Penny for your Thoughts…

Scary thought, I know, but if you could read my mind today, this is what you would find:

• “I sure love those Russian dolls.  I’d love a set.  And I’d give them such a good home.  Hmm…yep, that’s just about reason enough - I’d go all the way to Russia just to get a set.”
• “How in the world is it possible that my computer cord gets tied into a knot when one side is plugged into the wall and the other into my computer?  It’s not like I tied the cord into a knot and then plugged it in!  But i mean really - it’s an unexplainable phenomenon!  It defies the rules of physics!  Hmm…got it.  There must be a knot-tying fairy that goes around tangling and tying up cords.  Yeah…that’s the only reasonable explanation.” 
• “Oooo, that’s pretty!  I want one!  (http://www.potterybarn.com/products/bedford-project-table-set/?pkey=cdesks-home-office).  Hmm…I wonder if I’m coveting?  Oh well, this project table is worth it!”
• “Dang, I’m pretty much awesome.  I work at freakin’ University of Oxford!  snap.”
• “Mmm, dinner sounds good.  Wait…what time is it?  3pm!?!  Dang…bit early that is.”
• “Jane Eyre.  Best.  Book.  Ever.”  Jane Eyre - ”Still indomitable was the reply-’I care for myself.  The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.  I will keep the law given by God, sanctioned by man.  I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad-as I am now.  Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation; they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour: stringent are they; inviolate they shall be.  If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?  They have a worth-so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane-quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs.  Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.’” (pg. 358)

The Jukebox in my Mind…

I have a constant jukebox going in my head.  To be fair, that’s pretty consistent for me, but the playlist seems to have deeper significance this week.  At some point, I forgot how free I am.  I forgot how awesome I am and how fun spending time with me is…hahaha (yeah, I know that sounds funny, but it’s SO true!).  Really, I suppose that I’ve rather forgotten myself lately.  And thanks to the jukebox in my head, all of that has come back to me.  It’s wonderful!  I’m the answer.  I’m what I need.  And I’m so happy; I make me happy!!  Yay!

The Jukebox:

“I can do anything I want to.  I can be anything that I see” – Ingrid Michaelson’s Lady in Spain

“And now you walk away to face the day alone” - Josh Rouse’s Late Night Conversation

“Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song.  A little girl with nothing wrong is all alone.  Eyes wide open always hoping for the sun.  And she’ll sing her song to anyone that comes along.  Fragile as a leaf in Autumn just fallin’ to the ground without a sound.  Crooked little smile on her face tells a tale of grace that’s all her own.  Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song.  A little girl with nothing wrong is all alone” – Norah Jones’ Seven Years 

“Oh baby, it’s not you I was searching for, it’s only me” – Josh Rouse’s Princess on the Porch

“Starting now, Starting now.  It’s my world, it’s my world, it’s my world” – Ingrid Michaelson’s Starting Now

“Don’t tell me not to live, just sit and putter.  Life’s candy and the sun’s a ball of butter.  Don’t bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.  Don’t tell me not to fly I’ve simply got to.  If someone takes a spill, it’s me and not you.  Who told you you’re allowed to rain on my parade” – Barbra Streisand’s Don’t Rain on My Parade

I DID IT!

I did it.  I went blunt.  I’ve returned to the bangs of my childhood.  Okay, okay, so these are definitely better and more modern – dare I say, tres chique? 

But yeah…I DID IT!  And it was just one of those things.  I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but always in a very non-commital, hesitant sort of way…And then suddenly, it was Tuesday.  It was morning.  I was listening to my ipod – Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Lady in Spain’ on the train on my way to work.  And I just decided to go for it.  Only 3pounds and already life changing.  Feelin’ good!  Lookin’ AMAZING!

I don’t know, there’s just something fun and very resolving to re-adopt my childhood hairstyle – to make it apart of me again, but make it look SO much better.  I’m just bringing it all together and coming full circle somehow…hmm, I don’t know how to describe it really.  It just feels good.  mmhmm.

Wales Weekend!

I went to Wales for the weekend!  And no, I didn’t see much of the countryside or even any sheep.  But I did spend the weekend in Cardiff with my friend Jess attending young single adult activity after activity.  It was good, good fun and I made all sorts of new, fun friends (not even shocking, is it?)

We had a UV-light dance (black light) and partied it up for hours.  I also obliterated Jess at Sumo wrestling (yeah, in those ridiculous inflatable suits) and got 94% on vocals for Pat Benatar’s “love is a battlefield” on Rock Band.  Sweet.

Lindsay’s AWEffice

I don’t know why I haven’t taken better advantage of it before today, but suddenly having my own office is like the best thing that’s ever happened to me.  I realized this simple little truth today: “Lindsay, you have your own office!”  And oh…today has been heavenly.  I’m loving this.

Outside is my Oxford.

It’s raining beautifully today.

I’m not wearing any shoes or socks.  They’re drying and warming on the radiator.

I had a 2-song silent/ipod dance party when I started getting sleepy.

I have my feet up on my desk and my keyboard on my lap.

The office is already old and messy from having years of grad students come through so I feel free to be a bit careless and untidy (for me) in this one place in my life.  Ahh, freedom.  Letting loose.  Carefree.

I have a 3-foot long straw to reach back to me in my reclining desk chair.

I have a rolly and spinny chair and about 10′x10′ bare space in the middle of the office…need I say more?

The trash can is on the other side of the room – Bozo buckets much?

I can have a random spitball competition during work and not be judged by any co-workers for having socially unacceptable behavior.  Nor do I have to clean said spitballs up.  (PS apparently I have impeccable aim – yeah, I think I’ve found my new weapon of choice.  I could kill with a straw).

Mmm…yeah, fun!  I’m carefully considering having a slumber party here one night!  buahahaha.

Today’s Wish List:

Alright, I’m just going to throw this out there!

If I could go around today and punch stamp peoples’ foreheads with anything I wanted, it’d probably say “TAKE YOUR DRAMA TO YOUR MAMA.”

Then again, I don’t think it would even have to say anything at all…the punch part to the stamp sounds pretty dang satisfying.

…Ahhh, just saying that makes me feel better.

Movie Quote of the Week!

Professor Callahan: “Do you think she woke up one morning and said, ‘I think I’ll go to law school today’?” (Legally Blonde).

Snow Days!

I know it’s ridiculous, but I definitely took 3 snow days this week even though I work from home.  haha.  What a joke!  But seriously, it was just too much fun.  See, England got over a foot of snow and since snow never really happens here, it was a pretty big deal!  The radio called it “arctic conditions” (hahaha).  Everything…absolutely everything shut down, but hords of people took to shoveling snow, pushing cars, playing in the snow, and sledding.  I’ve never seen so many people out in the snow before.  Incredible.

And it was contageous.  I even joined in!  I played in the snow for 4 hours the first day (isn’t life hard?).  I had multiple snowball fights and helped build a 7+ foot snowman and an igloo.  It was pretty awesome.  So was my friend, James’ fashion statement in attempting to keep his jeans dry…

As for the remaining two days of snow…well, we may have been snowed in, but somehow my friends and I were still able to get to eachother everyday.  So, we played hours and hours of Fireball Island and put these 3-foot straws I found to great use!  Yeah, fun fun!  Yay for snow days!

Austrian Visitors!

My friends Nina and Julia came to visit from Austria for the new year!  Nina was in the MTC and in Romania with me and I met her BFF, Julia, when she visited London this last summer.  Ne-am distrat rau!

To 90 Years!

It was my Grandma Shepard’s 90th birthday over the holidays!  WHEW!  And doesn’t she look great?!?  She’s so spry!

Well, we had a surprise party for her and made it into a really special day, full with dinner, dessert, friends, family, a slideshow, and a musical presentation!

 

My sister, Erin, and I even performed “Sisters, Sisters” from “White Christmas.”  Enjoy! 

Here’s to 90 years!