Professor Moriarty is Torturing My Clothes...

Hello all! 

I hope everyone is doing well, my life a little crazy right now...2012 is kinda kicking my butt.  Lots of medical issues with friends and family and we all need prayers. 

Now for something completely different! 

So, our washing machine was making a heinous noise while washing our clothes.  It literally sounded like a tank was tromping around inside the metal cyllinder where the clothes are.  It was worse than nails on a chalkboard trust me.  So my parents decided it was time for a new washer and dryer!  They are Samsung and quite amazing. 

There are all different kinds of settings on them, and they are front loading and very sleek.  Then...I was washing clothes with my mom and getting the low-down on how the new machines work.  When either the washer or the dryer complete a cycle, a little tune is played to announce it's conclusion.  It's like the cadenza of the clothes symphony. 

When electronics play songs with various beepy-type notes, you tend to think it will be a song everyone will recognize.  Normally it's something like, "The Entertainer," or Vivaldi's "Spring," or Mozart...nope.  When our washer and dryer finish washing and drying they play, "Die Forelle" composed by Schubert.  Of all the songs in the world to parody WHY THAT ONE?  Okay it's about a fish and you use water wash your clothes...but that's really it.  Seriously. 

Also in light of recent media...this is TERRIFYING!  I was just sitting there near the washer and dryer and all of the sudden the melody of "Die Forelle" assaults my ears.  My Mom casually says, "Dad and I couldn't quite place this song, do you know what it is?"  I did know..., "OMG this is terrifying!  This is horrible....Mommy this is the song that Moriarty tortures Sherlock Holmes to in Game of Shadows!  You know the scene where he gets strung up on a hook and Moriarty starts playing the record?!  THIS IS THAT SONG!!!!  AHHHHH!!!!" 

My Mom's only reply was, "Only you would remember that." 

Seriously though y'all...Moriarty is torturing our clothes.  If you don't believe me, listen to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qEVnQlasAw

God does things to make me secretly smile some of the time, and this is one of those times.  What are the odds?  I mean....really?! 

I usually name everything in my life.  For instance my blind cane's name is Sherlock, my purse is named Luna, my washer's name is Professor, and my dryer's name is Moriarty....

HUGS

Gnomey

Job Search Post-Graduation

Disclaimer:

            The following are the ramblings of a gnome with an old soul, please take my advice and musings as what they are…advice and musings.  My word is not gospel.  Thank you for reading!  And come back soon!

Congratulations!  You have been selected for your dream job!  Just like everyone told you your entire life, you can do anything you want; you can raise yourself through the ingenuity of your mind and the sweat of your back to the highest position!  Someone is looking for you to use your degree RIGHT NOW!  You can get out of bed at twelve and start to work at one!  Take an hour for lunch and then by two you’re done!  Jolly good fun!  Someone will pay you to simply exist because that’s hard enough!!!!!!  AND YOU’RE SKINNY!!!!!!!!  Your true love is just around the corner, they forgot to ask for directions, but now…HEEEEEEEEEERE THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

            Okay…sorry…*pants* just pretending my life is going well…I’m still waiting for a call from Cole Porter, who am I kidding…

            I would just like to point out for the public record, that none of the above ever happens.  Wishes come true, but not free (Thank you Sondheim).  Anyone I know who is ‘happy’ with their lot worked very hard to get it, and had a ton of hardships along the way.  Again I will type it: if we all sat at a table together and put our problems out on said table, you would pick yours right back up because you never know what someone else is going through.  That is why I always listen and never belittle anyone for their complaints because honestly, hang-nails might be a big deal to someone if they’ve nothing to compare it to. 

            I have recently discovered that most people do not have the capacity to worry about the whole world, everyone else, and themselves without having a nervous breakdown (oops).  Thus, everything in its own time.  When the ship runs aground, the sea has spoken, and you can’t lead a horse to water if it’s all salty.  Growing up and dealing with your problems just has to occur.  Part of growing up is school, socialization, and work. 

Education is essential, and can be wonderful.  Although I will say I have a whole new grasp of the phrase “Ignorance is Bliss,” and how it came to be.  Some of my favorite people in life have been teachers and those who took the time to enrich me.  However, when you learn to base your worth and goals off of a letter grade, it presents a problem.  Namely, you graduate from high school or college and suddenly there is no letter grade, no syllabus, and no expectations other than: Career.  And not just ‘job’ anymore…we have updated to “career.”  If you have been trained like a lab rat for eighteen years to work hard+follow directions=get A=get yay!...then when you graduate…you are at a loss.  And all those people you went to for answers before?  Well, once the diploma touches your hands they reveal to you their terrible and fiendish secret…THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.  They have no idea what they’re doing.  They have no idea what their parents did.  NO ONE KNOWS THE SECRET TO LIFE.  They are the same as you.  Just trying to survive and take advantage of what God has given them.  They have no specific directions that they took to get where they are, they simply dealt with their problems, did their best (or their worst), and ended up doing what they’re doing. 

            I really have tried to do the research folks, and I’m telling you the following: you simply have to develop your skills, work hard, keep networking, and love who you love.  Honestly that’s it.  The humans are few and far between who have had a golden scroll laid out before them from on-high saying, “This is what you are to do with your life.”  With the exceptions of the golden rules: The 10 Commandments, Laws, Do Unto Others, The Good, Enlightenment etc; there is a huge number of opportunities splayed out before us. 

I am almost jealous of you if you are good at one thing…if you can do one thing really well…you have your option right there don’t you?  Get a job doing that!  Unless of course it violates one of the moral codes listed above…but this is not a post about ethics, so we won’t even go there…today. 

            The majority of the contemporary human population is well-rounded.  Many of us were given the best education our parents and family members could provide.  Loan payments notwithstanding.  And because the world has become more interconnected with the development of the internet and globalization…we all have a variety of skills necessary to succeed in these modern times.  However, this means that many of us are “okay” at a lot of things, and not really “expert” at anything. 

             You see back in the day, people learned a trade, or they worked for their parents, or they inherited a family business, or they sat at home and took care of children or other people’s children…but now, we are forced to compete for everything in a technologically advanced and globally-minded world.  This is my main concern.  Narrowing down the possibilities in order to find a career or a stepping stone one can tolerate.  Each of us has to take one step forward at a time, and there are probably many jobs we will have before we find something that develops into the ‘career’ we can deal with.  This is a hard pill to swallow, even if you did grow up aware of it.  I myself tend to set goals that are unreachable at the time, and it becomes very hard for me to continually not reach said goals.  (Still awaiting my Hogwarts Letter…) 

Now I say, ‘deal with,’ because ‘happiness’ is very elusive.  Honestly, enjoy your happiness when you find it, when the mood strikes you: be happy.  Do not expect to be happy all the time.  I think it is a disadvantage to assume that you will find your dream life.  You may find a fantastic position, with benefits, doing what you are good at, with someone you love, but nothing is perfect.  And that is okay.  You just need to be okay the majority of the time.  Okay most of the time, happy sometimes, sad others.  Allow yourself to feel what you feel any given day, but don’t wait for ‘perfect,’ this life will not bring you that.  All of us have been told to dream, and shoot for the stars, and go for the gold …but no one told us how.  Religion is the closest thing to telling you how to achieve true contentment through faith, but faith is often more elusive than happiness.  Human nature catches up to all of us on a daily basis. 

            If you have grown up looking at fairytales, watching romantic comedies, trying for that “A”, striving for your gold metals, and suddenly you feel your life is utterly anti-climactic post graduation…please know you are not alone.  I have been analyzing a large number of my current generation, and most people are either in grad school, working at a job they do not like, getting married, or moving back home.  Any of these things is common and understandable.  They are all okay choices.  It is okay to discover how you think, how you function best, save up money, pay the bills, and to take some time after school and jobs to sit and think.  Do not wallow forever.  Certainly try and make your own way, and live your own life.  Self-exploration can be terrifying, but it can also help you develop self-advocacy and confidence.  If you know yourself, you can judge how you need to proceed.  Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel. 

            You do need to live your life.  Don’t let it pass you by.  I myself need to take some risks, because I often avoid making decisions because it scares me.  Decisions are hard, but unfortunately they are also necessary to achieve the successful feelings I want to have.  To thine own self be true my dears.  Take time for yourself to discover the small goals you can achieve each day, and make your way towards the bigger ones you want to reach in the future.  No one can tell you the exact path, no one can predict what will happen for your future, but you can discover how you yourself think, and you can decide how to act.  When you reach an age of reason, if you ever do, try to know yourself so that you might be okay.  Be happy when you can.  Love when you can.  Learn each day, and know that you are not alone. 

            Honestly I can tell you we all have the same problems.  Everyone has the same core fears and issues, we are just unique in our experiences and how we deal with those problems.  But don’t run away from them.  Stand and deal.  You can do it…even if you feel you can’t, find some help, phone a friend, find your small daily goals, and eventually you will realize that you are living your life, and maybe you are ready to make a bigger decision about it. 

            I wish all of you the best of luck in everything you do, and again, you are not alone.  Post-graduation and becoming a true adult has been very difficult for me, but I feel like I tend to be stronger because of my hardships. 

Here’s to almost April 2012!!!!!

…holy crap….

HUGS,

Gnomey

PS While we are on the subject of jobs, if anyone has any ideas for a dialect coach/voice over aritst/writer/actress/singer/philosopher…umm…COMMENT!  Do it now!  Network guys!  J

           

           

Erin Go Braugh!!!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  Break out the soda bread, corned beef, and music! 

        Just wanted to give a quick update for this special day for the Irish.  I love being Irish, and it’s mostly because of the amazing accents and the music.  I know I’m Irish, and not just because of my genetics.  It’s blatantly in my blood…I’ve a love of the chat, tellin’ a good story, and THE MUSIC. 

        I went to a Chieftans concert last night.  If you’ve never heard the Chieftans…just do it.  They have been around for 50 years, and are one of the best folk bands in the world.  Irish music speaks to the soul, it’s something where you can tap your feet, laugh, shed a tear, and reminisce. 

        Happy St. Patrick’s Day and may God bless you! 

HUGS

O’Gnomey

PS There was actually an “O” in front of my last name once, but my Great Grandfather dropped the “O” in the ocean on the way over ;) 

Not Quite One Year Gone...

So I had a ton of links in this, but my internet kicked me off at the last minute of posting this...so yeah...sory no links....

So it’s been less than a year.  I can’t say I haven’t posted in A YEAR, because it hasn’t happened yet.  So there!  Ha HA! 

If you would please hold your applause until the end.  No really…you’ll never get through it ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Time flies when…time flies.  This is a year in review.  I really wouldn’t say I’ve had that much fun, so we’ll leave the expression there.  2011 to 2012 has been the best, and the worst, and NOTHING in between.  A giant, gaping, never-ending-story-nothing.  My journey has been a bit like a Grimm Fairy Tale.  I’m traveling along in a dark forest, (there really isn’t a coherent path), sometimes I find a piece of candy, and the rest of the time I go hungry. 

            The last time I posted was April 2011.  Let me explain...no…there is too much.  Let me sum up:

April 2011:

1.       I moved home with the help of my Father, Brother-in-Law, and Sister (9 months pregnant). 

She had tried everything else to get that baby out, why not lifting heavy objects that her little sister had compiled in an apartment for née on a year.  This process consisted of me and my family throwing my things into garbage bags, carting them down two tiny elevators, and dragging said bags bodily towards a borrowed truck.  FML.  Of course I appreciated their efforts, but I was blatantly NOT ready to leave, and it is times like these that I look around hopefully for my undiscovered Boswell. 

2.      The realization that we never look at, use, or care about half of what we own. 

     I have come to the conclusion that I have way too much stuff.  It makes sense to me that I keep random scraps of paper I cried over once, but it isn’t going to make sense to anyone else.  Certainly not the people who help me cart everything back and forth from the various places I have relocated to. 

            Now that I am back at home, it only makes sense to go through things and figure out if I even remember why I have them.  Turns out (annoyingly) that I do remember everything, so going through it is like some sort of nostalgic nightmare.  Due to my failing eye-sight, I can’t see most of the things scattered about these boxes and bins, but I can feel them, and the memories present emotions and reflections that I have bottled up and stowed away for a long time.  It’s the hull of my ship underneath the Jolly-Roger.  My inner-pirate is meeting up with my inner-pack rat and they are discussing the value of a newspaper clipping featuring Harry Potter. 

     ***I will continue to update you all if I find anything of interest…do me a favor and comment if you are actually interested in me doing a memory-box post.  You are forewarned: I resemble Andy Warhol in my collecting habits…

3.     One of my greatest friends from school, and my job, left the establishment. 

     To be fair, I moved home too, so I shouldn’t be so sad about this particular friend deciding to save up some money, and actually make a stab at being happy.  She worked with me, shared my major in college, and studied abroad in the same program I did.  We had a great party for her (the only reason I ventured out to an actual BAR everyone) and tried to make her last day a special one.  Good luck in the Midwest! 

4.     My first nephew was finally born towards the end of the month.

     Babies are fascinating.  It is truly a miracle to watch a life being created and brought into the world.  My Sister and Brother-in-Law had a beautiful baby boy, and he ended up being bearable AND cute, just to prove that that still happens.  He’s absolutely adorable, and appears to be in good health whilst growing rapidly.  A lady-killer already, we’ll see what becomes of the Small Human (my pet name for him), I have already begun the voice training so perhaps he’ll sing before he talks J. 

     I envy children.  They have the ability to maintain innocence and ignorance about the world.  Everything is new, and they simply absorb.  I wish my nephew all the success and wonderful things that life has to offer him.  Speaking of my nephew, several of my friends have had children…best wishes to the babies.  All of the babies.  BABIES EVERYWHERE! 

Where was I?  Ah—

May 2011:

1.     Birthdays and First Communions.

     The hum-drum of life begins to sprawl out before me.  I’m settling into the basement of my childhood home, and people’s lives go on.  Those who include me in their journeys invite me to join them in celebrating the days that they were born, religious holidays, chats, teas, and meals.

     The most memorable thing about this month would probably be the first time I dyed my hair.  Actually dyed it: Manic Panic Bubble Gum Pink.  So it was only the under-layer of my hair, and my long locks covered most of it, but it was there and it makes me smile.  A good night overall with ‘the girls’ (you know who you are), I addicted more of them to Sherlock Holmes.  Nothing better than drinking and watching Basil Rathbone berate Nigel Bruce in The Hound of the Baskervilles.  Yup.  I’m THAT awesome. 

*As a side note, I just added “Rathbone” to my Word Dictionary, because I refuse to hit the “Ignore Once” button regarding anyone that has played Sherlock Holmes.  Moving on…

June 2011:

1.     This month hit me hard with the death of my Nana.  She passed away on the first of the month, and she will be missed.  She was a singular individual, not to be replaced, and raised me alongside my parents. 

     Very few people understand the relationship between Nana and I, but it was very special.  She lived with us for as long as I lived at home.  So, I never had a baby-sitter, it was just Nana.  She was always home, and that was pretty much the only consistent thing about her. 

     I get my sass from her I think.  That attitude that says, “Don’t ever let anyone walk on you, tell you what to do, or make you feel inferior.”  She was kind of like Eleanor Roosevelt in the way she thought: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  I learned and shared a lot with my Grandmother.  I think of her often and miss her in the little things, especially now that I stay in her old room. 

     I take pride in the fact that everyone knew her as “Nana.”  It’s amazing how tragedy brings humans together so fast.  As soon as people learned of her passing, we started to receive casseroles, desserts, edible arrangements, and sympathies.  For everyone who supported my family in this time, I thank you very much…I know Nana would have appreciated it (and demanded all the Heath Bars present J )  . 

2.     June is when I was born, so for my birthday my friends took me to Medieval Times.  And that’s all I really have to say about that.  Medieval Times, if you haven’t done it…just do it. 

3.     Did more catching up with old friends, meetings for dinners, and appointments. 

     This consists of me realizing that I should probably attempt to organize myself into getting some semblance of full-time work, setting a goal to make sure I am willing to move out if the opportunity presents itself, and typing long-winded run-on sentences that describe my feelings to professional individuals. 

4.     I sent my first audition tape to NY.

     Not that I got anything, but I did put one together and actually sent it to a theatre.  I’d like to count that as a step towards ‘getting organized’ or ‘full time work.’

5.      I went to a Happy Hour for Actors. 

     Again, a step in a direction at least.  I met up with a producer and lots of other actors for a Happy Hour event.  Overall it was a good networking move, and again, nothing really happened, but I met some colleagues and got some good advice.

July 2011:

1.     Hit me up if you ever want good parking, I renewed my handi-cap placard this month!  I can now have whoever is driving me park unnecessarily close to buildings!

2.     My nephew was baptized into the Catholic Church.

3.     We had the annual Pig Roast at our house.  Basically each year we have a co-neighbor Pig Roast in our backyard.  My Dad has a huge ‘pig pit’ in the back, and we literally roast a pig.  It’s a huge potluck once a year where we normally have 200+ in and out of our house for a summer party. 

     Did I mention each year is themed and we dress up the dead animal and take pictures?  That’s not weird right?  It really isn’t, it’s super fun…this year was Cajun…in case you wanted to know. 

4.     Got cast in a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!  A big thank you to the director and cast of my first show with the bit back in my mouth.  It was a good experience overall, and I am so grateful to the people who were willing to pick me up and drop me off.  Transportation is my biggest setback being an actor onstage, and my cast-mates were wonderful. 

     This was also the most skin I have ever shown onstage…ooolala!  I played the courtesan Tintinabula, and basically looked like Jasmine from Aladdin with jingly things all over me.  Bells people…get your minds out of the gutter ;) . 

5.     July 15, 2011…you thought I wouldn’t mention it?  THE LAST HARRY POTTER FILM.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Alan Rickman takes Snape speaking slowly to a whole new level.  I can poke fun at my fandom all I like, but the film overall was one of the better ones, and I thought the growth of the actors as a whole was amazing.  I dressed up.  I forced my friends to dress up…it was epic. 

     Playing the same character for your entire childhood is a fascinating study…and if you are as nerdy as me, you should watch the interview between Daniel Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling for Pottermore. 

     And yes, if anyone is wondering, I did feel like my childhood died when the credits finished rolling on this film.  Put it this way, my group of friends got interviewed for the freaking paper and I couldn’t say anything.  Go me.

July bleeds into August some great times with friends and family. 

August 2011:

1.     My parents have been married for 30 years. 

     I consider myself lucky, and am very impressed by my parents’ track record.  They beat the statistics, are very much in love, and continue to amaze me in their partnership.  Thank you both for sharing your love with us kids.  Although I will say, it is difficult to grow up watching you and realizing that it is nearly impossible to find what you have.  Here’s to 30 more years of forever you two! 

2.     The only notable thing otherwise would be the actual performing part of Forum (see above).

September 2011:

1.     Family annual visit to the Renaissance Fair.  That’s all I have to say about that.  If you haven’t been to a Ren Fair….just do it. 

2.     Happy birthday to those that had birthdays, and we keep going….

October 2011:

1.     I performed in a comedy club for work.  Unfortunately not my own stuff, and it was during the day, so no one important saw me…but yeah…

2.     I saw a dear friend perform as The Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance!  That theatre smelled like death…but great job! 

3.     I took an Audio book Narration class. 

     It was another step.  I have always wanted to do voice over work, and audio book narration.  So I just bit the bullet and decided to take a group class and see what happened. 

     It was a great experience and the instructor was very knowledgeable.  I was told, I have the chops, an incredible vocal talent for dialects, music, and voice work…however…my visual impairment is a huge setback.  Their advice to me was to learn Braille, and become a more efficient reader somehow.  Now-a-days with technology the way it is, a lot of the successful people are their own director, engineer, editor, producer, and actor…so I need to figure out how to get my own little home studio started. 

4.     For Halloween I was a nymph-fairy-woodsy-lady. 

     I had work and ended up passing candy out to the kids in my neighborhood.  One little girl asked me if I was Maid Marion from Robin Hood…that was sweet, so we’ll go with that. 

     I would like to take this time to type several general Halloween candy announcements.

            -You are never too old to eat candy

            -You can be creepy if you are old a dressed up

            -All people must say ‘Trick or Treat’ if they want to receive any goodies from me

            -The ‘Trick or Treat’ will be followed with a ‘Thank you’

Thank you for reading these announcements, and the next time your child feels like coming up to me, thrusting out a bag, and daring to utter the phrase, “Give me candy!” Maid Marion and I will not be responsible for what happens. 

November 2011:

1.     Wow…I’m starting to feel like I actually did try this year…I auditioned for the Reality TV Show America’s Got Talent.  I would say more, but I signed a contract detailing how screwed I would be if I uttered a syllable…so I’ll just say…I auditioned.  And no, I did not get in, but my friends supported me and it was a fun day!

2.     Thanksgiving!  Food!  Family! 

3.     At the end of this month I visited one of my girls (you know who you are) in Tennessee where she goes to school. 

     We had a great time.  I have a core group of amazing friends and one of them was moving out to LA, so she was driving her car across country.  I went with her as far as TN, and spayed there with another of our friends.  It was really fun being back in a college atmosphere for a bit.  It also ended up being really relaxing because I had no internet! 

     The most notable part of this trip would be the 21” of hair I cut off.  Yep…all my long hair had to go.  It was time for change, and I got a bob.  Done.

December 2011:

1.     It’s December?  When did that happen? 

2.     Holiday Party at work.  Uneventful.  Mostly a time for people to get dressed up and an excuse for everyone to drink with their co-workers and bosses.  Nothing special, although my new hair and dress were a big hit. 

3.     Went with family friends to the Navy Concert in Washington, DC.  They played some good music, but overall I was disappointed in the singers.  I have heard much better from them in previous years, and I felt it was a little heavy for the holidays.  Lots of what I like to call, “Christmas Shoes,” or the songs that are just written and performed to make you cry. 

4.     Christmas with the family.

     Christmas is the favorite time in my household.  Mom, Dad, and I decorated the inside and outside of the house and you just can’t help but feel like things are cozier around Christmas.  We all got each other very nice gifts this year.  I had the pleasure of shopping with a Pirate King (see above) so he helped me get my family shopping done early.  I at least know they got nice things from me ;)  .  Gift giving is always special for me though.  I enjoy giving gifts and my time to others…often a little too much.  I think we can all relate to a time when we have done everything for everyone else and forgotten ourselves. 

     I do hope that everyone had a good holiday season though, and that something made you feel special near Christmas time. 

January 2012:

1.     Holy crap it’s 2012?!  Happy New Year!  Um…wow…this one is a dozy yall. 

     I celebrated New Years in a giant sleep over bash with my girls.  Such a great time.  We had a night in watching movies, playing video games, eating, chatting, and toasting the Good.  I couldn’t ask for better friends honestly…if you don’t have a good friend…find one…we need them.  Friendship, true friendship, is invaluable.  Again I look around for my Watson, whom I have yet to find…wish they’d find me…Sherlock Holmes had to wait till his thirties presumably, so maybe I do too…

2.     Eye doctor check-up. 

     So it’s the annual eye doctor visit for me.  Which was interesting this year.  I have always jested about the eye charts, but this year I couldn’t even tell that there was a chart to look at, much less that it was lit up and through a magnifier.  Ah well…in case you’re wondering it’s always the letter “E,” it’s just turned various ways. 

     Not much seems to have changed to the naked eye; however, my eye disease has worsened.  I can see the inside of my eye sometimes; the vein structure and pattern of blood vessels, like purple worms that crawl through my vision.  Also, most of the central part of my visual field has diminished, so I rely on my peripheral vision almost entirely.  This means I have to pretend to look at people, in order to appear as though I can actually see them. 

     It’s an odd limbo to be in, being visually impaired.  I still see a lot, but it is simultaneously very little.  The brain is an amazing paradox, and fills in a lot for you, but when you are a visual learner, you begin to realize that life has got to change. 

3.     I applied to The Hadley School for the Blind. 

     As mentioned earlier, I have always wanted to do voice over work.  Out of everything I probably miss reading the most.  Picking up a book and reading it myself.  So I decided to brush up and become a proficient Braille reader.  I think this will really help me gain independence, and also just be less effort.  We all know what it’s like to stare at a computer too long…oh right…sorry ‘bout this J . 

     Hadley is a free program for those with vision loss, and if you are accepted you get an instructor and materials to teach yourself Braille.  I thought this type of program would be best for me, as I don’t work well if I have to make an appointment at certain times.  An apology to my therapist would be well deserved about now J. 

4.     I attended my best friends’ Holiday Gala for work.  It was at the Botanical Gardens in DC, at night, and was awesome.  We had an awesome time walking around the gardens, and the best part was the whole not-being-sunny thing.  I could almost pretend we were all nocturnal for a moment.  It was really fun though, and the food was also excellent. 

5.     This month also began the Laptop Repair Saga. 

     Basically, a long story short, I tried to get my laptop fixed.  I have an on-site contract for my Sony Vaio, so they send someone to your house to fix your computer.  My headphone jack was broken, so they needed to assess it and replace the hardware.  Needless to say, two four-hour visits, eleven phone calls, and two months later my computer is more broken, there is a bunch of new parts in it that apparently don’t work, and I’m getting $160 bucks for a computer that was originally $1000.  Awesome.  Thank you technology people…thank you. 

6.     The rest of the month was occupied by the untimely and very sad death of a dear friend.  Needless to say, she was young, the circumstances were terrible, and she will be missed for the good times.  As tragedy so often does, it brought a lot of people together and was a very nice send off. 

     I spent some quiet quality time with the people I love, and you know who you are.  Thank you for being supportive, it was appreciated trust me, and I’m so glad we were all able to visit from the corners of America. 

February 2012:

1.      Continuation of the laptop saga (see above). 

2.     Lots of love for those who found it, and a baby shower.

     Some new boyfriends were featured for a couple friends.  A few couples announced their engagement to me, and as I mentioned one family friend is about to have a baby.  Can you all not do this all at once?  Can I have a reprieve?  I mean….ahem…ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES! 

     No, honestly, congrats from the bottom of my heart to all the new couples, and the expecting mothers.  I wish you the absolute best, and good luck! 

3.     Took a train!

     I decided to visit family/friends down in Norfolk, VA.  So I got on a train and did that.  It was a nice quiet weekend with one of my best friends and her family.  We did some shopping, poked around town, and generally caught up with one another.  Then I took a train back.  Yay Union Station…great place to kill time, although not the most fun for me…I will spend a lot of my life waiting around to be driven places you see…

4.     The Oscars. 

     The Oscars were fun to watch this year, although I will comment that they were one of the less eventful Oscars.  The dresses were prettier I will give the fashion world that.  Billy Crystal was fun as always, and I loved the Cirque du Soleil performance…amazing.  Kind of sad that Harry Potter or Sherlock Holmes didn’t win anything, but the main film of the year was a silent movie…so I suppose my vote didn’t count much ;)  .  I stayed at my college roommate’s house overnight, we had a great time with her family, and I met her new beau (see above). 

Hey it’s March!

March 2012:

1.     The March Hare is mad for a reason…have you noticed the weather?  Global crazy disasters aside, it’s very warm for this time of year…

2.     Visited Philly! 

     Two of the girls and I took a weekend trip to Philly this past weekend.  It was very laid back; we walked about, went to the Museum of Medical Oddities (Mutter), window shopped, and ate really good food.  I also got to see an old friend and former roomie who is attending AVA, so that was awesome!       

     Thank you for driving and walking me around ladies! 

            Now can you all imagine if I had written the year out?  That was just summing up!  A lot more happened obviously, but life and death happens to us all.  I am wishing everyone well, saying a lot of prayers, and trying to keep making goals…that I can actually reach…can’t believe that the Prince of Wales is already married…

            I will promise nothing, but LET’S GET THIS BLOG ON THE ROAD!  And if I have forgotten you in this post please do keep in mind the length…that’s what she said.

            Much love, peace, and blessings,

Me and All My Voices

PS If you have any comments, requests, or fits of paranoia, please feel free to leave a note!