tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477052651765612332024-03-05T02:20:44.550-08:00Travels with Pen and PaperI’m starting over, starting fresh. Moving to a new town, making new friends, doing new things. Writing it all down.Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-48279300750181722322015-03-16T08:39:00.003-07:002015-03-16T08:39:56.224-07:00Book Review: Ocean at the End of the Lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ocean-End-Lane-Novel/dp/0062255665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426520372&sr=8-1&keywords=ocean+at+the+end+of+the+lane"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmU-YJ6cbWWBzGDpf_isMYBE8U-WbNd9fIluo0cByOVk8uTvxnGd4UkVaK9ASfbiV0Nyw18Kmjzg5XccD9Sh4OFwKJYewHT6dXF1cVJXgIcpvMR1Gp32Qj6DIy7MIGJHvKPSKWOOQnR8/s1600/DSCN0327.JPG" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
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Ocean at the End of the Lane</div>
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This novel follows a little boy who’s home is overtaken by a creature bent on making his life miserable while <i>helping</i> everyone else. He seeks help from the strange farm at the end of the lane with a pond that one of the residents, Lettie Hempstock, calls an ocean.</div>
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I was wary of this book initially. I had a bad reading experience with Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods,” so I worried this would be the same. But, I like Gaiman’s writing style enough to overlook my resistance and give it a go. I’m extremely glad I did. It is an amazing book.</div>
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Things I love: the descriptions, the imagery, the whole shebang. I like that the real world/fantasy world are so close together, like they can exist at the same time in the same place and our world still moves in the same way. </div>
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His characters are so vivid even with just minor description. I find them more in their habits and their words than the physical details, taking it from a sketch to a fully formed 3-D character walking around the page.</div>
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The voice is incredible, as well. I’m always blown away when I read a young character that feels 100% authentic in his thoughts and actions. Even more so because the narrator is retelling a childhood tale, so it’s a story from a young boy filtered through an adult brain (two if you count the author in there).</div>
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The ending was incredible, definitely heartbreaking but beautiful. It makes you think about the blank spaces and im/permanence of memories. It also has some great points about the adult/child dichotomy. </div>
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Favorite Quotes:</div>
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“Grown-ups don’t look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they’re big and thoughtless and they always know what they’re doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren’t any grown-ups.” (pg 112)</div>
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5 stars</div>
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I started a book blog on Tumblr, give it a follow: <a href="http://bythepage.tumblr.com/">bythepage.tumblr.com </a></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-66542145481792754462015-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:002015-02-28T15:52:00.169-08:00February 2015 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zHFREbD517o-CjpTEyQXCLo1I4GJ7WKgy2mQCaRcRQsO5PO8NQ1LRVuGJdZTRySVLoyroaYZrSTUVZTWUy4GzvOpmJZ8624y5Q4W3HrVGyeGQMar2xGz_1I1aI68m2HqUWs8i3z-pqA/s1600/DSCN0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zHFREbD517o-CjpTEyQXCLo1I4GJ7WKgy2mQCaRcRQsO5PO8NQ1LRVuGJdZTRySVLoyroaYZrSTUVZTWUy4GzvOpmJZ8624y5Q4W3HrVGyeGQMar2xGz_1I1aI68m2HqUWs8i3z-pqA/s1600/DSCN0181.JPG" height="323" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-Douglas-Adams/dp/0345391802"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G0zkjNRBb_NwnR6nq46VYQvVdqvD-jod9Jm92Ia_ywzXYNZh_4dkHdYuAsDPzei0QdTtcQ6ebGceB0CszAxKWpb6-u4k2reSghQmd-ualoMMkInK8VzoARz8RCj4N1WevBWDLazxV18/s1600/hhg.jpeg" height="320" width="190" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This book has been on my radar for years, but I never picked it up until now. Arthur Dent is rescued by his alien friend Ford Prefect shortly before Earth is destroyed, catapulting them in a pretty epic space adventure. This was my quickest read. I think the world building was awesome, the characters were interesting, and the story line compelling. I only docked it a star because it felt a little slow for me. That’s not to say a lot isn’t going on, but I was mainly interested in what Arthur was going through and a majority of the book is about the other characters. 4 out of 5 stars. </div>
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We Were Liars E Lockhart</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Were-Liars-E-Lockhart/dp/038574126X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425167217&sr=1-1&keywords=We+were+liars"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhIE3Bb4F86y0_mVCZMJFjUQQGp-WuyY7AANCmVgveS8Lr5OT4AP_l60QlsUUwiW0Im9PNokYbhNFP8eAj6KCHISacrVu231INhnkLgF7ALiO0zvMuKCwkH2sIZOGGw0pbPXb6R7Asmo/s1600/wwl.jpeg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was seeing this book all over Tumblr and on some Youtuber shelves, so I decided to give it a go. I really liked it. This story takes place on an Island owned by the Sinclairs. The main character, Cadence, suffers crippling headaches and selective amnesia, coming back to the family island to try and sort out what happened to her and her family. I loved the characters in this book even though the book is more than a little white washed. It does follow a rich family who own their own island, so if you’re not interested in those kinds of story lines, I don’t recommend this one for you. I was drawn to the mystery of it, and I connected to Cadence’s struggle in watching her family self destruct. 4 out of 5 stars. </div>
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Saga Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan; art by Fiona Staples</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Vol-Brian-K-Vaughan/dp/1607066920/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425167269&sr=1-1&keywords=Saga+vol+2"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ie8Sp6Ed3FENaqx79rSNPF-Y83YjSP31vK1MyUa3B_qho7U3ndfYXI8x8stV2kgRKMaEjUD16wYmXvcCa3101NOhK1FtRaIvu373Nw1LAhNT2xc7xsR3IMu_bTS0i3W4bvkA_q47ef4/s1600/s2.jpeg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I loved this just as much as the first. Another beautiful book with a compelling story line. The inlaws have arrived, and our unconventional couple has to navigate that tense relationship while trying to find the ghost girl and not be found by those hunting them. Major cliffy at the end, and I’m still not so patiently waiting for Volume 3. 4 out of 5 stars. </div>
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The Time Machine by H.G. Wells</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Machine-H-G-Wells/dp/1453767525/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425167319&sr=1-1&keywords=the+time+machine"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA47oiESqOQnKehxquIFGSaXQy52z1Sw4CaEjn1qZ7WWNc7FfZwWFPTyYEWGrBlVyKKXiMTc0MbTUBe2zT58UaK_E8RSZ-XpgaCBifXlXXLUaxht2dsIOfMx4hfTFPd4XBsSwoDBFm84Y/s1600/tm.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I like H.G. Wells generally, but this was not my favorite. Outside of Saga, it was the shortest but took me the longest to finish. It follows a time traveller as he gets stuck in the future and has to find his way home, witnessing some interesting things along the way. I think it was a little too much narration and not a whole lot of action or dialogue. I didn’t connect with the narrator or the creatures he met. I liked Weena a bit, but her ending felt like a convenient out to tie up a potential loose end. 3 out of 5 stars. </div>
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God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Bless-You-Mr-Rosewater/dp/0385333471/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425167406&sr=1-1&keywords=god+bless+you+mr.+rosewater"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEsF2gmTQbLBYNbBCNznZVQ9O8fS6Xjqn116Fmr3afzARm7MOQ8b9fujaIFFOsv-dJSnf6bGYa8vlqrzD4KiUIh5olUclv6YV4Fd2jd-lqmpoi-fQoIgSQxl9_-_VkrN8-ZGlrX6sJiQ/s1600/gb.jpeg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This book made me flip-flop. I didn’t really like it in the beginning. It’s about a wealthy man going against his family’s desires, putting their fortune and reputation in jeopardy. Money centric plots don’t really get my juices going, and I thought maybe satire was just beyond me. But, there were some really funny lines that kept me going, and by the end I really grew to like Mr. Rosewater and thought the ending was amazingly perfect. This was my first Vonnegut read; I’m definitely a fan. 4 out of 5 stars. </div>
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As always, suggestions are accepted and encouraged! </div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-60747264663202102052015-02-22T11:52:00.002-08:002015-02-22T11:52:44.194-08:00Writing Corner <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZUv1PZGWZVvTGDx1UB_KPAtniFKD1PbJCyU80dTqqpIfwIUGRh2M4Oks_QLnnVO4K5mLGkPG8B7LC_V6O2IxNa6Yix3BZLjKoIBI_JgWTNZxkiTFGANCecYu58VfFjLV6L60guGzg3w/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZUv1PZGWZVvTGDx1UB_KPAtniFKD1PbJCyU80dTqqpIfwIUGRh2M4Oks_QLnnVO4K5mLGkPG8B7LC_V6O2IxNa6Yix3BZLjKoIBI_JgWTNZxkiTFGANCecYu58VfFjLV6L60guGzg3w/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current bedside companion</td></tr>
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We’re two months into the year, and, excluding NaNoWriMo, I’ve already doubled my word count from 2014. </div>
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Committing to everyday writing is exactly what I needed to get out of my post collegiate writing funk. It’s really hard to do something when you don’t have an outside deadline or overall grade pushing you along. </div>
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Not everything I’ve written has been great in 2015 (nor 2014 for that matter). A lot of it hasn’t. I’m not even close to finishing one story. But they’re words, story starts, and writing through ideas before I get a chance to tell myself no.</div>
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There was a lot of that stop and go last year. I wanted <i>the</i> idea and <i>the</i> characters and <i>the</i> story that was going to catapult me to true author status. So, I didn’t take a lot of risks. I wrote things I was comfortable with. Ideas that I’d felt out before. Stayed in the safe zone. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small sample of the filled handwritten notebooks taking up space in my office</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">A lot of those files are boring. They feel old to me, like I was regurgitating a pattern instead of creating anything new. Sure, character names and settings had changed, but if I put the plot points on a map, the trajectories and hit markers would’ve matched.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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You bring a different set of tools to everyday writing. Sometimes the only thing that gets the fingers typing are the crazy, off the wall ideas. I don’t put pressure on the words anymore either. I just appreciate that they’re there on the page. </div>
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It’s also been about getting reacquainted with my old writing self. Sometimes I come to the computer with no ideas, so I pull up the forgotten files, pilfer them for interesting plots, a character I like, anything to spark some kind of creative flow. </div>
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Basically, it’s just nice to have no pressure writing time where my only concern is getting words out and not so much read by others. </div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-41770223585494386832015-02-06T17:44:00.000-08:002015-02-28T17:20:27.779-08:00January 2015 Reads<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kicking of the yearly list with 4 books I read in January. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, I finished “Not that Kind of Girl” by Lena Dunam. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-That-Kind-Girl-Learned/dp/081299499X"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QtUblthpgj1VDaPhMp_I3ib6Rly52hphejL4W8MTXd6f8Nm6z55n49yKlBPnF2bPwxTCdR2KgOxG3cGOodr978GQiXelbCp7uoUxsREMFduFknWjE6rlRmpduG-iZ6yfXwpI5Si8Opk/s1600/ntkog.jpeg" height="400" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you’re living under a rock, this is an episodic/essay type memoir written by the creator and star of HBO’s “Girls.” It’s broken down in parts, describing various topics from love and sex, body, friendship, work and big picture. I wanted to like it. I like “Girls,” I’m a fan of reading about any woman’s success, plus I just wanted to identify with someone who I view as being uber successful and my age. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was some controversy about the rape chapter and the ‘little too close for comfort’ relationship with her sister, but those chapters didn’t bother me at all. The sister thing seemed like genuine curiosity that people read too much into. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had its moments that I liked. Some of the essays were really funny, and it was an easy read. But, after a while, it became a little bit too self-centered. The chapter dealing with her grandmother’s death is what killed it for me. The death became an event in which to view herself, her relationship with death, and her fears over <i>her</i> death. Not one bit seemed about the grandmother that died, or what her life meant, or really anything outside of the Lena show, and it took a 4 star review down to a 2. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Vol-Brian-K-Vaughan/dp/1607066017"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WuNdqevWBEVZ73o1qJls5EG9eyH8i03lmo1igW3zmHJj24sjMPzotFMGomRiCj7a-nnc0mV9exlZsZ1b98L4DEP3tXaGCXoPx0vnerf5z7cO0HTWIBXc2PVnCLEglChm0pnVeDFRv14/s1600/Saga1coverByFionaStaples.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a><span id="goog_1573357515"></span><span id="goog_1573357516"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I read the graphic novel “Saga.” “Saga” follows a couple from opposite sides of an alien war as they struggle to find a safe place to raise their child when both sides share a common goal in finding and destroying them. Along the way, they meet a spirit who helps them escape in return for latching on to the baby’s soul. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Saga” was a recommendation from a coworker that I fell in love with. It’s a weird book, but the art is amazing and the story pulls you right in. I may have went out and bought the next 3 novels in the series after finishing it. 4 out of 5 stars. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423273282&sr=1-1&keywords=Zero+to+One"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MG0ybFMPIEj5NaHOEbAkJPAlEwx1njvO2K439bh5JYsCe4jRJ0iaXzA3HAIkP2QbmI9wkNdvTaYYPI6jZJf6x9oXrbslstAdsii0zJBsW-7b6UpKu7caKoBrQLYSjgFplgFtGknh_N8/s1600/zto.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I read a work recommendation all about entrepreneurship and finding success. It was written by one of the founders of Paypal, Peter Thiel, and it’s called “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.” I feel like I learned some things, definitely an interesting look into what makes an idea/startup successful. 3 out of 5 stars. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Up-Grabs-Heather-Young-Nichols-ebook/dp/B00KH9IPKQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423273356&sr=1-1&keywords=Up+for+Grabs"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQyIXhMRvCv2V3RtZkAVuftIIeD4v_s_tLx93LyKnJC_w9yo-cWHpZZgZ41AUunKgriu3NylhAYyyQSLJN8e4FlpJYW7iZQcTIxD8eCeatiPBEQamP6sPVbA_8N2k4Si3ay8ygVRfD1k/s1600/ufg.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, I finally finished the book “Up for Grabs” by my author-friend Heather Young-Nichols. “Up for Grabs” is a NA read from the main character Flannery’s point of view as she falls in love with Cain and then has to come up with some interesting means to stay not only with Cain but in college once her scholarship is taken from her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hadn’t read an NA in a really, really long time, and this book made me kind of regret that. It takes place in Michigan-point 1 for the novel-at the University of Michigan-point 2. The premise is this desperate for money college student, driven to selling her virginity to keep the life and future she had been cultivating at University. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the book handles that idea in a way that highlights Flannery taking ownership of her virginity and moving outside the lines of it being something that makes her ‘pure.’ That whole virgin-to-pure equation never really sits well with me. If someone believes the contents of one’s character rests on the state of her hymen, that’s showing more problems with that person than the hymen bearer. Anyways, went on a tangent. 4 out of 5 stars. Buy it, read it, love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leave any book recommendations in the comments! My TBR list is ever growing. </span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-7140140954985705422015-01-26T07:59:00.001-08:002015-01-26T07:59:37.541-08:00Don't Break the Chain<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can’t say 2015 has been a banner year for blog consistency. Sorry about that! I can say that I’ve found a good way to be consistent in the other areas of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m driven by visual motivation. I like seeing my accomplishments, the ends of the means. I love watching my work move from one side of the race track to the finish line, day after day. In my position now, you can see exactly what you do all day. The amount of calls, chats, and emails you answer are logged and charted so you can sit back and say ‘yeah, I did something today.” Sometimes, all I do is deal with crappy customers, but it’s still something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quantifiable things are my bread and butter, so this year I decided to make my goals more visual. Something I can track in the real world rather than an undocumented bar to keep. Mainly, this revolves around these bits of paper: </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image belongs to creator Karen Kavett. Get DBC prints<a href="http://karenkavett.com/blog/2243/dont-break-the-chain-calendar-2015.php"> here</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t Break the Chain isn’t a new concept (one Google search’ll prove that) but it’s new to me. I like deadlines; I only hit the bars I need to keep when I see them. So, I may or may not have 4 of these sheets pasted to my wall. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super awesome quality photo, huh? </td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I may or may not have written, read, exercised, and not drank pop daily since I’ve been building my chains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe I need to print out a blogpost Don’t Break the Chain…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anybody else have any ‘stick to your goals’ tricks? I’d love to hear them! </span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-6762507769264370692015-01-01T19:45:00.000-08:002015-01-01T19:45:01.703-08:002015 New Year Resolution<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">
2015 New Year Resolution</div>
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Last year on the 1st, I did a post of my resolutions (you’ll find the updated version<a href="http://travelswithpenandpaper.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-new-year-resolutions.html"> here</a> if you’d like to see how I did). While my accomplished-to-failed ratio is embarrassing, it was a nice post to go back to throughout the year to keep tabs on myself. </div>
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So, I thought I’d do it again. Without further ado: </div>
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Lose 50lbs </div>
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Get Pregnant </div>
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Buy a house</div>
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Still be with the company I’m with this time next year</div>
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Only drink pop once a month</div>
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No more candy bars</div>
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Write every single day</div>
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Read a book a month</div>
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Run a 5k</div>
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Donate 5 boxes to charity</div>
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Volunteer for a charity</div>
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Pay off all credit card debt</div>
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Finish my writing portfolio</div>
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Publish ‘In Memory Of’ </div>
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<br /></div>
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Edit my novel </div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Write a new novel</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Here’s too a good year full of good goals! </div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-6986076866476904772014-12-16T19:32:00.001-08:002014-12-16T19:32:22.989-08:00Tis the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QFmr_sjnoRqsqdopVhLcyCM2JWEbdBqlknSBkWP_L-JIcz8D69FMtR6FaE5bTH0lWjoCVy9OzkKuBXp7jcKFWKhc1m6nVF_dGLurP8qAtOwuUHEAk42XJnbEHYU98UTSrtK66mumrpw/s1600/20141214_231705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QFmr_sjnoRqsqdopVhLcyCM2JWEbdBqlknSBkWP_L-JIcz8D69FMtR6FaE5bTH0lWjoCVy9OzkKuBXp7jcKFWKhc1m6nVF_dGLurP8qAtOwuUHEAk42XJnbEHYU98UTSrtK66mumrpw/s1600/20141214_231705.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">The inside of my house looks like a <strike>crappy</strike> Christmas display from Home Goods. Sadly, the outside is not reflecting the nature of the season. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I think this year has been the best Christmas so far for expendable cash to spend on others, but the least Christmas-ee feeling of them all.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN5eGtIcuWvO7HOZm8rBUkiOSi-h3z0FkOiNWNEVvVGl_Ld-M_jSzXOuvhut_H5Mo3cbNALweyLtWYvKq00lY7oJWgg-q58EVOKTOfDYPQBWAYvUom2OKMN1ma5EEHIsQOMrjXxzsmNI/s1600/20141214_231004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN5eGtIcuWvO7HOZm8rBUkiOSi-h3z0FkOiNWNEVvVGl_Ld-M_jSzXOuvhut_H5Mo3cbNALweyLtWYvKq00lY7oJWgg-q58EVOKTOfDYPQBWAYvUom2OKMN1ma5EEHIsQOMrjXxzsmNI/s1600/20141214_231004.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><br />
Maybe I’ve become disillusioned by having to deal with the very worst kind of Christmas spirits. Anyone working in customer service will know who I’m talking about. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-8_f6H9bsefW6wmUosGXgtVDEz-ad6KF-t2Y3IrTYIcthqKaoiG07a8MsDgH_LgbrPVFOVHg8anrj_G7tR6UGuDPk0h0FS8TmD8by4txX777XoJl3i5MHz9ptq2O-iXYDibv3uzw-OE/s1600/20141214_231638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-8_f6H9bsefW6wmUosGXgtVDEz-ad6KF-t2Y3IrTYIcthqKaoiG07a8MsDgH_LgbrPVFOVHg8anrj_G7tR6UGuDPk0h0FS8TmD8by4txX777XoJl3i5MHz9ptq2O-iXYDibv3uzw-OE/s1600/20141214_231638.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">I get the shopping frustration, especially when dealing with technology based gifts geared toward 90 year old shoppers, but the rudeness is almost shocking. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0atSUffIjHg0Hy6dUPqU5uKeHilNtZb0KPPeFMnXGZOc4SazDSHdMrvvdAE30cmq6g9HzPumEWt91VA8QgPO-xLBfPGPtI_qhlv9v5VvUoJKdvboOw0R4EOQzt1mjf_kdu_-IjdC4h84/s1600/20141214_231035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0atSUffIjHg0Hy6dUPqU5uKeHilNtZb0KPPeFMnXGZOc4SazDSHdMrvvdAE30cmq6g9HzPumEWt91VA8QgPO-xLBfPGPtI_qhlv9v5VvUoJKdvboOw0R4EOQzt1mjf_kdu_-IjdC4h84/s1600/20141214_231035.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I’ve been sworn at when relaying bad news, called inept by someone who doesn’t even know where the refresh button is on her browser, called a liar while pasting the truth typed on the page verbatim, and worthless because I cannot put someone’s order to the front of the line because they want it so. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs2nQlA9R-TMiYkJjsZ3NycfE57qFlQyIDKhBowq3sELNJ25Q3vIg68aLoex2-hf-q9LRDlKO5stRoIlHTzVddMovirVCcm_DQCqKzCd-cavoHOV2fdrLDKw0GUDKQtwbVk2qopxWVbo/s1600/20141214_231646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs2nQlA9R-TMiYkJjsZ3NycfE57qFlQyIDKhBowq3sELNJ25Q3vIg68aLoex2-hf-q9LRDlKO5stRoIlHTzVddMovirVCcm_DQCqKzCd-cavoHOV2fdrLDKw0GUDKQtwbVk2qopxWVbo/s1600/20141214_231646.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Thankfully, there are also my saving graces. The really sweet, kind people who understand mistakes, who understand technological and personal learning curves, and those who admit that maybe it’s their fault or the programs fault or something out of everyone's control and accept the problem with grace and kindness. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT1YyTkZlVjUQdwSBjFiInME9Ca0VZ4u12kVMKS9XQ84e777L5pcZYkXOOuk_ysaiS6BT2Mdo4k_QXKVkI2iKTPPuGY_wDkMcJ_zRW9G3-3AOrGHKKm09qlWcBngqB7WYOwrSwwcy4D4/s1600/20141214_231014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT1YyTkZlVjUQdwSBjFiInME9Ca0VZ4u12kVMKS9XQ84e777L5pcZYkXOOuk_ysaiS6BT2Mdo4k_QXKVkI2iKTPPuGY_wDkMcJ_zRW9G3-3AOrGHKKm09qlWcBngqB7WYOwrSwwcy4D4/s1600/20141214_231014.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">The season colors things in many ways. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OgpOLOdm0_tsa-uwxxVuz8oPGgaF0HEjH4H53SumLLOnLS73kg7k25LFM83LpTXI-sTf5iFUQ9E0xbTUdmTtf6jCdLDzsYm7t9UWXVNLWd5LeVaEMJCPq-drq-JsRjVdDYFiA_MMdXo/s1600/20141214_230650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OgpOLOdm0_tsa-uwxxVuz8oPGgaF0HEjH4H53SumLLOnLS73kg7k25LFM83LpTXI-sTf5iFUQ9E0xbTUdmTtf6jCdLDzsYm7t9UWXVNLWd5LeVaEMJCPq-drq-JsRjVdDYFiA_MMdXo/s1600/20141214_230650.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">I'm trying to not let the dark block out all the twinkly lights</span></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-38029643471670349762014-12-07T19:43:00.000-08:002014-12-07T19:43:19.958-08:00Returning from my Hiatus <div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Picture quality but that face </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve reached the other side of my annual November blog
hiatus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Was I successful in my NaNoWriMo endeavors? <o:p></o:p></div>
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The short of it … no. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I made my word count consistently for the first week, and
then it all took a tumble. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was one of those situations where you wanted to do
everything but the thing you committed to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Was it a total failure? <o:p></o:p></div>
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No. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I finished a short story, finally, that I’d been working on
for about a year. I’m excited to see readers’ responses after I do an initial
edit (if any reader is interested in being a short story guinea pig, don’t be
shy, let me know.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I wasn’t writing as I should’ve been for NaNo, I got
some other things sorted out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including
some exciting things on the horizon for a friend and me that combines our love
of reading and cooking. Stay tuned. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I started working full time, more than full time now. It’s still
from home, but there’s human-to-human interaction on a daily basis now. Yay me!
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also bought a new vehicle. My Malibu was reaching the end
of its very prolonged, slow death. Like any good car owner, I decided to
abandon it in favor of a shiny, quiet, black Chevy HHR. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Car aficionados out there are shaking their head at my
choice. Of all the options, why go with something judged so poorly in the car
world?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The answer comes in three points:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It was cheap<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It doesn’t sound like a motorcycle gang driving
down the road<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If it runs good, which it does, I’m on board
since it meets the first two criteria<o:p></o:p></div>
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Naturally, one progresses from car buying to house buying.
So, we’re now traveling down that road. <o:p></o:p></div>
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November … A lot of stuff crammed into 30 days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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December: Christmas goodness and prepping for a very, very
busy 2015.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4le3xh2cR9RpyUoqt46Rnfe9gBMOb6_5UOS19aourBoMC_WVJfWWZEKfUC-NxVw1nWEDpcwS5QTitWdbVB9Mp2BhJLr83-ZQ-tnJXJr0V9YrWYJUbKfFSlhOEWpriD6VwdIWWzyGr1M/s1600/20140705_153524.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4le3xh2cR9RpyUoqt46Rnfe9gBMOb6_5UOS19aourBoMC_WVJfWWZEKfUC-NxVw1nWEDpcwS5QTitWdbVB9Mp2BhJLr83-ZQ-tnJXJr0V9YrWYJUbKfFSlhOEWpriD6VwdIWWzyGr1M/s1600/20140705_153524.jpeg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 2015 without our family dog, Zack. Rest in Peace. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-21286425384086713002014-10-23T11:00:00.000-07:002014-10-23T11:00:46.485-07:00Lush Haul<br />
In celebration of my employed-ness, I took a trip to Lush.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere circa 1999 bath fun was all the rage. Every
present I got for Christmas in the 7<sup>th</sup> grade had some form of bath
salt, bath pearl, or bath fizzer inside. Little me went crazy in the bath accouterments
aisle at the dollar store.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then it all disappeared. The only things left to take a
bath with was that pink stuff that parents bought for their toddlers, which
reminded me more of Pepto-Bismol than something I should be bathing in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, I spent decades with boring baths, waiting
to find something to bring me back to the lavender scented bliss of my middle
school days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I spotted Lush, competing with Hollister for the mall’s
smelliest store but still inviting with their little baskets full of gigantic
bombs and bags touting their cruelty free bend. They sucked me right in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lush has become a reward system. Whenever there’s something
worth celebrating, I get a bath bomb. A new job was a cause for massive
celebration, so I went a bit wild. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Sparkler Bath Bomb $6.95</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilolqEXpZBwDlxqB4RrA3yjkfG1pns2Njf6GnO5Zo2wd5QdBq_xVLYFfBSyMoK6StAAmblJAh8xS5XTM2p-o_S7TGFbfS8Fj_8gkVGoX2GmrQA4b8cr5vpbyoltVGD4H2jgqqjML5-HUs/s1600/20141020_165320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilolqEXpZBwDlxqB4RrA3yjkfG1pns2Njf6GnO5Zo2wd5QdBq_xVLYFfBSyMoK6StAAmblJAh8xS5XTM2p-o_S7TGFbfS8Fj_8gkVGoX2GmrQA4b8cr5vpbyoltVGD4H2jgqqjML5-HUs/s1600/20141020_165320.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve already used this one. I liked the unique shape of it
and the spicer scent of Rose Jam over the purple Northern Lights bomb, even if
Sparkler wasn’t exactly exciting in the tub. It just shoots out copper glitter.
Still a nice scent and my skin felt smooth after. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Father Christmas $6.40<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgzpeyBD3-C8ASv6h-E6LyECEUuCfd1-JVjLXiKjF_KRBa_vP7QXUNwb9BIB5xuUe-A5WMXrWFCDSN41XwwsoNjsViFB8cb5GRkgHK29DvqJ-gmLqBE5rhZHb2hsl1Cjfq2oeMOlrHdM/s1600/20141020_165413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgzpeyBD3-C8ASv6h-E6LyECEUuCfd1-JVjLXiKjF_KRBa_vP7QXUNwb9BIB5xuUe-A5WMXrWFCDSN41XwwsoNjsViFB8cb5GRkgHK29DvqJ-gmLqBE5rhZHb2hsl1Cjfq2oeMOlrHdM/s1600/20141020_165413.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got this one more for the festiveness than the smell. It
smells like a flowery, pink jolly rancher to me, if that makes sense. But it’s
supposed to color your bath red to green, so I had to get it. Just look at that
jolly face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Butterbear $4.95<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzbhz-qDrE4iS7IXjoF_5pYF5WzFAYBsb3cEQW42Y6iuUUiVSogqacC92mqGsFVeT2axaT69BCtyQkMl0ewNQeWPqSHeR7kbEcO9Fk8C4H7tCIizefOKGp-7eFj7lNaCn4emWaACrPB8/s1600/20141020_165730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzbhz-qDrE4iS7IXjoF_5pYF5WzFAYBsb3cEQW42Y6iuUUiVSogqacC92mqGsFVeT2axaT69BCtyQkMl0ewNQeWPqSHeR7kbEcO9Fk8C4H7tCIizefOKGp-7eFj7lNaCn4emWaACrPB8/s1600/20141020_165730.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got this one for a friend’s birthday because it has a lot
of oils, and she was complaining of dry skin. If you’ve ever had the candy
FunDip, this one smells exactly like the stick. I’ve used the Butterball bomb
before, and it’s the one that made me fall in love with Lush. You feel
moisturized for a couple days after your bath. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Cinders $4.95<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-m3dP45GCEUYYGUTAzQJ1TjkGo1xNxJgxjRf3_1FweezoYK44THGPRv5cshsstPtov6eKdsTy5hEY4UvoGSx5wDLU-YkPqCnN07iDtK9rNbodn40m4GSTBFPnQT_7WwGHw3Cx5406A/s1600/20141020_165612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz-m3dP45GCEUYYGUTAzQJ1TjkGo1xNxJgxjRf3_1FweezoYK44THGPRv5cshsstPtov6eKdsTy5hEY4UvoGSx5wDLU-YkPqCnN07iDtK9rNbodn40m4GSTBFPnQT_7WwGHw3Cx5406A/s1600/20141020_165612.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mmm, love the smell of cinnamon on this one. This one has a
lot of oils as well, so I’m hoping it gives me a nice silky feeling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Wizard Bubble Bar $7.95<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSsMJmUEdzhVciiPrxZgfTc16zE8FG4FdWmmUxuKagXxzBoddtdKjVhHsNhn-WZa5x53YgBodgN9ZrTMXTRgTh6P0EaF1Zu_y5HqiZLhULkIMx9O9oVD5MD38tDByCX7W5THsD72U89Y/s1600/20141020_165508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSsMJmUEdzhVciiPrxZgfTc16zE8FG4FdWmmUxuKagXxzBoddtdKjVhHsNhn-WZa5x53YgBodgN9ZrTMXTRgTh6P0EaF1Zu_y5HqiZLhULkIMx9O9oVD5MD38tDByCX7W5THsD72U89Y/s1600/20141020_165508.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought this one was adorable, and it has a musky pine
scent to me that I really like. I thought it was festive and cute. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar $7.95<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3doHwA1oU4VCC9Sm6PxCoHaS3BVMA7Wh50M8suPhyQyd5kEhMGkuPYfbC4JPsGeZXv0J45SuG0_92j2AFVMvQ4sViADOFW9_UQMXgWglNCrwfVfKvQc84veZKm4po_5ds0a4FATCWeNI/s1600/20141020_165700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3doHwA1oU4VCC9Sm6PxCoHaS3BVMA7Wh50M8suPhyQyd5kEhMGkuPYfbC4JPsGeZXv0J45SuG0_92j2AFVMvQ4sViADOFW9_UQMXgWglNCrwfVfKvQc84veZKm4po_5ds0a4FATCWeNI/s1600/20141020_165700.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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This has a hard scent to describe, sort of a citrusy spice
happening. I mainly got it for it’s shape. Most of their bubble bars are too
fruity for my taste, so that’s a point for the pumpkin. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hot Toddy Shower Gel $19.95 <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVot4wL2E7G1m241WCXhB2yYbDbnasWEg_yMbOi7Yqo3fZAtOJsDFOLdOHpU7IBDYbeQ-3344IRg7y0dVovkMZ82GsaOPIHOkZ79kk_2qJifvYyo4zF0hsk8FHfB5msBxB7oc4jmk0f4Q/s1600/20141020_165753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVot4wL2E7G1m241WCXhB2yYbDbnasWEg_yMbOi7Yqo3fZAtOJsDFOLdOHpU7IBDYbeQ-3344IRg7y0dVovkMZ82GsaOPIHOkZ79kk_2qJifvYyo4zF0hsk8FHfB5msBxB7oc4jmk0f4Q/s1600/20141020_165753.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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I haven’t stopped using this since I got it. It smells like
sweet apple cinnamon, and you smell like apples for a couple hours post shower.
Love. It lathers well too. It’s a bit pricey and limited edition, so I’ll miss
it when it’s gone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As Lush is so expensive, I usually cut my bombs and bars in
pieces so I can get more than one use. I also usually don’t go for that many at
one time either, but a steady pay check makes you go a bit crazy at first. <o:p></o:p></div>
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`Who else loves Lush? What’s your favorite product? <o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-23225884729911939892014-10-19T13:36:00.000-07:002014-10-19T13:36:43.060-07:00Old Stuff and New Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgf3GyxFJmxzdFgzq-v8DEoCOKzm9vlGCGVkYLXuwhyphenhyphenqvNiSQEcCm7GI0IixqTjXiJDlc7ZJ-q_8zl5JK-9MBMx4m5jkUFdwMtghpHxyx8w-g2vZyI7SPHnVXCo4SmgK9QoS_NT0f9ZI/s1600/20141019_112930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgf3GyxFJmxzdFgzq-v8DEoCOKzm9vlGCGVkYLXuwhyphenhyphenqvNiSQEcCm7GI0IixqTjXiJDlc7ZJ-q_8zl5JK-9MBMx4m5jkUFdwMtghpHxyx8w-g2vZyI7SPHnVXCo4SmgK9QoS_NT0f9ZI/s1600/20141019_112930.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
My parents came to visit today, lugging another loveseat in the back of their van to shove into my tiny little garage apartment. At least my furniture matches now, and I can say it was all made post 1950.<br />
<br />
Anybody else the family donation box?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLL7JHtTYbM8ZqbodsRM5JC-voWN-8eInPsttFQMqJjZVAcETryUxvglbq5kAFZnzlvEHHJo1GnqNUpi1KsUF7awnRrs08tJ8ZM2Mxed6yx7_BQbI1sIenn1gfIR5pzVsSzeIy1cQCbk/s1600/20141019_110535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLL7JHtTYbM8ZqbodsRM5JC-voWN-8eInPsttFQMqJjZVAcETryUxvglbq5kAFZnzlvEHHJo1GnqNUpi1KsUF7awnRrs08tJ8ZM2Mxed6yx7_BQbI1sIenn1gfIR5pzVsSzeIy1cQCbk/s1600/20141019_110535.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
A big antiques market was happening in the next town over, so we went to look around. I really, really wanted a coffee table and chest I found, but I went home empty handed in the end. Although, I regret leaving the coffee table behind. Our living room has plenty of seating now but only one half-destroyed end table I've been dying to replace.<br />
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Last week was kind of a big week for us. I started working full time and the hubs had an interview and got the job on the same day.<br />
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We're a working couple now!<br />
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It's kind of insane. I've never had a straight, 40 hour 'conventional' job before. I can't really say this is conventional either, since it's a work from home customer service job, but it is full time.<br />
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It's a special sort of wonderful to talk to customers in my pink zebra print pajama pants and a bird on my head.<br />
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And it's sooo good to not have to worry about bills anymore. Our slim savings had fallen to the desperation level. I seriously worried about having to start that whole 'sell your stuff for survival' routine.<br />
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<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuLwteXhmIeRIWcmDLC6X1jR_ncxXMyLCLo_DeHgvONKknOV6146G-uzgGERYI_1BIK04UxSpQWAAcc9U9vEHvE9kPLSsI6yQZUAxalQsSEhLvblvUk31x5Hm-bxf3ALI0bpvuqwBJBk/s1600/20141019_110419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuLwteXhmIeRIWcmDLC6X1jR_ncxXMyLCLo_DeHgvONKknOV6146G-uzgGERYI_1BIK04UxSpQWAAcc9U9vEHvE9kPLSsI6yQZUAxalQsSEhLvblvUk31x5Hm-bxf3ALI0bpvuqwBJBk/s1600/20141019_110419.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting reading<br />options. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUZdH-tMIvOWWPDJWITb-0VbUFjr897D24Q68WTTeliPZoGT84J9OVQjxGdO2oecCl-I11uaVGGIM7EYU8JyCyFQ4R11yrZwHuPLwhUsguDYK_GlEoL7Dnt51Yb5DtHlWWeeZaYLT3pM/s1600/20141019_110344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUZdH-tMIvOWWPDJWITb-0VbUFjr897D24Q68WTTeliPZoGT84J9OVQjxGdO2oecCl-I11uaVGGIM7EYU8JyCyFQ4R11yrZwHuPLwhUsguDYK_GlEoL7Dnt51Yb5DtHlWWeeZaYLT3pM/s1600/20141019_110344.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'd like to think I'm more spiritual than religious, and it's times like these that reaffirm my personal brand of faith. I don't expect God to hold my hand through life, but I like to think He puts things in place that I need to find.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz_3cnzVosXIIiHr1Eefb4vMXanogqlPpgU9png0gKRtG6VUgSbtaFe14xLvc3YFcMbKjaJrqc1tp22fcXw-1s6qzsKV-mR8sAl68jXWxsscG4CgkSSMCCGYMgMJaJZtQmMLO4yShFA8/s1600/20141019_110628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz_3cnzVosXIIiHr1Eefb4vMXanogqlPpgU9png0gKRtG6VUgSbtaFe14xLvc3YFcMbKjaJrqc1tp22fcXw-1s6qzsKV-mR8sAl68jXWxsscG4CgkSSMCCGYMgMJaJZtQmMLO4yShFA8/s1600/20141019_110628.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creepy</td></tr>
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I'm glad both the hubs and I found these opportunities.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">This past month, really the past six months, has been nothing but a hurry-up-and-wait time. Anticipation is one of life's true hells. Nothing can describe my feelings when I first realized it was over.</span></div>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-53519623278199843732014-10-11T17:38:00.000-07:002014-10-11T17:38:04.169-07:00A Day with Anxiety part 2
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47WNW1mKp56eLEmGDqJaGl4i2jxwNz1V-Iz1bOLM0cx3AR-MFK1O43-pFJRkIbt1B5PjRVUMazaGTOxNyZwzDsnRZK91cVs-KLjvtQed4Ta7WxOn2vipZ5X6dRnx8HFV1Re8S6TWwAto/s1600/20140923_122040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47WNW1mKp56eLEmGDqJaGl4i2jxwNz1V-Iz1bOLM0cx3AR-MFK1O43-pFJRkIbt1B5PjRVUMazaGTOxNyZwzDsnRZK91cVs-KLjvtQed4Ta7WxOn2vipZ5X6dRnx8HFV1Re8S6TWwAto/s1600/20140923_122040.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We make it to the hospital, but I’m freaking out a bit since
I don’t know whether I can walk to the door or not, but I don’t want to have to
use a wheelchair because that’d mean something major was wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I check in, and I feel a bit calmer. At some point in my
packing to leave, I began chewing on a piece of gum and can no longer
distinguish between the numbness and the minty tingle on my tongue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t been to the hospital since my artery dissection
and small stroke fall out from the injury almost 2 years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The heart palpitations started after I get triaged. Those
are a daily occurrence, so it’s more of an inconvience than anything else, and
I feel a bit better. Still dizzy, but calm. If I have a stroke here, at least
my chances are good. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spend an hour in the waiting area. The hubs is being a
trooper even though I’m ruining his plans by making him sit
with me through all of this. My anxiety claims just as many of his days as
mine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything is fine until I notice a man come in with a trash
bag. He’s a loud puker. When it hits me that that’s what the bag is full of, my
body freaks the hell out. I go up to registration because I can’t sit still.
I’ve got one finger in my ear to block out the man while I ask the lady as
politely as I could about when I’d be getting back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently, I’m next, but
my fingers and toes are tingling again and there’s a ringing in my ears. I use
the bathroom … again. When I come back out, the man has somehow gotten louder
and another woman is wheeled in with a puke catcher in her lap. I fall to my
chair, pretty positive I’m going to pass out now. The hubs is trying to keep me
calm, but he’s got his own issues with hospitals, so we’re a real pair. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems a better option to just go home and if a stroke
comes on … well I tried. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, I’m called back. Once away from the puking man and
the lady with the bucket, I’m exhausted. I tell the doctors about my symptoms,
we go through the stroke tests, I get a CT scan, and I spend six hours waiting
around for tests and results. But it’s not too bad most of the time. Having two
panic episodes in one day takes the fight out of me. I’m not anxious anymore.
Just tired and hungry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The results come back negative for any artery dissections or stroke. I'm thrilled. I really didn't want to relive that experience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I get home, I eat a bowl of soup and pass out,
completely ignoring the dizziness that comes with lying down, and sleep for 11
hours. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all that, I have to admit, it wasn’t that bad of an anxiety
day. Maybe a 5 out of 10 on the type of panic-y days I can have. Most my
anxiety revolves around my health, so as long as I’m feeling good, I don’t
really have a problem at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s obviously a lot worse for some people, but I wanted to
share my day with people who maybe don’t understand. I know a lot of my
reactions are blown out of proportion, seem extreme, and crazy, but when I’m in
the midst of my anxiety, logical thought is impossible. My sole concentration
is on feeling better and panic ensues when that doesn’t immediately happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s exhausting. Anxiety is exhausting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good resource for learning more about mental illnesses is the
<a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml">National Institute of Mental Health. </a><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-86437737317589535062014-10-10T17:29:00.001-07:002014-10-11T17:43:38.065-07:00A Day with Anxiety part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GtQSZ8wgw_RKYFOeTd6_Mu0BOcWJj4UYAywJPR5RSNf1BZ1sNJdfU0KmjMZbXRhzc8buoCHq6q5LQGfqQIUfJ12teEP5e9nhl-eYdRUr-ucImHzlCOtC1-9oDyEA-RLO3Fk7ieX-fWg/s1600/IM000120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GtQSZ8wgw_RKYFOeTd6_Mu0BOcWJj4UYAywJPR5RSNf1BZ1sNJdfU0KmjMZbXRhzc8buoCHq6q5LQGfqQIUfJ12teEP5e9nhl-eYdRUr-ucImHzlCOtC1-9oDyEA-RLO3Fk7ieX-fWg/s1600/IM000120.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Before I even open my eyes, I feel off balance, like someone
has kidnapped me in the middle of the night and left me on a boat to die. I
don’t want to open my eyes because if the dizziness doesn’t go
away, it’s going to be one of <i>those days</i>.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I take stock of everything I’m feeling, testing if it gets
worse when I move my head—it does—moving my jaw around and noticing the stuffy,
crinkly pressure in my ear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God, I love fall and all its weather changes that heighten
my vertigo and turn me into an anxious hermit on the brink of panic until my
body adjusts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I finally open my eyes and the dizziness doesn’t stop. My
fingertips start to tingle, and I start to sweat. I sit up because I need to do
something to get everything to focus before I fall over the panic edge. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I begin the body analysis, noticing how once I focus my eyes
on something, my head adjusts and the spinning is gone. I know this feeling;
vertigo is an old friend. I’m not going to die, nor pass out, nor is this a
stroke. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get out of bed, flex my fingers, continue the ‘I’m fine’
mantra through breakfast and every time I move my head and have to repeat the
focus process. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to go shopping today. I’d wanted to maybe get a coffee too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s not going to happen anymore. The thought of walking
through the mall with this dizziness makes my stomach flip. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t get out of my pajamas. I play Skyrim for a few hours
because it takes my mind off everything, and I’m calm. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But now I feel useless. It’s Tuesday and I’m wasting it away
on a video game. I think maybe a bath will help. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I settle in, ignoring the heightened dizziness of lying
down, and read a book in the warm water.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A phone call from my mom pulls me out of my daze.
I sit up quickly to answer and immediately regret that impulse. The room starts
spinning, but I concentrate on my mom’s voice, talking with her about the cats
in the backyard while my balance equalizes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly, my tongue feels like it’s fallen asleep. And it’s
all I can think about. Why is my tongue numb? Has this ever happened before?
Yes. But this isn’t a stroke. I can still see and there’s no headache. But what
if this means another one is coming? Should I go to the hospital? It kind of
feels like I may throw up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mom’s voice breaks through, but I tell her
I have to go, not waiting to give a proper goodbye. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rush around the
house, trying to get dressed. I tell the hubs I need to go to the hospital, but
I’m silent after that. I can’t process conversation right now. I’m just trying
to get dressed without passing out or throwing up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I go to the bathroom three times in fifteen minutes before I
get everything together to go. One of the more lovelier side effects of my
panic attacks is the body release. It’s all kinds of pleasant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow comes<a href="http://travelswithpenandpaper.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-day-with-anxiety-part-2.html"> part 2</a> at the hospital. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To learn more about my experience with anxiety, go <a href="http://travelswithpenandpaper.blogspot.com/2013/12/my-first-panic-attack.html">here</a> to read about my first panic attack story and <a href="http://travelswithpenandpaper.blogspot.com/2014/01/triggers.html">here</a> for my battles with OCD. </div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-70310874906387493352014-10-04T17:03:00.001-07:002014-10-04T17:03:59.300-07:00Making Adjustments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDokFUADal1G-OZbmmM9BGKgGLvf_AHmRpZkxYytTmM3RwhpcHgwnBYtsZsUTEKlAEk4VTwmS0uxAV2cy4rpDjodM3Ys9EMpdb7OltHfLRT4u_7jd7S0lIKTp3VMX8E9TF0G35ousPow/s1600/20140916_133130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDokFUADal1G-OZbmmM9BGKgGLvf_AHmRpZkxYytTmM3RwhpcHgwnBYtsZsUTEKlAEk4VTwmS0uxAV2cy4rpDjodM3Ys9EMpdb7OltHfLRT4u_7jd7S0lIKTp3VMX8E9TF0G35ousPow/s1600/20140916_133130.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a creature of habit, I like to do things a certain way.
In the mornings, I get up, get my coffee, eat, edit, workout, eat again, write,
read a bit, then cook dinner before the hubs gets home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My system is down pact to allow for the most productivity possible
since I’m my own boss. I have deadlines for things, but how I go about making
those deadlines is completely up to me. If I don’t have some kind of structure
or that structure is impeded in some way, my whole day is shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s been A LOT of impeding happening lately, mainly from
the hubs who’s been laid off for the past month.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been together for eleven years, but it’s been kind of
like getting reintroduced to each other. The man makes so much noise. So. Much.
Noise. It’s really hard to get editing or writing done when my office is right
off the living room and he watches more TV than any person I’ve ever known.
That’s not entirely fair; it’s more like his must have background noise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know the kind of background noise I prefer?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s really hard to work out how to change a paragraph so it
sounds right when I’ve got snippets of 30 Rock dialogue breaking my
concentration. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My cleaning schedule has gone to crap since I’m working with
twice the mess and we operate on two different understandings of the word
cleanly. He spills something while making breakfast, and he’ll eat breakfast
before cleaning it up, sometimes forgetting about it all together, while I’m
sitting there with an eye twitch at the splash of milk fermenting on the
counter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also have a big irritation when it comes to just sitting
around. It’s really not fair to him since he doesn’t have as much stuff to do
as me now that he’s not working. And he has worked 40+ hours a week for as far
back as forever and deserves to relax a whole day away sometimes, but it gets
right under my skin when I have so much to do and he’s taking a nap. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first week was tough as we relearned how to work around
each other’s systems. It was like moving in together again, only I wasn’t 17
and willing to budge on everything and neither was he. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had to break the tension a bit. So we went to the dollar
store and got some Nerf guns. Nothing is quite as satisfying as being able to
peg the source of your irritation with a friendly foam dart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been good now. Adjustments have begrudgingly been made,
and I think we’ve both gotten used to being in each other’s space a bit more. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Change happens at anytime, and it’s nice to know that even
after eleven years, we’re still willing to adjust for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-12956969886962971772014-09-21T16:28:00.000-07:002014-09-21T16:28:00.695-07:00September Snapshot #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't get out much this week as I had a lot of phone interviews, editing deadlines, and cleaning to do. Plus, the hubs's contract at work was up a week ago, so we're trying to save as much money as possible until he finds something. He has an interview for the position he just left tomorrow, so fingers crossed that pans out! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aCglPYG3oNLNtIWCsqy3KAF0D-GsiqOa8KZrhDhD1mxlmPEXx77N8q_QPl4NBM4cD0ZmeGun8qU9zbhIo-1a7vCEgWb05h5kY3K3pLGoaHnKKNi8lAITRiEEDJI_KrG4lxHYbYHKZK4/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aCglPYG3oNLNtIWCsqy3KAF0D-GsiqOa8KZrhDhD1mxlmPEXx77N8q_QPl4NBM4cD0ZmeGun8qU9zbhIo-1a7vCEgWb05h5kY3K3pLGoaHnKKNi8lAITRiEEDJI_KrG4lxHYbYHKZK4/s1600/bird.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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But do enjoy this picture of Sir Figs sun bathing in the backyard.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BqN-ho8yOgTaNzAr9t6UHf-qAkFZlO3PNhroGj80u-M1Hbv_z1TEZxJVO535SIBBo5NhdTlYblXjBmr3NYqMpk7WFNgtUo9kKvUODPN-pblm_WbNDCSk4Yml5oxxijwA8kCefqULwi8/s1600/bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BqN-ho8yOgTaNzAr9t6UHf-qAkFZlO3PNhroGj80u-M1Hbv_z1TEZxJVO535SIBBo5NhdTlYblXjBmr3NYqMpk7WFNgtUo9kKvUODPN-pblm_WbNDCSk4Yml5oxxijwA8kCefqULwi8/s1600/bath.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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A representation of my night after a particularly painful post workout day. Who else is in love with Lush? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8NKbCesvKNeaUea5RE2vAxExx_XONiRWQ4GoGcQGFIHVv9Au1mSkuBYb3KedC4jz28vsqrX2LQ7ent1B-GNfJDrUOuaw84q_DWSPOYcVxgozBwkWuhELY_K8jondu_nZIB5LpzGtiWs/s1600/jade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8NKbCesvKNeaUea5RE2vAxExx_XONiRWQ4GoGcQGFIHVv9Au1mSkuBYb3KedC4jz28vsqrX2LQ7ent1B-GNfJDrUOuaw84q_DWSPOYcVxgozBwkWuhELY_K8jondu_nZIB5LpzGtiWs/s1600/jade.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jade displeased that I put a bit of potpourri on his head.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09byOkfdAVuQxFOks5zBHBOgclokNdJRkq9mBFgWXVJfzB0qj0fO3s3zVKZwbP3yJlccpnTlOVx4dyz0Dcn_JJCAmyj13mTkke30WfoP5fbkPI9Nf43tGwKauAHxSsrDr3edQiGNgDFc/s1600/dragon+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09byOkfdAVuQxFOks5zBHBOgclokNdJRkq9mBFgWXVJfzB0qj0fO3s3zVKZwbP3yJlccpnTlOVx4dyz0Dcn_JJCAmyj13mTkke30WfoP5fbkPI9Nf43tGwKauAHxSsrDr3edQiGNgDFc/s1600/dragon+fruit.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dragon fruit was on sale and ripe this week. Yum! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBT6_XPulXXkEAeO9uhpq5-jX2Js65XP2CCJf6vBlnUCG1427Jugs4AiVI_I0A8DONWufM8LqLExNPpk0El2KVbUMtnLeONTJG_0AYW4ipS15OWgSv0LeXmkIe62q1RDaXW3GlJnieqE/s1600/pun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBT6_XPulXXkEAeO9uhpq5-jX2Js65XP2CCJf6vBlnUCG1427Jugs4AiVI_I0A8DONWufM8LqLExNPpk0El2KVbUMtnLeONTJG_0AYW4ipS15OWgSv0LeXmkIe62q1RDaXW3GlJnieqE/s1600/pun.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Punkin enjoying the fall weather ... laying in the dirt ... right after bath time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmkpezdcYTxOEiNiob1YxywQS3BihEXG-pkHnqHhhYvePVMT-JsYcI9mVXZp9M3uX7Uv3c7KZhUJjkBNunInXsb0iSPKymPsHtH3wyo6IBiKYzfHBq1MZYiJRetNpaxsQma0LlNGlGNY/s1600/tomatos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmkpezdcYTxOEiNiob1YxywQS3BihEXG-pkHnqHhhYvePVMT-JsYcI9mVXZp9M3uX7Uv3c7KZhUJjkBNunInXsb0iSPKymPsHtH3wyo6IBiKYzfHBq1MZYiJRetNpaxsQma0LlNGlGNY/s1600/tomatos.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first ripe spoils of our garden. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCKsV4L60siJwc98lPJZMjeQdFCo-Pq0Zt_7klg6DbT4v_8c9LoF9-NUuQ53EO7mLyAxgIoS4BzBrKwSXICUUL3Z08PJ66MdkVuHWpKDLNci3cqmWRDE955rQPw6Nfzi04MO1-YlVOOg/s1600/finchalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCKsV4L60siJwc98lPJZMjeQdFCo-Pq0Zt_7klg6DbT4v_8c9LoF9-NUuQ53EO7mLyAxgIoS4BzBrKwSXICUUL3Z08PJ66MdkVuHWpKDLNci3cqmWRDE955rQPw6Nfzi04MO1-YlVOOg/s1600/finchalk.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finished chalkboard wall section. </div>
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Let's hope for good job news this week and maybe some outdoor adventures! </div>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-91285513819517367282014-09-18T12:34:00.002-07:002014-09-18T12:36:50.180-07:00Liebster Award <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YCLnHmqGLhvh-AxbViRixRNsUxNi_eqMO44tgST15zPcLYBsRPWZtDWVccJ0dm1UukqqJhDQYFCi2U5gCXn-h0epRlkuUIoyWTtkqZzO68ZpXHbqedymYvCAD6KtdpZK56THmG9xVdE/s1600/3c183-liebsteraward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YCLnHmqGLhvh-AxbViRixRNsUxNi_eqMO44tgST15zPcLYBsRPWZtDWVccJ0dm1UukqqJhDQYFCi2U5gCXn-h0epRlkuUIoyWTtkqZzO68ZpXHbqedymYvCAD6KtdpZK56THmG9xVdE/s1600/3c183-liebsteraward.png" /></a></div>
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I was nominated by Kasey from <a href="http://www.antlersnanchors.com/2014/09/liebster-award.html">Antlers & Anchors</a> for my second Liebster. Thanks Kasey!! (You can find my 1st Liebster <a href="http://travelswithpenandpaper.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-am-beyond-grateful-to-have-received.html">here</a>)</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Rules:</span></b></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.2250003814697px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.615em 3.23em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Post 11 facts about yourself.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you and then create an 11-question set for the next group of nominees.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Choose up to 11 (or more or less depends on the rules you follow) bloggers to nominate and link them in the post!</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let your nominees know that they’ve been tagged- and no tag-backs!</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nominate blogs under 200 followers</span></li>
</ol>
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<b>Random Facts:</b></div>
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1. I am the daughter of two cancer survivors. I
am so relieved to finally say that. My dad found out he was cancer free about a
month ago, and my mom is going on her 11th year cancer free.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">2. I love candy corn. I feel like candy corn is
the fruit cake of Halloween, but I loves it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">3. I read grammar books on the regular. It’s
kind of part of my job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">4. Twilight, just the first book, is my guilty
pleasure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">5. Watching TV bores me. To the unending
frustration of the hubs, I cannot watch a show without something else for
entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">6. Perhaps not shocking as I am a writer, but I
have stacks of journals dating back to 2001, when I was 14 and thought I was
hot sh*t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">7. When I was younger, I wanted to be a
veterinarian or a zoologist or a marine biologist (notice any themes?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">8. I swear all the time. I have a really hard
time controlling it and become quite paranoid around children because all the
bad words are sitting on the tip of my tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">9. I had a flock of ducks growing up. At some
point, we had around 20+. Miss those guys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">10. After 11 years with my hubs, the most
frequent fight we have is over who has to hang up the clothes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">11. Every time I go to a big box store, I have
to peruse the clearance section in the arts and crafts aisle. I refuse to pay
full price on most supplies, since they seem a bit ridiculous to me. $5 for a
pouch of buttons? Yeah, I’ll wait until those hit the clearance shelf. This
sort of lends itself to everything; I hate paying full price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Answers to Kasey's questions</b>:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">1. Besides the main
social networking sites, what other tools do you use for blogging?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m not that deep into blogging to
know the ins and outs of the blogging world. It’s really just my public journal
of sorts that I only advertise through 20sb, Bloglovin, and Twitter. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;">2.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"> Do you believe anything that is
supernatural, like ghosts or Bigfoot?</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I believe in ghosts and spirits, but
vampires and werewolves not so much. I think there’re people who truly believe
they’re vampires, and if they drink blood, I guess they fall under that category,
but I don’t think bona fide drink blood or shrivel, type of beings exist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">3.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> What's your favorite book or movie or tv
show?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Favorite book is Frankenstein. The
stuff about language, nature vs. nurture, science, etc … love that book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">4.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> What is the song that makes you dance
whenever it comes on?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a hard one. I’m such a
ballad/slow beat person. I had to peruse my Pandora, and the only song that
made me wanna dance a wee bit was “Lisztomania” by Pheonix, which is pretty old,
haha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">5.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> Did you have a nickname when you were
growing up? If so what was it?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soooo
many: Twizzlers, La Bean, Nikki, and then we all had note codenames in case we
were ever infiltrated, but I don’t remember that one.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">6.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> How do you get rid of writer's block?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I usually fall back to writing
something fanfictioney, where I’m not afraid of the writing it since I know the
characters and I have no real hope for the story; it’s just for fun. Writing in
that free zone helps me open up to my original works. Aside from that, force
myself to write something, even just a blog post, email, or a mundane day
journal, works to open the door.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">7.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> Coffee or Tea?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both and all forms. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">8.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> Would you rather spend have a vacation
at a beach or in the mountains?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I love the beach, but I’d rather be
in the mountains. A) for the aloneness of it and B) for the wildlife/feeling
closer to nature aspect of it. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">9.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> What's your favorite color?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A nice deep blue, like ocean blue. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;">10.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: purple;"> What's your favorite app and or video
game?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m a huge Skyrim fan. I got lost in
that game for a month or so. Sims does that for me too, more the building
houses and people aspects of it though. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;">11.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Times;"> If we lived in a society where people
carrying weapons was a normal everyday occurrence, think Role Playing Games,
what kind of weapon would you wield?</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Welp, if we’re talking any weapon that’s usually found in
RPGs, I’d say a magic wand, because magic. If we’re talking real world existing
weapons, I think it’d be really cool to be good with daggers or something.
Simply because they’re discrete and you have to have a fair bit of agility
which would lend you power even without the weapons. Bow comes in at a close
second.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><b>I nominate these lovely ladies! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Sara
@<a href="http://mylifeoutofalabcoat.com/">mylifeoutofalabcoat.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Patrice
@<a href="http://quarterlifewritings.wordpress.com/">http://quarterlifewritings.wordpress.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Heather @ <a href="http://heatheryoungnichols.com/">heatheryoungnichols.com</a>
(also buy her book </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Times; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Samantha @<a href="http://samantha-jillofalltrades.blogspot.com/">samantha-jillofalltrades.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Sarah @
<a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/">thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>My 11 Questions for you:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">1. What was your worst job?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">2. If you could teleport, where would you choose to live?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">3. What fictional world do you most want to be a part of?</span></div>
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4. What was your favorite childhood toy? </div>
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5. What's your favorite vegetable? </div>
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6. Would you rather have a live in chef or live in maid? </div>
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7. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you want? </div>
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8. Townhouse, farm, or cabin in the woods?</div>
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9. If you had a time turner, what moment would you change or relive? </div>
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10. What was your dream job as a kid?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. What's your favorite blogpost? </div>
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<br /></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-20459531513860410422014-09-14T12:56:00.000-07:002014-09-14T12:56:20.734-07:00September Snapshot #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbDFZfR6JCXY_0wUMbtmo4XV_AfhEimhEmt594lgJcX4bYTqTwWl-RzTgRexebL6pa85yMlj9vnwBi18gVm7K9fqx4HT1UntKIzu6j7JHauMiNF-0M-FK6n3UfoFjPmU0LDwfv5kCGMs/s1600/stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbDFZfR6JCXY_0wUMbtmo4XV_AfhEimhEmt594lgJcX4bYTqTwWl-RzTgRexebL6pa85yMlj9vnwBi18gVm7K9fqx4HT1UntKIzu6j7JHauMiNF-0M-FK6n3UfoFjPmU0LDwfv5kCGMs/s1600/stories.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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We cleaned out the storage closet this week, and I found a folder of my old papers. </div>
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These are some of the first stories I ever wrote. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_QrwoUiRONV9vOl1de8WY3uty8NUUjFRQKwpZ4svnCvmn7Ei_icsy1DmCc_L_UAVnpt9NMXOz0Rr0r0wLEXmG65kVga1SRSo_IGhO8lZUYn09j92WJtbt019DgIDa9NbloeNJUmzn4/s1600/writing+prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_QrwoUiRONV9vOl1de8WY3uty8NUUjFRQKwpZ4svnCvmn7Ei_icsy1DmCc_L_UAVnpt9NMXOz0Rr0r0wLEXmG65kVga1SRSo_IGhO8lZUYn09j92WJtbt019DgIDa9NbloeNJUmzn4/s1600/writing+prep.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I also got stared on some NaNoWriMo prep. I'm going through a pretty intense </div>
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plotting session right now. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7BmhdGSlrRMNhyphenhyphenrIAaJ9gEmXkTl4-YG-7FrTdMDF-EbJUR9tD0F9760uOycObTlYZB64lurRQHSiZX6kt7pkFleOfaJMAXN00b_IgM_gwpTvbyAWkEvRTyY7NGjwSEbLI6INJPHUvG0/s1600/poweroutage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7BmhdGSlrRMNhyphenhyphenrIAaJ9gEmXkTl4-YG-7FrTdMDF-EbJUR9tD0F9760uOycObTlYZB64lurRQHSiZX6kt7pkFleOfaJMAXN00b_IgM_gwpTvbyAWkEvRTyY7NGjwSEbLI6INJPHUvG0/s1600/poweroutage.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Early in the week, we had some pretty bad weather, so we ran out and got some</div>
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power outage activities. I haven't colored in so long. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2ySevyY_DnkJgggodQwfOV4qFMCDd-IcF92P5Sd9uIjapptgeUn7iCHu_4X1RwWcxIdNsFSGzg-j-V74zuVi0_8Qf-2uEVXazN3NktTmS0a1zGAyPDO5RWpYfeWLBN_Z0cZBAkzGWkg/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2ySevyY_DnkJgggodQwfOV4qFMCDd-IcF92P5Sd9uIjapptgeUn7iCHu_4X1RwWcxIdNsFSGzg-j-V74zuVi0_8Qf-2uEVXazN3NktTmS0a1zGAyPDO5RWpYfeWLBN_Z0cZBAkzGWkg/s1600/star.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Star fruit, yum. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIgC8NtJt-dPNXlrjamgySOdsgm4OCFOuKGW-h9h6uC2n2GmQDu-eTkmaGpVi-kkTAYFHbT0WWq3XqDqD5ojc8tQmogeFvgfSTitHig_vdA9vEEtlXB-RZz6buTPfblqR7jFtEWsnoUs/s1600/nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIgC8NtJt-dPNXlrjamgySOdsgm4OCFOuKGW-h9h6uC2n2GmQDu-eTkmaGpVi-kkTAYFHbT0WWq3XqDqD5ojc8tQmogeFvgfSTitHig_vdA9vEEtlXB-RZz6buTPfblqR7jFtEWsnoUs/s1600/nails.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Another winner in the nail polish department. I used this on Wednesday, and </div>
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the only thing chipped today are the very tips. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5meukilngX4gDqApG-vCzaArhKBufvArO4aNBBJzgyC4PwjG1fTGFD3VtCwTvqF1mCmnLQ2c_Yd3PN7U43rt9eqXofecOeRWtP_zTmgDDJFZeflxc2o65YUjHwMaMV3CXm74XAoPTNY/s1600/birchbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5meukilngX4gDqApG-vCzaArhKBufvArO4aNBBJzgyC4PwjG1fTGFD3VtCwTvqF1mCmnLQ2c_Yd3PN7U43rt9eqXofecOeRWtP_zTmgDDJFZeflxc2o65YUjHwMaMV3CXm74XAoPTNY/s1600/birchbox.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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My Birchbox arrived. Anybody else get Birchbox? That hair oil spray </div>
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and perfume were my favorite this go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qNXujDyeEtCvOZzf3rR_11EcEs6nxIQK4qN1rZt574mFv7wwyoVe9XWlze9jd8l5qScRf1275_W9g093jDXO3zOgI4AF_M7aIti7hfeO88VWMnnbkrlZXqisGkmXZ8n4bXEW1D2ZrVs/s1600/chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qNXujDyeEtCvOZzf3rR_11EcEs6nxIQK4qN1rZt574mFv7wwyoVe9XWlze9jd8l5qScRf1275_W9g093jDXO3zOgI4AF_M7aIti7hfeO88VWMnnbkrlZXqisGkmXZ8n4bXEW1D2ZrVs/s1600/chalkboard.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The beginnings of my chalkboard wall ... thing. Crafty Sunday.</div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-31525179032023449962014-09-07T19:11:00.001-07:002014-09-07T19:11:43.364-07:00September Snapshot #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvZN9ArOYhdqLl8SeT07yVIDspAD2vuLvMK9IW9VyG_lYbaM4fZPWapEEvb6wfepUifkw3nQ6PdBw6Ynb3Ov8hHsnRC_3AMdwxUX2KG27KQGtPQ91MG8cQxt0fvBJtClUSUBxMT4gRLk/s1600/Sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvZN9ArOYhdqLl8SeT07yVIDspAD2vuLvMK9IW9VyG_lYbaM4fZPWapEEvb6wfepUifkw3nQ6PdBw6Ynb3Ov8hHsnRC_3AMdwxUX2KG27KQGtPQ91MG8cQxt0fvBJtClUSUBxMT4gRLk/s1600/Sunflower.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Surprise garden! This bad boy sprouted from some fallen birdseed, and I just noticed it this week.</div>
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Sir Figs enjoying some afternoon snuggles.</div>
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The hubs and I took the dogs for a walk down by the old rail station. Excuse the completely unflattering workout pants, odd hair dangly bit, and general discomfort in the pose. Let majestic Mia take your attention from those things.</div>
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Rail station and Railroad</div>
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Selfie time. </div>
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Yoda doth protest to much. Found at Barnes and Noble along with other Shakespearean Star Wars adventure plays.</div>
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This nail polish is possibly the best nail polish I have ever purchased. Look at that shine without a top coat! Yes, without a top coat. We're also two days in together and barely a chip. It's Nuance by Salma Hayek in True Azul at CVS.</div>
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Free wine? Why yes! </div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-34578084854107653592014-09-04T13:09:00.000-07:002014-09-04T13:09:07.337-07:00My Harry Potter Blood Runs Deep<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been three years since the last time I sat in the
theaters to watch Harry Potter. It’s been seven since I last sat outside Media
Play (who remembers that store??) for the midnight release of Deathly Hallows. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, Harry Potter still finds a way to sneak into my
consciousness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m kind of known in my friend group for inappropriate
dreams staring various Potter characters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It started with a random dream many years ago now, where
Harry, not Dan Rad, pulled up to me on the streets of New York in a limo asking
me if I wanted to see his magic stick … Mhm, my dream brain thinks Potter’s a
bit pervy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lLA6wLIFc-fhFW7USXhPnM4PPp7cKN5mQjwK9t7BSk3pEbMx_Wg7akQhmNr2z2G7gTENAkP4nwshpgLN_O9woFosufBxEYHJwubs5EhtprXGzWv9n9VyQ5OmQlwcVLEmLjultgrWJSI/s1600/harry-potter_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lLA6wLIFc-fhFW7USXhPnM4PPp7cKN5mQjwK9t7BSk3pEbMx_Wg7akQhmNr2z2G7gTENAkP4nwshpgLN_O9woFosufBxEYHJwubs5EhtprXGzWv9n9VyQ5OmQlwcVLEmLjultgrWJSI/s1600/harry-potter_18.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No no, Harry. No no.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Honestly, last month, I hadn’t even seen, read, or thought
about HP for quite sometime. Imagine my surprise when none other than George
Weasley pops into my dreams like we’re old pals, who dream me was also secretly
in love with … I was unaware that I harbored any romantic inclinations for the
twins.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://novelnovice.com/2011/07/page/5/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ikUpFtPF5F4KQkWKesWpy7ngU5OAi2aE6BHyR-aLHf9cStH26EQpqEPPlE6zij6s6eweOt2qfGc_cm1HT9CA5FdmcwnBqty9ktM9Dj3lvSrE9I3Nf8LYK0xP1TWuKM6Jq_TjXTLUEgg/s1600/hp7itallends_weasley-twins.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it was a much more PG dream than I’m used to when it
comes to fictional characters, it awakened my teenage Potter fanatic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve started rereading the series, the hubs and I watched HP
1-3 on Labor Day, and I even checked out Pottermore to catch up on Rowling’s
new writing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can I just say how much I miss Harry Potter? The
anticipation of the next book/film, midnight premieres, the whole day I’d
dedicate to reading the next book. My youth revolved around that world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it kind of surprises me that I still find them amazing
at 27 years old. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funneestuff.com/post/19949482243" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1hohvC9PM1roarllo1_500.gif" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan stuff is also amazing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>I don’t think I’ve reached that level of fanatic with any
other series. I kind of shy away from large series for that reason, too—I can
be quite obsessive when it comes to books I love, so long series take big
chunks of my times and funds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do know if Rowling ever picks up the pen for another
series in that world, I’m going to be all over it. I haven’t read <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/harry-potter-fantastic-beasts-find-2269047">Mythical Beasts</a>, but I am excited about the movie and seeing the wizarding world set in
New York. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anybody else have strange character dreams or all consuming
book recommendations? What thing defines your childhood?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-46079111653041335872014-08-25T08:24:00.000-07:002014-08-25T08:24:26.468-07:00Doctors and Disappointment <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9k1a8fVZLOuVsZlNadtGyyDajVBquSdSs3MdJ5qVizzVXbyt9HtG24K6iYLzh8x2xVda7CX5aFT0WzdT9r5v_xpiPcRB9J3NQ8XnceN6xXEpwfwrFI8fdPIbtT2mj72u5huaePzs_6c/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9k1a8fVZLOuVsZlNadtGyyDajVBquSdSs3MdJ5qVizzVXbyt9HtG24K6iYLzh8x2xVda7CX5aFT0WzdT9r5v_xpiPcRB9J3NQ8XnceN6xXEpwfwrFI8fdPIbtT2mj72u5huaePzs_6c/s1600/butterfly.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you want me to be your surrogate?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That isn’t a question you want to hear from your mother, it's not an option you’d think to entertain, and it’s definitely not something
you’d ever want to explain to your child. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes, Timmy, you’re half your father and half your mother,
but you came out of grandma.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If that’s not a recipe for identity crisis, I don’t know
what is. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know my mother wasn’t being serious. She was only
attempting to cheer me up after my disappointing doctor’s appointment where I
was told I’m not ovulating and there’s nothing I can do about it aside
from continue trying to get my thyroid under control and lose the weight the
bum thyroid put on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not exactly brightening news when you’ve only lost ten
pounds in the last year you’ve been trying and been on the meds everyone said
would fix it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, you know, “Thyroid problems take time. You have to be
patient…” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, I’m rocking forty extra pounds and want to have
children in the very near future, but my uterus is on thyroid time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It really doesn’t help that Facebook has turned into
Babybook, and everyone I know is on baby number 2 with just a small sect of us
in the corner with our empty wombs shaking our fists. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, the key is positivity, right? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gotta keep looking up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I’m reinstating the no-holds-bar diet and exercise plan.
That means it’s back to highly regimented days, food journaling, and strict guard
duty of my cupboards (coincidentally, this is also happening for my dog who’s
gotten a bit chunky). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus, since going sans gluten, they’ve cut my hormones in half
as I went a bit high and had some reoccurring heart palpitations—never fun—and
I don’t want any fallout from the changes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Ugh, all kinds of fertility fun happening over here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-10504705886374392152014-08-13T19:48:00.000-07:002014-08-13T20:20:54.494-07:00One of the Greats<div class="MsoNormal">
My first encounter with Robin Williams was as Genie in
<i>Aladdin</i>. He was my favorite character. I connected
with the loud, erratic craziness that made Genie. As an unmedicated, hyperactive
child, I sometimes felt like a screaming blue giant in a room full of cringing
Aladdins. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DaveAlvarezStudio"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/10603466_451852834955013_1386015234232117788_n.jpg?oh=4f3add7012aa24c5ff7ac67a2828022e&oe=547C489A" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran into him again in <i>Mrs. Doubtfire</i> and again in <i>Jumanji</i>, a movie I watched over and over again. Little me loved Robin Williams.
He became a part of my childhood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I got older, I watched <i>What Dreams May Come</i>, which
still stands as one of my favorite films, and it cemented Williams on my
favorite actors list. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/robin-williams/images/26619597/title/what-dreams-may-come-photo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26600000/What-Dreams-May-Come-robin-williams-26619597-500-325.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope his heaven looks a lot like this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
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I can’t say I’ve seen all his movies, but I can say that I
love his characters in all the ones I’ve seen, and I always gave a movie with his name attached a watch. He’s never failed to make me
laugh or cry or scare the crap out of me (I don’t think I’ve gotten my photos
developed at a store since <i>One Hour Photo. H</i>e put a whole movie to a
fear I’d had for along time). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And <i>Good Will Hunting</i>, I cry every time he talks about his
wife so passionately. Every.Time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hearing he died was heartbreaking. I’d never met him, but it
kind of felt like a distant relative had passed or someone I used to be really
close to. I teared up reading what his daughter wrote and other people who knew
him personally.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been appalled by how some of the media is covering it. I
don’t think it was necessary to give the details of his death beyond it being a suicide. It’s not our
right to know things beyond that; that news serves no purpose but to invade a very
personal and sad space he last existed in and shows just how far behind we are
in accurately handling mental illness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I am again flabbergasted at the ignorance of those who’ve never gone through
depression but still feel like they hold some valid and all enlightening solution
or judgement for those who have gone through it and succumbed to it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It infuriates me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been depressed; I spent a year in a black whole of
isolation, where maybe I never contemplated ending my life, but I didn’t care
if I got hit by a bus or some other quick solution happened. I, luckily, dug myself out,
but I’m always on the precipice, and the fear of falling back in is always
there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also have an ongoing anxiety problem, and I can not express
to you the emotions that hit me when someone says things like ‘It’s all in your
head; there’s nothing to fear; just don’t think about it.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If it were that easy, mental illness wouldn’t be a problem. And
these reactions are exactly why people with these problems never ask for help.
When our issues are degraded, they become something that’s easier to deal with,
successfully or unsuccessfully, internally. It is much easier to exist in a world
where only we know our crazy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no outside help for depression and anxiety if you're not willing to take it, and even if you do want it, sometimes it still wins. Williams
fought it until he was 63. That’s a damn good winning streak, and it really
sucks that it took him now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart goes out to his family, to his kids. I
hope they can find comfort in his memories and legacy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To celebrate his life<o:p></o:p>, I’ve been watching his movies, laughing as I always have and cherishing the fact that he lives on there, doing what he always did best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://funnyandhilarious.tumblr.com/post/94635962313/i-only-have-one-name-here-x-post-r-pics"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/4a151565589e14e317532954d94f9af6/tumblr_na94rokn5L1tv85u1o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-69391279651129040902014-08-11T06:58:00.000-07:002014-08-11T06:58:09.256-07:00New Additions<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Meet Sir Figs
Birdington<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr9AgCQe5klg6QjeIgjf3V3PDIzeKdRQbUJsQkUfc4W_ta3G__37pfMuhhVtQ-PNHOgRhpuD1YXCZMojJ-SfRljMmNTyxOKvu9u-_ed2AH15Kd6N-jKdvuvTvHUHSN-nkMV4dhnc8aGE/s1600/desk+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr9AgCQe5klg6QjeIgjf3V3PDIzeKdRQbUJsQkUfc4W_ta3G__37pfMuhhVtQ-PNHOgRhpuD1YXCZMojJ-SfRljMmNTyxOKvu9u-_ed2AH15Kd6N-jKdvuvTvHUHSN-nkMV4dhnc8aGE/s1600/desk+bird.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">It’s been a stressful month and a half. I can’t say getting
another pet really did anything to lessen the financial stress, but he’s done
wonders for the emotional state of the house.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjennJSr9qSJjtgo4ZwCDqlF-9o5__9g43nhd0r6JRz9lRTAOplVaIdx-R-cT6vLkj4Rji0M3UWcmuePLY33YWTzgsIq4Iuh2fJ0oD4_fhzjHZZ48kBJm5QlK8z8xwPg9VFXEOGe5I-onA/s1600/are+you+working+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjennJSr9qSJjtgo4ZwCDqlF-9o5__9g43nhd0r6JRz9lRTAOplVaIdx-R-cT6vLkj4Rji0M3UWcmuePLY33YWTzgsIq4Iuh2fJ0oD4_fhzjHZZ48kBJm5QlK8z8xwPg9VFXEOGe5I-onA/s1600/are+you+working+bird.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t really gotten too deep into my fertility issues,
since this is a public blog and the world doesn’t need to be privy to the
happenings of my womb, but we’re having problems. Something’s not working in my
lady area, making baby creation a problem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84UZRYTpDeK09iKJLROVrg2droIfkiSgaBIK99Jv1ckT9qldndoQ9NVvlQ_RMX1sysg4KCCRn_6UEJP8RW0-_xmn5AmopyJgI2a_lCSYdGMGgtndOR5zXtgo60guMNIjcEcnYIhRRj6I/s1600/post+shower+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84UZRYTpDeK09iKJLROVrg2droIfkiSgaBIK99Jv1ckT9qldndoQ9NVvlQ_RMX1sysg4KCCRn_6UEJP8RW0-_xmn5AmopyJgI2a_lCSYdGMGgtndOR5zXtgo60guMNIjcEcnYIhRRj6I/s1600/post+shower+bird.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A bird makes me feel better about the state of things for
some reason. It soothes my baby fever a bit and helps me concentrate on other
things as I wait for more testing and appointments to figure out what’s wrong
and where to go from here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Financially, it probably wasn’t the best move, either, but sometimes
you do things to forget. Some people drink to do this; I get a bird. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8dcoVzdfk0B1OLmXE6nvo8aJI3swrfo0DAYYBumM9vLWI6Ehg6MEIEBf3nB_-HIEoSaJwhfXM66POtNWSSxUHd6YnOS0TlOIkC85zkKLN10zW2f9ZKf-VLEpvlE6SFAI0VBenXgPGkY/s1600/bird+in+the+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8dcoVzdfk0B1OLmXE6nvo8aJI3swrfo0DAYYBumM9vLWI6Ehg6MEIEBf3nB_-HIEoSaJwhfXM66POtNWSSxUHd6YnOS0TlOIkC85zkKLN10zW2f9ZKf-VLEpvlE6SFAI0VBenXgPGkY/s1600/bird+in+the+hand.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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He’s a turquoise Green Cheek Conure, hatched back in February
so not even a year old. He’s adorably cuddly, something I didn’t expect from a
bird but am definitely pleased with. He plays with cat toys more than my cats
do. He goes through a midafternoon scream fest that lasts about 10 minutes but
is otherwise quiet. He is pretty potty trained, which I thought was impossible
for birds, but the amount of poop I’ve seen him let loose makes me really happy
about that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C-zSqvpyngJ2NWC8eHdVy3o59mrmcQRU_IACfBqYLjij5iUl0hDAYgY_g3WI0I0I3ljfCoLy08XMyNr6mf1l1oyU4zE_Y9I4H6NGN0VOHwdqNyBjZSLUiNNhMG4w8ZSG2IueymvO8GM/s1600/paint+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C-zSqvpyngJ2NWC8eHdVy3o59mrmcQRU_IACfBqYLjij5iUl0hDAYgY_g3WI0I0I3ljfCoLy08XMyNr6mf1l1oyU4zE_Y9I4H6NGN0VOHwdqNyBjZSLUiNNhMG4w8ZSG2IueymvO8GM/s1600/paint+bird.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any other bird parents out there? Any advice? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-383738566271792612014-07-15T12:07:00.000-07:002014-07-15T12:07:01.497-07:00Weight Loss Journey Update <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNcVU1BygU4c88NVTnqxeZWRNgZAJVeBuV2ut5zKbolmjDz0nickUzsVUquu9F5v7az-2h_K8wqQ0hEcNwsOaTOcm-rBFORuHYXM581BuaSxvg8CQez7CYvj6UmdeSbfK5YJ6gCljrkA/s1600/driveby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNcVU1BygU4c88NVTnqxeZWRNgZAJVeBuV2ut5zKbolmjDz0nickUzsVUquu9F5v7az-2h_K8wqQ0hEcNwsOaTOcm-rBFORuHYXM581BuaSxvg8CQez7CYvj6UmdeSbfK5YJ6gCljrkA/s1600/driveby.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving shot on my trip up north </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve mentioned my numerous struggles with weight loss that
started a little over a year ago before, but I haven’t updated that story very
much considering nothing’s really happened—just 7 or so months of me
teeter-tottering a one pound weight loss, a very self-deprecating journal
entry, and more doctor’s visits with no help moving forward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I gave up gluten a little over a month ago and things
started changing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pain relief was pretty immediate. I’d become accustomed
to an all over aching, slow post workout heal time, sore joints, etc. To have
all that disappear was kind of jarring. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The constant nausea and bloating lessened about a week in,
which—according to an old journal—started persistently back in 2007. I’ve been dealing
with nausea for so long that I couldn’t remember what it was like to eat and
not feel sick immediately afterwards. For the first two weeks, I was over
eating simply because nausea had always been how I knew it was time to stop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About a month in, I stepped on the scale. 5lbs down. I can’t
describe the feeling at seeing those numbers. I became a bit obsessive with
weighing myself then, afraid that maybe it was just a fluke in the scale. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it kept dropping. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6lbs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7lbs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8lbs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been two weeks now, and I’ve managed to maintain an
11lb weight loss. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve decided to stop weighing myself now as to savor this
successful feeling. I know it’s going to slow soon, and I don’t want to be
disappointed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, I’m excited about working out again and actually seeing
results. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m in a funny clothing place now. My fat pants are too big
but my next size down are still too snug. No matter though. My closet could
probably support a small clothing shop with its variations in sizing. I have
pants in five different sizes floating around in there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do want to make it clear that this loss isn’t simply from
giving up gluten. I’m not saying I have Celiac disease, because I haven’t been
tested, but it has become abundantly clear post giving it up that something
about gluten containing products was making me ill and affecting my metabolism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Case in point, my heart palpitations are back. I haven’t had
problems with those for a couple months when I adjusted to my higher thyroid
medicine dosage. But a couple weeks after giving up gluten, they returned and I
have a feeling my dosage may be too high now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This gives me great hope my hypothyroidism might be from the
gluten. Maybe I’ll be medicine free again soon! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, my period is back, which is probably the best thing
about this process as the hubs and I are planning to start trying for kids in
the coming October. I’ve spent the last couple of months worrying that I wasn’t
going to be able to conceive since a working womb is kind of central to the
process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I will update a lot more on this now as I progress…now that
I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> progressing. I have a doctor
appointment at the end of the month, so hopefully I’ll get the heart issues
straightened out.<o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-15651304723002197412014-07-09T09:52:00.001-07:002014-07-09T09:56:00.210-07:00Camping and Temp Work Frustrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe79NM9vp9tLofmJ2W6lOhDycJiMswrIjQt-DCl3hPrAEZvWK3JSrLeUHzwK2rygjrt02IysqIkvgnlMaSuwb6l0F9qFoIvyPTJHYeNlN-MBgBWLqJiUQrDikPcDZg8pPIzb9g0IxxHs/s1600/20140705_153333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe79NM9vp9tLofmJ2W6lOhDycJiMswrIjQt-DCl3hPrAEZvWK3JSrLeUHzwK2rygjrt02IysqIkvgnlMaSuwb6l0F9qFoIvyPTJHYeNlN-MBgBWLqJiUQrDikPcDZg8pPIzb9g0IxxHs/s1600/20140705_153333.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How to describe my life right now: stressed, in a constant
state of anticipation, vacillating between ‘Everything’s going to be okay’ and
‘Holy sh*t, what are we going to do?’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4G8T1rnUuUuj5H2RmUCh3AYeyg8b3ZoVWs9RT7a6Vl8KmLYuTjGiay4dhbknvjWQpo5QxRVZVMsV1fQR-NqCcSOeUrmS9KNO-jbHGCryPEU_Qsyom_lJbuv2xV1nh2go_lH7S1x2wQA/s1600/20140705_155251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4G8T1rnUuUuj5H2RmUCh3AYeyg8b3ZoVWs9RT7a6Vl8KmLYuTjGiay4dhbknvjWQpo5QxRVZVMsV1fQR-NqCcSOeUrmS9KNO-jbHGCryPEU_Qsyom_lJbuv2xV1nh2go_lH7S1x2wQA/s1600/20140705_155251.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hub’s work contract is up in two weeks and despite
everyone’s assurance that something will get worked out, nothing seems to be
even remotely decided except for the roundabout expiration date of his current
contract. It glows on the calendar, mocking me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8dl8Uywl3kDWDMH8fqrJphJgRsaVyRuqsGHpp6saKnbWw4wdfV_qeOnt3cE20YvXDuI-QSz0_xMm5956XSyERAsJwIEaiEgeemQfbwfAwnz23_UK8aCMcLPRrFDm1IXdfjBWK-M4GGM/s1600/20140705_155520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8dl8Uywl3kDWDMH8fqrJphJgRsaVyRuqsGHpp6saKnbWw4wdfV_qeOnt3cE20YvXDuI-QSz0_xMm5956XSyERAsJwIEaiEgeemQfbwfAwnz23_UK8aCMcLPRrFDm1IXdfjBWK-M4GGM/s1600/20140705_155520.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s tense around here. I try to keep the support alive, but
then I have to pay a bill or something on a car breaks and I am reminded of how much money we don’t have and how much worse that’s going get if this
doesn’t pan out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not that we won’t get on our feet either way, but I’ve done
the unemployment game before. That game sucks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtakcincFXGZ1DpVvNJsxb2LvnfMJGxGYccjKjkfE6cOr-bbMBSZnf8FTlV3tioz_oczLU_mnyYYelxEBmgpsY_M9LEtVUZZ1TWYypRhzysTpkowF2OqrqCKXyY4baSsZbbE0exMk7bic/s1600/miac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtakcincFXGZ1DpVvNJsxb2LvnfMJGxGYccjKjkfE6cOr-bbMBSZnf8FTlV3tioz_oczLU_mnyYYelxEBmgpsY_M9LEtVUZZ1TWYypRhzysTpkowF2OqrqCKXyY4baSsZbbE0exMk7bic/s1600/miac.png" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when my parents offered to pay for us to go camping with
them this weekend, we jumped on board. We may have stayed at a federal
campground with no electricity, showers, or any signs of modern
society—the outhouses were rsurprisingly clean—but it was the most
relaxing weekend I’ve had in a very long time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0132I0JTXWELfGahjwB2qcAjwkWjeDbeirb-OAuIBnrNeGDhcMhOlg5C9gVhXWfHentb-8WrVdTvzAcnTKZtwnMda1i2YV2OKWCBbcVxASqXTaccQz6etfZ-tzIM01zlgkk53tVb7tQ/s1600/20140705_153722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0132I0JTXWELfGahjwB2qcAjwkWjeDbeirb-OAuIBnrNeGDhcMhOlg5C9gVhXWfHentb-8WrVdTvzAcnTKZtwnMda1i2YV2OKWCBbcVxASqXTaccQz6etfZ-tzIM01zlgkk53tVb7tQ/s1600/20140705_153722.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>The hubs and I decided that money, jobs, and future financial
crises talks would be pinned on the board of things we’d worry about after we
returned to the land of internet, electricity powered lights, and heated water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w6Kr1x9ZSaPA6LZRNixJpYK7fgAPG9AcbjkL5N0LseHKI_w4G4B9KoZw-3aJfuLzA1Cycqirgev9Z49MI4-YEfFNyNbi6AAKxqZ_1uV3YHYis8L6u5FhjotEqV5B_CbkFcWFo8QSnvQ/s1600/20140705_153529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w6Kr1x9ZSaPA6LZRNixJpYK7fgAPG9AcbjkL5N0LseHKI_w4G4B9KoZw-3aJfuLzA1Cycqirgev9Z49MI4-YEfFNyNbi6AAKxqZ_1uV3YHYis8L6u5FhjotEqV5B_CbkFcWFo8QSnvQ/s1600/20140705_153529.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m back now, but I’d rather not be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9-4ijJ92DJMPn5hXVISyUjFvPNY_HLHbR2-k9boeibkO3SuxdVs0UsNZotfEKNgXlsWd9p4aMX68wxrX6yX_pu5GdRjI-BwiZu7fsn4bMI192qguvySBawE9mqutG3YjztG5rlYjmtI/s1600/20140704_113114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9-4ijJ92DJMPn5hXVISyUjFvPNY_HLHbR2-k9boeibkO3SuxdVs0UsNZotfEKNgXlsWd9p4aMX68wxrX6yX_pu5GdRjI-BwiZu7fsn4bMI192qguvySBawE9mqutG3YjztG5rlYjmtI/s1600/20140704_113114.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Monday the official 2 week mark drove in carrying
truckloads of stress behind it. I spent two hours that night combing job
boards, another hour trying to go through bills to see where we can trim more
fat, and a couple more hours coming up with the statistics on how long we could
live off our available credit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSknBIagR9UXWqfRCqMZMZz4xqIm90oZ1NTl4hSLamvnaT7Rto_v7O17Oml-7ag6X_ZHpQ3o6sTMaCK5Rn0gGergdfadyT1ZnR3NcRY46lZlcRBgNAR4NhiMeRgXjcX7bssusNk6w-cE/s1600/20140705_155359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSknBIagR9UXWqfRCqMZMZz4xqIm90oZ1NTl4hSLamvnaT7Rto_v7O17Oml-7ag6X_ZHpQ3o6sTMaCK5Rn0gGergdfadyT1ZnR3NcRY46lZlcRBgNAR4NhiMeRgXjcX7bssusNk6w-cE/s1600/20140705_155359.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Give me mosquito bite covered legs and dirt seasoned food
over this uncertainty any day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYinTlncKRSu6aM6dQv8zbJwBuvGxNbFzANDA79y71gf0SD5jpTtJFpJOCKuNDbW4Ln5wElKiViTVy_RYiCYwosKimK-kLFhRZXAXPxq1sClZrEPvmwhBpc62k7z7o3fa65I99c1kcANk/s1600/20140705_155152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYinTlncKRSu6aM6dQv8zbJwBuvGxNbFzANDA79y71gf0SD5jpTtJFpJOCKuNDbW4Ln5wElKiViTVy_RYiCYwosKimK-kLFhRZXAXPxq1sClZrEPvmwhBpc62k7z7o3fa65I99c1kcANk/s1600/20140705_155152.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>Temporary work shouldn’t be a thing …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-89532634695014991152014-07-01T17:34:00.000-07:002014-07-01T17:35:51.746-07:00Short Story Love<br />
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS_K-BNfhDD4jAz1s4Om82A3QVMWGNLClv-gWuhFT-l82hcBuNfRXEyLNX5XRjWidqAoquZEz87s0gNIKCZDE4YAtzPs8we3sZ7i-8M-NKoHfPDaPxZpe_MBIwQUuSqCrjnbziCVZFf8/s1600/Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS_K-BNfhDD4jAz1s4Om82A3QVMWGNLClv-gWuhFT-l82hcBuNfRXEyLNX5XRjWidqAoquZEz87s0gNIKCZDE4YAtzPs8we3sZ7i-8M-NKoHfPDaPxZpe_MBIwQUuSqCrjnbziCVZFf8/s1600/Book.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My well loved short story collections. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
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In honor of the start of Camp NaNoWrimo and my endeavor to
write a short story anthology, I thought I’d point you toward some short
stories available online that have left a mark on me as a reader/writer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As an English graduate, short stories were my bread and
butter during my academic days. In some ways, I learned to love short stories
more than I do novels. All texts, whether 1,000 words or 100,000 words, require
a level of bravery and talent to leave any kind of mark on the world, but I
think a short story has a lot of work to do in a very limited space that gives
them a certain appeal unobtainable by longer novels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If a short story can elicit some kind of visceral emotion
from me within their short pages, I hold them to a different level than I would
a novel that did the same. There is no room for background, slow building, or
space to grow a strong bond between reader and text in a short story. It’s all
action, and if done right, powerful, lasting action. <o:p></o:p></div>
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—That’s not to say I
don’t love full-length novels. I’m a reader of all—<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve fallen in love with many short tales, but these are my
favorites:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://heroicjourneys.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/niggle.pdf">Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you read
any on this list, let it be this one. It has Christian undertones, some might
say overtones, like most of Tolkien’s work, but it’s also simply a story about
people, about appreciating your neighbor and looking at the world through their
eyes. It’s also about an artist, a pastor, death, and a leaf. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/rprnts.omelas.pdf">The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursela K. Le Guin</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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This one had me in a moral
quandary. If you’re a lover of Utopian/Distopian stories, give this short one a
read and decide what you would do. It’s about a perfect society, what is responsible
for that perfection, and what one would do in the face of that thing which
makes it perfect. I’m writing in circles, just give it a read. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://sites.middlebury.edu/individualandthesociety/files/2010/09/jackson_lottery.pdf">The Lottery by Shirley Jackson</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
moral quandary story. This is about a town that holds a lottery once a year as
a ritual to bring prosperity to the town. I won’t tell anymore, but it’s
definitely worth a read. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm">The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is
about a sick woman who is locked away in a house in the country at the advise
of her husband to help her get better. Strange things happen in her isolation
and the ending is just creepy perfection. Read it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/Hawthorne/Rappaccini.htm">Rappaccini’s Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html">The Gift of the Magi by O.Henry</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://poestories.com/read/pit">The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kafka-online.info/in-the-penal-colony.html">In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-747705265176561233.post-43071924967566394702014-06-22T17:29:00.001-07:002014-06-22T17:29:39.125-07:00Garage Sale Haul <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I’ve lived in my city for three summers now, and this year
was the first time I realized there were neighborhood garage sales nearby.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The weather was beautiful, one of those Michigan summer days
where it was in the high 70s and mercifully the humidity was relatively low
too, so it felt somewhere around low 80s. A blessing for early June. It made
walking the five-block circuit of sales enjoyable instead of a sweat soaked
struggle. And they were those awesome kind of garage sales filled with old
antique sewing machines and fine china. Even if I have no use for such things,
they were cool to look at. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One particular house was selling a host of wingback chairs,
seemingly a yard designed to lure me in (I’ve been looking for that type of
chair for my office since forever). At first, I fell in love with a white,
jacquard patterned set with matching footstool, but they were obviously new,
and the seller wanted $150 for them. I was working with $20, so I had to walk
away. But I circled the yard hopeful, and hidden off to the side next to the
books table was this beauty:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5u7N1PBEEbQ-p3ZwK9pATH5Qrs2JXMsFddpKkGGDKKk8vws5TEaNS5AqP4AMuIBeqxE9-FQlnKatIfwPfvLfLoTx26HFDcC-lnF5yekRBxWkoRFNiXERHtwhKL8dMrNQt2Asc_Vf0Mcc/s1600/Chair.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5u7N1PBEEbQ-p3ZwK9pATH5Qrs2JXMsFddpKkGGDKKk8vws5TEaNS5AqP4AMuIBeqxE9-FQlnKatIfwPfvLfLoTx26HFDcC-lnF5yekRBxWkoRFNiXERHtwhKL8dMrNQt2Asc_Vf0Mcc/s1600/Chair.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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It’s old and stained and not my style in the least, but it
was … wait for it … $3. My first thought was that someone must’ve died in it.
There was nothing wrong with it aside from the stains, the bottom held, and the
wooden legs were in tact. Why so cheap? Me and my worst-case-scenario mind were
thinking I was going to be lured in by its cheapness and bring a haunted chair
into my home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Luckily, it’s been in my house for two weeks now, and
there’s been no uptick in the supernatural. My fears seemed to be unfounded.
Now, my only concern is how successful my first attempt at upholstery is going
to be. I want the chair to be my statement piece in my office. Right now my room is of the black and white variety with my inspiration wall and book spines the only bits of color. I was thinking this fabric, maybe: </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IKAFR46/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2R4LFHFNCDIXG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81u7UuQn+4L._SL1500_.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click pic for Amazon link</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Speaking of books, I found these for $1.25. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMOwPV6QAe5R-_sEIwvfKEJc8bIL_k1HHFwpe2QR8jCDxQcKZC3hPU5DGiCBoS7TTp4zExDk9QYUuDMgL8xCLyWeVE4KZ_qvFY6Z8Uu_QfcBKcsQpMPUmw8e0fvxBYyYwO7qvH0c5oMI/s1600/IMG_1891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMOwPV6QAe5R-_sEIwvfKEJc8bIL_k1HHFwpe2QR8jCDxQcKZC3hPU5DGiCBoS7TTp4zExDk9QYUuDMgL8xCLyWeVE4KZ_qvFY6Z8Uu_QfcBKcsQpMPUmw8e0fvxBYyYwO7qvH0c5oMI/s1600/IMG_1891.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes, I picked up a Norton Anthology as a throwback to my academic days. The other two are a gift for my grandma—who doesn’t love Agatha Christie?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVhyogoaZczKEXrRPddW-qbn8Qnq5lxQnQvQAR7OXZzqmanqjkSYHic1yQ6zdY377E_L-FIG7NpZMer-bRFIB8TOnj5XwoS5tuge31c0CjzqkflMZFyIOyTSaIhS3D7DitiY5mO9qC5w/s1600/Punkin+Chair.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVhyogoaZczKEXrRPddW-qbn8Qnq5lxQnQvQAR7OXZzqmanqjkSYHic1yQ6zdY377E_L-FIG7NpZMer-bRFIB8TOnj5XwoS5tuge31c0CjzqkflMZFyIOyTSaIhS3D7DitiY5mO9qC5w/s1600/Punkin+Chair.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus pic of Punkin on her throne. </td></tr>
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Anyone hit any garage sales or have any valuable
re-upholstery tips?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260755420170051646noreply@blogger.com1