In Which Our Heroine Rambles

WARNING: This post is going to be ramble-y.

A lot of things have been going through my mind lately and while I used to be able to capture those things on paper, I find that it’s not so easy anymore. Things number one: instead of making the typical New Year’s Resolutions … things I plan to do in 2009, I thought it might be more realistic to think about the kind of person I’d like to be this year. Here’s what I have so far:

• I’d like to be the kind of person that leaves small gifts for the mailman. Why? Because it’s always good to let someone you rely on six days a week that you appreciate their consistency (and the fact that they always take the time to bring up the packages to the door and say hello). Oh and also, it’s just plain nice.
• I’d like to be the kind of person that writes letters. Why? Isn’t it obvious? Think about the last time you received a letter (it doesn’t count if it’s addressed to “Resident at …”). Did you read it more than once? Did you save it for a moment when you could drink a cup of tea and savor it? Now tell me when the last time was that you did that for an email. Exactly.
• I want to be the sort of person that remembers birthdays. Sigh. I used to be really good at this and have become lax. I don’t mean the facebook ubiquitious birthday email. I mean a birthday phone call, or a birthday card.
• Oh and I’d also like to be the kind of person that laughs more. You know the kind of laughter you have when your mouth is open, but nothing is coming out and you are in actual physical pain from the funniness? Yeah, that’s the kind of laughter I need more of. Okay, this one is a little cheat-y, but you it’s important.

Okay, so that’s a relatively short list but I’m working on it. I’ll let you know how that goes. I almost added that I’d like to be the sort of person that can eat crusty bread, but I WILL be that sort of person in another week or so (fingers crossed). Let me just say, if your doctor recommends your child have their tonsils removed do them a favor and just get it over with! Because, if they wait until they are in their thirties and won’t be able to eat anything for solid for two whole weeks they are going to be very grumpy. Just a bit of advice.

I think Mark is really going to take over the Dooz site to do a Dooz-A-Day sort of thing where he’ll post a different photo of him each day specifically for our families and friends that are far away … ahem, so most of them. I’m planning on working on that this weekend, along with archiving some of the old posts.

I spoke with my stepfather today and he sounded a little bit better. His road to recovery is going to be tough and a little long, but we’re grateful for the small things right now. He made a few jokes which is really important. He’s always been a really positive person and adaptable in a way that few people really are. It’s hard to be grounded (I can’t travel until I’m well again) so far away when he’s been so ill. Thankfully, he’s at least out of ICU and no longer intubated and is breathing fine on his own and without the assistance of oxygen. We’ll be keeping out fingers crossed because I’d also like to be the kind of person who has a healthy father. Can’t afford to lose two in one lifetime. That doesn’t seem fair, does it?

The end.

Lists of Random Goodness

• Thank goodness for Design*Sponge to continue to inspire in so many ways.
• If I had a nickel for every time I felt craftily inferior.
• One prefab home for us please.
• Enjoying the Smithsonian’s Enter the Frame project.
• Um, I REALLY like this little bird ring, I do heart Me & Ro.
• How fun is this urchin-like bowl?
• Thinking about the ruins and possibilities of Detroit.
• Wanting to start on the Learning to Love You More assignments.
• Definitely going to firm up the old art chops at the next Dr. Sketchy’s.

If I Was …

… smarter, I would have started holiday shopping before the stores have decided it’s holiday season.
… more organized, I would have sent out Christmas cards adorned with the boy’s cherubic face.
… well rested, I would thank Jebus.
… a lotto winner, besides using my powers for good I would stay home everyday with the husband and the boy.
… less of a workaholic, I’d find it less difficult to draw boundaries around myself.
… French, my name would be ?É‚Ä?lise.
… smarter, I’d go to bed and stop making silly lists.

Lovely $5 Things

A revisit of this list from a couple of years ago…

Lovely things you can do for $5 (or less!):

} Buy several sheets of nice writing paper and write a long letter to someone. You’ll probably have enough left over to send it first class
} Pickup a clean, white notebook and write for an hour
} Treat a friend to ice cream, conversation and a nice long walk at dusk
} Take a trip to Uwajimaya (or your local Asian market) and buy something even though you don’t know what it is
} Make a mixed tape and send it to a friend

A Day In The Life

this morning i woke up late due to not being able to sleep the benadryl off. i had to take it, i had no choice. it’s not pleasant to have a itch that can only be scratched with your tongue. i decided to forego the shower in lieu of actually having breakfast (this is my new thing, let’s hope it sticks).

dressed and thanked jebus for the black sleeveless shirt. no thinking required and it goes with everything. while brushing my teeth with our fabulous new Sonicare, the brush left my teeth for a few seconds. the result was white specks of Tom’s all over said black shirt. criminy.

washed a couple of dishes to tidy up the kitchen while making breakfast. splashed dishwater on the leg of my pants. drat. ate breakfast without a hitch and headed out the door. i’m almost home free.

arrived at work and splattered a tiny drop of coffee on the white shirt i had to wear in place of the black one. i don’t miss the humor in the fact that had i started out with the shirts in reverse, all would be well. but never fear, later managed to attract a small balsamic vinegar dropped. unnoticeable to anyone except ME. who cares? ME, because i KNOW it’s there.

em …. i will be going to bed a little earlier tonight. hope your Monday fared better. if this doesn’t cheer Lane up, i don’t know what will.

Summertime Rolls

it’s not summertime yet. hell, it isn’t even spring yet. but i can’t wait this year (unusual for me).

~ flip flops

~ ice cold water on hot, hot days

~ beach sunsets

~ dining al fresco

~ iced vanilla lattes (i know, i know)

~ driving with all of the windows open

Point, Counterpoint

Things That Are Wrong

George Bush

Christina Aguilera’s “accent”: i saw a commercial for her hosting of SNL this weekend

Free Beef! with purchase of tires at Les Schwab: it’s not that i’m against beef, but isn’t this just a little weird?

Donald Trump’s hair: how many people do you think he has fired for bringing that up?

distorting and suppressing scientific findings in support of one’s executive washroom friends: see George Bush

velour jogging suits

snoggy, snarky people

Things That Are Right

free stuff

Un Apres-Midi de Chien handbags: well, at least right now they are

voting

fleece pajamas

coffee: how steretypical

the new Blonde Redhead release Misery Is A Butterfly

silence

restaurants that ban cell phones

Where Am I?

haven’t really felt like writing lately. there have been so many distractions as of late and i need to get back on the wagon. distractions listed in no particular order:

- house hunting: this is an all consuming thing, especially since we detest where we are living right now.
- work: even if i posted it, you wouldn’t believe me.
- shoes: i need new shoes.
- projects: i have been thinking (as opposed to doing) about the projects i want to move forward on.
- book: i am trying, trying, trying to read Jeffrey Euginedes Middlesex and even with the familiar Detroit references it has been a strange read. i have this rule about reading at least 150 pages before i call it quits. but the thing is, i like it and i don’t at the same time.
- The Primo Dog: Primo wonders why his website hasn’t been updated. he wonders why we have been gone so often (looking at aforementioned houses). he wonders what’s wrong with rolling in the mud at the dog park. he wonders why his dog bed isn’t as fluffy as it used to be. he wonders what Mark is doing in the kitchen. he wonders all of these things by staring at me and emitting an urgent and squeaky “yip”.

i’ll be back soon

Resolutions For The New Year

= read more than i already do
= organize my office
= upgrade my Typepad account
= settle on an actual design for my blog
= update my resume
= send Juan his book
= write more often
= write more handwritten letters to friends (carry over from last year’s)
= buy a digital camera
= buy a wacom tablet
= visit Josh, Diana and Clara, Karri, Siara and Morgan, Jess, Charlie and Ray
= buy more music than last year
= see The Cure again
= replace our second computer with a fancier new Mac
= work on developing skills to better execute what is swimming around in my head
= complete the paper version of starbody
= buy a new bass (guitar)

i’m sure there will be more

Lovely Things

} sitting on the couch between the two i love most

} espresso with thick creamy foam and carmel-y crema

} winter rain storms

} writing for hours

} listening to a new CD in the car after just having left the record store

} falling in love with said CD IMMEDIATELY

} handwritten letters

Yum!

who doesn’t love food? what i really love are movies and books where the process of cooking is well presented. some of my favorite portions of Huraku Murakami books are his descriptions of meals being prepared. some of my favorites are:

20 Facts About Primo

1. His Petfinder profile said he was a medium sized dog.
2. He had been up for adoption for almost 6 months.
3. His previous owners said he rarely sheds and doesn’t bark.
4. He weighs 66 lbs.
5. He is not a medium size dog.
6. He chases cats and squirrels at every opportunity.
7. Even his face manages to shed.
8. He barks at squirrels.
9. He barks at cats.
10. He barks when his water dish is empty.
11. He barks when he has finished eating dinner and wants his after-dinner bone.
12. He barks when he feels it is time to go to bed.
13. He barks when his ball is stuck under the couch.
14. He barks when a stranger approaches.
15. He barks when he’s happy.
16. He doesn’t takes treats from strangers.
17. He thinks most people are out to trick him.
18. He nibbles when he’s happy and comfortable.
19. He is an all terrain dog.
20. He likes to sleep in a dogpile on the bed.

Weapons of Choice

Koh-l-Noor Nexus Art Pen (Light Sepia)
Pentel RSVP Extra Fine (Black)
Tombo ABT Dual Brush Pen (Black)
Schaeffer Fountain Pen (Black)
Pelikan Watercolor Paint Box (13 colors)

this is not an advertisement. sometimes it is important to have an excellent environment for inspiration.

Kate’s Paperie: although many of the products on this site are a bit too precious, they do carry a nice selection of moleskine and leather journals.
Quincy Shop : a weird and wonderful spot on the web to be amused and satisfied. art supplies, journals, weird stuff.
Paper Source: clean crisp blank pages, fine lines college ruled, blue graphs, colored books.