Quote of the Day

As the saying goes, "'normal' is just the average of a bunch of abnormalities."

Fathers

" A true and well-regulated affection should be born and increase with the knowledge children give us of themselves; and then, if they are worthy of it, the natural propensity going along with reason, we should cherish them with a truly paternal love; and we should likewise pass judgment on them if they are otherwise, always submitting to reason, notwithstanding the force of nature. It is very often the reverse; and most commonly we feel more excited over the stamping, the games, and the infantile tricks of our children than we do later over their grown up actions, as if we had loved them for our pastime, like monkeys, not like men. And some supply toys very liberally for their childhood, who tighten up at the slightest expenditure they need when they are of age. Indeed it seems that the jealousy we feel at seeing them appear in the world and enjoy it when we are about to leave it makes us more stingy and tight with them; it vexes us that they are treading on our heels, as if to solicit us to leave. And if we had that to fear, then since in the nature of things they cannot in truth either be or live except at the expense of our being and our life, we should not have meddled with being fathers." -Montaigne*

*Yes, I realize I'm a day late. What else is new? But it's hard to convince myself to come to the office over the weekend - even for something non-work related. This place sucks me in sometimes, it's dangerous.

Ndinobethe

Ndinombethe - (African proverb) translation is "As I go, I am wearing you."

Referring to the indelible handprint we leave on the lives of others as we cross paths, whether intended or accidental. Make every choice matter... there will be an effect.

unequivocally, me

I am passionate. I don't mean dramatic (although, that happens sometimes too). I am a person who gets wholeheartedly involved. I either do something or I don't, I don't believe in half-ass. Therefore, a lot doesn't get done. But what does, gets done to the nth degree. Over-the-top, overboard, excessive and detailed. When I put my all into something, it's 110%. Which is great, except when it's something I'm not into that I have to do. That's when I put my all into procrastinating (which I am damn good at too!)

I am naive. Just like my mother and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, "people shock the hell out of me". I'm always surprised at what others do and say, their inner thoughts, motives and agendas. I'm not saying I don't operate without an agenda but I usually think it's rather transparent when I have one. I'm always taken back by mean thoughts and words, especially when they are directed at me. (Unfair, I know).

I am opinionated. To a fault. I was encouraged as a child to form and share my opinions. I was loud and outspoken. I spoke up when no one else did. I was precocious, if you will. And I was confident and self-centered enough to believe that everyone wanted to know my opinion. To my parents and their friends, this was cute. Until it wasn't.

I like to escape. When it comes to fight or flight, I'm a flyer. Through whatever means necessary, I choose to escape my reality and immerse myself in another. I love to read, watch movies and take off at a moment's notice. All to not deal with my reality. Commitment issues? Flightiness? Irresponsible? All me and yet not at the same time. I like to shake it all up and start over on a routine basis. Sometimes, it works. Other times it doesn't.

Yet, it's unequivocally me.

Twitterpated

Definition of twitterpated :.
(twĭt'ər-pāt'ĕd)
1)to be completely enamored with someone/something.
2) the flighty exciting feeling you get when you think about/see the object of your affection.
3) romantically excited (i.e.: aroused)
4) the ever increasing acceleration of heartbeat and body temperature as a result of being engulfed amidst the exhilaration and joy of being/having a romantic entity in someone's life.

And I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO twitterpated.

With the completely WRONG guy.

That's harsh to say but he is.

So wrong for me. He's what your mother would refer to as being from the "wrong side of the tracks" when she was in high school...

We always refer to people as being "good on paper" meaning they have all the requirements that you want in a significant other yet you aren't attracted to them. And with him, nothing seems right.

And yet, I've been counting down the minutes until I get to go hang out with him tonight.

It's still really early (we've only known each other for 4 weeks) but I really like this guy.

What does concern me is that at lunch the other day, he said: "you really are slumming with me, aren't you?"
I had no idea what he meant or what to say to him ...

I had heard the term 'slumming' before but it's not in my mental mindset to think I'm better or above someone else.

I looked it up too, according to Wikipedia:

Slumming (derived from slum) originally referred to a practice, fashionable among certain segments of the middle class in many Western countries, whereby one deliberately patronizes areas or establishments which are populated by, or intended for, people well below one's own socio-economic level, motivated by curiosity or a desire for adventure. Most often these establishments take the form of bars or restaurants in low-income areas.

In Good Will Hunting, for example, the main character uses "slumming" to describe sexual relationships between rich, well-educated girls and poorer boys, whom they might encounter around their universities.

He's a gentle guy who treats me with respect. I enjoy talking to him (and we do, for hours). He listens to me - he remembers what I've said, asks me questions about what's going on in my life and brings up past conversations. He enjoys traveling and he's a very motivated person who works hard to do a good job. He's always concerned about doing the 'right' thing. He makes me laugh and seems to enjoy me for who I am. I'm so comfortable around him. And he's really cute when he smiles at me.

Isn't that what you want in a significan other? Someone who makes you feel better just by being around them? Someone who likes you for you?

"The Glass Castle"

A memior by Jeannette Walls.

One of the best books that I have ever read.

And we're talking about in the top five of thousands and thousands of books.

My friend Marianne gave me The Glass Castle for my birthday this year and I put it in my stack of books to read. It came up to bat this past Sunday so I started it and I could NOT PUT IT DOWN!!! So good. I loved it. So well written and the author's voice was so authentic. (Of course, it was, it's a memior) What I mean is that she was really good at indicating her age through her voice and it changed/matured as she did. I loved it. Very motivating as to what a person is capable of with desire and determination. I've been going to bed earlier due to my boot camp regime so it's cut into my reading time but I made/let myself stay up last night to finish it. I was dying to know what happened. It was a great story. A tragic life but a great story.

Spoiler Alert!!!

My favorite part is the college age author, sitting in an Ivy League classroom, answering her professor's question about the homeless. The author answers with her observations of her own parent's choices, without revealing their relationship and the professor attacks her. Obviously for her uneducated and/or uncompassionate opinion. As the reader, I felt attacked on Jeannette's behalf. I wanted to defend her to the professor, point out that Jeannette knew more about poverty and homeless people than the professor ever would. I hope that professor, who she accurately names in the book, reads the book and feels ashamed for attacking Jeannette in class. It's an accurate telling of the lesson not to judge others or make assumptions about their backgrounds based on their current location.

More Sex!!!

Go see Sex and the City!!! It's escapism at it's best! I loved it! I loved the clothes, the characters, the heartache, the tears, the laughter and I loved the shoes!!! All of it, so you simply must go see it!

It was so exciting to be sitting in a sold out theater in Athens, GA with groups of women of all ages, dressed to the nines to see a movie. Six shows were sold out and there are 2 other theaters in Athens... it's summer time, all the college girls have gone home. So in a town of 35,000 people, they managed to sell out over 18 showings of a female audience movie in the first day. That's huge.

It was a charged audience. They clapped, cheered, gasped and laughed in sync. There were many tears and lots of appalause.

I was afraid at how excited I was to see the movie, I was afraid I'd be dissappointed and I was afraid they wouldn't do the story justice... oh, how wrong I was. They took the story to the next level, preserved the integrity of the characters and made it seem as though life hadn't stopped for them either. I loved it and I hope they do another one.