Pages Galore.

Mmmm K, so I often go through spurts of making, having, and simply wishing I had more time. Yup, sounds like another excuse, but it's not, I promise. It's just the life we all live, the reality of wanting more, and the willingness to set aside our other "to do's" and enjoying the comfort of bound pages in between our hands.

Last night, I finished one of the most beautiful books I have come across in a long time. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalded Hosseini describes the life, dreams, and tears for two young Afghan women brought together through marriage. Hosseini's style of writing is unlike any other, he includes the most vivid descriptions, personal accounts, and insight into what Mariam and Laila endured during a civil war, numerous deaths, the physical and mental abuse from their husband, the role of being a mother, the role of missing their mothers, and the strength to carry on.

After finishing a book like A Thousand Splendid Suns, I'm usually craving a story with less emotion. I stumbled upon the perfect aisle at Barnes & Noble today..."Diets." Less emotion, not exactly. Food has always triggered my moods/senses. I wake up and smile thinking about oatmeal. Mid-afternoon, my mouth waters for a tuna sandwich. 3:00 pm, sign me up for a snack-pack. Get the gist... Okay, so back to this aisle. I came across Naturally Thin, by Bethenny Frankel, whom is widely known for her role on Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City, her own BethennyBakes line of baked goods, and her monthly column for Health magazine. I spotted Bethenny's figure, the book's pink glistening title, and of course the enticing description, "Unleash Your Skinnygirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting." Where can I sign up?

While I started this post to discuss the fact that I have fourteen books on my floor waiting to be consumed, I am now setting aside their heartbreaks and triumphs for an easy-breezy read focused on not focusing on dieting. Updates will be posted shortly, assuming I stray far from the pantry.

Memorial Day.

Short, simple, and probably not too sweet. I often don't come across as being a full-blown patriotic American, but on a day like today, I think it's hard not to be. Being a citizen of a country recognized for rebellion, security, and freedom, I continuously take each day and my rights for granted. Right now, whether your home or abroad, in favor or against, and thankful or careless of everything the U.S. has accomplished, neglected, given and received, please realize how fortunate you are to wake up in a country where you can voice your opinion, you can cast your vote, you can dream, you have the power to stand against those who act as if they have more, you are able to b*tch about a nation that will listen, and above all, you are envied my millions around the world who can't speak, vote, change their social status, turn their back against their country, and only dream of being an American.

I want to thank each and every soldier who has fought for my freedom, my country, and my daily neglect of a world with which I am so fortunate to know.

It's About Time!

Reduce, reuse, and recycle...mmm hmmmm! Alright, so unlike like my other posts where I'm updating you on my life, interests, complaints, adventures, etc., this post is dedicated to a project that deserves a round of applause (even if it's a few years behind schedule).

"Curb It!" is an around-the-corner project implementing a new approach to recycling here in the City of Trees. This project will sweep away the 2-foot bins currently distributed amongst city residents, and appear in a larger, brighter, and less of a hassle container... A standard-sized recyclable blue bin anxiously awaiting all your cardboard, plastic, and banana peels will be delivered starting June 22, and will operate on an every other week pick-up routine.

Okay, so now that you're just as excited as I am, here is the website to gain further information > I Love Recycling.

Just remember, they won't pick up your Christmas tree and if you are really pumped to take charge of improving our environment's happiness, check out the composting section here > Recycle in your own backyard!

Recap on the recent rendezvous.

Wow. Not only did I skip a few days, I ran away for a month. Not really, actually not even close, but I did run away. I didn't run away permanently or to leave an ill feeling in someone's stomach, but I packed my suitcase (one much larger than necessary), opted for a road trip with mi amiga, and set sail for the coast! I don't like the feeling of comfort, especially when I know I'm at the prime age of exploring without any baggage (ex. chiclets, a mortgage, an 8-5 job, etc.), so this itch to move around freely usually appears when things begin to calm down. My daily routine started feeling like a steady stream, and instead of riding the wake out smoothly, mi amiga and I drove north to Seaside, Oregon!

In just a few short words, here is what the trip included; A slumber in a parking lot, a grueling hike, an appreciation for public restrooms, an almost roadkill incident, a conversation with a former San Quentin inmate, a not enough time or money spent on books at Powell's, a quick downtown fix, a solution to our hungry bellies at local restaurants, a conversation with my brother in 30 years, an addition to my seashell collection, a 16-hour sing-a-long fest, a desire to be Lewis and Clark, and above all, another "remember that one time..." memory!

Thank you Oregon for spicing up my routine :)

"Cheer Up Sleepy Jean"

That is correct! Pick up your pom poms, adjust your mini-skirt, lace up your bright whites, pull back your pony, and cheer for change. This ain't no campaign parade, but instead a Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Change in something that I have been patiently awaiting. A change in this whole job hunt. Don't piddle in your pants too quickly, but walk to the bathroom, set down your newspaper and listen up. I have received a response to one of my 365,928,490,482 submitted job applications. Okay, so the number isn't that high, but you never know what can happen in an economy like our current one, correct? Ding Ding, this is why I'm singing, cheering, screaming, dancing, handstand-ing, smiling, and most of all, thanking the real definition of persistence. To wait won't work, but to be persistent, aggressive, interested, and 110% passionate about something may just lead you to an opportunity ever so-sweet.

Not sure what will happen, but just to know I've spotted the light, challenged myself, and gained a life lesson is definitely more than I could have asked for.

Sat-urrrr-day

I Raced for the Cure, I brewed a few beans/made a few tips, soaked up the sun with my adopted grandfather, missed a very important event I planned on attending (ugh), I caught up with an old friend, and now I'm planning an adventure for the night. Thursdays are still my favorite, but you can always count on a fabulous Saturday!

Some words linger longer than others.

Warning, I have a gazillion thoughts running through my mind (who doesn't, right?), but this post may lack help from my sidekick, Editing Ellen, so please bare with me. Thank you.

I have always been curious when that "one day" would hit. What is that "one day?" Tis the day when you have reached an age, a moment, a conversation, or simply a feeling of "wow, I really am growing older!" Not that I'm approaching the end of my days, or at least I hope not, but I have reached that point where certain solicitors in life are starting to knock at my door. This post was inspired by such a thought, which was inspired by such a compliment ...

I have a friend who recently got engaged (this is the first friend who will break out of the bunch, adjust into her new last name, and begin slipping in "Oh married life is blah blah blah" comments). I have a friend who has endured something I can't even imagine or understand, the death of a parent. I have a friend who has already set up a savings account dedicated toward adoption. I have a friend, who after 5 years of not seeing each other, still sends me text messages saying "Hello" and "I can't wait to meet up whenever we do meet up again." I have a multiple friends/regulars at work who brighten up my low key nights by simply stopping in. I have a new friend showing off his skills and randomly making me smile. I have parents who continue to answer my phone calls, buy me food, take care of my laundry, wish me a wonderful day ahead, and tell me they love me before I catch my zzz's. I have a friend who has also lost someone very close and feeling confused at life in general :( I have two off-the-wall dogs who make me smile no matter how many times they dirty-up my clean clothes, slobber on my computer, or lick the lotion off my face (ugh).

Okay, shout-outs out of the way, I have a friend who gave me one of the most heartfelt, jaw-dropping, cheek-to-cheek smile compliments. I have a friend who no matter where I'm at, what I'm doing (not doing), what I say (don't say), what I throw her way (what I avoid), and most of all, what I simply do by just being me, that is ALWAYS there. Sure times have been rough between us, but who cares, certainly not I and I'm assuming certainly not her. I have a friend who set aside a few minutes of her busy day, read "Life Deserves Laughter", and was kind enough to let me know she enjoyed what she found.

Wow...My heart just melted thinking about it again.

I just wanted to say, Thank You! Many thoughts trigger my mind, which trigger my fingers to type...but the compliment with which you left me the other night will forever make me smile. As my title suggests, "Some words linger longer than others," your words did and continue to do just that!

So going back to that "one day" thought I mentioned earlier, her compliment fell on my "one day" and this compliment only added to umph to my "one day." We're obviously growing older every day, and we're obviously gaining more experiences during this process, but to know that someone gave me a thumbs-up for something I have enjoyed doing just added the icing to my cake. The rest of my life will be filled with "one days," but in the meantime, I'm going to revel in this "one" comment I received! Muchas gracias mi amiga!

So much to say when you skip a few days.

I'm not sure if I have created a life to define "busy," but I know I have created a life where I enjoy the lack of anticipation knowing I rarely have a moment to spare without feeling like I have to cross off another task. (I ran out of breath while typing that one, sorry)

Make sense? Who knows.  All I know, right now that sentence above is the feeling swirling throughout my veins. 

I tend to skip days of blogging, posting, and revising status updates not because life has taken over, but I have flipped on my own switch into acceleration mode, and have to locate my time-out button.  According to my blog's title, "So much to say when you skip a few days" there is a lot to say.  Not the juicy, chit-chat, I have a secret "so much to say," but the "I have a new view, a new want, a new plea, another new plea, a new sense of what lies ahead, and a new uncertainty of who knows what may fall in my path.  With all those wants and wishes, I have a lot going on.  

I'm still applying, working, volunteering, laughing, asking, commenting, listening, attempting to run, riding, driving, saving, painting my nails (sometimes biting my nails, ugh), reading, occasionally writing, wishing, sleeping, and everything else that sneaks its way in between. 

P.S. If you drive, ride, or scoot by I'm either listening to A Fine Frenzy, Serena Ryder, or Jack Johnson and Zach Gill <this>.  If I'm not commuting, I might be reading <this> or <that>, or I just might be browsing <here>.