Thoughts on Strength

I've had a bit of a week. Work. Personal. Personalities. The details are sordid but emotions have been a bit raw from a diverse population of friends, family, and acquaintances and. . .

Think I've been pigeon-holed. . .as someone who's

(big suck gasp)

Strong.

I'm honored. I think?

I think this blog makes it sufficiently clear that ya'll should take me for a horrible warning.

I'm not stronger than anyone else. I'm not smarter than anyone else. I'm rather a bumbling 33ish trying to make sense of it all. . .

I do try to "out" everyone else. . .via stubbornness and hard work. . . :)

I try to out read
I try to out think
I try to out work

I will out-optimistic.
I will out-laugh
I will out-express-gratitude

And then there's this. . .

I lead with my heart and my sense of compassion. I will not be too judgmental. I will be respectful. I will be mindful and thankful of how blessed I honestly am. My faith in family and friends and the human condition is unwavering. I will be humble to the best of my abilities.

My strength is tenuously pieced together brick by brick.

For quite a few years, the foundation seemed a bit compromised.

But as I've learned, you can repair cracks in any foundation with a plan and the appropriate materials.

Don't be fooled. d knows strength is the culmination of a myriad of variables.

Work it & Share your stories. . .

Somthin' Special

Spending time in DC makes me think about all we take for granted every day. Maybe I'm too optimistic? Maybe I'm not jaded enough?

I do feel a bit like a hick in DC. Everyone seems jaded and surly and distracted.

I don't understand how you could feel that way in a place that holds the history of so many things that make our Country so fascinating and amazing.

And in a lot of ways, DC has the power to make sure this Country continues to be fascinating and amazing. . .

An exceptional place full of obviously cranky, pretentious, distracted individuals. I'd say that's a decent reflection of our World. Don't forget our communities, our country, our world is something special.

If you smile at folks, if you express gratitude, if you listen, you can connect to your community, your world. That is amazing and special too.

Try to be more present and less distracted. Try to be a bit more outgoing. Lead with your heart sometimes. . .

A Country full of preoccupied, self involved individuals is disrespectful to all those that worked so hard to make it something more than that. . .and to all that fight to defend it every day.

Just Cause

FDR coined one of the best phrases EVER in room 776, doesn't mean you need to charge seven damn dollars for grits! LOL!!

I am So Serious

Grits cost 7 bucks!?!? Come on. This is a lovely hotel but seriously? How is that possible? Grits forcrissakes!!!!

Business Please

Have spent the better part of the evening engaged in a ridiculous exercise. Preparing for "business meetings." I was irked my signature Lincoln Park after Dark topped with Yes I Can Can nail polish was getting smudged when I was trying to wedge a pair of shoes into a shoe bag. . .

And then it happened upon me. . .MEN!!!

Men aren't torturing themselves painting their nails and straightening their hair before a bunch of "important" meetings. . .

Eff it. Nail polish is off. Hair might just be curly and wild. . .and quite lovely.

Maybe I shut off my inner monologue too. . .Maybe I go completely crazy wild confrontational, smarmy, brilliant on these corporate robots?

K. Not that far. . .yet. . .Or maybe? What do I have to lose?

Maybe I should go all pleasure? Eff business.

Eff nail polish, straight hair, and decorum. Since when did any of that stuff last anyway?

Maybe I'll fake sick and go to an art gallery?

Can an M&M Offer Faith?

C informed me this evening he believed dead is dead. He doesn't believe any of the typical notions of heaven, recycled energy, or otherwise. . .

Dead.

I respect his notions.

But I can't believe them entirely.

This afternoon, I uncermoniously pulled my Father's bathrobe out of a plastic bag. When he went to the hospital, we agreed he might need a bathrobe. So we put a bathrobe in a plastic grocery bag. The robe sat near our sofa for nearly a month. Holidays and guests came and went. . .

Today, I pulled out the robe. You know what flew out? A red, slightly chewed M&M.

I laughed out loud.

Anyone that knows Pops knows one of his favorite candies is an M&M. Pops loved all sorts of sweet treats late at night: peanut butter cups, oreos, cake, M&Ms. The fact that it had a bite out of it and was with his bathrobe made me smile.

Logically, I understand the apple doesn't fall far and I also partake of the M&Ms late at night. I'm sure one of our pets dropped that M&M half gnawed with his bathrobe. . . .

I also understand, they could have dropped it anywhere else in our spacious 920 sq. ft. row house. . .Or they could have eaten the entire candy. . .

It just happened to land, half eaten with his bathrobe.

Dead is Dead. . .?

Or maybe not exactly?

Hopefully?

The comfort one little half chewed M&M offers is amazing.

What does C know anyway?

Jets Victory Fare

Soooooo nice when Husband ocassionally decides to drink his dinners and just wants a snack! Big shout out to Jets fans. Long time comin'.!

FrankenCat

Poor little Allister should be good as new in a couple of days. Still waiting on the lab work so we know what the lump is exactly.

This Week's Vet Adventure

Allister went in for a routine dental cleaning. Turns out he had a tumor under his tongue. . .Removal and pathology reports ensued.