The Journey of Me

I haven't been able to think of witty titles lately, so I have been leaving them blank.

I have had a very hectic month! Working every day, helping friends out with lovely wedding stuff, and other miscellaneous things has kept me very busy. It's nice to finally relax and just think of nothing. Of course, my body made me do that when it decided to give me a slight fever, a hacking cough, mucous filling my lungs and nose i.e. a cold. I slept. I read. I cleaned/vacuumed/washed my room. I watched TV. It was fabulous. It was also slightly boring, but it beat getting more sick at work. I was also banned from work, so that helped as well. I am much better because of that.

I have quit the Weight Watchers site, but I am still trying to live the life of a WWer. In the beginning it was hard because I just wanted to go willy-nilly and just not care. But then I remembered how much I enjoyed eating right and losing weight. And I remembered the reason why I quit was because I felt that I could beat this plateau better then a money-hungry site could. It kept saying I wasn't inputting my activity points right and that is why I reached my plateau. Forget the fact that my body got used to eating right and is now wondering what is next. Also, you have to do different physical activities in order to shock the body. They didn't even mention that. So, after much struggle (and apparently a co-workers want for me to gain weight as her revenge with cupcakes), I kept going. And I lost three more pounds! So, hah! And I am wearing smaller clothes! Hah! My friend and I went shopping one day to get a dress for the wedding, and she forced me to try Junior department clothes. I said, "No! I have never fit in those!" But, she made me and now I own clothes from the Junior department. And they fit me. They actually fit me. I am now determined to keep this up because it feels so fucking good to actually feel/see the progress of it all.

During the month of work work work, I found a new way to relax at the end of the day: listening to podcasts. Now, I used to think it weird that I would have to sit down and listen to something. I'm the type of person that has to do something while listening. I don't listen to music just sitting there. That's why I have been to maybe two concerts in my life. I am running around the room. Cleaning. Working on homework. On the computer. I like to do things. Well, someone kept telling me that I should listen to some knitting podcasts. Since I needed to find some sort of entertainment for Amie to listen to while I'm away, I figured podcasts could work for me. So, I downloaded the Knit Picks podcast while I was at it. Let me tell you, I love listening to that podcast! And I am determined to listen to all the other ones that my friends were telling me. I just love to listen to the podcast while I knit. I don't have to worry about looking up from my knitting if I am missing a scene, or have to worry about truly concentrating on plot. I was able to finish a complicated shawl pattern because of listening to the podcast. And I don't feel drained or feel stoned after listening because I am using my mind, ears, and fingers! I am also learning a lot about new knitting techniques and fiber information. So, I am determined to do this every afternoon after work. I feel more relaxed and probably will live much longer. :)

I have been enveloping myself in Michael Ondaatje. I blame my friend from knitting group. One day, I decided to go to the used bookstore next door from L'amyx Tea Bar (Spectator Bookshop). They had, on sale, Michael Ondaatje's new book "Divisadero". I fell in love with him when I read his very famous novel "The English Patient". I read it because I kept hearing about the movie. I am always the type of person that has to read the book before the movie because Hollywood always disappoints me when they try to adapt literature. I like to keep being disappointed, apparently. But, anyway. So I came into the tea bar with my prizes, and the ladies definitely had to see it. My friend and I started talking about how much we love Ondaatje. She then asked me, "Have you read his poetry?" Now, I am not the type that likes to read poetry. I prefer hearing it, but not reading it. She kept telling me that I have to read it. So, a couple of weeks ago, she gave me a humongous volume of Michael Ondaatje's works and said, "Read it. You will love it." Well, I was very much surprised to find that I DID love his poetry. I also loved his prose (always did), but I found his poetry to be surprisingly wonderful as well. Usually a huge volume like what I was given takes me longer to read, but I just kept reading and reading and reading. I was sad when I finished it today. So, after contemplating the possible Ondaatje burn-out, I decided to start reading another Michael Ondaatje book called "Anil's Ghost". I just have to be immersed a little bit more.

One more week, and I am off on vacation! Yeeaaahhhh!!! We are motorhoming down to Newport Beach, and just relaxing. The only set plans that we have is going to Disneyland for two days. Other then that...it is all up in the air. Which is nice. I have been the type of person that had to plan everything, but lately I have been wanting to just...do...nothing. No planning. No making sure we make it to a certain place at a certain time. Just...nothing. It sounds nice. I am looking forward to it.