Zen and the art of...

It has been almost a year since I last updated this blog and instead of attempting to summarize the past
 9 months or so, I am merely going to jump right back into things. You, avid reader(s), may be lost for a bit as a life time has come and gone in my absence. But have no fear! The confusion will not last.

I am suprisingly alright with turning 27. When I turned 25, I had a mini break down about getting older and had issues with the realization that I am a full fledged adult. At that time, I didn't feel like I had accomplished anything that I had planned out for myself previously. In the past, I had issues:

I have always felt that I am older than my age.
I have always wondered what it would be like to be an adult.
I have always admired those sophisticated, confident, funny adult people.
I have always felt like I was waiting to have life happen to me.

But at 27, I feel like I am one of those people that I admired and wanted to become. For the first time in my life I feel my age. I woke up one day with confidence and poise. I will admit that I am very surprised at the suddenness of this state of zen. I feel successful, I am happy with my position at work and in life, I have come so far since living out of a suitcase upon first moving to Bakersfield. I live in a beautiful place, I have wonderful friends, and I am finally feeling content with my looks and body. Its very odd, this sudden acceptance, but I am going to roll with it.

Happy Monday.

I spent the last weekend up at my sister's house in Bakersfield, helping her with a church production of "All in a Week". She called me about a week ago looking to rent some lights.. and that being what I do for a living, I brought her some, set them up, and ran the board. It turned out well, and I didn't spontaneously burst into flames for being a heathen, so good times! I really like most of the people I met that go to her church. It was like being part of a big family. The best part was I got to see my sister! I really miss being close to her like that. And Jeny... "I threw it on the ground!"

I've recently found the hilarity that is lolcats. And Engrish.com. If you have seen them, then there is no need for further explanation. If not, go look. I couldn't describe them and do it justice.

I've been sober all month, and it has been an interesting experiment in self control. The good news is that I have impeccable self control. The bad news is I have been practicing self-imposed sobriety. I am looking forward to this weekend... Alkaline Trio, wine, and a good friend to share them with. That's right snuckas. I am going to see my favorite band for the second time ever... yeah. I'm stoked.

I'm not feeling well today though. Been queasy since I woke up and I am not sure why. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights. It might have something to do with the fact that I had two cups of coffee this morning (and a bunch of M&M's). I think I am going to go home and go to sleep after work today...I don't think I'll be up to much of a dinner as is anyway.

I can't believe the year is already of a quarter of the way spent. Geez. Where have I been?

Time marches on, taking us all prisoners.

I am not quite sure if I am just behind the times, or what, but I feel like everyone I grew up with is growing up faster then me. I am starting to feel like the only person from my group of friends who isn't engaged, married, or has kids (or any combination of the above). I don't know what to think about that. On one hand I am like, "When's it going to be *my* turn?" BUT on the other hand I want to point and laugh and say "Haha! I still know the taste of freedom and it tastes GOOOOD!" (all while doing a victory dance of epic proportions).

Updates (as I know) of my friends growing up:

Bound (and gagged):
Jeny Rendt-Scott: Married, no kids.
Heather Wilson: Married, no kids.
Rachel Emmer: Getting hitched this weekend, no kids.
Melanie Evans: Married, two kids.
April Richards: Married, one kid, kid on the way.
Ciji Wilson: Married, three kids.
Rachel Coffman: Married, one kid.
Carla Clinton: Married, two kids, kid on the way.
Tim Greer: Married, kid on the way.
Richard Denherder: One kid.
Ryan Revis: Married, no kids.
Michael Pedrin: Engaged, no kids.

Freedom Fighters:
Cameron Boyce, active military
Neil Richmond, doing his own thing in Bako
Natalie Lewis, dating a guy, working in the bay area

MIA:
Rose Cartwright

I'll update this more as I find out.

words and pixels

I am entirely getting addicted to video games again. I guess a boozeless life is left with a gaping hole in the entertainment area that needs to be filled with something. Some people pick God, some people pick love, I "picked" delving into the digital world. I used to be completely put off by the whole idea of console gaming, having been an avid PC gamer (Lineage 2 woo!), but after playing a few games I think I'm a convert. Here's a rundown:

Last night, after a St. Paddy's day dinner at a friend's house, we played this crazy game on the Wii system called Rayman Raving Rabbids and it was freakin hilarious! It is a collection of several mini games that pit you against your friends (who are all crazy looking bunny avatars). One of these games has you mimicking the dance moves shown on screen (think DDR but includes disco moves and slapping your own ass). When you are winning, your avatar does even more hilarious dance moves. You also get to race your friends and throw stuff at them, fight off zombie bunnies with plungers, and fight with bouncy balls. It is entirely random, fraught full of hilarity.

After playing a full round of about ten games, I headed home in order to find some parking somewhat near my house... and to get in another half hour or so of Assassin's Crack 2 (I mean Creed, whoops). After having to re-do the first race a million times, I am getting quite good at the controls... for a novice. I really like the graphics and the story (so far) as well as the different types of tasks/challenges they provide. And it's just damn fun to run around on rooftops.

Playing these games makes me miss the heyday of Lineage. I wish more of my friends still played to provide me with some incentive to play more... as is, I am thinking about de-activating my account indefinitely. Ah the ebbs and flows of online gaming...

Anyway. To summarize: me + games - booze = good times. That's all you really need to take away from this experience.

March Madness

I used to update my blog pretty regularly, back when I had a Live Journal. Now that I've switched blogs (and grown up a bit), I find that I don't know what to share anymore. I've made some changes in my life recently. I've embraced my single-ness. I've vied to lose the weight I gained in the micro depression preceding the single-ness embracement. I've jumped head first onto the wagon. I've even committed myself to buying and successful completing a 2000 piece jigsaw puzzle (huzzah!). I've even hiked every weekend since I decided to get into better shape. I have been feeling very accomplished...but I still feel like something is missing in my life.


I am really looking forward to baseball season starting up.
I am really looking forward to the Bad Religion and Alkaline Trio concerts that are coming up.
I am really looking forward to a trip to Europe this winter, despite how cold it will most likely be.
I am really looking forward to getting my credit cards paid off so that I can start saving money instead of spending it.
I am really looking forward to the chance to read more of my book.
I am really looking forward to the sunshine returning!
I am really looking forward to the next puzzle I will put together. It should be A Starry Night and yes, I like puzzles that much.
I am really looking forward to mastering my XBox skills on Assassin's Creed 2 over the next few months.
I am really looking forward to tomorrow's origami page on my one-a-day desk calendar. I think it's going to be a snake (today was a piano).


Its the little things in life that make it spectacular, right?

The Grinch Stole Thanksgiving?

Normally, I am not Ms. Holly Jolly Christmas-Chanukkah-Kwanzaa-Holiday Spirit, nor am I Ms. Grinchy-Bah-Humbug, mainly because I am not really into those sorts of Holidays on a religious basis. I do get joy in watching people enjoying themselves during such familial times. I do like singing along to some holiday tunes at times. BUT seriously!? Holiday music before Halloween is even past? I expect it after Thanksgiving during the Black Friday rushes and the inevitable countdown as the big X-day approaches...but pre-turkey day is a bit much for me. Especially ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. Maybe that's the reason I got sick this week and had to spend two whole days incapacitated: too much holiday spirit, too soon. My poor immune system couldn't handle the overload of cheer and good tidings.

=)

Ah, the ever controversial topic of abortion, how I have missed thee...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/27/abortion.war/index.html

In this article, the Pro-Life guy asks the reporter "What part of wanting to save a baby's life is so bad that it makes people hate me?"

I think it might have something to do about him wanting to take away a woman's choice. Or that he puts the "rights" of an unborn child over those of an established human being. Or that his supporters go to fanatical extremes, sometimes even as far as to murder those that oppose their ideas (hello hypocrisy!).

This just got me riled up a little.