Saturday, February 28, 2009

Can't get this rhythm out of my head

It seems like my trend of sleeping has officially ended. I haven't gone to bed before midnight this whole week, and the latest I've slept in is 8:00. The difference between now and before is that now I can tell how crappy I feel after no sleep.

I spent the day working, by choice. One of the best things about freelancing is that I get to be practical (gasp) with my schedule. The other day "it" just wasn't there. I tried to work for a few hours and just wasn't getting anywhere, so I stopped for the day and took care of other things. Today, while the rest of the world embraced a Saturday, I sat at my desk for over eight hours and got a lot done. I didn't even miss the Saturday, because things just balance out. I remember my days in various offices, staring at a screen, completely dazed and oblivious after six hours of struggling and getting nowhere. As long as the work gets done on time now (I have never missed a deadline), I don't mind taking time off if I'm off track on any given day. I also don't mind staying in comfy clothes all day, but that has less to do with productivity.

It was interesting to be back around my ex-co-workers tonight. I went downtown and hung out with them to celebrate a friend's birthday. I met some new people, caught up with everyone. Working with them, in such a unique and high stress environment, was such a big part of my life for over a year. It's interesting to be in such a different pace and still be able to find my rhythm with them so easily. It was also kind of weird to go in with a new sense of freedom, responsibility, and confidence. Weird meaning good, in this case. I have had three acquaintances randomly come up and tell me that I look really happy, and it's nice to be able to say that I really am.

I will probably not be so happy when I am pulling myself out of bed in less than five hours. Busy day - we'll see how it goes!

Everything is amazing right now, and nobody is happy

This has been floating around and I wanted to share it here, because I agree with pretty much everything he says. Simplify, wake up, be happy.



(Thanks Slightly Crunchy!)

Friday, February 27, 2009

I guess it all worked together

This morning I woke up later than usual (8:00 - woohoo!) and quickly realized that I was laying on not only my heating pad, but my phone as well. I have no idea how these things happen. If I called anyone in my sleep, I apologize.

Today was a pretty productive day. I made progress on the framework of a website I am working on, and I feel like I made a huge step forward there. After that, I did a combination of laundry/groceries/working/getting ready. The multi-tasking was fairly impressive if I do say so myself. In the process of all of those things, I managed to meet and talk to two of my neighbors! This is exciting because in the year that I've lived here, I have barely met any of my neighbors. One was the saint who helped me when my car was stuck in ice. The other was a guy whose son is in karate and whose car was totaled a few months ago when a drunk driver slammed our parking lot. Both guys are so nice, really friendly, and have a creepy rating of 0%. The both have kids close to my age, so it's kind of cool.

After visiting "the boys" (aka E's cats) I headed up to Mount Vernon for a movie night. It was nice to catch up with two of the coolest and artsiest girls I know. We had Chinese food (definitely had the sweet & sour part down, but I am skeptical of the chicken aspect of my dinner) and then went to see Slumdog Millionaire. For the record, it definitely lives up to the hype. On a side note, the theater had some pretty funky smells going on. I counted at least five distinct smells during our time there. I don't want to know what the deal was there.

Tomorrow I have a morning yoga class, and then I think I am going to work during the day. The cool thing is that I don't have to - I want to! What a nice change. There might be another movie with another friend tomorrow night, which far exceeds any previous personal records of most movies watched in one month (and good ones at that!). Have a most fantastic Saturday.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Coffee > Sleep

It is 11:20 in February and beside me, the window is open. It's warm, cloudy, and the only sounds are the occasional car on wet asphalt. I live for nights like these.

Yesterday was a blur. I was going on three hours of sleep the whole time, which was not really all that pleasant after my recent pattern of actually sleeping. I took a friend to the airport, went to yoga, ran some errands, worked, ran some more errands, worked some more. I was having two conversations (discussing live muzak while debating whether or not Adam and Eve went to heaven) when I realized that I was literally falling asleep at my desk. I assured both friends that this was not due to our conversations and managed to be asleep before 10:30. Ladies and gentleman, I think we have a new record.

Today was a little better. I finished up a project early on, ran errands, visited my friend's cats (she is in New York and they need socializin') (if you're reading this, Sebastian let me pet him, hissed, and then let me pet him some more! Progress!) and then I did something that I don't usually do and got a manicure and pedicure. I will just have to write a whole post about that, because it was really very interesting. People are amazing in both good and bad ways, and to have both types of people in one room at the same time really makes you aware of things you might have otherwise missed.

I got home and did another yoga lesson. Three people this time, and it was a really, really good class. Teaching is getting easier and the lessons are feeling more natural. The girls were so great and willing to just give it a try. Afterwards, they were excited and asking questions. The fact that these classes are in my living room seems to actually be a good thing because everyone is more relaxed and comfortable. There's a great feeling of bonding and trust, and I love it!

To balance out the yoga, I had ice cream (ahem, custard, excuse me) with a friend while we watched Pushing Daisies. I would say that is a pretty fantastic way to end the day. Tomorrow I am catching up with a friend and then watching Slumdog Millionaire. Word on the street is that it's a decent little movie. Have a great Friday!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Add a "k" to the end and it's better

Twelve hours and three hundred miles after deciding to make the trip I am now writing from my new office! I am sitting in a new chair, at a new desk in a room that needs desperately to be used. I can listen to my music without disturbing anyone, and I am not cramped into an office/bedroom space that was neither working as an office or a bedroom. I should have done this months ago!

A friend was nice enough to help me put together my office (and saved me about four hours), so I thanked with coffee afterward. Apparently, Tuesday is Mahjong night for a Jewish women's group at the coffee shop near here. I didn't know that Mahjong groups existed, but the place was full.

There is a real art to long trips. When I was in high school I would spend two hours a day driving back and forth to college classes. Since I was "in the hills" the whole time, the only three stations that came in were hip hop, oldies, and country (nope). I know all of the lyrics from all of the hip hop music from those two years, eternally, I think. The key is to switch stations. Today I listened to hip hop until that ran out, and then I switched to the stereotypical "adult alternative" station, where I heard Wish I Was Your Lover, a song I don't even remember, and then the original Hey Jude. After that I found this great station that played songs from the 40's. I felt a little weird because all of the advertisements were for places like the "Sycamore Senior Center" and "Caregivers of Easter Ohio", but then I thought about old people listening to this music and it made me kind of happy. I imagined them remembering dancing to the songs back when they were young, wearing red dresses and black suits. I should have lived back then.

Tomorrow I am picking a friend up for the airport nice and early, going to yoga, working, teaching a class, and then working some more. Still no word on a "real job", but I'm still okay with that. I've learned that I have no control over it and just need to keep busy in the meantime. So far, I seem to have that part down. For instance, if I go to bed right now like I plan to, I will get a whole five hours of sleep. We'll see how that works out.

Monday, February 23, 2009

And inhale up...

Today was one of those days that came and went and left me wondering what happened. I am going to go ahead and say that it was a good day.

I woke up before my alarm (set for 6:30) and got a job in way before deadline. Of course, the people who needed to get the files were out of the office, but it's good to know my part is done. I went to a nice yoga class, which actually helped my insanely sore back (the heating pad wasn't even a match for this one). On my way home, I got a call from the old roomie, who I never see enough of. We met up for lunch and ended up talking for a good two hours. It's almost funny how in sync we still are, even after almost a year in separate apartments.

I taught my second yoga session tonight, and it went really well. It ended up being a private session, which was kind of cool. I have two more people on Wednesday, and two new people called me tonight about lessons. I've found a studio just up the street, strangely enough, and I might need to look into it soon...How awesome would that be?!

After yoga, I transitioned once again and a friend came over to show me some new web design stuff. After that, we talked for a couple of hours, too. It's so funny to switch from yoga to web design, but it keeps me thinking and allows me to meet up with so many people throughout the day, so I love it.

I was planning on going to Ikea tomorrow (my new home office awaits!), but now I'm thinking that if I wake up and don't feel up to the drive, staying home is a fine option. Cold weather makes me want to do absolutely nothing, and that's a bit of a problem.

Highlights of the week so far: Spur of the moment calls about spur of the moment plans (I can't wait for March 7th!) and one very,very nice email that made me smile the whole time I read it :) See, even smiling now. How did I get such cool people in my life?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I'm just going to ignore the signs

I came home on Friday to a sign proclaiming "Laundry Room Closed" in red, Times New Roman. My laundry room is a feat of modern living (the dryers are taller than I am and shrink everything), so I was neither surprised or disappointed. That said, I needed to do laundry and couldn't wait the five days this sign was telling me to wait. Despite the threat of snow, I drove up to my parents' house, which is conveniently close and nice at times like this.

By the time my laundry was finished, it had rained/iced/snowed and gotten dark, so I just decided to stay the night. We watched a movie, which is a nice tradition with my family. I really like sleeping on the couch, so I crashed in the basement and even slept in this morning. I woke up once and came to the conclusion that I was at least slightly allergic to dogs. The warm, breathing little body sleeping next to my stomach made that completely irrelevant. I came home this morning in the same clothes that I left in yesterday, carrying laundry and a crumpled brown bag that some new tea came in. I'm sure it seemed at least slightly questionable...

This afternoon, I went to a really good yoga class (and am sitting with my heating pad on my back/shoulders as I type). At one point, my friend and I were perfectly in sync during a series of really fast poses and I have to say, it was kind of cool. After that, I came home and cut my friend's hair. I shouldn't cut hair. I think the results are at least decent, and the natural curls will hide any parts that aren't. I hope.

Tomorrow I have design work to keep me busy during the day and then, I am teaching yoga class number two. I have more people this time, so it should be really fun! I am thinking that Tuesday is going to be my return to Ikea/the set-up of my home office. Things are starting to slow down with my freelance work and that it making me nervous because I can't imagine sitting at home and not being busy. It could be an interesting couple of weeks ahead!

While the rest of the world watches the Oscars, I am going to finish The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Or fall asleep. Either one will make a nice ending to a pleasant Sunday. Have a good night/Monday morning!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Drifts

I can hardly believe it's almost 11:30 already. This is good, because it means that my morning has been busy and productive. This is bad because the time has flown by!

I spent a lot of my day on the road yesterday. I don't know if you've ever driven the 100 mile stretch of I-71 S. to Cincinnati, but winter is not kind to this particular part of the world. I would go through spots of high winds and snow drifts, followed by high winds and sunshine. Lots of brown, lots of semi's blowing all over the place. I decided that it would be pretty interesting to design a truck and spent a lot of my trip redesigning the ones I saw. The music for the trip included Goldfrapp, Yo La Tengo, and a couple of mixes for good measure.

I stopped by Ikea to get a chair and walked out with $35 worth of stuff and no chair. That's how these things go, I suppose. I think I'm going to make a return trip and pick up a desk and chair. I'm thinking that my spare bedroom is about to become my office. My neighbor will like this because now he won't have to listen to my music...as much.

I think I've mentioned it before, but unemployment, even if it is going well, has a three week cycle. Week one is bliss and freedom. You make pancakes for breakfast and stay in your pajamas all day. Week two is for getting busy. You clean your house, organize, file your financial stuff, and generally feel really productive. Week three, though. Week three is the tough week. You feel frazzled, restless, stressed, unsure of what to do. If you are lucky, you get a five week cycle, but I've only heard of one person pulling that off. So, this is my first week three and it just hit this morning. Blegh. I am thinking that I should avoid making major decisions today. (*side note* I'm wondering if all of life is on a three week cycle? Might be interesting to track...)

On that note, I am leaving this desk for a few and heading out to run errands and enjoy a little bit of the outdoors before we get hit with more snow. Stay warm!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

It takes a while to get there

11:00 seems to be my posting hour of choice. Tonight, Bon Iver is joining me in another tab and I'm really enjoying his company.

Today was a big step in my yoga teaching process: my first practice class. I was lucky enough to have two really great people to work with, and I think we all learned together. It was really interesting to take the step from reading/watching lessons on teaching to actually teaching. Even with my session planned loosely ahead of time I found myself making a lot of it up as I went along based on what they needed.

I was telling my friend about it earlier tonight and we kind of got into why I am so excited about teaching. I, of course, love the practice and know that it has helped me personally. Possibly even greater than that is the connection that is formed with people. People walk into the room after a stressful day at work or home. They are tense and tired, insecure sometimes. They trust you to lead them through these challenging and humbling poses, and by the end of it, they are relaxed, energized, and a little more at peace with the world. In a previous class that I was a student in, I was the youngest person. There were these fabulous older women who had all had kids, worked for years on their feet, run marathons, and had simply gotten older. Every week these women would come in and do this class and it was really beautiful to see them relax and become more confident in their bodies. There wasn't that competition that you get in younger classes - they liked the practice, they liked how they felt afterward. So, letting people leave feeling better than when they arrived is really, for me, one of the best things about all of this.

In other news, I am really considering not getting a "real job". No job is stable right now, and I know one person who is actually happy in their job. One. So, I'm still applying for jobs that I think have the potential to be good, but I don't feel the need to settle for something. The freelance work is actually really pretty steady and I've been loving it. The thought of dropping it now is almost painful. So, I think I am really going to try to make it work, get a part-time job somewhere if I need to, and just keep up the teaching/freelance. Who knows what will happen.

Tomorrow I am taking my first break in at least three weeks and heading out of town. This will involve lots of time in my car with my music, going through hours of fields and then, into the city. I'll be helping my Grandparents and Dad for the day on a fairly daunting task. It could be a rough day, but one can never tell with these kinds of things. Either way, I'll have a nice three hour drive back home to transition. Naturally, it is supposed to snow.

I'll share my love tonight. Enjoy, and have a good Thursday (it's one of the best days of the week!).

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Check

Today was a good day. After going to bed pretty late, I slept in. I was annoyed that some important hours were lost to sleep, but my body felt pretty good about the whole thing.

My morning started with this video:

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, 100 dances. There is just something about it that keeps you watching. He has some really great settings, and keep your eyes out for the kitten t-shirt. It also made me a little envious of his hip shaking abilities. If it really makes you want to shake your own groove thang, fear not, here is (most of) the playlist:




After that, I took my test and I am now officially certified to teach yoga! I've wanted to do this for so long and things just fell into place. I had some help from my amazing teacher and friend, who I can't thank enough. It's so funny how things work out sometimes! Now I am actually enjoying studying things like anatomy while creating new playlists. I have yet to find a con here.

In other news, I launched this site this evening. Take a look and take a class. Just sayin'.

Things will be calming down soon with my workload and I am planning on a few roadtrips to see the people closest to me who are the farthest from me. This Thursday is the kick-off with a trip to Cincinnati. There I will find grandparents and, conveniently, Ikea. After that, the list includes but is not limited to: Youngstown, Amherst, Lexington, and some quality time in Portsmouth. I can't wait to see everyone!


Now, I am exhausted and have a big day tomorrow. Have a good Wednesday!

Monday, February 16, 2009

To be good to you

It's been a busy day of running around and then running right back home to work some more. I've talked to two people that I've been separated from for way too long, and that was really nice. It's comforting to know that some relationships stay pretty steady, despite time and distance.

I had a strange night with a group of people that I meet up with regularly. While I really like all of them, some nights are more frustrating than others. There is a huge culture gap (we're talking galaxies of difference) with only similar pasts and some similar beliefs to make it work. They don't get my lifestyle at all, which makes relating and conversation a little difficult. I'm still trying to figure out my place in the dynamics of this group, because right now something just isn't working. That said, they are a group of really nice people that I appreciate having in my life and I want to make it work.

This is an interesting point in life. I am happier right now than I've been in a long time and things feel right and balanced. I have some amazingly supportive and challenging people around me that I am constantly thankful for. I tend to be (ahem) too independent, and this time of letting people help me has been both humbling and empowering. We were made to share, to give and take. This new and growing form of community has shown me the real beauty in a lifestyle shared with people on so many levels. I can't help but feel that, in the midst of the shift and the stress, something better and new has been shaped.

On a similar note, a friend really challenged me in a conversation recently. I have been accused of being "too nice" at times. I always thought that was a good thing and as a Christian, I saw selflessness as one of the best ways to show an honest love towards other people. That said, my definition of things like "nice" and "love" have changed and hardened over the past few years. There's this thing called reality that really kicks you in the face sometimes. We were kind of talking about all of this and, to paraphrase, she said: "You can't save them. It doesn't matter what you say or do, or how much you love them - they are going to do what they want to do. You have to release yourself from that responsibility right now. Some people have to hit rock bottom, and they will hurt you all the way down, so you need to decide right now that you aren't going to go down with them. Love them, support them, share their burdens, but don't pay for their choices." The day tough love just got tougher.

On a lighter note, I plan on being a certified yoga instructor by the end of this week AND I'm planning a roadtrip to see some of my favorite people who are miles away. Now if we could just get some heat around here...

*update* I am now a certified yoga instructor. Holla!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Hot and cold

Ah, Valentine's Day. Love is the air. This was made apparent to me after I had to leave two places because there were no parking spaces. Apparently, Target and Trader Joe's are real hotspots. Last night, my friend and I sat in a sea of starry eyed couples. She's held up her hand (which contained a lovely wedding ring) and said: "See this? I have this on my finger, and this is still a Valentine's Day nightmare to me." If nothing else, it proved to be a gold mine for people watching.

The day has actually been good. It started early, after a mere five hours of sleep. Someone got into the laundry room and took up the washers before opening hours. I was pretty annoyed. Don't make people mad at 7 a.m. on a Saturday. They will retaliate. Just saying, my clothes were washed and dried by 8:00, their stuff was not...

Yoga was nice. It was a slower pace and a nice way to ease into things. I had coffee with a good friend afterward. We had a really good talk about things that I usually don't get to talk about with my other friends. This girl is awesome because she is healthy, balanced, level-headed, and works hard, but she definitely knows how to rock out and have a good time. We used to work together and slowly became good friends. I know her family, help out with her dog, sympathize with her work stories (what a nightmare - so glad I got out of there),and cheer on the Crew beside her despite the wind/rain/snow/cold. She falls into the category of a new friend that feels like an old one. She is always encouraging me to take advantage of my age and freedom, and I might listen this time.

I had tea with another friend and enjoyed another good, long conversation (and a new robin's egg blue tea kettle!). A single friend joined me for the evening and we watched two movies and ate ice cream (cliche, wonderful). There were couple in the ice cream shop, huddled in a whispering. We walked out every so proudly, ice cream in hand, proud to be a part of balancing the social universe. So, for a Valentine's Day that could have been spent in dripping cynicism, I feel like today was actually a really good day shared with close friends. I am about to crash for about six hours and start another busy day. Steph, let's discuss that vacation and forget about waiting until I get that other job...

*Side note: The lightbulb came on in the middle of the morning after seeing
The Wrestler. I won't give any details, but I think it is a brilliant movie. Part of its brilliance is that the people who would gain the most from catching on to what it's about, never will.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Lots of messed up hearts everywhere

My plans for sleep went right out the window when I found myself awake at 12:20 last night. Here I am, Friday night, almost midnight again, and every intention of getting up 6:30 in the a.m.

The last two days have been marred with Doctor phone calls, visits, research, and forms. So help me if I have to wear one of those paper gown/shirt/nightmares again anytime soon. You say the words "chest pain" and everyone freaks out. One receptionist refused to talk to me and told me to go to the E.R. right away. Another nurse got on the phone and freaked out. I would think that if she was really concerned about me having a heart attack, she should try to avoid upsetting me. No one would listen when I tried to explain that my chest pain *might* be from the intense upper body workout I do at least five times a week. I finally got an appointment today with some very calm, nice people. Several theories, one conversation with a friend, and one heart test later, I believe that I have inflamed cartilage in my rib cage. Aside from that, I seem to be in nearly perfect health, and that feels pretty awesome. Oh, and I could not ignore the irony of having my heart checked, by Dr. Fate, the day before Valentine's Day...

I went to see The Wrestler tonight and I was pretty impressed. I cringed through half of the movie, but I'm still glad I saw it. It wasn't nice, pretty, easy, or happy. It was honest, and ugly, and pretty depressingly real. It's still sinking in, but I have a feeling more entries will mention this movie.

There is more to write, but it's going to have to wait. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and let's be honest: it will inspire enough sarcasm and social observation for several entries. Now, to bed!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Shared

Today was my "day off". I still work all day, I just don't have any set meetings or scheduled events. I have two of these days every week. I woke up in a state of near bliss at about 7:30 (this is sleeping in in my world). I had plans of a visit to the library, Starbucks, and then a full afternoon/evening of working until my group viewing of The Office and 30 Rock.

A slight delay in getting the day started caused me to leave about two hours later. Still, it was an enjoyable day. A blogger that I follow does "A Day in the Life" entries and I think I might do this sometime, because I think it's always interesting to see how different our lives are. People practically swoon when I say that I started work at noon, but they don't realize that I also worked until 11:00 the night before. While they were getting paid to surf the internet at work, I was reading books on XHTML and how to do taxes as a small business (I'm not kidding, I actually fell asleep).

I turned off my cable this week. It was hard to justify paying $30/month to watch two hours of TV a week. I have yet to miss it. My friend and I were talking to a girl one night when the subject of television shows came up. My friend and I both mentioned that we didn't have cable and didn't really watch TV. The girl got this incredibly serious, confused look on her face, looked at both of us, and said, "But. Like. What do you do?" We tried to explain that we painted, or spent time downtown, or did quite a few other things, but her expression and confusion never changed. It was one of the most priceless moments I've had in a while.

I think my neighbor justifiably hates me. We have very thin walls, so I hear his phone conversations and snoring and he hears my conversations and music. This means that he hears my hip-hop when I get ready in the mornings. I really do feel bad for him because I have some really guilty pleasure songs (um, hey Britney) and he has to put up with those. For instance, tonight he was greeted with: Beastie Boys, Beth Orton, Britney Spears, Fionna Apple and currently, Lykke Li. There could be worse things to put up with, and I think we both spare a little grace.

Part of my day consisted of taking care of a friend's dog (Cleo). When I got to the house, she was napping and was all sleepy and floppy. I took her outside and it was really windy, so she faced the wind and her ears were blowing behind her. Next goal: to find an apartment that will allow me to have my dog back!

It's go time. Have a wonderful (colder, less windy) night!


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Showers


I've started a new trend: sleeping. I don't know how long this will last, but this week has been nice. With more work rolling in and more stuff to work on, I miss the energy deprived adrenaline rushes, but I like the mornings a little more and find most things to be a little less painful. I have also found that a heating pad works wonders for getting me to sleep!

I had Interview No.001 yesterday. It was the first job I've applied to so far, so no complaints there. It's nice to go in and be qualified, as opposed to my first round of unemployment when I had 9 months of experience. The girl who interviewed me was cool, the hours would be awesome, and it seems like it could be a good gig. Now begins Waiting No.001.

Getting ready for my interview, I had to laugh. I had a whole outfit planned and decided that I didn't like it - as I was walking out the door. The problem with having "fun" wardrobe items is that sometimes, the basics get left out. I didn't have a single pair of desperately needed plain black tights, but I had the striped ones, the floral pattered ones, the ones with the pattern I can't describe, and oh yeah, the gold ones (*note: I don't know if I've worn a single pair of any of these*). So, tights are being thrown, skirts are piling up on the bed, shoes are spilling out of boxes, and I should have left 20 minutes earlier. In the end, I made it to my appointment 15 minutes early and in pants.

Today is the last yoga class for the week. These days are so bittersweet - I know the rest is probably good for my body, but I also know that by tomorrow afternoon I'll be pacing the room. Last night's class was amazing, and it actually beat out Sunday in the amount of sweat. I know, gross, but awesome. I'm taking about three showers a day now (don't tell me I'm killing Mother Earth - my shower doesn't have hot water for more than 10 minutes).I drink more water now than I ever have and I feel pretty awesome! Oh, and shoulder injuries seem to have disappeared. Holla!

Well, time to start the work portion of the day. Hold on out there - it is, in fact, going to be a rather blustery day.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Wait, did she just text? Can she even spell?

I realize that we were all kids once, and that all parents make mistakes, and that we usually turn out, at the very least, socially acceptable, but I am concerned about future adults.

I just went down to do some laundry (I feel like I do laundry all.the.time) and there was some little kid with just a t-shirt on. The woman he was with made some comment about he was probably a little cold, but probably didn't mind. Then she goes, "Yeah, we're potty training him, so we don't put pants on him much anymore." I never know what to say to stuff like that, so I did the awkward laugh and some generic "yeah" comment. What I really wanted to say was that if he had to go now, our hallway was going to share in the potty training experience, and no one wanted that.

The other night in the movie theater, I sat by a little girl who was maybe 5 years old and she had a cell phone that was nicer than mine. Why does a 5 year old need a cell phone? Anybody?

I spent both days this weekend at Easton, and it almost convinced me to not have kids. For those outside the Columbus area, Easton is an upscale, outside shopping area based on European malls. It's amazing for people watching. Both days I saw groups of tween girls running (literally) around in short shorts (still February in Ohio, folks), arms loaded with bags from expensive stores, giggling and screaming. I walked out of Victoria's Secret because there were more tweens and teens in there looking at lingerie than women and it kind of grossed me out. I'm all about being young and having fun, but I also understand that there have to be limits. Just because your kid is 12 and wants to be sexy or free, doesn't mean she should be. Maybe parents should let their kids be kids just a little bit longer. Just a thought.

It made me not want to have kids because my kids would have to be friends with these kids, and then I would have to be friends with their parents, and I have a hard time believing that would happen. I have this idealistic plan where my kids will have tents made out of blankets, tons of crayons everywhere, and lots of time playing outside. In short, a simple and happy childhood, where technology and toys don't take away the years of magic that kids only get for a little bit of time. I don't understand the parents that have kids and then pawn them off on nannies, malls, and school events. Why bother? Everyone just ends up being really screwed up. One of my best friends has no plans of having kids and I kind of admire that because she's being honest and realistic - more people should take note.

And
forthelove, put pants on your child in public (regardless of their age). Thank you.


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Packin' the heat

The last two days have been close to blissful. I've taken a break and lived like the average working person, taking the weekend off. It's been a weekend of both resting and repairing on all levels, and it's been really nice.

Last night I got more than eight hours of sleep, and it was almost life changing. I don't even know the last time I slept that well. I think my body just needed the rest more than I thought, so it really crashed hard. I daresay, I was annoyingly cheerful today. My friends are always telling me to sleep more and I might take them up on it more now...


Yoga was amazing this weekend. I'm practically antsy by the time Friday rolls around because there are two days a week when I don't have class. Today's class was the warmest yet (about 90, I think) and I honestly don't think I've sweat that much in my life. It was disgusting and great at the same time. I came home and drank three huge glasses of water right away, enjoyed a dinner with chicken and lots of greens, and then savored a warm shower. I am learning that there is an art to taking the routine things of life and really making them amazing. Everyone should learn this at some point.


The week ahead is busy. Lots of work to do, an interview, starting my yoga certification, doing my taxes, and three more visits for my shoulder. Oh, and Valentine's Day. Last year a group of us single girls went to dinner and then went to see Vampire Weekend. The defining moment of the concert was when the guy in front of us leaned over to his friend and said, "Dude, like this totally makes me want to go back and
watch High School Musical 2 again!" Let's just hope that this year is better. On my calendar, the day currently looks like this:



Have a great start to the week and enjoy the amazing, beautiful, warm weather!


Saturday, February 7, 2009

Speechless is fine

Ice pack on shoulder, warm tea (green yerba matte + vanilla + milk) in hand, I am in the midst of much needed Saturday/day off. Yoga was great today, and I'm feeling pretty good about the cloudy 50 degrees outside. I love cloudy days so much, and this makes me even more excited about the cloudy spring and summer days just around the corner.

Last night I went to see Coraline and I have to say, I am completely impressed. If you are a fan of Tim Burton, or things that are dark and odd, go see this movie! The animation is great, the visuals are amazing, and despite a few slow spots/awkward dialogue, it holds your attention without a problem. I don't even want to give you more info because there is a lot of shock factor that needs to be preserved. All that said, I wouldn't take kids to this one. Also, you may not want to go with graphic designers. My friend and I were discussing the great font in the main title and the artwork (those posters!) throughout the movie.

I was reading this post earlier (thanks Katie!) and nodding my head in agreement almost the whole time (not literally, that would be really weird). I read this same post about six months ago and thought it all sounded so wonderful, so intense. Well, it is and it isn't. My favorite thing anyone says is that sleeping becomes a luxury rather than a habit. I usually fall into bed, so thankful to be there rather the the normal "maybe if I watch a movie I can fall asleep" routine. I'm finding that routines can be very dangerous things.

Speaking of sleep...At about 3 a.m. I heard someone talking really loudly. It wasn't my neighbor (thin walls), so I started looking around outside. Let me point out that I had only been asleep for about two hours at this point. Some guy was standing outside on his cell phone, begging his "baby" to come pick him up. He "didn't care if he was acting like a heartbroken 15 year-old, because his pain was real." He just kept talking about how it hurt, and how he needed her to come get him. That's charming and all, but not outside my window at 3 a.m. He drove away after 15 minutes, and while that should have made me feel better, I can't imagine that he was in a great condition to be driving around.

I wanted character where I lived, I got it.

Have a great Saturday and enjoy all 50 of those degrees!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

It's like crack, baby

It's just after 10:30 a.m. and I have worked four hours already. Yesterday was the opposite - I worked from 4 p.m until a little after 10. Making my own schedule definitely has its perks.

I've had a week of appointments, trying to take advantage of my insurance while I have it. So far, I am in perfect working order. My teeth are all fine, all tests came back normal, and today, I am having my shoulder checked out. There was a hair appointment in there, too, but that was less about insurance and more about "I need a haircut now!" Haircuts are never just haircuts. I love, love, love my stylist. I've gone to her for close to three years, so she knows all of the quirks of my hair (and me). I went in with every intention of chopping it all off, but she talked me into being patient and keeping the length. I love the new cut, too. So, if you need a place to go, lemme know.

I've also been yoga every day (five days a week) and it has been a lifesaver. It's an addiction. I think my friends are tired of hearing about it. Dark, sweaty, intense, hot, great music - I feel amazing afterward. It has been the one thing through the years that I have never gotten tired of and have always just really loved. Finally, after all of that time, it looks like I might finally be getting my certification to teach! I'm so, so excited and so thankful for the person who is helping me get there.

More later, but for now, I have more forms to fill out. I feel like I have filled out more forms and applications in the past week than in my entire life (What is the zip code of the first home I lived in as a child? How many credit hours did I achieve in high school? What?). I'm going to leave you with this video. Why didn't my dentist give me whatever this kid got?! Oh, and he is going to hate his father in about five years...




Monday, February 2, 2009

Three winners, and I always lose

Over the past few years, I have been through a lot of interviews. I believe my previous lay-off sent me through 20 over the course of five months. It would always get down to me and one other person, meaning I might go back to the same company two or three times. Every time, the guy (literally, a man, every time) with more experience got the job. To keep myself from getting terribly depressed, I started ranking my interviews. My favorite catagory was most awkward. I had two winners:

1: The guy who showed me the Will Ferrel/cussing baby video during the interview. If a video falls under the NSFW catagory, I would imagine that will also apply to interviews. So, there I was, in my carefully planned outfit, holding my portfolio that I took a lot of time preparing, waiting to discuss a mock-up I spent hours on, and he's showing me some video with a baby dropping f-bombs. I'm pretty sure none of the interview guides talk about that.

2: The horse people. They were awful. They made brochures and booklets for horse breeders in Kentucky. It's a big, multi-million dollar business, if you are unfamiliar (I was. I know nothing about horses). I drove down there (6 hours) on my own time and with my own money. I kid you not, they did not smile once. Not even a hint. They didn't even smile when they said, "We really like working here" or "We really like your work" or "Have a nice drive back." Maybe it was unfair to assume that people who worked on horse brochures would be a bit more cheery? I felt very okay about not getting that one.

This weekend added one more to that list. At this stage, I consider them less awkward and more amusing. You just have to laugh and enjoy the moment for what it is. That said, I present No.3:

The interview was cool. Nice guy, a photographer who is leading a pretty exciting project. We had gone over my work, and his work, and the project details. Near the end of the interview, Mr. Man got quiet and kind of looked at me. He started of with, "I'm not being weird, but...", and then silence. I glance over at his assistant, who glanced over at me. " You look just like my ex-girlfriend, and her name was A* too".

Oh. Uh. Hmm.

His assistant asks him if he has any photos, and Mr. Man runs back to his studio. He yells back that he is trying to find one where "she has some clothes on" (remember, he's a professional photographer). We go back and I did, in fact, look very much like said girlfriend (who was clothed). They looked back and forth for a few minutes and I wondered how this effected my chances at the design work. Props to Mr. Man and the assistant, because it technically could have been more awkward given the circumstances. What are the odds?


Enjoy your day and all of the strange, funny, awkward, memorable moments that happen along the way.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

"R", as in Romeo

Today the first time it got above freezing in weeks, and everything was melting and running. In my excitement, I opened my windows for a while and let some fresh air into my apartment. I think it says a lot when "above freezing" translates into "it's warm!". I'll just be happy when I can go somewhere without my jeans, shoes, socks, and feet all being wet and/or salty.

My adventures in freelancing continued right into the weekend. I got about three hours of sleep on Friday, went to yoga, and then came back to work more/go to a meeting/work some more/buy a printer/work some more on Saturday. I don't think I slept on Saturday - I think I collapsed into bed and actually fell into a coma (which lasted right through that alarm).


Setting my printer up on my wireless network took a bit longer than expected. It ended up crashing my network, which crashed my modem. I spent an hour on the phone with tech support. I'm all about diversity, but I have to say that tech support with heavy Indian accents does complicate things a bit. During my time on the line with "Kevin", I also managed to free the drawstring from the waistband in my favorite sweatpants and pop an entire sheet of bubble wrap. Why do so few things come with bubble wrap these days?

Today I went out and bought some basic office supplies. I've never been so excited about manila folders and printer paper before. I got sweet folders, too: vintage pastels. My little desk area is all set up and I have to say, pretty awesome. Even if the freelance gig doesn't last long, I will have a nice space set up to work in.

Tonight is Super Bowl Sunday and I will be headed off to a party soon. I'll admit it, I'm more excited about The Office coming on after. My favorite Super Bowl is still a few years ago, with Dan and a pregnant Sarah. Those were good times (*Dan: Let's plan a visit soon?*). Tonight will be nice, though. It's kind of like Valentine's Day: even if you don't actively participate, it's nice to take part in the excitement of it all.


Everyone have an awesome night!
 
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