She Speaks to Me

IF I WANTED A BOAT

 

I would want a boat, if I wanted a

boat, that bounded hard on the waves,

that didn't know starboard from port

and wouldn't learn, that welcomed

dolphins and headed straight for the

whales, that, when rocks were close,

would slide in for a touch or two,

that wouldn't keep land in sight and

went fast, that leaped into the spray.

What kind of life is it always to plan

and do, to promise and finish, to wish

for the near and the safe? Yes, by the

heavens, if I wanted a boat I would want

a boat I couldn't steer. 

    

~  From "Blue Horses" by Mary Oliver

Mondays Are Made For...

I usually roll into Mondays without much issue. They’re just like any other day of the week except with more “any other day”s strung behind it. Mondays are good days for fresh starts.

Appearing as a vision of an organized home last night, I decided this particular Monday would be the beginning of closet cleaning. It’s true that things are bursting out of them, stuff is falling off shelves, and the doors don’t fully close. It’s overdue.

So the first thing I intended to do after brushing my teeth was to hit up the hardware store for gigantic, black trash bags. That would get me started.

But I got a call at 7:00am from a kid (one of mine). There's only one worse and that's the middle of the night call. Calling from the campus medical center, my son informed me of his fresh diagnosis of mononucleosis. And that he felt like doggie doo doo. And that he had a test in an hour.

When your kids are sick, it’s difficult to concentrate on spring-cleaning because you’re worried and feel powerless especially when they are away at school. (I should probably put together a care package.)

Instead of buying gigantic, black trash bags at the hardware store and digging right into those closets, I decided to go to yoga. I’d have the rest of the day to fill gigantic, black trash bags, right?

But if I wasn’t going to fill gigantic, black trash bags, I should do some “real” work.

Except that after yoga, I really felt like writing. Just a few words about cleaning out closets, I promised myself. The gigantic, black trash bags and my “real” work could wait because it’s only noon and I have the rest of the afternoon, right?

Now that I’m finished writing, I’d really like to finish the book I’m reading. It’s called Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. It is one of the funnier books I have read in a long time. There are only 50 pages left which won’t take long. That would still leave me the rest of the afternoon to fill gigantic, black trash bags and do some “real” work, right?

I have a habit of not getting much done on Mondays.

Monday Listicles: Really. I Have No Intention To...

I’ve fallen out of my Monday Listicles routine over the last few weeks. I think I’ll blame the holidays one more time for throwing a wrench into things. No really. I did enjoy the holidays but I’m definitely ready for some good old-fashioned nothingness. Aren’t you?

Here’s the topic for today. Easy, shmeasy!

10 Things I Have No Intention of Changing in 2013

1. I WILL continue to sing, unfortunately. I’ve been on a karaoke roll recently, having performed twice over the holidays. I can’t sing but I like to dance with a microphone in my hand. Maybe I’d be better at backup?

2. I WILL NOT be giving up my, slightly more than, occasional glass of wine even though I fully understand it’s impact on my body’s reluctance to drop those last few pounds that are nagging me. It’s a cost/benefit, pros/cons thing, in my opinion. I’ll just exercise more and eat less. How about that?

3. I WILL continue to require a workout before I sit down to write. Besides, that is when I come up with my best ideas. It’s good for me for a multitude of reasons.

4. I WILL continue to embrace my inner laziness if that’s what you call my ability to read for hours on end. Sitting on the couch reading is not being lazy. I can definitely show you real laziness. Watching sports is, technically, being lazy, too.

5. I WILL continue to dislike a certain, non-blood, relative in 2013 because she is still not very kind to me. Last year, I extended an olive branch (being the “bigger” person and all) and the year before that I did as well and the year before that… This year? Uh-uh! Don’t even ask me. The answer is “NO”.

6. I WILL still watch my favorite “shows” every night, Monday through Thursday. I feel it's what winter IS for when you live in a cold climate. Watching TV. I’m strictly a three-season TV watcher. And it looks like there’s going to be some really good mid-season series starting. Can’t wait to set the DVR!

7. I WILL NOT stop writing in run on sentences because I enjoy it and they make me feel slightly manic and that’s sort of a fun and exhilarating feeling.

8. I WILL try to keep my blog my secret again in 2013. It’s been really, really enjoyable carving out this one little place of paradise that is totally MINE. Plus, if I tell anyone in my “real” life”, they might look at me funnier than they already do.

9. I WILL continue being myself, or even more myself, this year. Hang on people; you’re in for a ride. So that means silly is going to get sillier. Dorky is going to get dorkier. And, and…

10. I WILL NOT change my introspective nature. I don’t always (hardly ever) share what I’m really thinking. My mind runs off on tangents and I should probably toss breadcrumbs so as to return to my original thought. I'm sorry but I will probably still tell "you" what you want to hear. Sometimes it’s easier for me that way. 

There you have it.

I’m sure there are more things I have no intention of changing in 2013. I can think of 5 more right now actually but you will be spared those.

Very P!nk AND Under Pressure!

Monday, Monday, Monday! 

Nothing cheers me up at the start of a new week like picking music for Music Moves Me. Thanks Xmas Dolly, Stacy Uncorked, Cathy, and Callie for the opportunity for me to get my nerdy groove on first thing!

If I’m sticking with this week’s theme, I should share the tunes that cause me to crank up the volume lately. I play music loud anyway so here we go…

This isn’t the first time you’ve heard me tell you I’m obsessed with Pink. And if you aren’t listening to her new album The Truth About Love, you are totally missing out. I love her…I mean her voice. Sassy lyric warning for most tracks on this album! I’ve shared “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” already. Here are two other favorites.

The lyrics for “True Love” are fantastic. And kinda, sorta TRUE!

“Try” is a sweet ballad.

And if I were keeping this totally PINK, “The Great Escape”, “Time Bomb”, “Slut Like You” would be here too.

Here’s a song that makes me want to dance and I’m not opposed to dancing while driving so if you see me doing so, just wave. I will always wave back!

“Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris

And two others from this weekend that I just had to amp up. One new and one old.

“Titanium” by David Guetta

“Under Pressure” by Queen (I’ve always been slightly obsessed with Queen and this is my favorite. Did I ever tell you I have a teacup that Freddie Mercury sipped from in London?) This is the official video. Sorry about the buildings

Happy week of October 8^th!