Reflections...

Does it seem like as you get older, your world gets smaller?

Perhaps I should explain.  I've been feeling a natural pull toward home recently - theater, cleaning, cooking, yardwork, decorating, photography, playing with kids, doggy parenting, wifey business, and casual visiting with friends and family have pretty much been my life for the past six months.  This is strange, because I feel like I have always been a very outwardly focused person - historically, I love meeting new people, visiting new places.  I was always the friend who would drop everything for an  impromptu trip downstate for a visit.  I would think nothing of driving 2+ hours for a day trip, just because.

I guess I have been feeling a definite pull recently, the sort of pull you get when you are moving into a new phase of your life.  I felt it upon graduation, I felt it after leaving OEE, and I felt it after the move to this small, quirky community.  The problem is, I have NEVER handled change well.  I cling to the familiar long after I should have let go.  I am definitely an earthen-type person - steady, calm (but full of life), slow to move but stubborn once I've reached where I should be.  I think maybe I have let others' opinions of what I should be affect me more than I would like to admit.  When I think of what I really want in life, it reflects a great deal more of craft, home, and hearth then it does glamour and nightlife.  If one of my friends were telling me this, I would be fully supportive... life is a series of stops on a road, not a highway after all.  But why is it that my heart is so resistant to the idea of that life for myself?

I am too focused on others.  I have always lived vicariously through my more dramatic acquaintances.  It's like I want to have it all - a lovely comfy home, wild and exciting travel, massive parties and small meals with friends.  It's this dichotomy that has ALWAYS been frustrating for me - if I had a goal, I could aim for it.  "My heart seeks the hearth.  My feet seek the road.  A soul so divided is a terrible load."  --Bruce Coville

The post-holidays winter has always felt like a bit of a chrysalis for me.  Our Michigan winters are famous for being long, dark, and bitterly cold.  They are the perfect time to pause, reflect, and curl up under a cozy blanket with a husband and some furry friends.  When the spring finally arrives, I guess we'll see what emerges.

"Wanderer Above The Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich

New Addition

We finally took the plunge.  Yesterday we went to Petsmart for their Adopt-a-Thon weekend, and we came home with a new member of the family: Sir Lancelot.  He is a Shepherd/Bull Terrier mix (although I think he looks a bit like a Basenji in the face, and his mannerisms/bark are sort of like one too...)  We adopted him from a lovely woman in Harrison, MI named Dawn, and her obvious compassion and love of animals actually brought tears to my eyes.  With some foster homes, I have kind of had the impression that they would rather keep the dogs themselves than give them up to a good home, especially if that good home wasn't EXACTLY what they had in mind.  Dawn was very up front and honest, but also flexible and understanding.  I could tell immediately that she wanted what was best for Lance.  When we went to take him home, she gave him a cuddle and a speech about "loving his new people" that actually made me cry.  There are so many wonderful people in the world who are doing great things - if you are looking for a new pet in your family, PLEASE adopt!

Not only did we get to support someone who is doing wonderful things and give a dog a home, we actually got an AMAZING dog.  He is already housebroken and knows basic obedience.  He comes when we call, he doesn't snap at other dogs, and he has a sweet and loving disposition - he cuddles right up next to you no matter where you're at in the room.  He has a clean bill of health (although he does have dermaditic mange, which flares up when he gets stressed - Dawn gave us his medication for it, and it was nice not to have that be a surprise!)

I am COMPLETELY at a loss as to how ANY human could be neglectful or abusive to such a beautiful and loving creature!  He is 8 months old, so he is still in  many ways a puppy (although we don't expect him to get any bigger).  He is playful, and VERY curious about our other furry child in the house: Miz Peanut.

We knew going into this that the divine Miz P is quite a diva - she has never handled other animals in the house very well, although she did manage to live with Rodney's old roommate's rottweiler when she had to.  Every time she catches a glimpse of him she puffs up and begins a horrid moaning sound - which of course, interests him.  When he gets even slightly close to her, she growls and swats at him - and his reaction is a peculiar indignant yodel/bark.  He doesn't seem to understand that she doesn't like him, and he's already been swatted four times.  Dawn told us to let her swat away - that he would eventually learn... so here's hoping that things calm down in the next few days!

Random Fact-a-Thon

Hoo boy.  I knew this would happen.  It's been two months.  But you know what?  I'm not going to let it get me down!  Onward and upwards!

Here's a list of random facts that has been making it's way around facebook.  It'll have to do until I come up with something more interesting to say...

1. I am 25.  COINCIDENCE???

2. I have never been out of this country, but I love to travel.

3. Sometimes I think really random and slightly poetic things that are not really appropriate to work into daily conversation, but if you catch me at the right time, I might say them anyway.

4. I adore reading, and if you're one of those "Proud to hate Reading" types,  I think a little bit less of you.  Sorry.

5. I am slowly attempting to fool my tastebuds into thinking I like vegetables.  Thus far I have succeeded with asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes (on sandwiches), and zucchini (which I now love.)

6. I wish I could work outdoor education every single day.

7. Star Trek!  The Original Series!

8. I am TERRIBLE at small talk, and usually hide if I see people I know in random places so as not to be forced into it.

9. I LOVE JESUS!

10. Contrary to most Michiganders, I actually like the winter quite a bit.

11. I play the digeridoo.  Pretty regularly.

12. Most of my best friends live far away from me.  This makes me a sad panda.

13. I prefer skirts to pants.  I also LOVE leggings, but do not believe that they are a pants substitute unless you are wearing a very long shirt, or are at home.

14. I would wear a scarf every single day.

15. Sometimes I overestimate my craftiness.  I am in awe of crafters, and wish my life was that full of whimsy and vintage lace.  Also I like to read blogs about more fascinating and colorful people than myself, because I find it very inspirational, even though it sometimes makes me feel bad.  I also find TV shows about hoarders to be motivational, and sometimes I like to watch Animal Cops and cry.

16. Photography makes me very very happy.  So does singing and acting.  And painting.  I love art!  Also coloring books.

17. Animals!  Let's go to the zoo!

18. I really appreciate diversity in all things.  I love meeting new people, especially different types of people.  And PARTICULARLY superheroes.  So if you know any superheroes...

19. I am pretty critical, but in a good way.  Gushing and false praise bug me, so if I compliment you, you better believe it!

20. I looooove Husband.  It is a thing of quiet beauty, our relationship.  (<---See, strange mood sayings.)

21. I am ALL about efficiency.

22. I am very interested in pop culture throughout the years.  I love nerdy slang and vintage kitsch.

23. I am extremely uncoordinated, and am a terrible dancer.  I usually only dance at weddings, and that is quite a sight, I can assure you.  Particularly when Husband and I improvise a routine to something like "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha.

24. <3 Local, <3 Indie, <3 Community.

25. I am super optimistic most of the time.  Other times I am a poop sandwich.  You can learn the signs pretty easily.  But I might go from 0 to Poop Sandwich pretty quickly, so watch out.

G-L-A-M-O-R-OUS...

The past week has been NICE.  Not particularly exciting; lunching with friends (and playing with thier children, natch.), preparing for and executing a Labor Day garage sale(No small task), revisiting some favorite old recipes, a few Sound of Music rehearsals (I am on Soprano One, and my range is going to be KILLER by the time I'm done.  Hopefully.)  I've had some lovely photo sessions, and am steadily improving with my Sony by my side (Lesson number one, don't underestimate the importance of light.  It's worth getting up an hour earlier.)

Rodney has started working at Hemlock SemiConductor, where our housemate also works.  It's not a particularly exciting job, and we're actually making a bit less than we would be on unemployment, but it was time.  It's incredibly nice to have him out of the house - it makes seeing him a special time, and he is the type of person who really benefits from the structure of a traditional job.

On that note, I think I have finally figured out "what I want do to when I grow up."  We were visiting the Saginaw Children's Zoo a few weeks ago, and when I passed a little education pavillion, my heart pulled toward it.  Outdoor Education is what I love.  I don't think I could be happy in a traditional classroom setting. 

Which means what, exactly?  I'm not sure yet, but it's comforting to feel like some progress is being made.  :)

And, so this isn't text-only, here's me trying tapas for the first time... looking boob-tastic, might I add...

Backlogged...

...Cheered at a Frog Jumpin' Contest...

...Met a Goat...

...Seen Scooby Doo get arrested...

...Enjoyed a Board Game Night...

...Cooked Summer Squash...

...Beached Out...

...Built a city on Rock and Roll...

...Acted like kids in a candy shop...

...Seen my cat do this a lot...

Been to Hogwarts...

Learned not to feed the plants...

...Seen a dog ordering Taco Bell...

...Enjoyed a delicious apple cider slushie...

...Received a shiny new recycling bin...

...Been a director...

...Burned things with friends...

So, writing a blog can be sort of daunting.  You let it slip just a few days, and all of a sudden the task of backlogging your activities seems like a horrible chore instead of a fun way to pass the time...

But yesterday night I noticed that my new tube of toothpaste has a screw on top instead of a flip off top.  And that seemed like it was worth remembering.

Busy Busy Busy...

I know updates have been infrequent at best, but I'm in the middle of what we in the theater world call "Hell Week" for my summer show, "Little Shop of Horrors."  In two more weeks my other summer show, "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood."  will also go up - so for the next few weeks, theater is definitely taking over my life.  It's a great job, but tiring... I've also got an application in to the library for an assistant position, so here's hoping!  So, life trucks on, but hopefully things will calm down in the next few weeks and I can update more!

Canoeing the Platte

There are few things that I enjoy more than a good road trip.  Luckily Summer in Michigan nearly always involves outdoor fun within a few hours.  Rodney, my brother Brian, my cousin Joey and I took off on a sunny Saturday morning for an exciting canoeing trip.

We stopped in Traverse City for the Cherry Festival (but mostly drove around lost).  We also went to the beach, which was glorious.  We stayed at my uncle's house, played some board games late into the night (my dad almost killed us all with a bug fogger...)  The next morning we canoed the upper Platte, which is a great, challenging river.  All in all it was a grand weekend!

 

Patriotism swells in the heart of the American Bird...

I had a simply marvelous 4th of July.  Grilling with my family, then wandering around a local park (we met a truck driver with a Shar-Pe who immediately whipped out his phone and showed us pictures and videos of him for at least 10 minutes) and of course, fireworks.  Happy Birthday America!

I looove the Farmer's Market...

 

 There's something so inspiring to me about small-scale farmers.  What a scary, rewarding, difficult, interesting way of life.  I feel like they've picked up on something we've all missed - closeness to the land.  When I was working outdoor education , I used to be so in tune with the seasons.  Outside, rain or shine, snow or heat!  Now that people are creating artificial habitats for themselves, what are the consequences?  We live in a land of concrete and metal, and sometimes I'll go a whole day without going outside except for a walk to the car.  What do we miss out on, never touching the earth or seeing the sky?

One day we'll find the land we've been looking for.  Rodney will find another secure job, and we'll start our own little farm.  If you're interested in this sort of thing like I am, I can't reccommend this book enough!  It's full of amazing information on recapturing lost traditional skills, from building your own cabin to pioneer crafts...

Until then, though, I'll have to make do with an occasional stint to the Farmer's Market.  

10 Summer Must-Haves...

This summer I've broken out some old favorites, and have discovered some new ones. You'd think that at the age of 24 I would already have known about this wonderful, versatile fruit that simply screams summer... but number one on my list is a new addition - The Lemon.

Of course, everyone knows about a glass of classic lemonade, but this summer I've been adding them to everything: chicken, fish, green beans, strawberry ice cream... They add a delicious freshness to tired recipes, and as a bonus the rind is a great cleaner and deodorizer! Literally rub the juiced lemon onto tough grease, go over with a damp cloth, and marvel at the clean.



I live and die by my old Box Fan. On a cool evening the air smells so good, and the sound really takes me back to being a child. In a highly air conditioned world, it's much healthier to breathe natural, fresh air that helps your body maintain its' ambient body temperature. Many people keep thier houses colder in the summer than they do in the winter! Air conditioners are bad for the enviroment, and they may even contribute to obesity!









Target's Long and Lean Tank Tops have become my new favorite summer threads. Basic, cool, comfy, and the perfect length - they're easy to accessorize, and at$9 apiece, who could say no?





One of my favorite albums this season has been Blitzen Trapper's "Furr" (2008). There's something terribly summery about their fiddles, jangly percussion, and pleasantly twangy voices; it's got a nice indie rock vibe if you're leery of pure folk music. The title track has quickly become one of my favorite songs.











A great summer vegetable is the lovely Zucchini. Its crisp texture and mild flavor are a complimentary side dish to any meal. They're great steamed or grilled with a little sea salt and olive oil - just be sure not to overcook them to mush!




I bought two Reversible Skirts at the Gap... four years ago? I can't live without them. They're super comfy, a good length, and fun colors. Unfortunately they've been discontinued, and this skirt from Mango is the closest thing I can find...









1960's group Peter Paul and Mary are such mellow, fun folkies - perfect for relaxing on a porch with a good book.






Grilling is one of our favorite summer pastimes. The husband has become quite the grillmaster, and he has a super-secret marinade that I am willing to share with you...

• Butter
• Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Soy Sauce
• Lemon Juice

Tenderize steaks, and be sure to marinate for at least an hour.


Neutrogena's Cooling Sunblock Spray is my favorite sun block. It's light and smells nice, and because of the cooling effect it is something that I look forward to reapplying. You can buy it here or at your local shopping center.









Lying in the Grass is something I try to do every single day. Seriously. Just take 5 minutes when you get home from work, find a nice grassy spot, and relax. It'll be worth it, I promise!

I hope you use these or your own ways to make the most of the long days, warm weather, and clear skies!

Surprise!

So I was recently thinking, "I should get into blogging..."
I like writing, and have recently been missing a certain joie de vivre in my life that recording the day-to-day events might rekindle...
I made my way to blogspot.com...
And realized...

I actually already have a blog. Whoops.

Lets see if it takes this time... :-D

(More to come)