Hi. After changing my theme and blog name 218 times within the last week, I decided that I’m just not comfortable here at WordPress.

I moved to here: http://unfortunatewindow.blogspot.com/

What was the last book you bought? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Name a book you have read MORE than once Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus by Dave Barry

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it? Eat, Pray, Love, The Last Lecture,

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews. I would say a combination of all of the above. I more likely to choose a book based on recommendations though, despite what the cover design or summary is like.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction? A little of both.

What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot? That depends on the type or genre of book. If it’s meant to self-help or motivating book, I expect great writing to keep me interested. On the other had, if it’s a entertaining fiction, I expect a gripping plot to keep me hooked.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book) Most memorable character/book for me was Olympia Biddeford from Fortune’s Rocks by Anita Shreve

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment? I don’t have any on my nightstand at the moment but if I did, it would be my current read.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it? Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter – I finished it a few weeks ago.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in? Yes, definitely. Depending on how I’m feeling, if the book is too heavy or too slow I’ll put it down and try again later after I’ve read a different book.

What book are you reading now? Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

World. Meet my other self. Her name is Lilly.

Lilly is a bitch with a freezer-burned ice cube for a heart. She kicks puppies. And also makes fun of one-armed, dyslexic babies. She’s in a perpetual state of PMS. Beware. Rawr.

Just what you needed, more election fodder, right? I’ll keep it short.

Please use the outcome of this election as an opportunity to be more involved, to make your voice be heard, to speak up for those who can’t and to reach out into your community to start working TOGETHER to make this a better place for all of us to live. It’s time to show our children the progress that can be made when people work together, despite their differences, to acheive America’s goals.

I was browsing through some journaling prompts I found online and came across one that made me pause: When was the last time you did something you’re passionate about?

The short answer is: I can’t remember a time that I’ve ever been passionate about anything.

This disturbs me. Am I floating through life just existing, not making a difference in anyone’s life? More importantly, what kind of example am I setting for my child? I’ve lectured her quite a few times about finding something in her life she can be passionate about instead of watching tv or spending hours on her computer. Maybe what I was really saying to her was – don’t end up like me. This really got me thinking, so much so that I can barely write this post.

I want to have something of my own that I’m passionate about. I want to have something that motivates me, pushes me and challenges me. I want to show my daughter (and myself) how fulfilling life can be when you’re passionate about something. I want to feel the satisfaction that comes from the accomplishments and achieving the goals.

How do I do that? How do I find what I’m passionate about? Do I go out and look for it? Does it find me?

One thing that’s come out of this introspection is this: I’m coming to a realization that I might not be the person I thought I was. Even though I’ve felt myself changing over the past couple of years – changing into a soft-centered, cranky, dead fish that points out the flaws of others and follows a very well tread path – I’ve made one hell of an effort to deny it. If you were to ask me to describe myself, I would probably list those qualities as all of the things I’m not and proceed to tell you what an assertive, intelligent, compassionate woman I am and how I strive to make my own path in life.

Who am I trying to fool? Myself apparently.

Hmm, this topic requires more thought…

I intended to rearrange my bedroom today because I get get bored easily and like to change things around every once in a while. Something came over me and I decided to do the living room instead. The problem with our living room is that it’s narrow which makes it difficult to to create a “focal point”. It doesn’t help that we don’t have a huge budget for furniture. Not to mention that we don’t have a dining room eitherso our very large, round dining room table sits in the living room. It doesn’t look too awful, just out of place.

After thorough planning and research (impulse buy), I went out and purchased a new dining table.  Nothing fancy, just one of those cheap, put-it-together-yourself deals.  I thought it’d be a nice surprise for my fiance when he gets home. However, it’s taken me an hour to put together ONE chair.

*Note to self:  next time, spend the extra money to purchase furniture already assembled and have it delivered.

I’m trying NaBloPoMo this month. It’ll be a challenge but I need a kick in the butt, I need to get motivated about something, anything. Since my blog is composed of complete randomness, no real theme to speak of, I’ll probably use writing promts when i get stumped. And maybe along the way I’ll find a direction for it, or maybe decide I never want to blog another word again.

I’m hoping this will also force me to get out and experience more, which will ultimately give me more to write about. I’m looking foward to the challenge!

“You’re late.”

“There are only two reasons why you would point out someone’s flaws: A)Your intention was to help them improve or B)You needed to boost your own self esteem. Since my punctuality doesn’t need improvement I’m guessing your motivation was the latter. However, in order to get the best return on your investment while trying to boost your self esteem, it’s best to choose victims with lower self esteem then your own. Otherwise, you only succeeded in showing me the ugly side of yourself.”

Dear Nicole,

I found this recently in an old book of mine. My mom printed it and gave it to me when I was a teenager. I’ll do the same for you soon and hopefully you’ll save it and happen upon it later in life after you’ve had children.

“Some day when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I will tell them:

• I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom and what time you would be home.
• I loved you enough to insist that you save your money and buy a bike for yourself even though we could afford to buy one for you.
• I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
• I loved you enough to make you take a Milky Way back to the drug store (with a bit out of it) and tell the clerk, “I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it.”
• I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.
• I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren’t perfect.
• I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I’m glad I won them, because in the end you won something too.”

-Author Unknown.

With all the love in my heart,

Mom

It’s Saturday morning, 6:43, and I’m wondering why I don’t feel like a real adult. I look at other people on the street, online, on their way to work, on the phone and I realize I don’t act like that. For a second or two I feel ashamed and a little embarrassed. “You’re too goofy and free spirited, you’ll never accomplish anything like that” I say to myself. But this is who I am. This is where I’m comfortable. And somewhere inside of me is a tiny, feisty, redheaded leprechaun that absolutely refuses to let me act the way others do just to fit in.

Maybe I won’t accomplish anything worth while to you, but at least I’ll never have to sacrifice my identity to be part of the crowd.

It’s lonely here. And I’ve forgotten how to interact with society.

Balance is just out of reach. I guess I’ll just have to run faster.