Napa - Day 1

We flew into San Francisco an hour later than we expected due to heavy fog in the bay area. Geoffrey went to work and I walked to downtown Napa from his job site. Along the way I admired the quaint little neighborhood and the things so characteristic about this region: everyone's yards had lemon and lime trees, olive trees, and roses galore! The roses get to be as big as a dinner plate sometimes! Absolutely beautiful!


I spent the afternoon meandering the streets and shops. I visited a toy shop and the Oxbow Marketplace. The Hog Island Oyster company was in one corner of the market so I sat outside and ordered some oysters and a glass of Fume Blanc. I swear to you, I feel like Napa California is heaven on earth. From the food to the lifestyle to the people to the views. This IS MY KIND OF PLACE!!! Then I found my way to the riverfront and the Napa General Store where Geoffrey met me after he finished with his job. We were starving so we went for some tapas and wine at ZuZu right down the street and to kill time until dinner service started. One glass of wine... two glasses of wine... bread and salted cod and spicy garlic shrimp and olives... we stayed for a long time and soaked up all the goodness, overlooking the Napa river.


It was quite a nice day. A PERFECT day in my world :)

Cleanse - Day 1

Today I started a liver cleanse and here are some of the things I purchased at Sunflower Market yesterday...

Organic Produce Galore!

Kale

Cauliflower
Broccoli

Carrots

Celery

Spinach

Radish

Onion - Red, White, Green

Acorn Squash

Red Leaf Lettuce

Cucumber

Zucchini

Squash - yellow and Mexican

Brussel Sprouts

Asparagus

Cabbage

Avocado

Garlic

Ginger

Artichokes

Portabella Mushrooms

Parsley

Lemons

Kiwi

Pears

Apples

Pineapple

Clemintines

Lean Ground Buffalo

Wild Salmon

Organic Chicken Breasts

Free Range Eggs

Organic Egg Whites

Sliced Turkey Breast

Mini fingerling potatoes

Brown Rice

Soba Noodles

Rice Cakes

Almond Butter

Almonds & Walnuts

Almond Milk

Green Goddess Smothie

Naked Smoothies

Chamomile Vanilla Tea

And I'm taking these supplements:

Probiotics

Milk Thistle

EFA's

Multiple Vitamin & Mineral

B-complex

Fiber

Vitamin C with Bioflavanoids

DIM

I'm drinking water with lemon juice, 2 T. Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, and a splash of Cranberry each morning. Green tea or chamomile tea with agave. No coffee, no diary, no booze, no gluten, no processed foods (besides ready made smoothies), no soy, no mayo/mustard/ketchup/relish/etc, & LOTS of water water water with lemon juice.

So basically I'm doing this for two weeks (although I may have a glass of red wine next weekend).

Wish me luck!

I may look like this after two weeks!

What dontcha know?

A few things about me you may not know...

I love oysters. Oyster roasts, bucket of oysters, smoked oysters from a can (like sardines)... I do not however like oyster stuffing at Thanksgiving or raw oysters.

If you want to make me dinner, cook seafood and I will heart you furebber.

I do not run unless chased.

Butterscotch martinis and spearmint tic-tacs make me sneeze every time.

I've never broken a bone. Not even a little toe.

I've never been immunized. Chew on that one!

Generally speaking, I've always made A's and honor roll. Until I got to fine art school where A's don't exist unless you are some amazing artist phenom - and even then, they only allot one A per class. Even so, I managed to graduate with honors.

My gag reflex is often triggered by nothing. Underlying stress most likely, but often just out of nowhere.

I used to wear a thong bikini to the beach... those were the days!

I've never gotten a speeding ticket - or any ticket - besides when my meter ran out. (I have however been pulled over twice in my life)

I moved out at 17, my senior year in high school.

I have been to Europe 3 times, Mexico twice, and to Hawaii twice.

I prefer male doctors.

Things like pimples, wounds, smelly things generally don't gross me out. I could probably be a nurse.

I'm honest. I can't lie.

I have battled with self image issues and eating disorders. I won, though I am aware of ever present self criticism. Now I try to smother that out with self love, chubby butt and all!

The thing I want for Christmas is a beach cruiser with a basket on the front. There are no beaches here. There are mountains of snow at Christmas. But I don't care. {I GOT THE BIKE!!! Thanks to the best hubby ever! }

I can be hard on people but only to coax out the best in them. If I've been hard on you I will likely love you to death shortly thereafter.

I'm a Libra, I like balance.

The first two years I lived here I managed to never drive when its snowing. Last winter I did... but I will do everything in my power to avoid it.

Geoffrey and I have some serious history, beyond our current lives.

I'm sleepy... yawn...

Sunday

The past two days have been very much fall. We rose this morning to do yoga at Sloans Lake. The sun was peaking out but gave way to the low lying clouds that drizzled us with rain. The breeze was cold but gentle and we attempted to create heat through our practice. I can only speak for myself - my toes were cold but my heart big and warm. I think we all felt warm inside. Our yoga teacher actually thanked US for coming to class... on her wedding day!

Today Todd Raabe and Angela McLinden are getting married! 10/10/10. It's overcast and damp out but I'm sure they will have a magical day - sharing their wedding vows at Chautauqua park in Boulder with their 4 teenage boys :)

As for Geoffrey and I, we stopped by Toast (a small liquor & wine store on 23rd St. near Sloan's Lake) for some red wine for the afternoon. Then to get ingredients for a chicken and rice baked casserole. Home with some blankets, a little football, a hot casserole in the oven - the fireplace is on for the first time this season and I welcome it with open arms. The season to be thankful! :) I am thankful for my sleepy cuddly puppy, a warm home when its cold outside, food for our souls, our yoga practice that keeps us in touch, and beautiful sweet friends to share this life with.

~N~

Connecting

Last night I hosted our book club meeting and had a great time! I love my ladies :) One thing I know is that we don't get together often enough! I relish my girl time. When women get together it can be a bit of a balancing act because we all have so many things to talk about and so many perspectives to share. Many thanks to my sweet friend Naomi for staying and chatting with me late into the night. (Thanks to Jason for being out of town, haha!)

Our book was "Female Nomad and Friends" by Rita Gelman Goldman. The food was inspired by our own travels. We dined on Mediterranean pastas, Spanish meats and cheeses, grilled flatbread with peaches, cheeses, prosciutto, & arugula, caprese salad, chocolate, raspberry, & almond torte... and sangria! Funny because we all picked a contribution to the dinner separately but they complimented each other so well! Book club is a really great way to end the week. Food. Friends. Travel stroies and recipes. The season is here to be thankful and reflective and I sure am thankful for the women in my life :) Jill is hosting next and I'm really excited to see her new place and start a new book! Life is good.

Slowing down the expectations of life?

Whoa heavy! This is what my husband responded with when I asked him what I should blog about tonight. Geoffrey drops stuff on me like that from time to time. I say full speed ahead!

Take time to enjoy each day, but do not expect to slow this life down. It plows on, and on, and on - as steady and constant as time always will be. Maybe there is something to this...

Slowing down the expectations of life...

Positive thoughts without attachments? This is a mantra our yoga teacher Angela McLinden has told us, and I actually use it often. Sounds like Geoffrey does too. We do need to be here now - not looking forward and not looking back. Just living, not expecting it all to go as you planned because it won't!

What imagery do you see now? I'm a visual person. This is what happens when I google "Slowing down the expectations of life":

My man sure knows what he's talking about, doesn't he? And that is why I love him.

~ Namaste ~

Blog-block

Ya, I'm not so sure what I should write about right now. I've overdue again so it's time to get going... but what about?

Life has been full of good things as September came to an end. I'm now 28 years young. We've been to Winter Park for Naomi's wedding and then Aspen for my birthday. We're still doing our outdoor yoga classes in October. I am very thankful for that!

One Thursday morning we met for sunrise yoga. We started (and ended) in Savasana, down dog, and then moved through our flow. Then I felt something in my hair, like a stick or leaf. I reached up and pulled it out, looked down and saw this:

How this bee did not sting me as I held it pinched in my fingers I do not know. But again, I am thankful for that! I pulled a bee from my hair - yikes!

OK, this is all for now! Off to tend to my boiling artichoke. 

Dear Life - rivers and tides

You rock! You seriously do!

I'm watching Food Network of course and I got inspired. Food is art. Food is life. I live and I love art. I love art that changes. Here I am with a BA major in graphic design, minor in fine art and I can't think of the name of that type of art. I'm sure it fits into a category. Like Christo and his fabric or the guy who makes eggs out of rocks and sculptures from ice cycles! HE'S AMAZING! Oh wait... wait..

Christo

Google time.... hold please... Andy Goldsworthy! Yessss. Enjoy...

Ok, if any of my fellow Flagler Art Students remember please tell me, what is this "type" of art called? Don't you miss the days when our noses were shoved so far up art books we could talk about this with ease and please and we sure were artsy weren't we ;) and we still are, but its different than being a student of art (and yes I know I'm forming a very long run-on sentence and I'm ok with that, see? because I can).

Happy September!

Rant-dom

I'm just going to write thoughts as they come and not try to edit them too much.

It's 8pm. Geof is on the sofa watching the first football game of the season - Saints vs. Vikings - and "exercising" with some weird giant rubber band he bought at Target in the $1.00 section. The Saints are cool, they are strong spirited people. Football is over-rated x 100. We had a light early dinner at Gallop Cafe today and the owner (or manager, I don't know) said he gave up on watching football 15 years ago when the "big strike" took place. He asked if we remembered. We did not, we were thinking about lifeguarding and the beach with friends since we were 14 and 12.

I do like making football food though. Nothing better than a crisp cool day to be in the kitchen and a happy full hubby who's beyond content. That is fall. Fall is my favorite season of the year. FAVORITE. Fall is a mixture of cool and warm weather - cool and warm activities - all swirled together in one big helping of yummy good-life!

Instert Quote: Geof:
"Watch, after this season I'm going to be jacked from watching football" (as he flexes with rubber band).

Amazing.

I order waters at restaurants but usually don't drink much of it. Denver Water would not be pleased. Sorry Denver Water, I like options. Like wine and water. Usually wine wins. But I like options.

I love to cook but I also appreciate good cooking so I like to go out more than we actually can afford to. Or maybe I want to because we can't afford to and if we could I wouldn't crave it so much. That isn't true because I get so inspired with the shows on "the TV" that I seek it out in real life. Its a part of the process.

I failed at a garden this year. BUT I did grow some basil from seed and we "harvested" some for caprese salads this summer. No basil has ever tasted better and that motivates me to REALLY get a garden going next spring. I think I'll buy starter plants instead of starting from seed though. You really need a grow light if you want to start from seed because their growth becomes stunted. We wasted a few months on that and I respect my own efforts, while thinking smarter not harder for the next go-round.

I'm getting all hooked up again with new design tools. I won't say too much about it other than I'M STOKED!

I hate starting my sentences with I because I think in high school I learned it meant bad writing. I...

I wonder if I'm pregnant?

This didn't really go as planned. I thought I was going to make a list - a list of things that inspire me, make who I am, make me think, those types of things. I like lists.

Do you remember when you would go to orientation night for school and get your supply list? That was always the funnest list EVER for me! It meant new pencils and markers and paper and bags to hold things and tools like a ruler or compass or calculator and A NEW BACKPACK.

Old Spice advertising is redic and I appreciate its absurdity.

My 28th birthday is coming up! I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

Football is still on? This is going to be a long season... Better get cooking.

p.s. Does anyone know how I can create "buttons" for my blog pages and to share?

p.s.s. Thanks for reading :)

Getting personal

While I don't know who reads this blog, I've got 14 followers and since I have sort of substituted blogging for journaling, its time to get personal. Sorry if you don't like it. But not really. No, not so much.

My bod is doing some whack things this year! I've gained about 10 lbs since last summer and that is like, F$@#'ing no fun!!! NO FUN! I'm still squeezing into my size 4's but its kind of yuck - muffin top 'yo. I refuse to purchase larger clothing because I'm not having this extra cushion for long - I hope. I'm going to the gym 4 times a week or more, doing yoga 3 days a week, and going to start doing weights again. If any of you friends go to the Colorado Athletic Club downtown Denver let me know! Workout buddies wanted :)

I've stopped taking the pill back in April and then gave my body a few months to adjust. While in "adjust mode" we went on 3 week-long vacations so the timing of working out & being healthy & adjusting wasn't paired well. In any case, it seems as though things are back to "normal" but maybe just on the surface? Geof and I have been "trying" for bebes for three months now. No luck so far! When I say trying I mean we're having sex without protection - I'm not going crazy with charting, timing, temperatures, scheduling, etc. So I'm not super worried that we aren't prego yet but I was slightly disappointed and shocked when the first month was not a +. You spend your whole adult life trying to NOT get prego and so when you're ready you expect that to happen right away. I'll find out in a week or two if this month was the one :) There, now you know all about my female issues or lack there'of. Sweet.

The funny thing about all of this change with the physical ME is that the spiritual and emotional ME is doing fan-freakin-tastic! I'm so happy!! I'm so IN LOVE with my life! I'm doing yoga and staying grounded. I'm turning 28 in a few weeks! We're finally getting our home pieced back together after the break in. Everything is going well. I feel at peace. I almost feel like I'm not getting prego yet because God is giving me this ME time. Our lives are full of so many cycles, ebbs and flows. I feel the energy and creativity in my life swinging back around to me - coming inward - and maybe I should just soak this time up before I have to give it all back -send it out to our little family. I do tend to put myself behind others yet I'm aware of some selfish tendencies. Lately, I'm balanced and I'm thankful. Now if the physical me would just climb aboard this happy train and shed some lovin I would be a pillar of perfection! HAHAHA, that's rediculous, just a joke. ALL ABOARD!!!

To be - or not to be- a planner

So what does it mean when you're "not a planner"? I have a hard time with the concept because I love to plan things. It's essential! It's fun!It's so much a part of me I don't understand what it would be like NOT to plan things. It brings joy to my lil heart!!!

I planned my wedding but that seemed easy; I had a year and a half to complete the task(s). I plan all of our vacations. I have methods for researching and squeezing what I need to know out of the Internet. Trip Advisor is a valuable tool but I feel it is somewhat underused. I don't make an iternerary usually, just have handfuls of ideas on things to do, places to find, and where to eat. A tool box for our travels, if you will. :) I heart planning things, and I do feel sad for people who hate to plan or at least don't know how to go about it.

Geoffrey is not a planner. The funny thing is, he knows this about himself yet is still surprised when things don't go "as he planned". Yes, most rooms/campsites/cabins will be rented three weeks before hand. No, you can't just pick up the phone with credit card in hand and expect the exact room with the perfect view in the perfect place on your dates to be available! In his defense, you really have two options in Colorado as far as activities go (assuming you don't have family who own houses in Colorado Springs & Breckenridge & Golden ----> Mark Simon <----). Those options are 1) book things in advance. Way in advance. Want a cabin for next summer? Rent it now. Want to go on a camp trip? Maybe a few months from now you'll be able to book a site. Option 2) Pack your bags and go. Plan on sleeping in your car if you don't find a site, but have faith and an adventurous spirit and set out to find a camp site, you'll probably get lucky and fine something cool.

My 29th birthday is around the corner so I've been watching the hubs search for THE perfect place to no avail. When he asked me what I wanted the accommodations to be I said: cabin or something secluded'ish, fireplace/fire pit, red wine/hot cocoa/blanket, near Aspen. Unfortunately, cabins have been rented out for months because apparently, my idea of  a perfect Colorado weekend in the mountains belongs to many! I told you it was an enchanting time of year...

This morning begins our 3 day weekend and we are in bed still. Geof is watching tv, I'm watching my empty coffee cup and sending mental messages to the hubs >>> you WANT to get up in the 62 degree house ((fall is here)) and make us some more coffee with soy milk - yes you want tooooo-<<<< . We were just thinking what we could do today and I remembered its the first Saturday and the art museum is free. Free? Yes please!

September! The Golden month & time to celebrate MEEEE!

Holy Moly do I love this month! I feel like September is enchanted, especially in Colorado when the summer suddenly slams itself into full blown fall and then by the end of September it honestly could turn into winter with just one cold front! In fact, last year, we had a big snow storm in the middle of October - snow for 3 days straight and we even had snow days off from work! But that is nothing enchanting, not like when the Aspen trees change colors within a weeks time; when you drive into the mountains and see one thing, then drive out the next day and see something completely different.

The air gets crisp and cool but not cold and the sun still shines, shines, shines. Everything is golden in September. Leaves on the ground, the plains of grass, the aspen trees, pumpkins growing, September 29th I turn 28. I'm pretty excited about it and even though September is golden, its not my "golden" birthday yet; I turn 29 on the 29th in 2011.

This year the birthday plan is to go to Aspen to see the aspens! I've been to Steamboat, Glenwood, and Vail for my birthday before but not all the way to Aspen, Colorado. We're looking into little cabins or maybe a condo near town. It's going to be enchanting and oh-so-September!!! Just take a look at this place, yes, we're going to see the Maroon Bells :) Click it for a larger view. AHmazing!

Here's a photo of our house in the fall. Just look at all those leaves! Yikes.

Replacements & reflections (drafted last Saturday)

Without having to get into too much detail, we are finally at the point where we can buy new things after the break in. Replacements. One BIG expense will be my new laptop and the design software I need. I used to "share" any type of software in college and I always felt partially guilty for doing that. Also, you cannot upgrade your software if needed. For instance, looking at getting Adobe Creative Suite CS5 it is only $500 to upgrade but the full price is $1,300. If you every "share" software, you aren't eligible for a mere $500 upgrade. You must pay full price, like your a design virgin being christened for the first time. Maybe I am :) We are ever changing, aren't we?

I'm really looking forward to some replacements because I'm bored with board games! UGH. Enough already. Lets paint or something :)

The creativity and energy in my life is very high right now. Pretty awesome. I do feel some type of shift, I think it mirrors the changes in the seasons. All of the sudden I feel a shift in energy, a much welcomed one at that.

I like my sentences long, and cut in half with a comma. Ha ha.

Today we hiked up to Maxwell Falls, which is a trail near Evergreen/Conifer/Aspen Park. It was a lovely hike where we gained a bit of elevation and made it up to a treeline where we were exposed to the sun, surrounded by little trees. I love little things <3 It was a 2 1/2 hour round trip hike (without breaks). At the top of the falls we sat and I put my feet in the could mountain water, always a Colorado-hike-bonus! I had some fresh dark cherries, almonds, and walnuts packed. Oh, and Geof filled our camelbacks with ICE water. That was a pleasant surprise! It's all about the little things isn't it? Yessss.

For a post hike reward we had lunch at an outdoor patio place (patio comes first, food second) and had Mr. Collins with us. He was being chased by a King Soopers bag (think American Beauty) and was beyond spooked! He gets nervous sometimes. So do I, so I feel for the lil guy. On I-70 there was a grated section of road under construction and Collins scrambled (literally) into my lap in the front seat. He could not handle the sounds and bumps of the grated road.

Speaking of rewards, we were saying how cliche it is to say "the reward for the uphill is the downhill". Seems like a small reward for a big commitment to me. Using your core and agility to avoid blowing our your knee as you practically jog downhill for an hour on lose rocks and roots is not exactly a reward. Lets talk food, drinks, foot rubs, hot showers, and the like. That's my kind of reward!

One of many things I've learned from yoga these past few weeks has been to "enjoy the journey" not just the destination/reward. Reflect upon reflecting as you hike through nature is far more a reward than having say, a margarita and fish tacos. All the time you've taken to think, play, work, reflect, rest, push, praise is THE ultimate reward.

So lets enjoy the journey!

Yoga tomorrow at Sloans Lake.
Wine and candles and guitar for now.
Sweet dreams!

Tomorrow I'm catching up!

I promise. Also, I promise to update this blog at least three times per week for the month of September... and hopefully longer. Baby steps.

~N~

Thurs mornin is yoga mornin

Today we started the day with some yoga in the park. I loooove doing yoga in the park in the early morning. It is my favorite time of day, when the sun is rising still, making long dark shadows across the grass which is wet and squishy and happy. Everything smells fresh and full of possibility.

One of my favorite things about doing yoga out in the park is the view. Yes, the grass and the trees and the pups running around are all part of the revolving scene. But what I'm talking about is this:

Its a total change of perspective, looking at the world in a new way and it makes me smile EVERY TIME! This isn't the actual view from the park downtown but you get the idea. Upside down is right side up in downward dog. It's fun to play with things during your practice. Like maybe a little bit of this:

No, this is not me and no, this is not my baby but is is happy, isn't it baby? :) This pose used to annoy me... like really, what is the point of this, I'm not feeling anything going on here, what am I missing? But today I realized the full expression, rolling around on my mat with the clouds above and the moon above and the upside down trees and the upside down cars making me smile into my hips.

Yoga in the park is a yummy breakfast and I don't feel guilty if (mostly) every time I set my intention: it is for ME. All for me like a big yummy breakfast for me to gobble up. And I do, believe me.

Projects!!!

HELP! I'm dying from an overwhelming need to do projects! This means everything from painting the window trim on our house to designing to making necklaces to other paper crafts to... Ok, this is where you come in, give me ideas of things I should start. Here's the big idea, I want to start an Etsy shop plus website that I can promote 1) myself and 2) my creations (which don't exist yet so this is going to be a process)...

I need help making my plan.

Here's my brainstorm list (and please don't steal my ideas... that would not be very nice, and is my number 1 pet peeve). Funny thing is there are thousands of people with my same idea. But we're all unique. And thats what makes it work.

• Etsy Shop
• Personal Website
  
  Things to sell:
• Aprons
• Jewelry
• Magnets
• Little things
• Prints
• Paper stuff (my secret)
• Design services
• Bath and Body - organic, essential oil
• Books
• Ideas... (tricky tricky)

So what do you think? What should I focus on? Where should I begin? What would you like to buy? I hope some of you comment and lend me some guidance!

Weekends with love

Saturday was full of so much SUMMER, it was perfect! We woke and had a cup of coffee with soy milk in bed while we talked with Geof's family about the upcoming trip to Richmond in two weeks. Geof's sister gave us the idea to go to Virginia Beach for a family beach day. WATER! There are many little ones so we'll see how and if that pans out.

Finally up (9:00am) I talked Geof into walking with me to the farmers market. That's 2.3 miles, about 45 minute walk each way. I love to walk, he thinks its inefficient like paddle boating, which I also happen to love. LOVE. Collins on the line, we started out and made it there in good time. Its such a lovely little area, with the Little Man Ice Cream shop and the flowers and old metal slide and patio there.

There are also Lola (tequilla and mexican food), and Vita, a wine bar/bistro with a nice rooftop patio. Nestled between them all was the farmers market where immediately bought a Peach White iced tea. Then some organic salsa, 3 huge beets w/greens, zucchini and squash, and some homemade puppy treat trail mix for Mr. Buddy. Then we came across a little wine tasting  and learned there is a little "wine row" of wineries on 46th and Pecos, just a few blocks from our house! Joy! We started our treck home but stopped at Gallop Cafe here at 32nd and Zuni where I ordered a mimosa and a slice of quiche and Geoffrey ordered a French hen with potatoes (butter croissant with bacon, egg, cheese). Collins had his trail mix and some water and some rest.

On our walk it turned BLAZING hot at (12:30pm) and the last 15 minutes of the walk were no fun at all. Without any AC our house is not very comfortable so we put on bathing suits, grabbed the essentials (frizbee, paddle ball, water, towels, sunblock, chairs, water bowl), and headed to Golden where Geof wanted to swim in Clear Creek.

It's a Colorado thing. I understand the ocean but I do not understand rapids and the uncertaintiy of flash flooding and rivers that flow from 14,000 feet above sea level. They scare me, I should say. BUT, I too splash around in the rivers and creeks here (while keeping a respectful safety distance from anything considred deep or fast). We witnessed the offbeat wedding of Liz and Larry, a country/rock couple who had guitar shaped fans for programs, played a Metalica version of "here comes the bride" on an electric guiater, a wiener dog for a ring bearer, all positioned right in front of Cleer Creek where dozens of people were floating down on big colorful plastic tubes or Alligator shaped boats... After our swim/dip/splash/play/cool off we went to the Golden Hotel at the Bridgewater Grill and had an appetizer plus libation. Crabby cake, small cheese plate with fruit, and a forest mushroom spread, as the evening approached and we sipped it all up. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Sunday consisted of yoga and hammock time. Enough said?

blah!

Dear John,

Thank you for pulling me out of my funk this morning. Well, maybe not fully but you have helped! Here comes the sun, it's alright. Turn it up, listen again. Today, I'm going to rant. Because I can. Why don't you leave a comment and tell me what you think? Agree? Disagree? Shut the F' up? It's all good with me.

I stayed up too late last night watching Shutter Island. The ending left me annoyed, does anyone else not understand and want answers?! To live as a monster or to die as a good man. Does he get a lobotomy by choice? Is he insane or not? Ambiguity leaves me restless.

Public restrooms. Ummmkay. Work, for instance. 5 stalls to choose from. Why the F' do people come in and go into the stall right next to you if there are several open NOT next to you? It creeps me out, dude. It's like they would rather be in the stall WITH you, I mean, I get that its a public bathroom but for F's sake, a little privacy please?! And how about the awkward standoff when you have to go #2? There is nothing worse. Seriously. There's no way I'm going #2 with someone else in the room, are you really waiting for it? Are you waiting for me to poo so you can poo too? Gee thanks, I'm out. You win the standoff, I'll be back later. F'!

Turn it up, listen again. Keep calm and carry on. Or...

On to more important things. Or not. I've been traveling a lot lately. Every 3rd week for the past few months I've been out of town. Fabulous? F' yeah. Double edge sword? Yup. It makes me want to quit my job and live like a "hippy", growing my own food, wearing flowy dresses with braids in my hair and seashells around my neck, making babies with my husband, taking 100 photos a day of everything and nothing, cleaning things and polishing things and painting things and rearranging, cooking... lots of cooking, playing games with my puppy, writing, reading... lots of reading, long walks, watching birds. You know, the REAL stuff. The GOOD stuff.

Not everyone wants that life but I sure do (or do you? c'mon, admit it).Work sucks, dude. Career building workshops. Vacation accrual, sitting here day after day only to earn more time away from here. Funny. Listening to your boss' bad jokes day after day after... you get it. Goodbye cookies? FML. But we do what we do because we have to. What do you do to make your 9-5 tollerable? Posting little things in your cube. A photo. A fun calendar. A tea mug from home. The wallpaper for your desktop, thats very important isn't it? That REALLY defines you, really helps you make a statement: This is ME within the sea of cubes. Is your sssshhhtapler prettier than the others? Do people stop by and comment on it and then thats what you talk about for like 10 minutes? It's painful. Really. On the up-side, I'm blogging at work. I chat at work, facebook at work, read at work. Hell, I even taught myself how to knit at work... but I got in trouble for that one. My responce: "would you rather me be searching the internet?" boss: "yes". HA! Alrighty then...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ungrateful for my job. I do appreciate it very much. I like my coworkers, bonus! I'm just not a career woman. I'm throwback. But modern. I've not always been this way either, I thought my career would be everything to me growing up. I like options. I appreciate all the hard work women have put in to create equality in the work place, in the world, but what's wrong with a little bit of this?:

Turn it up, listen again. Have you seen Keep Calm and Carry On before? If not, or even if you have, here's where it came from: