Balancing Acts

What a fun band from the late 80's.  Loved them in college. I may have to listen to them later.
The Balancing Act
We're Not Lost - Official Band Website

Sometimes I take my computer to bed with me.  I have trouble sleeping and if I am going to channel surf for something to watch on my favorite website ever, Hulu, take it with me as opposed to leaving it on my dresser with a movie playing or something.

Last night after a nice long call on Skype with my man, I decided to check some email, blogs, etc; then watch something and go to sleep.  Do you guys use Skype by the way?  It's awesome. Fifteen years ago my parents paid like $20 to talk for a few minutes to relatives in Greece.  Now I can call them and actually SEE them and it's all part of my internet service.  I can't exactly say "free" because you pay for an internet connection right?  But basically, it feels like it's free.  And who doesn't like free?!

So this little nugget comes to snuggle up with me and the computer.  I have my laptop on the bed and I am sitting up.  He cozies in between  my leg and the laptop.   I find this funny blog and am enjoying it.  Suddenly, stuff looks weird and the screen flickers.

Get your paws off the keyboard!

Ugh.  I go to "follow" that blog and the print in the window is monstrous.  I cannot scroll down in it either, so I cannot choose to follow any blogs right now.  Annoying.

The blogs themselves look normal, but my dashboard, the page that I am on now typing this, comments - basically any additional window  is humungaloid.

I am thoroughly annoyed.

That little critter totally changed my setting somehow.  Do you think I can figure it out?  Of course not.  I am a bit challenged in that department.  Lucky for me, the boyfriend knows or can figure out how to do anything.  So he is obviously going to be checking that out this weekend.  Fyi, sugar, my comp is being funky.  Thanks!!

We are very yin and yang, which I think is why we work so well.  We seem to compliment each others strengths and supplement each others weaknesses.  I am really good about money in the moment and immediate future.  I find deals, know when to stock up, know how to be frugal and really make things seem like I am not living on a pittance.  He is good about long term investments.  Together that makes for a pretty comfortable financial situation.  He's organized, but not koo-koo like I am; yet he is less cluttered than I - so we balance each other out there as well.  Emotionally as well, we see things that the other may not.  It just works.

Balance is super important in a relationship.  I have been in one sided relationships when I was younger and they are not fun.  They leave you drained and unhappy. I like to be giving, but when it goes reciprocated it becomes a problem.  I am super grateful that I have someone that I can be completely myself with, someone that I can give as much as I want to because I know I will get it back in return.  When you are both in the habit of giving, you are both fulfilled, you know?  Everyone wins.

Women are often taught to give too much of the themselves.  We are taught to deplete ourselves in order to be a good wife, mother, sister, friend, lover, worker (I have done that one way too often).   If you deplete yourself to death, somehow that makes you a good person. 

I am no martyr.

I can sum it up like this: first you put on your oxygen mask, then you assist anyone that needs assistance.

Why do they say this on an airplane?  Because people forget that if you are not healthy yourself, if you are not safe or satiated or breathing - you cannot actually help anyone around you.  You are not a help or comfort to anyone when you are not okay yourself.  You are not actually a strong woman if you are not taking care of yourself.  If you are not taking care of yourself, you do not have enough to actually give.  You are simply running on fumes.  You are going to kill the engine.

Being strong does not mean being a sacrificial lamb.  Being strong means you can handle your shit and also accept from others.  Being strong means that you have enough for yourself and so can spread the wealth.

I was determined to find someone that I could have balance with.  I wanted to be able to give of myself freely to someone that deserved it.  Someone I could grow with, nurture and be nurtured by.  I would not stand for less that equal give and take.  I know, I know, I am being sappy.  But honestly, I have waited patiently for a really long time to be with the right person.

Worth the wait.

Spice of Life

Here's how I know I am on the mend:

My cat wants to be near me.  That little puss in boots did not want to be around me at all for the last several days.  You know you look brutal when your own pet doesn't want you.  He was snuggling with me last night and this morning.

Did I mention that the little booger was hiding in my closet and ate the fringe off of my wrap?  Yeah, I've been finding black yarn hairballs all over and oddly shaped poop in his box all week.  It's been a real pleasure.  That turd.  he is cute as hell though.

The antibiotics are kicking in and I am even breathing sometimes.  Hooray!  At least my face doesn't hurt anymore.  Seriously, is that all necessary?  It's bad enough you're sick, but you have to be in pain as well?

I kind of get it though.  It's a bit like what we are doing to the planet.  The virus is just trying to survive, it isn't really conscious that it is harming me.

Yeah, that's a single cell fucking virus with no rational thought though.  Humans should know better.

Oh my Zeus!  It's like the damn Matrix.  Hmmm...they were on to something.

I am limitedly environmentally friendly.  I do recycle, but that's only because there is a bin where my dumpster is.  That equals easy.  I also reuse things as best I can.

I am a container whore.  I love containers.  LOVE them.  I prefer to transfer boxed or bagged dry items into canisters in the cupboard.  I have a Tuperware set that I love. It helps me stay organized and I like the way it looks.

Anyway,  I have discovered a fabulous little container for spices:  Crystal Light containers.  I drink alot of Crystal Light.  One of my favorites is Pomegranate Cherry.  One of my girlfriends and I were discussing how we could not find it anywhere anymore and were debating on whether or not it was discontinued.  My sweetheart of a man, hearing this, calls me the next week from Target and calls me to confirm the flavor.  He seriously bought 14 of them.  I cannot even deal with him sometimes.  What a fucking lamb.  But he's a total manly man as well.  He's so perfect for me.

Segway again!  Sorry.  My point was that I buy some spices in bulk.  Interpret that as sometimes I buy them in bulk, other times my mom purchases industrial sized containers and gives me baggies of yummy spices like cumin and Spanish paprika.  In general though, it is way less expensive to buy them in bulk packages.  I think I paid like $1.59 for a bag of oregano that has lasted me a year.  And I put oregano in everything.  It's stronger than the McCormick type stuff.  Not that anything is wrong with those, the bagged stuff just seems more fresh somehow. The Crystal Light containers are perfect and fit in my spice bin, because of course I have a little basket for spices in the cupboard.  Some other things I have used them for: jelly beans, popcorn kernels, hard candy, rice. They are super slim and hold a nice amount.

Yeah, don't think for a minute that I did not go buck with ideas to organize my man's pantry full of spices.  Did I mention that he loves to cook?  Yeah, he has more stuff than I do.  We are always in the kitchen.  It's such a good thing for us to do together.  It makes even cleaning up (which I loathe) pleasant.  I love that it's something he enjoys doing.

I think I could actually grow resentful of someone who did not do that with me.  Honestly.  It would eventually really get to me to be in the kitchen alone all the time cooking and cleaning.  I don't know how my mom does it.  My dad is helpful in the sense that he really does take care of the house and he is usually doing things to make it comfortable for them or repairing things.  Stuff like that.  But he does not necessarily even hang out with my mom when she is doing dishes.  I love that if one of us is doing them, the other is there also, even if it's just chatting.  Such a little thing it seems, but so important.

Be good to each other.

Smooches!

Lord Have Mercy

So I was just blog surfing a bit by hitting the "next blog" button up at the top.

Ummm....every single blog was about Jesus.  I lie - one was by a Muslim woman.  But all the other ones, and I mean like 10 or more in a row were god or christian related.

For real?

I mean, people feel connected and want to write the good word.  Good for them.  I was just amazed that every single blog I hit was religious based.

Does blogger go to blogs it thinks you want?  If so there is definitely something wrong with that system.  Where it thought it saw that I wanted that is beyond me.  Or is Blogger trying to save me after I posted a picture of the kitchen witch?

Hard to tell.

I had to break down and get antibiotics. I know...right after I posted about holistic health.  But that stuff is not going to heal  me in the immediate future and I literally cannot breathe.  Like I am so stuffed up that not only can I not breathe, but my nose is running.  You know what that means?  I cannot blow my nose.  I have to sit there with a freaking tissue (notice I am trying to behave with my language?) held up against my schnaze.

I am so unbelievably gross right now, I cannot even deal with myself.  I have become a mouth breather for crying out loud.  It's hard to drink water even.

The silver lining, because you know I always find one, is that - well two things:

1) I was able to breathe for approximately one minute and was cheering, much to the delight of my boyfriend who I was on the horn with.  Poor guy has had to deal with me complaining and mouth breathing and trying to blow my nose for days now.

2) The only thing that is at all pleasing and easy to eat is ice cream.  So yes, I am indulging.  I had coconut yesterday and bought some butter pecan and vanilla (there were on sale - gotta love buy on get one free) when I went to get drugs this evening.

I hate having to take drugs, but I simply could not take it anymore.  I hate the side effects that sometimes antibiotics cause, but decided that I need some air.

Which is a great song by Urge Overkill by the way, "Need Some Air".  I will have to listen to that tomorrow or right now.  Man, they are fantastic.  Happy listening, should you decide to. 

I couldn't find it for you online, but did find "Sister Havana".  Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/yzFlPdHt1Gk

New Directions

I am toying with some ideas on how to make a living without having to be a corporate whore.  No one is biting anyway, even though I've applied to a million places.  The good thing is that I am at least interviewing for senior positions; the bad thing is that they are not hiring me - because I've been out of the market for so long.  I call discrimination.

That's ok.  Let them hire some chump that looks good on paper but makes bad decisions and has no ethics.  I have seen it dozens of times in my field.  I will not change my ways to compete with scumbags.  Damn the money is good though.

I have always backburnered something that actually felt right to me.  I thought it was too flaky to do and perhaps would not be taken seriously.  But Frigg got me thinking about it during her visit.  She reminded me about how much happier I am when I am doing things more holistically.  And this cold is beating the snot out of me - literally.  I am annoyed that I have to take drugs for it. 

Yes, your Arty is a bit of a hippie.  I know, I know...shocker.

I actually know Reiki, though I am not formally trained.  I dabble with herbs (and I do not mean weed).  Scoff if you want to; all I know is it made people feel tons better.  When people ask me how I know how to do things - I'm like "I just do".  Maybe I should be doing something with those gifts.

I was talking to Mac about it the other day and he was way supportive.  I plan on getting certified to be a Holistic Health Practitioner so I can be full on legit.  Learning about natural medicine intrigues me.  I would love to take a completely natural approach to medications.  At the rate I am going, my liver will give out.  F-that.  So many drugs are full of toxins.  Our poor livers.   I also want to learn herbology and actually make tinctures.   Anyway, the whole process will help me get healthy, I am sure; and then I will be able to help others.  I could even consult.  Many health centers have someone like that on staff.  I am not sure where I am going with it, but I am going to go somewhere.  I suppose CA is a good place for that as well.  Reason for everything.

Oooo, will that make me a witch doctor?  Awesome.

Except I won't be scamming anyone.  Isn't that what witch doctors were said to do?  Yeah, I don't play like that.

My Teeth Hurt

Seriously, I want to clone myself,  make myself microscopic, go inside my body and go Chuck Norris on this virus that is messing my shit up.

Lord have mercy.

I had grand plans to go shopping today.  Included on the list were tissues with lotion and some kind of cold remedy.  It's raining and I am going nowhere.  I am made of sugar after all.  I will melt!

And for real, my teeth do hurt.  Ah! My Sinus.

We used to watch The Jungle Book all the time in college.  each of us related best or was represented well by each of the characters.  It was interesting.  One was really silly and laid back, like Baloo. One super graceful, like Bageera, the panther.

I was the clumsy stealth machine known as Kaa, the snake.  It was almost painful to watch.  He's all slick and trying to be seductive or sneaky and inevitably something goes wrong and his plan is thwarted.  Usually, he falls or smacks his head and is all "my sinus"  which I full on relate to.  I used to have issues, being a smoker and all.

I still have issues apparently.    Ugh.  I am such a cry baby sometimes.  but I'll get over it.  You know why?  Because really I am:

That's right.

I do not usually pose questions, but I am such a fan of nostalgia.  What were some favorite cartoon characters?  I was a huge fan of Loony Tunes.  I am sure that is where I get some of my sense of humor and love of Wagner.  I mean, what a brilliant way to introduce classical music and intelligent adult humor to children.  Elmer Fudd singing "kill the rabbit" to the tune of Flight of the Valkaries...come on.

Say Something Not Nice Project

The title is my little tribute to BenSmarty's blog, but I am actually about to say something not nice.  Not about them, of course.

Let's talk tacky, shall we?

I am super grossed out right now.  I was kinda blog hopping just now.  I am quite a bit under the weather and have a cold that does not seem to want to go away.  It's full blown back now.  Jerk.  Anyway, I went onto a blog that I follow and then looked at what they had read recently and went to that blog.

That particular blog was not marked as containing adult content although all it talked about was sex in a really tacky way.   Or maybe I was just shocked because I was not expecting it.  Confession: I am a judgmental person.  There I said it.  Proceeding...

That was what it was, although I do think she should have the adult content warning on because, well, some teenagers and shit have blogs.  As well as families that post pictures of their kids and write about soccer games and stuff.  I have seen blogs that were much more innocuous in content that had the adult warning.  Regardless, she can certainly write whatever she wants, of course; I simply believe that people should be warned.  It's not like I have never read anything like that, after all.

What really got me though is that some tacky ass person that is following her has a splayed vagina as their profile picture.

Really?

Come on.  No one wants to see that.  If you want to do that go on an adult site.  How gross.  I don't care whether  it's really theirs or just a stock photo.  Have some respect for other people.  Most are not expecting to see that on a blog site.

I can tell you one thing, if anyone thinks they are going to watch me and have a coochie or schlong as their photo, they are mistaken.  I do not want any part of that.  Sorry.  But not really.

If  I choose to look at something like that on purpose, that is fine.  It's my choice.  To have it flung at me haphazardly is just icky.  And to think that some kid could come across it is really uncomfortable.  Can you imagine if someone they knew (the person who's blog I went to) went to their blog as was like "why is someone with a coochie picture following my Aunt Sally?" or whatever.

Some people have no class.  Jeez.

Mutton's Going On

I am not a stereotypical Greek girl.  I am in some ways; but in many, especially food related, I am not.

Examples of things I hate, dislike or will not partake in:
Raw onions (as in I tell wait staff "don't even put it on my plate" because the taste permeates into other things and ruins my burgers and shit.
 Wine (especially reds, though I have grown to enjoy prosecco)
Heavy garlic
Doing it up the bum.  Kidding.  No - not kidding!  Just kidding that Greek girls like that.  For some reason it's a rumor.  I do not believe it.
Lamb


You heard me.  I do not like lamb - at all.   So when moms is prepping for holidays, she makes sure that there is something else for me and my sister to eat.  I think it's my moms worst fear that I will starve, even though all she does is feed me and then complain that I am a fatty.  Kill me.  Anyway, she'll make pork or something, though if we are barbecuing, there are always burgers, steaks, etc.

My dad is like a mad scientist and likes to make contraptions.  He built this self contained spit that - get this - runs on electricity or it's own generator.  It's a giant metal box with a butcher's block on top.  Just so you know what I am dealing with.

 I went over there last Memorial Day.  All the sibs were coming over.  I hadn;t seen them in a bit so I was stoked.  My dad was grilling some yummies and also had a lamb going in the back yard.

They neighbors were grilling too.  You know, standard fare: hot dogs and burgers and maybe they were getting adventurous with some brats.  I'm not sure.

Meanwhile, the lamb is apparently done.  My dad and brothers plop it on the block, presumably to cut it, right?  My sister in law and two nieces are also out there.

I look out the window and am mortified and hysterically entertained at once.

They are attacking the thing like a pride of lions on a zebra.  I mean literally.  They are just picking at it.  I go out there and my niece is like "just try some".  So I take a piece - read, a piece that is approximately a square centimeter, because that is how I taste things.  She laughs at me.  I take a little bite and am like - nope...still don't like it.

Their neighbors and their guests must have been amazed though.  Can you imagine looking over and seeing people just attacking roast beast?  How freaking ridiculous.

We will have lamb at Easter, but that's out in the woods at my sister's house.  No witnesses.

I Heart My Moon Sister

My bestie from college is here.   We are sitting in my living room, in our own cozy spots with heating pads and blankets, playing on our comps.  We were even messing with each other on Facebook while having a conversation.

She is a Moon maiden, like me.  A Cancer girl through and through.  We have not seen each other in like 6 years.

But tonight, we are together coincidentally under the Super Moon.    Unfortunately, it is crazy cloudy and we cannot see it.  But we sure tried.  We went out on the porch in our jammies.  You can tell that the moon is bright, as the sky is grey.  As we stood there waiting patiently for a glimpse, a huge beam blasted through the cloud bank.

Frigg (the Norse Goddess of the Moon, get it?  Arty and Frigg)  was all, "that was for us"

Good enough for me.

I'm a Karate Man

Despite having a total bullshit cold, I had a pretty cool couple of weeks.  My sweetheart came to visit for like 10 days, which is a big deal, apparently.  My friends were all "how did it go?" when he left.  It did not even occur to me that we would have deal breaking time; but I suppose spending that much time, 24/7 is a huge indicator of what's to come.  Other than both of us getting sick, it was awesome.

I did realize though that I am super crabby when I am sick.  I usually hide, like a wild animal.  Because "I'm a karate man.  Karate man bruise on the inside; don't show no weaknesses"  (I know Smarty and Mac will get the movie)  That does seem to be my philosophy though.  My dad is a bit stoic, I must get it from him.  Though I have the uber sensitivity of mom.  Awesome - I got all the leftover genes.  Anyway,  I completely hermit out when I am sick.  I usually have no one around me and I whine and crap while I take care of myself.  Not whine that I am alone; whine about how much snot is coming out of my head.  Where does it come from, my god?  Do I have a tap into some spring or something?!  So it was interesting having him there with me.  I found myself mood swinging, like a damn alcoholic.    Come here to me...go away...no wait come here...ugh leave.  That was going on in my head anyway.  As soon as I felt better, which was of course the day he was leaving; I was like I cannot believe that I thought for a second I did not want him around.  And it totally sucked to have him leave. Though I am seeing him again in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, I think that having a cold is a bit of a hurdle in a relationship.  We got to be around each other when we were ill and survived.  Luckily I did not get too ugly while he was here.  I get real ugly when I have a cold, so he has that to look forward to.  Child, I am not pretty when I get really bad sinus issues.  Man, that is some heinous bullshit that happens to my face.

I have been slacking on the home front though and actually need to clean my place up.  One of my closest friends from college is coming to visit this weekend.  I am super stoked.  We met on the first day of school.  I sat next to her in Communications and did not have my book yet.  She offered to share and we hung out like every day after.  Love her.  She lives in San Diego.  Last time I saw her was in 2004 I think.  Booo.  We often do not talk for months, maybe even a year; but as soon as we speak to each other, it just feels like home.  Soul sisters, I guess.  Cannot wait to see her.

Fatally Cool had a show last night.  We decided to improve some stuff in there, just to change things up.  We usually have a very specific set list because it's a performance art piece and has a story line.  A bit like a musical, really.  But after we performed at bigger nightclub, we decided that we need to be more rock band.  It was a fun show.  I was struggling a bit, but held my own I think.  My band mate Manny & I decided to throw in "Rid of Me" by PJ Harvey.  A song I have only recently discovered, despite it being from the 90's.  We had never ever done it together - at all.  We kind of sang it in the corner together quietly right before the show, but that was it.  It was well received though - so yay for us.  In honor of St. Patty's Day, we all also did a completely improvised mash up The Cranberries "Zombie" and U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday".  I think I am brilliant for thinking that up (which I had before, it was something we were going to work on, but did not have time to do), to be honest.  I mean, they are two major war/conflict songs.  Not really happy drunk Irish crap at all.  It was fun though.  I fucked up some parts, but whatever.  i was a snare tone deaf last night.

Hope all of you beautiful people are well and have a glorious weekend!

Meet the Big Fat Greek Parents

Huge step for me in my relationship.

He met the family.
And when I say family, I mean everyone (except one brother and niece that were working).  Lord have mercy, they did not scare him away.

Originally, I asked my mom if he and I could just come over.  She wanted to invited everyone.   I protested.  We we on the phone and  my sister and her two kids, and my daddy were at her house in the background.  we had to repeat ourselves several times.  I was all "there are five of you there and we cannot hear each other - that's why I do not want everybody." She got it after that.

Yeah, we are loud.

The night before we are going to visit them, I check in with her.  She's like "I made dolma (which I requested), a lasagna, and pita."  So enough food for like 20 people basically.  I was like "For the four of us?!  you might as well have everyone over.  We'll come early so you can meet him before the chaos".  I had already talked to my brother and sister in law (not his wife, the other one) and we were going to meet them later anyway.

We get there and seriously...enough food for like 40 people.  She made all sorts of stuff.  It was insane.  Not to mention that we got to take like 2.5 bags of leftovers home.  And I mean grocery bags.  Seriously.

And then she complains that I am chubby.  Come on!

Ultimately, it was important to me that my daddy liked him.  Dad has incredible sense, as do I; but you know - sometimes one can be blinded by emotions, so I really wanted to see if he sniffed anything.  Moms is simply paranoid in general.  Probably because all she sees about internet dating is "To Catch a Predator" or some shit that ends in murder on Nightline.

She's all "What if he's just pretending to be good?  What if he's not?  Some people do that."  My dad just made that kind of mafia frowny thinking face as was like "I don't think so.  I don't believe he's like that."

Done and done.  That was all I needed from him.  Not that there was question, but I could tell that he liked the guy.  He trusts my judgment anyway, but it was good to hear him back me up.  She was being crazy and he was responding "so what if he is (blank) as long as he's a good man, that's all that matters."  to whatever she said.

All in all, it went well.  He was indeed bombarded by 18 loud ass family members and handled it like a champ.