New Blog: 160 Pages

I decided to give my journaling its own blog. So you can find it here:

160 Pages: A Journey Through Journaling

07/06/09 - Day #8

Obviously I need a calendar because I wrote the wrong date at the top of my journal entry for today. WHOOPSIE!!!

To be honest, the burger wasn't that great today. I think the bread was stale.

07/05/09 - Day #7

Okay, not EVERY day can be exciting. Sometimes the best part of a day is watching your husband argue with an air pump.

07/04/09 - Day #6

I'm having so much fun with this project so far! I've never considered myself a very good "drawer." Mediocre at best. And those of you who have said otherwise in your comments are super sweet, but I have much to learn. I think as the months go by, the practice alone will really make a difference, so I'm looking forward to it.

07/03/09 - Day #5

I actually finished this one earlier yesterday, but I forgot to post it here. I knew that an iPhone drawing and a Starbucks drawing were inevitable. So I figured I'd knock 'em both out in one shot.

07/02/09 - Day #4

I was a little worried I wouldn't get to this one yesterday. I was going out to dinner and a movie with some girlfriends, and I REALLY wanted to nap beforehand. But like I said, I'm serious about this project, so I forced myself to walk right past the super-comfy futon and into my office to churn out a journal page. Sure, it's a bit redundant to my post yesterday. Hopefully you won't mind.

I think it's funny how we both look like we're about 14 years old. Obviously I have some work to do with proportions.

07/01/09 - Page #3

Three days in a row! Holla!

I wasn't sure if I'd get to this one because my robot husband and I went to see Up last night. Not only did he refrain from shedding a tear, he actually laughed at me for weeping. He claims he feels "no emotions toward cartoons." Technically, he feels no emotions toward anything. Did you know Rob is short for Robot? Me either, but I do now.

So anyway, I got home from the movie and really just wanted to sleep, but I couldn't skip my third day. That would start the downward spiral to failure. I knew I wanted to sketch my goofy costumed pose from Austin, so I gave it a shot. I admit, I actually had a blast doing this! Who knew drawing could be fun?

Two Days Down!

YESSSS!!! I made it two whole days so far!

Sketch Comedy

More like Sketch Tragedy. I came home from the HOW Design Conference feeling inspired, but I also felt like a slackass. I haven't kept a sketchbook since college. And even then, I didn't sketch regularly. So, like I always do, I went out last night and bought a sketchbook with all intentions of being really good this time!

I figure the easiest way to get into the habit is to do something that takes little time and makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something. So I'm going to try to do a little daily journal entry. A comment on the day. This will hopefully get me used to doodling again. Who knows.

I've been Slankified!

I came home yesterday to find a mysterious package on my doorstep. The return address? "The Slanket."

I yipped like lapdog and ran inside to tear that baby open. Most amazing gift ever, courtesy of The Slanket Fairies, Jeope and Devon.

I Have a Dream

I've been a little off all day because of a dream I had last night. It sort of messed me up. Ever have a dream where you've done something wrong, and it's so vivid that you feel incredibly guilty when you wake up? I can't get it out of my head.

And all of this makes me wonder, where do dreams come from? Are they based on truth? What the fudge is my psyche trying to tell me? Can I please ignore it and go back to my regularly scheduled life?

Mad Love in the Illadelph

Devon and Jeope are much more prompt than I am, but I'm finally getting around to posting a few images from their voyage to the P-H-L.

What can I say? I had a fantastic time. I'm so grateful that they made the trip out here, and I hope I don't have to wait a few more years before we get together again. They are ma homies, and I have mad love for them.



And huge virtual hugs to Dave H., Patti, Karma, Keith, Jenn, Nikita, Marta, Dave S., Steph, and Chele who also helped make the weekend superb. Gotta love the interwebs!

Holy poop!

Operation NICE was mentioned in Sunday edition of The New York Times! The NEW YORK FREAKING TIMES!

Now I just have to sit back and wait for Oprah to call. Come on, Oprah! Gimme a jingle!

I'll be blunt.

Well, my hair cut will be blunt. I got my first trim in 8 months. It's pretty much exactly the same, but with all the dead stuff cut off.



EDIT: Okay, you know what rocks? When a stranger tells you they love your hair the day after you get a hair cut. Thank you Sephora lady! You just put a HUGE smile on my face!

Are you there, Universe? It's me, Melissa.

You ever have those situations where you think of something random and them you see or hear another something having to do with that initial something? Does that makes sense? Like you think about a friend you haven't spoken to in years, then out of nowhere, you get a call from them? Or you mention and old tv show you liked as a kid, and then a coworker coincidentally brings up the same thing the next day?

I guess "coincidentally" is the key word. They are like crazy-bizarre coincidences. Stuff like that has been happening to me a lot lately.

For example, this morning I heard "Float On" by Modest Mouse on the radio. That led me to think about how I saw Ben Lee a year or two ago. A coworker was opening for him and gave me free tickets. Score! Anyway, for his encore, he performed a cover of that song. Then I thought about how I don't have any Ben Lee albums, even though his music always puts me in a good mood.

At the same time that these thoughts are going through my head, I was also thinking about how Shazam (my awesome iPhone app that identifies mystery songs playing on the radio) hasn't been working. So I download the update. I test it out on some singer songwriter chick, but it gives me an error still. Hmm. The next song comes on the radio. It's fun. I like it. So I test out Shazam again, assuming I'll get the same error I've been receiving for months. But no, it works. And who is it? Ben Lee. All this happens in a five minute period, and I just thought it was kind of strange.

I never got past the first chapter of Creative Visualization because I put it aside for later. (Later hasn't arrived yet.) But I remember the first chapter talked about how everything in the universe is linked. And how coincidences like that are proof that the thoughts in your head are connected to what can actually happen in the real world. Crazy! I really need to read that book.

So anyway, I've been trying to think about brownie sundaes and stacks of cash, but so far it hasn't worked.

License to Grill

I have never used a grill before in my entire life. Unless you count my tiny George Forman, leftover from the college era. I have never wanted one. Rob is completely against the idea of owning one. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself coveting this beauty from Crate and Barrel.



It's so pretty! I'm sure I'd use it once, consider it a hassle, and it'd turn into a dust collector like our Target sandwich maker. But come on. It's green. It coincidentally matches the pillows I bought for our new bench. Wouldn't it look perfect on our newly decorated patio?

I know it's not much yet, but this is how I spent my Friday. I've even been out there watering the plants everyday, in hopes that I won't destroy them with my poisonous touch. I'd love to get some more cute accessories for out there, but the wind off the river can be so darn fierce. If it can blow a full garbage can three blocks away, I can imagine what it would do with a candle lantern. Maybe if I can manage to keep these plants alive for a week or two, I'll trust myself to buy some more.

My New Favorite Person

The cashier at Friendly's is my new favorite person. I went in there and ordered two double thick chocolate milkshakes, paid, and had a seat on the bench in the waiting area.

(After two minutes.)

Friendly's Guy: Hey, you're the girl from that season of Top Model, right??
Me: Ummm, no, but thank you!
FG: Really?
Me: Really.
FG: Aww, I told her (motioning to other waitress) that you were!
Me: Actually, someone else made that same comment a while ago, but I've seen every season of Top Model, and I can't figure out which girl I look like!
FG: Every time you come in I think, "Wow, she's so pretty, she must be that Top Model girl."
Me: Really?? Wow, you just made my month!! Thank you! Are you just saying that so I'll keep coming back?
FG: Nah, I don't need to do that. You're already in here a lot.

Alright. Now I know I'm okay-looking. I've grown out of my teenage "I hate everything about myself" phase. And with some good cosmetics, I can pass for cute. But this dude thinks I'm a Top Model girl! That is one of the most flattering things I've ever heard, and I'm going to reread this blog post every time I'm having a fugly day.

Thank you Friendly's Guy! I think I love you!

Jam Packed

Holy moly. It has been quite a few weeks. Aside from being the absolute busiest season at work (where stress has brought me to tears at the office twice in a week), it coincidentally happened to be one of my busiest seasons socially due to the Philadelphia Film Festival. I figured I'd give you the abridged review of my last two weeks.

Thursday, March 26
(500) Days of Summer - Absolutely loved it! Quirky, creative, funny, sweet. Go see it!

Friday, March 27
Art & Copy - documentary about the advertising industry; enjoyed it, kind of neat hearing about how some of the biggest ad campaigns came about
Eldorado - bizarre film from Belgium; kind of felt like a long short film, slow, quiet, strange; but there was a lot of humor to be found in simple things, like the way the characters looked at each other

Saturday, March 28
Love, Soccer, and Other Catastrophes - I really liked this one; funny Italian film about a club soccer team and their relationships

Sunday, March 29
It's Not Me, I Swear - one of my favorites of the festival; dark comedy about a dysfunctional (and seriously evil!) little boy

Monday, March 30
Goodbye Solo - another one of my favorites; beautiful (yet heart-wrenching) film about an unexpected relationship

Tuesday, March 31
Kisses - Irish film about two young neighbors with dysfunctional families who try to escape their lives; pretty good

Thursday, April 2
Heart of Stone - emotional documentary about a Newark NJ high school principal; the only movie where I cried my eyes out

Friday, April 3
The King of Ping Pong - big disappointment; looked like it would be a quirky Swedish film, but halfway through I started checking my watch

Saturday, April 4
Children of Invention - film about a single mother who gets caught up in pyramid schemes and how her two young children cope; I enjoyed this one quite a bit
Ray LaMontagne show @ the Tower Theatre - only in Philly could a drunken brawl erupt at a Ray LaMontagne show; he was incredible, and if I could marry a voice, it'd be his

Sunday, April 5
Is Anybody There? - cute little film starring Michael Caine and Bill Milner (from Son of Rambow, my favorite Film Fest pick from last year); not life changing, but cute anyway

Monday, April 6
Lymelife - another dysfunctional family film, starring two Culkins, a Baldwin, and a few other stars; I enjoyed this film; maybe I just think this because there are Culkins in this film, but it has kind of an Igby Goes Down feel

Tuesday, April 7
Ra Ra Riot, Cold War Kids, Death Cab for Cutie show - awesome; Ra Ra Riot only played for about 20 minutes, and I wish they would have played for another hour, I love them; I could take or leave Cold War Kids, not crazy about them; Death Cab rocked the hizouse; in other news, I wanted to punch the people sitting next to me for talking at full volume throughout the whole show

And that's it! I have a free night tonight!! Then tomorrow it's roller skating with Rob's students, parents' house on Friday, Rob's family's place for Easter, yadda yadda yadda. But after that whole two week stint, I feel enriched. :) Now I need a nap. Oh yeah, and my job is driving me bananas.

How are YOU doing???

Lady Crusaders!

Some folks know that Rob has been coaching middle school girls' basketball this year. It has been quite a hectic activity due to changes and cancellations from the board or education. I won't get into it all, but let's just say that I hope next year goes more smoothly for Rob's sake.

Rob asked me to come by yesterday for their last game to take some team photos. It was the first time I've been to his new school. Middle school kids are so small! And boy are they rowdy. All I kept hearing was "Miss!! Take a picture of me!! Take a picture of me!!" I ended up taking 160 because they were such hams. I still need to edit the majority of them, but here are a few.

Go Lady Crusaders!

Don't Feel Neglected

I know I haven't been around much. Things are so busy at work, and then my second technological priority is Operation NICE, so it doesn't leave me much time for saying hello over here.

Hello.

I just got back from an AMAZING long weekend out in Arizona to see two of my favorite people in the world. Aren't they goregous??


It was just what I needed to de-stress and regain my focus. I wish scientists would hurry up and invent a teleportation machine so I could go there more often. C'mon! Get with it boys!

Plenty of other things going on in my world. I bought this book because it stood out on a Barnes and Noble table, and I'm really enjoying it so far. It motivated me to take charge of my inboxes. My personal accounts were over 600 messages and my work account was over 700. So I spent the morning creating folders, organizing, and deleting like crazy. The result? All my inboxes are zeroed out!! WOOHOO! This is the clean slate I need.

And concert season is among us. Going to see Ra Ra Riot/Cold War Kids/Death Cab, Ray LaMontagne, Nine Inch Nails (believe it or not), possibly Beirut, possibly Alexi Murdoch, possibly The Decemberists and who knows who else. Oh, and I bought tickets to see This American Life at my local theater, which I think will be pretty awesome.

So I guess that's it. Life is busy. I like it that way. Hope you're well!