lotd

"The Cave" Mumford and Sons

It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's land

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again 

good habits...

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit"... Aristotle


When I do good, I feel good when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion"...Abraham Lincoln

lists!!!

lists! did i mention lists? in my love of things made of words?... because i love lists! making them, checking things off, looking back at laughing at the lack of things crossed off....and  color coding, prioritizing, compiling and the like are also great!

to be honest, i have already started a list of lists i can blog. ya.

i started off trying to write a list of words that described me....i didn't really like a lot of the words, not gonna lie. its not that i think i am a horrible person. i just think its easier to point out your flaws than compliment yourself...

so i made a list of things "i am"....  or i at least i think/hope i am. i had intended the list to have a maximum number of things.... then i realized just how self limiting that is. reminded me of this i was sent today:

"stop acting so small. you are the universe in ecstatic motion" Rumi.

the list HAS to be a constant changing/growing list, although i am some things will always remain the same...

• a daughter.
• a sister.
• a friend.
• a lover of words. maybe a writer. 
• a lover. 
• a fighter.
• the "therapist". an over-analyzer. 
• social butterfly. or maybe chatty. 
• a pisces.
• a dreamer. 

after a little more thought, i came up  with a list of words i think, or maybe hope, might be used to describe me....

• funny
• caring
• honest
• sweet (this is kinda a funny one. but it CAN happen...)
• smart (not necessarily book)
• serious 
• passionate
• a thinker
• defensive (oh, this is definitely a think, not a hope.... more a hope to change)
• sarcastic

and now, off to go make more lists. damn mondays. 

reading list....

i am randomly in the middle of four books right now. you might see a theme....  

people who know me know this suits me well

and this....

this should be considered a text book

i am trying to determine if i should check into a mental ward ;)

ptsd

grey's anatomy always has some amazing lines....i really do appreciate the raw realness of the writing.


a few from tonight that hit me....

There are simple girls.... And then there is...me. (christina) 

I'm busy...with my tape and my glue. (bailey)

Scientists cant stand when we say things like people never change. Change is literally the only constant. (meredith)

i may come back on say more about these later...

word. brooklyn

love this. a bookstore in brooklyn called word. word!

with a blog of course.


and out of curiosity.... word.com, surprisingly more interesting than i expected for merriam webster.

kkkkkkkkrunch....

its always better when it starts with a k!

qotd

thanks etsy....

exuberating

excerpt from a recent aaron karo ruminations....


-I was hitting on a girl recently who told me how her job takes her around the world, and that she finds travel “exuberating.” As we continued talking, I discreetly tweeted that this wasted chick had just made up a word by combining “exuberant” and “exhilarating.” Only later when I Googled it did I realize it’s actually a real word. Now, granted, given the situation, I’m 100% positive that she stumbled upon it and did not use it on purpose, but nevertheless I feel humbled. I guess the world can learn a lot from slurring drunk chicks.


http://www.ruminations.com/column/178


ps. the blogger headline is highlighted as a misspelled word. 

hit of the day....

"Take Back The City" Snow Patrol

Take back the city for yourself tonight
Or I’ll take back the city for me
Take back the city for yourself tonight
Whoa

God knows you put your life in two a times
And it’s both cradled you and crushed
But now it’s time to make your own demands
Whoa

All these years later and it’s killing me
Your broken records and words
Ten thousand craters where it all should be 
Whoa

No need to put your words into my mouth
Don’t need convincing at all
I love this place enough to have no doubt
Whoa

It’s a mess
It’s a start
It’s a flawed work of art
Your city, your call
Every crack, every wall
Pick a side, pick a fight
Get your epitaph right
You can sing ‘til you drop
Cause the fun just never stops

I love this city tonight 
I love this city always
It bears it’s teeth like a light
And spits me out after days
But we’re all gluttons for it 
We know what’s wrong and it’s right
For every time it’s been hit
Take back the city tonight

Tell me you never wanted more from this
And I will stop talking now
One perfect partner, one eternal kiss
Whoa

Take back the city for yourself tonight
Or I’ll take back the city for me
Take back the city for yourself tonight
Whoa

It’s a mess
It’s a start
It’s a flawed work of art
Your city, your call
Every crack, every wall
Pick a side, pick a fight
Get your epitaph right
You can sing ‘til you drop
Cause the fun just never stops

I love this city tonight 
I love this city always
It bears it’s teeth like a light
And spits me out after days
But we’re all gluttons for it 
We know what’s wrong and it’s right
For every time it’s been hit
Take back the city tonight

I love this city tonight 
I love this city always
It bears it’s teeth like a light
And spits me out after days
But we’re all gluttons for it 
We know what’s wrong and it’s right
For every time it’s been hit
Take back the city tonight

I love this city tonight 
I love this city always
I love this city tonight 
I love this city always 

perspective

watch this....

me am

growing up i was constantly reminded that if i  added the "am" after i or me i would know which was the proper use. 


i still don't really stop and think about the am, i just say me or i. sometimes i hear the haunting reminder but i honestly just laugh about it.


i have never been one for conforming to "the rules" just because someone made it so. for instance, not a fan of caps. maybe its lazy typing (i also do not type with the "right" fingers on the "right" keys) but i think its much more an aesthetics thing. i like the way the lower case letters look. except in a few people's handwriting that is all caps - and i envy it. weird i know!


but i never liked all the rules that went along with writing. i think that's a big part why i didn't pursue a career (paid at least!) in writing. the rules always took away the pleasure of the expression, the art of writing... 


in the beginning of my dream internship at an advertising agency, the creative director told me that "..." was not to be used in advertising. it wasn't good. period. i could have quit right then but there are actually some rules i follow. 


so, i use the "..." and did in my various work beyond there, but, i wasn't going to quit my internship on the spot, or not follow through with my degree....i just wasn't necessarily going to be doing anything related to it for a career... 


i obviously use more than needed commas, or so i have been told. but i write as i think and i need to denote a pause somehow, when i pause for thought. maybe it's cocky. 


i like changing spelling of words to suit my fancy, shorten words (again maybe laziness but maybe aesthetics....) and on the rare occasion i have enjoyed (making) a word longer. hott. "(it's) so hott (it) got an extra t"...kerry.  (www.kerrykrenzin.com)


i specifically like adding/using k's, x's, and words with z's. k because my name starts with a k, and most people will never ever ever remember that. i once got a note on a self-addressed envelope addressed to "cori". and even in emails when using my email that has my name in it, still - dear cori. i like x's and z's because they're just not used enough. and they're "hard" letters. if you don't get that i don't know what to tell you. it made my first sighting of zzyzx road very very exciting. well, that and something else. i really pretty much wish i could live on that street. if it wasn't in the middle of nowhere. would just be a bad ass address.  

i don't know why/what differentiates my use of "..." versus "-" versus ",". they're all pauses. different kinds somehow.


i doubt i could ever be a legitimate paid writer, as i doubt i will ever conform to any writing style out of a text/hand book. not to pat myself on the back, but i could count on one hand the number of non "A" papers i got throughout my whole life, mostly because the few that were not, were very impactful for reasons much greater than the grade itself). furthermore i took a variety of writing courses from creative writing to journalism, copy writing, scriptwriting, copy editing, press writing, and so on, and seemingly did so well enough. i just "abhorred" the rules. that "abhorred" is a quirky reference to my father, also a "writer". he, i think, thrives on those rules? (i just LOL'd remembering some funny moments. and i would NEVER use LOL like that had it not been a hank moody reference. i doubt you're keeping up with me. whoever YOU are...)


CAPS. for yelling or VERY very important emphasizing. (changed emphasis to emphasizing to get in a z....)


so, i apologize now, and likely only now, for my abhorring grammar, spelling errors (which i promise you is almost always intentional as i always spell check...), lowercase letters, abbreviations, extra punctuation and such. i hope, you can read past that, and read just simply what i write, the content, the words, and not be too concerned with all the rules...

i came across this seth godin blog recently and i think it nicely applies here....

Interpreting criticism

Heartfelt criticism of your idea or your art is usually right (except when it isn't...)

Check out this letter from the publisher of a magazine you've never heard of to the founder of a little magazine called Readers Digest:

But, personally, I don't see how you will be able to get enough subscribers to support it. It is expensive for its size. It isn't illustrated... I have my doubts about the undertaking as a publishing venture.

Of course, he was right--given his assumptions. And that's the except part.

Criticism of your idea is usually based on assumptions about the world as it is. Jackson Pollock could never have made it as an painter in the world as it was. And Harry Potter was rejected by just about everyone because for it to succeed the way kids read would have to change.

The useful element of this sort of criticism isn't that the fact that people embracing the status quo don't like your idea. Of course they don't. The interesting question is: what about the world as it is would have to change for your idea to be important?

In the case of Readers Digest, the key thing that changed was the makeup of who was reading magazines. Most of the people (and it was a lot of people) who subscribed to the Digest didn't read other magazines. And so comparing to other magazines made no sense, except to say, "this is so different from other magazines, the only way you're going to succeed is by selling it to millions of people who don't read those magazines." And Starbucks had no chance if they were going to focus on the sort of person who bought coffee at Dunkin Donuts or a diner, and the iPad couldn't possibly succeed if people were content to use computers the way they were already using them.

Keep that in mind the next time a gatekeeper or successful tastemaker explains why you're going to fail.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/09/interpreting-criticism.html

ruminations...

my first blog crush, started awhile ago. actually picked up a book or two and now wanna see his stand up comedy show. ...stalkerish. obsessive. is writing art?....

aaron karo, ruminations.com, aaronkaro.com

http://www.ruminations.com/column


from a recent blog..... i put in bold a few i particularly like.

-Even if I’m explicitly reminded to “read from the bottom up” when forwarded an entertaining email conversation, I still read from the top down and ruin it.

-Utilizing both a smiley face and parentheses in the same sentence is a complex maneuver few should attempt.

-Ever notice that in Word when you right click on a plural term in order to find a synonym it merely gives you the singular version of the same word? No one wins.

-Have you ever mistaken a soap dispenser for a hand sanitizer dispenser and spent five minutes futilely rubbing soap into your dry hands?

-I last lived with a roommate five years ago and 3,000 miles away, but I’m still finding his shit. The other day I called Brian and said, “Dude, I’m pretty sure I have your pillow case.” “No way,” he responded, “How do you know?” “Well, for starters,” I said, “it has your name written in it.”

-Time Warner Cable just signed me up for “PowerBoost,” which is supposed to make my Internet faster for a few extra bucks a month. Clearly this is the 21st century version of being sold magic beans.

-You know you’re not religious when people offer you salutations for holidays you had no idea were happening.

-This morning my treadmill abruptly stopped mid-run and the screen read: “Maintenance necessary.” That’s just a low blow.

-I actually bought the Axe shower tool. Now I feel like one.

-And, finally, I’m the oldest child and my parents had me five years after they were married. I think five years is a good number. You get to enjoy each other’s company for a while (and make sure you don’t get divorced) before starting to pop out babies. The problem is, with people getting married later and later these days, waiting so long to conceive isn’t always an option. This has a disproportionately adverse effect on women, who now face dual pressure – from society to get married, and from biology to have kids. Meanwhile, I can stick to dating twenty-three-year-olds and not worry about either. The fact is, though, women are saints for putting up with all this. As I wrote in Ruminations #111, my mom left her career to stay home and raise my sister and me, only to return to the workforce shortly thereafter because I was such a pain in the ass. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I owe my life to my mom. And she owes hers to daycare. Fuck me.

inspiration not motivation

so in the challenge to blog more myself i have been on a quest to find (or stalking...) other blogs. is that wrong? i dunno...but it was recently suggested to me to look for inspiration, not motivation. and this blog in particular has indeed inspired me.... check out this archived post for example ;)
Mission Statement 

Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolution:

I will live a life of choice by pausing between stimulus and response to proactively choose a response that is deeply integrated with my recognized principles and values.  In every situation, I increase my ability to act with integrity as I pause to ask with intent, listen without excuse, and act with courage

I seize the day and refuse to waste a single moment that I could otherwise use to better myself or work towards my goals.

I treat people honestly and fairly in all encounters.

I ensure that there is no blunting of passions by excercising a firm, healthy disciple over desires.

I tactfully and respectfully stand up for my beliefs and values, for goodness must have some edge to it, or else it is none.

I will, above all, live with passion and a sense of urgency as I understand that this gift is not promised to be here tomorrow.

www.thisruggedlife.blogspot.com

rough drafts

saw this license plate frame the other day and had to smile :)


"writers do it over and over and over again"


yep. 

never forget...

i never really belonged to any religion, church, congregation, faith.... i didn't have a specific god, but i had god.... my parents took us to a spiritual "church", very open and non denominational. even in the 80's this church welcomed gay couples with open arms, and for that i respected this group of people very much, but, i can't say i really liked going in general. really, thats not the point here.

at the end of every service all of the kids would go on stage and sing and everyone in the "audience" (as i imagined it) sang along. this part, i really liked. and i always really liked the song, long before i really understood how powerful its words were. apparently it has been deemed a christmas song on google (is christmas the only time we ask for peace?) and a country song by vince gill. but to me its a pretty good sum up of my "religion". i am not wanting to offend, i have a great respect and admiration for religion and faith. i just have never been able to relate so completely to one set of beliefs that i feel i can adopt any one religion as my own. i'm a mutt. 

enough rambling. after my personal reflections on today this is what was playing in my head. and after struggling to find what might be appropriate to be the word of the day today of all days...i think i found it. 

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.

With every step i take

Let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

And live each moment

With peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth,

And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be.

With god as our father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take

Let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

And live each moment

In peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

synonym?

overheard: on abc 7 nightline news  - discussing preppy. yes. there was a story on preppy. and the lady who literally wrote the (a!!!!????)  book on preppy said:

"its like macaroni and cheese really, its  comforting and familiar..."

preppy

mac n cheese

the book. 

effin moody

Californication Room at the SHOwtime House in NYC.

4 months until my favorite writer (fictional as he may be) returns to tv. 4 mths from today, yes, its THAT kind of obsession. 


some favorite words from mr hank himself....


Dear Karen,
If you’re reading this, it means I actually worked up the courage to mail it so good for me.
You don’t know me very well, but if you get me started I tend to go on and on about how hard the writing is for me. This is the hardest thing I ever had to write.
There’s no easy way to say this so I’ll just say it, I met someone. It was an accident, I wasn’t looking for it, I wasn’t one the make it was a perfect storm. She said one thing and I said another and the next thing I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the middle of that conversation. Now there this feeling in my gut that she might be the one. She's completely nuts in a way that makes me smile highly neurotic, a great deal of maintenance acquired. She is you Karen, that’s the good news.
The bad news is that I don’t know how to be with you right now, and that scares the shit out of me. Because if I am not with you right now I have this feeling we will get lost out there. It’s a big bad world full or twist and turns and people have a way of blinking and missing the moment. The moment that could of changed everything.
I don’t know what’s going on with us and I can’t tell you should waste a leap of faith on the likes of me. But damn you smell good, like home and you make excellent coffee that has to count for something. Call me!

Unfaithfully yours,
Hank Moody

qotd

"What is to give light must endure burning" ... Dr. Viktor E Frankl

wordle

word wordle

kinda cool. wordle.net

your word

means everything... so mean it when you give it. 

drop a love bomb!

i recently learned of this great website/blog  - drop a love bomb. i love what they're doing and the community of blogs/bloggers i've discovered through them.

   Love Bomb is a project ofItStartsWith.Us. Once a week we come together to drop hundreds of love bombs (in the form of blog comments) for those who need it most. Subscribe via email below or follow us on Tumblr, and join us in our missions. It only takes 5 minutes a week! 

example: this week's mission

Bombing Mission: Chicago Fire Department

Note: We are now partnering with bloggers for missions! This week’s partners: Lauren Nicole Love, TheBee’sKnees, HannahKaty.com, CollectionOfThings, LettersSheWrote, InspiredMess.com,TallAsGrass, Talk2TheTrees, ABCCreativity.com, AmySoto, and ProneToWander. 
- - -
Hey Team!
This week we are doing something just a tad different.
Typically we drop a Love Bomb on one person, but this week we are dropping a Love Bomb on theentire Chicago Fire Department.
Chris Wheatley, one of their firefighters, died in the line of duty on August 9th.
Nate and I would like for this Love Bomb mission to be two-fold:
1) To encourage, support and comfort the Chicago Fire Department as they’ve lost a brother in duty.
2) To thank the Chicago Fire Department for serving their community so faithfully.
As most of you know, Nate (@ItStartsWithUs) runs our parent organization, ItStartsWith.Us - their 15 minute mission for this week is to help out a service worker. Every now and then the ItStartsWithUs team helps us drop our Love Bombs, so I thought it would be awesome if we could do our part by supporting a service worker (a lot of them!) while we drop our Love Bomb at the same time!
You can leave a comment on the Chicago Fire Department’s blog here: http://cfdblaze.com/2010/08/cffu-local-2-tom-ryan/
Lauren
P.S.  In your comment, mention where you are from. It’s always cool, and particularly awesome in this mission.