Memory Circle

Congrats to Christa, on her acceptance of a position on the OTHER side of the ILL department at IUB. :) May you find the borrowing as much fun as the lending.
Also, for those of you who believe in the power of prayer, or you believe that just thinking about someone can send them "good vibes" then please do so for Christa and her family, as they are going through a bit of a rough patch.

I took my grandmother's ring to a store tonight to see if they can replace the missing stone. No surprise that since it's an antique ring, they'll have to cut a new stone with the same "cut style" from a piece of original rock that is of the same coloring...i.e. a peridot of particular shade....so it sounds like it's going to cost quite a bit to fix, but to me, it will be worth it. What can I say, but that I am attachted to sentimental things such as these. My grandma let me pick one piece of jewelry from her jewelry box for my birthday when I was either 14, 15, or 16 (and we still had the old cottage at Okoboji in the family). I picked the ring, because it looked like it was my birthstone (and I didn't have anything else w. my birthstone except for my original studs from piercing my ears). But, I have to say half the fun of that time was the pleasure I got from looking through her possessions. I'm not saying that in any sort of sick, money-hungry type tone...but more in the tone of, it's neat to think about what other people collect as far as personal adornment goes. It was more fun for me to hear the stories that went along with other pieces in her collection, than to really settle on something.
I found the same thing to be true when I recently raided my mom's box to find a gold object to go with my "Roman Goddess" costume, and found "Care to Teach" pins, and some cufflinks of my dad's, and a neat tennis bracelet with various charms for her to explain.
In a way, it is funny that I don't remember the background of the particular peridot ring. I remember more how I felt getting to spend some quality one on one time with Grandma Madeliene. A rare commodity when there were 14 other cousins (a few with their own new additions), her own 5 remaining children, and my Grandfather, plus NUMEROUS stoppers-by that could occupy her attention on the front porch downstairs.
My grandma is great. I think maybe that's a universal for people that love their grandparents to say, but for me, it does hold true.
She's one of a kind, in the way that I'm sure all grandmothers are. And to have a small reminder of that uniqueness in something I can keep in a box and pass on to my own offspring will make repairing it worth the monetary expense.

Happy Birthday SASSY! :)

--to my twin. She's the best.

Sensory Stimulation

This week's netflix pix: (for sight)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead- Tom Stoppard...
Good night and Good luck
Walk the Line
Liked all three to a point. Fell asleep during GN and GL at first, but I was exceptionally tired that night, having driven to Ames from Iowa City, with a stop over in Ankeny, and had an exceptionally annoying headache to add to the mix. Walk the Line was decent - I knew nothing about Johnny Cash before watching the movie, except that he wrote that song "The Burning Ring of Fire" - and I was quickly corrected that it is just "Ring of Fire", and RC and GS R Dead was okay. Far less funny than I had expected, but still, somewhat contemplative. I hope they make a movie out of Steve Martin's play - Picasso at the Lapin Agile (though it would be more like a "short")

This week's music pix (for sound)
Ray Lamontagne
Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004 (Bob Dylan, Dave, Ani, Gov't Mule, Guster)
Matt Bar

I discovered Lamontagne because he was recently touring with Guster. I discovered Bonnaroo because I checked the CPL to see if we had any Guster. Matt went to highschool with me, and I helped him scan photos for his first website. He's also "folksy" in a sense like Guster and Ray (Ray seemingly a bit more jazz, and Matt is alot more "rap" haha, yes, folk rap - think Jason Mraz, but local to the IC.)


This week's food pix (for taste)
Granite City's Spinach and Artichoke Dip and Chinese Pasta Salad
Despite recent outbreaks of e.coli in fresh spinach, Granite City's dish was still being served (though their spinach salad wasn't) And their Chinese Pasta salad was a great choice - and will make my third meal of it for the weekend in about 20 minutes...yummy! Gotta love a dish I paid 9 dollars for that lasted for 3 meals.

This week's fabric pix (for touch)
Victoria Secret Silk PJ's and my awesome Japanese blanket
All I can say is I love to go to sleep with these items...I just wish I got more sleep!

This week's candle pix (for smell)
Party Lite's Zen...
this candle scent rocks. I've been giving it away to all my friends (here in iowa city anyways) if you live out of this area, get them!! It's tranquil and relaxing.

This week's read pix (for the "mental" sense)
Banned Books Week September 23- 30

Happy Very Merry Scandalous Birthday to you!

Okay, movie attempt...this is much easier than loading one right into the blog - javascript and coding aside, linking is just better :)

here?

Hope that worked.

Happy Belated Blog Announced Bday to Drew. (Was Sept 15th) If I figure out how to post movie clips to blogger I will also include a rendition of Kriss Kross "Jump" that earned free beer.

Also, have an interview on Wednesday. Wish me luck.

Broken But Reassembled Like New

How many of you out there find successful outlets to venting anger or releasing stress and anxiety? Sometimes life is just so annoying or messed up or worriesome that you have very little recourse than to exhaust yourself in a fight with a pillow, a good bitch session with a friend, journaling, or an attempt at relaxation techniques.

Well, I know I have. Often, Stitchy, my fearless stuffed bear takes the brunt of my frustrations, both in becoming "SuperStitchy" (which means he gets hurled across the bedroom in hopes of hitting a wall) or playing kleenex to my more oft found faucet of tears. I guess psychologists say there is a "good way" to deal with stress and frustration and a "bad way." A good way would be to go and exercise. A bad way would be to exercise your fist into someone else's face. A bad way would be to drink yourself into a drunken oblivion. A good way would be to smash a tomatto and drink a home-made V8. (This is not being mean to veggies but creating a healthyoutlet) Of course, I'm not advocating combining the two (Bloody Mary) and calling it even.
The levels of stress and anxiety or frustration that many Americans feel today are prevelant. A look at the number of prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications can easily tell you this. It is no wonder that not managing stress/frustration can lead to so many physical health problems.

Mind over matter isn't just a saying folks. But maybe matter does play a part. Perhaps there is a reason why companies are able to sell "Stress balls" to squeeze, and mini punching bags for your office desk. That emotional outlet when directed toward an object instead of a person is better for sure, but then, that also can lead to some damage. What we all really clamour for, is a way to express our anger without suffering irreparable consequences. This guy has the right idea.

I don't have the answers. I just have random mussings. But I'll leave you with one image that often comes to mind when I think of frustrated, stressed-out folks...Click here.

Find a Spot.

blah. I apparently currently suck at life. Is it the weekend yet?


On to lighter and more fun fare. Of the top 24 spots I would be "best suited" to live... 6 are in Wisconsin, 2 are in Illinois and curiously, none in Iowa or other midwest states...hmm...


http://www.findyourspot.com

That's all today kiddies.

**** *****

I can tell Fall is coming. Actually it is starting to permeate the Iowa Summer Air. This excites me.*
hiking to see the color-changing leaves, wrapping myself in big fluffy sweaters and drawstring hoodies, football games, tailgating, hot chocolate and apple cider, halloween (this year's costumes already include Family Guy and Bubble people from Dude, Where's My Car
**
and hayrack rides and October will also be a month of anniversaries.
DRAMATIC PAUSE...and the BESTEST NEWS OF ALL....
GUSTER IN IOWA CITY!!!*** SEEING GUSTER LIVE!!!
concert is on the Pentacrest, which means, not only is it free, BUT, if I try I can get a good lawn chair seat, and maybe meet the boys!! Oh this makes me so happy. And I know someone who will be happy to see Guster with me (if it doesn't start at 6:30) than Lifehouse.****

*A random list of things that exicte me will be a future blogpost. Feel free to take notes.
**Incidently, does anyone know where to purchase/rent a banana costume for a person over 6ft tall? Or where to get pre-made bubblewrap suits?
***This is an anniversary of sorts for Guster, as this will be their third time in Iowa City.
****Thanks for seeing Lifehouse.