You Will Find Happiness

My baby leaves in less than two weeks to be with his one true love (I'll give you a hint: it's big and blue, makes me puke, and makes Matt cuss). I took the week off of work to get Matt good and sick of me before he leaves for four months with minimal communication. We have had a wonderful time being with family, friends, and each other (and Jake). Because he is going to miss Christmas and my birthday we exchanged gifts a little early...

Before Matt came home the last time, he sent me flowers to work. I told him my favorite flower was Lily of the Valley and so he sent me a potted bulb. Everyone at work sort of gave me a confused smile because it was not exactly a beautiful bouquet but it meant a lot to me. I was reading about the flower and found that it means "You Will Find Happiness" which I have, in Matt. When it finally bloomed, it turned out to be a pretty purple lily, not exactly what he paid for, but still so sweet.

Being the keen and perceptive man that he is, Matt found out who my favorite jewelry artists is and bought me a pair of earrings for my birthday.
I didn't know that he made this collection and Matt had them special ordered for me. They were under the "Bridal" collection. Psht, like I even thought of clicking there. Dum dum da dum.

Anyway, they are beautiful and more beautiful than that is how happy he makes me.

Sweet Little Lies

Anyone who knows me well enough will attest that I am a liar. A big fat stinkin' liar.

I pick favorites. The things is, I do it a lot. Everything is my favorite. "This is my favorite kind of candy," I say and then moments later add, "this is my favorite candy that I've ever eaten" but lookout, because I just might decide, "this is my favorite piece of candy that has ever been thought up, created, and tasted by the human palate in the history of the world." You might think that using the word "favorite" would imply that I apply favor to that particular person, idea, place or object. That this favor implies that a lesser exists and therefor the favorite stands above all others, or wins the title of best in show. Ah ha! Not so! This is my favorite, that is my favorite, and they co-exist. In my world at least. I've come to understand that not everyone lives in my world but if forced to do so, my loved ones often demand reason and adherence to the rules of the real world. Using the word "favorite" appropriately is one of those rules.

So in an attempt to regain their trust, I finally found a way to explain myself. I have categories of favorites. Many of them. And they grow everyday and change with my mood. For instance, I have a favorite flavor of Jelly Belly that falls into the category "Favorite Flavor of Jelly Bellies." However, on any given day, especially if I am having a particularly bad day, that Jelly Belly could mean so much more. I have been known to call that Jelly Belly "my favorite" meaning, at this very moment, I apply favoritism to this Jelly Belly over any and all other things in my material world. In that case, it would fall under the category of "Favorite Thing of All Things. Ever. For that day. Or moment."

(By the way, my favorite flavor of Jelly Belly is coconut. So is strawberry cheesecake. Also Dr. Pepper.)

Because I have so many favorite things, so many reasons to feel thankful, and am feeling like I spend most of my time complaining lately, I am going to share with you some of my favorite things. It may take a while but I'll start here...

Favorite Jewelery: Silver Seasons by Michael Michaud

Michael is a Connecticut artist who creates beautiful "copies of nature" using metals, pearls, and stones.

I purchased a pair of lovely sage leaf earrings cast in bronze from a little art gallery in Alaska and I fell in love. Some pieces are a bit chunky or busy for my tastes, but most of them are absolutely darling, even the pins which remind me of my grandma. Some of my favorites include:

-Kyoto Maple

-Aspen

-Hosta

-Rosemary

-Boxwood

-Sea Urchin Check him out! He is also available in a few galleries around the Twin Cities.

Tag, I'm It

I was tagged by my crazysisterlaura. I, too have strange hankerin's for things throughout my mundane days. Like, for instance, when I was out downtown last weekend and I walked over a grate on the sidewalk and my little black dress blew up to reveal my little black underpanties and I really wanted to run back and do it again while simultaneously every person on the street (there were many) pulled out cameras and started taking pictures of me, paparazzi-like.

I guess that's number one.
2. Carry my umbrella with me and use it to bat away people I am dissatisfied with.
3. Get in a fist fight.
4. Fake a medical emergency in church.
5. Be a professional "extractor" (only my sisters would understand!)
6. Drive off the road (this is not suicidal).
7. Lick everything at the museum that says "do not touch."
8. Be a Scrabble champion.
9. Walk with a cane.
10. Get a behind the scenes tour of every establishment that I enter.

Alleluia!

I found the most beautiful church.

I moved into a new apartment a couple of months ago and tried my luck attending the Catholic church that was closest to me. I sort of knew walking in that it wasn't the place for me and sure enough, half way through the service when the "liturgical movement" was in full swing, I packed up my dignity and walked out. It was disgraceful, so much so that I can't even blog any more about it.

Then I found Maternity of Mary. It is a beautiful church with the warmest people, amazing choir, and feel of holiness. I don't know if it is the timing in my life or just the feel of the place that makes me want to get involved again...I've become somewhat of a back pew parishioner since my high school days of youth group that left such a bad taste in my mouth. I attended their Easter Triduum services this weekend and am feeling very good. My friend, Katie, anticipates Easter every year just so she can belt out, "Jesus Christ is risen today, aaaaalleeluuia!" at the end of mass. I must say, I was a little disappointed in the slow tempo, I couldn't even bob my head, know what I mean?

I gave up sweets for lent...bad timing to start my new job. Mike, the crazy chocolate man, comes in to my work at least once a week and shares sweets from his company, Legacy Chocolates. Mike uses the finest cacao and fresh cream and butter from local farms. Last week I took a couple of his Medallions home with me to save for tonight, my own little Easter celebration. Mmm.

Happy Easter, everyone. I hope this spring is one of new beginnings.

Cheers!

"Go for a walk, say a little prayer, take a deep breath of mountain air..."

It was a strange feeling coming home from Alaska and feeling like I was never really there.  It turned out to be a very fulfilling opportunity and gave me more confidence in knowing that I can, in fact, achieve goals that would  be much more comfortable to never go after in the first place.  I made a list in a previous post of the things that I wanted to see and do during my trip north and am revisiting them now for the first time.  Let's see how I did:

Anna's Alaska To Do List

*Finish my leisure book that I've been "reading" since January

Yes, and then some!
*Hike my butt off, quite literally

Nope, still there but I did cover quite a bit of ground and came to love running outside on trails with some of the most inspiring views that God has made.  I miss that, so do my ankles.
*Relearn how to ride a bike (I'm pretty sure it is something you can forget)

I had no need to ride I bike because they let me use their cars.  I did, however learn how to drive a manual transmission!
*Find a job (in Minnesota!)

Urgh, still working on that.
*Kayak for the first time

Dangit, no, I ran out of money.  I WILL do this next time.
*Write a short story

I started a short story, I think I'm using as a bookmark or something now.
*Have some long conversations with the most important Man in my life

The church that I attended was teenie tiny and (through my well-trained eye) had some of the most poorly done stained glass windows I've ever seen...but it was the most beautiful church I've ever worshiped in.  It looked out over the bay behind the alter which beat any window or mural you could create.  The few regulars there were so welcoming and every week it was full of tourists from around the world.  Every week they would announce that they had white coffee mugs with St. John's written on them for sale in the back of church which was about the most precious thing I've ever seen.
*Get away from all the other men

Success!
*Make money

It's all relative.
*See a moose and a whale

Many moose, no whales which is reason number two that I have to go back.  Kachemak Bay and the Cook Inlet are known for their whales and I was known for wanting to see one.  I think they were hiding from me.
*Avoid bears

Besides from week one, success.
*Meet new people

I met people from France, Netherlands, Israel, Brazil, Japan, England, and Mexico, also, NYC,  Wisconsin, Boston, New Orleans, and all over the lower 48.  Ya, I've got connections.
*Explore watercolors

A little bit with the kids.
*Draw everything I see

Surprisingly it was difficult to get inspired.
*Soak in the beauty

It's still with me.
*Get the need to get away out of my system, for the most part

The opposite, in fact.
*Come home

Here.