Super Suck Sunday (On a Monday)

Super 

• Parents on Facebook. My stepdad recently created a Facebook account. Correction: My mother created it for him. Now, I did have to establish some rules and understanding. For example, please don't post anything embarrassing on my wall; everyone can see it! But seeing my parents communicate through FB, when I know they are feet away from each other in the living room…is quite entertaining. 
• Getting into a honking contest. A guy cut me off in traffic last week and I honked at him - that's why we have that feature, right? Well, he honked back. So then, that pissed me off… so I honked again - out of spite. This continued for a few more honks, and by that time… I was cracking up. 
• Accomplishing a dream. I had a very surreal moment while riding the bus to practicum: I am doing it. I wanted to be in Seattle. I wanted to experience the city. I wanted to get into a grad program that I am passionate about. I've done it, and I am enjoying every moment. Every experience is of value, and I feel so blessed. 
• Camping! Everything about it! I love being completely unplugged from technology. Sitting around the fire and talking with friends….eating scrumptious fire cooked meals...Playing fun games (Bananagrams is awesome)…Spending a day in the sunshine (even if I neglected the SPF and I look like a lobster)….Using my super awesome headlamp (handsfree illumination!)…and seeing how adorable our pup can be! 

Suck

• Passwords. I have so many! It's impossible for me to remember them all! I understand the importance of security, but it's a little crazy when I have to change it every 30 days so it takes me 2 minutes to log in. 
• Paper-cuts. I swear, I am paper-cut prone. At least once a week I self-inflict, and then somehow manage to forget and get lemon juice, or something equally awful in it. 
• Summer television. All the shows I watch (which isn't many) have had their season finale. Now what? 
• Spiders. They. Are. Here. We killed 4 in two days. I do not care if they stay outside, but once they enter the threshold into my home… I enforce spider genocide. My reaction is something like this: 

       

  

Quote of the Day

"It's been said that one of the most profound human needs, what we often crave after food, water, and shelter, is to be heard. In moments of quiet desperation and personal pleas for support, what each of us desires is to have someone listen to our hopes, our needs, and our frustrations and perhaps even respond in a way that improves the quality of our lives."

                                                                                    - Celeste Watkins-Hayes 

Being Vegetarian is Intense, Like Camping!

Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away! It's the biggest weekend of the year to go camping, and what are we doing? CAMPING!!! Last year we weren't so prepared, so THIS year... we are going all out. New sleeping bags, new padding… even a new cooking stove.  


Cooking. Now, who doesn't love camp cooking?! But I was asked recently: what does a vegetarian eat while camping? See, "meat people" as I like to call them, can't imagine a world without meat. You got your hotdogs…hamburgers….chicken breast…. you know, all those animals? To me, this is a silly question, because it's not much different than what I normally eat. However, there is difficulty in the convenience of preparation. 
This leads me to….Recipe time! 

Garlic Garbanzo Bean Spread : This is delicious on bread for sandwiches, or for dipping with pita and veggies! Oh, and packed with protein! 

INGREDIENTS 

15 ounces garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained if using canned) or 15 ounces chickpeas (rinsed and drained if using canned)

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 green onion, cut into 3 pieces

1 -2 garlic clove, peeled

1/4 teaspoon salt

assorted fresh vegetables and baked pita chi

DIRECTIONS 

1   In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients (except pita chips and fresh veggies).

2   Cover and process until blended.

3   Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until serving. Serve with vegetables and pita chips.

My Made-Up Pasta Salad : Love it, and super easy 

INGREDIENTS

1 box Quinoa pasta, I like the swirly kind (Bonus: Gluten Free) 

2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 small cucumber, coarsely chopped (1 cup)

1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced with slices cut in half

2 peppers sliced, however you want and whatever kind you want. Red and yellow are pretty. 

1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (4 oz)

2 1/2 ounces ripe olives, drained and sliced

Olive Oil and Vinegar to taste

DIRECTIONS

Looking forward to sleeping on the ground, no showers, zero cell service (and zero makeup)….being with friends….talking over a fire… AND EATING GREAT MEATLESS FOOD! Fabulous! 

1 Cook, drain and rise pasta as directed on box. Rinse with cold water 

2 In a large bowl, stir together EVERYTHING 

3 Cover and refrigerate 

4 YUM 

Lastly, I learned this from friends last year, they called it the 'Hobo Meal'. I found that offensive, so I'll just call it delicious. Take foil…make it a pouch… and fill it with peppers, onions, zucchini, and baby yellow potatoes…drizzle with Olive Oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper…role it all up, and throw it on the fire. Let it cook until the potatoes are tender. :) Yum! 

My Ode to Sharing the Road

About a year ago I bought a bike. Not just any kind of bike, oh no. A road bike, you know… for cycling. Apparently it's a pretty big deal. The last bike I owned had streamers on the handles and a bell. I used to laugh at those people who wore tight spandex shorts, a weird jersey looking shirt…and looked like they were in complete agony slowly peddling up a hill. I would think, "HELL NO!" and then whiz right by them laughing. I've never been a mean driver per se, but…. I definitely wasn't thoughtful. It wasn't until I got on my bike, clipped into the peddles,  and started riding down that very narrow bike lane did I think...this is effing scary!! 


Move over you stupid cars! This lane is for me! 


I appreciate the "sport". I put it into quotations because there is some debate whether or not cycling is considered a sport. Whatever. I enjoy it. I used to laugh at people, but now I have more of an understanding. Maybe it was the burn, the camaraderie...the feeling of accomplishment after riding for miles and miles…but...Not all people have had this revelation. I have seen drivers pull closer to a cyclist, push them off the road, and have even heard stories of drivers getting out of their cars to assault a cyclist. I don't understand. All the drivers have to do is give us some space. There is enough room on the roads for all of us…as long as we make room. We're just trying to help the environment. Back off. 


A writer for the Seattle times wrote an article discussing the Cyclist Versus Driver warfare. Roads are for cars.The rules are too ambiguous. There are bike lanes in some places, but not all… so when is it okay to ride on the sidewalk? How many feet is the driver supposed to allow? Every City/State is different… but where are these rules posted? This is about safety people!! Road rage is one thing - when both drivers are in cars and you get the bird… but a driver is in a multi-ton vehicle and I am on my carbon fiber bike…wearing spandex!  


A clip from the show Porlandia (I'M AN OREGONIAN FOR LIFE- I am waiting for the Seattle spoof) depicts this anxiety ridden scenario in a hilariously perfect way: 

Whoever is bigger, yields. Cars yield to bikes, bikes yield to peds. Everyone gets where they're going.

I challenge you to share the road!!! 

Super Suck Sunday

Super

• Having a super awesome first day at practicum. It started with a bus ride that I was a little nervous about, but it was relaxing and fun! The work is really interesting and I feel as though I will be learning a lot, and will have a lot of questions! Looking forward to this new experience! 
• Purple Liquid Eyeliner. The Boy got me a Sephora gift card, which allowed the me the opportunity to spoil myself with girlie supplies. LOVING THE PURPLE! 

• ORGANIC MILK. If you don't drink it…you should. You CAN taste the difference! 
• Females who write and record super awesome music. Sometimes, they convey everything I wish I could, or they are singing about something I wish felt. 

 

Sucks 

• Sending an email to the wrong person. I received an email at work and it was SUPER SUCKY frustrating. Without a seconds thought, I wrote an email that was rather explicitly explaining this frustration and hit 'send'. As it was sending, I noticed the recipient. THE WRONG PERSON! Not only was it sent to the wrong person, but it was a very important-kinda-super-important person in the agency… SUCKS. 
• Cellophane - AKA - Plastic Wrap. Not only is it completely SUCKY for the environment, but I am incapable of success with the first piece. Again, this is not good for the environment. 
• ASSHOLES IN PARKING LOTS. You know who you are. The guy that thinks it's okay to race to the open spot and then slide your stupid BMW in as if you didn't see the blinker that OBVIOUSLY indicated I was about to part there!! Karma will find you, my friend. 
• BLISTERS. No matter how broken in and comfortable you think your shoes are…walking around downtown Seattle for 3 hours will ultimately result in blisters. My solution: tape. Once you feel it… take some tape… don't care what kind (though I use packing tape - yup… keep it in my purse) and cover that stuff up. Ditch the Band-Aids… tape works better, promise. 

BIG DAY

Tomorrow is a BIG day! 

I start practicum tomorrow. Well, its actually the orientation…but it will be my first full day at the site! I get to go to court and everything! I am taking the bus, which kind of freaks me out. Only because I'm not in control of when I get there - I can't be late! And downtown Seattle is hellish. Through all the nervousness of experiencing something new - I am so excited! 


In addition to MY BIG day… Theo has his first day of daycare! I know, this sounds sooooo silly, right? We just feel bad. We are at work all day and Theo is at home alone…. eating our walls. Not cool, dude. So, we figured he would be happier spending the day with other pups! And WE will be happy our walls aren't being chewed. Plus, it will be really nice when we're all home and he is pooped! 

Sleepy puppy

Lastly, the Boy has his first baseball game tomorrow night! Dirt, the crack of the bat, the sound of the ball hitting the glove…beautiful weather! Gotta love this time of year! 

Top 6: Causes I Support

It may not be a surprise that a girl who is studying to become a social worker would be interested in different organizations that promote human rights, assistance for those in need, and progression. 

I feel blessed for the opportunities that I have, and realize how privileged I truly am. I enjoy supporting efforts that I feel passionate about, and have a special connection to. 

Here are my Top 6 efforts/ organizations I love to support: 

1) Etsy For Charity: 
Etsy is an online shop and all items are handmade. All proceeds go to the listed charity. 
Click HERE for more info and to shop around! 


2) Work Opportunities: 
Work Opportunities is an agency that provides vocational services to individuals with disabilities. They are non-profit, and work hard to promote equal opportunities for employment. The participants create fabulous art work that is sold to support the great work they do. I have a beautiful stepping stone! 
Interested in learning more? Click HERE




3) TOMS: 
For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. 
This goes far beyond stylish shoes, but allows you the opportunity to protect a child from disease and injury. Someday, I hope to participate in a shoe drop. 
Click HERE to drop TOMS, not bombs. 

My bestie got me these! 

4) FCKH8.com 
FCKH8.com’s latest video takes on the forces of H8 behind the “Teachers Can’t Say Gay” Law in Tennessee. FCKH8.com will give 25¢ for every Facebook “Like” or Twitter tweet of the new video - up to $25,000 - to the Tennessee Equality Project! With a portion of every T-shirt sale donated to charities fighting for equal rights, they've raised over $250,000 for the cause.
Click HERE to buy an awesome shirt like mine: 

5) Out of the Darkness

This is a fundraising event and all proceeds go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Last year I raised $250 for my team. 

Click HERE to learn more 

In Loving Memory of Shawn: October 2010

6) The 'It Gets Better Project': 
As someone who identifies as Bisexual, I have a strong support for this project. I believe that everyone has a right to express every dimension of themselves- and who you love should never be ridiculed. Support Dan Savage in his efforts to spread the word to the LGBTQ youth that - it gets better. Click HERE to sign the pledge - or purchase a t-shirt. Mine will be arriving in a few weeks! 

So, there ya have it. Here are a few efforts I feel strongly about. I challenge you to take a look at what's out there…and show support for something that's important to you. 

Before I 'Kick the Bucket'

Many people have the list of things they want to accomplish before they die - this is commonly known as their "Bucket List". I had never really given it much thought…until recently. So, this is what I have come up with so far. 


A few things on my list include:


Riding an elephant

Obtaining my PhD…what can I say... I'm a lifelong learner

Travel to Thailand for a Silent Retreat

And… ride in a hot air balloon 

I'll continue to update the list as time goes on. What's on YOUR bucket list? 

Super Suck Sunday

Super 

• Good food and good friends. I love having great conversation over great food. Have you ever had a crepe filled with: goat cheese, pesto, roasted tomato and spinach? AMAZING! 
• Completing my Standardized Client Interview. I don't think I did that well, but… at least it's over! 
• A perfect day for riding to work. It was finally nice enough out to where I could ride my bike to work. I missed her! 
• Mama time. Can't ever beat that! 
• Whitney Cummings. I swear, her and I are the same person. 

Sucks

• Pulling out of the garage in pouring rain, and realizing your sun roof was open. Super sucked. 
• Imagine bleeding to death and having no form of bandages. That would suck, right? Well, I feel the same way every month when I realize I have ZERO tampons in the house and I have to make a 10 PM run to the grocery store. Again, super sucked. ** Sorry, too much information?** 
• Those damn commercials on Pandora. I mean, I get it… it's "free radio"with the ability to skip songs… but the commercials are still annoying. 
• Going to the dog park expecting it to be a "Boston Meet-up" only to hear that we are a week early. Damn! This is kind of a Super and a Suck, cause now we have next week to look forward to. C'mon, you know you want to see 10 Boston Terriers playing together!! 

• Grumpy people. I recently encountered a women at the deli who was really rude. So, I've developed this new response: call them out on their shit. The woman very rudely in an annoyed tone said,"Are you needing help?" It was so rude that I actually made a face that translated to, "really?" Here was my response: "Wow, I'm sorry you're having a bad day. But yes, may I please have some bow-tie pasta salad?" She immediately changed her tone, and apologized. That's right folks, start calling people out on their shit - and we can save the world… one grumpy deli person at a time.  

Heavy Heart

He was the type of guy you could talk to. 

He would listen to you. 

He was the type to make jokes,

make you laugh so hard you cry. 

He was the life of the party. 

He was friends with everyone. 

He would stick up for you. 

His voice was loud and you wanted to listen. 

His smile was big and contagious. 

His hugs would consume you. 

I want to remember him on this day. I want to think about the time we sat together in the Senior Lounge and talked about his excitement of graduating. That time at the beach where he piled the wood panels on the fire and got it so hot it almost melted my flip-flops. Remembering his honesty when he knew something wasn't right for me. Remembering those football and basketball games…cheering his name. Our last get-together. A celebration. Friends. Laughter. That smile and energy. That last hug goodbye.

I never thought that would be the last time I would see you.

There's so many things that I don't understand. None of us knew the pain you were going through. You left so many people who love you, who care about you….now missing you. Why? You left us too soon…too suddenly…we weren't done with you yet.

A year ago today you left us. We gathered together as a small community of parents, brothers and sisters, friends…and we cried. We were all falling apart…you drew a gathering that held us together. You are an amazing person who I feel so blessed to have had in my life. I carry you with me wherever I go…I value my memories, and I keep them alive by talking about you to others who love you.

Why 

By Rascal Flatts 

It must've been in a place so dark you couldn't feel the light

Reachin' for you through that stormy cloud

Now here we are gathered in our little hometown

This can't be the way you meant to draw a crowd

Oh, why? That's what I keep askin'

Was there anything I could have said or done?

Oh, I had no clue you were masking

A troubled soul, God only knows what went wrong

And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song

Now in my mind I keep you frozen as a seventeen year old

Roundin' third to score the winning run

You always played with passion no matter what the game

When you took the stage, you shined just like the sun

Oh, why? That's what I keep askin'

And was there anything I could have said or done?

Oh, I had no clue you were masking

A troubled soul, oh, God only knows what went wrong

And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song

Now the oak trees are swayin' in the early autumn breeze

The golden sun is shining on my face

The tangled thoughts I hear a mockingbird sing

This old world really ain't that bad a place

Oh, why? There's no comprehending

And who am I to try to judge or explain?

Oh, but I do have one burning question

Who told you life wasn't worth the fight?

They were wrong, they lied, and now you're gone, and we cried

'Cause it's not like you to walk away in the middle of a song

Your beautiful song, your absolutely beautiful song

Super Suck Sunday

Super

• Getting another A+ on a paper and the professor asking to use it as an example – woot woot!

• Spontaneously deciding to go to a baseball game after a hellish weekend in class. Of course they didn’t win… but I got to enjoy the game and a scrumptious pretzel and nachos!

• This commercial. Though this pup is not nearly as cute as Theo, he is pretty stinkin’ cute:

• Making plans to see my Mama! We couldn’t spend Mother’s Day together, but we’ll make up for it next weekend! Lots of fun planned!

Sucks

• The fact that I am still getting used to my Mac and sometimes...with the swipe of a finger, all my windows disappear and I have a brief moment of panic.

• Two things: 1) Having a very active and CrAzY imagination and, 2) Being alone in a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome. I felt like a scary-movie-murder scene waiting to happen….

• Situations that drive you absolutely nuts, and all you want to do it get up and say, “really??!!”. For example: spending 20 minutes of class deciding how we are going to split into groups.  Should we choose our own groups? Should we count off? How many groups should there be, and how many people in each group?? Arrggghhh! Seriously… this is a Grad School class?!

• Spending money on things we consume… like food and gas. I hate spending $150 at the grocery store, and then having to do it all over again in a few weeks. That’s a lot of money!

SPECIAL SUNDAY BONUS!

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mommys!

My mother is an amazing woman who has worked hard to give me everything. She has taught me to be a strong, intelligent, and independent woman. My mother has always believed in me and given me the strength and courage to accomplish my dreams. I always know that no matter what, I can call her and she will listen. I can depend on her, no matter what. Even when I scrape my knee, she'll be there. Even at 23,  she's the one I called when I fell while running. 

I love you, Mama. You are a beautifully amazing woman, and I am so honored to be your daughter. 

Loving Inside Out 

By Patricia Love, Ed.D. 

An exert from: Handbook for the Heart: Original Writings on Love

   Filling my life with love starts with controlling my mind. Over the years, I have learned that I possess not only an active mind but a slippery one. If I'm not attentive, my mind can drift to wherever there is energy, sometimes toward the negative areas. For years I drove myself with negative energy, constantly criticizing myself for what I was doing wrong. It has been a continuous process of discovering that I have a choice about how I see myself and my life, how I feel about things. The more positive choices I make, the more love flows freely into my life. 


   Now I understand that self-love is about honoring ourselves, literally actualizing the love in our life in ways that are unique and real to us. I have learned that I must love myself first. This has become a conscious task and, at times, a very difficult one. One day at a time, I still have to focus my deliberate intention to offset my history, to remind myself that I am lovable and loved. 


   The outcome of nurturing this internal fullness is love; I get full, then the people who are close to me get full. I am present for them, raw and fresh. Living this way has freed me to be a conduit, a channel for love to flow through to others and then back to me. Anyone can do this with her and his life. Just trust the process, stay with it, and understand that it doesn't have to always work in an orderly fashion. 


   I believe that we invite people into our lives, especially our partners, to be our teachers. The irony is that, having invited them to be our teachers, we then go kicking and screaming into the classroom! But if we can trust our choice, and trust the progress of our education, we can learn so much as we follow the path that our partners lay out for us. Our partners are in a unique position to give us an invitation into ourselves, lead us into our blind spots. 


   One way that our parters offer us teachings is through sexual intimacy. This is a unique contribution our partners make and can continue to make through all our years together. Yet sometimes we forget that after the initial passion fades, there is something deeper to create, to allow to unfold. So often we lose out on the wonderful teaching place of trust and love and mutually discovered wisdom, because we get lost in how to communicate our needs and desires. Without a way to understand each other, we are bogged down in lost expectations and misunderstandings. We need to listen to our partners, truly listen, to allow the intimacy to grow. If we can find a way to do this, we will know a deep peacefulness that comes from the growth of love and trust and shared history. The commitment, the loyalty, the lover we share can create a unique well of love to draw upon for all the areas of life. 


   The lessons our partners teach also come from areas of apparent conflict. One of the things I find in my own practice is that the partners often have their own answers, for the relationship, for themselves, and for each other. The just need a midwife to birth the solutions, a safe environment in which to listen for the lessons. Ironically, if we can let ourselves listen, truly listen to what are mates are telling us, move beyond the style or the tone or the particular words, we may hear that they are speaking some piece of our own truth. Listening for this message is a difficult, humbling task, but if we can let down our walls enough to let it happen, we achieve new and ever-deepening intimacy. 

LOVE IS A VERB 

   Communication is essential in creating intimacy. We need to open ourselves to the real message our partners are sending us, not only about ourselves but about the partners' own needs and desires. When we can receive the true messages and respond unselfishly sometimes, focusing on our own mates' needs, we find deep and lasting partner-love. When this happens around sexual needs and practices, greater fulfillment results. But it needs to happen outside the bedroom as well. The partners need to connect regularly throughout each day, freely and fully sharing thoughts, feelings, dreams and desires. We may still need to discuss who should pay the bill when, but we shouldn't forget to give a little hug and kiss when we're passing by! In the same way that we listen more freely, less critically, we need to speak more carefully, choose our words more wisely. So often I have seen how couples get caught up in the feeling of the moment, forgetting to measure their words. The sparks fly, and the message gets lost. Learning to communicate carefully is work - hard work. It may be the hardest work we ever do. But all relationships involve work. There are no perfect partners, no perfect relationships. There are relationships though, in which the partners' needs are met, in which the bond is nourished and therefore endures and provides the teaching that keeps us ever-growing. 


   Another feature of a deep and meaningful relationship is a willingness of the partners to let the other take center stage sometimes. To be mindful not only of our own needs but our partners', to be willing to put the other first, is an essential part in creating a loving, enduring bond. Sincere and loving sacrifice is a beautiful, necessary gift: we may, for example, decide to make love even when we don't feel like it, just because our partners need us. By the same token, our mates may sometimes decide to respect our requirement for solitude, even when they want closeness just then. 


   Some people find themselves continually rejecting the lessons their partners and the people close to them offer. They feel that others are letting them down. Sometimes our loved ones do fail us, but just as often the gap may actually be caused by our own lack of self-trust. If we keep saying, "I trust these people and they keep disappointing me," then it may be that we are actually disappointing ourselves. If we have harmony with ourselves, not listening to our own inner whisperings about what is safe and true, the proper messages can't get through. And we feel let down. 


   When we deny ourselves the benefits of our own inner wisdom, we deny ourselves self-love and self-care, and we're less effective and fulfilled in our own lives - for what we are blind to in ourselves, we are blind to in others. But when we tune in to our own deepest messages, we can create a space of love around us and can live in a context of love that nurtures not only ourselves but the world. 

I, Anonymous

Ever have someone who really ticked you off? A complete stranger? Someone who cut you off in traffic? That person at the restaurant who gave really bad service? It happens to everyone… and we NEVER get to confront them about it! 

Why? Because we are rational human beings and can understand that it would be socially inappropriate to approach and inform them on how completely ignorant, rude, mean and stupid they are.  Well, I often visit The Stranger and they offer a very interesting and healthy column entitled: I, Anonymous. Anyone can write in and just vent about something (usually someone) that really pissed them off. It's fabulous, and fabulously entertaining! I am going to give it a shot: 

Please Stop

You may think that I enjoy our conversations about your trips to Grocery Outlet, and how/when you floss your teeth…but I don't. I know you may be perceived as a cute little old lady that just wants someone to talk to, but you're weird, you smell funny, and you don't understand personal boundaries. I don't like it when you creep up from behind me, scare the shit out of me, and then act like it was not intentional. You walk like a deer...IT WAS INTENTIONAL! Stop apologizing when you "overhear" conversations and then decide to insert yourself in them. Do you not understand social cues? You were not invited into this conversation. Please stop eating my food; I know it's you. Stop staring at my cleavage. Stop asking about my dog AND especially my cat. I act young, because I am young. My clothes will be different than yours, because I am not in my sixties. Among all things, please stop talking to me about Survivor, your jaw pain, hip pain, your creaks and cracks, and finally… your church. 

- Anonymous 

*I understand that this is not "technically" anonymous, but you get my point*