The Younger One

Today, on my ride into work, I rode past three kids who were wating for their bus. I heard the older of the three yell "Stinky? Stinky? Come on, Stinky!" I looked over, even though I knew it wasn't directed at me (credit would need to be given to the kid had he voiced such a blatantly accurate observation), and saw the youngest kid slinking away.
I looked away as fast as I could so he wouldn't think I was going to carrying the story with me all the way into work and then blog about it.

Ten Things I am Ok with

1. a can of Diet Coke a day (or even two)
2. the decision to smoke weed again (im not the self medicating teen from years ago:))
3. nudity
4. dirty dishes in the sink
5. crying
6. being unsure about god
7. questions about having kids
8. wearing jeans many times before washing them
9. leftovers
10. skinny jeans

Spring brings Truth

walking in sunshine and padding beneath
our feet
we want to talk about what is real not
necessarily good but at least
real

the air doesn't hurt to breath in and we choose to not
wear layers of material and we choose
we try
to remove the others

Aggie

A week ago today my aunt Aggie died. It was a complete shock to everyone; she was only 68, very healthy, and I had just seen her a couple weeks earlier. My parents and some other family saw her the night before she died. Of course, this is what you do, we all had to go over the "last time we saw her". Had I not seen her so recently, I'd still be shocked by her death. She had a heart attack, but hadn't known she had any heart problems.

Aggie lived at a retreat center/farm in MN where she did massage, energy healing, and was a nun. Her wake was Wednesday evening and I enjoyed looking at the pictures of her working in Nicaragua, Venezuela, and at the retreat center. She had a deep, profound connection to the earth and to people. She was an activist, a feminist, and a positive picture of Catholicism. She truly served people with humility, humor, and respect.

I was telling a friend about her after the wake and something that I realized was how comforted I felt by her being so spiritually grounded. Aggie, being who she was, wouldn't have viewed her death as being unfair. She probably thought "Oh, now? Really? Alright then, let's get going...". I might just want to believe this for my own benefit, but I really feel she will move on to the next mission in her life with ease.

Rambling Through

I visited my acupuncturist last Saturday and she, basically, cleared up my cold. Now, I know better than to claim that acupuncture is a "miracle", although it has seemed that way at times. I have found that it helps minimize the duration of illnesses and strengthens my immune system. Today the cold has made it's way to the chest, which means it will (if the pattern holds true) leave me soon.
It's always a good reminder to me-plenty of sleep, avoid excessive amounts of sugar (I'm detoxing today-detox was supposed to start yesterday, but I gave in to some so-so sugar cookies), exercise, and patience with self.

This is a complete jump in topic...I have been wondering, as I have in the past, where my life mate and I would be if we hadn't purchased a home when we did. Would I still be working the job I have? Would I have completed the massage program at school? Would we still reside in our current geographic location? Would I have nurtured my creative side more? During times of financial struggle, I have blamed our mortgage on my lack of creative energy. Being Stuck. Worrying about the dollar amount. As I put that in words in front of my face I realize that it might create added stress, but it's always ME who allows these obstacles.
Still...sometimes I wish we just didn't have the responsibility, that we could get out of a lease and move somewhere else.
Then I remember how I really love where I'm at. Why do I think about moving????

Family

I picked up my cousin from the train station last night at 10:30, then dropped her off at my aunt's house. The whole event took about an hour, and that's the longest I have ever talked to her before. She's 19, I'm 27. Her family grew up in another state, her mom is my dad's sister and my god mother. We, her mother and I, have never been really close either, in my opinion. I wonder if she ever thought so??
It was nice to talk to my cousin, she has grown up, I've grown up, and I realize the importance in maintaining those relationships. I certainly feel I've dropped the ball on a lot of familial relationships in the past few years, even friendships. Not purposely, of course, it's just that more and more time shoves itself in between visits, phone calls, and, I never thought it possible, emails.
I get to see most of my dad's family tomorrow at our Xmas gathering. It will be fun. Lots of people, noise, and food. I need them right now.

Skimpy List Mode

I used to wonder how bloggers could let days, weeks, months go by...

Things Going On:
-the plumber is starting work on our basement Monday morning. This will get the ball rolling on our Finish Basement Project. We will use the rest of our home equity to do this work, as well as buy a toilet, sink, shower, and some framing materials.
-My sister is still pregnant, still sick most days, but she's still making it.
-Work is busy. Busy. Busy. Busy.
-My co-workers are frowning at me (refer to above) for being online.
-I already have 12 clients booked for January!
-I need to buy High School Musical 2 for my niece. This is the ONLY gift I am buying from a place other than the co-op or second hand store. I am happy about this.
-I am wearing a skirt today, with tall, black boots. I feel cute, maybe even hot.

That is all for today.