Bling

 

My talented friend Amy made these bracelets for me for Christmas. Likey?

Happy Birthday, A!

Happy Birthday, L!

(he's four)

Hanging On

I read something on Facebook that I thought worth repeating (with modification)

Many of life’s failures occur when people who don't realize how close they are to success give up instead of hanging on just a bit longer.

Have you seen this happen in your own life?

Here are two recent (and perhaps trivial) examples in my own life. In the past few months I've struggled with  an icky scalp thing (psoriasis?) that caused no end of itching and with way more acne than I should have to deal with at my age. I realized this week that seemingly overnight, both problems are 90% improved. I'm not sure if I finally found the right approach or if the things I did for several months just took time to work, but I'm happy either way. Already, the frustration has faded and I don't think I even remember it accurately.

On a more serious note, I've been pretty low for several months. After weeks of trying to change my perspective on a situation, I finally hit on an idea that seemed like it might stick. A few days later, something happened that I feel reinforced the soundness of my idea. In this case, the memory of how I felt hasn't faded, but I do find myself wondering why I thought things were so bad. And I'm glad that the idea came before the reinforcing event, instead of the other way around.

It's usually possible to hang on for just a bit longer. And maybe that's all we need, in most cases. Even if we have to keep committing to that "bit" over and over, success is probably right around the corner.

Trial and Error

Other people went to parties, watched TV, or drank champagne--I spent New Year's Eve on two beauty experiments, going to bed in braids and wearing Kate Beckett eye makeup.

The former left me with an overgrown Afro look, and the latter did NOT leave me looking like a hot TV star or even a runway-ready NYPD detective. It did, however, leave me looking like a 40-something librarian with nice eye makeup, so I'm keeping the look. 

ps: In other beauty news, the fringe is definitely history. I've gone all week without even a barrette to keep the hair out of my eyes.

-------
photo: Chicago Daily News. 1928. [Mary Pickford getting her hair cut, sitting in a chair in a barber shop]. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0085860. Courtesy of Chicago History Museum. Available from American Memory at http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/cdn:@field(NUMBER+@band(ichicdn+n085860))

Agony, or, Accepting Imperfection

I'm testing paint colors in my bedroom for the second time (no, the paint I selected last time isn't going to work, but I'd rather not discuss that). To compound my troubles, I'm testing trim colors, and doing the same in the hall and other bedrooms. AND I'm planning to paint the ceilings.

Selecting and applying paint is something I would dearly love to pay someone else to do, but I apparently don't want it enough to save* for it, so here I am. I have a friend who paints at the drop of a hat, and to be honest, the results are not always stellar, in my opinion. But I admire my friend for just doing it (and for being happy with the results). I agonize over every last detail and worry so much about an imperfect outcome that I usually paralyze myself into inactivity.

I'm going to do my best to take the plunge this time and let the chips fall where they may.

*In my defense, I'm saving for the things I am literally incapable of doing myself, like car repairs, electrical work, tree trimming...

Relativity

I have difficulties and frustrations, a few that seem particularly unfair and sometimes even insuperable, but every day I hear about someone else's circumstances that are certainly more devastating than mine.

Of course, I wouldn't wish those circumstances on anyone, but I'm nonetheless grateful they aren't mine.

Tasty

It turns out that candy cane Peeps dipped in chocolate are quite good. Wish I'd known that in time to snap up a few more after Christmas!

Be Prepared

This is the reason for keeping a plastic spoon in the car: impromptu visit to the antipasto bar at Fresh Market.

Life

Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just ordinary people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. . . .

Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.

Jenkin Lloyd Jones, quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1018

Generations

These photos are a year old, so one of the subjects doesn't look like this anymore!

Upside Down

I've gone to sleep at 6 am two days in a row. I think I'm in for an ugly time of it pretty soon.