The trial period phenomenon

Have you ever noticed how many things in life require a settling or trial period? Haircuts, houses, new acquaintances, etc? There comes a point where you have to develop a vision of yourself with regard to these new variables and think: "Is this me?"

This blog background is one such element. My old background was cruelly snatched away without warning and I was left with no other option but to adopt another, and while that might seem an easy task it is in fact quite trying. Selecting a blog background is the same as choosing an outfit for a job interview. The package has to be attractive enough to encourage the opening of said package to see what is inside. That outside packaging has to be a representation of all you are so that when that first impression is made it is the best it can possibly be. Pretty heavy stuff I know.

So here is test blog background #1, I expect I will be trying on other backgrounds in the near future in keeping with my pursuit of self understanding through aesthetics so if you you have any such opinion you would be willing to share please do so, I appreciate outside opinions.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned...

Today I gave in to temptation and bought shoes.

I knew that I shouldn't do it, but it was like an out of body experience and I just couldn't help myself.

I am so ashamed because the worst part is that I don't feel sorry, not at all.

I LOVED IT!

Wanna see?

I knew you would!

I got these...

and these...

these ones too...

and I had to have these ones!

Oh, I am so happy! Now comes the hard part – I have to wait for them to be delivered.

I can be strong...I hope! Just so you know; I know that I have a problem but if this is wrong then I don't want to be right. How's that for repentant and contrite?

*I just rhymed!*

Family togetherness

I was home in California last week for my sister Phyllis's wedding (No, my parents are not really that cruel, her real name is Emily, but born of the love her siblings have for her was the name Phyllis...but that is a story for another day) which necessitated a lot of family togetherness both with our immediate and extended family and the family of the groom. Now I love my family, truly I do, but not long after we had converged upon the family home I had a bit of an "Ah-Ha" moment. My father was regaling us with entertaining and brilliantly enhanced family stories and it came to me: family stories are like a push-up bra.

Every woman knows that a bra is a bra, but as with just about everything these days you can get the basic model, or one with assorted bells and whistles. The push-up bra, for example, takes what is already there - I don't think I really need to elaborate on what I mean by that - and adds to it so it is more substantial and is shown off to its best advantage.

Family stories are exactly like that. While the essence of the original foundation is there the time passed, and the teller are factors that add to and enhance the original story until the finished product resembles the original tale in essence only.

No you might be wondering where I am going with this...and I am sad to say that I am not really sure, I just wanted to share my epiphany with you.

Kisses!

To schlep, or not to schlep: that is the question

Schlep
Function: verb
Inflected forms: schlepped, schlepping
Meaning: to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly.

Laundry is one of life's great jokes, or perhaps "joke" is to happy a word. We use the expression "do the laundry" like the action of doing it means something, like we wont have to do it again because it has already been done. Not so. The most cruel thing about laundry is that once it is washed, dried, pressed, folded, and hung, it invariably finds its way back to the "to be washed" pile and you have to start the whole process all over again!

The only bright light in this whole ordeal is that my present domicile boasts a room in the apartment in which to do laundry. Such a blessing! Before I moved out on my own I never really took time to appreciate what a luxury it was to be able to do this heinous chore from within the privacy, and warmth of your own home. Well I can assuredly tell you now that being able to do your laundry without having to schlep it to the laundry mat is a miracle. No more parading bags, baskets, duffels, and bins full of dirty laundry for all to see, and better yet no more dashing with the newly clean and dry garments through the rain and snow to get them back home.

So here I stand, decision firmly made: I choose not to schlep. I have seen the promised land and I am never going back to schlepping. If it must be that I am called upon to preform this thankless and never ending task so as to abide by my own hygienic standards, to say nothing of those of society at large, I hereby resolve to never schlep again.

As God is my witness, as God is my witness its not going to lick me. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never have to schlep again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never have to schlep laundry again.
(Insert swelling Gone with the Wind theme here)

My favorite things

I have been doing some work from home these last couple days and while I work I like to watch movies, more listen to than watch, but I like to have something on in the backgroud to keep it from being too quiet. Now since I tend to do this work from the bottom of a pile of warm, fuzzy blankets on my couch on on my bed I prefer to watch/listen to long-ish movies so that I don't have to climb out of my nest too often. Today's movie choice was the classic The Sound of Music and listening to Julie Andrews sing about strudel and silk dresses made me think about the things in life that make me happy, and I was overcome with the desire to share my crazy little list.

I love the sound of thunder. There is something powerful, yet soothing about that booming noise that rattles the windows.

I love Nutella - bless the person who decided to combine chocolate and hazelnuts.

I love shopping bags. Shocker I know! I just love the feeling of walking out of a store with something new in my bag, and watching people eye my pretty bag wondering what is in there.

I love prezel bites. If you have not had the pleasure you must seek them out and try them imediately, they are salty, buttery pillows of happiness that are only improved upon when they are dipped in mustard.

I love Great Danes. I want like 3, they are so big and cute. I squeal like a little girl whenever I see one on TV and have to fight down the urge to run out and find one to bring home.

I love the way the tops of baby's heads smell, so sweet!

I love bubble baths. There is something so indulgent about soaking in steaming hot water and feeling all your muscles relax.

I love pedicures, I could paint my own toe nails but it is the whole experience that keeps me coming back. The foot massage, the soaking, all of it.

I love a cold pillowcase when I am going to sleep. I want the rest of the bed to be warm but I like the pillow to start of cold. I am a freak, I know.

I love show tunes, it is so cliche but they make me happy and I love that I know the score of at least 50 musicales by heart.

I love the smell of coffee brewing, there is nothing that wakes you up like the smell of coffee.

I love Diet Pepsi, no revalation I know.

I love hammocks and sometimes contemplate replacing my matress with one.

I love Peeps, but only the yellow chicks - I am a purist that way.

I love creepy pieces of classical music like Toccata and Fuge in D Minor and the Symphonie Fantastique, they send the coolest chills down my back.

I love to snuggle.

I love a good crying movie, something that really turns on the water works. After a good cry I feel cleansed.

Last but definitely not least I love shoes - I just get so excited by a great pair of shoes. Maybe if I could really explain what it is that I love so much I could control it but all I have to say is that if this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Feliz Navidad!

Only two more days and I am on my way to a beautiful California Christmas!

Sans snow.

But before I get on that jet plane, hopefully on time, I wanted to take a minute to say Merry Christmas to you all. May this Christmas season bring happiness and warmth to your heart, and may that light stay with you into next year.

I wish you many new shoes, delicious food, happy family, and massive luck at the New Year's day sales. ;)

Kisses and a very Merry Christmas!

Education is like Veal.

On this day, December 16th 2009, I have at long last completed my college education.

It has taken me more years, gallons of Diet Pepsi, tears, tranquilizers and breakdowns than I care to count (or openly admit to), but it is finally over.

I was filled with a deserved sense of celebration, which I expressed by buying new boots...

(Aren't they beautiful?! It is okay to be jealous.)

...And as I walked out of my last class this morning and felt the icy wind of freedom swirl around my earlobes, I was overcome with a feeling of accomplishment and pride. This thing that I have worked toward for for so long is finally done.

The birdies flew, the sun shone, and for about 15 minutes all was well and happy.

Suddenly the happy feeling was gone; and in that moment of panic the universe came into razor sharp focus.

I have been turned out of the chute.

I have been driven down this chute that is the education system like a little veal for years, I could only see what they let me see, could only worry about things that pertained directly to getting down the chute. (Please forgive the cow metaphor, I was inspired by something my younger sister Phyllis said many years ago that helped make everything a little clearer) Well I have now reached the end of the chute and am being turned out into the wide pasture that is the world. The problem is: what do I do now?

So here is today's question: where do we go when we reach the place where the asphalt ends?