The Swandive

87%

Because it is so awesome. Because you love quizzes. Because UK advertising makes you laugh.

Because you are so curious.

I am 87% Italian. 

Now, read the above sentence again, like you would read a fortune cookie.

And then click here.

(HT to ePiscoSours, and maybe not a good idea for the workplace web-surfing break. Be warned.)

The Birthday Present

Taaaa dah!

Here it is, the new tattoo. Care of Ariel at Steady Tattoo.

The outline  

Its just a flesh wound

And.... voila'!

Celtic Tree of Life, custom designed, you know, artistic license.

So let me tell you a bit of a story. I think I mentioned this before, but for our wedding, we used the celtic tree of life image for our invitations. We love love love the image. And I have wanted it for a tattoo ever since.

For my birthday, sweetie said it was time to get the tattoos. We looked around for the right artist and the right shop. I didn't go back to my old artist - just felt like this was a new thing, a new time. After looking for a while, we found Ariel. We met with her, and she is a really great person: laid back, great portfolio, mellow, kind.

So the tattoo: the base (ankle side / left) is brown, the base / roots of the tree and the flower connecting them is red, deep red, like a heart, like blood. Roots and heart make the base of the tree. Up each side is green (growth, Ireland, beauty) and blue (water, the water of life, rain) and blue and green just look beautiful together. Add a little orange (the flowers, green and orange for the irish flag) and you have one hot, beautiful, lovely, love-filled tattoo.

So, can you believe I am already thinking of the next one?

good advice

So sweetie reminds me and says something like this:

"Go through your day, and collect things, ideas, inspirations that you like. Just collect them and hold on to them. At the end of your day, gather them all up. Admire them, give thanks for them, and focus your attention on the abundance that shows up."

Some days have brought rather mundane likes, such as free flowing traffic or cute hair. Some days have given me total strangers telling me that they love me. But each day, I am never short on things to be grateful for, things that I liked.

A sign, from my candy ministry in my cube today, another reminder for my day.

Thank you God: for signs and reminders, for guiding me along, for love and friends, for the sunshine, for good work. Amen.

Question for you...

If you are a blog reader, how do you organize your reading list? Do you use a service? Just bookmarks?

Are you a morning reader, a feed reader, an occasional stop by'er? Do you read at night, on the fly, at a certain time? 

This inquiring mind wants to know. Lurkers de-lurk and lend me your voices, please.

See you in the comments.

on getting older

Hectic, having a birthday that is. But fun? Oh yes. For sure fun with a big ol capitol F.U.N. Let's recap, shall we?

The theme of gifts this year? Art. 

• From sweeties parents, a grill to assist me in my culinary arts. It grills sammiches and makes waffles. Yum.
• My baby sis got me a beautiful wall hanging, with some wise wise words.
  • "Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have. It depends solely on what you think." (Attributed to Buddha) 

• My D-n-D (dad and his wife, my step-mom D) gave me to of the most amazing gifts I can think of:

1. This (the sculpture image), a beautiful new piece of outdoor garden art, custom by my dad, the artist.
2. A day of help gardening. 

Can I tell you how awesome my yard and home look? And, now I am not so intimidated by gardening, now that my step-mom master gardener gave me a day to learn with her.

• My friend K, a friend from the wayback days, who I have re-connected with (*waves* hi K!!) made me some pumpin' super awesome tunages, and music is one of my most favorite forms of art. Love my new grooves, especially hearing a fave I forgot about, Carly Smithson from American Idol singing Blackbird. So good. (As well as all the gay boy thumpa-thumpa move your booty tunes that she mixed up for me.)
• And of course last, but never least, sweetie. Beautiful earrings, a gorgeous new skirt from J.Jill, comfy pretty under-pants (you didn't really want a link for my underpants did you?) and... a promise to get our wedding tattoo! Yesterday we met with Ariel from Steady Tattoo, who will be our next / new tattoo artist. She is gentle, sweet, and really talented. We consulted on our design, the celtic tree of life image we used for our wedding.  It will be a custom design, so we are using the image as a starting point, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. It will be on the right outside calf, just below the knee. *ugh* I could almost die I am so excited. 

Well friends and family, thank you for helping me welcome in another awesome year of life.  I am truly blessed, grateful, and humbled by the love you show me. It is my hope, my resolution, my desire to 'pay it forward' back at cha' in this, the 37th anniversary of my arrival on the scene. 

Don't look at the lady behind the curtain - A Friday Five

Its taken me some time, its a kind of a spiritual practice of sorts really. I am practicing being where I am in the moment, living in the now. Its not easy. You see I have been a really crappy community participant in my favorite ring of bloggy friends, the RevGals. (And with other friends, can't lie.) So - in looking at this Friday 5, I was not sure - to play or not to play. But I am starting afresh, again, *waving* hello to my freinds and acquaintences, and being a better blogger, right... now.

So with that, I give you a peek behind the curtain, a look into my bloggy mind, with this weeks Friday 5.

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?

The answer is in my tag line. I have always dreamed of opening my own pub/restaurant/bar/late night joint. The Swandive is the name of the place. It all started when I was bartending at the Sugar Mill in St. Thomas in the USVI. A guy from Northfield MN, living in St. Thomas, taught me all I could ever hope to learn about bartending. He was an amazing mentor. He told me that every barkeep should have their own signature drink. I called my little concoction the Swandive. Its like a traditional sex-on-the-beach with an added secret, a kick in the ass. They taste so good, but beware, two is plenty. Three is danger. So yummy.

    2.   Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?

My one and only, Sweetie. No secrets, just her 'other' name (in addition to the two people already know her as). Everyone else is either 'out' because of their own blog choosing (*waves* Hi Princess!) or gets an initial. But really - I try not to talk about those who would identify themselves in a post.

    3.   What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?

•  Christians and Writers and Queers, Oh My!: I heart Max. I wish (even though Max blogs without obligation) Max would blog more. I really do.
• chimponaut - life is random, God is not.: My friend W. I love this title.
• The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus: What's not to love?

    4.   What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course!

These are the blogs that I try to visit the most often, that teach me much, whos authors are almost always in my prayers.

• Sarcastic Lutheran
• Bits and Odd Pieces of Mindy's Kingdom
• Hudson's Notebook
• (I can't just pick 3!) Eternal Echoes

    5.   Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?

I am not sure who introduced me to it. I just remember finding my voice. I have never been a good journaler, you know pick up an empty moleskin and just write write write. But here, I can keep it up, write to myself, to others, make things pretty, rant, dream, share. *Wave* to friends, near and far, people can find out how I am, what I am up to. I love it.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?

My favorite blog meet has been my good friend Sarcastic Lutheran. She is funny, honest, smart smart smart, she has stayed in my home, cooked me the most amazing pancakes, loved me, and I adore her. She is birthing a new church, called me the other day and told me she wishes that I lived closer, so I could join her church. Meeeeee too.

I love my friend at Hudson's Notebook. I have met him in person. He is more beautiful in person, as I think we all are, than he is on his blog, which I think is saying alot. His writing, his poems, his heart - I am often in awe.

I really look forward to meeting ChoralGirl - being local and all. So FUN! And she is a killer scrabulous player.

I can't wait to meet Princess M. Oh my list could go on and on!

Happy Friday ya'll! (81 days smoke free, and my big birthday on Sunday, look for an upcoming post about a new georgeous tattoo soon)

My Theme Song Today

So you may remember from a while ago, sweetie and I got a new elliptical. (Lots of commentary I can make about this, but in a word, its good. Oh and if you click on the link, and are wondering if that is what I look like on the elliptical, uhhhh, yeah, duh.)

So, I am not sure about you, but for me, listening to music is THE KEY that makes me feel good about myself, makes me think that I am hot, sexy, and super freaky fly. And I think these feelings, these beliefs are primarily the key to my losing weight. Feeling good, loving the me, as I am right now, comes for me through music. (And sweetie, of course.)

There are a few songs when I am working out that just do it for me. Theme songs, for feeling sexy, hot and oh so groovy. Todays song, so good.

Check it. 

What's your favorite song that you put on a feel good or workout mix? Please let me know in the comments.

74 days

Thought you might enjoy my stats for today as much as I do.

I still count, I still think about smoking, although much less now a days.

I miss it. I won't lie. I do.

However, 74 days in I can tell you I am beginning to feel like a new person. I am not a slave to my routines or habits. I can ride a bike for 15 miles. I can taste food.

Mainly I miss taking breaks. I miss decompressing with a smoke. I miss my stress reliever. I miss sitting on the front porch and watching the world go by.

Is it worth $667.68, yes. Is it worth my sweeties happiness? You bet.

to be continued...

Found this yesterday (HT), love it.
Its ruminating within me. Bubbling, fizzing, gurgling.
So I think I'll have some more reflections on it, later.

You dig?

COME TO THE EDGE
~ by Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), French Poet and Philosopher

“Come to the edge.”
“We can’t. We’re afraid.”
“Come to the edge.”
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.

its time...

I just hope it goes better than last time.
p.s. - Is it wrong for me to pray for a decent haircut? Is it like praying for lame things like good grades, a time warp so I can make it to church on time, or praying to win the lottery? Don't answer that.
p.p.s. - I heart NatalieDee

nataliedee.com