I believe!!

…..in many things, but Santa Claus never *really* was one of them…….although “pretending” made for a fun game of make-believe as a kid.

 Here are a few of the things I do believe (not alphabetized): 

I believe in love…..the kind that *really* never quite gives up.  I believe in miracles…..the kind that can happen on any street and often does.  I believe in people…..because without them it would be a lonely world.  I believe artists were sent to speak to those who must “see to believe.”  I believe in second chances, and third chances…..well really as many chances as it takes.  I believe beauty isn’t found in “beautiful” things, but rather by going through difficult times and finding the silver lining.  I believe life is taken far too seriously.  I believe in playful humor.  I believe in laughing at myself….and letting others laugh along too.  I believe in the power of a letter….a *real* heart-felt letter….and even more if it’s the kind with a stamp on it.  I believe God can change lives…..and believe THAT is change you can believe in too.  I believe Christians are the poorest advertising for Christianity.  I believe we are all masters of our own destiny.  I believe my life is an epic adventure. 

I believe in forgiveness and grace and I believe in the GOD that authored both.  …..and it is HIS story of grace, love, forgiveness, and reconciliation that begins with CHRISTMAS…..so let’s get this crazy season cranking.  

_____________________

I also believe my neighbors are some of "those" people Brian mentioned that are trying to hail the mothership with their holiday themed galactic lighthouse.....but I'll let you decide.

Say What?

Oh boy, one of those days when I'm supposed to write a blog but Nothing really jumps out at me. Maybe he's practicing for the long jump in the 2012 summer Olympics I can't think of any other reason for all that jumping... I just wish he'd find a different target.

But let's not make much ado about Nothing. There will be plenty of time for that if he medals in London. Intsead let's talk about Something. I hear she's up to all kind of crazy stuff... And she's heavily involved with some fairly mundane things as well. I know; kind of vague. But that's usually how it goes when you're talking about Something.

I thought we might talk about Everything but he has so much going on I'm not really sure where to start. So maybe we'll just stop here for the night.

Zen And The Art Of Black Friday

As the title may imply I did not participate in this years "buy nothing day" which is really as much of an overreaction as the phenomenon it is intended to counter. And while I've already pointed ut that camping out at Best Buy a week before Thanksgiving borders on lunacy and is well into stupid's zip code I don't really understand the need to refuse to buy anything on Black Friday. I can appreciate the desire to not get caught up in the consume or die madness that seems to overtake so many midnight shoppers but if you can't manage to go shopping on Black Friday without losing it I think the problem probably lies with you. Instead I choose to approach this day as exactly what it is... Friday. As in the day after Thursday and right before Saturday. So this morning I slept until a reasonable hour woke up and did a little shopping. First to Target for some deodorant and mouth wash. I think we can all agree it's best if I don't stink.n And then over to a Black Friday sale most seemed to have overlooked in their 42" flat screen frenzy. The new used bookstore in town, the store is new the books are used, had buy one get one free books from 8am until noon. And while I don't embrace the madness I can certainly appreciate a good deal. So I traded in some old books and stocked up on some new reading material. And for those who think books are old fashioned and that I should have gotten the flat screen instead let me remind you that books were flat long before TVs. Books are like the kids who liked that band before they got famous. Setting the trends not following. Anyway... I walked away with over six hundred dollars worth of books and spent less than fifty. All on books I had already planned to pick up at some point when the budget allowed; which, thanks to the sale, was today. And that is the key to Black Friday. Treat it like any other day. Don't go crazy and don't buy what isn't in your budget. The fact that a flat screen TV is only two hundred dollars does not by extension mean that you need one; especially if the transaction requires you send a dozen people to the infirmary. And on the other hand don't pass on buying something just to make a point. If you've the luxury of indulging in such silly ideals then I'm sure you're dressed and fed so we all know you buy things. Don't be snob. If it's on sale and you're just going to end up buying it next week anyway then go ahead and see if the crazies left any on the shelf and get it while it's on sale if possible.

Silly Stuff & Other Things I'm Thankful for......

I am thankful for soooo many things, but here are just a few….in alphabetical order:

Airplanes, Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Parfaits, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Church, Clean Sheets, Clean Slates, Clean Water, Family, Friends, Friends of Friends that become my Friends too, Fuzzy Socks, Girlfriends, Growth, Honesty, Legos, Life, Martinis with Olives, Monkeys, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, New Friends, Old Friends, Paint Brushes, Photographs, Polka Dots, Red Bull, Second Chances, Silly Stuff, Simplicity, Table Saws, The Book of Esther, This Blog, Vibram Five Fingers, Wish Bones, Yellow Paint,  and You.

…..but most importantly of all, I’m thankful for a GOD that weaves all of these things into the most epic adventure ever, MY LIFE.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Ya’ll!

As slow as this semester has gone, the end of it seems to be approaching far too rapidly!  …..and therefore I’m grounded.  Well, at least until I finish writing the two term papers I have yet to start, finish five more of my eight painting series,  put together a photography presentation, and miscellaneous other things which are of much lower impact to my grade and therefore of lower importance.

The good news is: the library will be closed for the next three days!! 

……the bad news is: the library will be closed for the next three days!!

This is good, because it may force me to take a little bit of a break…..and bad, because the darn hamster that runs around in my head never seems too. 

This brings me back to the “B” word I’ve been attempting to combat with my Monk(e) Mob……BUSY!  ….and if school, life, etc wasn’t enough to keep a girl busy, being a full-time Mob Boss will.

I am however, taking a short break this week to compile a list (in alphabetical order) of some of the many things I am thankful for. 

More on this Thursday.

Timing is Everything

It's that time of year again.  The time when turkeys start hanging out in bad neighborhoods hoping to witness some heinous crime and then trade their testimony for entry into the witness protection program.  When the air is filled with those same ten seasonal songs that have been played every year since time immemorial.  And when every musical artist with a flagging career releases an album featuring their renditions of those ten songs.   The time of year when retailers begin force feeding us holiday cheer and cheerfully remind us that it is better to give than to receive; in hopes that we will give them our cash.  When the first glimmers of panic begin to surface through our facade of calm; as we begin to realize that time is running out and we still haven't found the perfect gifts.  But despite the time of year most of us manage to keep calm and carry on as though everything was business as usual.  And then there are these people.

Now I get it; a great deal is hard to pass up.  And there are some great Black Friday deals at Best Buy this year.  But nine days in advance? Really?  I don't care how big a tv they're selling for $9.99 no way would you catch me out there that far in advance (ok maybe if the tv was 90" plus).  I have better things to do with my time.  Like life. 

And then there are these folks.


This house has been lit like this for almost a week now.  And while the tradition of covering our homes in enough lights to signal alien cultures and set the efforts of Al Gore back by decades is something I embrace, both because I am a sci-fi geek and because I find Al Gore an inconvenient individual, and which I enjoy as much as any other American; I do feel it best to wait until the turkey has been consumed before hailing the mothership.  Here in the south jumping the gun on the decorations is usually evidence of a "you might be a redneck if..." joke just waiting to happen. It bears noting (since I don't like to be an ass; no really) that this seemingly premature display of phosphorescent home bling may have a perfectly legitimate purpose.  Given that this is a military town it is not uncommon for the families of Marines who will be deploying before Christmas to celebrate, complete with decorations and galactic lighthouse, early rather than miss sharing in the festivities.  If that be the case then it is only right that they receive a bye on the otherwise inappropriate timing.

You stay classy November

This month brought to you in large part by RED BULL.  Crew Team Season has officially given way to Term Paper Season.....which essentially means I no longer GET UP at 0430, but rather STAY UP until 0430.  .....but at any rate, copious quantities of caffeine are involved.

In other and incredibly less mundane news, the latest issue of UNCW's Atlantis Magazine was released last night.  .....which not only features the Lego guys from above, but also a Monk(e) photo!  Although impossible to tell from the web version, the Monk(e) is the centerfold. 

 : )  

I *heart* Monk(e)!

Fail

No Internet at the house. Blogger app ate my post. My very long post. Lousy cell coverage makes posting online with the phone problematic at best. Going to try to rewrite the post tomorrow. Oh well... At least the weather is starting to reflect the season. Technology may out to get me today but at least nature is cooperating.

Coming soon

Had a great idea for a post. This isn't it. Needed a picture of something seen earlier to make it work. Wasn't able to get the picture. Therefore post wouldn't work. Didn't have a plan B Trying for the photo again tomorrow. Will also plot other options in appropriately alphabetical order. Just in case.

LOVE: Found!

Some spend a life-time looking for LOVE.

I find it daily!

.....with my cameras.

: )

People Be Crazy...

Which often results in all manner of painfully stupid and stupidly painful moments. But on occasion the insanity results in such truly epic moments as this...


That's not photoshop. That is surfer Garrett McNamara riding the largest wave ever surfed. I personally have no idea what makes a person wake up in the morning and decide to attempt to ride a 7ft long piece of fiberglass and foam across the face of a 90ft wave but it is awesome.

Also awesome, but on a more fittingly mundane level, is the opening of a new 2nd & Charles used bookstore here in Jacksonville. I find few things as exciting as books and having a massive new source of bargain priced reading material is akin to discovering an untapped oil field in your backyard. Okay maybe it isn't that great but a new bookshelf is much less intrusive than an oil pipeline.

Speaking of bookshelves at my sisters request I'm looking at building a bookshelf for her new home based on some designs she found online and if all goes well I may be building some for myself as well as they are some of the most interesting and visually striking bookshelves I've ever seen. More on that when I actually have something to show.

What the World Needs Most is more Cheerleaders

.....and I'm not talking about the kind that show up

<-----------HERE.....



......, but rather the people in this world that understand more than others the power and importance of meaningful, sincere encouragement.

I *HEART* CHEERLEADERS!!!

Poetry Corner

On occasion things pop in to my head and I feel the need to write them down; largely because that popping noise starts to get old after a while. Often these things seem completely random and for the life of me I couldn't tell you what caused them to suddenly appear unannounced. Bt there they are placed upon paper often never to be seen by any other soul. But since I've begun writting this blog it seems somewhat wasteful not to utilize some of these random bits of prose. So since todays work schedule demands that I forgo a lengthier post until the end of the day I offer you this very short poem I wrote a few weeks back entitled: "The Jester".

I dance and prance before the king with song and trick
By word and wit and pray he's ever pleased
Lest I should face a harsher fate than e'er his enemies.

I'M SOOOOO COOL!!!

…..and not just because my social life has been terrifyingly hectic……which is indeed true, especially this last weekend in large part to Halloween.  I must say, things can get a little hairy for Sock Monkeys with Goblins, Ghouls, Ghosts, Vampires, and other oddities on the loose.

……but alas, I survived!

…..even finding some of my “own kind” to hang out with.

Yet it is none of this that really makes me "cool", but rather the time of year it is.  Each year at about this time, my “cool factor” goes up about 20 points…..or should I say 20 degrees…..but regardless, I AM MUCH COOLER than I was just a few months ago.  Even Brian despite the bleakness of his social life is also much cooler than he used to be, if for no other reason, by proximity alone.

 .....but back to Halloween.....

 This is me hanging on with Bon Qui Qui. 

Don't know who she is? 

Check it out. 

Hilarious!!!!

……yes, I know it’s Wednesday, not Tuesday…..don’t hate just ‘cause I’m slackin’!

RUDE!

(....seriously.....watch Bon Qui Qui.....)

A Different Light Continued

Sorry for the lack of postage on Friday I keep forgetting that the post office has raised their rates. Also I actually had an invite to a social event with actual people in my peer group which happens only every other second Monday in the first week of Febtober so I try to take those opportunities when they arise; but enough about my pathetic social life. And even if my social life, or lack there of, didn't dictate taking every opportunity to spend time with friends we at the extraordinarily mundane life encourage social interaction as a general rule as we find life is best when shared. Now back to the promised topic. This is what it looked like before I got started.

If you aren't sure exactly what this project or projects is or where it's going that's okay I'm not all that sure either. What I do know is that after a little while it looked more like this.

That's a candle in that pot; more specifically it's the red candle you can see in the first photo. Or what's left of it anyway. The rest of the candle was melted down and is now inside of an old lightbulb. Which can be seen cooling in the second picture. I'll have a better shot of that once it's cooled and I can get it cleaned up. I also threw these together.

Yes that is a giant origami flower perched atop a pile of survival bracelets. No I don't find that strange. Preparing for the end of the world is no reason not to relax by folding paper into aesthetically pleasing shapes. I'm actually thinking about how to go about combining origami with my hollowed out light bulbs. We'll see what I come up with.