Dream It Do It

That's what it says on the "Our Values/We Believe" section of the Buffalo ReUse website. In frigid upstate, NY these guys are working with green demolition folks and recycling to sell a ton of stuff that we all usually chuck in a landfill when remodeling or rebuilding. They're creating jobs and giving oodles of people a way a to participate in bringing their community together. They're helping to save our planet too!

It makes me very happy to hear about companies and programs like these. I'm always pleasantly surprised that in this crazy world of ours- there's still so much good to learn about and be inspired by.

Hard-hats off to you Buffalo!

Lying Is Good

Well- not really, but if it gets people to think a little differently than they typically would- I think it's alright to tell a fib or two. 

If you haven't watched The Invention Of Lying, head on out to the Redbox at 7 Eleven. And hey- if you're hungry, grab yourself 6 hot dogs or a burrito roll to stuff your face with while watching it. (Gross. OK- so I don't actually recommend that.) I digress...this movie is fantastic. Ricky Gervais is hilarious and totally that guy that's so effortlessly awesome you wish he lived next door so you could go grab a Budweiser with him at random. 

Hey Ricky- wanna meet me for happy hour?

Lets Have A Threesome

Get your minds out of the gutter people!

I'm talking about this french fry app.

Yuh-uh-uhm!

I'm looking forward to hitting up this spot; Ketchup in DC. (There's one in LA if you are out west) They've got things like Shake N' Bake on their menu and mac n' cheese. Some classic favorites and kiddie food with an adult fancy twist. I love these kinds of funky-fly eating spots. Well- I love restaurants in general (as if that isn't obvious.) It's really fun too if you're in a fab city like DC, to restaurant "hop" and grab just one drink and appetizer and move onto the next. I have written about this before. You can make a night out of it. It's a great way to have an affordable night out instead of a full-on dinner and a show. Talking to strangers at a bar and people watching is so often better than dinner and a show anyway!

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

Layin' in the sun

Talkin' 'bout the things

They woulda-coulda-shoulda done...

But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas All ran away and hid

From one little did.

Today was one of several days I've helped an 87 year-old woman sort through a life of belongings. (An honor and many lessons learned.) Among the pile of newspaper articles and photos of her handsome and strapping deceased husband, (a pilot during the war. Wow, the stories.) I picked up the Shel Silverstein book; Falling Up. I instantly turned to the page that had the above poem. I'd say it was ironic or a coincidence or something, but as days pass and events unfold in my life- I find it hard to believe anything other than everything happens for a reason. Things, people, books- all of it, seem to show up in the most random of ways but somehow perfectly fit. Like this poem. 

Dear Mrs. F. ~

Sure I'm helping you- but you're actually helping and teaching me things I could never learn doing anything else. No woulda-coulda-shouldas in your world, just "I did's." Meeting people like you inspires me to keep following my bliss. I promise I'll never be that woulda-coulda-shoulda girl either. After all, like you've said- there's just too much out there to not keep all eyes wiiiiiide open...

Car Shopping Is Fun

Car shopping on a Monday, in work heels and skirts like today is great. Especially when the gents that greet you as you're looking around the lot are shocked when they find out you know what you're talking about. Even better when you can shoot them one look and it's just like saying; "Don't try and bullshit me, I didn't wear these heels for you. However I did do my homework, so you're not going to talk me into anything. This is what I want. I'll give you this much."

And it works.

Every time.

Thank you OD Auto. I just love getting a deal.

In Living Color

I'm all about my neighborhood. Really love being a part of it. I'll be writing much more on this post soon. For now I will tease with; Soul food, slaves and sweet blind neighbors.

Convenience Store Lunch

Even though I am a damn Yankee and a stubborn, independent strong woman- it absolutely thrills me when a man opens a door for me. Any door. Particularly when I hear a "Yes Ma'am" after I have proclaimed "Oh! Thank you!"

There's just something so sweet about that twang and respect of the south that could make hearts of even the toughest of chicks melt.

I love country bumpkin towns in North Carolina.

I also love being 1/2 city girl and 1/2 country bumpkin. (Some call it bipolar- I call it fun.) This means one day I have croque madame for lunch and the next; cheddar and sour cream potato chips, peanut butter twix and a Heinken. Yum. And that was just this week. 

Here's to being able to roll with any crowd. 

I Have The Best Grandparents Ever

Had to share that. There's just something to be said to be loved so hard and so much by two such remarkable people. I am such a lucky woman. 

Love you so very much G & G. Thanks for the letter, the smiles and for being the daily example of true heart and soul. I hope to be half as remarkable as you are in my lifetime. 

Humph...I'm Tired

Poking around looking at some travel news this photo popped up on CNN's travel photo of the day. Talk about personality! I feel like I can actually hear a voice this turtle would have. So adorable.

Maneater

All I could think of was this good ol' 80's song when I saw this overused poster was up at a local watering hole I went to with some guy pals of mine recently. 

Watch out boys...she'll chew you up!

The Second Principle Of Magic:

...things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed. 

Sir James G. Frazer

The Golden Bough

Just A Friendly Reminder

I ate brunch at this yummy little spot this morning. Here's the hand washing sign they had planted near the sink in the Alice in Wonderland like upstairs bathroom. A cute alternative to the typical black and white typed sign owners usually hang. 

If you can't read the small line at the bottom it reads:

And even if you're not, it's a good idea. 

I'm so easily entertained.

The Buried Life

I am so jealous of these guys. (Jealous is one word I do not use lightly.) Talk about them doing EXACTLY what I want to do! I've got to find a way to do what they are. Still trying to figure it all out. Hmmm....any advice, thoughts are welcome.

I ain't to proud to beg. Mostly because I know when I'm able to go out and roam like they do- with a purpose, I will do incredible things for other people. I've tried to shake wanting to do this for oh- about 15 years now and dammnit it's not happening, so? Who's got an RV? Cash they don't need? A video camera they don't want that I can use to document stuff I do and people I meet? Maybe you could come along and help me document it all? Times 'a wastin' and while I'm moving as speedily as I can right now alone, seems like I can't move fast enough this way so I need help. Hop on the bandwagon if you're interested. We've got to start somewhere...

What's The Big Friggin' Deal?

I was recently having drinks with a one of those people who has come into my life as a complete pleasant surprise. One of those who would've thought we'd get along so well people. I love these kinds of surprises. They are the best. No wonder why we agreed how much we both loved the movie American Beauty. He reminded me of the couch line:

Carolyn Burnham: "This is a $4000 sofa, upholstered in Italian silk. It's not just a couch."

Lester burnham: (Shouts) "It's just a couch!"

What a great line in a most excellent movie. 

New Dad's That Are Too Cute

I swear I do not pay rent at Starbucks. I do however like to work away hidden in the corner quite a bit. (It sure beats sitting in my office!) As I sit here this morning, a couple walks in with a TEENY new baby. After they settled and got their drinks the Dad picked up the baby to feed him a bottle and as the little boy is eating away the Dad is rocking back and forth talking to him:

"This is Starbucks buddy, you are going to learn very quickly to really love this place." It was absolutely adorable and would make for quite the commercial. Talk about starting brand loyalty at a young age!

Step Away From The Ho-Hos And Video Games Kids

I saw this program a bit ago and thought it sounded pretty fantastic. The NFL isn't just over-paying athletes and entertaining us, they're encouraging kids to get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day too. Check out NFL PLAY 60, a campaign to get kids healthy and active by going outside to play. I'm a big fan of programs like this and say hats off to the NFL for creating one of them. I'm wondering though, what happened to that simple and automatic get off the bus after school, rush inside the house, change into grass-stained torn jeans (AKA "play clothes") and run around with your siblings and neighbors until dark. When did kids stop playing kick-ball for 4 hours straight in their play clothes?

Wow, I am so 1987.

Kids these days have the President and NFL stars telling them to get up and out. Ooooh, so fancy and big time. When I was a kid it was my Mom who was the one with the consistent line yelling something like; "Get your butt outside and go play until I call you for dinner!" 

Wouldn't it be so fun if we were done with work everyday by 2 or 3pm and we got to go play until dark? 

Dear Anonymous,

Thanks for posting a comment in regards to my eff-boming and throwing in an eff-bomb of your own. It's a splendid treat for me when people post comments here. 

You said you "wish you had the balls to live by some of those f*cks." Well, even though you posted anonymously, you actually posted which indicates to me you probably in fact have those balls- you just haven't found them to the extent you need to yet. It's Ok. You'll know when it's time. I have a feeling it's soon for you. It's all so much easier than we think. The fear stops us. See the reality is that when you ask yourself; What's the worst that could happen? Chances are the "worst" isn't even be that bad. 

Pigs can fly, recessions can happen, life will ebb and flow and the world is always changing. One thing that will always remain the same is that if you're honest and live true, are considerate and simply try- the people who are good for you will stick around. The ones who run away? Yeah- you didn't need them anyway.

Thanks again for posting. Keep them coming. I'm more than happy to lend an ear if you ever need one again. Good luck!

Ribbit Ribbit

Check this company out; FROGBOX. These guys are helping to reduce waste and make your move easy. You can rent these great eco-friendly boxes (that are totally affordable) and help save the frogs too! FROGBOX donates 1% of gross revenues to frog habitat restoration. Yay!

I love love love finding companies that have created ways to help people, do the right thing for the environment and make a living from it. How cool. This stuff makes me so happy.

Watch One Thing. Find Another

I was working late the other night and had TV on for back ground noise. I came upon Doc Hollywood. Old-school Michael J. Fox. What a cute movie and a random place to learn of this John Muir quote that I think is fantastic:

"Most people are on the world, not in it." (The first part was the actual line from the movie, but I found the quote goes on to say; "- having no conscious sympathy or relationship to anything about them- undiffused, separate, and rigidly alone like marbles of polished stone, touching but separate. "

So true.

Kids Are Cute

I figured if anyone was offended by my previous post this would be a balance for a laugh. This is my baby cousin on Thanksgiving night. 

Hilarious.

She looks wasted. Goooood bottle...

Putting My Big Girl Pants Back On

Below on a previous post you can see where I wrote about taking off my Eff-bomb rant the other day. While I have felt like a million bucks since writing it, I had a momentary lapse of chicken-shit and took it off. 

***By the way I'd like to note here that ever since the moment I pressed "publish" on that post, just three days ago- it's like I went from driving a rusty 1973 Ford Escort with three tires to a 2010 super-speedster Jag or something. I mean I feel like a new human and am so not exaggerating. Sure, we all get pretty peeved sometimes, go through being bummed and down for a month here and there, run an extra 5 miles to get frustrations out- whatever, but clearly for some, it takes really hitting the boiling point; throwing off the gloves, ripping up one side and down the other of something, screaming out loud like a person from an asylum or writing with a rage and frustration that could move a mountain to get it all out and call a start over.***

I realize just three days later that my Eff-bomb post was all about me needing to get to that boiling point I hadn't gotten to yet. 

After I offered up "If you'd like to read it I will email it to you" - a few people asked me to email it to them and I did. Then ding-dong a text on my phone from one of the people who has called me out before (love that) saying; "Just read your email. Boy I bet you felt great after writing that! Now why don't you put your big girl pants back on and put it back on the blog."

Damn I love that guy. He's so right. 

Thanks F. Here's the post back up full monty. This one is dedicated to you because while 49 states are great, there's still one out there and so much more after that. 

Yeah baby!

...Originally written Monday January 4, 2010:

I'm officially throwing an eff-bomb. A whole bunch of them actually.

I try to control my potty mouth most days. This is not one of those days. The one thing I have never done (as far as I can remember) on this blog is actually written the word fuck. Never thought I actually would want or need to, but today it's time.

Before I go on my fuck rant, please know that no- I am absolutely not suicidal, I am not sad, depressed, I am not without hope or ambition, I'm not about to go postal and walk into some building and start shooting people. (I'm sure I could think of a few people It'd feel good for 1 minute to smack, but smacking people isn't nice and it doesn't set a good example so I don't do things like that.) Yes, I still believe in everything. I know I can be and do whatever the hell I want at any moment I want and I will always be the only only scared-ass chicken shit that stands in my own way. I know I don't have to do anything. The only reason I feel the way I do on this very day is a culmination of probably a good 2 years of me following rules of bullshit "shoulds." I fell off the bandwagon. I used to not give a flip what anyone thought- and I just went for it all. I somehow lost my mojo and started running with the crowd. UGH. This has resulted in far too many debacles and much too much misery than I care to rehash in a crash and burn of essentially my entire existence these past couple years. By some stroke of absolute miracle, I still remain upbeat, positive, and can laugh and love like few can. I still know I'm bad-ass and will kick ass and take names. For some reason, I can take a life beating, beat myself up, and still believe, get, do and be things that most people just dream about. This does not mean big and fancy things or that I am some ruler of cool, it just means that I am capable of opening my eyes, looking around and saying; "What's that? You hate our life? You'd give it all up in a second for X,Y,Z? Huh? Really? Wow, well- you can go ahead and force yourself to keep going down that road for some reason that you can't explain, or because you think you have to- that's just not good enough for me and it never will be."

2 years off the bandwagon is far too much for me. I'm done. I am now driving the bandwagon again. I own that shit.

I'm calling a big fat fuck it and try again.

If I have to be called or thought of as crazy, unrealistic, immature to be happy and follow my heart and do things I know are the right things to do- that's ok with me. If I lose jobs, family, friends, boyfriends, possessions because I go against the grain or chose to speak up, not do what other people do or ask questions that people don't want to hear- that's ok with me. Clearly those lost things would not be meant to be, or ever be able to handle living truthfully-like I want to, so that's ok.

I know it's possible to show my ass to the world and have people stick around, even if they do think I'm a little off kilter. The majority of those stick-arounders actually praise and love me because I am just the way I am. They wouldn't want me any other way. I have a few key very supportive and amazing friends and an absolutely incredible family to which I thank my lucky stars have encouraged me and believed in me since day 1. They love me for my will, my heart, my energy and my outlook and that is friggin awesome...

...and precisely the reason I feel comfortable writing the following:

*FUCK PEOPLE WHO ARE MISERABLE FOR THE SAKE OF BEING MISERABLE

*FUCK PEOPLE WHO ARE NEGATIVE

*FUCK NOT DOING WHAT YOU LOVE 

*FUCK NOT BEING AROUND WHO AND WHAT YOU LOVE

*FUCK BEING SCARED

*FUCK DOING THINGS IF THERE'S NO GOOD REASON JUST BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS, BOYFRIEND, WIFE, BOSS, ETC. TELLS YOU YOU SHOULD

*FUCK NOT FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS

*FUCK ALLOWING PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT CONSTANTLY DISAPPOINT YOU

*FUCK WAKING UP ONE MORE DAY IN A LIFE YOU HATE

*FUCK BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT MAKES YOU MISERABLE

*FUCK HAVING FRIENDS THAT ARE DRAINING

*FUCK NOT TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF

*FUCK WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS THINK

*FUCK BEING SAD

*FUCK NOT GOING FOR IT

*FUCK ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN'T

Some, but not all of the above apply to me but I wanted to at least get a short list down. I'm not sure if this fuck rant today will result in me just getting things off my chest to feel some relief or if it means I'll be selling everything I own (which is not much thankfully) changing life all up again already after a huge recent change, or? What I do know for sure is that I am certain to follow wise words of one of those amazing people in my life; "Just keep swinging the bat Di- something will stick and you'll know when it does"

I think there's my answer- things just don't feel like they're sticking yet. 

Blue Lollipop Road:

I'm not on vacation. I live here. this is my reality. I am always happy to take advice, critique and hear the other side of anything and everything. I am completely open to everything and will stay that way. I am going to bust my ass every second it's possible to be nice to strangers, be a hard worker, be unselfish, give back to the planet, love people, laugh and be happy doing exactly what feels right in my soul. If you try your damndest too, fit the previous line and are in that 20% of existence that is positive- please, please be in my life. I will fight for you. If you are naysayer, exist to be negative in the world, bring people down because your life sucks- just fuck off please. I don't have time for your bullshit. I'm too busy being happy:)

Looks like I'm taking another swing.

Whew. That felt good.

Flibbertiggibit

Are you kidding? This is a real word? 

I woke up on this abnormally frigid morning and while the temperature in my apartment cut me like a knife and my instinct was to frown- I couldn't help but giggle as I rolled over and I saw this word of the day on my phone. 

Flibbertigibbet, noun:

A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.

FLIB-ur-tee-jib-it. hee hee...

It's OK To Say Fuck If You Need To

If you're a regular follower or good friend, you probably read the eff-bomb rant I wrote and posted on Monday this week. I have almost 450 posts and have never deleted one, even when I have spilled my heart, ranted like a crazy person or babbled endlessly. I believe that you should own your thoughts and feelings and not regret them. If they are honest and truthful and for whatever reason someone can't take it- oh well. If we all walked around all day trying to impress each other (oh wait, that's right- a large percent of the population actually does that) we'd have heart attacks and croak by the age of 40. 

But? By Monday night my instinct told me to delete that specific post. From the blog anyway. I saved it for myself. It was much too important and powerful for me to delete for good. I saved it in an email. If anyone out there cares to read the Eff-bomb Rant of 2010- please let me know and I will happily email it to you. Even though I absolutely own every "fuck" I wrote in the post, for whatever reason it felt good enough for me to just have on here for one day and that's it. 

You know, it never fails; every single time I write something here that might make me sound completely off my rocker, out-there, overly open, or offensive; PEOPLE COME OUT OF THE WORD WORK emailing, posting comments, calling me, etc. about themselves and their lives. It's amazing. This tells me one thing and one thing only:

Every human walking this earth right now is holding something, holding back, not speaking up and every day it eats away a little piece of them. Most people hold this stuff in forever, some like me put it all out there on a daily basis with a kind of bizarre comfort that's baffling and some just need one teeeeny crack in a door/opening somehow/somewhere and then they let it rip. 

I say let it rip. Stop letting it eat away at you. We will listen.

Since writing this blog, strangers have (unsolicited) shared more with me than they've probably ever shared with their siblings, parents, wives or friends. It has been completely unexpected and an absolutely incredible gift to me. If by instead of screaming, crying or punching someone, I can use my little laptop and something called a blog to help me not become that someone holding things back that would eventually pick pick pick and eat away my soul and somehow it awakens, helps, or gives one single person some relatability for breathing room and a feeling of normalcy in their life- maybe this is the only thing I was put on this planet to do. 

I'm good with that.

After reading my eff-bomb rant, one person who used to work for me wrote that she wanted me to know that I was an inspiration to her. (So awesome. Smiling. To think that no one is ever watching...) Another person, a gent who was married for many years, now separated with a child. He was in a marriage with a most selfish and unappreciative wife who still constantly yells at him in front of their child- finally stood up to his ex and essentially told her to shut up. After years of yelling. Because of me, or inspired by me? (Awesome times two. Smiling even bigger.)

Eff-bombs? Sometimes necessary. Honesty? Always necessary. 

Thanks C and G. Keep letting it rip.

Mile-high Journals

Check out what this Delta Flight Attendant passes around on her flights. What a fantastic way to encourage strangers to thank all of our soldiers overseas. 

Yay for people like Robin Schmidt!

Recycle, Reduce, Reread

A couple of friends stopped by this morning and we got talking about books. I told them that I always write the place and date I start and finish a book on the inside cover. As I finish them (yes- sometimes it takes me a year, what can I say) I try to pass them on. We were laughing that books are one of those things that people "borrow" and never give back. Here's an awesome way to not only share your books with others, but be green and make a little adventure scavenger hunt out of it. Go "hunting" at Book Crossing. This site lets you register a book to leave in a public a place in the city and state you're in. Then others can find it, read it and pass it on again. How cool is that?

This is one of those; Damn, why didn't I think of that kind of companies.

News On The Can

I saw this on the back of the door this morning in a university bathroom. It made me giggle. I love this cheesy stuff.

Day 1

I've perused the internet and found too many sources of the following line so instead of crediting the wrong person, I will just share it here as that widely used quote:

"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."

Now there's a line with some common-sense reality that could help start off anyone's new year one step ahead of the game. If you're not happy with, "it", him, her, the job, the place, the atmosphere, the weather, the anything- change it. Try something different. Don't worry about who might think you're crazy or someone you might disappoint or piss-off. It's YOUR life, not theirs. Anyone who truly loves and supports you only wants you to be happy anyway. Perhaps we took some strategic jumps in the direction of change we knew we need, we'd all be a tad happier and more content. Worse case scenario, you go back to where you started and you're only smarter and better for trying.

What are we waiting for, January 1, 2011? That's a whole year away. I don't know about you, but I'm all about having an extra year of awesomeness. If you want to jump and you haven't already, it's time. 

It's always driven me nuts when people say; "It's not that easy." (To me that is code for, "I'm making excuses and being a chicken-shit.")

No it's not easy, but it's possible.

Evaluate what's great in your life and what sucks, then do yourself a favor; Put your big girl/boy pants and make some changes if you need or want to! Remember:

It's not easy, but it's possible.

Tick tock, tick tock- here comes 2011...