The Beatles crooned it best, Love, love, love
.
Although I am a sappy romantic deep down, I rarely like to let on that I am. Not letting on allows me to keep my barriers up and avoid getting hurt.
In high school, girls would anticipate the coveted carnations sent from sources fawning over them during homeroom on Valentines Day. I never got one. I was never bitter about not receiving one, nor wished I did get one.
Girls would walk down the corridors adorning red and pink accessories and carrying their stuffed animals, balloons and flowers from that weeks fling. I wrote them off as tokens of a guys love for them for that one day.
To this day, Ive always withheld the philosophy that two peoples love for one another should be displayed and shown in little ways each and every day and not just once a year in a big way.
One day should not echo your quantity of affection toward your loved one.
People deem me a skeptic or a cynic or say I have these opinions toward the holiday because I am single. This however is not true in any sense of those accusations.
I just happen to find Valentines Day and Sweetest Day to be a collaborative effort from card companies, florists, jewelers, chocolatiers and restaurants to gain extra income between the slow parts of the year. Its all a farce.
I dont get what all of the hype is about.
Life is too short to wait to tell someone you love them once a year. Tell your special person every day. Celebrate it. Embrace it. In the end, the little things count more
Saturday, February 6. 2010
Dear John...
Dear John, the letter started, as most letters that end a chapter begin.
The phrase was believed to be coined during World War II when wives and girlfriends in the United States met another partner and would end their relationship with their old boyfriend or husband who was stationed overseas or in another part of the country.
A friend of mine, Jen, told me about Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. That was before the holidays. I decided Id read it. I read A Walk To Remember, The Choice, At First Sight, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. I was somewhat of a fan of Sparks work. Yes, it is chick lit at its finest, but when you need a skewer of hope to last a few days you pick up a Sparks novel and immerse yourself in the plot. PLus, at that point I could use a good, sappy book.
When I got done reading the novel I had mixed feelings. Normally I ultimately decide in the final sentence if I really liked it or not, but Dear John was different. It left me thinking. A few days later I came to the conclusion that I loved the book.
It is about time not being on each of the lovers side and hope slowly fading for his and her return to their arm.
Sometimes if the stars are not aligned its just time to say goodbye. Its time to end something that could never really be anything. To keep hope in your heart for something that does not exist or will not exist as it would have already happened if it should happen is torturous to ones soul. Let things go. Move on to bigger and better things. If the commitments not there, it wont ever be.
Yesterday, Friday, February 5, Dear John, the movie, opened in area theatres. Of course I had to see it.
During the movie I was a little disappointed I will admit. The movie, although I knew was inevitable, was nothing like the book. I thought minor changes would be done, but not complete story changes. The meat and potatoes of the plot was still there, but the structures and how the outcomes were attained were not like the novel.
As separate entities they are extraordinary stories. If you go see the movie, comparing it to the novel, youll be disappointed. See it with an open mind.
Dear John really explores the dynamics of a long distance relationship and the fact that one allegiance can be broken because of another.
Sometimes life doesnt let you choose what you want to do, but what you need to do to survive, which is not always a bad thing. One must decide though if either you can live with your choice. Can you pick between love and duty, or surviving or taking a leap of faith? Which would you choose? Could you let someone you loved go so that they could move on with their lives while you stayed in the state that was most comfortable to you?
Letting go is the ultimate test of love.
Dear John, both the novel and movie, I give two thumbs up.
The phrase was believed to be coined during World War II when wives and girlfriends in the United States met another partner and would end their relationship with their old boyfriend or husband who was stationed overseas or in another part of the country.
A friend of mine, Jen, told me about Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. That was before the holidays. I decided Id read it. I read A Walk To Remember, The Choice, At First Sight, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. I was somewhat of a fan of Sparks work. Yes, it is chick lit at its finest, but when you need a skewer of hope to last a few days you pick up a Sparks novel and immerse yourself in the plot. PLus, at that point I could use a good, sappy book.
When I got done reading the novel I had mixed feelings. Normally I ultimately decide in the final sentence if I really liked it or not, but Dear John was different. It left me thinking. A few days later I came to the conclusion that I loved the book.
It is about time not being on each of the lovers side and hope slowly fading for his and her return to their arm.
Sometimes if the stars are not aligned its just time to say goodbye. Its time to end something that could never really be anything. To keep hope in your heart for something that does not exist or will not exist as it would have already happened if it should happen is torturous to ones soul. Let things go. Move on to bigger and better things. If the commitments not there, it wont ever be.
Yesterday, Friday, February 5, Dear John, the movie, opened in area theatres. Of course I had to see it.
During the movie I was a little disappointed I will admit. The movie, although I knew was inevitable, was nothing like the book. I thought minor changes would be done, but not complete story changes. The meat and potatoes of the plot was still there, but the structures and how the outcomes were attained were not like the novel.
As separate entities they are extraordinary stories. If you go see the movie, comparing it to the novel, youll be disappointed. See it with an open mind.
Dear John really explores the dynamics of a long distance relationship and the fact that one allegiance can be broken because of another.
Sometimes life doesnt let you choose what you want to do, but what you need to do to survive, which is not always a bad thing. One must decide though if either you can live with your choice. Can you pick between love and duty, or surviving or taking a leap of faith? Which would you choose? Could you let someone you loved go so that they could move on with their lives while you stayed in the state that was most comfortable to you?
Letting go is the ultimate test of love.
Dear John, both the novel and movie, I give two thumbs up.
Thursday, January 28. 2010
Learning Something New
I dont always finish things that I start.
Well thats one of my problems.
This time though, Im going to. I have confidence in myself.
Itll be two weeks Tuesday since my mom taught my how to crochet. You ask why in the world a woman in her early 20s would want to learn the art of making an item out of yarn by using a hook. I say why not?
Next thing you know Ill be sitting home on a Monday night crocheting an watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. Oh wait, I did that this week. One thing I wont do though, is eat peanut brittle or give out pennies at Halloween.
I asked my mom to teach me how to crochet to simply make myself a scarf, I told her that was the reason at least. In actuality, I wanted my mom to teach me how to crochet because it was a good reason to spend some quality mother-daughter bonding time, something we have been lacking for a few months due to life catching up with us.
While she was teaching me, she told me a story. My moms grandmother taught her how to crochet at a young age. My great-grandmother use to sell her wares at craft shows. At the age of 9 my mom sold her first crocheted blanket. I had never heard the story and was astonished. I wasnt bewildered by the fact that my mom had made something so spectacular that someone would buy it, I was amazed that she was 9 years old when she sold her first piece and had entered a craft show.
I was proud of her, even though it happened so long ago. I was glad that my mom had taken the time to share this information about her life before me. My mom had told me several stories about her childhood, but this was a new one, a new moment added to the other collection of anecdotes in the filing cabinet of my brain labeled Mom.
Crocheting teaches you patience. Id like to think that in these almost two weeks of my crocheting career that I have grown a tad more patient. Patience is a virtue.
Crocheting helped my mom and I share something again. Sure we share many things, but I wanted to learn something new from my hero.
Currently, I am a quarter of the way through with my scarf. Maybe, just maybe, Ill finish it by the end of winter, just before spring hits, so Ill be able to show off my craftsmanship. And maybe Ill be able to finally say that I finished something I started. Even if I dont finish it though, at least I learned a little more about my mom, of who she was and how she transformed into the person that I know today.
Well thats one of my problems.
This time though, Im going to. I have confidence in myself.
Itll be two weeks Tuesday since my mom taught my how to crochet. You ask why in the world a woman in her early 20s would want to learn the art of making an item out of yarn by using a hook. I say why not?
Next thing you know Ill be sitting home on a Monday night crocheting an watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. Oh wait, I did that this week. One thing I wont do though, is eat peanut brittle or give out pennies at Halloween.
I asked my mom to teach me how to crochet to simply make myself a scarf, I told her that was the reason at least. In actuality, I wanted my mom to teach me how to crochet because it was a good reason to spend some quality mother-daughter bonding time, something we have been lacking for a few months due to life catching up with us.
While she was teaching me, she told me a story. My moms grandmother taught her how to crochet at a young age. My great-grandmother use to sell her wares at craft shows. At the age of 9 my mom sold her first crocheted blanket. I had never heard the story and was astonished. I wasnt bewildered by the fact that my mom had made something so spectacular that someone would buy it, I was amazed that she was 9 years old when she sold her first piece and had entered a craft show.
I was proud of her, even though it happened so long ago. I was glad that my mom had taken the time to share this information about her life before me. My mom had told me several stories about her childhood, but this was a new one, a new moment added to the other collection of anecdotes in the filing cabinet of my brain labeled Mom.
Crocheting teaches you patience. Id like to think that in these almost two weeks of my crocheting career that I have grown a tad more patient. Patience is a virtue.
Crocheting helped my mom and I share something again. Sure we share many things, but I wanted to learn something new from my hero.
Currently, I am a quarter of the way through with my scarf. Maybe, just maybe, Ill finish it by the end of winter, just before spring hits, so Ill be able to show off my craftsmanship. And maybe Ill be able to finally say that I finished something I started. Even if I dont finish it though, at least I learned a little more about my mom, of who she was and how she transformed into the person that I know today.
Thursday, January 21. 2010
To Dine Alone or Not To Dine Alone...That Is The Question
My bucket list contains a few items that are easy to accomplish; one being, eating alone someday in a restaurant.
Im afraid to eat alone because I am not sure of what to do while I wait for my food or while Im eating where to stare or whatnot. These are the hurdles I must overcome before embarking on this journey and eventually crossing off this item on my to do list. Quite frankly, I just dont have the confidence to dine alone. I have flown alone though, which sadly was one of my greatest accomplishments of 2009.
When I see people dining alone my heart instantly breaks. I want to walk over to their table and join them, but then again if they really wanted to eat with someone they could have found someone (I usually assure myself with that bit of information.)
While browsing through Yahoo News, I noticed the article How Not To Feel Humiliated When Dining Alone. The article is found at, http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/how-not-to-feel-humiliated-when-dining-alone-567610/.
Ive talked to a few friends of mine asking if they have ever eaten alone, and what they have done to pass the time in between ordering and your food arriving.
The answer is always the same; either bring a newspaper, magazine or book to read. Most say that it is great to eat alone.
The article talks about it taking guts to eat alone and that is the truth. Even though part of me pities the lonely diner, the other part of my envies them for having that confidence I lack.
If your phone has the internet on it, you could always be on that the whole time, although I only have my usual five Web sites I check and that takes less than five minutes to go through. When I wait for someone to show up wherever we are meeting I usually peruse my cell phone and the seconds dont go by fast enough.
Now, not every place is an acceptable restaurant to dine alone. Acceptable places include diners, family restaurants, small places, the like. I wouldnt attempt going to places like The Friars Table (I only grab a few drinks there alone and only because I know some of the staff there), Buffalo Wild Wings (where everyone is there with friends watching a sports game) or Mr. Bills (a cozy little place in Cheektowaga).
One day, eventually, I will dine alone. Ill get up enough courage to tell the hostess its only a table for one and Ill truly experience life and cross off another item on my list of things to do before I die.
Im afraid to eat alone because I am not sure of what to do while I wait for my food or while Im eating where to stare or whatnot. These are the hurdles I must overcome before embarking on this journey and eventually crossing off this item on my to do list. Quite frankly, I just dont have the confidence to dine alone. I have flown alone though, which sadly was one of my greatest accomplishments of 2009.
When I see people dining alone my heart instantly breaks. I want to walk over to their table and join them, but then again if they really wanted to eat with someone they could have found someone (I usually assure myself with that bit of information.)
While browsing through Yahoo News, I noticed the article How Not To Feel Humiliated When Dining Alone. The article is found at, http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/how-not-to-feel-humiliated-when-dining-alone-567610/.
Ive talked to a few friends of mine asking if they have ever eaten alone, and what they have done to pass the time in between ordering and your food arriving.
The answer is always the same; either bring a newspaper, magazine or book to read. Most say that it is great to eat alone.
The article talks about it taking guts to eat alone and that is the truth. Even though part of me pities the lonely diner, the other part of my envies them for having that confidence I lack.
If your phone has the internet on it, you could always be on that the whole time, although I only have my usual five Web sites I check and that takes less than five minutes to go through. When I wait for someone to show up wherever we are meeting I usually peruse my cell phone and the seconds dont go by fast enough.
Now, not every place is an acceptable restaurant to dine alone. Acceptable places include diners, family restaurants, small places, the like. I wouldnt attempt going to places like The Friars Table (I only grab a few drinks there alone and only because I know some of the staff there), Buffalo Wild Wings (where everyone is there with friends watching a sports game) or Mr. Bills (a cozy little place in Cheektowaga).
One day, eventually, I will dine alone. Ill get up enough courage to tell the hostess its only a table for one and Ill truly experience life and cross off another item on my list of things to do before I die.
Thursday, January 7. 2010
Do You Know How To Do These Things?
Just move into your new place and want to hang that picture of you climbing up Mount Everest with two of your closest friends?
Well, with a little step-by-step instruction you can hang that picture, without anyones help.
In a recent article on NBCs Today Shows Web site, it gives you instructions on the nine things that every woman needs to know. I dont know about you, but I was never keen on being a domestic diva and cringed at the thought of having to do my own housework and cooking if I ever moved out of my moms house. The instructions on how to do the nine things are explicitly stated.
The first tip is dealing with a fallen button. I took home economics in middle school. I was taught the basics; how to make scrambled eggs, how to iron a button down shirt (not very good though, but I passed), and how to sew a straight line if something ripped. My mom taught me how to sew a button. Actually, I make memory boards so its pretty essential to know how to sew a button on the right way.
I dont know about you, but I certainly dont have basic thread colors, a needle and scissors in my purse. Maybe I should seriously consider adding it in though. I do have a tote size purse. The kind of tote that could fit a small child comfortably in it.
Tying a necktie.
In high school we had to wear ties when we performed in concert band. My mom tied those for me. So, I still have no clue how to tie a tie. I might want to brush up on those instructions for my future spouse.
Posture is a major thing. In the article it talks about ways to improve it. For Christmas I received a Wii Fit Plus. If that doesnt correct your posture I dont know what will.
Roasting a chicken makes the number five spot. Sorry, but even this is beyond my comprehension. Cooking a portion of a dinner is off my radar so Im not even going to attempt this one. There are too many steps and not enough time in the day. I would have to scratch shopping out of the picture and who wants to do that?
Learning a basic waltz. I cant dance. I took dancing lessons for five years and yet cannot dance to save my life. I am void of rhythm. I try, and it is not pretty. One of my friends though is trying to teach me a basic waltz I guess you could say. Baby steps.
How to mix the perfect martini is a piece of cake for me. I grew up behind a bar. Next
Number seven is throwing a yard sale. Yard sales are popular around these neck of the woods so those of you who do not know how to hold one, can brush up on the steps in the article.
How to compost is number eight. Since Im a suburban girl this will never be an option for me and Im really not sure why its the top nine things to learn. I definitely will not be digging out my overalls and taking part in learning this one.
The last one is building a fire. Let me tell you about building a fire, its not easy. A few years ago one of my friends, Christy, and I went up to my step grandparents cabin in Stockton, New York. We wanted to be adventurous and start a fire.
We put some wood on, some newspapers and kept lighting matches. Several went out before they hit the pile intended for fire, but the ones that worked smoldered out and did not create a fire. Christy and I must have gone through almost the entire box of matches. Moral of the story, if you want to survive in the middle of the woods, dont take us on a trip with you, and there is your tip of the day.
Visit the informative articles at, http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34735094/ns/today-today_health/.
Well, with a little step-by-step instruction you can hang that picture, without anyones help.
In a recent article on NBCs Today Shows Web site, it gives you instructions on the nine things that every woman needs to know. I dont know about you, but I was never keen on being a domestic diva and cringed at the thought of having to do my own housework and cooking if I ever moved out of my moms house. The instructions on how to do the nine things are explicitly stated.
The first tip is dealing with a fallen button. I took home economics in middle school. I was taught the basics; how to make scrambled eggs, how to iron a button down shirt (not very good though, but I passed), and how to sew a straight line if something ripped. My mom taught me how to sew a button. Actually, I make memory boards so its pretty essential to know how to sew a button on the right way.
I dont know about you, but I certainly dont have basic thread colors, a needle and scissors in my purse. Maybe I should seriously consider adding it in though. I do have a tote size purse. The kind of tote that could fit a small child comfortably in it.
Tying a necktie.
In high school we had to wear ties when we performed in concert band. My mom tied those for me. So, I still have no clue how to tie a tie. I might want to brush up on those instructions for my future spouse.
Posture is a major thing. In the article it talks about ways to improve it. For Christmas I received a Wii Fit Plus. If that doesnt correct your posture I dont know what will.
Roasting a chicken makes the number five spot. Sorry, but even this is beyond my comprehension. Cooking a portion of a dinner is off my radar so Im not even going to attempt this one. There are too many steps and not enough time in the day. I would have to scratch shopping out of the picture and who wants to do that?
Learning a basic waltz. I cant dance. I took dancing lessons for five years and yet cannot dance to save my life. I am void of rhythm. I try, and it is not pretty. One of my friends though is trying to teach me a basic waltz I guess you could say. Baby steps.
How to mix the perfect martini is a piece of cake for me. I grew up behind a bar. Next
Number seven is throwing a yard sale. Yard sales are popular around these neck of the woods so those of you who do not know how to hold one, can brush up on the steps in the article.
How to compost is number eight. Since Im a suburban girl this will never be an option for me and Im really not sure why its the top nine things to learn. I definitely will not be digging out my overalls and taking part in learning this one.
The last one is building a fire. Let me tell you about building a fire, its not easy. A few years ago one of my friends, Christy, and I went up to my step grandparents cabin in Stockton, New York. We wanted to be adventurous and start a fire.
We put some wood on, some newspapers and kept lighting matches. Several went out before they hit the pile intended for fire, but the ones that worked smoldered out and did not create a fire. Christy and I must have gone through almost the entire box of matches. Moral of the story, if you want to survive in the middle of the woods, dont take us on a trip with you, and there is your tip of the day.
Visit the informative articles at, http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34735094/ns/today-today_health/.
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