Nooks and Sponges

Well I just got back from our family trip to twin lakes, where we stayed at one of their larger cabins and just....escaped life for awhile. My sister, Amy, spent most of the trip reading her kindle, Laura on her (aka our mom's) nook, and Andy on his ipad.

And then there was me......self consciously turning pages as quietly as possible in the corner, trying hard not to break the peaceful silence.

I've been somewhat 'opposed' to these e-reader devices for awhile now....however after this weekend I think that maybe my views are changing. I finished my book (The Secret Life of Bees......READ IT!......it is SO good), on Friday....and had an entire day and a half of severe booklessness. When Amy finished her book, she just snagged a new one off of her fancy reader...talk about jealousy.

So...all that said - I think I'm in the market....and would love some feedback...I know I'm a little behind on what's all the rage (I prefer life in the slow lane), but what in the heck do I choose? Nook or Kindle? Or some other fancy reading accessory that I don't even know about. OR....go crazy and get a Nook Color??

Who knew reading could be so complicated...sheesh.

Ok ok...in other comparative news..........yesterday I watched a guy (ok...watched may not be the most appropriate word............observed occasionally?) contemplating the sponges at bi-mart (which is a fabulous store, I might add) for probably a full five minutes. It took all of my effort not to approach this gentleman and ask what all the fuss was about. "What is it exactly that is making this decision so hard? Is it the scrubby backside of the sponge that you're displeased with? Are you looking for something more abrasive? More porous?? What is it that you are going to be needing this sponge for?? Dishes? Surfaces???" Ahh I was soooo curious. He finally chose something very anticlimactic and walked off...but it left me full of questions. Maybe that's how I can help people........advise them on things like sponge selections. When it comes to technology like nooks or ipads I am a lost cause....cleaning utensils on the other hand??  Done and done.

On that note....I just right this second learned about grooveshark from my little sister and feel like I am falling deeply in love with a website...oh dear.......

My backyard looks more like a mountainous jungle than a place for relaxation....so in other words, I need to go wack the sh** out of some weeds.....SEE YA!

Here are some pictures of our lake trip. :)

View from the deck...

We were required to wear straw hats......

Kiddos....

More hats...

JD's favorite things about our trip were "fishing and catching fish"

.....and probably making silly faces at me....

Nice picture... :)

Followed by my head being eaten...

CRAZY PICTURES!

This is about how dirty we all were the entire trip...

Jimmy didn't believe me that my camera can go under water......so, of course, he tested the theory and now I have about 400 pictures of Jimmy's hand submerged......and other aquatic life. Thanks James.

This about sums up the feel of the trip.....

Life is fabulous. The sun is out........and I feel fine. :) I'm about to head to Portland to say my final farewell to Jenna as she flies to Hawaii - but only temporarily as I get to visit soon!! Sad, but so excited for her! New room mates are IN, and I love it (I even love the cat, Farley! I call him Farles....)! Garden is growing (minus the slug attack on my lettuce...) and I am happy as a clam...or something.....? :)

Song this week: Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show

And there will be a time, you'll see, with no more tears

& Love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.

Get over your hill and see what you find there

With grace in your heart, and flowers in your hair.

Time is so fast!!!

I'm going to miss my friends....

Life is either a daring adventure...or nothing.

So proud / honored to know youguys. Love you all!!

Bursting point...

Sometimes I feel like I have this mounting pressure in my chest and if it goes on any longer, I may ACTUALLY physically explode.

Isn't it weird how our bodies have physical reactions to our emotions? Getting hot/flushed when you feel embarrassed....heart racing if something surprises you, knees weak when you get all crushy on someone,  and then sometimes...........CHEST PAIN due to anxiety!! :)

I don't feel particularly stressed about any one thing, really. Sure, I've got a lot on my plate, but I seem to manage alright. Taking time for myself, whilst staying on top of school/training/work....it's all the OTHER stuff that gets me. My laundry, for example, is overflowing out of my closet. I keep throwing clean clothes BACK into the laundry basket instead of actually putting them away......if I close the closet door, you can't see that anything's wrong! :)

OVERFLOW ALERT.

I feel that inside my chest right now. The warning sign is flashing, the threshold is at maximum capacity, the closet door is struggling to close against the mounting laundry pile....I'm actually going to explode. I want to go outside and run....but I'm pretty sure I need a rowboat to leave the house at this point.  Wouldn't it just be so nice...if for a day...you could actually IGNORE all responsibility?....and just do......whatever the hell you want? with no consequence?....and NOT feel guilty about it?! What is up with all these guilty feelings that CONSUME me when I ignore my chores for a day?? My work outs?? ugh.

I want to eat an entire box of crackers....WITH cheese, drink coffee all day....switching to wine around  7pm, eat a hamburger...AND french fries....and then NOT work out.

Being a grown-up is lame. I hate that I think about every calorie I'm consuming when I find myself in front of a platter of fries..........

Stupid media and all their stupid hot skinny girls in stupid bathing suits......

:)

Ok ok....it really is not so bad....to be quite honest. It just feels like everything is kind of in constant transition around here...and I guess I'm looking for a little less busy, and a little more boring. Does life ever settle down??

It probably would if I let it....I'm sure subconsciously I like all this hectic chaos. It's like a game...."If I go to the bank before going to safeway, I'll have taken care of the bills - and then I can stop by Krista's house to see Jack...on my way back from dropping off something to Candace......and THEN....if I run these boxes to goodwill I'll have room in my car to pick up that thing from my mom's...".....and before I know it, I've driven across town like 600 times in a 2 hour span of time. :)

....at least I usually have a good soundtrack.

Speaking of that. My favorite song this week IS......... Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel.


I like these girls A LOT:

I'm sad R+J are leaving. :( 

I need to start an Africa Fund Box (AFD)....donations gladly accepted.

This post is kind of about nothing.

ps......my "w" key is stuck....so I've backspaced about a zillion times during this blog........