Costa Rica, 2011

happy house

Still loving this house, and still working on it.

We are finding ourselves very cozy, and most importantly, happy.

July 4th

4th of July will always be a lighthearted, fun, holiday for me. Some traditions you can't break getting older.

We had a lazy day. But I wanted to make us a delicious summertime meal tonight. So, there was a fresh salad with local greens, radishes, tomatoes, and cucumber slices with a homemade white wine vinaigrette dressing made by me. Fresh squeezed limeade and blended strawberries for a strawberry limeade. My favorite recipe of roasted red potatoes brushed with extra virgin olive oil and Italian seasonings. And of course, hot dogs! Tofu vegetarian style, on freshly baked hot dog buns from Market of Choice bakery.

New house

Finally, after a long wait, we are in our new, simply great, house. Inevitably, I have had endless inspiration and excitement about decor for our home. It is a great feeling to love where you live.

Good will $3

Ikea. Bought sometime back, but finally put to good use.

Simple house plant, Home Depot.

 The first plant of the hew house. A good friend brought it over in a jar of water and a separate bag of dirt. I planted it in this reused flower pot from Trader Joe's.

Market of Choice- Lavender candle $7

And, a new cat! She wandered up to the house, and, my friend found her outside sitting by the porch. She won't leave, and has found a place in my lap, and heart. I've been calling her Rosie. I'm not sure why.

We- we being Johnny, and, me- took the short drive to the coast yesterday. Not always will you get a nice day on this part of the pacific, but the sun was there, and there was contentment. I could spend many days coast side.

Summer reading thus far has been good. Finishing up American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and afterwards I plan to move onto Ender's Game, and then onto the Hunger Wars series. I also plan to throw in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress at some point.

Only helplessness

There is clouds again. Everyday. Summertime this is a strange start. Mostly working everyday and planning a new move. Trying constantly to keep my mind in tact, and learn something new. Someday I will be better. Everyday starts something new.

Downtown wall art in Corvallis. I am loving instagram effects.

 Lexie this afternoon. We slept the sunny morning away.

I am ready for summer.

Hair

hair inspirations

Nail euphoria

Last weekend I decided it was finally time to kick my raging nail biting habit. Its bewildering that I can chew on my nails all day and not care to the point of them bleeding.

I have wanted to stop so many times, but obviously never have. So, since Thursday, 4 days ago, they have not been bit. To accompany this determination, I have awarded myself many colors of OPI nail lacquer.

I will have beautiful nails.

I am working as a Barista and as a versatile employee for a corporate chain restaurant. Two jobs plus 12 credits of classes. Sometimes the weight is heavy. This song is a great depiction of how I feel though, and why I keep going pushing along.

Shall Be Released

They say ev’rything can be replaced
Yet ev’ry distance is not near
So I remember ev’ry face
Of ev’ry man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say ev’ry man needs protection
They say ev’ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

"Lately it appears to me what a long strange trip its been."

Time continues to be fleeting. Although, some days seem so long.
The purposes of writing is to express emotion. To convey something that maybe can't be communicated verbally. It may not be about communicating at all. I think its possible that we write just because.

I hope that the simple things never cease to satisfy me. Like steeping loose leaf tea in the evening. Saturating a liquid solvent to extract a soluble ingredient. That moment made me smile.

It's a matter of conditioning

Spring in particular, at least for me, brings a natural sense of refreshment and motivation.
I put my mat down in the grass and took some time to re coop in the sunshine.
These are the moments that make everyday seem less complicated.

Coming home to this cute asthmatic kitty makes me so happy.

Thank you for the past 11 years of companionship, Lexie.

Montaigne

"We are all patchwork, and so shapeless and diverse in composition that each bit, each moment, plays its own game." - Michel De Montaigne

And thus the inspiration of my blog title.

Simple nights.

I love Etsy. I wish I could extend my talents that far to sell them. Making art and sharing is so special to me.

These are a few things I eyed today. Lately I look on this site everyday.

Agenda tonight is simple.
Home from work early.
A glass of red wine and a veggie sandwich.
Some studying and homework.

Some things to be excited for the weekend:
Payday.
Only 2 work shifts.
And then Sunday, Johnny and I are off to Eugene to see Yonder Mountain String Band.

Migraine.

From yesterday's bout. It turned out really well. Great color. Non-impressive lines on the bottom, thanks to a huge squirt from the henna cone.


My head was near collapsing this morning from a migraine. I thought I was going to pass out.  I finally got home from 9 am class and Johnny put an ice pack on my head. Fell asleep for 3 hours but woke up with a very cold, hypothermia like, headache. I am feeling normalish now. These things tend to freak me out a little because I take unconditionally good care of myself. Past health problems have resulted this, and also why I have decided to go into a medical field.

I recently just finished Anthony Keidis' autobiography "Scar Tissue". If you're a Chili Peppers fan, it is a great read.
Started up a few days ago "The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-time" out of a curiosity (hah) from the past few years of seeing it around. The writing structure is nontraditional, with very short chapters, and first person perspective. Mostly very acute short sentences throughout. I would summarize this as a novel about a 15 year old boy with a dysfunctional life  (and by that I mean not normal in comparison) and some people issues, enduring autism while being highly intelligent as a mathematician. The book starts off with a symbolic figure of a murdered poodle that carries the book. I am enjoying the read. Recommended for sure.

Yesterday Johnny and I took a walk downtown for our rendezvous Tuesday date. So nice.