Have you seen...

You know that I am fascinated with the end of days so Robbie, my brother in law showed me this.



A few comments about this video. First of all I really enjoy this song and the video is interesting although I don't really get what exactly is happening during most of it. I hate Chris Brown's blonde hair (and am still mad at him). I love Justin Bieber and his swagger coach is totally worth the money. Seriously, I have a little crush on him.

Away we go

I absolutely love the movie Away We Go. It makes leaving everything you love and know to have an adventure seem a little less daunting. The actors in it our spectacular and it was directed by the American Beauty director. I would highly recommend it.

Baller

Yes, I am a nearly 30 year old woman and yes my husband and I played a two on two basketball game with High school boys in our neighborhood today. Needless to say we lost, however we hung in there for a while. It was fun. I really enjoyed the chance to play again and made quite a few jump shots of which I am quite proud. Every day since
Warren has been on break I have rushed home to hang out with him. I love being on break but warren on break is the best. He is so fun to be around these days he seems so light hearted. I love it.

Life in the Adirondack

I have recently become obsessed with Adirondack chairs. I found cute wooden ones with a matching footrest at Costplus World Market (I love this store. I frequently go there for retail therapy when I have had a bad day) but they were way too expensive. Instead I bought some cheap, plastic ones at Shopko in the same lovely turquoise color. The fit perfectly on the back porch. Now I just need the weather to be a tad warmer so that I can properly enjoy them.

Something Borrowed

My friend Kate loaned me this book and I have been devouring it. I am still in the middle of reading The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (It was nominated for the Booker Prize, blah, blah. Let me just say that it is no Possession) but I feel that I need a small rest from these "chunkster" books that I have been reading. My thinking behind this is that you can't eat cheesecake every night after dinner (despite how much I might like to try) it is just too rich. Similarly you can't read thick (let's be honest) boring books all the time. Sometimes you need a little lighter fair, and this book is perfect for that.

Hot Yoga

I have been enjoying Hot Yoga at the local yoga place. It is 5 minutes from my school and I love it. They have a killer introductory offer and I am so excited to try to stick with this exercise kick. I went after school one day which was great because it made me extra efficient with my time and forced me to leave school at the end of my contracted day. That was the second time that had happened all year.

Thanks Spokane for making me feel good about myself

So I am finally out of the shame spiral. I went for a run yesterday and my cosmic reward was a man yelling at me as I ran by him. "You can stop running you look good already." And this was the first time that I truly loved Spokane.

Today my cosmic reward was someone honking and waving at me like they knew me. Apparently there are not a lot of people in my area getting out and exercising but I am going to stick with it. I am extremely excited to see what happens next time I get out for some exercise. Perhaps someone will give me some money or free icecream (and I will eat it because I have been told I don't even need to exercise anymore).

Question Time

So, I was doing some editing of my blog, you know the kind where you post something and notice a typo. Oops. I was starting to notice a lot of question asking in mine. Here is a new and important question: Am I turning into a Carrie Bradshaw wannabe? You know, "I couldn't help but wonder, does the apple really not fall far from the tree?" (I don't think that is really one but it is probably close.) or "I couldn't help but wonder, are we shoulding all over ourselves?" I actually liked that one because I totally do that. I continuously feel guilty for things I think that I ought to have done. It is exhausting.

So, I couldn't help but wonder, are all these questions annoying or do they speak to my scientific/introspective nature?

While I am asking questions is blogger not hip anymore? Should I find a new place to put my blog so more friends (and by friends I mean strangers) will read it? I heard Tumblr is where it is at.

The pessimist

This week was excruciatingly long and busy. After a particularly tough Monday at work I went up North to Babies R Us. This was a trip that I totally dreaded but a necessity for me as I had a baby shower to attend. On the way home I decided to treat myself to a Costplus World Market Trip ( I love that store.) After spotting some Adirondak chairs that I am keeping in mind for the summer and buying some cute cards, a teacup with built in diffuser, and a pretty orange trivet, I stumbled upon this. The Pessimist Cabernet Sauvignon seemed to fit my mood quite nicely. "Once opened and poured, the "half empty" sensation begins." I have this feeling that once I drink the bottle I can be a optimist again. I don't know about that but I am finally starting to feel like I am in less of a funk. This can be attributed to the happy hour I just enjoyed, girl scout cookies, sweats, wine and the fact that I did survive, even just barely, this week at school.

Joy List

I made this list the other day when I was feeling blue. The health and wellness letter from my job suggested this as a way to improve my quality of life. These are some things that make me happy. I feel a little like Oprah if only you could find these in a bag under your seat.

Aveda hand relief

Aveda tea

That light feeling you get when you just got your hair cut (I just got a haircut. I cut off 10 inches and will be sending that hair to locks of love. Yay!)

A glass of wine - cab sav.

Arrested Development

30 Rock

Trying a new recipe-even if it doesn't turn out quite as well as I would have liked at least I tried.

Finishing a book - I will finish you Freedom. I finished the Bridge and I will finish you too.

Freshly painted nails -even better if someone else does it and not me but either way.

Finishing (not starting) a good work out - I could add just showing up at the gym.

Crossing something off of a to-do list

Laughing

A new (rap) song--with crazy slang that I have never heard of before - my current favorites are the bumble bee songs and the new Mike Posner (RandB? not rap) Bow Chicka Wow Wow. It makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Long weekends

Dancing without judgment-Such a rare occurrence for me unless it is me and Wii. I haven't found occasion to go out dancing lately.

Buying a great new stylish clothing item- lately it has been a discounted and stylish item

A clean house-even if I was the one who did all the cleaning. It is a great sense of accomplishment that I feel.

Arriving to your vacation destination - recently watched a video I made on our flip cam when we arrived in Hawaii and I sounded drunk I was so giddy from the excitement

Counting down to something fun or exciting- currently counting down to 1)Spring Break and celebrating Clare's 30th bday in Seattle. I am coming home! 2)Sorority IRD which I will be attending in Pullman with my mom. (Am I nerd or what). 3)Lacey and Kristin visiting in April.

A really good margarita and a designated driver

Restaurant chips and salsa

Not sitting in traffic or paying tolls - when I leave school it takes me 10-15 minutes tops to get home no matter when I leave. It is amazing and a perk of Spokane.

New Beginnings...

I can't believe it but it is almost back to school time. I am feeling a little like a child about to start a new school. As a teacher I know how scary it can be to be in a new and unknown place and as a recent transplant to an eastern Washington town (some might call it the Inland Empire and some might call it a city) I know how scary that can be too. I no longer have television. There goes my career as a Gossip Girl blogger. Now I am going to resign myself to blogging about something really boring, something like my life. If you were one of my "many" followers that was interested in my commentary on television I am sorry to disappoint. I have recently relocated, unfortunately it is not out of the country, so expat doesn't really describe me. However, I think I will stick with the name, perhaps the tv will come later.

Since moving approximately 21 days ago I am mostly settled in my house (which is about three times as large as my old place. Thank you cost of living). I am in transition. This means that you are confused, in a new place and wondering how the hell you got here. My answer being: I am a supportive wife. I have been spending time doing a lot of activities including spending time setting up my new classroom, reading, working out, and watching instant Netflix. My husband (who I am already exceedingly proud of) is already busy with law school. He is a committed studier even though school has not started and will not for a few more days but I foresee a lot of time alone and have a vested interested in being settled and finding things to do that make me happy. Here are some suggestions about what to do if you find yourself in a similar transitional phase.

Recommended reading, viewing, and activities for people who are in transition like me:
My Life in France by Julia Child - read this book and be inspired to eat, cook, and try new things. Be careful, you will be hungry the entire time. I love how in love with each other Julia and Paul are. It is beautiful. I love how adventurous she is and I also want to bake French bread.
Julie and Julia- the perfect companion to reading My Life in France.
Away We Go- John Krasinzky and Maya Rudolph are lost and looking for the place they should settle. Written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Veda
TRX- a new workout class I am taking at the YMCA. You use your body weight and straps from the ceiling. I was sore only hours after completing my first class.
Spokane Indians Game-pretty fun if you don't get rained out. Most shocking thing that I saw was a sign that said "stop Obama." I also overheard a man talking about asians. "Some type of asian, Japanese or something." Especially offensive to me because I am some type of Asian. Where am I? I am chalking these two things up to anomaly and moving on.
Wii - with Wii fit and Netflix instant viewing. Beware of the Wii fit board who will tell you about your weight...whether or not you want to hear it.
Weeds- I love it. Nancy Botwin starts
to get a big annoying towards the end of season 3 but everyone is quirky and makes me laugh.
Arrested Development- what fool decided that this show should no longer exist. A fool. I laughed hysterically, out loud, alone, on a number of occasions while watching this.
Pinot Grigio- it's hot here so a nice light white wine is ideal.
Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner- interesting read and without an agenda...not a self-help book but helps you to take a step back and reevaluate the way you look at it.

Any other suggestions of reading or viewing for people in transition (aka people who are lost or starting over)? I would love to hear them.

Upcoming things to do:
Find artwork/something to put up on the walls of our apartment
Find new recipes to try
Steal my mother in law's copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Find the perfect chair to sit and read in the bedroom, outdoor furniture, side table and lamps
Make friends
Bake french bread

Okay friends here is your assignment. Please offer my suggestions about anything that will make things helpful or more enjoyable. I will really appreciate it especially if you have book suggestion (only upbeat...nothing depressing).