Rocky 3 is a good movie but I don't like it. I don't like that Apollo Creed dies. The silly promise Rocky made to not throw the towel in while watching his friend get beat to a pulp. Or the over the top patriotism and cheesy speech at the end of the movie. Oh, and Rocky's kids watching him fight the Russian on TV after what happened to Apollo Creed. Seriously, whoever was watching those kids should never be allowed to babysit again. The movie gave only one view of the Russians and it was so unbelievably skewed. It's all so simple as if the audience doesn't deserve more. I think the only redeeming factor of this movie is the soundtrack.
It's too early to just be up on my day off. While I am nowhere near close to being a morning person, the past few months have consisted of waking up early on the weekends for my morning yoga practices with my girls. Saturday morning, all our phones start blinking with text messages that look something like this: "I'm awake, no need for a wakeup call." "Are we going this morning?" "Same place, 7:30am ok?"
My friends and I meet up right before the freeway and drive the 15-20 minute drive downtown to our favorite yoga studio. Our drive consists of excited chatter about ongoings throughout the week and our excitement of the continuation of these mornings. And food. We LOVE food and V power yoga. V Power yoga consist of only power flow yoga in a room heated to 85-87 degrees. It's a long room with windows that run 3/4 of the way up one wall. Our favorite instructor, Julie, is chatting her students up and she is the reason why we attend the 8am class instead of the 11am. Yes, a good instructor makes that much of a difference.
"Top of the mat. Toesies touch." is how she starts the practice before launching into a rapid fire, staccato stream of instructions. Within minutes, we're hopping back in a plank, flowing into a tricep pushup, upward dog, downward dog, warrior one, warrior two, reverse warrior, side angle, hands to the heart and finally twist. Each asana (pose) correlating with each breath.
I usually glance at the clock halfway through the class. Particularly if we "flip the dog" where the pose is essentially a one handed back bend and the other hand reaching out towards the front of the room. I thought I was holding the pose pretty steadily till the instructor walks by and gently pulls my forward hand. "Reach." That little gesture, the slight change and the pose gets harder. I always shake my head at the thought we were only 30 minutes into the class and my heart wants to burst.
By the end of class, we all agree that there isn't a better way to start our Saturday mornings. (I know today is not Saturday)
This video was thought to be controversial by some who saw it. I loved it immediately when I watched it. It's so inspirational to think that maybe one day, I can do that.
I want to write down and remember the magic of this event before the stress of wedding planning take over. It was probably one of the best moments of my life that I will always remember. Nemo gets major props for his creative approach with this proposal and really made every attempt he could to make this a total surprise for me. What can I say? He completely succeeded. This post is long. You are always welcomed to scroll to the bottom for pictures.
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The week it happened resembled a roller coaster of emotions. From a spiritual high at my church retreat to the terrifying voice mail left from my father informing me that him and my mom were in a car accident. Worries and quick arrangements to take care of them after they were released back home. Praise God for watching out for them with the accident. That week was stressful not only due to my parent's accident but also due to Nemo being away in Vegas for business. He was always my shoulder to cry on during times of stress. Nemo had offered to stay but after learning that my parent were fine, I told him to go anyways.
As the week progressed, the worries started to fade and I was looking forward to the weekend. My sister's birthday was Friday and we had all planned to go out to dinner for her birthday on Saturday and then the annual spring concert at church. Afterwards, we were all going to go to Gallery Hop if the weather permitted. Gallery Hop is a monthly event that occurs the first weekend of every month where every boutique and gallery in the Short North stays open late into the evening. It had been forever since I had gone and was very excited when my sister wanted to go.
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My coworker had recommended a delicious restaurant called Alana's. I had heard good things about it in the past and was thrilled that they could accomodate our party which quickly grew to about 16 people. Upon arriving, we were shown to our own room and one very long table complete with a round table at one end. It was early enough that we were shown the early bird menu which offered a 3-course fixed price menu for $25. Alana herself came out and served us all a piece of toast with goat cheese on it. I didn't think I liked goat cheese till I had this. With such a large group, I was escastic that I could order the lamb entree but still try out the fish, pasta and risotto entrees. To my chagrin, I liked everyone's meal better than my own. When given a choice, I will also order the red meat - it's the carnivore in me.
After dinner, we all rushed over to the spring concert performed by our dear friends, Jeff and Ian + company. Seriously, these are a couple of musical prodigies we have here. Their talent is immense and it was so generous of them to share it year after year with this amazing concert. It was quite funny when all the people who were not too familiar with "movements" would clapped between every one - myself included. Oops. After the gentle reminder that it was not necessary, my sister and I took turns making fun of our other sister who would sit up straight as a stick with hands poised, ready to clap even after the reminder. Haha.
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Despite the weather reports of 100% rain, there was not a drop from the sky. The weather was gorgeous and I invited all our friends from the concert to head over to gallery hop. My sisters were in a rush and I attributed it to them wanting to catch a specific gallery before they closed as well as them wanting to head home soon after.
Traffic was ridiculous as we got closer and parking seemed impossible. Nemo dropped my friends and I off first and we rushed to find the gallery that my sister wanted to go to. It was named Sherrie's Gallery renamed from Gallery V. I had been in this gallery before though the art was different. Before, it sold abstract art that looked like finger painting by kids for a couple of thousand a piece. Now, it sold shell-shaped pottery in tie-dyed color for a couple of thousand a piece. Yikes. Onto the next gallery....so we all head to another one which I've forgotten the name of it now. Saw some more friends on the way and pulled them along for the ride. Then Nemo said that there was a cartoon artist whose gallery was right around the corner and he wanted to stop by it.
We all arrived at Paul Palnik's gallery whose speciality was black and white cartoon drawings. Nemo pulled me over to one side of the gallery to show me a drawing called "Judgement" and said that was his favorite. Then my sister took me by the arm to show me one about skiing which was one that I had actually recognized! We moved toward the left wall of the gallery as she pointed out another one she liked. My eyes roamed up and down the wall looking for what she was talking about. Then something that looked like my name in cursive caught my eye. I half turned towards where I thought my sister would be, saying "I think I see my name on here..."
That's when I noticed that my sister along with all my friends were standing around me in a semi-circle. I did a double take and then turned to see Nemo kneeling down on one knee with a diamond ring held up toward me. He was blabbling something but in my shock, I only caught a few words. Those words included "I told you I'm not wasting your time. You would make me the happiest man in the world. Will you marry me?" At this point, I was stunned. We had been together for so long. I had argued with him so many times about wanting to know whether our relationship was going to move forward or become stagnant. I seriously had sort of given up hope that this day was ever going to happen. My thoughts were a jumble of shock and wonder. The jubilation did not come out correctly as I asked "Are you serious?"
Everyone started to laugh. Tears were flowly freely down my cheeks now and I could only cry for about a minute. Nemo got nervous, "Um, you might want to say something soon." That's when I nodded yes, I would be his wife.
If my words don't describe the moment well enough...
Me dumbfounded. Complete and total lost for words.
After a minute of crying. Me nodding happily.
I loved that he planned it for all our friends to be there.
Us with Paul Palnik-creator of the drawing Nemo had used to propose to me with.
I look back on that day now and wonder how I could've missed all the signs. My sister never goes to the gallery hop but was excited to go. Nemo had bought me a black dress from Vegas and highly suggested that I wear it for the evening. He knew I would want to be dressed up for this special moment and even picked something that would match the art gallery he was going to propose in. Two of our friends still came out to gallery hop despite having a sick baby. I should've known! They never come out this late at night. I think I was just so happy that everyone was down to party!
Thanks to my family who embraced Nemo and loved him for who he is despite some quirks he may have. Thanks to all my friends who were there to share in the moment. All your pictures captured this moment perfectly and I am so grateful to not only be able to share it with you all but to be able to see pictures of it too!
Our friends who are watching our puppy while we're on vacation are so sweet! My friend wrote us an email from our puppy's point of view and sent us pictures. So, the name Batman is not nearly as cute as Wasabi and our puppy definitely needs a cute name. We've only heard one other name that we like but it didn't seem fitting for our puppy. Any suggestions are welcomed. Oh, let me know if this picture actually shows.
One of my favorite vacation moments is walking across the boardwalk past the swimming pool to the beach. Everyone is donning a bikini, tankini or a one piece. Everyone is happy. Splashes and laughter fill the air as kids take turns dunking each other. I walk past various sunbathers reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the beach. After laying out my towel, Nemo and I immediately made a beeline for the ocean.
The water felt cold at first in the debilatating sun but soon felt perfect. There is something to be said about waves crashing along the shore. It just makes me want to dive right into them. Having the boogie board with me changed that a bit as I pondered how I was supposed to ride the waves in. Unfortunately there weren't many big waves so I soon grew bored and started to find ways to balance myself on my boogie board. I guess this resulted in a comical show of clumsiness because Nemo looked at me strangely the whole time. But then the waves started to roll in yet none of them carried me very far. Silly me. It turns out that I was supposed to jump in front of the wave to ride in in front of it instead of on top of it. Ha, no wonder I wasn't going anywhere!
My parents are having fun fishing and crabbing again. They leave at the crack of dawn near 6am and arrive home with their day's catches by noon. After going with them yesterday morning and being completely worn out by 11am, I skipped going today. It really wouldn't be so bad if crabbing didn't involve 4-5 hours of baking in the sun and getting dirty. Sometimes I think they might have more fun fishing without the "kids" there. We were ready to leave while my parents still waited patiently for crab. This morning they went out without us and came back with thirty-some blue crabs, bunch of fish and a family of sting rays!!! My sister and I freak out and told them about the fatal run in Steve Irwin had with a sting ray. That didn't seem to faze my parents much. They're going to give me a heart attack. I know it.
Just curious. What if everybody who watches American Idol donates $1 to help the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund? It's such a small amount but think of how many people watch AI. I'm doing it right now. Care to join?
St. Patrick's Day is a holiday that Nemo looks forward to every year so this year, I agreed to be the dessie and go wherever he desired. This was on the condition that he goes shopping with me to buy a St. Patty's Day outfit. I do not own any clothing resembling the SPD green due to an ingrained sense of repulsion toward that color. You see, my junior high school colors were yellow and green. Ick, I shiver when I think of that.
Saturday rolls around and after checking out his ex-roomie's new & empty crib, we head over to Byrne's Pub in search of bag pipes. There was a long line out the door and it was no deception to the crowd inside. The place was packed wall-to-wall with people and barely any elbow room. Even after establishing myself in a spot, people kept pushing me back and forth whenever they walked by. Needless to say, I was not a fan. I did get an enormous amount of compliments on my outfit though. Well, actually my boots. They were gray with red stripes and people took them to be Buckeye boots. I have never had so many men tell me how awesome my boots were and asked me where I got them! After an hour of Irish music, the bag pipers showed up and really rocked the house. I saw Nemo jumping up and down in the sea of fans because he was so excited.
The excitement roused up an appetite among our group and we all went to eat dinner at Barley's Smokehouse. I enjoyed some of the most scrumptious wings ever. Seriously, if you are in Columbus and have not had wings from Barley's...I insist that you stop reading right now and drive yourself there to get some. Try the Gates of Hell flavor.
Frogbear was the our next destination where a private party was hosted by one of Nemo's friends. It was a completely different atmosphere where instead of non-existent elbow room, we had our own private room, several leather couches to plant ourselves in, our own bartender and the owner of the place coming to check on us. He even spent a few minutes with me complimenting my outfit and boots. I didn't know who he was, turned to my friends and asked "Who IS that guy??" OOops! Sunday wasn't exactly a day of recovery. I had volunteered to greet at church that morning which involves getting there early, setting up the front table, chairs, greeting church goers, etc. None of those tasks were difficult, it was just the "getting to church early after St. Patrick's Day" part.
I managed to finally finish my taxes and e-filed my federal and state returns. This year, I was sent a 1099-MISC for the money from modeling that I didn't know what to do with. What a pain that was to read through and incorporate into my taxes.
I paid $42 to fill up my tank today. I am once again reminded that I had passed on buying an SUV because they were gas guzzlers only to purchase my car now which gets the same mileage as an SUV and takes only premium gas. Ouch! What a double whammie. You would think that the fact that the vehicle is the size of a small boat would've given me some inclination to how many MPGs it would get.
I made a video to show my friend Nemo's tank because she is interested in getting a saltwater tank set up. So...why not share?
(Sound will greatly enhance this video experience)
I can't sleep. I was planning on going to bed early tonight but then Nemo gave me some distressing news. It doesn't seem like we can continue our ongoing committment to serve the soup kitchen at Open Shelter any longer. Our friend, D, had been organizing it for some time now but with that responsibility is the stress of not getting enough volunteers together for it and then wind up feeling like you're the only one doing it. The problem is that ever since the Open Shelter lost their building, they only have a small window of time where the homeless can go for food. The church that has lent them this space also have their own activities in the evening so dinner has to be served by 5:30PM and everyone out of there by 6:30PM. That makes it really difficult for people who work to be able to get there at 4:30PM when most of the help is needed. I felt bad that I couldn't go today since I was still super busy at by 4PM. When 8PM rolled around and I haven't left the building, that was like confirmation for me that there was no way I could've gone to volunteer today.
Hearing about how sad the people who ran the shelter were when they heard that we may no longer be able to serve really made me sad. Nemo told me about how they said that they would really miss us, took turns shaking the volunteer's hands and expressed their hope that we would change our minds. I've heard that my church plan to do another ministry closer to the church. That's nice but I personally feel like I have already established a relationship with the people of the Open Shelter. Their compassion to help the homeless with no expectations of return for themselves was what kept us returning to help month after month. Nemo said that he might take it on and I told him that I would help whenever I could get out early to. The fact that we're both so sad about this should tell us something.
I know people always say pray about those things that trouble you. Look to God for the answers. That is such a difficult thing for me to do. I want to immediately start accessing the situation and find a solution for it.
melancholy