You Think You Know Someone

I used to think I knew Tupac Shakur ... and honestly I didn't like what I saw. I detested what I saw! okay, detest is a really strong word. But the over-the-top courtroom bravado; volatile antics; a general "don't care" attitude and overall disdain for all things socially acceptable - all of it just drove me ccccrazy!

It wasn't until he was gone that I came to realize that maybe I didn't know him at all - as if he'd lived right next door or something. I stumbled upon his lesser known words and learned that maybe, in another universe, Tupac Shakur could have been me.

That mini tutorial helped sound down the age old lesson - book, not cover, is where the story is told. We all live this life trying to get into to or out of a mold. When you're quick to judge a person, if you should be so bold; just remember sometimes what you see if when his - or your - heart's turned cold.


When Ur Heart Turns Cold - by Tupac Shakur

When your heart turns cold
it causes your soul 2 freeze
It spreads throughout your spirit
like a ruthless feeling disease
The walls that once were down
now stand firm and tall
Safe from hate/love, pain/joy
until u feel nothing at all
When ure heart turns cold
a baby's cry means nothing
A dead corpse is trivial
Mothers neglecting children is daily
Loneliness becomes your routine friend
Death seems like tranquility
Sleeping is never pleasant
if u even sleep at all
u forgot ideals and turn off the reason
2 make sure the product gets sold
You don't understand how I behave
Just wait till your heart turns Cold!
courtesy of seadeeper.com

Quite a pair

Feeling a little virtual shopping this morning ... today's thought: pairs ...

like these super cute earrings I stumbled upon on Shopbop ... no girl is ever too mature, too professional, too anything for a couple of cute bows ... that's my story and I'm sticking to it ...

or these cufflinks from my fav cufflink stop, cuffart.com -- I.D. any two favorite stops on earth ... I'm talking within 20 meters ... and they'll stamp the longitude and latitude vintage style

not much gets cuter than little baby shoes ... check out this pair by Bobux. These are made by New Zealand moms in their homes ...

I lost one of my weight-lifting gloves ... want to find a cute yet sensible ;) pair to replace them. I wonder if I can lift with these knock-outs ... cause I'm not going to wear them for anything else ... really cute though ... you have to go to Guess to see them up close ..

Speaking of Guess and pairs ... I learned something new today ... Guys name their shoes just like we do!!:


The Brent...



The Benson...

The Baracuda...



The Jerry...

   that's funny to me :)

A few days back I just did NOT want to get out of bed. I don't know if it was the way I'd successfully contorted myself into some simbilence of comfort or the fact that I'd reached the perfect in-cover/out-of-cover termperature ratio. Whatever it was, it pressed me forward in my incoherent ponder of ways to stage an early morning sit-in. I was not to be moved! Did I not deserve a good morning's sleep?! Had humanity no mercy?! I rarely reach rapid eye movement! Does that not count for somethinng!?! I demand a Mental Health Day!  Heeeeelp!!!... Mommy!

Alas my valiant fight was for naught. Work-ethic proved the victor. I arose from my protest only to find the sky blanketed as far as my eyes could see. It's no wonder I wanted to stay in bed.

The definition of love and love lost

Love is not a fallacy, a false positive, an illusion of security.
Love is the blood sweat and tears of life.
The common denominator of our existence - the x-factor – that certain je ne sais quoi that moves, motivates and mesmerizes.
Memories from our mothers to our men.
You see, love doesn’t ever fail. If anything, we fail love.

We fail it in our callousness. We fail it in our nonchalance.
We fail it with our prejudice. You know, the legitimate daughter of our ignorance.
With our "you said", "you meant", "you lied" – our time - not spent.
We fail it with our "that time when I was used and abused and misused – by someone else. Someone else! …
"You know, that thing you weren’t there for but don’t worry you’re gonna pay for?"
We strip love of its dignity. We interrogate it. We beat it! and kick it! and leave it to die in a ditch and then like a schizophrenic drunk with delusion – we wonder: "where did it go?, why did it leave??, when will it be back???". – no 

no, love never fails.

If anything ... we fail love.

Glitter in the Air

sometimes, i suppose, life is a series of moments strung together on golden threads 

of smiles, sighs, aspirations and memories of days gone by ...

Mmm mmm good

Okay so I must be thirty-something for sure becuase my idea of a Friday night is working out then coming home to mix up random alcoholic beveragees while cooking dinner for the bestie and being excited about watching Double Jeopardy later.  Those old movie carosels in the "middle-of-the-aisle-close-to-the-frozen-food" section are surely for me. I buy more movies there than anywhere else but I promise you that's not saying much. I'm also the last living member of Blockbuster.  Yes, you're thinking right. I actually park the car, get out and walk into a store to rent a movie. Crazy talk, right? I get that. But you must admit there are worse things in life. [Pan back to the carosel] ... Any who, I'm at least a modern 30-something because I've also found time to surf the net [people still say "surf the net", right?] while cooking ... Publix provided the salmon and crab pinwheels - AND THE COOKING INSTRUCTIONS! - YAH!!! I'm a sucker for the cooking instructions with purchase.  I whipped up some red mashed potatoes [boiled salted potatoes + pepper+ butter + a few dollops o' daisy = yumm] ... and I my fav collard greens recipe from G Garvin. DVR this cooking cutie on TV One  Monday through Thursday at 11:30am:

Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey Bacon

Episode 3 : Its healthy soul: pan seared turkey chops, collard greens, sweet potato and apple casserole. G. shows us how to cut the fat without sacrificing the flavor.

 

Ingredients

2 pounds collard greens
2 cups chicken stock
½ cup white wine
1 cup water
1 large onion sliced
4-6 chopped cloves garlic
3 small chopped shallots
½ pound smoked turkey bacon chopped*
¼ cup olive oil
salt
pepper

 

Procedure

1. Heat large pan and add olive oil.
2. Sauté turkey bacon, onions, garlic and shallots in pan. Stir Occasionally.
3. Separate and rinse collard green leaves under water.
4. Roll 2-3 leaves together. Slice into thin strips.
5. Add collard greens to sautéed ingredients in pan.
6. Pour in white wine, chicken stock and water.
7. Cover pan and let cook for 30 minutes on medium heat.
8. Stir every few minutes to distribute the smoked meat taste evenly.
9. Taste to confirm the tenderness you prefer.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

*OKAY OKAY - you pulled it out of me!! I use regular ole Oscar Myer yummy bacon ... I'm probably lazier that I imagine when I say "I dont ever seeee turkey bacon!" Ha! I don't ever look!

No matter your idea of fun - have a great weekend!!

Six Degrees

Six blog degrees from my sissy's blog, Yesterday's Randomness, I found this cool idea from My Notting Hill - not your expected chalk board wall ... if only I could draw more than grids and graves ...

very cool though ... would be a great addition to a guest room ... closet ;)

Man! Looking back I had quite a bit of fun in the sun this summer ... I miss it. Although with temperatures just now leaving the 70s really I guess I shouldn't complain. Now's the time for soups and pulling out the bread machine and hot cocoa - and extra cardio apparently. Speaking of cardio, I did some early morning squats this morning and I could HEAR MY KNEES the whole way down!  NOT COOL ... sounds like I need to be sure to get on the bike a little too and give my poor knees a break. No break on the cardio though. Still have to get it in!



ATL



A feather whispered by,
telling her a secret.
She listened intently.
She wondered where that ethereal bookmark had been.
On a long and distant journey?
What had it seen along the way?
And where was it going?
Could she go along, she wondered.
Travel to where the breeze would take her
and recline upon the wind?
Evaporate into the sunshine
and pour moonlight upon the night.

Yes, of course, she'd go along, she pondered.
She'd travel to where the breeze would take her
She'd most definitely recline upon the wind.

Opa!!

It was Greek night at my friend Lacey's tonight ... thanks to Allrecipe.com, this was no problem at all for me ... I went with the Orzo and Broccoli ... yummm-oooooo

• 1-1/4 cups uncooked orzo pasta
• 3-1/3 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon pitted Greek olives
• 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon crumbled feta cheese
• 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon minced fresh basil [I didn't have fresh basil. I used a couple teaspoons of dry basil - worked just fine]
• 2 tablespoons and 1-1/2 teaspoons toasted slivered almonds
• 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes [I didn't have red pepper flakes. I used about a tablespoon of marinated roasted red peppers that were in with some marinated olives --- hey, I wasn't LEAVING the house AGAIN! :) worked just fine]
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. In a large saucepan, cook pasta in boiling water for 7 minutes [I added salt to my boiling water per the instructions on the orzo container. thinking back I'm not sure I needed to do that]. Add broccoli and cook 2-3 minutes longer or until pasta is tender; drain. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the olives, feta cheese, Parmesan cheese and basil.
2. In a small nonstick skillet, saute almonds in oil for about 1 minute. Stir in red pepper flakes and pepper; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Pour over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Stir in olive mixture; toss to coat.

Like I said YUUMMMMOOOO ... have some friends over and make it a night with My Big Fat Greek Wedding!!  Love that movie!  DO NOT try it with My Life In Ruins ... rented that this week ... I couldn't get past the first 20 minutes!! ... I really do need a Netflix account ...

OH! and I ran my 8K!! in under an hour! WOOOOHOOOO!!  Works for me ... the only person I need to beat is myself  ... and even that is negotiable ;)

A few of my favorite things: makeup

Sorry guys, this one's for the girls ... a list of my favorite things - makeup anyway

Estee Lauder's Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Foundation

It's yummoooo ... great coverage, SPF 15, goes on silky smooth ... and Intensity 6.0 its the perfect shade... sorry Estee for doubting that you would have my shade ...

 Urban Decay's Semi-Sheer Lipstick in Confession

Not only does the lipstick staying power and great shades

the handle is a sword. I mean, what more could a girl ask for ...

Mac's High-Pigment Eye Shadow

So many shades - so little time ...

I couldn't get enough of these

It's butta Baby

butter LONDON is a 3 Free company, which means  it's free o FORMALDEHYDE, TOLUENE AND DBP...These chemicals are highly carcinogenic, cause birth defects, respiratory disease, and a host of other serious illnesses! wow! I think if more people knew that they'd opt out ... I still have my other brands but I think I need to seriously consider a purge ...



Glitter

Paper Plastic Glass

If you watched Private Practice tonight then you know the inspiration. Fiction should not be that realistic. I had to get that out of my head.

Recycled Tears

A salty tear carves a river bed down her delicate profile

memory-filled torrents will follow

rote movements thrust her forward with the same assurances of gravity

the show will go on

and quite a show it will be

bruised and battered are merely qualities that get in line with the rest

intelligence and strength not to be outdone

one day she'll rest and good night's rest, steeped in serenity like her favorite loose black tea

one day she'll sigh a therapeutic exhale – and then another – until her mind is cleansed of its toxins

today is not that day and with this she'll be content

for dark clouds bring rain and rain

allows for the uninhibited free-flow of tears

and she imagines that in her tears lie so much concentrated love and pain, angst and sorrow

that they feed the earth itself and give forth new life

she imagines that within life's carvings lies the secret to success

for out of every experience comes an empathy a compassion and a strength for another

that might have not otherwise been

Control Apple Reset

Tech + Pretty = Capitalagirl's Laptop Computer Key - LOVE Necklace ... Hoooow cute is this?!?

Plus cufflinks for the boys ...

seriously cute ...

In the meantine ...

I'm currently (supposedly) training to run in an 8k in a couple weeks. First of all, why oh why did I sign up to do this?? Whyyyy yyy [cry] yyyy??? :) It's not that bad ... I guess ... I can do it. I'm just not quite sure what I'll be able to do afterwards. I'm taking a little break from beer until the run. Perhaps I'll treat myself to Guinness Stout and a blue cheese burger after the run. It'll be a great reward. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for a photo... when I run tomorrow I'll run a mile each for 1) Guinness 2) Blue Moon 3) Corona 4) Stella Artois  and 5) one for Hummingbird Water ... which is actually made from cider I think ... ANYwhoooo ONE FOR EACH! - whatever gets those miles run, right?

The Birds

the old man said his last goodbye,
then lowered his head to rest and die.
the birds came swiftly in the night
to feast and eat and taste his plight.
their hunger humms and strumms and sings as they toss around his
treasured things.
they care not about the man who lived but only what this man will give.
and if and when they're all fattened the same, they'll unanimously
bestow upon him an honorable man's name.

The Weekender: Charleston, South Carolina

I was asked by a friend to plan a trip for two to Charleston. Here were my tips for them:

The Weekender:
Charleston, South Carolina

Fall/Winter 2010

As the summer holds on for dear life and the fall leaves look for affordable housing, the rest of us are looking for one last trip before the air turns crisp. What better city to garner our attention than that which houses the laziest of southern summer days, perfect sunsets at the creek, and biscuits that'll make you unfriend your grandma on Facebook – the charming town of Charleston, South Carolina. I don't know your taste – I only know mine – so the following are merely a few suggestions for a great time:

Where to stay:

Photo courtesy Planter's Inn's website

Planter's Inn

At $370 per night, the Planters Inn's sounds way over the top. However, the Inn's Land and Sea package promises a bang for every single buck. Right in the middle of it all, stellar accommodations include gourmet continental breakfasts at Peninsula Grill both mornings of your weekend stay; a horse-drawn carriage tour of the historic district; a guided tour of the historic Nathaniel Russel House; admission to the South Carolina Aquarium and a tour of historic Fort Sumter. The boat to Fort Sumter departs daily from the Aquarium Wharf.

Or you go ala cart with those goodies mentioned above and lay your head at a slightly more humble temporary abode, such as the Springhill Suites Marriott which offers a deluxe continental breakfast each morning, a complimentary evening shuttle service into the historic part of town from 6pm to 11pm and breathtaking views of Ripley Point Marina and the Ashley River

What to do:

Whether you're in the mood for sweet crepes, savory omelets, fresh produce or shopping for gifts, the farmer's market is the place to be on Saturday morning on into the afternoon. Each Saturday from 8am-2pm in the beautiful Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street, the market is a vacation in and of itself.

Coming Soon:

The first annual Weekend of Jazz is coming to Kiawah Island during the weekend of November 11th-13^th! I don't think you have to be staying at Kiawah to attend the weekend's activities but don't take my word for it – check it out!

What to eat:

Photo courtesy 82 Queen's Facebook Page

82 Queen

Both the monicker and the address, 82 Queen is my favorite Charleston eatery. From the moment you meander into the back gazebo or greenhouse or settle into one of the intimate historic dining rooms, you'll fall in love with the place. I enjoy this restaurant best as a late lunch spot after breakfast at the Farmer's Market and shopping all over town. The she-crab soup, cheddar biscuits, sweet tea and shrimp and grits are all worthy of praise, prize and the cardio you'll have to put in after the weekend.

Another divine eatery that may be considered a secret compared to my favorite is Jestine's Kitchen. Jestine's is so down home they apparently haven't gotten around to getting a site on that there world wide web but take my word for it, a vistit to Jestine's and you'll know why they don't need one. - 251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 722-7224

Whatever the time – whatever you find …

Take care of you and yours

Charleston Farmer's Market

Home Coming

Can you really ever go home?

Isn't it more likely that either you or home has grown.
That the air has somehow shifted and the sounds have all been sifted.

No, what I think is you can always go home.
That the place where you first learned love will always be there;
full of laughs and love and tears.
Full of acceptance and support and cheers.
Full of possibilities for greatness.
That place where your mother kissed your forehead for the very first time. Still there.
That place where your grabbed your father's finger with the whole of your hand. Still there.
That huddle where siblings plotted world domination. Still there. Still there. Still there.

Yes, the air may have shifted and the sounds were definitely sifted, but I promise you this:
You can always go home.

Beautiful Trash

Dogwood

I want it now daddy ... nooooow!!

Imaginary shopping anyone? ... this time I want trinkets!!!

Frey-Wille's yummy jewels like the 10002 Night Diva Bangle ..yummmmmoooo ... I can see this with one of those fitted Victoria's Secret knit turtleneck dresses in black and some really cute platform pumps ...

oooor this ring by Matthew Campbelll Laurenza ... the Sapphire Star Ring ... less than $500 --- noooot baaaad ;) ... this needs a home on my pointer finger ... will pair well with a cowl neck CASHMERE sweater in a soft baby-wrapping color and some black skinny pants...

this faux pearl necklace from Talbot's is on sale for $66! Goes great with a crisp white button up

It's a little difficult to see this ring Frank Gehry designed for Tiffany & Co. but it's really pretty :)

okay I realize fur is not too entirely PC but little secret I'm not really concerned with being PC ... I love this tufted fox scarf from Neiman Marcus and I'd wear it with a simple black long sleeved tee shirt, jeans and flat boots ... to the grocery store -- why not ...

But baby it's - chilly - outside

Ode to Summer

Life

I wrote this poem after the loss of a kind man ...and now I share after the loss of another


Life whistles by, a gentle breeze
carrying laughs like leaves in the wind.
Sometimes a gust of adversity, of woes,
of hardships seemingly insurmountable.
Sometimes twirling breezes dancing with courage,
giddiness, and/or genuine love.
I know a man whose breeze stands still.
Whose gusts have subsided.
Whose winds can no longer fill the sails of life.
He has gone to slumber until Christ's call.
I will do my best to add more gently breezes to the world around me
and shield others from those mighty gusts of adversities and woe.
For this man whose winds no longer blow will surely be missed
and the absence of his gentle breezes will undoubtedly be felt.

Memoriiiiies

Ireland - March 2009 ... Limerick to Killarney to Waterford to Dublin ... each beautiful in its own right ...

my images ... some my words ...

Was it?

Was it you my love, I passed on the street?
Was that our first and last time - our missed chance to meet?
If our time quickly came and even quicker went
I hope you consider it, as I, time well spent. 

- me

Every man his castle

Every man his castle. A fortress - no man dare trespass!
Too bad that you're the king but you still have to cut the grass.

-me

The limbs that move, the eyes that see,
these are not entirely me;
Dead men and women helped to shape,
the mold that I do not escape;
The words I speak, the written line, these
are not uniquely mine.
For in my heart and in my will, old
ancestors are warring still,
Celt, Roman, Saxon and all the dead, from
whose rich blood my veins are fed,
In aspect, gesture, voices, tone, flesh of
my flesh, bone of my bone;
In fields they tilled, I plow the sod, I walk
the mountain paths they trod;
Around my daily steps arise - the good,
the bad - those I comprise.
by Richard Rolle c 1300 - 1349

He Wished for the Cloths of Heaven
"Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams..."                        -William Butler Yeats

For any standing in doubt of a creator, I recommend a moment uninterrupted at the Cliffs of Moher. Creation speaks of the glory of God and a photograph only whispers of its majesty and that which it reflects.

-me

Suleima To Her Lover- from the Turkish

Thou reck'nest seven Heavens; I but one:
And thou art it, Beloved! Voice and hand,
And eye and mouth, are but the angel band
Who minister around that highest throne -
Thy godlike heart. And there I reign supreme,
And choose, at will, the angel who I deem
Will sing the sweetest, words I love to hear -
That short, sweet song, whose echo clear
Will last throughout eternity:
"I love thee
How I love thee!"