Productive!

Today has been productive and casual. Since I haven't left my apartment in three days due to icky weather in Chicago, the only things to do seemed to be the productive ones I tend to perpetually save for later. I finally did ALL of my laundry... all of it. So now I've got three full closets, which is, quite frankly, totally absurd.

Also, I've applied for a couple of teaching jobs through the YMCA and a charter school, so thats a big step for a gal who, as of March, is relying on her mother to get her rent paid for the first time ever...

On another note, the kitty is having an afternoon kitty freakout... a common occurrence involving a lot of bouncing off of things and chirping and gigantic eyes...

Oh yes, and reading. Lots of reading. Right now I'm reading A Life of Jesus by Shusaku Endo. This link is to a very accurate and concise review through Amazon (I love Amazon...sometimes it recommends the loveliest books, although I have Sarah's dad to thank for A Life of Jesus.)
Its really lovely, and fascinating, and actually gives me a bit of anxiety. For anyone who is familiar with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the tragic irony leading up to the passion feels like, to use an appropriately Japanese methaphor, like looking up and seeing the crest of the wave that is about to crash over you and being completely helpless to stop its force.


Up next on the reading list, Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

A Fresh Start

What a great time to start a blog! I feel like I'm on the cusp of a new beginning, and I need a good place to reassess what I value in life and what is worthy of appreciation. What I want to do here is share all the things that I love with anyone who appreciates the beauty in the small things in life. I anticipate there will be a lot of delicious meals to share, as I've really come to love cooking for myself. Sometimes these are bound to be about my cat, Vega, who is just ridiculous in all the best ways, with a little body and a big personality. She's very opinionated, and makes me smile, unless she's got her claws in my silk pillows! (Silk pillows are also a lovely thing I'll have to write about!)

Art projects, and nature, and the children I work with, and books I read, and my personal quest to clarify my faith... These are the things that would replace "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" in My favorite things ... I like raindrops and whiskers, but they aren't mine personally, so I will probably not blog about them...

Every new beginning is also and ending. And this blog marks the end of my time with someone that forgot that you should treat lovely things, especially the people who love you and whom you loved, with kindness, dignity and respect.

He was a regular helpful elf at Christmas, but things were not meant to be, and I mourn the loss of our relationship. Here is my eulogy:

He called me Clementine because I was small and cute and sweet. And I was addicted to him like I'm still addicted to peach ice cream. We joked that if we ever found a peach flavored whiskey, it would be the perfect blend of our favorite things:

Leopold Bros. makes one: Rocky Mountain Peach Flavored Whiskey

So, with that: my cat, a goodbye to the ex, and a bottle of whiskey even though I've given up alcohol for Lent, and don't drink much these days anyway... we'll begin a collection of lovely, lovely things. Because after a funeral, there is a wake, and gosh, I feel like I just woke up and am excited to rediscover myself and all the little things that fill my heart with joy.