I'm Grateful...

My sister gave me some advice tonight to sit down and write out all the things I'm grateful for in life. I sort of scoffed at the idea when she sent it, as I already do that on a daily basis, but usually it's in the morning not too long after I wake up. I have the Gratitude! app on my phone. You write down a few things you are grateful for and then you hit the done button and up pops a nice message of inspiration. It's a good way to start my day. Usually helps to put me in a decent frame of mind before I go about with the majority of my day.

Today was a bit more difficult though. I did my best to start the day off right, but the circumstances of the day slowly wore away my good intentions. It's just one of those days, I suppose. Actually, it's not just one of those days. It's a day that seems as if it should have had a different outcome, a different plan, a different result. Should have, could have, right?

Anyway, so I was going to write down a list of things I'm grateful for in life, but then I realized that would probably be pretty boring, so I'll just type out a few of them and expand on why I'm grateful for them. That's not to say it still won't be boring, but perhaps slightly less boring than just a list.

I'm grateful for my roommates. 
When I moved into this place, I had never met any of them. They had no idea who I was or whether I'd be a good roommate, but they were nothing but gracious in welcoming me into their home. I'm not always the easiest person to get to know, so it was a bit awkward for a while, but it wasn't too long before we all figured it out and realized there was much fun to be had in this space. Good people recognize good people. That's not to say we're not all dumb every now and again, but the good parts trump the dumb parts. Thanks Greg, Rhom, Jen, and Bob.

I'm grateful for this avocado I will eat tomorrow. 
I feel as if I've sort of taken the avocado for granted over the years. I love guacamole, but I sort of dismissed it over the years, as I was tired of paying $6 for guacamole and only getting enough to eat half the serving of chips. Actually, I'm still bitter about that, but I've been buying them at the store and incorporating their soft, green deliciousness into my diet for the past few months and it's been nothing but pure happiness for my taste buds. I wonder if Jesus ever ate an avocado. I'll have to google that picture of the last supper to see if there's a bowl of guac on there somewhere. Maybe it won't be there as that was probably served as an appetizer while all those disciples were milling around making small talk. Regardless, I'm thankful for my avocado.

I'm grateful for this painting that I found today. 

I have no idea who this is, but as soon as I glanced upon it, I knew I needed to have it. Not unlike all the teen girls back in 1986 who too easily relinquished their tattered, flimsy veneer of innocence for a (most likely) disappointing quickie on the tour bus. It probably made for a great story when they got back to high school, but that skank label, once applied, is not easily removed.

Anyone know who this guy might be? The painting...and I had my roommate Alex verify that it is indeed a painting...is signed on the back by Lisa (last name I will not reveal) and it's dated 1986. I was in sixth grade back then. This guy was probably on his sixth shot of penicillin for his chronic case of syphillis.

Anyway, I'm grateful for finding this painting.

And I'm grateful for all the good times I've had the honor of sharing with all of you over the years. Life sucks sometimes, and it definitely did today, but it's always helpful to take a few steps back in order to appreciate all the good that also happens to us. Sometimes it's appreciating another person. Sometimes it's appreciating a passing smile. Sometimes it's having just enough laundry detergent to finish that last load of dirty clothes. Sometimes it's just nothing in particular...just soaking in the moment.

And sometimes, you just have to thank your sister Jennifer for helping you out when you need it.

Thanks, Jennifer. Love you!

I Love My Grandma!

I love my grandma too! Both of them actually. They're deceased and have been for quite a while, but I still love them.

I just don't quite know which of these two in the picture is the grandma. They both have long hair. Looks like the chick on the left has a beard though, so maybe it's the other one in the dress, but they're both wearing a tiara. Jesus, I'm confused. Who the hell knows? Regardless, those are friendly looking butterflies on the frame.

Wednesday Warblings about the Weekend

I just googled the definition of warbling, and I was thankful to know that it was sort of what I had imagined, so feel free to know that I am writing this blog in a quavering sort of manner. Feel free to read it in the same manner and I'll make sure to proofread it in that same manner as well. That's just how I do things...quavering and wavering and shaking all over just like The Who sang way back in the day before half of them were dead.

So I had a hell of a weekend. I'm sure you had the same, but I'm going to tell you about mine, whereas I may never know about yours, which is fine, but a bit disappointing, as there's nothing I like to hear more about than your weekend. Perhaps next time.

Friday night was spent at work. I put in a solid 12 hours on the job that day and night, which was fine, as I had nothing going on, and to be honest, the weekends don't mean as much to me as they used to. I just head home and take care of whatever needs taking care of...usually petting Maxine and going to sleep which isn't such a bad thing. So I was late at work running a HP TurboJet printer, which is one of the oddest looking printers I've ever seen. It looks like a rounded personal printer, except at about 200 times the size of a personal printer. Let's see if I can find a picture...

Ehh...I found a couple pictures, but none which were worthy of the meaning I meant to convey, so look it up for yourself if you're so inclined.

Saturday I arrived at work at 8:15 am, worked for five hours. Had some printing issues, which I could not resolve, so I left around 1pm to go buy some jeans and some shoes. I stand all day at work and need more support for my archless feet than my current shoes were providing. Got back at work around 3:30 pm, as the person who knows how to run that machine was going to be there, so he helped me get it back up and running correctly. Worked another five and a half hours and headed back home. Stayed up late 'til 11pm or so and then hit the hay pretty hard.

Didn't bother setting an alarm as it was soon to be Sunday morning and I thought it would be nice to sleep in for one morning that week. Woke up at 6:26 am. Oddly enough, I was pretty damned happy it was that early and I was ready to get on with my day. I'm still getting used to being a morning person, but I like it quite a bit. My fun night times have taken quite a beating, but I don't mind. It's nice to wake up ready for a new day as opposed to still regretting the last night. So here's what I took care of on Sunday... and perhaps this isn't much to all of you productive folk, but my productivity domination is still in it's infancy stages, so cut me some slack. Actually don't. I don't need your slack. I'm doing just fine without your sympathy slack.

Post Cubs tickets on CL for May 2nd. Still for sale if you're interested. I'll cut you some slack on the price.

Read a faux interview my friend Chris is working on.

Responded to a few emails I had neglected. I know...not too difficult, but I'm good at putting off communication.

Set my lineups for my fantasy baseball teams.

Go shopping for groceries.

Laundry. Washed it all...bedding included. Dried it all as well. Impressive I know. Put it all away as well.

Cleaned all the dishes and cleaned the sink area.

Read Bob's musical and critiqued it for him. I had nothing to add. He did a fine job writing it.

Decluttered some picture frames and some jeans and some shoes (I miss you my two favorite pairs of Converse, but I was never going to wear you again).

Removed the food from my shelves and put it on a different shelf in my room. Now the heat from the sun doesn't continually bake the food as it's sitting there, plus it's just a bit easier to access and it makes my shelves look less cluttered.

Went for a run, which was pretty damn long and felt pretty damned good, until it was all over and then I realized that's why my back was hurting, but whatever. A little back pain never hurt anyone. That's a total lie.

Mopped the living room.

Organized the loft area in my room and cleaned it.

Completely cleaned my room. Vacuumed the floor. Cleaned all the wires from my stereo and tied them up so they weren't out and about having an awesome time. Sorry wires. Cleaned my desk...it's spotless. That's always the hardest thing for me to clean in my room. Mopped the floor, except for all the parts that I just scrubbed with my hands while down on my knees...doing the dirty work that I usually pay my lesser self to take care of. Washed some of the walls. Washed the radiator. Washed the windows. Basically cleaned everything I could. My room has only been this clean twice before, but it's never looked quite this good, so I did good or well, whichever you prefer. :)

Before I could get to cleaning my room though, I decided to finish a project I had started a couple weeks earlier.

I've been collecting picture frames from God's Closet since I moved into this place and I never did anything with them, except collect them. I had good intentions, just never followed through on those intentions, which is a ridiculous waste.

I've also collected some artwork over the years, which I've never done anything with, which is also a ridiculous waste.

I also have an eleven foot tall wall, which is painted green and which has nothing on it.

What I'm saying is that this is like the first time peanut butter and chocolate decided to bang each other.

So many, many hours later, this is what happened. I'm pretty happy with the results. It makes for a much nicer, more creative living space. I didn't know how to hang much of anything on a wall before, but I did a pretty damned good job, if I do say so myself...and that's why I gave myself such a solid pat on the back.

I had a vision for all those crappy frames that were beaten up and deemed worthless enough for folks to give them away for nothing. Some folks may have questioned my mental state over the past couple years, as I kept collecting them time and time again, but perhaps now that the vision has become reality, they can understand why I was doing it. Or perhaps not. It makes no difference to me. I'm happy with it. Quite content actually. Happy as a lark, whatever the hell a lark is.

I dominated this past Sunday. And sorry to ruin what's supposed to be a day of rest, Jesus...but you're up on that wall, right where you belong....below the true king. The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. So it was a good day. It's amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it and stop fucking around. There's also a photo in there of Rob Halford and K.K. Downing of Judas Priest, which I've had in the same frame since I was in 4th grade I think? Why do I mention that? Because you've got another thing comin'!

One life I'm gonna live it up

I'm takin' flight said I'll never get enough.

Stand tall I'm young and kinda proud

I'm on the top as long as the music's loud.

If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by

You're thinking like a fool 'cause it's a case of do or die.

Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had

If you think I'll let it go you're mad

You've got another thing comin'. 

For He is Risen!

And He's probably headed over to Wrigley for opening day. I'll let you know if I run into Him. Have yourselves a wonderful Easter. Hope you and your families are enjoying this beautiful Spring day. Wish I could give all of you one of these Jesus puzzles, as there's nothing better than putting a Jesus puzzle together with the family on the day Jesus rose from the dead. But alas, I only have this one, which is officially for sale, so make me an offer if you're interested, and I know you are interested.

Go Cubs!