put a little gravel in my travel

What a weekend ... so far. 

USC is in town for ACRA's & Juli graduated from high school. Crazy!?!

Friday I left work, just after hearing that I got that Atlanta Rowing Club scholarship,  to head to Lake Lanier to get the team situated with the boats I rented from various crews all across GA. Stayed up their all night pretty much explaining traffic patterns, launching novice crews, explaining humidity and that no this is not as hot as it gets in GA, and helping manage their clearly disorganized chaos. Left late Friday night to come home and wake up at 5:15 to go to my parents for pictures with Juli and her friends -- got some pretty decent shots of them. Then off to watch pseuda graduate. The graduation was mediocre, but so proud of her for graduating with honors. Both me and my little sister are now EHS, KSU and after this first semester of college, GSU alumnae! I could go on for hours how proud of her I am and how much it melts my heart that shes followed in so many of my footsteps. 

Saturday after graduation was more boat races and spent a few minutes catching up with a former GSU rower who was there with his own team, always fun to know people in the rowing community, especially since I spent the last 2 years networking myself into it. 

Anyhow, 2 days of the weekend down and 1 more to go. Sans sunburn, I'm having a pretty great time.

my family (+davis .. due 7/20)

Pounce

Remember when you were 18 and that time came to put on your very first cap and gown? Well, 3 cap and gowns later, I'm getting to watch my little sister put on her first! This saturday she will graduate from high school and move on to GSU to follow in her big sis's footsteps. So of course the majority of my weekend was spent celebrating her. We had 60+ people cycle through my parents home on Saturday, more food than any one party should have, and did some pre-graduation pictures with Juli and Jackson since he won't be in town for next weekends big event. Basically, I'm spent from helping mom clean, arrange, and setup both Friday and Saturday, hosting all night Saturday, and this 90 degree weather is not helping my cause! -- Oh and I had my Atlanta Rowing Club interview today to see if they want to 'sponsor' me to row with them and volunteer coach and stuff for a year! (Let ya know the results soon!)

Congrats kid sister, you deserve it!

A little pre-grad pics preview:

get what you give

*first official mobile blog here, still not computer operating here from Foxcroft. Bear with any spelling or grammar issues, we all know mobile phones have an auto spell with a mind of its own*

Get what you give. It's a song, its a saying, its a religious philosophy. It's also something we have to learn how to interprete into our own lives in our own context.

::Insert rant on doing good, loving fully, and crossing your fingers your life turns out how you want::

Get what you give. It's a coin toss, a dice roll, a roulette wheel. The good old 'nice guys finish last.' People you love leave, they lie, they change their minds. (And they do good stuff too I'm sure).

I do believe in karma and usually positive thinking, so get what you give right? Wellllll.... Thats the thing, a negative person is already negative so their injust moment is a dose of the reality they're already living in. Sounds reasonably unfair right?

What about the person who loves and gets left time and time again. Or the person who emits positive but then doesn't know how to take in when it is finally their turn?

Then what about the person who gives and gets hurt over and over their whole life but then pushes away those who want to stay? Surely that's not karma.

Get what you give. Perhaps not. Human nature vs karma. I don't think I want to know you wins. Hopefully there's room in this world for a healthy dose of both.

posted from Bloggeroid

roomies

Things that I will not miss when I one day do not have roommates:

Stopping the dishwasher to reload it with more than 6 tupperware after it's already been started.

Lightbulbs missing randomly from the living room lamps.

Unplugging the toaster everyday.

Taking turns in the laundry room .. aka my closet. 

That's it for today. 

леко разочарован.  frustrado. lidt frustreret. frustrated.

plain and simple, today was just frustrating. 

The computer systems at work crashed, so we had no patient charts. Good thing I know most of my patients, but seriously, would have been nice to be able to look up at least who my new 7:30 patient was .... At work I learned that starting monday I'll be up in our Marietta location 2 days a week  --- meaning my 1/2 day is no longer Weds. (Which is awesome since I have already scheduled a MD appt next weds afternoon and asked for some days off in July to go to San Fran and now will have to work that Wednesday and take more PTO) Not that Marietta is bad, and its only temporary for this summer, and it helps my company out A TON, but still, it's .... frustrating. Then I went to the doc to get my MRI results and talk some more about my aching hip -- which has only gotten worse. Basically, he said that the MRI guy said I have bursitis, but he didn't see it in the scans. Then tells me to just continue with what I'm doing. Hi, umm, what I'm doing has clearly not made it any better. But the doc really didn't care to hear it or help me problem solve. I was super frustrated. And I let him know that I was. ((Although I was very restrained in my choice of words. Quite proud of myself, however, he probably should have heard more than I said)) ...

And now ... I am a little less frustrated, but still in pain. And still frustrated. 

So what's next? Well, a second opinion and job sharing between 2 different locations. Hmmm... 

At least I have some stuff to look forward to here soon: 7 weeks till I see Ally and 8 till my new nephew Davis James is born!

simplicity

The simplest things are often the truest

(a quote by a guy I don't remember but should probably mention that it's not an original thought). 

However. 

Things that are true: smiles, smirks, grins, and daydreaming. 

Thankfully, they are all simple. 

Things that are not simple: distance, time, & the future.

Simplicity is not synonymous with the unknown (which all of the above are). 

Suggestion: KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. 

So, KISSes for all.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (Da Vinci).

But then again, sophistication can also be over rated.

Toccoa River

how to devour a cupie cake!

two hundred & twenty-two

two hundred & twenty-two is apparently the number of magnetic resonance images you can take in roughly 68 minutes of glorious torture inside a tunnel that makes you feel like a mummy. First time in one, no. Second or third, nope. Last time, I hope. 

But seriously, it was uncomfortable and I'm still paying for it today. However anxious the diagnostics lady made me with her fretful comments about 'this will give you some answers because it's definitely not normal' and her 'go home and prop your legs up and don't do anything till you see the doctor next week", comments may have made me, I still cannot wait to go out this weekend hiking to around the cabin with Robbie in tow (my cameras name in case you're new here -- affectionately named for the one that I was robbed of in LA).  

Until then, Happy Passover/Easter/Good Friday/etc to all.

if you know what any of this means, you could call me. haha

all or nothing

This weekend was nothing like I planned and everything I could have hoped for. 

(Well, almost everything). 

But seriously, about time I truly felt like I got a good solid weekend off from my norm. 

life as we know it

Well, not a whole lot new here on the home front ... SIKE.

Haven't been blogging simply because I've not had much to say. Things are going really great for me lately. My best
"used to be Hawaiian" friends + baby move home in less than 48 hours, my favorite local Atlantan has been keeping me company here and there, reconnected with another old friend, and I still love my job, pets, and condo. 

On the flip side, I've been too unmotivated to start another DIY condo project, my left hip feels like it wants to amputate itself (and at this point, I'd let it), and I've still not lost a single LB even since my last doc appointment despite all my efforts in increasing my exercise -- until this hip nonsense -- and decreasing my caloric intake. ((Swear I could care less what the scale says, its just frustrating or more irritating really, especially since I've been super motivated by seeing a sexy shirtless guy sleep on my sofa here and there the past 2 weeks)).

All in all, I've got a lot to vent about here and there, a lot of joint pain to ignore here and ... here .. and here ... and .. here. You get the point, and absolutely no real complaints with my life right now!

Happy Wednesday!

hiatus

::to be somebody, you must last::

Wise words for those of us who do to much, burn out to easily, or lose motivation along the way. Me, I've just been to lazy to share my life via blog lately. Does that mean that my life has gotten more exciting, certainly not. Just been taking the time to visit with my family & friends, count down the return to good friends, and bury my nose in work! 

I mean, it has been a while since I blogged about anything of any true deeper importance to me, but I suppose I just haven't felt like sharing. ((I'm a good bottle-er)). However, I will state the obvious here: be genuine. If you say something nice to someone, mean it. Don't just spew compliments and words around for the sake of conversation and some end means. 

My challenge to you: do or say random act of GENUINE kindness for someone you care about. Right now. I know I just did ... and he/she will be finding out very soon :) 

... and the image uploader wont work currently, so that will have to suffice for now

[rife.s]

RIFE's = (people who) ruined it for everyone

Thought I'd share an appopriate passage from a birthday gift (the book YOU ruined it for everyone!)

No.012: George Vernon Hudson: For inventing daylight saving times.

((paraphrasing the book text))

Facts: GVH proposed daylight saving times in 1895 in New Zealand since more daylight in the summer evenings would better quality of life, which ultimately gives an extra hour in the fall, makes us reset our clocks twice a year, and statistically causes more traffic accidents in the weeks following.

The proposal/solution: Control cities daylight with large football stadium lights. Or fill up the atmosphere with smoke to eradicate the sunlight. No sunlight means less skin cancer, more time, and no more spring-fwd/fall back BS.

d.i.y. march edition

Finally, my dining room is complete! 

Total cost: PRICELESS .... okay fine ... or under 220 bucks for all renovations!! Including a new piece of furniture, many many cans of spray paint, and all the new wall art! 

djk

Got to spend an amazing day with my oldest nephew today .. and lucky me he is fluent in saying both his little soon to be brothers first and middle name! (Guess that's what happens when mommies a teacher!) 

So here's to you baby Da ... Ja .. Kohl, me and your brother can't wait to meet you! 

LA to the capital ZY

So I've been a real blog slacker here lately. Not because I haven't had anything to share -- In fact, just the opposite. I've just not felt like sharing it via typing at my computer screen when I could be out and about getting things accomplished and enjoying the great weather that we were having here in GA until today.

To review the highlights ---

Birthday week was good -- nothing crazy, nothing out of the ordinary really. I got some really great and generous gifts/cards from the family. Had a drink or two with friends. Ran my 10k -- nothing eventful really. Just worked all Monday and then drove home in the hail/tornado weather. Hoping that doesn't mean that 25 is going to be a crazy year ... then again, my life could use a little chaos right now. 

I've having another nephew! I cannot wait to know what they plan to name him. Jackson (the adorable boy in all my photos to date) was pretty lucky to get the name Jackson Oliver ((Which I totally love the name Oliver and it's always been one of my top 2 boy names up there with Griffin)).

In other mega news, the Robert's family is moving home ... officially!! Talked to Mrs. Robert's (and Abby!) for a while one night this past week and cannot wait until Monday when they set the official date, but seriously, it's like 5 weeks away and I am holding my breath every day until my sanity of Josh, Vicki (and now baby) come back into my life.

me & kujo being me and kujo

Watched the movie Burlesque this morning. It's amazing. If you've not seen it, it's worth the 4.99 the comcast on demand will charge you for it. Seriously, go rent it. This raining morning I snuggled up on the couch with my kitties, coffee, and glasses and just enjoyed the rain in the background while listening to the amazing vocals of C. Aguilera  -- yeah I know she's screwed over the national anthem, but still ... this movie is awesome! It's like the more riske version of a Coyote Ugly, yet the lead male actor is WAY HOTTER.

Really, that's about it .... 

beautiful life

I am not a card person -- I'm terrible at sending cards, terrible at picking out cards, and just all around typically think that the gesture is grand, however the end result never quite what you wanted it to be. That being said, I think this year I got the best assortment of birthday cards yet. One I really wanted to share was the one from my mom, it reads:

"How to make a beautiful life" 

Love yourself.

Make peace with who you are and where you are at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.

If you can't head what it's saying in this noisy world, then make time for yourself.

Enjoy your own company.

Let you mind wander among the stars.

Try. 

Take chances. 

Make mistakes.

Life can be messy and confusing at times, but it's also full of surprises.

The next rock in your path might be a stepping-stone.

Be happy.

When you don't have what you want, want what you have.

Make do.

That's a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.

You have to make your own way.

To know where you're going is only part of it.

You need to know where you've been too.

And if you ever get lost, don't worry, the people who love you will find you.

Count on it. 

Life isn't days and years.

It's what you do with time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you.

Make a beautiful life.

The kind of life you deserve.

Joy of Love: Photo Catch-up

I am so behind on my photos for this week ...

me after my 1st 10k

22 face (a portrait)

23 facebook

first time I'd see Jax when I moved home from CA .. it had been almost 6months since I'd seen him

24 where

Exploring Fern Canyon in Redwood National ... Photo Credit SMR

 

25 when you love them the most

with the rising sun ... too cheesy? Yea, i figured.

26 the bromance  

the exact opposite of a bromance -- Lex seriously stalks Kujo.. Poor kitty has no idea he's even up there trying to paw at her. (And no he never jumped down, he just sat there dangling his paws over and wiggling them!)

 

66+6

me .. still alive after my 1st 10k

So I've got a lot of blogging catch-up to do here: So bare with the multiple posts this weekend!

First off (since I've already said happy birthday to 2 men who I am very fortunate to know). Today I PR'd on a 10k! Why ... because it was my first 10k! Yes, I did get beat by a 14 year old and a 72 year old (and a lot of other people), but I did it .. and didn't willing throw myself into oncoming traffic on Lawerenceville Hwy like I originally projected.  The race started atTucker High School and ran the 5 miles to North Dekalb mall, then the last mile snaked through a neighborhood to some middle school. Either was, it was kind of fun running in the middle of traffic -- within the safety of all the orange cones of course! My goal was to finish it --- my ideal was to finish it in 74 minutes. (66minutes + 6 minutes ... clearly because running is the devil as far as I'm concerned). AND ... I did it in 73:55! Wahhoo!! So I'm rounding up and making it 66+6 minutes. That's just under a 12minute mile pace for the 6-point-whatever miles that my body is currently aching about. I actually did a lot more running than I thought I would be able to. The knee held up strong, the opposite hip, not so much. We're not speaking right now... No side stiches, never got winded .. some muscle cramps for sure after mile 5 marker in my calves, but it was rolling hills the whole way and in the entire month of Feb I think I've logged MAYBE 15 miles? Yea, and at least 10 of those were walking! Haha. So happy birthday body, you survived and now we can turn 25 on Monday!

20's

Happy Birthday to 2 people who I'm mooore than happy to share my birthday week with!

Happy 25th Josh ... thanks for moving to Utah. ((Sike!)) TECHnically, I miss you face... or maybe that's the lack of chips and salsa in my life talking?!?!

And happy 24th David! (Thanks to you and lauren for always saving my Friday nights from being so lame!)

just another day

So it's officially 1 week until I turn 25 -- Birthday's don't really mean a whole lot to me, neither does age (Unless you cannot act yours when appropriate, then we have issues). But okay, so the past few years I've been trying to do a "Birthday thing". Like some sort of physical or mental challenge -- last year I did the reverse sprint tri where I PR'd on my 5k run. ((See my RACE ON THE BASE post if you need a refresher)).  So this year, I'm debating ... do I last minute sign up for the 10k on Saturday morning or do I ... uhhh ... errr .... cricket, cricket ... exactly. The race I'm contemplating doing is the Charles Harris Run for Leukemia. In GA there are not as many options for outdoor physical activity until April/May unless you like running. Which, I do not. In fact, running is about my least favorite form of physical fitness --aside from the idea of ergging a timed 2 or 6k -- OW! I've never successfully run more than like 4.25 miles at once (and only because I had some pretty amazing scenery to stare out ::cough cough (a boy) cough::) and even then, it hurt my knee like crazy. I've run probably 5 of the last 8 days now and while I can tolerate getting through about 2 1/2 miles -- taking breaks and still in a lot of pain -- I'm not so sure I'm down for 6.4 miles of it. Although I'd walk a little under 1/2 of it, I'm still considering it. Despite that as I type this my knee is begging otherwise. It's pretty inevitable that my knee isn't going to hold out to 30 and that surgery is eminent for it (again), but still, it's my body and it better keep up with me! I'll keep you posted on the 10k decision ....

In other news .... Photos!

20 when they're home

when they're home, they sleep all day

 21 hands

Hands -- something I love ... mainly because that's my job .. but I also kill my own hands (and shoulders) every day for my job .. therefore, 1/2 of the week I sleep in the very thing I spend all day doing for others.

DIY!

19 when they're gone

So really, my loved ones are always here. They live here. All the time. Unless I let them out on the balcony ... but TECHnically that's still here. SO instead of doing today's assignment, I'm going to share with you all my Saturday DIY project! Baker's rack transformation, ready, GO!

** Thanks mom for the blue vase and the dried hydrangea's & Vicki, I'm finally finding a great use for your wedding favor mason jar!