Six Word Saturday

the world keeps right on spinning

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

How to Be Amazing at 35

I recently celebrated a birthday. In general, I'm not a fan of birthdays. It's not so much the getting older that bothers me but I've had some really lousy birthdays over the years. Like the year I passed out in gym class. Or the year my boyfriend dumped me. That doesn't include the years I've battled severe depression the entire month of March because of the other memories my birthday brings. This was actually the best birthday I've had in a very long time.

This year wasn't a milestone birthday. 34. It seems harmless but 35 seems like a bigger deal. For some reason, I started thinking about a year from now and all of the things I don't want to think at that point. Like the fact that I'm so overweight. Or that I'm a writer who doesn't seriously write. There are a few other things but those two define so much of my life.

My plans for being 34?



I'm going to spend 34, a non-milestone year, preparing for an awesome start to 35. For whatever reason, 35 scares me a little bit so I'd like to be sure that when I kick it off, I'm doing so from a solid place. A healthy place. A place where I respect myself and the life I'm living.

I'm still not 100% sure how I'm going to accomplish all of this, though I'm working on it. I have some ideas for how I plan to lose weight. I'm not sure how to measure the writing angle but I feel like I'm making progress now and want to continue doing so. I'll reread my post from the beginning of the year about being mindful and try to follow-through on those ideas.

All I know is that when I look back right now at 33, I wish I had started then. If I had, things would be a lot different today. If I don't start making the most of now, I'm a fool. And I don't believe I'm a fool. And I most definitely don't want to be 35 looking back on 34 and feeling disappointed in myself for not living each day as if I'm worthy of an amazing future.

So, how to be amazing at 35? By being amazing at 34.

Here's to an amazing year!

Six Word Saturday

I am doing ALL THE THINGS!!!!!

And spazzing just a bit...

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

BHBC: The Fault In Our Stars (John Green)

"The Fault In Our Stars" is the first John Green book I've read and I'm still trying to decide if I liked it or not. I really wanted to like it because I really like John. I mean, not that I know John or that he knows me. But he seems like a swell guy. If you're unfamiliar with Mr. Green, you can read more about him here.

The book follows Hazel, a teenager with terminal cancer. Her main affliction is "lungs that suck at being lungs." Through Hazel, we meet other teens from her support group - Isaac (whose cancer has already claimed one eye and is threatening the one that remains) and Augustus (who had a "touch of cancer" previously that claimed a leg but now has a great prognosis).

The writing is witty and light despite the heavy subject matter. I mean, it's a book about teens with cancer - it's going to be heavy no matter how much levity you interject. I'm not sure how much research Green did into the lives of cancer patients but there were some very eye-opening depictions of what life is like for both the patients and their loved ones. From treatments to support to relapses to unfairness to death, many facets of Hazel's experience give interesting insights into how life goes on in the face of uncertainty.

The relationship between Augustus and Hazel is beautiful in its joy and its sadness as they bond over ordinary teenager interests (books, video games, music) and the drastic realities of prosthetic limbs, breathing tubes, and hospitalizations. You can read about their meeting in this excerpt.

The book was emotionally affecting in a way that is not only applicable to readers touched by cancer but to anyone who has ever loved, hoped, and experienced loss. Full disclosure - I cried. If you are okay with books that have the potential to make you cry, you may appreciate this book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone in a depressive state and I'd advise caution to those with cancer in their immediate world.

For more discussions about this book, please visit the BlogHer Book Club site.

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Oops

Nothing to see here. Come back tomorrow.

Six Word Saturday

a week of highs and lows

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Finally, I Make My Husband Laugh

My husband, Joe, has been at the SXSW Interactive festival in Austin since last Friday. He'll get home really late tonight. Part of me is a bit jealous because originally we both planned to go. (insert long rant about Joe's working making it impossible to plan ahead so it was a last-minute trip and too expensive for us both to attend)

A couple of days ago, we had the following conversation:

Joe: I scored 2 free tix to JayZ!
me: I didn't know you were a fan
Joe: I'm not - but FREE!
me: what will you do with the 2nd ticket?
Joe: some people are selling them
me: oh? you gonna do that?
Joe: no, gave mine away
me: is she hot?
Joe: haha
me: I'd like to point out that that's not an answer
Joe: haha

It's funny how he reads things I've written that are supposed to be funny and never even smiles. But I ask a question like that and get all kinds of laughs!

Good thing I trust that guy.

Six Word Saturday

Spring is just around the corner

***Also, don't forget to change those clocks tonight if that applies to you!***

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Friday Fragments

I'm sure this whole Friday Fragments idea originated with someone and if you can tell me who that someone is, I will gladly give them credit.

Since I didn't write Tuesday or Thursday this week, let's just jump right in.

1. Joe left at 4am to head to Austin for SXSWi. It was a last-minute kind of trip due to last-minute BS where he works. I'm glad it worked out for him but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous - I wanted to go too but the last-minute nature of it was crazy expensive and also crazy chaotic. So, a few days here home alone with the kitties...

2. ...and a mouse. Yes, it's that time of year again, though about 2 months later than that time of year last year. Weird. And since I heard the mouse eating the stuff in the bait (don't judge, please, I've struggled with that decision enough), which may or may not still be effective, the pest control people won't come til Monday.

3. It's definitely Spring here. I need to change my blog header away from those snowflakes. Especially since they say "winter 2011."

4. Umm, I think that's about it. Which is why I probably didn't bother blogging earlier in the week.

Come back tomorrow for Six Word Saturday!

Six Word Saturday

feeling too old for baby steps

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Good Deeds

Earlier this week, I stopped into a state-operated store and had this exchange with the clerk.

clerk: Does this look like that woman there?
(shows me an id from a wallet he's digging through, points to a lady in the parking lot)
me: Maybe. It's hard to tell.
clerk: I think that's her, plus she looks like she's trying to find something.
me: She IS tearing her car apart.
clerk: Hold on, I'll be right back.
(he runs outside, the woman nods and smiles and takes the wallet, he comes back inside)
clerk: Yup, said she's been looking for it for 20 minutes.
me: Good thing you caught her!
clerk: Except she didn't give me nothin' for it. If I'd known that, I wouldn't have bothered.
me: Huh?
clerk: She said 'thank you' but she should've given me 20 bucks or something. I should've kept it.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's a state employee paid with that woman's tax dollars. But he should've kept her wallet. So much for doing a good deed just for the sake of being a decent human being.