Bono's Birthday Bash

I'm going to show off my U2 fan-dom geekiness right now with a picture...

I want to declare my devotion to U2 and the front man of this awesome-beyond-this-universe-amazing Irish band by saying:

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY BONO!

I hope you've had a lovely day. I sure hope all my followers have had a blast of a Bono's birthday, too!

Cheers and I'm out!

Writing Jewels

And Then Came the Renovation. Yet, the Memories Survived.

I live close to where my grandpa used to live when he was alive. On Sunday, I was near his old neighborhood, so I decided I would take a trip down memory lane and do a drive by looking. Yippee! A truck load of memories happened at that precious house; it would be nice to see it again. I miss my grandpa so very, very much. He passed away when I was probably 11 or 12 years old, so it's been a while since I've seen him.

So, my little drive by looking took a turn for the worse. No, I didn't get in a car accident or have one or all (that would have been worse) of my tires go flat. I didn't hit a mailbox or a dear hit me; yes, hit me... refer to an episode of Gilmore Girls. My red Toyota tread its way down the steep decline to his house. Yes, his house.

And.

I didn't recognize it at all. Seriously, it had been defaced by the renovating mobsters of its new owners. Didn't they know it was my grandfathers and there were memories associated with its facade? Apparently not.

*stomps foot*

This got me thinking: Does someone (me) really have ownership to something that is no longer hers (well, my grandpas)? In this case, I emphatically say no while pouting with disappointment.

I'm being totally melodramatic, I know. It was disappointing, though.

But now that I'm writing this post, blabbing on and on, the fact is the memories are still there--in my mind, in my heart, in my precious past. I can still visualize the large patio overlooking Salt Lake City Valley where we would watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. I can still smell the musky, soapy sweet aroma permeating the interior of his home. I still remember sneaking Kraft cheese slices from his old school brown fridge. Games of UNO while a bunch of us sat around his large, oval dining room table. And the weeks on end I spent sleeping over at his house during the summer. Finally, the evening I visited him as he laid still with haggard breaths in his bed--the night he passed away, the night I said I love you to him for the last time in this life.

That's all that matters even when things have changed and time has sped forward. I still love my grandfather more than I could possibly communicate via the written word. And I can still reflect with fondness on the amazing times I had with him. His house, okay the new owners' house's appearance doesn't change anything. It is just a house, not the invaluable memories planted in my mind forever.

Anyway, thanks for reading my ranting.

Have you ever had an experience similar to mine? Have you seen the Gilmore Girls episode I made reference to?

Writing Jewels

PS: I have decided never, ever to renovate a house. Why? Because one day some poor girl will do a drive by looking, and her heart will be dashed to pieces because the house doesn't look the same anymore. And that's all I have to say about that with a little bit of sarcasm added in the mix. :D

I Amaze Myself Sometimes

Here's my recent moving stories:

 

In the span of a year and a half, I have moved 4 times. Yup, that's a couple too many times, for sure.

 

Move #1: To get me out of my parents' house. I had lived there for far too long in order to pay off some debt. Did that happen? Uh, I plea the fifth.

 

Move #2: I needed cheaper rent, plus my lease had ended.

 

Move #3: I was offered a job in Salt Lake City, Utah, meaning my commute was a little over an hour. Gas prices were kickin' my pocket book's butt, so the move was out of necessity to keep me from donating plasma or something totally make-me-pass-out worthy.

 

Move #4: My roommate and dear friend moved to Germany (pouts) and our lease had ended. I wanted to stay in the area, so I moved just down the road to where a ton of people I know live.

 

I'm getting really good at packing, moving, and unpacking. Woot!

 

Move #4 was interesting in that I had to be out of my old apartment by April 30, and the girl that was moving out of my current apartment couldn't get into her new place until May 1. That meant that my stuff and her stuff were in the same place for a day. Talk about massive chaos. It all worked out well, though. Phew!

 

I took the day off from work on Thursday and dug into the mess of boxes. I would have gone completely bonkers mad if I hadn't have done so. I'm sort of OCD about having my things in order.

 

This is what my bedroom looked like to begin with:

This is what it looks like now (Zen):

And I did this all in maybe 10 hours and that includes some deep cleaning and putting away my kitchen junk (ok, junk food). Do I win the best unpacker award of the century or what?

 

And yes, that is a pillow with a picture of Bono on the front. Lance Armstrong graces the other side. (G-rated totally, I promise) My good friend made me it as a birthday present a couple years ago. And yup, I own a banana chair, too. :) I am definitely awesome. You totally want to be my BFF now, don't you?

 

Well, tell me about your moving stories? How fast have you unpacked? Well, I have to admit I don't have a ton of stuff, and I am just one person. I don't have a husband and three kids' worth of crap to unload. I have it a bit easier than some. 

 

Writing Jewels

IWSG: Thou Shalt Not Covet . . . Other Writers

With the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge completed, I am back to my normal blogging schedule. Well, whatever that is going to be--still figuring it out, bear with me. :) Today is the first Wednesday of the month. What does that mean?

Insecure Writer's Support Group! Yay! On to the post...

I listened to the book "The of Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible" by A.J. Jacobs. There's a part in it that totally relates to me, possibly to all writers, and most assuredly to everyone in the world who is creative, or Homo sapiens, for that matter.

The part of the book discusses the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Covet." Or for this post's purposes, coveting others' writing. Or publishing deals. Or they write better than you. Or they appear to have more energy than you; therefore they can pop out 50 books in a year. As opposed to your one, if that. Or that they smell better than you, have better looking teeth than you, have prettier fingernails than you, are more fashionable than you. Or...

Suffice it to say: THE LIST IS NEVER ENDING and is nonsensical and irrational at best.

So this post is about: Thou Shalt Not Covet . . . Other Writers.

I can't speak for other writers, but I'm assuming you (ok, all writers--you know who you are) have coveted other writers. Just raise your hand. I admit it, I have! I will continue to, I'm sure of it, even if I am happy for their accomplishment.

But, I think we should step back and realize that, by golly, you are the best person to write your book. I am the best person to write my books. Yes, others might be farther along than you or better at a laundry list of writing skills, but it's the journey that counts. And I am glad for the journey. It has been a ride never to forget. I'm not done. We will get there, wherever there is. And life is good.

Here's a method that has helped me: I read a couple chapters from one of my books that I'm not currently working on. It helps me realize that I really am good at writing. Stepping away from a work in progress distances me from my critical nature toward it. Delving into just a brief part of something else, without critiquing it, helps. It gets me back in the game and a positive mind set.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Have you ever coveted other writers? What has been your I-need-to-cool-down-and-realize-I'm-a-pretty-darn-good-writer method(s)? How can we get over feeling like we suck because another writer got a publishing deal or agent and you didn't?

Writing Jewels

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- Z

Wow, is this really it, the last day of the Challenge? I'm sad but happy I participated in posting from A to Z along with a slew of other fabulous bloggers. Nice job, all! Pat yourself on the back. :D

With one last letter to blog about, I conclude with smiles brought to you by the letter Z; it stands for...

ZEN

• According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Zen is defined as: "a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation."
• I also like how Urban Dictionary defines Zen: "One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts." It also continues with this definition: "Complete and absolute peace."

My zen-like focus is peace. Peace is something difficult for me to access. Why? My mind is flying around a 228mph and I am in such a rush that I fail to slow down and smell the flowers and take pleasure in the moment. I think this is a reason for why I enjoy the outdoors and traveling; I can slow down and relish in what really matters and the beauty of the world.

Julia finding her inner zen at a monastery in Xian, China.

Those moments of my life when I have felt a measure of peace have come in a variety of ways: while attending religious meetings, being in nature, before I go to bed when I can slow down my mind, and while praying. I smile in those moments where I can cast away my worries and focus on the now, the zen-like letting go of me and absorbing the refreshing feeling of revelation and/or peace.

Love it!

How do you feel zen/peace? Starting with the letter Z, what makes you smile?

Love you all. Thanks for stopping by my blog this month. I hope to continue building great relationships with y'all through our blogging/writing adventures. :)

Writing Jewels 

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- Y

Ack! Are we already to the letter Y? How has this month gone by at such a speedy pace? Well, as the saying goes: "Time flies while you're having fun."

My smiles today stem from...

YOUR SMILES

Yup, this is how I'm utilizing the letter Y with the word "Your". But it's true. I smile that we've all been having fun with this challenge (at least I have been) while writing quality posts from A to Z. I have enjoyed reading them and getting to know so many of you via your blogs.

But I also smile when good things happen to those I love, friends, or people I have met online through the writing community. I grin when writers get publishing deals or self-publish their works. I can't hold back giggles of happiness when I see a newly dating couple holding hands, or better yet, an older couple doing likewise. I can't keep myself from jumping for joy when someone tells me good news about landing that awesome job, they are getting married, or are having a baby. The list goes on and on, folks.

My smiles glisten wider on my face when others are happy. It bring me immense joy and I love it!

So, tell me something wonderful happening in your life right now. And starting with the letter Y, what makes you smile?

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!