Quotable

“I need better lighting to hide my awkwardness”

-DeAndre’ Vidale

(friend and video editing guru)

Gotta Listen To This With Headphones or On Great Speakers

I’m just getting back from this creative conference in Chicago called Story. Well physically I’m back but spiritually I’m still there! It was just an amazing atmosphere to feed the little creative monster that lives deep inside me. There were so many things that literally fed my soul. One thing in particular was the opportunity to hear about a group called Mason Jar Music. In this day and age were everyone focuses on the 808 and beatbox, they decided to concentrate their efforts of focusing on the pure, raw, unsynthesized  beauty of music. The result? Something so amazing that you must truly enjoy with a  good set a headphones or on some great speakers. The crazy thing about what they do, they all volunteer to do it. They don’t sell one bit of it. (Trust me, I’da bought all their stuff if I could.) This group has worked with artists like Josh Garrels, Laura Gibson and Alicia Keys. My words are simply not enough. You must go and enjoy this yourself.  Please check out masonjarmusic.com to get a taste of all that they do and enjoy this video link below on my behalf.

Mason Jar Music Presents Josh Garrels

The $200 Breakfast Sandwich

So living in the DC area, I should be no stranger to traffic and parking foolishness. I tell you though, I still have days that surprise me and work my ever lovin’ last nerve. This was actually the case about 2 weeks ago.

I had to drive across town to Silver Spring for fingerprints I have to get for an upcoming test. It was in an area that I was not at familiar with but they didn’t bother me. So as I pull into the parking lot, I noticed a food spot across the street that caught my eye AND I was about a half hour early for my appointment. Score!  So I parked the car and happily skipped my butt across the street to get me a breakfast sandwich. I got my sandwich and came immediately back to the parking lot area where there were tables (wasn’t out of the parking lot for no more than 10 minutes ) and sat and enjoyed every bite of my breakfast sandwich.  Sandwich devoured and appointment time quickly approaching, I realized I left something in car that I need for the appointment.  I walk over to my car, well…. I walked over to where my car was in disbelief. Mentally I’m double checking to see if this was where I had parked.  Yes… this was the spot as evidenced by the puddle of AC condensation from where my car was. “Awwww nawwww” I literally said aloud. I kinda did this real dramatic slow motion turn in one spot upon the realization that I have just got ‘got’. I started thinking to myself  “well this is a decent area and it’s 10am…wait…did I really just get towed?!?”

Sure enough I looked at the sign it roughly said “you walk off the property, you will be towed”.  Okay so yes it was my fault (but whatever) I didn’t think to look at the sign because I knew had legitimate business there and the kicker was that I was only off for no more than 10 minutes. I call the towing company listed on the sign and explained what happened and that I had legimate business in the area and my car was towed erroneously.  The chick’s ( and yes I said chick because that is the nicest word I can come up with. Thinking about it still make my blood boil) response was “You walked off. you can pick your car up in Rockville” (which is about at least an hour away by car) I took all of Jesus for me not to truly say what I wanted to say.

Reasoning and arguing with this ‘chick’  was proving pointless and now I’m late for my appointment. I hung up and walked into my appointment…shaking uncontrollably with rage and frustration, I explained my situation to the apathetic receptionist. She said that they have folks in the parking lot and watch people walk off, they keep the tow truck right around the corner in waiting. I FELT OH SO VIOLATED.  The lady doing my fingerprints started to console me and gave me a big ole hug as I started audibly repeating to myself  “oh Lord Jesus keep me!!”. That was the best hug a stranger has ever given me. With her help and fingerprinting complete, I collected myself and went about the business of getting my car back.

2 hours, 1 metro ride, 1 bus ride , 3 block walk and $200 later, I got my car back. That sandwich was not THAT good. 😦

Quotable

 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”

– Albert Einstein

UPDATE: Believe it or Not

Yes … The corn is gone. How sad. I was starting to like the idea of fresh corn next to my car.

It took about a week from my post before it was gone. Guess I would have lost money on that bet. 🙂

“Breath” -Taking Art

 

So when I was flying thru SFO about a month ago, I looked up and saw the most intriguing sculpture but I had no idea what it was called and who the artist was. As I was doing my inspirational art searches, (wait…doesn’t everybody do that? ) I came across the website that lead me to Janet Echelman. I found out the piece is called “Every Breathing Second” and looks like it was installed last year (maybe?). So I explored her Facebook page and found another sculpture that is just simply so amazing that I had to share.

 

 

This one is called “1.26” and it’s just memorizing! Looks like it is also made from multicolor netting like the other piece above. So creative and inspiring!

Please check out some of her additional works on her Facebook account… Janet Echelman and Echelman Studios

Enjoy!

Nom Nom Delicious! A New Paleo App!!

So in my quest to eat better, I’ve found the most energizing diet to be paleo. This is also known as the “cave man” or paleolethic diet. For me its the simplest eating plan to follow. Grass feed, organic meats, vegetables, healthily fats and nuts, easy on the fruit. What’s missing…breads, pastas, and dairy. Now mind you I love my dairy and bread so this is tough for me. So what I’ve decided to do is to ease into this diet change. In my quest to make this diet change obtainable, I came across this app and blog that is absolutely fabulous. It’s called Nom Nom Paleo. I found it about a week ago and have tried about 7 recipes out of it so far. I must say they all have been fabulous!! My favorite so far is the Stir-Fried Kelp noodles. Yes I know it sounds crazy, so just follow the recipe. In fact…just get the whole app. They also have a blog you can check out too that packed with great information about the diet, recipes and lifestyle that goes with it.

click here

Get the app and let me know what recipes you try. I promise you, it’s the best $5 you’ll spend all month!

(image credit: nomnompaleo.com)

Believe it or not…

I have some pretty awesome neighbors. They are a young couple that loves to grill. They have also decided to take farming into their own hands. In this urban area, they wanted to capitalize on all they have available to them. So what they decide to do is …grow corn. Yes corn! Not basil, rosemary or some small inconspicuous garden item. No they chose corn. Why? I’m not quite sure but I love it and think its hilarious!! The neighbor that shares this little plot of land with them on the other side may not find it so humorous when this thing starts to grow to about 6ft tall. Shoot now that I think about it, I’m not sure how long it’s going to be until property management gets involved. So for now, everyday when I come home I chuckle. Drought and all, their corn seems to be growing very well.

I’m not a betting woman, but if I was, my money would be on the crop getting pulled up in less than a month.

Music To Study By

**Alarm Will Sound – Blue Calx **

Click here to listen and enjoy!

In this season of my life, I find myself studying…a lot. And every study session (well at least for me) needs a great soundtrack. I stumbled across this song while on my Pandora flow and it is simply amazing! Please take a moment to enjoy Blue Calx by Alarm Will Sound and as always, if you enjoy it, purchase a copy wherever you get your music from. 🙂

Ummm…Awkward!

Your doctor. A trusted professional who care for you and keeps you well. We all know that they are normal people outside of your doctor visits. But it’s a different thing seeing them outside that setting and seeing how normal they really are. While at the grocery store across the street from my house and halfway down the peanut butter aisle, I spotted her, my gynecologist. Now I think I have a great patient/doctor relationship with my gynecologist. Most women would probably say that they do too. But I don’t know what it was. But seeing the woman who knows my most intimate …well..me…was awkward. But there she was, in her t-shirt, sweats, and a ponytail getting her choice pick of chicken. So I did what any self respecting woman would do, I hid. I’m not exactly sure why this was my knee jerk reaction to seeing her but that’s what I did. It’s not like I owed her money. My last check up went well.  Yet I still ducked behind the weekly sale sign for beef on sale for $2.99 a pound. I started to hear a brief rendition of mission impossible playing in my head as I continued to bob and weave thru the store behind her trying not to get noticed. Once I saw that the coast was clear, I continued my shopping…like a normal person.

 

I can only imagine that the employees at the store or those watching the security cameras got a good laugh at me that day.