happy turducken* day

It's Thanksgiving already, and all I can think about is...how tired I am!

But I'm thankful for:

1. Health
2. Family (primarily the Mister)
3. Friends
4. Home
5. Pets

And the many awesome things that have occurred so far in 2008 -- like turning 3-0, several fun times w/ girlfriends (my faves notably being dancing and tea), getting a beauty writing gig, getting a better job, traveling, and the day to day moments that really make up life. Ultimately, as I am growing/changing/aging, my priorities and values shift. And as you can see from my list, the basics are the most important.

Things yet to occur in 2008:

1. Visit family for Thanskgiving (flying out Thursday, which is technically today - note the time is 12:45 am).
2. Over the Rhine show and work holiday parties - all occurring three days in a row.
3. The Mister turns 30 and we celebrate our 5-year anniversary in the same week.
4. Survive layoffs (fingers crossed - I just got there).
5. Christmas (and the expected gift shopping, I guess. Maybe.).
6. Watch movies like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Twilight, Milk, Four Christmases.
7. New Year's Eve tbd.

Yes people, I am TIRED. I want to wile away some days in my pj's. I will get my chance between the week of Christmas and New Years, when I have the whole week off for "voluntary vacation" or "office closure" or whatever they call it. My plans: read and watch chick flicks at home.

Speaking of reading, I have 3 books I borrowed from the library 4 weeks ago and that are still relatively untouched:

1. The Pursuit of Love/Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford.
2. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.
3. The Collection (don't remember who the author is).

Plus the book I actually bought - a biography about the Mitford sisters. And at some point I will get Georgiana, the biography about The Duchess.

Why haven't I been reading? Because the internet is evil and I've been catching up on whole seasons of Entourage and 30 Rock online, and backtracking Gossip Girl season 1. I need to be unplugged from the Matrix. But on my own time - if someone tries to pull the plug for me, I'll get mad.

This post was rather list-y. Making lists is soothing. I should go to bed. G'nite.

--
* I don't actually condone the consumption of turduckens. That's gross.

restless

I go through phases of restlessness. They often come in times of mild bouts of depression. I've never been diagnosed with clinical depression, but in college my counselor said I should have been when I was in the fourth grade. Alas, I've stumbled through the past thirty years okay but with waves of lows. This is not a case of cause and effect. Really, I don't have complaints about my life and things are good. But once in a while there's this chemical switch that goes off and makes me feel empty and a bit lost. This awful feeling is more acute now that I've tasted happiness for fairly lengthy segments. Like, consistent and unadulterated happiness that I didn't know was possible until the past couple years.

My restlessness has a kinship with the dark and I crave being outside at night. Driving on the freeway yesterday, I reveled in the sky who's moon shed just enough light to reveal layers of black, gray, and navy. I miss seeing the full moon at West Cliff in Santa Cruz, making the ocean shine like black opal. I miss walking the grounds of Los Poblanos Inn in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in stillness and cool evening weather. I hate that I can't articulate how it feels (though a good scream might help), that I don't know how to pinpoint the problem or make it stop on command. And I know that these moments of restlessness could be my subconscious trying to point me somewhere, forcing me to dig deeper with already tired hands.

And it's moments like these where I curse my intuition, my introspection, and wish I was an unfeeling and cold-hearted bastard.

one

Meditating on this today. It's not new, but it is powerful and timeless to me.



For lyrics, click here.

President Barack Obama

"Yes we can" - YES WE WILL. YES WE DID.

Yes, in this lifetime.

Yes, right now.

Yes, Barack Obama is our next president.

Obama didn't just win a campaign, he didn't just become president-elect. He inspired people to hope again, made us remember that change is within reach, made us CARE. He shows us our country's bright potential. This victory has revived so many weary souls.

We will never forget tonight because history has been made. I am so grateful and moved to have witnessed this significant event. Tonight, I am more proud of my country than I have ever been.

***

For a transcript of Obama's incredible victory speech, click here.