runlikejoy

Displaced Stay At Home Californian in rural N. Carolina

The Many Faces of Joy

The Many Faces of Joy

Monday, January 19, 2015

January

I have so many things I want to blog about but I have been so busy lately that I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about it.  I don't know where to begin but I also don't feel motivated to go through the motions.  This year is already shaping up to be a real surprise in so many ways.  Part of me can't wait to see the changes, the challenges, the growth and the hurdles.  But part of me wants it to slow waaaay down so that it doesn't seem to rush by so quickly.

I'm watching the bachelor as I write this and that dude not only has an annoying laugh but he also is a kissing champion.  He is awkward, uncomfortable and has no business being on television.  But as I watch this really cerebral show, I knit these self striping wool socks.  They are beautiful and are going to be fun to wear.  I can't wait to see the finish project.  I never keep my knitting projects, I always give them to my cousin Lisa. 

I have accepted another part time job that I am doing after hours and on the days I'm not working.  This means I am working all the time but it is so much fun.  That is all I'm going to say about that for now.  But stay tuned for greatness.

My baby turns 8 tomorrow and I cannot believe she is growing up so fast.  I think it all the time but I rarely say it out loud because talk is cheap but my girl is amazing.  She is smart and funny and sensitive and emotional and she makes me feel like every day is a new adventure.  Someday she is going to be an amazing cook.  She is going to rock everything she tries her hand at.  And she is so impatient for it all to start right now.  She is me through and through minus the terrifying childhood trauma, which makes me know that she is a shining star and has a bright future.  

I think I'm going to quit Facebook soon - I think it has run its course.  I have kept it to keep in touch with my California peeps but I find that there are so many negative aspects of it that override the positive ones and I find that more and more time goes by between me checking in to see what people are up to.  Plus I have two jobs, I have no time.

Happy rest of the month everyone, January is almost over.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Fu

Book club was last night.  It was our one year anniversary and I hosted.  Because it was our one year anniversary I felt like I had to step it up and make it special.  We even had 2 new members come, yay for newbies!  A year ago when I started the book club aka The Pittsboro Fucklers, my friend Germaine sent me a book her sister had written and suggested we read it for book club.  I hosted the first meeting and so I knew that it would only be fair to wait until everyone got a chance to host before I hosted again.

The book was a real romp - a story of Peter who is the only son of Chinese immigrants and who wants to be a girl.  I was captivated for several reasons, the story of the child of immigrants, a boy who pushes against the dreams and desires of his father and his own discovery of who is is and who he will become.  And to make the book and the book club sweeter, Kim skyped in with us and generously offered to answer our questions as we sipped wine and munched on homemade bao or steamed buns.

Kim is the little sister of a friend from Cupertino and so it turns out that it pays to have friends in many places around this planet.  I got in touch with Germaine, asked her if Kim would skype with us and we were able to set up a time and place and take it from there.  What a bright star and talent Kim is, how brave to sit there and answer our questions and listen to our commentary.  What a good sister too - to honor a request to skype in with an old friend who lives in rural N. Carolina that she has never met.

Bravo Kim
Bravo Germaine
Bravo Fucklers

For those of you that would like to read Kim's book, it is called For Today I Am A Boy.


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Old New Art

In keeping with my 2015 goals we walked into one of my favorite consignment/resale stores this weekend to see what kind of goodies they have.  After browsing for a short time I walked out with this beautiful piece of artwork that I have now displayed proudly on one of the many blank walls that I have not been able to fill since buying and moving into a beautiful new home. 

I have to say that it really makes the room that much more beautiful and it makes me excited to think that I only spent $25 dollars on it.

Tonight I volunteer at the local thrift store and I can't wait to see if I am going to be able to find the ski gear that we need for our ski trip.  As well as a winter jacket for our neighbors kid and some birthday treats for a little girl who is turning 8 in a few short days!