Thursday Matinee

A few weeks ago, I met up with some friends.  Our conversation turned to having odd jobs and flexible schedules.  We agreed that although we love going to movies, we rarely allow ourselves the luxury of going mid-day, even though we could.

It's ridiculous, really, to guilt yourself into not doing fun stuff just because you think you're being too kind to yourself.  Too kind to yourself? That's stupid.

So we decided we'd go together.  Sort of like having a work-out buddy, having a movie buddy will encourage us to be a little decadent and sit in the middle of a dark theater when lots of other people are sitting at a desk working.

Today we saw "The Place Beyond the Pines."  Two thumbs up.  (There were only two of us that ended up going, so it's actually a unanimous thumbs up!)  I hardly knew anything about the movie when I walked in, other than Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper star in it.  I actually mis-remembered any previews I saw, thinking Ryan and Bradley were going to become bank robbers together.  Since I was totally wrong, I couldn't believe how the story twisted around.  I never knew what was going to happen next, and I love it when I'm watching a movie like that.  Great acting all around, even from Eva Mendez, which I wasn't expecting!  In fact, I went in there planning not to like her because I've heard in real life, she's dating Ryan Gosling, and I'm just jealous.  But she played her role well-  She wasn't just a pretty face.  In fact, she prettied down from this role. 

I can't tell you much about this movie without spoiling things.  But it's one of those movies where lives intersect.  The story takes place over the span of 15 years, and you see how actions that are taken go on to affect the trajectory of people's lives.  It's a pretty thought provoking movie, so I recommend going with a movie buddy so you can then go to Starbucks for a little coffee talk afterwards!

Thursday Matinee is going to be a regular feature on my blog from now on.  I'm stoked to know I'll be seeing a movie each week.  With a movie buddy to hold me accountable! 

19

Back on this day, in 1994, Fermin and I tied the knot.  Nineteen years ago!

a picture of a picture of our wedding day- may 22, 1994

 Although Fermin and I went to the same highschool and went on one date in 11th grade, it wasn't until a few years later that we actually started dating, and we became boyfriend and girlfriend.  We started dating when I was 19.  I was only 19!
Like the awesome song by the Old 97s goes, "19, is not the age of reason..." But somehow, something magical happened at the age of 19 for me, and I was smart enough to recognize and hold onto it, or as the case may be, Fermin. 

Us- right around the age of 19.

I got lucky.  I married my best friend.  We were probably too young to make good life-long decisions back at that young age, but somehow, luck has been on our side, and as we've grown up, we've grown together, rather than apart, as can sometimes happen. 
I don't take what we've got for granted. We've had ups and downs, because that's just the way love and life go.  But I plan on hanging on, for the rest of my life, to the best thing that's ever crossed my path.

Music Monday: "I Will" by Brandi Carlile

Well, I'm still stuck on Brandi Carlile for this week's Music Monday pick.  Although I've at least now moved on to a different song off of a CD.

This song, "I Will" is from her "Give Up the Ghost"- another CD that from start to finish is nearly perfect.

Small Parties Only

I have a childhood friend who started a direct sales contemporary clothing company called Winnie and Kat.  I keep seeing her posts on Facebook, and I comment when I see stuff that looks great...which is often!  Her clothes are stylish, and look comfortable.

I'm just so impressed by what she's doing.  She's created a great clothing line, and has been very successful in selling her stuff.  She's about to be on the Marie Osmond show, she's done some cool radio interviews, etc.  From time to time, I just wanna give her a little online high-5!

Her clothing line isn't sold in retail stores, but like I said, it's direct sales.  Which means, her products are sold by women selling to their friends- at home parties, sort of like Pampered Chef, Silpada, or Tupperware.

That sounds totally fun to lots of women. Lots of women love to shop with their girlfriends.  Also, lots of women love getting together with a large group of their friends for drinks and snacks.  Additionally, lots of women love throwing a good party.  But for me, no.  And no.  And finally, no.

But my friend and I haven't seen each other since junior high school, so how was she to know what a little hermit crab I am as a grown woman?  She asked me if I would be interested in hosting a party here in Dallas in support of her clothing line.  As supportive as I longed to be for her, I just knew hosting a party would not be a way I could feel comfortable helping her out.

The social pressure of asking people to something I'm hosting, and expecting them to show gives me a terrible ache in the pit of my stomach.  Even for me to show up to a large event someone else is hosting, hurts my stomach and give me a severe headache. 

It would be great if I liked doing this kind of stuff.  I could host not only a party for my friend's company, I could have a trunk show for my own jewelry business, Resparkable Vintage.  And then, I could ask friend's to host a party.  And so on, and so on, and so on!  Oh, how I wish that sounded like fun and I could get other people enthused about it too!

All of this is not to say I don't enjoy socializing with my lady friends!  But I am so much better in small group situations.  People don't even realize the degree of my social anxiety, because in small group circumstances, I'm fine.  (And by small, I mean 5 or less.  Even better, one on one.)

I was so nervous my friend would take my aversion to hosting a party the wrong way.  It's sometimes hard to understand someone's point of view when it's so different than your own.  But she was totally cool about it.  She just thanked me for my honesty and asked me to let her know if I knew of anyone wanting to make some extra cash and get involved with her company.  (So, hey!  If that's sounds like you, let me know- Or visit her site and find out more here!)

Something I've learned as I've grown older, if you can just be honest and tell people where you're coming from, they're usually pretty cool about it.  The worst thing to do is to make up some b.s. excuse, which is the route the younger version of myself might have taken.  Just sayin'...

The Great Gatsby

A little later this afternoon, I'm going with a friend and her bookclub- (right, it isn't my bookclub, I'm crashing her bookclub...) to see "The Great Gatsby".


I have held on to Mom's paperback copy of The Great Gatsby since she died.  It was the last book she was reading.  Her bookmark remains right where she left it.  She had already read the book before, and had told me she felt like reading it again.  But, I guess she never made it all the way thru it the second time around.

Mom's paperback copy of The Great Gatsby- notice that the bookmark she used is an angel. 

I remember a while back, someone told me I should look at that page where the bookmark was to see if there were any words or phrases that might hold some significance.  I didn't do it back then, it just seemed too sad.  But about a month ago, I ran across the book and looked at where Mom must have abandoned the book.

words...

And I did notice something significant, that I think would have made Mom just sigh, and put the book down, and opt for a nap instead.  The page she had the bookmark in reads:
"I'm sick," said Wilson without moving. "I've been sick all day."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm all run down."

Mom had ovarian cancer for about 5 years, and put up a long, hard fight against it.  I know Mom was just tired.  Tired of being sick and feeling run down.  Reading those words just probably further exhausted her.

Fortunately, the end of Mom's life seemed relatively peaceful and free of pain, partly due to hospice care, and also I think, due to finally be able to just let nature take it's course with her.  It was sort of a miracle, all the stuff she feared might happen, that was in fact likely to happen, didn't.  For that, I was thankful.  Nature was kind to her as far as that went.

Mom loved the movies.  She was a great movie buddy for me.  I will be thinking, of course, of her when I watch The Great Gatsby today!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald