Trust your instincts

My coworker has a dish of candies, at his desk, with various chocolates. I avoid the peanut butter cups, chocolate covered coconut pieces, and crunch bars; I only enjoy the dove chocolates.

I usually get through the whole morning without even thinking about having a chocolate, but it the afternoon I find so many excuses to wander over to my coworkers desk and casually take a piece, or 4. I find that these chocolates are not only tasty, but also inspirational. Each wrapper has a message.

In the past I have gotten messages "wink at a stranger", "temptations are good, giving in is better"; most of them seem pretty ridiculous, but, I have begun to treat these "sweet messages" as daily horoscopes. I don't need the yes and no answers I used to get from an 8 ball, cause the important questions can't be answered with a simple yes or no.

Today I had two pieces of chocolate, because I wasn't satisfied with the first message, "trust your instincts". When the next chocolate had the very same message, I decided to take it a little more seriously.

Since I am not sure exactly which instinct the chocolate is referring to I will be second quessing every decision I make. Consider this your warning.

Cause of hate crimes discovered in Greenbboro, N.C.

There was story featured on NPR this morning about a hate crime that took place on a college campus known for it strong Quaker values....

Police in Greensboro, N.C., have arrested three Guilford College football players who are accused of taunting and beating three Palestinian students. Accounts of the incident differ, but the allegations stun a small Quaker college that embraces pacifism and diversity. ~ Morning Edition

Aaron Fetrow, Dean for Campus life at Guilford, who noted that the campus follows strict Quaker values of peace and passivism, was asked how this happened at Guilford "...there was some alcohol involved, there was some testosterone involved". He went on about how the college plans to address this crime and prevent future ones, but I was so shocked by his comment, that I stopped listening.

I imagine that even without alcohol and testosterone, stupidity would prevail and hate crimes like these would still happen, even among the peace loving Quakers.

call me Marie-Antoinette

My step dad and I share a birthday in the same week, his is just two days before mine.

As a child, we celebrated with the family, together...which made for some interesting combinations for the birthday song; "happy birthday, Melissa and Harry" and the version that usually got laughs at the table "happy birthday Harry N Melissa" which when said fast enough sounded like a huge insult!

His birthday falls on Valentine's day, he alway felt entitled to my valentine chocolates, so as a child I learned to eat all my candy before I got home; I blame the fact that I can't leave a bag or box of candy uneaten, once opened on this grievous form of child abuse!

Sweets and chocolate have always been a intrigral part of our birthday celebration and they continue to be so important! I spend the weeks leading up to my day dreaming about my birthday cake.

This year I have hit the cake lottery, within in one week I will attend no less than three celebrations where cake eating will not only be encouraged but required!

I told you all that 2007 was my year!

itsy bitsy distractions......

As I drove to work, with a starbucks carrier full of mine and my coworkers friday morning beverages I happened to notice a spider the size of a dime, scurry across my windshield.
Spiders have always terrified me. They make my heart race and thinking about them causes me to get light headed and clammy!
One time, at a busy intersection, in St Augustine, I flipped my visor down to apply some lipgloss and a huge furry spider fell from the visor, into my lap. I freaked out, threw the car into park and jumped out, screaming and flailing around.
So, last Friday, when I came face to face with the creature that scares me more than anything else, I surprised myself, when I reached up with a starbucks napkin and squashed it. No hysterics, screaming, or frantic swatting, just one smooth, effortless movement.
I'd like to think that this was a sign of maturity, proof that I have learned to address and then conquor my fears, like an adult! Thruth is, I know ME too well. I have been pretty distracted lately and the reason I did not flip out is because my head was somewhere else.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the 88th anniversary of a very sad day in American History, the start of American Prohibition. Now, I read up on all the laws and constitutional amendments and I am basically confused about how and why this radical decision came about, but I am painfully aware of the horrendous effects.
There are so many amazing feets I'd never accomplish had it not been for the over indulgence of alcohol; granted I'd save hundreds of dollars on bar tabs, text messages and cab fair not to mention late night snacks of $50 pies of pizza.
Alcohol is not to blame for any of the decisions I have made, I am confident that I'd have made them, if I had the courage, while sober!
This includes phone calls, text messages, riduculous bets, christmas party kisses and late night swims!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the 88th anniversary of a very sad day in American History, the start of American Prohibition. Now, I read up on all the laws and constitutional amendments and I am basically confused about how and why this radical decision came about, but I am painfully aware of the horrendous effects.
There are so many amazing feets I'd never accomplish had it not been for the over indulgence of alcohol; granted I'd save hundreds of dollars on bar tabs, text messages and cab fair not to mention late night snacks of $50 pies of pizza.
Alcohol is not to blame for any of the decisions I have made, I am confident that I'd have made them, if I had the courage, while sober!
This includes phone calls, text messages, riduculous bets, christmas party kisses and late night swims!

26 going on 7

At what age do we become adults?

When we turn 16 and can transport ourselves?
When we graduate from college and move out for the first time?
OR dreadfully, when we move back in after graduating from college?
I used to think I would consider myself an adult when I could pay all my own bills and still afford to buy groceries.
I still consider myself a kid and not just at heart.

wishful thinking

Sometimes when life gets tough it feels good to run back to your past, to a more comfortable time. Memories from your childhood become a comfort.
Driving into St Augustine, Saturday morning gave me that warm safe feeling, like Mom's grilled cheese or the soft warn feel of my baby blanekt. It felt so good to be back in town, with friends who have become more like siblings.
5 hours later, after a long walk and at least as many beers, we found ourselves at Rendesvous, drinking foreign beers and laughing about the present while living in the past.
The problem with going back, in order to escape the present is that sometimes the ghosts of the past are just as painful. The ghost this time happened to be the guy I dated all through college. He walked into the bar, took one look at me and wanted nothing more than to turn and walk back out, as if I never existed in the first place.
When I woke this morning, I was fairly certain that I was not sober yet, but needed to go for a walk. I ended up outside my old dorm room, sitting infront of the fountain, with a handful of change.

I could literally see into my old room as I stood there, I lived in that room 8 years ago. I took a penny and wished for a time machine. It seemed like the right wish, life was easier then, my family was healthy, my job was easy, school was simple, I napped everyday.
You can't go back, though, so I took the handful of pennies, nickles and dimes wished for happiness and threw them all in at once.
I crossed the street to the Casa Monica ordered a Vanilla Latte and burnd my lips on the hottest worst tasting poor excuse for a starbucks, I'd ever tasted. If I weren't so hung over I would have gone back the the fountain and fished my change out!