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12/8/10 Reverb Writing Prompt #8: Beautifully Different

Dec 8th, 2010
by gazelle.
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Prompt: Beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

Author: Karen Walrond
The Beauty of Different
@chookooloonks

reverb10.com

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Oooh – this one is hard! This one forces me to say nice things about myself in a public forum, which, as I’m sure we all know, is tantamount to bragging! And bragging is bad.

Interesting the reservations we have about saying nice things about ourselves, isn’t it? It’s only very recently that I can voice such things aloud (although generally not to very many people). I can say (to the architect, at least), “You know, I’m really rather fantastic in the kitchen.”And it still makes me uncomfortable to say it just to one person, much less write it here.

BUT – on with the actual question(s).

What makes me different? I have so many sarcastic answers. Maybe because I am afraid to write what I really think, in case no one else agrees. BUT – no on really is reading these, right? So I’m going for it.

I think that my desire to entertain and make happy everyone around makes me different. Not different in that I don’t know anyone else with the same desires, but different in that not everyone has the same desires. If you are in my house, or at an event I’ve planned, I want to make you happy. I want you to be entertained. (I also want you to be stuffed full of food, because I have a dread that someone, some day, will leave a party I’ve thrown and be hungry. And that would be awful.) I am not obsessed with perfection. I don’t care if my decorations aren’t awesome, or my house isn’t spotless (obviously), but I do care that the food & drink are good and plentiful, and that everyone has an awesome time. I like telling stories & putting a humorous bent on them, even if that makes me look a little foolish.

I don’t know if this lights people up, or just fattens them up, but it is something that I truly enjoy (except when I’m 3 weeks post surgery, but that’s another story). I like planning things. I like inviting people from different areas of my life to mix and mingle. I like flitting between conversations making sure everyone is getting enough to eat and drink. I like hearing after that it was a great event/happy hour/party/class. It lights me up, that’s for sure.

Does this make me beautiful? Seeing people happy in my home makes me feel beautiful. Watching people delight in making their first mozzarella, or canning a jar of salsa, or realizing that jam really is that easy makes me glow. Seeing people enjoy my homemade salsas and guacamoles and cakes (I love making cakes – and am going to make one this weekend, just for the fun of it – let me know if you want  some!) and other things gives me a very satisfied feeling at the end of the day. When it’s midnight, and I’m exhausted, and there are still people at my house not ready to leave the party because they’re having too much fun, I feel irritated satisfied.

I only wish I had more time for all of this. The teaching of kitchen skills. The gardening tips. The parties. Having people in my home, happy, makes me feel beautifully different.

SO MUCH STUFF!

Jun 23rd, 2009
by gazelle.
13 comments

Weekend report

Friday, I went to the dentist for my filling. It wasn’t bad. The dentist actually said I really shouldn’t even consider it a cavity yet….

After the dentist, I was going to go for a trail run, but it was hailing at the trail head. I’ll do rain, but hail is too much.

I spent the rest of Friday doing party prep.

Saturday, we prepped for the party all day, although I did make time for a quick 5 miler mid morning.

We had such a great time at the party, but once again, I was too nervous to eat (what if we run out of food?), and that doesn’t work out, since I don’t seem to worry about running out of liquor.

We’re pretty cute, though, right?

Sunday was an easy day. We cleaned up a little. I watched some Buffy. Did some homework. Had dinner with our kick-ass neighbors (who FINALLY returned from Spain).

I just feel like so much has happened – and I have so many posts! Tomorrow, I have a very special episode of how today I reunited with an old flame. *sigh*

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I certainly did. I wish I could take 5-day weekends more often. That was pretty damn fantastic.

Workout Update

Jan 29th, 2009
by gazelle.
23 comments

Another busy week is 3/5 over. I am not overjoyed about the 5-day work week, but am overjoyed to, you know, have a job and all. So yay!

I am tired & ready for my (2-day) weekend, but guess I have to get through today & tomorrow before that happens.

Things have been stressful in the gazelle/architect household, as well as at work, but I’m trying to remember that exercise is not optional, and a workout will proabbly make me feel better (in the long run, at least) than a bottle glass of wine. January has never been my favorite month – even though I know that the days are getting longer, it’s hard to see the evidence. I know a month from now, I’ll feel great! The time will be changing, it will be light after work again, I’ll be wicked old having a birthday! Things have just seemed so….grim….lately.

But – I have been working out.

Saturday, I hit Bikram for the first time in MONTHS with the Ambitious One.  It was good, and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t die afterwards. I was a bit sore the next day, but not so bad. I already blogged about my fast run last Sunday with Junk Miles – I was a little sore after that, too – but again, in a good way.  Monday I took the day off, as per my agreement with myself to deal with my new Monday work schedule by working but NOT working out. Tuesday I ran 3 miles in 32:43 (I did a mini-tempo: Mile 1 at 11:06, Mile 2 at 10:31, Mile 3 at 11:06.  Also did some abs. Wednesday was my epic 750 yd swim. It was HARD! I’m still not sure I actually like swimming, but I will concede that it is a good workout, and a nice no-impact workout for my knees, which are still sore from time to time. This morning I was on the bike for 30 minuts, then did upper body weights & some abs.  Tomorrow, I will run. Saturday I’m meeting the Amibitious One & If You Can’t Beat Them for Bikram, and then Junk Miles & I will run again on Sunday.

Weekend challenges will be going out on either Friday or Saturday (I’m unclear as to what’s happening) and then a Super Bowl party on Sunday (I’m pretty pleased that I even know who’s in the Super Bowl this year).

I had to set computer reminders to tell me when to snack – but that’s working, so at least I’m eating on a regular schedule. I ran out of breakfast food at home due to an unfortunate maggot incident, so I had to buy a bagel this morning & will need to figure out something for tomorrow that doesn’t involve buying anything at a coffee shop.

I’m kinda all over the place lately. And just want to apologize for not commenting on blogs. I’m totally reading them! Kind of! But am so busy that I just don’t have time for more than a quick skim. But I still think you’re awesome.

Monday Photo Essay

Jan 26th, 2009
by gazelle.
22 comments

I don’t actually have a lot of photos for my essay today – but I did have two that I wanted to share with you.

The first is the long-awaited (at least by me) photo of the winter party dress.

Those shoes are NOT the shoes I intended to wear (they are, however, my wedding shoes AND the most expensive pair of shoes I’vew ever purchased – they cost twice as much as my wedding dress).  That’s also kind of a strange angle, since we couldn’t find the tripod, so the camera is resting on the kitche counter.  Aren’t we sharp? I do wish, though, that I had a more straight-on photo. My necklace is pretty! :)

The next photo is from the blogging runner get together last Wednesday.

From left to right: The Ambitious One, me, Rocket-Shoes, his wife Running Stories, Junk Miles & our out-of-town guest: I *heart* running. Not picture (because he was our photographer) is Mr. Pi.

Our monthly get-togethers are quite fun! On our run yesterday, Junk Miles & I were talking about get togethers & potlucks,  and determined that we might need to have a runner potluck. I think we might have to, at that.   Something to consider for February!

I know that this is not going to get me any sympathy, but DAMN! it’s hard to go to work on a Monday.

It’s Still Snowing

Dec 20th, 2008
by gazelle.
7 comments

It has snowed almost every day for the last seven days. This is starting to get weird. We have a couple of new inches on the ground in my neighborhood.

At this point, we are not even sure if we’ll venture out for the party tonight – although I do now have a kick-ass really hot dress (and new jewelry and a new bra and everything). To be honest, I’d rather not go – there has already been a couple of almost accidents right in front of my house.

My parents got in last night – although closer to midnight than the scheduled time of 11 PM. We’re sitting around being lazy right now. Soon, I will go get on the elliptical, and then fix my toenails (since I have open-toed shoes) and then decide if we’re going to venture out tonight.

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