Trying To Focus On The Good

Sometimes, well often, unfavorable things happen. Life is complicated like that. More importantly is how we choose to handle it. While I do not always succeed, I try at some point during the struggle to focus on the silver lining or find a lesson in the unhappy situation. Like I said, it doesn't always work, but it makes going through turmoil a lot easier when able to focus the good or a lesson.

10 Things I Don't Know How I Lived Without

In no particular order....

1. DVR
2. poblanos
3. Ball jars
4. Fiestaware
5. a passport
6. pumpkin chip cookies
7. salmon dip
8. freezer bags
9. buttermilk
10. my food processor

Glee

Today is Tuesday. This means its a Glee night. I have a rule in my house about not talking during the show. A little ridiculous considering we have DVR, but the show is important to me. What I love about it is the way it screams equality. Everyone is special, yet no one gets special treatment; geek, gay, smart, jock or not, everyone is given equal time to share their story and be able to stand up for the population they represent. This naturally leads to many stereotypes, but the point of the stories remain: everyone, no matter how different, is treated the same. Here's to hoping equality and acceptance can hit the real world!

My Grandmothers

I have written a lot of fluff pieces the past week. I suppose that is the trouble with blogging everyday for a month...30 different topics worth writing about does not an easy list make. So today I am going to go back to one of the things my mother suggested I write about, relationships in different generations. When I first read this suggestion, I wasn't quite sure where to take it, but then it clicked. I can write about how I am like my grandmothers. It's very interesting the combinations of traits I've acquired from these two equally strong women.

Since my mom suggested this topic, lets begin with my maternal grandmother. The traits of hers that I have acquired: the desire to travel the 50 states, my love for the military, my fierce independence and my love of gardening and entertaining. My Oma has done road trips to every one of the continental states, supported her husband in World War II and is determined to live on her own. She also has a garden that takes up a decent chunk of her yard and used to have parties like no body's business. Its fun to tell her about my container garden, recipes I am trying out or parties I am hosting.

As for my father's mother, we have quite a bit in common as well. She is where I get my crazy strong desire to travel internationally, I definitely have her sense of adventure, love of crafting and her ability to make everyone feel welcome. Since getting my first taste of internationally travel I have been unable to leave my passport at home for more then a handful of years. She'd be proud of that. She searched for adventure, even took flying lessons! It is because of her that I crochet and embroider. And I have the same open door policy in my house that she had. Everyone is welcome.

I always enjoy doing things with my grandmothers. It's always fun to learn new things or discover similarities. I am grateful to have these two strong women as examples.

3 Wishes

There is a blogging site that gives prompts each day for NaBloPoMo, and one of the prompts that intrigued me was three wishes. So here goes:

1. Good health
2. No car/school debt
3. To know what I am meant to do in this world.

Third Time's the Charm

Today I had my cartilage pierced for the third time. The first closed and the second was infected...so I am hoping this one has more longevity. This piercing was extra special because I got it done with my lil sis/ cousin. And then we finished off the day watching musicals and movies. It was the perfect sister day!

My Spiritual Journey

My mom suggested that I use one of my NaBloPoMo days to write about my spiritual journey. Well, God and I are having issues at the moment, but there are somethings I feel confident in:

1. There is a power that created the world, and I call that power God.
2. God reveals himself to different people in different ways. My reasoning behind this is that most religions teach the same lesson...ie the Golden Rule
3. To get to heaven you have to live the best life you know how, and I do think that is different for everybody.
4. If I am going to choose an organized religion, I am sticking with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America). There are three main reasons for this: they have traditional services, liberal beliefs and they support commitment ceremonies. 

If God and I get on the same page by the end of the month I will post an update. But this is where I am at the moment.

My Mechanic

My mechanic is the best.

He doesn't charge for labor.

And then he takes me out to lunch.

He even does house calls and house work.

Yup. He's the best! :)

Books

Being an English Literature major,  I have a deep love for books. In fact, before Joe and I got married I had insisted he move to a larger apartment, largely because I was planning on bringing my books with me. There are a handful of books that mean a lot to me:

1. Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales- While I have yet to read the entire work, but what I love about this piece of literature is the way that Chaucer was able to write satire about the world in which he lived, while hiding it within his story. He's one smart dude.
2. Anita Diamant's The Red Tent-This is one of the few novels I have reread. Because of the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, everyone knows the story of the males in the family, but Diamant used her novel to write about what life was like for the women in that era, as seen through the eyes of the boy's sister.
3. Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love-This is a book I am in the middle of rereading now. Normally biographies don't do it for me. However, I found this one inspiring. Partly because she shared her journey on how she put her life back together when it was in pieces, and partly because I am jealous of how she was able to do it. I would love to spend a year abroad nurturing myself to a happy place. Until my next trip to the other hemisphere I will just have to keep rereading this book.
4. These are my guilty pleasure series: Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series. They are a mystery/romance/comedy series and literally makes me laugh out loud. I remember working at the convent and laughing hysterically at my desk. The next book comes out in two weeks!!!!

On my to read list (please feel free to add suggestions):

1. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
2. The full The Canterbury Tales
3. Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Grave

What Goes Through My Brain During An Average Day

I am supposed to blog everyday. A project that I am very excited about. Problem is, this weather and having minimal plans is not feeding my creativity. I have another post in the works, but my brain is just refusing to form coherent thoughts. I have two places to be this afternoon, so hopefully that will get my brain exercising again. Until then, I will hold this post as is and see what develops as the day continues on.

....and that is how this day started. Thankfully I stumbled upon an idea as I was out running errands.

A nice girl saw I was having a rough day and basically paid for my smoothie. This kind action reminded me of how I like to give just because gifts. I think they mean more then if they are tied to some holiday. I intend to pay forward this sweet girl's kindness.

Her generosity also led me to something I have been meaning to blog about but haven't found a good way to tie it in with other thoughts. I spend a ridiculous amount of time in my car. Consequently, I pass a lot of homeless people on highway on/off ramps. I like to give to them when I have something extra with me. But I don't give money, I give a bottle of water, a can of coke or a granola bar. I want to be helpful and make sure that my help is going to good causes, as opposed to someone pretending to be homeless to make an easy hundred bucks. This reminds me....I need to pack an extra water bottle for tomorrow's adventures.

I guess the purpose of this post ends up being "Pay It Forward." I ask you all to create a sort of kindness and pass along the happiness.