Monday, June 28, 2010

funk

Well, it's been over a week since I put my thoughts down here. I have to tell you I've been in quite a "funk" this past week. Not really depressed, but more of a feeling of being plain worn out. So I went into recharge mode, doing only what absolutely needed to be done and forgetting the rest. I suppose we all need that from time to time. I took lots of afternoon naps and didn't do much of anything really. Not productive to say the least, but maybe it was productive in some way. Maybe it produced a space for me to breathe and to settle and to adjust. So many things are happening in my life right now, it seems hard to keep pace. So a little down time might have been just what the Dr. ordered.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Beware of Monday

After our wonderful adventure last week with experiencing Nashville as a tourist, we decided we would make this Monday part two of the adventure and check out some of those places we'd passed by on our last trek. It was a good thought, but didn't work as well as we'd hoped.

It all started with the parking delema. We were trying to be economical so we didn't want to pay $15 for a spot to leave the car, while at the same time not parking so far that we would roast in the sweltering summer heat. (I never realized what a parking nightmare Nashville is!) Enter idea number one. Let's park at the Library. I have a couple books I need to return anyway so we can get our ticket validated and go on to our tourist activities. Nice idea right? Well, guess what? The library is not open on Monday, so no dropping off the books and no validating of tickets. OK, we shake it off. It's still the cheapest parking around so we'll leave it there and head out to the TN State Museum under TPAC. Guess what? The museum is not open on Monday! We did not do very thorough research. Oh well! Shake it off. What about the War Memorial Museum? Nope! It's closed too. Apparently Monday was not a good choice of days. Perhaps everyone in Nashville needs Mondays to recoup from the weekends of all night honky tonkin'?

At last, we find one site open- the State Capitol. It is a very impressive building, the tour is free and the big bonus...very cool inside! Jackpot! Did you know there are two people buried in the building? I think that's kind of creepy, but no worries. The grounds are beautiful too with a great statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback. So the day was not a total loss. And after getting home and fixing dinner, we had some cool lemon sorbet. Nothing better after a day of sweating it out like a Nashville tourist in June! If you want to check out Nashville's sites I have one word of caution, "Beware of Mondays!".

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Choices

Life is such a series of choices, from the small and mundane to the life-changing variety. Take this morning, I had to choose between the chocolate doughnuts on the counter or making a fresh fruit smoothie-mundane but important. Many small choices in this department determine how I feel, look and function in the future. I dodged the doughnuts and went for the smoothie. Good choice!

Then there are the choices I've been struggling to make over the past several weeks regarding my future employment. These are of the scary, life-changing variety. At times we are limited by the feeling we have few options and at other times, we are perplexed by the myriad of choices that seem to tower before us. This is the state in which I find myself at the moment. You see, when my job suddenly disappeared I did what most people would do. I started looking for a new one which involved putting out resumes and quite a few places. I've always heard you have to spread a wide net to catch that one fish. Well, it turns out my net is bursting with fish and it's very hard to determine which fish is the best to fry. Don't get me wrong. I'd much rather have many options to choose from than being forced to take whatever comes along. I just hope I have the insight and wisdom to make the choice that will be the very best for my future.

So here's to choices and the wisdom to make the right ones. Wow, this smoothie is good!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

men's room and other sites to see

On an impromptu walking tour of Nashville Monday, we were told by the hot dog vendor across the street from the Hermitage Hotel that we absolutely HAD to see the men's room. He assured us the doorman would not try to throw us out based on this request. Now, I have at least once or twice, walked into a men's restroom by accident and it was not a comfortable place to be for a lady. So the thought of walking into one on purpose seemed more than a little strange, but it was a day built for adventure so we threw caution to the wind. Me to the doorman, "This is a really strange question, but can we see the men's restroom?" He laughed and said it wasn't strange at all and showed us the way. The hostess at the restaurant knocked on the door to make sure the coast was clear. A gentleman came out and seemed quite amused that we wanted to see it, so he offered to give us the grand tour. It was a very cool, art deco room looking like something straight out of a 1920's movie, complete with shoe shine stand. Who knew?!

Who knew Nashville had so many cool and unusual places? Like the old time barber shop that just opened up, complete with antique barber chairs and straight razor hot shaves. Or all the wonderful murals painted on sides of random buildings. Or the War Memorial Plaza with all sorts of wonderful sculptures in bronze. Or the museum with fossils found in TN. Or the cupcake shop at the Arcade. Not to mention the art galleries on the top floor of the Arcade and all the wonderful little places to eat.

As we finished the afternoon, we jotted down a list of all the places we wanted to go back and see and the things we wanted to do. We found it can be great fun to be a tourist in your own hometown. Try it some time! I bet you'll see things you never knew were there before...like the men's room at the Hermitage Hotel.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Incredible City

I just want to to say what a truly incredible city Nashville is! I am not a native Nashville-ite, but I have lived here for thirteen years, yet today a saw the city like a tourist. And you know what...it's a pretty awesome place. We went down to the Frist to see the Chihuly Exhibit and the glass-blowing demonstration this morning. It turned out they were having problems with the propane tanks to run the furnaces, so the demo was postponed. We were a little disappointed, but decided to take the opportunity of a beautiful day and stroll around the city taking pictures. I cannot tell you how wonderfully friendly everyone was! From the guy selling Italian ice, to the hot dog vendor,  to the doorman at the Hermitage Hotel, (who didn't think we were strange asking to see the men's room-which the hot dog guy told us we had to see. But that's another story for another time!) everyone was so kind and helpful. They did think we were tourists because of the constant picture taking, but they were super friendly none-the-less. Add to the great people the picture perfect weather, inspiring architecture and some great food (we had Greek for lunch) and you can't help but realize this place is pretty unique. Then after playing at being tourists and walking all over downtown, we headed back to the museum, took the docent tour, saw the rest of the Chihuly Exhibit and then finally the glass-blowing demonstration. I couldn't have asked for a better day if I had been out of town on vacation. Thanks Nashville...you rock! (pictures to follow tomorrow)

Sunday, June 6, 2010

a mind of it's own!

Are you one of those people who fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow? If so, I officially hate you. Well...not really, but I certainly ENVY you. It takes me at least half an hour to fall asleep on a good night and if I have a bunch on my mind it can take an eternity. Someone told me I should just stop thinking. Well, that would be nice, but my brain doesn't seem to have one of those handy "off" switches. In fact, quite to the contrary. I am absolutely sure my mind has a mind of it's own, and it does NOT listen to me. I've tried getting up and making a list, telling myself I can worry about it at a certain time in the future, concentrating on my breathing, and on and on. But like one of those slippery toys that kids play with, as soon as I grab it and and think I have control of it, my mind slips out of my grip and continues on it's own agenda. Ok, I know it's a little schizophrenic sounding. But I'm not afraid of being called bonkers. Won't be the first time, or the last I'm sure! ;-) Plus I hear all the best people are...at least a bit.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Road Trip

I am seriously considering a long road trip this summer. I mean, when will I ever have such a long stretch with no work again? (hopefully not anytime in the foreseeable future!) I have so many friends and family spread out all over the country. I could visit Boston, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, California and Arizona without ever having to stay in a hotel. Plus I think it would be wonderful to just explore with no time restraints and take pictures to my heart's content. I'm not sure it's the most responsible thing to do. I should probably stay here and try to make some money. But then money isn't everything and some opportunities only come around once! Decisions, decisions...!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

100th post

Well, this is my 100th blog post. It is so interesting for me to go back and look at the beginning of this journey. It illustrates so perfectly how unexpectedly life can change. At the beginning of the year, I had no clue the events that would unfold over the past month. If you had asked what I would be doing in June, I certainly wouldn't have said applying for college and working to get my private massage practice going. I fully expected to be working at the spa and preparing for my once-in a-lifetime trip to Italy. The trip is uncertain at this point. It all depends on the school factor. While I would like to think I could handle taking two weeks off school, come back and make up the work with ease; it HAS been an awfully long time since I was a student and I'm very unsure how hard all this will be for me. I have been assured I won't be the oldest Freshman ever, but it sure feels like it!

All that said, I'm not depressed and most days not too anxious or neurotic. I think it will all work out for the best. And I'm certain my life will be different now than I expected. I just pray for the wisdom to discern the path I should pursue and the strength and ability to follow it and make my life all that it should be!