doing more because i CAN. and i WANT TO.

it's funny how sometimes we and by we, i mean me, (and you can also include yourself in this category) sometimes forget to do the things we actually enjoy, dare i say, love, admire, adore doing. i love art. i love thinking about it, sketching, drawing, planning, plotting, dreaming about all things art. be it being moved by and swept away by paintings and prints in a museum, gallery, or being amused and grateful for sweet graffiti art and stickers i see on the street, random bathroom art, signage, you name it. i will usually dig it. (unless it's crap. but then again, there's sometimes beauty in the ugly too. other times, it really is just ugly. YIKES!)

this is my time to take life by the balls. BALLS. that means i've got to do it. and when i'm doing it, i'm loving it. here's to remembering to honoring by DOING what i love: art.

in an effort to aid this process, i've called on my family and friends to collaborate with me. my first collaborator is my brother. when he was visiting bmore, he showed me pictures on his camera. one of them was a piece of artwork that he liked, a silhouette of an octopus, that he thought about buying. he didn't actually make the purchase, but it dawned on me, that i would love my brother to own original artwork by me, his sister! i like to hold myself accountable and for the most part i do, but it's also true that when others hold you accountable too, you can be more apt to get it done, sometimes, even better and faster. i thought about replicating the octopus image i saw, but my brother gave me an even better idea. based on his observations at the chicago zoo he was introduced to and was very taken by the axolotl. (pronounced ACKS-a-lot-uhl, which means "water dog.") i have time to embellish and draw variations on the funny salamander creature that is native to mexico. for now, i'm happy with the beginning! i'm well on my way!

accessible and totally do-able resolutions for a better life.

inspired by gala's (galadarling.com) radical self love resolutions as read on bust magazine, i'm relaying this info in blogform to remind myself (and those of you who also like gentle reminders) to continue learning, fostering, and embracing all the simply joys in life.

*devour life: be big, be bold, be brave, free and BADASS. wear red lipstick simply because you want to.
*develop friendship and relationships with your family: there is still so much to (re)discover about close friends and family.
*be responsible: it's up to you to make shit happen. DO IT.
*follow instincts and listen (& HONOR) your GUT: they don't call it a sixth sense for nothing. don't be afraid to use it!
*be kind to yourself: give yourself permission to be imperfect, messy, loud, carefree, beautiful and ever-evolving.

a big one. (what makes you smile?)

my friend, amber, who coincidentally makes me smile!, was visiting baltimore from idaho falls and to show her a grand ole time in charm city, i took her to various delicious eateries: one world cafe, the brewer's art, and golden west cafe. we also loved exploring the american visionary art museum where we oohed and ahhed, sighed with compassion, and laughed with delight and silliness! it's a fabulously curated exhibit that's adoringly filled with all sorts of insights into the things that make us smile.

there was a room titled, "toots suite" and it was decorated with all sort of fart related artworks. in the center of it all was a bench that was decked out with self inflating whoopee cushions--oh man! i had a ball! and so did the other museum goers who were tooting up a storm!

fart jokes very naturally lend themselves to poop jokes and this reminded me of a particularly exuberant and charismatic student named june. one day, he informed me that he had to go to the bathroom and asked to go, quickly. (insert the classic holding of the crotch and running in place motion.) i gave him permission to go and that's when he totally dished out too much (but funny!) information. he said, "teacher, i can tell it's going to be a BIG ONE."

wow.
thanks, june.
for being so memorable!
and for making me smile.

mom love.

dear mom,
i know that when i began to use an empty glass jar i found in the cupboard as a drinking cup, you questioned my choice and laughed at my unconventionality. but, you see, the jar seems to fit perfectly in my hand--an awesome combination of heigh, weight, and material.

the other day, when i returned home from a brief respite away, you handed me the same glass jar and told me that you remembered how much i liked it and so that i may use it again, you cleaned it for me. that simple act of kindness and love made my day. thank you mom for being so sweet. i love you.

love,
me

everything that can happen in a day

i just read a very quick book--it's actually a creative, silly, self-exploratory book of ideas!--and the title is everything that can happen in a day, by david horvitz.

he suggests that this string of words (everything that can happen in a day) is a nice way to wake up in the morning and think, "what will happen today? what can happen today? what can i make happen today? what will i make happen today?" i like that, a lot.

karma points

i just scored big (HUGE!) karmic points by returning a wallet to its rightful and very relieved owner.

yesterday, i went for my usual run in rock creek park and while i was stretching by the various exercise stations, on one of the signs posts, i noticed a black wallet with a very awesome bike screen print on the front. wondering if it was left there intentionally by the only other person in the vicinity--at the time he was swinging on the still rings. what a misleading name: still rings!--i let it be. but when the man ran by without so much as a glance at the wallet, i knew that it was up to me to do the right thing.

it wasn't as easy as i thought it would be track the owner! he had a very common name (matthew bailey) and my facebook search posted nothing. my linkedin search was also a bust and even though i had what i thought was his current address on his voter registration card, i came up blank in finding a contact number. so, i tried the next best thing. i called his dad. in washington state. from his driver's license, i was able to find a home phone number using his parent's address and once his dad realized that i wasn't part of the mafia or trying to scam him, i was given mr. bailey's cell phone number, in washington dc.

the story ends well. he met me in dupont and i happily returned his wallet. some high fives were also exchanged and i felt pleased doing my good samaritan and sleuthing act of the day.

after a big fall...

these are the moments i wish i could bottle up and drink like an elixir of magical happiness and satisfaction when i'm feeling debbie downer or needy and moody. however, i also recognize that not having such a continuous stream of fairytale fabulous-ness is what makes me enjoy, savor and TRULY honor such moments with a full, appreciative heart and open mind. and let's be real. suffering is a natural aspect of life and sometimes, those less-than-ideal opportunities are just as ripe for growth and knowledge.

this morning, after waking up slowly in moira's lovely apt, i realized that i didn't allow myself enough time for a leisurely stroll to meet amanda near dupont circle. because of this, i picked up the pace and began to jog. (now i know the reason why i don't wear my chucks when i go running!) i was going at a nice clip when all of a sudden, i tripped on an exposed and raised crack in the sidewalk. what didn't help the situation was that chucks have big toe uppers, which sadly got all too easily caught in the shifted cement. i was running happily and a second later, i was on the sidewalk with my yoga mat tossed lightly to the side and a throbbing pain in my left wrist. turns out my watch took the brunt of the fall and i completely bent the closing latch, as well as scuff the shit out of the side of a few stainless steel panels. oopsa. interestingly enough, i chuckled at such a clumsy fall (face it! falls are funny! and when you actually see a person falling, it's HILARIOUS!--of course, as long as they don't seriously injure themselves...) and picked myself up, got the dirt of my shoulder, and quickly walked--no more running!--to Q and connecticut where amanda was waiting for me.

once in her car, i surveyed the damages and in the beginning i was so bummed out about my watch, that i didn't realize that the biggest sore wasn't my wrist, it was my right knee. i had skinned it and didn't see it until i sat down in the front seat. it was bleeding, but not too badly. amanda offered to stop at cvs to get some medical supplies, but, it wasn't anything that good ole soap and water couldn't handle once we got to the embassy.


on friday, amanda sent me an invitation to attend a free pilates session at the rooftop of the swedish embassy also known as house of sweden. (whenever i get my own space, i'm calling it house of chong.) say WHAT?!? giddy at this golden opportunity we got to the embassy in georgetown bright and early and after the parking meter emptied amanda's change purse of it's coinly possessions, we made our merry way (me still laughing at my fall and amanda joining me in the giggles!) to house of sweden. (i love that. house of sweden.) along the way, a trio of bikers passed us and while we waited for them to clear the sidewalk, we happened to pause by a group of pepco workers. i tripped (again!) on the grate and one of the workers, commented, "be careful! i see you already hurt yourself once! you don't want to do it again!" hahahahaha! true enough! and then, without skipping a beat, the other worker offered me a band-aid and i gladly accepted. after he located the band-aids (2) and one iodine antiseptic packet, he even was so kind as to offer to put the band-aids on me! how creepily sweet. i declined the offer but thanked him for the band-aids. the kindness of strangers makes me so happy!


once we were on the rooftop, we reveled in the sunlight (warm!), view (awesome!) and the general excitement from other participants (cute!). the pilates session was a fabulous start to a glorious saturday and a blissful reminder of how many sweet opportunities there are in the district. it's so good to be here.