Poo

I always forget what happens after a relaxing vacation.

Reality.

I came home all ready for conquering the world.  I cleaned up the new place and finally had most of the stuff in order.  I clean the old one today and get everything completely out of there.  But as I was checking my grades for my newest Buddhism paper, it was a big slap in the face.  60%.  The lowest D.

I'm not attempting to brag, but in all classes my papers receive nothing but A's.  So with this grade added to the 67% I received on my first Biochemistry test, I pretty much feel like a big pile of poo.

But, I refuse to let it get to me much more.  I will go home, scrub down the old place and say goodbye.  Then I will buy a sage stick and get rid of all negative energy.  And move on.

If only I wasn't so tired from waking up extra early...

Charmed Living

I’ve realized how much I enjoy a certain type of self-help books.  They aren’t necessarily how to get what you want or how to get over your controlling self, but more how to enjoy yourself and stop getting stuck in the negative, stressful rut that Western civilization seems to be obsessed with.

My most current read was while I spent a rejuvenating weekend at my grandparents cabin.  “Living a Charmed Life” by Victoria Moran gives fifty short essays on different ways to alter your thinking, change your habits and live a “charmed” life (whatever that may be).  I love Victoria for her spirituality and openness.  She is not suggesting perfection, nor is she offering salvation.  But for those who are already spiritual she shows how to further that relationship with the Higher Being and “share the light.”  Yes, maybe a little kum bai yah, but encouraging nonetheless.

I appreciate her practical suggestions as well.  Getting up early to meditate and take the time to slowly get ready, eat breakfast and drink your morning coffee (or Teecinno) is a far better way to start the day than a rushed shower and piece of toast out the door.  Regular exercise including 20-30 minutes cardio, the same of strength training and 10 minutes of stretching gives about an hour at the gym for 5-6 days a week.  For some reason, this suggestion doesn’t seem as terrible as an hour of cardio every day.  Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I hate doing the same thing for too long (this coming from the girl who refuses to quilt simply because it’s too big a project).  And then there are ideas such as the Law of Expectation.  Expect that you’ll get/do/be something and you will.  Very “positive thinking” but hey, it’s much better than being a negative nelly.  Although according to this law, if you think something negative you’ll get it.

Perhaps it’s the encouragement that life can be better if we choose to do something about it that draws me to these books.  I’m an action-based individual.  I do things.  This is just another way to make it better, even if it does mean adding a little "magic."

It's a birthday weekend!

It's Erik's 22nd birthday today.  Happy Birthday!  Uploader isn't working right now, but I'll post pictures of the cake when it works :).

Last year we were crawling in the bushes... (way too much for a 21 run).

I will be in the woods.

And experiencing Folk Life Festival in Seattle, Wa.  I havent been for 18 years and am looking forward to going with my family.  Again.  My little brothers are about the same age I and my sister were when we went.

Not to mention, a break.  While I got a terrible grade on my first biochemistry test, I refuse to work on anything this weekend.  It shall be fantastic.

Have a lovely memorial day weekend!

My Construction Zone

So we are finally about moved into the new apartment.  A few odds and ends remain in the old apartment (which is right next door) and we still need to clean it up, but mostly we're done moving.  It's just that the darn place is a mess.  School gets in the way of organizing, decorating and deep cleaning.  Needless to say,  I'm currently living in the middle of a construction zone.

I'm pretty sure I should just plaster my doors with this sign.

I painted my bookshelves a lovely blue, but then the big one broke.  It's now in pieces on the balcony.

However, we bought this fantastic grill and had a bbq last weekend, which was fabulous!  It rained cats and dogs, but we had a good time anyway.  

And now we have enough room that this gigantic desk can fit in our apartment!  Erik really wanted one so we made it work.  Even though the entertainment center kind of leans forward due to the waves of the old floors, it still works.

I promise I will post actual pictures once the house gets in order.  But between work and school, there just hasn't been enough time to dedicate to making sure everything is sorted and put away.  Next weekend though, that will be the day!

Cheers!

Be Present

‎"This cycle of reactivity is called suffering. The task of our practice is to transform such reactivity and the greed, hatred, and delusion that fuel it. It is to realize that it is possible to experience pain without suffering, without passing on the pain to ourselves or others.” 

—From Donald Rothberg, "Present Moment, Urgent Moment" (“Tricycle” magazine, Fall 2004)

Meet Me On Monday

Here it is, another beginning to a fabulous week!  To celebrate, it's another Meet Me On Monday blog hop from Never Growing Older.


1. What is your favorite bagel flavor?
2. If you had an extra $100 right now, what would you spend it on?
3. What is the last thing that you felt guilt about doing?
4. Soft serve ice cream or hand dipped?
5. Are you allergic to anything?

The Summer List.

Well here it is. Spring semester is over and for those who mark seasons by their school schedules, it is now summer.  I am taking summer classes, so it isn't quite as fabulous as it is for others but I am enjoying it just the same.  The weather has been more enjoyable lately and we're even hosting a BBQ this weekend in celebration of our move and to celebrate the beginning of a great time.

I saw on Fit Foodie Finds a Summer list of sorts and I thought I should make my own.  Goals for the summer and things that I just want to do in my spare time.  Here is what I have come up with.

1.  Walk.  Every single darn day.  It is so pretty here, there is no reason to not take at least a half hour jaunt  to enjoy the pretty flowers and greenery.  Plus, I could use the extra exercise.

2.  Learn how to garden.  Even if it's just a few little potted plants, I need to hone this skill.  I just hope the squirrel doesn't eat all the green stuff and leave my plants to nothing.

3.  Feel good in my swimsuit (and shorts).  I stole this one from Fit Foodie Finds.  Every Spring I eat too much which leads to a poor self-esteem in Summer clothing.  I am bound and determined to feel good in my swimsuit and feel capable of putting on a pair of shorts, which was not possible last Summer.  The varicose veins sure don't help, but I figure if I can tan up enough they aren't as visible.  I refuse to let my self-esteem and laziness get in the way of cooling off this Summer.

4.  Get up before 10a.m.  Until June 25th, this won't be a problem since I have class at 8:30a.m. every day.  But last Summer, since I had no job and nothing to do I pretty much slept until 10:30a.m. or even as last as noon every single day.  I will not waste my mornings this year, no sirree.

5.  Enjoy time.  Take advantage of the cool evenings.  Relax.  Read books.  Sew.  Write.  Do all the things I want to do in my spare time when I have the spare time.  Don't waste it.

Meet Me on Monday.

I took such a long break from the Never Growing Older's Meet Me on Monday blog hop, but now I'm back into it!  Here are this week's questions


1.  Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
2.  What is your favorite color Rose?
3.  Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?
4.  What is your favorite season?
5.  Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?

A bit of catching up to do.

Yep, I certainly have been gone for a long time.  And here is the run-down..

French films.  In all my spare time.  Some of my new favorites include "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" and "How To Get Married And Stay Single."  While Audrey Tautou ends up in many of the popular French films these days, she is fabulous and I love her adorable personality.  Not to mention she looks like Audrey Hepburn.

Spring pounds.  I have put them on by the heap-load (not even sure if that is a word..).  Embarrassed by my extra weight and inability to fit comfortably into my clothing, I have purchased a few billowy tube-tops and signed up for a summer of fitness classes at the Student Rec Center.  I'm really hoping that the little added money I have to put down will help me to stay away from extra food.  Four Zumba classes a week had better get my butt into shape (literally).

School. Is. Through.  Except for my summer courses.  I will be taking Biochemistry and Buddhism (a "B" semester, it seems).  Excited for Buddhism.  Boo on Biochemistry.  But there isn't much of an option, unless I choose to graduate a semester later which isn't an option for me.  Thankfully everything will be complete by June 24th and I'll truly get to begin my summer.

Moving.  In less than a week.  I just began painting the bookshelves in order to prepare them for their new home across the balcony.  Tomorrow I'll finish it up and hopefully have some delightful pictures to show you.

Tired. Tired. Tired.  Finally the weather has decided to co-operate, but the humidity level has taken a few leaps.  It wore me out today, especially with work.  But it is splendid to be able to enjoy something other than sweaters.  However, I did have to take a trip to the Goodwill to find anything that wouldn't have me breaking into a sweat.  Note to self: when sorting through closet, leave a few out-of-season options for a change in weather!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Family Heirlooms

This weekend while visiting my family, my grandma gave me an extraordinary gift.  Her wedding dress.

I had tried it on back in December, since she has been sorting through things and figuring out what to do with it.  I loved it, and since she was willing to let me alter it I definitely accepted (even though I'm not currently engaged).  It is gorgeous.  The layers of lace spill over looking delightfully elegant and, dare I say it, vintage.

It made me think about how important it is to pass things down.  For some reason we don't seem to do this as often as we used to.  Perhaps it's because items are so readily available.  Maybe we don't treasure things as people did in the past.  But for whatever reason, passing down valuable items with history is not really done.

I want this back.  I want to give something old and of value to my children.  Something to remind them of the past, to honor it.

To show them.

The darn wheel is stuck

I feel so terribly absent.

Once I try to sit down and write, nothing happens.  Nothing notable has been going on, I haven't been able to think of a new project, and I haven't really read anything new to share.

It appears I am in a rut.

What do you do when you get into these situations?