Fighting for their school...

I'm sitting in a live truck outside the administration building for the Madison schools right now, as a bunch of parents and kids are chalking what they want the school board to do with their budget at the meeting tonight. Just wanted to note a few thoughts...

...these people are so passionate... care about the future of their kids so much... i want to be a parent like that...

...how cool is sidewalk chalk and why do i not use it on our porch...

...how can you make a good decision about the future of other people's children when there are no good options to make those choices... and the state funds education here less and less...

...kids have no idea about what goes into these choices... all they want to see is the kind teachers in their classrooms... and learn what they need to learn while having fun... oh to be that innocent once again...

Will blog more tomorrow when I'm off hopefully... but hope everyone is enjoying the weather....

Seven random things...

One of the scrapbooking blogs I read had a "tagging" challenge where you had to write seven random things about yourself. I wasn't sure what else to blog about lately (even though there has been a lot going on, just a lot of it isn't very good) so I'll give this a try.

1. Got a haircut and a pedicure today... and I actually love both of them (my toes are Red Rock Coral-- a bright shimmery coral shade thats super springy). Now to save up money and spend the whole day at the spa...
2. Bought a lot of stuff at the scrapbook store today... a 2" circle punch and some fun new paper for the fave photos book I plan to start soon.
3. I was really bored today... went shopping to try and hedge it... but it didn't work so hot. I'm trying really hard not to be depressed that I have to start my new work week tomorrow but its one of the most sinking feelings I've had in a long time.
4. I danced like a maniac in my scrapbook room to the new Maroon 5 song "Makes me Wonder." It's amazing and I can't help but go crazy during the chorus.
5. I have purple, green and white flowers on my end table from last weekend that still look pretty and I love it.
6. It's been raining on and off the last couple days, but I love the sound at night. Makes the house feel so much cozier.
7. Brad and I are talking about what to do for my birthday, which is just more than a month away. I'm really excited, because I think I'm gonna take the last of my vacation from my contract year for it and we'll go somewhere... I think that's exactly what I need right now.

Anyone else out there with a blog? Consider yourself tagged.

People I'm Thinking of Today...

Adam... because he has been through so much recently and is still so much stronger than he realizes. We are here to be your guideposts and your light. Be reassured that the hurt you feel now means that you've been true to your heart all along... and that you are still surrounded with love from your friends and family.

Grandpa Meissen... who left us 15 years ago today. The memories of his smile, his hands, his "Susie" call for a granddaughter, seem like yesterday... maybe the gravelly sore throat voice I have today is so I can hear him in me.

My dad's high school friend... who lost her 19 year old daughter to a drunk driver yesterday. I hope her family can know faith and love during this time.

New daddies Schultz and Eric and their families... who have two new baby boys in their lives.... I hope they can be great blessings.

The families of those affected by the tragedy in Virginia... I hope your hearts look for solace, support and love and not revenge.


No matter the struggles we face in life, there are those who have their own. I'm learning to live with mine, and have compassion for those who deal with more than I do. It's humbling and reassuring to know that no matter how much is on our shoulders, we can still shift and carry the load for those we care about.

Lastly... for anyone who might be feeling lost...

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
--E.M. Forster.

If you can't say something nice...

Don't say anything at all.

Which is why I haven't blogged.

And why I'm not blogging more than this today.

Here's hoping for some positivity soon.

When you're not sure, you're sure.

I read about 10 different meanings to that phrase... but sometimes it just rings true.

I can't detail at this point why exactly that is, I hope to in the near future... but suffice to say right now, things are hard. And projected to get harder. Hope is hard to come by.

You always think when you're a kid or a teenager that when someone finally gives you the responsibility to control your own life that things will finally be great. You'll get to do what you want, when you want, and nobody, NOBODY will tell you how to live your life. Turns out, that's not completely true, and frankly, not all it's cracked up to be.

A Grey's Anatomy quote is in order.

"Remember when you were a kid and your biggest worry was, like, if you'd get a bike for your birthday or if you'd get to eat cookies for breakfast. Being an adult? Totally overrated. I mean seriously, don't be fooled by all the hot shoes and the great sex and the no parents anywhere telling you what to do. Adulthood is responsibility. We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?"

Amen sister.

Great Quote.

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."-- Alan Cohen

This quote really speaks to me today. Found it on one of my fave scrapbooker's websites and had to share it. I like the idea of thinking about what is really "meaningful" in your life. Your work, your hobbies, the time you spend with your family... because I think a lot of people at my age think more in the now... what is fun, what makes you money, what fills the time, what gets you skinny, what gets you ahead, rather than what is meaningful. My mom always said that I was a few years beyond my time... and even at 23 I find myself thinking about things like what am I going to regret not doing when I die? Am I going to wish I had spent more time finding great stories at work, or am I going to wish I'd spent the day watching movies at home relaxing? Am I going to wish I had tried to get further up in markets, or am I going to wish I'd stayed in a city I knew I loved? What in the long run has more "meaning"?

I don't plan to do this often, because I'd rather this blog be more about family and friends and scrapbooking... but I want to share a story I did last week that will last in my mind for a long time. It's someone that definitely has had a meaningful life, and will continue to live one for a long time. Click here to watch.

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VOTE!!!

Today is election day folks...

Do what is your duty each and every election day.... VOTE!

It's one small way you can change the world.

Why my friends are the most original in the world...

You might be wondering what all these crazy cats are doing... Why having an "Ethnic Studies" party, what else? You see... my friends do theme parties like nobody else. And Tricia (see blond braided wig) now lives in Austria and we had to celebrate her coming home in a big way. So Kelly (the cowboy, we don't know from what country) welcomed a Frida Kahlo, an English Fox Hunter, a Mexican serenader, an italian Gondolier, an african banana keeper, an asian rice paddy mohter, a french artiste, a german bier girl and an americanized cuban into her home for an evening of festivities. I L-O-V-E my friends more than words. Here are a few other fun photos...

Why my mom is wonderful.