Nighttime

I wish we had more awake time during the night than the day sometimes. Something magical, cozy, energizing and quiet about the night. Not too much talking... relief. The world just feels relaxed.

SOTD- Rosanna- Toto

If you say you don't like this song....I won't believe you.. ;)

Congratulations Nancy!

One of my best friends Nancy got married last weekend. She was so happy and just giggled and had a big perma- grin the whole time.They took a long time and didn't rush into it, so it feels good to see them enjoy such a happy day. Congratulations Girl!

I don't know how long ago it was-10 years ago maybe (I should have looked it up) that the company 'Life Is Good' really took off. Living out by the beach as I did for a long time, you couldn't go a full day back then without seeing at least 5 of your surfer/boating friends with one of their t-shirts on, or one of their stickers slapped on their jeeps, skate and surf boards. Just the happy stick figure guy stating that positive matter of fact, , simple three word phrase- "Life Is Good" (talk about a prime example of 'less is more') I've been reading up on Bert Jacobs and his brother (the founders of the company ) the past couple of days and watching some of his talks at corporation seminars, and I really like them and wanted to share one. But also to share why I was inspired to do so as well. It was after talking with a really old friend of mine out East, Thanksgiving eve who owns a sports shop. We randomly ran into each other at a local bar/lounge, and once the initial hugs and happy smiles waned, he asked me 'what was wrong". Though I was smiling and thought I was looking good, he's known me so long, I guess he could see indifference in my eyes. Maybe it''s just been looming there and I've stopped noticing. What he's known is a happy bubbly kind of goofy, positive girl. I went on to tell him how the past two years really seemed to change my previous life view that 'anything is possible' and my whole belief in 'finding the good in every situation or person', something that was just natural me. That two big unexpected pitfalls (both financial) seemed to have changed that. Changes that I let effect my mind-(operative word 'let') and that has always been one of my biggest beliefs-that your mind is what creates the life that you are currently living today. My life today, in fact, being very honest is nothing more, and is in perfect tune actually, to where my mind had been focused the past 6 months to a year. He then went on to tell me a story that literally made my night/day/year. He reminded me of when I was working at this fashion company out East that was housed in a huge multi level potato barn. It housed not only our office, but 3 other spaces. One was a lawyer, one was a Pilate's studios and the other was waiting to be rented. One day, he and his buddy came to look at the space to rent. They were going to share it, using one half for a new venture into extreme sports that would book trips and take people on extreme sport adventures- like a package type deal business- and the other half would be a sports shop. He had been trying for three years to find a space, get the money and get it off the ground. He asked me if I remember running into him the day they came to look at the space and I did remember, but then he asked me if I remember what we talked about and that, I didn't. He went on to tell me that he and Alex had walked out dejected because they had just been told that the rent was $800 more than they were originally told and they just weren't going to be able to do it. He said I was getting out of my car (I'm guessing from lunch?) and I said 'hey' and asked them what they were up to, what they were doing there. He told me what happened, and said that he was just going to go back to real estate probably,(he was a broker for a few years before quitting to pursue this) that he had been hitting so many roadblocks the past three years and he was just sick of it. He told me - and I really don't remember- that I hugged him and took he and Alex by the hand (typical corny me) and that I said "no you can't give up! think positive, if you really want it bad enough and think positive, you'll get it . Just picture it in your mind" I've always been a big fan of visualizing, so that makes sense. I'm paraphrasing how he told me (he also imitated my voice which was pretty funny considering he has a very deep one)- but he said that he and Alex left feeling like they'd keep trying for awhile longer. Really? Because of me? I didn't believe him at first, thought he was telling me that to be nice, but he swore it was true. I also laughed and said 'what the hell happened", he responded with a laugh in agreement. The end of his story, is he ended up finding a shop of his own eventually and his friend ended up renegotiating that space in the barn and his business is still thriving. He then said that it seemed to him that I had done so many interesting things that I liked, among all of our friends who were always struggling, that he respected my advice that day.
It is true, I am reminded with this run in, that the things you need to hear, the people you need to see, seem to show up at just the right moments. Me for him back then, him for me that night. And it's true, if you feel on the outside that you are flailing, or that you've got nothing , or it's not possible, you ALWAYS HAVE OPTIMISM and a positive attitude. And what you feel is nothing or impossible , is many times the negative attitude that is at work in your mind. A false perception. Pessimism can really destroy. Looking back on all my bigger successes in my mind, I can tell you with all honesty, it always begins with a positive attitude. Here's just a quickie-- ...when I drove the 20 minute drive from Sag Harbor to Southampton some years back, nervous as all hell for my interview at Billy Joel's office, I purposefully kept the radio off and kept focused, telling myself over and over "you'll get this, this job is yours", and as silly as it may seem- it worked!
So, no matter what- THINK POSITIVE!! xoxo

Basic Truths
by anonymous

*I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

*There is great need for a sarcasm font.

*How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

*Was learning cursive really necessary?

*Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

*I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

*Bad decisions make good stories.

*You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

*Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

*I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

*I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

*I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

*I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Beer than Kay.

*I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

*Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

*I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

*The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

*How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

*I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

*Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

*Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

*Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

*Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

     “Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment"? I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games.”

 Jack Handy

 

Victoria's Secret Spring Runway Photos Released- Daily Candy

At work, I get a daily email from a fashion news site called 'Daily Candy'. You can read things there from the frivilous (what color is 'in'-lame) to the more business oriented (stock prices). Most times though , I have no time to look as I am too busy. But, I did peruse it a little this afternoon, and saw that they had released the 2010 Victoria's Secret runway show photos (actual show airs on CBS next Tuesday Nov 30 @ 9:00) and I have to say- thank goodness for VS!! Girls should be playful and flirty and sexy and sweet and in a non trashy way, this is the only company keeping that idea alive. I love it. I love being a girl and I love the sexy way they style thier girls. ; Girls- celebrate being a girl! Enjoy your sexiness, don't be afraid of it or cover it up. (too much anyway) - lol

SOTD- Show Reel- Martin Kaye

My adorable friend Martin-- it's about time he was a song of the day.
Check out his new website here:
www.martin-k.com

Cool Lego Scultpure

Adam Carolla- In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks

I have a problem that when I buy a book for someone, I start to read it and have to be careful with the binding so you can't tell. It's bad. I saw the above in the bookstore today and had to get it for my brother for Christmas, but, of course, I've begun reading it and it's damn funny. Aww Adam..The Man Show was never the same when you left. ( 'wife school', 'adam and jimmy visit snoopp dogs house', Adam works at a hardware store'- the trampoline :) ) classics. And when they considered replacing you on LoveLine, some fan freaks actually made threats to the producers. They should have ended the show when Jimmy and Adam left, in my opinion.
Anyway, just a Christmas tip if you have any boys that appreciated The Man Show and Loveline, they'll definately like this book. :)

SOTD- Pour Some Sugar On Me- Def Leppard

From the first time heard this song at 16, until this very day, I always want to do a little strip tease to it.....only in private of course. :) Come on, try and tell me I'm wrong-- you know it's perfect. This song never NOT kicks ass.

My Dream...

A porch, the man I love, and maybe someday owning my own little store/business after my professional career has run its course. Some beers, nice dinners and some laughs. Some sort of little family...made up of cats, or a little one, or a fish? lol -I really don't want much more than that. Not immediately,things take time, but it is a goal. Me and my man on that porch. Watching the world go by, having a beer, listening to the crickets and the rain. I laugh when I think I went so far from where I grew up, just to want the simple things I grew up with. It's so much less to ask for than I know the universe can provide. :)

SOTD- Wicked Game- Chris Isaak

This video was so sexy when it came out. And that long guitar drop that sounds so sexy and drippy wet. I also remember the first time I heard the song, and every time thereafter, what an unlucky guy it seemed he was, and what a sad song too. Like was what he singing about really true? Did it happen to him? Sad--but still sexy
*I couldn't help but think also, the first time I saw the lead in theme to 'Boardwalk Empire', that they definately took inspiration from this video's sound. Anyone agree?

SEXY

SEXIER

MEOW

Josie Maran Argan Oil and a Sexy Bum To Boot:)

Josie Maran is a model and a very smart career woman in the health field. She has created a line of all natural products for your body using oil from the argon nut. I tried the face oil today, and I must say that my skin feels softer than ever- and my skin is pretty soft naturally. I highly recommend the oil for your face. And she has a body oil also, and I would say her tush looks pretty smooth to me. Sexy girls are awesome, huh? Find her line at the site below:
http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

And here is a little info about the argan oil itself :
Argan oil is an oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco, that is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. The tree, is extremely well adapted to drought and other environmentally difficult conditions of southwestern Morocco. The species Argania once covered North Africa and is now endangered and under protection of UNESCO.^[1] The Argan tree grows wild in semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to protect against soil erosion and the northern advance of the Sahara.^[2] This biosphere reserve, the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, covers a vast intramontane plain of more than 2,560,000 hectares, bordered by the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains and open to the Atlantic in the west. Argan oil remains one of the rarest oils in the world due the small and very specific growing areas.

Animusic- Harmonica

This is pretty cool

When The Planet Wants To Explode, No Mere Mortal's Gonna Stop That Shit From Goin' Down

I went grocery shopping tonite, and because I didn't feel like going to my favorite, Whole Foods (kinda out of the way), I went to a local store that has pretty good stuff anyway. Though I like the healthy diverse stuff at Whole Foods, I do believe there are many crossovers in all that stuff and in many instances, there is not a ton of difference. If you stay fresh and buy healthy things and steer clear of the shit and processed stuff , you can do pretty well at any store. As I was going to by baking soda (which I have been using to clean the bathroom to try and be more 'natural' - ahem) I was honest with myself that my bathroom just hasn't been as clean, and bought good old comet with bleach. My mom would giffaw at the thought of anything but industrial bleach out lime out whatever for the bathroom! I then bought another case of Poland Spring water (after blah blahin-ing on the bad case of the plastic bottle)--- Cuz here the thing: we can do as best we can, but hell if I want to be some sort of exhausted global preacher. It's boring and impossible. I do little things I can like recycle and eat healthy, but damn, water bottles are convenient and comet gets things clean. I think you have to be pretty damn bored to think about this stuff too much. It's time to relax on this stuff an start focusing on the really important stuff.
I used to roll my eyes all day at these health food hippies when I was working at a healthfood store in college that were over the top in everything, like they needed a straight jacket (My co-worker Chelsea and I used to slip the kids of some of these health freaks real candy bars (snickers, three musketeers) during Christmas and holidays. Always felt sorry for them. Their parents needed to loosen up big time. I mean what in the world is childhood without too much sugar! :)
Just do try to recycle- that sounds good enough to me and takes a shitload of effort in itself.

PS- I heard "Only The Good Die Young" by Billy Joel today and when I hear it, always remember how much I love the line (and I've told him so)-
"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun." Right? Without being loosened up, you'll die a high strung cow!

Make Humor and Laughter Daily Medicine: Laughter reduces muscle tension. This muscle relaxation and the easing of psychological tension that accompanies it, is the main goal of pain and stress management. This ...certainly accounts for the stress- reducing power of humor.

Gems In Conversation

Me: What do you think he's thinking about?

Brother: umm, I don't know..beer and freedom, freedom and beer. (sarcastic laughter) oh, and work and probably boobs. Yep, for now.. beer, freedom, work and boobs.

SOTD- Do You Believe In Magic- Oz

glee club ..oz.. lol always

SOTD- Brighter Than Sunshine- Aqualung Cover

Beautiful Cover Job

Some Rare Alone Time & Perspective

I haven't had alot of just me, all by myself alone time, in over a year . If I am not working, I was with my boyfriend, if I was not with him, I was with my roommate- the most alone time I've had, when I think about it, is on my car ride home. That's not alot...not real time..not enough. Tonite I did. All by myself. And I noticed something interesting. Yes, I like alone time. I like to be quiet and read and think and write and do my little artsy things, watch a girly movie, etc...I've lived in my own apartment before and was fine with it. But, I haven't been able to do that in a long, long time. Until tonite. I came home at around 6:30, alone. I plopped on the couch, turned on the TV and found myself just now, three hours later, still sitting here, in my work clothes, completely slumped. I laughed to myself when I noticed, and I realized one of the interesting things about sharing time with someone from my former point of view. I'd always felt like we had to be watching some interesting program or movie, talking about 'interesting', deep topics or making a fancy dinner. I thought I had to impress the person in my space, or make constant conversation, and in turn the other person felt that way too. ( people mistake that for high brow attitude, when it''s usually the opposite- insecurity. The feeling of having to always fill the space) I feel like I came down tonite. Down to the Illinois girl that likes to just sit and watch random tv in her jeans and just be a lump. I never allowed myself to let my hair down because I thought the relaxed,' mind blank' girl wasn't going to be 'exciting' or 'interesting' 'enough. And honestly, even on nights off and alone, I never really have been with a shared space. Guess what though? That would be true comfort. When you can just allow yourself to be quiet. I miss sharing my time, but I almost feel like I decompressed by getting to be alone and was taught the great lesson that it is true what they say about being really close with someone. That you should just let yourself 'be' and that's true intimacy. That is true relaxation. We spend so much time being 'on' for other people all day, you should be allowed to be a goofy idiot at home if you feel like it. Your home is not the Queen's palace. I am just a small town, down to earth girl really. I'm much more simple than I've let on to be. I work almost too hard to be 'on' during my work days,and even sometimes socially- impressing bosses because I am intimidated by all these fancy NY girls or groups of people that all know each other . Always have been. Sometimes, I also think there is some misperception of me that because of the way I look or the things I think. I'm not that complicated. And btw, I still see myself with crooked bangs and little buck teeth in the fourth grade, so I'm far from all that, if people judge a book by it's cover. I want people to know that side of me more. I think I mixed the lines of when I could turn that off and be free just to be me. Not anymore. Just to be content with being quiet and silly. Without that, what's the point? I think true closeness starts to evolve when you can just allow yourself to 'be' with another person, so they feel free to be the same. No big talks or lots of energy and perfection.No more being 'on' out of insecurity to impress people. Sometimes you want to be a slump and a slob. That's real and that's true intimacy. I haven't turned off in soooo long and it feels good. I'd rather be a hick than a snob..anyday! I am learning a great lesson and seeing a gift in what I just went through to use in my life. It would be better to be loved for my slob lazy side than a contrived perfect side. That's not comfortable or real. And in another way, it's nice to not always have to be accountable for what you do and when and how and always answer to someone. That's a great thing to have to- to do what you feel and be understood finally and not have to explain what makes you happy. That is a great gift to have and give in a relationship. To really listen to your instincts and honor those needs and just know.
Oh...and what I watched was one of my all time favorites for the, oh, I don't know, 1,000th time. This movie never fails to make me happy. :)

Live each moment with humility, love, respect and gratitude for the whole of life that surrounds you. And you will find a treasure that has no end.--

Ralph Marston

Little Gems in Conversation

Dad: Do you like when someone calls to sell you something or tries to pry a pamphlet into your hand and pressures you?
Me: No
Dad: What do you do?
Me: Hang up, close the door, cross the street..
Dad: Exactly. Noone wants to feel pressured. There is no happiness in pressure. There is no gain in pressure. It causes the opposite of what you ultimately want. You get the hard things, but you'd be better off understanding more of the simple things.

I sometimes journal on my blog and just think outloud, and some of that you've related to me has helped you and it also helps me. And sometimes, I say things that are straight forward and true. Things that through the course of history have not and will not change kind of truths. And this is one of those times: In a relationship there are only two ways-
*keeping your lives outside of each other full (hanging out with friends, doing your hobbies, spending time alone) OR
*not do that and split apart to get it back.
It becomes almost less heartbreaking if you split mainly because of this, because the loss of that time for yourself and not feeling free (which is so key to practice in a relationship) is so great a need, that you'd rather be without them to get it, than stay with them and not have it.You become angry and kind of numb to the emotions because you are so desperate to feel freedom. Hear this if you need to: keep your own seperate lives healthy and active and give that to each other!! Seriously. Don't let it break you up. You BOTH need it. Even if you are the one not giving it, you too are missing it in your life and you don't even know it. (Like me- blogging more, playing guitar more, getting up early for yoga, catching up with friends) Don't blame each other if you can if you've been through this, just try be gentle and explain it,understand and be better at it. Healthy way vs unhealthy way. 2 choices. You lose the fun and that's what you should be having together! Life is too short. Eventually, we all don't want to be 'alone' alone,( much different than 'alone time') and we all need to connect with someone eventually. It's about having freedom while having connection, I've been reminded of through some hard times. You don't want to kill beautiful moments and love shared, with memories of built up resentment. That is terrible. Go back to what you find beautiful in each other if you've built up any of these.Cherish understanding each other as friends and do what you would do for your best friend, as that's who they should be. Be happy just to see them happy -in moments with you and without you! I think more than love, respect is key. Sometimes I go through a lesson hardcore to really get it. :(

He's Ba-aack!

"The good news: I will be doing a show on TBS starting in November! The bad news: I'll be playing Rudy on the all new Cosby Show," O'Brien posted on Twitter.
Yay- Conan O'Brien is back! Jimmy Kimmel kind of filled the space, but he ain't no Conan. Clever, witty, sarcastic and smart is back! Someone who is just naturally funny- nothing so overly written or contrived. You can smell bad funny a mile away. No lame opening monoluges here-- Thank goodness. From getting the shaft to coming out way ahead of them all with a sweet settlement and a new show. haha- redemption at it's finest!
TBS- 11pm

"Each one of us has to find his peace from within. And peace, to be real, must be unaffected by outside circumstances"
-GHANDI

Learned this the hard way. But, it is the truth.

Tim Gunn- Excerpt From Interview Regarding His New Autobiography

Love This--

Q: If you can impart one lesson from the book, what would it be?

A: Tim Gunn: "Take the high road. You will never regret it. No matter how much anger and strife you feel you're facing, no matter how badly you want to lash out, don't do it. You'll never regret taking the high road. There isn't one single time that I've lashed out that I haven't deeply regretted it. "