about "blahbing" on so many blogs...

I just started a new blog.  It is called my morning moxie and I am really excited about it. It is my 11th blog.  Yes, eleventh.  (I know)  Even more interesting, it is actually the second blog I have started by that name. 
It wasn't supposed to be this way.  It all started so innocently with a travel blog.  It felt so brilliant...go on a trip and write to friends and family about adventures from half a world away.  Fun, right?  While I was on that trip, however, I was inspired to start Daily Perspective.  That is something that I never saw coming and would never change.  Then I started with the blahbitties.  (this blog)  My little trio of blogs was so cute.
Then it grew.  Another travel blog.  A blog/hub/webpage for my art/passion/creative ideas.(a candid voice)   A between friends blog.  Then the book blog.(treatise on ink)  A coupon blog. (coupons make cents)  Another travel blog.  A personal "collect my thoughts together so I dont go crazy because I have so many blogs" blog. (if you're counting, I'm just kidding on that one)  The fairly new art projects blog (blARTog).  And finally the newest addition to the family, the new moxie blog, which is about"waking up to a more healthy, creative and balanced life".
I feel like taking a nap after thinking/writing about all of those blogs in one place.  Seriously, I'm bloghausted.
I have considered getting rid of some of my blogs, but I am too attached.  Or maybe I am lost too deep in the online woods of blogland.  Why am I even sharing my life with anyone who knows how to turn on a computer?  And if I am going to put it out there, why am I not trying to make money doing it?  It seems ridiculous.  But then again, maybe I have grown because of blogging.  Maybe I am more disciplined.  Maybe I have developed new ideas and even made new friends.  Yes, perhaps, despite the hundreds of hours of my life I sometimes feel went into some internet black hole, blogging is simply a part of my journey. And now, after dozens of trip musings, almost 1000 photos, some new books read, money saved and new art, ideas and inspirations created, I look back down the blog trail as a new and better person.  Then, all I feel I can do is look ahead and keep going, typing and sharing, only dreaming of what the next view will bring.

Thank you for reading this and any of my other blogs you may read (or will click to today).
If you want to keep track of all of my blogs in one place, check out "my life blogified" on facebook.

a fighter

You think I'd despise you,
But in the end I wanna thank you,
'Cause you've made me that much stronger...



every word resonates and...every memory...every moment makes my heart both break and grow stronger.

sNOw

Portland doesn't quite understand the concept of winter.  And I don't quite understand that.

I grew up in Montana where we used to build snow tunnels in the back yard with ease.  Plugging in our cars at night was normal.  (I already lost some of you, didn't I?)  Subzero temperatures, sledding and snowmen were just a part of this season we call winter.
I moved to Colorado after high school.  As you may know, Colorado embraces winter as well.  I have fond memories of blizzards and snowy outdoor recreation.
Before Oregon, I also lived in Chicago.  Snowy? Yep.  Cold? Um, yeah.  Winter? Absolutely.

Nevermind all the other moving around I did...
I ended up here in Portland, Oregon.  The land of no winter. 
I remember reading somewhere that the average annual snowfall here is less than 6 inches AND that the record low was 5 degrees.  To me, this is crazy. Oh and don't be deceived by six inches.  It basically turns to water the moment it hits the ground.

Perhaps I haven't expressed the fact that I love winter.  Or maybe its more that I love experiencing true seasons.  There is something about everything going dormant while a white blankets the earth and then a bursting out with new life in the spring that just gets me.  I love it.

And this brings me to my recent heartbreak.  It was supposed to snow.  And it did...a little bit here and there.  But then it was really supposed to snow.  All night and then heavy in the morning.  I had a hard time going to sleep as the snow glow brightened the sky and I dreamed of sledding and frosty photos.  My alarm woke me up early (I told you...I was excited), but before I could look outside, I heard it.
Raindrops.

That BIG northwest storm that plastered the news for several days??  Yeah, Portland didn't get that.

After I watched the weather channel lustfully for an hour, I got to thinking about my cold attitude.  I love living where I do.  I hardly ever have to deal with icy roads.  I rarely feel the need to bundle up.  And even as I write this I marvel at the mild January day filled with green grass and sunshine.  I really can't complain much about all that.

But once, just once (each year), I'd love to break out a sled in this winterforsaken town and experience some true snowy glee!

rolling with the credits

I have a hard time walking out of a movie theater before the credits end.

Most of my friends know this about me.  It's just a thing I have.  It feels awkward to me, possibly comparable to screaming uncontrollably at a concert when a song pleas for silence or dancing wildly around a posh (and perhaps slightly uptight) art gallery.  And the awkwardness is only heightened by the discomfort I sense from those around me as they try to understand why I am still sitting there.  I am there because art deserves reflection and those five minutes are a gift.
For one thing, every single name on that screen had something to do with what just happened.  I find myself catching a name or two along the way and wondering who that person is.  How did they become a part of this?  What does their life look like?  How much passion did they devote to this project?  They probably deserve the credit they are getting.  Even more than that, though, I cannot escape the reality that whatever film I just gave part of my evening to had some sort of impact on me.  It doesn't matter whether I feel annoyed or sad or inspired, I FEEL something and really appreciate the time to actually process those feelings.  And they give you a mostly dark, mostly empty room with a specifically chosen song filling the void to do so...
I can't walk out on that.

to new york on a train

watched a sunset * hugged a friend * made a new one * read a lot * wrote even more * rode a blizzard * walked familiar city streets * woke up to vineyards * gazed again * found inspiration * laughed with old friends * cheered in central park * had a drink or two or ten * opened eyes * headed north * heard traveling stories * heartbreaker * ate a cupcake * wrote again * skipped rocks * laughed again * said too many goodbyes * wrote again again * headed home and left * again

heart right now

walking the void with bittersweet distraction
fading into glances
and hazy love

corroded by loss
pounding strong with an ache
only waves can wash away

ideas are ideas

I've been pondering the idea of ideas lately.  I have lots of ideas.  I even feel passionately about them.  However, all they will ever be are ideas floating around in my head until I turn them into something else.  It's time for me to take some action.  I've taken all kinds of little steps here and there and cannot deny the footsteps of progress I look back and see.  I've even walked right up to the edge and allowed myself to become familiar with the vastness of my passion and desire for change, but it's time to jump.  It's time to shed these last layers of weight holding me down and truly free myself to take my ideas and make them a reality.  Because ideas are just ideas...until they become something else.

road trip blips

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles"


Upon pondering this quote, I have been inspired to share some thoughts from a recent trip. I ventured out via car, train and uhaul over the course of two weeks and seven states to reconnect with old friends, make room for new ones, spend time with the ones so close, see new and growing children and bring one friend back "home" with me. Random thoughts from the journey:

Thai food:
I LOVE Thai food. I would venture to say that it is my favorite cuisine. But what happens when pad thai combines with a beautiful evening and an old friend I haven't seen in over ten years? Thai food becomes a million times more fabulous. Also, cutting up magazines while eating leftover thai food will always make me happy.

On the (rail)road again:
Something else I love? Taking the train. It requires a time deposit which I find easy to respect while staring out windows at sights not seen from other roads. When my gaze turns away from the window, I see people. Everyone is going somewhere, but for now, be it hours or days, we are all together on the train. To embrace this little community is a part of the nostalgia of the tracks. To those I met on this trip, I thank you for sharing your stories, your markers, your laughter, your homemade cookies, your thoughts and your plum brandy. Cheers!

Naps:
I'm not much of a napper. On average, I'd say I nap MAYBE once a month. But the day I arrived early on the train and ventured up into the clouds, a nap was my best friend. Engrained in my mind still because I was so content, I found myself curled up on my sleeping bag listening to the lake and soaking up the sun while drifting in and out of sleep, unsure of whether to truly sleep or just enjoy the peace.

Colorado transplants:
I love that I have friends from college to visit when I go back to Montana. Whitefish friends...thank you for being there with your colorful walls that always make me happy, your homemade granola, dancing and music and not needing plans. Sorry I kind of abandoned you for huckleberries. It happens. And Bozeman friends...thank you for having time to reconnect and for sharing your baby and that delicious dessert. Thank you all for always offering up a place to stay. Please say "hi" to the snow for me when it comes. I fear I may not be buiding any snowmen this winter. Super weird.

Talk about quality time:
In only a few days, my mom and I managed to visit both Glacier and Yellowstone, take lots of photos, go camping, discover a new type of marmot, move a huge boulder, pick gallons of huckleberries, listen to lots of classic rock, go shopping, make friends at Arby's and drive about 1000 miles. Good times indeed.

Picture Perfect:
Yellowstone is always a wonderful adventure, but meeting a wonderful friend there makes it even better, especially when it's a favorite photo snapping partner in crime and when the adventure takes a grizzly turn. (Pun partially intended.) I am glad for three things:
1. That we tented it even after the ladies told their crazy bear story about our campsite.
2. That we saw a grizzly.
3. That the sick bear decided to attack the night after we left.
Bear with me (pun fully intended) as I deposit more memories. Oh also, people are stupid. "Not us...it's others." Hee hee. No but seriously, bull elk are dangerous too.

Denver:
Pub. Beer. Phone Booth. Ice Cream. Laughter. Pianos. People Watching. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos. Fabulous stories. Margaritas. Mix together all these things with friends from all over and enjoy. Lovely day.

Peeps and pipsqueaks:
Sometimes the thing you need most is just a day with the girls. It doesn't really matter whether shopping for umbrellas, sitting around eating chocolate, making peepsushi or playing dress-up. On a sidenote of sorts, I am thrilled to see that Kiley's fashion sense is coming along smashingly. Really, though, there are friends that will be there no matter what new roads are being travelled and they will always be the perfect day in the middle of an adventure...

Fort Fun:
*sigh* This town will always have a place in my heart. SO MANY memories. It was a blast this time around too. A trip to the ever flourishing mall may be my last ever considering the absence of Chick-Fil-A. What?! Bad move mall. Thankfully, we tracked down a #3 with magic lemonade across the street. Old town is still lovely and Old C's still a great gathering place. The parks make for great picnics as always, but is it just me or is our crowd getting overrun by children? Pretty sure they will soon take control...

Master Plan - Step One:
The last part of the trip was the drive back to Oregon...in a Uhaul...friend in tow. Mwahhahaha. See, if I could make Portland the new Fort Collins, my life would be pretty near perfect. Why? Because I love where I live. It has pretty much everything I've been wanting...except every person I love. That is why you are all going to move here and we are going to live happily ever after. Ok, I realize this is probably not going to happen, but I am still going to try. I suppose it's for the best anyway if SOME of you stay where you are, otherwise I would have no friend filled road trips to write about now would I?

At Last:
It will always be a spectacular song. Nope...has nothing to do with the trip. It is playing on pandora right now and I just felt like mentioning it as I wrap this up.

Thank you friends for being a part of the adventure that is my life. The miles matter not when you are on the other end. See you again next time I hit the road. Or when you move to Oregon. Or when we meet somewhere else. Or here if you're itching to relocate...it's sunny right now. There's an IKEA. And lots of water. And me. Ok...I'm done.

loving local flavor

Recently, I hopped off the lightrail and made my way once again through several park blocks to the farmers market. Once there, I sampled cooked greens, picked out perfect pears and chatted with the honey guy about huckleberries. Fresh colors invaded my heart as I let myself fall in love with this local scene. I am lucky to live somewhere that values local flavor. Aside from the abundance of farmers markets at my doorstep, there are hundreds of homegrown breweries, bakeries, restaurants, fruit stands and farms in every direction. It's not just fun either...it is fabulous. Eating local food supports the local economy, enriches a healthy lifestyle and simply tastes delicious. I recently read a blog post about some of the benefits of eating local food, so check it out, get out and take a bite out of life.
10 Reasons to Eat Local Food

some rich perspective

This is not supposed to make us feel guilty, but rather help up to open our eyes and see what we do have rather than what we want or think we need. It can be so easy to get stuck in our own little world and forget how big the world actually is. I was caught up in my own little world last week, wishing I could buy a new camera right now and throwing myself a lovely little pity party. In fact, I was partying hard and woke up with a very groggy outlook. It was time to open my eyes again to the world and refresh my perspective.

What did I realize? I am very wealthy!

I am incredibly fortunate to have all that I do...health, education, relationships and a place to call home. Even upon remembering these things, I find it easy to think of myself as "not very rich", but guess what? I am in the top 10% of the richest people in the world! In my mind, it doesn't seem possible, but it's true.
Check out where you fall:

I would like to keep my perspective rich and choose to value the things that are priceless rather than those that have earned an earthly appraisal. My life is truly rich and I want to focus on sharing that wealth in whatever ways I can...

No more pity-parties.

How rich is your perspective of your "wealth"?

bite-size blahbittys

It's been a bit since I expanded on a topic floating around in my head, but there has been a lot of random stuff on my mind and I'm in the mood to share, so here we go:

Why choose to fail when success is an option? Good question, huh?

p.s. Success, in some facet, is always an option. Also, if you do "fail", that doesn't mean you are a "failure". Big difference. K. Moving on.

My strawberries are dying. I have been reading up a lot on growing them and I think it is happening because it has been too wet and too cold. (sidenote: currently in the middle of the wettest and coldest June in Portland on record) They are producing berries, but turning brown on the edges of the leaves. If anyone has advice, please do share.

I was listening to Sarah McLachlan radio on Pandora the other day and a Nickelback song came on. Seriously!? "I don't like this song" Click.

I don't drink enough water. I recently started tracking my fitness and nutrition with some friends on dailyburn.com and it quickly became clear that I drink about 45-50 oz. of water each day rather than the recommended 64+ oz. This needs to change!

The things I am learning from doing my photo blog continue to amaze me.

Random pet peeve: I use public transportation several days a week at least and I really do not understand why people sit on the outside seat reading a book and pretend not to notice when the train or bus starts to fill up, magically forgetting that they have an empty seat next to them. I took this photo yesterday and you can see at least three people with empty seats next to them. There were several people standing behind me. What I wish I would have captured was the look of horror and annoyance on one of the riders faces when someone politely asked to sit by them. Seriously, the person standing in front of you paid the same price for this ride as you. Scooch over!!!

I washed my makeup brushes last week. It was gross. I will be washing them much more frequently from now on. I have been washing them with this somewhat pricey spray stuff, but I now know it was not getting the job done. I used baby shampoo to clean them this time and the result was AMAZING. Highly recommended.

This was pretty amazing: "what change can do"

Seriously, where do socks go!?

I have been listening to KT Tunstalls acoustic extravaganza CD on repeat for about four hours now. I love this CD, but it may be time to say goodbye, step away from the computer and get into a new groove for the rest of the day.

peace out

lost got lost

I don't really know where to start with this one because I basically want to rewrite the entire lost finale and that would take me a long time...

a friendly shout out

I read an idea for a blog topic recently entitled "the friends I can't wait to meet" and started thinking about what that might mean to me...or anyone. I tried to come up with the perfect friend in my mind. Perhaps they would be rich and/or famous. Or maybe they would be a mentor of sorts and teach me everything I need to know about what I am trying to do with my life right now. They could be the most encouraging person in the world or the funniest. Or maybe it would just be someone who is in the exact same place in life as me and would truly understand everything. As I tried to dream up these amazing people, my mind kept drifting to those I do know and I was reminded of what incredible friends I have. Fifteen years ago, if I would have found myself thinking the same thoughts, I would have never been able to dream up the friends I had not yet met. I suppose it is realistic that in another fifteen years, I will be looking back and seeing additional friends I did not know now, but today I was reminded of how blessed I am. None of my friends are very famous (no offense friends) and none of us are in exactly the same place in life, but they are perfect and I couldn't ask for more. So, as titled, this is just a shout out to all of my amazing friends. You are "the friends I couldn't wait to meet"! I am so thankful to have you, I love you and be reminded today of how special you are!

colorado came to visit

I've been excited to get out and enjoy the local music scene in Portland and finally went to a concert last weekend. Ironically, I went to see a band from Colorado I discovered last fall and am in LOVE with. I mentioned Elephant Revival in an earlier post, but didn't even have my camera with me at the last concert, so I wanted to finally share some of their sound.

I stepped into a unique venue, an old funeral home on SE Milwaukie, for this one and found a friendly atmosphere. With a glass of wine in my hand, I sat on a couch chatting until Bill Nershi took the stage. For those of you that don't know, "the nersh" is the founder of The String Cheese Incident", another great CO band. He played so much great music, I almost forgot there was still a band coming out until Bonnie joined him on stage with the washboard.

After a few more random collaborations, including Bridget joining in with her fiddle, the whole band finally took the stage and played a TON of music, including s couple songs from their new CD, which will be released in Colorado next month. Here are a couple highlights:

Just when it seemed like the concert would be over and the wee hours of the morning were sneaking in, Bill Nershi took the stage with the whole band and played a few more songs.

It was a great concert. Amazing music. Fun venue. Dancing people. I love Elephant Revival. They groove together on the stage, swap several instruments, take turns singing and create awesome music. Consider checking them out! Find their upcoming shows on their website.

where i am

well, i am here.

i am in this place where i have wanted to be.

it is sunny and rainy and busy and fun

every step i have taken along the way has filled me and traveled with me and is still with me here

destinations have collided into this one place

and i feel a longing to plant and to grow not to stop stepping or learning or looking but to stay and to go

my eyes are open and cast gaze on so many loves

my heart beats strongly

i will laugh i will cry i will love and i will be the person shaped as only me

here where i am

here comes v-day...

I knew I had something I wanted to say about v-day. Something about finding a different way to love this year. I typed and retyped and it wasn't seeming right. Then I read this blog. It was pretty much what I wanted to say. http://freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com/2010/02/being-love-has-never-been-easier.html

not even once

Some of you may recognize my title as the slogan from The Meth Project and if you already know what I'm talking about, then you have probably heard me go on about how awesome the project is. Montana just released it's fifth phase of advertising, which I wanted to share. There has been some talk that the ads are not as "in your face" as previous advertising has been, but I think the new ads are incredibly effective, reaching out to those who may not personally be using or trying meth, but to anyone who turns silent while friends or family turn to the drug. I think it reaches the same audience AND a new audience, supporting both the slogan and the idea that "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

So, what am I talking about? In 2005, the Montana Meth Project was founded by a Montana rancher and businessman. At that time, Montana ranked #5 in the nation for meth use. After much research and uprooting of more staggering statistics, the campaign launched a large-scale statewide prevention campaign that plastered almost every available media source with what I personally consider the most powerful advertising I have ever seen or heard.

Since 2005, meth use in Montana has decreased by 63% in teens and 72% in adults. Meth related crime has also decrased by 62%. These are signifigant changes and proof that the campaign is not only powerful, but effective.

The project has since launched campaigns in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Wyoming, Colorado and Hawaii. Having grown up in Montana, I have lived in Colorado, Illinois and Arizona since the launches and feel that the advertising there was not nearly as widespread as in Montana and hope that the campaigns in those states can reach a similar effectiveness that Montana has had.

Take a look at one of the latest ads, listen to one of the radio ads and then , if you'd like, check out all of the rest and get more info at http://www.montanameth.org/ or http://www.methproject.com/.

If you can't see this for some reason, here's a link: http://www.montanameth.org/View_Ads/tv/popupTV18.php

Check out some of the radio ads too: http://www.montanameth.org/View_Ads/radio.php#

free me

I've had this song on repeat for the last few weeks. Joss Stone rocks!

…Cuz there’s something deep inside of
Me I’ve got to be
And if you find it hard to follow me
If I lose you in my jet stream
Then you only got to raise your eyes
And see me fly
Don’t tell me that I wont I can
Don’t tell me that I’m not I am
Don’t tell me that my master plan
Aint coming through
Don’t tell me that I wont I will
Don’t tell me how to think I feel
Don’t tell me cuz I know what’s real
What I can do
Something that you don’t see everyday
A little girl ‘who’s finding’ her way
Through a world that’s designed to break
All of your dreams
And if there’s one thing I would say to you
It’s that there’s nothing that you can’t do
Cuz it’s all about your attitude don’t let
Them get to you
And we are singing in our own voice
We can make that choice to be
To be free…


I'm having a little trouble with the player, so here's a link to the song:
Free Me by Joss Stone on ilike

If you are not familiar with Joss Stone, check out her music...she is amazing!
http://www.jossstone.com/

c'mon kermit...

It's not easy "being green"?
Really? Because I don't actually think it's that hard. I'm not one to shove recycling, composting, water conservation or other "tree hugging" tendencies down others throats. However, I was recently frusterated when I witnessed someone tossing a plastic bottle into a trash can sitting right next to a recycling bin. And yes, I took the bottle out of the garbage can and threw it into the appropriate bin sitting inches away (and then whipped out the hand sanitizer). So, I saved one bottle. That can't make that big of a difference, can it? I think so.
Let me share a random collection of challenging statistics to get the mind reeling before I rant about the difference one bottle and one person can make:
Recycling ONE aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
One ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water.
Known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and consisting of large concentrations of recyclable plastics, this mass of garbage is found in the north Pacific ocean and occupies an area more than twice the size of Texas.
If each person were to reuse a paper shopping bag for just one trip to the store, we would save 60 000 trees.
In America, the average daily water use per person is 150 gallons. In Japan, the average person uses approximately 100 gallons per day and in France a person uses 75 gallons. In the UK they use approximately 40 gallons per day and in Nigeria they only use 10 gallons per person per day.
A modern glass bottle takes 4000 years or more to decompose, but glass is 100% recyclable and can go from the recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days!
Need a visual? This is the number of beverage cans and bottles that have been landfilled, littered and incinerated in the U.S. so far this year:

The list of impactful statistics is miles long.
Thinking that one bottle, one newspaper, one leaky faucet or one individual does not have an impact is naive. If every one person thinking that way opened their eyes and changed their minds, the entire world would change DRAMATICALLY. Also, being green is not just a fad leftover from the 90's or a political commentary. It benefits our communities by providing jobs and supporting local businesses. It simply (I can provide some wine with this cheese if you would like) makes our local and global world a better place.
So, what do I do to back up my words?
1. I recycle commonly used materials such as plastic, glass, and paper
2. I use reusable shopping bags (and recycle the plastic bags when I forget)
3. I buy recycled materials (sketchbooks, clothing, water bottles)
4. I try to bike, walk and use public transportation
5. I turn off the faucet while I brush my teeth and wash only full loads of laundry.
6. I wrote this blog to remotivate myself and hopefully at least one other person.
I also would like to share a resource. This is probably the most useful recycling website I have ever found, full of great current information and a search tool for local recycing. Please check it out:
http://earth911.com/
Though I do take many steps to reduce my footprint, reuse what I can and recycle many things, I know I can still do more. I use more water than I need to, I want to garden and compost and I am constantly feeling a pull to pursue recyclable art. I will work toward these things because I do believe that I can make a difference.
So can you.
So, please don't feel guilty or annoyed or judged by what I have just shared. Everyone lives in different circumstances with different resources and opportunities, but there is always at least one thing we can do to leave a smaller footprint. Be inspired. If nothing else, please just throw your plastic bottle into the recycling bin, especially when it is sitting right next to the trash.
And go easy on Kermie. He's had a tough time being green.

30/30 vision

A little over ten years ago, I created a list of thirty things I wanted to do by the time I turned thirty. A few weeks ago, I turned thirty, so it was time to break out the list and see how I did. Now I am choosing to share it and encourage anyone reading to make a list of their own...
The things italicized in red are the six things I simply have not done yet.
The things highlighted in blue I consider that I have kind of done, but not to the extent that I would like to...

1. Travel abroad
2. Learn how to knit
3. Visit all 50 U.S. states
4. See a major sporting event
5. Climb a "14er"
6. Write a song
7. Go snorkeling
8. Be a coach
9. Live on the ocean
10. Live in the mountains
11. Live in a big city
12. Watch the northern lights
14. Go on a month long road trip
15. Learn a second language proficiently
17. Go skinny-dipping
18. Stop biting my nails
19. Volunteer/Service trip
20. Go piranha fishing
21. Sing karaoke
22. Spend new years eve in times square
23. Learn how to snowboard
24. Go on one of the top train rides in the world
25. Take a hot-air balloon ride
26. Learn how to develop film
27. Go on a backpacking trip
28. Sponsor a child
29. Go bungee jumping or parasailing.
30. Make a longer list of things to do once I turn thirty

The first thing on your list could be to make a list...