Some people did this on Facebook, but I decided to do it for my blog instead.
I am grateful for:
Nov 1: Hashem, for making all of this possible.
Nov 2: My husband
Nov 3: My kids
Nov 4: My parents and sister
Nov 5: My friends....both near and far
Nov 6: The fact that my kids got to meet some of their great-grandparents
Nov 7: Having a stable job, no matter how crazy it gets sometimes. I love where I work and what we do for the Jewish community.
Nov 8: The Mindy Project...for being the show to make me laugh the hardest this year.
Nov 9: That even though it's a mad rush to get ready for Shabbat, we get our Saturday nights back for a few months.
Nov 10: That one of my good friends lives close enough that we can meet up from time to time...just hoping it will be more often than not next year!
Nov 11: Every person who has served our Nation in the Armed Forces
Nov 12: My local book club
Nov 13: That my book blog is thriving
Nov 14: That my daughter is obsessed with The Little Mermaid because there could be worse things to be obsessed with (thinking back to my older son's "Wiggles" phase).
Nov 15: All the little things I take for granted.
Nov 16: Friends to visit with on Shabbat
Nov 17: Getting to see a cool new musical before it goes to Broadway.
Nov 18: Being in the right place at the right time, which allowed me to connect with a friend I had only seen around on Facebook up until this year. Now we try to meet for lunch once a month and I enjoy chatting with her!
Nov 19: That I live in a state with a country music station. Not sure how I went without it for two years!
Nov 20: My mother-in-law, for bringing an amazing man into the world...she's the one who raised him to be that way, after all!
Nov 21: Finishing an incredible novel that I only had to wait five years to read!
Nov 22: That we live in such an amazing community. After over four years, I still love living here!
Nov 23: Having a night to myself. I enjoy spending time with my husband after Shabbat, but it's also nice to watch a Nicholas Sparks movie and some Mindy Project episodes without being teased. ;)
Nov 24: Cochlear implants, which are still truly a miracle. They're the reason my daughter was singing "Part of Your World" in the middle of Target.
Nov 25: That I'm feeling better from my cold.
Nov 26: An invigorating and thought provoking seminar at work about gratitude!
Nov 27: That I don't work in retail
Nov 28: That Thanksgiving and Hanukkah will not be together like this again in my lifetime, so experiencing it is quite legen...wait for it...dary.
Nov 29: My mother, who celebrates her birthday today. (I know I mentioned parents earlier, but I also appreciate the relationship my mom and I have. We had a great time bonding during her visit last month and we have a lot of common interests.)
Nov 30: My BFF, who celebrates her birthday today. I wrote this post for her birthday last year.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
You should be watching the Macy's parade....
Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.
This week, Darwin Shrugged chose the topic: Give your opinion on Black Friday starting on Thanksgiving
First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
I wrote about Black Friday last year, but this topic is a bit different.
One thing to be thankful for today is that I don't work in retail. I have today and tomorrow off, and I don't even have to spend my free time at the mall. (Haha...as if...you know how I am spoiled against retail prices!)
I thought the whole concept of Black Friday is that it is on FRIDAY....the day AFTER Thanksgiving. It's a whole day to shop-til'-you-drop! (Unless you observe Shabbat and then you only have half the day, but if you got up at 5 a.m., it's not a big deal.) Not sure when Thanksgiving became about retail and people getting gifts for their loved ones and other treats for themselves a day early, but this nonsense has to stop! It's not like the merchandise is going to disappear if consumers have to wait a day. Stores making their employees miss a day off to spend with family (or just relax after a busy month) is just cruelty. I understand grocery stores being open part of the day for people to get last minute cooking ingredients (because you may be missing the cranberries after all), but it's more for necessity than for retailers to make more money. Like they're not open every other day of the year for people to shop anyway? Is being closed on a NATIONAL HOLIDAY really going to kill their revenue flow? And if you REALLY need to shop on Thanksgiving, why not do it online, from the comfort of your own couch? You won't have to fight the crowds, you can stay in PJs and watch the Macy's parade. And the stores will even ship the items to where you want them to go. Best of all, you'll be allowing retail workers to actually enjoy Thanksgiving.
Have a nice Thanksgiving...but may it only be from the comfort of your couch. If you are a retail worker stuck at the store today, know that your efforts are not going unnoticed and hopefully people will be boycotting stores enough that day so that you never have to go through this annoyance again!
*I just read an article about a Pizza Hut manager who lost his job for refusing to make his employees work on Thanksgiving. I love how he phrased his resignation and I hope he finds a better job soon. Bravo to him for taking a stand against greediness.
*Finally, a retailer who is doing the right thing!
*Sign a pledge to not shop on Thanksgiving.
*I found this posted on Facebook. Someone added a funny, tongue-in-cheek caption to it.
This week, Darwin Shrugged chose the topic: Give your opinion on Black Friday starting on Thanksgiving
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
I wrote about Black Friday last year, but this topic is a bit different.
One thing to be thankful for today is that I don't work in retail. I have today and tomorrow off, and I don't even have to spend my free time at the mall. (Haha...as if...you know how I am spoiled against retail prices!)
I thought the whole concept of Black Friday is that it is on FRIDAY....the day AFTER Thanksgiving. It's a whole day to shop-til'-you-drop! (Unless you observe Shabbat and then you only have half the day, but if you got up at 5 a.m., it's not a big deal.) Not sure when Thanksgiving became about retail and people getting gifts for their loved ones and other treats for themselves a day early, but this nonsense has to stop! It's not like the merchandise is going to disappear if consumers have to wait a day. Stores making their employees miss a day off to spend with family (or just relax after a busy month) is just cruelty. I understand grocery stores being open part of the day for people to get last minute cooking ingredients (because you may be missing the cranberries after all), but it's more for necessity than for retailers to make more money. Like they're not open every other day of the year for people to shop anyway? Is being closed on a NATIONAL HOLIDAY really going to kill their revenue flow? And if you REALLY need to shop on Thanksgiving, why not do it online, from the comfort of your own couch? You won't have to fight the crowds, you can stay in PJs and watch the Macy's parade. And the stores will even ship the items to where you want them to go. Best of all, you'll be allowing retail workers to actually enjoy Thanksgiving.
Have a nice Thanksgiving...but may it only be from the comfort of your couch. If you are a retail worker stuck at the store today, know that your efforts are not going unnoticed and hopefully people will be boycotting stores enough that day so that you never have to go through this annoyance again!
*I just read an article about a Pizza Hut manager who lost his job for refusing to make his employees work on Thanksgiving. I love how he phrased his resignation and I hope he finds a better job soon. Bravo to him for taking a stand against greediness.
*Finally, a retailer who is doing the right thing!
*Sign a pledge to not shop on Thanksgiving.
*I found this posted on Facebook. Someone added a funny, tongue-in-cheek caption to it.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
52 Stories: A "Rose" by any other name
Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.
I first met this storyteller in 2010, when I won a book from her blog, Novel Escapes. (It was a Marian Keyes book, no less.) Who would have thought that a few months later, I'd start my own book blog? And when I did, she was very encouraging and supportive. Then we sort of lost track of each other. I'd see her around on Facebook though. When she announced that she had her own novel being published, we reconnected. I enjoyed reading it and also got to feature her at the blog. Of course, I did a standard interview (with a fun twist) at that time. With 52 Stories, I've had the chance to get to know her even better. Hope you will enjoy getting to know her too!
Side note: I am TWO stories away from my goal! Any more I get beyond those will be posted early in the new year, as I want to show that I still appreciate the effort. However, I won't be doing this again next year unless 52 people voluntarily send me stories without me having to ask. Wishful thinking, right?
Name you'd like to go by: Lydia Laceby
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Location: Toronto, Canada
What is an experience that is legendary for you?
Although the event happened so recently, it has to be BookBuzz Toronto and the day after which I spent with a group of incredible authors and one beautiful blogger who braved our writing talk. I’ve never hung out with other writers before and can’t believe how much we didn’t shut up! We couldn’t even stop talking enough to decide what sights to show the out-of-towners, and in the end we didn’t even show them ANYTHING! Except the World’s Biggest Bookstore, of course. I might have even enjoyed our hours of chit chat more than BookBuzz. Shhhh.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Although I don’t do this (much) anymore, I love melting chocolate chips and dipping a spoonful of peanut butter in the chocolatey goodness. Mmmmm. Would you please excuse me for a moment?
What is something you've never done but you would like to do?
I’d like to travel somewhere solo, the more intricate and exotic the better. I’ve never traveled by myself, and although I’d probably be a little freaked out I think the experience would be incredible for a shy, introverted girl like me.
If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why?
This has to be books. I love being a book matchmaker and finding the right book for the right person.
What is something you did that changed someone's life?
Although I may get struck down for being cliché, my debut novel, Redesigning Rose, has struck a chord with early readers. I’ve had the most wonderful feedback from those inspired to pick up a shovel to start a garden, to some recently separated women determined to make something of their torn-apart lives, to another who had come up with an idea and, after reading, really wants to make it a reality. I am honored to have been able to encourage and inspire others and as an author, there really is no better feedback.
What part of your personality is now extinct?
Giving everything for someone, to someone – usually a man – at my own expense. She’s LONG gone now.
What is one thing that you find really funny?
I’m not one to indulge, but some reason I find stoner humour hilarious. I could literally roll on the floor in tears from laughing. The episode of The Big Bang Theory where they’re camping and are offered spiked brownies is my favourite episode ever!
Tell me one thing you love about yourself.
I love that I never tire of learning. I’m always wanting to grow as a person and absorb anything I can from random facts to historical information. If I didn’t have to work I’d spend my days taking classes on subjects that interest me and writing novels. Ah, the dream.
What TV show, book or movie is most like your life?
Right now, as I write this? Doomsday Preppers. My husband just came home from Costco.
*What is something that not many people know about you?
I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I haven’t been public about it and only those close to me know this.
I have struggled with both of these often intertwined illnesses for over fifteen years, the last three of which have been turnaround years. I’m on an upswing, but I’m still petrified every day that it will come back, that I’ll be in daily pain and sleeping for hours on end. Whenever I do too much – which is all the time lately – and become extra tired, debilitating fear creeps in. I wonder if I will always be burdened with this worry. But on the positive side, this fear makes me stop and take a few moments to re-evaluate, to prioritize and regroup. Sometimes all I need is a few moments of quiet, to take some time to myself, to take a day off and rest. Sometimes it really is just a matter of stopping to smell the roses, to be grateful and thankful. And not a day goes by that I’m not.
I haven’t shared this information for many reasons. It’s not that I don’t want to discuss it, or raise awareness, or cheer on those that have it. And it’s not just that I’m very private, which I am. The main reason is that I made a decision years ago that I didn’t want to let the illness define me. I wanted to focus on the positive, on the good days I have. So I try not to think about it or focus on it or even talk about it too much. And yes, this is all much easier now that I don’t struggle with the daily pain - I’m still working on the fatigue. I can often be heard saying how tired I am. I’m still working on that. I’m still a work in progress. And I’m okay with that. As long as I’m moving forward in the right direction, in the most positive and encouraging direction for me.
I first met this storyteller in 2010, when I won a book from her blog, Novel Escapes. (It was a Marian Keyes book, no less.) Who would have thought that a few months later, I'd start my own book blog? And when I did, she was very encouraging and supportive. Then we sort of lost track of each other. I'd see her around on Facebook though. When she announced that she had her own novel being published, we reconnected. I enjoyed reading it and also got to feature her at the blog. Of course, I did a standard interview (with a fun twist) at that time. With 52 Stories, I've had the chance to get to know her even better. Hope you will enjoy getting to know her too!
Side note: I am TWO stories away from my goal! Any more I get beyond those will be posted early in the new year, as I want to show that I still appreciate the effort. However, I won't be doing this again next year unless 52 people voluntarily send me stories without me having to ask. Wishful thinking, right?
Name you'd like to go by: Lydia Laceby
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Location: Toronto, Canada
What is an experience that is legendary for you?
Although the event happened so recently, it has to be BookBuzz Toronto and the day after which I spent with a group of incredible authors and one beautiful blogger who braved our writing talk. I’ve never hung out with other writers before and can’t believe how much we didn’t shut up! We couldn’t even stop talking enough to decide what sights to show the out-of-towners, and in the end we didn’t even show them ANYTHING! Except the World’s Biggest Bookstore, of course. I might have even enjoyed our hours of chit chat more than BookBuzz. Shhhh.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Although I don’t do this (much) anymore, I love melting chocolate chips and dipping a spoonful of peanut butter in the chocolatey goodness. Mmmmm. Would you please excuse me for a moment?
What is something you've never done but you would like to do?
I’d like to travel somewhere solo, the more intricate and exotic the better. I’ve never traveled by myself, and although I’d probably be a little freaked out I think the experience would be incredible for a shy, introverted girl like me.
If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why?
This has to be books. I love being a book matchmaker and finding the right book for the right person.
What is something you did that changed someone's life?
Although I may get struck down for being cliché, my debut novel, Redesigning Rose, has struck a chord with early readers. I’ve had the most wonderful feedback from those inspired to pick up a shovel to start a garden, to some recently separated women determined to make something of their torn-apart lives, to another who had come up with an idea and, after reading, really wants to make it a reality. I am honored to have been able to encourage and inspire others and as an author, there really is no better feedback.
What part of your personality is now extinct?
Giving everything for someone, to someone – usually a man – at my own expense. She’s LONG gone now.
What is one thing that you find really funny?
I’m not one to indulge, but some reason I find stoner humour hilarious. I could literally roll on the floor in tears from laughing. The episode of The Big Bang Theory where they’re camping and are offered spiked brownies is my favourite episode ever!
Tell me one thing you love about yourself.
I love that I never tire of learning. I’m always wanting to grow as a person and absorb anything I can from random facts to historical information. If I didn’t have to work I’d spend my days taking classes on subjects that interest me and writing novels. Ah, the dream.
What TV show, book or movie is most like your life?
Right now, as I write this? Doomsday Preppers. My husband just came home from Costco.
*What is something that not many people know about you?
I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I haven’t been public about it and only those close to me know this.
I have struggled with both of these often intertwined illnesses for over fifteen years, the last three of which have been turnaround years. I’m on an upswing, but I’m still petrified every day that it will come back, that I’ll be in daily pain and sleeping for hours on end. Whenever I do too much – which is all the time lately – and become extra tired, debilitating fear creeps in. I wonder if I will always be burdened with this worry. But on the positive side, this fear makes me stop and take a few moments to re-evaluate, to prioritize and regroup. Sometimes all I need is a few moments of quiet, to take some time to myself, to take a day off and rest. Sometimes it really is just a matter of stopping to smell the roses, to be grateful and thankful. And not a day goes by that I’m not.
I haven’t shared this information for many reasons. It’s not that I don’t want to discuss it, or raise awareness, or cheer on those that have it. And it’s not just that I’m very private, which I am. The main reason is that I made a decision years ago that I didn’t want to let the illness define me. I wanted to focus on the positive, on the good days I have. So I try not to think about it or focus on it or even talk about it too much. And yes, this is all much easier now that I don’t struggle with the daily pain - I’m still working on the fatigue. I can often be heard saying how tired I am. I’m still working on that. I’m still a work in progress. And I’m okay with that. As long as I’m moving forward in the right direction, in the most positive and encouraging direction for me.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Book Review: We Are Water
We Are Water is a disquieting and ultimately uplifting novel about a marriage, a family, and human resilience in the face of tragedy.
After 27 years of marriage and three children, Annie Oh—wife, mother, outsider artist—has fallen in love with Viveca, the wealthy Manhattan art dealer who orchestrated her success. They plan to wed in the Oh family’s hometown of Three Rivers in Connecticut. But the wedding provokes some very mixed reactions and opens a Pandora’s Box of toxic secrets—dark and painful truths that have festered below the surface of the Ohs’ lives.
We Are Water is a layered portrait of marriage, family, and the inexorable need for understanding and connection, told in the alternating voices of the Ohs—nonconformist, Annie; her ex-husband, Orion, a psychologist; Ariane, the do-gooder daughter, and her twin, Andrew, the rebellious only son; and free-spirited Marissa, the youngest. It is also a portrait of modern America, exploring issues of class, changing social mores, the legacy of racial violence, and the nature of creativity and art. (Synopsis adapted from Amazon.)
Have you ever had a really good workout that manages to exhilarate and wear you out while also giving you an increased endorphin level? That's how it felt to read We Are Water. I was taken on this emotional roller coaster throughout, never knowing if I should be sympathizing with someone or resenting them. The constant in this story is Orion. I liked reading his parts the most and he was definitely my favorite character, even when he did something really stupid to destroy his career. I felt like he was the closest to Wally Lamb's personality. Like I could sit down with either of them and tell them my life story or whatever else was on my mind and they'd just listen and I'd feel so much better when I was done. I could tell that Orion was a really good dad to his kids, even if he wasn't around as much during their youth. They just respected and trusted him and that spoke volumes.
I don't want to say what happens throughout the novel or why things unfold the way they do. All I can tell you is that Wally's storytelling talent is evident and he weaves characters in and out of chapters in perfect harmony with the themes and messages. The dialogue is realistic and it is easy to visualize people and places. He got my adrenaline going quite a few times, which is why I compared it to a workout. He knows how to pack an incredible punch.
What didn't always work so well was when chapters ended abruptly (almost like the next chapter is interrupting the previous one). I also felt like the ages were hard to conceptualize. I am obsessive about age and time in a story and I had to keep doing the math to see if things made sense. I know the story is supposed to take place around 2008-2009, so maybe that threw me off a bit, as I kept thinking in terms of the present day. I noticed a glaring detail error at one point, but I'll be interested to see if anyone else picks up on that.
I wish Wally had made this another 900 page novel, as I would have loved to spend another week with it. I would have wanted more of Marissa's perspective. And it would have been interesting to learn about Viveca from her point of view. I'll warn you that there are some very heavy parts in this story and a lot of graphic language. It makes me wish I had met Wally in person long after I read it so I wouldn't have to associate such a nice man with these things. It's more on par with She's Come Undone in terms of how disturbing it could be at times. However, I never wanted to put it down. (Of course, life--and sleep--got in the way of that!)
Overall, We are Water is intelligent, heartfelt and thought-provoking. I have a feeling it will be staying with me for a long time to come. I just hope Wally doesn't wait as long to write his next novel. I don't know that I can wait another five years. Thankfully, I recently obtained Wishin' and Hopin'. I don't normally read Christmas stories, but I'll make an exception for Wally.
As with any novel I read, I'm always casting it in my head. It was difficult to cast this one, even with the pictures I had going in my mind of how everyone should look. Some ideas just came to me though....
Annie (adult): Melora Walters (I had Julianne Moore in mind for a while and then Felicity Huffman. I was listening to the Magnolia soundtrack recently and immediately flashed back to the image of Melora Walters in that movie. A perfect Annie!)
Kent (adult): Steve Buscemi (Again, this just came to me when I started to get images of Kent in my mind. Steve Buscemi has the perfect blend of charming and creepy to pull it off.)
Orion (adult): Steve Carell (Annie says that Orion looks like James Farentino. I looked him up on IMDB and he reminded me of Steve Carell. Then I remembered that Steve Carell played a psychologist in Hope Springs and he also does really great work in serious roles. Voila!)
The rest can be played by unknown actors, as it might make a movie version seem even more genuine (of course, it would have to be "watered" down a lot because I don't know how comfortable I'd be seeing certain scenes on the big screen).
Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Indecision
Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.
This week, Froggie chose the topic: Indecision
First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
"You know what your decision is, which is not to decide."--Cinderella, Into the Woods
"Go ahead, make your choice!"--Ursula, The Little Mermaid
"To be, or not to be, that is the question:"--Hamlet
"Should I stay or should I go?"--The Clash
Ironically enough, I've had a really hard time deciding what to write about for this week's post. I first thought I should write about a time when I had trouble making a decision. However, I couldn't really think of a time off the top of my head. Then I thought I should collect quotes like the four above. I lost the motivation to do that after a while. So I'm just writing about what comes to mind. I am dealing with a cold at the moment, so if I sound like I'm not making any sense, that's probably why! I am still on the fence between writing this post now and watching an episode of The Mindy Project. If I watch one episode, I'll have to watch another afterward and then I won't get much done at all! (It's kind of like the effect of giving a mouse a cookie, or a moose a muffin.)
I saw a new musical this past weekend called If/Then. It's a Sliding Doors type of story where you see how one woman's life could go in two different directions, based on a choice she makes. I don't want to say too much without spoiling it though. All I can say is that even throughout each path of this woman's life, there are still other times when she has to make huge decisions based on how they will impact her life. Should she trust the guy she's dating? Should she take a job that will take her career to new heights? Should she help her friend's cause at the risk of her job? As she makes each decision, she's taken on even more paths in each version of her life. There's a song in the musical that talks about looking back on life and wondering "what if?" I'm sure we all do that. We wonder how our lives would be different if we chose even one thing differently. Would we end up in the same place we are now or would our lives take drastic turns in another direction entirely? A few years ago (oddly enough, on my younger son's birthday), I gave a lot of thought to this question. This is what I came up with.
Along similar lines, I read a novel recently called The Theory of Opposites, by Allison Winn Scotch. I talked about the concepts in my review. It's basically about a woman who tries to defy her father's theory that everything happens because it is meant to be. She tests this out by taking dares from her best friend to see if they affect the path her life is destined to be on. Again, I don't want to spoil things. It just makes me think that even if we decide something, how much else about our life is within our control? Is there an outside force propelling us to choose one path over another?
In the first quote I shared, Cinderella is stuck to the steps of the palace when the prince tries to keep her from running away by pouring a sticky substance there. However, she finds a way out of it and manages to put the decision in his hands. ("You just leave him a clue. For example, a shoe. And then see what he'll do...") Even so, she still made a decision...by choosing to leave the shoe behind instead of taking both with her and getting out of there altogether. It goes to show that deciding not to decide is still a decision. Oh, you know what I mean!
I think I'm starting to ramble now, so I'll leave you with this thought...
If it comes down to making a difficult decision, I find it best to go with your instincts. Even if you have some regrets in the end, you know you made the decision that felt truly right for you. And who knows where that decision may lead in the future? There are so many possibilities down each path you choose to explore!
This week, Froggie chose the topic: Indecision
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
"You know what your decision is, which is not to decide."--Cinderella, Into the Woods
"Go ahead, make your choice!"--Ursula, The Little Mermaid
"To be, or not to be, that is the question:"--Hamlet
"Should I stay or should I go?"--The Clash
Ironically enough, I've had a really hard time deciding what to write about for this week's post. I first thought I should write about a time when I had trouble making a decision. However, I couldn't really think of a time off the top of my head. Then I thought I should collect quotes like the four above. I lost the motivation to do that after a while. So I'm just writing about what comes to mind. I am dealing with a cold at the moment, so if I sound like I'm not making any sense, that's probably why! I am still on the fence between writing this post now and watching an episode of The Mindy Project. If I watch one episode, I'll have to watch another afterward and then I won't get much done at all! (It's kind of like the effect of giving a mouse a cookie, or a moose a muffin.)
I saw a new musical this past weekend called If/Then. It's a Sliding Doors type of story where you see how one woman's life could go in two different directions, based on a choice she makes. I don't want to say too much without spoiling it though. All I can say is that even throughout each path of this woman's life, there are still other times when she has to make huge decisions based on how they will impact her life. Should she trust the guy she's dating? Should she take a job that will take her career to new heights? Should she help her friend's cause at the risk of her job? As she makes each decision, she's taken on even more paths in each version of her life. There's a song in the musical that talks about looking back on life and wondering "what if?" I'm sure we all do that. We wonder how our lives would be different if we chose even one thing differently. Would we end up in the same place we are now or would our lives take drastic turns in another direction entirely? A few years ago (oddly enough, on my younger son's birthday), I gave a lot of thought to this question. This is what I came up with.
Along similar lines, I read a novel recently called The Theory of Opposites, by Allison Winn Scotch. I talked about the concepts in my review. It's basically about a woman who tries to defy her father's theory that everything happens because it is meant to be. She tests this out by taking dares from her best friend to see if they affect the path her life is destined to be on. Again, I don't want to spoil things. It just makes me think that even if we decide something, how much else about our life is within our control? Is there an outside force propelling us to choose one path over another?
In the first quote I shared, Cinderella is stuck to the steps of the palace when the prince tries to keep her from running away by pouring a sticky substance there. However, she finds a way out of it and manages to put the decision in his hands. ("You just leave him a clue. For example, a shoe. And then see what he'll do...") Even so, she still made a decision...by choosing to leave the shoe behind instead of taking both with her and getting out of there altogether. It goes to show that deciding not to decide is still a decision. Oh, you know what I mean!
I think I'm starting to ramble now, so I'll leave you with this thought...
If it comes down to making a difficult decision, I find it best to go with your instincts. Even if you have some regrets in the end, you know you made the decision that felt truly right for you. And who knows where that decision may lead in the future? There are so many possibilities down each path you choose to explore!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
52 Stories: Hello...McFly!
Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.
I've known this week's storyteller for a long time. We met when I was in college and stayed in contact even after moving to different parts of the country. The last time we hung out was in the summer of 2001, when he was back in Chicago for something to do with his job. A while back, he married a woman with whom I've become close friends, even though we've never met in person. I hope we all get to meet up someday, as I think he and my husband would get along well too. Today, he's answering my question about something people don't know about him.
Name: Kevin
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Location: Omaha, NE
It was a cold, dreary day in January the first time I time traveled. I won’t ever forget that day, because I can’t. That’s part of how this works. I was on a school bus heading towards school, head buried in headphones, while my Walkman pumped out Sly Fox’s “Let’s Go All the Way” through big, orange headphones. I looked out the opaque window of the bus and tried to imagine myself anywhere but here. Maybe someplace warm. Arizona. I just knew, as I sat in those green over-sized seats on that bus with no heat, I wasn’t happy where I was at the moment. I hadn’t realized it then, but that’s when my time traveling had started.
I don’t really travel in time, of course. That’s just what I’ve taken to calling it. It’s more of a visualization. When I’m in a situation in my life that I’m not particularly happy with, I try to see myself where I want to be. In that moment, I wanted to be off that bus and somewhere warm. There’s more to time traveling than just picturing myself somewhere else, or in a different situation though. In order to “time travel,” you have to be that future self you’re trying to connect with. Sometime in the future, I have to connect with myself in the past. I have to remember that point in my life, and look back on my past self and say “I’m someplace warm now. Everything is a lot better. You made it through.”
The time traveling has brought me a lot of solace in my life. When I’ve had a stressful time at work, when I was going through my divorce, any time I’ve felt like I just can’t take it anymore, I’ll look up at the sky and say “Hey future self, I’m going to make it through this, right? It’s going to get better and all work out in the end, isn’t it?” When I do that, I gain strength from my future self, and it gives me the resolve to make it through my tough time. Then, at some point in the future, when I catch myself thinking “Wow, things are really nice right now, I’m pretty happy,” I’ll look up into the sky, and think about all those times in the past. I’ll connect with myself in the past and I’ll say “Yes past self. Things worked out ok, and life is pretty good right now.” I give my past self the strength he needs to move forward. It was a warm, beautiful day on a beach in Mexico - my honeymoon - the last time I connected with that cold boy on the bus. I’m pretty sure he felt that warm sun on his face in the past, just as much as I did at the time.
My name is Kevin, and I’m a time traveler.
I've known this week's storyteller for a long time. We met when I was in college and stayed in contact even after moving to different parts of the country. The last time we hung out was in the summer of 2001, when he was back in Chicago for something to do with his job. A while back, he married a woman with whom I've become close friends, even though we've never met in person. I hope we all get to meet up someday, as I think he and my husband would get along well too. Today, he's answering my question about something people don't know about him.
Name: Kevin
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Location: Omaha, NE
It was a cold, dreary day in January the first time I time traveled. I won’t ever forget that day, because I can’t. That’s part of how this works. I was on a school bus heading towards school, head buried in headphones, while my Walkman pumped out Sly Fox’s “Let’s Go All the Way” through big, orange headphones. I looked out the opaque window of the bus and tried to imagine myself anywhere but here. Maybe someplace warm. Arizona. I just knew, as I sat in those green over-sized seats on that bus with no heat, I wasn’t happy where I was at the moment. I hadn’t realized it then, but that’s when my time traveling had started.
I don’t really travel in time, of course. That’s just what I’ve taken to calling it. It’s more of a visualization. When I’m in a situation in my life that I’m not particularly happy with, I try to see myself where I want to be. In that moment, I wanted to be off that bus and somewhere warm. There’s more to time traveling than just picturing myself somewhere else, or in a different situation though. In order to “time travel,” you have to be that future self you’re trying to connect with. Sometime in the future, I have to connect with myself in the past. I have to remember that point in my life, and look back on my past self and say “I’m someplace warm now. Everything is a lot better. You made it through.”
The time traveling has brought me a lot of solace in my life. When I’ve had a stressful time at work, when I was going through my divorce, any time I’ve felt like I just can’t take it anymore, I’ll look up at the sky and say “Hey future self, I’m going to make it through this, right? It’s going to get better and all work out in the end, isn’t it?” When I do that, I gain strength from my future self, and it gives me the resolve to make it through my tough time. Then, at some point in the future, when I catch myself thinking “Wow, things are really nice right now, I’m pretty happy,” I’ll look up into the sky, and think about all those times in the past. I’ll connect with myself in the past and I’ll say “Yes past self. Things worked out ok, and life is pretty good right now.” I give my past self the strength he needs to move forward. It was a warm, beautiful day on a beach in Mexico - my honeymoon - the last time I connected with that cold boy on the bus. I’m pretty sure he felt that warm sun on his face in the past, just as much as I did at the time.
My name is Kevin, and I’m a time traveler.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Having a "Me Party"
Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.
This week, I chose the topic...
Tell us what your ideal "Me Day" would be like. Two stipulations apply:
1. You have no responsibilities to anyone today, meaning you don't have to work, be in communication with anyone, do errands/chores, etc.
2. You have an unlimited amount of money that you can spend.
Have fun!!!!
First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
The last few months have been whirlwind busy and crazy stressful. There are times I want to chill out and be as lazy as possible, to counteract the times when I want to do my Jessie Spano "NO TIME" rant. Therefore, I decided that the next best thing would be to fantasize about a "me day." I was inspired by an article on Thought Catalog about things that are more fun when done alone. I tend to be a social creature and love spending time with friends or hanging out on Facebook. However, aside from Shabbat, I feel like I always have to be connected and sometimes I just need to disconnect from everything. Hence the first stipulation.
Believe it or not, my "me day" would be rather simple. Given the second stipulation, I would stay at the poshest hotel imaginable. It would come with one of those spa robes and have a huge bathtub with really good smelling bubbles to pour in. Room service would be unlimited (and there would be a menu with Kosher food that isn't served like on an airplane, but fresh from the kitchen and even better than the non-Kosher offerings). The bed would be huge and extremely comfortable. I'd get to indulge in a nice, long nap and then take advantage of the hotel's spa services, which would include a massage, facial, mani and pedi. Later, I'd soak in the aforementioned bathtub with candlelight and the incredible vocals of Jamie Cullum coming from my iPhone (I'd only have it there for music...and emergencies). I'd also read a novel I'd been wanting to check out but hadn't had the time before. Maybe one of the Jodi Picoult ones I skipped over...
After the bath, I'd curl up in bed wearing the spa robe and a soft pair of slippers, sinking into the myriads of soft pillows and a cozy, fluffy duvet. There I would eat dinner in bed and treat myself to a marathon of my latest favorite guilty pleasure TV show...The Mindy Project. Later, I'd go down to the pool and have another soak...this time in the hot tub. It would be long after families with young kids had already vacated the pool area, so I'd have it to myself.
Then I'd go back to the room and settle down for the night, watching an enjoyable chick flick (perhaps a classic like When Harry Met Sally) before going to sleep.
A girl's got to fantasize every once in a while, right?
This week's topic was brought to you by the Muppets....
This week, I chose the topic...
Tell us what your ideal "Me Day" would be like. Two stipulations apply:
1. You have no responsibilities to anyone today, meaning you don't have to work, be in communication with anyone, do errands/chores, etc.
2. You have an unlimited amount of money that you can spend.
Have fun!!!!
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
The last few months have been whirlwind busy and crazy stressful. There are times I want to chill out and be as lazy as possible, to counteract the times when I want to do my Jessie Spano "NO TIME" rant. Therefore, I decided that the next best thing would be to fantasize about a "me day." I was inspired by an article on Thought Catalog about things that are more fun when done alone. I tend to be a social creature and love spending time with friends or hanging out on Facebook. However, aside from Shabbat, I feel like I always have to be connected and sometimes I just need to disconnect from everything. Hence the first stipulation.
Believe it or not, my "me day" would be rather simple. Given the second stipulation, I would stay at the poshest hotel imaginable. It would come with one of those spa robes and have a huge bathtub with really good smelling bubbles to pour in. Room service would be unlimited (and there would be a menu with Kosher food that isn't served like on an airplane, but fresh from the kitchen and even better than the non-Kosher offerings). The bed would be huge and extremely comfortable. I'd get to indulge in a nice, long nap and then take advantage of the hotel's spa services, which would include a massage, facial, mani and pedi. Later, I'd soak in the aforementioned bathtub with candlelight and the incredible vocals of Jamie Cullum coming from my iPhone (I'd only have it there for music...and emergencies). I'd also read a novel I'd been wanting to check out but hadn't had the time before. Maybe one of the Jodi Picoult ones I skipped over...
After the bath, I'd curl up in bed wearing the spa robe and a soft pair of slippers, sinking into the myriads of soft pillows and a cozy, fluffy duvet. There I would eat dinner in bed and treat myself to a marathon of my latest favorite guilty pleasure TV show...The Mindy Project. Later, I'd go down to the pool and have another soak...this time in the hot tub. It would be long after families with young kids had already vacated the pool area, so I'd have it to myself.
Then I'd go back to the room and settle down for the night, watching an enjoyable chick flick (perhaps a classic like When Harry Met Sally) before going to sleep.
A girl's got to fantasize every once in a while, right?
This week's topic was brought to you by the Muppets....
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
52 Stories: The Name Game
Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.
This week's storyteller is also a book blogger, so we've connected through knowing a lot of the same authors. She's really nice and funny and I've enjoyed learning more about her. Try NOT to laugh while reading this....I dare you!
Name you'd like to go by: First name Julie, last name Valerie. Or, if you really like to party:
Julie, Julie bo-bulie
Banana-fana fo-fulie
Fee-Fi-mo-mulie
JULIE!
Age (or age range): 40-ish. Something. Kinda sorta. Um. Let’s just say I was born in the 1970s. So that would make me 43 on the high end. Oh, dang! I just said it. Okay. FINE. The cat’s out of the bag: I’m 43. *shoulders slump in defeat*
Gender: Pink.
Location: Universe, Milky Way Galaxy, Earth, Northern Hemisphere, North America, America, Mid-Atlantic East Coast, Virginia, Richmond area, cul-du-sac, house, writing/art studio, brown leather office chair that just like the Earth, spins around really, really FAST! Wheeeeeeee!!!
What is an experience that is legendary for you?
While wearing my birthday suit (ah hem) I jumped off an icy dock, through a large hole chiseled through two feet of ice on top of a tributary of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland. December 1995. And I lived to tell about it. Actually, the cold water, followed by having my back slapped over and over again with harvested birch branches was such a shock to my heart and nervous system, that it caused an adrenaline rush to surge through my blood and out my eyeballs. Okay, nothing really happened to my eyeballs, but I couldn’t sleep for four days and four nights and thought, surely, the experience had turned me into a vampire.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I can’t tell. I feel so guilty and I’m too ashamed. But man, oh, man is it AWESOME!!! WooHoo!
What is something you've never done but you would like to do?
I’ve always wanted to homestead for a year in Alaska. Just to see if I could do it. I’d like to arrive at the end of one winter, then prep like a mad woman during the summer, and then see what becomes of me through a long cold winter. I wonder: Could I kill a bear? Do I have it in me? Or at least, if I became hungry enough, could I kill my husband and eat him? I think I could probably read 83 books, write 3.6 novels, knit 27 sweaters or one big arse blanket, and curse the snow in creative ways at least a dozen times each day before lunch. Maybe I’d become so rugged I’d grow a beard and a belly and start wearing suspenders. Probably not? Oh. Well, then. Maybe I’ll pass the time yodeling. Do Alaskans yodel? Probably not.
If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why?
One of my hand-stitched, machine-free quilts. Because the sleeping beneath is good and the dreams you dare to dream really do come true.
What is something you did that changed someone’s life?
I helped a blind man shop. But I didn’t change his life. He changed mine.
What part of your personality is now extinct?
The part that thought it was a good idea to climb out the second-story window of my friend’s house onto the roof. What a mess that was. I got stuck straddling the top of her garage.
What is one thing that you find really funny?
Really funny? Really, really, funny? A little baby kitty stuck up a tree. No, just kidding. Seriously. That’s not funny. What’s funny is TWO little baby kitties stuck up a tree. Now that’s funny! No, seriously. I’m just being silly. Sorry. *clears her throat, taps her lips with her index finger to indicate she’s thinking really, really hard* I know! One thing that’s really funny is TEOTWAWKI! That’s my final answer. If that ever happens, that would be hysterical. Just hysterical! Really. It would be, just, um. So funny. (Confused? You might want to Google it.)
Tell me one thing you love about yourself:
I love that I’m a child of God. Can’t get better than that because He’s pretty cool and I’m a huge fan.
What TV show, book or movie is most like your life?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Only, I’m the wimpy kid’s wimpy mom. That’s sort of the concept behind the book I am writing. Humorous mom lit. About a horrible, no good, very bad, epic fail of a mom struggling to survive the competitive mom world inside the prestigious gates of Pimm’s Academy. Imagine Bridget Jones reluctantly serving a school year in the PTA. Chapter one closes with a mom wrestling a three-foot long Chinese green water lizard while riled up, chirping crickets surround her ankles. Hey, it could happen. She was setting up for the science fair and dropped the lizard cage. This shitake happens to moms ALL THE TIME.
What is something that not many people know about you?
Hands down, in my personal life, most people do not know that I’m a writer, that I’m almost finished with my first book, and that I have a book blog. I’ve been told I “write funny emails” but whenever someone tells me I should write a book, I always laugh it off or stare at them like a deer caught in headlights. (Cliché!) I typically change the subject and ask them something random and awkward like what’s their favorite song - can they hum a few bars - or do they like meat and green peppers in their spaghetti sauce. Seriously, most people who know me in my “real” life, would probably say, “Julie? You mean, Julie, Julie bo-bulie, Banana-fana fo-fulie, Fee-Fi-mo-mulie, JULIE? Her? Oh, sure. I know her. And judging by how she spends all her free time, I’d say she aspires to drive carpools. Or maybe to do some more laundry or defrost chicken breasts. Something like that.” I suppose that (soon) I’ll have to muster up enough confidence to come out of the proverbial closet and confess to the moms in my mom circle that I’ve written a tell-all book about the mom world. BUT IT’S ALL JUST FICTION, LADIES. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. OR ME. PAY NOOOO ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL SATIRE IN THE BOOK. IT’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL LIFE. Oh, gosh. The thought of it makes me so nervous I think I’m about to get sick. Yup! I am. I just threw up a little in my mouth. *gasps* That’s so gross. Oh, gosh. I’m so sorry, Melissa. I’ve ruined your "One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern" campaign with this lousy set of answers. Jumping naked into the Baltic Sea? Yodeling in rural Alaska? TEOTWAWKI?! And you were so nice to invite me to participate and now I’ve ruined it. I’ve just ruined it. Oh, dang! I wish I hadn't told everyone I once got stuck on the roof of my friend's house. *kicks the curb; stubs her toe* OUCH!
This week's storyteller is also a book blogger, so we've connected through knowing a lot of the same authors. She's really nice and funny and I've enjoyed learning more about her. Try NOT to laugh while reading this....I dare you!
Name you'd like to go by: First name Julie, last name Valerie. Or, if you really like to party:
Julie, Julie bo-bulie
Banana-fana fo-fulie
Fee-Fi-mo-mulie
JULIE!
Age (or age range): 40-ish. Something. Kinda sorta. Um. Let’s just say I was born in the 1970s. So that would make me 43 on the high end. Oh, dang! I just said it. Okay. FINE. The cat’s out of the bag: I’m 43. *shoulders slump in defeat*
Gender: Pink.
Location: Universe, Milky Way Galaxy, Earth, Northern Hemisphere, North America, America, Mid-Atlantic East Coast, Virginia, Richmond area, cul-du-sac, house, writing/art studio, brown leather office chair that just like the Earth, spins around really, really FAST! Wheeeeeeee!!!
What is an experience that is legendary for you?
While wearing my birthday suit (ah hem) I jumped off an icy dock, through a large hole chiseled through two feet of ice on top of a tributary of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland. December 1995. And I lived to tell about it. Actually, the cold water, followed by having my back slapped over and over again with harvested birch branches was such a shock to my heart and nervous system, that it caused an adrenaline rush to surge through my blood and out my eyeballs. Okay, nothing really happened to my eyeballs, but I couldn’t sleep for four days and four nights and thought, surely, the experience had turned me into a vampire.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I can’t tell. I feel so guilty and I’m too ashamed. But man, oh, man is it AWESOME!!! WooHoo!
What is something you've never done but you would like to do?
I’ve always wanted to homestead for a year in Alaska. Just to see if I could do it. I’d like to arrive at the end of one winter, then prep like a mad woman during the summer, and then see what becomes of me through a long cold winter. I wonder: Could I kill a bear? Do I have it in me? Or at least, if I became hungry enough, could I kill my husband and eat him? I think I could probably read 83 books, write 3.6 novels, knit 27 sweaters or one big arse blanket, and curse the snow in creative ways at least a dozen times each day before lunch. Maybe I’d become so rugged I’d grow a beard and a belly and start wearing suspenders. Probably not? Oh. Well, then. Maybe I’ll pass the time yodeling. Do Alaskans yodel? Probably not.
If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why?
One of my hand-stitched, machine-free quilts. Because the sleeping beneath is good and the dreams you dare to dream really do come true.
What is something you did that changed someone’s life?
I helped a blind man shop. But I didn’t change his life. He changed mine.
What part of your personality is now extinct?
The part that thought it was a good idea to climb out the second-story window of my friend’s house onto the roof. What a mess that was. I got stuck straddling the top of her garage.
What is one thing that you find really funny?
Really funny? Really, really, funny? A little baby kitty stuck up a tree. No, just kidding. Seriously. That’s not funny. What’s funny is TWO little baby kitties stuck up a tree. Now that’s funny! No, seriously. I’m just being silly. Sorry. *clears her throat, taps her lips with her index finger to indicate she’s thinking really, really hard* I know! One thing that’s really funny is TEOTWAWKI! That’s my final answer. If that ever happens, that would be hysterical. Just hysterical! Really. It would be, just, um. So funny. (Confused? You might want to Google it.)
Tell me one thing you love about yourself:
I love that I’m a child of God. Can’t get better than that because He’s pretty cool and I’m a huge fan.
What TV show, book or movie is most like your life?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Only, I’m the wimpy kid’s wimpy mom. That’s sort of the concept behind the book I am writing. Humorous mom lit. About a horrible, no good, very bad, epic fail of a mom struggling to survive the competitive mom world inside the prestigious gates of Pimm’s Academy. Imagine Bridget Jones reluctantly serving a school year in the PTA. Chapter one closes with a mom wrestling a three-foot long Chinese green water lizard while riled up, chirping crickets surround her ankles. Hey, it could happen. She was setting up for the science fair and dropped the lizard cage. This shitake happens to moms ALL THE TIME.
What is something that not many people know about you?
Hands down, in my personal life, most people do not know that I’m a writer, that I’m almost finished with my first book, and that I have a book blog. I’ve been told I “write funny emails” but whenever someone tells me I should write a book, I always laugh it off or stare at them like a deer caught in headlights. (Cliché!) I typically change the subject and ask them something random and awkward like what’s their favorite song - can they hum a few bars - or do they like meat and green peppers in their spaghetti sauce. Seriously, most people who know me in my “real” life, would probably say, “Julie? You mean, Julie, Julie bo-bulie, Banana-fana fo-fulie, Fee-Fi-mo-mulie, JULIE? Her? Oh, sure. I know her. And judging by how she spends all her free time, I’d say she aspires to drive carpools. Or maybe to do some more laundry or defrost chicken breasts. Something like that.” I suppose that (soon) I’ll have to muster up enough confidence to come out of the proverbial closet and confess to the moms in my mom circle that I’ve written a tell-all book about the mom world. BUT IT’S ALL JUST FICTION, LADIES. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. OR ME. PAY NOOOO ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL SATIRE IN THE BOOK. IT’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL LIFE. Oh, gosh. The thought of it makes me so nervous I think I’m about to get sick. Yup! I am. I just threw up a little in my mouth. *gasps* That’s so gross. Oh, gosh. I’m so sorry, Melissa. I’ve ruined your "One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern" campaign with this lousy set of answers. Jumping naked into the Baltic Sea? Yodeling in rural Alaska? TEOTWAWKI?! And you were so nice to invite me to participate and now I’ve ruined it. I’ve just ruined it. Oh, dang! I wish I hadn't told everyone I once got stuck on the roof of my friend's house. *kicks the curb; stubs her toe* OUCH!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Rolling in the deep....blue sea
Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.
This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: Choose a quote that inspires you. What makes it inspiring?
First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
A few years ago, I was asked to share a favorite quote. I chose "Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor." Since I'm obviously not going to write about that again, I decided to go with another rather simple quote with a lot of meaning behind it. Ready for this?
"Just keep swimming."
Yes, it's as simple as that.
Dory, who can't remember information she's received after only a few minutes (think along the lines of Ten-Second Tom from 50 First Dates) has this as her motto. It's how she gets through the murkiest waters of the ocean and how she inspires Marlin to keep pushing ahead to find Nemo instead of wallowing in self-pity because of a little setback (or two...or three).
I like this quote because it can be applied to everyday life. I sometimes have a hard time staying motivated and some days feel like an abyss of murky water to have to tread through before reaching the clear and easy parts of the ocean. There are the tedious tasks I don't always want to do and I tend to drag my heels when I encounter them. I also go through periods of time when I feel like there's nothing much to look forward to and every day, week or month is an endless sea of the same routine. There are even times I want to just shut everything out and watch The Mindy Project or read an engrossing book (as opposed to actually being productive). I even feel that way about blogging sometimes. (More for the book blog, but sometimes I even have to push myself to get motivated enough to write for this blog.)
At times like this, I try to find little things to look forward to, such as new episodes of favorite TV shows (tonight, Glee is back!), release days of books by authors I really like, plans to see a movie I'm really interested in (I'm really excited to see Frozen soon), sales at Value Village, events at my kids' schools and plans with friends (like my lunch date with a co-worker today). I'm really looking forward to previewing a Broadway show in a few weeks, as Idina Menzel is starring in it. (She'd better be performing on the day I see it or I seriously will wonder what force of nature has a vendetta against me.) It's enough to get me to clean the house for the cleaning service the week before this show.
When I get back into the "I don't really want to put forth a lot of effort" tasks, I get through them by thinking of Dory telling Marlin to "just keep swimming." Who can resist motivational advice from an innocent looking blue fish with Ellen DeGeneres' voice? I know I sure can't! In the meantime, I know that a few years down the road, I can anticipate seeing Finding Dory in theaters. Until then, I leave you with this....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hkn-LSh7es
This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: Choose a quote that inspires you. What makes it inspiring?
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock
A few years ago, I was asked to share a favorite quote. I chose "Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor." Since I'm obviously not going to write about that again, I decided to go with another rather simple quote with a lot of meaning behind it. Ready for this?
"Just keep swimming."
Yes, it's as simple as that.
Dory, who can't remember information she's received after only a few minutes (think along the lines of Ten-Second Tom from 50 First Dates) has this as her motto. It's how she gets through the murkiest waters of the ocean and how she inspires Marlin to keep pushing ahead to find Nemo instead of wallowing in self-pity because of a little setback (or two...or three).
I like this quote because it can be applied to everyday life. I sometimes have a hard time staying motivated and some days feel like an abyss of murky water to have to tread through before reaching the clear and easy parts of the ocean. There are the tedious tasks I don't always want to do and I tend to drag my heels when I encounter them. I also go through periods of time when I feel like there's nothing much to look forward to and every day, week or month is an endless sea of the same routine. There are even times I want to just shut everything out and watch The Mindy Project or read an engrossing book (as opposed to actually being productive). I even feel that way about blogging sometimes. (More for the book blog, but sometimes I even have to push myself to get motivated enough to write for this blog.)
At times like this, I try to find little things to look forward to, such as new episodes of favorite TV shows (tonight, Glee is back!), release days of books by authors I really like, plans to see a movie I'm really interested in (I'm really excited to see Frozen soon), sales at Value Village, events at my kids' schools and plans with friends (like my lunch date with a co-worker today). I'm really looking forward to previewing a Broadway show in a few weeks, as Idina Menzel is starring in it. (She'd better be performing on the day I see it or I seriously will wonder what force of nature has a vendetta against me.) It's enough to get me to clean the house for the cleaning service the week before this show.
When I get back into the "I don't really want to put forth a lot of effort" tasks, I get through them by thinking of Dory telling Marlin to "just keep swimming." Who can resist motivational advice from an innocent looking blue fish with Ellen DeGeneres' voice? I know I sure can't! In the meantime, I know that a few years down the road, I can anticipate seeing Finding Dory in theaters. Until then, I leave you with this....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hkn-LSh7es
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
52 Stories: Her own little library
Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.
I met this week's storyteller through Chick Lit Central, as well. We e-mail on occasion about books and Glee. Motherhood is a topic we've talked about more recently, as well. She's really nice and I'm happy to learn more about her in this way.
Name: Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
There are so many legendary experiences that I have been fortunate to have. Incredible things seem to just happen to me, and I also have a knack in making ordinary things incredible. Sometimes it is all in the perspective! I can probably say that this life is legendary for many reasons.
My guilty pleasure is chocolate, definitely! It probably would have been something else a year or more ago but since I had my daughter, I crave sweet stuff AND I am apparently, hopefully temporarily, allergic to alcohol. Reading is also my guilty pleasure. My closet is even full of books!
Something I have never done but I would like to do? That is a tough one because I like to do whatever I want so I have tried lots of different things. Maybe travel more? I do love being at home though but the world fascinates me!
One of my favorite things that I would give as a gift would definitely be some sort of book, depending on them and who they are, what would interest them. Reading opens up so many new worlds! And let's face it, I have A LOT of books to choose from!
I think the something I did that changed someone's life was to love them. My bf has a complicated relationship with his family and I don't necessarily think a healthy one. I just show him love every day and in many ways and it has changed him, for the better. He is a wonderful person but I think he had never been treated like this before.
The part of my personality that is extinct is the selfish side. We all have it but I definitely had my fair share of it in my 20s. Now I have my own family and my father is also ill so I focus on making others happy and helping out however I can!
One thing I find really funny would probably be a great stand up comic like Eddie Izzard or Nikki Payne. I love how a lot of comics like to poke fun at themselves.
One thing I love about myself is my compassion. I truly try to do nice things for people on a regular basis. It usually doesn't take much to do and can really make all the difference sometimes.
When I was a teenager, My So-Called Life was most like my life. I would like to think that I still am like Claire Danes but sadly I am not in the CIA (but I love Homeland!)
Something not many people know about me? Hmmm, this is a tough one but probably just how scared I get at times. My Dad is battling cancer and has been quite sick recently. I worry about the future a lot and the possible future without him. I try not to let it show because I am trying to be strong for my family but sometimes I cry myself to sleep at night.
I met this week's storyteller through Chick Lit Central, as well. We e-mail on occasion about books and Glee. Motherhood is a topic we've talked about more recently, as well. She's really nice and I'm happy to learn more about her in this way.
Side note: I am getting so close to my 52 story goal, but part of November and all of December are still waiting for stories. If you would like to participate or know someone else who might be interested, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!
Name: Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
There are so many legendary experiences that I have been fortunate to have. Incredible things seem to just happen to me, and I also have a knack in making ordinary things incredible. Sometimes it is all in the perspective! I can probably say that this life is legendary for many reasons.
My guilty pleasure is chocolate, definitely! It probably would have been something else a year or more ago but since I had my daughter, I crave sweet stuff AND I am apparently, hopefully temporarily, allergic to alcohol. Reading is also my guilty pleasure. My closet is even full of books!
Something I have never done but I would like to do? That is a tough one because I like to do whatever I want so I have tried lots of different things. Maybe travel more? I do love being at home though but the world fascinates me!
One of my favorite things that I would give as a gift would definitely be some sort of book, depending on them and who they are, what would interest them. Reading opens up so many new worlds! And let's face it, I have A LOT of books to choose from!
I think the something I did that changed someone's life was to love them. My bf has a complicated relationship with his family and I don't necessarily think a healthy one. I just show him love every day and in many ways and it has changed him, for the better. He is a wonderful person but I think he had never been treated like this before.
The part of my personality that is extinct is the selfish side. We all have it but I definitely had my fair share of it in my 20s. Now I have my own family and my father is also ill so I focus on making others happy and helping out however I can!
One thing I find really funny would probably be a great stand up comic like Eddie Izzard or Nikki Payne. I love how a lot of comics like to poke fun at themselves.
One thing I love about myself is my compassion. I truly try to do nice things for people on a regular basis. It usually doesn't take much to do and can really make all the difference sometimes.
When I was a teenager, My So-Called Life was most like my life. I would like to think that I still am like Claire Danes but sadly I am not in the CIA (but I love Homeland!)
Something not many people know about me? Hmmm, this is a tough one but probably just how scared I get at times. My Dad is battling cancer and has been quite sick recently. I worry about the future a lot and the possible future without him. I try not to let it show because I am trying to be strong for my family but sometimes I cry myself to sleep at night.
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