all the things

Perhaps you've heard of this thing called Pinterest? As someone who gathers photos of all sorts of things (art, fashion, shoes, sparkles, wedding ideas, party cakes... the list goes on and on) and who used to add those photos to random files on my computer, this site is like a giant inspiration board.

I love being able to scroll through friends' and strangers' boards, and you can even "pin" other people's pretties to your own unique board. I highly recommend it, if you are a saver of images as I am.

And yes, you're already in danger if you are even considering it. It took me a few months of urging before I tried it.

And then I pinned all the things.

walter

Today is for silliness and ridicule of the kinds of silliness that we just don't like. That means I have a rant in my head but I'm going to leave it at that and move on to Gotye:

Great music, interesting lyrics, and I like his music video (see below). I also saw him live-ish on Saturday Night Live and thought he was damn good for being on a tiny stage on a late night comedy show. His new album 'Making Mirrors' is out now, and if you want to know a little more go here. For some more: fun details.

Now that we've covered Gotye/Gaultier/Wouter/Walter, let me say just a little something about people who are condescending or who question your integrity and treat you as a young thoughtless person (when you clearly are not). Surprisingly, I am not speaking about anyone's treatment of myself, but treatment of another. It can be more irritating sometimes.

I suppose life would not be nearly as interesting without thoughtless people who have no skills in the "how to treat others" department. And so I pose the question: Who doesn't know the Golden Rules?

I'm pretty sure I can sum them up quickly; I've known them for a long time. I think most everyone should know them by about the time they, oh, learn to stick a fork in their own mouth without poking an eye out. Difficult, yes. Impossible, no.

Because you asked, and because I am more than prepared to share, here are the Golden Rules as I understand them:

Share when you're in the sand box, don't throw toys at other kids' heads, and don't pee on people.

It's pretty straightforward.

photos courtesy of soundslikerl

the waiting

Oh, the waiting.

I've been trained to act like I'm patient, but secretly (or perhaps not secretly at all) I am not. Especially when it's something really really exciting like chocolate, or date night, or buying a house. And this is where the waiting becomes almost unbearable and I walk around dancing a little bit trying to shake out the anticipation.

We started looking recently, and weren't exactly in any kind of rush. But then we met with a contractor. And an agent. And a mortgage guy. And then we put the estimate together (it includes a total renovation from the ground up). And then we put in the offer.

And now we wait.

When it comes down to it, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this sort of thing. The excitement mixed with stress and planning and all of the possibilities of a future life in this one-day-will-be-pretty house scribble all over my brain and make me a little bit of a nutcase. I wake up in the middle of the night planning out the garden and thinking about adding a tiny window to that one Southeast wall for morning light.

eeeeeep!

I have been crossing my fingers but trying to remind myself that if it doesn't happen there is something better out there. I hope I will remember that if/when they come back and say, "Sorry we sold it to someone else" I won't curse them. And then cry.

photo courtesy of trendir.com

under/over

There's nothing like a little inspiration from someone who's out in the world doing kind things for humanity to get you thinking.

Or me, rather.

I'm thinking about a friend's mom who is painting schoolhouses in Thailand. She's been to Africa several times, too. She's an artist, a designer, and a pretty amazing, kind person.

I'm pretty nice most days, but I have to admit my time helping others has been more limited than it should be (although my goals are lofty). I have volunteered here and there, and even spent my 31st birthday with a group of friends picking up garbage in a park near my house. We found a laptop, used syringes and condoms, and some beach balls. We wore gloves and drank beer, and followed it up with birthday cake served out of the back of a truck. I was proud of the several large trash bags of junk we picked up.

We once volunteered to help a water sports company spend a morning helping blind kids and teens learn to water ski (and boat and float). Pretty amazing how fearless they were!

And now to the point: I often think of these words from The Lupine Lady "Miss Rumphius" (from the wonderful children's book) and her directive to "do something to make the world more beautiful."

There is so much we can do; are we doing it?

To quote the lovely lady painter in Thailand, "The young Thai women involved in the project are some of the most lovely in spirit I have ever met. Culturally they are deeply respectful and affectionate. I am held tightly in thanks for each small thing I do - and they skip up to me and laughingly grab my hand to hold. These are not children. They are in their early- to mid-twenties. If I try to cross a street, invariably one of them will put an arm in front of me, protecting me from any harm that may come my way. I am actually stunned by the sweetness of it all."

Does it count just being nice to people? Smiling at your neighbor and saying hello to people on the bus? What about digging in your garden and picking up old beer cans in the alley? I'd like to think that kindness in little ways helps, too, but I know there are a million more ways to affect the world and to make it more beautiful.

I'm not sure if redecorating or sewing a pretty dress helps much, but I'm going to keep on trying (while I quietly create a list of other helpful things I can do).

Miss Rumphius

Color Gypsy