tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65619556753405861382024-02-07T12:18:19.176-07:00Swirling VortexSWIRLING VORTEX is a work in progress...as am I.K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-46794440526070970272010-07-06T15:49:00.003-06:002010-07-06T16:33:43.146-06:00In MemoriamWow - this year has flown by. I don't know that I have much to say, but I've recently been asked by a couple of folks who I'm REALLY bad at keeping in touch with to "update the damn blog already" so I thought I would - here's all the news that's fit to print.<br /><br />BUT FIRST - a disclaimer. I think that there are times in your life that are for action, and there are times in your life that are for letting all those actions and reactions sit and stir around in your head, percolatin' as it were. Apparently, this last 6 months or so has been the time for action, and boy has it ever! So...when not in the "percolating period" I find that I do very little writing - and that's my excuse - for not writing, for lacking wit and insight in this post, etc.<br /><br />...after 11 years and 146000 mls, I think I'm about to have to say goodbye to my most constant traveling companion - Morgan, my silver Mustang. <br />Once, in 2005, when we roadtripped from MS-->Chicago-->Milwaukee-->Cleveland-->New York City-->North Carolina-->Nashville and back to MS, I stopped for an oil change in North Carolina. They discovered there that when I'd gotten the last oil change in MISSISSIPPI, the techs had neglected to replace the oil cap. Not only was there no damage - the oil cap was still sitting there under my hood - waiting for someone to notice it.<br />We've traveled on long, grueling road trips with no stops - 13 hours overnight straight through to NC for a wedding once (and back 2 days later). 20 hours to Denver (although we stopped overnight in MO). I drove that car off the lot in August of 1999. Drove it from Jackson to Vicksburg, then back to Clinton for a movie. I wish I remembered what the movie was.<br />I got in the most serious trouble I've ever been in in March of 2003 in Oxford MS in that car - had to leave him at a gas station while some other folks gave me a ride.<br />He's seen me through 2 relationships I thought might be the one...and he drove me out west to home in the arms of the one who is. <br />He's gotten me to interviews on time, and despite my lack of direction - we always find our way to where we're going.<br />We've been together for 11 years straight (minus the 9 months I lived in Chicago), and Morgan I don't really know how I'm going to get used to driving another car. It won't ever be the same...I'll probably end up with some 4 door sedan that drives well in the snow. It won't hug corners or accelerate with the strength and pure ambition you've got. <br />This past weekend he pulled out his most magnificent feat to date. On the way up the mtn in traffic at 6pm on the holiday weekend - Morgan started to overheat. We rushed forward to the closest exit and when we pulled up in Georgetown, he started to steam. But rather than give up - we armed ourselves with gallons of water bottles and started up Berthoud pass... Morgan made it up that mountain and back down again AND got us to the emergency room when there was a slight incident with a knife and an avocado over the weekend. <br />There's nothing that car can't do. But alas - the owner's manual stops telling you how to take care of your car at 150,000 mile and I can assume that Ford doesn't believe there's any possible way he might last that long. And the last 2 years have been full of numerous repairs and system overhauls...I think it's time to think about moving on. (Everything I've ever let go of has claw marks in it...this will most certainly be the same!)<br />But here, Morgan in your honor, a list of the trips we've been on (the ones I can remember at least)<br />- countless trips to St. Louis and back (once with most of the contents of my life as well as two other people packed inside)<br />- many times from St. Louis to Memphis or Vicksburg to Memphis<br />- all over Mississippi<br />- Jackson to the MS and AL gulf coasts<br />- Jackson MS to Raleigh, NC<br />- Vicksburg to Chicago<br />- Chicago to Milwaukee and back<br />- Chicago to Cleveland OH, by way of the Canadian border where we were unceremoniously denied entry and the contents of Morgan's trunk were mocked (I SAID there were a lot of shoes!)<br />- Ohio to NYC<br />- NYC to Chapel Hill, NC<br />- Chapel Hill to Ashville, NC<br />- Ashville to Nashville, TN<br />- Nashville to MS<br />- Jackson, MS to Denver, CO<br />- Denver to Santa Fe, NMK8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-70432451390144794602009-11-18T12:51:00.002-07:002009-11-18T13:26:41.871-07:00Thank you'sPeriodically, I resolve to say "thank you" for something every day. It was part of my new year's resolution to do it, and write it down everyday...I did that for about 3 months, but I do still remember to lift up a silent "thank you" MOST days!<br /><br />However, today I thought I'd send out some of those THANK YOU's to the ether...or wherever this internet goes :)<br /><br /><strong>Thank you</strong> for plenty of work, and work that I love (most of the time). I know that times are particularly rough right now, and I am so grateful. <strong>Thank you</strong> for my sisters, who have exciting things going on left and right, and make me proud. <strong>Thank you</strong> for my beloved, and for almost 4 years of loving, and standing side by side. <strong>Thank you </strong>for an incredible family of friends, all strong, peaceful, beautiful people. <strong>Thank you </strong>for beautiful family who share my blood, and all the memories we carry together. <strong>Thank you </strong>for bringing me to a place like Colorado, full of all of nature's glory. <strong>Thank you</strong> for a steady stream of guests in our home, and for the ability to buy our own house this year, beginning the creation of a warm home to offer up. <strong>Thank you</strong> for books borrowed and lent, and the exchange of knowledge.<strong> Thank you </strong>for friends lost along the way, for all of the strength and goodness they've offered to enrich my life. <strong>Thank you </strong>for a wide world to explore and enjoy. <strong>Thank you</strong> for art, particularly, of course, for theatre to open our eyes, and feed our souls. <strong>Thank you </strong>for all the excitement of new babies, and new unions that the future is holding. <strong>Thank you </strong>for an exceptional adaptation of Maurice Sendak's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Spike Jonze, and for a night off to share it with beloved. <strong>Thank you</strong> for cell phones and the internet which are frustrating and sometimes feel overly complicated, but which do keep me connected to so many dear people. <strong>Thank you</strong> for a full, busy life, and for moments of peace to keep us grounded. <strong>Thank you </strong>for our darling kitty, Tres, for the laughter and joy that he brings our home. <strong>Thank you</strong> for a refrigerator full of food, and for the lack of want that has always surrounded my life. <strong>Thank you</strong> for the simple joy of a cup of coffee first thing on a cold morning.<strong> Thank you</strong> for my trusty car, Morgan, for holding up for so long, and seeing me through more than a few adventures. <strong>Thank you </strong>for live music, and dancing your ass off; letting your spirit sing out. <strong>Thank you</strong> for my rich montage of memories, and the lessons they offer up to me. <strong>Thank you </strong>for humour, and wit, and most of all, for laughter. <strong>Thank you </strong>for the gift of good health. <strong>Thank you</strong> for the long line of babies, children, and young people that life has provided me. Without them, I would never get out of my head. <strong>Thank you </strong>for almost 30 years of a gorgeous life, and to the ones ahead...as many as there may be, and full of mystery, <strong>Thank you.</strong><br /><br />Well, that sure feels good. <strong>Thank you</strong> for reading.K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-29505769021974103652009-10-19T12:41:00.002-06:002009-10-19T13:02:36.765-06:00In my life...My friend died - 16 years ago today. He was 16 years old. He's been gone now for as long as he was on this earth, and I was lucky enough to know him for most of the 16 years ago. He was my brother, three years older than me - uber protective. The closest thing I've ever known to a brother.<br /><br />The things I remember about him are: he was funny- we laughed all the time, he always let me ride with him on church trips, he loved his mom and dad so much, and when he was around his 6 year old sister - well, she was the apple of his eye. He was serious, and genuine, he cared a lot about things and loved a lot. Northwestern was his dream school - he'd wanted to paint the NW in purple paint on the walls of his bedroom at the cabin he and his dad were working on renovating the day that his car crashed. I spent a lot of time at that cabin with his family, and the family of friends that we created afterwards. His absence was always there. He wanted to be a doctor, he would have been a great one. He loved to be outside, and on stage. He was an actor, singer, athlete, band geek, choir nerd, and churchgoer. He kept me involved in youth group, and he was a little afraid of my dad. He was the only teenager that my mom would let me ride with. He was the only kid I knew who had his own telephone line at home. Fall days always make me think of him because of the day that 5 of us went horse back riding at my folks place.<br /><br />On the day he died, I got a call from my friend Ashley. I was watching Full House and had just gotten home from riding lessons. I told my mom, she didn't believe it, so we started calling folks from the church. I spent most of that week at Rie Rie's house, or she at mine. We all talked on the phone a lot, when we weren't together. It rained at the funeral, it rained most of that week. Rie and her mom came over the next day, we made cheese quesadillas and cleaned out my mom's car. One night I woke up in the middle of the night, put on my jeans and stood outside in the rain crying. When my mom and I returned home from the funeral, Tears in Heaven played on the radio. "The Green Room" - the club that we'd all started to benefit our local theatre still met - although we just cried together. The friends that I had then will always be so close to my heart. Some of us have lost touch, some of us have lost faith - but in my heart, we're all still those bereft teenagers, and all that I have is love for those kids. <br /><br />In the years to come we would meet at his grave. Some folks brought guitars - we decorated the site with little mementos of our lives, things he would have liked, or should have been a part of. I went there byself quite a bit, just laid down and chatted with him. Had he lived, perhaps we would have grown apart, perhaps he wouldn't always have been my older brother, perhaps I wouldn't have called him in college, when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, or when a romance went awry. But I hope I would have. <br /><br />Jeremy was a good kid. He would have been a good man. I miss him, and my love goes out to everyone who knew him, everyone who missed the opportunity to know him - and all those bereft teenagers out there.K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-87385913205989946402009-09-14T22:11:00.002-06:002009-09-14T22:14:38.095-06:00psychic psychosisI've been quite a psychic here lately. Mostly petty little things - a song I haven't heard in a while pops into my head, then I get in the car and there it is...stuff like that. And very lucid dreams. Weird stuff...mostly it's just intrigued me...made me curious to see if it's something I might cultivate.<br /><br />But a bestie said an important thing to me today. She said that those things are signs from your body, from your subconscious, from the universe - that you know what's going on. You know what's going to happen. You can trust yourself.<br /><br />Can I?K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-5796921308401027442009-08-27T19:03:00.003-06:002009-08-27T19:30:19.382-06:00Really? ...or how did I end up here?Tonight I went in for my first official night at a new retail job. I was pretty excited, granted, it's retail - but it was going to be fun - I was just sure. My "official dress code" requires me to wear all black. Which I did, except for the infernal shoes. I wore this terrific pair of little red ones that a dear friend costumer just found for me at the thrift store. Okay...yes, I was testing things. I always do that...in high school on the night before I date I would always do something like dye my hair purple. "So, you thought you liked me huh? What do you think of me now!?" I suppose is the theory... Yes, I was testing things. And they called me on it. Which, I suppose is alright.<br /><br />HOWEVER...here's how things went down, and dear readers - I am furious with how things went down. So I leave job #1 after scarfing down a Lean Cuisine steam bowl. First of all...seriously? I'm trying to eat right, which is normally a delight - tonight's meal was not...but with new job (job #2) I'm only allowed one fifteen minute "off the floor" and I'm slated to be there until midnight, so I figure, "suck it up, you'll be glad you ate later." So, this morning, I pack my lunch, AND my dinner and I head off for a twelve hour day.<br /><br />Back to the story at hand...so I leave job #1 and head towards job #2. First of all, finding the parking lot in the blinding light of Colorado sundown was a pain in my a**. I finally find something, put my $3 in the box and head in to work. So I get there, and it's just like the factory I knew it would be...I put my stuff in my locker - folks leaning up against them, dressed in their "all black" like the good little sheep that they are... and I proceed to check in.<br />"<br />There they are - my bosses and they're looking me up and down. The woman says, "do you have black shoes?" To which I respond, "Oh, no, I'm sorry - is that a problem?" "Yes, you have to go home. What's your name?" I tell them, then the woman barks at me again, "We need a working phone number for you. Your phone doesn't work." "Really," I think to myself, "because your office called me 3 hours ago to REMIND me that I have to come to work?" As if I ever needed to be reminded that I'm supposed to be at work. Don't they know that I am a work horse? I KNOW I'm supposed to be at work. Then the man tells me that he won't hold it against me, they're overstaffed tonight anyway. And there we have it, gentle readers. I'm dismissed. The security guy looks at me and says, "uh-oh" as I leave. <br /><br />And the thing is - I get it, I should have worn black shoes.<br /><br />Nevermind that I stand behind a counter. Nevermind that I am really, stupidly good at retail. Nevermind that I needed this job to get me through the two months between teaching gigs (in another three weeks, i'm picking up two more jobs and I won't care...but today, I care). And I wanted to tell them to F off. That I don't need their stupid job. But I do. So now I'm just hoping that they'll put me on the schedule for next week, so I can go in and smile a lot and sell some of their stuff. <br /><br />And what I'm wondering is, how did I get here? I had a promising future. BLAH.<br /><br />I'm going to go have a glass of red wine and pretend like all this "job" nonsense is just that!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-76348762977346457372009-08-24T23:11:00.003-06:002009-08-24T23:25:58.115-06:00Some things I've learned...and some things I'm still learning...Proving myself to anyone only proves that I don't know myself.<br /><br />I have great hair!<br /><br />There's actually just about nothing that's impossible in this world.<br /><br />You never know what's next.<br /><br />The best gift that you can give anyone is trust...trust in them, in yourself...the ability to be trusted.<br /><br />Love IS all you need.<br /><br />No matter how much I work to deny it, I LOVE and really kind of need coffee.<br /><br />It turns out, you may not really need the things you think you do.<br /><br />I may be just a little bit psychic. We might all be. I'm interested in cultivating this.<br /><br />I have three best girlfriends - cumulatively, they make who I am obvious.<br />I have one best friend - he makes me happy to be who I am.<br /><br />Saying "yes" to an opportunity makes me very happy!<br /><br />Perspective is the carrot I chase...sometimes it's close, sometimes not so much...I'm working on it.<br /><br />There's very little in this world that a good cup of tea, a bath, a massage, and a smoke won't make better.<br /><br />Peanut Butter and Jelly really is the best!<br /><br />I carry all the people that I've known with me - and that makes me stronger.<br /><br />Grief cannot be objectively quantified.<br /><br />I am capable of so many more things that I ever thought possible, and I am learning that more and more in every moment!<br /><br /><br />...I'm trying to get back into the habit of blogging...but lately, it's been more listing than blogging...but then again, you never know what's next!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-91806515483545723332009-08-02T12:34:00.002-06:002009-08-02T12:46:46.275-06:00The Year Before 30...Only about 7 and a half months to go until I'm 30. But who's counting, right?<br />Actually, I'm pretty excited about it - I think<em> I</em> just keep getting better, and <em>life</em> certainly keeps getting better, every minute and every year. However, it is a strange sensation to recognize that in only a few short months, that illusive decade, "my 20's" will be over. How I thought I would never reach it...and then, just like that, it's over. Of course, I recognize that all of this pressure and symbolism is purely culturally based. We're taught that our 20's are supposed to be some time of wild debauchery and equally, of settling down and starting down a path. In truth, I think our 20's is just another set of 10 years to try out being human. <br /><br />All that being said, it's still weird. 30. I think I'm gonna like it there. But in the meantime, a few lists.<br /><br />Things I did not do in my 20's that I thought I probably would:<br />get married<br />have a baby<br />go to grad school<br />quit smoking<br /><br />Things that I did do in my 20's:<br />Graduated with an undergrad degree in acting, magna cum laude<br />Got arrested<br />Moved back to MS, lived with my grandfather just before he died<br />Spent several months unemployed<br />Buried both my grandparents<br />Saw my parents divorce<br />Had my heart broken<br />Took a road trip for a month by myself<br />Began teaching<br />Moved to Chicago<br />Fell in love<br />Moved to Colorado<br />Bought a house<br />Started a company<br />Went to Europe, twice<br />Went to Las Vegas for the first time<br />Stood up for my two best girlfriends when they married their loves<br />Directed lots of my own plays, and got paid for it!<br /><br />Anyway, there's a little taste. And hey - there's still 7 and a half months! Who knows what I might do in that time! WHOHOO!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-85406301596873690862009-08-01T16:02:00.002-06:002009-08-01T16:13:24.432-06:00Thank you notes and other niceties...I've made a new resolution for myself these days. I'll admit, I've been a tad grouchy. Which has actually been a rarity for a while now. I believe that my New Year's resolution to say "thank you" for something every day has really taken it's toll on my cynicism. As a result, I've been pretty chipper of late. <br /><br />But not this past week. In the past week I have been a downright grump. Crampy and worn out sure - but that's no excuse. SO - I have resolved, that whenever I am feeling particularly unkind or pessimistic, that I will attempt to combat that feeling by doing something nice. Putting something good out into the world. I owe the world some goodness. Thursday was a particularly grumpy day. I stopped by a bakery on the way in and brought treats for work. That helped.<br /><br />The thing is, I REALLY, REALLY like being nice. I know that well behaved women rarely make history, and I know that being nice is not nearly so important as being smart, revolutionary, provocative...etc... but I don't think that being nice means you can't be those things as well. And being nice makes me feel really good.<br /><br />BUT...(there's always a caveat, right? the duality of the world, I suppose) I am discovering that it's not quite so selfless as we'd like to let ourselves think. I like being nice. I like knowing that someone's day is a little brighter, or a little easier... I also like knowing that I did that. I like the thank you. Now, I'll defend myself a bit by saying that I don't need a gift, or a big explosion of emotion - but I do really need a thank you. I kind of thrive on thank you's. <br /><br />It's interesting to me that 100 years ago when people had basically two ways to say "thank you" that they did it, religiously, as an art form. Letter writing, the thank you note - an intrinsic part of society. But now that we can text, call, facebook, myspace, twitter, email, snail mail, im, or say it in person...we forget to say "thank you". Or...we're embarrassed, or don't know how to accept kindness from one another, or something.<br /><br />And I'm guilty myself. As I write this, I'm thinking of 4 or 5 people that I need to say "thank you" to right now. Seriously folks - think about how good it makes you feel when you just get a casual "thank you" tossed your way at a burger joint...now imagine if your friends or family said it to you, right after you took a minute or two out of your life to do something nice. Wouldn't that make you feel GREAT! So do it.<br /><br />Say THANK YOU! <br /><br />I'll be a little less grumpy if you would ;)K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-30729057328380791042009-02-19T15:29:00.002-07:002009-02-19T15:46:09.329-07:00Having trouble focusing...It doesn't rain but it pours, right? Lately my days seem to be that way - either I'm so productive that I barely recognize myself - or I'm a total wreck, completely unable to focus on any one thing or get anything more complicated than the bed making done. Luckily, I've had an awful lot of the productive days lately...unfortunately, today is one of the more *wreckish* days. Not that I'm not in a glorious mood, because I am.<br /><br />Had a meeting this morning with a gentleman. The meeting went very well - actually, the news was better than expected...and it looks as thought there might be some great changes in 2009! <em>Sorry</em>, I'm going to refrain from being any less cryptic than that at the moment, in the hopes that I don't spoil something by talking too much about it! However, suffice it to say - I'm very excited...I'll keep you posted when we know more!<br /><br />Yesterday I downloaded a free trial of some graphics software from the web and created a pretty great looking seating chart for Curious. I know that miiiight PERHAPS not sound so exciting to all of you - but I'm thrilled. It looks pretty decent for a girl who had no idea what she was doing...and I just love doing things I've never done before.<br /><br />Let's see - because I'm having difficulty focusing today...here's a list of those things that I love.<br />1. Apparently, I love lists<br />2. I love Brian<br />3. I love my family<br />4. I love my friends - old and new, close and far away - I love picking up with someone like it's been no time at all since we were together - i love long chats<br />5. I love the mountains. Seriously, I had no idea they would do this to me. I love the mountains<br />6. I love plays...everything about them.<br />7. I love museums...pretty much any museum...there's so much to learn!<br /> I REALLY love the Mall in DC...seriously, for a museum lover...seriously!<br />8. I love an active, passionate debate - about anything really<br />9. I love dancing<br />10. I love live music - particularly the Irish kind...but I'm not terribly particular<br />11. I love the way my new cat purrs when you pet him, but requires that all loving be on his terms...I love this about animals, less so about people ;)<br />12. I love an outside music festival in the summertime - the Sunflower Blues Festival and Jazzfest take the cake<br />13. I love my mom's friends<br />14. I love costume jewelry<br />15. I love painting (rooms, chairs, tables, etc...not portraits or anything fancy like that)<br />16. I love a colorful bouquet of balloons<br />17. I love outside barbeques<br />18. I love the way I think I look in my leather jacket, driving my mustang...it's not really who I am at all...but I sure dig that image<br />19. I love getting really really dirty and tired and then taking a long hot showerK8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-32152825161013125622009-02-13T13:19:00.002-07:002009-02-13T13:40:32.371-07:00Percolatin'It's been a wee bit since the last time I wrote...and I certainly don't have anything deep and profound to say. I've found that that's often the case when my world is as ridiculously busy as it is right now...this is the time for action, and lots of it. Later on, once I've had a little time to gargle all these new experiences, THEN, perhaps I'll be able to see something interesting in it all. Currently, all I can see is the next step in front of me.<br /><br />So - here's the update - and maybe I'll get back to you with reflections on the same later! This week has been an exciting, exhilarating, and wild ride. Most importantly and excitingly - B.loved's birthday was yesterday! He's 35 years old now, and better than ever. We met just over 3 years ago...on January 31, 2006. I certainly wasn't looking to fall in love with him - but there he was, and what could I do? The first two birthdays I've known him for, I couldn't physically celebrate with him - but the last two we've been together for, and I look forward to so many more. There's not much that I enjoy better than celebrating that beautiful man! AND...tomorrow is our 3 year anniversary from our first kiss. AND...tomorrow is his Opening Night for LOVE SONG at Paragon Theatre. It's going to be a really amazing show, I've read the script a few times and really dig it, it's quirky, and hopeful, and really really beautiful I think. Paragon's a Denver Company I really like, and can't wait to celebrate this great week by watching his great show! Come check it out - running through March 14!<br /><br />On top of all that - RABBIT HOLE, the production that I assistant directed (under the amazing indominatable Christy Montour-Larson) is closing on Saturday. I get to watch it one more time tonight. The uncomfortable theatre phenomenon...after all this work, time, and love - this piece of art is going to be over. However, there's plenty of things to put my mind to - I'm the props designer for the Curious production of EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl - which has proven to be a tad more challenging than I thought. But the show is going to be stunning and I'm proud to be a part of it...and the challenging stuff just means more growing, right?<br /><br />Speaking of growing, I'm also taking an improv class once a week at the Denver Center Teaching Academy. I've never ever taken even an hour of improv, and I'm scared silly. But surprise, surprise! It's turning out to be a blast...again, challenging...lots of growing going on these days - but it's a nice break from everything else, a moment to just clear my mind for a couple of hours each week and only think about the moment at hand...and play!<br /><br />I'm working more hours at Curious - in addition to the box office, I've also been assisting our Marketing Director - mostly sending out emails and working on our new website...check it out at www.curioustheatre.org. AND, I've been teaching a lot these days...in addition to the 4 hours of classes to the wee ones that I teach each week, I've also been subbing a bit for a friend - which is always fun...<br /><br />I remain committed to traveling more this year (although as yet, I haven't spent a night away in 2009)...I miss a lot of old friends, and find that it's so easy to get caught up in the routine of putting one foot in front of the other...next thing you know you're another year older and what have you got to show for it? So, in the works is a St. Louis trip in March...then on my birthday weekend, B and I have promised each other a mini getaway. Also - a trip to Chicago needs to happen, and back to MS...on top of that are some weddings I'd love to get to - and something grande and wonderful for B and I to do for each other! <br /><br />2009 has had a lot of death in it. No death so very close to me really, but surrounding me - every where I turn there's just a little nudge, a reminder. I'm trying to just note that, and keep it in mind. I think there's something important for me there...as yet, I'm still percolating. In the meantime, I'm sending out big love and comfort to all those people around me who HAVE been closely touched by it already. <br /><br />So there it is, all the news that's fit to print. Brightest Blessings to all of you out there, and as always, thanks for reading. Thanks for caring!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-30381496397805627052008-12-30T15:36:00.002-07:002008-12-30T15:57:18.236-07:00New Years ResolutionsI made New Years Resolutions this year. Hooray! It's been a while, and even longer since I kept them. But here it is...<br /><br />1. I am resolved to seek out joy<br />2. I am resolved not to yell<br />3. I am resolved to cut my cc debt in half<br />4. I am resolved to say *thank you* at least once a day<br /><br />I think that's a nice little list here...it's well balanced, a little mental betterment, a little material betterment. Actually, I wish there were 5 points on the list, it would seem a bit more, concise. But hell, as it turns out, I'm not particularly concise in my overall life - and those 4 are plenty already. So there it is, my little list - and I'm pleased with it. I feel like it's enough of a challenge to keep me motivated, but not too much for me to say, "Eh, chuck it!" about 3 months in. <br /><br />I started a new little moleskin in fact, yesterday - I'm going to write down the thank you's. I think it will help remind me to do it first of all, and then secondly, how great to have a record at the end of the year of all the things I have to be thankful for! I started it early, but then again, I figure, "hey, I get to make the rules here!"<br /><br />All in all, things are going very well out here in the West. It's a whirlwind for sure - but as always, full of fun! The holidays were lovely. We got to spend most of Christmas Eve (after I got off work) with B's family. His folks have been out of town for months, so it was great to be there with everyone and all cheerful and well fed :) Then we had our own sweet Christmas at our house, with a fire in the fireplace and stockings full! I sure do love that man. THEN, at 11pm, we left for Lyons to surprise my mom, Jenni, Anna, Anna's fella' Ryan, and mom's dog Gilly (Mrs. McGillicuty) at the cabin. They weren't expecting us until Christmas Day, so lots of screaming and excitment ensued when we finally arrived. We stayed up until 4am (making that a 21 hour day for me) playing Apples to Apples and laughing. Good times! Two more days in the cabin saw lots more game playing, some movie watching, a little hiking, a wonderful visit from Princess Aly, her prince, and their two delightful dogs, who got along quite well with Gilly. What a wonderful time was had. Missed my dad of course this year, but we did finally get him on Skype, so got to see his face at least. :)<br /><br />I'm working at Curious of course, and currently assistant directing a gorgeous production of RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay Abaire, under the force of a director, Christy Montour Larson. I am learning so much every day from her, and from this extraordinary actors - the play's intense and emotional, and such an honor to be a part of.<br /><br />B's had great news lately - the man can't be stopped! He'll be playing the lead in Paragon Theatre's production of LOVE SONG. It's a quirky and very cool play, and it opens on Valentines Day - our 3 year anniversary. Then he'll do The Golden Goose, another great children's play, at the Mizel Center...and another short film role, AND a national internet commercial. Plus, next week, his daughter will be out here visiting us for a bit. So much great stuff going on - and so much still in store!<br /><br />So there it is, friends! As always, thanks so much for reading. Have a very, very Happy New Year, and I sure hope that 2009 is the year we get some good hanging out time in!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-44091229023597559802008-11-29T20:39:00.002-07:002008-11-29T20:55:54.550-07:00...the sun and the moon and the apple trees...There's a fabulous lady, the princess Aly, who posted a recent blog with a little crash course in the things that she was thankful for and I thought it sounded like a divine idea...particularly as I enter hour 11 of my 13 hour workday. So here it is - a list of just a very few of the things that I am particularly thankful for.<br /><br />1. For only having 2 more hours left until I can go home tonight<br />2. For having amazing jobs that I love, and getting to work as much as I want to most of the time<br />3. For being given the amazing opportunity to teach children, and teach them art...<br />4. For all the more things that they teach me<br />5. For Brian...really, he's the number one thing that I'm thankful for. He makes me laugh, he loves me something fierce, and is so beautiful and strong and a daily inspiration to me in so many ways. I am a better and more full person for the (almost) 3 years that I've spent with him, and I am the luckiest girl I know. <br />6. For our cozy and wonderful little house, with its fireplace...for snuggling in on snowy days<br />7. For Denver, and it's 300 blue days a year, and it's dry cold, and its mountain skyscape<br />8. For music that gets you up and dancing...especially for Elvis, and the Beatles, and Lucinda Williams<br />9. For great books, and the New Yorker, and scripts, and libraries and the way that books smell<br />10. For hot beverages<br />11. For the Princess Aly - the best girlfriend a girl could dream of...for her living close by, and always taking me seriously, and for our adventures, and for our inside jokes, and shared history, and for her cooking, and her taste in wine :)<br />12. For amazing people and friends - old and new, that I've been lucky enough to always be surrounded by (that's YOU!)<br />13. For a beautiful, dysfunctional, loving, rowdy, supportive, and blustery family - who may not always have it "right," but is always right for me.<br />14. For people who actually do read my silly blogs (that's YOU too!)<br />15. For raspberry cordials<br />16. For the chance to travel<br />17. For theatre. For art. For hopes and dreams. ...and Julie Taymoor and Ang Lee and Peter Brooks and Augosto Boal and Amadeo Modigliani<br />18. Because you believe.<br />19. For pizza.<br />20. For board games, especially Apples to Apples<br />21. For Mississippi with its complex history, and its ugliness, and the sometimes surprising beauty that can spring out of that ugliness<br />22. For a new bedspread and old teddy bears<br />23. For almost being done with my Christmas shopping<br />24. For babies<br />25. For life, the joyous and tragic life that it is...but all mine.<br /><br />So, that felt really great - perhaps I'll do it again soon. Thanks for checking in! :)K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-2283668330963923202008-11-18T13:15:00.002-07:002008-11-18T13:26:42.578-07:002nd adolescenceI recently had my very first bra fitting. Pimples are popping up all over my face. I'm feeling awkwardly tall all the time. I'm wearing my emotions on the outside and finding myself a little incapable of not expressing every single feeling that comes my way. If I get less than 8 hours of sleep, I'm cranky. I can't stop singing Madonna songs off of the <em>Like a Virgin</em> album.<br /><br />I never went through the *awkwardly tall* phase - in fact, I love being tall - always wished I was taller than I am. And suddenly, there I am, standing in a crowd of people feeling so conspicuos...wishing I could just shrink down to a less noticeable size. My voice sounds funny, and often way too loud. My feelings are hurt at the drop of a hat. Seriously, I'm 16 again. 16 was an okay time for me - not great, but not horrible...it's like I'm paying the price for not having an awful adolescence...I'm having it again, and how!<br /><br />Clearly, my hormones are raging - but I'm almost 30 years old. I truly believed that these things sort of settled at some point. Still...my bra fitting was pretty exhilirating...And, my bra size is pretty porn star sexy :) And seeing Madonna at 28 is ever so much more satisfying than it would have been at 16. But could we give the hormones a rest? Please?K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-74647417112037953532008-11-07T22:08:00.005-07:002008-11-07T22:20:35.682-07:00Laundry dayThere are some things that it is remarkably easy to lose and almost impossible to find. Those of the Catholic faith even have a Saint dedicated to finding things. St Theresa? I don't remember. I did the laundry tonight, and somehow lost 2 socks...2 socks, from 2 <em>different</em> pairs of socks. I wish you could just lose the whole pair, why do you have to hold on to this one reminder of the glory days? <br /><br />Life is sort of like that. Trust. Remarkably easy to lose and just about the hardest thing in the world to find. I wonder if St. Theresa covers trust? Not just trust in other people though, trust in yourself. Somehow, it seems like it all goes hand in hand. Lose trust in someone else, suddenly the whole world looks suspicious, yourself included. <br /><br />And what I can't figure outis how to go on without trust. You can put on your happy face, work out all your forgiveness and issues - but if you can't trust again...well, you might as well have just put on those two odd socks. One is pink and white striped, one is black with green hearts on it...one is an ankle sock while one reaches up towards your calf. The job is effectively done, your feet are warm and protected...but something just doesn't feel right. All day you walk around with those two socks feeling like an extension of your whole self - lopsided, awkward, wrong.K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-11744919785975354212008-11-04T15:41:00.003-07:002008-11-04T16:02:38.109-07:00The jittersElection Day is here! This campaign has gone on FOREVER...but it's been pretty exhilirating. And the day is here now. I voted last week, so there wasn't much to do, I guess. And I keep hearing about how electric the day is...but you know what? I just feel jittery. Tense, anxious, good, and energetic, but with no where to focus that energy. Change. Hope. ...Faith. I think that's the point, right? We do everything that we can, and then we have faith. We hope. So I'm hoping, and I'm wearing my Obama Hope tee-shirt (admittedly, in part for the political support inherent and in part for the kitsch...yeah, that's how I am), and I'm waiting. I hope. I hope for a better nation than the one we live in, I hope for a better world - I think Barack Obama is a step in the right direction. But for now, I wait, and I hope.<br /><br />Which is funny actually - this election day is not a far off parallel from many other aspects of our lives, huh? An obstacle arises, we do everything that we can and ultimately realize that it's outside of our *control*. So we hope. We wait, and pray, and be as kind and as full of love as we can.<br /><br />I'm a leeeetle bit of a control freak, it's true. So I find this part of life particularly, uh, challenging (read, knashing of teeth, pulling out of hair). But, as you would probably guess, in the end there's nothing I can really do about it, except for wait, and hope, and pray - and apologize to those folks who happened to be nearby during the teeth knashing/hair pulling debacle.<br /><br />"God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference"<br /><br />Yeah...<br /><br />**By the way, there's a ton of great theatre out there right now. If you're reading this and you're around Denver - check out <strong>November</strong> (David Mamet's new(est?) work) at the Avenue Theatre (you'll appreciate it this month like you never may again) <strong>I Am My Own Wife</strong> at Theatreworks in Colorado Springs, and particularly...<strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Speech & Debate</em></span> </strong>at Curious Theatre (you may never STOP smiling), <em>and</em> B(loved)'s newest play at Boulder Ensemble Theatre, <strong>FAT PIG. </strong>You may know how I feel about Neil Labute anyway, and you definitely know how I feel about B's work...plus, dear friends Jeremy Make and Kate Avallone are in it...it's smart, funny, incidious...you'll love it and hate yourself (sounds like a good time, right :)<br /><br />Go out, support local arts!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-52712706309098848212008-10-20T23:14:00.003-06:002008-10-20T23:18:41.445-06:00Thank you.To my love,<br /><br />Thank you for your perspective. For your kindness, and your patience. Thank you for loving life - for dancing, for inspiration. Thank you for teaching me that it's perfectly alright to be happy with a situation that is less than ideal. Thank you for forgiveness - for giving and receiving it. And every day, thank you for your laughter, your smile, your eyes.<br /><br />Thank you.K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-73549355841812460702008-10-04T15:01:00.002-06:002008-10-04T15:21:59.066-06:00Recommitment, forgiveness, and a little attitude adjustmentI am feeling extraordinarily dissatisfied at the moment. A fleeting feeling, I know. Still...for something as transient and insubstantial as an *emotion* - this one sure has me pretty grumpy. What I'd like to do is write down a list of the things that I want, the things I'm lacking, the reasons why I'm justified to be in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mood. So, I'm going to do that - IF I still want to <em>after</em> writing down a list of all the wonderful things...all the reasons that I love living in Denver, and all the things there are to be happy about, all the ways in which I'm beautifully blessed. <br /><br />It's fall, and starting to get chilly! Teaching at the Denver Center started again today and I love my kids! I treated myself to a grande nonfat iced latte this morning. We have a washer and dryer <em>in our house</em> so I don't have to take hours out of an otherwise wonderful afternoon to go do laundry, I'm doing it RIGHT NOW! Tacos for lunch. Taco flavored kisses. Watching videos of K.K. Yesterday, Aly came to Denver and we had an awesome breakfast, and we got our makeup done at MAC and it was wonderful. I feel pretty. Chalkboards. Going to the mountains. Being surrounded by artists. Big sky country. More *blue* days than anywhere else in the country. Listening to a gorgeous Mexican singer on NPR this morning. Remembering Ireland. Knee high socks. Photographs. Not being at work for the afternoon. Loving my job(s). One door opening just as another one closes. <br /><br />It's just over one year since I moved to Denver...the time when...for the past several years, I've picked up and moved again. I'm noticing a pattern...the first year(ish) is great, everything is so new - it's like a <em>challenge</em> to get to know a place, and people. But then, after that first year, when it's so exciting...I start to sit back and say "now what? shouldn't I be farther along that this?" So I move on to someplace else. The only thing is, I really love Denver, and Colorado. And I've found a good art scene here, and love is here, and I want to be here. So, I'm here, I'm committed (I just bought Colorado plates last week!), and I'm just going to embrace my neurosis and live it up! <br /><br />This is me world, I may be grumpy and selfish and sometimes way too critical - but I'm also full of love, and wonder, and joy - and I've got a lot to give...and if you think you can put up with me - let's do it!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-59480283319385779442008-10-02T20:35:00.002-06:002008-10-02T20:39:57.349-06:00BrokenThese days something is broken inside me. I wonder if it's always been broken? What is it that's wrong with me?<br /><br />How can a person know what she wants, love without bounds - and stand in her own way...always wanting what I can't have?<br /><br />How can one person make so many mistakes?K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-59465068690712272022008-08-25T20:33:00.003-06:002008-08-25T21:01:19.032-06:00A long shower, and a hot meal cooking on the stove...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22mGgTccoPN2O8vl2HtvrsETWu618F1oWMZV-z77GrKiYn6nEfC0GTrroVtlNkU9-oJzcqbKJ9XKX7aWy89xaL_PkJ798xezhjgmu6Uv8HI_yeMUsq-QSYgqSDK9FyF6pSOLqZ0uXsqU/s1600-h/DSCN0403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238655810454001330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22mGgTccoPN2O8vl2HtvrsETWu618F1oWMZV-z77GrKiYn6nEfC0GTrroVtlNkU9-oJzcqbKJ9XKX7aWy89xaL_PkJ798xezhjgmu6Uv8HI_yeMUsq-QSYgqSDK9FyF6pSOLqZ0uXsqU/s400/DSCN0403.JPG" border="0" /></a> At Dublin castle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe60aQQ-0mbj7-GtxGiFGQ_gUxRza3v75Tzlf2DgV1vdnFuKD-jZcKQt9lwwOfj4dX7PtbLNE6r7Hzn4Wwtpv5mPjx7-fJBKA6bXQ-2paVNfodNhaYnTyxVHwtUVTDOoc0loCePSXa_0/s1600-h/DSCN0422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238655815345491010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe60aQQ-0mbj7-GtxGiFGQ_gUxRza3v75Tzlf2DgV1vdnFuKD-jZcKQt9lwwOfj4dX7PtbLNE6r7Hzn4Wwtpv5mPjx7-fJBKA6bXQ-2paVNfodNhaYnTyxVHwtUVTDOoc0loCePSXa_0/s400/DSCN0422.JPG" border="0" /></a> Part of the Guiness Factory compound<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL5apu-z8QhrzKIbjb1Oj3kKowWxKcSqs0KhG8G1VSXfdceRMToZFV7lRkZrRnDtgOWxoE96IphbNogrlOR0KzBgb1ACuNd9EMl0qcL84ObE3kD-P4jauZ6LUUlIPkk4TZ6-fPMpguHI/s1600-h/DSCN0418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238655821607203090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL5apu-z8QhrzKIbjb1Oj3kKowWxKcSqs0KhG8G1VSXfdceRMToZFV7lRkZrRnDtgOWxoE96IphbNogrlOR0KzBgb1ACuNd9EMl0qcL84ObE3kD-P4jauZ6LUUlIPkk4TZ6-fPMpguHI/s400/DSCN0418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh024rX9aZiBWuxUpSTv_H4ewmg2Oppjm7LPPcHAe_TdPxLnlRYf8Oes21sp0uN0gPKsac19ZwgtL2NvJMXGp9cleAN_Y2n9haE6du_2GuFVWqWVz1F14ysLLTMTqe_cLA7E2YD_mefOwA/s1600-h/DSCN0417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238655830607581522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh024rX9aZiBWuxUpSTv_H4ewmg2Oppjm7LPPcHAe_TdPxLnlRYf8Oes21sp0uN0gPKsac19ZwgtL2NvJMXGp9cleAN_Y2n9haE6du_2GuFVWqWVz1F14ysLLTMTqe_cLA7E2YD_mefOwA/s400/DSCN0417.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbCP_bVOeQvyvvtzpsIsD2Q9umtEJHIoyBeVHBqumjd_e7iuJeVyi2sSNdcKnpXK2rKo838cdBIyIB1_fnDQhLav1mm42HJ_3YtBwTzmzCgXMtT3JDwGvTBgQbq-frQZwdbfUeho1N4Y/s1600-h/DSCN0406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238655832284359330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbCP_bVOeQvyvvtzpsIsD2Q9umtEJHIoyBeVHBqumjd_e7iuJeVyi2sSNdcKnpXK2rKo838cdBIyIB1_fnDQhLav1mm42HJ_3YtBwTzmzCgXMtT3JDwGvTBgQbq-frQZwdbfUeho1N4Y/s400/DSCN0406.JPG" border="0" /></a> Love from Dublin!!<br /><br /><div>Home again, home again, jiggety jig. I miss being on holiday already. I miss Europe and the magic of country Ireland, the splendor and excitement of London, and the just feel good - good time of Dublin. But, at the moment, I'm just so damned glad to be home! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After something like 36 hours of travel...we left Dublin by bus at 5:30p on Sunday. Arrived at Shannon airport around 10:30pm...camped out on benches until 5am...then hopped a plane back to Dublin!!! ACK! To catch another plane, 3 hours later to Chicago...then 3 hours after that...finally, back to Denver. B. and I swung for a cab. It was expensive, and worth it. We've been home for two hours now - we're mostly unpacked - have had hot showers, have the SECOND load of laundry going, dinner's cooking on the stove, and there's a fresh bottle of wine opened (after all, holidays not REALLY over until 10am tomorrow!) :)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dublin was wonderful. On Saturday it rained. All day. But I had a terrific "traditional Irish meal" at The Celt, just around the corner from our hostel. Beef and Guiness stew with chips, followed by a Bailey's Bread Pudding. We attempted to catch Oscar Wilde's The Ideal Husband at the Abbey (also just around the corner from our hostel) but it was sold out (not such good luck with the theatre going this trip). As it turned out - we were pretty comatose from the meal anyway so we called it an early night. Which was fine, that being the last good sleep we'd get for the next two days. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then, on Sunday - we did the double decker bus sight seeing tour of Dublin. I know they sound cheesy, and I've always been pretty disdainful of that sort of touristy thing. I've changed my tune now though. Especially if you've just got a day or two - it's such an amazing way to get to see all of the city and to hear just enough bits of the history to make you want to learn more. We did hop off at Kilmainhain Gaol (I'm sure I'm butchering the spelling, I'll look it up later) - a Victorian prison that was in use until 1924. The tour was fascinating, and I started to learn a lot more about the Irish political situation. Did you know that the Irish flag has the most beautiful meaning. The green stands for the Republicans, the Orange for the Royalists, and the white in between signifies peace between the two. I love it! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>At any rate - the tours were great - and since we did the one in London we got cheap tickets for the one in Dublin, AND your ticket is good for 24 hours so you can also use the bus as your public transport a little bit. On both trips our tour guides were great, very informative - with great senses of humour and anecdotal knowledge. In Dublin he even sang Molly Malone for us. :)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also - in Dublin - also, ridiculously cheesy in appearance but an altogether pleasing hostel experience was Paddy's Palace. It's right downtown on the North (I think) side of the River Liffey next to the bus station...very centrally located, cheap, with good amenities, and super friendly people. They absolutely saved us, particularly Daniel. Thanks Daniel! Ailish suggested that we bring hershey's chocolate and give it out, since they can't get it there. We did that and it was much appreciated and met with smiles. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In the next couple of days (weeks?) as B. processes pictures, I'll be posting some of his more artistic shots and probably reflecting more on the highlights...the things that are still percolating. But for the time being, we're home - I'm going to go fold some laundry...and talk to you all soon! Love and Miss you!! Thanks again for reading!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-16888399862184203572008-08-23T16:29:00.003-06:002008-08-23T16:46:09.900-06:00A few more pictues before sleeping the last night in Europe...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS6_VX3ICgDwitpiPK521QFIZIPG72EsUneN_YlZeTRm-hCuicDLvQliqLNJJu43R0YrlaVRdsZp3cDjDMhA3WqX7eETYcHYPhq2YUX4WTiIJBdmm_m5dtx4UdUR-34pdq-Xba5vH6Jw/s1600-h/IMG_8847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237847519321781858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS6_VX3ICgDwitpiPK521QFIZIPG72EsUneN_YlZeTRm-hCuicDLvQliqLNJJu43R0YrlaVRdsZp3cDjDMhA3WqX7eETYcHYPhq2YUX4WTiIJBdmm_m5dtx4UdUR-34pdq-Xba5vH6Jw/s400/IMG_8847.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> The Globe...after disovering they were sold out<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIkKXyYsXs0rh9nlPpup83fVcDcgIVnPvgWxisb6w3sTT0Sud4x6PCrw43BqO-5HKj7XWvi-24FNDHYI1SGEdvhVKRxF_Y6VawonrlDeHl1jOwpeeC0AhI-AYflNuzBR7Y3Q168Wxjbk/s1600-h/DSCN0386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237847525109110338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIkKXyYsXs0rh9nlPpup83fVcDcgIVnPvgWxisb6w3sTT0Sud4x6PCrw43BqO-5HKj7XWvi-24FNDHYI1SGEdvhVKRxF_Y6VawonrlDeHl1jOwpeeC0AhI-AYflNuzBR7Y3Q168Wxjbk/s400/DSCN0386.JPG" border="0" /></a> Brian has lunch with his friend Charlie.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HcVt3T_PaVFlLft-T9OAlj0qA-nH1LGX-tKVGAkUCdUtw5PmXHNd7-OQlg6Cbu1g5KZ6vvLMm2Zo_6kX6rqCS-ySbnb7zkVjrwq9uyYv8rlAt5AghyphenhyphenfLO3pYzVGmqYwPowsBc9akXoc/s1600-h/DSCN0328.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237847526784596914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HcVt3T_PaVFlLft-T9OAlj0qA-nH1LGX-tKVGAkUCdUtw5PmXHNd7-OQlg6Cbu1g5KZ6vvLMm2Zo_6kX6rqCS-ySbnb7zkVjrwq9uyYv8rlAt5AghyphenhyphenfLO3pYzVGmqYwPowsBc9akXoc/s400/DSCN0328.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxcZQeEe87_UIM1UHMJoRiQhBIDi1iHIDSZ5WORmMKXl_8vejlDu0S_o7scamcKf4e-yPzp85nMOtQC-7oMJOQprO0-A7a1bbrgxqHg4-eJJcp5H7WYTGPklc_40LFB7dF37sz6fTcjk/s1600-h/DSCN0376.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237847538226918914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxcZQeEe87_UIM1UHMJoRiQhBIDi1iHIDSZ5WORmMKXl_8vejlDu0S_o7scamcKf4e-yPzp85nMOtQC-7oMJOQprO0-A7a1bbrgxqHg4-eJJcp5H7WYTGPklc_40LFB7dF37sz6fTcjk/s400/DSCN0376.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL98fipGQ6cXrNNgJJM2IxYLI7bGfbLtEFasGl3dL3sOuJyH307h2ZbinDhR_TXStA4xWE_CET8FSs7v87IKMfxtbr34BxK4R21Xoyq9eNiYqF6i385x9Xs7RukC_HQ4CIRw65ZA35DQ/s1600-h/_MG_8830.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237844927456520738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL98fipGQ6cXrNNgJJM2IxYLI7bGfbLtEFasGl3dL3sOuJyH307h2ZbinDhR_TXStA4xWE_CET8FSs7v87IKMfxtbr34BxK4R21Xoyq9eNiYqF6i385x9Xs7RukC_HQ4CIRw65ZA35DQ/s400/_MG_8830.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeW8cVhdpUtnA1N0hRKPgPqSxNZTFmf87hgkQv0lmVDb0vZEW0_tRtU4EOM2zvTsIpVewbpE9UKbv1qaLs1n0DcbohOnQk-Bb9yEBM2zGRXBsFrW4o6fdiGK6jqEaiQ9kDTgzVrK-e4c/s1600-h/IMG_8713.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237844935465966562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeW8cVhdpUtnA1N0hRKPgPqSxNZTFmf87hgkQv0lmVDb0vZEW0_tRtU4EOM2zvTsIpVewbpE9UKbv1qaLs1n0DcbohOnQk-Bb9yEBM2zGRXBsFrW4o6fdiGK6jqEaiQ9kDTgzVrK-e4c/s400/IMG_8713.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> All photos in this blog are by either me or Brian. Most of the good ones...and the </div><div> ones of me (clearly) are by B.loved.<br /></div><div></div>K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-28309983006433616672008-08-23T03:02:00.004-06:002008-08-23T03:15:30.863-06:00Whoops! HERE are some more pictures!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx4PvPKcEiJsJ2Cwj-_rGu7E_VfzaWYdSxRFzyhI04QfDtppSi1i4xTvRdgd69QTso5lX63fBzBroVVeCNXK1WWd0o3b9XzbJgM8xhOKevu_ee6MUPOZKkUIB5fDY42YmmwK1BeAP68A/s1600-h/DSCN0282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237638414435991714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx4PvPKcEiJsJ2Cwj-_rGu7E_VfzaWYdSxRFzyhI04QfDtppSi1i4xTvRdgd69QTso5lX63fBzBroVVeCNXK1WWd0o3b9XzbJgM8xhOKevu_ee6MUPOZKkUIB5fDY42YmmwK1BeAP68A/s400/DSCN0282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0527YDtigkOBY1sk9Gj0qqlUsnvsxp_lXqGdNGWbqiS-i0AmcqIvO-jM3XZ6-4q_I2iCdd0xKost6gbKRpPdtZZHuZ6TNYSJpRFsCZw4buPfvynrLeS3sy6PlYXMunydsZ3-e4dOTWo/s1600-h/DSCN0262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237638426377225138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0527YDtigkOBY1sk9Gj0qqlUsnvsxp_lXqGdNGWbqiS-i0AmcqIvO-jM3XZ6-4q_I2iCdd0xKost6gbKRpPdtZZHuZ6TNYSJpRFsCZw4buPfvynrLeS3sy6PlYXMunydsZ3-e4dOTWo/s400/DSCN0262.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTqWTi0P8W7ygiy-7vj75rXCPYNF1UkOgj75cf_0V85Y-GSd2UmjU0mbem93fWi9A8fUNkU0tz7D47N6kEXn-AAmcdTXFR-2j10Biq6ShJXRUWa1vUDeiXdeAnf2WLVfADpSMaDiDh4A/s1600-h/_MG_5566.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237637362879781442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTqWTi0P8W7ygiy-7vj75rXCPYNF1UkOgj75cf_0V85Y-GSd2UmjU0mbem93fWi9A8fUNkU0tz7D47N6kEXn-AAmcdTXFR-2j10Biq6ShJXRUWa1vUDeiXdeAnf2WLVfADpSMaDiDh4A/s400/_MG_5566.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPPlVOTYcK0ydcpKTaVhuqXHQZADqVf170u1uq1rzB3CVrZkNxju4mePsUdXgD4ykcoBykAdiDdKHYLTKLpaaUmtFsxf-kXEf58tk0O3nGoGUgTlVWGMJvBk9j-U1LEpZfFF8UFKQy5M/s1600-h/IMG_5194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237637370492811122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPPlVOTYcK0ydcpKTaVhuqXHQZADqVf170u1uq1rzB3CVrZkNxju4mePsUdXgD4ykcoBykAdiDdKHYLTKLpaaUmtFsxf-kXEf58tk0O3nGoGUgTlVWGMJvBk9j-U1LEpZfFF8UFKQy5M/s400/IMG_5194.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-37445320551439794022008-08-23T02:46:00.004-06:002008-08-23T03:02:12.624-06:00Some more pictures!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-77147748608196585952008-08-23T02:30:00.002-06:002008-08-23T02:44:05.458-06:00In Dublin fair city -We're in Dublin now, for the last leg of the trip - until tomorrow night when we catch the late night bus to Shannon for our early morning flight back stateside. My, is it fine! <br /><br />So yesterday - we took the Underground in the morning to catch the British rail from Euston Station. Tensions were running high as we were exhausted - physically, emotionally... Four hours on a train through England and Wales later - we'd reached our fancy ferry boat to carry us from Holyhead, Wales back to Dublin, Ireland. We slept a lot. Arrived in Dublin - called Rita's sister Elaine who had to work late - and decided to check in at the hostel which had so comfortably put us up earlier in the week. Paddy's Palace. The name is, of course, tragic - but the people are friendly, the bathrooms are big, the rates are cheap, and the rooms are PRIVATE! We made the decision then that rather than try to lug things around for the rest of the weekend that we'd stay here at the hostel - and suddenly - the weight lifted from all of us. We were so relieved to know that here we were - in the last leg of our trip, no longer having to plan for the next stage, having to lug our bags around to get to the next train...the bus station is around the corner! Perfection! <br /><br />Now, with a new lightness in our hearts, we set off for the Cobblestone - a proper Irish bar with live sessions every night. Wow! Last night, at least ten musicians sat in a circle, playing the fiddle, the flute, the Irish whistle, the guitar, the bagpipes, the accordion...one man sang a ballad about the INA. A stunning night - and dinner from the grocery store across the street where I had yet another samosa! (They're so good!) I missed our good friends Kat and Jo so bad. They introduced me to this music, and they gave me a love for it. <br /><br />Today we'll explore Dublin a little. We'll hopefully get to catch up with Elaine and meet the lovely Rita's sister! And enjoy these last precious moments of our trip. Every time I go away, it reminds me of how much there is to see, how many people there are to meet - I need more time - more time in the places that I've been, more time to explore new places. <br /><br />Still, the time that we have is a blessing. Drink it up! Live it fully. And remember, every step of the way - stay true to yourself, trust the universe, and travel in peace!<br /><br />(I'm feeling a little, overwhelmed? gregarious? ...like something grand needs to be said to commemorate this time)K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-32595584107033110062008-08-21T15:44:00.003-06:002008-08-21T16:00:25.915-06:00Some photos :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg5AMxHnzF2OFlu2uiroMQAkaVDFvVAiiR_mDePhBvTPvMjZsHjuaU465dODu6cVe2FOx4AeG_rqVOJf69dFBRd_AQCBir-bWrv89pDjCZWHTEaTq9j4HqymCVcBR8BB6g0X8kPS-GGQ/s1600-h/IMG_5870.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237094155227005538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg5AMxHnzF2OFlu2uiroMQAkaVDFvVAiiR_mDePhBvTPvMjZsHjuaU465dODu6cVe2FOx4AeG_rqVOJf69dFBRd_AQCBir-bWrv89pDjCZWHTEaTq9j4HqymCVcBR8BB6g0X8kPS-GGQ/s400/IMG_5870.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2wkHkWDSWNu8XLV2Om5t71JknM9GLt2pY37I3hJ7kwuxIQG23H93h8-qLosLU6lrowHPP7Q0XHV-p0NwUhSz1Grzy4ihFOjqZCo0Yo8iz5sgamO_HrsDnVBAHBiisf0vxstywzd6Yls/s1600-h/_MG_5485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237094174388317650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2wkHkWDSWNu8XLV2Om5t71JknM9GLt2pY37I3hJ7kwuxIQG23H93h8-qLosLU6lrowHPP7Q0XHV-p0NwUhSz1Grzy4ihFOjqZCo0Yo8iz5sgamO_HrsDnVBAHBiisf0vxstywzd6Yls/s400/_MG_5485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaOS8A9TRQZil9sE8zB6eUTwLcnY9YKgDbTwfYzWbcFyGlwF5XXveGOwk4V1r_v7nj8lsiY1BG_Y09e6a5IZzPJw-8DW8Qmr5n1o79vabHYyBBjIqMn7A_hh0pbHnNJSBzn_wYYjtbDw/s1600-h/_MG_5492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237094185061330706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaOS8A9TRQZil9sE8zB6eUTwLcnY9YKgDbTwfYzWbcFyGlwF5XXveGOwk4V1r_v7nj8lsiY1BG_Y09e6a5IZzPJw-8DW8Qmr5n1o79vabHYyBBjIqMn7A_hh0pbHnNJSBzn_wYYjtbDw/s400/_MG_5492.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30e3A8GRtG413p1UKV8yDDKLiF1cOjP0GSR6RcQ24lLwL37SXd-Uic3HwDzv0gFsjLrnp9ZxJhvvDPxBYuX489P-s1Fg4Mylr3iQVIbjzsnBEUTl8Z6goFV3vg04ebtbwJAIuCu8lVbA/s1600-h/IMG_5273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237094187945764482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30e3A8GRtG413p1UKV8yDDKLiF1cOjP0GSR6RcQ24lLwL37SXd-Uic3HwDzv0gFsjLrnp9ZxJhvvDPxBYuX489P-s1Fg4Mylr3iQVIbjzsnBEUTl8Z6goFV3vg04ebtbwJAIuCu8lVbA/s400/IMG_5273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO5REyuaP9-dfIyXoKfu3x_bIiEXEnD76HEoG0go4X53lmbb8kA7CP4dUilTYTMQxBqfKUVpc5B0QkAUjtIXLwxvPocpbXZfPnzJRKDykuuCiTuExiU_GClT1fXsOF2gzPq48DCmy8IM/s1600-h/IMG_6331.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237091590987642642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO5REyuaP9-dfIyXoKfu3x_bIiEXEnD76HEoG0go4X53lmbb8kA7CP4dUilTYTMQxBqfKUVpc5B0QkAUjtIXLwxvPocpbXZfPnzJRKDykuuCiTuExiU_GClT1fXsOF2gzPq48DCmy8IM/s400/IMG_6331.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee_td2WfqYcg35cBw8BwoLkkn-e1QL66-6U_f8KW8LXPEg5sks_VyYj4pKSEOVD81YYd3EcSb5ivOUdbbQAx8hq8VjgeSL4mwjcYBtUI3z9WN3S7urSCD0KHZwUHsluqf42zDD9oKQcg/s1600-h/IMG_6257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237091602997689714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee_td2WfqYcg35cBw8BwoLkkn-e1QL66-6U_f8KW8LXPEg5sks_VyYj4pKSEOVD81YYd3EcSb5ivOUdbbQAx8hq8VjgeSL4mwjcYBtUI3z9WN3S7urSCD0KHZwUHsluqf42zDD9oKQcg/s400/IMG_6257.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561955675340586138.post-35353922385133562612008-08-21T15:25:00.003-06:002008-08-21T15:43:57.761-06:00England Day 3...Three days in England now...one traveling mostly...and two seeing everything it was possible to see in London in two days. We didn't catch the Globe show tonight...it was sold out. Par for the course for this trip, but as it turns out - everything that's gone wrong has turned out to be perfectly right. What a lesson there is in that.<br /><br />The wine we drank at dinner last night was called "Outra Vida" - meaning "the other life" and it refers to the life that we make for ourselves outside of the toil and turmoil of everyday things...the life of relaxation and enjoying every moment. It was good too :)<br /><br />Today we saw the changing of the guard. Pretty magnificent, all that pomp and circumstance. And the guard band during the changing played Goldfinger. The lovely English lady with her son who's just recently turned "proper teenager" told the boys that the band was "getting jiggy with it." Her proper teenaged son seemed mortified.<br /><br />Then on to a second lunch at the Spar convenience store. The best lamb simosas I've ever imagined...and a hike to Covent gardens where I bought some handmade wooden flowers. Eliza Doolittle never had it so good!<br /><br />We wandered a lot today - not necessarily 'accomplishing' so much, but lots of exploration and delightful finds. We RAN down southbank for about 30 minutes to catch the Globe production of Midsummer, but alas, it was sold out. I stood in queque for about 20 minutes to see about returns, but the 3 fellows from Cali standing in front of me got the last 3 groundling tickets. Bummer. Ah well, got a poster at the gift shop, and a flake (the best ice cream cone EVER) at the gates, and c'est la vie. We walked back down Southbank, enjoying the MANy sights this time and back to the hostel where there's a rousing barbeque going on.<br /><br />New friends Jill (from Virginia) and Liz (from Australia) were hanging out, so we shared some wine and an Australian sing a along with them. Jill is a grad student in Russian at UVA who's traveling now after spending 3 months in Moscow and St. Petersburg and Jill is a writer from Australia who's traveling, probably chasing love, but she's getting over it...and writing a book on spirituality and women and who we are after we rid ourselves of the constraints of social, familial, cultural, etc. influences. Both fascinating women and it's been a pleasure to share a little chatter with them. <br /><br />Tomorrow we leave the hostel at 7am... to catch our rail and sail (train then ferry) back to Dublin to explore and stay with Rita's sister, Elaine. After two beautiful days in England, I'm almost a little hesitant to return to the rain of Ireland (all my luggage is by now a little damp). Then I remember that it's Ireland...and exquisite...and my soul sings. <br /><br />Only three more days really, until our return, and I kind of can't believe it. In some ways I'm anxious to get home...to the ease and the comfort of familiarity...and you own bathroom :) But I could stay here so much longer. And meeting folks at the hostel - so many people from so many places, who travel all over the world. I need to go to Spain and Australia...to explore Wales, and go to Scotland. In our room (8 beds), we have three Indonesia guys who are doing an internship in Germany and traveling sporatically during...one girl from Australia who's just been at summer camp in Boston and is now spending the next 3 months traveling Europe before returning home...and last night a wonderful IT girl from Wales who got conversations going about immigration laws and cultural perceptions. <br /><br />Don't know if I'll get to blog much more...thanks for reading. But I promise many pictures to ensue in the coming weeks as we get home and get situated! Although...we're off and running as soon as we return. B. got cast in a film (he's the villian and gets to shave his head!) that begins filming four days after our return. The Isle of Capri - in appreciation of my new membership, has offered us a free room...AND...my dearest princess Aly is getting married in a few short weeks. The adventure continues. Talk to you soon!K8!http://www.blogger.com/profile/01147553879891585163noreply@blogger.com0