Persian food...

I was all hyped up to go eat Persian food for the first time with my friend Raven, who is half Persian. Unfortunately, I didn't really find it to be all that impressive. We had some sort of sauteed eggplants with herbs and spices, some flat bread that I thought was bland, and plain yogurt. The eggplant was good, but everything else was kind of just take it or leave it. Then we ordered this saffron chicken and rice with barberries and pistachios. I'm sorry but it tasted like I was eating potpourri or something. Everything was just kind of boring. Bummer. Maybe it was just an off day??

Brown paper packages tied up with strings...

Someone asked me yesterday what my favorite things were.

I didn't know how to respond, I needed him to be more specific.

What do you mean what are my favorite things?....My favorite anything?? Wow...I don't think I've ever thought about it before. My first instinct would be to answer in that very generic, although very important but universal manner...My favorite way to spend time is being with my neice and nephews, my favorite color is green,favorite time of the year is late spring/early summer....yaddiyadda...but then I realized that a favorite thing can be the tiniest detail of anything. Such as, my favorite pillow is kinda flat and squishy, but not too flat and squishy otherwise its pointless to use a pillow at all. There are so many random things that I love that I don't stop to think about or appreciate as often as I should. Love is one of the few things in life that has no limitations. You can love what you want, who you want, where you want and how you want and nobody can do a thing about it. Your favorite thing could be something you've never even experienced before but only daydreamed about. There is no right or wrong in what you like, it just is...It makes you who you are. So, I think I'll stop for a minute today and think of a few of my favorite things. I won't have time to write them all and I couldn't even begin to think of them all at once...but its these things, however big or small, that make up who I am. This little experiment also made me aware that I don't know the favorite things of the people I care about. I truly want to know. Its not something you sit around and talk about in casual conversation. I feel as if my phonecalls have wittled away into basically " Are you alive?"..." Fantastic, I am too.".. So I'm going to try to start giving more details and seeking out more details starting with this post.

My favorite smell is the smell of clean linen, but not just a Yankee candle burning out false messages...It has to be a clean smell IN a clean house...On a breezy summer evening, fresh out of the shower, in soft PJs, in a tidy and comfortable house, with books to be read and dishes put away.

My favorite non musical sound is the sound of keys being punched on a computer, or even keys on a typewriter. I don't know why, but I've always found it oddly comforting. Maybe because I could always hear my Dad in the computer room typing away and it became my background noise. Its such a soft and gentle lull...unlike having a TV on at all times for background noise.

My favorite movie when I was growing up was The Chipmunk Adventure. I still love it. I don't know if I partly loved it because the leader of the girl chipmunks was named Brittany and I kinda wanted to be as cool as she was. Then, there was this song that Ms, Miller sings to the boys about breakfast foods and I couldn't get enough of it. I knew it was not the most relevant part of the movie, but it made me happy. Oh, and the baby penguins.. Aren't you dying to watch it now?

My favorite time to be alone is when I am outdoors on a beautiful day and have no agenda. I use this time to think about all the things I have neglected to even register in my mind throughout the week. I need at least 2 or 3 hours to really scratch the surface. It always gives me a peaceful feeling though, just to acknowledge where I'm at in my life and my faith.

My favorite feeling in the whole entire world is being excited. I love the rush of it. It doesn't even matter what it is. It could be taking a trip, seeing someone I haven't seen in a long time, getting new music to listen to,going to a water park, a much anticipated paycheck, being taken on a surprise adventure, getting dressed up, eating at a restaurant I've been craving....whatever it is...Its just fun.

My favorite photographs of other people are when they are very candid and fresh. In fact, I like these types of pictures of myself as well to. A good photograph of someone is priceless. I love when you can just look at a photo and see what someone is feeling at that moment, whether its happy or sad or thoughtful...whatever is raw and real. I almost get a bittersweet feeling when I look at a picture of an old friend, or a happier time in someone's life, or baby pictures of my neice and nephews. I wouldn't trade anything for those pictures, but its such a reminder of how fleeting time really is.

Well, it seems this blog may be getting a tad on the long side and I should probably go back to work since I've been sitting outside at the coffee shop downstairs for an hour and a half. I think I'm going to make my favorite things a category in my blog and post regularly, I'm sure I will never run out of things to say and if I do, then that's a very sad day, don't you think?

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

I watched this Sundance documentary tonight and loved it. Leonard Cohen is a brilliant songwriter and listening to his music is just so moving and emotional. Probably because he is such a complex man and his heart and soul is revealed in his writing. I almost cry every time I hear Hallelujah and I've listened to it a million times.
Oh and by the way, Martha Wainwright has an amazing voice. I knew her brother Rufus' music but I'd never even heard of her. She does a cover in this film of the song " The Traitor" and it is so beautiful.

My Main Man

is and always will be my Dad. (sorry,boys!) I wish I could be there with him for Father's Day today. I hope he's eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes...or porkchops...or whatever he fancies on this particular day. I hope there is a game on and his team's winning or maybe that he's in his boat roaming around in his pond. Dad, if you are reading this right now- I hope you aren't in front of your computer working..
You are a wonderful father and I will never forget the things you've done for me over the years and the love you've given me. You are someone I can come to and be honest when I've messed up and I know that you will still love me no matter what I've done. You have been my biggest fan and always thought I was a star and that has given me a confidence that I carry through my life each day.
You've worked so hard and been a constant provider for your family without thinking twice. You've sacrificed so much for the ones you love. You've been a father for 32 years and there hasn't been a single day in all those years that you haven't been available to us. You are an amazing man, Dad and I love you very much!

A little daily nothingness...

I have finally figured out what my style is. at least for today. I am wearing bright solid colors only...lots of racerback tanktops with shorts or jumpers. I can't really describe it...lots of ballet flats and sandals with big hoop earrings and bracelets. For example, today I wore this 70s looking halter top baby blue jumper. It was kind of short but luckily I'm short enough to wear it and not look hoochie. I wore it with these white open toe pumps with two ankle straps and big white retro earrings. I have been shopping alot lately, but thats because I know where to shop within my budget. Forever 21 has changed my fashion life. I'm pretty poor still, yet not willing to completely sacrifice my love for new clothes...so I can go there and get really cute basic items. H&M just opened in Atlantic station and I'm dying to go, but I think I'll give it a week or two to settle down. Its truly destroyed my bank account having the new Urban Outfitters close by. But, what can I do? My whole job kind of revolved around image. I have no choice but to fret.
Anyway, thats it. I think I'll tack some pictures on to this post later.

Nostalgic...

When I was about 9, my mom and I had a special reading routine. We would go to the public library and very carefully select a book that we could read together. Oh, there were many!! We would each take a turn reading one chapter aloud every night at bedtime. This was the highlight of my day, and I remember soaking in every word and just fully enjoying those few minutes of one on one time with my mom. I loved getting her all to myself.It was always clear to me that my mom enjoyed the books we read and got into them just as much as I did. One of my absolute favorites was " The Shoeshine Girl" by Clyde Robert Bulla. I liked the way my mom read it. I remember getting really sleepy as she read but at the same time being so interested. In fact, I'm sleepy but wound up right now. Where's your mom with a good book when you need her?

Suggestion Box

What should I write about? Is there anything in particular that anyone would like me to report back on?? Or even just some advice on keeping the blog interesting and fun... Yep, help me out!

Sunshine Baby...

I think I was made to be in the sun. I love the summertime so much. I feel like I go into hibernation during the winter and I don't wanna do anything until the sun comes out and the heat goes up. I went to the lake yesterday with a friend and it was the first time I've gotten to do that in a few years. I've missed the feeling of just riding on a boat really fast and feeling the wind and sun against my face. I've got to get one of those things someday... This time of year makes me want to travel, but my guess is that it won't be happening this summer. Maybe I'll go to the pool today if I'm not too sunburned from yesterday. I never feel guilty if I spend my day off being lazy in the sun, but I always do if I spend my time being lazy indoors. I wish I had a bike, today would be a nice day for a bike ride. I can use my friend's bike but I want my own...

random trivia...

I Am
a daydreamer.
I Want
some adventure.
I Have
amazing friends and family.
I Wish
that I was traveling the world right now.
I Hate
being broke.
I Fear
that things might fall apart at any moment.
I Hear
the Books, which is playing on my ipod.
I Search
for answers, answers, answers..
I Wonder
what I'm going to do tonight, tomorrow, next week...
I Regret
not realizing sooner that I'm just fine by myself.
I Love
the peace I feel when I'm outdoors.
I Ache
in my ear.
I Always
get dressed in the same order every morning.
I Usually
change my clothes at least twice.
I Am Not
going to sit around at my house all night.
I Dance
whenever I feel like it.
I Sing
all the time but usually by myself.
I Never
know what I want for dinner.
I Rarely
lose my temper.
I Cry
when I feel helpless and hopeless.
I Am Not Always
the shortest person in the room.
I Lose
my lip gloss as soon as I buy it.
I'm Confused
about where I fit in to politics and religion.
I Need
to go to Mississippu every few months.
I Should
be better at returning phone calls

Yakkity Yak....

I've got like five years worth of blogging material. Granted, I will never be as interesting of a bloggateer as my super human sister, Shannon, but I've still got some valid points to make. Only, where do I start? I keep writing and erasing everything. Aggravating myself. Its pretty late and I know I should be asleep because I have to work tomorrow. I haven't been sleeping well because I've been stressed out about my living situation ( that's for another post) and working on like 3 or 4 hours of sleep is simply not my style.
However, work has been really really really...really...good. I've been busier than ever. I feel really good about it. There's just this newfound confidence in myself. I know I've got tons to learn and that will never stop, but I am just finding out what works for me and what does not. I feel free to explore and experiment because I've got more experience under my belt. So taking risks aren't quite as risky...
I could see myself easily slipping into the workaholic lifestyle. There's just not much else in my life that gives me the same satisfaction as my work does. I don't go out with my friends much because I like to be in tip top form for work, so I spend most nights alone while they all go out. But there's just not much desire to go out these days...What can I say? I feel as if I'm wasting my youth, but I just don't want to party like everyone says I should be doing. Anywaaaaaay. blah blah.
I'm doing just fine. I'm just being twenty three, its probably normal to be completely confused. Don't you think?? I just don't know exactly who I am or what I want, and my job is the only thing that I feel like I'm doing right these days. I like to be in complete control of my enviroment and right now, I'm not and its driving me crazy. Maybe I just need to let go of that...

But for real this time...

Ok, ok... I've tried to join the wonderful world of blogging several times within the past few years and left many blog sites with one lone post never to be logged in to again...But here's the difference: I now have a computer!! Before I had internet access so infrequently that it was impossible. But now, I can log on whenever I want thanks to my amazing parents. I fully intend to use this as a means to stay in touch since I've proven myself to be the worst of all at calling and emailing everyone. So, raise your glass to new beginnings...