we need the sound to survive

No real updates on life today, just simply that my music upload was a complete success yesterday and I've been frolicking around my condo, gym, and car to the beats of ....

Tilly and the wall:




Pigeon Detectives:


AND as always, the Delorentos!

sun shines hot

 ....when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, 
and winter in the shade 

-- Charles Dickens (Great Expectations)

What a weekend!

Spent all of Friday night with my favorite 4 & 8 year old girls. Made just enough $$ to turn around on Saturday and spend it on birthday lunch & drinks for one of my favorite people. Went to the Vortex in Little Five -- because they have his favorite alcoholic beverage. So not only did we both consume the mother of all cocktails, "The Skull Crusher" -- which tastes like bubbly purple kool-aid AND you get to keep the nifty glass. Yes, the Vortex Skull Crusher is described on their menu as, "Satan provided the recipe for this original Vortex Signature Cocktail. It’s made with premium tequila, vodka, rum, bourbon, various liqueurs and it’s topped with sparkling peach wine – to keep it classy!"  Since we were going all out, we also decided to split there mega-way-intense-for-even-two-people burger. If you can even call it a burger. Okay, technically it's called the super-stack heart attack burger.

ignore how into my drink i am and the look of fear in my eyes at the plate

"Two half-pound sirloin patties stacked inside three grilled cheese sandwiches, topped with two fried eggs, eight slices of American cheese, ten slices of bacon, with plenty of mayo on the side. With this burger we choose your side for you, and it’s a big bowl of fries and tots covered in our cheesy-cheese goo."

Sorry to inform you, that no, we did not even come close to finishing the plate. BUT, cheesy-cheese goo is phenomenal.The 'burger' was delicious. I mean how could greasy red meat, grilled cheese, and fried egg covered in bacon and cheesy-cheese goo not be amazing?

After attempting to eat not even a small fraction of the mega meal,  I was reintroduced back into the movie connoisseurs lifestyle and watched Scott Pilgram vs the World and have had the soundtracks stuck in my head. Liiiiikkkkeeee ......

So today (Sunday) quickly turned into a day of crossing off the to-do list:

1. get rid of the 1/2 dead christmas tree just sitting in my living room
2. gym (obviously after what I ate yesterday) 

3. pick up my road bike from it's tune up at REI

4. clean out the trunk of my car 

5. clean the heck out of my condo

6. spend as much time outside as possible

7. pay some bills ... (ew) ... 

8. download new music/update ipod
9. grocery store

So it's only 1:30 and already, (minus #5 & #8) I'm done with my list. So I'm gonna go sit on the balcony with Kujo & Lex some more until the sun moves off it, then get to playing with scrubbing bubbles.

Kujo aka love muffin, aka skeletor, aka BEST CAT EVER!

outflank

Do what you love and be the best at it. 

Success is defined differently for us all. Personal victories differ from corporate victories. Our successes are measured by who's doing the measuring. So who measures you? Well technically, the only answer  should be YOU, but we all know that's not totally the case. You're measured by your peers on the amount of generosity and love you show them. You're measured by your boss for how much you contribute to overall profits and abilities to be a team player. Really, the list keeps going. But how do you measure you? Is it that you drive some stellar car or don't have any more loans/debt. Do measure your success in the amount of enjoyment you get out of each day or the difference you can make in a life in 24hrs?

Well, regardless of how you measure you, take today to be grateful for the people who helped make & shape you. Without them you would not have had the same successes or advantages in your life. I'm a huge fan of "actions speak louder than words", mainly because actions I can do, but words, they make me feel all soft and gooey, which is clearly not me. But still, give thanks, show thanks, or just ignore me. Either way, do what you love and be the best at it!

Credit: SMR. Photo: Me reflecting at Griffith Observatory in LA during the sunrise ... at 5:50am

8 years old!

 

Happy 8th birthday to one of my favorite little girls! 

I can't believe I've known you since you were only 

6 months old!

who defines crazy?

Crazy is an adjective for either being mentally strange or just plain unrealistic 

... it is also defined as  absurd, balmy, beyond all reason, bizarre, cockeyed, derisory, eccentric, fatuous, foolhardy, foolish, goofy, half-baked, harebrained, idiotic, ill-conceived, impracticable, imprudent, inane, inappropriate, insane, irresponsible, loony, ludicrous, nonsensical, odd, out of all reason, outrageous, peculiar, preposterous, puerile, quixotic (<-- this one's my favorite), ridiculous, senseless, short-sighted, silly, strange, unworkable, weird, wild...

So this weekend I've pretty much done nothing except hermit in my condo reviewing NBCOT notes and keeping my mind occupied. Why? Well, on top of tomorrow being the big dinner date with my dad, today I took my National Boards!! I got my authorization to test letter in an email on Friday afternoon and looked up on the website what days they had open and well, today was the day. I figured why the heck not?!?! So I figured that this week might as well start off with one quixotic bang!

So I took the 4 hr exam (fingers crossed I passed the dang thing), and I'm wondering what I even did any studying for. You know how when you take a test that seems so simple, yet pretty much determines the fate of your career how you over prepare and study wayy too muuchh. Well, this is how I feel about it. I called my mom afterward and when she asked how I thought it went all I could tell her was "I feel like someone just judged me on a ton of common sense questions that may or may not have a good, better, and best answer". Won't have the results for a few days or 2 weeks (I can't really understand what the 'clarification' on the website means). But, when I know, you'll know. 

Until then, send extra points to the OT gods for me ....

1-23 .. 4!

1 (+) 23 (=) 24

Redwood National Forest, Fern Canyon. 3/2010

happy birthday to one of the few uniquely awesome people I'll probably ever know

googly-eyed

"I am not crazy - it's just my  situation seems to require a crazy person"

Ever wonder what the person was thinking when the got dressed in the morning? What sane connection in their brain made them think that those shoes, or that hat was the absolute best choice? Have you ever been that person? Ever been that person on purpose?

Tonight after work I went to the gym. Not an uncommon occurrence -- although I usually go at 5am, so my face isn't quite in the evening, after work reguluars crowd. Well, not only did I go at the peak hour, but I went covered wrist to shoulder in kinesiotape! Not just your black and beige tape, but your neon blue and hot pink. At work today I got taped up for some photos a co-worker needed for a presentation she wants to do later in her future, so I volunteered while she taught me some more neat taping tricks. Not only that, but she ended up trying to help my poor, defective arm straighten itself out. So not only did I leave the tape on to go to the gym (mainly because the one is trying to rotate my arm back in place, and the other was covering up a HUGE pen 'scar' that got drawn down the back of my entire upper arm), but I also had a pretty amazing work out because I could feel people staring at me and didn't want to look like some wimpy kid girl. 

Picture not of me, but snagged from this pretty fun blog

"Life was meant to be lived and curiosity must be kept alive." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

bold truths

While it's not news to most of you, but I'm not a pretty openly emotional person ... although, if you've ever dated me, you've seen right through my thick exterior. It takes a lot for me to trust you, let alone let you in my circle of emotion. And even then, you might not ever see it. It's not because I don't enjoy being social (which sometimes, I don't) and it's not because I don't want people to get to know me. It's pretty much just because there are very few people in my life that don't leave or reciprocate. Not to brag, but I'm a pretty amazing person, so it really is their loss. Okay, so the point of all this:  Lately my most recent 'life-changing event' is that my dad has reentered my life.   Short story made shorter: Got a letter Christmas Eve. Sent an email. Got a phone call Christmas day. Sent back and forth some emails between then and now.... and now he's coming to Atlanta on business.. in 6 days...Yeah, in 144 hours ~17 years absence will be broken.   

::Deep breathes::

So a lot has changed in my life since I was a daddy's girl at  8-year old, glasses wearing, tom-boy .. Okay, well not a lot has changed, but a lot has happened. I've had so many successes and mini speed bumps in my life that he just wasn't a part of. I've had sports surgeries and triumphs. Learned how to drive a car, cook, be an adult. I've had my heart broken, learned how to be financially independent, graduated high school, received scholarships based on academics and character. I've completed an honors B.S. degree, bought real estate, traveled parts of the world, earned a Master's degree, moved clear across the country and back. I've busted by body being a rower, a coxswain, and then coached at the most prestigious regatta in the entire world....  I think the only stable thing in my life since then is my cat, Kujo. 


So where do I start ...  How's the weather? Are you healthy? Do you need a kidney? 


It all seems so surreal. I really don't have the right adjectives in my repertoire to clearly explain how I'm feeling. I'm anxious for sure. A little excited, but definitely nervous.  I know it's a heavy topic to blog about so openly, but I'm feeling pretty stoic about all of it as I'm processing, so it was now or never! Thanks for bearing with fellow-bloggies. 


Now I just hope I can recognize him ... I know there are a few more floating in the cosmos somewhere, but these 2 are the only picture I have of him. (Please note how cute of a 2 year old I was ...) 

 put next to a photo of me from 6 months ago, yeah, i'd say he's my dad for sure

I'm a pretty cute 2 yr old, I know

5am

Getting up early in the morning makes me miss a lot of things. I makes me miss being a rower. I makes me miss being a coach. And it makes me miss having company to suffer getting through a work out that early with me! This morning was a 'legs' day at the gym. As a former rower, a 'legs' day is intense. Therefore I got to reminiscing .... so I came home and watched this video:

(this was the End of Season Banquet Video I made for USC in May of 2010... only took me 3 weeks ... of endless editing! GAH!)

momentous decree

Judge people by the content of their character. 

Today on the way into work, I listened to Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech in its entirety for the first time ever in my life. I've heard all the famous bylines and know the gist of the speech and the emphasis behind it just like the next kid that grew up in GA, but today was the first day that I've really listened to the whole thing. Now as someone never grew up in any kind of "separate but equal" state of mind, it was quite affirming to me that the message of the day rings in loud and clear: "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." 

Equality. Not better, or more, but equal rights in a free nation. I'm down.

... and now to lighten the mood, a video of my crazy 1/2 cat, 1/2 raccoon!

a master design

A DIY project complete! 

... and for less than $200!!!

Bedroom painted, crown molding put up, baseboards/windows repainted, and furniture rearranged. All that's left really is to hang some stuff back on the walls, but I'm waiting until I get my USC diploma framed 

( :: cough, cough :: birthday gift mom? ::cough:: )

Any how, here's my improved living quarters! Yay! 

featuring both my cats (kujo blends into the bedding, but she's there)

A before and after

Before and after of the crown molding ... its subtle and sneaky, but looks SO good.

cosmic synergy

So apparently 3,000 years later the earth shifts and astrologists want people to start identifying with a whole new cosmos of characteristics. Apparently I am one of them. No more Pisces, but now Aquarius?? Huh? "They" are saying that this does not affect horoscope readings (yea, because I was really concerned with those .. SIKE), but that it merely means that I was born under a different signs reign?! So uhh what exactly is that supposed to mean? I mean, I was still born at the same time 24.85 years ago, I was still born to the same family, and still experienced the very same things in my life that made me, well, me. So why is this big news then? I really can't quite fathom what the big deal is, but Ive been seeing it all over my social networking feeds all day, so here it is, blogging on demand about the issues. (bahaha, issues!)

So let's review: Pisces vs Aquarius ...  the two fish vs the "water carrier" (they seems real similar already...)

Pisces

• Element:Water. In fact, the "most watery sign" constantly trying to adapt itself to its ever-changing feelings and to the moods and whims of others.
• Quality: Mutable (meaning associated with adaptability, service-providing and expansion)
•  Considered a feminine sign
• Surrender to the universe, to higher goals
• compassion and empathy, 
• selfless worker 
• seeing the unity of all things
• often weak ego; 
•  very receptive, sensitive, even psychic;
•   withdrawn from the world
•  often require co-dependency of alcohol  ((See, those bottles of wine are not my fault!))

Aquarius

• Element: Air
• Quality: Fixed (meaning associated with stabilization, determination, depth and persistence)
• Considered a masculine sign 
• attempt to create ideal relationships and organizations, based on freedom and cooperation between individuals
• free-thinking, unorthodox, not shackled by outdated ideology
• the perfection of society
• "everyone should be free to be just like me!" ((HAHAHA, b/c this sounds jusssst like me!!...No)) 
• derives sense of identity from groups and their goals, tends to dominate them
• impersonal thinking, detached from emotional considerations
• produces "humanitarian without compassion"
• friendships based on common goal.

Uhhh... so yeah. That makes me feel .. umm the same? I like to think that I cannot be catagorized in a set, locked block of personality traits. So thanks a lot Ophiuchus, as if I ever cared before, now I'm all the more less intrigued!

ending of an apocalypse

ENOUGH SAID!

sneak peak: DIY

Since the epic snow of 2011 decided to hit us this week, thankfully I had a bit of a bedroom remodel in mind anyhow. So I'm still waiting on some finishing touches, but as promised, here is a sneak peak of the new color scheme of the master bedroom.  And if you didn't already know, I 99.9% of the time pick paint colors based on their name ... my dining room is called Chameleon, my foyer is Moose Mousse .. you get the picture. So now we have Chocolate Turtle and Tenderfoot!

A before (the mint green) and after (2 walls chocolate turtle, 2 walls tenderfoot)

And in case you're just tuning in here and missed all of my random 2010 DIY projects, here is a quick recap:

 

 

 

master bath (before)

master bath (after only 176 dollars!!)

refinished an old trunk into a table for 35 dollars

& stained an old dresser that my sister got me for free :)

Hoping to be completely done with everything except some handing decor by Friday! (I get my USC diploma soon so I might hold off to hang everything back up until I get it framed!)

day 3: snowpocalypse

Cabin fever (also known as House Syndrome) is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period (as in a simple country vacation cottage during a long rain or snow). Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow or dark.

 Well thanks Wikipedia for describing my current state of mind. Still no work, still no company. Woke up this morning and of course my crazy hungry cats didn't have any of their breakfast cat food. Yes, they have wet cat food only for breakfast. It's a long story and sounds ridiculous, but it happens, they love it, and I love them. So right -- they don't have food, I'm tired of eating rice, and going stir crazy from sitting indoors for the 2nd straight day of no work ... Then I decide I'll go outside and at least un-snow my car.  I put on all my layers, my ski gloves, and my gortex boots (which are the most amazing snow/hiking/backpacking shoes ever). So the layer of ice on top of the snow was actually kind of fun to scrap off. I took some pictures and video .... of course ...

I scrapped all the snow out from under this hood of ice

Fist punching the snow/ice on my car

 So after spending probably 20 minutes scrapping (and tossing) ice shards onto the sidewalk I decided that there were enough cars driving through my complex that I would drive the .25 miles to Publix for yes, cat food. Okay, not just cat food, but I did get that too. And just a word to all of you out there that think that you want to leave your house because the cabin fever is setting in ... don't. Holy crap it was a little nerve wracking. 

So my neighborhood was fine for the most part, and the random "created" lane on Roswell Road going southbound was pretty clear, but only until the stop light, pulling into publix was okay, the publix parking lot however was not okay. Not only did my car -- with it's BRAND NEW tires -- have a little bit of a difficult time with it, but so did me and my gortex boots! Thankfully I didn't fall and bust my ass in front of everyone, but it was close. 

Publix parking lot

Roswell Rd Northbound, clear here, scary in front of my neighborhood

 So now that I am back home, defrosted, and enjoying all my Publix rations, I am a happy girl again. I seriously needed to get out of the house. I'm glad I did, but now I'm going to be like the news forecasters and promote "don't be on the streets unless it's an absolute crisis". The AJC is saying that there is no chance for any of it to thaw today or tomorrow ... seriously hoping that doesn't mean ANOTHER day of solitude inside. 


Currently they're estimating that 1,200 people do not have electricity, Delta alone has canceled over 1,400 flights and all AirTran flights are canceled, USPS and UPS are not delivering mail again today, MARTA buses are not running, and the entire southern perimeter of 285 is closed, along with most of I-20.  Yeah, snowpocalypse indeed.
 

snowpocalypse.. day 2

Those who are now boycotting coining this weeks events snowpocalypse are affectionately refereing to these few days as snowmageddon ... which is equally as fun to say. Woke up this morning to moderately cold temps, sleet, and 6 inches of snow in Sandy Springs! So of course I put on as many layers as I could, grabbed 'robbie' and headed outside to try to capture some of this apocalyptic weather.  

 And now in true characteristic of my life and the series of random events that occur, my heater in my house is currently only blowing 60 degree air... if I turn it off and let it rest then it will blow the 72 that its set on for a little while, but poor thing is old and is really tired of this cold winter!!

snowpocalypse..

Sandy Springs at 10:25pm

Well, looks like I won't be leaving my condo for a while with all this crazy weather. As we all know, snow in GA is typically hype. People freak, staple food items become scarce, and people in general quit functioning like semi-sane individuals. Well, I didn't stock up on food and I'm fairly certain the milk in the fridge expired yesterday, but I do still have my electricity and sanity. Sooo what to do, what to do ... well I've already started my next DIY project (photos to come when it's complete, but yes it involves moving furniture, so don't hold your breath). To pass the time I will be updating this post frequently over the next crazy few days with some of my favorite comments/sayings/pictures of the winter weather.

So first off,  a few days ago I heard the radio announcer refer to tonight as the "Snowpocalypse" and it made me bust out laughing in my car since it was 55 degrees out. Now it's taking over peoples FB's, twitters, and newscasts. I'm amused.

Work is closed tomorrow. Poor manager had to go into work tonight and call all the therapists patients to let them know that we won't be there tomorrow (not that they would have shown up, but still..)

Kujo keeping my feet warm

The newscaster just said that there are already 3.5 inches of snow in Sandy Springs. Whoa. It's only been snowing for an hour here.And the thought of 1/4 inch of ice is not pleasant.

My poor car really wants a garage. Sandy Springs @ 11 pm

Someone just posted "oh snow you didn't" ... and I about lost it laughing aloud to myself.

Sir Lexicon is very concerned with tracking snowpocalypse

Lex is kind of freaking out, he really thinks he wants to go outside to investigate ... yeah right.

4inches at 11:45pm here at Foxcroft

Nothing new or too exciting other than my insomnia kicking in. It's midnight-ish and I got bored so I let Lex go on the  balcony and meet snow for the first time ... He was sooo intrigued by it. Sadly I couldn't get him to go frolick in the deeper 4 inch stuff, but his little kitty paw prints in the snow was good enough for me!

 Stay tuned ... as I'm updating this as I go.

lizzies only

Never thought I'd see the day when I appreciated the concept of a girls night out. I can't really ever recall a time where I've had more than 1 female friend in the same social circle, so while the concept is new to me, it is quite welcome. 

So last night I met the ladies down in Buckhead for a pretty fantastic night at Tin Lizzy's. Copious amounts of margaritas for them & beers for me (oh and a shot of something that I swear only tasted like pineapples...), lots of laughs, a little real-talk, and a brief drunken argument over the constellations -- thanks Google Sky Map for the win! 

 "my app just kicked your apps ass" .. Probably one of the better one liners I've had lately.

Moral of the story: I'm a pretty lucky girl to be able to work and play with the ladies I now work with. Definite point in the victory column of life.

*Photos to be added later after I steal them from JHart since I know she took a billion random ones!

a party of 1

Despite all of my really amazing plans for this weekend, they begin with an unexpected party for one. Unless you count the two felines who are more than happy that I'm home. However, after all of my efforts to make amazing spectacular plans for this weekend, mother nature had another plan in mind for tonight. Rain. No monsoon like downpours and flooding type rain ... seeing as how there is not a single drop at my condo. But the kind of rain that covers the state in a blanket of green radar causing unbelievable pain in my knee for roughly 10-12 hours. Holy crap! 

coffee, sunrises, & traffic

Beautiful morning on the way to work today. Snagged a picture at a random stop on the way (as noted by the lines of cars in my side view mirror) -- then zoomed in so it didn't look like I was in the car. Shame this weekends weather won't be as pretty, was hoping to get a ride in on the silver comet trail.

cogito ergo sum

These days I find that I think about the most random collection of things during the day ... so far today (in the between attempting sleep, the lame workout I had this morning, and the almost 9 hrs at work).

• why am i awake? it's only 3:45a.
• 2nd morning this week that I've walked into the WOMEN's locker room to the rude/inconsiderate janitor/front desk MAN in the WOMEN's locker room unannounced. Yes he's cleaning and no i wasn't changing, but still .... put up a sign.
• last year i did a reverse sprint triathlon to celebrate my 24th birthday ... what am i going to do this year for 25 since there are no outdoors events in GA (that dont just involve running) in Jan/Feb.
• i should buy an insert for all my shoes, my knee is killing me today from being on my feet in these uneven shoes.
• sweet, Grey's comes on tonight!
• Awww, look at Abby, she's sooo cute! 
• Oh my, yes he is good looking. 
• Oh right, Ally has a date tonight, I should sent her a text.
• I should probably send my dad another email. 
• I really should put more effort into studying today. Nah, I'll just finish my GA board application to hopefully get it notarized tomorrow at work.
• I miss rowing. I could join ARC now, but if I wait till April I can apply for their 'scholarship' thing and maybe save myself a good amount of money.
• Holy crap, next week I get a paycheck .. like a documented, officially paycheck. That's been a while.
• No mom, it didn't work out between me and the fireman. 
• Don't forget to pay your bills tonight. 
• My goal 2011 is to take a   "c ::infinity:: e" photo related to the month for my laptop at work. Currently it's a picture of my parent's cabin in 10inches of snow ...
• Maybe you should blog about something useful tonight ... (this one didn't work out .. I got distracted by how adorable my friends post was and baby trumps all). 

Welcome to my life. If you don't know me, I'm pretty much a pro at multitasking and I live for the challenge of juggle many tasks at once. And apparently my brain likes to juggle many thoughts all at the same time too. Here's to hoping that tonight  I can shut the subconscious off and get some much needed restorative sleep ... gonna be a good weekend, I can feel it!

being present

It's kind of a running joke in my family that when I was 4 or 5 I was told that my presence was requested in the kitchen. My saddened, somber response was to inform my family "but i don't have any presents".  

(yes, that's me on the left as a kiddo ...)

To this day I probably hear this story at minimum three times a year. Anyhow, as a grown up, I realize I have more "presents" than I know. To be present during life is to provide yourself and others the simplicity of enjoying a perfectly good cup of coffee, a conversation, or a meaningful human interaction. As kids, it's easy for us to just be in the moment -- of course this is before we learn the art of multitasking, internet, or texting. This week I am finding that just being present has reminded me that people can be genuine, can work hard, and can go out of their way to make the day of someone else with just kind words. 

So, note to self. Don't just show up, but BE PRESENT! 

how bout a strong shot of honesty?

what you're not sayin' is coming in loud and clear

we're at a crossroads here

Silence is not golden. Unless you're in a movie theater. 

Other than that, communication is pretty much key to operating in any intra or inter personal contact. 

All I'm really saying is that I'm way too good at reading what people don't say.  So, world, this is me announcing that I'm no longer dating the fireman who courted me all chivalrously like until I wanted to be his gf. No crazy falling out to speak of, but a severe case of 1-ended communication started and then quickly and mysteriously ended. Nothing bad to speak of, just weird ... and not right. A little concerned that everything in his life is not okay, but ... yea.  So, chapter ended. New one beginning ... quite possibly with a new change of gym schedule so that I can bump into the Irish trainer a few times a week ...

Speaking of Irish ... I WANT TO GO BACK TO IRELAND SO BAD! 

a new year

Happy 2011 All

No resolutions to write about, no midnight kiss to share, just simply a happy first few days of the new year spent in the mountains listening to it pour buckets of rain on a tin roof. 

Perfection.