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• I resigned from my job of seven years. No more insurance.
• I terminated my lease six months early.
• I sold all but one of my furnishings and most of my books, movies, and music.
• I planned a move from a city I’d spent the past eleven years.
• My guy and I loaded a U-Haul, an SUV, a kitty gym, and Jasper and drove two days.
• We moved two states away to a  new city, which I had been to once (for one week).

Packed, originally uploaded by Brian Auer.

1. No more melted ice cream.
2. Quick trips will truly be quick.
3. Hours will not be wasted waiting for buses and trains.
4. Waiting in the cold, rain, snow, and sleet will be a piece of the past.
5. My arms will not be stretched and sore from hauling groceries home.
6. Dressing cute for an evening out in the winter will be a possibility.
7. I will be designated driver extraordinaire!

354/365 off the beaten track, originally uploaded by obo-bobolina.

The NaPoBloMo theme this month is Want, so I am going to share my “Bucket List.”:

1. Ride on the back of a Harley motorcycle.
2. Make love in a thunderstorm.
3. Backpack across Europe with a friend or partner.
4. Visit the Tuscany region of Italy (and Florence).
5. Spend some time in Seattle.
6. Visit a nude beach.
7. Attend a bonfire on the beach.
8. Return to the UK.
9. Go to Burning Man.
10. Live somewhere outside of the Midwest.
11. Drink a mint julep in the South.
12. Own a home, with a porch swing and roses (again).
13. Get more tattoos and perhaps another piercing.
14. Photograph models.
15. Find a positive, long-term match for myself.
16. Walk across Abbey Road.
17. Write for a local/familiar publication.
18. Simultaneously own Converse sneakers in multiple colors/designs.
19. Get my freakin’ driver’s license.
20. See more Broadway musicals/plays.
21. Travel to Amsterdam and smoke pot in a marijuana bar.
22. Walk through the Red Light District (before it is gone).
23. Travel through Asia with a friend or partner.
24. Possess a bottle of Chanel No. 5.
25. Learn conversational Spanish well.
26. See the canyons of Utah.
27. Visit San Francisco.
28. Attend a game at Wrigley Field.
29. Ride in a limousine.
30. Take a ride in a helicopter (and not the emergency kind!).
31. Meet Ani DiFranco.
32. Escape from the rat race at an age when I can still enjoy doing so.
33. Finish my family scrapbooks.
34. Own a pickup truck.
35. Drink Guinness in an Irish pub.

Top 7 of St. Louis

1. B.B.’s Jazz, Blues & Soups – Incredible blues musicians have come from all parts to play here.  Some musicians have included Billy Peek Band, Henry Townsend, Magic Slim, and Marquise Knox.  B.B.’s has a great selection of beers for those beer lovers out there and delicious food too – the sweet potato fries are a big hit.
2. City Garden – This is the newest feature of St. Louis city and I absolutely love it.  Located downtown, numerous sculptures are found throughout; twisting paths snake around the trees and sculptures; water features add a whimsical touch, and a flat screen displays unique imagery.
3. City Museum – Exceptionally unique and artistic, the City Museum is an experience no other city can offer.  This year the City Museum opened its rooftop theme park.  Several multiple floor slides, recycled items adorn the walls and floors, and a quaint bar called the Cabin Inn is attached and is in fact the relocated cabin of Daniel Boone’s son.
4. Fabulous Fox Theatre – The theatre is a gorgeous, remarkable space and a fantastic venue.  Some outstanding Broadway shows come to this theatre.  Well-known comedians and musicians perform here.
5. Missouri Botanical Gardens – This is a very picturesque setting and is often a peaceful place for reading, thinking, or writing.  Several times a year festivals are held that offer incredible culture and variety to patrons.  Also held here is the Whitaker Music Festival, with local favorites performing here for free concerts every Wednesday throughout the summer months.
6. The Sheldon – This is a perfect, very intimate setting for a great concert.  The modest size allows for up-close viewing of the musicians and a greater acoustic sound throughout.  Musicians including Cowboy Junkies, Herbie Hancock, Suzanne Vega, Wynton Marsalis, and a slew of others have performed in the space.
7. Tivoli Theater – A beautiful, historic theater space, the Tivoli shows interesting and provocative independent films.  What’s more, every November the St. Louis International Film Festival screens some of its films here.

festivus logo, originally uploaded by Dot D.

In honor of Festivus [for the Rest of Us], I provide you with my list of grievances for 2008:

1. ADHD.
2. Airfares (at present).
3. Bad television.
4. Begging.
5. Being on hold.
6. Bullies.
7. Cabin fever.
8. Celebrity worship.
9. Cold weather.
10. Confusion.
11. Corporate bailouts.
12. Darkness before 5.
13. Disappointment.
14. Dishonesty.
15. Disrespect.
16. Drama.
17. Expectations.
18. Frustration.
19. Fundamentalists.
20. Inauthenticity.
21. Jasper biting.
22. Loud talkers.
23. Low wages. (more…)

Things that may have gotten in the way of blogging this week…

• Jasper snuggling with me – you try typing with a 20 lb. cat across your arms!
• Going to bed very early – the time change has me wiped out!
• Preparing for the upcoming Man-Made show.
• Searching desperately for my Muse.

Inspired by one of Avitable’s posts, here are some things I really don’t get:

1. Lost.
2. Militant feminism.
3. Grudges.
4. Potty humor.
5. Trolls.
6. The War on Drugs.
7. Overpaid athletes.

If you “get” any of those things listed, do explain.

Courtesy of the ever-fab Avitable:

My favorite age: 30

My best friend: Jasper.

My celebrity crush: Megan Fox, or Daniel Radcliffe.

My defining characteristic: My eyes and my explosive laugh.

My most evil moment: I have been quite the vixen multiple times. ;)

My favorite food: Steak or cupcakes.

My grossest injury: Breaking my jaw on both sides and cracking all my back teeth when I fainted at 14.

My biggest hatred: It’s a tie between disrespect and dishonesty.

My most illegal activity: I have done [minor] drugs once or twice…

My need for justice: Reigns supreme.  (LOL)

My most knowledgeable field: I really am not sure about this one.

My life’s goal: To make every moment matter.

My mother’s influence: She taught me the importance of regular correspondence.

My nerdiest point: My entire h.s. experience.

My oldest memory: I was 6.  It was traumatic and involved physical pain.

My perfect date: Dressing up, flowers, steak dinner, and a funny movie.

My unanswered question: Is there a higher power and if so how pissed is (s)he?

(more…)

I am working to have a more positive mindset, so took some time this evening to come up with a list of things I am grateful for:

59 THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

1. Jasper – he usually can pull me out of a funk.
2. Seth – he [was] my beau and [treated] me so well.
3. My pups – they may not share a home with me anymore, but I still love ‘em!
4. Friends – these people have stuck with me through thick and thin.
5. Freedom of speech – God knows I would be in a dank cell somewhere otherwise! ;)
6. Creative outlets – Photography, writing, crafty things, all of them feed my spirit.
7. My job – in the terrible economic condition we are in I am happy just to have a job.
8. Wireless internet – I really cannot imagine being without wireless at home.
9. Intelligent conversation – I crave it and am better for it being a part of my life.
10. Weight loss – I am the thinnest I have been in four years and it feels great!
11. Hugs – My day is so much better when it includes a hug!
12. Forgiveness – I am not easy to love so I appreciate the forgiveness given to me.
13. Insurance – without the insurance I have I wouldn’t be able to afford my meds. (more…)

One of my blogger pals, Hilly, recently put up a post on simple rules to be her friend and she permitted me to post a similar list on my own blog, as I was so inspired by her list.  Without further adieu.

1.  Authenticity:  I don’t want to be friends with a facade.  I want to be friends with a person.  If you play games, talk behind my back, or otherwise show yourself to be dishonest and untrustworthy, I don’t need or want you in my life.

2.  Intelligence: Be able to put together an e-mail with decent grammar and spelling.  I like to surround myself with people with whom I can have an intelligent conversation ‚ whether it’s about art, books, current events, film, music, or something else.  It is a plus if you’ve read a book in the last decade ‚ and not a text book or one on serial killers.

3.  Open-mindedness:  If you are homophobic, sexist, racist, or otherwise closed-minded we will not get along.  I have friends and family members of many beliefs, cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles and I don’t appreciate my friends (or me) being discriminated against.

4.  Respect:  It’s a matter of respect saying please, thank you, and bless you (if someone sneezes).  Furthermore, it is respect to hold a door for someone, to treat service staff like people, to not talk over others, and to not to stand up friends (call if you can’t make it).  If you don’t show respect for me and/or others, I will quickly lose my respect for you and will not want to spend time with you.

5.  Sense of humor:  I can appreciate a dark, twisted sense of humour but also appreciate a dry sense of humor (think British comedy) or slapstick humor (think Chevy Chase).  I’m varied in my sense of humor, clearly, so it doesn’t take much to get a laugh out of me.  Laughter is important in any relationship, including friendship.