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My name is Leslie Treece, and I am an addict.
Phew, there it is. I admit it. That feels good. Nick has know about it, my family and friends have known about it. They have accepted me, but always give me odd looks as if I am the outcast due to my addiction.
My drug of choice:
5-toed socks. I can’t sleep without them on my feet. I hate it when my toes touch each other. it grosses me out. On any overnight trips or vacations, my 5-toed socks come with me in the same way a tooth brush would come with me. I brought them on my honeymoon…no…I didnt not wear them EVERYwhere.
But…I am riding the train now (isnt that what you say?) I am kicking that habit.
I have thrown my version of the cigarette was thrown in the trash two weeks ago. That is right…I havent worn my heroin in 2 weeks.
So, I think I am one my way to giving them up. In fact, I am not bringing any with me to Australia.
So, root me on…I need to make sure I have a support group ready when I want to jump off the train.
So I made a blog for Nick and I that will focus only on our new adventure.
Happy Travels!
This is the goodbye present I gave to my co-workers.
I first heard “Bye bye Ms. American Pie” the Christmas of my 9th grade year. My parents were hanging up decorations and I just blasting that song so loud. I remember my parents not caring and just enjoying it. It was then and will continue to be one the greatest songs ever written without a doubt.
I have at friend at work. His name is Terry, he is in his 60’s or 70’s and tells me this incredible stories of his life. His looks like my grandpa, acts like my grandpa, and since my grandpa passed away last year, his friendship has softened the blow. Well he sent me this email that everyone should see. Music is one of the centers of my life and my greatest moments in life have been surronded my music…maybe in my head but that works for me. I am so glad that Terry was able to fill my life with images of great music.
Here it is
So, I am in love.
Obama, will you be my BFF?
Ya know, I wanted Kerry to win the last race because I hated Bush soo much, but truth be told, I don’t know how much I liked him.
This is different. I am obsessed. I mean I have dreams about Obama and I as best friends, and secretly since I follow him so much on the T.V….I sometimes think we are. And I have dreams about holding hands and skipping and riding roller coasters together and laughing about how fun it was.
(Sidenote: I used to always dream of having a date at an amusement park, but really that could possibly be one of the worst dates in history. Usually it is hot, you are sticky, kids are loud, you feel nauseous from the last ride, and you have to wait outside the line for your date because you were to scared to ride a ride…(this didnt happen to me for sure…) but then you feel totally humiliated and like a wimp, and think, woah this guy will totally not like me and think that he cant date a girl who cant ride a roller coaster because he really wants a skydiving partner one day, and then if she cant handle a roller coaster then how will she deal with crazy things that happen in life? This totally didnt happen to me and nick…nooo….all I have to say is that I rode the Superman okay???? That is one scary ride and I love that about it…but man…do not ask me to ride a ride that throws you straight now, upside down, none the less, and then twirls you. Oh and it constantly breaks…nope. I could probably handle the twirls, but I am not going to ride a ride that breaks a lot because I do not want to fall upside down into the concrete. Call me crazy. Yeah you only live once, but if I die like that I would be upset.)
Anywho…Obama…I just went onto his website donated 25 dollars which was matched and I bought a really cool T-shirt. I am also going to a women’s meeting on the 22nd for supporters of Obama.
So if you like him…PLEASE PLEASE…do not just like him. Donate money online..buy a cool shirt that gets you something and gives to the campaign. Sign up to be apart of groups in your area that campaign for Obama. This election is so important…the most important one in my lifetime and we have to get involved if we want to bring about change.
Here are two events going on in the area…one is tonight…for people supporting Obama. If you would like to go with me, feel free to reply and we can go support our BFF!
Tuesday, January 8 at 7:00 PM
BIRMINGHAM OBAMA HEADQUARTERS (BIRMINGHAM, AL)
1813 4TH AVE. NORTH
SUITE 6
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203
205-937-8047
(this one is to watch what is going on in New Hampshire)
Jan 22, 2008
Women for Obama House Party
Sean & Tiffany’s house
4350 Ashwood Cove
Birmingham, AL 35216
This is one of the best things I have ever seen.
This is one of the greatest things I have ever witnessed.
I feel the time in which I was born made me miss a ton of awesome music, a ton of great history and marches of people so passionate, and not to mention some of the best speeches ever made…speeches that history will repeat.
But if felt redeemed last night and I got flashbacks to all the great quotes and times that defined history and I saw that last night…and it felt awesome.
Plus, I have loved this man for about 3 years and just always felt that there was something great about him.
So, please, watch great history because there it was and I want a bumper sticker.
.
So, we squeezed in a ton over this break.
Beach with Nick’s family
Visiting both sets of my grandparents
Buying a portable tent at Bass Pro Shops and a North Face Jacket for Nick…60 dollars cheaper I may add
Preggers pictures
We received some great gifts this year and we hope everyone liked our gifts to them.
Oh, and my company Christmas party this year was out of this world. I cannot even put into words how awesome this party was. I would tell some stories, but for the sake of other dignities, they are going in the safe.
.
I have two items up for sale and you should hurry because both are going for a good price.
Pictures to come.
First, I am selling my really nice Nikon lens:
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
It has been used about 4 times and is in perfect condition. It is going for 750.00.
Second, I am selling my car:
2000 Ford Zx2, 98,000 miles, in great condition = 4,000.00
Please reply if you have any questions and I will post pictures soon.
Man, I dont want to say when it rains it pours, I am in need of a pee-pee-tee-pee (I had to throw that in there Nick).
Now, I am one that never wants for people to see me upset in the crying sense. I care less if people see me pissed because I think it really scares people and they tend to leave me alone, but again, I want to always be a fun person who makes people happy.
But, guys, if you are unhappy this week I really am inclined to tell you to man up and deal with it because I am all out of smiles.
I feel like eating the world and then “pooping her all over the table” ~Drop Dead Fred
But, crazy enough, tomorrow there is no place I would rather be than work.
We have our company Christmas party tomorrow night and they are always the highlight of my year. It is all my co-workers and a DJ from MOFOYO Money Productions.
It is the talk of the year. Nick usually gets ganged up and forced to dance with Janette who makes him grab and slap her rear…ya know that riding and slapping giddy-up move, and there is no way I would EVER break this up. It is so priceless. Last year he gave me this look in between slaps, the rescue me look, but again, there was no way I was breaking that up.
So, I have been in complete Grinch mood but I think tomorrow I will LOVE Chrismas for a few hours.
So, Coach Saben and I just talked for 2 hours where he told me that he thinks I am really cool and wants me to help him motivate his players and make them feel in better spirits. He told me my personality would be a good thing for his team.
And by talked I might have stretched it just a little…but only a little.
Really I just gave his assistant three Styrofoam cups so that Coach could spit his dip into.
And I was okay with that…until I wasn’t okay and seized the daaaaieeyeah pray…
So I got my wits about me…ran around the office trying to get my nerves in order, talked to everyone and tried to see if they think I should go and talk to him, and talked to Styrofoam holding assistant.
Pause for a bit of background:
My granddad, my dad, and myself all graduated from Alabama. My parents have had season passes for 2 years and they never miss a game. When we watch a game together…watch out…my mom is screaming at the T.V….. my dad and I are passing and my brother is saying language that I can’t write on here. If anything about football comes up my dad will relay the stats about Bear Bryant “the winningest coach in college football history” and about how during his college stay they always went to games knowing they would win.
So…this was my motivation and I looked at the door of the room I knew he was in. I started stopped and started one last time and with my hand outstretched and a remembering wise advise from my dad, “A good handshake is so important and it tells so much about a person. This is your first impression, it has to be good.”
So, with hand outstretched and a thought, “this is for you mom and dad” I went up the and following was said:
Hi Coach (firm handshake and eye contact…check)
Me: I am a third generation graduate of the University of Alabama
Saben: Wow mmmmhumm mmhum
Me: And my parents have been to a ton games.
Saben: Oh great
Me: And we are just really excited about you!
Saben: Oh great..thanks
Me: I was great to meet you
Saben: Good to meet you to.
Then I ran away into my back office, shaking, and I called my friend John on the radio and told him to get in here fast.
He ran in thinking something was wrong but all he saw was me shaking and beaming.
It has been a good day.
So, I wrote that I did okay during the interview with Zach Lind.
When I said that I mean that I woke up last night, in a nightmarish mode saying….”Oh…my…God…”
Now, I totally agree that I am overly critical of myself but in telling my over dramatized version of the story to my mom here is what she said:
Mom: Oh my gosh Leslie you are usually good at these kind of things, but this sounds like a Saturday Night Live Skit…(and then laughed uncontrollably for about 2 minutes…)
A recap of some things I said:
“So, your playing a show soon….oh my gosh are you nervous?”
“I just want to say that I am a big fan and you guys have gotten my through so many solo road trips”
“I freaking love how you guys don’t try to classify yourselves as emo just you just r..r..rock and its simple and AWESOME”
“Ummm…yeah…uhmmm…that’s frustrating………….SO (high pitch voice) tell me about your family?
And the best one of all….
“Good stuff…good stuff” (in the most Larry David way you could possibly get)
Here is why this stuff is hilarious…because I was professional-like and serious…two things that I really don’t pull off well.
I only wear my professional hat at work and when I say professional hat I mean I burst out into song every few minutes, I do karate kicks in the hallway when no one is watching and I dance to the beat of the copy machine.
But, ya know, I love to tell stories and find so much joy in making people laugh and this is one story that has been working pretty well. So my only thought is, Nick, who is next?
So, I just half interviewed Zach Lind, drummer of Jimmy Eat World.
Here is the secret…I seriously almost peed my pants (not cool in this situation Sandler, I’m 25). Every phone call that Nick got on his cell phone sent me running for my notes which I may add I prepared THREE revised notes on this interview before. I even forgot my notes at work which I had emailed to Nick for review and had to have Nick mail them to my home email. I guess it took writing this down to realize that I am retarded. Once he did call, I did take a bathroom break for good measure (if you listen close you might hear this in the background).
Now, I don’t think Zach knew this, but he also really didn’t know that this is the one band that has always been good to me. That I introduced Nick to this band and we have had many a road trip rocking to Jimmy Eat World. That I did a blog about how Jimmy Eat World is awesome.
Zach also didn’t know that a guy I dated named Auggie introduced me to them my freshman year right before I got mono at FSU, before he became retarded, whiny, and turned out to be dating his girlfriend the whole time we were dating. I found this out when I was dropping by to visit him, so I had a few glasses of wine and made fun of him at a party. I was very mature at the time. I bet Auggie is still trying to get his band going with a cracked-out girlfriend while I just interviewed his idol.
So Zach didn’t know this stuff and he could not have been nicer to us. I came off as professional Leslie not fun Leslie and I didn’t get to make my jokes that I planned in my head (Brian, get ready, get me up on stage and my stand-up will kick your stand-ups hiney), but all in all…it was a good experience.
I invited him over to birmingham, I mean b-b-b-miingham. Maybe they will play a ss–shhh=show here sometime.
P.S. After some thought, I think I need to have a part deux to this post…just chew on this for a day or two
So, I have incredibly vivid dreams, and I believe all of them happened for the first half of the day. I have to remind myself that nick isn’t in the war, I was not killed, that I didn’t jump off a cliff.
I also have dreams that are psychic…I think I might have The ESP.
Last night I was watching a really stupid TV. Show documentary showing people’s first night in jail. This guy looked like a skinhead, was really buff and scary, and came in super drunk and crazy. They asked him to take a breathalyzer and whichever police officer asked him he would respond with devil eyes and say, “I’m NOT TALKING TO YOU FOO! LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE. DONT TOUCH ME BRO. WE ARE NOT FRIENDS.” That kind of thing.
Then they put him in a cell where he pretty much knocked himself out from banging on the wall. So they had to put him in a restraint chair and he made crazy scary faces.
So I had a dream about 5 months ago that I was that guy! I mean everything he did. In fact, I knew what he was going to do!
So, I guess in my dreams I become a skinhead drunk crazy man who is on steroids, doesn’t like to breathe on things, and has a concussion.
But the dream I had last night was so much different that this one and it was awesome.
So I also watched Survivor last night where people think it is cool to starve people while they watch them perform circus acts and hold food and money over their heads. And I like this show. I can’t feel to bad for them because they did it to themselves. Apparently they like 1,000,000 dollars more than food and so I raise my peanut butter and jelly sandwich up in the air and cheers to that.
Anywho, after watching these 85-pound human beings I feel asleep to dream my Sylvia Brown dreams. Instead I had a dream that I went a fitness camp that turned out to be a camp where fitness means starving. After getting released from this place I ran home to show my mom. When I finally looked in the mirror I saw a 70-pound weakling, with protruding cheekbones, no butt, no thighs, no boobs, no nothing, just skeleton and I was appalled. I looked so horrible.
Here is where the good part comes in ladies…. you know what I’m talking about…
I always have something negative to say about my body…one word…female. Guys find their confidence in being providers and being successful…. we find it in great abs and tight inner thighs.
But this morning was different. I got in the shower butt naked as any person stood and I loved every inch of me. I liked how I had boobs and a plump booty and a little jiggle here and there. I loved how I had a somethin’-somethin’ to shake around.
So today I see myself as the sh** and my body is bangin’.
I have been thinking a ton lately about something my friend Brian Murphy said.
We have been invited to eat over at the Murphy’s a couple of times and each time is more and more fun. For some reason Nick and I don’t have a lot of people over to our apartment because it doesn’t feel like the right space for entertaining, but their space is perfect and they are the perfect hosts.
So, we always get into some kind of deep spiritual talks about growing up and our thoughts about Christianity. One thing Brian has said to us a couple of times is, “I think you guys have been burned by the church.” Each time this has send my little mind running. I was thinking, “Am I angry at the church. Has the church really burned me? What is the cause of my current thought process?”
Here are some of my thoughts:
My current stance was there before I got involved in a church and is present now. So, that makes me feel that the church is not where my lack of belief in Christianity comes from. I think that my negative feelings towards Sugar Hill United Methodist Church are due to the wrongdoings at Sugar Hill United Methodist church and their lack of quality leadership. Not to mention the mistreatment of employees and their focus on money and not people. So, yes, I am angry at that particular church or other churches that seem to follow that structure, but really I am not angry at church as a whole. I think it is a great place for people to be apart of a community that links them to a community. I still want to belong to an Episcopalian Church because the idea of history and tradition are enjoyable to me.
I think I do have some anger though and I have found out where it stems from:
People.
I am upset at the way people have twisted and turned the bible to mean some thing that is does not. I am upset at the way people have made a Jesus or a God according to their interpretations that conveniently fit for them. I am upset at Jesus and God have become an escape and solution for death, isolation, tragedy, helplessness, and the idea of loneliness.
I am kind of upset that I was taught to believe in a God and a Jesus that would answer any prayer I wanted and would listen to what I wanted. That was basically like superhuman who could listen to billions of prayers all at once, free us from this life, help us when all we fell is doom, heal, and be reborn just so that our sins are wiped clean just so that we can sin again.
I am also upset to find that really, this God that was explained to me is not present in my life. Now I am not upset this it is not present in my life, more upset that people made me believe that it was.
Gosh, I feel like this reads harsh and very pessimistic-like and I would be lying if I said that I have been like that at times about this topic, and maybe a tinge of anger will always be with me, but I don’t really feel like that right now.
I feel like my life is that much more precious because all I have is now. I feel like I can rest in the fact that my life is what I make it to be, and it is going to be one crazy wild ride, and I have control over that. That hard work really gets you somewhere and responsibility will make or break you. That our minds are what heals us along with medicine, and really positive thinking and the belief in the body, breath, and the power of the brain will change your life.
So I will conclude with a quote that is so right on for me.
True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.
Most days I am brought back to moments where I totally embarrassed myself. I guess I have had so many I am able to think about new ones everyday. But the good thing is that I put myself in crazy situations without fear because there is nothing I haven’t already turned red in the face about.
But, this morning I think I pinpointed my first really big embarrassing moment.
(When I say “big” I mean let’s forget the times when you were little and lost in a store and you ran up and hugged the wrong persons leg, just to look up and be completely mortified. I had a ton of those that left me crying from embarrassment)
But my first original embarrassing moment came when I was about 9 or 10 years old.
I have always loved the sound of a guitar (to me a good Taylor sounds like bells) and I wanted so bad to play guitar so I had my mom get me started in guitar lessons. They bought me this beautiful guitar…I think we bought it at a thrift store for about 15 bucks, but I loved it so much. It was a dark red the faded to a orange color in the center. I was a petite guitar and fit my fragile pre-boobless and buttless frame completely.
And I loved it. My guitar teacher was good too, but I don’t think I liked him because he kept telling me that I won’t get any better unless I practice. He also told me I could not have long nails if I want to play. So this made me sad I guess, and I think about this every time I bite my fingers nails to the bone.
Oh, and my guitar case was just as heavy as I was and I used to lug this thing around with anger. I think this is why I stopped playing…I felt that the case was stunting my growth.
Forward to pre and post most embarrassing moment.
So…if you play an instrument, people automatically feel that you should play a solo concert…bad idea. Really bad idea.
I had two songs.
One was Flur De Luis (or however you spell that) and the other one was about Danny Boy.
I am going to spare myself some of the memories, but I froze up. My fingers would not play what my heart and ego wanted them to play. I hit all the wrong notes to the point were I squinted and squirmed at every one…right along with the parents in the audience who were thanking God that their kid was not as bad as I was.
What happened next was like the moment when Forest wants to save Jenny from all guys hitting on her while she was” Just playing here”
Well, take out the nude guitar playing, the 20 something Jenny, the jerks, Forrest, and the bar.
Keep the blonde hair, the guitar, and the girl running off the stage.
I ran through the center isle and into the girl’s bathroom where I cried.
Now, I love playing my guitar and singing…it might be the best feeling ever. I can only really say for me that it just feels good to play. But, even today, even in front of my husband, I shrivel up and want to die.
And that is where it all began…where the years of embarrassment started and learning how to say…oh…what the hell…
Josh Brown put up a post this week discussing some ideas from Brian McLaren’s new book, Everything Must Change. I copied my responses here below because I realized that I would like to share my views on my blog. Below are my respones
I think we give God and evil too much credit.
If it stopped raining just when you wanted…that just had to be God and he did it just for you…. couldn’t it just be that it stopped raining for a second. Or when someone goes in to remission from cancer, couldn’t it just have been the chemo?
And as far as evil, I don’t think it is evil as much as it is choice. “God” may be just another word for free will, and then evil is just really a bad or really really really bad decision(s).
As humas we have the capacity to make huge choices, these can be good, these can be bad, but maybe that is all it is…and God and Evil have nothing to do with it.
Later Josh touched on a quote from Brian McClaren’s new book, Everything Must Change.
Here is a quote:
Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: What must be done about the mess we’re in?”
I don’t think that humans are in desperate trouble. I mean I think there are some really sad things going on, and things that are happening in the world sadden me, but I also see a ton of good in people who are working to change the world for the sake of humanity and what is good.
I don’t think we have to be so pessimistic about it. There are so many great things going on that are making the world better. There are tons of people saying that doing good for other countries, for instance, the US setting up clean wells in Africa, could stop wars. These are ideas created by humans…the “good” can combat “evil”. The past two posts snippets have shown that people still live with the idea that because we are human, we are forever flawed. That we are covered with sin and are unholy and unworthy. I don’t think there could be anything worse for the human race than to think that we are broken and flawed. Pessimism can promote laziness, the idea that, well, I am not good enough to do anything right, so I just wont. This kind of depression-like state destroys people.
So, if people do think that there is such a mess, maybe we need to go back to where it started, and it might just be that is started with an a feeling of worthlessness which created anger and hate, which created a “mess.”
I went on to say that I did not think that most people are doing good because of a higher framework or being.
I am just going to use myself as an example. Before I ever knew what Jesus did, when I was very little (this is NOT to toot my horn, but I can’t really speak for other people) I used to get so upset at night about babies being hungry and I wrote President Bush a letter saying that dolphins are being caught in nets and dying (I got a little picture with this signature on it and my dad thought that was cool). Now I have incredible parents, but they never said or even thought, well Jesus or God cares about babies and dolphins so you should too. And I didn’t feel or care about these things at all because of Jesus, I just think that people are born pretty good people. I think crazy families can present challenges for people growing up. I think there have been some amazing people that do amazing things and it has nothing at all to do with Jesus but everything to do with the goodness of humanity.
And yes I agree that some great people are centered on a non-violent, servant example, and the story, and what I want to emphasize the word story, of Jesus showed that, and that is good, but I don’t think it has to be because of Jesus. I think before Jesus there were some awesome MLK’s.
Now, I think Jesus can help people to be accountable…like in the car when you want to cut someone off you think WWJD, but I don’t think you have to have that to be good.
So, there are some current bands that I love:
(so a couple of these might not be considered bands, but I saw them when they played with a band…so there)
Ben Folds
Iron & Wine
Sufjan
Death Cab
But when it comes down to it…there is one band that I probably love more than all of these…tomorrow I might change my mind…but here is what I think today….
JIMMY EAT WORLD.
I don’t know if that is cool, hip-happening, kosher, or if that makes me totally unrespected in the music world, but this band is so far beyond awesome.
Every single album they release is awesome and I can listen to the whole album all the way through and feel satisfied.
I automatically go in to air guitar mode and rock my car like Zepplin rocked What is and What Should Never Be.
And I usually can harmonize the hell out of their albums which I cant do so well with other artists. I mean I can really mess up some harmonies to the point where I really humiliate myself, and this is when I am by myself singing in my car.
So, there is that. Please comment on what is your favorite current band, or at least today what it is.
Truth is I think all of WordPress layouts suck.
If any one wants to make me a banner or something cool, please do.
I think Josh Brown owes me one….AHhhhemmm…but, if anyone else wants to spice up my blog, have a go at it.
Now see below for weekend fun.
Nick and I went to the Zoo.
I took pregger photos for Jen and Scott.
I met Abby, Clint and Amanda daughter during our awesome hang out session.
Maybe my favorite new drama:
“They called her names?
They called her NAMES??!!!
Who are they??? They don’t even have THE RIGHT TO HAVE NAMES!!!
I’m taking away their names… I AM KNOCKING THEIR NAMES OFF THEIR FACES!
I WILL OWN THOSE NAMES… THOSe NAMES WILL BE MINE!”
Later….
Frat Dude: Are you the police?
Guy beating him up: I AM THE POLICE OF YOUR SOOUL AND YOUR UNDER ARREST!
The best song of all time…no doubt about this one.
This was on the radio this morning and I rocked out to the best song ever created, by far.
New Quote:
“You need to take that down like Christmas decorations on Janurary 10.”
So apparently the presidential candidate that sold the most Halloween masks has won since 1980. I am trying to figure out which one sold the most this year. Has anyone found that information?
So, can I get some suggestions on what everyone thinks I should be called as an Aunt?
I think right now I might be leaning towards Tia.
So…sidenote…I never used to be really fond of kids. I never had small kids around me…but now I am obsessed! Totally obsessed! When Nick asks me what I want to do sometimes I say, “I mean I just have to either find a dog or a kid to play with now!” May I also say, that I am usually a favorite amoung most kids.
So, none of my own for a little bit, but, if you want me to play with yours…I am all about it.
Man I have some awesome friends!
This weekend I went back home to take wedding pictures for one of my bestest buddies, Jessica (now) Jones.
I will post a few of these soon.
I got to see of my bestest buddies from high school. We laughed about all the crazy things we did. I have for sure the funniest friends. I am completly around the most hilarious people at any given moment of every day. I had a few of those close call-race to the bathroom- so you don’t pee your pants episodes
Here are some highlights:
Carrie turing a Bright Eyes song into a song about how cool good parking places are
Bridget…man…Bridget is just awesome…and a trooper I might add.
$220.00 upchuck
Al Queda Bear, Ghetto Bear, Fairy Bear
Three sexy gold-diggers
Rick, Rex’s personally driver
Someone apparently tee-teed on the grounds of a private chrisitan high school…for 5 minutes
Putting our pocketbooks on the floor to just…DANCE…DANCE…DANCE!
Sneeking back into our parents houses at 3:00am
No one but them will get this post…but thanks guys for giving me one more night that I can tell to my children…when they are 21.
My mom sent me this in an email.
A message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the w ay to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
George Carlin
Wednesday was an interesting day.
Nick and I had breakfast together. He then waited for me to take him to the airport.
People have been asking us a ton of questions like “So, why are you going to the Bahamas alone? Are you and your wife okay?”
Well, yeah this looks odd but it only gets odder.
Let’s just say it, I gave Nick some huge hickies, I mean vampire hickies. I mean he is going away ya know, alone time is called for.
So, he walked into my office greeted with a “Woah, boah, you got some huge there hickies on your neck!” That was Billy. He is out self-proclaimed cowboy and apparently very open.
So, as if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he is about to go to a conference, alone, at the Bahamas, with the likes of N.T. Wright, with three HUGE hickies on this neck. All I can think of is their thoughts, “Look likes he found a girlfriend on the island” I just know Brennan Manning is going to tell him about the importance of marriage. I told him just to being his talks with…”How many of you are married out here? And how many have had hickies?” And move on from there.
My day got weirder when after I stopped for gas at a conveyance store. I wish I had my camera because on the exit of the store, were about…hmmm…20 black and white still photographs of people that had stolen things from the store. They were titled, “Wanted!” A sad sad version of your old Dead or Alive Posters.
Then on to post office. My cashier was great. He was funny but threw in the weather talk. You know that topic when you have no idea what else to say. Its basically like saying, “How bout them braves”
He did say that the weather made him “Gloomy”
I haven’t heard that word forever and it made me…happy? I was bouncing out there saying gloomy in different tones and pitches.
How did gloomy ever become bad? It sounds like a fun kids toy. Like a gummy worm and glue that kids always try to eat. It sounds green gooey like if you closed your hands together with gloomy on, that it would be hard to pull around and just stretch and pull.
So, I decided that I am going to say gloomy in a happy voice and see what happens. Maybe I can turn this word around for the better.
Wednesday was my first night without Nick.
At first I got home, threw my clothes around the house, watched whatever channel I wanted, talked to myself (just aloud, not to my invisible friend), took a 30 minute shower and only ate cereal…basically I am a guy. Things going good for about and hour. Then I realized that the Daily Show is no fun without him. And that I cannot make fun of things by myself very well. And it is cold in the house and snuggling would be nice. And that sleeping alone will suck. This weekend I will forget my vitamins and forget to take out the trash, and what will I do if my alarm doesn’t go off? Oh, and I basically cannot go anywhere because I will never be able to find my keys.
So, I he is having fun basking in the hot sun while I am huddled in my cold house, malnourish and lacking iron, suffering from lack of sleep laughing at all the wrong times while watching The Daily Show.
I have been lacking in my posts. Nick and I have been busy and when I am at home I just want to watch one of the following:
Heros
Samantha Who?
Curb
The Office
My phone is the enemy when I am home until it goes dead if you talk on it for 5 minutes. It is still the enemy but is the worst plan maker.
But things have been happening in leaps and bounds, and uteruses.
First and most exciting.
A new addition: Anna Catherine Larimore
She was produced from the egg and sperm of two wonderful people below, Jen and Scott Larimore, my sister in law and her husband. They like dogs, their family, and apparently “alone” time, if you know what I mean. Scott also doesn’t like y’s.
Here is the cutest baby ever in the making (this is an oldie and I think if Anna Catherine knew I was using and old picture she would put her hand on her hip and say, UMMM Aunt Leslie I am a big girl now. Then she would try to hold up nineteen fingers, for her age in weeks, which would be impossible, but I think she would still try)
I have been thinking of what I want to be called. Since I always try something new, I want her to have a special name for me.
Nick wants to be Uncle Awesome so I thought I would be Aunt Imwith.
Get it….I’m with awesome?
It could be an awesome t-shirt.
But somehow the word “aunt” sounds too nasaly for me. I mean say it…right now…doesn’t it sound like a nagging wife sound?
So if Jen and Scott are okay with it, maybe I will just go by Leslie. My dad calls me Sissy and I have always liked that. (this is not an Alabama inbred thing. He would always say to me brother…”go get sissy” and then that just stuck with him. He also calls me Lell-lee and Woam.) My dad is awesome.
I like Lellie and Sissy. I think it would be cute to hear a little girl voice say it.
I was also going to write other stuff that has been happening, but ya know, this is probably the best and biggest news. I am so excited I could cry and I have.
Thinking of being an aunt and seeing a beautiful little girl grow and discover and find her place is the most amazing thing to me.
One day we will have little ones of our own and all I can think of is the friendship they will have. And playing together while we watch on. How freaking awesome is that!
I have found my new favorite blog. It is about theology, science and global warming.
Just kidding.
It is about tummy time, spitting noises, dress up, and family…
Zoe pretty much takes the best baby pictures ever and is so fun to watch.
Here are my favorite samples.
Awesome huh?
On October 17, The ONE campaign is having a Global Day of Action Against Poverty, the U2Charist: Stand Up Against Poverty
Last year 23,542,614 people participated in 11,646 events around the world…and this year they want to beat that.
So really it is a time to show your support for the fight against poverty and learn about all the organizations that are talking about this issue.
They will be collecting donations that benefit Nothing but Nets, an organization that provides lifesaving bed nets to prevent the transmission of malaria.
Warning: It sounds like the Birmingham one is more like a church service so if you are not into that, just donate.
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church
1400 Oxmoor Road
Birmingham, AL 35205
When: Oct 17
What Time 7-8 pm
You have to RSVP online, www.one.org.
I think I am always desperatly looking for my one change to affect change in the most positive way.
But, I wonder if I knew that I would be killed over it, tortured over it, would I still do it?
That sends needle pokes up my body.
I have been trying to really let people into my life and what and I don’t think I have talked about my habits
1. I bite my nails, but leave me alone, I am working on it.
2. I wear five toes socks to sleep.
Yes, I wear five toes socks to sleep. I wont say who, but a very close family member had fungus toes and it grossed me out. So, I began to detest the feeling of my toes touching and I couldn’t sleep. So, the solution: Five toed socks. Those are also good presents..wink wink…
Oh, and this has branched off into something else. I do not like the feeling of my forearms touching my upper arm when I bend at the elbow. I hate the feeling of my skin touching when I bend my knees back, and I hate the feeling of my thighs touching.
3. And this one is the best. I am not very good at sitting still. I really enjoy being fidgety. It is fun. So I am always either tapping my leg, biting my nails, twirling my ringlets around my finger or the best one…
Making comb-overs.
Since my hair is curly, I have some hairs that have decided not to grow and still be baby hairs. So when watching a movie or something, I spend time trying to make the best comb over ever. Then I make Nick rate them on a 1-10. I think I am a averaging an 8.
AAHHHH, I just want to scream. I wish there could be some freaking peace about this democrat/republican debate. NOT ALL DEMOCRATES FIT INTO YOU LITTLE STEROTYPE!
I admire some republicans. I think our president is a douche bag.
Every time I talk about politics, a person with the opposing view gets fire in their eyes and they look like Satan. Seriously, Satin. They get scary and in your face and intimidating.
Hold on cowboy. Put down your guns. Don’t shoot. All that plus my insides say…you are crazy and I hope your horse drops you.
And two, my experiences with people who are conservative republicans are tthat they never let you talk. They just talk talk talk. There is interrupting, name calling, and NO LISTENING. How in the world can people find some peace and middle ground if you don’t even listen to them.
I am tired of being called names and being talked down to and yelled at. This is insane!
I watched the Republican debate, I watch FOX, I keep up with people stances. Now, while I think they have got it all wrong, I still listen and try to learn. But I don’t know any republicans who give their opponents the time of day. They only watch Fox and only read negative things about the Democrats. I am fed-up!!!
So, I got into it today with someone about Al Gore. So people hate all Gore. He is the one American that really opened people’s eyes to global warming. If it wasn’t for him, our president would not be implementing global warming strategies. But, the president is smart and Al Gore is dumb. To that, I flip my middle finger.
I have had to say the follow phrase so much lately:
Let’s agree to disagree.
I have two examples below and I use them because my parents are really fun and funny and these debates were all around really fun times, but they illustrate the point.
First debate:
Politics
My dad and I talked about this last week…and when I say talked, I mean I got about one sentence in before I was corrected, and when I say corrected I mean shot down. Now, I love respect my dad so much. He really is the best dad ever. He served the army for 23? years I think and now he works as a government contractor for a missile defense company. He is really smart, very informed, but also a great dad and always gives good advice.
That being said, we have completely opposite political views. When we were talking I realized that we just don’t see things the same way. It is almost like brussel sprouts; one person may like them while the other person will think they are disgusting. Or throw up, one person may see this in the street of Geneva and point it out because she thinks that it is funny. The husband may then see the puke and start puking himself. No names mentioned and all.
I don’t understand why my dad likes brussel sprouts or that I don’t mind puke, but lets agree to disagree.
Also, I am not trying to be vague about my political views, I am not a Democrate or Republican, but I am defintly not Republican. My dad calls me a liberal and says it in a sad tone, but I guess I am and that is that. If he gets the ticket, I am voting for Obama, no doubt, and I don’t understand why that needs to be a secret.
The second time this week that I have said that was with a conversation with my mom. Again, my mom is the best mom. She keeps getting better. She is really funny, determined, hardworking, loving, and always looking for new exciting things.
She thinks that Angelina Jolie did not have an affair with Brad Pitt and that they got together after the two got divorced. She also thinks Jennifer Anniston is all about her work and would not give Brad kids.
I think that they had an affair and that is why they got a divorce, that he committed adultry, that Angelina Jolie is a bisexual, knife sexing harlot. I also think that while Jennifer Anniston has a huge nose and was annoying on Friends, that she is the better of the three.
So, again after a huge debate I had to throw in the, “Let’s agree to disagree!” This is was with a good amount of emotion. These are important matters here.
There have been side instances, but let’s go with the top two.
So, I have come to the conclusion:
I like myself just the way I am for today. In fact I am pretty awesome. I will change my whole life I am sure of that, and sure we can talk, but don’t try to change me. I will change at me own pace and for my own reasons, and that is that.
Choices:
I make a ton of them everyday and I like to make things interesting.
I choose to always jump on the bed in a full belly flop and never just get in.
I choose cereal every morning for breakfast.
I chose today to tackle two people in animal costumes. I hugged the hell out of them. Pictures to come.
But I honestly I am terrified of making choices.
Hold on guys this is a somewhat serious post.
Nick and I met in college. The way we met and started dating is something that only you hear about in books. Our relationship is great and we (99% of the time) get along perfectly. When I see him when I get home from work, I get the same feeling that I had when we started dating, that new feeling, with more love and less crush-like. I could not image my life without him and I think my life with him is the best life I could ever have, a life most people dream of. People always say that each person has a purpose. I think that he is my purpose. And I almost made a choice that would end it.
I had been performing since I was three years old. My mom says that I could do rolls better than anyone in the class…it was apparently a big thing. I danced for 10 years and starting performing in play when I was 7 or something. In high school I was the drama kid and spent most of my time going after that. I just always thought that was what I was meant to do and nothing would stop me. My friend Bridget and I always laugh because I always said that career was first, that I would never get married, I might have kids but I wasn’t sure, and no guy would be good for me if he didn’t put my career first.
Then when you think everything is planned, you get a stick figure drawing of a girl holding balloons from your crush in class, and all your plans go out the window.
So, Nick and I started dating for about a month before he moved to Atlanta. He knew that I wanted to act that I would try to pursue that after college, but for now we just wanted to focus on trying to start dating from 4 hours away.
Then I graduated.
I was heavily involved in church at this time the thought of doing “God’s Will for my life” was what I was searching for. I prayed constantly about this and tried looking for “signs”. So, one of the three churches that I went to knew a guy who had started a drama ministry in L.A. for actors. They would help you find a roommate, and help you network, and just overall be there for you to adjust. I thought it was like a light bulb. I had been acting my whole life, this is what I wanted to do, and here it was…a sign (I write this sarcastically). Then I started telling people about this, which excited people…another sign. Then some other people ended up knowing this girl in L.A….another sign. Then these people in LA knew a girl I could live with…another freaking sign.
So I made the decision to move to L.A. Nick and I would make it work. He would visit me once a month. It could work.
He was super supportive. He wanted me do what I was passionate about. Thinking back on things now, it physically hurts me now to think about how this really upset him. And that he thought, very realistically when I had no idea how things would really be, this might not work…then that’s it. I think we kind of both thought that we would try to make it work, but that really it could be the end of us. Looking back on it now…that could have been it.
And it the most upsetting thought my teeny brain could ever think of.
Just because you have laid out this path and think you know how things should be, and have even prayed your whole life that it would end up a certain way, doesn’t mean that is how it is supposed to be. And really, your way that you thought was right, might really be wrong and suck a whole lot.
I don’t know what I think about God, but if he is this immense being, I don’t think out little hearts and brains could really grasp his communication with us.
I think there have been some great purposes lost, and some deaths, mutilations, and tragedy because people thought they had the signs, prayed about it, and knew what God wanted them to do.
I know if I had gone the other road, that I would be living a hell, even if I didn’t know it. Some days I worry that since I have the ability to make a terrible decision again…will I?
Sometimes I worry that I will wake up from my prefect dream to realize I am in LA chocking, around superficial people trying to pursue something that I did not fit into anymore.
So, I made another choice today. To run home and hug Nick like crazy and make jokes that I thought he would laugh at and really be thankful that I did not follow that path that I thought was right and was laid out for me.
I attract oddities
1. I had a nun this weekend look me up and down. Not in a “You So Sexy Baby…in a disgusted way. And I was trying to be friendly! The thing that was even more odd than this was that she was sporting Chaco’s. Not like Wal-Mart Chaco’s…the real thing! It made me think…hey lady what are you wearing under that robe…Patagonia!
2. A man standing on the street this weekend took my soul.
That was just this weekend…let’s go back in time.
3. Flava Flav once chased me down the street in NYC. He was yelling at me telling me he was going to kill my family.
4. Nick and I were at a stoplight when we looked over to see a man practicing his Sais movements in the car next to us. It was awesome.
5. I was recommended to be apart of a new Tisch Drama School at NYU. I got accepted to the school on Scholarship and just moved to NYC. I switched out of this drama school after three days, when I found out that we were known as the “Naked School. All the students got naked to shed all of their outer selves. The first day a girl said her name while acting like she was having and orgasm. The second day we had to hum with our eyes closed and find people in the room, touch them where we felt the hum in their body. I somehow ended up being in the center of people touching me and it sucked. The third day we went we pretended to be monkeys or whatever the teacher yelled out, which was a step up from the day before…and on the forth day I march over to the Stella Adler School of Drama and begged their director to take me in. Then I marched over to “Naked School” and told everyone in class that I thought they were crazy.
Wow… this is just the beginning. I have a ton more of these. I think I may do this for a couple of posts.
A very frequent question I get asked?:
Question: What drug are you on and can I have some?
Answer: The drug is called HAPPY butthead, and yeah, I would LOVE for you to have some…here…take two non-stop all day with 8 glasses of water, and don’t mix with negativity! Refill indefinitely.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being funny, squirmy, lovable, scatterbrained, creative, happy, giggly, goofy, uncontrollable, feisty, opinionated, outspoken, and gassy. In fact, I hope I’m contagious…contagious and full of Pepcid AC.
Get with it people and get your ticket to the HOT TAMILE TRAIN!
I HATE ANTS.
I THINK ALL ANTS SHOULD DIE!
I think I would be the hippie, don’t shave my armpits, at one with nature, lover of all things, natural soaps and rock hard heels, lifelong camper if it were not for ants.
Every time I see an ant I start scratching like crazy, sneezing, gagging, and I loose any appetite I might have.
So yesterday I came home, about sit and relax with peppermint tea. I go to warm up some water in the microwave when my hand touches a freaking ant pile (not really, this is for effect, go with me on this). This pile is one mile high and these ants are starring at me with their beady eyes and high-pitched laugh.
Naturally, I get my weapons prepared and ready to kill the enemy. The Windex comes out, the gloves go on, the glass blowing shield comes down, and I am ready.
I start shooting and killing these things with precision accuracy and speed. If I were at a shooting place, I would hit the paper target right in the lower male regions.
I start cussing at them and really I think if you had a slow-mo of this time, I would look like Rambo with a machine gun. There would be terminator music in the background, sweat and blood running down my face, and my muscles would be flexed and sexy.
After this is done and I feel like I have won, I mop the floor while still cussing like crazy, and I do the thing all war hero women would do, I wait for Nick to get home to clean up the Windex soaked devils.
I have heard two very common questions in my life.
1. What are your parents like because you and your brother are crazy.
2. (For people that don’t know me from high school) You have a brother!!!!
So the next few posts, I will introduce you to my family
First, since most people do not think that I have one…My brother
Justin Edward Treece
10/17/1980
11:17am
Born in Neurnburg?, Germany
Has a big head, likes death metal, is the funniest guy in the world, tells jokes and then laughs at his own jokes ridiculously, enjoys learning about plant soil, is really caring, nice to the laaadies, the life of the party, dyed his hair black one time and then begged my mom to take him to the beauty shop to fix it, calls me for girl advice, plays guitar and much much more.
He weight around 10 pounds when he was born and my mom won’t let him live that down.
She says that he never talked until I was born. She said they couldn’t tell if he was dumb or just quiet. When I came along she said they couldn’t get him to “shut up”!
We were best friends growing up. We played all the time and we just loved each other’s company. He is super smart and was in all the gifted classes when I apparently was having trouble coloring in the lines.
When middle school came I think he got tired of moving around and we never got along. I think he was just mean to me! I always say that I was the nice one, but I am sure I pushed some buttons. We pretty much stayed like that throughout high school and really butt heads.
I guess college changed us but now I think he is one of my best buddies.
He has done some really cool things career wise. He worked for a sound and light production company and got the travel the country doing that.
Now he works as a sound and light technician on Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. He pretty much parties the whole time, tans, sees cool places, and meets a ton of cool people. It sounds like the life.
I think he is the best brother ever and I love him a ton!!
Oh wait, before I forget I also always get asked this question:
Them: Did it hurt?
Me: Did what hurt?
Them: When you fell from, heaven did it hurt?
Me: Absolutely
I also always get asked about my last name.
Here are some questions with the answers:
Why did you keep your last name?
- In the period of less than two years Nick and I:
Lost both of our jobs at the same church at about the same time
Had to figure where to live and how to make money
Moved to a different state
Adjusted to new jobs
Were engaged, planning a wedding, then married and learning how to be married
My grandpa died
So, I enjoy change but give me a break, this in insane.
I really wanted something that was mine, that didn’t change, that I felt like I identified with, that I liked, that made me feel at home with myself and that I had control over something in a very chaotic time.
So, I kept my name and I really like having something that hasn’t changed.
2. Does your husband care? Did it hurt my husband’s feelings?
- My husband and I talked about this on several occasions, obviously. He didn’t care. He was fine with it. It worked just fine for us. We are a laid back couple. We met and feel in lizzove when I was Leslie Treece and he was Nick Fiedler and nothing has changed since then, well I guess besides what is mentioned above…
3. Why didn’t he change his name to Treece? I mean why does the wife have to take the mans name (this is one is from my hippie friends)?
- Since I am a born again hippie, I would agree with that second question but, Nick is the only boy and I have a brother. So, my brother passes the “Treece” when his sperm fertilizes an egg (we can only hope they were not both on their first date and plastered), and we pass on the Fiedler name to our children after a night of sexy time.
4. Is his family bothered by this?
- To be honest when have not talked about it? It was not our intention what so ever to hurt their feelings. I guess when it comes down to it, you make decisions as a couple we felt good about it.
5. Will you ever change it?
- Maybe. Right now it has no effect on our life. I get asked about it a lot and Josh Case makes fun of me (hehe! He is really funny about it too), but we are keeping it this way for now. My thought is that when we have a couple of kids hanging off of my boobies that the little tikes and I will be inseparable and I will get mushy and want us to be one big happy family, then I will switch my name. I would also never want them to be confused about it. That would not be fair.
I think that is it for now. Any more questions about it?
I am trying to stop assuming. Assuming is a terrible thing and it can really ruin life.
Now, since I do assume I assume that others assume.
So I am going to take some posts to tell you about myself. If you have assumptions about me, which I may also have about you, now is the time to learn about me.
If you have any assumptions please comment about them and I will gladly respond!
Let’s see how this goes.
Since I am a picky eater, I get asked a lot about what I eat. Here it goes.
I don’t eat:
1. Meat
- While I hate the thought of killing animals this is mostly at taste and texture thing. It grosses me out. Sometimes, I like chicken, but in very small portions and not very regularly.
2. Fast Food
- I don’t like greasy lips and grease period
3. Cantaloupe
- gross
4. spicy food
-the green apple spatters. I make the exception with Indian Food. Josh Brown loves Indian food too.
5. Regular V8. The thought of drinking a tomato is maybe one the nastiest things I can ever think of. I am trying Splash though.
6. No crazy sea creatures or ANYTHING slimy
- This is obvious to me.
7. Juices from concentrate
- The sugar content is trough the roof!
8. Soy milk
- I need the real stuff
9. Onions
- I get gassy
10. Eggs by themselves, like scrambled or whatever
- I hate the smell
11. There is something else that I always make barfing noises when nick eats, but I can’t remember.
I do eat:
1. Milk
- Probably a gallon in 2.5 days
2. Chocolate
- #1 and #2 combined are magic
3. Most fruits
4. Cereal
5. PB&J’s
6. Any Italian
7. Veggie Burgers
8. Cheese
9. Beans
Yuuummmm
So, I am not one of those who complains the food I don’t like and sometimes the rules can be broken. I was raised to get happy with what I had, and I am glad for that. If that meant I just ate the green peas and mashed potatoes and mixed the two together, I was good with that. I find something wherever I go.
Any thoughts?
One of my favorite people in the world (our 65 year old security guard) ran home yesterday to find that his house had burned down.
A lifetime of history was completely lost.
Since the area that he was living in was shady and his house was old, he was not able to apply for housing insurance, so basically he has nothing and slept in a motel last night.
It is really important that that he gets some help.
If you would like to help with anything please let me know. He lives in Birmingham, so if you are around here, give me a shout about ideas on how you can help.
Thanks!
Weekends are for:
-Laying out on green grass with book and an IPOD
- Whole Foods Run
- Good movies
- Josh and Laura Rock our faces
- Walking a mile just to get a smoothie
- Yoga, which I really think is ridiculous, I just can’t balance my shins on my forearms for 5 minutes and then move it to a head stand. I almost walked out.
- The Emmy’s
- Good fruit
- Sleeping late
I have been working out lately and I decided yesterday to take a Yoga class. The embarrassment starts here.
It was raining outside, REALLY BAD, think torrential downpour, so traffic was slow. I ran into my Yoga class, late, right in the middle of the downward dog, and squeezed into a spot.
As we moved into the “triangle” I felt a good amount of pain, but I was breathing deep, centering myself, keeping my eyes closes, thinking of only my breath, and of course sweating, making faces of pain, and really looking like a novice.
Then it came…turns out I was facing THE WRONG SIDE, breathing deeply into a girls FACE and having the whole class watch me and my lack of balance flexibility and breath.
I decide to continue to make a fool of myself my saying, very LOUDLY.
HAHAH….J/K. JUST KIDDING! I AM AWESOME.
I then rotate and sink into my embarrassment.
But the fun doesn’t stop here. The first part I could handle. I pretty much do things like this everyday.
Just as I was, and really the whole class was gathering our center back…what do I hear?
Of Course….MY PHONE!
But, no worries, I will just wait it out for the 5 minutes and no one will know it was me.
Until my phone starts to make that annoying beep to let you know someone just called!
So, I had to suck it up..walk over to my bag and let the whole class know it was the disruptive girl who had no balance and was probably getting a call from her non-recycling friends, who wear leather, are on anti-anxiety meds, and shave their armpits.
But, being the trooper that I am, I decide to very quietly sift through my bag to find the problem. Then it comes.
The key jingle, mixed with the loose change jingle, mixed with the metal pen jingle.
I giggle look behind as the class stares at me in horror and say…
“This is so embarrassing…hehe”
After no luck with the phone, I just pretend like I am on call and walk out of the Yoga class with my bag and phone in tow (an no Yoga mat may I tell you which was the first sign the I was a beginner).
But, I still got 30 minutes on the elliptical and I bet I burned more calories…suckers
So, I have been reading some Deepak Chopra as also digging into the Bhagavad-Gita.
Gandhi inspired me and I have to learn more.
So, I am reading, The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra and I am finding it really relaxing, intelligent, and informative.
A quote:
Theology ties to convince us that there is life after death, but since that claim has to be taken on faith, religion exacts obedience by holding the afterlife over our heads. If we lack faith, if we worship the wrong God or sin against the right God, our chances for reward after we die are ruined. Religions wars continue to erupt over this issue, which is so anxiety provoking that fanatics would rather die for faith than live with the admission that someone else’s faith has the right to exist. “I die so that you may not believe in your God” is the most twisted legacy of the fifth klesha, (fear of death).
So, I am starting to workout again. My BFF (jill, just kidding) Bridget and I are working out for 2 hours tonight and tomorrow I am meeting with a personal trainer. I want to feel healthy and see some changes while I am working at it.
Here is some inspiration
I am bringing back some old phrases, and they are awesome.
- Whazzzzzz uuuuuuuuuuuuuppp.
- Whatever, Whatever
- Syyyyyyyyyyyyyke
- I just sharted on myself
- You’re/he/she is/are a chode
- Gag me with a spoon
Please list your personal favorite old saying that should be brought back
So, I have written and rewritten this post about 5 different times this past week. Hopefully this time I am somewhere close to explaining what has been going on in my head my whole life, but very intensely this last year and a half.
I think Gandhi put it best when he said I am a Hindu, a Muslim and Jew and a Christian.
I think all of spiritual outlooks seen above can teach us so much about how to love others and humanity.
I think that if we were to follow the wisdom that these religions talk about, that it would lead to a harmonious change in the whole world, a utopia…really, a utopia.
But do I strictly follow one? No.
Let me just comment on Christianity for this post. I want to show how I can take things from Christianity, but by most standards I am not a Christian.
There was a point where I was totally in love with everything Christianity stood for, and could have worked in a church forever, but my questions always came back. And the answers were always too vague for me; really there was no real answer to be found.
Okay well there is an answer, “faith” but that is not an answer for me.
In digging deeper, I realized that while I want to live my life loving others fully and giving to humanity, that this did not have to be for Jesus or even about Jesus. I believe Jesus taught some absolutely astounding messages of love that could change humanity, as we know it. Even still I think he could have been just a man. Not a GODMAN, just a man.
And as far a God goes, I don’t know. Sometimes I think the world is so big and so immense that there has to be a God, other times it does not seem logical to me.
For me Christianity feels like it is something that makes people feel like they belong. That is wonderful, especially if, as a group, they promote positive change. I also want to promote positive change, but I cannot belong to a group when I do not really believe in the very foundation of that group. I follow love, but everything else seems not so right to me. I hold on very tightly to honestly and I can’t really pretend any longer that I fit in to the label, “Christian.” That would seem like a lie to me and I just feel like I can’t live that lie anymore.
My truth involves loving humanity to the best of my ability, every second of every day. I fully believe in caring for people, investing in people, rich or poor, and working for the cause of humanity. That is my truth. Everything else is a mystery to me.
From a recent wedding
Nick tagged me in the great YouTube Movie post. Here is mine.
I have been watching too much Office.
In other news, I have formed some new habits and I am breaking some old ones.
Nick is helping me along the way.
So, let’s face it, I can be very judgemental. Not towards everyone, just some people. This is not always bad. Sometimes I will think, “Wow, that person has kind eyes, I bet that he/she is nice to people.” But then sometimes I might think, “Why in the crap did she wear that?”
You see the difference. Slight, but it’s there.
It gets really bad when Nick and I are together. I have changed him from maybe sometimes thinking these things inside of his head, to down right hiding ourselves in the corner of Target because we are laughing so hard at something or someone. Now, before you hate us, let me give you an real life example.
We went to the dollar theatre to see Oceans 13, very awesome. Before the movie started all we could hear was the man behind us severly munching on his popcorn. we giggled. Then some thing drastic happened…his dropped some of his popcorn on the ground and yelled, “GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!”
I almost peed my pants.
So, this case is less judgemental and slightly natural.
Now, I am the WORST while watching TV. As an advertising major, it really upsets me to know that so much time was spent to make something crappy. Example: The new HP commerical that has something to do with mac & cheese and hots dogs, a mind altering teenager, and somehow a computer.
I almost spit at the television.
Then, quite rightly, I yelled, “What the crap was that? That was retarded. Who decided to spend money on that? What genius decided to let that was through to filming? How did HP commericals go from cool to the worst thing I have ever SEEN IN MY LIFE”
Nick laughes at me now.
So, I have hopefully started a new habit that we have both been trying out.
Instead of the above, we, okay somewhat mockily but still, try to change the words around to bring out some of the positives.
For example, to play off of the example above, I would instead say,
“Now, it might have been my personal taste, but I am glad that they were trying to think out of the box and try new things.”
Now we do say this sarcastically, but right now we are just trying to catch ourselves and rephrase.
Want to try….
Nick and I went to a Spots show about a week ago. I was so impressed with their talents and just letting the songs come to them. It is completly my taste in music. They are a mixture of Tycho, Anathallo without words, and some other band. All of them are amazingly talented and they seem to work really well together, mixing up their unique sounds and letting each other run with it.
I took some pictures
Nick and I also saw a really enjoyable show last night. Jon Black is a friend of ours and he is really musically gifted. Nick and I were saying that he gets better and better every time we see him or hear his music. He is not only a good storyteller, but he has the ability to really make you listen and imagine the story that he is telling. He is one of the musicians that you just have to pay attention to.
All this to say, I was really amazed that I listen to all these different bands, but the best music ever is right around me. I have a ton of great friends and a husband that bring so much music and enjoyment into my life.
I think musicians chase this dream but I don’t think they realize how much they give to other people. Seeing both of my friends really made me feel that I was given a great present and I feel pretty good about that.
My last couple of weeks have been so amazing. Things are just awesome and I couldn’t be enjoying myself more.
Nick and I are becoming quite the social couple, and while we sometimes still need that couple time on the couch watching some movies, we love finding new things to do.
First we had ourselves a little OFFICE PARTY ‘07! Bridget, Roop, Carrie, my brother, Nick and myself all got together at our apartment and laughed to episodes of The Office. Carrie brought over some pizza and we had some drinks and we laughed so hard I just know our neighbors were trying to figure it all out.
Oh and earlier in the day, a co-worker told me I was fat, like for real fat. Then she asked other people around me to look at me cause I was fat.
For those of you who don’t know me I am about 5 feet 6 inches and about 128-130.
So we all laughed about that because I was, “waiting for her to say…’Fat with a PH” It never happened though and I was holding a piece of pie while this all was happening. FREAKING PIE!!! It did kinda made me mad though because I am sure a comment like this one has made other girls stop eating. So, I am still debating on whether or not to talk to her about this issue.
Anywho, this weekend was great. On Saturday nick suprised me and took me to a new, truely amazing place, Bluff Park. I had never been there and the scenery was so beautiful. We stood at and old hot dog shop and looked over this beautiful mountain scenery. I was so happy to be in such a great place. We saw a poem carved into stone that was 180 years old! And I got scared I would loose control of my legs and jump off the ledge so I ran away.
We went shopping for Nick and got him some stuff that makes him looker even hotter! I didn’t think this was possible, but his insides and outsides just keep getting better and better.
Then it was relax and movie time.
On Sunday it was birthday celebration..again! We went to my sweet in-laws house and had a yummy meal of swiss spagetti and strawberry cake!!! It was the best strawberry cake and I have the best parents in law ever! Jen and Scott also came over and I was given great gifts and a great time!
I also learned about bullet proof backpacks…who knew??
So that has been the past week. I should have some photos up soon of my most recent wedding and some band pictures. Until then!
So I have had the best week. Nick and I like to celebrate birthdays for a long period of time. A birthday could last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, and we like it that way.
So, some highlights of my birthday week.
We saw of the best lives show I have seen in a while: