You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
2008 has been a flurry of activity for me…basically I hit the ground running at a fast jog and have now sped up to a full out sprint. Can hardly catch my breath…
Lots of changes, but like I have always said, “change is good.” Change allows for growth, so I am going to embrace it fully. And possibly with a few tears.
Since the new year, I have purchased a much-needed new car, signed a lease, moved out of my Kirkland home & into a duplex in Wallingford, and am the Maid of Honor for my friend whose wedding is fast approaching…March 30th!! So I have to plan & help with that, along with packing/unpacking, cleaning, and painting a new place. Not to mention the amount of money I need to spend this month! New car = car payments…something I haven’t had to do ever, higher insurance (because now I actually need collision coverage), and of course bills.
I always dreamed of being in a wedding when I was younger. Pretty much since I could walk without falling down. My nana had a very lacey, white apron that I would always wear tied around my head with nana’s clip-clop shoes on my tiny feet. I felt like a princess and loved every minute of it. That was before my tom-boy days, obviously.
However, now that fantasy has been shattered by the reality of the cost of being someone’s bridesmaid. I have to actually pay for a dress? shoes? hair? makeovers? What??? I never heard any of this? Oh, and I’m maid of honor, so that means bachelorette party = up to me. And I get to help with/throw the bridal shower! Not to mention gifts…gifts for the shower(s), gifts for the bachelorette party, gifts for the wedding. $$$$ is all my eyes see.
Okay, that’s not totally true, but being in the wedding party is costly. Even when trying to keep it cheap. Not that I’m really complaining. I’m super excited for my friend and looking forward to the opportunity to dress up and just be girly, while enjoying her last few weeks of “singledom”.
Of course, now I get to experience all the questions from family, friends, and strangers of “So…when are you getting your ring?” “Sounds like things are pretty serious…any plans for the future yet?” and the all familiar “You’re next!” Always said with a finger waving and large smile plastered on the speaker’s face.
I can’t wait.
I am now the proud renter of a duplex in Wallingford. However, I am also a broke renter. Mainly because I’ve been living it up this month like I’m making millions, which is so not the case.
I mean, the purchases I’ve made have been somewhat necessary, but it still feels overwhelming and way too adult. And I wonder if I just packed it all in and moved to Africa if things wouldn’t be easier. I mean, America is insane. We make crazy amounts of money (okay, some do), but nobody ever seems to be content with what they have. We always want just a little bigger peice of the pie. The media screams at us to get more, spend more, be more. I’ve been to places shrouded in poverty, yet there is so much more joy there than here. Those people know the value of things and are thankful for every little bit they get. Whereas we are simply greedy for more.
I don’t know…I guess I’m just sick of the success driven world. I’d much rather live in a grass shack on the beach somewhere, selling papaya for a living and playing soccer all day.
And I think this blog just got off track. My mind tends to wander about, similar to a ping pong ball bouncing from paddle to paddle.
But yesterday, my sister and I did sign the lease to our new place and will be moving in at the end of the month. It’s a great location, close to our places of employment and in the heart of the city. But I can’t help but feel a little melancholy about leaving behind my cute and cozy apartment in Kirkland. I love it’s location…close to the lake, wide streets, parks galore, very family friendly. Not that Seattle doesn’t offer all this too. But it’s just more crowded. And a little grimier. Like anything, it’ll be an adjustment and I know we’ll be just fine.
I still think about mission work and wonder when I’ll just take that leap of faith and do all the things I want to do with my life. Travel, service, and adventure. Lots of adventure. Money can be such a weight around ones neck. I personally hate it.
I am a Seattleite…born and raised. I know the city well; the streets, the parks, the choice places to eat, picnic, boat, swim, or play sports. However, I will never even begin to understand the inner workings of the weather system in my glorious PNW. It is simply unpredictable.
On Sunday, the sun was shining brightly in the clear azure sky and it was a balmy 50 degrees. It was wonderful being outside and absorbing some much needed Vitamin D. I had almost forgotten what sunshine felt like on my skin. I spent the morning playing soccer and was running around in my shorts and T-shirt. It was simply that warm.
Yesterday was so dramatically different I wondered if I hadn’t been mistakenly transported to Alaska overnight. It was about 35 degrees and on my drive home it went from a torrential downpour on Lake Union to snow/rain mix at Montlake and finally snow in Bellevue. It was insane. By 7pm there was a light dusting of snow on the ground and it was still falling steadily. I went for a stroll to the nearest coffee shop with my sisters (Starbucks of course…which I hate…I know, raised in Seattle & hating Starbucks) and then tucked myself under a blanket with my hot cocoa steaming in one hand and a log crackling on the fire. Pure bliss.
Overnight the snow became ice, with treacherous black ice hiding itself on sharp curves and off-ramps. I exited my car at work and almost crashed to the cement because it was so slick.
Now, the sun is shining brightly once more and the remnants of last night’s blizzard/ice storm are fading away. Soon, Seattle will be back to its normal gray and sloppy self. Oh the joy of living in the convergence zone
Last night I had the rare pleasure of enjoying a girl’s night in with my sister. We live together, but are hardly ever home at the same time for extended periods, so this was a treat.
In honor of this glorious event, we made enchilada’s and guacamole for dinner. Homemade. The only way to do it. The enchiladas cooked up perfectly. Cheese bubbling and crisping on top of oodles of sauce and low-carb tortillas (we cut the fat where we can) filled with shredded chicken, cheese, and more sauce. The delectable scent alone was enough to cause us to start salivating. That is, if Laura hadn’t decided to clean her bathroom.
I know what you are thinking. How could this be so bad? Normally, it wouldn’t. But my sister is anything but normal. She has this theory that the more cleaning sprays, powders, and gels you use, the better the purging of the soap scum will be. This, however, is unfortunately not true. It only serves to create a stench so unpleasant to the nostrils that it sends one running for any source of fresh air they can find. We could hardly set foot into her room seconds after she poured the massive quantities of toxic liquids into her tub. It was almost unbearable. Of course, we had to shut the door to her bathroom and turn the fan on, in hopes of airing the place out. But that brilliant idea came to us later. After our leg gel debacle.
Yes, dear reader, leg gel. We discovered two packets of tired leg gel in the depths of one of my bathroom drawers. Eager to test them out, we ripped the packets open and drizzled the pepperminty pink gel all over our calves. As we began rubbing the slimy liquid into our skin, our nostrils began to burn again. Not from the Comet seeping from under Laura’s bedroom door, but from the leg gel. Not only did our noses burn, but so did our legs. My guess is the leg gel relieves your sore & tired legs by lighting your skin on fire and poisoning you with noxious fumes. But that is only my guess. We left the leg gel on for about 20 minutes. Why? I cannot tell you. The fumes must have inhibited our ability to think properly. Finally we crawled our way to the bathroom, grabbed a wash cloth, lathered it in soap, and proceeded to cleanse our legs. To no avail. I’m afraid that leg gel is made of the same substance glue is. In fact, my leg still burns a little. And when I say burn, it is similar to Icy Hot, but at a much more intense level. Also, my jeans keep sticking to my skin. Not a good sign. Not to mention we put Biore strips on our noses, which if I’m going to do I might as well just get my faced waxed because I always feel like I’m stripping my face naked when I pull the strip off.
Despite the potentness of our apartment, singed legs, and baby-smooth faces, dinner was good and so was One Tree Hill. Yes, we are still teenagers in many ways.
I hope Laura didn’t efixiate herself in her room last night. She has the master bedroom, which means she has the master bath. Extremely high fume content in there from her cleaning attempts….I’m sure you can imagine my concern.
I received the following song in an email from my mom today and thought I’d share. The song is amazing. The message…even more so. Enjoy! I know I did.
Apparently Diamond Rio put this song on their Greatest Hits CD, but since I don’t have it, the song was new to me.
Disclaimer: If you don’t like country, I apologize. But please give this song a listen anyway. 
Copy this to your browser www.windomnet.com/web/nls/InGodWeStillTrust.wmv
Why is it we all look at the “New Year” as a clean slate or chance to start over? Can’t we do that anytime of the year? Why does it have to be January first? And do we honestly think the events of 2007 aren’t going to impact us in our 2008 bubble? Do they all just crash to a screaming halt the second the clock chimes midnight, announcing the close of the previous year? And all of a sudden we are completely free of debt, loss, life changing choices, bad relationships, body image and self-esteem issues, and the like? Really? Just like that?
And why does the media place so much attention on New Year’s Resolutions? Must everyone have a new goal for the year? Can’t I set my goals anytime during the year? Why does it have to be done in time for January 1st? Why?
I guess I’m just jaded to it all. In my opinion, the New Year’s holiday is right up there with Valentine’s Day. I just don’t understand it. At all. So much hype, just for the chime of a bell and the opportunity to shout out “Happy New Year!” for all your friends to hear. And of course, who could forget the excuse to imbibe in some alchohol. Because our society needs an excuse for that. Maybe I should anxiously await the dawn of each new day or the start of a new month. That should definitely warrant a reason to celebrate, right? Happy February! I mean, then I would be able to party 12 times at least during the year, because I’d be ringing in each month, not just the year! What a brilliant idea!
Except, I think it would get old. Just like having Christmas everyday. It’d lose it’s excitement adn would soon be viewed as a chore.
Sorry, sorry. I apologize for my lack-luster attitude towards the new and exciting year of 2008. It’s not that I don’t look forward to another year of growing older and hopefully wiser, but I just don’t understand the hype around it. I’m sure the year will be filled with reasons to rejoice and celebrate, but I also know there will be times of mourning, anger, hurt, and frustration. Because, let’s face it, good and bad are a part of life. We can never escape the bad things. But I will choose to focus on the good. And I do thank God for each day he gives me and the opportunities He brings my way.
Happy New Year everyone! 
