If you have five minutes...

1. Call your mom or dad.
2. Floss your teeth.
3. Water the plants and wipe dusty leaves with a damp paper towel.
4. Respond to emails. (AHEM.)
5. Pitch three old items from the refrigerator. (of course, this assumes you aren't like me and eat every single thing that you have. leftovers are their own food group in my fridge. Thanks granny.)
6. Untangle a necklace.
7. Brush the cat.
8. Remove gum wrappers, receipts and ATM slips from your purse.
9. Shed something. Anything. (this is always fun.)
10. Write a thank you note that you've been putting off.

Guess what? Spring is coming! I can see it. Yellow hyacinth (sp?), daffodils, flowerbuds on the trees and that really bright green of barely unfurled leaves on trees. The knowledge that rainy days are going to give us really really spectacular tomorrows. Plus, I happen to like a steady rainy day. As long as it's not the fifth in a row. But this day was on its own and even had some thunder and lightning during yoga class. (: I like warm weather. and I looooove hot weather. I can't wait.
Plus spring seems to bring out that restless, 'what can we do now?!' feeling in many people including myself. I get this almost uncontainable urge to run and shout and dance and go up to random people and ask them things. Come on! Aren't you excited about breathing! Being alive on this day, this one day in the world?! I realize that this 'theme' has been covered in books, movies, radio and every single form of media. Not to mention conversations between people. But it's because it's so true.
Some of this may come from family and other stuff that's happened over the past year. You know I don't like to talk about big unhappy things. (opposed to the little trivial unhappy things like I get stuck at every red light ONLY when I'm running late. What is that?!) However, my uncle Jay and Aunt Lee both died within the past few months due to colon and skin cancer in October and this past Sunday respectively. They were both siblings of my mom, which means from the youngest child of five, she now has 2 older siblings alive. That is scary. Other people I know have health things going on. So for the mothereffin love people, take care of yourself. You can't prevent certain things, but you can try to be good to your body. It's a machine that works better when you treat it better.
And please, please, please for me, don't just be in this world but live in it. Things are going to go wrong. You will move back in with your parents. Your car will break down. Your checking account may say $0. You might spill soda down your favorite (white!) shirt. People will move away from you. But honestly? You're breathing. You have the amazing ability to wake up tomorrow and have it be full of unknown surprises. You can feel the sun shine down on your face when you step outside. You have friends who love you. You have this moment, right now.
In that train of thought, research has shown that happier people live longer. Now, I had some trouble finding my happy thoughts (peter pan anyone?) during the end of december and january. So, being a giant science nerd I collected research on what can make you happier. Here are the cliff notes:
1. Make a list of three things you're grateful for. (I actually do this when I get in bed. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes serious. But they make me remember good things about the day or look at a bad moment in a new light.)
2. Don't underestimate the power of nostalgia. Put up pictures from your past that make you smile.
3. Don't dwell. Seriously. You may think that going over and over a mistake or problem or friend/ family drama will help you because you think you're finding answers or gaining insight. Stop it. You're actually obessing and constantly bringing negative thoughts to the forefront of your thoughts. That ain't good.
4. Find something little in your routine each day that makes you happy. Look forward to it. For me, it's a) making my bed. because i'm a freak. and making my bed involves straighting the covers and placing a folded blanket across the bottom. and b) my morning breakfast/ coffee routine. Especially on the weekends and my day off.
5. Exercise. Volunteer. Give to a charity. Hold the door open for someone. (and not just that cute guy coming out of the gym.)
6. Find something that you are 100% engaged in while you're involved in it. Start baking. Knitting. Learn to breakdance. Take Yoga classes.
7. Look forward to something in the future. A vacation, a dinner date, going for a hike on the weekend, the next episode of your favorite tv show.
8. Hug people. Show and tell people you appreciate them.

Well there you have it. Love you.

I feel like breakin' into/ electric boogaloo

Congratulations! We have succesfully rocked into another year. Or, in my case, gone to bed before 11 pm and slept into the new year. Which was kind of perfect. Not gonna lie. I figure I've had enough fun ridiculous nights this past year. I don't feel the need to go out and go absolutely crazy just because that's what everyone is supposed to do. Plus I haven't been able to kick this cold/ sickness which has been lingering since Christmas eve. No point in making it worse, eh?
Which meant I woke up on 1/1/11 feeling relatively good and extremely well rested. It was pretty awesome. And I've been working the Emergen-C, OJ, h2o, dayquill routine all day in hopes that I'll get completely better immediately!
Alright. Now on to the seemingly necessary recap of 2010. According to everyone's favorite stalking site, 2010 was a pretty good year. (Thank you FB for keeping us informed of each "friend's" each and every move. creepy? yes. would I go into withdrawal without it? possibly.)
And 2010 was a good year for me too. Of course, after 2009, pretty much anything would have to be good, but I still maintain that each year should be even better than the year before. You should only get more and more excited about life as you get older! So, here are things that rocked in 2010, and I can't wait to enjoy even more experiences in 2011.

Favorite vacation of 2010:
Beach duffyfest with roommate. I had just quit my job, was moving to richmond, and got to meet and spend an entire week with the duffys.

Favorite book of 2010:
Since I can't narrow it down to just one, I will mention 3. By the river piedra I sat down and wept, How we decide, and the books by Mitch Albon.

Favorite trip of 2010:
Not to be confused with vacation. I took many trips for frisbee, etc. By far the best one was to NYC to visit Ali in her amazing apartment in Astoria.

Favorite movie of 2010:
Even though it was pretty dark and twisted, I very much enjoyed Black Swan. Notable mentions go to The Town, Tangled and Inception. Although I still need to see Inception again. At a point when I'm not about to fall asleep.

Favorite restaurant of 2010:
The FanHouse. The food there was amazing.

Favorite bar of 2010:
Either Baja Bean because of the ridiculousness, or Avalon. Notable mentions go to Sweet Afton in Astoria and Cap Ale in Fburg.

Stand out eating moment of 2010:
The cake I had at Astor Bake shop.

Favorite new game of 2010:
Ninja, as taught by the duffy cousins.

Favorite frisbee moment of 2010:
7 minutes made it to regionals. That was pretty cool.

Favorite new friends of 2010:
Basically all my new coworkers, and the fabulous Michelle McAbee, friend of the fantastic Ali Marx who is a favorite old friend. (12 years old, to be exact.)

Favorite random piece of information of 2010:
That a cute guy who I met 2 1/2 years ago thought I was pretty and still likes me. Too bad he's a continent away.

Now, these don't mention the obvious things that have made the past year incredibly amazing. Getting a new job at an amazing vet clinic, moving to richmond into my own apartment with a cool aptmate, training for a half marathon, having debaucherous adventures, and watching my friends rock out in their own lives. So, despite having a bum leg (for which I am doing PT. Everyday. woot.woot.), life is still pretty awesome. I can't wait for 2011.

Things to look forward to in 2011:
My birthday party! (25. 1/4 century party. EVERYONE needs to be excited about this.)
A family trip to the mediterranean or Italy.
Roommate coming to visit with Jacob! (:
Running a half marathon for realzies.
Visiting Astoria again. Hopefully sooner than later. I miss it.
Learning more at work. Veterinary medicine is cool!
Honestly, running again. I will be so pumped when I can do this.
New music, new movies, new books.
Surprises and the unexpected.

Here we go!

New zip code

Yes it's truuuuue! I have officially moved to Richmond, which is super duper exciting. T-rav and Glenniford are being incredibly kind and letting me crash with them. I'm looking to get my own room in an apartment and will be super excited when I find something with A) people I can live with and B) a price range I can afford. I will keep you updated.
I also have a new job which I love so far. It is at a larger clinic with many many more people. And they are all amazing. I love it. I'm very excited to continue learning more about veterinary medicine.
Not to mention, I'm close to my 7 minutes playas! Granted, I have currently sidelined myself for the moment due to a hyperextended toe. Which I think came about due to running around on the beach/ surfside barefoot and in sandals for 10 days. So hopefully just letting it chill out for a few days should make it better. Hopefully. Cause I have to get back to practicing and playing and doing track workouts!
Well I shall keep everyone updated on my new 'grown up' life. (:

floss it or toss it

performing dental prophylaxis routines on patients has made me much more aware of my dental hygiene. I typically brush, but floss once a month or so. I know, I know, I KNOW you're supposed to floss every day. And use mouthwash. It just always seemed like so much extra work to me.
However. After seeing the number of teeth extracted from mouths and all the crap that builds up, I have decided to be a better flosser. Besides, I've heard multiples times from many sources that if you don't floss your teeth, you lose them.
PSA for the day is now over. Your regular program will now resume.

i'm a fan of april so far

i mean, except for the twisted ankle, april has brought beautiful weather, blooming flowers and trees and the smell of freshly cut grass.
not to mention fools fest. a smorgasbord of chaotic frisbee love.
lots of pet sitting lined up this month, which is good since it equals more money which is helpful. obvi.
hopefully it will bring even better things. (!)
today i hiked up to sugar hollow. first jump in blue hole of the season! it was freeeeeeeeeeeeezing. and then i got to sit in the warm sun and read, while families with tiny kids bopped around me.
and then my dad and i went on a motorcycle ride. yup. kind of badass. we stopped at a brewery on the way home, but i did not get anything. seeing as i don't like beer.... womp womp.
OH! and yesterday was watching baby umw frisbee girls play in sectionals. fun to see everyone.

i was feeling pretty good about myself until I found that a girl i went to elementary and part of middle school with is now studying astrophysics for her doctorate degree at the University of Oxford on a rhodes scholarship. she also sings/ writes her own songs which aren't too shabby, and is a pretty good artist. I remember her being smart and artsy in school, but seriously! I mean... she also has approximately 15 articles written about her. this girl is our age.

feeling inadequate, party of one!

Stupid babies

SERIOUSLY. I just went and trolled the random blog button and I kid you not, out of 20 clicks they were all about kids. 'Mommy Jessica wants to let you know that her little snookums baby boybooboo bear went to the zoo today! Little sweetipielumpkins just loooooooved the animals but was a little overwhelmed by all the activity.'
excuse me. I have to go throw up now.
Please. please pleaaaaaaaaaaaaase don't let me ever become one of those people.

The fox or the eye

So this past weekend I got to go to Kudzo, play with a club mixed team and stay in a doubletree hotel. And yes, we named the elevators. You could take either the fox or the eye. And get this: you couldn't take the stairs!!! WTF. So make note, doubletree hotel is promoting obesity. Seriously. You could only take the stairs to get from your floor to the outside if there was an emergency. It was ridiculous. As was staying in a freaking doubletree hotel in two family suites with 12 bedspots for 16 people. Yes. Yes I did have my very own sofa bed for two whole nights at a frisbee tournament. Kind of amazing. As was playing all weekend with the richmond kids. And they invited me to play with them permanently! So I'll get to carpool with BabyS. (who is this adorable little guy who's going to be a junior next year and who is obsesssssssed with ultimate. convenient, right? We spent 4 hours in a car, and spent approximately 3 of them talking about frisbee.) to richmond and see the Trav and mego and hang out with cool kids who wanted me to play with them. Yay! Thus, the top of my reasons why May rocks will be:
1) Getting to play for 7 minutes in Heaven! Wooooo competitive club ultimate!
2) Having them ask me if I wanted to handle halfway through the first game.
3) Team pool time. and jacuzzi time. In clothes, not swimsuits.
4) I got more sleep at this tournament then I've gotten at any other tournament.
5) Road trips.
6) Old school rap music.
7) Secondhand scrubs.
8) End of spring beginning of summer smells.
9) Honesuckle.
10) Sunny tournaments.
11) X-men Origins.
12) Summer league.
13) Late night wendy's runs.
14) Fresh cut hay.
15) First jumps in Blue Hole.
16) Ryan Adams' song 'Magick'
17) Ultimate conversations
18) Seeing college kids in many different states
19) Warm weather
20) Drinks with co-workers.
21) Thunderstorms
22) New bands
23) Hot showers
24) People who don't snore
25) Weddings
26) The fact that it's light until 8:30
27) Frozen mochas.
28) Sunsets by lakes.
29) When the sunlight comes through super leafy trees.
3o) Bang'in dinners with Miss Amy
31) Clean rooms.

Let your body move. Let your body sway, listen to the music play, it's magick it's magick.