Beef: It's What's for Dinner

I had a whole article ready to go.  I emailed it to myself from another computer.  Guess what happened.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.
It got lost in the interwebs.
Gah!  Curse you email demons. *shakes fist
That blog post will have to wait for another date.  Therefore, I shall have to muster up another topic for this evening's post.
How about steak?  My husband and I eat a primal menu most of the time.  We make exception for family gatherings, but most nights it is more meat and veggie and less carby grains.  For the last few nights we've eaten Green Eggs and Turkey which is essentially a turkey, artichoke, broccoli and egg frittata without any kind of bread or crust.  It really is delicious.  We decided though that next time it needs a bit more seasoning.  The green or red Tabascos really do make it pop though.  At first, this entree looked to be enough to make it all the way through the week, but we were ravenous last night and ate more than one serving.  Consequently, we had to do something else tonight.
My husband bought grass-fed rib eyes.
I am totally salivating at this prospect.  He also made parsnip fries and Brussels sprouts with lemon butter.  Then he bought a bottle of Ball Buster wine. I cannot even describe how much I am looking forward to this meal!  The best part is that the weather is warm enough to grill those steaks.  Oh my!  It's Heaven waiting on a plate.  We eat well and we find ways to be economical about it...grass fed rib eyes notwithstanding.
It's so worth it though.  Eating this way has cleared my skin, shaved 25 pounds, reduced inflammation, and given me energy.  It's also incredibly delicious.  I absolutely adore eating!  I liked it before, but now we get to really experiment and try new things and revel in delicious recipes.  I honestly never thought I would be a size 6 again nor did I ever think I would rid myself of the acne that has plagued me since I was 12, but here I am!  Eating amazing food and feeling vital and full of life.
Now I know some people are gonna be all anti-meat.  Ya know what?  Our bodies like meat.  Our consciences may grapple with the ethics of it, but I think making wise choices about where your meat comes from is important.  It's not easy, and we fail at it for the sake of convenience at times, but grass fed meat is scrumptious.  We are animals and we are part of the circle of life.  I am thankful for the steak that just appeared on my plate.  My body needs this kind of food in order to function at its best.  It is time to dig in.  Bon appetite!

The Thrill of the New

I finally, after two emails, got a reply to my inquiry about my freelance gig.
They have my Google folders all set up.  I read through the training document.  I should have article assignments by tomorrow.  I am positively giddy with excitement!  I cannot even describe how thrilled I am to have this opportunity.  I feel absolutely insouciant about everything. (I learned that word today.  Had to use it.)  I filled out my article interest list and should be able to start tomorrow.  Huzzah!
I'd post witty pics etc. but Google is being stupid again.  I could save it and transfer over to Firefox, but I am not going to.
Honestly, I really am so incredibly thankful for this chance because I really didn't expect it.  I remember on Imbolc focusing my energy on my creativity and reminding myself to be attentive to those opportunities if they presented themselves; I needed to overcome my fear of failure and take hold of that flame. (there'd be a video here of Queensryche if Google was behaving.)  I meditated on all of the blessings in my life and asked for the Universe to help me remember all that is good while at the same time helping me to find chances for creative growth, and voila! (that'd be a pic in another web browser) I got the invite to write a trial article.
Then I wrote.
Then I waited.
Then I revised.
Then I waited.
Then I got a job offer and went out of my mind with excitement.
Then I waited.
My wait is almost over.
My commitment is the minimum of 6 articles per week to start.  If I can, I will write more, but I should pace myself for now.
Thank you, Universe.  Somehow I found the impetus to get out of my rut and do something creative that is still a way to earn a living if and when I should transition out of my current employ.  I am so unbelievably fortunate.  C'mon writing assignment!  I wanna write! (say that ala "I Wanna Rock")

Dream a Little Dream

I took a few days off.  I hope you don't mind, gentle reader.  No reason other than The Muse took a hiatus. I had a perfectly lovely weekend.  I performed at the Day of Dance and I think all of our performances went swimmingly.  I felt particularly connected to my silk veil that day and loved the Niyaz song.

Niyaz is one of my favorite world music selections.  I always seem at peace when I dance to their music.  

I also read a lot of my book.  I am almost finished with it and I must say that the tone and mood of it really intrigue me.  It has a great line in it about laughter unknotting the soul.  How beautiful is that?

nbc.news

You should read the article where I got this pic.  That's LBJ BTW.

I also got to watch half of season 2 Game of Thrones.  I've been waiting and waiting for the DVD release.  The novels are amazing in their scope and detail and HBO has done a remarkable job translating them into television.  Scrumptious...except for Joffrey.  What an ass, or should I say:

funnyjunk.com

I also got to have dinner with my mother in law and brother in law.  Great meal and tons of fun getting caught up.  Thankfully my husband's fever had broken so we were able to celebrate MIL's birthday.  

I then got to talk to my dear friend about her wedding plans.  It's in September and I am matron of honor.  Somehow I feel like I should dress like this:

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Nice right?  My friend sent me this pic though:

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She's joking of course...I hope she's joking...please let her be joking.

However, none of this is really what I planned to write about today.  You see, I had one of those dreams that I was really enjoying when I was so rudely interrupted by my alarm clock.  I dreamt that I was in this very large amusement park that had a ginormous ocean-like pool for swimming and scuba complete with fish and sea creatures.  I also saw artists of all types painting and sculpting the people who were there to play.  A complete refreshment and snack bar with food cart vendors milled around with the crowd.  I had a gyro.  A mountain for skiing and sledding also provided entertainment.  Nothing cost anything either.  It was pure fun everywhere.  Does this not sound like a thoroughly enticing dreamscape?  I love my dreams.  It's been awhile since I remembered one that wasn't scary or horrible. 

I never actually got to go swimming.  Swimming in a dream usually indicates exploring the subconscious.  I wanted to go swimming with the pretty fish so bad!  Fish in a dream represent knowledge to be gained from the subconscious.  I guess the Muppets were right with their cosmic knowledge fish.  Anyway, the snow also tempted me and I wanted to romp and play, which would indicate a time set aside for rest and relaxation as well as seizing opportunity when it presents itself.  As for the food, it's fairly obvious right?  Nourishment of all kinds that needs to be included in your life.  Hmm, what might a gyro represent?  Meat and veggie is supposedly animalistic and healthy pursuits, but since I was partaking with so many happy people, I think it just shows how content I was last night.  I recall watching an artist start to paint people and her palate was a small paper plate set inside of a rather oversized highball glass.  Apparently I need to express my artistic side a wee bit more.  

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly decide what I wanted to do, Sam Winchester showed up.  He and Dean were on a hunt and I was getting the details and I was going to work with them, when that stupid alarm went off. 

solaris7.com

If you don't know what this is, it's ok.  I forgive you and you're still my friend.

So what does it say about my subconscious that I want to go on a supernatural hunt with the Winchesters instead of any number of other activities?  I'm clearly disturbed.  Actually, it's indicative of avoiding something.  Now what could that possibly be I wonder?  At least I have excellent taste in my distractions.

Who Knew Thursday Could Be This Good?

I had already decided that today was a good day.
Then I got a compliment I wasn't expecting.  Then I got another.  Apparently teenagers are particularly fond of my purple tie dye jumper.  Along with these compliments on my psychedelic outfit, I was incredibly busy.  My clients also did some fantastic work today and I cannot tell you how proud I am of them. Today was one of those days where I knew I accomplished a great deal because at the end of it all, I sighed one of those deep and contented sighs. 

loquaciousandmeticulous-of-me.blogspot.com

This is me before 9pm tonight.  It's good to be tired after a job well done.

Just when I thought the day couldn't get better, it did.  Stunning.  I know. I got an unexpected bouquet of flowers.  Since my husband told me about them and he didn't claim responsibility, I figured they weren't from him unless he was being coy.  Nope.  Not coy.  They were from a dear friend who just wanted to let me know I was wonderful.  She's wonderful, too.  I miss being wonderful with her.  Alas!  We must be wonderful from a distance.  

slideshare.net

We're on the list.

Then, just when I thought it couldn't possibly get any better, I got a free lance writer contract.  

awkwardzombie.com

I don't know, but maybe if a spider says it, they aren't all bad.

Nope, still creepy and crawly.

Anyhoo, I now am on the hook for 6 articles a week.  Topics ranging from animals to finances.  Oh man!  This job is fantastic!  It feeds my creative energies and my nerd need for research.  I also get to flex my writing skills in another forum.  I will keep up with my blog as well since it is far more of the creative side for me, but I get to write professionally.  

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Apparently this is a cartoon of rather Gothic proportion.  Odd that it is also the term to let people know online that you are excited.  Ah juxtaposition of imagery and familiar usage.    

 

Despite the Initial Reluctance, Tuesday Turned Out OK

I've received a lot of good advice lately.  Mainly because I know awesome people and they read my blog.

www.lukeyishandsome.com 

I must have amazing luck.  Thanks guys.

I know I set out to choose happiness with my blog this year.  However, no one is happy all the time unless they are on something illegal.  I still believe that I can choose happiness, which is perhaps why this last while presented such a dilemma for me.  To deny those emotions like sadness, grief, and despair is to deny what makes us human.  For all things in this world, there is a balance.  When that balance is not honored, then we run the risk of simply stuffing that so-called "bad" emotion into a garbage can until that garbage can is overflowing.  What comes out at that point is so distorted, mangled and exaggerated that Vesuvius looks like a touch of hot weather.  Sometimes we must allow ourselves to feel the emotion.  It's not like I'm starting a pity party where all I do is cry and eat mint chocolate chip ice cream and watch all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from start to finish.  I do enjoy a spot of killing demons in Diablo though.  It's therapy.

 

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Although watching Buffy kick some vampire ass is also very cathartic at times.

I take my job and its responsibilities very seriously.  Maybe too seriously.  The worst thing I could do is to harm one of my clients in some way.  I want to know what I do is right.  I want to believe that what I am doing enhances their lives.  I want to come home at night and feel satisfied with the day's work I've put in.  I need to feel valued and trusted and effective.  I felt none of that last week or over the weekend.

 

I also need spring to get here so I can start riding my bike again.  It's a great way to process the muck that transpires some days.

coolmelbourne.org

Not really, but wouldn't that be the best bike ever?

  I'm not sure what the next step is for me.  I know that I got word that my trial contract was canceled because I successfully completed my article.  I have not word whether that means they will ask me to write more.  Who knows?  Spring semester on my tutor gig is proving slow.  I suppose I don't have to volunteer to take the time off when the queue is slow, but I have been.  It's probably been in my best interest to slow down a bit.  It does tell me though that as far as a full time gig is concerned, it might be difficult to make ends meet that way.  I'll figure it out.  I have time to ponder. At least I made it through Tuesday without being called a twat. 

The Goat and the Gemini

My goat is losing the battle.
My goat is what keeps me practical and balanced and focused while my gemini takes me on flights of fancy.  I don't care if you believe in astrology, because I don't particularly put stock in it as more than novelty either.  That said, I do recall finding out that my rising sign was Capricorn and suddenly certain aspects of my personality made more sense than being defined as just a gemini.  Poor ol' goat though is losing this fight.
I truly should just keep on keepin' on, but it's getting so difficult to gather up my inspiration and my courage and my creativity to keep moving forward.  My gemini feels completely devoid of life lately.  I still have my artistic pursuits mind you.  I still dance and love it.  I still play in polymer clay.  I still try to learn new drum moves.  However, my gemini feels like the way to earn our bread and butter sucks big fat hairy appendages. If I had been allowed to return to the way I wanted to proceed, it would be different.  Instead though, my ideas for getting back in touch with my master's program and the joy I experienced fizzled out in the face of duty.  That duty unfortunately seems to be misguided.  Inside I feel this overwhelming need to sob.  Maybe that's what I should do: cry, weep, or wail.  The grieving process has begun.  Maybe I should just accept it and move on.  Feel it.  Experience it.  Acknowledge it.  Then move on.
Please let those editors offer me something.

Today's Irony: Using Firefox to Post a Blog via Google because Google Chrome Can't Load Pics or Vids

I’ve been quiet for a while.  I needed some quiet time because if I had written anything the last few days, it might not have come across in the spirit of making the world a better place.  It probably would have done little more than satisfy my overwhelming need to rant like Dennis Miller or Bill Maher or Louis CK. 

 

Seriously.  Click those links.  I put them there on purpose.

 

Today is a new day--a particularly snowy Sunday here in my world.  I have a warm fur child on my lap and I am still in my robe despite having finished my coffee.  Guess what?  I’m not in any rush to change this arrangement.

I’ve spent some of my morning time pondering the cosmos.  I find looking at images of Andromeda galaxy oddly calming.  Looking at pictures from our satellites and telescopes puts everything into perspective.  Just look at this one:

messier.seds.org

Lovely isn't it?

I relish pondering the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the Multiverse.  If life can live in the harsh environments like acid pools or deep sea heat vents on Earth, imagine what other worlds could be brewing.  How egocentric to assume that we are the end-all-be-all of life.  To think that we are all there is limits us in so many ways. Stopping to consider for a brief moment that in the scheme of what we now know about cosmology, humans are in fact tiny little pinpoints helps keep me in perspective of the trials and tribulations of my day to day life.  Sometimes space feels the need to remind us of our vulnerability. Like this for example:

ibtimes.com

Space is just a cosmic pool hall sometimes.

When I stop to listen to cosmologists, I am filled with wonder and awe.  Listen to my physicist boyfriend on the topic:

Oh yeah, baby!  That big brain is uber sexy!

 

I guess my problems at work seem trivial in the scope of a myriad of bubble universes.  The problems still need to be resolved mind you because it is my reality five days a week to make the best of the situation.  I still live in a country that continues to grapple with how to make the best decisions for our laws and success in the world.  At the same time, we ridicule, we shame, we kill and maim instead of celebrating the wonder of our world.  I still live in a world where humanity knows precisely how to destroy itself, but at times forgets how to thrive together as one entity.  We often forget that harmony is way more fun than arguing over dogma. 

Kaku’s comparison to ants drives home that concept of humility for humanity.  Pausing to appreciate just how vast the cosmos truly is keeps me in perspective.  It gives me another way to view everything around me.  What’s really important in life?  How do I keep moving ahead with peace and serenity instead of anxiety and pain? 

I have but one life.  I’d rather it be as peaceful as possible.  As turbulent as the cosmos is, it reminds me that so much more exists to ponder than the money in my account, the turmoil of assessment, the debate over gun control and whether or not an American will be named Pope.  I leave you with my favorite Calvin and Hobbes cartoon.