Refreshing

Below is an email from a reader whom I have never met. We have become good pen pals over the past year and a half. It's pretty cool when strangers reach out like this. It's so interesting and promising to me how random humans can relate and impact each others life. Most the time we never even know it. 

Thanks G. Look forward to getting to NYC so we can hang at some point!

Hey there Ms Diane,

I'm just writing to tell you something I saw today that reminded me of you - an ex-work colleague of mine decided to start his own blog and is advertising it amongst people he knows, he's a consultant as I was and lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His blog is about his adventures of being from that city. I read 2 posts and that was enough - his is the opposite from yours, only complaints and naggings about the stresses of his day-to-day life, about stressing events, and how annoyingly he reacts to it all - I'm never going back to his blog, while yours is my google's first page and I read it everytime I need to take a break and feel like reading something refreshing.

Just wanted to let you know...

Sigh. It's Snowing Again

Boo.

Have I mentioned I loathe snow unless I'm on a vacation somewhere amazing with mountains, lot's of hot cocoa and hot toddies? I pretty much think it's a tragedy if I can't wear flip flops every day. 

But! In an effort to find humor (you may as well laugh and enjoy right?) in the past week anyway, a list below. This is what happens when a few little inches of snow fall in the southern parts where I live. Just a slight list of things I've witnessed from the small "storms" that have hit here. Holy moses. It is a sight to be seen. Absolute comedy.

1.) People scraping off their cars with a frying pan.

2.) People spinning out so badly they blow their tires.

3.) People "sledding" on a piece of cardboard.

4.) Lines to the back of the grocery store with all humans in a panic the day before these so called "storms" hit, God forbid go a day without ho-ho's.

5.) I'm listing this one again because it was one of the most insane things I have ever seen; lines of humans stretching front to back of a 50,000 square foot grocery store. (See photo above. Only could do what I could do with a cell camera.)

6.) A guy with a bloody knee because someone ran into him in a furry while grabbing food for the oncoming supposed armageddon. (He pulled up his pant leg and showed me this while he watched me drop my two items and give up after I realized there were 47,000 people in line. We couldn't stop laughing. I then took a few photos and left empty handed.)

No, I'm not kidding. The list goes on and on. People scraping off windows with spatulas and other items found in the kitchen....

"When A Snowstorm Hits The South."

This would be a fantastic reality show.

To My Loyal Readers

Hey hey hey! 

So it's been almost a week since my last post and you know I don't like that to happen, but see here's the thing; I have been so busy getting a life, taking care of me (like for real. God it's like the best thing ever and something I'm not sure I've truly ever done before)- that I haven't spent much time here.

As usual- my cup runneth over with people, places and things going on- random thoughts, events and the other 2 million things that happen in my day that I want to share and write about but the minutes fly as they do so here we are- a week without.

I will come back and with a happy vengeance and have plenty more here soon. Just wanted to drop a hello and thanks for checking in and being the reason why I continue to see all the hope and fun life has to offer. 

It's no lie that life gets better and better with time. 

I heart my BLR readers and the people (like the ones I stuffed my faced with tonight at the Chocoholic event) who are just those easy, fun and awesome types that when you turn around- the place is shut down and you're still there chatting away and laughing. (Thanks S, B, L and M)

Here's to hard work, open minds, changes in life and chocolate ganache!

Dream It Do It

That's what it says on the "Our Values/We Believe" section of the Buffalo ReUse website. In frigid upstate, NY these guys are working with green demolition folks and recycling to sell a ton of stuff that we all usually chuck in a landfill when remodeling or rebuilding. They're creating jobs and giving oodles of people a way a to participate in bringing their community together. They're helping to save our planet too!

It makes me very happy to hear about companies and programs like these. I'm always pleasantly surprised that in this crazy world of ours- there's still so much good to learn about and be inspired by.

Hard-hats off to you Buffalo!

Lying Is Good

Well- not really, but if it gets people to think a little differently than they typically would- I think it's alright to tell a fib or two. 

If you haven't watched The Invention Of Lying, head on out to the Redbox at 7 Eleven. And hey- if you're hungry, grab yourself 6 hot dogs or a burrito roll to stuff your face with while watching it. (Gross. OK- so I don't actually recommend that.) I digress...this movie is fantastic. Ricky Gervais is hilarious and totally that guy that's so effortlessly awesome you wish he lived next door so you could go grab a Budweiser with him at random. 

Hey Ricky- wanna meet me for happy hour?

Lets Have A Threesome

Get your minds out of the gutter people!

I'm talking about this french fry app.

Yuh-uh-uhm!

I'm looking forward to hitting up this spot; Ketchup in DC. (There's one in LA if you are out west) They've got things like Shake N' Bake on their menu and mac n' cheese. Some classic favorites and kiddie food with an adult fancy twist. I love these kinds of funky-fly eating spots. Well- I love restaurants in general (as if that isn't obvious.) It's really fun too if you're in a fab city like DC, to restaurant "hop" and grab just one drink and appetizer and move onto the next. I have written about this before. You can make a night out of it. It's a great way to have an affordable night out instead of a full-on dinner and a show. Talking to strangers at a bar and people watching is so often better than dinner and a show anyway!

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

Layin' in the sun

Talkin' 'bout the things

They woulda-coulda-shoulda done...

But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas All ran away and hid

From one little did.

Today was one of several days I've helped an 87 year-old woman sort through a life of belongings. (An honor and many lessons learned.) Among the pile of newspaper articles and photos of her handsome and strapping deceased husband, (a pilot during the war. Wow, the stories.) I picked up the Shel Silverstein book; Falling Up. I instantly turned to the page that had the above poem. I'd say it was ironic or a coincidence or something, but as days pass and events unfold in my life- I find it hard to believe anything other than everything happens for a reason. Things, people, books- all of it, seem to show up in the most random of ways but somehow perfectly fit. Like this poem. 

Dear Mrs. F. ~

Sure I'm helping you- but you're actually helping and teaching me things I could never learn doing anything else. No woulda-coulda-shouldas in your world, just "I did's." Meeting people like you inspires me to keep following my bliss. I promise I'll never be that woulda-coulda-shoulda girl either. After all, like you've said- there's just too much out there to not keep all eyes wiiiiiide open...

Car Shopping Is Fun

Car shopping on a Monday, in work heels and skirts like today is great. Especially when the gents that greet you as you're looking around the lot are shocked when they find out you know what you're talking about. Even better when you can shoot them one look and it's just like saying; "Don't try and bullshit me, I didn't wear these heels for you. However I did do my homework, so you're not going to talk me into anything. This is what I want. I'll give you this much."

And it works.

Every time.

Thank you OD Auto. I just love getting a deal.

In Living Color

I'm all about my neighborhood. Really love being a part of it. I'll be writing much more on this post soon. For now I will tease with; Soul food, slaves and sweet blind neighbors.

Convenience Store Lunch

Even though I am a damn Yankee and a stubborn, independent strong woman- it absolutely thrills me when a man opens a door for me. Any door. Particularly when I hear a "Yes Ma'am" after I have proclaimed "Oh! Thank you!"

There's just something so sweet about that twang and respect of the south that could make hearts of even the toughest of chicks melt.

I love country bumpkin towns in North Carolina.

I also love being 1/2 city girl and 1/2 country bumpkin. (Some call it bipolar- I call it fun.) This means one day I have croque madame for lunch and the next; cheddar and sour cream potato chips, peanut butter twix and a Heinken. Yum. And that was just this week. 

Here's to being able to roll with any crowd. 

I Have The Best Grandparents Ever

Had to share that. There's just something to be said to be loved so hard and so much by two such remarkable people. I am such a lucky woman. 

Love you so very much G & G. Thanks for the letter, the smiles and for being the daily example of true heart and soul. I hope to be half as remarkable as you are in my lifetime. 

Humph...I'm Tired

Poking around looking at some travel news this photo popped up on CNN's travel photo of the day. Talk about personality! I feel like I can actually hear a voice this turtle would have. So adorable.

Maneater

All I could think of was this good ol' 80's song when I saw this overused poster was up at a local watering hole I went to with some guy pals of mine recently. 

Watch out boys...she'll chew you up!

The Second Principle Of Magic:

...things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed. 

Sir James G. Frazer

The Golden Bough

Just A Friendly Reminder

I ate brunch at this yummy little spot this morning. Here's the hand washing sign they had planted near the sink in the Alice in Wonderland like upstairs bathroom. A cute alternative to the typical black and white typed sign owners usually hang. 

If you can't read the small line at the bottom it reads:

And even if you're not, it's a good idea. 

I'm so easily entertained.