So I had a to-do item on my Owning 2013 list to write 5 new poems... well I didn't get it done yet but I'm going to rectify that with some awesome haiku :-)
1.
Two Thousand Thirteen
was not so very awful
wine makes it all good
2.
I got a kitten
call her badness and stink bug
and sometimes Margo
3.
Didn't read enough
adult books to make my goal
read kids books instead
4.
my kitten is cute
then she tries to eat my nose
then she gets time out
5.
I can be quiet
sometimes but usually
means I'm in a funk.
6.
I can also be
loud. like crazy awesome loud
more often than not
And I wound up writing 6... will make up for all the other stuff I didn't do... right? right? :-)
daffodils
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
So many things to be thankful for...
So I dropped the ball with posting something I'm thankful for every day on facebook... so I thought I would give a few things the attention they deserve... I still might not do it justice but here goes...
1. I'm thankful for my family. Young and old far and wide, those I talk to every day and those I touch base with just once in a while, all are important to me. Families aren't ever perfect and that's what makes them beautiful. Every family is different and I happen to think mine is spectacular, each member individually awesome.
2. My parents - I still feel them with me everyday because our bond was so strong, and for that I am forever thankful. When I'm having a rough day I can hear my dad saying "chin up, kid" and I can almost feel my mom brush her hands down my hair like she would do when I was sad. My tough side (which sometimes hides) comes from both of them... I think the word feisty could be used for either one. When I need to channel my "inner feisty" I just think of them and my backbone gets a little stronger :-) My mom had spunk and my dad had a bravery that I think is unmatched, and they both had an awful lot of love to give.
3. My friends -I have awesome friends that I've known for 20+ years and awesome friends I've known just a few months and I am thankful for every single one... They are a support system that I don't even begin to know how to be thankful enough for. When I lost my parents and found myself on my own again in what felt like rapid succession I thought I would feel a bit like an orphan and alone in the world. But I was wrong. Through every crisis I've ever faced my friends have been there to encourage me, make me laugh, dry my tears, feed me Hoffman's milkshakes and literally hold me up if I needed it. Not a single one of them ever lets me forget who I am and that I'm tough enough for whatever life throws at me. They're also good at being silly, going on adventures, challenging me to get out of my comfort zone, eating sweets, drinking wine, having fantastically inappropriate conversations and just plain ridiculous fun! I *am* one lucky girl.
4. My health - I've worked much more on this in the last few years, realizing that mid-thirties is probably a good time to start taking better care of myself (ok mid twenties or earlier might have been a better idea). I'm thankful I have the energy to do fun things. I'm thankful that my body proves me wrong when my mind says "I can't" and I think it's been fun challenging myself in new and different ways whether it be by trying a new food that's healthy and delicious or by taking up a new hobby (I'm aching to try some trapeze work after the Pink show last night!)
5. My path in life... This is really overarching but I like where I am today, and who I am today and so because of that I need to be thankful for every step that got me here. Even the ones that made me angry or sad. I was blessed to have a childhood that gave me a solid foundation for life- for all of the experiences and opportunities my parents and organizations like 4-H gave me during those years. I'm thankful for college where I learned to love poetry and art and to think about the world in a different way, and I'm thankful for the sometimes rocky path I've had as an adult when I've felt like a new crisis was being slung at me on a regular basis. I'm thankful for my career which lets me use my brain to solve puzzles and lets me be around awesome coworkers and customers everyday.
6. Tough times - This is going to sound crazy.. but more than once recently I've caught myself saying "you've had harder days than this - this is nothing - you can get through it". I'm sure there are tough times still to come.. maybe even tougher than I've already dealt with but I know exactly which days and moments have been my toughest so far and when I think I'm having a rough day I can look at those and know that I'm on the other side of them now and whatever is going on shall pass too. Tough times make for a tougher Jen :-) but never a less sensitive or caring Jen. So for that I am also thankful.
AND THE TOP TEN SILLY THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR:
1. Coffee
2. Chocolate
3. Kittens
4. Baby Goats
5. Hot baths
6. Good wine
7. Warm blankets
8. John Green Books :-) OK that should have been on my main list!
9. Songs that make me dance in the car
10. Songs that make me cry in the car
1. I'm thankful for my family. Young and old far and wide, those I talk to every day and those I touch base with just once in a while, all are important to me. Families aren't ever perfect and that's what makes them beautiful. Every family is different and I happen to think mine is spectacular, each member individually awesome.
2. My parents - I still feel them with me everyday because our bond was so strong, and for that I am forever thankful. When I'm having a rough day I can hear my dad saying "chin up, kid" and I can almost feel my mom brush her hands down my hair like she would do when I was sad. My tough side (which sometimes hides) comes from both of them... I think the word feisty could be used for either one. When I need to channel my "inner feisty" I just think of them and my backbone gets a little stronger :-) My mom had spunk and my dad had a bravery that I think is unmatched, and they both had an awful lot of love to give.
3. My friends -I have awesome friends that I've known for 20+ years and awesome friends I've known just a few months and I am thankful for every single one... They are a support system that I don't even begin to know how to be thankful enough for. When I lost my parents and found myself on my own again in what felt like rapid succession I thought I would feel a bit like an orphan and alone in the world. But I was wrong. Through every crisis I've ever faced my friends have been there to encourage me, make me laugh, dry my tears, feed me Hoffman's milkshakes and literally hold me up if I needed it. Not a single one of them ever lets me forget who I am and that I'm tough enough for whatever life throws at me. They're also good at being silly, going on adventures, challenging me to get out of my comfort zone, eating sweets, drinking wine, having fantastically inappropriate conversations and just plain ridiculous fun! I *am* one lucky girl.
4. My health - I've worked much more on this in the last few years, realizing that mid-thirties is probably a good time to start taking better care of myself (ok mid twenties or earlier might have been a better idea). I'm thankful I have the energy to do fun things. I'm thankful that my body proves me wrong when my mind says "I can't" and I think it's been fun challenging myself in new and different ways whether it be by trying a new food that's healthy and delicious or by taking up a new hobby (I'm aching to try some trapeze work after the Pink show last night!)
5. My path in life... This is really overarching but I like where I am today, and who I am today and so because of that I need to be thankful for every step that got me here. Even the ones that made me angry or sad. I was blessed to have a childhood that gave me a solid foundation for life- for all of the experiences and opportunities my parents and organizations like 4-H gave me during those years. I'm thankful for college where I learned to love poetry and art and to think about the world in a different way, and I'm thankful for the sometimes rocky path I've had as an adult when I've felt like a new crisis was being slung at me on a regular basis. I'm thankful for my career which lets me use my brain to solve puzzles and lets me be around awesome coworkers and customers everyday.
6. Tough times - This is going to sound crazy.. but more than once recently I've caught myself saying "you've had harder days than this - this is nothing - you can get through it". I'm sure there are tough times still to come.. maybe even tougher than I've already dealt with but I know exactly which days and moments have been my toughest so far and when I think I'm having a rough day I can look at those and know that I'm on the other side of them now and whatever is going on shall pass too. Tough times make for a tougher Jen :-) but never a less sensitive or caring Jen. So for that I am also thankful.
AND THE TOP TEN SILLY THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR:
1. Coffee
2. Chocolate
3. Kittens
4. Baby Goats
5. Hot baths
6. Good wine
7. Warm blankets
8. John Green Books :-) OK that should have been on my main list!
9. Songs that make me dance in the car
10. Songs that make me cry in the car
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Strength
In the last few years I've had the "opportunity" to gain some strength this way whether I wanted to or not. Life puts obstacles in the way for all of us sometimes...it's just the nature of living. There were many times I thought there was no way I would get through to the other side of a situation at all, much less a stronger, happier, and a better person. But I assure you it happens.
I can remember the day very clearly where I had to let go of my mom, and I had to find the words to let her know it was ok, that I would be ok, that dad would be ok... and I wasn't sure I believed any of those words that somehow in the moment I needed them came out of my mouth clearly and without quivering. I just didn't know how I was going to face the world without my best friend, I didn't know how I was going to get myself through it much less my pop. I didn't know how I was going to give her eulogy and convey exactly how special she was with just my words. I didn't know how I would get through the day without being able to pick up the phone to call her just to touch base. I didn't know how I was going to do a lot of practical things either... like make sure my pop made it to all his doctors appointments or ate healthy (Hah!) or didn't go out driving on an icy night when he shouldn't.
I can also remember not that long ago thinking that I didn't know how to live on my own. Or that I wasn't sure "alone" was something I could emotionally handle. In the first 35 years of my life I never spent even a week living alone. I didn't know how to do it without mom and pop there to tell me I could do it, that I was strong, and tough, and that this new chapter of my life would be better than I could imagine. In my head I knew I had all the skills to do it...but I was still scared, self doubting, unsure I could be happy.
On a lighter note I wasn't sure this girl could ever be a runner of any sort... after all I didn't run my first mile without stopping until I was in my mid-thirties and I'm sure it looked pretty ugly by the end! But like most other things I find that if I put one foot in front of the other... things just happen.
So today I look back at these things and smaller things like accomplishing something new at the gym, picking up a new hobby, achieving a goal at work and realize that I do (and we all do) have what it takes to get things done that we didn't think were possible. There's an inner strength in me that sometimes I forget is there...and there is an amazing group of people in my life that fuel that strength and confidence when I struggle with being able to do it for myself.
So whatever it is, however physically hard and grueling or emotionally brutal it seems - know that it can be done. Find a way to tap into the inner strength, and let others help, always let others lift you up when you need it. There is no weakness in sharing the weight on your shoulders with the people who love you. And my newest mantra... challenge yourself and let others challenge you. I'm looking at you big brother.. and your Warrior Dash invite.
It's on :-)
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Librarian Confessions
I was inspired by this page of hilarious librarian confessions: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2447492/Anonymous-librarians-confess-breaking-rules.html
Here is my personal top ten list:
10. I don't read nearly as much as I should, or want to, or people think I do.
9. I tolerate way more noise than most librarians would appreciate but it's still fun to shush people once in a while.
8. I may know people personally, you know - like the back of my hand, who have ripped library cds.
7. I read library books in the bathtub.
6. My dog chewed up a library book.
5. I read 50 Shades of Grey, and I didn't hate it.
4. I once led a book discussion and had read the wrong book.
3. I read all of the Twilight books and I am admittedly Team Jacob.
2. If I don't have a book mark handy I dog ear pages of books, though never any of my John Greens.
1. I only read the first Harry Potter and decided that was enough for me.
Here is my personal top ten list:
10. I don't read nearly as much as I should, or want to, or people think I do.
9. I tolerate way more noise than most librarians would appreciate but it's still fun to shush people once in a while.
8. I may know people personally, you know - like the back of my hand, who have ripped library cds.
7. I read library books in the bathtub.
6. My dog chewed up a library book.
5. I read 50 Shades of Grey, and I didn't hate it.
4. I once led a book discussion and had read the wrong book.
3. I read all of the Twilight books and I am admittedly Team Jacob.
2. If I don't have a book mark handy I dog ear pages of books, though never any of my John Greens.
1. I only read the first Harry Potter and decided that was enough for me.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Fangirling: Thoughts on Books made into Movies
So I'm super excited that The Fault In Our Stars movie has a set release date now... and I'm definitely going to be one of the first in line to see John Green's brilliance (I might be a super fan) come alive on the big screen -- but I definitely understand those that are reluctant to see it (or any movie based on a book for that matter). There are lots of reasons for this, I certainly have an image of what the characters look like in my head for any book I read, and their world develops down to tiny details all in my imagination with the help of an authors careful word choices...reading a book is a complicated relationship, a give and take between the writer and the reader. We all bring different backgrounds and experiences to the table shaping our vision of any given book. So what happens when a director, and a group of actors don't envision the story exactly as we do? Is part of the magic taken away, or do we have a gift in front of us that is the ability to see someone else's private interpretation?
I already said I'm going to see the movie, and I've proudly proclaimed to the world on facebook (that's the whole world right?) that it's the most anticipated movie for me ever... for once I get to feel like a fan girl! I've always felt like I was missing out when friends were so excited to see the latest superhero movie or epic fantasy and now I get my moment of being "a rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor" according to Urban Dictionary.
My only hesitation is that these words I've typed below will somehow not make it to the film in their entirety or that somehow their wisdom and beauty will be lost...here are a few of my favorite quotes from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. If you haven't read the book yet... I don't care if you're young or old, nerdy or cool (and aren't they the same) you should read some John Green :-)
My Top 5 Favorite Quotes from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
5. “Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”
4. “My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.”
3. “That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt”
2. “Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”
1. “As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
I already said I'm going to see the movie, and I've proudly proclaimed to the world on facebook (that's the whole world right?) that it's the most anticipated movie for me ever... for once I get to feel like a fan girl! I've always felt like I was missing out when friends were so excited to see the latest superhero movie or epic fantasy and now I get my moment of being "a rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor" according to Urban Dictionary.
My only hesitation is that these words I've typed below will somehow not make it to the film in their entirety or that somehow their wisdom and beauty will be lost...here are a few of my favorite quotes from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. If you haven't read the book yet... I don't care if you're young or old, nerdy or cool (and aren't they the same) you should read some John Green :-)
My Top 5 Favorite Quotes from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
5. “Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”
4. “My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.”
3. “That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt”
2. “Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”
1. “As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Call me, call me, call me
Ok- That's' not actually an invitation to "wake me up in the dead of the night" unless you happen to be Luke Bryan :-) I just have the song stuck in my head so thought I would share it with the rest of the world.. or at least the handful of people who read this blog:
So life has felt busy lately... or maybe I've just been filling life with busy work :-) Hard to say really...busyness helps me ward off stress (or at least not think about it so much) so I tend to keep myself busy until I can't hold my eyes open at night and can just crash. This does however mean extra coffee is often needed in the morning.
One really fun thing that kept me busy this last weekend though was seeing The Band Perry, Easton Corbin and Eric Paslay with one of my most awesome friends :-) The show was fantastic. If you ever get the chance to see The Band Perry (or any of them for that matter) do it! Kimberly Perry has more energy on stage than anyone I've ever seen before and did all the jumping around and dancing in a pair of what must have been 6 inch stilettos (black stiletto ankle boots to be exact- hey, I like shoes, I notice these things). Seriously though, I'm hardly ever at a concert where I don't at least tune out a tiny bit during the songs I've never heard but that did not happen at all with The Band Perry - and they played lots of things I hadn't heard before. My favorite was A Mother Like Mine (click the title to listen to it - I couldn't find a good youtube clip). It's a beautiful song...and somehow I managed not to lose it in the middle of the concert. I was very thankful to have a friend with me who knew immediately it might give me trouble and offered me a hug, I definitely needed it at that moment. My favorite line from it is "I've got the best and the worst of her in me..." and I'm thankful for all of my mother's qualities I have in me...even my spectacular ability to dry out dinner no matter how hard I try not to overcook it :-) I think we all grew to prefer our meats cooked until overdone throughout the years in my house.
I'll leave you with a live clip from the concert. I have an odd love for the song "Fat Bottomed Girls" (which may or may not have anything to do with the size of my bottom) so I grabbed a clip with my phone.. the quality's not that great but hey.. I took the video.. it should be shared somewhere.
Have a great week and a lovely holiday weekend!
Hugs,
CarolJen
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Mother's Day
I sometimes let emotions get the best of me and feel like I was cheated somehow, and that it's unfair that I'm a fairly young adult without my parents there to guide me through life, lending a listening ear, and loving arms to fall into when I feel like my world is falling apart. But then I remember their love, I remember their resiliency in life and all that they taught me and all of unending warmth and support I felt and still feel over the years and realize that not only do I still have them with me but that they also gave me everything I need to get through. I know the words of comfort or encouragement they would give me and I can hear them in my mind in the moments when I need them most.
I know it sounds cliche, but my mother was truly the best friend I could ever ask for. I'm sure some people would find it crazy how much I talked to my mother... often at least two or three times a day. She's the person I'd call with a quick little silly story or simply to say good morning and also the person who talked me through several middle of the night heartbreaks. I am blessed that I probably talked to my mother as much in the 32 years I had with her than some people do in 90 and because of that she is so vividly still with me.
So while the pain of taking my mother flowers to the cemetery on Mother's Day is still aching in my heart hours later, and while I wished with every fiber of my being today that I could have wrapped my arms around her in a tight squeeze and lifted her off the ground and spun her around like I was known to do sometimes -- I also know that the missing her and the sadness is because I was loved and she was loved and because we had a bond that was so special to us.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there and especially to the one I consider the best in the world :-) Love you mom <3
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Warmth of Spring
Happy Spring!
I have the writing itch tonight so thought I would pop over to the blog like I always swear I'm going to be more dedicated to and type a few lines :-)
Spring is the time of new growth - so hopefully that's true for people as well. Started the new job, back to running (it's great to be outside stretching out the legs!) and have some great friend and family time booked for the spring and summer (including some fantastic live music with a fabulous friend - watch out Luke, here we come). Spring always seems like a time of cleansing, hope and renewal and all of those things sound pretty good to me... add in some sun kissing my face, arms and legs on a warm day and I'm a happy girl. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of the beach with my parents or playing in the back yard using the hose as a makeshift outdoor water feature :-)
Speaking of my folks I've been missing them like crazy lately... like suddenly I'll feel as if the pain is all new again, fresh and shocking and enough to make me curl up in a ball because my heart really feels as if someone is ripping it in two. (sorry to switch from happy to sad so suddenly but trust me it will get back to a place of peace in a few sentences...). I've been aching for the company of my mother and the image in my head of wanting to curl up to next to her on the sofa with my head in her lap while she brushes back my hair with her hand (like i did a million times when I was sad or stressed) has been so vivid to me I can almost feel it. Yesterday was a particularly rough day of wishing I could talk to them, and hear their advice and worlds of encouragement, and comfort. Really the reason I'm sharing all of this is to share this next little story... so today I got to work and literally about a minute after I started my shift at the information desk a woman came up to me and asked me for some specific books on grieving and loss. I took her to the section and while we were there looking through the shelves she explained to me how hard it's been since losing her dad and then her mom most recently. I don't usually share personal stories with customers but I wanted her to know she wasn't alone in this struggle so I told her I understood where she was and that I had lost both of mine within the past few years myself. She looked me right in the eye and said "well then you're proof that I'm gonna get through this" and she seemed just the tiniest bit lighter... she asked how you get through those first few months and I simply said (just like everyone has shared with me) you do it one day at a time...sometimes one breath at a time. We found some books and she was so thankful and sweet. I like my job everyday.. but moments like that one make me love my job.
It's hard to know what to write after that story... doesn't seem right to follow it up with my favorite song on the radio right now or some goals I may or may not actually accomplish before writing again so I'm going to share a few songs that take me back to the days of dancing on my daddy's feet at fire hall dances. Enjoy:
Mom and Dad never let this song go by without dancing....listening to the lyrics again it's not a particularly happy song but it makes me think of them and that makes me smile :)
And the one that was always reserved for daddy's little girl:
:)
I have the writing itch tonight so thought I would pop over to the blog like I always swear I'm going to be more dedicated to and type a few lines :-)
Spring is the time of new growth - so hopefully that's true for people as well. Started the new job, back to running (it's great to be outside stretching out the legs!) and have some great friend and family time booked for the spring and summer (including some fantastic live music with a fabulous friend - watch out Luke, here we come). Spring always seems like a time of cleansing, hope and renewal and all of those things sound pretty good to me... add in some sun kissing my face, arms and legs on a warm day and I'm a happy girl. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of the beach with my parents or playing in the back yard using the hose as a makeshift outdoor water feature :-)
Speaking of my folks I've been missing them like crazy lately... like suddenly I'll feel as if the pain is all new again, fresh and shocking and enough to make me curl up in a ball because my heart really feels as if someone is ripping it in two. (sorry to switch from happy to sad so suddenly but trust me it will get back to a place of peace in a few sentences...). I've been aching for the company of my mother and the image in my head of wanting to curl up to next to her on the sofa with my head in her lap while she brushes back my hair with her hand (like i did a million times when I was sad or stressed) has been so vivid to me I can almost feel it. Yesterday was a particularly rough day of wishing I could talk to them, and hear their advice and worlds of encouragement, and comfort. Really the reason I'm sharing all of this is to share this next little story... so today I got to work and literally about a minute after I started my shift at the information desk a woman came up to me and asked me for some specific books on grieving and loss. I took her to the section and while we were there looking through the shelves she explained to me how hard it's been since losing her dad and then her mom most recently. I don't usually share personal stories with customers but I wanted her to know she wasn't alone in this struggle so I told her I understood where she was and that I had lost both of mine within the past few years myself. She looked me right in the eye and said "well then you're proof that I'm gonna get through this" and she seemed just the tiniest bit lighter... she asked how you get through those first few months and I simply said (just like everyone has shared with me) you do it one day at a time...sometimes one breath at a time. We found some books and she was so thankful and sweet. I like my job everyday.. but moments like that one make me love my job.
It's hard to know what to write after that story... doesn't seem right to follow it up with my favorite song on the radio right now or some goals I may or may not actually accomplish before writing again so I'm going to share a few songs that take me back to the days of dancing on my daddy's feet at fire hall dances. Enjoy:
Mom and Dad never let this song go by without dancing....listening to the lyrics again it's not a particularly happy song but it makes me think of them and that makes me smile :)
And the one that was always reserved for daddy's little girl:
:)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Change is a good thing
Hello again!
I was just thinking how awesome it is that spring is almost here, how there's just one more week until I can add an hour of daylight to my evening and start running with friends again outside and not on a stinking treadmill... and what's it calling for? Snow! I say yuck! But I have some friends who are really hoping for a snow day so because I'm an awesome pal I suppose I will join team "please please please mother nature can we have a huge blizzard this week." Maybe a snow day will give me time to do some writing, blogging, crafting or reading... ok.. so now I'm fully behind this possible weather event.
Owning 2013 update: So far so good :-) It's been a rough few years of changes and adjustments for me but so far 2013 has brought me good stuff. In February I interviewed for a promotion at work and in early April I start the new gig. I couldn't be more excited for this new challenge! I know I've worked hard for this but I can't help but also think that things work out the way they're supposed to. The timing and job and location and well everything couldn't have worked out better for me and I'm so very very thankful for the opportunity and adventure that awaits.
Not nearly as exciting but I did also cross reading Catcher in the Rye off my list and I've been to the gym twice in the last 3 days (and I'm about to eat ice cream as a reward.. lol)
Books I've Read:
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - I gave this 4 stars on goodreads...but I probably am more of a 4.5 for it. It's not up there with my absolute, all time favorites but I really did enjoy this book. I know I'm opposite of a lot of my reading friends on this but I sort of liked Holden Caulfield though I also believe that you don't have to love a narrator/protagonist to appreciate a book. While I can certainly see why some would find Holden the most whiny character ever to live inside a book I also feel like Holden felt genuine to me. He's lost, on the brink of adulthood, reaching out repeatedly to adults who don't really provide him with the guidance he needs and obviously severely affected by the death of his brother Allie. To me Holden is someone who's searching for direction, meaning, and mostly identity. He's stuck somewhere in between.
For some great thoughts on Catcher in the Rye check out John Green's Crash Course on it...lots of interesting stuff to think about. I'll be honest...John Green's the reason I wanted to read Catcher so badly and it did not disappoint.
Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins - I gave this one 4 stars too and I'm ok with giving classics and books I read for pure enjoyment the same credit.. they serve different purposes and this book filled the "I want to read a sweet book where everything turns out ok in the end" niche very nicely. Check out the link to goodreads for a description... it's a perfect snow day book and if you're a Marylander you might need that this week!
Song I'm loving right now: I heard a clip of this on the 93.1 Future File on Friday and then immediately went searching on my phone right where I was (don't worry I was parked and not driving). I love their song Postcard from Paris and this is certainly different but it's got an addictive beat and pretty fun lyrics. Sorry guys... it's full of man-hating girl power. They'll be playing in Columbia in May if anyone is interested!!
Hope everyone has a good week :-) Catch you soon!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Soft Kitty...
Seriously... does anyone know a cure for having Soft Kitty stuck in your head to the point where you find yourself singing it under your breath most likely annoying all of your co-workers... or at least making them think you're crazy as even if they can't hear you they can see you mumbling to yourself as you work...
So just ignore it if there is random purrring in the middle of this blog post :)
I just checked out my "owning 2013" list again and I *gasp* think it actually seems doable... with that said I haven't actually accomplished anything on the list yet :-). I'm eager to get to some of the reading but I've got one more book to read for a training I've got coming up on Monday and then a book to review and then finally I should be able to read something for *fun*. First up, Catcher in the Rye. I'm also hoping for some lazy days to check out some TV and Movies that friends have been recommending.. why are there not 5 days of weekend every week.. I've got lots of hobbies and socializing I need to keep up with :-)
Now for two to-be "regularly scheduled portions of my blog ":
Books I've Read:
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I posted some brief comments on the goodreads site but the sad thing for me is that I liked both of them fine but I didn't *love* either of them... and I'd like to love at least one of the books I read going into this Mock Newbery discussion. No pressure for the last book I need to read :-)
Song I'm loving right now:
Bruises by Train featuring Ashley Monroe from the Pistol Annies
So just ignore it if there is random purrring in the middle of this blog post :)
I just checked out my "owning 2013" list again and I *gasp* think it actually seems doable... with that said I haven't actually accomplished anything on the list yet :-). I'm eager to get to some of the reading but I've got one more book to read for a training I've got coming up on Monday and then a book to review and then finally I should be able to read something for *fun*. First up, Catcher in the Rye. I'm also hoping for some lazy days to check out some TV and Movies that friends have been recommending.. why are there not 5 days of weekend every week.. I've got lots of hobbies and socializing I need to keep up with :-)
Now for two to-be "regularly scheduled portions of my blog ":
Books I've Read:
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I posted some brief comments on the goodreads site but the sad thing for me is that I liked both of them fine but I didn't *love* either of them... and I'd like to love at least one of the books I read going into this Mock Newbery discussion. No pressure for the last book I need to read :-)
Song I'm loving right now:
Purr... purr.. purr.....
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
101 Things - Time's up
I ran out of days in my 1001 days in mid December and shockingly I didn't finish all of the items on my list! I did finish just over half of them and I'm going to call that a success. I think the most beneficial part of the process was simply putting thought into things that were important to me and that I wanted to accomplish and then reflecting on those things afterwards. Life gets in the way of checking things off lists sometimes but that's ok... that just means other worthwhile experiences I didn't imagine came up and created memories of their own. I'll make a new/shorter/perhaps more attainable list in the next day or so for 2013 :-)
Best of 2012
2013 is here! Everyone is posting goals and wishes for the new year, and don't worry I plan on doing that later today but right now I thought I would take a look back at 2012 and give my personal "best of" list. I know you all just can't wait to know my personal favorites of the year :-)
Song: I liked a lot of the new stuff out of country radio this year...I feel like its a little less pop then it was for a while and a little more soulful and gritty. The song I went with though is just plain fun. It always makes me smile and turn the radio up and to me that's what makes an awesome tune. So thank you to new to the radio Florida Georgia Line for this hit:
Cruise
favorite line: she was sippin' on Southern and singin' Marshall Tucker.
Concert: This is a really tough one.. I saw several really good shows in the past year: Lady Antebellum with Thompson Square and Darius Rucker, Metric, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore, Legwarmers, All American Rejects with Boys Like Girls, Miranda Lambert with the Pistol Annies. I think it winds up being a tie for me between Luke Bryan and Kip Moore and here's why:
Luke Bryan: Luke (I like to think we're on a first name basis.. lol) puts on an incredible show and aside from that I was with an awesome friend and despite the CRAZY HEAT we had a great time watching people and then dancing and singing along.. we had so much fun we're going to see him again this coming summer (there's no such thing as too much Luke) with Florida Georgia Line (YAY!). I don't have to mention (though I will anyway) that Luke Bryan does as good of a job shaking it as the girls do in his video. Not hard on the eyes. Just sayin.
Kip Moore: First of all the venue is pretty much my favorite as this was a show at the Carroll County Fairgrounds :-) So I got to be in one of my favorite spots in the world with two great friends who were new to the world of concerts held in an "arena" that's used for things like horse shows, tractor pulls and demolition derbies. Secondly, Kip Moore does a fantastic job connecting with his audience, storytelling, and sounds as good live as on the radio. Funny memory from this: two teenage girls standing up at their seats only a few rows back from the stage for the ENTIRE show but who did not dance at all. Kip Moore tried to interact with them several times to get them to act like they were having a great time but they just did not have dancing in their bones I guess :-)
Book: I'm pretty sure I don't really need to even restate this. You all already know how much I love John Green and The Fault In Our Stars did not disappoint me (or the rest of the world apparently - yay for new people loving my John Green). I find all of his books witty, funny, emotional and poetic. Looking For Alaska will probably always hold the special place in my heart as my favorite but I can see why a lot of people are touting The Fault in Our Stars as his best work to date. I know some people are reluctant to read it because it's a book about kids with cancer but more than that it's a book about teenagers living their lives.
Because that was such an obvious choice here's two more of my top reads for 2012: Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (her first book Anna and the French Kiss is also great)
Movie: Admittedly I didn't see many movies this year.. and the movie I planned on talking about here was actually from 2011 when I looked it up (Midnight in Paris in case you're wondering). Even with that said though.. when I looked back at what I did see two movies stuck out for me... two very very different movies: Les Miserables and American Reunion. I was a little skeptical going into Les Mis because I loved the stage show so much that I wasn't sure famous actors on the big screen could pull it off for me but I was happy to be proven wrong about that. I thought the live action singing was incredible and emotional and perfectly not perfect. As for my second choice - I know people tend to either love or hate the American Pie movies and probably a lot of people find them silly but I thought this one was pretty touching actually... friends coming back together is something near and dear to my heart as I am so blessed to have my core group of friends from high school as my best girls.
Ok - so that's enough rambling about my favorites! I'd love to hear about yours!
Song: I liked a lot of the new stuff out of country radio this year...I feel like its a little less pop then it was for a while and a little more soulful and gritty. The song I went with though is just plain fun. It always makes me smile and turn the radio up and to me that's what makes an awesome tune. So thank you to new to the radio Florida Georgia Line for this hit:
Cruise
favorite line: she was sippin' on Southern and singin' Marshall Tucker.
Concert: This is a really tough one.. I saw several really good shows in the past year: Lady Antebellum with Thompson Square and Darius Rucker, Metric, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore, Legwarmers, All American Rejects with Boys Like Girls, Miranda Lambert with the Pistol Annies. I think it winds up being a tie for me between Luke Bryan and Kip Moore and here's why:
Luke Bryan: Luke (I like to think we're on a first name basis.. lol) puts on an incredible show and aside from that I was with an awesome friend and despite the CRAZY HEAT we had a great time watching people and then dancing and singing along.. we had so much fun we're going to see him again this coming summer (there's no such thing as too much Luke) with Florida Georgia Line (YAY!). I don't have to mention (though I will anyway) that Luke Bryan does as good of a job shaking it as the girls do in his video. Not hard on the eyes. Just sayin.
Kip Moore: First of all the venue is pretty much my favorite as this was a show at the Carroll County Fairgrounds :-) So I got to be in one of my favorite spots in the world with two great friends who were new to the world of concerts held in an "arena" that's used for things like horse shows, tractor pulls and demolition derbies. Secondly, Kip Moore does a fantastic job connecting with his audience, storytelling, and sounds as good live as on the radio. Funny memory from this: two teenage girls standing up at their seats only a few rows back from the stage for the ENTIRE show but who did not dance at all. Kip Moore tried to interact with them several times to get them to act like they were having a great time but they just did not have dancing in their bones I guess :-)
Book: I'm pretty sure I don't really need to even restate this. You all already know how much I love John Green and The Fault In Our Stars did not disappoint me (or the rest of the world apparently - yay for new people loving my John Green). I find all of his books witty, funny, emotional and poetic. Looking For Alaska will probably always hold the special place in my heart as my favorite but I can see why a lot of people are touting The Fault in Our Stars as his best work to date. I know some people are reluctant to read it because it's a book about kids with cancer but more than that it's a book about teenagers living their lives.
Because that was such an obvious choice here's two more of my top reads for 2012: Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (her first book Anna and the French Kiss is also great)
Movie: Admittedly I didn't see many movies this year.. and the movie I planned on talking about here was actually from 2011 when I looked it up (Midnight in Paris in case you're wondering). Even with that said though.. when I looked back at what I did see two movies stuck out for me... two very very different movies: Les Miserables and American Reunion. I was a little skeptical going into Les Mis because I loved the stage show so much that I wasn't sure famous actors on the big screen could pull it off for me but I was happy to be proven wrong about that. I thought the live action singing was incredible and emotional and perfectly not perfect. As for my second choice - I know people tend to either love or hate the American Pie movies and probably a lot of people find them silly but I thought this one was pretty touching actually... friends coming back together is something near and dear to my heart as I am so blessed to have my core group of friends from high school as my best girls.
Ok - so that's enough rambling about my favorites! I'd love to hear about yours!
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