you constantly amaze me

10Nov09

Once upon a time I used to read only mommy and daddy blogs and a handful of personal blogs; those alone took big chunks of my free time. I also only used to read blogs of individuals who read mine and I thought that was fair but obligatory and dull. The whole ‘you comment, I follow’ rule never worked for me and actually, when it comes to blogging, rules in general don’t work for me (and probably why I haven’t once successfully completed NaBloPoMo). It’s just blogging; writing and reading on the internet because I feel like it, when I feel like it.

I stopped reading a lot of blogs because of their family friendly, child-focused goodness tainted with cheesy reviews and plugs (obviously not a bad thing when you look at the popularity of and money involved in parenting blogs – and I do have a little handful of exceptions – it’s just that I come online as a break from children rather than to hear all about other people’s), messages of mediocre being the new black, blahs, whaas, dramas and constant rantings.

I was feeling unfulfilled, uninspired and missed learning about actual people and their passions.

Coming online is my hobby, my escape. In my time here, I want to learn something, see something beautiful, become inspired to better my world, get to know a person’s heart, soul, fears, passions and dreams a little better. I actually love reading your memes and diary-style entries because I learn so much about you as a person.

So basically my criteria became, if I’m not learning anything about the writer, then I don’t read the blog. The “writing” doesn’t even matter – I’ve never been one to follow after so-called amazing ‘writers’ in the blogosphere anyway; I’ve always preferred the unique, original, one of a kind diamonds over the obnoxious shiny stones bought in a mall because the romantic commercial said to.

Anyway, everything changed and my reading list was quartered, in effect clearing up a bunch of time.

And so I started out on an adventure outside of my comfort zone and found hundreds of ridiculously positive, beautiful, inspiring, gorgeous, thought-provoking blogs. Personal blogs, niche blogs, photo blogs, food blogs, every kind of blog blogs. They make me smile.

People doing actual things over and above the norm. Blogs teaching Yes. People encouraging me to touch the sky because I can and if I don’t succeed today, try again tomorrow or next week or next month; just don’t stop trying. Articles focused on becoming anything – including happy – if you want it badly enough. Artists sharing what’s gorgeous and moving through their eyes today … This practice changed my life … Here is how I’m succeeding … Open your mind … Aim to be more and better …

(You can find snippets if you click my “Everything Beautiful in the Blogs” button on my sidebar which is my shared items in Google reader).

And my mind was blown open to a world of colour brighter, richer and deeper than I’ve ever seen before and it’s all been extremely fulfilling and thought provoking.

But all this computer time is over-stuffing brain; I can feel it sparking with all the information I’m receiving and not properly digesting. I’m like an overly excited child constantly darting to the next ride.

So it’s time to slow down and savour. There is so much beauty and greatness that I never knew existed out here in the blogosphere and it could easily consume my entire life.

Talk about inspiration overload. I never knew there was such a thing.

I also never knew there was such a thing as writing 600+ words and not really remembering what my main point was supposed to be. Sorry

But know this …

If you’re reading this and I’m reading you, then I want you to know that you, as an individual, constantly amaze me.

Thank you for being excellent and sharing it with the world.

Filed under: nablopomo, pleasures, positivity!   |  9 Comments

this is it …

09Nov09

I did the walk n’ snap throw about a hundred times tonight for anybody … my mom, my brother, Colin, his brother, Callie and Lily …

Singing, “You’ve been hit by … you’ve been struck by … a smooth criminal”

Head. Pop, lock. Shoulders. Pop, lock. Neck. Pop, lock.

“Annie are you ok … so, Annie are you ok, are you ok, Annie?”

My brother, “You’re NOT a dancer, Jen.” (It seems as though I embarrass him in public appropriately).

Heh.

I finally saw This Is It today and if I have my way, maybe Colin will stream it for me so I can watch it in bed tonight before I fall asleep. And if I’m really lucky I’ll be gifted the DVD for Christmas so I can actually stand up and dance to it instead of being confined to a reclining chair in the theater, where all I can do is groove is my head, fingers, legs and feet.

I know that you, my tens of readers, are rolling your eyes at me right now and that’s quite alright. I won’t lie … it’s been difficult to find an equally big Michael Jackson fan anywhere but YouTube and Europe since he died.

But I grew up on Michael … so did my little brother. My mom forced us to listen to him on vinyl just like she did with all her 60s/70s/80s records … and we liked it. My first kiss was Michael Jackson. Our babysitter taught us the moonwalk for an entire summer. I cried at the video debut of Thriller when I was 4 (FOUR YEARS OLD, MOM! That’s how old my girls are, ha )

Anyway, today was a day I’ll never forget.

With my MJ comrades – my mom and brother – I took at seat at This Is It and was instantly fascinated and transfixed on this legend of a man, his absolutely mind blowing dancers, back up vocalists and production crew.

And holy shit, I was in awe.

Of dancing I could only dream of doing myself …

Of Michael’s perfectionism …

Of his gentleness …

Of his passion and energy …

Of the stage set including a massive background screen and that they actually taped large production films to show on that screen for the shows (you should SEE the new Thriller video WOAH) …

Oh, man. This Is It would have been such a very, very epic show.

He says at one point in the movie, “It’s all for love. L-O-V-E” … Yes! He knows. He was love, a lover of Earth and humankind (despite how hated he was by many accusatory and judgmental people of his home, North America).

And those people are the most beautiful people – the kind I of people I aim to be. Loving, forgiving, awakened, aware, hope-filled and Earth conscious.

But, wow. I don’t even know what else to say except it was the best movie I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

And if you can and love to dance … like really dance … dream of being a dancer … have been a dancer … admire good dancers … or if you just love Michael Jackson …

Then you MUST see this movie on the big screen in the short time you have left, because oh my God … it was totally golden.

I cried on the inside and bit my lip to not cry on the outside – not because I was sad but because I was so moved by the talent and pure awesomeness and beauty that is Michael Jackson and his production family.

Such head-exploding goodness.

(Obviously, I would be a horrid film reviewer with things like “head-exploding goodness”. Forgive me if you’re actually taking this review seriously … I’m just excited.)

But I loved it and being there was the highlight of my year* maybe.

Go see. It’ll fill you with groove and awe.

*I live a sheltered, yet music and dance filled, life. Don’t judge.

Filed under: music, nablopomo, opinion, pleasures   |  5 Comments

just when i thought my sanity was completely restored …

08Nov09

I don’t let much bother me these days.

Sixty straight days of rain? There is beauty and cleansing to be found in rainfall.

No money? At least the bills are paid, we have a warm home and lots of good, healthy food. Heck, we even have the Canucks Pay-Per-View season’s package and for that I feel truly rich.

Weight gain? Curves are sexy, I am healthy.

It’s been easy to find the positive in almost every situation.

And then they came.

The fruit flies.Two of them, everyday. Isn’t a fruit fly’s life expectancy like, 9 hours? My fruit is fresh, not rotting and my kitchen is clean, wiped down with chemicals often.

I think they’ve come to torment me in my newfound peace and it’s working. I stand at the sink doing dishes or washing vegetables or cutting sandwiches into perfect little squares and one of those bastards will fly by my head.

I grab the can of Lysol ready to battle. I know now that if can spray him twice, then he’ll drop and I win. But do you know how hard it is to spray a fruit fly twice? Damn near impossible.

And even if I do win, he’s eventually replaced by one of his spawn, which leads me to believe that they’re breeding somewhere and that thought most definitely ignites the crazies deep inside me – the thought that somewhere in my kitchen, undetectable to my nose, something is rotting and fruit fly eggs are hatching.

That’s the worst kind of crazy to be.

So today? I build a fruit fly trap and rip apart my kitchen.

And if that doesn’t work? We’re going to have to move.

Filed under: Ummm..., randomly   |  7 Comments

i’d love to see your smile today …

07Nov09

I want to give you a gift to make you smile but I don’t know what you love. My hope is that if I share with you the things I love most, that one of them will be perfect.

So what’s it going to be? …

~ The Moon ~

I would probably catch you gazing into the sky, announcing the full moon, reading horoscopes and believing in the fates.

To you I gift the most powerful of telescopes and a map to a cozy spot under a vast black sky where you will observe constellations and untouched planets for the rest of your nights. A million stars will shine for you and there will be no shortage of shooting stars to make wishes upon.

~ Spa Bathroom ~

You love peace, tranquility, meditation, warmth, clean white spaces, wood and beautiful aromas.

You will have a spa bathtub, candles, the softest of towels straight from the dryer, your favourite music playing quietly in the background and the most pure and organic bath luxuries at your disposal.

~ Whistler, BC ~

You’re likely in love with mountain sports and fresh air. Boutique shops, gourmet foods and apres ski pitchers in a laid back village setting. You relish first tracks, freshies and waking up in darkness to avoid lift lines. You love watching soft snow fall from your place in an outdoor hot tub or from inside on a chair beside the fire.

To you I gift mountain passes, top of the line gear, no lift lines, first tracks, reservations in the finest gourmet establishments, ski in/out accommodations with private outdoor hot tub, VIP to your favourite clubs and bars … and endless snowfall.

~ Flowers ~

Your heart skips a beat when the man in your life sends you a bouquet or brings flowers home from work for no reason. You have many shapes and sizes of vases as well as spots you display your beauty. You spend time admiring arrangements, carefully cutting stems, stopping into florists to inhale and you adore garden centers and nurseries. You inhale and take pictures of gorgeous blooms and you have a garden to which you tend. Spring is probably your favourite time of year.

To you I gift a home in the hills of Maui, Hawaii. You will play under waterfalls and frolic in fields of plumeria and other native exotics. While weaving leis, you’ll sit with a bloom behind your ear sipping a Mai Tai as the trade winds assault you with fragrance.

~ Hockey ~

You watch every game your team plays but you also have alternate teams you cheer on; you may be part of a fantasy league. You dream of seasons tickets in your home ice arena and have no plans of ever missing a single one even in if it falls on holidays or birthdays. You’re the owner of at least one team jersey which you put on hours before the game begins, you know the words to both Canadian and American national anthems but only sing your own country’s out loud, you love the smell of ice and you’ve probably paid (or are willing to pay) a mortgage payment to see your team in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Beer is your drink of choice and hockey is life. A huge void is most likely felt at the beginning of off-season.

To you I gift seasons tickets with your choice of seats for the rest of your years and non-stop beer. You’ll catch a puck, pound fist to glove with your goalie after a winning game and a jersey autographed by the team. Your team will win the Stanley Cup and you’ll be there to witness it. (And this gift is transferable to your preferred sport)

~ Wine ~

You don’t have wineglasses, you have stemware – a type for every wine and occasion – that you delicately hand wash. Wine is something you look forward to as a full experience. You savour it. You feel a bottle in your hands … uncork it, pour it, swirl it, inhale it’s notes,  hold a beautiful glass to the light and study it’s colours, reflections and depth. Sip.

To you I gift endless wine; the best the world has to offer. You will sit with a favourite  friend under the stars and sample your treasures any night you please. There will be guaranteed drunkness, laughter, excellent conversation, good food to fill your belly, perfect music to fill your soul … no hangover.

~ Music ~

You love music and always have. Your earliest memories might be of your parents forcing you to listen to vinyl on a record player and you have a vast knowledge of and open mindedness to all genres of music. Music was, and continues to be, playing the background. Anything goes because you crave sound … you have an extensive music library … you’re a concert go’er and reviewer. Without music, your life would feel quite empty.

For you, I gift music. Your most loved musicians and bands will perform in your city monthly … big shows, small shows, acoustic shows … however you’ve dreamed them, they will be. Your playlist will be gifted with one new song every morning that you absolutely fall in love with because it’s written for you, about you and your journey. Sometimes it makes your cry and others make you kiss your fist and touch the sky. You’ll have top quality equipment and gadgets to listen to or create music, which are constantly replenished with technology advancements.

~ New York City at Christmas ~

I’m not sure who you are but if you’re anything like me you love the city. Maybe you don’t love city life, but you feed off the energy of cities and all they have to offer. You’re most likely a free spirit with good walking shoes, health and energy to walk all day long without time schedules or things to do. You have no fear of the unknown. You dream of skating at Rockefellar Center and siting on a bench in Central Park with coffee, people watching.

For you, I gift New York City at Christmas and all of the magic it holds. The weather will be freezing and perfect … the first flakes of Winter will fall on the cold, rosy cheek of your love with whom you will skate and roam the city hand in hand. You will have infinite amounts of money to visit landmarks, do your Christmas shopping, reservations at restaurants of your choice and a week long stay at a luxury hotel. This gift will reoccur each year in the Christmas season.

~ Perfect jeans ~

You tend to despise shopping for jeans and perhaps never leave a shop completely satisfied. Maybe you prefer sweats and yoga pants because jeans just aren’t comfortable and ‘mom bum’, sag or too tight might be what you see when you look in the mirror. Even if you do wear denim all of the time, they’re never ‘the’ perfect jeans.

Well, I’ve found the perfect jeans and am wearing them right now. The place I bought them is a store specializing in denim and once I figured out my waist and length sizes I had dozens of fits and washes/rinses to choose. I walked out with three pairs and they all fit like a glove, keep their original shape and I seriously love them. My gift to you is the name of this amazing store, a denim shopping spree and a forever jean-clad, smackable, sexy ass.

~ Notebooks ~

You’re a writer, artist, diarist, list maker, doodler, poet. You create your beauty on paper in favoured notebooks. Your magic is not found online in your blog, rather, in ink or pencil. A lover of book stores, libraries and stationary shops, you find peace and serenity in quiet moments. If you’re like me, you like to be alone with your notebooks and thoughts; you are a dreamer.

To you I gift quiet moments of contemplation, an endless supply of your preferred notebooks, writing tools and books. You will have a comfortable, peaceful spot to utilize whenever you need to get away from it all, to create your written magic.

~~~

So, my friend, I ask you … which of these gifts would bring the biggest smile to your face and heart today?

Filed under: LOVE, heart, pleasures, self   |  5 Comments