Welcome, 2012

Sometimes my reflection needs a stern talking to. Hello, it's a brand new day. Today you can start right over. Forget old obligations, you can throw away all your old hopes, too. Why are you still wishing on that same old star? That was somebody else's star. You're brand new today! Dream a new dream!

$#!± happens! Embrace it!

I cringe when I hear friends saying "2010 sucked".
Look at the bright side of things. Make the best of everything and be thankful for what you have. If things go wrong, learn from it, and be grateful for the lesson. If things don't go as planned, remember, its for a reason.

I've seen so many lists of resolutions and ideas for the new year, so I've taken some and made a few of my own. A lot of them seem like common sense, but sometimes we could all use the gentle reminder.

Rules for 2011

1. If you have a significant other in your life, treat them as you want to be treated and never forget to show love and appreciation.

2. It's okay to admit that you're young, fab and NOT broke. Celebrate your success.

3. Don't waste time crying over little boys and girls who don't appreciate you for who you are and hinder you from being who you want to be.

4. It's okay to be 22 or even 32 or 42 and not know what you want to be when you grow up.

5. Many people will try to judge your spending and life style habits, don't let it get to you. It's your life, your money and no one else's business.

6. No matter how old you are by number, never forget what it feels like to be young and alive.

7. People are always going to talk, so just do your thing. You may as well give them something to talk about.

8. Don't keep company with those who constantly compare themselves to you. Keep company with those who love you for you and enhance your life.

9. Ladies, if you can't find your prince, there is nothing wrong with enjoying kissing all the wrong frogs.

10. Live your life for you: not your parents, not a man, not your friends. It is the only way you will ever truly be happy.

11. You're never too old to learn something new

12. In your life you will wind up with a select few friends who are more like your soul mates. Cherish them, they'll be the ones around when the party is over.

13. You're going to make mistakes: the wrong career, the wrong major, the wrong boyfriend. Everything happens for a reason- You'll learn something, recover and come back better than ever.

14. Plan for tomorrow but enjoy today

15. Live each day with no regrets. Don't fret over the past, even the bad parts shape us for the future.

Have a very Happy New Year. Make good decisions tonight, and have a safe ride home!

Music Is What Feelings Sound Like

I'm always amazed when I find new music that I fall in love with instantly. It's like a magical discovery when I come across music that speaks to me; through the lyrics or the piano or both.

Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul

I wonder how many more combinations of notes and lyrics can be put together to form emotion and story. Isn't that the greatest thing about music? It's never over and it's always changing and it's wonderful.

Another amazing mix by DJ Earworm- United State of Pop 2010, with the top 25 hits from 2010

The Wool From The Black Sheep Is Just As Warm

 I don't think I have ever seen the movie "The Sound Of Music" from start to finish. Although, I have seen so many pieces of it so many times that I do believe I have seen the whole movie at some point.

I watched the end of it yesterday and when I learned that it was a true story I immediately hopped on to google to research more. I love these discoveries when something magical I enjoy on television turns out to be true. Or at least adapted from something that was true-- good enough.

I love the part where the eldest girl, Leisl asks Maria what to do when she is heartbroken. The advice Maria gives is perfect because it is exactly how I feel, and exactly what I would want to say to my children... except in a less melodic way, minus the song and dance.


"What do you do when you stop loving someone, or he stops loving you?


"Well, you cry a little. Then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does."

Entertainment News

• Natalie Portman is pregnant and engaged!
• Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz come out in public as a new couple
• Alanis Morissette had a baby boy on Christmas
• Hugh Hefner engaged to his 24 year old girlfriend, Crystal Harris.
• Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes are engaged
• Elton John had a baby boy via a surrogate... and he has a normal name! Zachary!

Don't Give Me Ideas, Give Me Implementations

While writing thoughts and ideas out on napkins in a coffee shop sounds romantic, with the constantly advancing technology, its no longer realistic when you can type thoughts into your smartphones.

If I had time traveled and been dropped into 2010 I would be confused about why people walk down the street and look like they are talking to themselves. Bluetooth.

Why peruse through catalogs and stroll down main street window shopping... When you can go online and it will be shipped to your house within 2-5 business days?

You can even hire people to do your grocery shopping and deliver it to your door.

Maybe that's why society is lonelier than ever. Society now compared to years ago does not have as many family gatherings and we don't have as many friends. BUT we do have technology and online communities. Life is made available without having to leave your couch/computer chair.

Things are simpler, and easier, and convenient.

Good? Bad? Your thoughts?

Santa Claus Is Coming To... Get You

Parents dread the day they have to have "that conversation" with their kids. You know the one. About Santa Claus.

With kids getting better with technology and being attached to high speed internet soon after being detached from the umbilical cord, I wonder how they still don't find evidence of Santa's non-existence. I wonder if this belief in Santa will ever be something that dies out.

My brother never believed in Santa. I guess I gave my parents a hard enough time when I learned the truth that they decided they didn't want to go through the same guilt with my brother. I don't think it made a difference in his upbringing. I know that going to see Santa to sit on his lap to tell him what you want for Christmas can be a magical experience-- that or a terrifying one, depending on the child. He knew the story, but he always knew it was just a story. He knew that it was something special for other children to believe in and he knew not to say anything- he was a smart boy, believe me... He was reading at 2 years old. How did he learn? On his own with Sesame Street computer software. I'm not kidding, kids these days are hooked to their computers younger and younger.

I read yesterday that children ages 8 to 18 spend more time in front of video screens than any other activity except sleeping... An average 44.5 hours every week.

Anyway, about Santa... How do you go about it with your children? Do you think it will ever fade out? I'm not sure what to think of it, but here are the facts I have come up with while considering your decision.

My letter to Future parents:
At some point as a child you start to question, why are there all these magical characters associated with holidays and significant life events, and why do my parents break the rules of letting these strangers into my life and house to give items that otherwise wouldn't be accepted from other strangers.

The toothfairy comes into your bedroom while you're sleeping and goes into your bed to put a gift under your pillow in exchange for your tooth. Well that's creepy. Realistically, why not meet her half way in the same format as a bottle depot? Go to the tooth depot, give the tooth, get a quarter (or whatever). Take out the equation of some stranger entering your bedroom at night.

The Easter Bunny. Another stranger our parents allow to come into our homes and hide candy for us. Accepting candy from strangers was a big one on the list of no-no's in my family. But we ignore this to celebrate Jesus' rising, and selfishly lay our hands on all the chocolate we can get.

Aaaaand Santa. He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. I've never felt more violated. Intruders in my house while I'm sleeping is one of my biggest fears, but somehow society tells us as children that we can accept this because this kind stranger who spies on us will leave us presents. Think of all the privacies and rights and privileges society might give up in exchange for presents!!! It starts young, with Santa!

Don't even get me started with ethical problems of Halloween.
-not that I would ever discourage Halloween. Dressing up and Trick-or-treating is awesome! But you see my point?

Bring Your Face Over Here So I Can Rub This In It

I've broken my parents- this is what I am told

I only know the experience of being the oldest child, so I cannot speak of "middle child syndrome" or what its like to be the youngest. I was an only child for six years before my brother was born. Other than that I have a lot of cousins- all of them being male on my mom's side, so on holiday gatherings I am often singled out for being a girl... But that's a different story.

Since I returned to Edmonton for the holidays, I've been told that I've broken in my parents. I've paved the road of discipline for all of those who follow in my path-- namely, my brother.

It's not fair, and there is no solution.

Would I have to be the one spending evenings fighting for my right to stay up an hour past bedtime to watch the good tv shows so I wouldn't be left out of conversation at school... And he can stay up until he wants and watch anything he desires? Of course.

Would I be the one staying home like a loser during weekend school ski trips because my parents wouldn't allow me to go... But he has permission for any school trip, as well as permission to fly across the country for a band trip to Toronto? Well, sure, why not!

There should be monuments erected for the big brothers and sisters who break down the protective walls of our parents. We should be honored and appreciated for the wars we fought, for our bravery, and our sacrifice.

Perhaps can we conclude that in the end we are the ones who are better off? Did we grow stronger than those whose parents allowed them to do as they pleased?

I used to ask my Mother why I was the only kid that was still sitting in a car seat looooong after my friends had outgrown theirs.

"Because I love you more than their parents love them"

So, to the younger generation, I say to you:
Na-na-na-na...
Boo-boo.

Marley

Wake Me Up When Its Over

In the words of Ron Burgundy: "I am completely miserable, San Diego"

Eyes rolling into the back of my head
Lashes fluttering, eyelids too heavy to hold.
In and out of dreams for 18 out of the 24 hours in a day
Nothing but pain and percocet and blood consuming my thoughts.
A sore throat from where tubes used to be.
I wonder where my cheekbones have gone. And my appetite. And my ability to stand up for at least 5 minutes on my own

This is a sad way to spend time, for such a multitasker like myself.
God bless my mother for being at my side when I need her, and running to my aid when I faint in the shower. She cuts my pills in half and puts on my favorite shows and movies, even though I don't last more than 10 minutes into them.

Day 19
Dear Percocet,

I hate your stinking guts; you make me vomit. You're scuuuum between my toes. Love, Alfalfa.

I mean,

Love Marley

Applaud Me and I'll Applaud You Back

"In the words of John Lennon... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not."
"...the only one?"

Facebook, twitter, social media sites in general: they tell you "join the conversation!" -- leading you to believe that if you're not in on it, you're missing out.

But the whole thing is that it's not at true conversation, it's a performance. It's a conversation between two people in front of many. The internet has become a stage for the narcissists and the dreamers. Don't be offended-- we all dream. It's a personal performance by every individual to promote their personality, and in some cases, their businesses and beliefs. We post pictures to show how awesome we are and we update statuses to convince the world that we're worth spending a few seconds every day to be read about. Don't think I'm trying to tell you to change your habits. There's nothing wrong with it. There's nothing wrong with being active on social media and expressing your thoughts, nor embracing who you actually are.

Do you ever meet those people that have completely different personalities online than they do in person? It's so easy to be someone else when there is a screen in front of them. Think of all the things we're screening ourselves from. Somehow there's always a small layer between us and the real world. Online, in cars, over text messages...

"We lie to our friends over facebook and we tell the truth to strangers over twitter". Social media helps us to promote ourselves to people we may not normally have the opportunity to be in contact with. But in one way or another, it can help us to behave as someone we are not, but who we want to appear to be.

I'm not trying to write this as though I know the answers to everything. I'm not trying to sound conceited or off my rocker-- just sharing a theory. It's a possibility in online behavior, which is why I try to keep this blog open, honest and real. That being said, this isn't the first draft of this blog.

That being said, cue standing ovation now.

*that's a joke...*

That being said... Cue laughter now.