"The women love my glasses."
I think I noticed the pants and the shirt just a little bit more, but I DO see the draw.
trying on a metaphor
Jules of Nature
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@justagirldfw
"The women love my glasses."
I think I noticed the pants and the shirt just a little bit more, but I DO see the draw.
I Hope He Knows
It isn't often that we meet someone who truly inspires us. We all, mostly, have people in our lives that encourage and motivate us to succeed, but to be truly inspired takes a special someone, indeed.
I have been fortunate enough to meet one of those. I hope that he knows who he is, God knows, I've told him, albeit mostly in my head. I thought something had died within me. I thought I had lost a passion for something.
He has shown me differently. I am eternally grateful that I have had the illustrious opportunity to cross paths with an incredibly wonderful individual. Perhaps, one day, I'll actually tell him that, instead of just thinking it all the time.
Or, perhaps, maybe I just did...?
Eleven incredible images from high-powered microscopes.
What will I be like?
What will I be like when I'm old?
I look at my mother. I see the lines and the liver spots. The hands worn rough by tending flowers. The brow furrowed deep by years of worry. The eyes deep and knowing.
Will I be wise? Will I have, somehow, overcome the things that seem so important right now? Will I age with grace?
My body and soul already feel worn down by a life of heartache and regret. Too many opportunities wasted and too many loves let go. I wonder if I will make it to a ripe age. I wonder if I will find my soul-mate. I wonder if I will ever be happy.
Good vs Evil
Contrary to popular culture, more times than we would care to admit, the bad guy wins. Sometimes, the kind heart and trusting nature of the good guy, simply gets used up and, once the life has been wrested from it, thrown to the side. The bad guy enjoys the spoils of their victory, seemingly unscathed, while the good guy writhes the pain and agony of defeat. It is an easy temptation for the good guy to begin to believe they should, also, be evil. Life would be simpler...wandering through and razing gentle people to the ground, taking what they want and not caring. Victory would always be theirs, BUT they would never know or appreciate the glory of the sphinx that rises from the ashes. Life's lessons are difficult because they are lessons. As the good guy brushes himself off and slowly stands with his newer, kinder, gentler heart and deeper understanding of true pain, (something the bad guy will never have), he shall say, "We'll get 'em next time".
The Facts of Life
I would like to report a theft. I have been robbed of my emotional stability by the sitcoms of my youth.
Life's problems are not quickly and adeptly solved in 30-minute intervals, wrapped up with pretty, red ribbons and affixed with a sweet note. Through the years, sitcoms have told us that children can commit the gravest of sins and simply laugh it off with a cute grin and a wink. Lovers somehow remain friends, even though they move on to form lasting relationships with other people, all the while, seemingly unphased by the actions of the person they were supposedly in mad, deep love with. People lose everything on a bad gamble or investment, and yet, somehow, the next week are right back up at the top again.
Life does not unfold this neatly. Life is messy and hard and heartbreaking. My young, impressionable mind bought into these stories. I blame Punky Brewster and Ross and Rachel (the entire gang of "Friends", really). It is high time we stop turning a blind eye to the travesties and pitfalls of the human spirit and create a "sitdram" that truly portrays life as it is.
I think I would call it "Reality".
I Don't Believe in Beatles...
I just believe in me.
The vast majority of our time is spent concerned with the world at large. The plight of starving individuals in third world countries, the economic or political status of foreign countries, and the civil unrest brought about by people who feel a grave injustice has been done, fill the news broadcasts every day. It is the essence of the human spirit to care. About everyone else.
While I do not advocate turning a blind eye to our fellow man, I DO advocate turning a glaring eye on ourselves. Perhaps the problems could be solved if we all took a deeper interest in how we connect with the world at large, rather than simply seeing that the problems exist. It is not enough to show up when a crises emerges.
I challenge every reading eye and thinking brain to start with yourself. Make a list of your own shortcomings, find the things you want to change, and do it. Take charge of the world by taking charge of yourself.
Happiness Exploration Part I
Jim: "So, Bill, what do you have planned for today?".
Bill: "Well, Jim, I believe, after I enjoy my morning run and a light breakfast, I'll simply lie down in the median of a busy intersection and soak in the sunrise."
Perhaps, I should take a lesson from Bill and re-think my position on achieving happiness...
Gone Too Soon
Perusing through my latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, I was shocked, disheartened and deeply affected by the news that James Rebhorn had passed away, nary a week ago. Hardly a big name star, Rebhorn was known for lesser roles in films such as Independence Day and a recent appearance as the father in Homeland. I instantly recalled his role as a player in the firm responsible for Michael Douglas' life lesson in The Game. Rebhorn succumbed to melanoma at the ripe, young age of 65. Why had it taken so long to hear the news of, yet another, Hollywood star? Was it because his death contained no cautionary tale? No illicit drug use or troubled past? What does this say about our society and what we choose to "celebrate"? I, for one, will miss his face and his talent. Let this missive serve, in whatever way you choose, as an ode to his talent and a statement that, no matter the manner, loss is loss and he is worthy of remembrance.
Kitchen LTO - Trinity Groves, Dallas, Texas
I was lucky enough to hear about this spot, dubbed a “Permanent Pop-Up Restaurant” from a friend of mine. Every 4 months, a contest is held to nominate a chef-in-residence along with an interior designer. The dynamic duo has a chance to showcase their talents for a “Limited Time Only” (hence the name, LTO).
The night that I dropped in for dinner was exceptionally crowded. A good sign, I thought, until the hostess informed me that a marketing event was being held and the majority of the patrons were simply enjoying happy hour beverages. Once this crowd was ruled out, the dining room contained a mere 1/3 of its capacity. Not to be dissuaded, I picked a table out of the way and began to peruse the menu.
What you see above will be detailed here:
1. Avocado “Hummus” Toasts - The shrimp were excellently poached and there was a slight hint of lemon to the radish slaw, giving an almost-sweet finish. The toast was a nice, textural change to the smoothness of the avocado and provided a welcome amount of crunch to an, otherwise, creamy dish.
2. (L) Pan Roasted Market Fish - In this instance, the “market fish” was described as being local, Texas redfish. The fish was cooked to a perfect consistency, however, lacked any true flavor or seasoning. The “braised” baby carrots were a crispy al dente and I received no hint of the lime brodo listed in the description. The farro was cooked extremely well, but also lacked seasoning. All in all, a tad bit of a disservice to an excellent piece of fish.
3. (R) Salmon BLT - I was told that this was the signature dish that won Chef Eric Shelton his 4-month stint at LTO. Hopes were high as my waiter placed it before me. Hopes were dashed as I took my first bite. Again, an excellently cooked piece of fish, highlighted by the maple sweetness of the crispy, albeit very small, piece of bacon. The “LT” part of the deconstructed dish left quite a bit to be desired. Adorned with edible flowers (a nice surprise), the field greens seemed to have been overdressed with the lemon aioli. The confit tomato tasted as if it had been drenched in vinegar and was unpalatable to my tastebuds. The description stated there was a balsamic glaze, however, the only evidence of balsamic I could see was a thin line streaked down the center of my plate. The presentation appeared a bit sloppy and I would have preferred my salmon sitting atop a small bed of “LT”.
4. Velvet Hammer Glazed Belly - I love a well-executed pork belly. The glaze was rich, but perfectly suited to the heartiness of the mostly fatless pieces of pork. The panko poached egg had no flavor and, again, the bed of greens it was sitting atop tasted to have been drenched in vinegar. The description made mention of apple, but, if included in the dish, definitely escaped my powers of detection.
Chef Eric Shelton’s menu contains interesting pairings and innovate ideas. My dining experience, on the whole, was enjoyable. The flavor profiles of each dish’s intended star were spot on, but the sides lacked some much-needed attention.
I am afraid I will not be returning to LTO during Chef Shelton’s tenure, but I do look forward to seeing where he heads next.
This Side of Paradise was published on this day in 1920, immediately launching 23-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald to fame and fortune.
"I suppose all great happiness is a little sad. Beauty means the scent of roses and then the death of roses—”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise
Glad Pants
My mother has a saying: "You can get glad in the same pants you got sad/mad in". Last I checked, I was still slipping on the same pants, tops, dresses, shoes, even, that I've been wearing for the past few years (yes, I know, a shopping trip is in order...). So, I began to consider there may be some truth in this adage.
The concept of happiness has had me stymied as of late. Happiness is one of those subjective concepts that means so many different things to so many different people. Is it found in a career? In wealth? In health? In relationships?
Career: I DO have one. Is it fulfilling? Is it meaningful? Probably about as much as an executive assistant can be. If I were to ask myself the question, however, of what I could find to do that would supply endless days of being excited to get out of bed, the only answer would be writing. As yet, I have failed to earn any lucre at that chosen occupation, so the only positive aspect I can find here for potential happiness in my current career is that it earns me money and can lead directly to wealth...
Wealth: Not exactly. Every day continues to be a struggle, but I am beginning to see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel, albeit, it is a verrrrry long and dark tunnel. I have never been much of a material person, so I don't really think this would be the key to my happiness, anyway. (Wait...don't ALL poor people say that?) Moving on...
Health: Relative. Beyond my recent re-addiction to nicotine, I would say that I'm a fairly healthy person physically. Mentally, there may be some questions, but nothing that would land me in an institution. I wake up, most days, with plenty of energy and a fairly sunny disposition. Still, though, I don't think this is the sole ingredient to finding my happy place.
Relationships: Aaahhh...now, there's the kicker. So often, we look to others to fulfill our lives and define our state of being. Friendships, family, love relationships...we seek acceptance and validation that we are, in fact, worthy individuals. If I were to deeply examine this aspect, I would find: a recently FAILED love relationship that just keeps rearing its head; a recently FAILED 15-year friendship that has somehow run its course and probably will not return; a family unit that I am tied to, but not in the sense that I feel entirely close.
I once read a quote, "The only common denominator in all your dysfunctional relationships is you". Since everything else around me appears to be crumbling like Pompeii, perhaps this is the key. For most people reading this post, this will not seem like a novel idea. For someone, however, who has devoted the better part of their lives to making sure everyone ELSE was okay, this will seem like a mountainous hurdle. To think, I hold the key to my own happiness.
The next step will be, of course, figuring out how I am going to accomplish this great feat of accepting myself. I am sure that will be best left for another day, since I feel as though I've already done enough soul-searching for one morning.
This "happiness" thing is going to be exhausting...
You Had No Idea These Places From Your Favorite Books Were This Beautiful In Real Life: http://ow.ly/uTY7p
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Goodbye, Dear Friend
Sadness overshadows a gorgeous Spring morning, as I say goodbye to a 15-year friendship.
It's funny to me, how something so small can dramatically alter the course of a relationship. There have been fights and break-ups and make-ups. There have been relationships and vacations and theft, even. There have been laughs and tears and new careers. There have even been much more traumatic events than what recently occurred. And, still, we have stood the test of time.
We've been friends since high school. We have watched each other grow and change through the early days of adulthood. We've celebrated each others triumphs and languished in each others mistakes. We've supported each other. Until now.
Something about this was different. I felt slighted in a way that I did not anticipate. Someone, whom I thought was close to me, chose to sacrifice my feelings for the better of the group. Swayed by a group of nasty individuals, my friend chose to behave in such a manner that hurt me to the core. Even the "apology" I received the next day was thinly veiled and bore no evidence of true acceptance of responsibility. Whatever intimations I had about my friend's character were dashed to the ground.
Something about this truly showed how much we have both evolved into different people. I have grown from the petty, childish person I was in my youth. I have matured into an adult.
For reasons I cannot explain, I don't have the fight in me for our relationship that I once had. I truly wish all the best of luck in future endeavors and I pray that, one day, the true value of our past is realized. Until then, however, I only have enough strength to fight for one person: myself.
For decades, dozens of men with intellectual disabilities lived in an old schoolhouse and worked in a turkey plant. No one knew just what they endured.
I have no words for this post.
WATCH: Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir take their Olympic figure skating commentary to the 30 Rock ice rink!