On Monday Blues

Happy Days?

With the advent of HBO and Showtime Sunday night addictions (Dexter, Homeland, and Entourage, just to name a few), which precede(d) the once-dreaded signal of a regenerated, mundane work week, Mondays are anything but unanticipated.  Water cooler catchup combines semi-riveting details of Saturday night dates, Halloween costume competitions, and family get-togethers with the latest and greatest Dexter cliffhangers (...who can believe Debra Morgan?!).  Enjoy!

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On Unfriending "Friends"

e-Politics.

During a recent, friendly debate (with my roommate) over the magnitude of the ever-intentional statement of the decision to "un-friend friends" on facebook, we agreed to disagree on the maturity-level of said action.  And yet nowadays, one click speaks a thousand clicks, and the message is frequently heard - or seen - across a virtual lifetime of facebook albums and wall posts galore.  Enjoy!

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On Sharing Opinions

(And) Overcoming Obstacles.

Voicing opinions is as easy as the crowd upon which such convictions fall.  As bystanders wait impatiently for their turn, questions and answers are acknowledged with a mixture of sincere inquisition and mild regard while conversations end and begin again. Enjoy!
  
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On Life Interrupted

Mild Preparation.

Each morning, the vast majority of us wake up to expect a sunrise no different than the day before, with morning coffee routines followed by lists of usual responsibilities.  And then when we least expect, that very sunrise is unexpectedly interrupted, routines derailed, and everything we previously knew thrown into question.  These days -- of unwarranted upheaval -- come and go at different rates, more to some than others, and almost always out of a familiar blue, inevitably changing two dimensional perspectives into thirds and regimens into chaos.  Enjoy!

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On My Latest Investment

The Food Network.

Turns out the rumors are true: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives will inspire you to abandon the Weight Watchers plan you've been stumbling through in exchange for pastrami on mayo-smothered rye and a side of bacon-infused fries.  Late-night marathons keep me up way past my bedtime as fast food seeds are planted for midnight (subconscious) madness. Enjoy!

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On Bad Memories

Forgive or Forget.

How we choose to remember - or forget - the bad memories of our pasts depends on our preferences for coping with the less-than-pleasant aspects of life. Dwelling or forgiving both alienates and embraces the bystanders and participants involved, as we take multiple steps in both directions of growth and regression alike.  Enjoy!

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On (Driving) Directions

Circus Scene.

Whether the drive lasts ten minutes or ten hours, the Einstein family road trip extravaganza is anything but extravagant.  Arguments ensue over which GPS announcer has accurate, traffic-modified directions (the actual driver or the overly-appealing computer voice-over), while backseat drivers boast of unparalleled expertise and the destination becomes further away by the mile.  Enjoy!

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On those People...

...We Leave Behind.

Whether we’re relocating to another country or city block, the people we leave behind – both physically and emotionally – never completely leave us for good.  They're in the art on our walls, the repeats on our DVR players, and the lyrics on our a.m. radio stations, as room for the future semi-begrudgingly makes space for the past, and facebook accounts are eliminated indefinitely.  Enjoy!

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On Cheap Lessons

Mild to Severe.

At one point or another, we all take for granted the cheap lessons we could have prevented in the first place. Moral dilemmas weigh poorly against the enticement of the moment in front of us, as choices are made with mild to severe repercussions. Enjoy!

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On a Familiar Verb

 
To Love.

When the heart-thumping, stomach-churning feeling is gone but you're still motivated to spend time with your partner, when something deeper than thoughts or feelings draws you to your partner like a magnetic pull (sometimes strong, sometimes less strong), when you keep showing up in concrete, tangible ways for the relationship even when it's difficult, when there's an ease between you even when it's not always easy, this is real love. -- Sheryl Paul (Article's Author)

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On Another Perspective

 Books to Screen.

I have a personal rule of thumb never to see the film version of a novel I couldn’t put down.  While the intentions of the movie directors aren’t necessarily to recreate verbatim the intricacies of the characters’ complicated lives, the reader's devotion to the strife and triumph is often too engrained to let the circuitous adaptation fall short of the emotional rollercoaster that encompassed the 300+ page experience. Enjoy!

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On Unbelievable Excuses

Yeah, Right.

The one time I ever lied to my elementary school teacher - an excuse synonymous with dog-devoured-homework from a cat family - I ended up in the principal's office with quivering lips and fidgety fingers.  Turns out first-time offenders got a slap on the wrist and free pencils from the birthday bin, and a conscience that would last a lifetime.  Enjoy!

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On (Planned) Proposals

Caught Off Guard.

With my nearly perfected, innate role as the planner rather than the plannee, I was fairly certain that even the most anticipated un-anticipated life-changing events couldn't catch me off guard until, of course, one actually did.  Literally ranting about whether I'd be one of those women who tearfully accepted her engagement ring as her partner's quivering marriage proposal promised to alter their lives forever, the actual moment - which came moments later (and less than 72 hours ago) - was filled with startled denial and bursting excitement in the form of (not tears but) expletives and questions, and eventually the answer yes. Enjoy!

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On Healthy States

Colorado #1.

This week on NPR, I heard the frequently-repeated fact (out here, anyway) that Colorado is the healthiest state in the country.  Yet, driving to and from work every day and on two-or-more block errands (dry cleaners, super market, bar), which is inevitably part of adriving culture in a semi-(sub)urban city, I'm baffled by the deserted streets and poorly attended parks, wondering where the abundance of this frequently-boasted health status comes from.  And then, while switching lanes or turning corners, I catch a glimpse of the mountains in my rear-view mirror and I'm reminded where the magic happens.  Enjoy!

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On Marriage Contracts

A Dawson Sellout?

Week after week, I cheered on Dawson’s attempt to steal Joey Potter’s heart, and so you can imagine my horrid disappointment at the news of TomKat’s (likely) contracted nuptials. All of a sudden - and out of left field - the innocent Katie Holmes paddled across the unsalted creek to sell herself out in exchange for fame, money, and a few years with Tom Cruise.  Watching her transformation from the heartbroken sidelines, I waited patiently for the day she'd would claim her life black, and return to her pre-Scientological roots, when innocent verbosity dictated her image and success.  Enjoy! 

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On Personal Ads

Via Dating Websites.

Capturing both our most appealing and quirky qualities in a three to five sentence synopsis or - better yet - through an online interview (favorite color? embarrassing moment? undisclosed secret?) involves a fine balance between revealing too much and inspiring intrigue.  In-person happy hours shatter dreams and pleasantly surprise, as dating websites match unlikely and unexpected one night stands and soul mates alike.  Enjoy! 

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On States of Mind

Specifically, New York. 

I've spent my entire life thinking I’d never leave New York City (as most NYers tend to do) and was borderline devastated when the idea became a reality.  Yet one year into my (perhaps temporary) leave of absence, my perspective on, interest in and - better yet - desire to live in an alternate reality has severely shifted from a devastation to adventure, as new people, cultures, and ways-of-life remind me of the pros and cons of City-living, and give me opportunities to appreciate multiple states of mind.  Enjoy!


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