Carnivale!

Today is the first Tuesday of August, so that makes it the day of our Annual neighborhood block party. It also makes it a press day, and a super long press day at that. Didn't even step out of the office until almost 8PM.

Right now my neighbors are all gathered around the building having a Gong Show! For reals! It is actually really sweet. It seems that Karaoke is the talent for the day. Some people are not half bad. I keep hearing cheers and laughter. It makes me happy. It reminds me of what a wonderful neighborhood we live in and what a sense of community this little place has. We have so many interesting characters around here. This is a writer's wonderland for material. It is the sort of place I always imagined raising my children. It is why, even though we have been consistently getting rent increases every 6 months on the nose, we stay here. (We have looked around a lot over the last few months since our last increase and really, there is no better deal, unless we want to live in a slightly more isolated part of the hill. Still close, but not in the center of the community like this place is.)

I like that my child has grown up knowing these people, and living in this city. If I had not had such an exhausting day I might even have tried my hand at a little Karaoke, but instead I think I am going to pour myself a nice tall glass of cold Iced Tea and enjoy the wonderful people who live and laugh around me every day.


Happy First Tuesday of August everyone!

Carys

Another adorable photo of my new niece! Look at her smile. TOO SWEET!

Just be. Every tomorrow is a new chance to start over.

"Bright light, dark shadow. Sometimes you just can't get past it." This line is a quote from a very sweet blog written today by a very talented
MS/LJ-friend of mine, PKM. It really touched me, and got me thinking so I felt I had to re-post the line and elaborate on how it made me feel.

This line touched me because I have known many people throughout the years, friends and distant relatives, that the sentiment describes perfectly. People who really do have these great big hearts that are so full of potential and magical minds who seem to be so bound by anger, fear and pain that they always seem to have a dark shadow of paranoia looming over their path.

It is as if they are always swinging wildly in the dark with their eyes closed tight trying to take down anyone who gets close to them or tries to reach out to help them.
It makes me sad, because I think living your life, walking around with so much anger and hate all of the time must be incredibly hard. (Not only is this a mental illness, but I also really believe that living like that is connected to illness such as Cancer. Not the only cause by any means, but how can it not be? Hatred in it's own right is a Cancer.)

I really do feel for anyone who goes through it and lives like that every day. It is the exact reason I want to go to school to become a therapist or a nurse someday. Maybe get the opportunity to help people like the ones I have lost to mental illness over the years, before they are beyond help?
I wish there was something that I could do to help them now, but at the end of the day, they can only truly help themselves.

A person so hell bent on hurting themselves can't be cured by all of the love in the world, they would not know what to do with it. They need to want to help themselves first. I had to learn that the hard way several times in my life before it stuck.

The first step to any recovery process is learning to really love/believe in yourself, the rest will follow.


PS- thanks so much PKM for the inspiration!

************************************************************
"I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong
And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy
And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen
And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in

I know I would apologize if I could see your eyes
cause when you showed me myself I became someone else
But I was caught in between all you wish for and all you need
I picture you fast asleep
A nightmare comes
You cant keep awake

cause if I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
If I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
You

I dont know anymore
What its for
Im not even sure
If there is anyone who is in the sun
Will you help me to understand
cause I been caught in between all I wish for and all I need
Maybe youre not even sure what its for
Any more than me

May gods love be with you
Always..."
In The Sun by Joseph Arthur

Birthweekend!

It was not just a day, it turned into an entire weekend event!

I almost forgot to mention the fact that my office surprised me on Friday afternoon with a mouthwatering cake from some cute little bakery downtown, doughnuts in the morning, and roses on my desk when I got to work. OH, and they got me a card that plays the chicken dance song! Too adorable!

Then the party last eve was so much fun! I figured it would just be a low key party with the usual suspects at our local watering hole, but so many people turned up that I have not seen in ages, it was such a great surprise! My friends spoiled me with wonderful gifts from Sephora, lush and my favorite coffee place as well as some other cool things. (My Mom made me a beautiful purse & wallet that she gave me when I saw her on Thursday, I will have to post photos of it soon!)
Licia brought a cake that was chocolate with white frosting and red roses and had a delicious Bavarian cream center. When 20+ sing happy Birthday to you, you really feel like you have bee sung to!! Even the old guy walking by on the street outside joined in since it was a nice night and they had the front open.

I ended up having two friends stay over since they were in no shape to drive, so this morning they treated me to Brunch. Now I am all tuckered out and ready to cat nap all day and watch movies.

Like I said, I have the greatest friends ever. They make me feel super loved every day. I'm so lucky to have them in my life and I love every single one of them like family!