Thursday, March 25, 2010

Hunting for Puddles


Today Seattle has been doing its best to prove that in spite of this past week’s weather it still deserves its rainy city moniker. The gray skies have put me in a sleepy, lazy state and instead of cleaning out my car or going to yoga I’ve spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with coffee and a new book.
I’ve also been dreaming of rain boots. Since I never think of them until too late (when I wake up needing them) I’m trying to be proactive for what is supposed to be a wet week and find a cute pair. I haven’t gotten much further than Target, but I’m already in love. If I have to live in a perpetually soggy state then I’m doing it in a pair of these:



photo from Refinery29

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'...



This is my newest instrument of torture. After a run last week made my left knee swell to porportions never before seen on a left knee or any knee for that matter, I've taken to bike riding for some much needed knee rest. The only problems so far: I'm afraid of hills, my quads have not worked this hard since I trained for a half marathon and I have what looks like a small six year old's bike complete with sweet purple and teal colors. So far my solutions are these: I'm working on getting more comfortable going downhill (though I still squeeze the brakes like my life depends on it), I'm working on toning up my quads and I am just accepting the fact I look like I stole a little kids bike (I figure the helmet takes away any dignity I once had anyway).
Today I am proud to announce big news on the bike riding front: I passed my first fellow rider. Granted he was slowing down to answer his cell phone (how this works I doubt I'll ever know) but still, I'm taking it for the victory it was. With my confidence boosted I'm now on to bigger and better things with my eye on someday completing this or this and, as a shout out to my days in Colorado, this

Of course before I complete any of these I should probably start here to look for a bike that doesn't look like I should have an angry first grader chasing after me...

See you in the bike lane!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?


The inspiration for my blog name came one night after repeatedly watching the Scissor Sister’s “I don’t feel like dancin” video on youtube. I’m not really sure why; I don’t have any close affinity for this song though it is one that regularly squeezes its way into my subconscious while I’m sleeping, leaving me to wake up and sing it All. Day. Long.
Today though for some reason I’m in a bit of a funk and so it describes my current mood. I feel like a petulant three year old sitting in the corner with my arms crossed, a scowl on my face loudly declaring: “I DON’T feel like dancin’!” (Apparently I’m a three year old in the habit of dropping my G’s.) It’s not a fun place to be on a sunny St. Patty’s day and I’m doing my best to improve my outlook. So far I’ve been listening to Scissor Sister’s on repeat, have made plans to drink wine and eat cookies after work and am staring at this incredible Helen Levitt photo. Things are starting to look up as I write this so I think the next time that old Joanna (whatever that is) plays, I’ll be ready.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

On the Road Again


Today while online at my volunteer job I was reintroduced to William Jennings Bryan (he's the dreamboat on the right). Bryan is a history class staple; he stands out from the crowd for being the least successful presidential candidate ever (he ran on the Democratic Party ticket three times and lost each time), arguing against evolution in the Scopes Monkey Trialof 1925 and being the one to modify the Democratic Party with his idea of expanding Federal Powers to help the common man.

Ignoring his evolutionary beliefs, I admire Bryan. The man seems to either have had some serious mental delusions or some serious gumption. Either way running for president three times and failing (and then not curling up into a corner and become a nonworking member of society) says something about your resolve. Currently I am in a seemingly perpetual state of underemployment, trying desperately to break into my preferred field and being told again and again I am in the wrong city/time/career to be young and looking for a job. On the days when being a full time nanny (a step up from my part time status) seems to be the only thing my future has in store, I need a good William Jennings Bryan example in my life.

On the days when even William Jennings Bryan and his dedication of steel can’t pump me up, I turn to travel blogs and my dream of chucking it all to travel the world for a year or two. While cruising my favorite blogs I came upon this, which would be an excellent way for me to prove my dedication if banging my head against the proverbial closed door of publishing doesn’t work out. How amazing would a walk around the world be? You could listen to every single This American Life podcast! For that matter you could probably listen to every podcast ever created! Think of the physical benefits! You could get rid or your gym membership and practically pay for your entire trip! (Okay not true, at all, but you definitely wouldn’t need a gym with this work out plan).

It was while the fantasy of me walking around the world played in my head I found this, which has left me overcome with jealousy and a new life plan: I will bike around a country! I will become the William Jennings Bryan of the biking world, letting my dedication overrule reality (I only own a used mountain bike, get sore after riding six miles and am incredibly scared of going down hills). I feel if Bryan could keep going, ignoring reality and the overwhelming odds against him,then so can I; it's time for me to start picking out my country.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

A beginning...of sorts

So I had big plans to start this blog this weekend, but then on Saturday, this happened:

And this:

Oh and especially this:


And Sunday was a lot of this:


So now my reasoning is...I'm missing Saturday and tired from Sunday :)

Talk to you later this week!