February Saturday

Happy birthday, Cindi!

Good friday night.

Sleeping long and sleeping in, but not too late. Morning La Taza walk.

Painting project with non-toxic paint. More unpacking and settling in.

Snowy and girly evening at home.

Wednesday Thoughts

Have you ever received something that you didn't know you needed until after you'd received it? I kinda feel like that's what we (I) have found in President Obama. Not that we didn't know we needed something new - that's without a doubt - but it's that the particular brand of new that we got seems to be just the right kind of remedy. I'm thinking specifically about his emphasis on personal responsibility, parental responsibility, and service to community.

Garrett, I'm sure, secretly wishes that I'd sit on my couch more often because he gets the best snuggling lap from me then.

Facebook. I'm not sure it does anyone any good. Too much sand, not enough rocks, as they say. But, in lieu of canceling my account all together, I am going to use the "Delete friend" button more often. Because I can.

In touch with all of my nieces this week. Kallie was eating oatmeal with berries (just like her Aunt Cat); 19 year old Adrienne is thinking of buying a house (WTF!?); Sarah and her boy have been dating for nearly 11 months (huge for a 16 year old!).

Fingerscrossed for SMH. And, feel better soon CEH.

Be kind

One of my favorite hang-outs has a quote above the bathroom door of the woman's restroom:

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato

This seems to be an especially relevant reminder these days.

::Sigh::

I was grumpy and negative and not fun to be around today - I didn't even want to be around me today.

Running up the long, steep hill of Druid Avenue can make all your troubles seem far, far away.

I have a piano in my house right now. And, there are two things I know for sure about pianos: 1) it seems creepy to sleep in the same room as a piano. I've probably done it before; every house I lived in for the first 20 years of my life had at least one piano in it. But, for some reason, that was the first thing that popped into my mind when my landlord asked if it was OK to leave this one in my house for a little while. 2) I will always always always be able to play Heart and Soul and Chopsticks on the piano. My fingers will never forget. And, it will always always always be more fun to play those tunes with Susan playing along beside me.

Ravioli, talk with Mom, and Thin Mints at dinner time.

Remembering that sugar helps.

On Soul Mates

People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mate's purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life...

— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia)

A Saturday in February

What a pleasure to teach in City Space this morning!

Lunch and dogs licking kids and happy (gay) couples on the Downtown Mall.

Tea and bread and friend's help unpacking and loving the potential in my new living room!

A spectacular show at Gravity tonight! Ray Suen is indeed a rock star! Devon posts a new song!

Friday. The Thirteenth. Of February.

New house. Great sunrise view from the kitchen window overlooking the park!

Strange series of bizzare-o world events. I'm going to go with Anne Lammott's theory that when bad things happen, they are serving to distract you from interfering with something beautiful that is trying to be born. Yes.

Busy at work & cranking up the Debtor Edu for the next few months.

Still running - I think I'll start planning Sunday long runs, a switch from Saturday.

Did I mention the park!? With the swing set practically in my front yard, and the summer time spray ground!?

In the news

NPR reports that health care, specifically nursing, is still a growing field, despite the downturn in the economy. So is urban planning with a focus on green, clean technology, I might add.

I like Malcolm Gladwell for his keen insight which allows him to draw comparisons between seemingly unrelated ideas, for example between the analysis done by a NFL football scout, and analysis needed to select effective teachers. And, I keep thinking that I'd like to subscribe to the New Yorker. And, I wonder if this article is talking about someone I know... Hmmm...

This is bullshit. I've been ready for months!

Poor Michael Phelps. It just goes to show that you can be talented as all get out and still have bad judgement.

My new home

Sometime in the next week, I'm not sure exactly when, I'll be moving into a new home. In an effort to stay positive, here are some things that I'm looking forward to about it:

A gas stove - haven't had one of those since Italy!

Hardwood floors throughout.

Room for my dining room table.

A big kitchen.

A sun room with a view of the park and Monticello.

Hosting potlucks and parties.

Staying in the 'hood, which means not having to find a new grocery store.

Having less grass to mow, and having a little garden spot.