Currently - January 2015 (All Done Now)

I am currently:

Obsessing over,
Working on, 
Thinking about, 
Anticipating, 
Listening to,
Eating,
Praying for,
Reading,

Remembering,Happy about.  

1. I am obsessing over:

• Twitter stats/connections on my fake account. It's addicting, watching the numbers go up and down depending on what I tweet.  And it's mostly British account. So there's that. 
• Living spaces. And how, if I get my own again, it must be exceptional. It probably won't be a house, and I am so OK with that. And there will be many, many windows. And high ceilings. And maybe a brick wall? (Oh yessiree bob, I have spent too many hours on Pinterest this month.)
• Colour. And how I love it. And how this passion for color is not reflected in my life. The clothes I wear (all black), my office at work, (walls are all empty) and my space at my mom's (very neutral) are all boring. WHY IS THAT? 

2. I am working on:

• My list of 101 Things to Do in 1,000 Days. (I've chosen February as the month to go without fast food lunches.) So far? (4 days in?) I'm doing well. 
• I am also working on sorting my boxes. I've packed up two to give away. And another one that is going to the dump. 
• 
  

3. I am thinking about:

• ... this: 
  

I am lucky enough to be part of many conversations. And by many, I mean hours and hours of talking. I go out for coffee (insert any beverage here, except for coffee, tea, pop, juice, beer, wine, spirits, or cocktails. In other words, I drink ice water or hot chocolate. Sometimes? Both) about 3 or 4 times a week. With friends. To 'catch up'. And we catch up/cover everything that's happened since the last time we met to catch up. 

(And WHAT IS THAT? Catch up coffees? 

It means that I am not part of their life, not really. And they aren't a part of mine. 

If our relationship is only getting together to report on what we've done since the last time we had 'coffee' - then that's a weird friendship, no? We're not at all involved in the day-to-dayness of each other's lives. We are 'guests' in each other's homes... 

Sometimes that feels strange. 

Sometimes that's as good as it gets.)

Anyways, I think I have a longing to be part of conversations that matter. Not even sure what one would look like. Or who it was matter to. Or what the topics would be. But I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be about wrinkles, rolls, grey hair or bone spurs. :)

• Also thinking about this ...  Stephen Fry said something the other day, and I had a strong reaction to it. 

But I didn't know how to articulate a response. 

It's still sort of haunting me, because I think I should be able to say the words that my heart believes. 

This is his comment:

Just listen to the first 40 seconds if you don't want to hear his entire tirade. 40 seconds is enough.

I kept wondering if someone/anyone would post a rebuttal, or another point of view, but until Russell Brand posted his vlog, I wasn't aware of it.

Yes, Russell Brand. 

He spoke up FOR God. Because He believes in God. 

Sadly, I couldn't totally follow his reasoning/arguments, but I am impressed with his passion. 

And both of their statements have got me thinking.

• Also thinking about the Humans Of New York guy, Brandon Stanton. And how a whole pile of good things have come together because of one picture and one question he asked a young boy in New York. Have you been following the story at all? It started with a photo he took of Vidal:

"Who’s influenced you the most in your life?"
“My principal, Ms. Lopez.”
“How has she influenced you?”
“When we get in trouble, she doesn’t suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”

After that, Brandon took a pic of Ms. Lopez and found out that she is the principal of a middle school in the toughest, most dangerous school district in the country. One thing led to another, and next thing you know, Brandon has started a fundraiser to help out with a project at the school. They were hoping to raise 100,000.

That money was raised within 4 days, so they came up with a second project for what to do with any additional funds came in.

More money was raised.

And more. 

As of yesterday over $1,000,000 was raised, and Ellen had both Vidal and Ms. Lopez on her show, where she announced that Target was going to be outfitting all the schools in the district with state of the art electronic equipment. A pledge worth $100,000. 

Click on this link and read/watch the story.

SO inspiring. 

4. I am anticipating:

• A really, really fun trip in June. It's a 101 Things in 1,001 Days list item - I'm going to Red Rock Ampitheatre in Colorado for a concert! So excited. And then? Going to stay a few extra days to visit the Focus Mothership in Colorado Springs. Haha. I told the Creative dept there that I'd be popping by, and Oh My Goodness. They are making me feel very welcome. And THEN, instead of coming home? We're stopping in Vegas for a few days... TO ATTEND A DONNY AND MARIE SHOW. YES, I know. I know. No point mocking me. Just be happy for me, OK?
• Also, I am anticipating that my heel will not feel like crap forever. It has improved by 50%, so that's something. Still not going for any walks, which. Well. SUCKS. I went from walking 10 hours a week. To no hours a week. Know what that means? In the past 13 weeks, I have gained 13 pounds. Sucks to be me.
• I am also anticipating Family Day. This year? I will be spending it with my family. We're going to hang out together. At the lake. In the rain. But it won't matter. I am stupidly excited. 

5. I am listening to:

• Only one new song added to my playlist this month. And it was added because of The Superbowl Half Time show: (Katy Perry, ROAR)

I'll finish this tomorrow. 

6. I am praying for:

• my foot. After 3 months, I'm (finally) asking for help with the healing.
• This upcoming weekend. May it be fun and light.
• Clint's back-to-back trips in March. From Africa for three weeks to Alaska for one. 
• The entertainment industry. The upcoming Academy Awards. Specific actors, directors, producers. (Haha. This week, Light in Film suggested we all pray for Ryan Reynolds.) 
• Folks with addiction/substance abuse issues. Here's a great share by one of the guys from The Door. Read here. 

Want more info about The Last Door? Here's a great 2 minute video. Everyone, (EVERYONE) who works at The Door is a recovered addict. They know. (Max is at the 10 second mark, if you want to watch at least to that point. Haha.)

7. I am reading:

• The Dovekeepers (again) because it's our book club book for February. (And the mini-series will be on CBS on March 31 and April 1.
• Us Conductors, because it won The Prize, so it must be good. 
• And as soon as Clint helps me figure out how to use my $100 Amazon.com gift card to buy books for my Amazon.ca Kindle, I will be downloading: The Precious One by Marisa De Los Santos, Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith and I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. Also, maybe How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran? Us by David Nichols? One Plus One by Jojo Moyes? Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis?

8. I am remembering/happy about:

• How this month started with my mom's 75th birthday and even though I was ill and doing poorly, the party was fun because of the people who made it so. Thankful for all my parent's incredible friends - what a legacy they are leaving for us Baby Boomers to be inspired by. 
• I am also remembering/thankful that The Accident that Killed My Dad's Truck did not include any other deaths. Still in awe that Clint walked away from that accident without even a single achy muscle. That Coquihalla man. Especially in blizzard/white out conditions. And black ice? Shudder. Thank you, God.
• Thankful for all the girl-dates I went on this month -so many movies. So many Chicken Caesar Salad meals. So little walking because Bone Spur and whiny attitude about pain. 
• Also remembering and happy about the three weekends at the lake with three different friends. And all the sleeping in, taking lake pics, watching movies, eating erhmmmm, well, eating food. 
• Also, loving the sermon series at church re: Joshua. 
• Also, this? Was the month I got a little carried with Twitter. OkFINE, a LOT carried away. 
• Also. This month? I made a new list. 101 Things to Do in the Next 1,001 Days. I have done one thing on that list: Attend a Stand Up Comedian's Show. I will do better in February. 

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Haha. Random mentions from friends hoping for a craft night. 

2. My foot IS slowly getting better.

3. My kids conversations with each other via Facebook. #WittyBoys

Shalom,