The girl who loves birthdays

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, MOLLY!

You are one of my dearest friends.

My love-hate relationship with early Christmas Shopping

You see, generally speaking I like to have things organized and done in advance (except for school work, which I totally procrastinate because I'm just not inspired to write unless it's nearing a deadline). And when it comes to the holiday season, there is something to be said for having things done in advance so that you can spend your time baking or having friends over for games in front of the fireplace. And yet, there is also something to be said for the stress of Christmas shopping, the trips to the mall after which you return home laden with bags and excitement over the just-right present you found for that one person that is otherwise impossible to buy for (Dad. Mom.). In fact, the past couple of years I've deliberately left a gift or two till the end so that I had an excuse to experience the hustle & bustle of last-minute shopping.

All this to say I'm almost completely done with my Christmas shopping. And I'm a little bummed about that.

So if you need company on your last-minute trips to the mall, and you want someone to fight for that last parking spot, or hold your extra packages while you wrestle with the 63-year old grandma over the last Elmo doll, then I'm your gal. And when we're done, we can go sip cider at my place and stare at all the presents already wrapped under my Christmas tree.

An authentic note from Jane Austen

PETA

After almost eight days on "the cleanse" that requires me to forsake chicken, beef & pork (fish only!), I think I could qualify for membership in PETA.

Lest there be any misunderstandings, the PETA I am referring to is the "People Eating Tasty Animals." I'm seriously missing my four-legged friends.

On a lighter note...I feel fairly confident that a holiday sales associate position at Williams Sonoma is in my future. After my interview this afternoon I was told that they would contact my references (Ging & Dave, you'd better be good!) and then I'll have a second interview with another manager. I otherwise am, according to the manager I met with today, the "ideal" candidate.

Was there any doubt of that?

Me + Williams Sonoma = Soul Mates

Empathy

As a budding psychologist/therapist, I foresee the importance of clearly understanding the difference between empathy, sympathy and support. As I've experienced in my own counseling sessions, therapists straddle the line of caring and becoming too invested, not crossing appropriate boundaries. It seems a tricky line to walk, but walk they must.

In my usual blog hopping I came across one woman's account of her husband's diagnosis of cancer, followed eight-months later by his death despite aggressive chemo, radiation and surgery. Her son was barely a year and a half when his dad died. Despite my best attempts to not mess up my eye makeup (after all, I have my interview for a holiday help position with Williams Sonoma this afternoon--yes, I actually applied last Friday. Stay tuned...) I find myself sitting at my desk crying for a woman at least 2 degrees of separation from me. Her pain is palpable and I cannot imagine having a baby mere months old when the life you'd always expected gets so inexplicably turned upside down. No longer can you freely celebrate the milestones of crawling, solid foods, first tooth, first word, first step. All of the good, despite your best attempts, is overshadowed by this monster that is quickly taking over your husband's body.

For some reason one of my greatest fears is losing my husband only a couple of years after marriage, or worse, in that first honeymoon year. Perhaps it's because I feel I've waited longer than many of my friends to find that person, and so would feel horribly robbed to lose them only a short time after finding them. (And with no special someone in sight at the moment, that means the wait will be even longer.) Although I recognize that God is ultimately in control. and I would strive to lean on and trust in his supremacy, I can only imagine how angry, how royally ticked off I would be. Your life together is just beginning, only to have it cruelly ended without your permission.

The question has been asked, "Is it better to have loved and lost than never loved before?" I believe that most of you married folks would say that yes, it is indeed better and that you are richer for having had the person in your life. I just don't know that I would agree. I suppose I'm just so afraid of the heart wrenching pain that would come; the pain that makes my eyes well up with tears to even contemplate.

I have no eloquent or meaningful end to this post, I was just struck with such strong empathy for this young mother whose every hope, dream and plan for the future changed in an instant the day her husband was diagnosed. Boundaries can come later; for now I grieve with her.

How others see us

My dear sister saw this sweatshirt in Wal-Mart and said she instantly thought of me.

She swears it's because I have a healthy level of confidence. I don't know whether to laugh or be (mildly) offended. I'll go with laughing.

Good for the soul

Confession, that is.

Other than a couple of deviations from "the plan" on Sunday (that is, "the plan" that is part of "the cleanse"), Ginger and I have been quite dedicated to following "the plan." Until today, that is.

After a stop at home on my lunch break to grab a healthy snack (you see, I'd already eaten my healthy lunch--tasty vegetable soup I'd made the night before--at 11am and so was hungry again by 1pm)--I ran a couple of errands. As I prepared to pass by Pavillions on my way back to work, I was overwhelmed with the urge to consume Macaroni & Cheese, something that is decidedly not part of "the plan." Although Kraft Original is my favorite, that wasn't an option; I decided that deli mac & cheese would have to do.

Wouldn't you know it, they were all out and another batch not due from the oven for another hour!?

Now, some might take that as a sign that this attempt to deviate from "the plan" was not a part of, well, "the plan," and perhaps I should thank the good Lord for removing the temptation by making it so that there was no deli mac & cheese waiting for me.

That makes good, logical sense. After all, God promises to provide a way out when faced with temptation.

That is, until you remember that the frozen section, a mere 3 aisles away, has no less than 7 options for mac & cheese, all of which can be ready in 8-minutes or less.

Let's just say that God didn't try to save me a second time.

Stouffers & I had an after-lunch date and he stuck me with the bill. (i.e. Extra trips to the potty. Sorry, if that's TMI.) As of this moment, I'm back on "the plan."

Far Away

I have to do a presentation tomorrow night on goals I have accomplished during my program at APU and goals I hope to accomplish in the future. To gather images for my power point presentation I Googled the words "far away" (as it seems like the end to school is just that--far away).

In my search for images I came upon the artist Robert Kipness, whose body of work I instantly loved. This piece in particular.

"Far Away" by Robert Kipness

It could be mine for the low, low price of $4500. Anyone have a few pennies I might loan?

Thou shalt covet

Not that I actually need more furniture, but I would like this Turenne Desk.

And this Louis armchair to sit in front of it.

This girl's mom knows how to party!

Lil' B turned 1 and was celebrated today with all things cupcake. Not only does Molly know how to throw a great party with all the thoughtful details, this girl knows how to carry out a theme. Cupcake favors. Giant cupcake cake. Cupcake candles. Even cupcake t-shirts.
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Happy Birthday, Brennan! I'm glad to be one of your "aunties" and look forward to future years and parties together with you!

Simple Math

1 bedroom + well-stocked kitchen + 1 bathroom + laundry room + living room (- books & shelves against the garage walls, which are G's)=

I must say I, as well as all of my moving elves, were surprised that the entirety of my apartment fit so easily into Ginger's garage. It seemed like so much more as I was packing, and then trying to fit it all in the moving truck.

Quiet

It's 7:56 on a Friday night and I'm sitting in my bed, tucked cozily under the covers with the window opened wide letting the cool air in.

I'm reminded of all of the Friday nights I stayed home as a child/teenager, frustrated at having to stay in on a weekend; feeling trapped, stuck. Now I love it. I love the quiet. I love the freedom to choose to stay home. Strange how one's understanding of freedom changes with age.

A Quiver Full

My friend Lauren & I laugh at this expression, which is an option on a Christian dating website under the question: "Do you want children?" Every once in a while someone will choose that as their answer, and no, they aren't joking.

But La & I think it's pretty funny.

But perhaps the more comical thing is that the idea of having "a quiver full" is increasing in appeal. This is likely due to the many blogs I read, several of whom either have many children, or are one of many children. And they all look so happy and their family reunions so idyllic. It makes me seriously consider having many children in the hopes of fostering just such an environment. However many kids I have, I hope they have fond memories of sibling rivalry that turns into friendship, and that they enjoy being with their parents.

A quiver full doesn't sound too crazy now.

Farewell, Melrose Place

For almost 6 years now I have enjoyed living alone in my cozy little apartment. The nice thing about where I lived was the fact that several long-time friends from junior high and high school lived there as well. It was a regular 'ol Melrose Place.

Today I said farewell. Although it was just a 1-bedroom apartment, to me it was a home. A place where friends gathered, nieces and nephews had sleepovers, and four Turkey Parties took place.

I will miss my home and all of my neighbors. Susan, the first person to welcome me to the neighborhood with a beautiful fuschia orchid. Sara, the closest thing to a roomate these past years, who would bring over her coffee on Sunday mornings for a weekend gossip chat. Brad & Matt, the go-to guys when I needed power tools. Brandi, my comrade in the seemingly never-ending pursuit of higher education. Florence, who I hope to be like when I'm 102 like she is. And all the others who have made Linwood Ave a great place to live.

Tar-jjjay

Doesn't this make you want to die your hair red and take up ballet? It does for me!

SCORE!

Remember the cinnamon rolls I mentioned previously? The yummiest, softest, yeastiest, glaze-covered cinnamon rolls EVER? No? Allow me to remind you.

I just scored the recipe from the restaurant.

Cleaning

I still have to clean my cleaning cupboard. Is that an oxymoron? I think you get what I mean.

Cleaning the last of the dregs in a home is just about the worst thing ever. Except maybe having rabies, or lice or something. I tried to finish off the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room Monday night but after throwing 8 black trash bags of stuff away, with a few more on the horizon, I had to leave. It was too depressing and overwhelming. I had the inescapable desire to just bury my head in the sand, a la ostrich. Instead I ate jambalaya rice at Kir's and checked out the kids' jack-o-lanterns.

But now I have to return to finish it all tonight; it is, after all, the last day of the month and I'm technically supposed to completely vacate my apartment before tomorrow...

BTW, I feel I should give a great big SHOUT OUT! to Jeff, Pops & Lalen for their OUTSTANDING and sacrificial service this past Sunday in helping me move. And a big thanks in advance to Ginger who has agreed to tackle the last of the last with me tonight.

"I've got a friend(s) in you (all)!"

And one last note on cleansing...should you find me in a less-than-patient mood over the next 17 days, it's only because my colon is being cleansed, which requires me to eat, like, nothing good. But never fear, I'll finish just in time to muck it up on the occasion of my Turkey Party. Great timing! The Dr. will be so pleased.

Happy Halloween, all!

Aisles. Alters. Husbands.

"Someone once said that when the wedding march begins, a bride sees three things—the aisle, the altar, and him—and from that time on her motto is: 'I'll alter him.'"

Let it be known that I do not subscribe to or intend to subscribe to this philosophy. I just thought the play on words was clever. :-)

(From Leadership Weekly/Bob Russell)

Mini Donuts

Wouldn't this be so much fun to have? If it made yeast donuts instead of cake, I would put this on my Christmas Wish-List for sure. It doesn't hurt that they are miniature size; I love almost anything mini like this.

And I love Williams-Sonoma! I'm thinking of getting a Holiday job there, just for fun.

Chi-town Wrap-up

Phew! I just flew in from Chicago and boy, are my arms tired!

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Ba-da-bum.

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For some reason that was literally the first thing that came to mind as I began this wrap-up post. Perhaps it's because I really am just so tired. Between roaming the streets of Chicago one last time before heading to the airport yesterday afternoon, and then being re-routed to a different airport because our flight was cancelled, and then having to shuttle to our original airport where our car was so I didn't get home until almost 1:00am, and then getting up early this morning to pack and move...Boy are my arms (whole body) tired!

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I am however, longing to return to Ann Sather, a Swedish cafe with some of the yummiest, softest, yeastiest, glaze-covered cinnamon rolls EVER.

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Oh, Chicago! You are truly a great city--varied & interesting architecture, quaint neighborhoods with a sense of community, arts and culture, fantastic food galore. Once again I must say, this decision of where to go will not be easy.