getting comfortable

I was told by a mechanic this week at work, “that’s ok, that’s just how it is when you’re getting comfortable”.

Mind you, he was talking about learning about a set of valves on an excavator engine

… but I’m talkin’ about life dudes.

Not that I don’t live and breathe and scream excavators and mining equipment (from Monday to Thursday 6am to 6pm, that is.)
ha.ha.

But isn’t it the truth?

…it is ok, and this really is what it’s like while we’re “getting comfortable”… in our skin, in our relationships, with our ideas, and philosophies. Ultimately we get uncomfortable and push it, and that, in turn makes us more comfortable with who we are and what the heck we’re doin’ with this buddy we call Life.

It’s is a symbiotic relationship. Sometimes life gives us things that we can’t control, and sometimes we turn around and throw somethin’ real fancy and impressive right back.

But in the end, we’re all just getting comfortable… and learning, and growing. But, take it from my grease covered, wrench pulling, mechanic friend: grow from it, it’s ok.

A little Wednesday lovin' Because we all need some mid week goodies to bliss out on.

1. The Sartorialist and the "digital park bench" he's created to sit and view people and fashion across the world.

And the photographer himself: traveling and photographing fashion/ people? ...Yes I will trade lives with you, i thought you'd never ask!

2. The Oscar Best Picture noms. I can't decide if Toy Story 3 should win for best picture or best tear jerker(that is a category, right?)... not that i would know or anything.

3.This idea. Looks like one of my boyfriend's/ dad's white shirts will die a wonderful death this weekend.

4. The fact that deciding to have ice cream for dinner is a right you invoke as an adult. Try it sometime.

5. the snowshoes that I got for Christmas, and the moments that they lend me:



6. This blog, and how much more fun it's made evenings in camp, instead of watching too many Grey's Anatomy episodes, or convincing myself I should work out.
...you, little blog world, are pretty cool.

Happy hump day, dudes! What are you lovin' this week?

a shout out to my little sis, and the fact that she's blissin' out lately. Proud of you.

funday monday

So my Monday started out running after the bus that I was about to miss, in -10 degree weather, at 3:30am, in my pajamas to catch it up to the mine for my Monday-Thursday shift.

Monday's a bitch.

Yep, I think some good tune-age is needed to remedy this one.


an oldie but a goodie. And it makes me actually want to be on a treadmill (not to run of course, don't be silly.)


...because although Monday seemed like a bitch at first, I think she's one of those chicks that once you get to know her, she'll be someone you wanna rock out with.

Hope any of your Monday blues turned into a wicked shade of turquoise.
<3

new. yah.

...pronounced "new year". but it's way more gangster. Yo.
hm. so i can't pull that off. but at least i tried.

You know what i can pull off though? 2010. and i did. pretty darn well i think, for a year that i had previously "scripted" (my mom keeps telling me not to do it, i'm trying, i swear.) and planned, and wished, and hoped to be in grad school. As of 2010 i was supposed to be half way to being a Speech Pathologist, Dawg. hm. i guess life didn't get the memo i sent about the strict itinerary.

So i rocked the not-so-schedule that lead me home from Greece and Turkey, to my wonderful mountain town, to a boy that is kinda cool to hang out with, and to friends and family that are totally cool to hang out with.
I guess your itinerary was ok too, Life.




But the thing is, I don't make new years resolutions. It's cool for some people, if you need that motivation to change something... but i'm more a believer in the daily reflection and getting your butt in gear to change something whenever the need arises... nope, no waiting for the clock to strike 12 for this girl. So instead of a new years resolution, I give you a few lessons/ facts/ randomness that Life sent me in my personalized memo of 2010. Enjoy.

-When you leave a place and come back, as cliche as it sounds... it really does rock your world that much more.

-When you see more of the world, you realize how much that world does, indeed, rock.

-Feeling something doesn't make it true...
but listen to what you feel because sometimes it is true, and has way better ideas than that rational head of yours

-Some of the beauty in the world goes unnoticed, but photographing helps you see it more

-Snail mail shared from friends you've had to move away from after University is almost as fun as partying with them 5 days a week in residence (almost)

-Having a job that doesn't require studying/ lesson planning/ midterm cramming, but is just challenging enough, aids in relaxation. I call it miner yoga. As long as all the balding overweight men don't start doing it, i'm totally into it.

-Talking to people of all ages and all backgrounds about life opens your eyes, helps you make decisions, and puts things in perspective

-Eating cereal for dinner is completely reasonable

-Making time to stop and look around helps you learn things

-Compromise and rational discussion is the true version of the 'Fairy Tale Princess/Happily Ever After' story- not as glamorous, but feels just as good.

There's so much more, and thinking of a few brings on even more things that I've learned... but overall I guess the lesson is that I should write my script/ itinerary in pencil, and have an eraser handy, because sometimes the surprises are the best part.

2011, show me what you got, aite??

photo test!

Sister and I at Christmas!

Learning to make photos bigger in blogger... woohoo!

And just for the fun of it... because I'm a newbie... please post a comment (even a "hi"!)

Oh, he came to town alright.

Christmas.

disclaimer:this is a bit of a late post, but this new blogger thing is a learning experience that takes a bit:)

But lets get down to it. Christmas.

This was the first year in my life that it wasn't all focused around this wonderful day. It wasn't a "countdown" to Christmas, emphasis on Christmas shopping, or a huge Christmas climax. It was just about being. I suppose that had to do with the fact that I had two weeks to just be at home, off from my camp job; I'm so used to being in and out of camp at such a fast pace, that just being in one place for 2 weeks was so comforting.

2 weeks to spend mornings with my boyfriend, drinking tea and playing boardgames by the fire, to go skating, walking, or snowboarding, to run home to sit around the living room drinking coffee and catching up on all our exciting holiday stories with the family.





"What kind of fun did you get into last night", "What did you do with [insert long lost friend's name here] yesterday?" all were frequent questions over the holiday, sure to be answered with animated and exciting news.

I was so content to be in town and mingle with friends in from out of town, or get chores done from the list of things I never have time for on short weekends off... I feel so lucky to recognize the beautiful town I live in and the people that surround me, both living here, and visiting from afar.

There's something about being with a friend drinking wine, or skating our hearts out and reflecting on where these last 6 years have taken us since high school. How different we have all become, yet how much the friendships never change, or come full circle to a place of trust and comradery.


It makes me so grateful to be at home and have the chance to actually be present in these experiences, not wound up in school, future plans, midterms, university, or traveling. Just be here now. Oh, and trust me... that list of things will surface again sooner than we know it;) But for now, I am a home town girl. That enjoyed an awesome Christmas with her wonderful family and friends.


and oh, Santa came to town alright. With a bag full of laughs, love, and relaxation.