If one more person asks me what I'm doing for Valentine's Day, I'm going to scream. It's a bit ridiculous to think that I have time to do anything for Valentine's Day at all, much less that I have to be doing something in the first place.
Isn't Valentine's Day about sharing time with those that you love? Isn't it about telling people that they matter to you?
I do that every day. I learned early on that nothing in life is guaranteed. That you don't know when someone you care about might not be there anymore. I make a point to talk to the people who are important to me as often as possible. I tell people that I love them and I live my life to honor those important relationships.
So what am I doing for Valentine's Day? Probably the same as I do every night. Calling one of my very best friends on the way home from work. Snuggling with my fluff balls. Talking to my family on the phone. Chatting with my other very best friend later in the evening. Just a typical Tuesday.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Where to Lend my Voice
Nothing like a reality tv show to make you feel like you are a complete failure...
I discovered the show The Voice today and I am completely hooked. The people featured on this show have some much talent. Every minute that I have watched has made me miss my years singing. While I'm still known to attend a karaoke event here or there and have sang for special occasions in recent years, I pretty much gave up singing 8 years ago. While I was still in high school, I gave up both music and theatre because I realized I didn't love them enough to continue devoting the energy. I still sit down at my keyboard once a week and plunk out a tune here or there and I still sing my heart out in the car but I know, no matter how talented my family says I might be, music isn't wasn't something at which I am good enough to make a difference.
Honestly, it's the same thing with writing. I used to love it. I liked putting my words on the page and making others feel something. But I have come to realize that while I might wish that I had something to say that was worth listening to, really it doesn't matter unless someone wants to read it. I don't write fiction anymore because my characters fall flat and I wouldn't read flat characters so why would anyone else. I stopped writing in this blog because no one was reading it anyway. But I'm going to start up again. Because what I failed to remember was that I wasn't writing in my blog for anyone else to read anyway. I was writing because I need to write. Just like, even though I've "given up" my music, I need to play the keyboard on a regular basis. So we're giving this a go again. I have things to say.
Back to the reality tv show. The thing about The Voice that made me think was that I suddenly was afraid that I'm not making an impact in any area. I'm not performing, I'm not publishing... where am I lending my talents?
And then I realized what a ridiculous thought that was.
Monday-Friday, I go to work and do a job that (I like to think) I'm rather good at. I make a difference in students' lives every day by helping enhance their education and raising money to maintain the college's excellence while also improving areas of need.
When I come home in the evening, I come to an apartment that, while old and unkempt on the exterior, is cozy and welcoming inside. I have created my own little haven, my cozy little home, out of virtually nothing. I live in a city where I knew no one 2 years ago, and where I have no built a little family, furry that they may be, which make this place my home.
Tonight I made a delicious dinner for myself, complete with crusty bread and dipping oil, a salad course, and a glass of red wine.
I browsed through little shops today with a new friend and designed outfits in my head and built complete homes around single pieces of furniture.
All of those are talents that are overlooked as we rush about living our lives. No - nothing about my career, my cats, my cooking skills, and my ability to dream will get me on television. But I don't need to be on television to contribute. To make an impact.
Tomorrow morning, I will get up, bake muffins, brew coffee, and read a book over breakfast. And it will be a good day because I will remind myself that I make a difference in my own life.
All of this musing because of a silly reality tv show.......
I discovered the show The Voice today and I am completely hooked. The people featured on this show have some much talent. Every minute that I have watched has made me miss my years singing. While I'm still known to attend a karaoke event here or there and have sang for special occasions in recent years, I pretty much gave up singing 8 years ago. While I was still in high school, I gave up both music and theatre because I realized I didn't love them enough to continue devoting the energy. I still sit down at my keyboard once a week and plunk out a tune here or there and I still sing my heart out in the car but I know, no matter how talented my family says I might be, music isn't wasn't something at which I am good enough to make a difference.
Honestly, it's the same thing with writing. I used to love it. I liked putting my words on the page and making others feel something. But I have come to realize that while I might wish that I had something to say that was worth listening to, really it doesn't matter unless someone wants to read it. I don't write fiction anymore because my characters fall flat and I wouldn't read flat characters so why would anyone else. I stopped writing in this blog because no one was reading it anyway. But I'm going to start up again. Because what I failed to remember was that I wasn't writing in my blog for anyone else to read anyway. I was writing because I need to write. Just like, even though I've "given up" my music, I need to play the keyboard on a regular basis. So we're giving this a go again. I have things to say.
Back to the reality tv show. The thing about The Voice that made me think was that I suddenly was afraid that I'm not making an impact in any area. I'm not performing, I'm not publishing... where am I lending my talents?
And then I realized what a ridiculous thought that was.
Monday-Friday, I go to work and do a job that (I like to think) I'm rather good at. I make a difference in students' lives every day by helping enhance their education and raising money to maintain the college's excellence while also improving areas of need.
When I come home in the evening, I come to an apartment that, while old and unkempt on the exterior, is cozy and welcoming inside. I have created my own little haven, my cozy little home, out of virtually nothing. I live in a city where I knew no one 2 years ago, and where I have no built a little family, furry that they may be, which make this place my home.
Tonight I made a delicious dinner for myself, complete with crusty bread and dipping oil, a salad course, and a glass of red wine.
I browsed through little shops today with a new friend and designed outfits in my head and built complete homes around single pieces of furniture.
All of those are talents that are overlooked as we rush about living our lives. No - nothing about my career, my cats, my cooking skills, and my ability to dream will get me on television. But I don't need to be on television to contribute. To make an impact.
Tomorrow morning, I will get up, bake muffins, brew coffee, and read a book over breakfast. And it will be a good day because I will remind myself that I make a difference in my own life.
All of this musing because of a silly reality tv show.......
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Touching Base
I'm going to start writing again. Or at least try to start writing again. We'll see how it goes.
I've actually been reading again. For fun. Even though I'm working long hours and not getting enough sleep, I'm reading a lot. I need something to escape to and for as long as I can remember books have been my escape.
As a child, I did it in my little twin bed, using a flashlight to read a book under the blankets, my dog curled up on the floor next to me. I read all the classics - Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, Charlotte's Web. I loved (and still do love) books. I don't just read them, I live with them. The pages are tattered, the corners dog eared, there are notes in the margin of even the most mundane and pedestrian stories, and the covers of my favorites have literally fallen off.
These days, not much has changed, I carry a book everywhere with me, recently purchasing a purse specifically because it would hold a hardcover book or Kindle. I have been known to pull out whatever I'm reading at the time while waiting in the grocery store checkout line. I am not ashamed of the fact that I cannot stop devouring stories. I end almost every day in my gloriously big and cozy queen sized bed, my Kindle in my hand, and my cats curled up on either side of me. Not much has changed since elementary school.
I recently read a trilogy that I wish had been around back in the day of flashlights under the blankets. I hesitate to recommend them as they are obviously a young adult read but I couldn't get enough. The stories focus on a young girl, Cass, who stumbles through a worm hole (for lack of better explanation) onto a deserted planet. She spends time alone in survival mode, before being discovered by an "alien" civilization. The beings who find her are very much human, although they are more in tune with their psychic abilities. This all sounds so ridiculous as I'm writing it out, so just go and look at the description on Amazon. I will leave it with the fact that there's a strong female protagonist, a sexy male love interest (not in a throw-it-in-your-face-sorta-way...) who is still haunting my dreams, and enough science fiction to keep it interesting but not so much that it was truly "sci-fi." Talk about something that offered escape. I was home sick a few weeks ago and spent the entire 3 days in bed reading this books. These books will be re-read many times.
I've actually been reading again. For fun. Even though I'm working long hours and not getting enough sleep, I'm reading a lot. I need something to escape to and for as long as I can remember books have been my escape.
As a child, I did it in my little twin bed, using a flashlight to read a book under the blankets, my dog curled up on the floor next to me. I read all the classics - Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, Charlotte's Web. I loved (and still do love) books. I don't just read them, I live with them. The pages are tattered, the corners dog eared, there are notes in the margin of even the most mundane and pedestrian stories, and the covers of my favorites have literally fallen off.
These days, not much has changed, I carry a book everywhere with me, recently purchasing a purse specifically because it would hold a hardcover book or Kindle. I have been known to pull out whatever I'm reading at the time while waiting in the grocery store checkout line. I am not ashamed of the fact that I cannot stop devouring stories. I end almost every day in my gloriously big and cozy queen sized bed, my Kindle in my hand, and my cats curled up on either side of me. Not much has changed since elementary school.
I recently read a trilogy that I wish had been around back in the day of flashlights under the blankets. I hesitate to recommend them as they are obviously a young adult read but I couldn't get enough. The stories focus on a young girl, Cass, who stumbles through a worm hole (for lack of better explanation) onto a deserted planet. She spends time alone in survival mode, before being discovered by an "alien" civilization. The beings who find her are very much human, although they are more in tune with their psychic abilities. This all sounds so ridiculous as I'm writing it out, so just go and look at the description on Amazon. I will leave it with the fact that there's a strong female protagonist, a sexy male love interest (not in a throw-it-in-your-face-sorta-way...) who is still haunting my dreams, and enough science fiction to keep it interesting but not so much that it was truly "sci-fi." Talk about something that offered escape. I was home sick a few weeks ago and spent the entire 3 days in bed reading this books. These books will be re-read many times.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Saturday mornings
If I have a morning off each week, it is Saturday. Usually I work on Saturday nights but this week I have a whole day off to do absolutely nothing.
I woke up this morning wanting pancakes. I don't even like pancakes. But I am willing to bet I venture out to by eggs so I can attempt to make pancakes before my day is over.
I should spend my only morning off catching up on all of the things that I don't get done during the week. Since I was traveling, the house isn't awful. But it could use a thorough spring cleaning before the waves of company invade over the next few weeks. I think I'll just find time to do that next weekend.
Today, I would like to do a whole lot of nothing. Maybe make the aforementioned pancakes. Probably bake butter cake with chocolate frosting later. Eat leftovers for lunch and maybe cook for dinner - I'm kind of wanting salmon as well. Just watched some tv chef make salmon on Food Network and it looked delicious.
Sounds like my day is going to revolve around food. Just so long as it doesn't revolve around laundry, I'm ok.
Really, I'll probably lay in bed for a while yet. I laid on the couch for hours last night and every time the thought went through my brain that I should get up and get something done, the cats took control and settled in for a long snooze.
(Notice their coordinating collars. Souvenirs from my work trip. Too cute.)
And then this morning, I thought about getting up and starting to move and Charlie snuggled in. I wouldn't want to disturb her.
I woke up this morning wanting pancakes. I don't even like pancakes. But I am willing to bet I venture out to by eggs so I can attempt to make pancakes before my day is over.
I should spend my only morning off catching up on all of the things that I don't get done during the week. Since I was traveling, the house isn't awful. But it could use a thorough spring cleaning before the waves of company invade over the next few weeks. I think I'll just find time to do that next weekend.
Today, I would like to do a whole lot of nothing. Maybe make the aforementioned pancakes. Probably bake butter cake with chocolate frosting later. Eat leftovers for lunch and maybe cook for dinner - I'm kind of wanting salmon as well. Just watched some tv chef make salmon on Food Network and it looked delicious.
Sounds like my day is going to revolve around food. Just so long as it doesn't revolve around laundry, I'm ok.
Really, I'll probably lay in bed for a while yet. I laid on the couch for hours last night and every time the thought went through my brain that I should get up and get something done, the cats took control and settled in for a long snooze.
And then this morning, I thought about getting up and starting to move and Charlie snuggled in. I wouldn't want to disturb her.
Friday, March 11, 2011
I am a terrible blogger / reader / movie watcher lately...
I need some culture in my life. I mean besides laying on the couch, browsing online, watching Say Yes to the Dress, and making my dad's "secret recipe" scalloped potato and ham on a Friday night. Don't get me wrong. It has been a very very very (one more for good measure) very long month. Work, other work, visitors in town, more work, conference travel... that has been my life for the last month. Looking forward, it's going to be my life for the next couple of months as well.
I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I'm not. I'm tired, yes, but it's ok. It's nice to be busy for once.
I haven't been reading any books or watching any movies lately. I haven't even watched Nip/Tuck in a few weeks. I just haven't found anything to keep my interest. I realized tonight I've had the same dvd from Netflix for 6 weeks. Thank god for no late fees. But what a waste of money for it just to sit here. I'm sending it back without watching it. Clearly I'm not as interested in Book of Eli as I thought I was.
A few weeks ago, some of my best friends Kyle & Heidi were in town with their sons. Instead of showing them the finer things in Lexington, we ate at Culver's, watched portions of multiple stupid movies, and ate breakfast at Waffle House. Oh and I got their car towed. Wonderful to see them but not exactly exciting. I have become the worst hostess on the planet.
No, that can't be true. People keep coming to visit so I can't be all that awful! In the next 6 weeks, I have 3 different weekends with company in town. I usually cook for my guests and that's something!
Wow, most boring blog post ever.
I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I'm not. I'm tired, yes, but it's ok. It's nice to be busy for once.
I haven't been reading any books or watching any movies lately. I haven't even watched Nip/Tuck in a few weeks. I just haven't found anything to keep my interest. I realized tonight I've had the same dvd from Netflix for 6 weeks. Thank god for no late fees. But what a waste of money for it just to sit here. I'm sending it back without watching it. Clearly I'm not as interested in Book of Eli as I thought I was.
A few weeks ago, some of my best friends Kyle & Heidi were in town with their sons. Instead of showing them the finer things in Lexington, we ate at Culver's, watched portions of multiple stupid movies, and ate breakfast at Waffle House. Oh and I got their car towed. Wonderful to see them but not exactly exciting. I have become the worst hostess on the planet.
No, that can't be true. People keep coming to visit so I can't be all that awful! In the next 6 weeks, I have 3 different weekends with company in town. I usually cook for my guests and that's something!
Wow, most boring blog post ever.
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