Heaven Is Not A Place On Earth...

Oh no. Heaven is these shorts...


Ready for Hawaii!

Back to Life. Back to Reality.

I have finally emerged victorious from the exhausting and (I kid you not) bloody battle with allergies I had been fighting. This is my first week off of OTC allergy medications and after being stoned on allegra for 2 weeks it feels great to be back. Although picking up the pieces from my drug induced haze is a little exhausting I do feel like I have gained some insight into the life of a dementia patient. I keep coming across all of these notes I had made for myself to remind me about tasks that needed to be completed. When I go about completing said tasks I find that low and behold! I have already done it and have NO recollection of doing so. It has been quite the adventure!


A special thanks to the sunshine and this little lady for putting a pep in my step today...

Some Thoughts for a Friday...

In no particular order here are a few thoughts that have run through my head this morning...

1) Why is it that when it's disgusting out the only matching shoes I can find are flips flops but when I'm packing to go to California I can only find the left one?

2) Shouldn't people you would rather not see be prohibited from driving up your hill and passing you on your way to work when they absolutely do not live in your neighborhood? I thought so.

3) Mama B never disappoints.

4) I miss Nashville.

Happy Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday...

Change is in the Air... ??

I think today's sunshine (with the promise of more sun tomorrow) is infusing my outlook with some long lost optimism. Don't get me wrong. I think that I always have some optimism but it's usually an optimism about the state of affairs in the long run. I typically think things like, "So this sucks right but a year from now I won't even remember this. That will be great!" But suddenly, overnight almost, I'm feeling optimistic about the immediate future. Huzzah! I am hoping that this feeling will not be as fleeting as our bouts of of PNW sunshine (Seattle being Seattle does not plan on having this glorious weather beyond Saturday evening.).

With this new found optimism there has also been unprecedented productivity and motivation. Of course, since I understand balance ;), I have made time for a distraction or two. Here's a brief list of what's been distracting me on the interweb this week:

Mama Biscuit might be my favorite interweb discovery EVER. If you know me, and basically everyone who reads this does, then you know that a rescued pug dressed up and photographed by her two gay dads is exactly the type of material I deem "alluring" and "irresistable".

She might be my new best friend. Nevermind the fact that I don't even know her name. She and I have been spending more time together than I spend with my real friends because I can't stop drooling over every single ensemble she concocts.

This Dove ad. Scroll down for the clip from Mr. Stephen Colbert... awesomeness.

Weekend project in for the dining room shelves?

Really into this blog. And this entry in particular tickled me.

Delightful


Happy Friday!

I am starting to lose patience...

I get it Seattle. You have a reputation to uphold. But seriously?

Can somebody spare $180??

So I know I haven't written in awhile. I had actually sort of given up and taken to microblogging. However, I have been receiving texts reading "when are you updating the old lady blog?" and so I thought, "Okay I'll throw my loyal reader a bone." (*note: "reader" singular was not a typo). Anyways, today I stumbled across something that I instantly need to tell people about. Typically I will e-mail a few friends with subject lines reading "!!!!!!!!!!!!!" when I find such things. But I feel like I've been overloading said friends with subject lines reading "!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and "oh em gee incredible!!!!" and so decided to post this on here. Outstanding in the Field calls itself a "roving culinary adventure" where they travel from beautiful location (vineyards, fields) to beautiful location (sea caves, mountain tops) setting up long tables and serving locally grown food prepared by locally renowned chefs. If you know me you know that when it comes to meal time there's very little that I love and appreciate more than a long dining table set rustically!

The best part about Outstanding in the Field is that they are coming to two local farms this summer. As always there's a downside... The cost. How much could it possibly be? Well $180 a person of course. This is completely and utterly out of the question but I can dream. Please drool over the following pictures with me....

Happy Tuesday! I'm out. Post Script: Apologies for small pictures of terrible quality. Not sure how to right this wrong.

Back to the grind...

Hi-ho, hi-ho it's back to work I go. Yes, you read this correctly. I am reporting to you from my downtown Seattle cubicle. Same job. Same cube. Different attitude. Honestly re-employment could not have come a moment too soon. By the end of my stint on "fun"employment I had reached a point of meltdown where not even the funniest episodes of 30 Rock could lift my spirits out of hopeless boredom and constant feelings of futility. But all frustrating periods of enui come to and end and here I am, three days in already looking forward to the weekend.

Weekends hold a whole new meaning for me now that I have just emerged from what seemed to be an eternal weekend. Weekends have their time and they have their place - two (sometimes three) days at the end of the week. They are something to cherish and they are something get excited for but if every day were a weekend then what would you have to look forward to? I'll tell you what you would start looking forward to. You would start looking forward to going to work and that's just sick. Take it from me.

Anyways this weekend here are a few things I am giddily waiting for:

1. Trying on this little gem at Madewell. After months of not earning a pay check I'm pretty sure it's my duty to start making up for lost time and giving back to the economy... {my home away from home... i.e. madewell }

2. I'm trying to cut back on coffee (a horrible stereotypical Seattle habbit I picked up after moving here) but I've been pretty good this week and I'm thinking when Saturday hits I'm due a tall, sugar free vanilla, soy capuccino. Also after switching to drip in an effort to be a little more recessionista I'm looking forward to welcoming back a frou frou drink or two.

3) Cooking and new and seemingly delicious recipe like this "New Year Noodle Soup" that I've had starred on my google reader for awhile.

{101 Cookbooks}

Hope everyones workweeks/non-workweeks are swimming along.

4x4 Beauty...

The beautiful "urban Christmas tree" you see pictured above was described over the weekend as a "ghetto Christmas tree". I'm still smarting a little from my house guest's ignorant comment but what can you do? There really is no accounting for taste or a lack of imagination!

39 Minutes To Spare...

As I tucked myself into bed this evening I reflect on all of my accomplishments from the day...
1) Informational interview with a delightful retired social worker and her cats!
2) Played receptionist at the senior center and made great strides in the New York Time's cross word puzzle while there.
3) Researched graduate programs
4) Watched Glee.

And just as I was about to flip off the lights I realized I had forgotten my newest to do task "Stay true to my promises"...

So here I am a daily update. By the way the books I decided to start reading are as follows
- Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (I already read about 3/4s of it but left it on a plane. This new copy I'm not letting go of!)
- Paula by Isabel Allende. (Apparently I like memoirs written by women when their daughters are gravely ill. Last year at this time I was reading The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Merry Christmas!)

I will post tomorrow!!

I'm Trying, I'm Trying...

It's always a mistake to make promises in absolutes. For example, in my last entry I promised daily updates on my new life of leisure -- that post was one whole week ago. From now on I promise to not make promises I don't intend to keep and at the time I had absolutely no intention of actually writing daily. I just said that to appease you. Apologies. But I've grown up and I am now ready to make a vow to write daily.

Moving on. So that you all don't worry I can tell you that one week into unemployment and I'm feeling pretty good. I spent some quality time with the seniors last week. Me and my troup of elders experiencing the early stages of memory loss wrote a poem or two, sang along to some lovely banjo strumming, and even line danced a bit. Outside of my time at the senior center I've been so busy brunching, lunching, and feeling festive I've had barely a moment to reflect on my current state of borderline destitution (I jest, I jest. I'm collecting unemployment people so clearly I'm rolling in cash!).

Now that the novelty of not having to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day has started to wane I'm ready to really take advantage of this valuable period of freedom and start accomplishing and exploring in ways I can't when I'm bogged down with 40 hours of employment. Perhaps each day I can add one thing to my to do list (back to that failed to do list from my last post!). Today I can start simple...

- Start reading a book that doesn't have to do with the following:
old people, aging, psychology of aging, dementia, depressed caregivers, happy caregivers, medicare...

This sounds do-able. After I select an appropriate literary masterpiece I will update my loyal , no matter how miniscule, readership.

Until next time -- and by next time I clearly mean tomorrow!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Old Lady In Training

Putting the "Fun" in "Funemployment"...

Today is my first real day of unemployment. After returning beauty products I could not afford to Nordstrom and Macy's I had lunch with a friend. Over lunch he asked what I was filling my day of leisure with. I told him that after we ate I was planning on taking my laptop (my new laptop!!!!) to Starbucks to file for unemployment benefits, pretend to look busy, and make eyes at the newest barista (baristo?) in hopes of winning his affection. This friend told me that whenever he goes to Starbucks he ends up making to-do lists and that I should do the same. As I have nothing better to do I decided to give it a shot.

Here's what I have so far...

1) File for unemployment benefits. Status: Complete.
2) Pretend to be busy. Status: Complete. (note: If looking busy could be an occupation I'm pretty sure I would have no trouble finding a job)
3) Make eyes at barista in hopes of winning his affection. Status: Utter failure. (note: first and foremost, pretending to be busy is incredibly time consuming. Between furrowing my brow, staring intently at my computer screen, and occassionally checking my iPhone for very important fake messages there is seldom a moment for "eye making". Second and secondmost, he seems of the "all business at work" mindset. Clearly we might have some compatibility issues.)
4) Add tasks to my "to-do" list. Status: Outlook does not look good.

So that's day 1 of what I had hoped would be "funemployment". My readers will be updated daily as this adventure continues.

Just Another Statistic...

I am joining an elite group comprised of 8.6% of the Washington State labor force on November 19, 2010. Yes, that's right, I am living the new "American Dream" -- I've been laid off.

With this new found free time expect postings galore!

In Training To Be This...

I watched the delightful and inspiring Run Granny Run today. It follows Doris Haddock who at age 90 walked across America to raise awareness of campaign finance corruption and at age 94 ran for New Hampshire's US Senate position. I laughed and of course I cried - but please don't let my tears discrourage you. It was by no means a tear jerker. I'm what they call an "easy cry". Anyways, after watching the movie I wanted to learn a little more about Doris "Granny D" Haddock and I came across this quote of hers...


"You have to keep the young adventurer inside your heart alive long enough for it to someday re-emerge. It may take some coaxing and some courage, but that person is in you always - never growing old."

This is a sentiment I want to keep in mind as I immerse myself further and further into "real life" as a young adult. I don't want to get bogged down by the rules, pragmatism, and propriety that I am asked to comply with daily.

Anyways that's my little poorly written soap box speech for the day.

Happy Friday!

Hello, It's Me...

Before I begin this real, honest-to-goodness post I shall apologize for my laziness. It's been weeks since I put anything up, I know. I could tell you that my computer broke (which it did) and I could tell you that I've been frightfully busy (which is almost true) but I'd rather skip it and just say "I'm sorry". Onward, ho!

Admittedly my world is a little small and so when I make this announcement I know that it's gravity will not be quite as monumental for the reader as it is for this author but the announcement will be made nonetheless.
I have my very first interior styling gig!!!!!!!!!
By gig, of course I mean a completely volunteer based assignment with an incredibly limited budget. The Senior Center I volunteer at is starting a new day program for people in the early stages of memory loss. As is the case with any normal 25-year-old, memory loss is a pet interest of mine and so I am helping organize the open house and hopefully facilitating the artistic expression portions of the semimonthly group (cross your fingers that my "glitter-as-therapy" activities are approved!). Anyways, before any of this can happen the cinderblock and forest green basement space that we will be utilizing must be transformed into a coccoon of calm, comfort, and coziness. *Cue my eager squeals of "I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT". Shockingly, no one else at the center has any desire to scour Goodwill, estate sales, and craigslist in an effort to achieve this makeover and so do it I shall!!

This being a low budget (albeit glamorous) volunteer project there are limitations and they are as follows:
1) This arrangement will need to be easily set up and put away. The center uses each of its rooms for every activity you can imagine and so the space is not a dedciated one.
2) I have $100 to make magic happen.

Let's be honest, #2 is a piece of cake. #1 on the other hand is a little tricky but I'm up for the challenge of turning something that looks like this...


Into something that looks like this...

or this...

or this...

So those might be a reach. The point is inspiration is flowing and I'm ready to get shopping!!!!

Updates shall be forthcoming!

Oh Happiest Day!

Back in June upon reading this decor8 entry which featured this picture...


I was haunted. I showed everyone I knew this exquisite portrait. I had to have one of my very own to hang here...


So I spent hours googling "painted" + "dog" + "portrait" + "cone" + "wearing" and while this search blessed me with him I was still no where near finding a coned canine to call my own.

Today the search has ended and sometime between August 6th and August 12th my very own Kranker Hund by Michael Sowa will be waiting for me at home. Thank you design*sponge for this morning's living in:amelie which featured the picture that ended my multi-month long search...

I feel decidely unhip as the print I have been lusting after for months was from a well known movie and I failed to recognize it. C'est la vie... it will soon be mine!!!

Plotting My Return...

Update on the horizon.

Cube Fever...

I am a little distracted today. Seattle is in full fledged "disaster relief" mode. Which, for those not familiar with the Pacific Northwest mindset, means that it has finally reached temperatures worthy of summer status and the pastey Seattle-ites are already praying for a swift return of gray clouds and rain. Being a newcomer to the Emerald City I am finding this change of climate incredibly encouraging and exciting. So, seeing this current weather report...
I am asking myself what on earth I am doing sitting in one of these...

Instead of packing a picnic, throwing on a summer a dress, heading to the beach, and reliving a little piece of this....

{Thanks Katie for pictures!}

I have 45 minutes left and I am really trying to be productive. Reviewing my notes from this morning's staff meeting I found a handout on the Theory of Gerotranscendence which its creator hails as a "path toward widsom in old age". When we discussed it this morning I thought, "I may only be 25 but I'm sure I could start working on my gerotranscendence now... in no time the Dalai Lama will be g-chatting me for advice!" I started off by reading the list entitled "Signs of gerotranscendence". I think I have made impressive strides already as many item are checked off, however there is one that is making me question my decision to remain seated at my desk (no matter how comfortable my new office chair is). This one in particular is serving as great inspiration to free myself from the shackles of employment:

"More spontaneity. You gladly ignore unnecessary social rules and etiquette... Old habits, routines, and principles no longer seem as important."

After reading this my inner old lady is yelling with wisdom "Get up and get ye' to a beach". I am so incredibly tempted if only my retirement fund had more than $50 to its name. It seems that waiting until I reach the "gero" portion of my "gerotranscendence" to dip into it might be prudent.

Oh prudence! You get me everytime. It looks like my beach time remains relegated to evenings and weekends.

I'm Sorry But...

Today is slow and I am finding it difficult not just to be productive but to figure out what it is exactly I need to produce. I have mostly given up and so instead will share the following with you:

1)During lunch I stumbled across Cassie Boorn's "20-Something Self Letters". Cassie came up with the idea to ask women to write letters of encouragement, praise, and advice to themselves as they were in their 20s. Some of them are really touching (i.e. I was sitting at my desk with tears welling in my eyes) and, even better, some were incredibly encouraging. The hardest part of being an old lady in training is that while I have many of the mannerisms of an old woman I am distinctly lacking when it comes to the wisdom that accompanies old age. What I wouldn't give to go home, check my mail box, and find a letter from 80 year old me saying "chill out 'cause it's gonna be just fine".


2) After reading these letters I was going through random pictures I had saved on my hard drive and came across this little gem. Now I am sitting here trying to contain the nearly uncontainable laughter that "Riley the Smiling Dog" induces.

{thank you telegraph for making my day!}

Happy Friday. Happy Fourth of July. And Happy Birthday to You!

Fresno: Making Dreams Come True??

24 days from today, if everything goes according to plan, I will be an official finisher of the San Francisco Marathon. Of course a huge part of me decided to run a marathon to challenge myself, learn about hard work and dedication, and prove to myself that things I think are impossible can be achieved one step at a time. The other part of me, however, thought that a marathon would be a fantastic excuse for a trip and where better to travel then one of my favorite places San Francisco. My excitement for the trip has been mounting. I will see family and friends all the while achieving something pretty cool. However, today while digitally perusing some pictures from my March trip to the Bay Area, I started to feel a little resentful towards the 26.2 mile jog that's bringing me down to my city by the bay for the weekend. With all of the carb loading, resting, and nearly 5 hours of running how on earth am I going to be able to go shopping? This resentment turned into panic as I looked at pictures from the Alemany Flea Market in Bernal Heights that I had taken and I saw objects that I CLEARLY should have purchased at the time but didn't and now during this trip I will not be able to go back!

With less than a month left until the marathon it is hardly the time for me and my dream (running 26.2 miles) to come into conflict. There will be more trips to SF and there will be more flea markets. I let it go.

A few hours later though I started to think about the recently planned trip to Fresno I'm taking the weekend after this one. What will I do while I'm down there? A run. Reading by the pool. Watching my parent's cable. Eating. After naming all of these activies that I am absolutely and immensely looking forward to I remembered an INCREDIBLE thrift store in Fresno's Tower District with an even more incredible name -- Yoshi Now! And the great thing about this store is that it's not simply incredible by comparison. What I mean by that is this: Fresno, for me, is a little less than alluring. When I am there for too long I get frustrated, antsy, and, I'll say it, downright cranky. Anything even slightly interesting can easily be labeled as extraordinary when you're that desperate for something new. Yoshi Now! is not only exceptional for Fresno but it would be exceptional anywhere and in this respect Fresno has a leg up on Seattle. It is a treasure trove of the finest quality because it's huge, chalk full, and CHEAP!!!!

I hope they ship because a week from now I'm on my way!

A Needed Breather...

It's been a rough day at work. Cases that are more complicated and emotionally draining than I have dealt with before seem to be pouring in and I can feel my mind shutting down in an effort to block the experience before it reaches my heart. I have been pretty good about leaving emotionally distressing experiences in my cubicle when I go home at night but today after a client said, "Amanda, what has happened to this planet? How did it get so out of control out there?" I know some serious distractions will be in order to keep my mind off the woe's of the world. My concern is that I am going to seek out these distractions by way of J. Crew, Nordstrom, or Anthropologie. Especially when this long coveted gem is on sale:

{www.jcrew.com}

Knowing that my shopping allowance has been spent I am trying to focus on my other distractions that are ultimately more fulfilling and far less guilt inducing. First up bingo-karoake at the Greenwood Senior Center (so much rowdier than it seems) followed by a trip to fair Canada for a weekend of friends and 13.1miles of running fun.

Hope everyone has a happy, relaxing, and rejuvinating weekend.

OLIT