p.s.

I HATE that my posts are centrally-aligned. Any help welcome.

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@thingsgirlssay

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ilovemylife

When all else fails in life, look at pictures like this...

and this...

and this...

...then repeat after me, "ilovemylife".

If that doesn't work, go here.

did you say diddy-money?

[This post previously posted on Christmas. Here it is again, hopefully a little less difficult to follow, although I can't make any promises.]

There's nothing like a little Diddy to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. Yes, that sweet, infantile baby Jesus. And yes, by Diddy I mean Puffy, by Puffy I mean Sean Combs. Have you heard his new album? If you haven't, I insist you buy it. And when you get that album, I insist that you listen to #5. But please don't judge me. After all, today is the day we celebrate the birth of our sweet Lord baby Jesus and he wasn't big on the whole judgment thing coming from anyone but him.

While we're on the topic of music you might as well get your hands on a copy of "Sleigh Bells." I might have found them because I am mildly obsessed with M.I.A. and they just might be on her record label. They might be kind of awesome, although I can't promise you their album has much to do with Christmas.

Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the M.I.A. concert? Best. Night. Ever. Had it not been for my super awesome and fashionable walking boot (broken foot), I may have had even more fun. However I can't hate on the boot too much---it did make me some rather questionable friends waiting in line for the bathroom. Friends I would not have made had it not been for my awesome boot. But hey, I'll take props from anyone complimenting me on my ability to "rock it" despite an injury. Even if said person might have been killing time while her friend did a line or two in the restroom I happened to be waiting for.

Speaking of lines, I'm pretty confident the headliner of the night did a few of those herself before gracing us with her presence. However, once she was onstage she kept it clean. That is if you consider clear liquid that burns on the way down "clean". How else would one quench their thirst in between gyrating the crowd and climbing perhaps the world's largest speakers? If it weren't for the dancers dressed in graphic printed burkas, the very....um...sexual European (male) dancers, and the slightly inebriated lead performer on stage, I might not have fit in with my (need I say) awesome boot.

With the music on point except for some feedback due to the Guinness sized speakers squeezed into a club the size of my living room, I left the show on a mixed media, music pulsating, base pumping high. I had met my match. Well, less of a match and more of an alter ego. So with a pitter patter in my heart, a faint migraine forming in my frontal lobe, and a boot on my foot, I left the scene of my brush with musical chaos.

You may be wondering what this all has to do with Christmas, and to be honest, for a moment I wondered as well. I promise you it has nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas but everything to do with the fact that today I received a year's subscription to "Rolling Stone" magazine, and I couldn't be happier. Now that is a good way to start the year.

things i find #3

I'm not sure about you, but I could use some laughter in my life right about now. Well, actually, there is plenty of laughter to go around, but you get the idea.



Oh yes, please, I would love some bear vomit [click to enlarge].

curious much?

Wondering about my adventure to see M.I.A.? Here's a little something to tickle your fancy until I get to that. Stay tuned.

P.S. What the crap does "tickle your fancy" mean anyways? Ohh, the inappropriate things we say.

ignorance is bliss

There is nothing like a broken foot to stop you, literally, dead in your tracks. There is also nothing like a broken foot to make you feel totally useless, a little lazy, overwhelmed, exhausted, underwhelmed, bored, and nonetheless totally annoyed and emotionally dramatic. I guess you could say I've spent a little too much time with myself in the last 3 1/2 days, which is definitely not a good place for me to be. Sure, maybe I have had or will have a multitude of life altering epiphanies, but I also can't help but rationalize them, blaming them primarily on the 48 hrs+ that I've spent on Vicodin.

As introverted as I may be, as much as I love T.V., being by myself, and being a homebody, there IS such a thing as too much of a good thing. T.V. lasted about 24 hrs, being by myself lasted about the same, and the whole "homebody" thing is about over. I've discovered I'm not very good at doing nothing. Actually, I've known this for quite some now, but knowing and feeling are two different things. I've KNOWN for some time that I am not good at doing nothing, but now I've truly FELT what it means to do nothing, so know I know know that I am not good at doing nothing. Some people have such a talent, to appreciate nothingness, but I am clearly not that person.

I've also never been (in my adult memory) this dependent on others. My roommate definitely wins the "Roommate of the Century" award. Too bad there's no such trophy for that. Even my close friends (co-workers) deserve kudos, or an honorable mention for "Friends of the Year". There should be a trophy for that one too. Oh yes, and "Sister of the Year" should be in there too. I'm often to busy being the do-gooder to let other people help me, and to really be able to appreciate others for what they have to offer. It's bittersweet on the other side. You may perhaps want to be in my shoes, but I'd rather be in yours. Like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.

I'm not sure what "epiphanies" I've had. I've had a lot of thoughts though. Nothing life altering, but enough to make you stop in your tracks, get frustrated, then appreciate what's on the other side. It's true, ignorance is bliss. I would have been totally OK not knowing what a broken foot felt like. Who knew physical pain could actually bring you to tears? Not just any tears. Sobbing, snot out your nose, heaving air in and out, ugly cry-face kind of tears. Ever wonder what you looked like when you cry? I do. How else will I know if I have the ugly cry-face like that teen mom on "Teen Mom"? Poor thing. I bet nobody ever told her. Wonder what she thinks now that she's seen herself on T.V.

Any who. I'm really just starting to ramble now. Remember? That's what I do well. I may not ramble in conversation, but I definitely ramble when I write...when I think.

I'd really like to be done with this whole boot thing, but I better not start thinking that now. I've got 5 1/2 more weeks with this bad boy. Wish me luck! And if you happen to see my cry-face anytime soon, remember what I said. Ignorance is bliss.

club M.I.A.

So this is where I will be next Thursday with my hollywood girlfriend. Talk about sticking out like a soar thumb.

I'm so excited.

Ilovemylife.

no lazy susan

I haven't been this grateful for a day to end in a long time. Thank you Jesus. I've never more looked forward to putting pajamas on and turning off the world. While I may not be unplugging from my laptop or other such electronic devices, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to unplug from the world, the week, this month, and today. Nothing particularly bad has happened. In fact, I'm beyond grateful for new and greater, deeper friendships than I've had in the past-er-ever. "Ilovemylife" is something you may hear me say throughout the day. And if you haven't heard it, just assume I'm thinking it.

Arriving at home today, knowing what lie ahead, I was in quite a mood. When Thursday comes, I want the day and week to be done. By Thursday I need space. I need quiet. I need to step aside and away, for just a moment. Tonight, however, would not be the night to do any of those things. So instead of lounging at home catching up on DVR, in the few moments I had, I put myself to bed. I cannot say I fell into a deep slumber, but a deep enough rest to ignore the hunger pang so strong I thought my stomach might turn itself inside out and begin appetizing on it's fellow organs. Upon waking I had a flashback of childhood. Of those few moments where nothing would fix my attitude except the nap I so desperately needed. It's amazing how loud your head and stomach can become when they are not pleased. In the moment before (and ultimately after) my slumber I realized just how loud my body can be. It's crazy how strong and selfish our bodies are. Selfish in this sense can be good and bad. Good because it tells me when I need to STOP. Bad because it will do anything and cross any path to make me do it.

It's my own fault for ignoring my body. I'm a shover, a pusher, and "power through it", a "figure it out", a "we'll make it work", "we'll make it happen", "I'll be OK" kind of person. While all of those things may be totally true and a part of who I am, it also means I will not deal with my own ish for the sake of making something happen and happen well. Just like when I am ravishingly hungry and willing to cross anyone or anything in my path to to satisfy my physical hunger, I am equally willing to plow through life ignoring my ish and avoiding *gasp* feelings for the sake of getting things done.

The concept of getting things done always brings me back to the story of Mary and Martha. In fact, this story has come up a few times in my life recently.

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:38-42

How often do I become consumed with the "doing" part of life? I'm no lazy Susan and I definitely don't spend much time with Jesus' feet. I want to choose the better choice, and I don't want it taken away from me. Our culture is so focused on the doing and getting things done, that we forget to experience the moment. The moments of joy. The moments of laughter. The moments of peace, sorrow, pain, and experiences we may face only once. We forget to experience God's presence, despite that fact that it is constantly smothering us like a coddled baby. I hate that about our culture. I hate that I've let it become who I am--or rather, what I do. I fill my days back to back feeling lazy if I don't. But when do I actually take the time to hear God's voice? How could I with the constant hum of this that and the other. You know the stuff. I don't need to tell you what fills your day, your ear, your wallet, your hands.

Jesus told the rich young ruler in Luke 18: 22 to "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." While some might say wealth was the young ruler's downfall, I think this is true only in the sense that the young ruler did as he was told making sure to follow the rules and commandments but left no room for the King. By the time the ruler came to Jesus asking for eternal life his hands were too full with the stuff of life to be filled with God's love.

So what's your stuff? What needs to go? God is in constant communication with us and prayer goes two ways. Prayer is not a speech, it's a conversation. God is God no matter what but if we want to experience that in its entirety then we must be willing to make room for him. We must be willing to give up our stuff, take up our cross, and sit at Jesus' feet.

you're so welcome

I'm turning into my sister. And by that I mean that I am quite the techy-multi-tasker and internet junkie these days. I'm not saying it's a healthy obsession, but give me a break already--a girl's aloud a vice or two, right?

Here are my two favorite websites, totally worth the time it will take you to follow the link. I promise you. Just be prepared to get sucked in. And try not to judge.

www.peopleofwalmart.com

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

You're so welcome.

P.S. If the links don't work, just cut and paste.

GAM

Please, please, please go to this website and read through as much of it as you can.

http://www.deargirlsaboveme.com/

Your welcome.

You can thank me later.

A.mo