There's something wonderful about old friends - they remind you of who you were, and who a part of you still is.

It's a spring day, I am sitting at my computer listening to "The King is Dead" and cuddling with my dog.  I am catching up on blogs and thinking of several friends old and new.  I just got done with an exhausting week of dress rehearsals and shows for The Full Monty: The Broadway Musical... my hair is exhausted from teasing and my eyes are red from constant mascara.  I have another busy week ahead of me, with mask-making, costuming, work, photography, and more shows this weekend...

But for this moment, life is pretty perfect.

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.