Sunday, November 29, 2009

ball handling

it always suprises me, dating.... for lack of a better word. getting to know eachother. it can be so painfully awkward. you have two people, completely different backgrounds, it seems only natural that there would be a little rub between two people. rub as in friction. friction as in difference. two different worlds, two entirely different experiences, environments, upbringings.... at a certain point, maybe you are attracted to somebody due to their morals, values, and beliefs. So, you'd think, having a psuedo similar mind track, that this would alleviate any unneccessary discomfort. no, that doesn't seem to be the case. damn.
in a perfect little world, there would be world peace.... AND easy dating. sitting comfortable in early adulthood, a smorgasbord of life experiences behind my belt, almost donned like an indian would their tribal feathers.... signifiying growth, maturity, a sprinkle of wisdom here and there, but put me in a room with a guy and my brain turns to mush and my lips start resembling that of a freakin ventriloquist. geez. louise.
serious, i have a handle on most balls.
throw me a curve, i can usually hit it out of the park. (here is where you hear the 'toot' of my own horn). surmounting obstacles...check.... facing challenges.... check....leaping tall buildings....sure why not.... acting somewhat normal with another prospective consort in the same room.... WHAT THE EF?????
its the funniest thing really, i find myself laughing out loud at what a retard i can be. like, REALLY JULES??????
Dorkus: someone who acts a bit dorky but is cute at the same time. An UNATTRACTIVE female dork. An ATTRACTIVE female dork is called a "Dorkette".

Alright, now that I have completely put my ass on the line for people to pin tall tales on..... that is that.

The tragically hip part of this whole chuckle worthy charade of nonsensicalness is that, after a few times teasing apart the facade.... you eventually get to know one another. bringing the matter to a T. Continue teasing apart and enjoy all the new discoveries that are made. Or be on your way, making the GRAND realization that... NO, you are not eachothers missing links, NO you are not eachother missing puzzle pieces, YES, you are two village idiots living in the same village, but two wrongs most definitly don't make a right. happy sunday all!

Monday, November 23, 2009

getting back on track from a slightly derailed saturday...spent time with some good friends and made some new ones... everyone was in high spirits... even went to the ZEBRA and attempted dancing with a huge pair of sorel snowboots. somewhat like a clumsy clydesdale. much laughter, great conversation, and a red velvet chocolate cake to double knot the night.

it took an extra slice of will power to wake up this morning and make my way to yoga. was so happy to be there and work the kinks of the weekend out. instructor did make a comment, something along of the lines of... 'are you okay julia?' i may have fell out of sun salutation sequence a few times...

i decided, for my final art capstone project, i am going to sketch a series of self portraits. incorportating a light source projected at different angles... i think i will use charcoal, ebony pencil, and white and sepia...so this will keep me occupied through thanksgiving....

Saturday, November 21, 2009

in yesterdays thoughts, i alluded with a follow up on bible verses concerning pain.

maybe another day. not this morning. i don't feel like diving into the complexity of pain, repentance, and salvation. its a bit early for my ticker to tock like that.

i had a bout of restlessness last night, so i am up with the moon and the stars this morning. cat/griz today. looks like there will be a three way rivalry, due to the snowfall this morning. i was actually throwing the idea back and forth of an uber early jog. but when i peered outside, the bark of the trees turned into growls due to the fierceness of the wind.

bidding adieu

Friday, November 20, 2009

illusions

pain. ouch. how can four little letters convey such emotion.... damn diggity.

there is so many areas that i could attack this concept...explanatorily attack that is. or at least attempt to make sense of what i have come to understand regarding pain.

we have all, in some degree experienced pain. and hurt. and sadness. over a plethora of different things that have happened to us in our lives. i fell prey to the meat grinder, was spit into pieces, and it took years to put myself back together. and when i finally did, i wasn't the same person anymore. the experience had changed me. and it took a while for me to really understand the benefit from the hell on earth i endured.

so what the bleep is pain, and why the bleep do we have to endure it?
the all out balls to the wall no holds bar question.

there are some interesting interpretations of pain, as well as residual pain, which eckart tolle has given a name, pain-bodies.

there are many teaching, expressing that the state of pain is ultimately an illusion. this is so hard to fathom. that those feelings and experiences that i have had, i am sure you have had, were in vain. that those minutes, hours, days, and even years of borderline unbearable pain were avoidable. but, if this is true, even if there is some slight nuance of truth to this, how amazing would that be. if by some shift in conscious awareness, by choosing what it is that we give life to. as we hack and stumble through the dense forests of feelings and sadness, when there is a groomed trail right beside us.

so years ago, post traumatic experience, i wasn't able to find that nice trail to reprieve, and i stumbled along, and i felt heavy and sad. as many of us do, i think. for the longest time, even when i thought that i had surpassed and conquered the monsters of my past, these feelings would rise from time to time. in certain situations. eckart tolle, one of my favorite authors of all time, terms these feelings pain-bodies.

the accumulated pain, he says, is a negative energy field that occupies your body and mind. if you let it. it has two modes of being-dormant and active. extremely depressed people may have an active pain body 100 % of the time. For others, this pain body may surface during intimate relationships or situations linked with past loss or abandonent, physical or emotional hurts, and so on. The active state of pain can be triggered, in other words.

these pain bodies want to survive. but they can only survive if it gets you to unconsciously identify with it. it can then rise up, and take you over. energy speaking, it will come active when you resonate with its own kind of energy... further pain in any form... examples are anger, destructiveness, hatred, grief, emotional drama, violence, and even illness. pain feeding on pain.

this was what was happening to me for a few years after my experiences. i was still identifying with the hurt. my past, in essence, still had control over me.

another way of looking at the pain-body is as a dark shadow cast by the ego. a seperation from our truths. bringing in the light of our consciousness, our presence, light is shed on the disease of past pain and its phantom frailness and its formlessness. in order to shed light on the darkness, facing it full frontal style is in order. seeing it for what it is, observing what it is we are allowing to lurk. bringing attention and presence to the pain and the identification can be broken. calling it out as an imposter by bringing attention to the absurdity of its residual dwelling allows you begin the process of freedom from it.

St Paul
"Everything is shown up by being exposed to the light, and whatever is exposed to the light itself becomes light."

sustained conscious attention severs the link between the pain body and your thought processes and brings about the process of transmutation. (eckart tolle)
transmutation: a theory that holds a person can modify the status or ownership of assets they own from separate property.

eckart tolle has written an entire book about this topic, and it is really food for thought. a different way of looking at ourselves, at rising above disease, and bringing awareness into all that comprises us.

the bible has many beautiful verses on pain and the beauty that we can extract from it. tonight, i will delve into biblical ins and outs interpretations of pain.

i need to get ready for class... have a great day everyone!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

serendipity

serendipity: the effect by which one stumbles upon something fortunate.

i heard this word used this morning by a group of doctors while awaiting an appointment. something along the lines of..."was this planned, or serendipitous?"
what a great word.
i suppose sagacity plays a role in serendipity. whereas one, who flips trips and dips unto something, someone, an experience that is unexpectedly miraculous.... being able to mentally discern (sagacity) what has just taken place is of utmost importance. otherwise, these miracles float on, unnoticed....
i have, jokes aside, been experiencing serendipitous moments scattered, like a sprinkling of fairy dust, throughout my days.
i am not talking about schizoid delusions of grandeur here, i am talking about little teensy tinsy happenenings that are so beautifully orchestrated, that it leaves me, actually emotionally jaw dropped.
i am not sure how else to describe it, other than i recognize this glory in my life and how blessed i am. how beautiful positive energy is, how prayer has opened my eyes. experiencing joy in my life in so many different ways. thank god for that.



Sun is shining, the weather is sweet
Make you want to move your dancing feet
To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know ya, where I stand

When the morning gathers the rainbow
Want you to know I'm a rainbow too
So, to the rescue here I am
Want you to know just if you can
Where I stand, know, know, know, know, know

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet now
Make you want to move your dancing feet
To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know just if you can
Where I stand, know, know, know, where I stand

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

taylor jade

once upon a time there was this little girl by the name of taylor jade. from the first time you laid eyes on her, you knew she was....special.




and when i say special, i mean captivatingly charismaticaly hook line and sinker sugar and spice. flavorful. bouncing brown curls, two fat dimples in each rosy red cheek, and playful eyes.

whats this look all about?


smile big


and....bigger


and.....really ginormous


the personality on this kid is ridiculous. straight up independent, try anything, go anywhere, scopin out the territory, fearless, need for speed type of girl. or speedo in this case...





in any case, i just love her to pieces....





and you wonder where she gets it? hmm.......









jammin

coffee in the press, bob marley action to keep me satisfied in the background...

i scraped myself out of bed this morning, negotiating whether the idea of spinning class at 6:30 a.m. was really necessary. as i went to turn off my alarm, i noticed a few messages, one of which expressed something along the lines of meteor showers before dawn. alright, that got me up.

strapped on my sorels and ventured into the chilly star clad morning. i didn't spot any meteors, but i did see some shooting stars during class...torture induced of course..... i think i dropped 5 pounds in sweat alone. ah, the grueling satisfaction.

wow, this coffee is so good. yum.

there is this verse in the bible that i would like to share this morning.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
-1 Timothy 4:4-5

i really love this. i love it for many reasons. for me, it says that we have been given all types of blessed food sources for our life energy. fish, birds, game...plants, grains, fruits, water, grapes for wine, barley for beer...
it says that no matter what is set before us, or what we set out to find...whether elaborate or simple, that we should be thankful. that it is blessed to our bodies.
on the same thread, there are those that are in somewhat of a trepidation about food and drink and calorie content... those with a distorted body image, fearful of putting anything into their body... i have been there before. i understand the fearfulness that can grip you, allowing feverish anxiousness to consume you.
enjoy your food, enjoy your libations, bless them, be thankful for them.
putting those vindictive thoughts to bed by the realization that they are not even real. be free of the balls and chains of our self induced negativity, allowing ourselves enjoyment of what god has given us.

Monday, November 16, 2009

i felt some loneliness pangs today, missing good comfortable friends from back home.... friends that are like snuggling up next to a warm fireplace and before i know it, i am heated from the inside out. where conversation is easy, exciting, where guarded behavior is laid to rest.
i kind of glided through the day in a bit of a trance....atypically desensitized.
i wound up talking to almost everyone i know back home, needless to say. and funny enough, a few of them touched base with me out of the blue...whereas i delightfully remarked, 'ya know, i was JUST thinking about you......"

so, looks like its just me and my glass of wine. and a bath. faithful companions that they are. goodnight.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

swartzenegger

green magma pineapple banana strawberry smoothie and coffee to fuel my upcoming spinning class. there is something about spinning instructors, aside from their tree trunks they call quads and hams. so excited about biking, so energized, so pumped, so on your asses constantly with an imaginary whip....a mini arnold is what she is...Ja, we ah heah to "pump you up."
hmmm.....sooo, glutton for punishment? masochist? arguable.

Friday, November 13, 2009

relinquish control

i hope this finds any and all smiling.
it is truly a winter wonderland out there in bozeman today, with yesterdays record breaking snowfall of two fluffy feet. the skies visually cut the cold, taking on a soft fleecy baby blue. the sunshine is beautiful, bejeweling all that it touches, popping diamonds out of the blankets of snow that cover our ground. its absolutely breathtaking today. i couldn't ask for anything more.

i am so desperately convinced that our thoughts are so powerful that they are responsible for how we are living our lives. we are riddled with worldly issues every day, from economical crisis, to political feuds, religious quarrels, impatience, deadlines, discriminations, sexism, power struggles, and serious ego trips. these worldly daily dealings are nothing more than intangible oppressions. we can allow ourselves to be afflicted by all that is proclaimed wrong with this world, all that is unjust and unfair, all that doesn't necessarily flow with our ideals. and then feeeel oppppressed, streesssssed, and tired. letting something that isn't even REAL suck the vital energy right out of us.
how resilient can we be when faced with these potential afflictions. the power is in our hands to be taken control of, or to recognize the mind games that oppression and ego plays with us. in recognition comes realization of a higher order than intellectual reasoning.

begin our days with thanks. for the ability to open our eyes, to breathe, and experience life. healthy. peace of mind. connecting to the spirit within us all....by just letting go and being quiet. by listening to our true selves instead of our egos. i feel like the answers we need are here. within us and around us.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

skittles

watching the snow flurries outside, in the comforts of my cozy abode. i have at least a foot of freshly stacked snow on my deck railings....i guess the weather man nailed it last night with the winter storm warnings....and my naked purple car, who i gingerly refer to as skittle, buried in the fresh powder... i am hoping she stays sweet for me.... i haven't ever been a fan of sour skittles.

so, the light of a new day is upon us. and my morning is sprawled out in front of me, asking to be taken advantage of. that, i can do.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

a day filled with small delights....

its lavender and sugar glazed salmon this evening. over a bed of spinich, mixed with every veggie i could find in my fridge. i am pretty happy with my culinary prowess as a single chick who lives alone, i gotta say.

i had a wonderful day today. Veterans day. i started my morning off with a nice jog downtown, weaving through parks and trails. the moon and stars were out for most of the run, which made it a little exciting. i felt safe though, which is one aspect i love about this community. not much crime or violence here.

after my rosy cheeked run, i dove into the comforts of my coffee. i don't mess around with the coffee, i practically have it down to a science, exactly how i like it. its like my morning dose of crack, really. Strong french roast (french press), a mess of vanilla icecream, vanilla extract, cinnamom, and raw cane sugar. it is so yummy that...here i am, writing about it.

after my belly warming, grin wearing morning, i drive to work. my little girl was sleeping til 8 or so... woke her up playing piano. A song i have been writing for my sister maia and her soon to be baby arrival, Caleb. Nicole wakes up singing, which i love so much... communication is challenging with her so any baby steps towards conveying an emotion or a feeling seem to be a step in the right direction. and piano is one of those ways we communicate.

this family i work for has this gorgeous ivy that i have had my eye on since i started working for them. i have been meaning to ask for a clipping of this plant so that i could root the ivy and eventually start a plant of my own. i thought, however, that i would be overstepping bounds due to the fact that this particular ivy is young and doesn't have long limbs to pluck yet. BUT, this morning.... after talking with chuck, the dad.... he mentioned, without prompt may i add, that he had rescued all of these huge vibrant gorgeous plants in the dining room (including the ivy) from a flood through his restoration business. and him and jana (the momma) were just NOT into these plants. so, nerdily enough, sensing an 'in' on the plant clipping scheme of things, i asked if i could take a clipping of the ivy, seeings how they were a pain to begin with. and he more than willingly just offered me ALL of the plants. 4. the young ivy, this spider plant, another tropical looking plant with 4 foot branches spreading in all sorts of directions, and another leafy green monster plant. needless to say, i was ecstatic. so i brought them home, gave them some tlc, and i am soooo tickled. it was not just an average ivy, okay people! it was special.

so my afternoon was spent relaxing at wild joes, not doing much of anything but eating and surfing. back to work, fed my girl dinner, played some more piano... and am now home.

a hot bath and a cold dish of huckleberry yogurt are the cherry on my sundae today.

i will leave you with this great quote that i happened to glimpse at today;
"Where there is one grain of perseverance or willfulness in the composition, trifling obstacles are ever known rather to stimulate than discourage." The Professor/Charlotte Bronte

starlit snuggles all..............

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

good morning




beloved, i wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
3 john verse 2

Sunday, November 8, 2009

glimpses

streeeetching my southern montana sunny sunday morning like playdoh.
started my day fervently, with a orange flavored bath and a french roast scented mug of coffee. both of which summon my purr.

i am so thankful for today. and all that comes with it, the good, the bad, and the ugly. whether the journey is smooth sailing, crash course, or somewhere in between, i hope i have the wherewithal to extract the rooted essence of it. to understand that situations that may arise are naked in their intent to show us something. glimpses. of ourselves. glimpses of our strengths. or maybe our weaknesses. but i hope that i don't ever stop growing from what life gives to me. but that i use those sunny rays of experiences to gain spiritual limbs and leaves, to blossom.