Simply Happy
Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful
0May 20, 2013
in Fashion, Simply Happy
Most weekends you can find my on the trails, but this past weekend I decided to mix it up a bit. Instead of heading out for an early run or hike on Saturday I decided to check out some free yoga at one of the local running stores, Tortoise & Hare. I had never attended and for $5 a session, why not? Although there was an instructor present it wasn’t a class/teaching experience per se. Basically it was 6 of us hanging out on the grass, under the sun, practicing yoga. Not a bad way to start the day.
After yoga I went and had a pedicure. What?! Me, have a pedicure?! Yep. Living in Arizona I get to wear sandals throughout most of the year. That also means my sad toes are exposed all of the time. I trim my toe nails but that’s about the extent of TLC they received. I have been grateful to not be one of those runners who loses their toe nails (yet!) Over these past few weeks, as I’ve been wearing sandals more and more I kept thinking to myself, “I really need to do something about these toes…” So after my yoga session I made my way to a local nail place. You know, just one of those typical nail places, nothing fancy. Being a Saturday I expected a wait but they got me right in. I chose the brightest color of pink nail polish I could find and they went to work. Thankfully they didn’t cringe when they saw my feet.
Hard to tell from the photo but they are HOT pink. The brighter the better, right?
I can’t even remember the last time I had a pedicure. It’s been years. It’s just not one of those things that I do. I keep finding myself sneaking glances at my toes and smiling. Having something so simple as a pedicure totally lifted my spirits and made me happy. But if you think about it, if I would have it done regularly it wouldn’t be that special.
This whole experience got me thinking…I don’t wear makeup, I don’t use perfume, I rarely use actual soap/shampoo, and I use absolutely no hair products. Have I lost my femininity?
(Let me clarify, I’m not walking around like pig pen all stinky and such. Over the past several years I’ve really worked at reducing my exposure to unnecessary chemicals or my dependency on items that aren’t required to survive. It really hasn’t been that big of a deal and I swear I don’t stink. D can vouch for me! I have added lotion back in the mix (it’s dry out here in Arizona!), but I still try to keep it as simple as I can with little to no scents and cruelty-free.)
Ultimately it’s the same issue I have with fashion…finding that fine line of buying/wearing/doing things that are necessary vs unnecessary but still being true to myself…and feeling good about myself. Thankfully for me I rarely think about these sort of things and I’m lucky enough that D actually prefers me without make-up or perfume. True story. Those were his words.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wish I got dolled up more often just for the fun of it. There are also days when it would be nice to not smell like “me” and have a another scent to mix it up. But I realized long ago that I shouldn’t rely on make-up to feel pretty. Being pretty comes from embracing my natural beauty, flaws and all. But I need to remind myself, that it’s okay to splurge and pamper yourself now and again….because it does feel oh so good.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Update: Finding My Dream Job
0May 14, 2013
I had absolutely no idea my post on blogging last week would resonate with so many people. It boggles my mind when simple posts like that are shared and viewed so much. It’s definitely not a bad thing nor am I complaining. Just goes to show you that most often there’s no rhyme or reason. Hence one more reason to just go with the flow.
I just realized I haven’t posted much more about my transition to the corporate world after the first month I started. So I’ve been in my position since mid January. I LOVE it. I still can’t say where I work because I’m still contracted. Although I tend to share lots about my life I think it’s best for me to keep that on the down low.
For those that don’t know or (don’t remember), I’m a registered veterinary technician. I’m still working as a vet tech, just in a different capacity. I never thought I’d like sitting at a computer day in and day out doing the sort of thing. It took me awhile to adjust, which is still happening. I initially had a hard time dealing with the such a sedentary day, but have since figured out my daily workouts to mix things up and stay active. It’s turned out to be quite a rad experience and I finally feel like I’m doing work, making a difference, and have proved myself as part of the awesome team I’m working with.
My contract will be coming to an end within the next 2 months. Thankfully my boss stated her case to hire me on full-time or at least to extend my contract. I am grateful to say that I received word today that they will be extending my contract for another 6 months, meaning I will be in my position until the end of the year. Let’s keep it real, I’d love to be permanent and have access to benefits, but I know that things are going to happen as they need to. Maybe it’s not meant to be for me to be hired in, which would make it easier if something else would or change in our lives. Who knows.
There are moments where it’s a bit nerve wracking. (Like, should I be pursuing other job opportunities ) But I’m just going with the flow. If I’ve learned anything in the past year it’s that I needed to stop fighting or forcing my life in certain directions. It still feels weird, but I’m going with it….and it’s getting easier.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
My Quest To Celebrate Life
0May 12, 2013
After coming home Thursday evening and finishing my blog post about the passing of my grandma and celebrating life I found myself going through the motions of preparing for another workday to finish out the week. I had the feeling of “Hold on! Wait a minute! How can I write all of that and yet not do anything to celebrate life??” I was torn because although taking a day off of work is easy for something like this, I wouldn’t be attending a funeral or any of the other typical bereavement day type of things. After batting the idea around and with the encouragement of a friend I went for it. I was taking a bereavement day. But I wasn’t taking any ol’ bereavement day. No, I was doing it my way, Buzzbomb Style, and I was going out to celebrate life. (BTW, did you know the nickname “Buzzbomb” was given to me by my grandma? True story.)
I woke up early, called off of work, packed my day pack, and hit to the road to Sedona…one of my favorite places in the world. I’m not going to hash out again why Sedona holds a special place in my heart…it just does. To me it’s magical and is my happy place. The perfect place to celebrate life. I had somewhat of an idea of where I was heading but no exact game plan for the day. I was rolling with it. Just under 2 hours into my drive I rounded the bend and the beautiful Red Rocks came into view. That’s always the moment when I feel my eyes light up and the smile spread across my face. By 9am I was on the trails surrounded by mother nature and all of her beauty.
Nothing like the red rock and blue skies of Sedona
I have yet to be on a busy trail in Sedona but given that it was also a weekday it was pretty empty. Other than a few couples here and there I was by myself along with my thoughts and memories. Happy memories. While speaking to my friend Dave the night before he gave me a few trail ideas. I chose Brins Mesa which was absolutely perfect. Not strenuous, but a nice climb it get my blood pumping. When I reached the mesa I found what remains from a 2006 wildfire. The mesa was ravaged, which was pretty sad to see. As I trekked through the damage I happened to stumble upon a group of wildflowers growing out of a bunch of tousled rocks.
So often I see metaphors for life of my trail hikes/runs. As I stared at the wildflowers the thought that came to my mind was, “Through death, there is life.” A perfect metaphor for the reason I was out on the trails. After the wildfire I’m sure there were no signs a life. A dark time, if you will, for the mesa. But here we are, 7 years later, and the mesa is slowly coming back to life. In no way will it be the same as it was before, but life is present. Here were these wildflowers, the minority in their surroundings, yet they were providing so much sunshine and positive life to their surroundings. In life, I want to be those wildflowers…positive energy and light.
After a quick lunch I decided to search out a location I’ve had my eye on since we moved to Arizona, Devil’s Bridge. Devil’s Bridge is a pretty iconic location for Sedona which also means it’s a bit popular. Unfortunately for those without a high clearance vehicle, or not on a Jeep tour, it’s a longer hike for the average Joe. I drove our Jeep Wrangler to Sedona and got to do a little “off-roading” to get to the trail. This meant less of a hike and a new experience for me. We’ve never really taken our Jeep off-roading and I was going at it solo. Needless to say I had some belly laughs as I set out on my adventure. It was pretty rad.
I arrived at the trailhead safely and once again took to the trails in search of Devil’s Bridge. Given that I got to drive in meant it was a pretty short hike.
Some hardcore hikers often say Devil’s Bridge isn’t as exciting as people make it out to be. Blame the novice hiker in me, but I thought it was awesome and worth it.
The second half of my days also lead to yet another metaphor…One that I’ve experienced before, but still a nice reminder. “Some of the most spectacular views require taking a rough road.” What if I wasn’t willing to go off-roading to get to Devil’s Bridge? I would’ve missed out! Even more, what if I chose to go down the rough road with a scowl on my face? Sure, I would have gotten there but how enjoyable would that adventure have been?
Although fun, celebrating life doesn’t necessarily require living an adventurous life or always being on the go. More importantly, it’s about recognizing what has been given to us, being grateful, and celebrating it all…including the ups and downs. Because after all, it’s those ups and downs that ultimately make up this thing we call life.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Celebrate Life
0May 9, 2013
in Simply Happy
In late March I took a quick weekend trip to Florida to see my ailing Grandma. Initially I had planned to go the first weekend of May (just this past weekend), but decided to go earlier than later. I’m glad I followed my instincts.
When I visited she was aware of who I was, but within the 48 hours of visiting I saw a drastic change in her energy level. Over the next month our family made it a point to visit, knowing our visits were our final goodbyes. Over time she was sleeping more and more and was finally to the point of having to stay in bed. Although she was already under the care of hospice it was decided just a couple weeks ago to place her in a 24 hour hospice care facility. Yesterday I received a message saying that my mom would once again be flying down to Florida today and that they planned to beginning morphine due to my grandma’s restless nights.
This morning I received news that my grandma had passed away.
Growing up I was always a basket case when it came to goodbyes…especially when it came to my grandparents. I loved when they would come and visit for the entire summer but when it came to them leaving I thought it was the end of the world. I would sob for hours. Thankfully as I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten better at goodbyes. There will always be a little prick in my heart when it comes to saying goodbye, but I’ve had so many changes in my mind and spirit over the past year, especially these past few months, that I can’t help but feel joy and gratefulness with the passing of my grandma. Yes, I said joy and gratefulness.
I’ve spoken briefly about a feeling that overcomes me. I simply call it my “calmness”. It doesn’t happen everyday nor is it something I feel I necessarily have cognitive power over. It just happens. Most often it occurs when “bad” things happen or when chaos surrounds me. It’s almost as though a wave of energy flows over me and all is right with the world. When I received word that grandma passed calmness overtook my body, mind, and soul.
Have I shed tears? Yes. Will there be more? I’m sure. Will I miss her voice? Indeed. Will I miss her love and kindness she brought to the world? You bet.
But that’s just it. She brought joy to the world. Joy to my world…along with so many others. And although she is not here in the physical sense. She will always be here…in my heart. And every time I choose love and kindness over hate, there will be a little piece of her shining through.
I’m grateful that although these last months were trying she was surrounded by family. I’m grateful that although passing is never easy she didn’t suffer through the struggle that we had expected that would come with pancreatic cancer. I’m grateful I took the time to see her one last time. I’m grateful that all she said was “I’m going to be okay,” and I knew it was true.
Several months ago I sat down and wrote her a letter. This is what I wrote.
___________
Grandma,
So often I’m not too good with words. I see what I want to say but it won’t translate on paper in the way I hope. For several weeks I’ve wanted to write you a letter and yet I keep putting it on the back burner because I can’t come up with the appropriate words to say how I feel. With that being said, I’m going to try my best.
As a little girl I remember anxiously awaiting your arrival for your summer trips to Ohio. I remember the “Welcome to Ohio gifts” and riding in your Lincoln Town Car thinking I was riding in an airplane because it was so plush. You always provided the best foods because you were the one that made it. I remember when you’d bring us Chiclet gum or Mackintosh Toffee. The photos you’d share from your travels. Seeing those photos made me realize I wanted to be a world traveler someday. Your special cross-stitch sweatshirts and afghans always amazed me. How could someone make such beautiful art and fill it with so much love? I never wanted you to head back to Florida and every time you left I was beside myself and an absolute basket case.
Although we didn’t make many trips to Florida they were always so special. From surprising you and Grandpa on your 40th wedding anniversary to my first trip to Epcot. I’ll never forget looking forward to Justin taking us for rides on your tricycle as we squeezed into the back basket.
When Christmas would roll around the amount of cookies you’d make was out of this world and I knew no one could make a better cookie than my grandma. I remember when you visited my freshman year in high school. When I was trying to decide what to give David for our first Valentine’s Day you stepped up and said, “Why not Dream Cookies?” Not only did you provide the idea but you also helped me mix, cut-out, bake and frost the cookies. Who knew at that time I would marry him? I like to think that those cookies sealed the deal when it came to him wanting to marry me. Ha! Although I laugh, he still references that Valentine’s Day. That was also a year for the Olympics and I remember staying up late watching all of the events with you.
A few years later I was able to join you on my first cruise. What an experience. It was then that I realized what you had been raving about all of those years. Another moment with you that reminded me how much I wanted to travel.
As I’ve grown older I’ve seen our times together as even more precious. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to visit more as the years progressed. Most of our visits were very simple…no exciting trips or cruises, but they were just as important, if not more, than those because we got to spend time together.
You are such a strong and generous, yet loving, woman who passed her traits on to her daughter. I’m grateful to have had 2 powerful women to look up to over the years. Not everyone is so blessed to have such positive role models which in turn has helped me strive to be my best.
Every moment we’ve spent together is ingrained in my permanent memory and there are no words to describe how grateful I am for those experiences. Thank you for being the best grandma ever. I love you.
_____________
She was amazed at everything I remembered. What she doesn’t know is that it was just the tip of the iceberg of my memories. I’m grateful I took the opportunity to share with her how much she impacted my life because everyone deserves to not only know but hear that they are loved and appreciated.
It’s normal to be saddened and mourn the passing of a loved one. But instead of focusing on the sad I’m choosing to celebrate my grandma’s life. I have no doubt that’s what my grandma would want and that’s what I shall do.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
What Happened To Real Blogging?
0May 5, 2013
in Simply Happy
I’ve already written about this but have since had further thoughts, hence why I’m sharing more….
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been blogging since 2006. With the exception of one major dry spell I’ve been writing since then. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I transferred from my old blog to being BananaBuzzbomb. I didn’t transfer all of the blog posts during the transition because quite honestly I didn’t think they “belonged” here.
Old school old blog banner
I’ve said it before, but when I first started blogging it was to keep my family up-to-date on our day-to-day lives. You name it, I wrote about it. It was more like a journal and I held nothing back. My regular readers were family with the exception of a few strangers who would stumble upon my blog for various reasons. To this day I still have blog posts that have regular traffic and receive comments. I loved blogging. It was natural. It was freeing. I didn’t really have to think about it. I just wrote. I didn’t worry about who I’d offend or if topics would hurt my traffic or cost me partnerships with brands.
As I saw social media evolve I saw the opportunity to see if I could work towards making a living off of my blogging…or at least a supplemental income. I was already blogging, so why not? When I started BananaBuzzbomb I attempted to be more formal and business-like….or building my own “brand”. I worked on finding my niche and became associated with a network of individuals that helped share my content as I did for them as well. During that time I saw everyone and their mom creating blogs. I thought, “The more the merrier. Come join the party!”
Over the past several months I realized how commercialized blogging has become. As I looked around at my fellow bloggers I couldn’t help but think, “This isn’t really blogging.” Is anyone actually sharing their real story or are they just sharing bits and pieces that conform around their niche? Even more, are they even sharing any of their real life or just creating an image surrounding products that they receive for free or for compensation? Does anyone really care about their true voice and what they are writing? What ever happened to real blogging?
It wasn’t until I took a step back that I realized I had lost my authentic voice. Sure there was a bit of Heidi in those posts (I wrote them!) , but I was conforming to the change happening around me. I’m not a salesperson and I was literally trying to sell myself. And that’s why it seemed to take forever to write my posts.
Quite honestly the last thing I want is to be known as is an authority on something ( I even say that in my About Me that was written well over 2 years ago). Yes, I want people to trust my words, but authority? No. I simply want to share my life. Losing my authentic voice also meant I didn’t use certain words or share my thoughts on topics that I had an opinion on because I was too scared to hurt my own personal “brand”. In other words, more often than not I was holding back.
I’m not hating on the situation because I was doing it as well. I’m also not saying that people shouldn’t make money off of blogging. There are people out there that are masters of their creation, weaving true blogging and making money off of it. I’m also not against working with brands. However, two important questions I’ve started asking myself when asked to review/promote products are: “Do I already use this product/brand?” and for new products “Would I be willing to spend my money on this if it wasn’t given to me for free?” I’ve quickly found that I needed to pass on more opportunities that I wouldn’t have in the past…but that’s okay. I have and will always be loyal to the promise I made myself. As time goes on I’ve found that I want to be even more conservative.
I want to get back to the basics of blogging. When I read my friend Carey’s blog the other day it confirmed what I’ve been feeling over these past couple months. Her posts are refreshing. They are legit. She doesn’t hold anything back. True life experiences with emotions and all. I’m not saying that I want to hear about every waking moment of someone’s life by reading their blog, but I want to know about them. If they’re a runner. Great. But doesn’t their life consist of more than running? Tell me about that stuff too.
I’m not saying that all the other blogs are crap. On the contrary, there are many great writers out there…but my hope is that they stay true to their voice and are sharing their real-life stories and not some facade in order to get more page hits. Because that’s not what real blogging is about.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
4/25/13: I Am Grateful For….
0April 25, 2013
You know, I could actually plan out my blog posts, like I used to…something like every Friday write my “grateful” posts. But that never felt right and let’s be honest, that sort of planning actually works against my whole “Be Here Now” plan. I’m over it. I’m going to write what I want to write, when I want to write. For those that are regular readers I’m sure you’ve already picked up on this transition since I used to post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which is no longer happening.
Although I’ve always had control over my blog, (hello, I write it.) taking this thought and actually living it has felt empowering. I also have to say that my blogging voice is coming through much easier . My posts may not flow all that well (not that they ever did), but lately I’ve found that when I sit down to type there’s a much easier flow from my brains thoughts to keyboard.
So, with all that being said, it’s been several weeks since I’ve posted about things that I am grateful for I figured it’s time to share.
Mobile banking. Since we have direct deposit that last time we stopped at our bank was months ago. Direct deposit is awesome given that we bank with a credit union and there aren’t locations on every street corner. I recently received a check in the mail to be deposited but kept putting off depositing it because it wasn’t convenient to make my way over to our bank. However, I just happened to check if they offered mobile deposits, like Bank of America shows in their commercials, and sure enough they do! I simply downloaded the app, took a few photos, submitted, and within 24 hours the deposit was accepted. Now, I gotta admit, the whole thought is a bit scary but given that it’s not something I’d be doing regularly it’s a rad option to have.
Swanson Vitamins. After mobile banking and now reading this next one you may think I’m lazy. I swear, I’m not. It’s all about convenience! Coming from a small town I often had to order vegan products to avoid making hour-long trips to Whole Foods and such. Living in Phoenix has made things a lot easier, but heading to the store or mall drives me bonkers (can you believe D loves shopping way more than me?). So from clothes, food, and other odds and ends, I’m all about online shopping. The friendly folks at Swanson Vitamins contacted me and asked to see if I’d like to check out their products and services. Free goodies for trying them out? Why not? I must admit I was pretty blown away not only by the prices (the vitamins I normally order on Amazon are actually cheaper from Swanson) but they have so much more than just vitamins. I was thrilled I could purchase so many of the things I regularly use all from one source.
I also decided to order some Justin’s Nut Butter, which I had never tried. That may or may not have been a good idea. I’ll let you decide.
Running mojo. After several months off of running it may be back. I attribute this to listening to my body, taking a break from my daily runs, and adding in yoga. As you know over the past several weeks I’ve added in Zumba and Total Body classes to the mix. I have slowly pieced together all of this cross-training and am back to working out on a daily basis. I am no longer running everyday (like I used to), but I still workout everyday, with the exception of rest days, and still manage to practice yoga. It feels good and more importantly I’m having fun.
Amande Yogurt. I was never a big fan of yogurt prior to going vegan so it wasn’t something I missed. Several months ago I just so happened to see yogurt at Sprouts Farm Market that was made of almond milk. I was intrigued and grabbed the the coconut flavor. Delicious! I have since tried their other flavors, which are tasty as well, but coconut wins hands down. Unfortunately the closest Sprouts doesn’t carry the coconut flavor nor do they carry the large containers (hence, why David went on the hunt). I have since found the flavor and size at Whole Foods, but it takes a bit of a drive, so I stock up whenever I’m in the area.
Grateful Jar. Speaking of gratefuls. Just like many people we chose to start a Grateful Jar at the beginning of the year. Although I’m not great at putting something in each day I usually make up for it the rest of the days and the jar is slowly filling up. I look forward to reading them at the end of the year. Should be fun!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Thoughts On Marriage….
0April 21, 2013
in Simply Happy
This summer D and I will be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. Looking back I can’t help but chuckle how our relationship has changed and evolved over our years together. Boy, has it been a fun ride thus far.
From articles online, to social media posts on Facebook and blogs, I seem to keep crossing paths with the topic of marriage. The articles are wide and varying. Some are talking about the age which it is best to get married while others discuss the cycle of marriage. Recently Ben Affleck was under fire for his Oscar acceptance speech, saying, “I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It’s good. It is work, but the best kind of work and there’s no one I’d rather work with.” All of this had my gears churning.
In no way do I claim to be a marriage expert but I can’t help but share some of the things that I’ve come to realize over time.
There is no perfect age to marry. Some people would prefer to go on to graduate college and have a career prior to marrying. Some want to marry young. Some don’t want to marry at all. There’s no wrong answer. Sometimes we make the decision. Other times things happen when we least expect it and our lives are forever changed. Case in point, me.
I married at the age of 18. If you would have told me my sophomore year of high school that I would marry at 18 I’d say you were nuts. I was a straight A student, nose always in the books, set on making a career for myself. But things always have a way of working out. Looking back I wouldn’t change it for the world. For so long I thought I had to fit into a perfect mold. That was just the beginning of my realization that I could do it all, simply by making my own trail.
I will be the first person to say that getting married that young isn’t for everyone. (Heck marriage alone isn’t for everyone.) Getting married at such a young age meant that D and I grew up together…literally. We have been able to share so many life experience but that also means that we’ve had to embrace the changes that have come our way over the years.
Every relationship is different. As with anything in life, what works for one couple won’t necessarily work for another. (see above) . Sure, it’s okay to look at other relationships, as it’s human nature. We can even learn some from other people, but ultimately we all need to create our relationships based on the needs/wants of ourselves and our partners, not comparing our relationships to others.
Not only did we get married young, but we also chose not to have children, throwing all of those statistics out there out of whack. Ha! But it is what’s best for us, no matter what other couples have chosen.
Marriage isn’t work. There’s no doubt about it, marriage goes through cycles. Once again, such is life. Everyone seems to say, “Marriage is hard work.” That statement always left me scratching my head thinking, “No it doesn’t.” Finally the other day I asked David point blank, “Is marriage hard work?” Without missing a beat he said, “No.” (one more reason to love him…being on the same page 99.9% of the time rules.)
Am I saying all of those people are lying? No. I think people use the word “work” because it’s hard to find a word that fits the description. I think a better word is “effort”. And sure it takes effort, but what doesn’t? Getting up in the morning takes effort, but is it work? No. Another word would be “choice.” As I go through my day I can choose to be pissy or choose to spread love.
It’s the choice I make and the amount of effort I want to invest. And as with any investment, the amount invested effects the payout. Most importantly we’ve found that it’s also where we focus our awareness and energy. Being aware and recognizing how our actions and choices affect not only us individually but also each other and our relationship.
Something as simple as taking the time to go to the multiple stores to search for hard to find yogurt for your wife when you weren’t asked to do so. You just do it out of the goodness of your heart. (Yes, D did this last week.) I know it sounds so simple and to some may sound stupid but D made the conscious action to do something for me when there was really no obvious payoff for him. This made me smile and also tugged at my heartstrings realizing that he thought of me. He could have chosen to do anything with his time but he chose to do that.
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars that D and I found each other. Our relationship isn’t perfect, but it’s perfect for us.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Making Dreams A Reality
8April 18, 2013
We moved out to Arizona for many reasons….one being to seek adventure and the other one to go for our dreams. I think it’s pretty obvious that I haven’t necessarily found what my “dream” is let alone attempting to go after it. But it is safe to say that I’ve been enjoying the adventure aspect of our move. In the meantime D has been hard at work pursuing his dream.
Quite honestly I don’t know what all I’ve shared on here about D’s passion. To cover my bases I’ll lay it out for ya’ll. D has been playing drums ever since his early teens. Since then it has been his passion. During high school he auditioned for the bands of multiple branches of the military and ultimately was accepted and enlisted in the Marine Corps as a bandsmen. I know I have documented is his jacked up experience while in the service and to this day he credits music and me getting him through that time.
Receiving His Custom SJC Drum Set with Saluda Cymbals, Which Has Since Been Added To
From performing with a symphony, to putting in MANY hours as the volunteer drum instructor for the high school band in our hometown, reaching out to a local high school band here in Arizona and volunteering there as well, and touring around the US playing polka….it’s safe to say he’s well rounded. Like any musician he’s had his fair share of “garage band” start ups that flopped as well. I think it just goes to show that music isn’t just something he likes, but loves, and what drives him day in and day out.
During the short month of preparation prior to our move D hit up craigslist in search of local bands and had auditions set up for our arrival. You name it, he auditioned for it. 80s, country, metal. All of the bands were impressed with his skill level leaving him to make the choice of which direction to take…which was a no brainer. Metal. He loves all music, but metal is where the passion lies.
I haven’t shared much about this journey on the blog because there hasn’t been much to share, but I have been keeping a little secret….
Already being established, his band has multiple albums and has even been on tour in the past. As you can imagine things are moving faster than I ever expected. Within a couple months they were in the studio recording, taking photos, and recently talking about going on tour. Honestly, I can’t even keep up with it all.
Just a couple weeks ago we were heading to bed and he calmly said, “Mushroomhead just texted me.” Wait, what just happened?! Me: “Is that normal? Isn’t that sort of a big deal?” A few days passed, contracts were signed, and D’s band, Corvus, will be heading out on tour with Mushroomhead soon.
Their finished album arrived this week. CD, case, cover art, UPC, and all. Like, a legit album.
Once again, crazy for me to see this actually happening.
D has always been realistic about his goals/dreams and has always said, “I don’t want to be some old guy trying to make it.” But he’s not that old…yet. Keeping it real, this doesn’t mean they’ve “made it” but at the same time it is a pretty big deal. And it’s definitely catapulting D in the direction that he has been working toward for so many years. Pretty rad to watch it all unfold and see what has happened simply from taking a few chances, like moving across the country. Wonder what else is in store. Only time will tell.
Want to know more about Corvus? Stop by their Reverbnation Page, Facebook Page, or check them out on Twitter.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Fitness Should Be Fun
0April 10, 2013
After several months of debating whether to join the gym at work I finally did it. Other than when I joined the YMCA for the sole purpose of having a place to swim laps, I have never joined the gym. With just 3 days into my membership I’m pretty stoked at what it all has to offer. At only $19 (yes, you read that right, $19) a month it’s a steal. Quite frankly it’s pretty small but it has all the right things that are needed including a locker room with all the amenities as well.
So far I have only used the gym during my lunch hour and have yet to use any of the machines, but it doesn’t seem overly busy as well. I’m sure over time I’ll get a feel for things, but if I want to run and am unable to secure a treadmill at lunchtime I can always head to work early to get in my workout before starting my workday. I usually read during my lunch hour, which I truly do enjoy, but with my new job being more sedentary than I’m used to it’s nice to get up and moving in the middle of the day.
Get me outta my cubicle!
So if I haven’t used the machines what have I been doing at the gym? Classes! Fact: prior to this week I have never joined in a group workout class….ever. I’m a solo athlete. Even when it comes to my runs I tend to head out on my own. But with classes included in my membership fee, I couldn’t pass that up.
The first day I joined in the Total Body workout. Basically it was 40 minutes of HIIT type workout. It was rough but I’m proud to say that I decently held my own. I didn’t make a total fool of myself either. I’ll definitely do it again.
The second day I tried out a yoga session. I’ve been practicing yoga since December. I’ve even been to The Sedona Yoga Festival and Yoga Rocks The Park, but never a real class per se. One where they’ll make adjustments and all. After the session I introduced myself to the instructor and gave her a bit of my history. She provided an ego boost when she said she was impressed how solid my basics were. High five! The only “downside” to the yoga classes is there is an extra charge, but at under $4 a class that’s not an issue. The biggest reasons I haven’t been able to venture into classes was due to money and my schedule. This is absolutely perfect!
From my trip to Sedona a couple weekends ago
Today I debated on whether to head back to another Total Body session or try out Zumba….I went for the Zumba! I love to dance and people rave about Zumba, so I just had to give it a shot. Another winning class! My moves may not be as smooth as I’d like but I’ve got rhythm a solid dancing background (from many moons ago), and a passion for dance, so you bet your butt I busted a move and had a blast.
There are even more choices when it comes to the class options…cycling, cardio mix, muscle conditioning. I love it! After being in such a running rut I turned to yoga but missed the cardio high. Running will always have a place among my workouts but just like everything else in my life, fitness should be about fun, trying new things, and adventure.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Keep Calm And Keep Smiling
0April 8, 2013
in Simply Happy
I’m back from my short trip to Florida. I must say it wasn’t a emotionally draining as I expected it to be. That’s not to say it wasn’t trying. When dealing with the reality of knowing a loved one will be passing it’s never easy. However I am grateful beyond words to have had the opportunity to see my Grandma one last time. Sadly, her health and mind is worse than I expected. Even in the short time of my visit I saw a downturn in her health. More tired, the inability to recognize the time of day (like thinking it was time to get ready for bed at 4pm), not understanding why I wasn’t eating certain foods (when she knows I’m vegan), and calling me by my mother’s name/nickname instead of mine more often than not.
Surprisingly enough she’s still knitting up a storm and has made close to 15+ afghans within the past few months. I was blessed to receive yet another afghan to add to my collection of blankets she has made for me through the years. It’s made up of multi-colored squares, as she’s trying to use up all the odds and ends of yarn. With it’s bright contrasting colors, it fits me perfectly. All of my afghans from my grandma are prized possessions but this addition will be truly treasured.
As I entered the airport for my return flight I found some of the longest security lines to date. This caught me off guard considering the airport is known for it’s fast security lines. So fast that most times there’s little to no wait. Normally I make it to the airport with a minimum of 2 hours to spare. Knowing the history of the airport I became didn’t plan for the delay. Whoops. Initially I thought, “Crap. There’s a good chance I’m going to miss my flight.” But within seconds I realized, “Whatever will be, will be.” There’s nothing I could do about it. What would getting upset do? As the minutes ticked away and we very slowly moved through the line I could feel the anxiety rise around me. People becoming agitated and complaining. Even one woman calling TSA on the phone to complain. Instead of following the crowd I took my own action. By silently meditating as I stood, smiling at those around me.
I finally found myself speaking to those complaining. I didn’t speak in a “know it all” or argumentative way. Simply stating, with a smile on my face, “It is what it is.” This opened the lines of communication for further conversation, talking about everything under the sun. Before we knew it we had all made it through the security line and to our gate, just in time to board. Prior to boarding one of the gentlemen from the line said, “Thank you so much for calming my wife down. She was close to losing it and about ready to rip my head off.” A few moments later his wife came up to me and said, “You have such an amazing outlook on life.”
Little did they know that just a short time ago I was one of them…meaning freaking out, getting pissed at the situation, and raising hell. Heck, I still have my moments, but I am grateful that I’ve made a conscious effort to choose better emotions and actions. It’s not always easy, but it’s getting easier…and the results are pretty amazing.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
