!

I was so excited to see this Sunday Secret...

...because it's what I do every single time I notice a penny heads down!

Red Sun

This song puts a fleeting, yet vivid image in my mind:

Setting: an open road stretching as far as the eye can see through the great plains at dusk, rolled-down windows, and a tremendous thunderstorm illuminating the cloud cover far off in the distance. A man with sad eyes turns to smile at the woman next to him in the front seat as she raises her face toward the sky through the open window, inviting the wind to whip through her hair. The stars gently wink at them from the gradually deepening night and they are wholly happy just to sit beside one another.



Very simple; very powerful.

phobia

Conal and Travis just removed a freaking brown recluse from the office
two down from mine using a metal toolbox and a broom whilst wearing
gloves from the shop. Then, knowing full well that I'm seriously
arachnophobic, proceeded to come into my office, stand in front of the
door, and described it in detail even when I told them to stop.
They're such assholes, but at least they didn't bring it in here to
show me like they had considered doing. THEN they told me that Nora
just spotted another one in the ladies' room. Now I can't pee here
either.

Shit. I needed to get this off my chest...but I am bolting out of
here the moment I click "send" and I may or may not set this
God-forsaken spider-infested building ablaze on my way out. Peace
out.

My otter half.

Ok...this just made my head explode:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I am going to send an email to "Fuck You, Penguin" to nominate this dangerous cuteness for an entry. It's very disruptive to my work as it's hard to be really productive when I have the warm fuzzies.

A case of the Mondays...on a Tuesday. With lemon zest.

Yesterday caught up with me. I'm so cashed...not to mention that it seemed like everyone at work was having a bad day today and thoroughly unpleasant.

Another Joe and Sherri blogworthy conversation...but in English, rather than the standard LOLspeak, for maybe the first time ever:

Joseph: oh my. i just got a friend request on facebook from my ex

me: whoa...the one who you were with for a really long time

Joseph: yeah

me: :-/ how do you feel about that

Joseph: i dunno...strange. it came with a message "wanna be my friend?"

i should reply back "meh, i'd rather not" would that be real mean?

me: was she harsh when she broke up with you

Joseph: nah

me: maybe you could just write back something like "thanks but im not comfortable with that, take care"

...but I guess "meh" works too

Joseph: lol i love meh

me: haha. meh. im not comfortable with that.

Joseph: but then i think about it and anthony is friends with an ex of his

oh these social networking sites

i wonder if when searching me she saw my fan club page

me: thats why id be inclined to say no...im picky about friends now that social networking sites have gotten creepy

i dont want someone all up in my biznisss who I don't want to be there

Joseph: true. thats like the first communication i've had with her since like...2007?

me: wow

Joseph: i think i'd rather not friend her. for the sake of avoiding drama

me: good call

are you going to write back

Joseph: all i need is Tom seeing it in the feed and not that he would say anything but if someone told Lauren that i was friends with my ex-gf who is married on fb

not that i think she would get upset about anything but better safe then sorry

me: right...dont wanna rock the boat

Joseph: how does a "i appreciate the gesture but i have to politely decline" sound?

me: thats very polite

Joseph: ...followed by a meh

me: kfsdflsd

i laughed...really loud

Joseph: lol

Joe 1 Sherri 0

me: booo

Joseph: how does this sound? "i appreciate the gesture but i have to politely decline. also not capitalize anything."

"congrats on the new last name"

me: your new last name is very fitting and have a nice life...meh

Joseph: lol, i had to hold in my lol

me: joe: 1 sherri: 0.5 ?

Joseph: i'll allow it okay i sent a reply

me: what was it

Joseph: i went with the "i appreciate the gesture but i have to politely decline. also not capitalize anything"

me: "also not capitalize anything?"

you actually added that for real?

Joseph: haha yes

me: that's awesome

Joseph: i call those the lemon zest of joe humor

sprinkled in for taste

the deadpan ending

Yeahhh that last three lines pretty much made the whole conversation. Maybe my amusement can be partially attributed to having a case of the sleepyhahas. Anyway, I can't function so I'm leaving...I might post later after a powernap. I actually have bloggable stuff to share for the first time in a few days.

I'm enamored by a completely wonderful and silly love song.

"And if I was a tree growing tall and green / All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves"

Desiderata

Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann, has always been one of the most, if not the most, important and influential pieces of writing in my life so far. It all started when I first learned how to read and would be transfixed by a scroll that hung on the wall in my house, on which my sister had written Desiderata in her lovely calligraphy. Before I could really get it all (words like "drudgery" are hard for a little kid), my dad would read it to me, and then explain the different parts of the poem. I always keep a copy of it on or near me (purse, bedroom, desk at work) and try to read it at least once every day. Reading it in the morning is best I think...it helps me prepare my mind for the day. The poem gives the reader a lot to think about, but I find that no matter what, each day I can directly apply at least one part of Desiderata.

Here goes:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

TGIF^max (GO PENGUINS!!)

I'm feeling really quiet today. Things are dead at work so I'm not sure yet whether or not I'm going to get in trouble for breaking rules during yesterday's shenanigans. Most Fridays are slow around here, and I wear jeans on Fridays, so that's cool too.

Tonight is game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and I really want the Penguins to win. Aside from the fact that I'm a Pens fan, I pretty much loathe the Red Wings and would be displeased to see them win another Cup back-to-back. I do like Osgood though...great goaltender and he seems like a solid guy. Oh, and sometimes I use an Yzerman blade when I play. That's the extent of my positive Red Wing feedback.

Ahh I'm so nervous...let's hope the Pens bring their A-game to Detroit.

After the hockey game, I may or may not go bowling. I'm not in the mood. I like bowling and all, but I have to be in the mood for it, although even when I resist going I always end up having a good time. Actually, that's how I am often...sometimes I want to go out and be around people, and sometimes I'm a hermit and really don't feel like being in contact with anyone (save for a select few). As with bowling though, I do have to admit that when I force myself to go out I usually end up having a pretty good time. When I explain my inconsistent social tendencies to my mom, she never believes me because I'm "such a social butterfly." I think she believes that because I was so busy doing 3498572937 different things in high school. Different things = different sets of people. No matter...maybe I'll go and have fun bowling tonight, or maybe I'll stay behind and have fun doing other stuff. I love win-win situations.

Tomorrow, I'm cycling with Kim, headed to the fantastically quirky Saturn Club for a haircut, then off to the farm to pick up this week's share and generally hang out, enjoy the scenery, and pick peoples' brains about growing things. For some reason, I'm always nervous and excited before haircuts. After all that I'll probably hit up the library for a few hours to play Scrabble (if they have any games going), pay my overdue fines (moment of silence while I hang my head in shame) and soak up that particular kind of awesome peacefulness that only exists in libraries. Used bookstores do it for me too.

...wow. I am such a dork.

In exactly one week, I will be at home getting ready for Kevin's wedding. I'm so excited for him, but it's still surreal. In exactly 8 days, I will be...doing...I don't know what exactly. But I do know for a fact that it will be wonderful. And I still need a dress.

I haven't picked my lips once since I swore to myself I wouldn't.

On that note, Kim just came in and made me laugh harder than I have in a really long time:

"Heck, let's just give him porn and a sock...there's really not much else the kid can do!"

Rawawrgghh - HUGE rant

Ok, so I rarely bitch about people like I'm about to do, but friggin N is driving me up the wall and I need to vent.

First thing this morning, I followed accounting protocol and asked him to run a report for me by 11:30 that I can't run for myself because I'm not supposed to access all the finance information. He agreed rather pleasantly and then three hours later (it's 11:31) sauntered into my office to jokingly complain to me about how demanding I am in asking him to run a report I could theoretically do in 5 minutes.

I gently jobbed him back: "I'd be more than happy to not have to rely on you to do my work, and maybe you should take the issue of my limited access to accounting up with the CFO. OH, and if it only takes 5 minutes in the first place, why wasn't it done in the past two hours and why are you shooting the shit instead of running the report?" Instead of addressing that at all, he gets comfortable in my doorway, flips my lights on (urgh), and starts asking me about my weekend. Um, that's a question for Monday morning, N, and not when I have an imminent deadline for which you have to produce something tiny but crucial.

Then he proceeded to make fun of me for being female. Yes...you read right. Female. Because I was born with two X chromosomes. That's like criticizing someone for his shoe size, being left-handed, or natural hair color. Speaking of shoes...he looked at my feet, mentioned that my shoes "look expensive" (?!) and started trying to guess how many pairs of shoes I have and how much I spend on shoes per month because "all you women have some serious shoe shopping problems." Wtf does that even mean?

By the way, this report is due to the insurance company at noon so a guy out on Workers' Comp who is a single dad to two small kids can have at least some income while his broken foot heals and he can't weld. What kills me is that N knows all of this. I realize I'm lucky enough to have a nice job with a salary where I could work from home if I needed to, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what happens when someone who is paid hourly for manual labor is unable to work for weeks. No hours = no money. I've only had a "real job" for two years, and N has for about 10. Why do I - the rookie in this company no less - understand this and he doesn't? Hot damn.

Since I deal with the shop guys on a daily basis, I originally was supposed to have an office located right in the main shop so the guys can come see me whenever they need to. It's nice having a window and all, but at this moment, I wish more than ever that I worked in that cinderblock room where at least I'd be around people who don't ride around on a high horse all day, loiter in doorways like a creeper, and actually have a clue about what the hell is going on. This is a steel fabrication company; it wouldn't even exist without welders.

Ok, I feel better. Other than the fact that I just saw N walk by to go to lunch without giving me my data (rawr). Maybe this is stupid of me, but...I'm waiting for IT to get down here so they can override the security settings and let me run the damn report myself because I don't care - I'll gladly take the heat for it - that info is going out TODAY or broken foot guy doesn't get paid for potentially another two weeks.

That said, I may or may not have already gotten in big trouble by the time I post my next entry on here. If you think of it, please say a quick prayer for me.

I just saw a mouse in my office. What should I name it?

Laugh lines

First order of business: home in one week. Can I get a "hell yes!"?

Usually when I'm on my way to work I plug in my iPod and play it on shuffle mode after I'm done listening to my morning show. For some reason, "Casimir Pulaski Day" plays without fail on every cloudy morning. It's a perfect song for driving on an overcast day.

I drove past "my" graveyard (Cheltenham - the one with fresh flowers, flags and the nice bike cop) this morning, and for the first time felt heart-wrenchingly terrible driving past it. I saw some workers milling around making finishing touches on four freshly-dug grave plots...all in a row, with matching headstones. Someone was arranging flowers around the area - beautifully if I might add - so I guess the funeral is today.

Onward.

The first song of last night's hockey warm up? "Lovegame." That's right kids...Kim played it in my honor and made it known to the rest of the world (and by that I mean the 30 hockey players and 2 refs on the ice) that she wants to have some fun, the beat is sick, and she wants to take a ride on my disco stick. FTW.

I looked in the mirror after my shower this morning and smiled at myself. Leaning in a little closer, I noticed the very beginnings of laugh lines - tiny crinkles around the outsides of my eyes. I have to say, I really like them. So much, in fact, that the crinkles deepened when I spotted them. Laugh lines at 24?! I definitely have had a lot to laugh and smile about so far in my life and am proud to wear the proof :)

Here's Bobby's rainbow from yesterday:

:)

Can you believe that it was taken with a mobile phone?! I don't recall ever seeing a rainbow with such clearly defined bands.

Huge lightning bolt just now...I think a storm's coming.

I require chapstick, caffeine, and a dress for Kev's wedding. I should get on that...kthxbai.

Game SEVEN!

I am so stoked for Friday's hockey game when the Penguins win the Stanley Cup!

Here's Joe's brazilliant LOLgwin from last night:

I just have to say: if facial hair growth during playoffs was not highly sacred, I would attack Tyler Kennedy's neckbeard with hedge trimmers.  For reals.

GO PENS!

Yahoo Answers Fail...or Epic Win?

This just in:

This beat is sick.

Holler.

For the past week or so, it seems like every morning when I come to work there are 3 (+/- 1) equally urgent and often overdue disasters sitting on my desk, in my email, or a frantic voicemail telling me about something needing to be resolved. Why would you say you can complete a task, then wait for it to be overdue to ask someone else for help or better yet, pass it off completely? Rawr. The job always gets done, but disasters make for interesting days that at least go by quickly. Yesterday I wanted to beat myself over the head with my keyboard but today has been pretty productive, so I guess we're moving onward and upward.

Last night's game was really fun even though we lost. Every time I play I feel like a bit more rust gets scrubbed off and I get faster and stronger. It started out being fun when the first song of the warmup was Poker Face (of Kim's choosing). I gave Kim the Lady Gaga album last week so now she regularly comes into my office and serenades me. In fact, I feel extra special as the song of the day is "Lovegame" and she's come in to profess to me about 4 times: "Let's have some fun, this beat is sick. I wanna take a ride on your disco stick." Oooh la la! It's funny and comic relief is always welcome.

We played a U19 team last night...I think it may have been Tier I. A lot of the women on my team got pissed off at the aggression and general immaturity of the girls we played. To the point where if two people ran into each other and it was my teammate that fell over, she would come to the bench complaining about the girls being "too rough" and "barbaric."  What?!  Come on, people. I know women's hockey is no checking, but...it's still hockey, which is by definition a contact sport. And you're wearing what practically equates to your body weight in padding. You're going to run into someone at some point. Whatever. I got punched in the back of the head once and was deemed a "fucking bitch" by at least four of the girls, but I remember what it was like to be a U19. Basically, hockey is life and for most of them, their college tuition rests in their skates and to play in a Division I club on scholarship, you have to show that kind of tenacity. I never did anything as cheap as punching anyone in the back of the head, but my teammates did, and I definitely was way more hot-headed and outspoken on the ice than I am now. It's amazing how much a person can chill out in 6 years.  I have good memories, but man am I glad those cut-throat hockey days are over.

I went to yoga on Sunday and definitely pulled my ass (ahem...gluteus maximus). It was a really difficult practice; probably the best, most challenging one I've had outside of Bikram. That doesn't make it any easier to sit though...know any stellar butt-masseuses?

Tidbit of information for you courtesy of 140pedia:
"Band-aid (Paradox): Fixes all childhood ills from gushing blood to tiny scrape until time for removal, at which time it morphs into torture device."

Thanks, Mom/Persian heritage, for giving me really hairy arms! I can attest to the use of band-aids as torture devices. However, I can also attest to the fact that band-aids have secret magical healing powers...especially when they're colorful.

I really like today's Rule for My Unborn Son: 

373. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.

There's an orange on my desk staring me down...no doubt mocking me for wanting it so badly yet not being able to peel it without mangling it. Hmpf. I despise arrogant fruit. Maybe Kim will peel it for me but I'll have to ask later because she looks stressed. 

I have no idea how this entry got to be so long. I have a meeting in approximately one minute, so peace out.

Chan Chan

:)

mah noo kix

I got some cute shoes...very unlike the styles I usually wear but aren't they fun?!

And yes, they are silver! By the way, this season, "toe cleavage" is the new black. So sexy. As is glow-in-the-dark white skin. Commit that to memory so that when you're not sure whether or not you're being fashionable, ask yourself: toe cleavage? Pale skin?

Yes! Okreadygo.

Wake up, Sleepyhead...I think the sun's a little brighter today.

Today's been really good (and sunny) so far.

I've been listening to the new Dave Matthews Band album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King"...and I actually like it a lot. I guess I wasn't expecting too much as I haven't been a huge DMB fan since the late 1990s/early 2000s. I just stopped being "wowed" by the stuff they were producing, but this is fantastic. What's cool is that it's also a tribute to LeRoi Moore, their saxophonist and a founding member of the band who died last August, because "GrooGrux King" was his nickname.

I don't usually drink coffee this late in the day, but my apartment is bright, I feel relaxed and accomplished from all the stuff I did today, so I decided to grind some of my favorite beans and brew a pot. I first found out about Blue Water Coffee when I got some in my GreensGrow Farms share a few weeks ago, and I'm hooked. I tried it while I was at the farm, and after I got my share I went straight to the store and bought a coffee bean grinder before going home so I could make some for myself. Om nom nom nom. I found out that Blue Water Coffee has a shop in Germantown that's only about 2 miles from me so maybe I'll go tomorrow morning.

That reminds me...I need a bike pump. This morning I went down to the basement to get my bike so I could ride it to the river and my tires were flat. Boo. I ended up driving down to Fairmount Park which was fine because I just parked on the other side of the woods so I could hike through them to the dragonboat regatta to benefit the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society.

I hung out with Tom for a few hours and had a great time...he's 61 and a totally boss guy.

I mean, who else but an Irish gentleman would bring an icebox containing a Guinness (especially for me) to kick off the morning, but also a beer mug to pour it into because he firmly believes that "a lady should never drink Guinness out of a can." I felt pretty special...and classy :).

It was nice meeting his PVVMS buddies as well as some of the guys in his Irish-American Organization because both really mean a lot to him. I heard some stories from the vets that were not only interesting to hear, but also reminded me of how grateful I am for their service.

The hike back through the woods was wonderful...hikes in Fairmount Park are by no means comparable to hikes in Colorado, but it was amazing nonetheless. I took a few trails that obviously weren't well-traveled and saw some cool stuff. For example, every now and then you'll come across an old spring house that is still standing:

The woods soothe me...I don't care who you are; trees and plants (wilderness in general) are therapeutic and great for the soul. I'm glad I was in the woods alone (don't worry...I had my phone and beloved trusty knife) because this was an excellent sitting tree and I spent awhile here:

When I got home, I cleaned up some stuff, baked brownies, AND made a batch of yogurt (old school...in a pot!). I'm also bandage-free and will try getting back to yoga tomorrow. I've hated not being able to do it because my hand prevented me from doing most of the poses.

I just finished listening to the new DMB album for the second time and I don't just "like it a lot" it...I love it.

Ok...here's the song that just came up and a good road trip song if I may say so:

I really needed a day like today...I've struggled lately, which to my credit is understandable given what's been going on, but also feels strange for me as I'm naturally a positive (and I like to think tough) person. I've barely left the apartment (or yard) unless I absolutely have to in the past few weeks. I'm not used to floundering for so long at a time, but I'm coming out of my funk (thanks family and friends!) and once again feel equipped to deal with what comes my way. There are good things on the horizon...aaaand I'm orbalicious.

Oh and I can't forget...happy 25th Birthday, Tetris!

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4

GO PENGUINS!

courtesy of teh Joh.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4

via LOLgwins by noreply@blogger.com (joe) on 6/5/09

7%

Sarah sent this to me today; some stuck with me, some didn't.  I highlighted in bold the ones I really like.

The following article was written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio:

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: 

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 

5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 

24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 

27. Always choose life. 

28. Forgive everyone everything. 

29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 

33. Believe in miracles. 

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. 

37. Your children get only one childhood. 

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 

42. The best is yet to come. 

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 

44. Yield. 

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

In the interest of getting the lid off this pressure cooker...

I just have to say: I'm beyond pissed right now.

in time of daffodils

in time of daffodils(who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why,remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so(forgetting seem)

in time of roses(who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if,remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek(forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me,remember me

...i'm working on it :)

bananas + cereal

I've been carrying this around with me for about 6 years:

That's what it's all about.

Being the extremely hopeless romantic that I am...this really sticks.  I remember flipping through the magazine while sitting in a waiting room.  My eyes welled up at "'Lousy,' he said. 'The Union's at stake.'" and I was a soggy mess by the time I had reached the end of the article; frantically looking around for a box of those terrible tissues you only find in medical offices.  You know...the ones that feel like thinly sliced cardboard (which I've always found to be ironic since a lot of people cry, blow noses, etc. at medical facilities). 

Then, I did something I never do to public/borrowed reading materials: I ripped the page out, folded it three times, and stuffed it into my bookbag just as the doctor called me in.  

It's rare to find this kind of love, and who knows if I ever will, but every time I read this I'm reminded that I do firmly believe it's worth seeking and waiting for.

And with that, I believe I've met my sentimental squishy sap quota for the day.

J'adore! to the beauty in Paris-red lipstick (Alternate Title: I am a lucky girl)

Em, I trust you won't be mad about me posting this, but your message was way too sweet, funny, and accurate for me to simply hit 7 to erase, try to commit to memory how you said it, and let it go at that.  

Plus, I feel the need to publicly acknowledge (to the handful of people who read this) that you called me out fair and square.  You deserve a shout-out for defending your perfect record of remaining unthwarted despite the ridiculous number of flaming hoops you've jumped through, florists you've gracefully coaxed into making something beautiful at the last minute even though it's peak season, and the cracks you managed to slip through in HUP's seamless (cough) security system, among other things, in order to find me and love me.

Heeeeeere's Emily (via voicemail):

Hey Lady!

I just wanted to let you know that I am going to be relentless about calling you until I hear your sweet sweet voice, because I don't want you to recede into that cave you go to when you are not doing well and don't let the people who love you anywhere near enough to kiss and hug you.

Relentless, woman.  Relentless.  Sooo...yeah call me! Love you, bye.

Duly noted.  I love you more than lilacs and will call you tomorrow. 

Look down. See that hand in yours?

It's mine...let's jump together.

You can do anything you put your beautiful mind to.  I promise.

So Sham and I came out of the glampop-closet when we meekly confessed to each other that we actually are totally all about Lady Gaga.  This inspired us to synchronize our iTunes starts/stops in order to listen to the exact same thing at the exact same time despite the 1800 physical miles between us.  None of this is to say that I can completely hang with Lady Gaga's divaliciousness....often times I think she's batshit crazy, but love her or hate her, I can't see how anyone could contest the fact that the chick is a genius of sorts. 

"The Fame" - $10

Standard PC speakers - $30

Seated dance party for two spanning nearly two thousand miles - Priceless.

Baby flying squirrels: a mini-9/11 in your hand

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Baby flying squirrels: a mini-9/11 in your hand

via Fuck You, Penguin by bza on 6/1/09

Flying Squirrel, you are a fucking disaster. There's so much wrong with this photo, it's hard to know where to begin. But let's just start with the fact that you can FIT INSIDE A FUCKING LADY'S HAND AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH SPACE LEFT OVER FOR YOUR WHISKERS. I know you think your curled up little tail is going to melt hearts everywhere, but it just looks to me like you're trying to make us forget you can't actually fly. STOP TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH AN INFLATED SENSE OF SELF.

You know, I used to think it was the skin around their legs that made squirrels able to glide through the air, but I'm pretty sure once you get this fucking ridiculous you can float on big-eye-and-little-paw power alone. Just remember to enjoy it while you can, Flying Squirrel, because you're going to get older, and if you don't have your feet on the ground, there's going to be a big wake up call, and it won't involve me feeding you acorns.

Estuary is blessed but scary

Sleep escapes me.

RHCP has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. I respect their depth and breadth and find myself appreciating their mainstream songs as well as their bawdy oops-i-just-dropped-some-bad-acid-and-cant-find-my-clothes-willthistubesockdo? stuff because their material is way too varied NOT to come from such brilliant and authentic places and experiences. I grant you, RHCP is not for everyone, but IMHO this is their sweetest, most tender song to date and could appeal to even the most hesitant critic. For me, a large part of the sudden impact comes from the raw quality to it. Nothing fancy. Plus, sheer shock comes into play merely considering the source of this 4:02 gem; who would have guessed that Anthony Kiedis would ever sing what amounts to a...marriage proposal?? Ahhh. Listen and melt, chickadees.

I'm going to chase sleep now...wish me luck, folks.

Sometimes things look a lot worse before they start to look better

I think that applies to my hands too.



<--Ike!

I'm not trying to brag or anything, but...I have mad healing skillz.

Just for kicks, I checked the sky for stars on my way in. I still do that from time to time even though I know full well that I'm in Philly and that it's almost always impossible to see them.

That said...I didn't see any stars tonight, but it's ok because I know they're there. I guess seeing them is just another thing to look forward to in Colorado.