Friday, December 28, 2012

Boheme, interrupted


Rent is one of my favorite movies ever. I have the soundtrack and listen to it almost every day on my way home from work. I love it. My favorite song from the movie, like many others, is La Vie Boheme (click for the video). Since I have a longish commute, I tend to ponder different things. For instance, what draws me to this song so strongly?

Finally, it hit me. In another life, if I was braver and more free, that could have been me. I would have loved living in New York City, using my creativity, surrounding myself with friends who are also creative. I could have fit right in with the arty world. Sure, in the movie they don't make lots of money, but the freedom they enjoy is incredible. Freedom to create what they want, perform how they want, love who they want, make friends with who they want. No judgements, just love and acceptance.

Not that I don't love my life now - but a different version of me... That could have been my dream.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Something new

On my way to work this morning, I had an idea for a blog post. Then I thought about making a series of posts. Then I realized I had enough for an entirely seperate blog like this.

And so, Letters to my Daughters was born.

This is not a blog to replace Inspired Life, but a sister blog. It is my hope that my oldest will read this regularly, and when my youngest is old enough that she will read the letters also. Some will be for one or the other, some will be for both. It's a place for me to say to them the things that are hard to say in person.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Conflicted

I'm conflicted about something. I seem to have a contradiction in my brain and can't figure it out.

Lately, I've been reading some silly, cheesy romance novels.  Hello, free Kindle books! But, they're fun, easy reads, take my mind of the stress of the past few months, and I can generally knock one out on my lunch break.  On the other hand, I hate romantic movies. We watched a Hallmark movie today and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness of it - not to mention the formulaic predictability. But how is that different than the books I've been reading? It's not, I suppose. Although if the ending of the books I read is too over the top cheesy, I get mad and hate the entire book. Like there was one I read, I can't even remember which one by name, where the heroine had just gotten out of a 3 year relationship/engagement. Something major had happened to make her lose trust in men; the ex cheated or something like that. Doesn't matter - she was weeks out of this. She meets the male lead, they go out on a couple dates, are consumed with passion for each other like two hormonal teenagers whose parents are away, and within weeks are engaged to be married.

Seriously? What sane woman would jump into an engagement with that much baggage? What sane man would want her to? Every time the books end with an engagement after mere weeks I get irritated.

But then I feel like a giant hypocrite. Because my husband and I were engaged within weeks, and married four months after we met. But, I'm not a romantical person, so I'm conflicted still.

Then, I think "Forget it." In the end, it's all brain candy.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all! This is our Christmas card picture.

And just for fun, here are some outtakes.


Almost-three-year-olds don't always cooperate, and the results are hilarious.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Help wanted




Exhausted.
So overwhelmed.
Tense.
Inadequate.
Drained of energy.
Achy.
Frustrated.

I want normal back.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

Christmas wishing

We are having a small Christmas this year. Since I prefer our girls to love the holiday more for the togetherness and family time than the presents, I'm okay with that. But, presents are fun. And daydreaming is fun. So, here is my imaginary Christmas wish list.

Books. I have been doing so much reading lately. Almost all of the books I've read, literally 5-10 a week, have been brain vacations, little escapes. But I have several great books on my Kindle wish list that I can't wait to dig into.
Kindle (amazon) gift cards. See above.
Gift cards to JC Penney and New York & Company. I need new clothes desperately. I have very few casual clothes, and many of my dress clothes are showing their age. I can only do so much in the way of repairs.
The latest Sims 3 expansion packs, and time to play. (Excuse me while I pull my geeky side out of the closet.) I love this game so much.
Dark chocolate. The good kind, not a bar of Hershey's. And Toblerone - although I prefer that in milk. It's the only time I prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate.
And since I'm dreaming, I'll throw in a really good DSLR camera. And the knowledge to use it.

That's it - my materialistic side's Christmas wish list.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

In memory

For the children and their teachers. And for the parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, and friends who have just had their lives shattered.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

We went to the zoo again!

This week we got a postcard in the mail from the zoo, telling us that Santa would be there starting yesterday. Also, with our membership, we could bring guests! So, we went to the zoo with my parents.










Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Um... Hi again :)

My Thanksgiving weekend break from blogging ran a bit long - sorry!
I thought about blogging a few times, but didn't know what to say. I had a fresh blank post all ready and waiting to be filled, several times the past couple weeks, but then nothing would come out. That filter I mentioned once? It has been a real downer lately. I can blog about internal struggles all day long, but things that go on with my family as a whole - I just can't do it. But after some tense times and a near-hysterical breakdown one morning, we are hopeful things are looking up. At least my hope is back and the panic has subsided. (BTW, no I'm not pregnant. Don't start any rumours - that's permanently prevented.)
So what have I been doing?
I've been downloading lots of free Kindle books and reading. I love to read. I like these sites:
Kindle Buffet
Book Bassett
New Free eBooks Discovered for you Daily (She really should shorten that title)
I do love to read. Have I mentioned that yet?

We put up our Christmas tree. You can see one of our new windows, too.


(There's a little elf behind the tree, too!)

Saturday we watched our town's Christmas parade, the first one we've had at night. It was lots of fun, and the lit-up floats were beautiful.

Today I had to make an emergency shopping trip on my lunch break (RIP zipper on my pants) and found a cute little LIVE Christmas tree at Walgreens! I brought it back to my office to liven things up a bit.


Isn't it adorable?

By the way, when I was out at lunch it was 67 degrees. And Christmas is in three weeks.