little surprised that I'm doing so well considering the relatively short time. I still have to be a wee bit careful in terms of being diligent with my stretching. My Achilles tendon is still healing so I need to watch for any additional pain/discomfort. Otherwise, I'm good to go!

I have a six month follow-up appointment but permission to cancel it if I feel like I don't need to see him again (medically speaking of course).

What does this all mean?

For my own peace of mind, I'm giving myself an extra week for healing (even though I went in feeling fantastic, things are a little tender after Dr. K was poking around on the bottom of my foot) and then I'll start working out. I figure the elliptical is a good place to start and will get me through the winter so in the spring I can start running. I realize it is only the end of August and there are a good two and a half months until the snow starts to fly, but I don't want to do anything to jeopardize my recovery. I've waited way too long to be pain free, so I'm going against my natural tendencies and am going to take this nice and slow. Plus, this will give me some time to work out a plan, set some goals and not over do it so I get discouraged and quit.


28 August 2011

Things I've Learned This Week


  • I have the patients of a saint.
  • I've confirmed that I really dislike, even hate talking in front of groups of people.
  • The Politics section of a bookstore is an interesting place to be hit on by a cute hipster.
  • When you have a craving for a cheeseburger, it is best not to indulge that craving with a trip to Burger King. You will regret it.
  • It is entirely possible to eat too many peanut butter M&M's.
  • Having a cold enhances my ability to be funny ten fold. Or it could just be the combination of said cold and DayQuil. Regardless, I'm freaking hilarious.
  • My "Things to complete before I am 35" list kind of sucks. It's packed fulled of responsible adult things like "put more money into my 401K" and "Reduce that debt!" Where is the funny in any of that?!
  • It's o.k. that sometimes I actually like my job even if I'm not sure I want to do it where I am at for the rest of my working days.
  • In the grand scheme of things, I don't think I really care how much wood a wood chuck can chuck on any given day.
  • Even though I've stopped keeping an official written journal, I do need to put things down on paper to work through the muck in my head.
  • Sometimes, not matter how much you don't want to or how much it hurts to do so, it's best to cut your losses and let some relationships go.

26 August 2011

Friday Favorites: Direct Orders

Why did I think a theme was a good idea?! I must have thought that it would keep me on track but now that it's time to actually do it, I'm not so sure it was my best move. Whatev.

Historically, I'm not a huge fan of sharing (I'm getting better though!!). One of my biggest pet peeves is telling someone about Random Item A which they poo-poo without hesitation only to have them turn around weeks or months later and tell me how AWESOME Random Item A is and that I really need to check it out. Even worst yet is when they flat out deny that we've never even spoken about Random Item A in the past. Granted, most of the time when this happens, it is with people who resist anything new until it goes mainstream, but I digress and have a chart to kind of sort of by not really illustrate my point:
Courtesy of Scott Crowe: Actor, Runner, Maker of Things

But for the sake of sticking with my plan and being more open, we're gonna do this. Every Friday. And I'm going to be o.k. with it. 

To start, I was originally going to go with my favorite daily reads a.k.a "What is found in my Google Reader!" but that's already on my blog and seemed a little redundant. And then I thought about the YouTube channel I watch pretty regularly but I feel like that is one of those things you either get or you don't (It's LOVEronica for those who are interested) and I've not the energy to really go there right now. So, that pretty much leaves us with either a whole lot of something or a whole lot of nothing. 

Because I've really not anything terribly exciting to say and am still battling this ridiculous cold, I'm going with another favorite spoken word performance which I think is quite fitting for this Friday evening while the east coast battles against Mother Nature.

Direct Orders by Anis Mojgani

25 August 2011

Whoopee!! More Books!!!

'Tis true. I went shopping at Borders today and bought more books.

The last thing I really needed to do was purchase more books, but I just couldn't resist. The email from Borders this morning announcing additional discounts was too good to pass up. PLUS......there were books that I put back last time and was annoyed with myself for having done so. So, I figured this was the universe telling me I had a second chance at some good reads and that today was the day to do it.

As I was last week, I am pretty excited about my purchases, including the book I put back last time that I wished I hadn't. AND, they had one copy of a book I have gone back and worth about for months as to whether or not I wanted to read it (and not the local library does not carry a copy, I've already checked). I mean seriously, how is that not a sign that I was supposed to go book shopping today (I may or may not still be trying to justify the purchases--whatever).

So yeah....I think I have managed to sufficiently purchase enough items to get me through the end of the year (I still have 13 books to go before I hit my goal of 60 books for 2011!) but I'm not ruling out another trip before the store closes its doors for good.

From top to bottom: Love is a Mix Tape: Life & Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin, BS of A by Brian Sack, The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You by Pop Culture by Nathan Rabin and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor

Oh and rumor has it that a new book store will be moving into the space Borders is leaving which makes this reader a very happy girl!




22 August 2011

Rule #93 of Being a Lady

Be the flame, not the moth. 
-Casanova

The Rule of Ladies

Random Notes

  • After a self conducted experiment, I have deduced that there is only so much cold medicine one can take before their body says "No more!" and stops reaping the benefits of the medicine.
  • I don't think we'll ever really know why the chicken crossed the road.
  • It's taken me a ridiculously long time to realize that I'm not crazy, I just feel things differently than everyone else.
  • Even though I think it's a lovely thought, I'm just not sure marriage is in my future.
  • If however, that day does come along (and this is not a joke), I'm going to elope to Iceland and will send out a mass text message to let everyone know.
  • I'd like a signature lawn ornament for my front yard--I'm thinking maybe a peacock.
  • Speaking of peacocks, I think I would like to decorate my bedroom using the colors of a peacock feather (emerald, purple, gold, white, black).
  • I don't understand religion.
  • The previous statement might seem a bit odd considering my renewed commitment to studying Buddhism, which many consider to be a religion.
  • If it wasn't for Twitter, I wouldn't have a clue as to what was going on in the world. Sad, but true. Three cheers for @AndersonCooper and @Maddow!
  • Meditation has become my lifeline.
  • It frustrates me to no end that I have to qualify somethings by saying "This is not a joke".
  • I'd like to turn my backyard into an English garden.
  • I do believe in love at first sight and that love will conquer all.

20 August 2011

Rule #150 of Being a Lady

Forget the risk and take the fall.
If it's meant to be, then it's worth it all.


The Rule of Ladies

Friday Favorites: Borders & Books

*I started typing this last night, but didn't quite finish (I was too busy saving Los Angeles from some wicked aliens with Jen and Marcus), so since it was started on Friday, I'm keeping the title even though its really Saturday*

I am still in a little bit of shock that Borders is closing its doors. I love that store. Yes. I may be a little partial because I worked there. And Yes. I do most of my shopping from Amazon (in my own defense, I live nearly an HOUR from the nearest Borders and with most of society have an insatiable need for instant gratification) because of my Kindle which we all know I love.

Regardless, Borders has always been an almost required stop on my trips to TC. There really is nothing like walking into your favorite section and being surrounded by the stories and words of worlds you've never dreamed of. I would wander the aisles and end caps, usually drawn by the books that have the best covers (yes, I am that person who reads a book for its cover) and walk out with a few new selections to add to my library ranging anywhere from fiction to history to book on Buddhism. I never went in with a plan but never left unhappy.

Jen and I headed to Borders this evening to take advantages of their "close out prices" and to potentially say "good-bye" to one of my favorite places. I had a plan going in to round out my Austen and Bronte, replace old copies with new. I'd hoped to finish a couple of series that I already own but don't match (don't even get my started on my OCD). I even had a few new titles I was in search of as well as snagging a couple of blank journals.

Did I stick with my plan? No.

Did I stick to my budget? No.

Did I walk out with a large stack of books? Yes.

Am I super excited about my purchases? Yes.

Am I still really sad that Borders is going away? Very much so.

From top to bottom, last nights purchases include Squirrel seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb, The Snark Handbook by Lawrence Dorfman, You are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Revolution by Noah Levine, Barrel Fever by David Sedaris, Major Works and Poems by Edgar Allen Poe, Life by Keith Richards and a cookbook on making curries. I also purchased a new case for Ichabod, my iPod which is not pictured. 


17 August 2011

Cotton in the Air

I've decided that over the next few weeks, I'm going to share some of my favorite works done by other folks. And by works I mean poems. Writing poetry is my first love (I've even had a few publish---say wha! Awesome) and as I've grown older, I especially come to love spoken word. Hearing someone read their own work breathes a whole new life into it that one doesn't get when you read the words for yourself.

Tonight, I'm going with Cotton in the Air by Derrick Brown. I adore this poem almost as much as I adore the man himself. He has such an amazing ability to weave together words and imagery, I can't help falling in love every time I listen to this piece.


I also had the pleasure of meeting Derrick last fall at a poetry reading where he signed my copy of Scandalabra, which contains his poem about Traverse City!

16 August 2011

I'm Getting My Read On

At the beginning of the year, I made some New Year non-Resolutions. I didn't want to officially refer to them as a New year Resolution as it was too much of a commitment for this commitmentphobe to sign up for. One of those non-resolutions was to read my books. Yup....I even qualified it. Books. Not blogs. Not magazines. Not newspapers. Book. Lots and lots of books. I even used Goodreads (I seriously love that website—not only can I stalk my friends reading habits, but sometimes the book reviews are a little more helpful than the ones found on Amazon's website) to track my progress with their 2011 Reading Challenge. At first I started with a goal of 35 books and then bumped it to 40 and then 50 and we are now at a goal of 60 books read by December 31, 2011.

Why the increase in reading material? One word. Actually, two words. My Kindle.

When I first decided to take on the challenge, I had hopes of making my way through the crazy, random library of books residing in one of my spare bedrooms. I used to work at Borders (rest in peace, land of my favorite books sellers—I shall miss you) and took advantage of my employee discount, a lot. More so than I really should have been allowed to. My thought was that I'd make my way through my collection, simultaneously checking books off my giant list of “Oooh, I can't wait to read that book!” books.

But then I bought my Kindle. Klaus V1.0 (I currently own Klaus V2.0 as Klaus V1.0 met his demise when a dog who shall remain nameless *coughcoughsadiecoughcough* knocked him off his perch on the couch, shattering his screen). It was a total game changer.

I took full advantage of the free classics and a great many of the $0.99 self published books (just because you can put pen to paper and tell a story does not mean you are a writer and should be publishing things. And yes. I am calling myself out on this one—I am not a writer and would do well to remind myself of this a little more often) before making my way into the genres of Steampunk and trashy Romance novels (the more pillaging and plundering the better!). In the mix were some books I ended up really liking (Soulless, The Sherlockian), some I loved (Iron Duke, the entire Brides of the Kindred series, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies) and some I hated (if ya'll want to know what those books are, I'm not so bitchy that I'll post them here).

Regardless of the quality (or lack of quality in most cases) of the books I have read, the important thing is that I've read them. Believe me, when I started the year I figured there was no way I'd make it to 35 books (passed it—booya bitches!) or that I'd have to up the ante (currently holding strong at 47 books) to 60. But I have. And I love it!

Tonight I'm starting my next book, which combines two of the three areas of literature I apparently really love: the classics and romance (too bad there isn't a zeppelin or crazy, steam powered robot in this one): Lady Chatterley's Lover. Only one of my friends on Goodreads has read it and didn't give a it a very good review, but considering it's a book that has been the subject of great controversy, it's history begs for it to be read. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint.

Hurling Crowbirds at Mockingbars (Hope is Not a Course of Action)

I could quote this poem all day long. It's a beautiful piece by Buddy Wakefield whom (or is it who, I've never been able to figure that rule out) I had the pleasure of meeting last fall.




Hurling Crowbirds at Mockingbars (Hope is Not a Course of Action)
by BUDDY WAKEFIELD


15 August 2011

It's like watching a train wreck....

.....it's just so hard to look away!

This is sadly how I feel about Mad Men.

I have a number of friends who just looooove this show. They love the characters. The storyline. The style of the era. And they especially love Jon Hamm. I just don't get it. Never before have I watched a show that makes me want to burn my bra and join the feminist revolution. And even when you take out the sexist behavior of every man on the show and the passive behavior of the females, the good storyline is so buried you'd miss it if you blinked.

I know. I know. The show is set in a period much different than today and that I need to set aside my crazy modern views aside, but yeah.......that's not going to happen any time soon.

14 August 2011

Arbitrary Observations


  • I own entirely too many notebooks, journal, composition books, sketchbooks, watercolor books, books of blank sheet music and other such items in which one might use to express themselves. 
  • I don't understand what all the fuss is about Mad Men and am preparing a full post to explain why.
  • I'd like to live in world where shoes were not a requirement. I'd go barefoot 24-7 if I could.
  • I do my best work between 7pm and 2am.
  • I hate Sundays. And Sundaes. Nothing has ever come from either of them.
  • I don't know a thing about fashion but love fashion magazines and fashion blogs.
  • Speaking of blogs, my Google Reader is OUT OF CONTROL. I really need to slash some reads from the feeder but they are all so good.

Pretty Girl - David Ryan Harris

1. This is an amazing song.
2. I still can't believe I was at this house party.



And I have the photo to prove it!
Kelly, Heather, DRH, Vickie, Moi

Rolling in the Deep..... Introspectively speaking

Staring at an empty computer screen is nearly as frustrating as staring at a blank piece of paper. Effing writers block.

While laying in bed this morning, listening to Sadie harass the neighbors through her bedroom window (yes, Sadie is a dog and yes she has her own room), I had million ideas running through my head about what I was going to do today (maybe a trip to the beach for some photos, oh no, going to clear off the dining room table and then clean the floors, oh wait--I know, I'll finish cleaning the closets and then clean Sadie's room and then prep my bedroom for painting!) or what I could write about (haven't done a photo related post in a while and I did just take a photo I really love yesterday but I could also update my 2011 reading challenge or that I am counting tomorrow as my "first official day back on the exercise/Meg wants to be a runner" train but that would make more sense if I just wrote about that tomorrow and honestly who said I have to write anything today anyway) and then started to wonder if anyone really (and I mean really, not just clicking through) reads this thing which started me on the whole "What is the purpose of being here anyway if you don't know if you are even making an imprint or impact (however you wish to see it)?" But that seems really selfish. I mean, who cares right? Why should it matter?

And there is was. The giant "DUH!" slapping me right in the face. 

I have spent my entire, EN-TIRE, life in the shadows. I'm always the third wheel in a group. There is always someone better than me when my work is presented. Never the pretty one. Never the funniest or wittiest or smartest or whateverest. And I'm o.k. with that.....for the most part. I'm not built or meant to be in the spotlight with everyone looking at me (literally or figuratively). And while I am never any of those things, what I am is the truest and most authentic person I know how to be. Truest to myself. Yes...I am extremely shy and quiet and bold and unassuming but also loud, obnoxious, snarky and saucey. I've even been called sassy on a few occasions. 

I quite like when someone is surprised when I am the one who did something or accomplished something. I'd rather surprise people than constantly be in their faces about what I've done or may do or want to do or am trying to do or whatever. It's kind of a half-assed and backwards way of thinking about thing but when it happens that way, I feel like people are finally paying attention. And I know they are paying attention to whatever IT is (my photography, writing, painting, whatever) and not because of who produced it. Because it feels like if they knew it was me, it would immediately be written off as something unworthy of their time. And to that, I say Buh-bye! I've not time for you and your preconceived notions.

So what am I trying to say through all of this.....I think it's too easy to put stock into what everyone else wants from us, says about us, says to us and expects from us. It's too easy to base our own acceptance of ourselves based on everyone else. Who cares if anyone actually reads this thing (o.k......I'll be honest. I do care a little bit but only because if someone does read this, then I know they are getting to know the truest sense of who I am in an arena where I can be myself because I don't have to actually see the look of shock/horror/disappointment/etc./etc.). It's not for anyone else and is sure isn't about anyone else. It's about realizing that after 31 years (oiy vey) all the years of therapy and advice and self help books and daytime t.v. talk shows are finally, FINALLY sinking in. You HAVE to do somethings for yourself. You HAVE to have something that you can look at or look back on and say "yep, now that's what I'm talking about! That's where I made the connection. THAT is where I really found out who I am and what I'm about, no matter how long, random or incoherent the trip was to get there." 

**Authors Note: If you actually made it through this entire post, kudos to you! I should have had a warning that what I've written might not make much sense, or any sense for that matter. But this is how my brain works and unfortunately for you all, this is where those thoughts have ended up! **

Food for Thought

If X < > yes, X = No.
If X < > stay, X = Go.
If X < I Love You, X = Lying.

13 August 2011

Live, Laugh, Love

Before my surgery, I had some pretty grand ideas of getting some pages done in my art journal. Yeah, that didn't happen. At all. Regardless of the late start, I'm happy that I've finally managed to get a few pages prepped (gesso and watercolor pencils are my new favorite supplies) and have loads of page idea. The photo below isn't terribly exciting (I got bored waiting for the gesso to dry) but definitely words to live by.


And yes......to keep with the theme of the current hip/popular sayings, there will be a Keep Calm and Carry *Subject to be determined at a later date*.

11 August 2011

Love Stinks

Oh cyberspace.

What is a girl to do?

This has been the week of roller coasters.

Monday was o.k.

Tuesday was bloody brilliant.

Wednesday was sort of meh.

And today, Thursday, sucked ass.

I keep thinking that I'm going to figure it all out. One day, I'm going to wake up after a refreshing night of some intense REM sleep and just know the answers. I'm going finally feel like it all makes perfectly good sense and wonder why it took me so long to get there.

But I also know that day is never going to come. Why? Because I'm not a freaking mind reader. I wish I was. I wish I had a CLUE as to why some people (one in particular and I'm sure if everyone thought for a moment they'd be able to figure out who he is) say and do and act the way that they do. Is it so hard to just be authentic? To say what you mean. To actually follow through on the promises that you make.

 I realize that I'm asking for a lot. At times I feel like I'm asking for the impossible. But if I don't ask for the impossible what's the point of asking at all?

Learn

I absolutely love this along with the other two entitled Move and Eat.

A short film by Rick Mereki

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

10 August 2011

Rule #12 of Being a Lady

Being single doesn't mean you are weak.
It means you are strong enough to wait for what you really deserve.


The Rules of Ladies

09 August 2011

Edge of Desire

It this isn't my theme song for today, I don't know what is.

Edge of Desire (Apartment Session) by John Mayer

08 August 2011

About a Boy

I'm not going to lie. I'm a little leery about posting this bit. It's not because it's anything bad--it is just about a part of myself that doesn't really ever see the light of day and is venturing into territory I am not entirely comfortable with.

I don't normally get excited about a guy. I did in the past and it kind of came back to bit me in the ass. There are times when I wonder if I'll get over that one. I didn't just walk away with a broken heart. I walked away with a broken spirit, which is much harder to bounce back from.

I guess it's been 5 years since I first met J. From the first moment of talking with him, something clicked. Just the sound of his voice (don't even get me started about his laugh) was enough to send me over the edge. And then when we met face to face for the first time, all bets were off. I felt (and still do) like a teenager dealing with her first crush. I don't know why--he is nothing like what I might consider to be my "type". Far from it in fact, but I've not met anyone else who makes me feel the way he does.

I know it shouldn't matter. I've come to peace with the fact that he is most likely married to the worlds nicest woman with 2 adorable children and a  Golden Retriever named Buddy living a fabulous life in the suburbs of the big city and none of this means anything. I've come to peace with the fact that I will never be the girl that ends up with him and this will all be a schoolgirl fantasy--I've been told time and time again that "a girl like me will never end up with a guy like him". I get and I'm starting to believe it. I just wish I didn't wish so much that "a girl like me would end up with a guy like him", or just him.

Get ready to rock!

Today saw the arrival of my new mandolin. Whoop! Whoop!

I think I managed to get it tuned properly (will need my dad to double check for me) and banged out a not so stellar version of Row Row Row Your Boat (I feel like there are too many "Row"'s in that sentence). For the rest of the evening (o.k. that's a lie....I do have another post I am putting together and then have to make dinner, do some laundry, etc. etc.) I'll be practicing my chords (G, D & A in da house!). Who knows, maybe by the weekend my playing won't sound quite so tragic.

For those who are interested, may I introduce Magda, my mandolin!

07 August 2011

Mr. Right

My inner sixteen year old agrees with my thirty-one year old self that this is a great song.

Bend me into a pretzel

Six weeks of not being able to really do anything related to exercise is tough. Sure I managed to get my heart rate up a few times while racing to the bathroom on crutches or trying to crawl up a flight of stairs on my hands and knees to shower, but I digress.


This morning when I finally rolled out of bed, I felt like crap. Every muscle in my body hurt from carefully sleeping in positions that wouldn't aggravate my foot or cause me to bump the incision on my foot (it's mostly healed, but still pretty tender). It's a daunting task which requires far too much thought when I should be sleeping. So, to help me loosen up a bit, I pulled out my favorite yoga dvd, yoga mat and settled on the floor for a 30 minute session aptly titled "Self Esteem Booster".


I only managed about 20 of the 30 minutes in session. My left leg/foot don't quite move in the ways I need them to in order to complete lunges or the sun salutation, but regardless of that, the sections I was able to accomplish felt great. By the end of it, I could feel the tension melting away from my neck, back and shoulders and even my legs (specifically my left on) feel looser. It was/is a great feeling!


Here is to hoping that with daily yoga sessions and a little extra stretching I'll be feeling well enough to strap on the running shoes for a trip around the block!

05 August 2011

Sixish Weeks Down, Three More to Go

This morning I had my "it's almost been" six weeks from surgery check-up with my doctor. The appointment went o.k. even if things are little more uncomfortable than I would like them to be right now.


I am officially out of the boot, which I know we have all grown to love. Honestly though, as annoying as the thing was, I do miss it. It helped hold things together and keep things in line. Now it's up to me and my own poorly defined balance. But before anyone jumps all over me, I know it's going to take some time to rebuild the muscles in my foot, ankle and leg/calf--I just have to be patient.


On the plus side, he doesn't think I'll need to do any physical therapy. He said my range of motion is pretty good (almost, if not a bit better than before my surgery) and just some simple stretching at home will do the trick. Whoop! Whoop!


I head back in three weeks for what he and I both hope to be my last appointment with him!

Rule #101 of Being a Lady

Imperfection is beauty.
Madness is genius. 
It is better to be absolutely RIDICULOUS than absolutely boring. 


The Rule of Ladies

04 August 2011

Battle of Evermore

There have been lots of questions as to "why on EARTH do you want to play the mandolin?!"

This is my answer to that question.....


And for the purists out there....

03 August 2011

Play me a tune

This is no shortage of musical instruments in my family. There are acoustic guitars, electric guitars, trumpets, a violin, a didgeridoo, banjo and even a dulcimer. And next week, we'll be receiving a new addition--a mandolin. It's an instrument I have always loved listening to and can't wait to start playing my own.

02 August 2011

Random Notes


  • I could eat Spageti-O's with meatballs everyday and be ok with it.
  • I am a TERRIBLE housekeeper. I won't do my dishes until I've run completely out of clean silver. The same holds true for laundry sometimes. If there are still clean underwear in the drawer, theres not need to do a load!
  • I'd like to be one of those people who fosters dogs before they are able to be put up for adoption
  • Going to concerts guarantees me a two hour block of time when I don't have to worry about the shit going on in my life.
  • I get sad when I think that the dreams I had for myself when I was 13 will never come true.
  • I'm fairly certain the reason I have not finished my degree is because it means I'm officially an adult.
  • Mushrooms are the best pizza topping EVER!
  • I don't have my shit together nearly as much as people think I do.
  • There are only a handful of people who understand how important music is to me.
  • One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't take my piano lessons as a kid more serious.
  • Some day I'd like to travel to Greece.
  • I'm still annoyed with myself for throwing away my green tennis shoes. I've been mourning their loss since 2000.
  • I'm still hung up on the same guy since I was sixteen. I still giggle a little when I see him.
  • In my next life, I would like to have a job writing really bad screenplays.
  • Chances are, my beliefs will not match your beliefs. I will never tell you that what you believe is wrong and I would ask that you extend me the same respect.
  • I am in awe of people who dedicate their lives to learning and researching ONE thing (those crazy historians blow my mind).
  • I think the story behind Dracula is fascinating.
  • I think it is fascinating that two people can listen to the same sound and have two totally different reactions to it.
  • I'm afraid if I am totally honest with people about who I am, I'll have fewer friends.

01 August 2011

I Can't Wait

This song is just cheese enough to make it to the top of my playlist.

I Can't Wait by Runner Runner

Thanks for reading!

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