Bad, Bad Cats

Popcorn tragedy.

My Work Day in 3 Conversations

Me: I just wanted to let you know that I got into law school.
My Boss: Oh, wow! So, this fall?
Me: Yeah.
My Boss: Bummer...congratulations, but bummer.

Me: My cats destroyed a bag of popcorn seeds this weekend. There was popcorn everywhere!
Jon: My God! Your cats need jobs! Clearly they're just bored, they really need to do something with their lives.

Me (singing): "Wilco, Wilco!"...those are the only words I know.
Jason: But this isn't that song.
Me: I'm sorry, do you want me to stop?
Jason: No, I just didn't want you to think you were singing along.

Little Monster in the Closet

This is Brody's new favorite place at home...in the very back of the closet, on the very tippy top of the perilous tower of boxes and bags. I'm not sure how he gets up there without everything crashing down on him. Note the glowing laser eyes at the top of the photo.


















Closer...



















closer....















even closer...



















there he is!

Wisdom for the Day

While on the subject of the blahs, I can't help but notice that the monotony of the days really emphasizes the whole life passing by idea. Day after day of nothing. I am currently reading The Journal of Jules Renard, and he has this to say...

"The days are long, but the years are short."

A Bad Case of the Mondays

I've got the blahs. And it feels like they are going around, so I can't really blame it on a weekend spent hovering, face first, over the toilet. Every day is the same. I ride the same bus, go to the same work, people make the same small talk, and the same smallest little things annoy me to no end. It's even sunny out and I still have the blahs. Blah, blah, blah. I wish something new and exciting would happen. Like a sudden windfall that would allow me to do something new and exciting. Or a school admitting me. Or an unexpected visit from a friend. Anything to kill the monotony.

Brody & the Books

Completely unstaged...how adorable is he?

Oh the Carnage

Dead Cats everywhere!!!

The Joy of Cooking

My new favorite thing to eat is Ramen Deluxe Soup. I invented it. It's super fast, super cheap, and super delicious. It's just 1 pack of chicken ramen, an egg, green onions, a dash of soy sauce, and some Chinese 5 spice.

Delayed Picture Posting Alert

Merry Christmas Seattle Ghetto Style. Note the Yule Log in the background.

An Appeal

Would someone please, please, please let me into their law school. The waiting is making me crazy. Literally, insane. PLEASE, I'm begging.

Brigadon't

I recently watched Brigadoon. I'm not sure what possessed me to pick this up at the library, but I need to remember to fight that urge in the future.

My friend Arianne claims that even bad pizza is good pizza. Musicals are not pizza. Bad musicals are just bad. And Brigadoon is among the worst I've seen.

Even if I could suspend my disbelief of the farcical accents, ridiculous plot line, mediocre choreography, and outrageous plaid tights, I don't think I could ever believe that Gene Kelly is the dashing hero he's supposed to be. Especially with those pantylines. It's so bad it's just bad.

The only slightly redeeming quality in this hot, steaming turd is Van Johnson as the surly, alcoholic, friend who accidentally shoots and kills one of the fantastical Brigadoonians. I can't imagine a better use of a fake bullet.

Perhaps this is the answer to my snooze button issue.

Balance: Week1

Recap: January's project is establishing routine, which currently entails going to bed and waking up at the same time, and also shooting for 8 hours of sleep.

Progress Report: I have no trouble with the evening portion. In fact I rather enjoy it. At 9:30 I stop what I am doing and tidy up the house, get ready for bed, and I'm usually reading or knitting by 10, if not a little after. As long as I am physically in bed at 10, I can do whatever I want (within reason), and I find that after about 30 minutes I'm ready to hit the hay.

Morning is a different story. Monday and Tuesday were fine. Monday I woke up at 6 intending to go for a walk. It was raining. Instead of falling back into bed I did yoga...success! It was very nice. I felt rejuvenated and awake all day. But problems started Wednesday and on. I can't seem to stop hitting that damn snooze button. I even put my phone(back-up alarm) in the kitchen and still managed to completely ignore it. This morning my cats had even abandoned me. Usually as soon as the alarm goes off they are in my face...but today those little ingrates were nowhere to be found.

I'm a little perplexed. I am getting plenty of sleep.
7 to 8 hours. Perhaps I am one of those fabled people that needs 9 hours. I shall experiment, in the meantime, does anyone know how to disable a snooze button?

Phase II starts tomorrow wherein I tackle the dreaded weekend nap. Eeek!

Don't Be Ashamed...It Happened to Us All

Here's a link to two great Twilight comics. I know these are so yesterday's news...but they make me laugh. Every time.
Here's the link to her website. Take a gander, she's pretty cool.

INVASION!

My computer was invaded by an army of Wheedles while I was at lunch today. They say, "Hello Erin. We want you to play with us forever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever." Creepy.

Photo and Wheedles courtesy of Jon Brock

Balance

¹bal·ance

Pronunciation: \ˈba-lən(t)s\

Function: noun

1 : an instrument for weighing: as a : a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends b : a device that uses the elasticity of a spiral spring for measuring weight or force
2 : a means of judging or deciding
3 : a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence
4 : an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece
5 a : stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis b : equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements c : equality between the totals of the two sides of an account
6 a : an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements b : the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas
7 a : physical equilibrium b : the ability to retain one's balance
8 a : weight or force of one side in excess of another b : something left over c : an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account
9 : mental and emotional steadiness

Paying particular attention to definitions 2, 5a, and 9; this word will be the driving force of my year. I find that while I am mostly happy in my everyday life, there is room to be happier. And the happiness that eludes me on those certain days seems to stem from being wildly out of balance. I either go full tilt or sleep the day away. I'm either a miser or a spendthrift. Desperately morose or obnoxiously cheerful. There is no middle ground. Moderation is not my middle name.

Well, hopefully all that will change. Taking a cue from my friend Autumn, I plan to focus on one area of my life every month. January being the month of routine, I mean to go to bed at roughly the same time every night, and wake up the same time each morning. It also means no more snooze button, and a moratorium on weekend naps. EEEK! Well, maybe not completely, I can nap on Saturday, but not Sunday...this is the year of balance after all.

I'm really looking forward to this, I'm ready for a challenge and a project. There will be false starts I will stumble many times, but this year isn't about being perfect. This year is about finding the in between; the balance between the best I have done in the past, and the best that I can do. The balance between the child that I sometimes am, and the adult I should probably start being.

Things I am Looking Forward To in 2010...

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...part 1
• Visiting AZ in February
• Erintine's Day...there will be flag football
• The new A.L. Kennedy book
• Summer