Declarations!

In 35 years I've never once received a true declaration of love from a guy, how sad is that?!

I'm sure I have other things to say about declarations, but for now ... blargh blargh blarghity blargh, I said a'blargh blargh blarghity blargh!

Life

I haven't yet figured out how to come to terms with 'not getting' some of those things 'everyone is promised at birth' ... I mean, if anyone can tell me how to be ok without being loved (no, I don't mean my immediate family and friends), or how to be ok without becoming a parent (a mother) ... especially when it's pretty much all you've dreamt of for as long as you can remember ... well you tell me...how the fuck do you come to terms with that?! 

New Years Eve

A night folks really build up to be "something" leaving many folks feeling lame for the lack of something (or someone with whom they could do something) to do! 

While I was incited to a party at a friends tonight, he's really the only one there I would know so I feel totally awkward going...haven't fully decided on what I'm doing, but it looks like a game night with the folks and potentially me aunt and uncle who live next door to the folks! 

Whatever I do ... Happy New Year to all!

New Xmas Tradition

Two years in a row makes it a new tradition, right?! RIGHT!!! My mom and I now have a tradition of getting our nails did on Christmas Eve!  :o)

Back to the Future Query

Now I realize that, as time travel isn't actual possible, that things within this movie (trilogy) would need to be made up. I even like the whole time space continuum paradoxical'ness of the idea that you can't/shouldn't interact with your former (or future) self for fear of "screwing" things up. However, I do question the fact that as Doc Brown is getting ready to travel - at the beginning of the film, just after Einstein's successful travel - and we know that the Doc intends on traveling into the future, that Marty says "look me up" and the Doc agrees to do so ... but then, throughout the rest of the film(s), interaction with "oneself" and ones loved ones etc...is a big no no.

Food for thought.

Out On A Limb

Well, I did it. I walked all the way out on that limb and told him how I really felt. End result - a bit of pain, and the ability to truly move on. "Hashtag"YourLoss (even if it feels like mine).

Do you want to know the "funniest" part about doing this? His claim that he "never knew." All the texting, emails, snail mail etc...and he never knew...???!!! Like bloody hell he didn't know, what a ruddy lie. It's better to simply admit to knowing than to say "you never knew." Gah! 

He also said I should take him off of the pedestal I've got him on - which: 

a.) is not for him to say "where" I place him, and
b.) just because I love him does not mean I've got him on a pedestal, because in all honesty, I do not! I do not think he is perfect ... but that doesn't stop me from loving him.

Oiy!

At any rate, I finally went all the way and really told him...and he's now told me he does not feel that way about me, in those words ... they don't feel great, but at least I don't have to wonder any longer.

Unrequited love sucks.

I'd also like to mention that in the past month he's called me "kid" and "kiddo" more than once...and he's almost 6 years my junior...WTF?!

That is all.

Christmasyness!

It seems that every year Christmas arrives faster than the year before … I'm happy to say though, that I've already set up my tree (the largest one I've ever had, and in the smallest apartment I've ever had … and the only time I've ever had a fake tree), decorated my apartment, baked some cookies with Mom and helped her put out her Santa collection, and helped Dad put up the outdoor lights!

I've gotten most of my Christmas shopping done - and my sister and her husbands gifts wrapped and on their way to Colorado - having had a few fun shopping excursions with my Mum.

Works Christmas party is next week, I'm having a Cookie Swap/House Warming/Game Night party this weekend, and have an Ugly Sweater Party to go to next week. 

Seeing a college production of A Christmas Carol tonight with a friend (and seeing a few friends who are in it). Possibly seeing another friend (or two) sing in Holiday Concerts on the 19th and 22nd.

I'll be cooking Christmas Dinner for me and my folks on Christmas Day - and trying my hand at a dish I've never made … and then going to visit my bro and his family (with the 'rents) on the 26th for a few days.

Not yet sure what I'll be doing - if anything - on New Years Eve … but that's a fairly festive bit of holiday cheer already in the works.

Ahhh…Christmas…if only we didn't have to deal with the snow (yet).  :)

She might be fake (cause I'm not allowed to have a real one in this apartment) but she's pretty!

Um, yes!!! Two of my favorite things…Books and Penguins!

Three Things For 2015

There are three things I want to accomplish in 2015 - accomplish or at least make significant progress in - and they are:

1.) to learn Spanish
2.) to actually be able to play my guitar(s)

3.) I'm also determined to lose 20+ pounds this year (actually hoping for 30-40)! 

Now to find a Spanish tutor and a guitar teacher!

Aunt Niece Date to the Theatre

On November 29th, I was blessed with the ability to take my beautiful 7 year old niece to see the  of THE SECRET GARDEN at my theatre! It was our first Aunt/Niece Date, of many I hope, and it was great!!!

Though I had to do a little explaining of the story line to her at intermission, she followed the story well, and enjoyed it. 

When we got home afterwards she wanted to write a play ... yes!  :o)

It was also great to just be the two of us for a little while, to sit and talk and giggle and just be us ... without worrying about anything other than hanging out with my niece. She's too stinking cute! Love her ... and the fact that I was able to take her out.

Next ...  an Aunt/Niece #2 Date ... !!! 

Followers.

I have always been more of a leader than a follower, that's true ... not to say I "never" follow ... but ... well, I have had this blog for over a year now and I do not have one stinking follower. Wonder what I'm doing wrong?

(No, I don't "advertise" my blog anywhere, not even on my Facebook page, though perhaps I should start. And NO, I do not need followers to keep my blog blogging ... but, it's nice to think that someone else out there likes your writing, quirkiness, ideas, interests etc... Le sigh...)

Thankful.

Friends are wonderful.
Friends who step up when you really need help are amazing.
I am supremely thankful for my friends James and Lucas, both of whom used up a large portion of their Saturday (last Saturday) to help me move ... they are my current heroes!

Grateful!

To say I have amazing parents is an understatement!

Being An Adult Totally Sucks

Being a single adult with a full time job that doesn't allow one to truly live sucks. It sucks so hard.

What I wouldn't give to be in a relationship - for a multitude of reasons - so that multiple incomes could combine and life could feel a fair bit more affordable.

Garrrrrh ... I work and I work hard at a full time job - FULL TIME ... and yet, what I make doesn't pay well enough for me to live, not really ... and I can't fathom how I can fit in another part time job to supplement my income, but I am going to have to. Boy does that suck!!!

Suck suck suckity suck I said a suck suck suckity suck!

Somebody's Someone.

I brew. I cook well. I'm kind, passionate, eager, strong, romantic, silly, adventurous and creative...among other things. I like sports, trying new things and brown liquor, Scotch to be precise - the peatier the better. I really should be someones dream woman, right?! WTF?

I want to be somebody's someone. I want to be the woman who makes him stop in his tracks. I want to be chased. I want to be wooed. I want him to feel for me as I do for him ... that I have this desire to make him smile, laugh and be playful with me. I want to be adored ... just as I adore him ... whoever he is!

I want someone to want to:
Make me laugh.
Make me feel smart (because I am), and interesting (because I totally am).
To teach me things they know that I do not.
To have ridiculous conversations with.
To have witty enjoyable crazy zany silly serious political theatrical sung fact filled made up banter with.

I want to be somebody's someone.

Blargh!

Stress Dreams

Work.

Packing.

Apartment hunting.

"Having" to move house by the end of October.

Work ... with a major event the first weekend of November.

Finances.

Work.

Moving.

STRESS! I'm really pretty calm by day ... but at night, all of my stress and worry manifests itself in my dreams ... le sigh.

Hot Cider and Cider Donuts.

So many things signify fall.

Leaves changing color.

The sun setting earlier (gahhhh, the darkness coming earlier).

The temperature dropping.

Mums popping up all over.

Pumpkins.

Multitudes of Halloween decorations.

Haunted Hayrides, Haunted Mansions, Haunted Mazes...

And apples. 

I love apples. 

I love going apple picking. 

And apples yield yummy Cider Donuts and delicious Hot Apple Cider.

AND there's an awesome new donut shot in Albany called Cider Belly ... you. must. go. there.!

That is all. 

http://www.ciderbelly.com/Cider_Belly_website/Cider_Belly.html

PS...here's a little fall inspiration and color to add to this post. :)

Apartment Hunting Sucks!

Yep, I'm just going to say it, APARTMENT HUNTING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! (Apparently I'm going to scream it!)

It's only right that I admit that I have been pretty lucky, ever since I graduated from High School, where apartments, and said hunting for them, are concerned. Not always so lucky with roommates, but really quite lucky with actual apartments found and lived in.

Several times family has stepped in to let me live with them while I searched for a place to live - supremely thankful for my awesome family! I've even been lucky to find a few places due to familial connections - oddly enough, one of them was when I was living in London and my Mum's colleague knew someone in England who had a room they rented out from time to time ... and the apartment I'm currently in was due to a work connection of my fathers.

But I digress, the landlords I currently have are in the process of selling this house and therefore I have to move within the next month. Finding another place like this one, off street parking, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, great kitchen, large living/dining room, an attic space equaling fabulous storage and a washer and dryer ... and for $650 per month ... I'm so not going to find anything like this. 

Blargh...

Not to mention that at 35 I don't really want to live with a roommate, at least not unless that someone is one whom I'm in love with - and hoping to, oh I don't know, marry or something crazy like that.

Now, with my income and all the bill jazz that goes along with being an "adult" (seriously, that saying you hate to hear told to you as a kid, "youth is wasted on the young" is SO totally T to the R to the UE, true) ... and with the ridiculously high prices apartments go for - the closer to the heart of a city you are, the more expensive they get ... then factor in the want of a driveway and off street parking, the potential for a pet (should I chose to actually get one one day), the want of lots of windows to let a lot of light into the house year round, the want of a backyard ... well, let's just say that it's not really all that fun to search.

Boooooo....hisssss....and back to the search I go.

Project...

I want to do one of those projects where I "have" to accomplish a specific goal in a specified amount of time.

ie: Take one photo a day for an entire month - which could be expanded upon by giving a theme to the photos taken like trees ... actually, I kind of like this one ... maybe it should interesting things in nature ... hmmm

Gonna ponder this a bit more before committing to whatever the project turns out to be.

HUGS.

Hugs are great.

So are Penguins.

SMILE AND HUG SOMEONE TODAY (EVERYDAY)!

Throw Back Thursday

hashtag tbt 

aka

Throw Back Thursday

So, in this social media driven world we live in, 'we' ... the generic we that is ... have created Throw Back Thursday's, where you post a photo, on one (or more) of your social media sites, of something from "back in the day" ... hence the throwback of throwback Thursday. I don't partake every week, but sometimes I do. It's kind of fun to share old photos with family and friends. 

It's also kind of annoying ... ha ha ha ... to have ones Facebook feed chock full of your friends old photos every single Thursday.

But I digress. Throwing it back really can be fun. 

For example: Here's a grand pic of me and my bro, when we were rather teeny, rockin' it out in one extremely yellow kitchen, with our Grandmother and Grandfather (who happen to be sitting in folding camp chairs IN the kitchen)!

Peal Palooza

Felt a bit like I was back in college yesterday...I went to Pearl Palooza, a mini music festival on Pearl Street in Albany. There was even a fairly, I believe, drunk early 20-something, probable Frat Boy who thought he might get me to dance with him by rubbing his arse up against me ... now that's romance...ick! He did say I was beautiful, which is always nice to hear ... but really, is that what guys think will win over the ladies??? Despite this guy, and despite the fact that itt was raining ... allllll day long ... there was live music, beer, rainy festival atmosphere making it a pretty fun time! :)

Oh, and the best thing was that I found a new band I totally groove on, the BROODS - a brother and sister band from New Zealand.

https://www.facebook.com/broodsmusic

Shoes of Albany

You know those artist / city sculptures that have been going on for a few years now ... there were Cows and Horses somewhere, Apples in NYC (I believe), there were Whales in Cape Cod (I think ... or somewhere similarly oceany), The Cats of Catskill ... AND ... two years ago there were "The Shoes of Albany."

This is me. In a shoe.

It's fun to view them ... sometimes it's fun to sit inside them ... and this summer, in Albany, there were artist painted pianos about the city that you could play!

Fun and artsy! 

One of "Those" Moments

(Image found on the inter webs...)

I'm living in one of those moments where I feel like - and feel I look like - the cat above! 

One of those moments where I "wish" I had chosen a different career path - one that paid me well enough to actually live. 

One of those moments where I hate hate hate how horribly expensive the world is.

One of those moments where I wish I was still the athletic being I was "a few" years ago, and really wish that I could 'easily' lose a few pounds.

One of those moments where I miss my best friends, those fabulous beings who are scattered about the globe (London, Seattle, New Zealand, NYC, California, Greece ...), wishing they were closer so we could share a bottle of wine and chat and I'd feel better. ***And we would begin plotting our next collaborative creative undertaking.***

One of those moments where the fact that I am still single, and as old as I am, and seem to make men run away, is really bumming me out.

One of those moments where I mourn the fact that I was SO READY to be a Mom like 10 years ago, and I truly fear that that day will NEVER come.

One of those moments where I wonder, what would be, had I gone on a different path after High School.

One of those moments where I "wish" I was someone else ... 

Ever have one of those days? Le sigh...

And then I try to pull to mind the things in my life, in this moment, that are fantabulous ... and realize that there are SO many people out there that have a harder life than I do ... but still, at this moment, this moment I feel like the cat above.

High Protein Low Carb ... diet!

What???!!!

You heard me ... even this foodie can stand to adjust things to be a little bit healthier!

Now, this is the first diet I have EVER tried, and though I am not fat, I could stand to lose a few ... plus, even my Doctor said that lowering my carb intake (specifically wheat carbs) is a good thing and not just for my weight level, but also for my brain!  :o) Who knew ... apparently wheat is a contributing factor to depression ... which I firmly believe that everyone suffers from at times in their lives ... and while I'm not out and out depressed, I do know that I have my moments (especially in those dark and cold winter months - which are creeping up on us WAY too fast). So, this particular diet I shall try.

But I digress...this is what I'm doing...over the next month we'll see if it works or not. I'm giving this low carb (and much less wheat in all the carbs I do take in) high protein diet a go.

I'm combining it with an exercise regime (which, oddly enough, also helps in creating those happy feelings), I am starting off slow and going for slow and steady wins the race (diet).

Today marks day two of the diet and day one of the implementation of daily exercise. I went for a 20 minute walk this evening.

I don't plan on joining a gym - I can't afford too; and I don't plan to jump right into running or being a yogi ... I'm starting off by getting in a daily walk, mornings or evenings ... at least 10 fast paced minutes a day. After a week or two we'll see what I feel like adding in (I do like to lift my little weights, do some yoga and run).

So ok ... September 3rd to October 3rd ... that's 30 days ... let's see what happens!!!

I'm not posting a before picture until I see what 30 days has done ... hahaha!!!

Mullet Dresses, almost as bad as a real mullet!

I do not know the true name for the style dress I am referring too, but I call them mullet dresses 'cause, well ... COME ON! Short in the front and long in the back ... or in mullet speak, business in the front and a party in the back. YUCK!

99% of them are hideous regardless of who is wearing them. Once in a bloom moon I see one on someone who, oddly can pull it off, one that doesn't make me want to vomit ... but ... I just don't get them. Like, at all.

Then, coming in at a close second, are the dresses that have a solid color short skirt with a long overlay in some sheer / lacey - see through - fabric ... yeah, um what???

Both of these styles look like mistakes to me. Like oops, I forgot there rest of the material ... or oops I forgot my brain ... or oops I wore it because some "style" magazine "told" me I should ... blargh.

Ok, creepy dress rant over. 

A series of Random's!

Life really is a series of "random's" occurring ... one after the other ... with some "normal things" happening once in a while too ... but I digress, a few of my random's:

• Once I drove from Brooklyn to Queens with a 1920's gurney on the roof of my red Honda Civic.
• There was also this time when I was rather small and I set off the fire alarm at a Dexter's Shoe Store, apparently I was trying to go outside but did so by going out an emergency only exit.
• I was - for reals - hit by a drunk driver and run over when I was 4 or 5 years old. Thank god the driver was going pretty damn slow, my Dad jumped in front of the car trying to stop the jackass, AND the wheels did not go over my body! Yup, it was "just" the body of the car going over my little 4'ish year old self! Drunk dude was caught and jailed by the by! Funny thing is, in 8th grade - for some reason I do not recall - I was telling this story to a classmate (or my teacher I'm not sure which) and I honestly could not remember if this was a real memory or if it was a very vivid dream I'd had. I was so uncertain that I went home and asked my mom ... she confirmed it was truth, I was indeed hit by a car and run over. YIKES!
• While living in NYC my car was broken into TWICE: the first time 'they' stole my stereo (a built in CD player); the second time 'they' stole a boom box I used for long car trips - as a cd player.
• Growing up I had a few parakeets as pets (one at a time, I wasn't living in a room surrounded by several parakeets). One time when I let one of them out to fly around the house - without having clipped his wings for some time - my dad, who didn't know the bird was out of his cage, opened the front door to go to the grill ... the bird flew out into the wilds of upstate NY. The REALLY interesting part is this, after one or two days of calling to the bird - who oddly didn't fly further than the perimeter of the yard - he came and landed on his cage which I had left on the car in the driveway ... and I caught him and thrust him back into the cage! TRUE STORY!
• Oh, there was that time I'd lost one of my Mickey Mouse earrings outside in the fall. They were ones I had gotten when visiting the land of the mouse so I was particularly bummed out. At any rate, fall turned into winter which turned into spring and finally summer came around once more and I, who LOVED to play outside - was out in the backyard, flipping around the older of the two swing sets we had out there (as any aspiring gymnast would do) and as I'm flipping I see something sparkly ... lo and behold it was my earring! 

More personal random's to come ... 

All of these ramblings and stories of mine are, of course, all completely copyrighted bits of material for my use ONLY! ©M.E.Hall 

ALS Icebucket Challenge

Ok, so for the better part of two weeks my Facebook feed has been inundated with ALS Icebucket Challenge's and the videos of those who've accepted the challenge.

In short, someone nominates you and you have 24 Hours to "take a video of yourself dumping a bucket of ice water over your head - and donate $10.00 to ALS; and nominate 3 people to do the challenge," or you are supposed to donate $100.00 to ALS.

Now, while I do believe that this challenge has raised awareness and raised more money for this particular affliction than had the challenge not been going around, I'm pretty much over it.

I would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather see people posting information about ALS to raise awareness about it, and the $10.00 donation challenge, rather than wasting water and filling my Facebook feed with silly videos.

Now, for those of you who are not sure what ALS is, including one college gal who's interview I read after she'd done the challenge quoting her as thinking it was for people who were studying English As a Second Language, ALS is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease of the never cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.

My feeling is that most people dumping the water over themselves do not really know anything about the disease, nor does dumping this water teach them anything about it.

I am also of the feeling that most people who have dumped the water have NOT also donated the "required" $10.00 donation, nor have most of those who've ignored the nomination donated the "required" $100.00 donation. AND, what if you're nominated and actually can not afford to make a donation of $10.00 let alone $100.00???

But I digress...here's a website that will give you more information on ALS should you actually be curious about it: http://www.alsa.org

And here's a website for Diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org

And one for Parkinson's: http://www.pdf.org

And one for Chron's: http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/

 My final thought for the moment is this, if you are truly wanting to donate money to a cause, to raise awareness for a disease you feel is "under represented" than share information from qualified websites, share names of places one can make a donation ... don't just waste water! But I dirgess...

All The Books You'll Never Read

Have you ever stopped to think about all of the books you will never read? I mean, there are SO many books out there ... so many good books ... and even those who devour books - like my mother who can read several books at the same time and with a speed that rivals one little mouse named Speedy Gonzalez - even they will not be able to read ALL of the good books in the world.

Take the classics for a start ... so many and so long ... then think about all of the books series that exist ... don't forget all the new books coming out everyday ... the books on Oprah's reading list ... there are just so many books to read, so many good books ... and even those who live to be 100 years old, just think of all those books they will not get too ... and that's totally humbling, isn't it?!

I was not a devourer of books until I was out of college actually, I mean I read before that - obviously - and I read for pleasure as well as my studies, but it was not until I had graduated from college and was living with my Auntie Liz and cousin Tory in Long Island, and commuting to work in Manhattan, that I really started to devour books. Those train rides needed something, ha ha ha, and I'm not really a newspaper gal ... so to my aunts bookshelf I went over and over and over.

And now, at 35, I'm sitting here thinking ... I really need to bone up on the classics and get to reading even MORE - and watching TV less - than I do now! I started a book club last Fall which is helping me out, keeps me working on at least one book every month, and then enjoying the company and discussion with the other members.

I have several books shelves in my apartment, all of them stuffed with books (novels, theatre books, plays, etc.) ... if a novel is on my shelf it means I've read it, for those I have not read are in stacks on my coffee table, sofa table or night stand. 

Some books are quicker reads than others ... and I can only think of one or two books that I have put down and do not necessarily intend on picking back up - for it is not engaging or enjoyable, and with all the other books out there, why would one continue to read it, am I right?!  :)

But I digress ... I'm currently reading a novel called A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff, having just finished the latest book club read entitled The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, and I think I shall get back to A Vintage Affair now.  

Star and Moon Gazing

I love love love laying out in a field - or back yard - and star and moon gazing! Luckily my current abode allows me to see some stars, even with all the ambient light that abounds.

I also love love love laying out in a field - or back yard - and watching the clouds float by, picking out shapes and images as they carry on their way.

Two things I intend on doing more of ... !!!

Now, if only I could find someone to do them with ... with a nice bottle of wine ... le sigh!

San Francisco ... City of Sun and Fog ... at the same time!

Holy Berjeeses ... San Francisco is a LOVELY City! 

The city of Sun and Fog ... at the same time ... no joke, I was standing 500 feet from the Golden Gate Bridge - which was TOTALLY fogged in - and looking over to the right, I could see the city of San Francisco - like Fisherman's Wharf and all that - enjoying sunny blue skies with a few lovely white fluffy clouds! Weird and loverly!

My mom and I took a Mother Daughter Weekend and went to San Fran, and had a wonderful time!

More deets to come ...

A Haiku by us whilst enjoying the Japanese Tea Garden

"Tea in the garden

Also some octopus balls

Mom and Mert, tranquil."

Sprinkle Cheese, Greebles, and Schmata-V!

Did you ever ponder why we drive on parkways and park in driveways? Well, I have. I have also pondered the general naming of pretty much anything there is out there. For example, why is a door called a door, why not a blargh? You can see my point, can't you?

What about the ponderation of words known only - or mostly - to your family, and no one else?

Ever had one of "those" moments where say, as a young adult you mention your penchant for Sprinkle Cheese, only to have your friends look at you like you have three heads???

***10 Points if you know what sprinkle cheese is?!

Or say, that moment in 7th grade math class, when you walk in and the estimation jar (which, if you were the lucky student to guess THE amount, or be the closest to the amount, of the estimation jars contents than you won a candy bar from the teacher) is full of greebles ... and you say it out loud ... "Hey look, the estimation jar is full of greebles this week!" Only to have your classmates, including your BFF who's standing right text to you, look at you like you're C.R.A.Z.Y.!

***20 Points if you know what greebles are?! (Pronounced gree like in green, and bles like lee's with a b in front of it ... greebles.)

I'm sorry to say that I can not disclose the meaning of Schmata-V to anyone who's not been officially inducted into the club ... it's just the way it is!

It's interesting to me how things were named ... waaaaay back in the day when they were first named. How it got its name. How its name has evolved over time - if it has; and or how a name changes from one nations language to another.

It's equally interesting to me how people - families - make up names for things that are then passed down tho the next generation, and so on, so readily that the kinder don't realize it's NOT actually the real word for "that thing."

Just sayin'.

'Tis all for the moment.

A Work Perk

I just spent the past week in London, England for my job!  Not only was I back in "my" town, good Old London Town, but while there I saw six shows - for my job!  Now that's what I call a work perk!!!

I saw:

"The School for Scheming" at the Orange Tree Theatre
"Titus Andronicus" at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
"The Commitments" at the Palace Theatre
"A Small Family Business" at the National Theatre (in the Olivier Theatre)
"The Silver Tassie" at the National Theatre (in the Lyttelton Theatre)
and
"Blithe Spirit" at the Gielgud Theatre - with Angela Lansbury

I also went to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see their Theatre and Performance Exhibit which was featuring a special exhibit on Shakespeare as his 450th Birthday "just passed." 

And I went to the British Museum to see an exhibit on the Vikings called "Vikings: Life and Legend."

We also went to a "High Tea" ... which to me, isn't all that it's cracked up to be - even if the finger sandwiches, pastries and tea were tasty.  LOL!  :)

OH AND, I was able to meet up with a few of my friends ... Kaitlin, Adam and Nour!

Oh oh oh ... how could I forget this ... while taking a guided bus tour of the city (on our first day, for patrons who had never been to London) we stopped to use the loo's near Westminster Abbey, and it just so happened that THE QUEEN (yes, you read that correctly) was on her way for an Order of Bath Ceremony ... and we saw her as she drove past us!!!  Who would have ever imagined???!!!  :o)  Tres tres cool!!!

5 years since I was last there ... too long really, but so awesome that I got to go - and didn't have to pay for it myself ... and hoping my next trip there doesn't take another 5 years.

It's a really great work perk actually!  

"21 Habits of Happy People"

Here's a link to an article outlining "21 Habits of Happy People" ... saw it on the Book of Face and I think they're pretty much all good things to do ... live by ... however ya wanna say it ... so here's the link.  Enjoy

:)

http://www.mindopenerz.com/21-habits-of-happy-people/

The UNICEF Tap Project

Follow the link below and help UNICEF provide clean water to those in need!

/http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/03/24/dont-touch-your-phone-for-10-minutes-provide-a-day-of-clean-drinking-water-for-a-child-in-need/

The Lonely Mailbox Project

I've begun a letter writing project for those with lonely mailboxes! ;)

It’s born out of the fact that almost everyday when I check my mail box - and I mean my actual REAL (it could contain a bit of paper, in an envelope with an address and a STAMP on it) mailbox - I open it to reveal a big fat nothing. Even with “all” my bills bills bills ... yeah, the two that still come in the mail and almost always come on the same day ... there’s almost never anything in the box.  

I can happily say that I don’t get a ton of junk mail ... the occasional coupon from Bed Bath & Beyond, my HomeBrew Emporium News Letter’s and my Penzy’s Spice Catalog’s are welcome friends, but don’t come too often ... and Christmas and Birthday’s only come once a year.

So, I'm trying to strike up some old-school pen-pal-ships, ya dig?! And to bring back to life the "lost art" of letter writing! 

I know, I know ... we’re all busy ... Facebook is “right there” ... email is so much quicker and you don’t need to go to the postoffice to get a stamp ... blah blah blah.  I say we reconnect the old fashion way.  Write something down and send it to someone you love (or just like) ... write someone a letter that will hang on their fridge, be folded into the book they’re reading and used as a bookmark, a card displayed on the mantle for a while ... something that will make them smile, something that will be cherished for a moment or a lifetime.

Really, who doesn’t light up when they find an actual letter in their mailbox?!

It might be truly old school and playing ‘catch up’ via letter writing ... or being a tad more createive and corresponding using Haiku’s ... or attempting to teach said pen pal something via mail (like, did you know that Butterflies taste with their feet, true story) ... or some awesome postcard swapping ... or ...! 

And now ... it's on. 

Already sent 4-letters out and even received one back ... !

Woot woot!!!


-----3/31/14-----
A few fun reasons why real mail rocks!

(drawn by my cousin Laura)

Stargazing fun!

So totally trying this ... some day ... when I know someone with a truck, ha ha! :)

"Upcycling"

So apparently there's a new term out there ... upcycling ... which is really just the repurposing of old items rather than tossing them into the garbage.  

I do so love it when one does not have to add more crap into the already overfilled landfills of the nation (globe).

At any rate ... here are two upcycling ideas I kinda love - in the right places.  :o)

'Upcycle' an old ladder into a niffty bookshelf!

'Upcycle' some old brackets and books into some trendy new shelves.

I'm certain that there are other 'cool' things out there one can 'upcycle' ... I'll keep my eyes out for really great ones to add on here. 

How to Have a Lovely Day!

TRUTH!

Yoga Class / Gym or Dance Class

I would really like a more regular dose of exercise induced happiness (endorphins is what scientists call them, I believe). Plus I would like to lose a few extra pounds I've accrued over the past few years ... so I'm pondering:

Yoga Class 

Joining a Gym

or

Signing up for a Dance Class

Looking for something that I can start up in March ... after the next show I'm directing goes out on the road. 

Hmmm...more later.

2 Things that I want to do!

Here are two things that I would like to try and do in my own apartment:

 1. I don't have the space for an actual bar in my apartment ... and this looks like a good way to solve that problem. Ok ... gotta buy some shelves ... and then some booze (perhaps I'll have a "new bar shelf" party and ask folks to bring booze with them...LOL)!

2. I want to do this for two reasons: a.) so that I can put up a map and "pin" all of the places I have traveled, and b.) because it looks cool - and I think it would make a nice "backdrop" for the in between space of my computer desk and the shelf above the desk...we shall see.  :)

Zen it out!

Let's take a moment to just 'Zen It Out' ...

1. Move and the way will open.

2. Remain open to the magic and wonder around you always.

3. Let go or be dragged.

4. Be here now.

5. If we are facing the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.

Gah. Mortality in the form of a grey hair.

Can I just say that while I don't actually care about having a grey hair or two (or however many ... ok, I don't love them, but let's be honest, that's mostly because I'm not quite 35 and I'm still single without kids) ... the fact remains, nothing has made me feel so incredibly mortal as the moment I found the first one.

I stood there...looking at it in the mirror.  Just looking at it.  I wanted to cry.  For real.  A grey hair.  How on earth could I be old enough for grey hair???  I'm still 16, aren't I?  Ok, ok, I can drink so I'm 21.  No wait, I turned 28 ... in Russia ... but I'm still in my 20's ... a few years ago.  Shit.  34 ... and they've arrived.  

Great, the grey hair has arrived ... but Mr. Right and children still allude me ... so not fair.  

But then again ... life isn't.  

Book Lovers … !!!

So, um … yeah … one day I WILL have this!  :)

Funny!

A British friend of mine sent me this … made me laugh so I'm sharing it too!

Stealing the hearts of your women…hahaha…sooooooooo true!


AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!